Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

Af^ril 8, 1927 1253 Rork Picture to Star Will Rogers Charles O. Hoyt's "A Texas Steer" Chosen as Vehicle W lv( )(! Mil's liiis Ix'cii sijiiied by s.iin !■',. K'dik In portray Uu' star role an iidapta lidii 11 plays III • ■ A 'I'l'x;!-. Steer," ■ one 111" the I'liiinctitly successful stag'e written i)y Charles (). Tloyt some years ajjo. Production on the filnii/.ation is scheduled for Aujifust and, thousih the director or cast supportiufj ]\Ir. Kofi'ci's have not been named, it is uiulerstood that I lie ])icturization will be handled by a very pi-oniinent director and the su])p()rt Iiilc I'nles played by noted screen luminaries. Mr. Rosjers' role in "A Texas Steer" might have been written especially for the star. The story tells of a bluff, blustery Westerner in Congress in the early days of Anu'rican histoi\v whose constituents descend on him because they believe he is mishandling their atifairs. Of course he isn't, so everything is ironed out satisfactorily. The production may well take its ))lace among those pictures portraying types of early American pioneers. j\[r. Rogers' writings at j)resent are sy'ndicated to approxinuiteh' 150 newspapers and it is said by some that his voice will play no little part in the conung presidential election. Th(> radio, too. has claimed his attention. Eberson to Design AustraliaTheatres as Result of Buyers' Ciuide As a direct result of the second issue of the Motion Picture News Buyers' Guide, featuring the work of John Eberson, theatre architect, Stuart F. Doyle, president of Union Theatres, Ltd., of Australia, now on a visit to the United States, has commissioned Mr. Eberson to design several houses to be built in Sydney and Melbourne. Accompanying Mr. Doyle is Mrs. Doyle and Henry E. White, the engineer for Union Theatres. The cities being taken in include Chicago, Detroit and New York, and Mr. Doyle is attending not only to theatre matters but to production and other matters pertinent to the affairs of Union Theatres. Stanley, K-A Merger in Negotiatory Stage J. J. McGuirk States Several Months Required for Completion of Final Details Washington Film Board Settles Claims During 192(J, l.'iS claims were brought before the Washington, D.C., Film Board of Trade for settlement, according to a report recently made public by James Blaine Fitzgerald, secretary of the Board. Awards were made in 6.5 cases while in ol cases they were settled before hearing, one was dismissed and one was taken to the courts. Twenty were pending when the rei)()rt was nuide. ACCORDIXd to .lolui .1. .Mctuiirk, presirlent of the IStanley Company of America, who has just returned from a series of conferences held with officials of the West Coast Theatres, Inc. at Hollywood, where final arrangements were maile for the assumjition of control of First National Pictures, Inc. by Stanley aiul West Coast, it will recpiire several nu)nths before the final details of the proj)()sed Keith-Albee and Stanley nu>rgers are completed. The plan, as outlined, which is now in its tentative form, provides for the amalgamation of the Stanley-Keith-Albee interests, including the Orpheum Circuit, Producers Distributing Co., Pathe Exchanges, Inc., and the subsidiary companies of both circuits. E. F. Albee, head of the KeithAlt)ee Circuit, has not yet taken an active pai-t in the negotiations, J. .J. Murdock having so far represented the vaudeville in terests. .Mr. Albee has returned fi'om a month's stay in Florida and conferences will be resumed in New York, where final negotiations will be completed. There are such a great number of interests involved that it is believed that several months' time will be entailed in bringing all of the varying interests to a l)oint of agreement. Harry O. Schwalbe, who was formerly secretary of Fii-st National Pictures, has expressed to Stanley Company officials his desire not to re-enter motion picture production or distribution. His name has-been mentioned in connection with an important executive position now that Stanley has taken control of First National. Unless some influence is brought to bear by Stanley Company officials, who are very friendly with Mr. Schwalbe, it is not likely that he will resume his activities in the motion picture industry. Announcing A REAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT DEVOTED TO SHORT SUBJECTS Not "a special section" of the usual type paradin<» under the sloj];an "Service." But a real service, with distinctive text features, as individual in its field as "The Showman" is in the theatre field. In Next Wcek^s Issue of Motion Picture News i^