Hollywood Topics (Oct 1926-Feb 1927)

HOLLYWOOD TOPICS DIRECTOR HOWARD GETS LUCKY BREAKS Youthful Director o f Screen Classics on Way to Fame A series of bad “Breaks” during the early period of his movie career has fitted William K. Howard to treat the strong characters he directs on the screen with unusual sympathy and understanding. Four years ago the director was well on the road to success when a slump in motion picture production forced him into idleness. He was known as “the boy director” then, because of his extreme youth. None of the screen veterans seemed interested in a “boy,” so Howard was forced to decide whether to remain in Hollywood and pictures or to go elsewhere for work. He chose Hollywood, and his perseverance finally gained him a chance to make two pictures at the F. B. O. Studios. So successful were they that he was given two more to make. The late Thomas H. Ince then put him under contract to make “East of Broadway.’’ Things were coming Howard’s KELLEY KAR GO. IN RECORD SALES In 1925 the Kelley Car company, located at 1834 S. Figueroa street, astonished automobile dealers and the general public by attaining an annual sale of “Selected” used cars, never before reached by any dealer of used cars in Los Angeles. So spectacular has been the demand for Kelly “selected” used cars, that a new and greater record is the climax for 1926. This splendid achievement results from a steadfast adhearence to a policy adopted by the comoany since its inception, of selling only high grade, “selected” used cars of the finest possible quality at a fair and equitable price. Courteous service with a new car guarantee and as usual, “selected” used cars at a price never before duplicated by any used car dealer. A convenient location for your convenience with a “selected” assortment of quality used cars await your inspection and ultimate purchase. “Investigate before you invest in any car,” advises Kelley. “CALLAHANS AND MURPHYS” M-G-M recently purchased the screen rights for “The Callahans and the Murphys,” written by Kathleen Norris. George Hill will direct. way. The “breaks” were no longer against him. Following the Ince picture, he was signed to a contract by Lasky and under the Paramount banner he made “The Border Legion,” “Code of the West,” “The Thundering Herd,” “Light of the Western Stars,” and “Volcano.” Cecil B. DeMille then saw in Howard’s work a genius for story telling that is not often given to directors and he placed him under a long term contract. Under this agreement, Howard made “Red Dice” “Bachelor Brides” and “Gigolo,” with Rod LaRocque, the latter being acknowledged one of the best character portrayals ever filmed. His latest DeMille picture is “White Gold,” another picture requiring strong characterizations on the parts of Jetta Goudal, the star, Kenneth Thomson and George Bancroft. ROGERS HAS BUSY PROGRAM FOR COMING YEAR Charles R. Rogers will be plunged into his most active year of production for First National on his return from the East shortly. Rogers is now in Brookline, Mass., where he is attending the golden wedding celebration of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Rogers. The anniversary, which took several well-known film folk to Brookline, was held December 27, at the Beacon House in that city. Rogers’ first production for 1927 will be a new Ken Maynard feature tentatively entitled “The Country Beyond Law.” It is an original story by Marion Jackson, who was responsible for “The Overland Stage.” This will be followed by William Dudley Pelley’s “The Sunset Derby,” a special horse-racing picture in which Buster Collier, Dorothy Mackail and Claude Gillignwater will be featured. The much heralded traveling man’s story, glorifying salesmen, will be next. This is temporarily called “The Road to Romance,” and has Jack Mulhall scheduled for the leading role. PUBLICITY MAN WEDS Friends of Maxwell Shane were delighted to hear of his marriage to Evelyn Finkenstein on December 25th. They are now on their honeymoon, the location of which has been kept secret. HOLLYWOOD STUDIO CLUB GIVES PARTY DANCE Miss Marjorie Williams, indefatigable worker and director for the Hollywood Q+udio Club, is staging a big parry nee for the girls of the club tonight, Wednesday, December 29th. Miss Mary Pickford’s Christmas gift to the club MISS MARJORIE WILLIAMS was the orchestra which made the dance possible, so it is sort of a Mary Pickford party. The opening note will be struck at 9 p. m. Admission to the members will be by club membership card; to nonmembers by ticket, and to the men by invitation cards. Invitations for men and tickets for guests may be secured at the office. There will be no charge for members; guests of members, 50 cents, and non-members, $1.00 per couple. At the sewing party, December 20th, the girls of the club dressed eighty dolls, which were purchased by the Hollywood Citizen for the children of the Tuberculosis Clinic. Miss Eileen Anderson won the prize for the best dressed doll and Sheila O’Brien for dressing the largest number, fourteen. Tea is held in the Library Sunday evenings at 6 o’clock, at twenty-five cents per plate. January 2 will be the next. Max Reinhardt Sets Filmdom by the Ears That Max Reinhardt, the famous continental stage producer, may run down from San Francisco where he is producing “The Miracle” with Morris Gest, and hop into picture making has caused no end of excitement in and about the Hollywood studios. Professor Reinhardt has many times been quoted as interested in film production matters and could most certainly bring a great deal of artistry, progressive and unusual ideas to the making of pictures. The belief regarding a possibility of some such connection may have been due to the fact that Morris Gest, under whose management Professor Reinhardt produces his American plays, has made a producing alliance with United Artists. 3 T. N. T. (Continued from Page 1) MOTHER-IN-LAW JOKE In her testimony seeking a divorce from her husband, Henry J. Matson, Grace Darmond claimed that Henry failed to be on hand for his mother-in-law’s birthday dinner. “We waited dinner for him” she said, “until 7:30, but he did not apear until the next day.” Oh! Henry! How could you! * * * TOO EASY Upon her arrival here with her brand new husband Dorothy Mackaill had a talk with the reporters. Among other things she told them briefly and tersely how their romance had blossomed. “We met” said Dorothy, “when he directed me in ‘The Song of the Dragon.’ I liked him immensely and I guess he liked me. So we married.” Just like that. * * * OH! MIDGE! Evening paper week ago Saturday carried a story ascribing Marguerite De la Motte’s entrance into pictures to her embarrasment at meeting Douglas Fairbanks. The only thing she could think of to ask him was, “Do you need a new leading lady.” She ain’t so dumb, Mabel! * * * GUESS, WHO? Headline in paper last week: “Petite actress gets long vacation.” No, my dear public, you’re wrong. It didn’t refer to Shirley Mason, but Anna Q. Nilsson. * * * GET OUT THE THESAURUS Just as if Corinne Griffith didn’t have enough to do the Evening Herald was unkind enough to label a beautiful cut of Corrine as “Priestess of Cacophony.” * * * SUBLIMITY NOTE After a tour of the M-G-M studios, Mile Suzanne Lenglen, the famous French tennis player made the following statement: “Two things, I think, I like best about California. It is much more beautiful than my Southern France and then the women have such slim, lovely legs.” Will the female M-G-M stars please line-up and bow? * * * M-G-M STEALS CREDIT Lillion Brennan in her “Review of. Reviews,” Film Daily issue of December 13, says this about the individual performances in “What Price Glory”: “The best performance of the year is unquestionably that of Victor McLaglen as Captain Flagg and close to his remarkable portrayal is that of Edmund Goulding as Sergeant Quirt.” Ain’t it hell the way that M-G-M gang noses in on everything ? Svend-Hugo Borg, famous globe trotter and writer, is the latest addition to the foreign contingent at the big studio.