Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1923)

August ii, i 9 2 ? 691 'April Showers' Song in Photoplay Edition PREFERRED PICTURES has just arranged a tieup with T. B. Harms, the music publishers, on the Preferred film, " April Showers." Harms are the publishers of the " April Showers " song introduced by Al Jolson. Harms is making up a " Photoplay Edition " of the song, with a cover showing Colleen Moore and Kenneth Harlan in a scene from the picture. Harms plans to print 500.000 copies of this edition to be used in tieing up with the picture wherever it is played. Boston Censors Approve " Vanity Fair " Although Massachusetts killed the state censorship bill, there is a law which censors motion pictures ■which are shown on Sunday. The Department of Public Welfare in Boston has charge of the censoring of the pictures screened on Sundays. Edward Horrigan and Eugene Danehy, censors, are both ardent film fans despite the fact that they are watching pictures from nine in the morning to '.five in the afternoon every day. Mr. Horrigan in a feature story in a recent issue of the Boston Post, in which he tells about the duties of the censors, picks out Hugo Ballin's picturization of Thackeray's " Vanity Fair," in which Mabel Ballin starred, as one of the most enjoyable pictures which they have seen. " My favorite films." says Mr. Horrigan, " are shows that are taken from the well-known classics. " Vanity Fair ' is one of the most enjoyable films I have seen since I have been censoring." Talmadges' Life History for Magazine Serial To Norma and Constance Talmadge, First National stars, goes the distinction of being the first screen players whose biographies will appear serially in a woman's magazine of national circulation. Under the title of "The Talmadge Sisters," a story by their mother, Margaret Talmadge, will be carried in the October, November and December issues of McCall's Magazine and later published in book form. A full page announcement of this story will appear in the September issue of the magazine together with a pastel cover of Norma Talmadge executed by Xeysa McXein. The book will be published in time for Christmas sales and will carry an introduction by Ellis Parker Butler. Jhe man urho tries to slip over a salacious picture Me's nothing bui a Business Prospects Good in South Pathe Branch Managers Summoned For Conference Report Conditions Good Reviewer Praises "Town That God ACCORDING to the experienced observations of the managers of four Pathe branch exchanges, who were in conference with executives at the home office last week, southern agricultural and industrial conditions point to a record picture business for the coming season. These heads of Pathe field forces are C. C. Vaughan, of the Memphis branch ; W. W. Anderson, Atlanta ; E. E. Heller, Charlotte, N. C, and D. E. Coughlin, Dallas, Texas. The section of the south where present and prospective conditions are most fortunate for exhibitors has its distributing center at Charlotte, where the slogan, " Put the Cotton Mill in the Cotton Field " is rapidly being realized. Mr. Heller said that more certain and better employment of labor, owing to this development, had enabled his territory to get through the depressed period with comparative ease, with general prosperity now such that the city of Charlotte confidently expected its population to double within the next five years. There is good picture attendance everywhere, with Harold Lloyd comedies and Pathe serials leading attractions, it is claimed. Pollard and " Our Gang " also are very popular, with prospects excellent for the new Ben Turpin and Scnnett comedies. Branch Manager Anderson's statement about the territory served from Atlanta placed it in a light only slightly less favorable than that centering at Charlotte, with picture attraction preferences very similar. The territory served from Dallas, Mr. Coughlin said, was in a fortunate condition owing to fine results from generally established diversified crop cultivation, with abundant harvests for this year assured. Mr. Vaughan. of Memphis, Johnson Entertains Coast Mailmen Producer Is Host With Film Booking Offices at Studio Party and Dance THE entire postal force in Los Angeles and its vicinity were the guests of Emory Johnson and the Film Booking Offices at a studio party this week that marks the opening of the campaign of the F. B. O. to put over their next big public service tie-up picture now in the course of construction — ■" The Mail Man." The party and dance was advertised a week in advance by the letter carriers in Southern California and on the night of the event over 600 postal employees and their families were on hand. The total number present ran to almost two thousand. Music for the evening was supplied by the Letter Carriers' Band and there was singing, speeches and refreshments. The Orpheum circuit supplied a show of vaudeville while the mammoth big studio stage was used for dancing. Both Melrose and Gower streets that surround the Powers studios were packed with automobiles as earlv as sen P.M. with the jollification continuing until past midnight. Studio girls acted as hostesses and at midnight made very beautiful waitresses as they fitted about serving light lunches of sandwiches, ice cream and coffee. " The Mail Man " is being produced as a co-operative picture with the U. S. Postal Department. The sequences now finished were made with the assistance of the U. S. Fleet and the Pacific and a detail of the \J. S. Army airfleet. The cast of principals selected so far for the production includes Ralph Lewis, Johnnie Walker, Ella Hall and Rosemary Cooper. The picture will be an early spring release by the F. B. O. Irving Cummings in New Departure Independent Producer-Director Starts State Righting His Own Productions WITH newly established offices in New York, Irving Cummings, well known independent producer-director is inaugurating a new department in his field by distributing his own product throughout the state right market himself. His most recent special production "Broken Hearts of Broadway," a colorful drama of America's greatest avenue, will be his first release and territorial rights for this feature are now being disposed of at a rapid rate, it is said. Cummings' venture into the distribution field will in no way interfere with his production activities in Hollywood, it is announced, ,and the producer-director has already returned to California to begin work on a second picture to be released through his own offices. E. Mandelbaum, distributor of Forgot" CARL SANDBURG, motion picture critic of the Chicago News, goes on record as follows: " In the 'Town that Forgot God ' the Fox Film Corporation has produced a picture which is the full equal of ' Over the Hill.' All of the same assemblages of genius which resulted in ' Over the Hill ' has operated on ' The Town that Forgot God'. And if it does not prove the same cyclopean magnet that the former was, it is not for lack of organization and a thorough understanding of what was to be attempted and achieved." Equity Closes Deal For Two Territories Advices received from Equity Pictures Corporation during the past week reveal the fact that among the first sales to be closed for "The Daring Years," the latest "Special" production written and produced by Daniel Carson Goodman tor distribution by that concern are the eastern territories of New England and Pennsylvania. The first deal was consummated with Sam Grand, of the Federated Film Exchange of Boston, Mass., and includes the rights for all of the New England States. The second sale was made with Ben Amsterdam of the Masterpiece Film Attractions, Philadelphia, Penna., and covers the rights for the eastern part of New Jersey and the eastern part of Pennsylvania. Marion HasluD Selected for Role in " Fool " Channing Pollock has again come to the screen world to select a player lor one of the principal roles of "The Fool." This time it is Marion Haslup who will me remembered for her work with the Selznick and Paramount organizations in support of Eugene O'Brein and several other stars. Pollock has selected her to portray the role of Pearl Hennig, the girl who falls by the wayside in her unwise love for fine clothes and good times. First National pictures in Ohio, who has not purchased an independent production in two years, bought "Broken Hearts of Broadway" for his territory immediately after viewing the film at a private showing. Greater New York and Northern New Jersey rights to the Cummings special were secured by the Capitol Film Exchange. New York, after spirited bidding, while Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey franchises were sold to Royal Pictures Inc., of Philadelphia. Other territories will be disposed of within the next few days judging from the rate at which applications are now pouring in, it is said. "Broken Hearts of Broadway" features an all star cast headed by Colleen Moore, Johnnie Walker and Alice Lake. Gen Wilson prodt/eten «EZ.£»Sffo i^ SEPTEtlBEH GQAND-ASHER. O'STRIBUTING CORP