Exhibitors Herald (1926)

30 EXHIBITORS HERALD September 4, 1926 F. B. O. Sets Production Mark; Five Units Now Working More Companies W ill Be Busy in September Than Ever Before Since Organization Was Formed — Edwin C. King Makes Records (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 31. — More companies will be at work at the F. B. O. studios in September than ever before in the history of Film Booking Offices, as the production boom reaches its peak, the F.B.O. department promised today. PRODUCTION has been moving forward with rapidly increasing strides ever since Edwin C. King was appointed vice-president in charge of production by President Joseph P. Kennedy. Mr. King is credited with putting in more hours of work a day than anyone in the department he directs. Five Companies Working Five companies are now hard at work. Phil Rosen is directing Shirley Mason in “Rose of the Tenements,” adapted from “The Stumbling Herd,” story by John Moroso. Mr. King took a hand in the selecting of the supporting cast, which is headed by Johnny Harron and includes Sidney Franklin, Evelyn Selbie, James Gordon, Mathilde Comont, Valentina Zimina, Lolita Lee and Kalla Pasha. “Sherman Was Right” is the third long feature starring Alberta Vaughn. Del Andrews is now in the midst of directorial efforts with this picture, for which a large number of extras is being used. A. E. Gillstrom is in the tenth of the “Bill Grimm’s Progress” series with Margaret Morris, Paramount star who has played leads with Richard Dix, Douglas MacLean and Jack Holt. Miss Morris was loaned especially to play the stellar role. Kit Guard and A1 Cooke are in the picture, with Grant Withers and Yvonne Howell in support. H. C. Witwer wrote the story. Tyler Starting Another “Cowpunching for Cupid,” starring Tom Tyler and with Doris Hill and Frankie Darro in important roles, is wrapped up and in the cutting room with Tyler reading his next one, which starts in a few days. Bob Custer has started on his new Western, “Two Gun McCoy.” The new feminine lead is Flora Bramley, “discovered” by Jesse J. Goldburg when she was playing in a musical comedy in New York City. Red Grange’s picture, “One Minute to Play,” is about to appear on the screens of the country, as is “Laddie,” the J. Leo Meehan production from the story by Gene Stratton Porter, and “Kosher Kitty Kelly,” for which the titles were conceived by Neal O’Hara. Several Now Being Titled Undergoing the cutting and titling pro cess are “The Adorable Deceiver,” starring Alberta Vaughn and directed by Del Andrews; “Is That Nice?” starring George O'Hara, and “Breed of the Sea,” from a Peter B. Kyne story, directed by Ralph Ince, who also plays the leading dual role, with Margaret Livingston and Dorothy Dunbar heading the feminine support. Undergoing the readying process are George O’Hara’s new picture, “Hi! Taxi!”; “The Wise Crackers,” from H. C. Witwer’s book, “Roughly Speaking,” which will be produced under the supervision of Jimmy Wilkinson, and “Hello Bill,” a picture dedicated to the Elks. The Fred Thomson company leaves soon for location at Mount Whitney, Cal., where exteriors of “A Regular Scout” are to be made under the direction of David R. Kirkland. This is the story sponsored by the National Headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America. National Memorial Week Is Planned for Gene Stratton-Porter ( Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Aug. 31. — Admirers of the works and the personality of Gene Stratton-Porter, noted author, have completed plans for a national StrattonPorter memorial week, which is to begin September 26. Women’s organizations in every state will feature the memorial week in their activities. Will H. Hays and the Indiana Authors have endorsed the week, and Film Booking Offices, which has produced a number of Mrs. Stratton-Porter’s works in film form, will co-operate with the memorial committee. Sax to Take Over Films for National Releasing ( Special to the Herald ) NEW YORK, Aug. 31. — Sam Sax, president of Lumas, which has been distributing only the Gotham productions, is soon to take on pictures of other producers for national distribution, he announced this week. Show Grange Film to Celebrate 200% F. B. O. Sales Week Film Booking Offices, Chicago, headed by Jack J. Sampson, planned a trade showing of “One Minute to Play,” Red Grange starring vehicle, this week to celebrate record breaking business of last week. The week’s contracts amounted to double that of the greatest business done in any previous week since the opening of the exchange four years ago when Sampson became manager. Cause for the rise in sales is due partly to the widespread comment through trade papers upon the success of the Grange picture recently given a preview in New York. Invitations sent out to exhibitors, film men and the press were expected to bring 1,500 to Orchestra Hall September 2 for the preview. Arrangements were made for a full program including the Whirlwind comedy, “Egged On,” and selections by a ten piece orchestra. Clarke, Home, Plans Paris, Berlin Offices ( Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Aug. 31.— W. F. Clarke of Cranfield & Clarke, is back from Europe with arrangements completed to open Paris and Berlin offices and with exclusive rights to a number of stories by such authors as Henry Arthur James, Iliver Sandys, Arthur Applin, Baroness Orczy, and Maud Mallett. He also has the picture rights to H. G. Wells’ “Ann Veronica.” Clarke declared business brisk at the London office. Short features, he said, have not yet reached the recognition given them in America, but now they rapidly are gaining in popularity. Bedell Representing Ezra Rhodes Theatres Ben Bedell, veteran in the film trade in Chicago territory, has just taken over his new duties as general representative of Ezra Rhodes of South Bend, Ind. Bedell will look after the general affairs of the Rhodes theatres, including the Blackstone and Castle houses in South Bend and the Orpheum in Elkhart, Ind. The Rhodes circuit is expecting to enter upon a theatre expansion program, according to Bedell, who is opening an office at 732 S. Wabash avenue, Chicago. Managers Organize in Stanley-Crandall Chain (Special to the Herald) WASHINGTON, Aug. 31.— The Stanley-Crandall Managers’ Association has just been organized to study product and neighborhood tastes and to promote a spirit of fellowship. John J. Payette, supervisor of theatres in Washington, sponsored the plan. Robert Etris of the Ambassador is president. Warners Expand Theatre Holdings; Expect to Have 50 Houses by Fall (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Aug. 31. — Following the success of the “Don Juan”-Vitaphone presentation at the Warner theatre here Warner Brothers, controllers of Vitaphone, immediately set about to acquire more theatres in which to present picture-V itaphone shows, and a chain of 50 is expected by fall. Moss’ Colony here was leased for the purpose, and leases on two other theatres here are in negotiation. Two houses will be added to the Warner chain in Boston, and the Woods and McVickers have been engaged in Chicago. H. M. Warner has stated that as soon as his company’s American plans are settled the firm will turn its attention to the European held. London, it is expected, will be the hrst foreign city to view the bill now current at the Broadway Warners. The next V itaphone show on the schedule will be offered in conjunction with “The Better ’Ole,” Syd Chaplin’s latest, which will go into the Colony in October. Elsie Janis will be the star of the V itaphone end of the program.