The Film Mercury (1926-27)

Hollywood, Calif. THE FILM MERCURY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1927 Page Eleven VAGARIES 1 OF — j Hollywood.' By William R. Swigart j + — ■ — 4* HOLLYWOOD CELEBRATES Hollywood first established itself as a village on August 3, 1887, when Mr. and Mrs. Horace H. Wilcox decided to subdivide their beautiful 10acre fig and apricot orchard that centered around wdiat is now known as Cahuenga avenue and Hollywood boulevard. The town progressed very little until October 27, 1911, the exact date, according to records, that the Horsleys purchased the old Blondeau tavern and barn at the corner of Sunset and Gower as a place to make motion pictures for the Nestor company. Following this, other open air and temporary studios sprung up throughout Hollywood until today it is conceded the film capital of the world. It is hard to say just what position Hollywood would take in the present geography of the Western Continent, had the motion picture industry failed to select it for its center of production, but there is one thing certain, no other industry has contributed as much as one-half of one per cent compared to the motion picture business in the maintenance of payrolls necessary to keep this fast growing community in the realm of prosperity and happiness. When the citizens join in celebrating Hollywood’s fortieth anniversary this week it is hoped the Chamber of Commerce will engage the Hollywood Bowl and solicit the charity of the various studio caterers to furnish a good hot meal for the many unfortunate actors and would-be actors who have been lured here by misleading propoganda. For the benefit of the old inhabitants who deplore the lowly movies and consider their presence a menace to the community, it would be well to have Mr. Will Hays deliver one of his silver tongued oratories, revealing the imperative part played by the motion picture in Screen Personalities Paying U. S. Debts Following the recent drive of internal revenue agents to “clean up” old accounts with the government, scores of film celebrities have “come across,” the records of Internal Revenue Collector Welch revealed. Los Angeles taxpayers are obtaining discharges on liens filed against them at the rate of nearly 100 daily, it was stated. However, nearly 4000 taxpayers against whom liens have been filed are still in arrears, but most of them have agreed to pay the delinquent sums claimed by the government. Among those who have settled in full with the government and obtained discharges from the liens are the following: _ Jeanie McPherson, 1923, $1385.06; Theodore Roberts, 1923, $1563; Noah N. Beery, 1922, $438.20; Marion Nixon, 1925, $1.05. ♦ * * Lars Hansen to Play First National Lead Lars Hansen, M-G-M featured player, has been loaned to First National to play the leading male role in the screen version of John Erskine’s book, “The Private Life of Helen of Troy.” * * * Kate Price Added to Metro Production Kate Price, character comedienne, has been engaged by M-G-M for a role in “Lovelorn,” in which Sally O’Neil is being starred under the direction of John P. McCarthy. * * * In Universal Film Peggy Montegomery has the leading feminine role in “The Brand of Courage,” a Universal Western starring Bob Curwood under the direction of Bruce Mitchell. making the word Hollywood known throughout the world and which is used as a household word in every American home. This, however, as some of the moth backs still living in Hollywood may be surprised to know, was made possible only through the fifth largest industry concentrating its production activities within its small boundaries. Jannings’ Picture Breaking Records “The Way of All Flesh.” the Emil Jannings picture at the Rialto Theatre, New York, is running ahead of all attendance records at that theatre except the one established by Gilda Gray in a personal appearance with “Aloma of the South Seas.” Last week’s attendance at the Rialto exceeded any midsummer week in the theatre’s history. The Jannings film has gone ahead of “Variety,” “Beau Geste” and “Metropolis,” three of the Rialto leaders, and is expected to run through the summer. The Film Mercury, in its review of “The Way of All Flesh,” made the following box office appraisal of the film: “In the bigger cities and in communities where theatres draw upon discriminating theatregoers, ‘The Way of All Flesh’ should be a huge suc»> cess. * * * Louise Brooks Added to Beery-Hatton Film Louise Brooks has the leading feminine role in “Now We’re in the Air,” the latest Wallace Beery-Raymond Hatton co-starring vehicle for Paramount. Frank Strayer is handling the megaphone. Laemmle Award Board Increased to 7 Members New York — Board of Decisions for the $5,000 Laemmle Award, has been increased from five to seven members, at the suggestion of Carl Laemmle. The additions were made by the original five judges on suggestion of Will H. Hays. The desirability of having every branch of the field and every important news agency reflected in the Board of Decision prompted the selection of M. Koenigsberg, who is the president of international News Service. Response on the part of foreign newspaper and magazine correspondents to the Laemmle Award idea made it seem advisable to Laemmle to have another foreign representative on the board, in addition to Jean Sapene, publisher of “Le Matin.” Their choice fell upon Dr. Roland Schacht, German author, newspaperman and publicist. * * * Universal Purchases New College Story Universal has purchased “The Worm Turns,” an original screen story dealing with college life, which is to be made into a Universal-Jewel production for next season’s program. ijowtt jjkaj MEXICO’S FOREMOST RIVIERA (Auto road excellent — three short hours south of T iaj uana) Praised by 32,000 last>season visitors as the only incomparable beauty spot of the entire Pacific Coast— -where a select patronage enjoy “liberty with refinement” amid the exotic romanticism of the true Old Mexico. Hunting, fishing, finest beach on the coast, and a luxurious Casino. For reservations, modern hotel rooms ($3.00 daily rate), special game dinners, horses or power fishing boats, write or wire immediately to THE ENSENADA CLUB, Ensenada, Mexico “THE WEEK-END SPOT DELUXE"