Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

Last Minute News From Everywhere MIRACLES With M.-iG.-M. and First National each planning to produce “The Miracle,” it will be a miracle if someone doesn’t get a headache. MOVING PICTURE WORLD “TALKIES” Are causing more conversation in high movie circles these days than any one ever believed they could — ami a lot of hard thinking and fast stepping. Vol. 84 New York, February 12, 1927 No. 7 Hollywood Hears Of Great Studios For Independents McAdoo Associated with Parker, Is Report By TOM WALLER (Wired from Hollywood Bureau, 10:50 P.M., Feb. 9 ) Daily newspapers here today carried a story crediting Donald Parker, president of the Donald Parker Pictures Corporation, one of the smaller independent units, with announcing a $1,170,000 project primarily for independent producers. The project is described as “Studioland” and the stories say plans call for buildings and all the equipment necessary for making pictures being accommodated on fifty-five acres of land. Such a tract, it is announced, was purchased several days ago on the Ventura Boulevard. According to the reports “Studioland” will comprise eight large stage and a number of modern dressing room bungalows. The same credit Parker with stating: “The most impor tant feature of Studioland will be the spirit of harmony and cooperation that will be insisted upon by the officials, whose years of experience have forced them to realize ' and recognize the requirements of independent producers. In short, Studioland will be the independent producers' own home, operated under their control and built especially to meet their needs.” The articles also stated that the Board of Directors among others “is to include” William 'Gibbs McAdoo. Two oil men and an architectural engineer also are given as prospective members of the board. No names known in the film industry are listed, it being stated “and several well known men affiliated with the industry whose names are withheld.” Guard Friendships All member companies of the Hayes organization have appointed studio executives as members of a public relations committee. Their duties will be to see that no foreign nation is offended by any scene or caption in any picture produced by them. They also will visit sets and watch directors to see that they do not radically deviate from the script. Giant Grouping of Big Film Interests Forecast in Talking Picture Field Deal Discussed Allies Six Big Firms With Warner Bros, and Vitaphone; K-A Out By Merritt Crawford ' ■ ' HAT a giant grouping of important film interests in connection with talking pictures has been under discussion for some weeks past, was partially disclosed this week through dispatches from Palm Beach to the N. Y. Times, in statements issued by E. F. Albee and Lee Shubert. The statements were brought out by rumors of a merger of the Keith-Albee and Shubert theatrical interests with various important motion picture distributing agencies, which reports were categorically denied by both Mr. Albee and Mr. Shubert. Chicago Notes Five thousand signers have been obtained to support Evanston, Ind., Sunday movies. They will be voted on April 5. Will Hays was here Sunday. Asclier’s new Sheridan Theatre, 4,04)0 seats, opens February' 12. Three new movie theatres are projected for the South Side colored district. Clayton Bond has been mnde division manager of Warner Brothers. H e formerly was film buyer for Balaban & Katz. The exhibitors fire prevention cases sire postponed to April 20. .The Marks Circuit has bought land on Milwaukee avenue for another theatre. “Romeo and Juliet” Soon Word has come from Carl Laemmle, now on the West Coast supervising production at Universal City, that Universal’s treatment of “Romeo and Juliet” is fast taking shape in the scenario department and that all indications point to an early production. New Christie Directors Arvid Gillstrom and Robert Kerr have been signed to direct two-reel Christies comedies. The Wall Street Journal hints that “combinations” impend in the motion picture field and mentions “Loew’s.” The New York American points to “quiet absorption” of Loew’s stock. But Louis B. Ma^-er, vice-presiden in charge of production for M-G-M, professes not to favor the rumored merger with United Artists, and to disbelieve that it is in the works. He sees M-G-M gaining little besides prestige in such a move, as the company has plenty of outlet for its pictures. Apparently M-G-M. through Mr. Mayer, is doing more than any other company to find new faces for the screen. He pointed to the stock company of sixtyfive players that M-G-M carries. William Haines, he said, is a brilliant success and will be starred next year. A newly dis N. Y. Bill Would Force Mandatory Fire Drill A bill was introduced in the New York State Legislature last week by Assemblyman J. F. Ryan of New York City, that provides that employees of theatres and other places of public assemblages must be compelled to conduct fire drills at least twice a month under the direction of a fire marshal or some other designated officer. The measure further provides that no cities are to be exempt from these requirements even though they might have local regulation of their own. covered extra, for whom a screen name has not been chosen, will be shortly recognized as remarkable star material. In addition, said Mr. Mayer, M-G-M is carrying a long list of writers, who are constantly weeded out, on whom the company depends for much of its story material. He is against routine plots and screen treatments and believes that M-G-M is showing the way to the whole industry. At the conclusion of this week's conference in New York Mr. Mayer said: “Some people are kicking themselves for not buying Loew stock three Years ago. It is due to rise much higher, and you boys will be kicking yourselves in another year if you don’t take advantage of it now.” Mr. Shubert said that the reports probably arose from meetings which have been recently held by representatives of the various picture groups, including Warner Brothers, Fox Films and the Keith-Albee group. He said his theatres were not at all interested in motion pictures and would have no reason for considering such a merger. Mr. Albee stated that while several such meetings had been held, no definite results had been reached. “Mr. Owen D. Young of the General Electric Company,” Mr. Albee is quoted as saying, “was behind these meetings and the object was to discuss plans for merging the various talking picture groups. I believe they contemplated forming a stock company in order that the talking picture machines might be sold to everybody.” Mr. Albee was not quoted as stating whether the Vitaphone was included in the proposed merger of the talking picture interests, though how any combination of this character could be effective without its participation was not made apparent. From other sources, however, MOVING PICTURE WORLD is able to state that for weeks past (Continued on next page) Showmen Set Date The national convention of the M. P. T. O. A. will he held at Columbus, Ohio, on May 17, 18 and 1». The decision was reached this week at a meeting of the Administrative Committee. All members attended .except Harry Davis of Pittsburgh, detained by illness. J. J. Harwood was named chairman of the Convention Committee, with power to appoint sub-committees. Mayer Professes Disbelief in M-G-M-United Artists’ Merger