Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1923)

November 24, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 409 Lesser Obtains “Captain January” for Baby Peggy’s First Principal “Captain January,” by Laura E. Richards, now in its 52nd printing and with .a circulation of more than 600,000 copies, will be Baby Peggy’s first screen vehicle as a start for Principal Pictures Corporation. This announcement has just been made by Sol Lesser, president of Principal. Work on “Captain January” will be started January 21, three days after Baby Peggy returns to the coast from her tour of the East and Middle West, during ■ which she met thousands of i people. The child star left New York City on Nov. 9, went to Boston and surrounding cities as the guest of the Boston Post and then proceeded to Chicago. In Baby Peggy Mr. Lesser believes he has a “find” that will prove equally as great as Jackie Coogan, whom he developed, and he considers “Captain January” the ideal story with which to introduce her to the public in a big special production. Irving M. Lesser, vice president of Principal Pictures, conducted the negotations by which the screen rights for “Captain January” were purchased from the publishers, L. C. Page & Co., of Bos ton. Sol Lesser is now actively engaged on the Coast in arranging to produce the picture on an elaborate scale. Hostettler Circuit Books C .B. C. Julius Singer, who has opened a new exchange in Omaha under the name of Columbia Pictures Exchange, announces that he has booked the entire series of the C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation output over the Hostettler Circuit and that these features will appear in all of the Hostettler Theatres at an early date. Title Changed Harry Langdon, erstwhile vaudeville favorite now making two reel comedies for P r i n c ip a 1 Pictures Corporation, has changed the title of his first picture of the series from “The Skyscraper” to “The Greenhorn.” Three of the series are now completed, “The Greenhorn,” “A Perfect Nuisance” and “A Tough Tenderfoot.” Monogram Pictures Announces Sale Andrew' J. Callaghan, president, Monogram Pictures Corporation, announces the sale in Greater New York and Northern New Jersey territories of the Harry J. Brown series of six western pictures to the Biltmore Pictures Corporation. The series include : “The Mask of Lopez,” “North of Nevada,” “Shadows of the Sage,” “The Sheriff of Tombstone,” “Riders of the Rio Grande” and “The Desert Ranch.” Fred Thomson is starred. Exhibitors Praise C. C. Burr Production “Three o'Clock in the Morning,” ||C. C. Burr’s current production starring Constance Binney, is going over "big” in New England, according to Samuel Moscow, of Moscow Films, Inc., of Boston, Mass., who controls the territorial franchise on C. C. Burr pictures. Mr. Moscow has received a batch of telegrams from exhibitors, all as enthusiastic as the following: “ 'Three o'Clock in the Morning’ standing them up to capacity houses.” — John Dineen, Modern Theatre, Lawrence, Mass. “As good an audience picture as we have had this year.” — J. Lourie, Modern and Beacon Theatres, Boston, Mass. “I’ll buy all you can get like 'Three o'Clock in the Morning.’” — A. Goodside, Capitol Theatre, Springfield, Mass, r ‘Three o’Clock in the Morning’ is my idea of entertainment. My business on this picture proves that I am right.” — Al. Newhall Strand Theatre, Lynn, Mass. Red Seal Company Closes Deal A sale has just been closed by the Red Seal Pictures Corporation 1600 Broadway, Edwin Miles Fadman, president, whereby the Red Seal five reel feature “Bill” which recently played the Rialto Theatre, Broadway, wall be distributed in Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey by the De Luxe Film Company, and in New England by the Franklin Film Exchange. Cobb Knows Where to Find ’Em After having searched several months for a group of stories which might be used by Bryant Washburn and Elliott Dexter in their forthcoming productions for Grand-Asher, F. Heath Cobb, director of exploitation for GrandAsher, announces that he has found stories which will be suitable. Adaptations will shortly be made of the first to be produced and their titles will be announced later. “The Unknown Purple” to Run in Los Angeles “The Unknown Purple,” Roland West’s adaptation of his own successful stage play, which was produced by Carlos Productions for Truart release, is to have an indefinite run at the California Theatre, Los Angeles, beginning November 25. The picture will be staged with special prologue and epilogue, under the personal direction of Mr. West, who, besides writing jthe play and directing it for the stage, also directed the motion picture version. In the special prologue Henry B. Walthall, Alice Lake and Brinsley Shaw will ap pear in person. These three artists all have prominent parts in the picture. Dexter, Satisfied, Returns to Coast After staying in New York City to attend the preview of his first picture for Grand-Asher called "The Way Men Love.” Elliott Dexter returned to Hollywood where he will soon begin production on another special feature for Grand-Asher. He announced himself well satisfied with his work in his first production. Joins Federated Buddy Stuart has become connected with the Federated Film Exchange, Inc., of Boston, Mass., in the capacity of director of publicity and advertising. Federated handles the F. B. O. and GrandAsher product in New England. Among Stewart’s duties is the editing of “Film Digest,” a publication issued for exhibitors by Federated. Has Important Part in “Restless Wives” Montagu Love plays a prominent role in support of Doris Kenyon in C. C. Burr’s “Restless Wives,” which will be distributed on the Independent market. This is Love’s second appearance in a C. C. Burr presentation, the first being in “Seqrets of Paris,” made at the Whitman Bennett studio. Constance Binney on Stage and Screen Constance Binney, who is starring in a series of C. C. Burr screen productions beginning with “Three o’Clock in the Morning,” will be the featured player in “The Perfect Lady,” the new musical comedy which Laurence Schwab, co-producer of “The Gingham Girl,” is to sponsor. This play is booked to open in Jersey City on December 10. Yesterday's Wife ” Featuring IRENE RICH EILEEN PERCY and A Brilliant Cast Will Get You the Monev ‘Forgive and Forget ” With u / Wyndam Standing Estelle Taylor and Pauline Garon A Sure Sensation C. B. C. Film Sales Corp. 1600 Broadway New York! JOE BRANDT, Pres. «