Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

February 19, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 551 The pathe club ball at the Roosevelt last Saturday, will go down in film history as a de luxe event. More than 1,000 persons participated, representing every branch of the business, with film celebrities and important executives in evidence, everywhere one turned. Pathe cameramen, of course were on hand to make pictures of the gathering, while Vincent Lopez and his famous orchestra supplied the music. We caught glimpses of Elmer Pearson, J. E. Storey, Harry Scott and S. Barrett McCormick in the movie-go-round, all look ing pleased as their guests, but the busiest of them all was Rutgers Neilson, who, as chairman of the entertainment committee, was trying his best to be in about seven places at once. * Lou Jacobson showed his latest production “Banana Oil” in Pete Woodhull's apartment at the Roosevelt during the Pathe Ball last week to a select company. Among those who were present besides the ladies, were Joe Seider, Pete Woodhull, Dr. W. E. Shallenberger, W. E. Raynor of Pathe and a couple of representatives of the trade press. * Chester Beecroft is back at his old stand again as W. R. Hearst’s aide-de-camp in chief at the Cosmopolitan Studios. At least his arrival there sets at rest the rumor that the Shuberts had purchased the plant, which would leave the East pretty bare of real studio facilities if it ever is used for other purposes. As it is Robert H. Kane is making all his productions for First National there, while Gloria Swanson who will shortly begin her next feature for United Artists at the same place would have been forced to change her plans, had the reported deal with Shubert Brothers gone ^through. * Bernard McEveety, newly graduated and talented young director, is making “The Broadway Drifter” with George Walsh and Dorothy Hall for Sam Zierler and now he knows some of the difficulties which go with handling a megaphone. Fred Baer tells us that “The Broadway Drifter” will be one of the best contributions George Walsh has made to the screen in many months. Camera work is being done by Marcel Le Picard and Walter Strenge. Everyone is wondering what Terry Ramsaye’s new history of the industry is going to be? Is it to be an honest effort to correct the numerous misstatements and inaccuracies in his first work or just one of those “sucker” editions of “Whoozoo In Filmland” that is about to burst upon the awed gaze of the industry, at so much per write-up ? If the latter, we don’t believe it is going to get very far. Motion picture folk of real importance have long since got over the idea of “giving up” for any such. * Two of the bright spots at the Olive Borden tea at the Ritz recently to bring together the cast of “The Joy Girl,” which Allan Dwan is now directing in Florida for Fox, were Flora Sheffield and Helen Chandler. They sure will bring sunshine — even to Florida. Barbara Bennett, lustrous daughter of Richard and sister of Constance, also will make a graceful gesture or two before the camera for the first time in “The Joy Girl,” a role having been especially created for her by the farseeing director, who evidently senses box office values in her successful season as the dancing partner of Maurice. * quest to be enlightened as to whether Major Edward Bowes of the Capitol has a book of the delightful little verses with which he is wont to close his microphone entertainments on Sunday evenings, or whether he writes them himself. A symposium of these popular poems would certainly make good reading, if the Major ever plans to get out a special souvenir program for the Capitol. Many ardent radio fans and admirers of Major Bowes would surely come to the theatre just to get one. Tom Hamlin, editor oi Film Curb, the sprightly little regional that goes to all the exhibitors in the New York territory, has just celebrated his semi-centennial. Looking back over the last fifty years, he says, brings a feeling of relief and he only hopes that the next fifty will find him as fit and fightin’ as he is now. Which is our wish for you too, Tom.' * Rutgers Neilson, who acted as announcer over radio station WRNY at the Pathe festivities last week, has an ace in the hole, if he ever decides to leave his present job. As a broadcaster Rutgers will rank with the leaders, any time he wants to take up radio work in a serious manner instead of playing around with motion pictures, as he amply proved the other night by his fast work over the “mike.” He met every shift in the program and change in situation with a ready wit and resourcefulness that would seem to indicate that he was accustomed to being “on the air” every night. * Herbert L. Miles, who recently sold his film library, consisting of several millions of feet of choice negative, to Walter Futter, is anxious to know if anyone still has a print of “Miles Brothers Moving,” taken in 1906, when the Miles Bros. Exchange moved from Fourteenth Street to Sixth Avenue. As an exploitation stunt he believes it to be unique, in that the film was afterward sold to the theatres for real money. The film showed the entire Miles Bros, organization on ballyhoo wagons, working as if in the office, going through 14th street. If anyone happens to know where a print of this venerable film may be located, it will pay him to get in touch with Herb at 130 West 46th street, New York. THE next big social event in the industry will be the Naked Truth Dinner, now scheduled at the Hotel Astor for April 2. Walter Eberhardt, president of the A. M. P. A., wants it to be understood that the occasion will leave nothing to be desired and that all guests will be shown the industry just as she is, unbedecked and uncamouflaged. “Have-a-look ! Have-a-look !” is the slogan, the mysteries of the movie magnates are to be revealed without a stitch to shield them from the penetrating gaze of the multitude and a lot of other things will get tjie “once over” besides, while no end of novel and characteristic surprises are being planned by the committee. Reservations are now being made, so get yours in. * “Abie’s Irish Rose” at last is to come to the screen and, of course, by way of Famous Players-Lasky. It would be interesting to know the consideration involved in the transfer, and whether it was as much or more than that paid for “Ben Hur,” which has been hitherto generally regarded as setting the price record for the screen rights to a story or play. As long as Adolph Zukor, Jesse Lasky and Anne Nichols are satisfied, however, there’s no reason why everybody else shouldn’t be. “Abie’s Irish Rose” should prove to be as distinctively “box office” on the screen as it has upon the stage, so that the price paid, great as it may be, will hardly be extravagant. * Ruth Dwyer left New York this week to resume screen work on the Coast. When with Universal and Johnny Hines she first won film fame. Then she got married and decided to forego her promising career. Now her name will soon be in the lights again. * Peggy Hamilton presided at the tea, presenting the Hollywood Fashions, which was given at the Biltmore on Tuesday and, it goes without saying, that gorgeous gowns and lovely women predominated in the ensemble. The audience took a special fancy to winsome little Norma Hermann, of the Biltmore, who acted as announcer for the various numbers.