The Film Daily (1927)

JgfeNEWSPAPER o/'FILMDOM ALL THE NEWS ALLTHE TIME VOL. XL No. 34 Tuesday, May 10, 1927 Price 5 Cents 58 FROM PIRST NATL; 13 TO BE SPECIALS Company's Heavy Schedule Headed by Talmadge in "Camille" Thirteen specials, a number of which, it is promised, will warrant roadshowing, and 45 star and feature productions will be released by First National during 1927-28. This is the biggest release list ever planned by the company and will be known as the Showman Group. Norma Talmadge in "Camille," an adaptation of the Alexander Dumas play, heads the list of specials. It now is playing a pre-release New York run at the Globe. Gilbert Roland plays opposite the star in this picture, which Fred Nibte direcud George Fitzmaurice will direct Colleen Moore in an adaptation of "Lilac Time," from the stage play of the same name. "Breakfast Before Sunrise," from a French play by Andre Baribea, will be Constance Talmadge's contribution to First National specials next year. Mai St. Clair will direct, while Don Alvarado, her new leading man, plays opposite. Another special is "The Patent (Continued on page 2) Not in Theater Field Chicago — F. B. O., as heretofore, will remain out of the theater field, Joseph J. Kennedy, president, stated at the company's second sales convention which on- d here Saturday. Managers and salesmen from 16 Middle West states and Canada are in attendance. F. B. O. does not intend to coni (Continued on Page 6) Child Law Solution of Nassau County Mineola — Every theater will have a matron on duty to protect and safeguard children, under terms of an agreement reached between the Long Island Theater Owners Assn. and the district attorney's office. Consent cards are being sent to parents for signature authorizing attendance of the child or children at the theater. The organization's agreement makes it legal for children under 16 to attend theaters unaccompanied. BIRMINGHAM FIRST RUN, STEfD HOUSES POOLED Pantages Gets Foothold in City by Firm Which Has Eight Theaters Birmingham. — Pan-Ala Amusement Co. has been formed as Birmingham's largest theatrical combination. The house unites the suburban houses of Joe Steed and the Bijou in a deal which brings Pantages vaudeville to this city. Its introduction marks an important step in the expansion program of the (Continued on Page 6) BENEFITS GO OVER TOP EARLY RETURNS SHOW Unprecedented success for the special benefit shows given throughout the nation for flood victims is indicated in early reports reaching New York. While in most instances, detailed figures on the grosses obtained, have not been received, distributor-theater operators are gratified at the showing made in practically all sections. Loew's was the only office where out-of-town figures had been received. In some instances, on suggestion of (Continued on page 5) Paramount Dividend Paramount directors yesterday declared the regular quarterly dividend of $2 per share on the common, payable June 1. Lubitsch Sails Thursday Ernest Lubitsch arrives in New York today and sails Thursday for Germany, where he will complete "Old Heidelberg" for M-G-M. Third "Collegians" Series Universal City — Carl Laemmle, Jr., who wrote and supervised the first series of ten two-reelers, "The Collegians," and who is now working on the second series, announces there will be a third series. Pettijohn and Johnson Back C. C. Pettijohn, general counsel of Film Boards of Trade, and E. Bruce Johnson, head of First National's foreign department, return today from Europe. Sympathetic Attitude Toward Chains Seen at Convention Tornado's Toll St. Louis — Garland and Nevada, Tex., Mexico and other Missouri, Kansas and Texas cities suffered severe loss of life and property damage in a tornado which dipped across the three states. Fifty persons are reported to have been killed by the twister. CONTRACT CHANGES AT EXHIBITOR MEET Roadshow and "Protection" Demands of Northwest Unit Included Consideration of new clauses for the uniform contract, which are understood to be proposed by both distributors and exhibitors, will be given at the meeting of the exhibitor advisory committee scheduled tomorrow. Among the clauses will be one, offered by the Northwest Exhibitor Association, calling for elimination of the practice of roadshowing pictures (Continued on Page 6) Ready for Golf Surely no rain now! The Committee in charge of the Spring Film Golf Tournament is making arrangements with Arthur W. Stebbins for rain insurance to cover the tournament at Sound View tomorrow morning. In the event of heavy rain (but it won't you know) the insurance protection will serve to meet the expenses incurred. The Committee yesterday took inventory of the prizes which go to the winners at the termination of the (Continued on page 5) Paramount in Accord Foreign Service, THE FILM DAILY Berlin — Paramount will keep its contracts with Ufa as long as that company lives up to its part of the agreement, Adolph Zukor said here prior to his departure from Budapest with Al Kaufman and Ike Blumenthal. M.P.T.O.A. Opposes Any "Unjust Condemnation" of Circuits Chain theaters and absorptions will be one of the chief topics under discussion at the Columbus, O., convention of the M.P.T.O.A. June 7-9, but a new attitude in consideration of them may be disclosed, according to M. J. O'Toole, business manager of the organization. Sympathetic consideration of them as an inevitable circumstance in the evolution of the industry may mark the convention, he declared. Members, he said, should not become panicky nor unduly alarmed, but should look at the question of chain theaters (Continued on Page 6) Saxe Plans 43rd Appleton, Wis. — Construction of a $5(10.000 theater will be started here shortly after July 1 by Saxe. The entire building will be devoted to a theater with a seating capacity of at least 2.000 and a stage fully equipped and large enough to accommodate a company of 100 actors. It is expected that it will take eight months to build the theater and that it will open perhaps in March, 1928. Saxe operates 42 theaters in Wisconsin and will open four more within the next few months. Three of the theaters under construction are in Milwaukee and one is in Madison. Saxe now has five theaters in the Fox River valley, at Green Bay, Menasha, Neenah, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. J. A. German Production? Berlin — United Artists stars are considering seriously the production of pictures in Germany, according to Morris Gest. Fighting Tax Bill Madison, Wis. — Sen. Oscar H. Morris of Milwaukee is leading the fight against the bill which would place a five per cent tax on amusements. He brands the measure as "double taxation," declaring "the poor man would have to pay the tax." 64 on Enterprise List Atlanta — Sixty-four features and 40 omedies will comprise the 1927-28 eleasing schedule of Enterprise Film Corp.