Variety (Nov 1927)

Hmmmhm 2, 1827 PICTURES VARIETY AMUSEMENT STOCKS IN NARROW MOVES AMID MARKET TURMOIL GiTe Way Modkimtely on Brmk and Ara^Slow in New Inconclusive Rally—Evidence of Bull Oper- afemi hi *Pai!aMounl----Picluro Capital Earns 29c The amusement aharea on the whole came through, the market hrmk. of lata iMt weak In sood form. They grave way moderately when prices were alumpinc all Around. The reoult waa that when # jparttal rally Mi te Mondar tlMiy^ no wide gap to make up and' fKponded only quietly to the bet- ta» feelins. The two leadera. Para- BMHint aad .liovir, apparMitly ■MTrty wftitiaff, both them appar- antly aponaored by bull cliquea whoae ultimate goal ia unchanged, aitfaough for tho aumMrt thair op- •ratlon t^tn abeyance. On the surface. Paramount should gtart firat when cohdiUona are fairorable for tha ftaumptlon of the adTance. AO . coaunanta on the atock's future are optimistic, indi- •ating that the propaganda factory, Whieh reflecta tha arfll of .|he ooa- traUing pool ia turning out bull imunition with aomethlnf? like the la enthualaam that it devoted to aalanlty data b«fik in July. Comment la revived a^raln of the benefits being worked in the econ- omy program. The consideration that the aama faata were uaed ba- fora to lno€^ tha atock down well Maw par !s not without ita humor. Loew Situation The caae of Xioew la aomewhat different. Whether a formal clique la ready to work ia a question. Nothing but forecaau of higher prteee are heard» One oonaldeaa- maoh aataaaiid by aataldera la poanibflltiea of market maneu- now that the restraining in- fhience of Marcua Loew ia not prea- aat. What tha aompany Intereau have in mind nobody knowa, but aome apeculatora are tempted to gamble on the chaAoa of aomebody Stvtag the atock a ride. The re- aent bulRe in Loew from 54 to SI •nly convinced auch reaaonera that there waa aomething in the Idea. Paramount eaaed frem lOf to IM an last week's dip, while Loew went from around 59 to 66. Yesterday an the general recovery Famoua got around 108H and Ubmw waa eleae to St. There la a general feelinf? among aautlous market operators that the autumn ahakeout haa not yet run Ita Mi eourae.* Durtetf November there is likely to be a good deal of Law. VMM 4^% aelling, while the political angle STOCK EXCHANQE ■ laaMnary for wMk uMng Saturday, Oct. tT: 8«lML and rata. Btch. 2,400 American feat (4) • 40% 8,000 Eastman Kodak (8) W% SA.OOO Par-Fam flO) 109% 14,aoe Tox, CI. A (4) 73^ 47,300 I^oewa, Inc. CD aO% f,{W)0 Madison Sq. Garden (1) 25^ too BC> P* Oap•■•••.•....•.#.*.••*••. 7 t.800 Orpheuni • W 50 6.600 Pathe. CI. A (4) Jix «S6 SkW)0 Shubert (5) 96 280 Untv. Pict., lai pnt.'iS)... » 9il» WanMT Bros... CUM 11606 Fy>z Thea aliocw rt» Wamar BONDS 627.000 Keith Oa ••«««•••«•••»<»•• 100% 170,000 Lof-w B'a ••••^•••'•••**V**>«* 66.606 Prnttm Vm ....^.t.,. ■ 6% CCNMa^»»-»»»'» •.. 68 , can be worked by bears raiding prices for profit. Long traders fur tha time being are holding them- selves ready to take adTaataco of any new setbacka. Fox Rsacta From High * Pes reacted from above 7S to around 71. where It stood yester- day. On the dip it went dull, the retreat being a logical reauit of the atock's rapid advance from around 66 not long ag^o. Many tradera apepializlng In the amuse- maata Ilka Fos for a long pull. Shubert aeema to ha In proceaa of grooming for* an upswing Just at thia time. It la being liberally tipped by market advlaora who ape- cialize in "stable Information" at so much per service. A bulge might iiave been expect- ed la Pathe to draw attention to the appearance on Broadway of seven Dim features, the splurge on ita new produclng-releasing hook- up. But nothing happened. The stock was a little soft. If anything, moving sluggishly yesterday around 25, compared to ita beat of S8 when the payment of the regular dividend was announced and the ahort ae- count waa run In. Capital Prollta 29o MotlOB Picture Capital reported for ita third quarter, showing prof- ita of 163.788, or about 29 cents per share on tta 17S,4tf aharea of common outatanding. after payment of $8 on the preferred. Capital re- cently auapended dividenda and now la aelllag; for around 7%. It la the finaaioa oompkay that atarted with ao much trumpet blowing three yeara or ao ago. Annooneement waa» made of the offering of lOO.OOO shares voting common of United Artists Theati^ Circuit, Inc., of the 500,000 shares laaued. It la a no-par atock priced at $16 a share. BSmphasis is placed in the furmai announcement that this is not new flnancing. The 66hisaay*a T per cent preferred la- aue, amounting to $4,000,000, has been dealt in on the Curb for a year, holding close to 100. Deal- Inga Mva been lacking recently. A utatement for the fiscal year will be sent to stockholders shortly. Another theatre operation la In the oHlng, when a flotatloh by the Sacnger Interests In tha Slillth wUl be published in detaiL :!. CLEVELAND'S ARTHLMS AMBUSHED BY HOT DOGS Band Box Over with High Hat Rftol*—Burtosqua Drew- ing WonMfi * Cleveland, Nov. 1. The Oriental theatre originally built here ^ few months ago for picturea failed to get over. It wa» recently aoquired by the Manhelm crowd, which waa re-fltted for stock musical comedy. Planning to make a special play tor women, the fam- ily atttff did not go, either, and the house ia now changing its policy to biu*leaque and getting more wom- en than It got before. That part of Ninth atreet, where the Oriental is spotter, ia not a claaa theatrical neighborhood. There are three burleaqao houaea on the aame atreet and a number of storeroom movies. The town's the- atre boys had a laugh, therefore, when a gantlenuita wtthevt much— or any—etperience in the racket took over the old Ninth street Bandbox, a burlesque house within a few yarda of other hurleaQue houses, and proceeded to change the policy to arty picture for what ia deacribed aa the intelligentsia. The name of the houae waa ohanged to "The Little Theatre of the Mov- lea." Decorations were in extreme- ly modem atyle. Everything looked set for a flop and the Iqoal wlaemen loosened their ' belta far - tha laat laugh. They are atiU atanding with their belta loosened for the houae did better from the fli-st than its next door burlycue competitor, and Is still going along nlealy with art pictures surrounded oa aB aldea by hot-dog atanda. Granmialical Cmsor Albany. Nov. 1. Allkjiny ha^ a self appointed (inottlcial movie censor. He ia i"! u y 1 e r Reynolds, historian. Who ooplea mil Inaccurate and iinurammaticn! cnptlona seen by him and Ales them with Dr. Oravea, atate commiaaloner of education. Reynolds Is looking out for future generations. He wishes to take no ehancea, he aaya, that when this age has become iiistorio It will be mialnterpre- ted. Dr. Qkavea auppoaedly takea the matter up with the moving picture censorship board- INDIA EXHIBS MTTLE FOR U.S. FILMS $400,000 FOR STUDIOS Tiffany.Stahl Into Fine Arts Let Whan Title ia Cleared FIfan ArU Oulld Invaded Brook- lyn, N. y., this week at the Mont- martre theatre, and will rua arty film revivala. The aame Oulld oontrola B. 8. Moaa* Cameo, New York, 196% 1A6 c '••••••••eeaaeaai 10(» ' *'' ' .^^^^^ ' Lv« •••••••• ••eeeea e.e,*'^e a'a ' 'J^^w' > « > feeeeaeaga#e»y#wa»> ' aa I MjL IVM* • • • • • t • a ae-ae%«-«#b f • 'aWk 100 8614 dlv. 66% 2A 00 98% 26% 1^ Ik 100 105 61% 40 !S3 Tl 67 23 sr. 60 Net Chg. i« +1 4- % -1% ■f % + % - ^4 - % 16% 100% 1U&% % Kl% % 6aia. J66,60(^ S6%i 66%, sC %. Snes IT for 2.860 Ft of War Stuff at $1 a Foot Walter A. Futter, trading aa Wa- fllms. Inc., acreen library, ia suing Unlveraal Ptoturea, through Oold- amlth, Ooldblatt Hanower, for $2,860 at the rate of $1 a foot for 1,860 feet of war acenea U wanted the itaff for Inclualon In a war picture. Wafllms, Tnr., Bupplied IJ with S8 reela from Which, the company allegea, 2,860 tet were extraeted but not paid flar. U eubsequcntly abandoned Ita picture production. OSRAOHIT WITH KANE Lioa Angel< Tom Qeraghty, who recently left the Paramount fold, haa been ap- pointed erl!tor-ln-ohlef of Robert Kane productiona, being made at FIrat National Studioa. Ck>ra<?hty'a firat taak was In han- dling (lie productle6i of "French Dreasing." Spain Recalls Ban According to cable advicea re- ceived in New Tork Holtday, the ban on Metro-CJoldwyu-Mayer pro- ductions in ^aia ^xaa been re- pealed. The trouble started through the interference of Mexican officials and two pictures, one "Valencia." The ban was placed about a wcK'k ago. Victoria, B. €•» Ramon Of Studios Revived Ban Francisco, Nov. 1. Preaa diapatchea from Tletorla, B. C. state that James J. Wright and Major Bruce Carter, both of San Franclaoo, have purchased a site of ftS aeroa hear there for nae in connection with a picture pro- duction project. The dispatches further atate that a 60-acre atudlo win be erected. Neither Wrlpht nor Carter are known In local film circles, although Victoria baa had prevloua "atudlo" Loa Angelea, Nov. 1. Tiffany-Stahl bi bujring the Fine ArU Studios for a price reported in the neighborhood of $400,000. The deal te now in escrow for the trana- iVi of deed and title with Tiffany- st.iiii moving in as aoon aa title te < I eared. The name will be changed to Tiffany-Stahl Studios, eliminatinK the Fine ArU title placed on the studioa when oril^nally coQatructed by D. W. Qrifflth 12 years ago for the mnking of hl« Triangle releases. The plant has been operating on a rental baate to Indepeadiat »ro* ducera for aeveral yeara. CooRan Wfll Work During Summers While at College LfOa Angolea, Nov. 1. Having completed . bia contract with M-O-M. Jackie Coogaa will he oft the screen for the next two yeara at least'to continue hte education uninterrupted. Jacdtto was is years old Oct 29, and 1h reputed worth around $1,000.- uuu. lie te at Urban Millury School and will go abroad thte aprlaf. Following this, he will eator Loy- olji TTnlverslty, with present plans to make one picture during each sunuaar vaaallaii after hta Srat Sabreur" Held Up Los Angeles, Nov. 1. It ia unlikely that "Beau Sabreur." aequel to '*Beau Oeate," will reach the Paramount distributing organi- zation until early next year. The p^ture waa originally made under the direction of John Watera, and after several cuttings decision was made to shoot and add aequenoea. Thte wofk te being done by Ctar> ence Badger, pulled from the next Bcbe Daniels film to do it. Badger will require about four weelca to complete, the job. f 2 in DoCo JOHNSON'S BOW STOBY IjOh Angelea, Nov. 1. Nunnelly Johnson, newspaper- man and author, la at the Para- mount studios writing an oriqinMl for Clara Bow. Johnbon waa con- tracted for by U#niiail Hmiiklnwics when the Utter was east r*^present- ing the Paramount Authors! Coun- aeL Johnaon win have foor w^ka to complete his story, and If s**r«pted be 1.-; to receive a aia OMntha' con- tract. Loa Angelea, Nov. 1. First National will start produc- tion on "The Barker" early in De- cember, George Fitzmaurice direct- far and Milton Mite atarHnr. In the meantime, HezI Talt. as- sistant to Fitzmaurice, is traveling with various carnivals in the south to get proper atraoapherOb ^e te also taklag crowd ahota for the Aim. COLLAPSES, BUT BESUMES Loa Angelea, Nov. 1. liina Basqueli^. widow of the late Sarn Wnrnrr. collapsed on the Hf-i \hhile playing in "The Nooae" for Firat Nattenal. Afi«t>- reating at home for two (lays the actress returned to Con- tinue work in the picture. Banks CanH Driro Xioa Angelea, Nov. 1« With Monty Banks in New Tork trying to atraighton out releas- ing arrangements for hia picturea through Patha» Mualelpal Court Judge Valentine was compelled to postpone the hearing of a com plaint that the actor bad driven hte car fbllowtBir the auapenaloA of hte licenae until Nov. 18. Banlca had been convicted of vlo lating the apeed ^wa th^ tlmea when hia licenae waa revoked. On October S he was tempted to grab hold of the ateering wheel and found an aOeer ready to pick him up. He te out on 1500 N«w Bill Aimed forAdop. tion by All BritUh Want Brltidi'Control London, Nov. 1. British membera of the Renters' Society are bending every effort to have the finance restriction replaced In the Film Quota BilL The move is distinctly Initiated by the British faction of the aoclety as diatln- iifuiKhed from American membera. The cteuae te the provtelon that calls for financial control of all pro- ducing companiea under the quota regutetion by Britteh aapltat Bupportera of the plan ladude K. H. O. of Britain, which haa en- tirely lost ita American complexion since Gaumont haa ahtalaad aan- plete aaatrol. CBAHDAXIr-PATSITE WKDIUM Nov. 1. John J. Payette, booking the 1 i Stanley-Crandall theatree with headquartera here^ te la man-y Barry M. Crandalfa datightar. Fortnol announcement was made today of the engagement of Dorothy Ixabelle Crundall ia Payettew SSMAnOBl BIREOnOII Los Angelea, Nov. 1. Major Ilal Roach, otherwise known as a picture producer, has discharged hte obllgatkma to the United States government for the iioxt three yeara, unleap war te de- clared. Roaeh aocompltehed thte hy per- fonning two weeks' duty at the War Department in Washington and taking up signal corps Inatructlon Working in combination with the dally uewMpapere and a number of commercial organlaatloaa, the Boii* bay Cinema and Theatre Trade Aa* aeetetlott to h&ttllaff thf «lla«p^ made by Jamaa • Ck ia a i . - .la" i aa tff ii American pictures In India .through a proposed bill whereby a commit- tee be; appointed to examine and report on the system of censorship of picture^ te that country. VMa Mil al>«i i»r(»\Idos that the invettl- gftti«»n should show whether any steps should be taken to encourage the rxiiiiiitiiMi of fllma i^roddoad within th<> Hrltlsh Empire. This bill, proposed by Crerar, member of tha fcijlilt live Aiaein-' bly of Indte. te inteaded to be used as a precedent for all British col- onies to follow, with the probable elTect that aimllar meaaarai be Introduced in other countelia antagonist to American fllma Crerar is said to be concerned over American «llma being exeeed* Ingly bad for India. He atated that the matter had been brought to the attention of the government, the chief objectora intrlaaa £hiropean associations, 99 per cent of which are. Briiisii, and Britiah drma di- rectly Intereatad la promoting Brit* ish-made fllma or lndlrectly%lnter- estod. but Just as vitally, where it is believed that trade followa the flha. The Bombay Cinema and Theatre Trade Association haa passed a rea- olution requeating the Qovernmeat to-appotnt a maHrtMt of their aaaa .' elation on the proposed committee to Investigate censorship. The com- mittee te to he made t»p of Dlwaa Bahadur T. Raogachariar. ohalr^ gMUi; one European (British) non- ^Bcial, and one Indten non-ofllctel and two ofBeiala. Leading Indian membera of tki Assembly have expressed them- selves in favor of the letter of the bin, aa draffiad, p re paala i tha eeai* sorship Invosf I^atlon, but cloarly ifSdicated they believed the com- mittee waa being formed aolely to attempt to a aa aw prgf a r eaaa »ir< BHtteh nima. Press for U. 8. Filma The press of Bombay is unani- mously condemning the attempt to restrict exhIMtlaB of American films, and is especially antagonistic toward the forcing of Britteh pic- turea. The ^thdhur KatlaM Mai^ aid" records Itself aa "atrongly op- posed to the deliberate propaganda for condemning American picturea. The methotta piirteiit t» iaaan thal# moral and educational quality are utterly unworthy of aerious atten- tion. The blunt truth ia that Amer- ican prodiiaata tMl te their trade, and if a foreign nation like Britain wanta to capture their trado the produeera ought to apectellze ia American methoda." A story In Variety last week atated that Britain waa making a 'world aurvey of aenaorahip, and when completed would first iment with revlalona In Ind^ Conrad Tabbiiif RcfMf For Picture HoaiCf Con Conrad ia producing eon- denaed veraiona of Tadlocks* aad "Merry-Oo-Round," both revues, for the picture house. White Texas Guinan te desirable in tha condenaed veralon of "Padlocfea,** she cannot tour. Instead. Conrad will have Jans and Wlialcn with the show. •'Merry-Oo-Round." a Richard Hemdon production, may sIho have that prodiji » r interested with Coa* rad In tfi( i>\< \ntc houf^j version. WAB STUFF AT CAMSO Byracuae, N. T., Nov. 1. J'Gold Chevrona,** ofllclal Signal « '<)i pH pictures of the Wort^ War now playing the Kmplre here, will open at the Cameo, New ¥orlu on Armlsttea Day.^ This is the start of a I'J weeks' run through aa many New X^ork th»»alrea. C O S T U IVI F*OR HI f'WonncTioNa BXM.OITATIONS pRnaaNTATto?ta