The Moving picture world (January 1926-February 1926)

'7heSksirockertahes off from the Leviathan J^oWers S^ojector ^sed ONE of tlie mobt iKivL-i, iiotaljlc anil brilliant affairs in tiic annals of filmdoni was the premiere showing of Peggy Hopkins Joyce's big Associated Exhibitors' special, "The Skyrocket," in the Grand Ball Room of the S. S. Leviathan on the evening of Thursday, January 7. Through the courtesy of the United States Lines, Miss Joyce was hostess to upwards of a thousand of the most representative folk in picture circles, society and newspaperdom. Reception To The Star Miss Joyce, who had traveled to New York from Hollywood especially for the showing, held forth in the beautiful Palm Garden of the giant liner. Receiving with her in a blaze of glitter were Captain Hartley, Staff Commander Moore and Purser Summit, of the Leviathan. The entire period previous to the screening of the picture was a general get-together of everybody present. Beautifully gowned women and handsomel> garbed men moved about the fully-manned, Ijlazingly lighted floating palace in a neverto-be-forgotten picture. When the crowd had assembled in the spacious ballroom of the liner, which had been made over into a rich picture auditorium by the ship's staff, and the picture was about to begin, Miss Joyce's arrival in the auditorium created a furore, which did not settle down until the picture had started. Music for the picture was compiled and the known radio talent was on hand, among the artists being Mae Singhi Breen and orchestra directed by Joseph Hollander. Many comments were heard on the excellence of the musical settings arranged for the film. During the showing of the picture and after it had been projected, a radio program was being broadcast from the Palm Garden through station WMCA, tlie high-powered broadcasting unit of the Hotel McAlpin. For the broadcasting Harry Hershfield was PEGGY HOPKINS JOYCE. Star of Associated Exhibitor's Special. "The Skyrocket," Silhouetted Against the Leviathan. master of ceremonies, and some of the best known radio talent was on hand. After the picture was projected in the Ball Room, a supper was served in the immense dining room of the big ship. Any one who saw the picture of almost a thou -..md cvening-clotlu (1 men and women seated in that dining room will never forget it. The extreme success of the supper was due to the careful arrangements of Chief Steward William Linn. U. S. Lines Supervise Projection During the course of the post-showing festivities a reel of fihii presenting the affair itself was projected. The making of this reel was in the capable hands of Leonard Mitchell, chief of the United States Lines' Motion Picture Department, to whom credit is also due for the WONDERFUL PROJECTION OF THE PICTURE. It was the general consensus of the hard-boiled film men that the PROJECTION WAS PERFECT-— no small matter when the handicaps were considered. The film showing arriving guests, etc., was projected just exactly one and three-quarter hours after the last scene had been shot. The projection installation was made by the U. S. Lines' Motion Picture Department, of which Charles Fierer is chief. The projectionist of the Leviathan is Thomas McAuley. It might be interesting to note that both projectionists worked in evening clothes. The event passes into the list of those long remembered. POWER'S DIVISION INTERNATIONAL PROJECTOR CORPORATION 90 GOLD STREET NEW YORK, N. Y.