Variety (June 1924)

Wednesday, June 4,1824 ».tc't fiK^r*" m'khH OT^BW".'.^^ P I C T U R t'S'' ' ■'■ -"^ ft-■»ifi-:-.:ti '" ''"'W,!?'»^'f*''*!5?-^"'^-Tsr*'«?3?"^: l-i --i.r .j:**: INSIDE SniFF ON PICTURES First National's "The S*a Hawk," iriilch opened on Broadway thin week, In underatood to have coat $800,000 to produce. That was away above the figure originally estimated. That original coet estimate was taken as the ibasls on which the pWure was eold to the exhibitors in advance of the making «f the fllm. Now, First National, according to an exhibitor's report, is trying to step out from under the contracts they have «n the production. Kzhit>itora, however, state that they are not going to let them get away with it. One said "It's another one of those Hearst things. He got away witk It when he switched to Goldwyn from Famous with M» stuff, hut yov can bet that First National isn't going to be able to pull the same thing." Reports agree there will 1>e no c^hange of policy at the Capitol, the Oold- wyn house on Broadway, now under the control of the Metro-Qoldwyn combine. It is said that the opportunity presentine itself of annexing the Capitol in the deal with Goldwyn was one of the attractive features to the Loew-Metro contingent, in iMromotlng the merger. Some of the small town picture reviewers are on the salary litit of one of the bigger dlstrihutlng organisations that handles the popular grade of films. According to report, it is a regular thing for the reviewer of films who also handles the picture department generally to get a regular monthly check for either $10 or {16. That practice is supposed to prevail particularly in the Pennsylvania towns and some parts of New York state. This same orgranization, when It recently had a picture in one of the Famous Players houses oh Broadway, where it had to do a certain amount of business to be assived of a second week, Instead of giving any of their employes passes to see the film, slipped them a $& bill telling them to take thfir friends, but to be sure to turn In the stubs of their tickets to the cashier to show they had spent the five. One of the employes said "I fooled 'em. I took the dough, bought one ticket and picked up five extra srtubs from tb floor. Who wouldn't at 85 cents apiece?" A minister in Brooklyn takes stills from cer-taln pictures, makes etereop- ticon views and then gives a lecture or picture talk to church bodies pay- ing so much to the preacher for his "spiel" and the views. Some of the producing concerns pay him for the making of his "illustrationis," as he calls his colored slides. RECEIVERSHIP ASKED Eugene V. Brswstar Mad* Dafendant by Wif*—PublithM MaflaainM Un. neanor V. Brewster has asked the Supreme Court to appoint a receiver for the so-called "Brew- ster publications," several motion picture "fan" magasines. Krs. Brewster Is separated from her hus- band, Elugane V. Brewster. She al- leges that Brewster la squandering and dissipating money for his per- sonal use and for gifts to Corliss Palmer, picture actresa In February of last year Brewster agreed to pay hla wife t200 weekly for the support of his young son, Virgil. Half the capital stock of the publication la placed in trust to secure the satisfaction of the $200 weekly. Mrs. Brewster's iwesent complaint is that large sums have been diverted from entry in the books of the company and spent in behalf of the Palmer woman. Decision on the receivership has been reserved. W. R. Hearst got his money's worth when he hired Luella O. ParBons as the picture reviewer of the New York "American." When getting a rhar»ce to speak to the exhibitors at the Boston convention she went hook, line and sinker wltjj a plug for the Cosmopolitan j^lcturee which her boss turns out. ' The editor of one of the trade paper* was accused In the lobby of th# Copley-Plaaa in Boston laat week of having tipped, off Marcus Loew when Leo Ochs panned Ix>ew to the convention. The exhlbttor stated It wa» known the editor was Loew's press agent. What really happened was that the editor w-ho was covering the conven- tion stated as he left the press table that he was going to get into touch with New York to see If he could get a statement from lysew. Picture people, especially directors out there, are still diacwssing th« suicide in Lios AJigeles of Lew Mawnt, casting director for Slddie Small, May 18. It aeems aa though the more they discuss the matt«r and the deceaoed'a b(A>it«, the further they liave been delving Into the family skeleton. First, It wea brought out Mason's name was Lewis M. Moody, and that he came from a wecJthy family In Chicago, and suppoeed heir to a large fortune. it was developed that the photograph of the woman found on his bed was not that of Marcella Daly, fllm actreos. who Is tallad (be girl with the "beautiful twck." but of Josephine Howard, also known afl Gertrude WUkena, an actress, who was a friend of his family and died a few years ago. In hla death mMsage Mason wrote that an bia effects be given to Misa Daly. Mlsa I>al7 said Maaon wa« almply « new acQualntanoe and that aba la very much surpriaad that he made provlaiona for her In his dying statement fiRie Is doing notadng until tlie nature of th« estate be left Is dlscloaed. It la claimed Maoon InherHed $76,000 tiom his grand- father, wiho laJt him property worth that amount In Memphis, Twin. Mason, prior to coming to th« coast, was & weU known figure on Broad- way, as well as at the Lon« Island etudloa, where he held numerous tMsitions. Though Harokl Lloyd has two more releases through Pathe and la now Concluding the filming of one, half ^ doxen releaslncr oonccraa have let It become known that they are negotiating for hla output Lloyd, however, haa not given the matter a thought William Fraaer, bla uncle, his general manager, Is said to have gone into the matter with Lloyd. They have agreed not to discuss releasing any new product until after the Pathe contract has expired. Fraser, though only two years In films, aeems to be an astute and nhrewd business man. He is said to be of the'opinion that in case a new contract Is made that Pathe should be rttown consideration. He contends this releaalng organlaation gave Lloyd the opportunity to come to the front. More than a dozen propositions have been made to Fraser for future releasing of the Uoyd output. Some have heen ridiculous with the amounts offered, out of proportion to what Fraser feela that the releasee would get. Then oj Investigation the financial standing of some of these people did not stand up to warrant the confidence of the producer in their proposal. Fraser, It Is said, has hcen closely watching the drawing power of his Star, also what the returns to the exchange are, and Is prepared to do so with the n«xt two subsequent releases. He will then set the terms under which he will make a new contract. Now that Fnank Pope has gone into a new line, having disassociated himself from hl« post as editor of "Photoplay," Frederic James Smith has returned to his former berth with the mag.izlne. When Smith sud- denly withdrew from the editorial rcpime of "Screenland,' F. J. was polng to take a vacation, but Pope quit the "Photoplay," opd James Quirk gave Smith a hurry up call. Herbert Crocker has heen handling some special writings and stories for "Theatre and Drama," a monthly publication controlled by Aimde* Ca««y, who hoa Bever.al other trade propositions, one being Idrntined wltii the coal and Iron Industry. "Old Bill' Stelner was very much in evidence at the Boston convention last week. Bill staged a party at the Westminster there that was the talk of the picture crowd for two days. Just where Bill got his talent from Is a mystery, t)nt he certainly put on a show," and played the lead him- self. Thomas Dixon, who wrote "The Clansman,' which reatherl the sciocn OS "The Birth of a Nation," Is still authoring. He hoe written a new one, "The Blaok Hood," due to reach the stands from the D. Appleton company June 6. Louis Joseph Vance, nnotii*r writer, whose novels have hit films In greater number than Dixon's, has written a new story of adventure, which comes out this summer. SMITH'S OBOWDTG OFFICES Los Angeles, June I. Pete Smith haa moved to larger quarters for bia publicity endeavors on the Uaited Studio loU. He la at present handling the propaganda for United Studios, M. C. Xjsvee pro- ductions. Colleen Moore, Conway Tearle. Blanche Sweet, Helene Chadwlck, Bstelle Taylor, F&t O'Malley and Sylvia Breamer. Smith has added to bis atafC Jamea McFariand, formerly in charge of the publicity department at the Famous Players-Laaky Long Island studios. 3,000 PAID $400,000 Selxnick and Cir**t\» Called In Bankers' Union Stock Case. PUPILS HURTING ''EXTRAS" Schools Get ^2 and |3 Per Head— Students Work For Nothing. Pupilfl in several so-called dra- matic and i>lcture achools are belnc exploited by the achool directors, according to a report with the headfl of the achools "farming" the pupils out at $3 or $8 per piece per diem. The pupils do not get any money. They "work" aa teet and experience students. I>egitima.te oasting offloea are un- able to compete WHh this practice as extra playera get from $5 to $16 and $20 a day. Hartford, Conn., June 8. Augustine Itonergan, special mas- ter, will hear tesitlmony by Myron Selznick, of New York, and H. V. Greene, of Boston, in the bank- ruptcy ease of the Ba^ikers' Union for Foreign Commerce and Finance, Inc., of New London, Federal Judg. E. 6. Thomas appointed former Oongresaman Lonergan to hear the eaae. Congreeentan J. P. Olynn, counsel for the receiver, told the court that Greene had aold stock In the con- cern to about 8,000 persons for ap- proximately $400,000. He believes that about half of this can be re- ««vered. SAYS HUffiBY NAGGED HER WTO POISON BRASLET WJJiB SUIT WiUard King Bradley has been awarded Judgment, by default, for $1,000 and coats against Byron Park by Judge Caffrey In the First District Court. Young Bradley has been having two fights since, the action started against I^ark, a film itroducer, one to recover alleged moneys due and the other for his health. When the case was called before Judge Caffrey, neither Park nor hie lawyer were In court. It was reported that Park waa "somewhere in Tennessee." On the stand Bradley told of bis first meeting with Parte and how he had been unable to collect money whkih be (Bradley) claimed waa due him for a submitted pic- ture ecrjpt. . ACCIDENT BBnrOS $1,750 Loa Angeles, June S. B. J. Skuppen haa been ordered to pay Leelle EUu>per $1,760 for Injuries Buetalned In aiy autooMlblle aooident when Bkuppen's ear eraahed Into a maeblne operated by Chick Qriflln, fllm actor, to wbleta MlM Harper waa riding. Testimony waa offered by the de- fense to Indleate tbat Misa Harper wfw bugging Cblek when the acci- dent happened. Leslie testified tbat she might have been leaning towacd GrlOIn, but at no time did she bug him. The court helleved the young lady and directed Judgment atralnst Skuppen. The girl was unconscious after the accident and Orlffln was injured. FUB STEALER CAUGHT Los Angeles, June S. Charged with the theft of $700 in furs from the home of Mae Ayer, picture actress, Frank Connacher was held for trial by Judge Am- brose In police court on a charge of grand larceny. He was arrest- ed wHh' Mike Levy shortly after the crime and the latter turned state's evidence. Levy haa been paroled pending trial. New "Commandment" Film Another "Commandment" picture has reached thf» screen. "The Sixth Commandment" is the name adopted for the new William Christy Caibanne picture which was, first titled "The Powers of Darkness." In the cast apijear William Faversham, Charlotte Walker, John Bohn, Kathlyn Martin, J. N-.1 Hamilton, Colt Albertson, Sara Wood, Consuelo Flowerton and Charles Bmmett Mack. Arthur Hoerl wrote the story. MacLean Buys Triver Say Die" Douglas MacLean has 4>ought "Never Say Die," the romantic farce in which Willie Collier and Nat Goodwin starred. It will he the first pkture In which MacLean has ever played opposite a "vamp." I<os Angeles, June $. In the marital tangles of the Phillip B. Rosens It developed through the answer filed In the cross-complaint brought by th« pie> ture director against his wife that she swallow* d poison In an endeavor to kill herself, after being urged to do so and nagging by him. The answer denies the charge at impropriety with a man the kua- band declared he knew aa "L^uie." It also der' the charge she w«Bt out at night to danoe balls and other places of amusement and aa^oolated with numerous men. In explanation, Mrs. Roaen vtataa she ' .id gone three times with the consent of her busbknd and in oom< pany with hla aister and the latter'a mala friend, dining at cafes where dancing is permitted. The assertion of Rosen in hla complaint that bis wife bought ez« pensive fur coats and other articles beyond her husband's means was also denied. Relative to his charges that his wife falsely accused him of assoolat* Ing with women, Mrs, Rosen's an- swer declared she did so only as a Joke on evcral occasions, and that be accepted It as a ]uke at the time. ■'*■ i RIVOU Next Week CLARA BERANGER*S swift comedy-mysteij story produced with m great a]I'«tar cast Bet- ter than.^'Gnunpy.'' M Bffi iBm<»C«L,IWMI fan«Ud«W ;, '. t^'xA BIG Q>idures Thru the Summer Ad dx. THE FAMOUS 40 Produced by FAMCWS puwCT^iMinrobwooAnow 1-column PreM Sheet Ad Above MaU and Electros at Exchangee