Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

June 2 , 1923 2687 Belasco Off Soon For Warner Studios An event of particular significance to the motion picture industry is the announcement that David Belasco will leave on June 4 for the Warner Brothers Coast studios to personally supervise the making of a number of features which will be known as David Belasco productions. Mr. Belasco will be accompanied by Lenore Ulric, who will be starred by the Warners in the film version of her famous stage success, " Tiger Rose." The significance attached to Mr. Belasco's departure is that this will mark the first time in the notable career of the theatrical producer that he becomes definitely identified with the industry. According to an arrangement with the Warners, Mr. Belasco will supervise the making of several plays, the first of which will be Miss Ulric's starring vehicle, ■" Tiger Rose." Preparations for the filming of this play are now under way at the Coast studios, and the cast which will be subject to Mr. Belasco's approval is being selected. Jane Farrell, who created the original part of Wa-Wa on the stage, has been engaged to portray the same role in the screen play. Mr. Belasco has selected Sidney Franklin to direct Miss Ulric, and Edmund Goulding to write the scenario. Novel Theatre Scenes in "Rouged Lips" A series of novel features have been arranged by the Metro staff of technical experts to make the theatre scenes of "Rouged Lips," Viola Dana's newest starring picture for Metro, distinctive from any other production dealing with life behind the footlights. A reproduction of the interior of a theatre has been constructed on one of the huge enclosed stages at the Metro studios. In addition to a thousand seats it includes an orchestra pit, a glass surfaced runway with electric lights beneath, and a complete stage. Would Create Research Archives Schenck Suggests to Producers Bureau For Permanent Historical Data Fox Productions on Russell Sage List Three Fox Film Corporation productions are on the list of eighteen best pictures of recent years issued by Russell Sage Foundation as the result of a questionnaire submitted to high school students in eighty representative American cities. The three photoplays are "Over the "Hill," "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," the screen version of Mark Twain's classic, and "'The Queen of Sheba," the J. Gordon Edwards spectacle. All were classified as specials on the 1921-22 Fox release program, and according to announcements this week, will be withdrawn from circulation on September 1st after two and a half years of successful presentation throughout the world. The questionnaires which were filled by more than 50,000 students were made with the hope of establishing a concrete list of the productions that have appealed to the American youth and of determining the extent of their likes and dislikes with a view of correcting misunderstanding. T N recommendations to the MoL tion Picture Producers' Association, Joseph M. Schenck, producer of Norma and Constance Talmadge features for First National, suggests the establishment of permanent archives in which would be kept records of the results of research made by motion picture producers during the preparation for the filming of historical pictures. " I am willing to turn over to this proposed museum all the data collected by my staff concerning the period of Charles IX of France," says Mr. Schenck. " And that includes architectural, costume, and historical ' properties ' and a wealth of other accessories including a specially chosen library of 1,100 volumes of the period which were consulted for the filming of ' Ashes of Vengeance,' Norma Talmadge's latest photoplay." " It would be a splendid and altruistic thing if all the data concerning other period plays such as " Robin Hood," " Intolerance," and many others which I could mention, were turned over to this museum," says Mr. Schenck. " It took a great deal of time and a large expenditure of money by my technical staff to assemble information regarding details that enter into the making of ' Ashes of Vengeance.' I am willing to place this information at the disposal of any other producer who may in the future produce a story of the same period and the same pocale — France of the 16th century. "We had to comb all the libraries within our reach and men had to go to New York to continue the work there before all the details we wanted were assembled. It does not impress me as economic wisdom for another producer to have to do what we have done already. If all such information were on file with the Producer's Association it would greatly lighten the research work of all the studios." Elaine Hammerstein Is Convention Guest Elaine Hammerstein, Truart star, is in Chicago as the guest of the Exhibitors' convention. Miss Hammerstein carried the greetings of Mayor Hylan, of New York, which she presented to Mayor Dever, when she was welcomed officially by the latter to the City of Chicago. During the convention Miss Hammerstein put in the busiest days of her life and by her simple and unassuming manner made a deep impression upon the congress of exhibitors assembled. The convention appointed a committee to wait upon the Truart star and see that she was shown all the sights of Chicago. Miss Hammerstein met M. H. Hoffman in Chicago, and headquarters were established at the Renown Exchange, one of the territorial offices of which Mr. Hoffman is directing head. During her visit Miss Hammerstein met all the local exhibitors, and exchangemen^ as well as the newspapermen . of Chicago. Salesmen Contract for Picture Denver Commercial Travelers Will Show "Down To The Sea In Ships" Corporation in Denver, and his able crew of salesmen have been responsible for this contract. THE distinction of selling salesmen, instead of selling buyers, goes to the Denver branch of the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation regarding a recent contract made with the United Commercial Travelers for showing, the early part of June, of "Down to the Sea in Ships" at the Broadway theatre, Denver, Col. It is seldom that a sales organization can overstep the bounds and sell their product direct to a salesmen organization. But this has been accomplished by the Denver branch. The United Commercial Travelers will present "Down to the Sea in Ships" at the Broadway during the early part of June. According to word received from the Denver branch the Travelers Organization have taken the picture and the theatre on a straight rental basis. They are planning extensive exploitation and advertising and are handling the matter entirely themselves. Special window displays have been obtained throughout the city of Denver. In order to stimulate interest in the showing the United Commercial Travelers are giving away approximately 200 prizes at a total value of $2,500. The prizes include an automobile, traveling bags, electric irons, toasters, cigars and etc The Broadway theatre, Denver, is a legitimate house playing the biggest and best road shows in this section of the country. The appearance of "Down to the Sea in Ships" at this house under the auspices of the United Commercial Travelers will be first run in this territory. It is estimated that over 400 people are out selling tickets for this presentation. H. O. Bartele, manager of the W. W. Hodkinson Lyons Heads Borzage Camera Units Arthur H. Jacobs announces that Chester Lyons is to remain as head cinematographer for the entire series of Frank Borzage Productions which are to be made in Hollywood and distributed through Associated First National Pictures, Inc. Bob Roberts, formerly assistant, becomes second cameraman. E. K. LINCOLN in TEniniiT of THE A Great Picture with A Great Cast including George Seigman Tom Santschi Tully Marshall Robert Milash Helen Ferguson June Elvidge Niles Welch Winter Hall ©Lumiere Zenith Pictures Corp'n 110 W. 40th St., N. Y. C. Telephone, Pennsylvania 3649