Variety (April 1924)

Wednesday, April 23, 1924 PICTURES VARIETY 17 GEO. K. SPOOR'S NEW SIZE HLM MAY REVOLUTiONIZE PRODUCTION Personal Investment of $1,500,000 to Date by Chica- go Picture Man—Coming East to Arrange for Making First Picture for It •♦ _—. Chicago, April 22. George K. Spoor Is to leave for New York early next week to com- plete urr;inKement8 for the produc- tion of Ma Hrst picture to be made on the new sined fllm, which he has been working on eight years to per- fect. Spoor Is said to have personally Invested over $l,500,00a» in the ex- periment.! 1 work carried on for the new-sized picture film, which will give theatres a full stage projec- tion and (ill llie largest houses from the aniies. The innovation la so prreat that those who have seen it believe that It is certain to revolutionii;c the entire picture producing ai;d ex- hibiting; Industry. Adolpli Zukor, at present hero at- tending tlie sales convention of the Famou.s I'l.iycrs' orKanization. was at the Spoor plant looking over the Innov;iti<iii He wired from New York liel'iire his arrival asklnp; per- missiLin to Inspect the plant and see tlie pictures Spoor has made in the eourt-e of his experiment.*!. CleiMLte ICastman came on from Rochester recently and spent some time iiue.stiftating tlie Spoor Idea and b\K offered to co-operate with the t'liicago picture man in every way it is possible for him to do With Ills laboratory facilities. The film which Spoor proposes nsing in iiis cameras and project- ing m.ichinea is exactly one and a half times as large as the size cf the film frame at present in use. With this he has 40 feet of fore- ground for use within the focus of the camera, instead of 16 feet. Which the present cameras have. It also means that he will be able to project life-sized figures with- out distortion from any angle one Views the picture from. Spoor has already picked the first ttory that he Is to film. It is to be a mid-west historical novel of the early days of the plains and prob- ably in ten reels. He Is building his own projectors with a view to eonflnlng all his activities to road- thowlng the productions, which will Inean that with about a score of t)rojectlon machines he will b« able to tour the country and clean-up In the legitimate houses for one Season at least on the strength of the novelty of a picture that fills the tntire stage of a theatre, Instead bf a small screen space. Spoor's trip east Is to settle on a fllrector and for the selection of his tast. He expects to begin work on location along the latter part of ilay and complete the picture bo Ihat he will be able, to go into the theatres In late September or early October. Spoor has already had offers of Routes for his picture In the leglti- inate houses when It shall be fin- ished. All of the preliminary detail re- Jrardlng production, such as prep- aration of the script and the pick- ing of the locations, is said to have been completed. EDITOR'S DIVORCE ACTION Los Angeles, April 22. John Shepard KcUey, before Judge Burks In the Superior Court to an.swer a motion for alimony pending the trial of a divorce action against him by Elizabeth Ann Kelley, Informed the court he had never made enough to support his wife and two children and that his mothpr had always helped him In provi.lir\s for them. Ki'Ilfy is assistant editor of "Sc.een News" and made this re- mark when hi.s wife asked for $200 a w^onth for the support of herself aM rhiUiren. The court granted her $25 a month for her support and $L'0 each for Ihe rhiiiii-e,,. RETAKING ^TOLANDA" FOR PICTURE HOUSES LEWD PICTURE SHOW AT NEW BEDFORD RAIDED No Information on Hearst's Future Film Distribution— May Return to F. P. Indecent Film, Liquor and Women Seized—Local Police Chief Landed "Stag" Closing Over Summer Milwaukee, April 21. A move to obtain general clos- ing of all neighborhood movies for a period of six weeks during the summer months Is on foot here. It has the .liupport of Fred See- gort. president of the Motion I'icture Theatre Owners of Wis- consin. The Marion Davies starring pro- duction "Yolanda" is practically belner remade before released for general distribution In picture houses. During the last two weeks the star has been busy on a number of retakes. The picture lately closed its Cosmopolitan, New York, run. Incidentally with the Metro- Goldwyn deal now closed, there Is something of a question as to where Hearst will distribute t)oth "Yo- landa" and "Janice Meredith." In the general statement sent out by Metro on the consummation of the deal it stated the Hearst pic- tures would bo distrib4Jted by theni. Tills at least meant those that were .already dell\ ered to Goldwyn for distribution. In the "American," a Hearst pub- lication, whleh ran a more detailed story of the deal than any other of the dally papers, all reference to Hearst pictures and their future distribution was studiously avoided. The understanding is that Hearst will probably return to Famous Players. New Bedford, Mass., April ^2. Clilef Kdward P. Uoherty. surmis- ing through the surreptitious sale of tickets about town for several weeks at $5 each with no locution men- tioned, that a "stag" of suspicious characters was about to bo held, kept such strict vigilance that the promotere of the affair were obliged to move to Acushnet, outside the city limits. Chief Doherty advised the county authorities and state police with the result a raid revealed an obscene imported French-made picture, plenty of liquor, two women of the town, and about 150 citizens, some prominent and officials among them. Among the six men arrested wore Thomas Whalen, giving his occupa- tion as an actor of 363 North Front street, this city, and Al Shubert, a boxer, of 163 Pi'lnoeton street. Their examination came up In court yesterday and was adjourned for a week. It Is expected that the court hear- ing will disclose where the picture came from. NEWSPAPER SERIAL London Firm With Mystic Leading Woman—Notes DANCE-HALL RAID Film Folks Caught in "Jam"—Men Leave Women "Flat" T.os Angeles, April 22. .Vearly fiOO persons wc.o cauKht In a police raid on a Hill street dance hall, among them being a number of prominent picture people. Three women were arrested for dancing In the nude. The trio of dancers were held In $."pOO bail each, pending the trial, which is set for Tliuri^ay. When the police arrived the majority of the men got aw.ay. In most cases leaving flat the women who had accompanied them. $400,o¥wiLLGEr YON STROHEIM'S 'GREED' Director's Request for Imme- diate Release Countered With Offer to Sell PICKFORD FILM FAIR New Orleans Unimpressed "Dorothy Vernon" Special by New Orleans, April 22. The general opinion of a specially invited audience Monday to see Mary PIckford's picture, "Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall," was that the production was but a fairly en- tertaining film. It did not leave the Impression of being a super, and It Is doubtful whether It will cope with others of that class. There Is something lacking in the picture which places It In the class of adequate features. This picture will not add to the laurels of Miss Pickford. In support, Clare Eames predomi- nated as Queen Elizabeth. SAMUELSON'S BOND _ OPERATOR LOSES UCENSE Adams. Mass. April 2'.'. Tliiiina.s F. Sullivan, operator al 'he lu.a! pliotopl;iy tlieatre. has liad 'is lliPiiHC «us;»<>nded by State In- ■■"Peoiiir A. V. Ueaudry. for leaving his li.„i;h in ( hargc oC an assistant whilr 'Ut(»M \^((re, be;i\g I'-l'ojvn, in the hou'i-. ' Court Stays Hays' Action Until N. J. Exhibitor Complies An order has been signed In the New York Supreme Court staying all proceedings on Sidney E. Sam- uelson's $150,000 damage suit against Will Hays, the Motion Picture Pro- ducers & Distributors Corp.. and the Individual members of the or- ganization until Samuelson posts $1,000, or a bond to that value to cover possible court costs on an un- favorable decision. Samuel, a New Jersey exhibitor, la nskliiR for an Injunction against the Hays outfit, alleging conspiracy and discrimination in booking their films in his theatre. The plaintiff has until April 28 to file sufh a bond. FINAL KIRKWOOD-LEE Work on the third and final of the James KIrkwood-T-lIa I.ee series of productions for HodUlnson relc.T.<ie was starlcd on the coast this week. The first two were "I-ove's Whirl- pool" and the second "Wandering Husbai.I.s." The third will be en- titled "Aijother Man's Wife," from the st(fty by lOlliott Claw.son. Bruce Mitchell will direct. BETTY COMPSON NEXT Hcity Conipson Is on her way c.ivl to stall work on 'It.imsh.ickle House" unrlei the dirC( tion r^f Har- mon Wilgbl at Miami, Fla. This will be the ,^ec('nd of llie Kirie,s of ttjal Vhe Is to matib for London, April 11. George Ridgewell has commenced work on the film version of a news- paper serial entitled "Pools of the Past." His company includes a mys- tery leading lady who chooses to be known as "Disa," also Peggy Lynn. A. B. Imeson. Sidney Folker, Cam- eron Carr, Gordon Hopklrk and Basil Saunders. His assistant Is Jack Raymond, and the camera work is in the hands of I. Roseman. The picture Is being made for StoIIs. The question of the film rlght.<t of the Baroness Orczy's novel. "The Scarlet PImperene," will shortly hold the attention of the law courts. The Baroness and Fred Terry can- not agree on the origin of the story. Fred Terry originally produced the play In the provinces In 1903 and brought It to the New In 1905. It flopped at first, but eventually turned Into a big success. The piece was a failure when pro- duced about 16 years ago. In New York, at the Knickerbocker. Fred Leroy Granville has begun work on "Contraband." Interiors are being made In th« Alliance studios. Afterwards the company will go down Into Cornwall. The story Is one of the old smug- gling days. This romatitlo period of English history has been little used by film producers. Will Kellino has finished "His Grace Gives Notice" for StoU's and is starting on his next feature. His vehicle Is the adaptation of a novel by Mnbcl Barnes Gruny, entitled "The Mating of Marcus." The lead- ing parts win be played by the vaudeville team, Dolly and Billy. Los Angeles, April 22. Following the request of Eric Von Strohelm to Goldwyn for the immediate release of "Greed." the distributor Informed the director to accomniodute him would mean a sacrifice of $100,000. They suggested Strohelm could buy the plfture for $400,000 and do ua he pleases with it. The feature h.as been cut to 22 reels, with Von Stroheim's Idea to present it In two installments, re- quiring patrons to watch the film at two diffc-rent times to see It all. WRITERS-PRODUCERS DISCUSS PICTURES Pen Women Talking It Over- Some Men Around at Washington A\'aslilnt;f(in, .\piil liJ. E\pr>lhin;; i.i all .set to llnd mit How can the writers and pro- ducers co-operate to produce tlm best In screen drani;is." This Is to be the topic of discussion at the conference of the League of Ameri- can Pen Women, opening today (Wodnosday) at the Hotel Shore- h.im. Addresses will be made by Don Carlos Kills, (iener.'tl Vision Co.; .Mrs. Kliz.ibeth It. Dessez, Pathe Ex- ihange; Col. Jasper E. Brady, Met- ro Pictures; Raljjh Block, Famous I'layers-Lasky; Harriot Hawler I.ocher of Washington; Ethel Styles .MIddlelon, Pittsburgh; Winifred Kimball. Florida, winner of a $10,000 prize scenario contest; Adele Co- mandlnl. Brooklyn; Anna Katherine Green, Buffalo, and Pearl Doles Bell of New York City. Mrs. Laura Thornborough la ch.iirman of the conference, and Mrs. H. S Milllken Is vlc«-chairman. MRS. TURPIN'S FAITH Wife of Comedian Cured Anne's Canada at St. Lewlston, Me., April 22. Joseph Gagnon of the Music Hall Theatre, vaudeville and films. In Lewlston, met Ben Turpln. famous film comedian, and witnessed the miraculous recovery of her hearing by Mrs. Turpln at St. Anne de Beau- pie. Canada, last week. Mr. Gag- non has just returned from there after a week's vacation. Mr. Gngnqn stated that Mrs. Tur- pln was seated two rows In front of him In the Church of St. Anno and that after praying she aro.sP, quite able to hear again because she had had "faith." METRO CORP. OF WILINGTON STARTS WITH $3,100,000 CAPITAL Follows Metro-Goldwyn Announced Merge—Over- head Cut in Half by Merger of Exchanges— Capitol to Continue Under Present Management plcliii[e.s tHal she Hodkinson reUa"?©,' An action brought by Susan Sihoneld against the Welsh-Pear- son company was begun April 10 Plaintiff asked tli.it the defendant firm be restrained from the alleged Infringement of her story, "The Rag Picker." by means of the film "Love. I-ifc, and Laughter." Miss i^chnfleld is the managing di rector of a small ciincern tlie liis- ing Sun Pictures, Ltd Town's Two Orpheums Cl.irksburg. W. Va.. Aiiril 22. This city now has two picture linu!ie'< carrying the n.ane Oriiheum Jack Marks, former leKst-e of a house owned by Frarik It. Moore here, roriilufts "Maik's driilieutii." while bis former house Is still known a« "The Orph<iim." Claude Robinson l.s now les-no of 'AiQ Myi'ie hMU-e known a-i the Ol ■ plielim. The long awaited consummation of, the merger between Marcus Loew's Metro Pictures Corp. and the Goldwyn Corp. occurred Friday of last week. Monday, Metro In- corporated a company at Wilming- ton, Del., the charter being Issued to the Metro Corp. of Wilmington, to deal In films, with a capital of $3,100,000, with the Corporation "Trust Co. of America named as^'the directing factor. Prior to the closing of the deal It waa atated that Metro would re- Incorporate for $5,000,000 and take over the Goldwyn outstanding stock on a basis of one share for two. Seemingly, when the deal was finally closed U was understood that they were giving up the amount signi- fied In the Delaware Corp. for 187,- 000 shares of the Goldwyn stock. The deal with Samuel Goldwyn was closed liidiviilually, and it Is understood he bettered Km original offer made to him of $i00,000 In stock for his interest In the origi- nal Goldwyn Co., which was to amortize at the rate of four per cent annually. Three comiianles are concerned In the merger, the two big producing and releasing organizations and the I^ouls B. M:iyer Co.. which was a [iroduilng oi ganlz.'itlon solely, hav- ing Ihx'e director units working .M.iyei becomes vic.e-preaidont of the merged companies and geiu^ral man- ager o." prcMlui'tinn at the (.ioldwyn slui1i(i« )n Culver City, C.il. Tiie Metro pr(><luilng units mil those oT Mayer will be moved over to the Colduvn studios .inil wmk <oiulu( till enUrcij on that hit in liie ruturc T his will li!a\c the M.'- tii; lot (ipen for n really develnp- inpiit. as it Is righi in the heart oi 1' e Hfillywood residential ili.striit. 1'. J. (lodsol and E. .'. Ilom-s. president and vi<'e-presiileii' n spec- tlvcl} of fli<lfl<vyti Ws wri; nS .Mi''-;s- hi.irc Kttaltn ani-r Ailli-atti 1! .I'deh,' will be on the board of tlie new company, which will undoubtedly have Marcus Loew as Its president, although no formal announcement has been made of this. In addition to bringing about a combination of the producing .ind distribution Interests of both com- panies, it will also mean a com- bination of tlie theatres tliat tlin two control. The Loew Circuit in all represents about 300 theatres in the country. The Goldwyn organi- zation holds a half Interest In the ('aplfol, New York, and 'he Miller and California theatres, Los Ange- les, as well as In Seattle and Ta- coma. Wash., and Portland, Ore., in which they are Jointly Inter- ested with W. R. Hearst. All of the exchanges are to he merged, and thus considerable over- head In rent and maintenance saved and a number of the sales force will he cut, for It will mean that about one-half of the staff will be able t'j cover the territory. Of the executives of Goldwyn. howev*?:-, a number are to remain with the oiganization. which Is to he moved Into the Loew State build- ing, wliiTO the ofllrus of both or- gnniisailons are to bo located. Monday both .Metro and Gold- wyn Issued pKiiluillon Hlatements. .Seemingly. Goldwyn beat the Melni •o Ihi' sending out of the sto^y. and j IS It mentioned Goldwyn solely. It I lodkeil like an attempt on the part I 'if lliut oi>;.ini/.atli)n to hold I's plain I ri the sun. The .Mclro statement , I ame along late on Monday after- j noon find combined everything that ivas contained in the GoIdw>n 1 s'latement with their own. .» llie Capitol theatre. Is concerned, it Is stated As far .New Yo"k, •hat the miinagement of that houne will remain e;«cily In the hands tliat It i.» at presi at and tUe Loew, iCril n'l't '>e j>lvi,sii above-tlie^ nitnli'lV 'ili'ealie.