Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

Film Moguls Touring West Harold B. Franklin, president of West Coast Theatres, Inc., is on a tour of the West Coast circuit which will include visits to San Francisco, Seattle and Portland. Accompanying Franklin were Adolph Zukor, president of Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation ; Sam Katz, president of Publix Theatres Corporation, and Nicholas Schenck, president of MetroGoldwyn-Mayer. The trip is primarily to inspect the new Paramount theatres opening in Portland and Seattle. Keeping In Touch The radio will serve to keep Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer officials in constant touch with Producer Robert Flaherty and Director W. S. Van Dyke, while the latter are quartered in Tahati, where they are to film “Southern Skies.” Arrangements have been completed for nightly radio communication between Station 6B2N at Culver City and Station BAM at Tahati, where the film company will make its headquarters. Honor for Star Esther Ralston was selected to honorary membership in the Paramount Scientific Research Club, composed of the employees of the studio electrical department, following her attendance at the organization's recent dance. Raoul Walsh Plays And Directs Raoul Walsh establish'ng ii self as an actor-director. He has now decided to play the heavy role in “The Red Dancer of Moscow,” in which Dolores del Rio is to be starred by Fox. (According to reports, Walsh took screen tests of a number of actors in hopes of finding one suitable for the role only to eventually decide that he was the best bet for the part himself. He recently played one of the featured roles in “Sadie Thompson” with Gloria Swanson and directed as well. One of Hollywood’s most successful free lance writers is Jim O’Donohoe, who wrote the script for Fox’s “What Price Glory.” Thaw’s Arrival Causes No Stir The picture industry, as exemplified by Hollywood, remained firmly indifferent to the arrival of Harry K. Thaw, who knows his Broadway, and who is admittedly on the Coast to dabble seriously in motion picture production. Accompanying Thaw were his protegees, Ann Hughes and Anita Rivers, 17-year old screen “hopefuls.” ITarold A. Forshay, Thaw’s director, was alsoo included in the party. According to Thaw, he is here primarily to survey Hollywood’s methods of motion picture production. His stay, he says, will probably be for about four or five weeks. He hopes to start the two girls on picture careers. According to Thaw, he intends to confer with leading producers here and look over the field, generally. He admitted he was unable to say at the present time just whether he would attempt independent production or connect with some organization now in operation. He is owner of the Kenilworth Productions, in the East. Big Expansion Plan For First National Studios President Clifford B. Hawley Announces $500,000 Is Now Available for Work BEFORE leaving for the east, following a three weeks’ visit in Los Angeles, Clifford B. Hawley, president of First National Pictures, announced the immediate inauguration of a building extension program at the studio which will involve the expenditure, within the next three months, of $500,000, with the erection of additional stages, a miniature and trick photography department building and additional executive offices for the fast growing personnel at the Burbank studio. efficient manner in which the property is being administered by Watterson R. Rothacker, managing director of the studio, and his staff,” declared Hawley. “We are definitely committed to a policy of expansion of all our activities, details of which will be announced after the first of the year by Mr. Rothacker. “The banking firms interested in First National, and the franchise holders of this company, have never been more optimistic over the future than they are to-day. This is concretely expressed in our plans for the increase of our stage space and the new housing of our increased production organization.” Richard A. Rowland, vice-president of First National Pictures, Inc., who came West with Hawley, also accompanied the latter Eastward. “U” Announces Lab. Invitation Universal technicians have invented and patented an automatic developing machine for negative film, which, it is declared, will revolutionize motion picture laboratory work. Roy Hunter and Robert Pierce, he inventors, have finally perfected the machine after two years of intensive work. It is now being used with gratifying success at Universal City, according to “U” officials. During the past six months more than 300,000 feet of negative from Universal’s various productions has been developed by the machine without the loss of a single foot. The negative has emerged perfectly developed and ready for the automatic printing machine. Lew Cody’s Plans Hollywood is evincing considerable interest in the future plans of Lew Cody, who recently completed a contract with MetroGoldwyn-Mayer and then went on the road in a vaudeville sketch. According to Harry J. Brown, who has just returned from New York, Cody will have an interesting announcement to make shortly. Director Chooses Son Of Mary Carr Tommy Carr, 20-year old son of Mary Carr, celebrated screen mother, and a star in his own right when a mere youngster, has finally been discovered in Hollywood in the extra ranks. Luther Reed, directing “Flell’s Angels” for Caddo, picked him out from one hundred extras to do a bit, and discovered the young man’s identity. Fourteen years ago, Carr was starred in “Little Breeches” and other screen features. His last recognized screen work was seven vears ago in the serial “Velvet Fingers,” directed by George B. Seitz.