Exhibitors Herald (1927)

22 EXHIBITORS HERALD December 31, 1927 No Slack in Production This Midwinter Declares Lasky Differences Over Script Bring Cancellation of Ludwig Berger s Contract JFith Fox — First National Sending Newman to Berlin By RAY MURRAY HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 28. — There will be no slowing down of production at the larger studios according to Jesse L. Lasky, president of the Motion Picture Producers Association, who has just arrived on the Coast from New York. “There is greater sanity in production than ever before,” Mr. Lasky said. “The present season, usually characterized by a between-year slackening as old programs are completed and new ones just begun will find a quicker recovery than any in the past.” ‘‘FpOR example,” Mr. Lasky continued J7 ‘Sve have at the Paramount studio thirty pictures now being edited, photographed, or in story preparation. Never before at this time of year has the company been so active.” This is Mr. Lasky’s annual trip to Hollywood which he makes at this time of year for the purpose of planning all phases of the product for the coming fiscal year. He will remain on the Coast several weeks. * * * * Fox Lets Berger Out The Fox studios cancelled its contract with Ludwig Berger, German director, last week. Dr. Berger came to Hollywood to direct a picture entitled “Don’t Marry,” and it was stated at the Fox studio that the executives did not like Berger’s ideas of the story and that rather than proceed with the production of a picture upon which the studio and director could not agree, it was decided best to make a cash settlement with the German director and cancel his contract. The legal details were completed and signed Wednesday. Jack Blystone of the Fox forces will direct “Don’t Marry.” * * * Joseph M. Schenck, president of United Artists Corporation, returned to Hollywood last week after an absence of five months in the East. Upon his arrival Mr. Schenck inspected the new United Artists theatre, which opened last Monday with Mary Pickford’s picture “My Best Girl.” * * * Netvnum Sent to Berlin E. deB. Newman, assistant to Watterson R. Rothacker, managing director of First National studios at Burbank, has been made assistant to Ray Rockett, now at First National studios in Berlin. Newman’s promotion is in accord with Rothacker’s stated policy of elevating the men within the ranks of the organization. He will sail from New York January 5. * * * Lewis Milestone, youthful director of " Two Arabian Knights” will handle the megaphone on Thomas Meighan’s next picture. Howard Hughes, president of the Caddo Company, who recently signed Meighan to make two pictures for Paramount, has announced that 61ming will begin about February 1. Milestone and Meighan are now conferring on a story. The Caddo Company is at present completing’s “Hell’s Angeles” for United Artists, with Luther Reed directing. * * * F. Harmon Weight’s Christmas gift to the members of the cast of “Midnight Madness,” which he is directing for Pathe-DeMille, was a completion ticket two days before the holiday. * * * Ralph Ince, F B O director, has been sued by the Edgemont Publishing Com pany, which has taken an assignment of claims of Sig Schlager and Wid Gunning, for $400, said to be the balance due on a contract for work and publicity. Another suit against Ince has been filed by the same plaintiff in which it is charged $998 is due to unpaid. Ince questions the value of the publicity. * * * Leo M. Harvey, real estate operator, and Sol Lesser, president Principal Theatres Corporation, have organized a realty ownership and theatre construction company to be known as Western States Building Corporation, which plans to purchase properties in cities of about 15,000 throughout the country and to erect modern theatres thereon. These will be operated by Principal Theatres Corporation of America, with headquarters in Los Angeles. * * * Diana Miller, well known motion picture actress, and wife of George Melford. Universal director, died Dec. 18, at the Pottenger Sanitarium, Monrovia, Cal., following an illness of over a year. Funeral services were held last Thursday. Many 61m celebrities and friends attended. * * * “The Sunset Legion” will be Fred Thomson’s next Paramount production. The story was written by Frank M. Clifton and will be directed by Lloyd Ingraham and Alfred L. Werker, who co-directed the last Thomson opus, “The Pioneer Scout.” * * * Rita Hoyt, said to be a protege of Belle Bennett, who has been appearing in pictures here since leaving the “Greenwich Village Follies” company, was married last week to Harry Collins, former New York newspaper man. Rev. Hervey C. Parke, vicar of the Church of the Angeles, Pasadena, performed the ceremony. * * * John S. Robertson, former M-G-M director, returned last week after a two months’ trip through Europe. Robertson, who has been studying foreign motion picture production, still thinks California is the greatest place in the world for that business. * * * The Business Center Association of Los Angeles tendered members of the United Artists Corporation a dinner at the Commercial Club last Tuesday, as a token of appreciation of what the opening of the new United Artists Theatre means to South Broadway. Among the speakers of the evening were Joseph M. Schenck, I. C. Freud, Mary Pickford, Orra E. Monnette, of the Bank of Italy, Rev. Dr. E. B. Bachus, William M. Garland, Sid Grauman, Douglas Fairbanks, and Irving Berlin. * * * Garrett Fort, who has written a new Re-Takes UOLLYWOOD.-' Well, the Merry Old Christmas has come and gone and a whole year of happy days stares us in the face. We want to thank the 999 who showered us with cards and wish them the same. Also thanks for the lovely gifts. * * * The producers handed the free lance actors a new standard contract for Christmas. Now all the actors have to do is get a job and try out the piece of paper. * * * Annual Event The merry game of picking the ten best pictures is in full swing. If you want to get somebody sore at you just leave their pet picture out of your list. * * * Not Fox Publicity We have it on pretty good authority that those “Fox” notes written in a recent kidnaping case in Los Angeles were not intended as publicity stunts. * * * Tuff on Dad Pity the poor Hollywood fathers who have to lug home Xmas trees on hot afternoons like these. (This was written before Christmas.) * * * Crazy Tailor That Philadelphia crank who is cutting buttons off of coats, is probably some cleaning establishment’s employe trying to match up an overcoat button. * * * Lots of Smokes Excuse us if we smell like a smoked herring these days. Santa brought so many cigarets and cigars this year we have to puff all day long to keep them from getting stale. * * * “Yippy” I see Constance Talmadge says she’s going to try the “companionate marriage” next. The line forms at the right, don’t crowd, boys. * * * Famous Last Words “Our companionate contract ends right here.” * * * How long is that turkeyhash going to last, Meadows? — R. M. stage play, left last week for New York to supervise its rehearsal and presentation on Broadway. * * * Leo Meehan, F B O director, left Tuesday for New York, where he will consult with officials on his next year’s product. He expects to be gone two weeks. * * * Downtown Los Angeles will soon have another motion picture theatre, a $600,000 house on South Broadway. The property is located directly across the street from Grauman’s Million Dollar and the theatre will have a seating capacity of 600. The Central Theatre Company will pay a rental of $500,000 annually on the new theatre and has taken an 18 year lease on the property. Operations will begin in February. Luden Replaces Arlen HOLLYWOOD. — Jack Luden is to replace Richard Arlen in the romantic lead opposite Mary Brian, in the picture, “Partners in Crime,” starring Beery and Hatton.