Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

s MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 5, 1927 EXHiBS KICK AT ALLEGED NON-T. DRIVE Declare Distribs Order Exchanges To Push Selling It has become known that many of the national distributing organizations have sent orders to their various local offices to immediately begin a campaign for the securing of more non-theatrical business. The exhibitors of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware, through their Board of Managers at a meeting held on October 27, passed resolutions strenuously objecting to this method and to the development of the non-theatrical business. The exhibitors of this territory pay to the film companies on an average of $125,000 per week for film rentals, and on the other hand, the same companies receive in comparison for non-theatrical showings the sum of approximately $500 per week, according to Secretary Aarons. Jerome Beatty of the Hays’ office knew nothing of any such drive. Columbia Signs 2 Claire Windsor will have 2 leading men in “The Opening Night,” her second starring vehicle for Columbia Pictures. John Bowers and E. Alyn Warren were signed this week for these roles and production will start as soon as the director and the rest of the cast are selected. Explains Engraving At the weekly meeting of the AMPA held at the Cafe Boulevard, on Thursday, the various steps in the production of photoengraving was carefully and intelligently explained to a large group of members by Harry A. Groesbeck, General Manager of the Walker Engraving Co., of New York. This particular meeting is the first of a series of instructive luncheons advocated by Bruce Gallup the recently elected president of the AMPA. A great deal of interest was shown by the members in the talk by Mr. Groesbeck and more such subjects will be awaited with enthusiasm. Leila Hyams, Warner Bros, player, is in New York to marry Phil Berg, seen with her here. OHIO FIELD WATCHES MANAGERIAL SHIFTS . Cincinnati — Recent shifts in theatre management within the past fortnight include J. E. Watson, transferred from Loew’s Parkway Theatre, Baltimore, to Loew’s Broad, Columbus, Ohio. Abe Schwartz has resumed duty at the Utopia Theatre, Painesville, after having recovered from a long illness during which time the house was under jurisdiction of A1 Price. At Toledo, Ohio, John McManus has severed his local managerial connections to take charge of Loew’s Theatre, Toronto, Canada, where he succeeds Jules Bernstein. Larry Jacobs has resigned as manager of the Alhambra, Canton, Ohio, and is managing the Kinsman at Cleveland. The Alhambra is now being looked after by Earl Hudson, who previously was manager of the Union Square, Cleveland. Wurtzel Supt. 10 Years Sol Wurtzel has just rounded out 10 years as general superintendent of the Fox West Coast Studios. In 1914 he joined the corporation in New York. Within 6 months he had been chosen as secretary to William Fox. In October, 1917, he was sent to Hollywood to take charge of the studios. Caddo Joins Hays At a meeting of the Board of Directors of Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., Caddo Company, Inc., which releases through United Artists, was elected to membership. “Harvester” for Hipp FBO’s “The Harvester.” based on the novel by Gene StrattonPorter, will be shown at the Hippodrome, New York, for the week of November 7. COMING AND GOING A L LICHTMAN, vice-presiA dent and general manager of distribution for United States and Canada, has left New York for Minneapolis in the interests of sales of United Artists Pictures. * * * Harry J. Brown, who has directed the two most recent Ken Maynard pictures for First National, “Gun Gospel” and “The Wagon Show,” left Hollywood for a brief business trip to New York following the completion of the latter. * * * Henry King, director, has left New York for Hollywood, there to decide whether “The Darling of the Gods” or a story entitled “My Woman” will be his next picture. * * * Aileen Pringle, Metro-GoldwvnMayer actress, arrived in New York last Sunday. She will spend several weeks here. * * * Monte Blue terminated his vacation in New York this week and started back for the Coast. According to his working schedule he will be in front of the cameras for “Across the Atlantic” on the last day of October. METZGER IMPROVING AFTER AN OPERATION Lou B. Metzger, general sales manager for Universal, was operated upon at St. Luke’s Hospital, New York City, as the result of a severe attack of gallstones. The operation was very successful, and although the Universal executive put in several bad days early this week, he is now reported to be well along towards recovery. It will be several weeks before he returns to his desk. Two New Ohio Houses Cincinnati — Following close on the announcement that Bender, Wolf and Young of Canton, Ohio, would build a house in the Marion, Ohio, business district, comes word that the Theatrical Utilities Corp. of Buffalo, N. \., is having plans prepared for a house in Marion for which a site has already been acquired. To this is added the report that the Young Amusement Co. of Gary, Ind., will erect a house, to be known as the Palace, the building to contain store rooms and apartments. Publix Books Columbias Columbia Pictures announces a booking deal with Publix which assures “The Perfect Thirty of important first-run showings in 34 cities in the South. The contract was engineered by W illiam G. L nderwood, Columbia s franchise holder in this territory. Dorothy Gish sailed this week on the Berengaria for England, where she will star in a historical film. * * * Watterson R. Rothacker, First National production chief, is in New York. * * * Rodney Pantages, Mrs. Alexander Pantages, Lloyd and Carmen Pantages are enroute to New York from the Coast. * * * Beno Rubel is due to arrive in New York from the West the end of the week. * * * Director Robert Z. Leonard left the Coast a few days ago for New Y ork. * * * Leila Hyams, Warner Bros, player, is in New York accompanied by her mother and father, noted as the famous musical corned}' team of McIntyre and Hyams. In the same party was Miss Hyams’ fiance, Phil Berg. The wedding of Miss Hyams and Mr. Berg will take place while they are in the East. * * * P. C. Taylor, Canadian general manager for F B. 0. has just returned from a trip through the West. He announces that the company's Vancouver exchange has been moved from Granville street to the new Film Exchange Building, Burrard street at Davie. A. E. Rolston is branch manager. Permanent Movietone Reel On account of the unusual interest in the Movietone news reel shown in the Roxy Theatre in connection with the Fox News this week, S. L. Rothafel (“Roxy”) has decided to make this a permanent feature of the weekly Magazine. While the usual news films from Fox, Pathe, International, Kinogram and M-G-M will be retained, one or more Movietone subjects will be shown each week. Paramount Gets “Jewels” By arrangement with the Edward L. Klein Corp., of New York, Paramount has acquired the series of Edgar A. Guest "Poetic Jewels” for sole distribution in Great Britain and Ireland. The deal was recently consummated in London between John Cecil Graham of Famous Lasky Film Service. Ltd., and Edward L. Klein. Levenson Vice-President Joseph W. Levenson. for many years associated with Moe Mark in the Mark Strand Theatre en‘erprises, at a meeting held in Philadelphia was elected a vicepresident of the Stanley-Mark Strand Theatre Corp.