The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

514 MOVING PICTURE WORLD October 6, 1923 "Six Days" Does Big Business at Capitol One week's receipts of $53,917.46. That's what Goldwyn's "Six Days" drew at the Capitol Theatre, New York, in seven days. The gross receipts for the week were unusually big for the Capitol and came very close to the record held by this theatre. Therefore Manager S. L. Rothafel arranged to extend the engagement of "Six Days" for another week and the business continued of nearly as big proportion as it did the first week, it is stated. The picture has been a big success in all the cities where it has shown. Picture patrons in Detroit have manifested a very strong liking for this great love story by the famous author of "Three Weeks" and it was held over for an additional week at the Madison Theatre in that city. It opened last week at Aschers' Merrill Theatre in Milwaukee and at the Allen Theatre in Cleveland. Its reviews in the newspapers of those two cities and in Detroit were of as favorable a nature as were the extraordinary reviews given it by the press of New York City. It is scoring a hit as substantial as have the other Goldwyn pictures for this year — "Three Wise Fools," "The Spoilers" and "Red Lights," it is reported. Roach Signs Writer as Director Rob Wagner, who came into national prominence through his series of thirty-two articles on West Coast studio life published in the Saturday Evening Post, has been signed to direct by Hal Roach, the Pathe comedy producer. Mr. Wagner's engagement is in line with the Hal Roach policy of having alternating directors for each of his comedy units. Under this plan, he will direct a portion of the Will Rogers two-reel comedies, which are in production for distribution by Patbe. In addition to his literary achievements, Mr. Wagner has won a wide reputation as a motion picture director, his study of studio methods having led to his actual entry upon the directorial field, in which he has been thoroughly trained. Movie War Proves Costly "Extras" Show Prowess as Semon Preparing First Feature Length Comedy Preparations for the filming of the first Larry Semon production of a unit of four feature-length comedies, are nearing completion and soon shooting will be under way on "The Girl in the Limousine." This production, the first, will be adapted from the famous A. H. Woods' stage success of the same name, which was written by Wilson Collison and Avery Hopwood. Following "The Girl in the Limousine" will come three further adaptations of famous stage plays which will be announced shortly. The sales policy on the Larry Semon feature-comedies productions, put into effect by M. H. Hoffman, vice-president, and Alexander S. Aronson, general manager of sales of Truart, calls for the sale, direct to the exhibitor, of the entire series, with no advance in prices on any of the four productions. 44 The Green Goddess" Has Extended Run on Coast "The Green Goddess" will be presented at Herbert S. Rothschild's Imperial Theatre in San Francisco on September 29 for an extended run. It will be shown at the Stillman, in Cleveland, on September 30. at Goldman's new King Theatre in St. Louis on October 6 and at the Blue Mouse Theatre, Seattle, on October 20. Ten Eyck's Orpheum in Trenton, N. J., will have it on October IS. Play dates are also being set for many of the big Eastern cities. "The Green Goddess" had its world premiere at the Sam H. Harris Theatre, New York City, on August 14 and had a run of five weeks. The original schedule called for four weeks, but the attendance was so great the Distinctive Pictures Corporation obtained a hold-over privilege. Those working in the production of "The Man From Brodncy's," the coming David Smith production with J. Warren Kerrigan in the leading role say that this picture is magnificent in scenic splendor. The scenes are laid in a fictitious principality created by George Barr McCutcheon, the author of this popular novel, which Vitagraph has faithfully translated. One of the finest of these sets in which Goeblin tapestries, valuable copies of master painters and rare old furniture, purchased at great cost from collectors was almost utterly destroyed during the action of the play last week. This action Mr. Smith directed with vigor and actors and extras "gave all they had" to the scene. N'o punches were pulled in this tight. Balconies were destroyed, furniture broken to bits to provide additional weapons of defense and costly bric-a-brac, paintings, statuary, and beautiful and rare decorations were demolished in the battle. The loss in valuable furnishings is esti mated at more than twenty thousand dollars. Alice Calhoun, Wanda Hawley, Miss DuPont, Pat O'Malley and Kathleen Key play leading roles in "The Man From Brodney's." "Drums of Jeopardy" Well Under Way With the completion of the cast for "The Drums' of Jeopardy," which includes, beside the star, Elaine Hammerstein,, Wallace Beery, Jack Mulhall and David Torrence. Director Edward Dillon is making fast progress in the shooting of the story. The picture is an adaptation of Harold MacGrath's story and is the second of a series of five Elaine Hammerstein productions to be offered by Truart under the franchise plan during the 1923-24 season. This is the second of the series and vehicles for the succeeding three have already been selected and will be announced by Truart shortly. Each of them is the work of some well-known author. "Little Old New York" Pleases Californians "Shifting Sands" to Be Hodkinson Release A story laid in the heart of the Libyan Desert, North Africa, entitled "Shifting Sands" has been obtained by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation from the Luxor Pictures Corporation for early fall release. This exciting desert drama was produced by Fred Leroy Granville who took his company, players, and equipment to the exact spot called for by the story. A cast of unusual strength has been selected to interpret this drama, consisting of well known stage and film celebrities. Ask your projectionist if he is using the new Griffith Lens Chart. If he is burning carbons this chart will enable him to secure the very best screen results with the equipment he is using. See page 517. Cosmopolitan's new starring vehicle for Marion Davies, "Little Old New York," has just been screened at the California Theatre in Los Angeles. The Hollywood notables that attended the first showing and packed the house gave the picture and the star an ovation. The showing at the California Theatre is the first in the United States, outside of New York, where the film is still playing to capacity at the Cosmopolitan Theatre. Abroad it is being shown at the Empire Theatre, London, where it is duplicating its New York and Los Angeles success. In the lobby of the theatre were arranged pastels of Miss Davies, painted by Herbert G. Robinson, staff artist of the theatre. Cedric Gibbons, Art Director of the Goldwyn Studios, was in charge of the redecoration of the theatre with a crew of 150 artisans. Exteriors Made in Rome Filming of "The Eternal City," which George Fitzmaurice is producing for Samuel Goldwyn, will be completed this week in New York. The exteriors for this picture, which is to be a First National release, were made in Italy, the actual scene of the story, after a conference between Sir Hall Caine, author of the novel, George Fitzmaurice and Ouida Bergere, scenarist, in London. "The Eternal City" cast includes Bert Lytell, Barbara La Marr, Richard Bennett, Montague Love, and Lionel Barrymore. The production is scheduled for early release through First National.