Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

2450 Motion Picture News Christie Will Produce Features Will Undertake Additional Production at Proposed Studios Near Hollywood IN confirming the announcement that new Christie studios would be built on a large tract of land which has been purchased at Westwood, Charles H. Christie, general manager, announced that his company would not only build greater studios, but were entering upon a new schedule of added production which will take the Christie organization into the field of feature production as well as comedies. " The new tract," said Mr. Christie, " is the nearest acreage to Hollywood which we could secure and the best suited to our purposes. Last summer we delayed our plans for the building of another stage on our present property, pending the result of our search for a location which would provide for our future needs for many years to come. " We are being crowded out of the congested district of Hollywood simply because there is not more ground to be had. The new location is only four miles from our present headquarters, and within close call of the places where we trade and live. "We will be making the first feature-length pictures our organization has filmed since 1920, and this program will be in addition to our already established schedule of two-reel comedies." Mr. Christie states that many times in the past few years his company has had offers of free land at cities away from Hollywood and Los Angeles, but that a move to a distant point was not acceptable. The new location, however, is just a little farther out in Greater Los Angeles where with the securing of 230 acres, ample ground is available for studio purposes, and at the same time part of the property may be set aside for residential and business purposes. Mr. Christie also stated that plans are now being drawn for the new studios, and that as soon as the new move is under way, the added production schedule will be carried out. The company is now producing twenty comedies a year, and the additional schedule will mean additions to the producing staff as well as to the professional personnel. " Meanwhile there is no shutdown or lessening of activity at tne present plant," states Al Christie, head of the producing end of the organization. " We are well on our schedule and expect to continue without interruption." Non-Theatrical Pictures Changes Hands National Non-Theatrical Motion Pictures, Inc., which has been in operation over two years, has changed hands. The interests formerly owned by Harry Levey, Louis Weiss and Don Carlos Ellis have been purchased by a group of men who were financially interested in the company for the past year. The newly elected officers are: F. C. Pitcher, President; C. M. Strieby, Vice-President; and W. J. Bold, Secretary and Treasurer. Francis M. Hugo, formerly Secretary of N. Y. State is Chairman of the Board of Directors. In addition to the above, the following comprise the board of directors : Mark E. Gillis, Rose E. Tapley and J. B. Pitcher. " Lucretia Lombard " for New York Strand The Warner feature, " Lucretia Lombard." a screen adaption of Kathleen Norris' novel of the same name, has been booked by the Strand theatre, New York, and has been scheduled to open there December 10. ffcf4 f'Sb Lupino Lane Signs Long Contract with Fox LUPINO LANE, English stage and screen comedian, has signed a long term contract with Fox Film Corporation. He will come to America about the first of the year and will make a series of pictures at the Fox Hollywood studios. Lane came to this country in December, 1922, as the comdey star of " Afgar," the English stage production, and his laugh provoking ability was such that William Fox signed him at that time to make several pictures. When Lane arrives here he will devote his time entirely to transforming to the screen his pantomime for which he has become famous on the London stage. The son of a famous English acrobatic pantomimist, Lupino Lane has followed this style of theatrical endeavor since he was three years old. Clubwomen at " Barefoot Boy " Showing Mrs. Thomas Slack, President of the New York Federation of Women's Clubs, paid C. B. C. the compliment of requesting a special performance of the Mission Film Corporation's feature, " The Barefoot Boy." Accordingly a pre-release premiere was arranged at the Palace theatre, New York, last Saturday under the special patronage of Mrs. Slack. At her invitation various bodies of New York clubwomen to whom she wishes the picture brought, were present. Among the prominent persons on hand were Julia Arthur, the well known dramatic star; E. F. Albee, head of the Keith Theatre interests; Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Emerson; and representing clubwomen, Miss Cherry Clark, Grace Thompson Moore, Frances Carter, Mrs. Warren C. Van Slyke, Mrs. A. C. Vandeveer, Mrs. T. M. Stewart, Mrs. John ColemanSmith, Mrs. Frank E. Bradner and many others as prominent in society. Samuel Goldwyn Purchases "Cytherea" for Screen Samuel Goldwyn last week purchased the screen rights to Joseph Hergesheimer's novel, " Cytherea." The book was published two seasons ago. Like " The Eternal City," this new independently-produced picture of Mr. Goldwyn i> scheduled for release through Associated First National Pictures. George Fitzmaurice will direct " Cytherea " and is now in Havana in search of suitable locations. The story calls for many scenes in the Cuban city and Fitzmaurice intends to film them in the actual locale. Production is expected to start on Dec. 1. The interiors will be made in New York. Ouida Bergere (Mrs. Fitzmaurice) is now at work on the screen adaptation. A quartet of action stills from "The Wanters." which will be distributed by Associated First National Pictures. Mailmen to See Picture at Cut Rates Through a typographical error in both the 1 rade and daily papers it was announced that 40,000 free tickets to " The Mailman," to open November 25 at the B. S. Moss Cameo theatre, were to be given free to the postal employees of New York. The F. B. O. corrects this statement with the addition that the tickets are not free but are a cut rate proposition to postal employees only and promoted for the sole purpose of enabling the U. S. postal employees to see the picture.