Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1925-Mar 1926)

124 EXHIBITORS HERALD December 25, 1925 Reason’s! (ireettngs; from BRADLEY KING Screen Author Under contract to William Fox “Scraps” another United Artists production. Comedy Studios Humming Work is speeding up at the various comedy lots. Hal Roach has seven companies working, while at the Sennett lot directors Eddie Cline, Lloyd Bacon and Del Lord are busily engaged in making two reelers. Work was temporarily suspended on Billy Dooley’s Christie comedy, due to Mr. Dooley’s illness. At the Educational studios on Santa Monica boulevard, six companies are going full speed. These include A1 St. John, Lloyd Hamilton, Cliff Bowes, and Lige Conley. Lupino Lane has left for a six months trip to Europe. At Century studios Gus Meins is directing the “Buster Brown” comedies; Francis Corby is directing Edna Marian, Jess Robbins the Wanda Wiley unit and Percy Pembroke the King-Darling comedy. Seven at Fine Arts Fine Arts studio at 4500 Sunset boulevard presents a scene of unusual activity with seven companies working there. Charles Hutchinson is making “Counterfeit Countess” with Edith Thornton ; Richard Thorpe is directing an all star cast in an untitled picture; Bruce Mitchell is directing Dick Grace in “The Ace” and several other units are making independent productions. Young at California At the California studios Briant S. Young is shooting his “Plum Centre” comedies and Monte Week’s two reelers. J. P. McGowan is making a railroad story with Helen Holmes; and Hercules Productions is finishing “The Double Knockout” with Frank Merrill. Two at Ben Wilson Plant At the Ben Wilson studio on Beachwood drive, Ben Wilson is appearing in “The Power God.” Arthur Beck is making “The Silken Lady” under Edgar Lewis’ direction at Universal. Great Career Due Rennet in Serials Say Film People (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Dec. 15. — Spencer Bennet was recently declared by Eastern film people to be destined for a career of unquestionable success in the direction of motion pictures as the result of his success in making the Patheserial, “The Green Archer.” At the age of 20 his prowess had made him the sculler of the 'Sheepshead Bay rowing club. A trip to Canada interrupted his sporting activities. After working for a season in the Northwest he joined an expedition prospecting for gold in the frozen Arctic. Upon his return to Mon treal, Bennet was engaged to explore the Hudson Bay territory for a national railroad commission. Soon after the completion of this task returned to New York. A chance acquaintance led to his entering pictures. In a short time his services were much in demand both as a stunt performer and actor. When war came Bennet joined an early contingent and served as a motion picture dispatcher in France until the armistice. After his return from France he began am association with Frank Leon Smith and George B. Seitz in the direction of Patheserials. He served as associate director on a number of important productions and was given complete directorial charge when Seitz left to make “The Vanishing American” for Paramount. Mike Levee Believes “Sharp Shooters” Are Facing Tough Season (Special to Exhibitors Herald) HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 15.— Mike Levee, president of United Studios, has given out an interview of what he looks for during the coming year with a little more frankness than the subject is approached by many. Here is what he has to say on the future of the independent producer : “The only independent producer who will be able to make any progress in the industry that is worth mentioning, is that man who has had the vision and good judgment to tie up personalities which are establishing themselves in the eyes of the public. A great many people in this industry are called ‘independent producers’ but in reality they are nothing but ‘middle-men’ and ‘sharp-shooters,’ and as a rule these are the first to suffer in the reorganization of any business — and if the truth were known, the business as a whole would be far sounder and better for every one in it if these ‘socalled independents’ would quit flooding the market with the cheap, inferior quality of pictures. “On the other hand there are independent producers who conduct their business along high class, dignified business lines, with investments to justify the support of everybody in the industry, and who have under contract personalities with definite box office values — and such producers need never worry about mergers, closer understandings, working agreements, or anything else of that character. In my opinion it is business suicide for the independent producers to attempt to compete with the bigger companies, ‘all star pictures.’ “The bigger companies have the best box office supporting cast tied up on long term contracts, so that even with money and a good story it is almost impossible to properly cast a picture without borrowing from them, and most of the time you can only borrow the ‘butter and egg’ talent — but when they will loan you a personality, it is on a basis of giving you a ‘row boat for a battleship’ — so ‘Remember the Maine’ !” Large Film Building Planned for Detroit ( Special to Exhibitors Herald) DETROIT, MICH., Dec. 15.— A new film building is to be built here on Cass avenue near the Fox and Paramount exchanges. It will be large enough to house all the national and independent exchanges. NATIONAL EVANS FILM LABORATORIES, Inc. The largest and most complete motion picture Laboratory in America respectfully solicits your business. Ownership Supervision Executive Offices: 1476 Broadway, N. Y. C. Bryant 9330-9331 Laboratories: Ft. Lee, N. J. Ft. Lee 1660-1661 TOM EVANS— MARK M. DINTENFASS