Exhibitors Herald (1926)

September 4, 1926 EXHIBITORS HERALD 29 Sketch of scenic wall at Fox’s new outdoor studio at Westwood, Cal. 150Acre Fox Location Studio Opens; Scenic Wall Dedicated Elaborate Program Given at Outdoor Plant at Westwood, Cal. — Sheehan Host to Thousands — I. B. Dockweller, Tom Mix, Olive Borden, Marines and Cowboys Take Part (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 31. — Fox Hills, the great 150-acre “location studio” of the William Fox Film Corporation at Westwood, was formally opened to the public day before yesterday with the dedication of the new $300,000 scenic wall which extends along Santa Monica boulevard. Thousands Are Sheehan’s Guests Thousands of persons took advantage of the invitation Sunday to visit the outdoor studios, where they were the guests of Winfield R. Sheehan, vicepresident and general manager, and dozens of Fox players. Universal Buys Silliman Group In Milwaukee (Special to the Herald) MILWAUKEE, Aug. 31.— Eleven neighborhood theatres" in Milwaukee, formerly the Silliman group, operated by J. H. Silliman and J. S. Grauman, were recently acquired by the Universal Film Corporation. The deal, which was consummated this week, is said to involve $2,000,000. The Silliman circuit included the following theatres, all of which were taken over by Universal: Venetian, under construction; State, Riviera, Jackson, Downer, Murray, Astor, Kosciusko, Lake, Juneau and Fern. In addition to these the Universal interests have here the Alhambra, which was acquired some time ago. This is the second step taken by Universal to build up a chain of playhouses in Wisconsin. In the near future two new theatres will be opened by Universal, one in Kenosha, and one in Racine. East Coast Theatre Company, with the acquisition of the Park at Palmerton and the Spielmont at Marcus Hook, Pa., has increased its holdings to eleven theatres in this territory. Associated to Release “Flying Mail ” Sept. 10 ( Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Aug. 31.— Associated Exhibitors has chosen September 10 for the release date of “The Flying Mail,” airplane pi c t u r e starring A1 Wilson. The picture was made by A1 Wilson Productions with a cast including Joseph T. Girard, Kathleen Myers, Harry Von Meter, Carmelita Geraghty, Eddie Gribbon and Frank Tomick. It is presented by A. Carlos ; story written by Frank Howard Clark. Mason Noel directed. The “Flying Mail” tells of the adventures of a flier in the United States mail service, who, through the machinations of a gang of mail robbers, is unjustly accused of a million dollar mail robbery. Many stars participated in the elaborate program that followed the raising of the first flag on the immense staff that surmounts the main Spanish entrance of the new $2,000,000 film plant. A company of U. S. Marines, a band, and hordes of cowboys were on hand, and Tom Mix, assisted by his troupe of cowboys, staged a complete rodeo of trick riding, roping and fancy shooting at his rodeo corral. Olive Borden Presents Flag Olive Borden, vivacious Fox star, presented a flag to the company of Marines who played an important part in “What Price Glory,” which was made at Fox Hills under the direction of Raoul Walsh. Isidore B. Dockweller delivered the address dedicating the picturesque Spanish wall which was designed by Luis Usabal, celebrated artist of Valencia, Town Fathers, Light Co. Squabble; Showman Hit ( Special to the Herald) CHATEAU GAY, N. Y„ Aug. 31. — Pat Quinlan, owner of the one motion picture theatre here, in Chateaugay, N. Y., is between the devil and the deep blue sea these days. There is a wrangle between the town board and the lighting company, which has reached the stage of having the town fathers ordering the lighting company to remove its poles and wires. This means that the little northern town will be plunged into darkness. But Quinlan is hoping to install some sort of acetylene outfit that will permit him to continue in business. Spain. An interesting feature of the program was a personally conducted tour of the studio grounds where many of the unique sets used in Fox productions were viewed by the visitors. French Village Seen Among them were streets in French villages used in “What Price Glory”; scenes in Bolivian jungles and streets in London for “Upstream,” directed by John Griffith Wray; New York and mountain resort scenes of Irving Commings’ latest film, “The Country Beyond”; the beautiful garden and conservatories of “The Return of Peter Grimm,” directed by Victor Schertzinger; scenes for “Whispering Wires,” directed by Albert Ray; exterior scenes for “Marriage License,” directed by Frank Borzage; any number of scenes used in Fox Films comedies and many other standing stock sets used in various productions from time to time. Among the stars and directors who were on hand were George O’Brien, Anita Stewart, Virginia Valli, Belle Bennett, Alma Rubens, Janet Gaynor, Gladys McConnell, George Marshall, Victor Schertzinger, John Ford, Albert Ray, Lou Seiler, J. Farrell MacDonald, Dolores del Rio, Bessie Love, Alec B. Francis, Buck Jones, Kathryn Perry, Richard Walling, May McAvoy, May Allison, Robert Frazer, William Powell, Tom Santschi, Frank Campeau, Leslie Fenton, Oscar Shaw, John Roche, John St. Polis, and many others now making pictures on the Fox lot. Officials of the Fox company who attended, in addition to Mr. Sheehan, were Sol M. Wurtzel, general superintendent of the Fox West Coast Studio; Ben Jackson, business manager; Kenneth Hawks and Ernest Mass, supervisors of production.