Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

March 14, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 53 Schneiderman Boosted George Schneiderman has been promoted to laboratory chief of the Coast Studios. He cranked on the first picture made on the Coast by Fox. Back from “Havoc” Trip Edmund Goulding has returned from Europe with a grasp of details to be woven into the play, “Havoc,” which deals with war torn Europe. Metro-Goldwyn Bushman Arrives from Rome The Aquitania brought Francis X. Bushman home from Rome last week where he took the heavy role in “Ben Hur.” Akins Play Retains Title Tentatively known as “A Man’s World,” Zoe Akins play, “Daddy’s Gone AHuntin’ ”, will be released under that title in March. Stars Aid in Reforestation Promoters of reforestation in the West have enlisted the aid of Lew Cody, Mae Busch, Harriet Hammond and Evelyn Pierce to arouse the interest of the public. Borzage Selects “Circle” Cast With the exception of the leading male, all roles have been chosen by Frank Borzage for “The Circle.” Eleanor Boardman will be leading woman. George Fawcett and Creighton Hale have important parts. Jean Havez, Keaton Man, Dies Jean Havez, one of Buster Keaton’s “gag” men, died suddenly last week. He was author of “Everybody Works But Father.” Elinor Glyn Chooses Artist for Role Dagmar Desmond, socially correct in Fresno, was an artist who had studied the old masters. Elinor Glyn saw her and immediately persuaded her to accept a part in “Man and Maid.” Educational Fast Action Here to Stay, White Because the public has grown more critical of screen comedy at,d demands less burlesque is the cause, said Jack White of Educational-Mermaid comedies, for comedies with fast action. “It is here to stay.” Offers Five Shorts for March Five two reel productions will form the main stay of the program of releases for March. One each will be made by Bobby Vernon, Hamilton and Walter Hiers. A Cameo one reel subject is also on the program. To Release Novelty Series Novelty subjects known as “Fables in Color,” will make their appearance March 18. The first is “The Voice of the Nightingale.” United Artists Mary Starts “Friday 13” Defying superstition Mary Pickford began work on sets for her next play on the fatal day, Friday, “13.” The first set in “Little Annie Rooney” is a reproduction of a ten cent store in Hollywood. Contrary to a previous rumor the story was not written by Miss Pickford but by Katherine Hennessey. Oland in Sympathetic Role Warner Oland has the first sympathetic role in his long screen career. He is a kindly nobleman in “Don Q,” Douglas Fairbanks’ coming production. Banner Banner Feature Finished Banner Productions, Inc., announce their seventh feature, “Daughters Who Pay,” has been completed and will be ready for release March 1. John Bowers and Marguerite de la Motte are featured. 26 Puzzle Reels Sold The sale of 26 Bert Green Word Puzzle reels to Ideal Film of London has been announced. Milton Cohen and Sidney Garrett of Interglobe, brokers, acted in the transaetion. Paramount Meighan Unit to Florida Preparations for “Old Home Week,” having been completed at the Long Island Studios the unit has gone to Florida where it will join Thomas Meighan who has been at Miami for some time. Exteriors will be made at some small town as yet unselected. “Men and Women” Out Soon Final scenes for “Men and Women” having been shot the film is being edited for a March release. Richard Dix, lead in the play, is preparing for his next role in “The Shock Punch.” De Mille to Begin Savoir Play Clara Beranger, scenarist, and William De Mille, producer, will go to Hollywood upon completion of their work in New York to begin on “Young Wives,” an adaptation of “Banco,” Alfred Savoir’s stage success. Crosland Considers Short Terms Alan Crosland is considering several offers for one picture contract since his decision to leave Paramount. His latest production is “Contraband.” Dress Competition Story’s Motive Woman appeal is worked into the “Dressmaker from Paris,” a picture in which fourteen international beauty models wear latest designs. Associated Exhibitors Terris to Make Series Tom Terris, director, will begin this month on the first of a series of pictures for Associated Exhibitors. “My Buddy’s Wife” will be the first made. Mother Love Basis of New Story In “The Greatest Thing” mother love is used as the theme. The play has been put in production this week in Oregon. Jans Jans May Produce on Coast According to reports from the Coast Herman F. Jans will make one and probably two productions in Los Angeles. He is now on the Coast where he is contemplating adding a prominent female star to his list. Warner Brothers De Mille Find With Monte Blue Vera Reynolds, a Cecil B. De Mille find, has been added to the cast of “The Limited Mail,” opposite Monte Blue. New Program to Start in 10 Days With five pictures being completed Warner Brothers will be ready in ten days to begin producing the coming season’s program. “Eve’s Lover,” one of them, features Bert Lytell and Irene Rich. Harron Signed for Long Term Announcement is made that John Harron has been signed for a long term contract as one of the company’s leading juveniles. Forest in Norris Play Alan Forest and Pauline Garon have accepted opposite roles in “Rose of the World,” the Kathleen Norris novel, which will be the first of the new season’s productions. B. P. Schulberg Von Tilzer Issues Ballad Music lovers may obtain copies of “The Mansion of Aching Hearts” which is being published again by the Harry Von Tilzer Music Publishing company in a specially illustrated photoplay edition to accompany the release of the picture. “The Boomerang” Ready for Release David Belasco’s play, “The Boomerang,” will be the March release of the Schulberg program. It is a comedy drama following closely the stage version. First National Levee Selects Story “Just a Woman,” the play by Eugene Walters, will be M. C. Levee’s next for First National. Conway Tearle will play the featured role under Irving Cummings’ direction. Plunkett Handles Presentation Joseph Plunkett, managing director of the Strand theatre. New York, arranged a novel prologue and musical score for “Quo Vadis,” now playing at the Astor. Hurd Books 100 Per Cent C. M. Hurd, prominent exhibitor of Grand Rapids, Mich., has signed a contract for all First National releases. Chain Books “The Lady” “The Lady,” starring Norma Talmadge, has been booked over the Paramount circuit in the South, including Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Exhibitors Say: Treat Us Like Business Men, and Not Like Thieves {Continued from page 28) W. R. Vincent, Grand theatre, Oconto Falls, Wis. : All exchanges use this method of sticking us and no man can get anything back from an exchange. In my fifteen years found at least 100 occasions where they got money that did not belong to them and which I never got back. Henry B. Varner, Lexington theatre, Lexington, N. C. : C. O. D. should be resorted to only where the theatre owner is not a good risk. S. F. Pirtle, Pirtle circuit of theatres, Jerseyville. 111.: There is no more reason for films shipped C. O. D. than for shipping potatoes, hardware, etc., C. O. D. Merchants get SO and 60 days time on their orders. T. A. Shea, Palace theatre, McGehee, Ark.: We believe that there should be the same considration given the exhibitor by the distributor of film as is given the merchants by the distributor of merchandise. If the merchant is reliable he receives his goods by open, shipments, if not then by shipper’s order. C. L. McVey, Dreamland and Eagles theatres, Herington, Kan.: Any exhibitor who accepts C. O. D.’s is negligent in this business. If he is that close that he can’t remit by check he’d better quit, because the business is too great a gamble for him to remain in it. An exhibitor gets his money in advance and should not object to paying in advance. A C. O. D. shipment is the fault of the exhibitor in question. J. A. Rogers, Rogers theatre, Ramsey, 111. : Cost of returning money increases our expense $35 on every 100 shipments. Lyceum theatre, Clovis, N. D. : If rental not paid in advance, C. O. D.’s are okay. Jno. W. Johnson, Iris theatre, Midvale, Utah: With the present arbitration boards functioning in my opinion there is no excuse for the C. O. D. J. B. Stine, Wabash theatre, Clinton, Ind.: Establish a rating system. Ship C. O. D. to parties who are slow pay or better still, not solicit their business. It is manifestly unfair to penalize all exhibitors because a small percent are unreliable. J. B. Eames, Star theatre, Littleton, N. H.: I believe every theatre should be rated from his past record and those who paid in advance given a rating that would allow the shipment of at least two features open. A. B. Carter, Rasalia, Wash. : Nothing provokes us more than to have films sent C. O. D., also advertising, when our check fails to reach exchange in time. Of course exhibitors who do not deserve credit, there is no other way than to ship them C. O. D.