Exhibitors Herald (1927)

18 EXHIBITORS HERALD July 30, 1927 Grauman’s Egyptian 2nd"Run Under New West Coast Plan Christies Dispose of Interests in Metropolitan Pictures to PatheDe Mille — Neiv Firm Dedicates Studio By RAY MURRAY Hollywood, July 26. — Grauman’s Egyptian theatre opened last Friday night under its new West Coast policy at popular prices. For the first time in the history of the house it became a secondrun theatre. “Man Power,’’ the Paramount feature starring Richard Dix, received its first Hollywood showing after the downtown run at the Met. The Fanchon & Marco presentation as leader of the orchestra. Many motion picture celebrities attended Friday night’s opening. Raymond Hatton acted as master of ceremonies. Three de-luxe performances will be given at the Egyptian with no reserved seats. The final week of “Topsy and Eva” was almost a record breaker for this house. The gross receipts were $28,000. Bruce Fowler is the new West Coast manager of the Egyptian. ^ ^ ^ Christies Leave Metropolitan The Christies, A1 and Charles, have disposed of their interests in Metropolitan Pictures to the Pathe-De ^lille-KeithAlbee combination. The final papers and transfer were made last week. Cnder the terms of the deal Pathe-De Mille organization obtains the 49 per cent interest formerly held by the Christies in Metropolitan Pictures. Ihe lease of the studios in effect to Metropolitan Pictures still remains, and it is understood that the studios will remain the operating base for much of the program of Pathe-P. D. C * * Charles Neumann, pioneer motion picture actor, died last week at the Glendale hospital, following a brief illness. Mr. Neumann, who was 44, entered picture work about 20 years ago and had a collection of more than 5,000 photographs of cinema celebrities. if if Harry Langdon has chosen as the title of his next comedy “Three is a Crowd.” Langdon finished work on the film and .shipped it to New York last week. Gladys McConnell had the feminine lead opposite the comedian. 'JgL ^ 'Jf New Studio Dedicated The Victor Adamson Productions dedicated its new studio at Monrovia, July 16. A number of Hollywood cinema stars attended. 4 he studio is an independent organization and will start production by August 1. ^ ^ Alice Day has been released from her five-year contract by Mack Sennett The agreement to cancel the contract was reached by Mack Sennett and John Waldron, general manager of the studios, when they could not come to terms with Miss Day over the billing of her next picture. Miss Day will freelance after a vacation at Lake Arrowhead. ^ Mary Pickford will entertain thirteen of the “Best Girls” from thirteen cities when they arrive here on a special train today. Miss Pickford will present them with the largest nickel and dime ever niinted, the nickel being nine feet, the dime seven feet in diameter. They will be entertained at the Hollywood Studio Club. * * * Judgment for $2,062 and interest was entered in Judge Stanley Murray’s court against Francis X. Bushman, screen star. is called “Seasons’’ with Lyon Cowan as a result of a motion picture deal in 1919. The judgment was in the nature of a transfer from New York to California and was in connection with the “Comedie Francaise” or State theatre in Paris. The plaintiff alleged she sent Bushman $3,120 in 1919 to defray his expenses to I’aris for the purpose of making a film there. He did not make the trip and only returned $1,450, according to the plaintiff, who is suing for the balance. Bushman is on bis way to the Orient. Alleging an infringement on patents, Paramount-Famous-Lasky corporation has filed suit for injunction and accounting against Chester Bennett Film Laboratories in the U. S. District Court. The petition asserts that the plaintiff is the owner of certain patents obtained February 17, 1909, by Louis Gaumont upon processes for developing, fixing and toning motion picture film. It was asserted the infringements have extended over a period of six years. * * * Duncan Sisters Sued Clifford Reid of San Francisco has brought suit against the Duncan Sisters for $250,000, charging they violated the contract drawn with him which gave him 10 per cent of the rights to all of their picture productions. It is scheduled for trial August 4. The Duncan Sisters are fighting the suit on the grounds that Reid, without authority, sold the rights to “Topsy and Eva” to First National Pictures after they had sold them to Joseph M. Schenck. Schenck later bought full rights from First National. * * Grainger Busy as Usual James R. Grainger, general salesmanager of William Fox Film Corporation, has been one busy man since his arrival on the coast last week. He is not only arranging for the opening of the new Fox film, “The Loves of Carmen,” at the Carthay Circle, but has also attended meetings between directors and actors as, a representative of the Fox Studio. * * Women Publicists Entertain The Women’s Association of Screen Publicists gave a guest dinner at the Writers’ Club, July 13, to 50 guests. Katherine Albert was chairman of the evening, introducing, as speakers, William De Mille, Tom Mix, Agnes Christine Johnson, Col. Tim McCoy, Charles Delaney, Pete Smith, past president of the Wampas, Ruth Harriet Louise and Frank Blazie. ^ ^ ^ W'illiam Beaudine Signs Immediately upon completion of “The Life of Riley” for First National, William Beaudine was signed to direct “Give and Take” for Universal. George Sidney, who played in “The Life of Riley,” has one of the featured roles in the Universal opus. Re-Takes V^ELL, the producers have certainly been » »' burning the midnight oil the past two weeks, holding conferences, meetings, caucuses and whatnot every evening. They’ve received so many suggestions from actors, | writers, directors and technicians on how | to cut down the cost of productions that I it’ll be mere child’s play to make a million | dollar picture for ten thousand dollars when | they get back on the lot. | The actors have suggested that they re * hearse all plays before shooting. Then ! shoot the director and the author. The j directors have suggested shooting the actors before rehearsing and the author also ; if he can be found. .So far no one has ‘ suggested shooting the producer. >|c sl« ' It has been a great week for statements, too. Everyone connected with the wage cut-economy has issued a statement. The writers had Rupert Hughes for their spokesman, and he gave us his views as a writer looking in but who was once on the inside looking out. Mr. Hughes said : “Too many cooks will spoil any broth, and too many supervisors will ruin any picture.” Mr. Hughes beat all the others in the length of his statement and in interesting information contained therein. ❖ * * The actors’ statement was quite brief but Conrad Nagel augmented this statement with a nice talk and said all the delays to a picture couldn’t be laid at the door of the actor. * * * Been Fishin’ Well, we succumbed to the lure of the ads and went trout fishing last week. Yep, away up in the mountains where they raise ’em. And it was lots of fun until your arm got tired pulling them out. Then we adjourned to a cool spot and indulged in a pitcher of ice water with fellow Guzintas. By the way, our Guzinta Club is growing. It’ll soon be as big as the Dem. party. We’re going to take in all those who lost on Jack Sharkey. * * * The big news of the week — Lewis Stone has shaved off his famous mustache. Four friends passed him up the first day he got back from Catalina Islands minus his upper lip adornment. * * * What’s It All About? Somehow or other I can’t get excited over these flagpole sitters. Apparently they serve no good purpose. They don’t even advertise a brand of soap, a good cigar or popular magazine. It looks to me as though they were just sittin’ like so many ' others, not even thinking. ■ Jjs Famous Last Words “I knew Jack would win.” * * * Meadows, get me my coon skin coat and a couple of hot water bottles. The thermometer has dropped to 93. R. M. if if if Give Barbecue to Open Film Center (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, July 26.— To cele \ brate the opening of a new film center in San Fernando valley, a barbecue will '' be given Tuesday night in the Richard Talmadge orchard. Leading motion picture producers and screen stars will be ‘J guests. I