Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

January 22, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 247 Ray L. Hall, new editor of Pat lie News. Few Incorporations Although the first week of the new year opened strong in New York State in motion picture companies incorporating, there was a decided slump last week. Only three companies incorporated and these had low capitalization. The companies included Lee-Kendall Productions, capitalized at $30,000, with Herman L. Feldblet, Harry Hedeman and Lester Lee-, of New York City; Rosenbrod Holding Corporation, $10,000, with Emanuel Stempel, Charles Rabinowitz and Rena Oschever, New York City; Monroe Theatre Corporation, capitalization not specified, J. Louis Geller, E. Jessie Abrahams and Hester Pruzan, New York City. Old Film Gets Big Hand A great hand was given a novel film last week at the Hippodrome. It was ‘‘Ye Movies of Ye Olden Days,” compiled by Jean. A. LeRoy, pioneer inventor and exhibitor, from old prints in his possession. Among the ^subjects were “Charge of the Dragoons,” “Bridget Lights the Fire,” “Home, Sweet Home” and “A Test of ?,” the last showing Charlie Chaplin’s first screen test. Avert Theatre Panic Quick work by attendants in turning on the lights prevented a panic in the Orpheum Theatre, Yonkers, N. Y., w*hen a youth started a fight and people in the audience yelled “Fight!” and “Fire!” Charles Fardy, theatre manager, said. No Merger, Says Rogers Budd Rogers, vice-president of Lumas Film Corporation and Gotham Productions, emphatically denies that there is any foundation of fact in a rumor published last week to the effect that the Gotham, Chadwick and Columbia organizations are about to effect a merger. Kessler — Lubey Hugo Kessler, proprietor of the Efficient Employment Film Exchange, New York, has married Miss Lubey, former head of the -clerical department of the Famous Players. A bachelor dinner was given Mr. Kessler at the Frivolity Club. Among those attending were George Walsh, Wyndham Standing, Samuel J. Chesler of Boston, Peter X, Greenblatt and Maxwell Hoffman. Storey Appoints Ray Hall Editor For Pathe News Had Wide (Experience in News Reel Work Ray L. Hall, one of the country’s best known newspaper men and a pioneer in news reel editorship, has been made editor of Pathe News, according to an announcement by J. E. Storey, assistant general manager in charge of short subject production. The new editor . succeeds Emanuel Cohen, who recently resigned to take charge of the new Paramount news' reel, due to appear some time in March. Mr. Hall begins his new work at once. Born in Indiana and a graduate of Indiana University, Mr. Hall received his early training in news gathering with the City Press Association in Chicago and Indianapolis papers. After making a reputation as a syndicate political writer he was editorial writer, city editor and managingeditor. In New York he organized and edited the Hearst Vitagraph News Pictorial, then was active in organizing the Hearst-International News Reel. Later he was put in charge of all Hearst screen product. Following Red Cross and Public Information service in the war. Dr. Hall organized the Screen Telegraph, released by Mutual and, later, organized and edited the Kinograms. For the past two years he has been in charge of Fox Varieties. New Tiffany Exchanges Ed. J. Smith, general sales manager of Tiffany Productions, Inc, announced on his return to New York on Friday, after a ten days’ business trip to the middle west, that he has opened Tiffany exchanges in St. Louis and Kansas City. In the former city he appointed Roy Dickson, manager. In Kansas City he placed W. P. Bernfield in charge. Writing Originals F. Scott Fitzgerald, brilliant novelist, who will do originals for J. W. Considine, Jr., president of Feature Productions. His first will be a story for Constance Talmadge’s initial United Artists’ picture. Luncheon Speakers Speakers at the twelfth annual luncheon of the National Board of Review on January 27 will be Christopher Morley, Prof. John Erskine, Herbert Brecon, the Rev. Dr. William Norman Guthrie and Victor Shapiro. The radio act, “The Happiness Boys,” Will appear. The general subject will be “The Motion Picture, Its Broadening Influences and Uses.” The place is the WaldorfAstoria, New York City. Inspect New York Theatres Following the recent catastrophe in Montreal, New York State troopers have been cautioned to give the closest inspection to rural theatres throughout the state, with particular attention to exits. The troopers have been inspecting theatres for some little time past and more than one has been closed. Publix Reported About to Invade N.Y. Chain Field Five Theatres Planned, Is Broadway Rumor Independent New York exhibitors are excited at what seems to be a well-founded rumor that Publix will soon announce the purchase of a site in New York City for the first of what will be a chain of several Publix theatres, at least five and perhaps more.. Members of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce say that the rumor will be discussed at the next Hotel Astor luncheon meeting on January 25. If the rumor pans out, the theatre situation in New York City will be badly involved. Famous Players will be running in opposition to the LoeW, KeitliAlbee and “Roxy” circuits, not to mention several smaller groups of theatres. Just how the Publix invasion of the New York field will affect the bookings of Paramount pictures by Loew and Keith-Albee is not understood. Publix refused to affirm or deny the report. Prince Guest of Bowes Prince William of Sweden was the personal guest of Major Bowes on January 14 at the Capitol Theatre, New York, where Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s “Flesh and the Devil” is playing to capacity audiences in its second week. Badger Assigned Another Clarence Badger has been assigned to make his third Bebe Daniels starring picture within eight months. Badger will direct Miss Daniels in “Madamoiselle Jockey” as his next effort. F. P. Signs Strayer Frank Strayer, light comedy director, has been signed to pilot Clara Bow in her second starring vehicle for Paramount, “Rough House Rosie.” Censor Bill In Tie first definite move toward what will probably be the abolishment of censorship in New York State on July 1, next, came this week through the introduction of a hill in the Legislature by Assemblyman Louis Cuvillier of New York, a Democrat, calling for the termination of the present censoringeommission on July 1. There will l>e two other hills, similar in character, introduced at once, one by Senator Leonard Lipowiez of Buffalo, a theatre owner, and Assemblyman Frederick L. Hackenburg of New York, who has introduced censorship repeal bills in the past. Jesse L. Lasky and George Young, winner of the Catalina swim, discuss futures. They are seated. Standing-, left to right, are William Hastings, Young’s Toronto pal, and Henry O’Byrne, his trainer. (Telephone transmission by A. T. & T.)