Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

2276 Motion Picture News Skouras on Roadshowing Declares Showing in Legitimate Theatres Poor Management on Part of Distributors IN the opinion of Spyros Skouras, president of Skouras Bothers' Circuit in St. Louis, roadshowing of pictures in legitimate theatres is poor management on the part of distributors, and he believes this view is shared by a majority of theatre owners. Mr. Skouras states that, "In playing their super pictures in the antiquated type of legitimate theatres they are giving their product the worst possible atmosphere and surroundings. In every important city there is a modern well ventilated motion picture theatre where these super films could be presented. "Certainly an exhibitor doing business week in and week out with a film company is entitled to consideration. If this exhibitor is so situated that he can furnish a first class modern theatre why should the film company ignore him and play its pic ture in a theatre which handicaps his presentation in every way? "With the possible exception of New York and Chicago roadshow pictures often are presented early in the fall or late in the spring. The legitimate theatre is not equipped with a cooling system and therefore the picture suffers. I happen to know of two roadshow presentations in St. Louis whicli were killed because of adverse weather conditions in the spring. If these pictures had been played in a motion picture theatre this would not have occurred. "The producer also must not lose sight of the fact that the motion picture is the life of his business. Why then is it constructive to throw his greatest strength into the legitimate theatre? To an exhibitor this appears to be lack of vision on the producer's part and it should not require argument or red tape to convince him that he is not exercising sound judgment." Educational Actors Active Lupino Lane and Lloyd Hamilton Engaged on First Comedies of New Series; Other Funsters Busy ACTUAL camera work on new comedies has been started at the Educational studio where Lupino Lane, Lloyd Hamilton, Dorothy Devore and others are now busy on the production of their respective vehicles. Announcements of initial comedies in several series has been made by Educational Film Exchanges, Inc. Lupino Lane will star in a "fire" picture. "Toy" Gallagher, who was featured in Cameo comedies last year, is Lane's leading lady in this production. An entire company of fire apparatus, besides the firefighting equipment at the Educational studio, will be employed in the picture. For the fire highlight Educational has constructed a three-story studio building. (Columbia Buys New Los Angeles Studio As AN outward indication of its policy of expansion for the season of 1927-28, Columbia Pictures Corporation announces through its vice-president, Harry Cohn, who is also in charge of production, the purchase of the Horsley studio located at 1439 Beachwood Drive, Los Angeles. Involved in the deal are extensive studio grounds, a two-story cement and frame structure housing eight offices, a large stage downstairs and dressing rooms and other quarters above. Various producing equipment is also included in the transaction. The Horsley studio adjoins the property of the company on Gower Street. The new property doubles the stage capacity and givs Columbia one of the largest studios in the Hollywood section. Both of the plants will be combined and run under the name of Columbia studios. Charles Lamount, who until recently directed "Big Boy" in juvenile comedies, is directing the Lupino Lane comedy. The role of a new army recruit will be Lloyd Hamilton's first for the new season. Estelle Bradley, who appeared opposite Hamilton in "Goose Flesh," an Educational June release, will again act as Hamilton's leading lady. Stephen Roberts is directing Clem Beauchamp and Phil Dunham in the first Mermaid comedy to be placed into production. Sixteen comedies will make up the Mermaid series with Beauchamp, Dunham, George Davis and others slated to enact leading roles. Dunham has the principal role in "Night Owls," a new comedy of the Cameo brand. "Giddy Gobblers," Neal Burn's latest Christie comedy, will have Edna Marion as the chief feminine player. Sam E. Rork and Daughter Arrive From West Coast Accompanied by his daughter Anne, Sam E. Rork, producer for First National, arrived in New York this week intending to stay for a week or two. While in the city Mr. Rork will confer with Richard A. Rowland regarding "A Texas Steer," a special production starring Will Rogers which will be his next picture. ]\Iiss Rork will have an impoprtant part in "A Texas Steer," which Mr. Rork expects to place in Avork around the middle of July with Ricliard Wallace directing. Paul Schofield is doing the adaptation of "The Texas Steer" from Charlie Hoyt's old farce. Pathe-P. D. G. Program is Announced {Continued from page 2275) Mack Sennett will offer three series of twelve comedies each : Mack Sennett Comedies, a series of twelve two-reelers, enacted by such comedians as Billy Bevan, Madeline Hurlock, Eddie Quillan, Andy Clyde, Barney Helium, Mary Mabery and Alma Bennett; Mack Sennett Girl Comedies, a series of twelve two-reelers, offering the bathing girls in sprightly fun; and Sennett-Smith comedies, a series of twelve two-reel comedies featuring Mary Ann Jackson, Ruth Hiatt and Raymond McKee, supported by the Sennett stock company of comedians. Sennett will also offer two new Harry Langdon Comedies — ' Soldier-man ' ' and "Fiddlesticks," also two two-reelers starring Ben Turpin — "Love's Languid Lure" and one to be announced. Gaiety Comedies — a series of two-reel domestic comedies enacted by Taylor Holmes and Leah Baird. Lawrence Windom is directing this series under the supervision of Leandcr De Cordova at Studios on the West Coast. Roy McCardell prepared the scenarios for the first three pictures. Hal Roach will offer a number of brands of comedies, including. Will Rogers in a series of twelve one-reel featurettes, entitled "Will Rogers our UnofiBcial Ambassador Abroad." Grantland Rice Spotlights, a series of twenty-six one-reel films revealing the best in sport. J. L. Hawkinson, the producer of this series, is now in Europe gathering new material. Patheserials— five ten-chapter serials — will be released during the coming season including : ' ' The Crimson Flash, ' ' a mystei'y melodrama by George Arthur Gray, directed by Arch Heath, with a east including Cullen Landis, Eugenia Gilbert, and Thomas Holding : ' ' The Hawk of the Hills, ' ' also by George Arthur Gray, directed by Spencer Bennet, and enacted by Allene Ray, Walter Miller and Frank Lackteen: "The Masked Menace," adapted by Paul Fairfax Fuller from Clarence Budington Kelland's Saturday Evening Post story "Still Face," directed by Arch Heath and enacted by Larry Kent, Jean Arthur and Thomas Holding. Other serials will include "The Man Without a Face," by A. M. and C. N. Williamson, a!nd Edgar Wallace's "The Terrible People" and "The Fellowship of the Frog." "Rarebits," a series of twelve one-reel novelty films to be edited by Beth Brown. "The Weaker Sex" will be the first release. Pathe News — 104 issues of the news film edited by Ray Hall and filmed by cameramen in every part of the world. Pathe Review— 52 issues of the screen magazine released at the rate of one reel a week. Aesop's Film Fables — 52 releases of the cartoon reel supervised by Paul Terry and produced by the studio staff of Fables Pictures, Inc., of which Amedee J. Van Benren is President. Topics of the Day — 52 releases of wit and humor culled from the press of the world, by the editorial staff of Timely Films, Inc., of which Amedee J. Van Beuren is President, and Charles McDonald is Editor in Chief. Other short subject series will be announced later. 1