Movie Age (1927)

SEPTEMBER 2 4, 1927. PAGE 5 It’s a New World In Picture Comedies, A1 Christie States Short comedies must keep pace with those of feature length and with the ever-changing, ever forward-moving features — they must be up to the min¬ ute and constantly present new and dif¬ ferent effects. This is the thought con¬ tained in an article by A1 Christie on the subject “A New World in Picture Comedies.” One of the newer ideas in two-reel comedies is to use items appearing on the front page of newspapers as sub¬ jects. For instance, while there has been so much interest in airplanes, com¬ edies using flying as a subject have been produced at the right moment and have had a great popular appeal. Taking up another phase of new ideas in comedies Mr. Christie says, “. . . the public is not satisfied with just a lot of bathing girls cavorting on a beach in meaningless capers which have nothing to do with the plot. You have to pre¬ sent girls who are clever and can do something.” He states that an ensemble of pretty girls must be shown in such a manner that their appearance forms part of the plot. In conclusion Mr. Christie says: “We hurl the actors into the movement of the story just a little quicker, with the result that the comedies are a little shorter and they step along in a ging¬ ery, dashing manner.” National’s Kilgen Organ Sales Climbing Steadily The sales promotion department of National Theatre Supply Company at Chicago has just issued a report of its sales activities in the pipe organ field which it is claimed is very gratifying. Although only a few months have elapsed since the National company took over distribution of the entire output of the Geo. Kilgen & Sons company, the sales of Kilgen Wonder Organs to thea¬ tres have increased tremendously and bid fair to over-run the quota estab¬ lished by both the factory and the equip¬ ment company when the distributing ar¬ rangements were negotiated, according to word received. “Spotlight” Definite Title For Ralston Picture Paramount this week named “Spot¬ light” as the definite title for the story of Manhattan stage life now in product¬ ion with Esther Ralston in the leading role. Neil Hamilton has the leading male role and Frank Tuttle will direct. Warner Bros, to Make Commercial Pictures The formation of a new department to produce commercial pictures for out¬ side organizations of every kind was an¬ nounced this week by Warner Bros. This new branch will function in New York and will be under the supervision of Robert B. Fogel who has had diver¬ sified and long experience in the making of short subjects. Educational, industrial, commercial and professional films of all descrip¬ tions will come under the scope of the department which has perfect facili¬ ties not only for the filming of black and white subjects but also for the pro¬ duction of motion pictures in natural colors. Fox Re-Issues 3 Former John Gilbert Successes Owing to a nation-wide demand on the part of exhibitors, James R. Grain¬ ger, general sales manager of Fox Films, has announced reissues of three of the best pictures John Gilbert has made. “Cameo Kirby,” with John Gilbert, Gertrude Olmstead and Jean Arthur, was an adaptation from the stage suc¬ cess by Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson. This love story of a ro¬ mantic Mississippi river gambler, un¬ questionably rates as one of the most powerful pictures in which John Gil¬ bert ever displayed his genius. “Honor First” and “St. Elmo” are two other Gilbert reissues which Fox Films are offering in response to an enormous demand for the stories in which this star created his reputation. “Monte Cristo” released last season had an unprecendented reception. “Honor First” is a story of France. It is a tale of the eternal triangle under the tricolor flag. “St. Elmo” is an ad¬ aptation of the novel by August Evans, directed by Jerome Storm. With John Gilbert are Barbara LaMarr, Bessie Love and other well known players. “Honky Tonk” First Bancroft Starring Vehicle “Honky Tonk” will be the title of George Bancroft’s first starring vehi¬ cle for Paramount under a new contract signed recently when the company’s ex¬ ecutives decided that “Underworld” would make the “smiling heavy” one of its most popular players. Fox Sends Out Six Trucks Equipped to Get Movietone Material Movietone subjects are being made by six trucks touring the United States with recording equipment. This is in preparation for the releasing service to be maintained by Fox for theatres thruout the country which plan to put in the synchronization equipment. The six trucks will cover subjects for Fox News and other material. It is expected that all houses of the Fox chain will have installed Movietone by the end of the present month. Three theatres in the chain are al¬ ready functioning with the new device. The Academy of Music, New York City, is running “What Price Glory” with full Movietone accompaniment. The Terminal in Newark is likewise showing “Glory” with the synchronized musical score, and in Philadelphia, “Seventh Heaven” is playing at the Locust with a full mechanical score. Columbia Reaches Peak of Activity for New Season With seven of the new pictures for the 1927-28 schedule practically com¬ pleted, and several others under way, Columbia Pictures has reached the high¬ est peak of activity for the new season. “By Whose Hand?” has left the cut¬ ting room and is on its way to New York, scheduled for early release; “Isle of Forgotten Women,” is now in its third week of production; Louis J. Gasnier is now at work on “Say it with Sables,” which is Claire Windsor’s first vehicle for Columbia; and production has started on “The College Hero,” a story of modern university life. Veteran Showmen IF you were in the busi¬ ness when four reels com¬ prised a program — when 5c was top — when a tworeeler was a feature — 1 when you bought your ser• vice by the week — THEN, BY GOSH, YOU BELONG TO THE OLDTIMERS CLUB TELL US ABOUT IT!