The Moving picture world (March 1925-April 1925)

376 MOVING PICTURE WORLD March 28. 1925 Doug" MacLean Signs with Paramount for a Series PARAMOUNT will release a series of Douglas MacLean feature comedies over a period of years, it was announced jointly yesterday by Mr. MacLean and Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. After considering a number of flattering offers from various companies, the young comedian signed a contract yesterday afternoon in the Paramount offices. Mr. MacLean, who came to New York direct from Honolulu, where he went for a vacation after the completion of his latest picture, "Introduce Me," will spend another few days in New York before returning to Hollywood to begin work on the first picture under his new Paramount contract. "I do not have to say how happy I am with this new arrangement," Mr. MacLean said. "My first outstanding picture, 'Twentythree and One-half Hours' Leave,' was released by Paramount, and I am glad to be back again with this great organization. I shall continue making my own pictures, with our own producing organization, as I have the last four comedies we produced. But with the resources of the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation backing me and assisting me, I am confident that I shall be able to give the public better pictures than ever before. "One of the big helps in production which I expect from Paramount is in the acquisition of proper story material. With Paramount's big producing organization helping me I am certain to experience little trouble in the future in obtaining the kind of stories suitable for feature comedies." S. R. Kent and Jesse L. Lasky, speaking for Paramount, were equally enthusiastic over the closing of the deal. "Few players have come to the front so rapidly as has Douglas MacLean in the last year," they said. "Whenever he has had good story material he has demonstrated, time and again, his worth both as a comedian and as a box-office attraction. 'Twenty-three and Onehalf Hours' Leave' is among the most successful pictures ever produced. 'The Hottentot' was another great box-office success, and he has increased this reputation with 'Going Up,' 'The Yankee Consul,' 'Never Say Die' and his latest picture, 'Introduce Me.' "We are now making preparations for a big campaign on Mr. MacLean's Paramount pictures, as we expect to have two in our group for next fall. Mr. MacLean is now considering several excellent stories and plays, and we look forward to announcing their titles in the course of the next few weeks." "Manicure Girl" Cast Complete With the engagement of Hale Hamilton for one of the principal parts in "The Manicure Girl," Bebe Daniels' latest starring production for Paramount, the cast is now complete. Supporting Miss Daniels are, Edmond Burns, Hale Hamilton, Dorothy Cumming, Charlotte Walker, Ann Brody, Marie Shotwell, and Mary Foy. Frank Tuttle is directing. Praise Fox Film National women's organizations with combined memberships of more than 20,000,000 women have gone on record through their national officers as approving the new William Fox epic "The Man Without a Country" now in its second month at the Central theatre, New York City. Douglas MacLean faces the "Mike" with Joseph Plunkett, managing director of the Mark Strand theatre and chief of the Plunketteers, broadcasting every Monday night over Station WEAF and WOO, Philadelphia, the stage musical -ballet numbers and overture and a special studio program. MacLean's visit and talk over the radio was a tie-up with his new comedy, "Introduce Me," the feature at the Mark Strand last week. Sering D. Wilson & Co. Will Have Their Own Exchanges "R EALIZING the growing demand for our short subjects in color," says Sering D. Wilson & Co., Inc., in a statement issued this week, "we have increased our releases to 104 subjects a year, and to assure the exhibitors of the country 100 per cent co-operation, we will open our own exchanges in the key cities." "Kid Noah," a series of color cartoons depicting the antics of the son of old man Noah of Ark fame, is one of the new releases. There will be twenty-six of these cartoons available for the year. "Musical Melodies" and six "Specials" will increase the product of short subjects in color. In addition to these new features. Sering D. Wilson & Co., Inc., have the "New Redhead Satires," "Ebenezer Ebony," "Color Shots," "Karlo Kolor Komics" and "The Wonder Book." "The public has long been demanding something that is a novelty and a feature in short subjects and we believe we can give it to them and make our product the talk of the short reel market," said Mr. Wilson, commenting on the proposed changes. "While our plans for exchanges are just in work, we have opened a New York office, and Harry Danto, for twelve years with Famous Players, and an authority on short subjects, will handle this office. "It will be in 729 Seventh avenue, Suite 510, and we hope to have our exchanges throughout the country in active working condition in a very short time." Scenes from "Sally," a First National release, starring Colleen Moore.