Exhibitors Herald World (Jul-Sep 1930)

46 EXHIBITORS HERALD -WORLD July 26, 193U \^ THE SHORT FEATURE MGMNow Two Months Ahead Of Schedule in Short Product Two months ahead of schedule, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's production units already have a large number of the short feature releases for next season in the exchanges for viewing by exhibitors. The layout of short product well into October has been completed. Detailed evidence of that efficiency in production is seen in the reports from the various units making the one and two-reel product. Eight of the eighteen to he made by MG M's own studios have been finished. Hal Roach studio has completed eight of the thirty it is to deliver. Burton Holmes is putting the finishing touches on his twelve single-reel travel pictures. Two of Vb Iwerks' dozen animated cartoons of Flip the Frog are done. The Hal Roach studio, in completing onefourth of its product for M G M, has the following pictures ready. Laurel and Hardy have completed "The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case" and their second production, "The Rap," has gone East. Charley Chase has completed "Girl Shock" and "Dollar Dizzy," "Pups Is Pups" and "Teacher's Pet," the first two of Our Gang's forthcoming eight have been screened already in M G M's home office. Boy Friends Complete Two Hal Roach's new comedy unit. The Boy Friends, featuring David Sharpe, Mickey Daniels, Grady Sutton, Mary Kornman, Gertrude Messinger and iDorothy Granger, finds the production pace to its liking with the result that "Doctor's Orders" and "Bigger and Better" are in the cans. Furthermore, each of the Hal Roach releases have been entirely refilmed in French, German and Spanish versions. Of those from M G M's own studio, four of the six M G M Dogville Comedies are in the exchanges. The first, "Hot Dog," had pre-release key city engagements. The others ready are "College Hounds," "Who Killed Rover" and "The Dogway Melody." Novelty Four Ready M G M's Novelty Group of four varied subjects has been completed entirely, namely: "The Song Writers' Revue," "Copy," "The Rounder" and "Gems of M G M." Such wellknown players as Jack Benny, Dorothy Sebastian, George K. Arthur, Polly Moran, Marion Harris, Benny Rubin, Roscoe Karns and Gus Edwards appear in one or more releases of the series. The early subjects of the eight M G M Colortone Revues are now in production and preparation under the direction of Sammy Lee of "Ziegfeld Follies." The two "Flip the Frog'" cartoons that have been finished are "Fiddlesticks" and "Flying Fists." Hearst Mctrotone News, M G M's sound newsreel with the complete sound recorded where the pictures are taken, will continue along at the rate of two releases each week throughout the year. All the Hal Roach comedies starring Laurel and Hardy, Charley Chase, Our Gang and The Boy Friends are all-talking and in two reels each. The same is true of M G M's Novelty Four, the Colortone Revue series and the Dogville Comedies. The Burton Holmes (all-talking) and Flip the Frog (sound and effects) series are one reel each. The Burton Holmes travel subjects, titled "Around the World with Burton Holmes," are to be released starting August 23. Wright to Have Charge of Western Group and Shorts On New Columbia Contract William Lord Wright has contracted with Columbia to supervise the filming of a group of Western features and short subjects scheduled for early release by that company. Wright, a newspaperman for more than 20 years, entered the motion picture field in 1913 as feature writer for Motion Picture News. He was in charge of the first series of "Collegians" for Universal and wrote a number of original screen stories, including "Harvest of Hate" and "Plunging Hoofs." Ripley Makes Third Film Robert L. Ripley of "Believe It or Not" fame, has just had his third film of a series of "Believe It or Not" Vitaphone Varieties finished under the direction of Murray Roth. In this picture, Ripley has introduced Clarence Willard, "the man who grows." Willard is able to add several inches to his height. Steel Pier Books 73 Films The Steel Pier theatres at Atlantic City, three in number, have just booked 73 pictures for the 14-week summer amusement season. The three houses have an aggregate seating capacity of over 6,000. Theatre Proposed as War Memorial for Women (Special to the Herald-World) OTTAWA, July 22.— A definite proposal has been made in Ottawa, the Canadian capital, for a theatre which would be regarded as a national women's war memorial to seat 2,000 persons and to be under the direction of an experienced theatre manager. Funds have already been raised and a site has been provided by the Canadian government. The project has been delayed because of difficulty in deciding the type of structure to be erected. Firm to Rent Theatres To Show Industrial Film (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, July 22.— "Service Wins Again," an industrial Glm made by the Richfield Oil Company and recorded on Western Electric equipment, is to be shown in theatres rented by the company for use after the regular show is over at night, and particularly for the bene£t of Richland dealers. The production is a talking picture, produced and written with an eye to audience entertainment. It has a plot similar to those of regular screen plays, with such actors as Lloyd Hamilton, Eddie Baker, Neal Burns and Dot Farley. Educational Begins Work on Five Series Of '30, '31 Comedies Five series out of the seven groups of two-reel comedies which Educational announces for release in the 1930-31 season are already underway at the three studios producing this program — the Educational, Metropolitan and Mack Sennett plants, it has been announced. Since the names of 11 stars were announced a short time ago, a dozen more players have been added to Educational's list of stars and featured players. Others are to be added for the two series that will soon go into production. Those who have been placed on the Educational comedy roster most recently include Bernard Granville, Dick Stewart, Catherine McGuire, Jerry Drew, Al Alt, Marcia Manning and Ray Daggett, all of whom will perform in the newest Mermaid comedy. Johnny Hines, who has returned to Educational to star in a new comedy series, will be assisted by Helen Bolton, Estelle Bradley, Vernon Dent, Adrienne Dore and Frank Rice. William Watson will direct. Andy Clyde is to be featured in the first two pictures at the Sennett studio. Sennett has announced two titles in the new lineup. They are "Grandma's Girl" and "Divorced Sweetheart." Nat Ross has just finished directing "The Freshman's Goat," the first in the Variety series of comedies. Baltimore Piwne Concern Uses Films with Lectures Motion pictures with lectures are being used for educational purposes by the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone company at Baltimore. These are loaned to schools, clubs, theatres and other organizations. A reading notice to this effect appears in the little six inch square C. and P. Call, sent to company patrons.