Motion Picture News (Mar - Apr 1926)

1080 Motion Picture News F. B. O. Month Will Be Celebrated in March With Good Business Prospects FB. O. enters upon its annual yearly sales celebration in March, which will be known as F. B. O. Month. According to Colvin W. Brown, vice-presi• dent, the company during that month will enjoy the most excellent business in the history of the organization. Discussing the celebration Brown said: "It is perhaps due more to the general excellence of the current product this year, rather than any intensive sales campaign that F. B. O. offerings are lodged in more first run houses during March than ever before." The following list of productions figure prominently for the month: "When Love Grows Cold" with Natacha Rambova (Mrs. Rudolph Valentino), "The Keeper of the Bees," a film version of Gene Stratton Porter's novel; "The Midnight Flyer," Arthur Guy Empey's romance of the thundering rail; "The Last Edition," Emory Johnson's newspaper drama; "Queen o' Diamonds," Evelyn Brent's starring vehicle; "Flaming Waters," a drama of the oil fields; "The Night Patrol," starring Richard Talmadge; "The King of the Turf," a narrative of the race-track; "The Tough Guy," starring Fred Thomson, and his mount, Silver King. Among the short subjects which will make their screen bow in March are the first of the new Fighting Hearts Series. The series is by Sam Hellman, the Saturday Evening Post humorist, and stars Alberta Vaughn. Other "shorts" released during March are two Bray Cartoons, "A Beauty Parlor," which is a Standard Fat Men Comedy, and "A Fraternity Mix-up," a Blue Ribbon Comedy starring Alice Ardell, both from the Joe Rock Studios. Sheehan Returns to West Coast Will Assign Casts and Directors for Fox Specials; to Remain Until Schedule is Completed AFTFK a period of live weeks spenl ai the home office, Winfield R. Sheehan, vice-president and general manager of Fox Films, started hack for the coast last week where lie will proceed with the casting of the productions making up the Fox program for the next season, remaining until the completion of the schedule. Sheehan has mapped oul what is said to be the mosl ambitious program in the historj of Fox Films, due to the purchase of a great number of outstanding stage successes and fiction works, the engaging of several successful directors and the placing under long and short term contracts of several noted artists. Sheehan will start with the casting of ••What Price Glory," and the assignments ijf directors and players in "The Music Master," -The Auctioneer," "The Return of Peter" and other Belasco plays. •'Seventh Heaven,*' the John Golden unit production, the several plays purchased from Sam H. Harris, the Selwyns, "Is Zat So," "One Increasing Purpose," A. S. M. Hutchinson's latest novel, and upwards of thirty other productions, lie plans to have production activities at their peak by the time the annual Fox convention is held in Los Angeles in April. Henry Trinz Passes Away at Hot Springs Henry Trinz. brother of .Joseph, Samuel and Aaron Trinz, died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, and his remains were brought to Chicago for burial, the services being held mi February 22nd with many film men in attendance. Trinz had been active a a theatre owner nnil manager tor many years and at one time was president of the Wisconsin Division hi the Motion Picture Exhibitors League. Of recent years lie was interested in Chicago theatres, including the .Madison Square and Windsor. Winfield R. Sheehan, vice-president and general manager of Fox Films, who has returned to the West Coast. New Theatre Company is Chartered in Maine Mcl'hee & Fernandez, Inc. has been incorporated at Old Town. Me., to operate motion picture theatres, with capita] of $10,000. W. E. Mcl'hee and L. M. M. l'hee of Bangor and <>. B. Fernandez of Old Town are the director-. Bandits Loot Three New York City Theatres Three motion pictures theatres in ( heater New York were the victims of daring robberies this week. The houses robbed were the Cosmo, 170 Fast lllith street; the Flathush Theatre, Flathu-li, and the Culver, at Gravesend and Eighteenth avenue-. Ilrooklyn. The raids took place last Tuesday. It was reported that $15,000, said to be the receipts of a chain of houses, was taken by gunmen who entered the Cosmo about noontime with pistols drawn. Three men overpowered the night watchman at the Flatbush Theatre and made off with >8,000 after forcing the -ate. Making a forced entrance through a side door of the Culver theatre, the robbers broke open the office safe and made a -uccessful tretawav with -1.IHI0. Exhibitor Robbed. Bound to Bandstand C. L. Pendell, owner of the picture house at Fairfield, 111., was kidnapped and robbed by two bandits the night of February 13. They took $150. Pendell told the police at Mount Vernon, 111., that the bandits abducted him about 11 p. m.. robbed him of bis money, blindfolded him and they took him to Mount Vernon in an automobile. He was tied to the bandstand in the public park at Mount Vernon. Secretary of Film Boards Visits Southeast Dorothy Kenney. national secretary of the Film Boards of Trade, spent several days in Atlanta last week where she met with members of the local Board to discuss the various problems incident to the efficient functioning of that group. Mi- Kenney wa the principal speaker at a special called meeting of the Atlanta Film Hoard of Trade on Tues dav. Elmer Pearson Returns to New York From South Elmer Pearson, vice-president ami general manager of Pathe, ha returned to his office in New York following a visit of several weeks at Pinehurst, X. C. First National Calls Spring Sessions THREE Spring conventions have been scheduled by First National to bring together branch executives and salesmen from all parts of the United States and Canada. The eastern contingent will meet in New York April 26th. The Southern District, most of Canada and the middle west representatives will gather at Chicago April 30th. and the West Coast and Rockies branches will assemble at Los Angeles May 6th. The meetings, which will consider important sales plans, will be presided over by Samuel Spring, Secretary-Treasurer; Ned Marin, Western Sales Manager; Ned E. Depinet, Southern Sales Manager, and A. W. Smith, Jr., Eastern Sales Manager.