Variety (July 1924)

<{ B VARIETY prc'f'dk'Es . -^.kU ^^J-:v^'..;h4'.:-w ^. Wediiwday, July 2, 1824 r^. PRESENTATIONS (Extra attractions in picture theatre*, when not pictures, will be carried and described in this depart- ment for the general information of the trade.) BROWN BROTHERS' BAND (30) 2Q Min*.; Two and Full Strand, New York. New Tork, Juno 30. Making use of the theatre's en- larged stage, heralded as being the biggest in any picture house In the world, this well known sextet lead off by their proverbial . march around the area provided. Coining on In half stage, the six men ren- der a quartet of numbers, closely adhering to their former routine, and two of which are augmented by the house orchestra, before the nmaining 24 members are intro- duced. ;Oolng to full sta^e, the entire en- semble plays three selections, In- elnsive of one instance of vocaliz- ing by a saxophonist and a comedy depletion of a hunt scene that was giMd for ripples but little else. Musically this battery of reed in- strumentalists turn out a soothing tone that Is not difficult to listen to, but cannot be compared with other orchestras of the dance type. As a stage attraction the saxa- phone band Is of undoubted value. OS proved by better than three- quarters of a house being present downstairs on a sultry Sunday mid- afternoon, but It would seem lim- ited to such, with little chance of purveying the music for the wax floor enthusiasts other than as a novelty. Tom Brown Is out both before the sextet and the massed horns. In fronting the latter combination he relinquishes his own tenor sax In favor of a baton. One number had the mouths of the instruments rimmed by miniature lighted bulbs that proved effective, but would be even more so were all the small electrics working. Showing four times a day at this houfe. and scheduled to hold over next week, the presentation as a whole was accorded a reception upon the entrance of the first six men and concluded to solid appre- ciation. The personnel Includes seven women (as many as could toe count- ed from the back of the house), with the entire ensemble costumed in riding habits and wearing the PRODUCERS' CORPS 19 red coats, with the Brown boys in clown attire. As given here, the act shapes It- self as an entertaining insertion for a film theatre program that can clas.s with the best. More does it ^y^^ producers' Distributing Cor class as a solidly based addition to potation, formerly Hodkinson. has Former Hodkinson Firm Issues An> nouncement in Booklet Form a program that Is bound to please a majority of the patronage. SMff. FAMOUS FORTY Cf>ammounl Q>ieture RINGS B. 0. BELL! Adapted by James Creel man from the Saturday Evening Post serial, "Face" ALAN CROSLAN PRODUCTION "A fine photoplay. Its players, particularly f^ Daniels and Dix, have box-office draught." —Variety . "Bebe Daniels has never done better work. .• Settings are luxurious and beautiful." ■ —N. Y. Daily News y "Acting is good throughout and story is full of interest and charm."—N. Y. Evening Post. ^ * rAMOlJSPlA'VTRS-IASICVCCWORAJlON "SWEETHEARTS" (27) Tabloid Comic Ooera 25 Mine.; Full Stage (Special) Capitol, New York. New Tork, June 30. The late Victor Herbert's "Sweet- hearts" Is the latest of the comic opera series which S. L. Rothafel had presented at the Capitol and, although It holds several hit songs, the obscurity of the plot and the omission of one of the most lively numbers in the score detract greatly from the entertainment values of the tabloid presentation, j On the other hand, the flash of military costumes, the popularity of "Sweethearts" and "Cricket ton the Hearth," the beauty of the male choral number, "Pretty as a Pic- ture," put the work oyer. One of the numbers omitted Is "Fascinating Magic In Tour Smile." The numbers used are, for the most part, slow in tempo and a repeti- tion of the slow music in each num- ber makes the need for a lively song or two imperative. The "Parade" \ number Is sung and quickly dis- posed of at the opening and "Jean- ette and Her Uttle Wooden Shoes" lost its value because the bass vocal accompaniment didn't ' come out strong enough. issued a booklet detailing the prod uct of the organixation scheduled for release between Aug. 24 and Feb. 2fi. There are 19 productions named in the publication, with a forecast written by John C. Fltnn, vice-presi- dent. Last week's returns in sales and collections shows a record week for this organization. This speaks well for the young blood brought into the organization at the beginning of the year, when F. C. Monroe was elected president and Flinn and Paul Mooney were named vice-presidents. I.OIS wnsoH SAnmo liOls Wilsoii, Paramount star, sails July 12 for London where she will represent the Paramount or- gr^nization at the Cinematt^raph Garden Party to be held the third week In July In conjunction with the British E!mpire Exposition at Wembley. Miss Wilson left Hollywood Sun- day. EXHIBITOR IS SUING U. A. FOR MISREPRESENTING Shanberg of Kansas Asks for Damages—Decision Shortly comedy role In "Sweethearts" is a dreaded one among light opera comics In th^t they have nothing to werk with and are forced to re- sort to boldfaced hoke. The hoke comedy song, "Pilgrims of Love, J. W. OREELET WITH "F' Portland, Me., July 1. James W. Qreeley of this city and prominent in the motion pic- ture industry in this state for more than 20 yearst has gone to New Tork as general manager of the circuit - - of theatres now being whipped into Prank Moulan la lost here, for the shape by Universal Pictures Cor- poration. THEDA BABA EASTBOUBI) Los Angeles, July 1. v„,„^^, o„..s, x„6."..= v.. ^.^, , Thcda Bara left here Saturday barely drew an encore at the Sun- '»"■ New York to meet her husband, day matinee, remarkable in view of the fact that it is usually the ap- plause hit of the show given legi- timately. "Sweethearts" In itself is a cork- er for score, but Its abridged ver- sion at the Capitol this week is disappointing. The plot Is never made clear and the numbers cut out leave the remaining ones all of the same tempo. If music is to be made the strong point, and It really Is, of these tabloid presentations, then It might be suggested that some, of the foreign light opera scores, "The Waltz Dream," for In- stance, be utilized. Those operas have the Viennese tilt that bad comedy and injudicious editing can- not kill. SUk. Charles Brabln. Brabin, recently relieved of the directorship of "Ben-Hcr," Is re- turning from Italy, and Is expected to arrive in New Tork at the end of this week. ANTHONY UUARINO and AU- GUSTA COOPER Vocal 15 Mine. Century, Baltimore Guarino, tenor, late of the Bos- ton Opera, and Madame Cooper, a coloratura soprano, were combined by Manager Sorlero for the musical unit of the week at Baltimore's big- gest fllm house. They executed with much suc- cess a rather popular repertoire, beginning with Ouarino's render- ing of Vanderpool's "That Night" and ending with a duet, the "Ol- anlna Mia" air from Frlml's "Fire- fly," which the program erroneously credited to Herbert They also combined for the popular "Rose of Picardy," but the novelty of the program was the third number. The composition se- lected was time-worn, the "Sempre Libera" from Verdi's "La Travla- ta," but It was sung by Madame Cooper in conjunction with the Galll-Curcl Vlctrola record of the same aria. "T." Hedda Hopper Convalescing Los Angeles, July 1. Hedda Hopper, who was. operated on for appendioltis several weeks ago, has been removed to her home for the balance of her period of convalescing. The surgeons at the Angers hos- pital said Hedda will be able to re- sume her screen work at the M.-G. studios in a few weeks. HAZEL KENNEDY Song and Dance 10 Mins.; One Granada, San Francisco San Francisco, June 25. Imagine an Eddie Foy in the form of a little girl scarcely nine years with the funny gestures of a Charlotte Greenwood and topping these gifts with a personality that Jerks an audience up straight In Its seat and the description flts Hazel Kennedy, who is being featured at the Granada in con- junction with Paul Ash and his Synco-Symphonists. If ever there was a theatrical "find" this young- ster is one. She hits the footlights like a Kansas cyclone, diminutive In size, comic in makeup, and in her piping little voice that carries to the la.st row, bangs into her own conception of "Golly, I'm In Love." This is her second professional pn>T.xKemcnt. Some one found her in Los Angeles, booked her for four weeks at one of the big p^ture houses there, and then the Granada (Continue(l'6n'pnlfea "^IJ' '" ' ' Depicts Six-Day Bike Race One of the scenes in Famous Playera-XAsky's "Open All Night" which Paul Bern will direct repre- sents the six-day bike race In Madi- son Square Garden. This set will be built in a separate studio. Viola Dana, Jetta Goudal, Adolphe Menjou, Raymond Griffith, Maurice B. ("Lefty") Flynn and Gale Henry are Included In the cast. Kansas City, July 1. M. B. Shanberg, president of the Shanberg Poster Advertising com- pany, of this city, and owner ot picture theatres In Atchison, Kan., and Junction City, Kan., has flied suit against the United Artists' cor- poration, charging misrepresenta- tion of the drawing powers of some of the corporation's films. In the petition he asks for $600 damages for losses, which, he says, he sustained on account of the company misrepresenting in getting him to sign a contract for showing three of its pictures. Shanberg presented exhaustive reports at the trial before Justice J. J. Dougherty showing that he had lost $675 on the pictures shown, and $112 when forced to break the contract because of the loss. This loss was estimated on ths figures, he alleges, the United Art-, lata' corporation guaranteed him, for returns on the showing of the productiona The amount of the damages requested In Shanberg's suit was reduced to $500 as »i counter suit to one for $500 brought against him for an alleged break- ing of his contract In the showing of a United Artists' fllm. A decision on the suit will b* made the latter part of next week. FIBST "THIEF" EOAD SHOW The first road company of "The Thief of Bagdad" starts out next week opening for two weeks at As- bury Park. The same company goes into At- lantic City July 21 for six weeks. By that time It la expected that there will be approximately four other companies in readiness to take to the road. LIKES UFESAVDra Brookton, Mass., July 1. Gordon and Rlalto theatres. Is re« ported to have aervered his connec-. tlon with theatres and to have taken an active interest In becoming a member of the life-guard at the Red Cross Life Saving School at Plf^ mouth. Young Is an expert advertising;' man and has performed great things for the Brockton theatre* for mors than a year. Inspiration's Coming Two Lillian and Dorothy Glsh will be featured In a Henry King produc- tion for Inspiration Pictures titled "In Mlramba." "Pasquala" is the title of Richard Barthelmess' new picture for In- spiration after he completes the film on which he is now working. Wally Young with M.-Q. Waldemar ("Wally") Young, scen- ario writer, has signed with Metro- Goldwyn Corp. He did the con- tinuity for "Dorothy Vernon." He has started work on "The Great Divide," in which Conway Tearle will be featured. Rights for 'tongues of Flame" Famous Players-Lasky Corp. has purchased the screen rights to "Tongues of Flame," the last novel Peter Clark MacFarlane wrote prior to his tragic suicide in San Fran- cisco two weeks ago. Thomas Melghan will head the cast. $4,000 WEEKLY FOB LTBIC William Fox has taken the Lyrlo^ New York, for "The Fool," begin* nlag Auc. $0, at around $4,00* weekly. "The Iron Horas" (retlUed from "The Iron Trail") win follow "Ths Pool." NEW JUVEKILE COMEDIES Cincinnati, July 1. The six Juvenile oomedles madS ' here by Ben Strasser Productions will be released through W. A. Kaiser Enterprises, an independent exchange here. The actors are chll-. dren attending local dramatic schools. Wanda Oarbett, Strasser's wlf«, plays Ingenue leads. Summer Subscription for VARIETY 3 months, $1.75 Hail name and addreii to VABIETT, 154 Weit 46th Street, New Tork City. y ""■ COMING SOON ^HELENS CIIAD>i^CK Free Wiir RELEASED BY PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTING CORP. <>f rf i Mi >i>> ^ »i»><><>*^l»»ii rt rt»> nrtrt iii n i ni* MOM TNt POntLM STOkV IV ITHEL M. DELL uuerio tY PAUL SCAROim ttroaveta sy