Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

30 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD January 26, 1929 George LeMaire, Comedy Maker, Personal Letters Signed to Make 12 Pathe Audiens (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Jan. 22. — G eorge LeMaire, wellknown maker of comedy, has been signed by Pathe to produce and direct a series of 12 two-reel talking comedies. Production will be carried on both at Sound Studios, Inc., in New York, and at the Pathe Studios in Culver City. Casts will be drawn from the best available talent of both the stage and screen. LeMaire wrote and played the leads in the comedy reel prologues for two F B O features. Both of these, "The Joy Riders" for "Taxi 13" and "Sure Shot Dick" for "The Circus Kid" were successful. The new Pathe comedy producer has established himself with many com■edy hit scenes in ■such Broadway institutions as the "Ziegfeld Follies," ■George White's "Scandals" and the Winter Garden revues. He is known from Coast to Coast for his vaudeville appearance in the headline teams of Conroy and LeMaire and LeMaire and Phillips. Many of the most popular personalities of the theatre have worked with LeMaire in his comedy scenes, including Eddie Cantor, Ann Pennington, Eddie Dowling, Bert Williams, Van and Schenck, Eddie Buzzell, Marilyn Miller, John Steele, Ray Dooley, Johnny Dooley, Mary Hay, Billy B. Van, Chic Sale, George Bickel, Lou Holtz and Lester Allen. LeMaire and Conroy left vaudeville in 1913 to join the "Passing Show" of that year at the New York Winter Garden. This engagement established LeMaire as a Broadway favorite and he was signed to create comedy scenes for three more editions of the "Passing Show." He came back to this house with his own show, "Broadway Brevities," in 1920 and again in 1924 as a feature of the big revue. George White engaged him to collaborate with Bugs Baer on several sketches for the "Scandals" in 1921. In Fay Bainter's "The Dream Girl," LeMaire teamed with Billy B. Van in supplying the comedy. Much of the mirth in the first edition of "Gay Paree" at the Shubert theatre was created and enacted by George LeMaire. The first "George LeMaire Comedy" for Pathe will be made in New York, starting at once. Ceorge LeMaire 14 Bristolphones Sent To Middlewest in Week (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Jan. 22.— Budd Rogers, sales manager for Sonora-Bristolphone, announced last week that a shipment of 14 complete reproducing systems was being made to J. S. Grauman, distributor in the Milwaukee territory, to fill installation orders in the following theatres: Rivoli, Two Rivers, Wis.; Rialto, Dickinson, N. D. ; Grand, New London, Wis.; Delft, Marietta, Mich.; Temple Strand, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.; Hollywood, Milwaukee, Wis.; Egyptian, Sioux Falls, N. D.; Delft, Escanaba, Mich.; Delft, Iron River, Mich.; Grand, Brookings, S. D.; Lyric, Redfield, S. D.; Brin, Neenah Menasha, Wis.; Capitol, Rachine, Wis.: Majestic, Rice Lake, Wis. Pacent Officers Deny Producing Talking Equipment for Theatres (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Jan. 22. — Reports of new, low-priced audien equipment manufactured by Pacent Electric Company, which appeared widely in recent issues of Eastern trade magazines and newspapers, have been officially denied by that concern. Officers state that they are producing no sound equipment for theatres, and that they have no intention of so doing. Unfounded statements have been made, radio trade, but which found applications declares the Pacent concern, that the company, backed by the Warner BrothersVitaphone interest, would soon place on the market a new type of low-priced sound reproducer for talking motion pictures. Newspaper accounts of a similar nature again linking Pacent with the production of reproducing equipment for theatre use drew an immediate and emphatic denial from B. H. Noden, secretary of Pacent Electric Company. Noden stated that the company was not engaged in the manufacture of such equipment, and had no idea of entering the field. He also denied the report that any outside concern was producing sound equipment for Pacent, as reported by Hartford and New Haven newspapers. It was pointed out that rumors of Pacent engaging in production of talking picture equipment probably had sprung from the company's activities in developing electric pickups, phonograph motors and allied equipment for the general in the motion picture field. He stated further, according to the announcement, that Louis Gerard Pacent, president of Pacent Electric and prominent in research work, had conducted personal experimentation on talking motion picture equipment and that this activity in the new field may have been responsible for the rumor that the company would soon produce and market reproducing apparatus for talking picture use. It was said that such research work as L. G. Pacent had conducted was entirely of a personal and private nature and that it had no connection with the manufacturing activity of the Pacent Electric Company. Noden pointed out that the company's entire production schedule was absorbed with the manufacture of radio and phonograph devices. No move is contemplated, he said, that would take the company into the production of talking motion picture equipment. To Priests Help in Big "Kings" Turnout Frank Cook, manager of the Juneau theatre, Milwaukee, packed his house to capacity during a recent three-day showing of "King of Kings" by using some very good exploition ideas which can be employed to good advantage in other sections of the country. First of all, Cook wrote letters to 14 Catholic priests in his neighborhood, on Pathe Exchange stationery, stating that the wonderful educational and religious picture, "King of Kings," would be shown at the Juneau theatre on such and such a date and that the exchange would like to have the priests announce that fact from the pulpit. The letter also asked that teachers in the parochial schools make announcements to their pupils. This was done and the show was packed. Another exploitation idea used in connection with the showing of the picture was the placing of two large oil paintings in front of the theatre pertaining to religious subjects. Advertising was done in Polish and English newspapers, which also brought very good results. Following is a copy of the exploitation letter sent to priests in Milwaukee by Manager Cook : • • • To Pastor, St. Ignatius Church, 31st & Lapham Sts., Milwaukee, Wise. Reverend dear Father: "The King of Kings," Pathe's celebrated Film production, depicting the story of the Life of Christ as related in the New Testament, is to be given presentaion at the Juneau and Riviera Theatres, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, January 8th, 9th and 10th. We believe as does the Management of the Theatre, that the Clergy of this City will look upon the event as one of utmost spiritual and cultural importance, particularly as this is the first time that the picture has been available for showing at popular prices. No doubt a great many of your Parishioners wo.uld have enjoyed and profited by seeing the picture when it came here as a Road Show had not the high admission prices prevented. Now that it it within the reach of all, we hope we are not presuming, in view of its nature, when we ask you to mention the event from your pulpit and have the Teachers mention it to their classes. As a man of cloth, you no doubt have reflected how very infrequently a picture of this character finds its way into the Theatre. The present offering was produced by Cecil B. DeMille with the advice and assistance of Clergymen representing practically every Creed, and has been universally commended for its spiritual accuracy and reverent treatment. It may be that you yourself have not had the good fortune of seeing this stupendous production and if so, the Management of the above mentioned Theatres desires you attend one of these showings as their guest by presenting the attached passes at either of the Theatres. 66 99 Columbia Gets Set On First AllAudien, Donovan Affair (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 22.— Harry Cohn, Columbia vice president, is clearing the sound stages for "The Donovan Affair." All but the final cutting has been done for "The Lone Wolf's Daughter" and "The Younger Generation." "The Lone Wolf's Daughter" is only part-audien. Bert Lytell plays the "Lone Wolf." Gertrude Olmstead is the featured feminine star. "The Younger Generation" has considerably more dialogue throughout than "The Lone Wolf's Daughter." Its talking cast is headed by Jean Hersholt, supported by Lina Basquette, Ricardo Cortez, Rex Lease and Rosa Rosanova. "The Donovan Affar," from the play by Owen Davis, is to be Columbia's first 100 per cent talking picture.