Variety (Feb 1927)

VAKIBTY PICTURES Wednesday, February 2, 1927 LOEW STOCK AT NEW HIGH, FAMOUS HELD DOWN ON BREAK Universal Statement Shows Profits Amounting to $6 on Conunon—Shubert Neglected After Statement ludkating $4 for Six Months, JimWaiiUAry Loew moved aggressively into B«w trading ground late last week with a new high for all time of 52»4 and a new top for its bonds near 106, which advances were held throughout yesterday. Famous re- eovered only slightly iiom Its re- markable bottom of lOS, but gave •vidences of being held deliberately In check against eontinulns upward. There was a freak break In Uni- Tersal's Curb Issue following upon the company's statement showing a ptfollt for the year which would allow $< a ^are on the common— this coming on top of progressive Increases in the concern's earnings. In the face of this development a few sales on the Curb left the price at a net decline for the week of about 7 points. Kotliing could ex- plain sueh a performanee except a desire on the part of some interest to discourage a bull drive on the stock for a turn by professional eitslders. The course of pr ices In Loew was consistent \\.. the manage- nent of the suppo od pool in the HHmi. That cUgue has right atons conducted a eonservative rsmpaign. Starting down at 84 last summer, the price has been advanced by Sradual atases of two or three points at a time, the movements be- ing staged at intervals, with a long period of unchanging prices be- tween sivlng the issue time to ad- just Itself to new levels. It was regarded as significant Uutt almost at the moment Loew tMelMd Its new peak, Famous es- taMiihed a new bottom since last spring at 108. Why such a move should happen at the same time the situation fk relation to the govern- ment's anti*tru8t inv^tisation was elearlng up and the entire outlook for the fllm company was more aiiiMiful than at any time since the tettt^ was undertaken was puz- Bling. More than that the action •f the ticker gave a hint that pow- •rfttl Influences were engaged in preventing the stock from getting up. For instance, Famous Players opened at 112V4, an overnight net advance of %. Thereafter unlltc only moderate trading the price de- clined to 111. The clique apparently wants the stock to staiy within nar- row margin and stands ready at any moment to check a climb. WM It Is considered that Famous was held in bullish esteem around 120, that not a scrap oi definite bearish gossip has come out about it and that at IDS even the Times Square bears think it is a buy. its failure to get out of the dumps artM some artlflclal con- trol. Unofficial data was circulated giving a net amounting to |4 a share on the stock for the six months from Juno to January, com- pared to $6 for the entire previous year. The announcement had no effect. Shubert Still Shubert didn't move at all and scarcely a trade came out. Yester- day in the last hottr It had not ap- peared on the tape. The last sale was on Monday at 58, compared to around 70 just at the time the stock went on a |S dividend basis. Universal's annual statement showed profits amounting to $1,900,- 000 after all charges except pre- ferred dtrldottdfl. This flsuroa a rate of |i <m the common. By one of those freaks of trading a neg- ligible turnover last week carried the stock on the Ckwb down 7 points. This may have represented selling by the Interest that moved the stock up to around 44 a month or so* ago, actuated by a desire to close out a line taken on fOr a quick speculative turn. Universal has Remonstrated its excellent position in bnalnCHiS by showing constantly increasing earning rates. Many be- lieve the Curb issue should go on a dividend basis before long. It may be that amusement Interests inside the company or associated with it are anxious to protect it from a too violent advance and seek to hold-It steadily within a reason- able trading range. Fox St 68 Fox recovered moderately from its dip, selling in the last hour yes- terday within a fraction of 68, which appears to be the bottom of its normal trading area, subject to occasional dips to around 65. A few weeks ago it climbed for a day or two to around 7I( whora it met sales pressure. . The trading of the last ten days has shed no real light on the un- derlying market situation. Although from Saturday on things had a cheerful look, it is still figured that average prices are still pretty high and senthn<snt mixed. Its Own Talking FUm SchenecUdy. N. Y.. Feb. 1. Another Ulking film was demon- strated here before a small group of electrioal and fllm experts when the "Photophone." product of the General Electric Company, was pre- sented la the SUte theatre Bator- day morningr. The machine Is the development of a number of O. £. engineers and scientists who have been working for the last six years to perfect It under direction of C. W. Stone, manager of the O. E. central sUtion department. The demonstration comprised the showing of two films, one made at the local G. E. laboratories, when both sound and pictures were re- corded simultaneously, and the other a film produced at Hollywood, which was presented with accompanying music that was recorded when the picture was shown at 'the Capitol theatre. New York. Both sound and picture are on the same strip of fllm. Tho sound record requires only one-tenth of an inch on the face of the film and is made on the edge of the fllm, leaving the remaining apaoo for the photoplay itself. The invention makes possible the recording of both the sound and picture in the same place and at the same time or at widely separated points at different times. The test program presented was opened With announcements by Co- lin Hager, manager of the "WGY radio station of the G. E. Co. Se- radio station of the G. E. Co. leotlona by Jack Bymonds* Hotel. Van Curler Orchestra followed and other numbers were vocal selections by MiUicent James and William Fay, and Instrumental snuste'^br the Rice String Quartet. The second film shown was "Flesh and the Devil." During its showing at the Capitol, New York, on Jan. 19, the music that accom- panied it was recorded for the "Photophone." It synchronised per- fectly with the scenes. It is understood that seven of these machines are now being man- ufactured here under oontractr Boom of the large moving picture producers have been trying to ef- fect a tieup with O. but the in- formation here is that the company wiU not do this. im TALK" OF MOVIE SCHOOI^ NOW FLOODING H0U.YW00D Variety Man Applies 6Lt Prospective Pupil—^100 for First Two Months—4 to 6 Months for Course, Depending on Student—3 Sessions Weekly UEMMLE BUYS RANCH Ssle Price is $666,000-4250,000 in Cashf Remainder in Notes |0# 1927- ri.2U0 aasoo n.Too 68. (KM 400 8.000 44% 23% 41 m 4r»% 4% 21% 29% n% «.80O J,200 WM) ftOO 2. MO 700 400 13.MS Un. 29: STOCK KXCHANOE stock and rate. Kastman Kodak (6)..... Famoiia IPIsjrers-U (10) Do. prof. 18) Pint Nat'l P. lot pref. (9.44)... Fox Film Class A (4) L<f)ew (3) M.-O.-M. lat pref. (l.«») Motion FMct. Cap. (1) Orpheum .* Pathe Exchange Class A Shubert (5) Unlveraal Fict. lat pref. (8)..... Warner Bros. P. Clasa A .% CUM Amrrlcan Seat. (4)., Do. cum. pref. (3). Film Inspect Fox Thea. Clasa A... Universal Plcts Unit. Art. Thoa. CIr. Wsraor Biea. ••eo«ooooooi •oooooooooo •ONUS S»>i 08% 101% 101 HiH 104% Mote.->Loow »oooe«oooo«*ooeoeoo $13,000 KeHh 6*8.... 822.000 Ix)ew O'e 140,00(» Warner Bros. 6Me (Curb) rato Includoa la^t year'a |l extra. Md. Board Only Rejected 4 Films of 6,482 Reviewed Baltimore, Feb. 1. The Maryland State Board of Motion Pictare Censors-only re- jected four films last year out of a grand total of 6,482 reviewed. Of the four rajeoted three were sub- stantiaiiy iwssed In raeonstructed form. Tlie board reports Uie number of ''dean ftlms** Increasing and * no- tices a general striving on the part of manufacturers to meet tl|a.jre- quirements of censorship. . ' rors GESMAH oMrr Lios Angeles, Feb. 1. John Flood, Fox director, leaves for Germany this weelc to make "Grandma Bermle Lieams Her Let- ters,*' from the story by A. R. Wiley. Teutonio aotoff' lyea to be employed. Flood expects to be away for about three months. ■ /• ' '' ^ " ' HISS LIVINGSTON RELEASES Los Angeles. Feb. 1. With the arrival of Winfleld Sheehan at the Fox lot Margaret LivinfTston was given a release from her contract. Miss Livingston did not meet ex- pectations as starring timber, it is said, and Wns privrn minor roles, nnd Sbo began to balk. She will frre lance in the future. To Italy for ''Tosca" Los Angeles, Feb. 1. Edviin Carewe's noxt for In.spira- tion, to bo relonsed through United Artists, Is "La Tosca." Carewe eontemplatea going to Italy this summer to mako the pic- ture. Rod T^aRooquo and Dolores Pel Kio head the cast. SELZNICK VISITING SONS I..08 AnKcles, Feb. 1. Lewis J. iSelznick arrived on the coast last week and is visiting his two sons, Myron nnd Dave. It is understood Selznick is flgnr- ing on making some releasing ar- rangement proposition to be handled by him in the East. He is confer- rinp: with several independent pro- ducers. 8sm Cluck in N. Y. Sam Gluck, dancing master for Rulnban &. Katz productions in Chicaf^o, has boon appointed to tbe I'aramount theatre presentation d<.^- partment, under the direction of John (Cambria. cjluek \h to present novelty and comedy dunces. MENDES LEAVES F. P.-L. Los Angeles, Feb. 1. Luthar Mendes, slated to direct Pola Negri in "The Confession" for Famous PlayM's-Lasky, has left that organization on account of the switch of the picture to Mauritz Stiller. Ho will probably join First Na tional. POLA'S ' W01£AN ON TRIAL'' Los Angeles, Feb. 1. Pola Negri's next for F. P.-Xi. will be "The Woman on Trial," adapted from "Confessions," by Ernest Vajda. - Maurice Stiller wUt direct, with Ricardo Cortes playing opposite Miss Negri; EETURNING FOR ONE PICTURE Los Angeles, Feb. 1. Alan Hale, who gave up acting a couple of seasons ago to direct, will be seen In Leatrire Joy's next l>cMllle picture, "Vanity." Hale*o return to act is for one picture only. Los Ahgeles, Feb. 1. Carl Laemmle will pay Mrs. Elian Priscella Ince, widow of Thomas H. Ince, $665,000 for the Ince ranch, located In Benedict Canyon, Holly- wood. The sale of the property at this flguro liaa feiaett approved by Superior Court Judge Charles 8. Crall. Laemmle will give Mrs. Ince $260,000 in cash and notes for 1400,- 000. Last March four acres of the estate were sold to Harold Lloyd for $39,028. Caught Contracting Fnmi After Stealing 'Em Milwaukee. Feb. 1, Charged with stealing seven fea- ture films from the local film ex- changes, Herman Schmitt, 16, was caught by a member of the detec- tive force as he was trying to ped- dle a print of "Hell's Highroad'* to a neighborhood exhibitor, i The boy confessed that he had stolen a number of films from the trucks of the film exchanges as they were making the rounds and, rented the fllma to outlying theatrea at cut Flight Taking Over O. H. By Stanley-Crandall Frederick, Md.. Feb. 1. A group of local citizens strenu- ously object to the proposed leas- ing of the municipally owned Opera House to the Stanley-Crandall Co. Display advertising questioning the intentions of the S-C firm, and appealing to the board of aldermen to stop the proposal, is being run in one of the dailies. The advertising states that should the house be taken over competi- tion will be killed, with the ulti- mate outcome the closing of the municipal house and the consequent loss In yaluo of the property. OORWAT TITLlirO TOE DDC Famous Players-Lasky has sign- ed Jack Conway (Variety) to title the forthcoming Richard Dix pic- turok •'Knockout Rellly.** Produc- tion has started on the picture. Several fistic stars are Included in the cast, notably Jack Renault and Tommy Loughran. Harry Orib*' bon is also in support. The scenario is an adaptation from a story by Albert Peyson Terhune. ouBxars vasbow escape Los Angeles, Feb. 1. Returning from San Diego in his car, John Gilbert and party escaped •orioua Injury when the machine skidded near Lajolla. Donald Og- den Stewart, Mrs. Stewart and her cousin, Beatrice Ames, were in the car. The women suffered slight In- juries while the men escaped un- touched. OOUMBIA PSATinUirO HELEN Los Angeles, Feb. 1. Columbia Pictures will feature Helen Chadwick in three pictures. A contract was idgned and produc- tion on the first picture will begin shortly. Miss Chadwick Is a former Gold- wyn star. Wilde Directing Babe Ruth Los Angeles, Feb. 1. Ted Wilde, who directed Harold Lloyd's "Kid Brother." has been loaned to Fir.^t National to direct Babe Kuth in "Babe Comes Home," MENJOU'S NEXT FEB. 14 Los Anpok.-^, Feb. 1. Adolphe Menjou will begin work Feb. 14 on "Follies Bergere," his next starring vehicle for F. P.-L. Menjou finishes "Kvening Clothe.s" this week and will rest between productions. Waters Directing Cooper I..OS Angele.*?, Feb. 1. John Waters has been assigned by P. P.-L. to dhrect Gary Cooper In the letter's ftrst western ''Arizona BoMnd/' Los Angeles. Feb. 1. Hollywood is flooded with various motion picture sehoola which prom- ise to teach the technique of act« Ing to screen aspirants for money. The students are promised posi- tions In the pictures made at tha studio.; . . These schools all carry advertise- ments in the dailies giving the in- formation that men. Women an4 children have an opportunity to appear in the films regnrdless of sge and whether they have had previous experience or not. It Is pointed out that they are not ope* rating an employment agoncy nor are jobs for sale, A Variety reporter visited one of these studios now being used by a state right organization. A ^core of movie crazy people were being interviewed and the Variety man took his turn in llnow He waited for about half an hour when a Mr* Kirk took him in tow. ''You Sure Are Needed" Kirk looked the Variety man over and Inquired whether he couM afford to pay for schooling. The reply was in the affirmative, this bringing on a high powered sales talk. Kirk stated at first glaaoo. "you sure are needed In this In* dustry. In looking you over you would make an excellent heavy of the Latin tsrpe." Kirk then said that the cost of learning the technique of picture acting would be $100 for the first two months and $61 a month there« after; until the pupil was proficient enough to graduate. It was stated It might take four months, possibly six, depending on the ability of the person and' the special characteri- zation he would like to adopt for his future existence. Kirk further said that pupils must contract for at least two months. During that time they are taught to makeup, act and learn the proper screen technique. The applicant, he stated, would have to have a makeup kit that would be supplied at the small cost of $2, the school knowing what was needed In this direction. Kirk ex* plained that school sessions were held three nights a week* from 8 to 10 p. m. Should the student prove satis* factory to the school authorities. Kirk set forth that at the end of four to six months he would get a Juicy part In a picture which would repay the student in a week or two for the amount of money expended. Claim Directors as Instructors Tuition of the pupils takes place on a large stage used during day- Hght by independent producers who rent. Kirk Informed the Variety man that the directors who mako the pictures In the day time ara the ones who instruct the pupils at night. In this way, It was pointed out, the directors recognize future Chaplins, Barrymores. Pick- forde, etc. In convincing the Ignorant Va- riety man as to what great chances he would have on the screen. Kirk turned to a casting director and stated that Kenneth Harlan, whose picture was in front of him, was new to the screen and had mas- tered his art so well that he was now earning $2,500 a week. Then he showed a photo of Ward Crane and stated that here was the ex- ample for this particular student to follow. Another statement was that John Barrymore was making so much money on the screen that he would never return to the stage again. Then came, "Here's your chance right now, better sign up before we Stop taking more pupils.** The Variety man replied. "I'll think it over and let you know," and de- parted. _jaaille the Variety man was talk- ing to Kirk two other "mouth- pieces" were interviewing men and women, also girls, many of whom never looked as though they would even have a chance in a big mob. These people fleeme<l pleased -with the flattery and within five minutes two of the prospecte turned over coin to establish themselves as fu- ture stars.