Moving Picture World (Sep-Oct 1927)

Last Minute News From Everywhere THERE’S A REASON! MOVING PICTURE THREE WEEKS Every producer says he Is booked way ahead of last season and yet most of them look worried. Wonder why? WORLD Frank R. Wilson, M. P. Capital Corp., caustically arraigned film producers for inefficiency and worse, but to date none lias replied. How kuin? The Motion Picture Business Paper Vol. 88 New York, September 3, 1927 No. 1 Publix Is After Wide Publicity By Making Community Pictures Berkoven Signed for a Series Starring Local Talent in Many Cities and Towns By Sumner Smith A NOVEL stunt that, undertaken in a small way, has proved successful, will now be gone into by Publix in a big way. Contracts have been signed with Berkoven Productions, with offices in Chicago and Minneapolis, for the production of pictures starring local talent in communities that have Publix motion picture theatres, it became known this week. The length of the contract is not definitely known, but it is said that it runs for over six months, with an option for renewal. Stock Companies v Gradually Pass Out of Picture FBO’s Move Reflects Others’ Sentiments Stock companies gradually are becoming institutions of the past, it was suggested this week in New York when it became known that F B O is abolishing its stock company. Hereafter, that company, according to William Le Baron, vice-president in charge of production, will have only stars and a small group of players being groomed for stardom under long term contracts. Mr. Le Baron holds that stock companies are economically unsound, involving salaries for idle time and often the casting of players in parts unsuited to them. Attempts to learn of similar retrenchment by other companies were not productive of much result. Charles McCarthy, in charge of Paramount publicity, said he had heard nothing about such retrenchment at the West Coast. Howard Dietz, M-G-M publicity and advertising director, echoed the same belief. However, men directly connected with M-G-M and Paramount distribution thought that there is a tendency on the part of both companies to drop players as contracts (Continued on next page) Rossuck Off to Orient To Sell for Hoffberg Sidney W. Rossuck is sailing on the S.S. President Madison, leaving September 3 from San Francisco for China, on a selling trip for J. H. Hoffberg Co., Inc. Rossuck will cover China and Japan on this trip J. H. Hoffberg Co., Inc., handle First Division Pictures, Gotham, Chadwick, Christie Comedies and other independent product in these territories. Coming to U. S. Max Reinhardt, famous Austrian regisseur, who comes to America in November to make a United Artists picture. Fogarty, Mistaken for Another, Knocked Down Frank Fogarty, Big Three sales man, would like a disguise that would resemble no one else in the world. Standing in front of 729 Seventh avenue the other day, he was suddenly felled by a blow to the face from a man he had never seen before. Two bones in his cheek and his jaw were broken. Men on the curb expostulated with the assailant, said to have been recognized as employed by strikebreakers, and told him Fogarty’s identity. “I guess I made a mistake. I apologize,” the thug replied and vanished. He is being sought by the district attorney. Jersey City labor troubles are held responsible. Sign M-G-M Contract Ralph Forbes, who was placed under contract a year ago by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, has been given a new contract by M-G-M. From a small role in an all-star picture Forbes has risen in a year to one of the most prominently featured leading men. Warners to Produce Commercial Pictures The formation of a new department to produce commercial pictures for outside organizations of every kind was announced this week by Warner Bros. This new branch will function in New York and will be under the supervision of Herbert B. Fogel, who has had diversified and long experience in the making of short subjects. Educational, industrial, commercial and professional films of all descriptions will come under the scope of the department, which has perfect facilities not only for the filming of black and white subjects but also for the production of motion pictures in natural colors. Eckman to Go Abroad Samuel Eckman, Jr., district manager of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for New York, Albany, Buffalo, New Haven and Boston, will leave for England in the near future to do special work for Jury MetroGoldwyn, Ltd., as designated by Arthur M. Loew, head of M-GM’s foreign department. Herron Back Oct. 1 Major Herron, head of foreign affairs for Will H. Hays, is expected to return from abroad about October 1. Berkoven Productions is not a brand new company. It has had considerable experience, working most successfully under Finkelstein & Ruben and Lubliner & Trinz auspices in the Middle West. Earlier reports put one week’s business with a local picture in Minneapolis theatre at $17,000, and in Chicago Berkoven local pictures are said to have been “wows.” This traveling movie outfit operates independently. It has a staff of fourteen experts who travel (Continued on next page) London Cable (Moving Picture World Bureau, London, August 30) Movietone and Vitaphone figure in successful demonstrations. Pauline Frederick may play Nurse Cavell in a new war picture. “The Chinese Parrot” sets the trade talking. “Ben Hur” at the Tivoli passes the millionth visitor mark. Nettlefold signs Fairbanks’ niece. The Bernstein contest result: Betty Balfour winner. Mosjoukine is returning early in September and visiting London. The Warsaw exhibition has been postponed. Paris proposes an exhibition in November. A two million dollar cinema combine is forming in Barcelona, Spain. The Phoebus Kontingent dispute is settled. Max Reinhardt is proceeding to Hollywood in January.