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

1 26 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD March 24, 1928 United Artists Starts 10th Year With Only 75 Films Made Four Founders Have Released One a Year on Average — 36 Produced from Originals — Three-Fourths Roadshown (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, March 20.— United Artists will start its tenth year April 5 with a record of only 75 pictures having been released for 29 producers, or an average of eight a year. The four founders — Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith — have released only nine pictures each in that time, averaging one production a year. /^NLY four owner-members have been added in the nine years — Joseph M. Schenck, Norma Talmadge, Gloria Swanson and Samuel Goldwyn. The largest increase in personnel has been made since March, 1925, when Joseph M. Schenck became chairman ; 22 major stars, directors and producers becoming associated with United Artists. 36 Made From Originals Thirty-six of the 75 pictures released in the nine years have been from originals, 29 from novels and short stories, nine from stage plays and one from a song, "Little Annie Rooney." Seventeen of the productions have been exhibited at $2 prices on Broadway and 40 others have played extended runs, so that threenfourths of the product has been in the road'-show category. Actresses Actresses who have been stars or featured players in United Artists pictures include : Mary Pickford, Norma Talmadge, Gloria SwanLillian Gish, Corinne Griffith, Vilma Banky, Dolores del Rio, Gilda Grey, Alia Nazimova, Norma Shearer, Dorothy Gish, Edna Purviance, Mae Marsh, Madge Bellamy, Evelyn Brent, Carol Dempster, Mary Philbin, Alice Joyce, Mary Alden, Billie Dove, Lois Moran, Florence Turner, Clara Eames, Mary Astor, Belle Bennett, Estelle Taylor, Lupe Valez, Patsy Ruth Miller, Eve Sothern, Camilla Horn, Greta Nissen, Lucille Ricksen, Marjory Daw, Kate Price, Marceline Day, Marguerite de la Motte, Thelma Todd, Claire McDowell, Carmelita Geraghty, Kathleen Clijford, Enid Bennett, Irene Rich, Effie Shannon, Agnes Ayres, Kathryn McGuire, Anna Q. Nilsson, Carmel Myers, Louise Fazenda, Jewel Carman, Anna May Wong, Louise Dresser, Barbara LaMarr, Mary MacLaren, Gertrude Astor, Barbara Bedford. Directors Directors who have made films for United Artists release include: Charles Chaplin, David Wark Griffith, Ernst Lubitsch, Herbert Brenon, Fred Niblo, Raoul Walsh, Josef von Sternberg, Lewis Milestone, Edwin Carewe, Mack Sennett, Henry King, George Mitzmaurice, Albert Parker, Roland West, Marshall Neilan, James Cruze, Victor Fleming, Clarence Brown, Allan Dwan, John S. Robertson, Sam Taylor, Donald Crisp, Luther Reed, Alan CrosUnd, F. Richard Jones, Arthur Rosson, Graham Wilcox, Jack Pickford, Buster Keatop, John Dillon, Paul Powell, Charles F. Reisner, James W. Horne, Sam de Grasse, Charles Bryant, William Beaudine. Actors Actors either starred or featured in United Artists pictures since 1919, include: Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, John Barrymore, Ronald Colman, Adolphe Menjou, Louis Wolheim, Rudolph Valentino, Buster Keaton, Lionel Barrymore, Richard Barthelmess, William S. Hart, H. B. Warner, Alfred Lunt, Jack Pickford, Wallace Beery, Wallace Reid, William Haines, Joseph Schildkraut, Don Alvarado, Jean Hersholt, Conrad Veidt, George K. Arthur, Karl Dane, Ben Lyon, Tyrone Power, William Boyd, Noah Beery, Hobart Bosworth, Gilbert Roland, Nils Asther, Holbrook Blinn, Ben Turpin, Ivor Norvello, Lowell Sherman, Gibson Rowland, Lupino Lane, H. B. Walthall, Monte Blue, Charles Ray, Charles Emmett Mack, Robert Harron, Matt Moore, Neil Hamilton, Tully Marshall, John Boles, Lloyd Hughes, Clive Brook, W. C. Fields, George Cooper, Montagu Love, Warner Baxter, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Ernest Torrence, David Torrence, George Walsh, Henry Hull, George Fawcett, John Bowers, James Hall, Marc MacDermott, Donald Crisp, Creighton Hale, George Sidney, Alexander Carr, Sojin, Ralph Graves, Mack Swain, Walter Long. Alany of the 75 pictures have been revived several times. Montreal Managers Hold Annual Frolic and Dance (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) MONTREAL, March 20.— The Montreal Theatre Managers' Association, Inc., held its third annual dance and frolic on March 8. More than 300 couples were present. Many professional performers contributed their services to make the affair an enjoyable one. KNOW YOUR SALES LEADERS J REGINALD WILSON, domestic salesmanager for Educational Film Exchanges, Inc., grew up in the film industry with Educational, for his • first job with a motion picture concern was as shipper at the New York branch of this company. THAT was back in 1919 when the actual nationalizing of the present organization of Educational was in progress. It was Wilson's first position after leaving the Royal Air Force following many months of active service overseas as an aviator. And that he made good with this organization is attested by the fact that he rose in the ranks from a shipping clerk to head of the domestic sales department in less than nine years' time. Wilson left his duties as shipper to try his hand at selling Educational's product in and around New York and Northern New Jersey. During the time that new exchanges were being organized in many cities throughout the country, he was periodically sent out to visit them as each one was formed. His activity along these lines was so successful that Wilson was named as assistant to the salesmanager. He served in this capacity until December 1925 when he was appointed to the present position. In 1913 and 1914, previous to the World war, Wilson was engaged in selling machinery and power transmission in Ontario and Quebec. He gave this up to serve with the British Forces, and he saw active service in Italy and Greece. Later he joined the Royal Air Force and did patrol duty over the English channel and along the coast of France and Belgium. Wilson next was appointed instructor at training camp and served in this capacity as lieutenant until 1919. Wilson is a graduate of St. Andrew's College, Toronto. He was born at Belleville, Ont. He is married and has a son. Rex, who is 9 years old. The Wilsons live at Cos Cob, Conn., a short distance from New York City. J. REGINALD WILSON Sam Sax Buys Stories for Gotham's Complete 1928-29 Program of 30 NEW YORK, March 20.— Sam Sax, president of Gotham, announces that he purchased the entire 30 stories which will comprise his program for the season of 1928-29. The stories are: "The River Woman," by Harold Snumate; "Abie of the U. S. A.," by Arthur Caesar; "Without Sin," by Harold Rockey; "The Hell Skipper," adapted from "The Flying Kestrel," by Captain Dingle; "The Bowery," by Harry Hoyt; "Knee High," by Maurice Stephens and Charles B. Dawson; "Law of the Blue Ridge," by Allan Swinburne; "Pajamas for Two," by Harold Shumate; "Circus Love," by Courtney Riley Cooper; "The Racing Fool," by Gerald Beaumont; "The Ship of Hate," by Kent Hale; "Something to Love," by Adele Buffington; "The Varsity Crew," by Holmby Marshall; "The Night Express," by Danny O'Toole; "The Fire Call," by Adele Buffington; "Modern Mothers," by Henry G. Lloyd; "Violence," by Norman Houston; "Backstage," by Rita Larchman; "The Uncensored Woman," by Laura K. Breckweth; "Fingerprints," by Captain Ira Longworth; "Times Square," by Norman Houston; "The Girl from Argentine," by K. T. Kelsona; "Underworld Love," by Gregory Lang; "Flappers Must Live," by Mayme Millard; "Father and Son," by John Drinkman; "Ain't Love Grand!" by Lulu Baine; "The Woman Between," by John Paul Dagget; "Goodbye Broadway," by Valor Pennington; "False Pride," by Tenor Jackson; and "San Francisco After Dark," by Harold Shumate. Theatrical Press Group to Give Benefit April 6 (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, March 20— The Theatrical Press Representatives of America has taken over the Rialto theatre for Friday night, April 6, for the annual benefit program, with a pre-release of Harold Lloyd's "Speedy" as the attraction. Mark A. Luescher, of Keith-Albee, is a governor of the organization, which, through its sick and relief fund, gives much material help to members who have met with illness or other misfortune. Educational Begins Work on 52 Vocafilm Releases (Special to Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World) NEW YORK, March 20.— A number of Vocafilm productions are already completed, and work is steadily progressing on the schedule of 52 releases in the studios here. These Vocafilm productions will be distributed exclusively by Educational Film Exchanges, Inc.