Exhibitors Herald (1926)

24 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 1, 1927 Casting Directors Association Holds First Meeting Conspiracy Charges Against Pantages Dismissed — Mack Sennett Studios Re-open After Three Months Shutdown— W asps President Takes Office By RAY MURRAY HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 28. — Nearly every studio in Hollywood was represented at the first meeting of the film casting directors, called last week to outline plans for a permanent organization. The new body is tentatively called the Casting Directors’ Association and the first meeting was held in the Screen Library rooms on Hollywood boulevard. THOSE present to sponsor the cooperative and social organizations were: Fred Schuessler, Warner Brothers; William Cohill, Universal; “Bill” Mayberry, Columbia; Jack Votion, F. B. O. ; Nora Ely, Harold Lloyd; Patricia Foulds, Metropolitan; Mollie Thompson, Hal Roach; and Bobby Webb, Associated Exhibitors. The temporary officers elected are: Wm. Cohill, president; Fred Scheussler, vicepresident; Jack Votion, secretary, and Patricia Foulds, treasurer. * * * Pantages Suit Dismissed Charges of conspiracy to transport prize-fight films named in a federal grand jury inductment in February, 1924, against Alexander Pantages and seven other defendants, were dismissed by Judge James last Wednesday. The dismissal was made upon motion of U. S. Attorney J. Edwin Simpson, head of the mail fraud department. The blanket indicemtnet charged Pantages, Fred C. Quimby, Ralph Proctor, Mrs. Margaret Proctor, J. J. Kluxton, Perry Oliver, Morris Blanche and John D. Edmonds with transporting films of the DempseyFirpo fight from New York to Los Angeles. Pantages, it was alleged, signed contracts to show the pictures in his theatre, after they had been brought to California. In recommending the dismissal the attorney general declared there was no proof of overt acts having been committed in California and that Mr. Pantages simply agreed to show the films after they had been brought there, having no part in the interstate transportation of same. * * * Miss Blackton W'eds On Sunday afternoon, December 26, Marion Constance Blackton, well known scenarist, and daughter of Commodore J. Stuart Blackton, was wed to Gardner James, star of Inspiration Pictures, in the Church of the Angels, Pasadena, by the Rev. Clark and Father Wilson. And while we’re on the subject of weddings let us not forget the nuptials of Maxwell Sheane, assistant publicist to Hal Wallis, Warner Brothers studio, and Evelyn Finkenstein, which were celebrated December 23. Another wedding in the offing is that of Pan Berman, cutter at the F. B. O. studios, and Viola Newman, talented daughter of Frank L. Newman, managing director of Publix theatres, Los Angeles. / • * * * Edwin King, vicepresident of F. B. O., spent his Christmas this year on board a Pullman car en route to New York, whence he was called for a conference with Joseph P. Kennedy, president of Film Booking Offices. Mr. King was presented with a Christmas tree, fully decorated, and left, with the good wishes of his staff, last Wednesday morning over the Southern Pacific. * * * The popular Jimmy Hall is returning to Hollywood to play opposite Betty Bronson in Paramount’s newest vehicle “Ritzy.” Richard Rosson will direct and work will start about next Monday. * * * Tom Mix, Fox’s popular Western star, is busy entertaining his pa and ma over the holidays. Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Mix arrived from Dubois, Pa., last week, on their first visit to California. Mr. Mix, Sr., is 75 and Mrs. Mix is 70. Both are in excellent health. * * * Sennett Studios Reopen Mack Sennett Studios, which have been closed since last September, were re-opened last week and three two-reel companies are now busily engaged on last year’s schedule. Harry Edwards, Alf Goulding, Earl Rodney, are directing at present. John Waldron, general manager, has assembled a new scenario staff including Scott Darling, formerly with Universal, Harry McCoy, Phil Whitman, Henry Johnson and S. E. V. Taylor. * * * The Belmont theatre, one of the West Coast Theatres’ newest playhouses, will undergo a complete change of policy next month. The theatre which has heretofore shown films will be converted into a first class dramatic house. The Belmont has been leased to Dr. C. H. Archibald and Ruth Helen Davis (Mrs. Archibald). * * * Several hundred friends and relatives gathered at the Southern Pacific station Immigration Gate Closed; Detroit Exhibitors Hit (Special to the Herald) DETROIT, Dec. 28.— As a result of the local immigration office decision that too many Canadians have been crossing to here from Canada lately, a rather unusual situation developed for exhibitors of the border cities. Month in and month out, leading theatres of Detroit have used display advertising space in the “Border Cities Star” of Windsor, Canada, and other Canadian papers to advertise current attractions. In fact the “Star” has always devoted one page to Detroit theatres and another page to Windsor and Walkerville theatres each Saturday, giving practically equal prominence to both. But now that the U. S. inspectors have decreed that too many Canadians are crossing to the States each day, there has been an apparent falling off in Canadian patronage at Detroit theatres and the Windsor theatres are reaping the benefit. last Sunday to welcome Fred C. Thomson, Jr., and his mother and proud father home from San Francisco. * * * Nancy Smith in Office At the recent election of officers of the Wasps (Women’s Association of Screen Publicists) the following took office: Nancy Smith, president, Margaret McCall, vicepresident; Jane McDonough, secretary; Shirley Moorman, treasurer; Margaret Kimball, auditor; Caroline Wagner, Adeline Alvord, board of directors. A resolution of sympathy and cheer was passed and sent to Elizabeth Riordan. outgoing president who has just undergone a series of operations. * * * The Writers Club will stage a unique New Year’s party. Abe Lyman has been engaged for the dance numbers and specialty numbers will be offered by Clyde Cook, Maude Fulton, Walter Wills, Mildred Harris, Armand Kaliz, Sammy Cohn and Georgie Harris. Tay Garnett is chairman of the affair. Moeller Proposes New Procedure to Simplify Uniform Contract Use ( Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Dec. 28. — A new plan for uniform contract operation has been proposed to Will Hays by A. J. Moeller, president of American Cinema Associaiton. Mr. Moeller suggests the contract be prepared in book form, copyrighted by the M. P. P. D. A. The booklet would be distributed by registered mail to exhibitors through the Film Boards of Trade, the receipt cards being filed by the Film Board. A short form contract thus would be made possible, based on the exhibitor’s statement that he is familiar with the terms of the Uniform Contract, according to Mr. Moeller’s plan. Natural Vision Unit Working on “American” at Fine Arts Studios (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 28.— J. Stuart Blackton will use space at Fine Arts Studios to make the first natural vision motion picture, instead of old Vitagraph studios. Production started yesterday with Charles Ray playing the lead in “The American.” James Stuart Blackton, Jr., has been assigned the duties of production manager with the unit. Commodore Blackton will direct, and Wilfred North will assist him. Fire T akes Heavy T oil ; Janitor Has Close Call (Special to the Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., Dec. 28.— Fire damaged the Strand theatre building in Hudson Falls, N. Y., to the estimated total of $25,000 early one morning last week. The cause of the fire is unknown. Michael Dorsey, the janitor of the building, was rescued unconscious after he had given the alarm and then had gone back into the theatre. Offices and stores in the building suffered more than the theatre itself. Churchill Ross Signs (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, Dec. 28.— Churchill Ross has been signed for five years by Universal to play in the new “Collegians” series.