Variety (Sep 1927)

Wadnciday, September 7. 1927 PICTURES VARIETY 5, - CAN'T "FRAME" PUBLICITY Hollywood Is Stunned by Marcus LoeVs Sudden Death Lo« Anffelea, Sept t. Hollywood waa stunned yesterday when the denth of Marcus Loew was reported here. It is still stunned. Over the holiday but a- few executives were kbout They were inexpressibly shocked. Joe Schenck and Louis B. Mayer made desperate efforts to make a connection for Salt Lalve, to reach New York in time for the sfi'vicos Tliursday. Their efTorls to persuade fliers to take them to Salt Lake in time were futile. Nor could an aviator be located who wovild agree to fly passengers ail of the way to New York. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .studios will be closed the day of the funeral. Services will be lield here for Mr. Loew under the auspices of the Academy of the >Iotirjn I'ii ture .\rts and Sciences, with other picture studios closed during tile services. JOS. M. SCHENCK Mr. Schenck says the death of Marcus Loew is an irreparable loss to the picture industry. "(Vlarcus Loew was a born leader, loved by everyone and the amusement world will now realize his greatness, that he is gone." "Marcus was never a publicity seetcer," said Mr. Sehenck, "and ha never broadcast his virtues, good deeds or qualities through the medium of publicity.*' LOUIS B. MAYER "The industry has lost its greatest leader," stated Mr. Mayer. "Marcus Loew had not an enemy in the world; he was bsloved by everyone who knew him or of him." SID GRAUMAN Sid Grauman was prostrated when hearing of Mr. Loew's death. "I have lost the best friend I have in the world except my mottier," said Sid. II.P.-O.P. NDTIFy UAYS ON SIUNIS Press Associations Say They Will Stop Carrying Pic- ture Stories Unless Press Agents Are Restrained From Putting Over Stuff —U. P. Investigated Ful- lerton, Cal., FBO Frame MACKAILL • BLYTHE FILM STOCK SELLERS HNDING PLENTY OF SUCKERS IN STICKS Fakers' Attractive Literature and Phony Picture Film—Working in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania Now—House Managers' try at Protection REFORMERS ARE PREPARING CAMPAIGN After Collections for "War Chest"—"Sundays and PktuKs" Washiitton, Sept. 6. GrabbinK the latest sensational development, the reported crime wave throughout the country, the reforming:-for-pay contingent are to utilize this to launch a campaign for a "war chest" that will have the sky as the only limit on the col- lections to be mode. The millions to be garnered, or hope to be snrnered (and in all probability tliey will be) are to be used to put across the much dis- cussed Sunday closing law for the District of Columbia, the Capital of the Nation. Itev. Harry L. I3owlby. secretary of the Lord's Day Alliance, who during the last session of Congress had a flstlc encounter in the Hou.se Office Huildlng with a minister not a.>u«)ci.aeil with bis Rvoup. is re- sponsible for the recent .Tnnonnee- ment. Rev. Bowtby made puldic an Im- posing list of organizations amilat- ed with tlie Lord's Day Alliance that ele;irly indicates that show business has a fjElU. and a real one, ahead of it during the next Con- gressional seHslon. Only concerted action can beat them. Canon Chase's In Again Shorily tlicMe will come from Canon Ch is. \s s' If-eondueted pub- licity biu-. iu here another arKU- ni nt itiie appeal tor the passage of his c nsorinK propos.il. It l.s known thnt he will cite nu- merous indivicluiil instances tb.it rnuseii ti,,, i„, „f many of the em- h.i-siis licie. Among these lieint? the Itili.in. Spanish, French, Mex- ican and others. He wiii ;,i_s,> strt ;:s tbc receiit na- tloniil niiiveiuent by the Irish aK.iinsi Til., (-ali.-ihans and the .\iur. Iillv^. ' -Ml • f 'Mi ll In n- nvike ipterest- Ing copy f^i- tlie daili. s if thoy keep — " n i . ili ii i i; Joliet's Inquiring Reporter Noses 'Bout Over Jazz Joliet, III., Sept. 8. With tlie atinounceinent that the Kialto, locDl riibllx (afflliated) house, was to switch from a policy ot classical pit overtures to a Paul Ash Jass stage band the matter be- came somewhat of an issue locally with the town's paper. "Herald- News," sending out its inqulrint; reporter (or •sprcasiana (ram citi- zens. Most of the townspeople Inter- viewed stated they believed there was enough jazz already via the radio, phonograph, ballroom and traveling musical act. Slmult.anoously with the popular dl.'^cussion on the merits or other- wise of stage hands, the town also discussed Leo Terry, featured or- ganist, who returned to the Kinlto tor a couple of weeks and has been using slides and lyrics telling the Jolletltes that "it all depends on you" whether he remained as or- ganist. "Herald-N'ews" commenting on this, said; "Terry's playing has won popu- lar approval, although some tbe- atregoei-s object to his gymnastic grin. However, his salary is $»30 a week and he has a right to smile." Mrs. t^harles Ilolnilen, when in- terviewed by the Intiuiring Re- porter, answered pithily: "i never attend the Rialto so I don't care whether tliey play iax* or music." Jollet is a town of about 45.000. Bigger "Blue Danube" Lioa Angeled Sept. 6. Cecil B. De Mllle h.is deci<led to produce "The Hlue Danube" on a bigger scale than intended. He has added flSO.OOO to the budget esti- mate. Rod La Rocque has been added to the cast and yrill co-slar with Lea- trice Joy. De Mllle will give the picture his |)ersonal attention throughout the making, with Paul Sloune dlrectin;. The United Press has forwarded a protest to the Motion Picture Pra- dueers' and Distributors' Associa- tion threatening to discontinue car- rying picture news if press agents put acro29 any more frames. Unitfd Press and Atsoeiated Press execu- tives have made several complaints to Will Hays recently, but the lat- est letter received promises positive action on the matter. The case specifically mentioned is in reg^trj to an F B O picture recently made by Ralph tnce. The conysany went to Fullerton, Gal., where a series of attempted mur- ders preceded the arrival of the players at a local hotel. 'V\'hen Ince reached the town the l'. P. rorresiionderjt was at the peak ot his output on the m\stery. Incc's room was filled with gas and smoke one night with the incident similar to others recorded by the scribe. It w.ns played up over e\erytliin^ in the I'. P. dispatches. With Ince's departure the stories ceased, and the United Press be- came suspicious. The F. B. O. home ofltce was notified and I«c« caTlefl upon for an explanation. He told a straightforward story of the events leading up to the allceed at- tempt on his life,. denying any knowledge of press agentry. This report was sulunitted to the I'nlted Press, with the latter un- satlslled. An investigation fol- lowed In which evidence was dls- t'overed showing that the story had iieen framed. The I-'ullertoii corre- 1 spondent has since been added to the F B O publicity department, it is claimed. Fakes t'. P- and A. P. have taken ex- cr-ption to stories on Dorothy MackaiU's fake rescue from a burn- ing building on the First National lot, Jietty Ulythe's alleged c.ipturc by Moors while traveling in Kurope :ind the disappearance of Itichard DIx In the mountains while on loca- tion, among others. The Hays office Is notified that unless the members of his organi- zation can bo miide to keep their press agents within bounds, the press as.soriatlon8 will refu.se to recognize th.- agreement on motion picture news which has been In force for the last few years. The value of press a.s.soclations to pub- licity men may be gauged some- what when It is considered that a story carried by A. P. resulted in 300 returns from a clipping bureau with the latter admitting it Is un- able to locate over 50 per cent of the total returns. Ladies Needed I'aiMiM 'um stiiut-s Iiavt' livon (|Uiotly advised lo dif? u\t miK'h-neodi'd lending: ladies to nuM»t the shoi'tage In the ra nks. 'J'iu'if ar'f iMori' Umn <*m>ugh loatiiii^ nifri at prrsenl. The <»rd»r Was not made pulflii- a-s that might oauwo a d-'IuK** of letters, wiios, phiinr rails ainl queries frimi every corner of the world. F. & R. IN NEW YORK ON PUBLIX IWUP Probably Months Before Affil- iation Is Set—Joint Opera- tion of HQU$e4| Minneapolis, Sept. (. In* order to pursue negotiations now pending for a pooling here of the ]'. Xr H. theatre interests with Publix. lor whltdk «k« «,«ee-BrHt I^tTW Minneapolis theatre Is being built, K. li. Huben and M. L. Flnkelsteln, ofllcluls of the local concero, are in New York this week conferring with Publix heads. Ilocause P. & R. has started to uso new Paramount product throughout the circuit, reports are that these two concerns have al- ready reached an agreement on join^ oper.'ition of theatres in tliis cily. with tlie consequent elimination of a coiupetltion wlii<-h undoubtedly would iirove ruinous to all con- eerned. However, there h.'ive been no papers signed as yet .and nego- tiations, pending for a nunilier of months, are still in tho formative sage, according to K. K. Huben. "Our purchase of 1927-28 I'ara- mount pictures has no slgnllicinee as f.ir as tho local partnership with I'ublix is concerned," said Mr. Ruben before his tfapMrtur* for New York. New groups of f.ike stock selling I proiii.tters arc iloo.IiiiLr Wis-.uisiii ,-iTui rciins\ i\ 1111,1 wuit jiritp liii-ra- j turo on the huge proiits in store for , tliose with money to invest toward ilie nrganlz.ition ot motion picture ju-oduction companies. TIk-sc at- tract i\e ofTers ha\e been also s.-cp- I iiig through to N'i'w \nr\i and the ; N'i'W l-^ngland cities \ i., tlic mails, j Mvery brand of picture production ised as l)ait, W illi the res|ionse tO Iking lilms" rcpor-tcd as espe- cially gratifying—to the promoters. Anything related to the picture business Is getting serious attention from the suckers. Traveling groups arc again re- ported working small towns with old film bought at J.! or $3 a roll. It is represented as having been manufactured by the comiiany to which stock is being sold. Colored clrcuLars with atlrnctive offers have found their way to l»i a! offices for the past few months with no attention paid. Promoters are using periodical earning statementa issued by national producing com- lianles in their .selling compalgna, A notice Is to be Issued to theatre owners shortly through enhlbitor organizations advising that house man.igcrs ni.ake an effort to yrolMit ftti-ir Try iTirowlng a slid© oil their screens nightly advlslnc the customer* to ask the manace- ment about stock offered for sale In lilm promotion companies. House managers will be requested lo Inquire about the stock through New Tork connections of their Iheatrcd. Eqnpnent JATOEE'S CLAIMS London. Sept. 6. J D- Williams elnims h" Is mak- ing 1-' pictures here and in Holly- wood. Williams" ra.se against 73rilish National is down for a hearing in November. liie~Caii-ur •"-^iiuiti in in Congress wh'-n th it '"^''> Ji ts is open to much c in- J*" tuif. The reformers have had "i iiiv ni'iiiihs in which to reach out • 'n l sirrngtben their position anion-; 'be n.iti-.nal law makers. l.itratiire h.is been sent oui fcni ishinaiun liy tlie cliurvU urs.ui- iz.'itions during the past s--vt-ral hiohlhs lo .kllMI .I I I |.it l li|| l BweM of Mines Fib Malmg Again Washington. .Ser.f. 8. Tiureau of Mines Is going in for ]>'■■ t:ire ni.iking again. 'I'his fiillows a lapB" due. t|v after .N'l-H York picture men had crill-' < ised the flovernment for making indu.strial Alms. -Vi w-i-si lilm Is to }f direct. ,t t,y .M-irt..n I' I.e..I)..;.I, l.,a:-, a i.,-. .1 I wilh III" l.ure.iu. It i.-) to lie •■'rlie Si..ry of Iron " and will be the 6Sih Los Angeles. Si^.t. R- TVibert Kuriie, cameraman for Ekiwin Carewc, is using airplane transportation tor his entire camera equipment to hicatlon in ZIon Na- tional Park. rtah. I.IOI) miles from Los Angeh-s. Kurrlo utilized this method of transpurtntion to avoid packing the equipment over nearly 200 miles of mountain trails Into the park, w-liich is at an altitude of 8,000 feet. CoBtroUiBg Mjtt Griffitk Los Angeles, Sept- 0. Corriiiiie (;il(nth has not been having her own way at the United ArtlstM studio where she Is making "The Onrden of 'Rden" for U. A. It se<'ms the .Schenck producers have been having general super- vision over the making of her pic- ture. Miss Orlfflth has been pro- testlng considerably nf late that she wants to go to the Mi-tropoll- tan sthdlos to finish it there. Miss Griffith, It Is .said, feels that if allowed to go to the other studio she would he away from the eagle eyes of the he.njs of .Schenck or- ganization, and thinks slut would tie In a miu'h freer frame of mind. I' A. ofllcinls llRure differently, ami say that as long as Miss Cirif- tilh continues working under her five-year contract with them, she will work where they specify. F. N.'s Englith Buy T-ondon, Sept. I''rrst National is l.inii)- \Vj|<-(ix s "MiiinHi'-' for world distribution ootfitd*' i>f the Vnltfid Kingdom nnd AUHtralia. Carroll holds thn Aus- tralian r ii^Iii.^. I-'. N'. in:iv aI^■o co rifter "Niirwe wilh I'aulin" I'*r» di I ick in the Iitlt» n>le. ' Gold Medal for Gross Not Glorifyiiig Jesie Janet Los Angeles. Kept. 6. 'rh.iiiKh Fred Tlioinsim has not i.impleted making "The I..lfe of .lesHo James," his first picture for Paramount relea.se. yet, protests are .■"friing in tvdtn various women's 'I'lhs ami moral organizations against immortalizing Jes.se James the bandit. These protests have been made to th.- lla>s organiznti'm in New York an.l ais., to Paramount. .Is well as ThomsiMi It is s.iiii ii|o ;ir i..r, pro.liicer and Hays organiz.iiion figure Ih.-'.t when lb.' actual picture is seen, any ob- j'-<iii.ii will be withdrawn. Til ti l I I I -fHn ni l' In ij i M i p i i 'il f ll l.os Am*ci.-s. Scpi, t, T>lllili.-ity ilepartmetit of w. t ill! 1 ) 1 St: u'eriTi its qu-"iTilily an.] ..|.. Tic CL^a niza t l..ns ha\'e but »me job—1-1 pul ow r lli- ir pet pioposols. I'r..m ewi, ii.ssihle angle here, in. hiding the known frien.l--'in f in- gr.-ss. comes the n.lvi'" i-. anri .-. menla—be pr.'pared for a Ii4;liL! Il l m i l l r. .1 M. .si. . ,..-s a... |., 'a:;.-n iir..I' r- gr»;Ufid wilh sp.-. ially f i.aled light- in:; et]Utpment. Ilcthlehem Sl".-I C.rp ani many ' 'ith.-r sueli lik"- corfi'.ratiotis ar*- to ...peruto IB the ut-tkintc ul the i Itiiiu I 'l ju l ■ r i i i. .M ii. s f' l ii u l t l | i l | l |l "l l n il :i bl ind new gag lo promot.' ic- t.i. St in the (;reat*-r A|i»vi«' Sca- Min. The latl.-r e.imilllllee 1- a gol.l n.cd il up..11 the ]. I Wl.fts" I.i'-ltir - ; hiisin' ss ov.-r 111'; West Cuu.il Xi»e- Atles LII.JI.1L ol '.'..I J-..I ...... C O S T U M FOR pnor>T?cTto«.-3 i'i.iiiT-\ 11 .1 rKi-;^r.\TA i I .s HIRIS I S