Exhibitors Herald (1926)

February 26, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 23 Charlie Murray have been working with real army generals, colonels, majors and captains of the former Czar of all the Russias, without knowing it. They have been appearing in “Who Goes Where” under the direction of Del Lord, at the First National studios, and have been appearing before the camera as mere lieutenants. Such is life in a comedy film. * * * Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, not to be outdone by First National studios, who recently signed Babe Ruth for a featured role, has signed William “Bill” Tilden, former singles amateur tennis champ of the world, and Johnnie Mack-Brown, famous football star of Alhambra. * * * The Junior Cameraman’s Club, which is composed of second cameramen, Akeley cameramen, still cameramen and assistants, will hold its first annual dance and entertainment at the Hollywood Masonic Temple, March 12. Hank Mann has been chosen master of ceremonies. * * * Franklin Pangborn, who plays “Howard Drake” in the Fox screen version of “The Cradle Snatchers,” has another role in keeping with his delightful pantomime. Howard Hawks is directing the adapted stage play, which has Louise Fazenda, borrowed from Warner Brothers, for the lead. * * * Over on the Famous Players-Lasky lot is a ship costing over $40,000 which will Agnes Ayres congratulates Viola Richards who has just signed to play in Hal Roach comedies for Pathe release. never see the water. It is a set for “Ritzy” and has a painted background of blue sky which took 100 gallons of blue paint. * * * William Beaudine’s contract with MetroGoldwyn-Mayer expires March 1, when he will have finished “Frisco Sally Levy,” and he is being beseiged with offers for his services. He will announce his plans, he states, the early part of next month. * * * Excessive rains and high winds (yes, we do have ’em here) last week proved too strong a combination for Wesley Ruggles to combat at Universal City, so he had to postpone a storm and rain sequence in his picture “Beware of Widows,” until quieter and dryer weather, when Laura LaPlante, his star, and players could work in comfort. * * * Elephant Chaperone Elected Justice of Peace Charles B. Murphy, who has charge of the lions, elephants, tigers, monkeys and other animals of the Universal Zoo has been elected Justice of the Peace of Universal City. He performed his first wedding last week when he married Robert E. Perry, technical department employe, and Margaret Livingston, Fox star, will enter the free lance field at the expiration of her Fox Films contract. She appears in “Sunrise,” and “Havoc” among recent productions. Alma Richards, another Universal employe. Universal City is the smallest township in the world, composed solely of motion picture people. There are 14 registered voters. Jfc ;{< * Sets for three new productions are being prepared by Studio Manager William Koenig, at Warner Brothers’ lot. “The First Auto,” in which Patsy Ruth Miller is starred, is the first to begin. Darryl Zanuck wrote the original story, which is laid at the beginning of the twentieth century. The other productions are “The Brute,” in which Monte Blue is starred; “The Climbers,” with May McAvoy and Irene Rich. * * * Margaret Livingston and Alma Rubens, two popular Fox stars, have left that company to become free-lance players. Both have received flattering offers to sign long Esther Ralston, leading woman in “Old Ironsides,” Famous PlayersLasky film, christens Baby Boo, the elephant which appears at Grauman’s this week while the film is showing there. term contracts but prefer to work on a picture to picture basis for a while at least. * * * Marie Prevost, Metropolitan star, having finished her role in “The Night Bride,” is taking a much needed rest. * * * William Orlamond is winning new laurels for his clever characterization in the Clarence Brown production “Flesh and the Devil.” New York and Los Angeles critics accorded him unstinted praise for his work. »K David Hartford, who is producing pictures for A. C. A. distribution, returned last week from a conference with officers of the company in Detroit. * * * Gertrude Astor is playing a featured role in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” at Universal City. She says she is glad they do not have real ice in California rivers, as just at present she is being chased by bloodhounds over prop floes, which are not quite so slippery. * * * Miss Black ton Delivers Becky ” Script to Metro Marion Constance Blackton has written and delivered to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios the continuity of “Becky,” a Cosmopolitan production, in which Sally O’Neil will be featured. It is a tale of the adventures of a shop girl ambitious to become an George Melford, director, John Bowers, Mona Darkfeather, and Charles G. Clarke, cameraman, of “Rocking Moon” — P. D. C. company. opera singer. A modern American theatre stage is the background for a great deal of the action, which is laid in New York City. * * * Clarence Brown is preparing to take a large company of players on location to the snow-capped Continental Divide in Colorado for scenes of “The Trail of ’98.” Later they will go to Alaska for other scenes. To make sure the players could stand the cold weather everyone employed had to submit to a rigid examination by physicians and dentists. ^ ^ ^ Wood Directing Lincoln Stedman Sam Wood is directing Lincoln Stedman and others in a military training camp story, “Red, White and Blue,” for M-G-M. Stedman made a name for himself in the juvenile-comedy role in “One Minute to Play,” with “Red” Grange, and now Sam Wood has given him a similar role in “Red, White and Blue.” * * * Jean Arthur will play the feminine lead ( Continued on page 45)