Exhibitors Herald (1927)

22 EXHIBITORS HERALD November 12, 1927 Re-Takes Coast Sees World Premieres of “Gaucho,” “Devil Dancer” George Fitzmaurice and Diana Kane Married — Fox Preparing Script for Special — W esco Begins Neiv Drive By RAY MURRAY HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 8. — Two world premieres in one week kept the motion picture celebrities stepping. The first was the initial showing of Gilda Gray’s new starring vehicle, “The Devil Dancer” at the Million Dollar theatre, on Thursday night. This is a Sam Goldwyn production released by United Artists. The tickets for the opening night were priced at $1.50 to $3, the proceeds being donated by Goldwyn to establish a Chinese children’s playground. Gilda’s picture is a story of the Orient and elaborately presented with some especially fine photography by George Barnes. Fred Niblo directed. Jack Laughlin’s prologue with Miss Gray in person drew plenty of applause. OID GRAUMAN’S second offering at his new Chinese theatre presented Friday evening, was “The Gaucho,” Douglas Fairbanks’ latest for United Artists. Grauman’s prologue called, “Argentine Nights” was one of the most colorful and intriguing stage acts devised by this most versatile impresario. * * * Fitzmaurice, Diana Kane Wed The wedding of George Fitzmaurice and Diana Kane was performed last Wednesday evening at Santa Barbara before a few of their most intimate friends. Fitzmaurice is a director for First National and Miss Kane, who is a sister of Lois Wilson, is a former New York stage actress. Robert Schable acted as best man. Among the guests were John McCormick, Colleen Moore, Lois Wilson, Mrs. George Archainbaud, Robert Kane, Constance Lewis, and Carey Wilson. * * * Howard Estabrook, who has written the continuity and original stories for several successful pictures, has been engaged by Winfield Sheehan, general manager Fox Films, to write the script for an unnamed Fox special scheduled for early production. The picture will be directed by Irving Cummings. jjs >fc Walter E. Green, president of Brenda Pictures Corporation, has decided to call his initial picture, “The Port of Missing Girls,” instead of “White Lights.” * * * W esco Starts New Drive Harold B. Franklin, president West Coast Theatres, Inc., has started a drive called “Way Better Than Last Year,” in all West Coast houses. * * * Too much realism in a scene for “Ramona” stopped production on Edwin Carewe’s opus last Thursday. Vera Lewis, playing a character role, was asked by Mr. Carewe to slap Dolores Del Rio the star, across the cheek at a given signal. Miss Lewis hit much harder than intended and the result was that Miss Del Rio was forced to leave the set at once and seek dental aid. A heavy bracelet worn by Miss Lewis cut the inner lining of Miss Del Rio’s cheek and loosened a back tooth. * * * With the completion of “Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath,” which Eddie Cline is now directing for Asher, Small and Rogers, this well known firm of producers will dissolve and each one will produce on his own. Jj< * H* With the arrival of Edward Halperin, president of Victory Pictures and of Hal perin Brothers, Inc., on the coast last week, Hollywood has a new name on its producers list. Halperin will unite with his brother, Victor Halperin, and J. Boyce Smith, West Coast representative of Inspiration Pictures. The new firm expects to start production within a month. ^ Estelle Taylor will again appear upon the screen after several months’ absence, in a picture version of Forrest Halsey’s, “The Whip Woman.” Miss Taylor signed last week with the Robert Kane unit of First National. Richard A. Rowland, general manager of First National Pictures, is expected in Hollywood this week. Several stories are awaiting his approval at the Burbank plant. * * * Claire Windsor signed last week with Excellent Pictures Corporation to appear in “Satan and the Woman,” which Burton King will direct at Tec Art studios. Cornelius Keefe is cast as the leading male opposite Miss Windsor. Work started Nov. 4. * =K * Harold Shumate, well known scenarist, has been signed by Sam Sax, president of Gotham Productions, to act as editorial production supervisor for Gotham. Shumate has just completed the continuity for “Fruits of Divorce,” starring Percy Marmont and Mae Busch. * H= * Charles C. Burr, producer of the Johnny Hines pictures for First National, and the “B” in B. & H. Productions, has decided to make California his permanent home. Mrs. Burr and four children arrived last week from New York City and were met by a large group of friends. Margaret Livingston is about the busiest actress in Hollywood at present. She arrived from New York a week ago, bought a duplex residence in North Orange Drive, moved into one half of it, signed a contract to appear in a Tiffany Production and went to work, all in six days. H« % sfc Carey Wilson on Crutches Carey Wilson, producer for First National, is going to and from work on crutches these days. Wilson broke his ankle in two places while playing tennis last Sunday and will be laid up for several weeks. He has just finished, “The Private Life of Helen of Troy” for First National. Hi H< H« Wedding bells will soon chime for Edna Murphy and Mervyn LeRoy, the young First National director. Miss Murphy announced that the date of their wedding had been tentatively set for Dec. 15. LeRoy has just been assigned his second picture at the Burbank studios. Miss Murphy is working at Warner Brothers opposite Monte Blue. "LJ OLLYWOOD.— Well, we put in a very busy week, what with two openings and a Wampas meeting. Gilda Gray showed us her new picture, “The Devil Dancer,” and stepped a few steps in the prologue downtown at the Million Dollar (small sum these days) theatre; Sid Grauman staged another one of his brilliant premieres at his crimson, yellow and gold playhouse, and the newspaper boys tried to entertain, instead of being entertained, at the last Wampas meeting. * * * The latter would have been a complete success if a toe dancer, a trained dog and a couple of promised vaudeville acts had shown up. As it was, Bill Demarest and Billy Dooley, with the help of a very good Fireman’s band, had to furnish the entertainment. * * * These newspaper boys are much better eaters than masters of ceremonies any time and I guess President Ray Coffin has found that out. Hs Hs H« Neat and Nifty Doug. Fairbanks has a new game in “The Gaucho.” It’s bolo and it is sure fire for suppressing riots or capturing enemies. All you have to do is throw a rope with two heavy knobs on the end around a fellow’s neck and the war is over. * * * Tiresome Wise One I was wishing I had a bolo the night the picture opened. The lady next to me kept saying every three minutes, “That’s a glass shot.” * * * Society Note News wasn’t so plentiful around Hollywood last week. Only five or six divorces and a couple of weddings. One wife wants a divorce because her husband is always up in the air. It’s a good thing for society most wives are very patient because most husbands are inclined to be high fliers. * =k * Cruel! Is there no justice in Hollywood? Louis Wolheim wants to have an operation on his nose, and a mean producer gets out an injunction and stops it. * * * Louis is now working in a picture called, “Hell’s Angels,” but the story has no reference to film magnates. He H4 H4 Famous Last Words “It never rains in California except in the rainy season.” * * * Get out my fishing tackle, Meadows, going to Noah Beery’s fish farm Sunday. — R. M. Jacqueline Logan III ( Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 8.— Jacqueline Logan, DeMille star, is suffering from a severe attack of influenza and has been confined to her home under the care of a physician for several days. Thomson in Mojave Land (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 8.— Fred Thomson and his entire company are on location in the Mojave desert, where they will be for three weeks making scenes for “The Pioneer Scout” for Paramount.