Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD Around the World on Cushions Agnes Christine Johnston and her husband, M-G-M scenarists, with their baby in the touring crib they used through Europe. Six Fox Features Completed; Six in Work; Others Are Set 202 Garden Theatre, Portsmouth, 0., Puts One Over A novel form of newspaper display ad was introduced by the Garden Theatre, Portsmouth, Ohio, in announcing its engagement of Douglas Fairbanks in "The Black Pirate.” In order to obtain an eightcolumn streamer headline across the top of the page, which was not a theatrical page, The Garden used a quarter page display ad from the United Artists pressbook at the top of the page, and beside it ran a twocolumn notice in regular body type with a two-column display sub-head. All of this material wds part of the advertisement and was tied together by the streamer head. The remainder of the page was made up of regular news and feature material and smaller ads from commercial accounts. Tiffany Pictures Discovers Beauty Jean Arthur, who appears in one of the leading feminine roles in the Tiffany production, ‘‘Husband Hunters,” is considered a “screen find.” In line with selecting new faces for the screen, Tiffany has brought to the front Marceline Day and Duane Thompson. Miss Arthur, a young girl, will, it is said, prove a sensation when she is seen in the "Husband Hunters” and in “The Broken Gate.” Cullen Landis, star of the Pathe serial “On Guard,” recruiting for the reserve in New York. PRODUCTION activities at Fox Films’ Western and Eastern studios are maintaining an even pace as is evidenced by the announcement by Winfield R. Sheehan, vice-president and general manager, who is supervising all work of this kind, to the effect that six feature productions were finished this week, six more are in work and another half dozen are past the scenario stage and ready for filming. Among the pictures just finished are : “The Music Master,” np HE SECOND WEEK of the 1 New Year finds seven productions in course of filming at the Warner B-ros. studios in Hollywood. Five are well under way, while two new pictures were just started. “Matinee Ladies” got going this week with May McAvoy in the leading role. Others in the cast to date include Malcolm McGregor, Hedda Hopper, Lincoln Plummer and Charles Lane. Harry Dittmar is adapting the story, while Byron Haskins will direct. Dolores Costello in “A Million Bid” also got off to a flying start this week. A cast in support of Miss Costello is being assembled, "The Last Trail,” “Upstream,” “Stage Madness,” “The Monkey Talks” and "The Wedding Ring.” Those in work include : “Sunrise,” “Ankles Preferred,” “The Broncho Twister,” “The Secret Studio,” “A. W. O. L.” and “The Whispering Sage.” Ready to start before the camera are : “Seventh Heaven,” "Cradle Snatchers,” “Is Zat So,” “The Heart of Salome,” “Rich, But Honest” and “The Joy Girl.” which includes Warner Oland, Sojin, Josef Swickard, Anders Randolf and John Miljan. The production is based on the play by George Cameron. Alan Crosland, the directorial genius of “Don Juan,” is wielding the megaphone. Rin Tin Tin and “Hills of Kentucky” company are on location at Kern River country, shooting exteriors for the production. “What Ever} Girl Should Know,” Patsy Ruth Miller’s initial starring vehicle, is in the second week of production. “The Gay Old Bird,” starring Louise Fazenda, is nearing completion. January 15, 1927 Del Lord To Do New Film “Bayo-Nuts” The engagement of Del Lord to direct a war-time comedy, tentatively titled “Bayo-Nuts,” is announced by John McCormick, general manager of West Coast production for First National Pictures. This picture will be produced for First National by Frank Griffin, who also wrote the original story. In it will be featured Charlie Murray and George Sidney. Del Lord is a well known comedy director and for the last year or two has been engaged in making Mack Sennett comedies. He was awarded the diamond studded belt by Sennett in recognition of his work as the most consistent director of real box-office comedy hits. Ti ee from Palestine in “King of Kings ” A cypress tree, brought from Jerusalem twentytwo years ago, formed an interesting touch of direct realism in the Calvary scenes of “The King of Kings,” Cecil B. De Mille’s film story of the Christ. The tree came to California as part of a shipment to introduce the Palestine cypress in America. It is a pivotal point in the story scenes after the death of the Christ; a refuge for the crowds fleeing the blasts. Frank De Weese, of the University of Kansas, is making good. He’s played in “The Quarterback,” “The Music Master” and other hits. Dolores Costello Starts Work on “A Million Bid”