Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

40 EXHIBITORS HERALD February 21, 1925 Sawyer & Lubin Has Complete Studio Unit in East Universal Is Making Pictures in New York Again — “Grass” for Motion Picture Carnival at Plaza Hotel By JOHN S. SPARGO New YORK, February 10. — That the East is being looked on as the logical place for production by producers other than First National which started the recent exodus from the coast, is evidenced by the fact that Sawyer & Lubin have organized a complete and permanent studio staff here, and that Universal is at work on a picture in New York. CAWYER & LUBIN have just completed “Heart of a Temptress,” with Barbara La Marr, directed by Phil Rosen, at Fort Lee. Universal has leased space in the big Fox studio for the first picture that company has made in the East in nine years. Bill Nye will direct and is now casting. Phil Rosen, director; Arthur H. Sawyer, supervising director; AI Hall, assistant director; Baney Lubin, production manager, with Eddie Radus as assistant to Al Hall. The camera department comprises Rudolph J. Bergquist, chief cameraman; Charles • Levine, assistant cameraman, and Marshall de Francisco, still photographer; while the technical department is headed by M. P. Staulcup, art director; Frank Namczy, draftsman; Frank Muchmore, chief scenic artist and Clinton Moore, chief carpenter. The property department head is John Alsted, and includes William Reilly, Eddie Quinn, S. J. Scoppa and W. Caspar, and the crew of electricians is headed by George Wilson, chief electrical engineer. A scenario department has been installed in charge of Miss Grace Mack, with Abe Mass as continuity clerk, and the publicity department is headed by Bert Ennis. A complete auditing department has been installed in charge of A. L. Bilchick in New York with Irving R. Wackoff as studio auditor at the studio in Fort Lee, N. J. This organization will continue making productions starring Barbara La Marr for First National in the East, and within the next two weeks shooting will begin on the third Barbara La Marr starring vehicle, which probably will be “Sappho,” the famous novel by Daudet which has been a classic of fiction and stage for many years. 4^ ^ * Bennie Talks to A. M. P. A. Boys Ben Alexander, juvenile star, accompanied by his mother, were guests of honor at last week’s session of the A. M. P. A., being escorted there by Walter Eberhardt. In consideration of good work in so honoring the luncheon, Eberhardt won for himself the privilege of subbing for President A. M. Botsford in conducting the meeting. After being introduced by Eberhardt in a short speech which would make old Kid Demosthenes back up into a corner and bite the scenery, the youthful actor told the advertisers all about three big turtles and a lot of small ones he had seen while visiting the Aquarium. When Ben had concluded Eberhardt announced that the guest of honor would answer any questions the members asked him. Vic Shapiro, Freddy Baer, A. M. Botsford and a number of other native New Yorkers asked a lot of questions about the turtles and then announced their intention of some day visiting the Aquarium. * * “Grass” Premiere at Plaza The world premiere of “Grass,” the much talked of Persian epic which Paramount will distribute, will be given in the grand ball room of the Hotel Plaza on the evening of February 19. The occasion is the society motion picture carnival which will be held under the auspices of the Film Mutual Benefit Bureau. Many of the larger film companies are co-operating with the bureau in making this one of the most unique and picturesque events of the season. The regular Broadway premiere of “Grass” will be at the Criterion theatre after the close of “The Aliracle of the Wolves,” the big French picture which opens there the latter part of this month. ^ ^ William B. Laub, who did the scenario for the two most recent Jans productions, “Playthings of Desire” and “The Mad Dancer,” has had rather an interesting career in the motion picture industry. He was collaborator with the late Benjamin Chapin on the writing of his famous “Lincoln Cycle” of short reelers which were released through Paramount. Then he was with George Randolph Chester doing continuity for the Vitagraph company and after that was associate editor with World Film, where he did re-editing and re-titling. Laub is the author of the following original stories, “The Beloved Brute,” “Quicksands” and “Riders of the North,” “The Fair Cheat,” an F. B. O. production with Dorothy Mackaill, and “Daughters Who Pay,” a 1925 Banner release. He was coauthor of “Out of the Chorus,” in which Realart starred Alice Brady. He did the continuity for “Pegeen” and “The Mightier Strength” for the Vitagraph Company and “The Truth About Women” for Banner, and now is associated with Herman F. Jans and at present completing the editing and cutting of the latest Jans feature, “The Mad Dancer,” in which Ann Pennington, Johnnie Walker and Vincent Lopez and his band are featured. ^ Dwan Goes to Florida Allan Dwan, accompanied by his assistant. Dick Rosson, left Sunday for Florida to hunt for locations for Gloria Swanson’s next picture, “The Coast of Folly.” This was originally scheduled to be made on the Riviera, but due to a change in production plans, will be made in this country. Miss Swanson is expected to sail on February 18, after the completion of the picture she is now making in Paris. ^ ^ Lynn Shores, formerly assistant to Alan Crosland, has been assigned as assistant to Herbert Brenon in the making of “The Little French Girl,” which will be filmed at the Paramount Long Island studio. Mr. Shores has arrived from the west coast and is already at work. 4: ^ ^ Nat L. Mintz has been appointed sales representative for M. J. Winkler, short subject distributor, replacing Nat Levine, who has resigned. Mr. Mintz leaves this week on an extensive sales trip through the middle west. * * Can’t figure these Hollywooders. Phil Rosen, who has just finished directing Barbara La Marr’s new picture for Sawyer & Lubin, is going to Maine for a vacation. He just wouldn’t give Florida a whirl because it is California competition. * ifs Larry Weingarten and Arthur Bernstein, of the Coogan crew, left right after the Naked Truth dinner for a trip to Boston, Washington and Chicago to tell the exhibitors about “The Rag Man.” And so for some time the Broadway damsels will be compelled to miss Larry’s daily sartorial treat. * * * De Mille Deal Settled Barrett Kiesling, press agent and personal representative prolific and prodigious for Cecil B. De Mille, heaved a big sigh Friday and said: “Well, that’s over!” The occasion was the signing of the De Mille-Producers Distributing compact, and the reason was that Kiesling has been the bumper against which the reporters of daily and trade papers have been thudding for the past couple of weeks while the big deal was still in the air. Kiesling was kept busy telling reporters something and telling them nothing — that subtle stuff that is sometimes termed stalling, and was glad when he could turn the real dope loose. * Jack White is still in town, looking for material for “bigger and better comedies,” with Henry Ginsberg assisting. All the regulars at the gang table at the Astor are digging up Joe Millers in an effort to help Jack and Henry out on the funny stuff, but haven’t made a dent as yet. ^ ^ Rod L.a. Rocque’s mother and sister arrived in New York to be on hand to greet him when the Olympic docks. They tell us that Rod wrote them that he attended while in England a dinner given at SL James by the Famous Guards and was presented to the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry. Rod cables that he is hustling home so as to be present at New York Newspaper Women’s Ball at the Ritz. He deferred a special trip to Holland in order to do so. ^ Graze in New York James Cruze, Paramount producer, will arrive in New York this week. This will be a flying visit for Cruze, who expects to see several Broadway shows considered as screen material, attend to some business matters and then return to the Coast. It is very likely that Cruze will announce his next production while he is here. Accompanying him are Walter Woods, production editor for the Cruze unit, and Luke Cosgrave, featured Paramount player. M. P. T. O. Adds Local Unit in Show-me State {Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. JOSEPH, MO., Feb. 10.— A new chapter was added to the M. P. T. O., Kansas and Missouri, when, at a meeting at the Robidoux hotel, last week, St. Joseph exhibitors were organized into a city association, which will be affiliated with the M. P. T. O. K. and M. The meeting was sponsored by President R. R. Biechele of the Kansas-Missouri, James Watson, vice-president, and C. E. Cook, business manager. St. Joseph long has been the largest city in the state without an organization. The charter members of the association are : N. W. Williams, Electric theatre; Barney Dubinsky. Tootle theatre; E. H. Reinke, Colonial and Orpheum theatres; Mrs. F. Wurtenburger, Empress theatre; M. F. Meade, Olive theatre; John Egli, Hickory theatre; G. E. Montrey, Park theatre; Roy Spurlock, Star and Nickel theatres; W. Lcnch, Jr., Savoy; Edward Peabody, Penn and Palace theatres. Seek Show Prohibition (Special to Exhibitors Herald) OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., Feb. 10.— A bill providing for the prohibition of Sunday motion picture shows will be submitted to the state legislature according to a resolution adopted by the members of the Oklahoma Ministers’ conference and Evangelistic institute of the Christian church this week. The ministers plan a state wide referendum in case the bill fails to pass.