Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

February 5, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 403 Sent to Europe Phillip Kauffman, formerly general manager of the Regal Films Corporation of Canada, has resigned to go with First National as general manager of the Central European territory under the supervision of Joseph Skirholl, European general manager. Mr. Kauffman will sail on February 26. neeoinpanied by Mrs. Kauffman and their three children. Pathe Welcomes Ray Hall Ray L. Hall, editor of Pathe News, was welcomed to the Pathe Exchange, Inc., organization at a dinner held in his honor on Monday evening at the Hotel Roosevelt in New York City. J. E. Storey, assistant g-eneral manager in charge of short subject production, was toastmaster. Among those present were Elmer Pearson, John Flinn, Arthur Whyte, Bernhard Benson, John Humm, Lewis Innerarity, Theodore Smith, Karl W. Fasold, Jack Darrock, Santino Sozio, Harry Hardy, Henry De Siena, John Bartone, Paul Jones, Ludwig Geiskop, Harry D. Blauvelt, Jack McCarron, David ■Sussman, L. S. Diamond, Arthur Rousseau, Stanley B. Waite, Pat Campbell, L. E. Franconi, G. L. Chanier, J. A. Berst, S. Barret McCormick, P. A. Parsons, Jack Kyle, Charles Henschel, Harry Lewis, Charles Fischer, ,T. T. Richards, John Daeey, C. W. Stombaugh, Bob Richards, Phil Ryan, John Level and Carl Goe. “U ” Opens N. E. House The Capitol Theatre, Lowell, Mass., the first house to be completed for Universal’s proposed New England Theatre chain, was opened Monday night. “U.” Escapes Fire Fire originating in the Cello Film Company at Fort Lee, N. J„ Wednesday morning spread rapidly across the street to the Universal Studios on Main street. For a time it looked as though valuable negatives and records would be destroyed. However, the fire was put out with little damage. A hasty estimate of the loss was placed at $10,000. Production to Be Broadcast Through Nineteen Stations McNamee to Announce Prize Fight Scene On February 15 the actual production of a motion picture will be broadcast by radio for the first time in history. The scene to be broadcast will be the prize fight sequence in Richard Dix’s next Paramount starring picture, “Knockout Reilly,” which is now in production at Paramount’s Long Island studio. Graham McNamee, nationally known announcer, will be at the "mike.” Broadcasting of the production of this sequence will be done by the National Broadcasting Company through a chain of 19 stations. It will occur during the Eveready Hour, ■Stations to be in the hook-up include, WEAF, New York; WEEI, Boston; WJAR, Providence; WTAG, Worcester; WFI, Philadelphia; WRC; Washington; WGY, Schenectady; WGR, Buffalo; WCAE, Pittsburgh; WTAM, Cleveland; WWJ, Detroit; WSAI, Cincinnati; WGN, Chicago; KSD, St. Louis; WOC, Davenport; WCCO, Minneapolis; W1SM, Nashville; WHAS’, Louisville; WMC, Memphis, and WSB Atlanta. The broadcasting of this unusual event will be on the same scale as the recent broadcasting of the Chicago opera. Grand Opens Feb. 17 Loew’s Grand Theatre, a new edifice located at Fordham road and Jerome avenue, New York, seating 3,000, will be formally opened the evening of February 17 with a single performance. A number of screen, stage and radio stars will actively participate in the opening ceremonies. This swells the total number of Loew theatres throughout Greater New York to more than fifty-five. Named Great Lakes “The Great Lakes” won the prize in the contest conducted in Buffalo, N. Y., for a name for the new picture theatre in construction at Main and Chippewa streets, which will be operated by Fox Theatres Corporation and the M. E. Comerford interests. United Artists will release at least eighteen pictures in 1927 and probably more, according to A1 Lichtman. He has returned from a conference in Hollywood with Joseph M. Schenck. The films will be: one from Mary Pickford, Norma T’almadge in “The Dove,” directed by Roland West, one from Gloria Swanson, one from Charlie Chaplin, a romantic story for John Barrymore, two Buster Keaton comedies, two from Samuel Gold Killed in Collision John R. Barton, popular in a n a s’ e r of Universal’s Jacksonville exchange, was killed a week ago when the car in which he was riding from Mulberry, Fla., to Tampa, crashed into a stalled truck. Barton died on the way to a Tampa hospital. The wrecked ear was driven by Harry Simpson, a salesman in Barton’s exchange. Simpson was badly shaken ip, cut and bruised Capitol Books ‘The General’ Buster Keaton in “The General,” a United Artists release, opens at the New York Capitol, Sunday, February 6, succeeding “Flesh and the Devil,” the Metro Goldwyn Mayer picture which broke all Capitol records by remaining four weeks — twice as long as any feature shown in the Capitol. Schwerin Becomes Manager Cresson E. Smith, general sales manager, midwest division, United Artists, has appointed Charles F. Schwerin in place of W. J. Price as manager of the Indianapolis exchange. New Contract for Mulhall Jack Mulhall has been signed to a new contract by First National several months before the expiration of the company’s current option on his services. wyn, “The Darling of the Gods” from Morris Gest, “Topsy and Eva'” from the Duncan Sisters, one from Fred Niblo, “The Purple Mask” from Roland West, “Two Arabian Knights,” a Caddi Production, John W. Considine, Jr., supervising and Lewis Milestone directing; three or more to be announced later. The first Keaton picture will be ‘‘Hercules the Weak” and the first Goldwyn, ‘‘King Harlequin,” featuring Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky. Bills Conflict in N.Y. Legislature; Censorship Urged Seek an Extension of Picture Commission Conflicting legislation characterized last week's session of the New York State Legislature through the introduction of bills calling for the abolishment of motion picture censorship on July 1, while other bills would extend the work of the New York State Motion Picture Commission to the end that it would embrace spoken drama. A clean book bill was also introduced during the week, which, in substance, was another form of proposed censorship. No public hearings have yet been arranged in connection with any of the bills, although these will come at a later date. Assemblyman Hackenburg gave out a statement in connection with his bill to abolish motion picture censorship. He claims that the present censorship in New York State is only a gesture on the part of the Miller administration of 1921, to pacify what he terms the long-eared reformers. Mr. Hackenburg further asserted that the commission had served no practical purpose other than to creat jobs, and that instead of establishing a standard of morality, it worked rather toward establishing a standard of immorality, ruling just how naughty a picture might be and still be nice enough to get by. Mr. Hackenburg further stated that the censorship of motion pictures merely constituted a tax upon the amusement industry which was passed on to the general public. Senator Whitley of Rochester opposed a bill introduced by Senator Greenberg of New York, designed to extend the powers of the motion picture commission to include the censoring' of spoken drama. He declared that if censorship continued this country would be one of “Thou Shalt Nots,” saying that the way to handle the situation was through local authorities, citing an instance that occurred in Rochester, where he said a theatre had been closed by the revocation of its license after it had shown an immoral picture to a private audience after midnight. “U” Buys Rex Carl Laemmle has purchased Rex, the “King ol chased “Rex, the “King of Wild Horses.” At the same time Universal acquired Rex’s equine comrades. There are live in the troupe, including Lady, the heroine; Marquis, the villain; Paris, juvenile and female impersonator; and Moe and Eva, low-comedy relief burros. Rex will be starred in “Tliunderhoofs,” directed by Henry MacRae. Eighteen From United Artists, Maybe More, For Current Year