Exhibitors Herald (1927)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 5y Soganoya Gokuro, Japanese comedian, who is shown here with part of his company, is bringing his entire company of forty actresses to America with him, sailing May 21. Gokuro is making a film comedy in which 5,000 girls are said to appear, under the supervision and direction of Edward K. Tanaka, who represents Fox News in Japan. Tanaka has produced a number of pictures and is president of the Oriental Newsreel Corporation. April 23, 1927 of COLUMBIA’S “Rich Men’s Sons,’’ in which Shirley Mason and Ralph Graves are playing the leading roles. Dorothy Howell did the adaptation. Fay Wray and Jannings Fay Wray will be leading woman for Emil Jannings in “Hitting for Heaven,” tentative title of the PARAMOLINT picture. Miss Wray won the role because of her work in “The Wedding March.” Newmeyer Directs Denny ' Fred Newmeyer has been signed to direct Reginald Denny in “Heaven Forbid” (working title) for UNIVERSAL. Edwin Justus Mayer wrote the story and Earle Snail scenarized it. Denny’s “Fast and Furious” has been completed by Melville Brown. Saxe Buys Two More Sam Saxe has purchased Reginald Wright Kauffman’s “The Spider’s Web,” which will be produced by GOTHAM as “The Man Higher Up,” and George Randolph Chester’s “The Head of the Family.” James Flood Signed James Flood, signed by LINIVERSAL, will direct “Betty’s a Lady,” first picture to be made under the supervision of Arthur E. Shadur, studio manager. Four Juveniles Chosen The “young Callahans” in “The Callahans and the Murphys,” M-G-M, are Turner Savage, Monte O’Grady, Dawn O’Day and Jackie Coombs. Rags is the dog. Vilma Banky Wins Vote Vilma Banky, SAMUEL GOLDWYN’S star, has won the Popularity Contest of the New York Daily News. A total of 31,370 votes was cast. Ronald Colman won second place as the most popular man. Convict Ship Shown A convict ship, with 200 men and women in the dungeons, is a feature of John S. Robertson’s “Captain Salvatino,” now being made for METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER. This is a COSMOPOLITAN production with Lars Hanson in the lead. Six Dance to Contracts Six dancers who have stepped their way into F. B. O. contracts are Lorraine Eason, Jeanne Morgan (feminine lead in “The Great Mail Robery”), Jola Mendez, Thelma Hill (in the “Beauty Parlor” series), Eileen King and Sharon Lynn (in “Clancy’s Kosher Wedding”). “The Set Up” is the latest Western made by Art Acord for Universal. Fleck Assists Badger Fred Fleck is assisting Clarence Badger in preparations for Richard Dix’s next starring picture for PARAMOUNT. Fleck was formerly casting director at the Long Island studio. Gwen Lee as Chorus Girl Gwen Lee will play the part of the chorus girl in “His Brother from Brazil,” first picture costarring Lew Cody and Aileen Pringle as a comedy team for .M-G-M. “Starlight” Klieg Light In other words, METRO-GOLDWYNMAYER has purchased the rights to “Starlight,” Gladys Lunger’s stage play in which Doris Keane starred. Miss Unger, the author, is now a member of Metro’s scenario staff. Here’s New Title A new title has been selected for Raymond Griffith’s latest starring picture being made at P.ARAMOUNT. The former name was “Dying for Love.” Frank Tuttle is directing from the scenario by Pierre Codings from Alfred Savoir’s French farce written for Griffith. Two for New Team Two FIRST NATIONAL productions for Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall, new team of featured players, are “The Road to Romance,” which Charles R. Rogers is producing, and Gertrude Atherton’s “The Crystal Cup,” to be produced by Ray Rockett. Dynamite’s Next “Fangs of Destiny” is the fourth of a series of dog pictures being made by LINIVERSAL. Dynamite is the police dog star. Edmund Cobb is the leading man. Each picture is five reels and complete in itself. Warners Speed Windup WARNER BROTHERS has just placed in production “Simple Sis” and “Dearie.” Clyde Cook, signed to a long term contract, plays opposite Louise Fazenda in “Simple Sis.” Irene Rich is in “Dearie.” Location trips have been completed by the company making “The Black Diamond Express,” starring Monte Blue, and the unit filming Dolores Costello’s “A Million Bid.” Ten Paramounts in Work Ten PARAMOLINT productions now are being made, six of them starting one morn ing. Six others are to start within a week. Under the amalgamation of studios it will be necessary to make at least seventy pictures a year at the studio on the West Coast, B. P. Schulberg says. Special “Convoy” Showing Robert Kane’s “Convov,” FIRST NATIONAL release, will be seen by government executives at a special showing at the Norva theatre, Norfolk, Va., during Navy Week, starting May 30. Fox Signs Two Players Mary Duncan, who has been playing in “The Shanghai Gesture,” stage play, reports June 1 at the Fox Hollywood studio. Greta Nissen also has signed with Fox and will be under the direction of Howard Hawks in her first picture, with Charles Farrell opposite her. Weather Tricks Units Yes, the weather has been unusual. Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton, trying to outguess the forecaster, moved from interiors to exteriors eight times in eight hours, more or less, while making “Fireman Save My Child” for PARAMOLINT. “All Aboard,” Hippodrome Johnny Hines’ “All Aboard,” FIRST NATIONAL, is playing the New York Hippodrome this week. This production also is heading the Keith Komedy Karnival bill the week of April 25 in several Eastern theatres. “Cradle Snatchers” April 24 FOX’S “Cradle Snatchers,” which had been intended for release later in the season, has been moved up and will be put out April 24, to be followed on May 8 by “Is Zat So?” Howard Hawks directed, with Louise Fazenda heading the comedians. Hunting Locations Location spots in Kentucky are being sought by F. B. O. production officials preliminary to the shooting of “Down Our Way” by J. Leo Meehan. “Down Our Way” was written by Larry Evans and published after his death. Boyd, Wolheim, — Knights Doughboys is really the correct word for the roles of William Boyd and Louis Wolheim in “Two Arabian Knights,” first Caddo Production for UNITED ARTISTS. Mary Astor has been given the leading feminine role, originally intended for Alma Rubens.