Variety (January 1925)

Wednesday. January 21, 192S P'I't"rUR'ES f'^'» ,VMMJll"i,>™t I •" VARIETY INSIDE STUFF ON PICTURES !• !■■ N*Ui« lUvell m«7 write a acenarlo of circus life on the lot. Miss ]t«T*U luui rejected all proposals for picture writing through her engage- Meat* to write a new book, a "Satevepost" serial and other articles that tak* np all of her Infrequent leisure time. An approach, however. If Mibs Itovell would turn out a circus scenario. Is under consideration. lliss Revell may consent to do it, but only upon condition she be per- mitted to place upon the sheet a truthful story of the life upon a circus |»t. Nellie was brought up on the lot so that's right in her wheelhouse. Circus people not so long ago were disgusted at a pictured story pre- tending to reflect an actual circus. It had a young woman eating with %$r fingers, as typically of the mis-use throughout. The scenario must kave been written by a former soda water clerk and the director prob- ably Just got off of the front of a trolley car. The resignation of a prominent film executive last week, the treasurer •C one of the major firms, is explained by friction which has been eoKlstlng between him and the general manager of the firm. The general inager, it la said, wanted to gamble on productions, while the treasurer of the conservative type and wanted to go more siowly. For some months be had not spoken to his superior, and in order to avoid further trlctlon tufned In his resignation. Another Jungle picture was show^n to New To-.{ f.lm men last week by an Knglish concern trying to sell the film here. It was made by Lady Mackenzie and la a record o' her rece.nt Jungle •rpedlticn. 8a far no takers have shown up. liate acquisitions to the Barbara LaMarr picture cast are Arnold Daly and Clifton Webb. The return of Daly to films recalls that he is one of tita early stars. In the LaMarr picture be enacts the role of a hotel aumager on the Riviera, France. Another new version of birth control has reached the screen In "Tell Me Why?" While yet to mbke its appearance i2t the north <*. has been having all kinds of trouble getting dates in the south. WEST COAST STUDIOS Los Angeles, Jan. 16. "Nothing to W^ear," from an origi- nal story by Samuel Shipman. will ba the next Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production Hobart Henley will make. Bess Meredyth is making the screen adaptation of the story, and produc- tion will start about Feb. 1. Under the new name of Donald Keith, Francis Feeney, Juvenile, was placed under a flve-year contract by B. P. Schulberg. Feeney's first ap- pearance under the name of "Keith" will be made in "The Boomerang," in which Anita Stewart and Bert Lytell have the leading roles. Tom Moore. Pauline Stark, Wal- lace Beery. Raymond Hatton and Walter McGrail have the featured roles in "Adventure," which Victor Fleming is making for Paramount ftrom the original Jack London story. Bradley King is now busy makltig the screen adaptation of "National Anthem." to be the next Corinne Qrlfllth starring vehicle. Production will begin early In February. As yet no director has been chosen. Following a two-year absence from the screen, Louise Glaum will make her return by appearing In "Children of the Whirlwind," to be an Asso- ciated Exhibitors release. Miss Glaum left this week for New York, where production begins on her ar- rival. W^hltman Bennett is making the production. Miss Glaum will not have a "vamp' part, for which she was famous prior' to her retirement from the screen. "Stop Flirting." featuring John T. Murray and Wanda Hawley, is being made at the Christie lot under the direction of Scott Sidney. It la a full-length feature adapted from the stage play of the same name in which Fred and Adele Astalre were starred. Others in the cast include Hallam Colley, George Stewart, Jack Duffy, Luclen Littlefleld. Ethel Shan- non and David James. '♦ In the line-up supporting Jack Hoxie in "The Trouble Buster." which Cliff Smith is directing at Universal City, are Helen Lynch, Al- fred Allen, William Norton Bailey. George Grandee, H. B. Boswell and Gordon Russell. Ben Verschlelser has purchased the screen rights to Maysie Grelg's novel, "Peggy from Bunker Hill," and will begin production next week at Principal studios. Gladys Hulette has been chosen by Renaud HofCman to play the feminine lead In "Crossed Words," which will be the screen title of George Pattullo's story, "The Led- ger of Life." The next Ernest Lubitsch special for Warner Bros, will be put into production the end of this week. It is an original story by Hans Kraely. which has not received a screen title. Those already selected for the cast Include Monte Blue, Clara Bow. John Roche, Wlllard Louis and Marie Pro- vost, all of whom, with the excep- tion of Miss Bow. are Warner stock players. Florence Vidor has been placed under a two-year contract as a feat- ured member of the Paramount stock company. Clarence Badger will handle the megaphone for two pictures in suc- cession that star Betty CompAon. He will shortly begin work directing "EVe's Secret," whicli is a screen adaptation of the stage play "Moon- flower," which Is Miss Compson's next Paramount production. "Ace of Spades' Is to be the next William Desmond starring vehicle. Production starts Jan. 16. Those chosen to support Ricardo Cortez in "The Spaniard," which will be hi3 first Paramount starring ve- hicle, include Jetta Goudal, Noah Beery, Kmily Fitzroy, Franz De Oardl. Mathildi Brundage and Earle Brown. Production begins next weelv, with Raoul Walsh directing. Patsy Ruth Miller is playing the stellar role in "Lorraine of the Lions,' which Edward Sedgwick has begun making for Universal. It Is an original story by Isadore Bern- stein. Those supporting Mis.'? Miller include Norman Kerry, Joseph Dow- ling and Harry Tod. A large as- sortment of jungle animals are to be used in the picture. Among those appearing In the cast of Elinor Glyns latest M-G-M feat- ure at Culver (!ity are Lew Cody, Harriet Hammond, Leonle Lester, Dagmar Desmond and fJerald Grove. Victor Schertzinger is directing. "The Easiest Road" has been started at the Warner Bros, studio, with James Flood directing. Feat- ured In the cast are Clive Brook and Buater Collier. Harrison Ford, whom W. R. Hearst has under contract, has been farmed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to play the male lead in "Proud Flesh," which King Vidor is directing. Eleanor Boardman is playing the lead opposite Ford, while Pat O'Mal- ley is also in .a feature role. Thelmfv Morgan Converse has re- turned to Hollywood from an east- ern visit and has not forsaken the films. .She is looking around for a .suitable part.. George Melford has begun the making of "Friendly Enemies" with Weber and Fields In the name roles at the Hollywood studios. He ex- pects to have the picture finished around Feb. 1. Louise Dresser will play the title role in "The GooSe Woman," adapted for the screen from the Rex Beach story of the same name. Clarence Brown will direct for Universal. Beverly Bayne and Bryant Wa.^h- burn are playing featured roles In "Passionate Youth." which Dallas Fitzgerald is making at Universal City. Lois Weber has returned to the Universal fold as head of the scenario department. She will make her headquarters at Universal City. FOX STAFF CHANGES Loa Angeles, Jan. 20. There have been a number of changes made In the personnel of the William Fox executive forces by Ben Jackson, production and busi- ness manager. Richard Donaldson, who ofTiciated as assistant to Jackson, has been replaced by Gus Miller, former busi- ness manager for one of the Fox coml!9hIe8. James Tingling, assist- ant director, is promoted to busi- ness manager of the comedy depart- ment, with Virgil Hart being placed in charge of the comedy casting under the supervision of James Ryan, general casting director. Harry Bailey, former manager of the Alhambra, New York, and who was business manager of the com- edy department, is placed in charge of the Buck Jones unit as business manager. This will be only a temporary post for Bailey, whu is slated for an executive post when he becomes acquainted with hla new duties. ^ PRESENTATIONS (Extra attractiona in picture theatrma, when not pictures, will be carried and described in this depart- ment for the general information of the trade.) STOLL BUnnO 6BIFFITH FIUI Otis Taylor, representative of the StoU Company In England Is in New York negotiating with the D. W. Griffith interests for the Eng- lish righU to 'lan't Life Wonder- ful?" So far be baa made two propositions to Griffith, one of them an outright buy and the other an advance on a percentage proposi- tion. When negotiations are concluded, as It la expected they will be, Stoli will put the film In a London West End house for a run before sending it out to the regular trade. H. C. Hoagland, recently ap- pointed director-general of StoH's, and who sent Mr. Taylor here to carry on the negotiations. Is an American film man of wide experi- ence both here and abroad. jm BiLET's HcrmiE Jamea Riley baa* reac)ied New York with two things, one, an up- per Up adornment and the other a feature film, "Bandits of the Air," which he expects to dispose among independent film buyers. This la the aame Jim Riley, long connected with Aaaoclated Exhlbi- tora aa branch manager and who piloted Mabel Normand on her "per- sonal appearance" tour last year. CHVBCH DIYOBCE GBANT^ Loa Angeles, Jan. 20. Mrs. Georgia W. Church, who named Mabel Normand as co-re- spondent and then withdrew the charge, was granted a divorce from Norman W. Church, millionaire contractor, by Superior Cotirt Judge York. The decree waa granted on the grounds of deaertlon. CANTOR JOSEPH ROSENBLATT Songs 14 Mins. Fox Theatre, Philadelphia Philadelphia, Jan. 15. A most unusual experimejit here this weekJ)y Erno Rapee, managing director of the Fox theatre, through his soeurlps 'he services of tlie noted tenor, Cantor Josef Rosen- blatt, to appear at the house. From a financial point the experiment Is a distinct success as far aa the the- atre management is concerned, from a musical standpoint the engage- ment was likewise a triumph, inas- much as the appearance of the singer attracted a great number of those interested in music. From Monday to Thursday the cantor made four appearances dally, on Friday he appeared but twice, during the afternoon, and on Satur- day he appears for four perform- ances, all in the evening. The program offered by the can- tor has three numbers. The first is "The Flower Song" from "Carmen," followed by "The Last Rose of Sum- mer," the latter sung in English. Both numbers are sung in "one" be- fore a black velvet drop. The final number of "Ell Eli." a special arrangement of which Can- tor Rosenblatt has made, is given in a very striking set. This set has a pedestal on which the cantor ap- pears below the effect of a stained glass window. On either side are the candelabra with the seven lights. This number with its wide oppor- tunities for the display of the singer's voice brought the house literally to its feet at its conclu- sion. It is possible that for future the- atres where the cantor appears that another selection might be chosen for his opening number. "The Flow- er Song." while pretty enough, does not seem to be fitted to the scheme j of things as well as something else 1 might be. It is a difficult selection and undoubtedly must be tiring on his voice when one considers that he sings it four times a day in ad- dition to his other two numbers. Rosenblatt appears on the strength of his Philadtlphia per- formances to atand out aa a most unusual attraction for picture the- atres in some of the bigger cities, and should be a clean-up in New York. Chicago and Boston, where there is a large Hebrew population, for be will draw them all and get the rt 1 music lovers as well, pos- sibly building up an unusual clien- tele for any house. Fred. "THE REDEEMING SIN" (2) Prolog Dancing S Mins.; Full Stage (Special) Rialto, New York New York, Jan. IS, Merely termed a dance divertis.se- ment, but its relationshij) to the "Redeeming Sin" feature, which Is itself localed In the Montmartre quarter of Paris, is so pronounced that calling it the prolog to the feature is certainly no misnomer. Senia Gluck and Felicia Sorel are the dancers, a team new to the Famous-Players Broadway houses, but known along Broadwa>' as a standard dancing team. Their work Is merely Apache stuff, danced, however, to a not-so- familiar strain, probably a good thing for audiences which have heard so often the hackneyed Apache dance accompaniments. The single bit of atmosphere on the stage la a brightly painted set, placed up-stage right and denoting the Parisian locality. The Rialto stage isn't deep and it Isn't hard to get Apache dancers anywhere. With the effective sim- plicity of this turn it is strongly recommended for out of town use, where, with the substitution of more familiar music and an even more elaborate background, it should be successful. Here the ^ lighting was In-between. . neither dark nor brilliant, and a black vel- vet drape backed the whole thing. It should not be put on expensively —unnecessary. Sisk. Harry Edwards, Studio Manager Loa Angeles, Jan. 2t. Harry Edwards, production man- ager at the Christie Studioa during the paat eight yeara, la now studio manager for the Warner Brothers Edwards la aiding Jack Warner also In attending to some of the latter's production duties. Reginald Demy's next Universal film will be "111 -Show You the Town," adapted from the novel of that name by Elmer Davis. In the cast are Margaret Livingston, Hay- den Stevenson and Couise Fazenda. Eric Kenton la to direct. Alfred Allen Is playing a featured role in "Speed," which Ben Versch- lelser is producing at Principal studios. Dorothy Mackalll has left for New York to appear in the title role of "Chlckle," which Jack Dillon will direct for Universal. Lew Cody will play the male lead. Paul Bern is making "The Dress- maker of Paris" at the Paramount studio with a cast that includes Leatrlce Joy, Allan Forrest, Ernest Torrence, Mildred Harris, Barry Gray, Charles Crockett. Rosemary Cooper and Spec O'Donnell. Ernst Lubitsch has engaged Bert Lytell to play the lead in his next production for Warner Bros. The story, an original by Lubitsch, has not been titled. Work starts the end of January. The first production that Renaud Hoffman will make at the Holly- wood studios, under ' is new Pro- ducers' Distributing contract, will be "The I.,edger of Life" from a story by George Pattullo. Tod Browning is making The Unholy Three" at Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer studioa. Featured In the cast are Lon Chaney, Mae Buscli and Matt Moore. "THE FIESTA" (15) Songa and Dance's 15 Mins.; Full (Special) Strand, New York New York, Jan. 18. Thia presentation atarts off wif.i a prelude, the "BufCalmacco" music of Gaaco, played aa the regular overture by'the Strand orchestra. With curtains parted, the stage set- ting is revealed as set far back, past the "two" curtain and consisting of two balconies, done in the Italian style, and the sides of opposite houses. These sets are tall and aat- isfacton', although the left one sagged .Sunday,. Opening, a spot catches Everett Clark, tenor, .singing the Toaelli "Serenata" to a listening but unseen lady. He is dressed in peasant cos- tume, as are all of the others. Next enters Kitty McLaughlin, soprano, borne in a cart drawn by a donkey. The donkey cart goes straight off. With the aid of everyone, she leads In singing, "O Solo Mio." This number, as 'were those following, was done on a well-lighted atage with no one picked out by spots. Next was the familiar "Funiculi, Funloula," sung with 8pii:lt once the ensemble got together, for they started a bar late and didn't begin hittinr-,' on si.x until several bars later. The ballet corps wound up things with "Tarantella," during which much cut confetti was thrown, and for a final flash, and it was a good one, sWing confetti was cut loose from the files, and the scene of dancres whirling in the vari-co^ored bits of paper formed a veritable kaleidoscope of colors which sufficed to send t:.e thln^' over wtil. This presentation's only weakness was apparerit '.n the vocal work. The ensemble was badly balanced and two of the girls were noticed not •THE PAL THAT I LOVED" Orchestral Novelty 5 Mins.; One . . State, New York Joseph Jordan, musical director at Loew's State, Is credited for this one which hit nicely witli the State audiences. Assisting Is Jimmy Flynn, who handles the vocalizing of the Feist number. Flynn is con- nected with the Feist music pub- lishing concern. A slide announces that Flynn and Jordan had ceas«d being friends some time ago through having been in love with the aame girl. It an- nounces that Flynn and Jordan are meeting for the flrat time since the bust, and through coincidence, Flynn is featuring thia song. Plynn comes on In "one" and sings the number to the accompani- ment of a motion picture illustrat- ing the aong with a chorus slide thrown on at the finish to have the audience Join In the singing of the ballad. For the vocalizing the number la played in a atrlct tempo with Jor- dan and the boya In the pit dupli- cating the Jazs tempo, and Flynn coming into the pit for a hand- shake at the flniah. The idea looka a good bet ns a presentation feature for either film houses or small time vaudeville. <OiJ "RENDEZVOUS" (6) Instrumental, Vocal Music and Dancing ^ 8 Mins.; Three (Special) '^ Strand, New York New York, Jan. 18. The set for this number Is an old Continental tavern, with a table In an alcove and a bajr opposite^ The set is triangular In^construption, the two Bides running to an angle and meeting a black velvet drop, which backs the whole set. The first musical number, which is done In appropriate costume, is "Just a Lihle Love, a Little Kiss," -• a standard ballad, played as a violin solo by Madeleine MacGuIgnn. She was picked out by an overhead spot, while Everett Clark, tenor, was lighted from the side as he reclined ^^ in a corner. Following the solo, Mile. Klemova and M. Daks danced a graceful waltz to evident appreciation, while the turn was brought to a close by Clark's rendition of "Chanson Bo- hemlenne," a not especially good bc- Icction with which to close a turn. On t;io whole, however, thi« turn is iiea'Iy set and well exeoutfd. Nisk. sinjTiiiJ? during much of the time, indicative of one of two things, either they did not know the lyrics or were on the stage as ."paco fill- ers, aiik.