Variety (Feb 1927)

VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, February 8, itt7 METRO'S DEAL WITH UNITED ARTISTS REVIVED AND LIKELir TO GO OVER No Opposition Anticipated From Charlie Chaplin JhU Tiiii«—Joe and Nick Schenck WUl Talk It Over in Hollywood—^Report Says They Will Then Complete Final Arrangements—^Econom- ksiri More to Cut Down Exchange Q fi i i i t ad (iM|tccm« of Nick SclMBCk's tialt to Hollywood may be art iiadorstmiidliig with hi* brother. Joe, to mersre or affiliate Metro* Goldwyn - Mayer (Loew's) with United Artists. It is a revival of the former deal, blocked at that time by the oppo- sition to it of Charlio Chaplin, one of the U. A. charter members. Chaplin is now reported as no long- er against its consummation. Nick Schenck *9 expected to leave New York very shortly. It is said Joe Schenck, on the coast, is await- lav Ms arrival^ to go Into the de- tails once again. Some months ago, when the same plan was broached and partially psti into •xscution. Chaplin, backsd by his attorney, Nathan Burkan, clogged up the works after they had secured a running start. MiESa Slso represented an exhib- ItSit' association in New York, Uke- Wise . osing the project. The rumors along Broadway mgt— tiMt tiM U". A.-M-0-1C smsl- gamation is now due to go~ through without hindrance or protest if either is raised. A purpose of the ssmblnstloB Is sosaiwy in exchange expense. Joe Schenck Is in virtual control of United Artists. U. A, is more of Sa; siiMuslys than a general plc- tors producer. Its picture product as a rule enters Into the class of apeciala. 'Besides Chaplin. Mary' Pickfford, Olsria Swanson, Norma Talmad^e, IHNlglas Fairbanks, Bu.ster Keaton aiid Samuel Goldwyn (as a pro- ducer) are aligned with 17. A., with H question at present whether D. W. Grlfflth, with the founders of .tho organization, will return to it. Lady Financial The wife of a li*amous; Wiy- ers-Lasky picture man re- ceived several passes for PubUz's RIvolt, New York, be- fore It changed poMav^ Ssch XMiss admitted two. « Going to the theatre with her two children, the mother figured tiist if she wsstsd tiro passes for four upon three people, she would be losing 75 cents. So she bought an extra Uokst sat IMit «IM NEW ENGLAND DUE FOR MORE THEATRES Springfleld, Mass., Feb. 1. With ills eompletion of several tlieatre projects In this city the leading circuit owners of the coun try will be represented. Marcus Ijoew Will invade western Massa- chusetts with the opening of the theatre that Is to be built here by Arthur Friend and his company. The houes Will cost |550,0«e and seat 4,000. It will be named the Massasoit, occupying a building of that name. The property where tlkS theatre Will be loeated Hi 4n ^ centre of Main street. Friend paid ♦1,500.000 for it. 8. Z. Poh will build a large thc- ttt#s as S memorial to his son, the late Kdward POlt Thf house will seat ;i,500. Goldstein Brothers are removing * iMra^ from a downtown^ irtte Where they propose to build a play^ bouse. Famous Players-Lasky (Publix) has «n option on a Main street ■He, but the status of the deal at present Is unknown, as this com- pany had entered into an agree- inent with the Goldstein Brothers to Jointly build a hou.se on a site other than that ])reviously obtained by the Goldsteins. ThS other circuit owner already IS WUllam Fox, whose Fox's theatre plays pietures. Its entrance will be only u few doors from that •f the new Loew house. In connection with Friend's build- ing activities. It is .nniiMnnced thru he is seelting sites fur I^oew the- atres In other cities. Friend built the Roge r Sherman in New Haven and the Canle ;it Xew T.(»n<]<»n (both in Connecticut), \vhi« li I^ocw now is operating, and also Is com- pleting construction of a house for Loew at Derby, Conn. With all of these theatres the i^uew interests Will have made their invasion of New England, a section Which pro. vi(»u«ly has l)een represented by Ix>ew-operated houses • eflfly in Alston* Pl)BLIX-<aiUBa DEAL? Kansss bitf. P^ i. It is reliably but not authorita- tively stated that there is a deal pending whereby Publix will be- coms totiMPSSM In tli« Orubel cdr- cuit of theatres. These include houses in Kansas City, Springfield, St. Joseph and Joplin, Mo. The Electric Is the OruM Hsustf In Ksii- sas City, Kan., and the leading pic- ture theatre In that part of the city. A survey of the Grubel theatres has been mads by PuMte oflfolsls, It is understood, and details of the consolidation are being considered. The deal, if consummated, will glvs Publix iMMises In fhs tlhir^s^^^ cities in Missouri outslis Sf tbls. town and St. I^uis. MASIE ASTAIBE ^ HEW BEAU ' '' %Mt 'iAAHSISS, ' l^S^' I. Marie Astaire, picture actress, who was prepared to elope with Michael Cudahy, son of the million- aire padfcer, on New Tear*s Bay, when the Inttor'.s mother stepped in and had him planted in a Santa Barbara Jail, is reported to have anotlier rmnsnce« This time it is said to be LesllS Fenton, screen and stage actor, playing the lead in "The American Tragedy^ at the Vine BIrsst theatre. It is understood no weddinf Will take place until June. MURRAY QUITS WARNERS Resigns Over Billing Starring Lsu- Mia Faasnda—Will Free Lanes XiOS Angeles, Feb. 1. John T. Murray, under contract to Warner Brothers for the past eight months, has left that organisation due to the company*! advertising on "Finger Prints." stairtag liou- ise Fazenda above him. Murray's contract with Warners provided that he be co-featured with Miss Fazenda in a series of pictures. When Murray saw the electric sign Y^ith Miss Fazenda's name as the star of the picture he immediately tendered -Ills reatgna- tion. He had Just compls|a#' V|S>'k in "The Gay Old Bird." " " Murray, former vaudeviUiaa of the team of Murray and Oaktaod, will again free lance. Rlibbi Tjppiiig 0|f RacbiBt Los Angeles, Feb. 1. Rabbi Joseph Jasin of Miami, who exposed the mystery of spirit- ualism in Cincinnati, reported in July 26, 1923, issue of Variety, is here< fbir the purpose Of lecturing on counterfeit miracles. His first lecture will be given to the Men's Club of Temple B'Nai B*rith. It is said his lectures will be along the expose lines. While here he is also going to delve into the fortuhe-tsllltiv and crystal-gaslng. which has been Sk fsM mine on the coast. There is one crystal-gazer at Santa Monica in whom the pic- turs »xbeuthreS ttM aetoihi have great faith. Rabbi Jasin claims he has the inside of the racket, and contem- pl#tis ti9l»M It sit during oiis ot :|||8 lecturis..;, . Money Man's Absence A| ^ew Theatre* Bronx Harry Eldredge's sudden with- drawal from the Chrlsedge The- tres, Inc., a few ws<^s ago has left that' orgaalsattsii In a position where it ts unable to complete the Wakefield theatre, 234th Street and White.Plains Road. IHdredge, the **s sen s y man** of thS concern, split with N. Chryst- mos over a matter of the new the- atre's operation. . ClifysiMa la rtporlii sssking local capital to OMnplSta thS t,000- seat playhouse. CELEBRATED VIOLINIST RUBINOFF piesenU "CLASSICS and JAZZ" "RubinofP is not an ordinary violinist nor is Sam Rothafei likes the idea of tbs Ohsnins in ustog eollege students for ushers and intends to have them at the new Koty theatre when it opens. To his secretary Rosy ssid: •Take a letter. Want college students, must be tall and blonde with straight noses. Band letter to City College of NewTork.** 'ATMOSPHERE' MEN FORK ORGANIZATION About 35 on Roster—Officers Elected—Expeot A. F. L The Theatrical and Motion Pic- ture Players Association has Just been organized in New Toric by men regarded In film Circles at "atmosphere." TIM present officers are William Ladon, president; Jack Williams, secretary and treasurer, and Wil- liam Johnson, businesa manager. The IhHIsl rotter It claimed tS number 35. The belief Is current that the association will launch a "drive" for a sulRclent membership that will enable it to apply to the Amer- ican Federation of Labor fwr a union char^^r. It Is undsrttood that the inltla- tlsn iiia la $1 and the dues $1 monthly. Much of the organization work falls upon Johnson, who, 'tis iaid, win 1>s ths anly exeeulivs ts rsoehre a rsjmilai^ salary. SKEPTICAL ON FiLMmur Fear *Gag Rule'—Comm. Awaite Mayer's Return Los Angeles» Feb. 1. Under the presidency of Fred Niblo the second meeting of pro* ducers, actors, directors and writers for the purpose of organizing a forum, was secretly held at Uie Am- bassador Hotel Sunday night. It was decided to give no publicity to the matter as no progress had been made on the plans. It Is undsrtfsf^k^t those repre. tenting tha dlttifrsiii branches of Uie indusmr. in spsaking to people ei tlieir1«ipsctlys branches* did not fst much eneonrairsmsnt at the rank and flls bsUeTS It to be a tcheme for producers to apply the "gag rule" in case of differences that might arise between branches and producers. With Louis Mayer, inceptor of the idea, absent it was decided to refer the matter to committees agal nand report at a meeting to be held when Mayer returns from the east In two week.s. Writers, actors and directors who did not attend the meeting said they felt the producers were trying to put a fast one over by tising bigger names among the branches to railroad a plan through which would never bs fst#ti«t by the ma* Jority. CBIUSHES LEAVING P. D. a ON AiXOUNT LUTED RETURNS Metropolitan Also Reported Dissatisfied With Net Greee Rentak for Speeiak From tor—"Big Three" Competition tarn Angeles, Feb. 1. Owing to Insuflncient returns on an expenditure of $175,000 and part- ly due to the competition offered by "The Big Three," Al and Charles ChrlSHa will discontinue making feature comedies for release through Producers' Distributing Corporation. The Big Three making produc- tisaa along these lines at ths same prices, have distributing facilities while the Christies are limited in number of houses they can play through P. D. C. One instance where returns are not up to expectations is the present release, "The Nervous Wreck." It IS understood that Metropolitan Pictures, who also release through P. D. C, will eliminate specials from their 1927-192S program on sccount of limited returnt, ttlcking ttrlctly to regular pictures for thit year. Metropolitan had two specials, "The Last Frontier' and "Flame of the Yukon*' ©li which returns were reported at unsatltfacfatry. GoUe and Harder on New Films in N. Y. Hans OoUe, who operated the Irving Place Theatre last season with German dramatic and musical stock. Is making a terlet of tbtfrt film comedies at the old Kstee Studios, on West 125th Street. He has already completed the first, entitled *'Allmony a la Peache." which may Stlan some- thing else in German. Qolle is recruiting ttie players from among the Oerman theairs company which gives Sunday per- formance a at the Longacre Theatra. Emil Harder, Swiss film producer, who made the production of '*Wil^ Ham Tell" in his native counta!y» Is also at the Estee Studios, pre- paring for a new production, which wilt be his Srtt In Htfi aaifttr y. r. an «)rd»nary violinist nor is he a juzz clown. HE IS A MASTER OF MUSIC."—I>r. Kaufman. Having closed a year's successful engagement at the T.oew's Pirlurc Houses as soloist and guest conductor startinpr at rievel.ind. St. I.cuis, Pittsburgh, Washington, Baltimore, New liavcn, Jtcading, liarrisburg and Poston. Taking the above houses by storm and playing return engagements. "Rublnofr, sensational young violinist, whose advent into vaudeville and Picturs Houses has robbed the Concert Stage of one of Its bright start." NOW PLAYING LOEW VAUDEVILLE CIRCUIT JohD Barton Kyied in Hinda Asto Accident Jacktonvills, Fkt., Feb. L John Itarton, TTniversars manager for Florida, was killed Friday night near Tampa, when a car driven by Harry Simpson, taletman, crathed into an unllRhted truck. Simpson and K. L. Barnes of Lib- erty Ehtchange, were slightly in- jured. Services f..i- Mr. Barton were held here yesterday. Angeles, Feb. 1. .Tunics Cr>JZo will l»uve FamouH J'laycrs-Lasky upon conTi)lction of his present assignment. "Louie the F«iurt( « nth." Tfo runtemplates in- dependent prodm tion. \\ ]\\ finance his product, and it ifi litiely he will release through United Artists. Cruze plSns' to start work for himself alN>ut June 1 In Hollywood, "ROUGH RIDEBS" F£B. 21 "The Rough Riders,' the next road show mm that Famous Elayeft* Lasky is to bring to Broadway, 'is to open at the Cohan Feb. 21. A working print is to be de- livered In New York by Feb. 17. -. Meanwhile the Cohan is remain- ing dark, "Michael Strogoff" hav* ing closed there last Sunday night. 3d Change in Nama JjOR Angeles. Feb. 1. Sue O'Neil wjis Sue O'Neil when Joining the First National ranks but later became Kitty Kelly. Now she's Molly O'Day. This 17-year-old youngptor h;is been placed under a long-term run- tract by 1st N. and with it came a WARNERS' WAR FILM Los Angeles, J'eb. 1. Warner Brothers Jump Into the vortex of big war pi( iiir<^?^ with an announe«Mn»'nf of "IUmi k I\orv. ' dealing with the War of IhiL', an<l to star Monte Blue. The script it an original by land Banks.