Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1925)

1586 Sponsoring New Florida Studio H. P. Carver Heads "Studio Park" Development; Was in New York Conferring With Picture Men HP. CARVER, former general manager of Cosmopolitan Productions, • has become associated with the organization which will erect a large motion picture studio near St. Petersburg, it was announced this week. The new film development in Florida is known as "Studio Park," located in Pinnollas County, about two miles from St. Petersburg. James Sayles, formerly advertising and publicity director for the Hearst motion picture enterprises, is another well known figure who is now identified with the studio undertaking on the Florida West Coast. On a recent visit to New York for conferences with motion picture men, Mr. Carver said he received assurances from many producers that they would welcome the facilities which a well equipped studio in Florida would offer . He stated the Studio Park development had progressed far beyond the stage of projected enterprises, asserting that the tract of six hundred acres which will be developed as an ultra residential community have been cleared and that work soon would be started on the erection of a modern motion pic Judy King and Tom Wilson in Cast With Mix Judy King and Tom Wilson have been added to the cast which will be seen in support of Tom Mix as the star of "The Best Bad Man," his next production for Fox. The picture is being made under the direction of J. G. Blystone. Others in the cast are Clara Bow, Paul Panzer, Cyril Chadwick, Buster Gardner, Tom Kennedy, and Frank Beal. Cast Completed for "Rocking Moon" Metropolitan Pictures has completed the cast for "Rocking Moon" with the addition of Roekliffe Fellowes, Laska Winters, Luke Cosgrave and Eugene Pallette, who will support John Bowers and Lilyan Tashman in the featured roles. George Melford will direct and the picture will be a Producers Distributing Corporation release. New Wanda Wiley Comedy is Released "Cupid's Victory," second of the Wanda Wiley Century comedies of the season, is released this week through Unsiversal exchanges. The picture was directed by Charles Lamont, and in the cast with Miss Wiley are Earl McCarthy, Tony Hayes and a bevy of Century beauties from the Century Follies Girls. Fanny Hurst Story Ready for Production Walter Woods and Frances Agnew have completed the script of "The Mannequin," Fanny Hurst's $50,000 prize story, and work is now being rushed on the construction of the sets at the Paramount studio in Hollywood. Actual production is scheduled to start within a week. ture studio. Owing to its location, he said, Studio Park will afford adequate transportation facilities essential for a producing center and that the plant that has been planned will provide the necessary modern equipment for the efficient production of motion pictures. Paramount Starts "Song and Dance Man" Paramount has started production on a screen adaptation of George M. Cohan's stage play "The Song and Dance Man" with Herbert Brenon directing. The cast is made up of Tom Moore, in the title role ; Harrison Ford, Bessie Love, George Nash, Norman Trevor, William B. Mack, and Josephine Drake. Marian Warren Engaged to Act for Universal Marian Warren, stage actress who has played in stock, vaudeville and on the musical comedy stage, has signed a contract to appear in Universal pictures. Miss Warren will make her screen debut in one of Universale forthcoming features. Novel Bought by Fox Goes Into Fifth Printing The Century Company, publishers, announces that "The Chicken Wagon Family," a novel by Barry Benefield to be adapted to the screen by the Fox company, has gone into its fifth printing. The photoplay based on the book will be offered by Fox in January. Gilda Gray Returns From Europe, to Start Film Gilda Gray returned this week from France on the S. S. Paris and will soon start her first starring photoplay "Aloma of the South Seas" at the Paramount Long Island studios. William De Mille Writes Photoplay Story William de Mille has written an original story, tentatively titled "Magpie," which he will produce as his next for Paramount instead of "Polly of the Ballet," previously scheduled as his next work. Sally Rand Joins Rod La Rocque Cast Sally Rand, former vaudeville dai.eer, has won a featured role in support of Rod La Rocque in "Braveheart," which Alan Hale is directing for Cecil B. De Mille. Motion Picture News Cadman to Write Score for ''The Vanishing American" Charles Wakefield Cadman, one of America's leading composers and the writer of several famous songs based on the native music of the American Indian, has been engaged by Jesse L. Lasky to write the score to accompany "The Vanishing American," Paramount's screen version of the Zane Grey novel of that title. In the work Mr. Cadman will include a song theme, "Little Wild Rose," dedicated to Lois Wilson, who, as the heroine of the screen story, is known by that name to the Indian hero portrayed by Richard Dix. Metropolitan Increases Studio Staff A number of additions have been made to the staff of Metropolitan Pictures, by William Sistrom, general manager. Edward Dillon has been signed to direct the first Priscilla starring vehicle and Randall C. Fays has been engaged to adapt the story and prepare the continuity. Don Hays has been signed to cut "Simon the Jester," the recent Frances Marion production which George Melford directed, while Jim Morley has joined the staff to cut "Steel Preferred." Hart's "Tumbleweeds" Cast is Completed The cast has been completed and production is well under way on "Tumbleweeds," William S. Hart's first production for United Artists release. Supporting the star are Barbara Bedford, Lucien Littlefield, J. Gordon Russell, Richard R. Neill, Jack Murphy, Lillian Leighton, Gertrude Claire, George Marion, Capt. E. T. E. Duncan, James Gordon, Fred Gamble, Turner Savage and Monte Collins. King Baggot is directing. "Sally, Irene and Mary" in Production "Sally, Irene and Mary" has gone into production at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios under the direction of Edmund Goulding, with John Crawford, Constance Bennett, William Haines and Karl Dale in the cast. Dual Role for Chaney in "The Mocking Bird" Lon Chaney will essay a dual role in "The Mocking Bird," his next starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The story is an original by Tod Browning, who will direct the production, and deals with the Limehouse district in London. Lois Moran Signed for "Just Suppose" Inspiration Pictures has signed Lois Moran as leading woman for Richard Bar thelmes in "Just Suppose," the star's next picture for First National release.