The Moving picture world (July 1923-August 1923)

246 MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 21, 1923 Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean at Work Says Film Producing \ Is Breaking Records Ed Gallagher and Al Shean, the famous comedy team, who have been delighting audiences during the past year in the Zeigfeld Follies, began work early this week on their first motion picture, "Around the Town With Gallagher and Shean," at the New York Studios of Fox Film Corporation. Bernard J. Durning, whose last two productions were the Lincoln J. Carter melodramas, "The Eleventh Hour" and "The Fast Mail," is directing the celebrated stage stars in the picture, the story for which comes from Louis J. Sherwin, the noted scenarist and dramatic critic. The popularity of Gallagher and Shean is reflected throughout the country by vast numbers of phonograph records and pieces of sheet music of their song which have been sold since their engagement with Flo Ziegfeld. Arthur S. Kane, president of Associated Exhibitors, returning to New York after a business visit of more than a month in Los Angeles, brought reports of studio activity and actor employment unparalleled in the history of the industry. "Never before was there so much producing going on as at present," said Mr. Kane. "All the studios are chock-a-block with work. Actors most in de mand are busy on anywhere from one to three pictures at one time, and are unwilling to 'call it a day' until their labors have continued well into the night. "The volume of independent production is increasing tremendously all the time. A far larger proportion of the big productions are being made by independent units than ever before in history." Associated Exhibitors to Handle Big Ray Film Story by Himself to Be Hart's New Vehicle Albert A. Kidder, Jr., general manager of Charles Ray Productions, Inc., is on a business visit to New York City, expecting to remain two or three weeks. It is understood that his trip from the West Coast is partly in connection with "The Courtship of Myles Standish," the great super-production which Mr. Ray is preparing for distribution by Associated Ex hibitors, and Mr. Kidder has held several conferences with Arthur S. Kane, the president of the latter organization. Other matters to which Mr. Kidder is giving attention have to do, it is believed, with the $3,000,000 studio project recently set afoot in Los Angeles by the Charles Ray Enterprises Corporation, of which he is president. William S. Hart, who recently signed a new contract with Paramount, will return to the screen in an original story by himself. It is one of several which the famous Western star wrote during his two years of retirement. According to an announcement made in Hollywood by Hart, he has signed J. G. Hawks, veteran scenario writer, for the task of putting this story into continuity form. When the story is ready Hart will begin production work at the Lasky studio on the first of his new series of Paramount pictures. Actual production work is scheduled to start not later than August 1, and Hart expects to have a picture ready to release with other Paramount pictures in November. Vitagraph Film to Get Big Exploitation Four New Films for Associated Exhibitors Editing of "The Midnight Alarm," David Smith's fire thriller, is being finished at the Vitagraph studios in Brooklyn. This big spectacle feature has a special cast headed by Percy Marmont, Alice Calhoun and Cullen Landis. It is declared it will be one of the most popular fan pictures of the season. A big exploitation campaign is being outlined at Vitagraph headquarters to aid the exhibitor, which is in accordance with Vitagraph's policy of many years. "The Midnight Alarm" is filled with opportunities for local tieups. It has already won the praise of members of the New York Fire Department who have witnessed the working print and they predict fire chiefs and firemen in every city in the country will lend co-operation to the exhibitor who plays it. "French Doll" Is Said to Be Lavish Picture A deal involving $750,000 for the production of four features this year by Halperin Productions and their distribution by Associated Exhibitors was consummated this week. The first picture has already been finished. It was written, directed, titled and edited by Victor Hugo Halperin, who will perform the same services with the three yet to come. The features in this series are known as "idea" productions, because each is built around a central advertising and selling idea — "Ready-Made Exploitation for the Exhibitor." Each, it is announced, is to contain a cast of at least twenty recognized stars. Halperin Productions is now starting work on its sixteenth picture. Two brothers compose the firm. Victor Hugo and Edward Halperin. Each has had an extensive advertising experience. Changes Title of Pickford Film The name of Mary Pickford's new picture feature will not be "The Street Singer," but will be "Rosita," which originally was the working title. The picture will be released in the early fall through United Artists' Corporation. Reports from the Metro offices indicate that the New York fall premiere of Mae Murray's newest picture, recently completed in Hollywood, "The French Doll.'' is to be a notable occasion. No theatre has been announced as yet but an unusual presentation will in all probability mark the event. The fact that "The French Doll" is a picturization of the popular Broadway success makes the premiere of the film an intimate affair to theatre-going New Yorkers. Though all her recent productions have been noted for lavishly beautiful sets and clothes, it is said that Miss Murray has outdone herself in "The French Doll" and that this latest picture is a veritable extravaganza of exotic and beautiful gowns worn by Miss Murray, and sets designed by one of the most famous Eastern artists. Jack Pickford Signs Lucille Rickson Lucille Rickson, sixteen-yearold leading woman of the films, has been signed by Jack Pickford to play the leading feminine role in his next picture, which is being made under the working title of "The Valley of the Wolf." Ruben & Finkelstein Book Four Goldwyns Universal Buys Story "Men in the Raw," a stirring Western story by W. Bert Foster, has been purchased by the Universal Pictures Corporation to be used as a Jack Hoxie production. The first four of Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan's fall releases will receive first runs in the leading Ruben & Finkelstein theatres in seven Minnesota towns. A deal to that effect was concluded by James R. Grainger, general manager of sales for Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan, while he was in Minneapolis on his successful swing about his firm's branch exchanges. Ruben & Finkelstein's chain of theatres is one of the most important in the northern section of the Middle West. The seven towns in which the four pictures will receive first runs in Ruben & Finkelstein's leading theatres are Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Superior, Hibbing, Brainerd and Virginia City. Add to Cast Two more players have been engaged by the Warner Brothers for the forthcoming David Belasco production, "Tiger Rose," an adaptation of the play in which Lenore Ulric was featured on the stage and in which she will be starred by the Warners. The players are Sam De Grasse, who will play the role of Dr. Cusick, and Theodore Von Eltz who has been cast for the part of Bruce Norton.