Exhibitors Herald (1927)

16 EXHIBITORS HERALD Koppin Chain Books All Columbias Columbia’s entire “Perfect Thirty” is assured of showing in 23 Michigan theatres by one contract just signed with the Koppin Circuit. The transaction is particularly notable, as it comes at a time when there is a noticeable delaying of the filling of play dates. At the signing of the contract were Walter Schaeffer, director of theatres; Henry E. Koppin, general manager; Henry S. Koppin, president; and A. W. Bowman, manager of Columbia’s Detroit exchange. Wings, Paramount Epic of Air, Opens Aug. 8 at Criterion Magnascope Used to Intensify Drama of World War Scenes — Timeliness Augmented by Recent Flights (Special to the Herald) New YORK, July 26. — “Wings,” Paramount’s picturization of the air fighting in the World War, will have its premiere Monday night, August 8, at the Criterion theatre, the date having been changed from August 1. OF particular interest will be the use of Magnascope, process for triple enlargement of the screen in order to intensify dramatic action. Lorenzo del Riccio, inventor of the Magnascope, first used in “Old Ironsides” and “Chang,” spent six months with the “Wings” production unit and now is making final preparations at the Criterion. Timeliness Is Factor Timeliness — what with the series of transatlantic and U. S. -Hawaii flights just closed and other long journeys for conquest of the air in prospect — is a factor in the presentation of “Wings.” Many types of planes used by the opposing armies are shown. John Monk Saunders, an instructor of aeronautics in the war, wrote the story. William Wellman, a member of the famous Lafayette Squadron, directed. Richard Arlen, a World War flier, plays one of the leads. Clara Bow heads the cast, Charles Rogers and Arlen play the male leads and other featured players include Jobyna Ralston, Gary Cooper, Arlette Marchal, H. B. Walthall, Hedda Hopper, Claire McDowell, Gunboat Smith and El Brendel. Lucien Hubbard supervised production. Simple Drama Enacted Against the war background is placed the simple drama the story of two boys who enter the service together, and are swept into the inferno of battle. And then there is the girl, beloved of both boys, who at first causes dissension between the buddies, but later brings them closer together. Some of the highlights are the scenes in the training school, the fist fight between the buddies, their arrival in France, their first air battle, 12,000 feet above the ground, with planes, diving, zooming, tearing through space some afire, dropping to earth. Rogers deliberately wrecked a plane in a nosedive in this sequence. Rogers Provides Comedy Relief Then the scenes in Paris. Nightlife in the “Folies Bergere” and the comedy relief supplied by Rogers are followed by the return to the front, where Rogers and Arlen receive fighting assignments and bomb a French village. Then comes the sequence in which Rogers shoots down Arlen and kills him. Production details, research work, plans for the battle sequences and the care and feeding of the thousands used in the war scenes, were started months before the first bit of action was shot. Several innovations tending toward realism in motion pictures are introduced in “Wings.” In the first place, none of the players used any form of makeup. July 30, 1927 Second, panchromatic film was used exclusively in photographing exterior scenes, thus aflfording more accurate reproduction of clouds and sky in the air sequences. But most important is the fact that not one bit of action has been faked. There are no trick camera shots. Military Experts Supervise There are no inaccuracies in story detail, reproductions of battle grounds or types of planes, as the entire picture was supervised by military experts. In order to obtain the proper background for the air scenes it was necessary to fly over many miles to find the ideal spot; San Antonio, Texas, was chosen. Then arose the problem of building a camp sufficiently large to accommodate the thousands of soldiers and equipment necessary for a prolonged stay. The air scenes required two months to take; 120 aircraft were put into service. Sunday Shows Voted for July and August; May Continue All Year ( special to the Herald) PLATTSBURG, N. Y., July 26.— Sunday motion picture shows last week were declared permissible during July and August, by the common council following a vote on the issue. The vote was three to two. That the practice may be continued throughout the year, is now the belief of many exhibitors here, the feeling being that once established, the custom will be demanded by the public. Sunday Shows Move Grows Near Hartford Managers of several theatres in communities aroud Hartford, Conn., have filed petitions asking the selectmen to permit performances Sunday afternoons, the privilege recently granted by the Hartford common council. Fires, Explosion in Kansas City Theatre Remain Police Puzzle (Special to the Herald) KANSAS CITY, July 26.— A fire and explosion in the Strand theatre, suburban house of Kansas City, are furnishing a puzzling case for police. The fire and explosion occurred in a store next door to the lobby of the theatre, but later a bank teller reported to the police he had seen two men running from the building shortly after the fire. This was the third fire in the building since July 1. No labor trouble has occurred at the theatre, nor has there been any opposition of any known source, according to J. C. Rader, manager. Viola Newman Is Wed to Pandro Berman (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, July 25.— Viola Newman, daughter of Frank L. Newman, director of Publix Theatres, Los Angeles, was married Sunday to Pandro Berman of the F B O studios, at San Francisco by Rabbi Michael Fried. The newlyweds will honeymoon in the East, visiting summer resorts, after a brief stay at El Monte, Cal. Mai St, Clair Renews (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, July 26.— Malcolm _ St. Clair, who has been directing for United Artists, has signed a new contract with Paramount. He will next direct Qara Bow in “Red Head.”