Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

40 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD March 9,1929 Another Epic Western to Be Shot; Maynard Independent Producer Max Ree Returning from East — Beall in Baine Block — Hamilton and His New Figger — All About Norman Houston By DOUGLAS HOGDES HOLLYWOOD, March 5.— With Will Hays' precaution about "silent epic pictures" probably in mind one of the big companies is planning to make a gigantic picture. Public announcement has been withheld; but the Herald-World has been informed it is to be a Western production. "In Old Arizona" has done much to change this fickle town's mind about the dearth of the Western. UNIVERSAL has never joined the cry for a "no Western" policy. Instead, by signing Ken Maynard that company has attached the handsome males. According to my friend, Ivan St. Johns, Ken has the same arrangement with Universal as Hoot Gibson. He will produce his own pictures with his own unit for the Laemmle release. As for the other erstwhile Western stars they are hard to find. Tom Mix has made himself scarce around here since the holidays when he abruptly left William LeBaron's Melrose Avenue lot. They say Tom took a little vacation in the woods and is now East of the Rockies with Tony and a vaudeville contract. Buck Jones came driving past the imposing Marion Building (home of the HeraldWorld) in his custom built roadster today. Buck is no longer a broncho buster but plays dress suit roles and smokes cigarettes. Tim McCoy (I believe that's his name) is in Paris and other educational centers with his family. He has revealed no plans. Rex Bell is unhorsed. He was doing society stuff the other day when I saw him in the cast of a Lois Moran picture. He would have made a good Western star but for the sudden shift in production programs. And Fred Thomson has left. * * * There is the story about Norman Houston who is the co-author of "The Broadway Melody." He went from one job to another until he had been in every end of the show-business. He already had had a few rounds experience as a reporter and copy reader. By some stroke of fortune or forethought he saw the possibility of audien pictures and persuaded Louis B. Mayer to take him off the stage and put him in the studio. That was two years ago. His schooling has ended and he gets his first directorial assignment next week. The picture will be "Copy." * * * Harry Hammond Beall's offices have been moved to the Baine Studio Building, according to a very simple announcement received today. With the move from the Paramount Theatre Building also comes word of reorganization of the staff. Robert Finch bears the responsibilities of general manager, Oliver Garver of associate executive, and E. Steinberg of executive secretary. He has advertised Sid Grauman's enterprises, Jack Ford's King Vidor's, Farrell MacDonald's, Lloyd Bacon's, Annette Kellerman's, Harry Beaumont's, Sam Goldwyn's, Thomas H. Ince's, Sol Lesser's, Fanchon and Marco's, and many of the biggest commercial establishments in Los Angeles. As the saying in Hollywood goes: "If Beall hasn't advertised you then you haven't been advertised." * * * Lloyd Hamilton and Harry D. Edwards have formed a company known as the Lloyd Hamilton Talking Comedies and will produce two reel pictures starring Hamilton. Gilbert Pratt lias been signed to write stories and to assist in editorial supervision. Hamilton's departure from Educational a year ago preceded a long period when Hamilton was rarely heard of. It finally became knoivn that he had taken a much needed rest and was returning to the screen to attempt audien roles. He appeared in "Black Waters" two months ago, which was made by the British Dominion Productions. He has acquired a bundle of new energy and is boasting quite a new figger that makes him almost unrecognisable. * * * Max Ree will return to the Coast by way of New Orleans, according to a very reliable informant. He has recently been signed by R K O Studios as art supervisor. Imposing Array of Talent Signed by Le Baron for RKO (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, March 5.— An imposing lineup of talent was announced today for the 1929-30 schedule of Radio Pictures by William Le Baron, vice president in charge of production at the RKO Studios, Hollywood. The list includes players, writers, directors, musical composers, technical experts and others. Sally Blane, Olive Borden and Betty Compson compose the first trio of feminine stars to be signed. Miss Borden has been signed for two pictures, and Miss Compson for four. Probably the first to go into production will be "Help Yourself to Happiness," from the novel by Frank R. Adams, now appearing serially in the Red Book. Le Baron, while on a recent trip east, signed Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, co-authors of the stage success, "The Front Page," to write for Radio Pictures. He returned with Mr. Hecht's first manuscript in his pocket, and was assured that the first of MacArthur's stories was being written. John Russell, author of South Seas fiction, and John Brownell have been signed for the writing staff. Le Baron also brought back to Hollywood Samuel Raphaelson's story, "My Boy," which will be produced as a Radio Picture. Raphaelson was the author of "The Jazz Singer." William Cowen and Bert Glennon head the list of directors. A complete musical and orchestral department will be established at the RKO Studios, where the synchronization of all Radio Pictures will be handled, as well as all other musical and sound effects. Contributors of musical numbers already signed include Vincent Youmans, Dorothy Fields and James McHugh. Max Ree has been engaged as art supervisor. Delay of Sales Season Is Felt in Production; Only Two Are Started (Continued from preceding page) sion should be reached on one of these days in the very near future. Gilbert Roland will be the leading man. Niblo Starts Audien Career Fred Niblo enters upon his talking picture career with "Redemption," Tolstoy's famous novel of Russian tragedy, the screen and talking rights of which were obtained by MetroGoldwyn-Mayer from Arthur Hopkins, who produced it on the New York stage. Niblo will have a chance to work out some of his ideas for the talking version during the filming of the silent film version of the story, which went into production yesterday at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. John Gilbert is the star, supported by an unusually strong cast, including Eleanor Boardman, Conrad Nagel, Renee Adoree and Claire McDowell. As a director of audiens Niblo has a long New York stage experience to call upon. He scored his greatest triumph "Hit the Trail Holliday" and "The Fortune Hunter." John Gilbert also will make his talking picture debut as "Fedya," the central figure of the Tolstoy play. Eugene Walter Joins RKO Another celebrity, in the person of Eugene Walter, eminent playwright, has been added to the array of theatrical talent which William Le Baron is gathering to film the 1929-30 program of Radio Pictures. Walter will write dialogue for "Help Yourself to Happiness," which, based on the Red Book serial story by Frank R. Adams, will be made as a Radio Picture with Henry Hobart in charge as associate producer. Brown Starts "Wonder of Women" With a moving train as his first setting, Clarence Brown yesterday consumed some two hundred miles, back and forth on a railroad track, while filming the opening scenes in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's new European drama "Wonder of Women." The new production started yesterday is a filmization of Herman Sudermann's, "The Wife of Stephen Tremholt," a vivid romance of modern European life. It will be made in both silent and talking versions according to present plans, the silent scenes to be filmed first. Peggy Wood, famous in "The Clinging Vine," "Buddies" and other stage hits, is making her screen debut in the picture. Lewis Stone, recently in "The Trial of Mary Dugan" and "Madame X" plays the hero, Tromholt, and a notable cast has been assembled. It is Brown's first production since "A Woman of Affairs," in which he directed John Gilbert and Greta Garbo from a Michael Arlen story. Christie Lines Up Big Stars Al Christie has lined up a high powered cast for the Douglas MacLean all talking feature production, "Divorce Made Easy," which is to go into recording within a very short time. In addition to Marie Prevost, who has been announced as playing opposite MacLean, some well known featured players have been signed on the dotted line this week. Johnny Arthur, Jack Duffy, Frances Lee, and Dot Farley will all have prominent roles in the picture, which is being adapted by Alfred A. Cohn from the farce comedy which was bought by Christie from Wilson Collison. Either Walter Graham or Raymond Kane of the Christie directing staff will be chosen this week to handle the production. Both have directed previous Christie talking pictures, Graham directing the Octavus Roy Cohen story, "Music Hath Harms" and Kane directing Charlie Grapewin and Anna Chance in "Jed's Vacation."