Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

April 7 , 1923 1659 Fox to Build $2,000,000 Studio on Coast To Produce Only Specials; New Directors and Players Being Signed; B'way Plays Bought FOX FILM CORPORATION, in a statement issued late last week, announces plans for the construction of a twomillion-dollar studio in Los Angeles to be started during the coming summer. A number of sites comprising upward of 200 acres are being considered by Bauer, Wright and MaeDonald, Fox's Los Angeles attorneys, as prospective locations for the picture producing plant. Winfield R. Sheehan, vice-president and general manager, also announces during the course of the statement that Fox is about to launch an extensive schedule of production at its West Coast studios. Fox will make no more program pictures, according to Mr. Sheehan, but will confine its efforts to special productions. In this connection, Mr. Sheehan let it be known that a number of important players and directors are being added to the studio forces both in New York and Los Angeles. Jean Arthur, Ruth Dwyer and Peggy Shaw (the last named a former Ziegfeld Follies girl, already seen in a number of Fox pictures) are among the feminine beauties that will be seen in forthcoming Fox productions as leading women. These players have already been sent to the Coast from New York. The Fox production schedule set for the coming season includes the filming of John Galsworthy's play, " Loyalties," which has 1 been one of the successes of the present draj matic season in New York and William Anthony McGuire's comedy, " Six Cylinder Love." " The Governor's Lady " will also be shortly started for the screen. " Hoodman Blind " is another stage production, the work of Wilson j Barrett and Henry Arthur J ones, that will be I launched in the near future at the Fox studios for the silver sheet. J. Gordon Edwards is now working in Panama on a melodrama of ! American naval and official life. Jack Fox is shortly to begin work on " Cameo Kirby," Booth Tarkington's and Harry Leon Wilson's [stage play. Tom Mix's special production schedule includess two of Zane Grey's novels. Other literary properties to be shortly produced for the screen by Fox will include Booth Tarkington's " Gentle Julia " and E. M. Hull's " The Shadow of the East." The production of "The Fool," Channing Pollock's I play, will not be started until late in the fall. Another feature of the statement from the I Fox home office is the announcement of additions to the Fox chain of motion picture theatres. The new Oakland theatre, which will seat about three thousand, is expected to open I about May 1st, while the Fox Philadelphia theatre, having a capacity of 3,700 seats, is expected to open September 1st. These two houses will bring the total of the Fox circuit up to fifty theatres. New distribution offices are being opened 1 this month in Cuba, Mexico, Holland, Czechoslovakia and Japan. The Fox statement has the following to I say concerning plans for the huge producing plant on the West Coast: Spanish architecture will prevail in the new j building, which will be of ornamental beauty, as well as superbly adapted to the purpose I of producing perfect motion pictures under Sunday Closing Big Issue in N. Y. Town Elections CITY and village elections held in New York State the past week were characterized by the Sunday motion picture situation as one of the main issues. At Beacon, the proposition for Sunday shows received a big majority. At Ballston Spa, with a vote of over 2,000, the present officials who passed the Sunday movie ordinance, were re-elected with large majorities. the most modern methods. Construction engineers and architects are now drawing up plans for the new plant, which will have the benefit of all present improvements in studio construction and will embody, as well, many features not existing in any studios now built. Prominent among these will be a wonderful system by which fire hazard will be reduced to a minimum. The building will be equipped throughout with a sprinkler system of the latest approved type; every fire prevention and safety device known to modern construction will be included. " The establishment will include a complete laboratory equipped with up-to-date machinery for the development and handling of negative and for the production of positive prints in great quantity. It will include an experimental department in which research work will be conducted for the improvement of photography, printing, toning and perfection of machines used in the various processes. " Under the care of dress and style experts, there will be an elaborate costume department, plentifully supplied with costumes and production accessories, which will be gathered from domestic and European markets. A millinery department is one of the novelties planned. A complete suite of baths, dressing rooms, ladies' hairdressing parlors, and an emergency hospital are included. " There will be a research department, embracing a large reference library. A spacious restaurant which will be served by a sanitary kitchen, equipped with modern utensils and appliances similar to those in use in the best hotels, will be installed for the convenience and comfort of workers at the studio." Asked regarding the disposition of the present William Fox studios of 14 acres on Western avenue and Sunset Boulevard, Mr. Sheehan replied that, owing to the increase in the value of this property, this tract of land would be turned to other purposes or sold. It was contemplated that stores, apartment houses and dwelling sites would soon replace the present studio. John C. Eisele, prominent New Jersey banker, and treasurer of Fox Film Corporation, has been spending several weeks in Los Angeles in connection with the projected new studio and investigating the possibilities presented in the utilization of the present Fox studio tract for commercial purposes. In addition to those productions already mentioned, t he Fox statement announces as follows: " Other big pictures to be released next year, production of which has been completed, include " St. Elmo," a picture version of the popular stage success, presenting John Gilbert and Barbara La Marr; "The Shepherd King," Wright Lorimer's great dramatic classic, the motion picture verson of which was staged in Egypt and Palestine by J. Gordon Edwards, director of " The Queen of Sheba"; " Monna Vanna," a beautiful photoplay made from Gabriel D'Annunzio's poetic drama and said to be the most beautiful picture ever produced in Germany ; " The Eleventh Hour," a smashing melodrama of thrills and rapid-fire action, directed by Bernard J. Durning, featuring Charles Jones and Shirley Mason; and " Hell's Hole," a Western mountaineer story by George Scarborough." Public Censorship Report Waited in Springfield First reports on public censorship of the motion picture theatres in Springfield, Mass., will be given Friday at a meeting of a censorship committee appointed some time ago by the Springfield Federation of Women's Clubs. These women have been working for several weeks now, with the collaboration of the theatre owners and managers, visiting the theatres and seeing that every change of program is " covered." Each woman has made her individual report on the films she has viewed and these will be turned in to the meeting of the general committee next week. Mrs. Guy M. Peterson is chairman of the committee. Just what action the committee will take in continuing this censorship effort and in including other organizations and individuals in the work will depend somewhat on the reports. The committee of club women will continue to attend shows until April 1, when the annual report on the experiment will be written up and presented at the annual meeting of the Springfield Federation of Women's Clubs on May 3. Kansas Legislature Ends Without Adverse Laws The adjournment of the Kansas legislature Wednesday marked a most striking tribute to the M. P. T. O. Kansas, and Mr. Cook in particular. Not a single adverse measure was passed during the session, despite the fact that several were introduced. Mr. Cook, who maintained headquarters at the state capitol, Topeka, during the entire session of the legislature, accomplished more, in the words of R. G. Liggett, president of the Kansas body, than exhibitors have been able to succeed in doing in many years. A special show for members of the legislature was staged at the Orpheum theatre, Topeka, last Thursday night, and virtually every representative returned home with a warm spot in his heart for the e hibitors.