Variety (Sep 1927)

PICTURES VARIETY 11 BRITISH FILM FIELD pi^.view of "Remembrance" * at ■ tti Itarblo Arch Pavilion. All had <S nnlaue experience ot seeing how s mm coutd ba. tt basaa with b^oro the war. tUl «ai tbe loaat ot it* faulU. jU it la propa g a n da tnr tha Brlt- lah LesioB and th* Prince ot Watoa , aad Elarl HalK both appear In atory keaiiencea. It mar set by at home, at any rate In. tli4 tall srasa. But a pity the folk handling it did not »Uck to their half-mind not to nut it out. It's so bad you wouldn't &UaTe it unless^ou saw it. Dirty Dogil This country 4b going to Ahe dogs, ■verybody's floating gAybound rac- ' 'M companies and the rage has ^ MDt Into the movie business. •""^ WtaibleyWoes- The dday In matvring of studios ^ Wenbler <• P*t o' childish iwlousr and cabiU atnlt going on all Mund. Halt a doaen folk have stu- dio proposltiona. each haa Its Inside supporters, and jione will get to- gether because their interests clash with some one in another group, or because their personal ambitions may be cut into if they work in with another group. It is the same spirit which prevents combined marketing of British product in the foreign fleld; every prodtMer is frightened of the other'felIoir «et- Mng something sold. Shorts ' . I/Mt Sunday "Chang" broke all ' jHaaa records. Queue* lined up fn>m 'ftfitt^ on, and the house opens at ^ S S c^ uSc wM Barber .«r th* Murder tm the Red Barn." are «o be llhned Jaat aa played. ,, James Bryson has bees-oQ s tour •t Unlversal's provincial branches this week, jasslng 'em up tor the re- lease of "Michael StrogofT." 'The Battles of Coronel and the Falkland Islands" Is to be shown by command to the King at Balmoral on September 14, the day before it goes into pre-release. This Is the llrst time a fltan has had a command r performance' In front ot its public exhibition. . ritflP^ to he the largest movie ""itiim In Burope, the Playhouse, '"Bliinfw. was sdieduled to open aigkmiMaf this week. It seaU 4,200 •4al l|aa an elevator orchestra stand. «<nt there has been a hitch in getting the license completed, and opening has been postponed a week. The Capitol has altered its change day to Saturday from this week in place ot Sunda/, the general change day here for pre-releasd theatres. B. Bruce Johnson, foreign man- ager for First National, left Friday ter Berlin to take a look-aee at progress of Detu nroduotlons, which F. M. handles foi*tbe world outside Germany. "Dancing Vienna" has already t>een seen and will be fol- lowed by "^e Alpine Tragedy. JBotng Into production are "The ibntege Scandal.'' "Th« Wild Man" ■*nd "Luxus Train." Sidney Bernstein openfTithe Wil lesden Hippodrome, formerly a vaudeville house, as a movledrome. H seats over 2,000 and has a peram- bulator park. Bernstein opens the Lewlsham Hippodrome for pictures end of this month. Both these house* were formerly on the L. T. V, (Oulllver) circuit ot vaudeville. Pre-release Trouble Agitation still goes on. In some cases tt Is quite Justified. "Ben- Hur" Is now in its 46th week at the TlvoU.' Over a million people have ■een it What chance has the gen eral release house? Dr. Glanlnnl, president ot the East Wd* and Bowery Bank, New York, ••••■made a large advance to British .^'UtemationaL This is secured on atives. Parufamet's first production, "The Lost Waltz," In tliis country, and not Piiramount Itself. Another going into production Is "A Woman In Pawn." Edwin Greenwood will direct this for Gau- mont. with John Stuart In the lead. It's * wonder aomeon* from Holly- wood haM't "found" Stuarts before now. "King of Kings" Mystery About the time (ieorge Smith brought back from New York a print of De Mille's "Kinp: ot Kiniis" the "Sunday Express" ran a aeries called "The Man Nobody Knew," which was a new slant on the life of Christ. Also a mysterious paint- ing by an unknown artist, who at once became famous, waa discov- ered and exhibited, called "King of Kings." So It looked like things were set- ting line tor the film. But the cen- sor here baa a rule whloh terblda a»r physical representation ot Chriat on the screen, and, further, the T>ally Mall" said the film ought not to be shown In this country. A large section of the public takes its opinions ready made from the Mail." Thus do the fortunes of the film business depend betimes on a .reporter's stomachache. ' "And now P. D. C. seeiiiH In a jam over the film. A^'liether it will get shown here Is still uncertain. There's no sign at present that way, and William Vogel, sailing tof New York' after a crulae ^k'onnd the P. D. C. Mnrepean olBo«C" au«« no ■tatement. Production Schedules ..To the films already listed by "variety" as being made here have .wte added "The Triumph ot the Scarlet Mmpernel" and "Dawn," me latter on the story of Nurse Cavell. Both by Herbert Wilcox. Ideal, o^ which Harry Rowson Well-known London-New York com- muter, is head, goes back into pro- aucUon with Gladys Cooper as first •Jir. Milton Meyrick, who directed «ora Le Breton in her first film, ,1* Poupee," is scheduled to wave the megaphone at Gladys. Ideal I one of the companies In the Oau mont-Britlsh merger. So Is W. i f : who will handle U. K. distrlbu "M> of WUeors films. 'i Fairbanks, niece ot Doug las. haa been signed to play co-star •■ "Hell Cat Hetty," from Florence Wlpatrlck's stage • play. H.irry Hughes will direct for Arrhitiald Nettlefold. Wlymond Orimtli la comlnfr ov to do one for British International and the I'lusa-Tlller Girls, now yp With the Lark," at the Vaude- ville theatre, are to app<>ar for this company in "A Little Bit of Fliilt." Seems like there's some relation between Paramount and British In- ternational. Or shall we say an en- t«nte cordialeT I „ This appears aren more so from fnie fact Wardour, eloselv allied with witiah Intemaljonsl, are to bandls ■er Mainly Pereenal Eddie Klein Is back here till Oct. 1. He has been Joined by Mrs. Klein, whose first trip it,^ is. Ralph Pugh has gone to Berlin to look over studios.. Mflr^TT he'll get a move on with Ml WW* Wlien he comes back. Blograph theatre, Victoria, Lon- don, was one of 1! opened by the American Biograph Co. here In 1908 and the 'drst film theatre to hold a license, has been enlarged to seat 1,100, and reopens Sept. 12. It will run to per cept BrtMsh Alms with- out waiting tor th* auO'ts. W, W. Thompson, large-scale ex- hibitor, haa bought the Coliseum, Ilford, and the Coronet, Netting Hill Gate. That was a month ago. This week he also bought the New Gaie- ty, Norwood, and Is dealing for sev- eral others also In London. A. E. Bundy, who recently bought British Instructional Films after financing "Nell Gwyn" and several other productions, has gone Into the lepit field and Is presenting "Sev enth Heaven" at the Strand next week. ' Teddy Brown, the musician, is ap- pearing in the film version of "The Arcadians." So are Tracey and Har. dancers, who were In "The Blue-Train," and Ivor Viotor, now In "Shake Tour Ftoet," at th* Von- don Hippodrome. ' J. H. Seidelman, assistant I9an- ager ot ramous' foreign department, is here. Studio Propositions Several people h.ave got studio proposltiona, but no one seems to move. Companicb are Boing abroad to work from lack' ot studio tacill- tles here, yet the trade sits on the fence and waits for some one to be- gin. Pugh still hangs fire, tlMS.' he could fill his space at oae§ It h* had Wembley ready. There's so -nuch Jealousy, so much teeterlav around to get the Interest ot this group ot exhibitors and that group ot producers, so many "kn'ly practical" ifchemes dis- cussed and discussed that nothing gets done. As this department has said be- fore. If someone wants to make a large piece of real cash money, come right over here and build a aet of properly equipped studis% -Without bull and without spoilias th* Whole show by "promotion." The producing business here Is waiting with Its tongue out for someone to hire It space to shoot in. On* new company, British Film- craft, Is building studios at Wal- thamstow, but they're tor ita own use. What Is a**d*d Is floor space to rent tor cash. with British Authors Productions, the producing end ' rugti's orKani- zation. Latter has been <lickering with CranHeld & Clarke to this end Tor some time, and la credited with having an "upderstaading" with the New Yorkers. Meantime th* gov*mment of In- dlfi is seeing about th* appointment of a committee to report «tt censor- ship and as to step* t* noourage showing Iq India o(^ British flims as well as to promote production there. This Is the effect of the long and strong complaints made against American films and their bad effect on the nati%'es. No notice h;is been taken by Amerfcan distributors of this agita- tion, following 'heir usual i)ractice of Ignoring public opinion in other countres till action forces them to come to earth. An attempt Is also being made to iaduoe th* vrnmnmeat here to let in colonial and dominion Alms duty tree. So the magnuta In Manhattan have got some thinking to do about the British market yet! Decahir's Mgrs. Ass'n. bjr Unioi Decatur. nL. Sept. M. The De(atur Theatre Managers' Association, organized two years ago with the Avon, Empress*. IJijou and Lincoln Square theatres as members, has gone Into thin air, negotiation^ over th* musicians' contract for the ensuing year re- vealing It. Each manager had posted tl.000 fprMt with the osganlzatioa as guarantee of fulflillng agreementa. When Wiley McConncll relinquished his Kmpress, he withdrew his grand and A. Sigfrled. manager of the BUou, aettag on attorney's adrtea, signed Immedlatetar witt t|i* union, the withdraw*! flC; 4)* validating Ml* claimed. Th* vnhm contract whldi mands that the Eineoln Square maintain two organists, and an or- chestra in the evening, has been de- fied by J, H. .Wallace, manager, who indstll that li*,j)fcma wfll:4MS*mlne what musle he will have In his house. The Lincoln Square and the Avon are using non-union muaio but operators and stage hand* are union men, their contracts having been signed last week;' Thus far they have not been called out. No salary increases wnro involved, day leaders getting tTlM mt SMto wen t47,B0, with night leataW |tlM and side msa ' STAHL WITH TIFFANY I,os Angeles. Sept. -0. John M. t^uiiii, wlu> coiiipletos his contract with Metro-Opldwyn- Mayer In Dererober, will become <Urector-Beneral of Tiffany Produc- tions, of wlUih M. H. Hoffman is the head. Stahl, it is .said, is financially in- terested in Tiffany Productions and it Is believed is now desirous of directing pictures in which he has his own money. TiSany opeiutes a national re- leasing systam through lu own es- chaag**. MOVING STAGE AND BAND IN CHAMPAIGN Distinction for III. Town —^M. C mt Virginia CMeago, Sept. 20. Virginia theatre. Champaign. III., will Install a stage band policy, Verne Ricketts, m. c. conducting. House will have moving stage. giving'vChampaign tbe^lstinotten of the only towir.ist l^,:*is* with that type of stage. Presentation tal efPto < p WIfc ed by Sam Bramson, through'ttMt'ilCal William Morris Office. 'DOUBLING' GIRL HURT IN WARNER PICTURE Betty Goodwin's Troubles and Loss of Time in Havmg Teeth Fixed—Brokiii Mr 'Dominion's Film Schemes When the quota bill was pro- moted It was because pressure had come from the colonies and do- minions. These promised to take some supporting steps themselves, and the biggest ot these has just matured In Canada. Col. W. W. Clarke, of Cranfleld & Clarke, New York, has been in the dominion for some time negotlatlnK with government officials, and has .secured tlie support of the Cana- dian preiyitT ;ind .sever.al dominion banks for nrltish Emmre I'Mlnis of Canada, of which Ailfiur Melghajl (no relation to Tom), ox-premier of Cannila, is the president. First production will be "Carry On. Sergeant," which Bruce Balms- father, originator of •'Old Bill," I* writing. ....... The studios are, for the time be- ing, at anv rate, at Trenton, Ont.. and there may be an afllllatloit here Ba)Mciiig Sti i tBy Tm Quincy, III., Sept. 20. Great Staitea Theatres haa taken over the Belaaoo, for tM .laarjM years owned and operated by WW H. Sohm, and has retained Mr.' Sohm a* manager. The Belasco to to be operated as a "family" thea- tre at 10-11 and tmt' Om mw u ot film a week. Orpheum, under Great States management, will be the feature film show house, and the Washing- ton, also In the local Chain, will have Ned and His Gang doing a Paul Ash entertainment four days of the week with the Gale Players presenting stock the last three days of the week. Policy at the Empire, owned by the Great SUtes, haa not been de-. termlaed. Vite at Van Ctorler SchenecUdy. H. T., Sept. 20. The Van Curler theatre, one of the oldest house* In the city, will reopen next month under a new management with Vitaphone as a feature. The theatre, which was con demned a few weeks ago. Is being repaired and the lease will be taken (ver by the Kley Theatre Corpora- llon, consisting of W. W. Shirley and Arthur Klein. Feature pictures will be shown in «oi)iunctlon with Vita. 16 F. & N. Mich. Hoases; Chicago, Sept. 10. ' Though not deslrlous of reveal- ing its connections, Keith-AIbee Is in tor tt per cent, on the deal re- cently consummated by Fltspatrlck A McKlroy and W. S, BuUerlleld, whereby the latter acquire* IT F. A. M, houses in Michigan. Th* poUey of th* theatres, straight pictures and preseatatlons, caused K-A to atterapr^WltillpaUI- ing mention of the K-A^aSW Mi'tlle transaction, it Is s.aid. The chain will be operated un- der the Butterfreld banner. The 17 theatres are Croswell and l^amlly, Adrian; Maltz and Lyric, Alpena; Liberty, Bell and BlJou, Benton Harbor; Colonial, Big Rapids; Lyric, Cadillac; Lyric and Kozy, Ludington; Lyric, Manistee; Caldwell. 9t Joasph: Kyrle and Opera tfiimt, TW W W * * City, and Rivtaca and' Rex, Thre* Rivers, Tfff AllY AFTEg STUttiOS |«V ii«»^ 0MUMtS7 .tM* M«ae- *^ tiM* WtHi PIM Art* IjOs Angeles, Sept, {0. Negotiations ai^ pending for Tif- fany to take over the Old Selig Studios on Mission Road as head- quarters tor production activities. M. H. Hoffman, out her* super- vising his company's pictures, states that no deal has been set, but his organization will either buy or build a production plant. If t*rms cannot t>e agreed on for the Sellg studio property an effort wUI ko mad* to deal with the Fine Asta IwMar*. U S BKOADWAT UBE-UP U's specials" for Broadway this n-lntiT "P "t*""* «■ MlQ ws- ' Tlie Cat and the Canary." "irnclc Toui'b Cat.in," "Les Mi-eral.l.b" (now at the Centralj, 'Surrender," "Show Boat," 'TTik Chinese Par- rot," "The Irresistible lover," "Sfan's Past." "The Lone Eagle," "Thank.« for the liuggy Klde" and "sfmall Bachelors." Bofldiiif Loew**, ProT. Providence. Sept. iO. The big Loew theatre in tltis city wlU be built and work Is to begin thU week. M, Shapiro A Son* ot New York have the general con- tract for the const ructl^m ot the theatre. Because of several months' delay in beginning construction on the site which has been cleared, minors afrose. the new project would be al>andoned. The construction of- ficials set all doubt to rest with their statement. TBTOirS SERIES Los Angeles, Hept. "0. William 3. CrriTiris KoTnit V<> Vf^ Kin a .'Series of proilurtions leatur- ing Glenn -Tryon, to be made at Universal. Vln Moore and Jack. Foley are writing th* stories, with Carl Krusada adapting. Hhooting date tor the-first Is i" t tor Sept, II. Los Anifrtiid. il^t; W, mt. Betty OoodwU. ptetard wttra. whO' doubled for May XcAMy l» "Kau-\ ' lette," Wanieir Brother* pleiture idl< reeled bir Ralph .Orav**, was pfclil*. fully Injured dwlqf uW SMklMg of a scene In the ptetwr* at 'VasadOM. Miss Goodwin was used tor wMae Ewiming stunts, and atltti dOitVto she went **n loeatlM if dive into a pond. Upon airlyitti^ alM CmnA it duck pond in Uit Baw over three tea^ te dUptk. Tha t pany brought hlonc • apriag hoard ' set up-at the end of the pool. When Miss Gpodwtn saw the set up she informed Ralph Graves It was daogeroiui for lier to make the dive into such shallow water from a spring board. However, figuring her future in the picture business and with a raves lasisttaig that «|i* go through with it. MiSS QooAwfal finally did it. The first dive resulted In a broken front tooth and another one cracked in two places. She dove a dosen times more after the accident until the director was satisfied with the takes. Gnaves asked her to step back on the spring board and^niake a runlng dive. The girl relused, stating that it would probably re- sult In a fractured skull should she ' strike her head on the bottom. After the day's work was ended Miss Graves took Inventory of her- self and found that she would bj* unable to' qualify for picture work until her teeth were fixed. She went to the Warner Brothers' studio to try and aee ah executive there and ask what provision eould be made for her to get^ her teeth fixed. She was finally referred to Ooc" Solomon, salti to be the head of the Warners' property deparf- ment and generai.'Yixer" ttft' the players around the studio when they have- complaints to make. Ml.'«» Goodwin tried to get In touch with Soton^n tor nearly a week, but tbuad she could not #et beyoMd Vjf» studio gates when sending <Tnea- sage sayin>r she was outside. Miss Goodwin lives ,at tlie Studio Club, home of a number ot picture people. She wrote ttliin.a letter ex- . plaining her predtcam'tnt, Solomon called on her at the Studio Club, but she was o>it Iool(in({ for employment at the time. He never made a sec- ond call nijT did he fry to eamUMlr cate with her on thcF phone/ After wasting many dollars In fruilless plione calls Miss tiooHwiu managed through a ruse to get iiold olt Solomon.. He loM her that her accident was not covered by com- pensation Insurance and sent her downtown to see the Keilei.jl Mutual Insurance Coint'.-ttu'. $28 Estimate Too Low As a rule, when accidents hap- pen to players tite studios immedi- ately notify the Insurance com- panies who protect them. In titis instance Warner Hrolhers failed to notify the Federal Mutual people. Whose firtt,knowledge ot the acci- dent was when Mlns Goodwin made her appearance, some lime after the accident. She BlateH that the Insurance com- pany sent her to a cheap dentist on Main street to get an estimate on the work, and this dentist said that he could dp a job for tti that would be satlsfattory. Miss Good- win says that she did not have faith of the man's ability so she visited her own dentist. He stated tliat he could do the work^tor )(0. Miss Goodwin then returned td the Insur-. ance company. Meantime they got In touch with the studio and made the necessary report of the accident. Then tlie Insurance company offered her $2^ to get the rep,'iirs made When she stated that not only h^ she been painfully injured, but also she hud lieen forced to remain out of work for several weeks, KearlUK that .MI'<h f;ood»in w«Mld seek ItKal redress the iiisurftnoe tuiiipn ii y tinu ll y ngr sxil to Piiy flI l ilH Goodwin the |90 for the worlv by her own dentist. While the work Is iroinir on Mi.tH f;.K)dwln i.s un^lile i.. ;iii,l einplo.i- ment, on sccouni of Ii^m facial con- (liti in. therel.y losinc I'.T, n day, (ha ].anoiint paid lur doubling fur actors.