Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March 31, 1923 1549 United Signs Contract for Clune Studio The latest development in the enlarged producing schedule under way.*at the United studios was evidenced during the week when M. C. Levee, president of the studio company, signed contracts whereby the W. H. Clune studio, across the street from United, becomes part of the Levee studio facilities. Additional interest in the forthcoming activities at United is had from the fact that Louis B. Mayer and Sol Lesser, two of the leading independent producers, will come into the fold. Arrangements were closed whereby Mr. Mayer will move the Fred Niblo company over to the United lot within the next few days, for the production of " Captain Applejack." Sol Lesser will start to move his producing organization from the Santa Monica studio over to United immediately and within the next few days will commence work on " The Meanest Man in Town," with Bert Lytell, Blanche Sweet and other notables. Paramount Players Making Florida Scenes Wesley Ruggles and a company of Paramount players headed by Agnes Ayres as star have gone to Florida to film the exterior scenes for " The Heart Raider," a love comedy-drama adapted by Jack Cunningham from Harry Durant's story, " Arms and the Girl." In the supporting cast are Mahlon Hamilton, Charles Ruggles, Marie Burke, Charles Riegel, William Nally, Marie Olivet, Frances Greenleaf and Pauline LeGros. Scenes from " Public Opinion," Charles Chaplin's first venture as a director, in which Edna Purviance is starred; a United Artists release. Independents Plan Big Activity Seven Million Schedule A rra nged Scenes from " The Tiger's Claw," a Paramount picture starring Jack Holt. Eva Novak and Aileen Pringle appear left to right, top, and support the star. THAT the independent producers will soon stage a strong comeback in West Coast producing circles is indicated by the activities shortly to start at the United Studios, where contracts have been signed by M. C. Levee, President, involving the greatest producing activities at the plant since its inception. A producing schedule to take care of the independents at this studio during the next twelve months involves a total production outlay of $7,000,000 and includes the activities of the foremost independent producers on the Pacific Coast. To take care of this increased activity Mr. Levee has just completed plans for the erection of new buildings, enlargements and improvements said to call for the expenditure of $800,000. Ground has already been broken for new administration and technical buildings and the entire property will be laid out in new streets with concrete roads throughout. In anticipation of the forthcoming activities at the studio Mr. Levee has sent Tnomas Little, head of the property department, abroad to purchase $30,000 worth of props. Mr. Little will visit all parts of Europe in his quest for new properties to be used in future productions, and will remain abroad several months. Associated First National Pictures and Joseph Sehenck will play an important part in the increased producing activities at the United studios during the coming months. Mr. Schenek's " Ashes of Vengeance," starring Norma Talmadge, will, it is said, prove one of the most gigantic productions yet staged. Other big films to be started soon are Constance Talmadge in " Dulcv," Maurice Tourneur's " The Brass Bottle," Richard Watson Tully's "Trilby," Sam Rork and Arthur Dollar Producing for United Studios Jacobs' productions and other producers to be announced in the near future. Plans for new equipment in this studio call for the largest electric power plant ever built in a motion picture studio. The erection of this plant will be in charge of Walter Strohm, electrical director for Mr. Levee. The future producing activities at the United will be in charge of the following personnel : M. C. Levee, President ; F. E. Pelton, general manager; Jack Okey, manager planning department; M. S. Epstein, manager service department; Thomas Little, manager property department; Walter Strohm, electrical engineer; Pete Smith, in charge of publicity; F. C. Washburn, purchasing agent, and E. Scrogan, in charge of materials. In addition to his studio activities, Mr. Levee plans several producing companies of his own, the first of which is the Maurice Tourneur Company. "Bell Boy 13" Due Soon at New York Strand Thomas H. Ince's production, " Bellboy 13," starring Douglas MacLean, will be shown at the Strand theatre, New York, the week beginning March 25. In the cast supporting Mr. MacLean are Margaret Loomis, John Steppling, Jean Walsh, and Eugene Burr. Paul Bern to Write Continuity for Stahl Paul Bern has joined the John M. Stahl unit at the Louis B. Mayer studio to prepare the continuity for Stahl's next First National attraction and supply an original story for future production by the director.