Variety (Mar 1927)

VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, March 83, 1927 AMUSEMENT STOCKS BREAK FOLLOWING WARNER'S DIVE TO EXTREME LOW OF 23 Determined Selling Makes Quotations Squirm— Loew's Reacts From High With 60 Thought Proper Range—Famous Players Dips Under 109 st Blow Came Yesterday, Tuesday Something hit the amusement stocks & severe blow yesterday (Tuesday). Following a series of bear attacks In the nature of feel- ing out operations, there appeared to be a wave of profit taking in the first and second hours. During this combined pressure Famous Players gave ground to a fraction below 109, getting below the level at which it sold "ex" last week. Loew Breaks Under 59 Loew's which has been proof right along against adverse market Influences followed suit. It touched f.8% and then feebly rallied. This compares to Us high of a week ago of 64 and represented a net loss over night of two more points or so. The belief was current that such a movement probably had the consent of the sponsors for the stock, which would be none the worse in its technical situation for a wholesale reaction following its spectacular climb from around 38 early last summer. Trading views were disposed to feel that the pool would put the stock up again, although the feel- ing Is general that at any ap- preciable higher levels than «0 there probably would be a tempt- (Continued on page 10) Alma Rubens Withdrawn From U. A. 'Knights' Film Los Angeles, March 22. Alma Rubens has been -with- drawn from "Two Arabian Knights," which Louis Milestone Is making for United Artists. In her place Mary Astor was bor- rowed from First National. Milestone, it Is said, was disin- clined to proceed with Miss Rubens in the lead, claiming she was not the type for the characterization. John W. Consldine, Jr., had the same views, with the result an SOS was sent out for another leading woman. It is said at the studios that no with Miss Miss Rubens is the wife of Rl- cardo Cortez, who left Famous Players-Lasky last week after a disagreement with the executives. Miss Rubens contemplates taking action against Caddo Corp., which is making the picture for U. A., claiming she has a four weeks' con- tract. She will endeavor to collect through her attorney. Boys "Break" DEMOTING A STAR Los Angeles, March 22. A male picture star employ- ed by one of the Big Three who has been skidding so far as box office is concerned for the past year or more, will probably be demoted after he completes making two more pictures with that organiza- tion Production and sales ex- ecutives have had several con- ferences with this star and told him that they felt he was not box office as a star ana would be a featured player. They pointed out to him that for more than a year his pictures have been nil at the box office and that other players in the cast have been featured over him by exhib- itors throughout the country in their effort to sell his star- ring vehicle. They informed the star that there would be no cut In salary under the new arrangement, but that It was simply a protective means for the organization to get value out of the pictures in which he was appearing. In any pictures this demoted star appears In there will be no one starred above him, but a woman will be equally fea- tured and the balance of the cast known as an all-star ag- gregation. At first the male star was very much perturbed when the proposition was put to him, but after It was pointed out that he was pretty well along in his screen career and there was no possibility of any other company giving him a contract which would call for starring at the amount of salary he was receiving, the star acquiesced. P. D. C'S AT ROXYS The P. D. C, despite its K-A hook-up, has switched three of its pictures into the Roxy, thus tight- ening up the scource of supply for the Hippodrome. The Hip is switching to First National for pictures as an alter- nate and may absorb some of the second run Paramount's. The first of the P. D. C. films to be screened at the Roxy will be "The Yankee Clipper." life of Christ" in Legit Loop House at $1.50 Chicago, March 22. Passion Players' motion picture, "Life of Christ." will go into the Playhouse, Xoop legit theatre, on a rental for three weeks, beginning March 29. Scale will be 11 .SO Saturday and Sunday evenings, $1 week nights and EOc all over the house at ENGLISH MAY COMBINE LIKE AMERICANS Exchanges Abroad Now Considering Merger— Ostrer Brothers Be- hind Move London, March 22. Motion picture Interests in Eng- land are evidently taking their cue from the merging activities in the United States and are following suit. There is under way right now a process of merging whereby four of the exchanges handling product of producers'in the United States and a circuit of theatres are to be brought together. The report has it that the ex- changes involved will be the Ideal Films, Ltd., W. ft F. (Wolf) ex- changes, Film Booking Offices, Ltd., which has the F. B. O. and Co- lumbia product and is conducted by Enders, and the Gaumont, directed by the Bromheads, who distribute the Warner product, are all to be taken over by the Ostrer Brothers. The Ostrers now run a circuit of 20 theatres and are in the market for more at the present time. It is believed that the move on their part is to counteract the pur- chasing of theatres by American In- terests, and to afford them protec- tion in the supply of product for their houses. In one quarter It is said that In stead of an outright purchase by the Ostrers the deal Is for a trans fer of shares from one company to another and that the identity of the individual companies will be re talned although they will work to gether. Los Angeles, March 22. Aspirants who pay 2100 to learn how to become picture artists in the achool operated by U. M. Dalley are finding themselves appearing in the "quickies" as atmosphere. John Ince. directory general of the achool. figured out a plan whereby he is inviting Independent producers of short feature length products to shoot their ballroom and big interior scenes at the studio. As an induce- ment for letting the producers have the place at regular studio rentals, Ince is said to use the argument that students in evening clothes will be provided free of charge. The regular charge of extras appearing In evening dress is from 17.50 to $10 a day The aspirants, new to the film racket, are informed. It is said, that producers come to the school look- _ InR for talent. The students are I told the name of the picture they appear In and are instructed to look for the release, so they can study themselves on the screen. Being that these pictures are not generally 'The King of Kings," a Cecil De- Mllle <P. D. C.) super picture, costing $2,300,000, is to shortly open at the Gaiety (legit), New Tork. It also liberally treats of the Savior. KANE UNIT STAYS EAST aold In this territory, aspirants are having a hard time seeing them- selves on the screen. One producer of short subject •tuff recently made a two-reeler at the school. It looks as though It has real money invested in it, but the producer admits did not exceed his regular ll.SOO production bud- The Robert H. Kane unit will re- main In the east Indefinitely, mak- ing seven more pictures at Cosmo- politan Studios. The studio was recently purchased from Hearst by Warner Bros., but the Kane unit will not be disturbed by the transfer. A reported Shu- bert buy of the studios was not closed. McCarthy Takes 'Kings' Complete plans for a thorough road showing of "The King of Kings," tho new Cecil DeMlllc pic- ture (PDC), are being made by J. J. McCarthy. That J. J. has derided to take charge of Its "first run" presenta- tions as a legit house unit indicates that this handler of such successes as "The Birth of a Nation," "The Covered Wagon" and "The Big Pa- rade," has the belief that it will lake iU place among them. House Manager's Contract; Started at Capitol as Usher Something unique in fllmdom oc- curred at the Capitol, New York when Major Bowes gave Eddie Douglas, house manager, a contract for two years in the same capacity at advance in salary. Douglas started with the Capitol as an usher when the house opened Roxy'a new theatre, near the Capitol, where out, opened li Douglas. Susanne Adams Missing Loa Angeles. March 22. The Hollywood police are seek- ing Mrs. Suzanne B. Bursley. wife of R. A. Bursley, scenario writer at United Artists, who disappeared from her hotel March 4. Five days after her disappear ance. Bursley received r. mysterious radiogram advising him his wife was aboard a vessel bound for Seattle. Mrs. Bursley was known on the screen as Suzanne Adams. DESMOND IN SERIAL Los Angeles, March 22 William Desmond, absent from the screen for about two years, during which he played vaudeville engagements, has been signed by Carl I.aemmle to start in a Uni- versal serial. "The Vanishing ROSCOE AILS J. O. F. RECEIVER, NEW ORLEANS 'ITEM," said: "Roseoe Alls, assisted by Katie Pullman and band, crowds more wholesome entertainment into one act than is usually contained in an entire vaudeville program. Ails knows what a vaudeville audience wants and caters to their tastes with a generosity rarely evidenced. His Jokes are original. His every move or word reflects the great artist His dancing cannot be ade- quately described." Booked solid through Messrs. LUBIN and SCHENCK. LOEW AND K-A IN ON PUBLIX NEW N.Y.C. HOUSES Report That Competitors Will Have Chance to Buy In Publix will take in partners, from the latest account, in its proposed new neighborhood theatres' within Greater New York. These partners, the account says, will be Loew's and Keith-Albee. as the Publix locations may infringe upon cither's territory. What may be done when there are two theatres competing in the same section, one Loew's and the other Keith's, is not reported. A decision to take In the com- petitors as partners In the new the- atres Is said to have been lately arrived at by Publix. F. & R. MAY LINE UP WITH PUBLIX-SAXE TOO A general consolidation of theatre interests seems to be under way within the last few weeks. Atop of the stories of the merging of the West Coast Theatres and the North American Theatres are rumors of a number of lesser chains in the mid- dle and northwest running to cover bigger chains as a protective meas- ure. The latest report links the Ftnk- elsteln and Ruben circuit with Pub- lix. Finkelstein and AI and Eddie Ruben were in New York for sev- eral days last week and were In conference with Sam Katz of Pub- lix Theatres during that time, de- parting for the west on Sunday. It was regarded as almost certain that their circuit, which comprises about 65 houses in Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin, would affiliate itself with the Publix chain. This would mean that it would be but a step to consolidate the 22 Wisconsin theatres of the Saxe Amusement Enterprises with the Publix chain and link them up with the F. ft R. theatres. Miss Garbo Still Stubborn Los Angeles, March 22. h Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had a dlflli ult lask in casting the main lead in "Anna Karenina," it is understood I Anal cr dee for the rolf has bet n made by giving it to Joan Crawford. This decision was made after Louis r.. Mayer found out that Greta Garbo would not play It. Dim! il Burhowatakl Is t" dlr.-ct the p! • i which goes into uction April 11. GREAT STATES BUYS HOUSE IN TOWN OF 6,530 First Break Into Smallest Towns by Big Cir- cuit's Arms Chicago. March 22. Great States Theatres, Inc., has bought the Valley theatre at Prince- ton, Bl. It is a town of «,500 popu- lation. Great States, operated by Jules J. Reuben, of Joliet, 111., is a sub- sidiary of Balaban A Katz, with B. ft K. a subsidiary of Publix The- atres, the theatre operator for Famous Players-Lasky. It is said here that Reuben is empowered to negotiate for any theatre within his section, without conference or approval by the controlling com- pany. The Valley will reopen April 1, after remodeling. That an arm of a big theatre chain, such as Publix, buys in in a town of the slse of Princeton, ni., revives the curiosity of the trade as to how far the big chains will go in taking over picture houses; also the number of inde- pendent exhibitors who may be left to the picture business within the next couple of years, and if Publix, especially, in its territorial deals with the Saengers, B. ft K., Skouras' and others does flot contemplate the small town single house after the smaller chains have been taken in or bought out. An understanding about the pres- ent operation of Publix by Sam Kats Is that the Katz system is not for the New York office to "trade," but build, for itself or in associaUon. leaving the trading to be done by its regional partners. Freddie Schader Leaving 'Variety'-With Franklin With Variety since his hair was on his head and black, Freddie Schader is leaving the paper this week, preparatory to departing for the coast with Harold B. Franklin. On the Franklin West Coast, Inc., executive staff, Freddie will be In general charge of the publicity and advertising for that large organiza- tion of picture theatres. Franklin upon arrival in Los Angeles as- sumes his offices of president and general manager of the chain, at present embracing 120 theatres. Coming up through the show business since a boy, divided equally during that time between newspaper and press publicity work, there is no angle of the stage or screen, front or bsck, in rehearsal hall or studio that Fred- die isn't thoroughly familiar with. Additionally, he has the showman's instinct, and his advice on things theatrical often is sought. Any number of previous offers for newspaper or publicity en- gagements that would have re- moved Freddie from Variety have been declined by him. The Frank- lin proposal proved alluring, com- bined with a personal friendship between them that has endured for several years. Freddie leaves with the Franklin party about March 28 for the coast. Accompanying him will be Mrs. Ray Schader (Miss Exray). also of Variety. She will continue her as- sociation with this paper while away. Seats Per 1,000 Abroad Washington, March 22. In comparison to the overstated theatre conditions, in contrast to population in the U. S.. Trade t'oni- missioner J. E. WhoU'an, Rome, Italy, reports that Rome has 45 seats for every 1,000 popal.ition. Paris has about the same per- centage while Toulon, France, has 93 to every 1,000; Etlenne has ST, Rordeau 82, Marseilles 8«. Mil* ~T. Nancy 72, Rouhnix 69 llhelms 6-, P.mion 19. Nantes 47, Havti 41, ajid Lyons 35.