Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1928)

March 3, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 2. 5 K-A Gets Interest in F B O; Provides 700-Theatre Outlet Deal Follows Kennedy's Association with Pathe Warners Releasing Six Films By June to End Year's Lot (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 28.— Sam E. .Morris, general manager of distribution for Warner Brothers, has announced a complete schedule of release dates for the remainder of the pictures on the 192728 program. Six to reach exhibitors during March, April, and May will round out the total of 26 for this year. They will be released as follows : March 10, "Powder My Back," starring Irene Rich; March 24, "Domestic Troubles," starrin? Louise Fazenda and Clyde Sam E Morris Cook; April 7, "The Crimson City," featuring Myrna Loy and John Miljan; April 21, "Five and Ten Cent Annie," starring Louise Fazenda and Clyde Cook; May 5, "Rinty of the Desert," starring Rin-Tin-Tin ; May 19, "Pay as You Enter," starring Louise Fazenda and Clyde Cook. Aid Bergquist, Cameraman, Third to Die as Death Stalks Amid Fox Group ( Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 28.— Death, for the third time, has entered the ranks of the company making "The Sport Girl," a Fox picture. R. J. Bergquist, cameraman, was mortally injured last Wednesday afternoon, while enroute to Ocean Park for a scene, when the auto in which he was riding struck another rir on Santa Monica Avenue, Beverly Hills. Bergquist died three hours later at Good Samaritan Hospital. Thomas Haggerty, an electrician, fell from a parallel at the studio a week ago while working with the company, and Reginald Morris, who prepared the script for the picture, was found dead in his apartment in Hollywood ten days ago. Arthur Rosson is directing and Madge Bellamy is the star of the picture. James Zabin Joins Advertising Agency ( Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 28.— Tames Barton Zabin announces that he has accepted a position as a member of the Hanff-Metzger Advertising Agency. He was formerly connected with I'nited Artists Corporation. Warren Lewis Rejoins Warner Bros. Ad Staff ( Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, Feb. 28.— Warren Lewis, who was formerly connected with the advertising force of Warner Brothers, has rejoined the department. "in Reorganizing Certain Branches" with Which K-A Is Affiliated Is Called Aim (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) New York, Feb. 28. — Keith-Albee-Orpheum has acquired an interest in F B O. Official announcement of the deal yesterday adds that the arrangement "brings together on the board of directors of F B O the combined interests of four great organizations, Joseph P. Kennedy and his associates, the Keith-AlbeeOrpheum group, representatives of the Radio Corporation of America, and the General Electric Company." Provides F B O Big Outlet Mr. Kennedy, frankly elated at the success of the negotiations, said, "The deal speaks for itself. It gives F B O a tremendous outlet for its product and provides the Keith-Albee-Orpheum interests with a product they can rely upon day in and day out." The K-A-O chain is estimated at 700 theatres, with a total daily seating capacity exceeding 2.000,000. While Mr. Kennedy recently became asso States and Canada, with a total daily seating ciated with Pathe, which now is affiliated with capacity of over two million. K-A-0 circuit, the new arrangement does not mean that F B O will unite with the PatheDe Mille organization, which has been joined to K-A-0 for some months. Mark A. Leuscher, spokesman for the vaudeville interests, said that both motion picture organizations will be allied with the vaudeville group, but not to each other, as each will retain its separate entity. The announcement of the F B O — K-A-0 deal states that the officials of Keith-AlbeeOrpheum "no doubt had in mind Joseph P. Kennedy's ability and resourcefulness as being helpful in reorganizing certain branches of the industry with which they are affiliated." It adds that "it is expected that out of this combination will develop others of even far greater magnitude." The official statement from the K-A-0 offices is as follows : "An announcement of extraordinary significance to the theatre and picture industry was made yesterday (Sunday) with the public statement that Keith-Albee-Orpheum officials had through Joseph P. Kennedy, acquired a substantial interest in the F B O Pictures Corporation, known generally as F B O. This arrangement brings together on the board of directors of F B O the combined interests of four great organizations, Joseph P. Kennedy and his associates, the Keith-Albee-Orpheum group, representatives of the Radio Corporation of America, and the General Electric Company. The Keith-Albee-Orpheum interests have recently merged the vaudeville and motion picture theatres and booking facilities of B. P. Keith-E. F. Albee in the East and the Orpheum Circuit in the West, into one of the most gigantic theatrical units in America. The new institution extends from ortfe end of the country to the other, and controls or books, through ownership or affiliation, nearlv 7(X) theatres in the United Joseph P. Kennedy Cites Genius of Kennedy "This new alliance with F B O, it is stated, is in keeping with Keith-Albee-Orpheum's policy toward future expansion and development, and no doubt its officials had in mind Joseph P. Kennedy's ability and resourcefulness as being helpful in re-organizing certain branches of the industry with which they are affiliated. "It also adds another gesture to the sensational development of F B O under the astute and skillful guidance of Mr. Kennedy, its president. He had displayed a rare genius for both organization and re-organization of large interests. It is film history that he took over F B O when it was in a chaotic state, and through his executive ability and experience in reorganization has built it up until it is today one of the best paying companies in the picture business. No movie scenario is as rich in romance and adventure as the history of this organization since February of 1926 when Mr. Kennedy became its head. He came to the head of the motion picture field from the banking business with a general background in the steel industry. "His comprehensive and constructive direction has done more for the motion picture industry than any other single feature in this country. His remarkable personality and his progressive accomplishments have made an impression on the entire screen field, and the latest association with Keith-Albee-Orpheum is singularly important to the industry as a whole. It is expected that out of this combination will develop others of even far greater magnitude." Tracing the dynamic career of Air. Kennedy through the R-C-A and General Electric deal, the statement says : "With all these various influential and resourceful associations, the outlook for F B O would indicate that Joseph P. Kennedy has just started his real achievements and several other startling public announcements are promised in the near future. "Its screen output is attracting world-wide attention and yesterday the announcement was made that negotiations were completed between this company and the trustees of the Ho 11 y woodA rgent i ne Cinema Company whereby F B 0 will distribute the forthcoming series of productions.