Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1927)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 31, 1927 18 Pathe News Presetits'lScreen History of ’27 Chief Events Pathe News has released this week a news reel that is a pictorial history of the past year's events in every section of the nation. In its entirety the reel would total 17,000 feet of I subject matter, or more than three j miles of film. For each of Pathe’s thirty-three J branch offices, Editor Ray Hall has assembled approximately 500 feet of film covering the year's most important events in the community surrounding the branch office. This 500 j feet of pictorial news matter will be presented as part of the regular is J sue of Pathe News and for the first time in the history of news reels the1 atre patrons will see a complete re1 view on the screen of the passing events of 1927 that are of greatest interest locally. Pathe News was enabled to carry out this project because of its strong organization from headquarters down to the remote localities. It hasn’t been so many years since a cameraman in a small city or town was more or less of an oddity. Now Pathe has in each of 33 branch offices motion picture camera representatives. Buckley on Tour Harry D. Buckley, Vice-President of United Artists, left New York for St. Louis, the first stop on a tour of United Artists’ exchanges which will keep him away from the home office about ten days. Oppose Daylight Saving Ottawa. — The Allied Trades and Labor Association of Ottawa, has placed itself on record as opposed to Daylight Saving during the summer of 1928. Announcement was made to this effect when the organization outlined its policies for the new year. The labor men have been promised the support of local exhibitors in their move. N. Y. Chains Book F.N. Films in Jan. Jules Levy, manager of First National’s New York exchange, has booked three of the company’s productions for showing over the FBO circuit in Greater New York City during the month of January. These are : “The Gorilla,” featuring Charlie Murray and Fred Kelsey; Milton Sills in “The Valley of the Giants,” and the Robert Kane-Alien Dwan production, “French Dressing,” featuring Lois Wilson, H. B. Warner, Clive Brook and Lilyan Tashman. Constance Talmadge’s picture, “Breakfast at Sunrise,” has been booked for January showing over the Loew Circuit, while Johnny Hines’ “Home Made” will show over i the Fox circuit. YULETIDE GREETINGS ■ TO THE INDUSTRY c^s> a BOB STEELE FBO Western Star FRANK MARION featured player Co-featured with VIRGINIA BRADFORD in “The Wreck of the Hesperus” U. A. Gets House For Road Shows Toronto’s new Regent Theatre has been leased for ten days to United Artists for its road show presentations, two a day, advance prices. Douglas Fairbanks in “The Gaucho” will be the opening attraction, to be followed by Herbert Brenon’s “Sorrell and Son,” and then Mary Pickford’s “My Best Girl.” Following road showing of United Artists’ pictures in Toronto, all of them are contracted for by the Uptown Theatre, controlled by Famous Players Canadian, which is headed by M. L. Xathanson. Col. Signs Hudson Harris, Johnston Hollywood. — Earl Hudson, Elmer Harris and Leroy Johnston were added this week to the executive personnel of Columbia’s studios where the company is now starting on the second half of its present season’s “Perfect Thirty.” Hudson has been signed as supervisor. Harris has been put in charge of the scenario department. Harris first gained fame as a short story writer and playwright. Among his stage successes were “So Long Letty,” “Sham,” “Canary Cottage” and “The Great Necker.” Carr, U. A. Foreign Head, Visiting Amer. A round trip to the United States from England was the Christmas present given Edward T. Carr, General Sales Manager of Allied Artists Corporation, Ltd., by United Artists Corporation, through Arthuf W. Kelly, Vice President and General Manager of Foreign stribution. Mr. and Mrs. Carr are now in New York City, having arrived on the S. S. Majestic December 21st. Lee Leaving Sterling Manfred Lee, publicity and advertising director of Sterling Pictures Distributing Corporation, is severing his connection with that company on January first. He anticipates employing his talents eventually in writing for the screen. F. N. MONTH IS DEDICATED TO R. A. ROWLAND First National Month this year is dedicated by the distribution department to Richard A. Rowland, vice president, general and production manager of First National Pictures, as a tribute to his achievement in giving the company the best product in its history. First National Month is an annual affair, coming always in January, when the sales personnel puts forth its best efforts to effect the biggest amount of billed business for the entire year. Because of the great quality of the pictures given to the sales department this season by Mr. Rowland, Ned E. Depinet. vice president and general manager of distribution and his staff of sales managers. A. W. Smith. Jr., Stanley W. Hatch and W. E. Callaway, decided that it would be fitting to show their appreciation of Mr. Rowland’s production achievements by dedicating First National Month to him. The advertising department has prepared an eight-page press sheet for the use of exhibitors. Special attention has been devoted to the advertisements, which play up the fact that January is First National Month and that the exhibitor is playing First National pictures. Space is left for the exhibitor to insert copy for the current picture. Two pages are devoted to showman ideas for exploiting First National Month in window and lobby displays, in newspaper tie-ups, ballyhoos and through other channels. Warning Premiere At Moss’ Broadway “The Warning,” Jack Holt’s second starring vehicle for Columbia, will have its New York premiere at Moss’ Broadway during the week of January 2. This is the second of Columbia’s present season product to play the Broadway, as it follows “The Tigress” into this theatre by only a few weeks. F & R Books Ed’l Novelty Educational's novelty, “Character Studies,” has been booked by F & R for their entire circuit.