Motion Picture News (Jan - Feb 1926)

F c b r it a r V 2 7, 1926 987 Helene Costello Opposite Raymond Griffith Director Arthur Rosson has selected Helene Costello, 19-year-old daughter of Maurice Costello, to play opposite Raj-mond Griffith in "Wet Paint," production on which was scheduled to start this week at the Paramount studio in Hollywood. Others in the cast are Bryant Washburn, Natalie Kingston and Henrv Kolker. Horton Will Start 'Whole Town*s Talking" Edward Everett Horton will start another comedy under the direction of Edward Laemmle at Universal within the next ten davs. It is titled "The Whole Town's Talkins." Joan Crawford Wins New M-G-M Contract Joan ('rawford, one of tlie 1926 AVamj^ababy stars, has been awarded a new contract by Louis B. Mayer, vice-president of MetroGfildwyii-Mayer, in chai-ge of production. American Sahara for ''Beau Geste" EXTERIOR scenes for Herbert Brenon's Paramount production of "Beau Geste" are to be made on the desolate wastes of Arizona along the Mexican border. Starting on March 15th 1750 men will be housed in temporary quarters six hours journey by automobile, mule and foot Southwest of the desert town of Yuma, Arizona. Wallace Beery, Neil Hamilton, Norman Trevor and Buddy Rogers have been assigned important places in the cast. Little Billy Star in "Charley's Niece'' LITTLE BILLY, diminutive actor and well known as a vaudeville headliner, will have the title role in "Charley's Niece," Al Lichtman's first production for release through Univers a 1. Billy is known to vaudeV i 1 1 e audiences from coast to coast, as he has been a Keith headliner for several seasons. Featured with Little Billy in "Charley's Niece" Little Billy are Madge Kennedy, Creighton Hale, Flora Finch, Ethel Shannon and David Butler. The production is being made at the Tec-Art studios in New York under the direction of Harley Knoles, who is also the author of this full length comedy. Leonard to Exploit for Universal Frank Leonard has resigned from the exploitation department of F. B. 0., where he has been serving in New York for the past four years, and will join the exjiloitation staff of Universal Pictures. He is one of the l)est known exploiteers in the industry. Play Gertrude Olmstead to Opposite Sills Milton Sills will have Gertrude Olmstead opposite him in tlie feminine lead of "Puj)jiets," his next staiTing vehicle for First Xational, which Al Rockett will produce in Xew York. Virginia Pearson to Appear in ''Silence'' Cast Virginia Pearson, one of the earliest film stars, has been added to the cast of "Silence," the Max Marciu crook melodrama of the same name which Avas adapted for the screen by Beulah Marie Dix. Rupert Julian is directing the production at the De Mille studios with a cast which includes, in addition to Miss Pearson, H. B. Warner, Vera Eevnolds, Raymond Hatton, Rockcliffe Fellows, and Jack Mnlhall. Banner Starts Work on ''Whispering Canyon" With the Lionel Ban-ymore picture, "Brooding Eyes," completed, Banner Productions has started photography on "Whispering Canyon," a picturization of John Mersereau's novel of the western timber lands. Tom Forman is directing. Jane Xovak and Robert Ellis have the leading roles, while in the supporting cast are Joseph Swickard, Lee Shumway, Eugene Pallette, James Mason and Edward Brady. Syd Chaplin Premiere Set for S. F. THE world premiere of the Syd Chaplin starring vehicle, "Oh! What a Nurse" is scheduled for opening of the new Alexander Pantages Theatre in San Francisco February 20th. Bay City officialdom and society and officials and stars from Hollywood will participate in the ceremonies. Syd Chaplin and director "Chuck" Reisner will be on hand, aa will as many members of the company and Warner stars who are at liberty. Dramatic highlights from the Fox production "Siberia.'