Variety (Jan 1928)

VARIETY P I C T U R ES Wednesday, January 18, 1928 NATl BOARD PASSES SEX HLM; 1ST TIME; GERMAN MADE POTE but No Sensational Advertising^Ufa's "Fools of Pfitssion'^ FUm with Public Safety R^^^ At u. iiVoeting of the National Board o[. Review l^st .Friday."^ool.s of .PuMsion," sex picture prodiicdd in Germahy i-)y . UFA, to be released here, by Public Satety Pictures, was- unanimously passed.- This is be- lieved to. be the first time ■ that the censors have passed a picture of this-" type', ■ ■ The 6nly request madc> by the Board of Censors was that the dis^ tributors should not use objection- able advpf-tisin^ in exploiting the picture, The distributors; have per- misslon,•. however, to- advertise Bho.wings of .the picture to segre- gated audi<;nces-only--.^^- — — '— Th<i aee minimum is fixed at 18, though several of the members Btated that they taielieved' the pic- ture should be shown to children of 14 and ovei". Dn Wih'fleld Scott Pugh, In charge of p|rev.ention and treatment of sor cial diseases for the Navy Depart- ment during the World. War, has undertalccn to write a book on the picture, to be. distributed and sold .simultaneously with the .release of ■Uie production. F. N/s New Depts. Los Angeles, Jan. 17. First is^atlonal added two new de- partments to its Burbarilv studios. One is a personnel department for hiring, of all studio cTTiployees. This Js headed by Frank Cahill, formerly (assistant to the treasurer in New Tork,' ' The other new branch is a fan mail department, sirnllar to the ones now operated at Paramount arid 'United Artists studios, where the Btudj.0 taJvcs care of all fan mail. •This department will come under the jurisdiction of George Landy, In addition to his pi-escnt duties as publicity director for F. I^. Bad Check Passer Sane lios Angeles, Jan, 17. Colmian Galloway, former movie press agent, who pleaded Insanity to charges of Issuing worthless che<Mcs, has-been found, sane by Judge iFrick's court, and must stand trial. Galloway is said to have served two terms for passing elastic paper. Ho was arrested 6n complaint of Alice Calhoun, film actress. DE MILIE'S 200% STOCK DIVIDEND L.OS Angeles, Jan. 17. Applloation has been made to the State Corporation Cornmlssioner for permission to Issue a 200 percent stock dividend, corislstlhg: of ; 8,000 shares of the cdpltal stock of Cecil B. .DeMille, Inc. This company is privately owned and was incorporated in 1920 to act as a holding company for the vari- ous DeMille interests. It was capi- talized at $500,000, or 5i00 0 shares of- $100 par value xjommon. In Oct., 1927, the authorized capitalization was increased to |l,500,dbo, or 15,000 shares, of which there were issued and outstanding 4,000 shares. Cecil B. . DeMille is president, Mrs. Cecil B. DeMille, vice-presi- dent,-and Gladys Rosson, secretary. Foreign $2 Film Starts in Boston Paul Fejos' "The Lost Moment," produced, in Hollywood for the FreedmanT Spitz Productions, goes Into Symphony Hall,: Boston, next week for twice daily showings at $2. The engagement Is only for that week. Fejoa directed .and the Zakopo Film Corporation is distrib uting. The national booking of the film marks one of those rare occurrences 'where a picture has not been shown a, national distributing organization prior to release. The Boston date is the. world's premiere for the fea- ture.-. ■ ■• Jake Wllk is representing the producers. WAMPAS'13 BABY STARS FOR 1928 LiOS Angeles, Jan. 17. Wampas, organization of Motion Tlcture Press Agents oh the coast corresponding with the AMPA in ROSCOEAILS says: "The state" capital punished Ruth and Judd. Before death Judd's epicurean desire consisted of chicken broth, celery, , chicken and ice cream. Followed by electric currents. This seems hideous and is deplorable. Albert Snyder, the model husband, had only a repast of faith in hla home before his im- petus into the inexplicable." . Promoting littfe Film House^Shares on Sale Schenck's Bank Merges iiOS Angeie:', Jan. 17. Federal Trust and Savings Bank of Hollywood, headed by Joseph M. Schonck and C .K. Toberman, has merged .with the Bank of Italy. The new link will be the principal branch of the Bank of Italy in Hollywood, with Schenck and To- berman remaining with ihcir insti- tution as before. XRELLBERG'S "LOVER" . iJ;V\vr"(TTce Wliidtmr lT.ns"'lTecn";en gaged to direct . the first of. the .Sherman Krollborg features in the Co.sinopolilan .studies, Jsew York. His tlrst will be I::ugonc O'Brien In "The Pasteboard Lover." - This Is not a illm- version .of "The Card- board .Lover," the play. Lumas* Foreign Dept. With Weber at Head John N. Weber, formerly foreign manager for Tiffany-Stahl, has been appointed head of the new. foreign department for Lumas. Gotham productions abroad; have been sold through the British-Con- tinentar exchange. With the crea tion of a foreign department Eu ropean exhibitors will be able to buy direct from the home olBce. Within the next year Lumas 6x pects to select several foreign made productions for distribution locally. Remakes "Alias Jiinmy" . . Los Angeles, Jan. 17. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer win make a new version of "Alias Jimrn.y Val entlne," starring. WtlUani Haines and with Edwin Sedgwick directing. World Film prjiduced the O. Heni-y story on the sci-een in 1915 with Bert Lytell. O. Henry's sketch was dramatized for the stage by the late Paul Aim strong and was first presented at tlio-^o 1 d—W<TJlack:s theatre. :at. 30th street and Brpad^vuy, New York ThO Film Mutual Beneflt Bureau, a V semi-philanthropic organization from which developed the Film Bu- reau, inc., is . now sponsoring a Btocfc Issue on behalf Of Little Pic- ture-House, Inc., with a director- Bhip comprising Harry . Harkness Flagler, Mrs. Henry Grifftn, Anne Morgan, Elizabeth Perkins; Mar shall p. Slade and Sophie K. -Smith The purpoise. Is to found a little picture, theatre in a residential neighborhood; The corporation has an authorized capitalization offered on sale of 2,500 shares 7 per cent, preferred stock at $100 par yaluei also com- mon stock. The proposed little theatre, prop erty for which Is to be purchased, will be situated in thie neighborhood of East B8th street, . and will seat under 300 with a scale not less than 50 cents nor over $1. . The Film Guild sponsored the Brooklyn Little Theatre, adjacent to the Brooklyn Academy, of Music, which drevir mildly.' The little theatre movement in flint circles has been generally spot ty. Mikto Mlndjln, with his 5th Aye. Playhouse, has been timpng the few to put It across. The 55tH St. Cin- ema, under Jay David Blaufox's managing directorship, was a fllv, and th9 Mlhdlln Interests recently took over* operation of the rocon verted stable theatre. the cast, ha-s picked Its 1928 ci-bp of' baby' stars. From the pickings it looks as though thoy have done better than in the.three years preceding. With possibly brie or two exceptions no .studio ipolitlcs, are Intermingled with .the choice. .. The . girls are first raters with Uireo or four giving promise Of i-eachlng starring positions before the year ends. The choices will be given their offlclal crowns! Feb. 25 when the Wainpas. hold, their annual frolic at the Ambassador at.'.$10 a copy. Meantime the girls will be given the chance to ..show how popular they are by disposing of tickets for the frolic, There were some 42 candidates originally with the number weeded down to 26 before the voting took place. Of this lot 13 were chosen In the following order: June Colfyer, 19, with Fox. Brought to the coast a year ago by W. R. Sheehan and is reported as having clicked In some four pic- tures. Gwen Lee, 22, with M-G-M. Miss Lee has been in the Culver City stock company for . over two years, with the company recently flndirig that she was worthwhile material. It resulted in her being the M-G-M candidate. Dorothy Gulliver,-19, with Uni- versal. Beauty contest winner from Salt Lake City, and only one of the contest winners chosen by Uni- versal to survive the production or- deal. Featured • opppsite George Lewis in the "Collegiate" series and now playing featured supporting roles On, tiiat lot; ' Lina Basquette, 20, with DeMille. One of the most promising and looks like a cinch for star group of, De Mllle company. Only on screen for little more than eight months. During that time has been acclaim- ed as one of the sensational finds of the year.. Molly b'Day, 1.8, with First Na- tional. Sister of Sally O'Nell, also, a baby star a few years ago. Play- ing, leads opposite Richard Barthel- mesis In several pictures and counted upon by F. N. aa sure fire star material. Flora Bramley, 18, free lance. In pictures aboUt 18 months. KhgUsh girl appearing in niuslcal nhows in New Y-ork when U. A. brought-hep' to coast to appear with Buster Keatoh In "College." Then in "Sor- rell and Son," and. now appearing in ''Wc Americans" at Universal. . Ann Christy;. 19, with jHarold Lloyd. Started as extra gii"f about year ago a,nd .was picked up by Lloyd to play Ifead opposite him In "Speedy,'^^' current production. Sally Eilers, 18, with Senhett. Groomed by Sennett for .starring work. Has been with him for about two years and played feaitured. part Ir, his latest, "The Good-Bye J^lss." Audrey Ferris, 18, with Warner Brothers. Ah extra until . ..eight months ago. Then placed under coni.ract by Jack Warner and has played supporting roles In Warner proc'iuctiohs. Ruth Taylor, 20, with Paramount. Worked on Sennett lot for oyer a year. Tipped off to Paramount for test as Loreli in "Gentlemen P;refer. Blondes." Got part and looks: llkd bet for organization. Lupe Yeler, 18, with .United Art* Ists., Dancer. In Mexico City and brought here about 16 .months: ago for Carter De Haven Music. Box. Revue. With show two weeks when Hal Roach signed her for pictures. Doug Fairbanks borrowed her for feminize lead In "The Gaucho." fehe clicked. U. A. bought contract and expect to have her rea3y fox' star* ring in about a year. Sue Carol, 19, free lance. First experience on screen opposite Doug- las MacLean Iti "Soft Cu3hlons." Got jobs here and there; Now at DeMille studios in "Skyscrapers." Reputed very wealthy. Alice Day, 19, free lance. Sister of Marcellne Day, who was a baby star. For four years with Mack Senhett . and. starred In two-reel comedies.. Since leaving hast been playing feminine leads in fqaturo length productions. At present.fem- inlne lead for Universal. '.. Among the candidates, passed by In the voting were Estelle Br§idley, Wanda Fontaine, Doris Hill,,,Leila. Hyams, Dorothy Kitchen, Caryl Lin- coln, Jeanette Loff, Nancy Nash, Nena . Qu.trterro, Viola Richard, Ann Rork, Alice White and Barbara Worth. SHEEHAN-WURTZEL .ON JOB . Los Ani;oh'H,' Jan. 17. WiVilioUl li. Sho.clian loaves here Jan. .27 I'nr New Xork.; Ho will re- turn Maivh' 1 so that yol Wvirt/.ol general proihiction suporvisor, can tako. a two-moit.di viifiitinti in Kuropp. Wurtzcl' will be back by May. 1^0. MSS. TODD AS SELIG'S ASS'T Ti.!rs. AT. F.. TOdd h.a« ^"'''P ^^-P" poiiUed West Coast jiubiieily rep X-e.stMilativo for ' Tiffany-.^vuxhl pro- duc'iinii. .She will be assistant to advoriisififj:. I "Battle of Sexes" as Griffith's Next for U. A. Los Angeles, Jan. 17 Garrett J. Lloyd, writing stories [for D. W. Griinth for 15 years is now preparing "The Battle of the Sexes" for Griffith's next U. A. production featuring Lupe Valez. Grifnth used this, same title and subject for a two-reeler 14 years ago. Film's Finish Undecided Los Angeles, Jan. 17. "The Man Who Laughs," being produced at Universal, was stopped before the finish^ - That production had run several thousand dollars over the budget was denied as the reason for this move, it being claimed there were two finishes, with selection delayed Until after the picture is edited up to that point. "For Men Only" Joe Lee in Detroit Detroit, Jan. 17 Joe Lee, the stunt publicist, is coinlncr ho.re to exploit arid promote the now Oriental, pictures. ' . It's a diaries. H.. Miles house with J. C. Wodetsky, nianaging director. . Leo's most recent achievement was to push "Kongo/', stage, into a 10-weok run at the Colonial, .Clevo^. land, whore it played to an average of ..?10,000 weekly. But Girls Are There Milwaukee, Jan. 17. While big signs on the. canopy and signboards'"proclaim "Men Only" at the Empress, where "The Natural Law," sex picture, is play- ing, girls are . the • cashiers with a girl doortender and girl ushers In- side the house. The girls, all employes of the Rni- prcss when. it ran burlesque, were held for. the "Men Only" arid "Women . Only" picture. Football Cap'g Tests Los Aimele.s .Jan. 17.. 2vI-fl,M'liJis made .soroeii tests of "Cii'i"' liiiiriunn, Stiiudiird. football pliiyer iind captain of li'^J^t yc-ar'.^ toa;.n. . Iloffnifin may venture into pic- tures next .•iummor if the tc-nts aro RCCi-PlfCl. PATHE BUYS "CELEBRITY" r'ath.o paid $22,500 for . the screen ri.u^lit.-^ to "Celebrity^". f^humlin & Stroi^or'H flr.st Indopendonf produc- tion, writtfn by \Villard. Keofo, The .stock rinUls have been disposed of. The cast may go to CliiOiiKO, in- Pte.'id of .shelvin.!; the ploco, which r>lo.«iHl-—t u I'day^-r- at.=.tho^LiyjiuiixxL; ^scw Verk. MAin^E LANDING 'EM irerniuii J; Mancke.wieV,, who is he.'uhiiui! Icred . at tlie Al^nn'Uilji. Is .sinniii.!?' wriliiiK talent fur. I'ara- mount's west eo.'vst aulhorin}; stafl*. Mrs. Tlivr.'i f^;mi(er WinsTow imd WillanV Kei.-Ce arc among tl\i^ n(>vv soeii;iriKt,s U'ckklng Jlollywood- warcL Buddy Rogers, of Par School, Due to Star Los Angeles, Jan. 17. • Paramount will elevate Charles "Buddy" Rogers to stardom oni next season's prOgram. "A graduate of the Paraniount school, he is the first to cliok hn- P^rt7intl7,="-=^having==anpefxr.i»d-^^^^^ "Wings" and "Abie's Irish Itoso." Lewis King Elevated Los Angeles, Jan. 17. Lewis King, formerly director of the Buzz Barton pictures for F. B. O., will direct Tom Tyler In ^lis next western. < Roljert De Lacey, who has di- rected Tyler, will direct specials . for, the^. saine ..compan^^^ EAST TO TALK IT OVEE Los Angeles, Jan. 17. J. Boyce Smiith, Jr., vice-president and treasurer of .Inspiriatlon. Pic- tures, is in New York for confer- ences with Walter Camp In regard to the new production 5>chedule . with United Artists.' Also to be discussed are arrange-r mcnts for Improvements On the In- spiration-Tec-Art studios in which plans are now being made to con- vert the Melrose Ave. frontage of the site Into stores and business offices. 17 Austrian Fflms in-27 Wa^iiigton, Jan. 17. Austrian producerB turned cot but 16 features.in 1927, states a r©-. port to the Department of Com- merce, this figure being six under the number of .the preceding ,year, • 1926. Average cost of the 1927 features ran from $12,000 to $17,000 each. Effective Jan. 1 Importers of for- eign films succeeded in getting the 10 to 1 contingent, formerly re- duced from 20 to 1, set at 14 to 1. It is expected that shortly this will be raised to 18 foreign pprmlts for each local production. ' THOMAS STUDIOS GONE ^ Los Angeles,, Jiin. 17. Richard Thomas has terminated his Icase On the Thomas Studios at Wn !Nes3 and SantaTMo^^^ evard. ' Th© site was taken over by ownem of the property who are renting of- fice space to Independent companies. Thomas had been leasing the stu- dio and made alterations to operate as a rental plant, Business was not. good,. however, anr" the pl.ace hafl been idle for months. p Athe's studio lease Los Angeles, .Ian. 17. . Patho'.'? lease on the Metropolitan .fltudios, ilollywood, expires June 1. Losseoa are now nei:oil:\tinp with PaUie for a renewal on a ."lliort time owing to the Increase In property values. MISS ARZNER'S M-G FIIM Los Angelos, Jan.'17. Dorothy Arzner will, direct Lew Cody's flr.st pieturo under his new contract with M-G-M. Miss Arzner was loaned by Para- mPimL_4o.:.M -JiT^T, jn. nd Is^theLjirst woman din.-ctor to have evei- work- ed on the latter lot. Miss Cochran Collaborating Nan Cochran, daut,'hter of Witt K. Cuchran, has been nssignod by Universal as collaborator on the Bconarlo of ''f^candal," the Cosmo lliimilton play.. Miss Cochran a niece of R. H. and P. D. Cochran, of Universal. VITA'S FILM ACTORS Vltaphone's first consignment •<' short talking pictures, one and t^ reels, include 10 film actors. Rln- Tin-T|,n, animal star. Is . In thl* number. On the . first list arc Mitchell Lewis, Montague LOve, John Milton, Clyde Cook, May McAvoy, Carmel Meyers, }Iobart Bosworth, BeseU* Love and Irene Rich. ■ • GOTHAM AT U CITY • Los Angeles, Jan. 17. Cothiini productions removed Its hcad(iuarters from Tec-Art studios to rnivtrsal City, whore it Wijl have larger fiufirlcrs to faoilitat« ihc op- oratit-ti of two units at-one time. Th.e first picture to go into pro- duction at the new quarters will ho "Turn tho Hours Back," fc^llnwed b^ •The Chorus Kid."