Variety (Sep 1928)

Wednesday, September 19, 1928 PICTURES VARIETY 27 LITERATI Kobler's "Mirror" A, J. KabJer, forme'- important Hearst executive in charge ,of the Sunday "American" magazine ad- vertising for some years, on Mon- day announced his purchase of the Kewr York "Daily Mirror" on tliat paper's first page. Kobler made his declaration of Independence with some force. In the same issue Was an editorial an^ nouncement in favor of Governor Al Smith.' On the "Mirror's" masthead Kob- ler's name appeared as. president of the company, with the same treas- urer, George D'titasscy, as before. D'UtaSsey has been with Hearst for inany years, Mr. Kobler's statement Is dcflnite on his ownership of the "Mirror." It mentioned, an ambition to publish his own dally newspaper had been attained. W. R. Hearst, who founded. the *'Mirror," some months ago an- nounced he. had sold it to Alex- ander P. Moore. Krank Knox, general manager of the. Hearst newspapers, disclalnis the statement In Variety that the resignation of A. J. Kobler from the chairmanship of the Hearst Sun- day Magazine, had its source In any differe^ices with him. Col. Knox and Mr. Kobler rernain Tery good friends. It is said. Kob- ler's reason for resigning from the Hearst service may be made known by him in due course. ' It was stated in Variety's story that Kobler contemplated conduct- ing a metropolitan area daily, be- sides po.ssibly aligning himself with another newspaper enterprise. ^ Writers Know More Writers appear. to know more of iettor crooked methods tlian the crooks Avho devote their time to the practice of robbery. Monday in New York an armored car drove to the ShcfTield Milk plant fn the Eronx., Two uniformed sup- posedly guards with guns exposed walked through a crowd of milk drivers to the cashier's peri and held up its occupants, getting away with $18,000 in cash. The Sheffleld cash ia dally removed by regular armored car guards to a bank. It's a new stlck-up method, first mentioned in. an underworld story running seriali> in the Maefaddon Now York Graphic. It was related In that paper's story some, weeks ago of a .'similar theory, successfully executed by the band of gangsters the story describes each day, for a bank robbery. In this issue of Variety is a news Best Selling Books (Continued from page 3) tables , to be . listed thf-reafter. It should be explained that there are sundry key sources of best sellei- inforniation. Baker & Taylor Co., the large-st book .sellers in America, purchasing 7. to 7V4 per cent, of all the book output published, is 6ne national barometer. The American News Co., also a national barometer. Which goes Into the hinterland book shops, and does hot touch the larger retailers, who are serviced by Balcer & Taylor Co., absorbs about 6'/^ per cent., of all the books pub- ILshedw The A. R. Womrath chain of re- tail stores, now totaling -54, with 200 more to open within a year, is a surprising departure in that they alone, as retailers and not vvhol.e- .salers, are said to, absorb 3V^ to 5 per cent, of everything published. The McCIurg Co. of Chicago rates about fourth with a 3 per cent, computation, but they are jobbers like Baker & "Taylor and Anverican News Co. These , figures are Va- riety's own computations from various sources. The Womrath Plan • .What places,Womrath in such im-- portant po.siti.on is that its stores have a combined circvUating library membership "exceeding 200,000, which means that at least $200,000 is on deposit with the company to cover $1 security per person, with additional dally rental fees on each book. Thus, Womrath is compelled to Kto'ck up on almost everything. The trend in books seems to be for. super-sophisticated: stuff with, a dash of dirt arid . plenty of sex throughout. The so-called mystery vogue is really a consistent all- year-round demand. In the non- fiction- line, the intimate biographies like Isadora Duncan's "My Life" and Clare Sheridan's "Naked Truth," sell .best, illustrative of the sophisticated novel are "Jer- ome," "Early to Bed" and "Java- .Tava," among the new Ls-sues. Herewith are lists of best sellers, their authors and publishers. From time to time Variety .will make note, cither in detailed'review or in cpm" ment, of recommended books that are not yet selling big, but which should appeal to sjhow people, as for instance Beth Brown's new Hor- ace Liyeright publication, "Ap- plause," strictly a. show tale with its burlesque heroine. . "Shovy Girl," before it caught on general!yi would have been another such instance. selling best locally around New York and environs, as ga,uged from the Womrath tabulation, are; "The Monopedic, Singing, Danc- ; ing Jester" Having concluded another tour of Balaban & Katz Super Thea- tre-?—CHICAGO THEATRE, UP- TOWN and TIVOLI THEA- TRES, CHICAGO, ILL.—will join the John Murray Anderson Publix Unit "Xylophonia." Tha n ks - to -N at a I ch ei rn,. M ax Turner, Sam Bramson. and A. J." Balaban for their kind courtesies. Dirvj-WILLIAM MORRIS Office. NEW HOTEL ANNAPOLiS Wajiliington, D. O. Uinfflc. $17.30 Double, $28.09. 11-12 and H Sts. In the Heart ot Theatre District Senator Theatre Sacramento HERNIE KING Musical Master of Ceremonies Direction Foacbon mud M«rco Fifth Ave, Theatre, Seattle "The Children., "Swan Song!','. "Brook lOvans". "Spider Boy"..; "Beau Ideal"... "Show Girl"..., I • • ■ ■ • .$2.50 .5.00 . 2.00 3.00 3.00 5.00 ; .by Edith Wharton... . ... ..... .$2.00 ............. .by J.6hri Galsworthy...... . .... 2.50 by Siisan Glaapell..... ....... .2.50 ;........by Carl Van Vechten......... 2.00 ..i...^..,.... byPercival C. Wrenn......... 2.00 .... ......byJ. P. McEvoy............. 2.00 Non-Fiction "Strange Interlude," O'NciU's play.................... "Goethe," Emil Ludwig's . biography ..:.;............,.. "Poems in Praise of Practically Nothing," by Samuel Hbffen stein ......,...... i •. "Disraeli," MauroLs' biography,...................... "Napoleon," Ludwig's . biogi-aphy, still big............ "My Life," Isadora Duncan's autobiography....'..... The American News Company's list of. best sellers so far this month, as gleaned from a national d.erriand, which accounts for some New York sellers like "Show Girl" and "Spider Boy" not be- ing on their tabulations, are: "Swan Song",... .y. John Galsworthy............ .$2:50 "Bridge of San Luis Rey" Thornton Wilder.............. 2.50 ''Bad Girl". ;, Vina Delmar................. 2.50 "Tide of Empire"................ Peter B. Kyne..... 2.00 "F'oolish Virgin".................Kathleen Norris. 2.00. "The Lion Tamer",,... ..... E. M. Hull . 2.00 "The Age of Reason" .....Philip Gibbs 2.00 ''Brook Evans" ./'...........Susan Glaspell............... 2.50 "Beau Ideal". Percival C. Wrerin............ 2.00 "Bitter Heritage".. Margaret Pedler.. 2.00 Baker & Taylor, which covers an equally large market, but" more highlighted as to metropolitan circulation, in contrast to Anierican News' outlying coverage, has stiU another corriputation, the September concensus being: "Beau Ideal"! .. ... .:. Percival C. Wrenn , .$2.00 "Swan Song". ....... i.. John Galsworthy............. 2.50 "The Tide of Empire" ......Peter B. Kyne. 2.00 •"Show Girl" , J. P. McEvoy.......... 2.00 "Mystery of the Blue Train" .Agatha Christie.... 2.00 "Bad Girl" Vinai Delmar. 2.50 "The liion Tamer". .E. M. Hull., 2.00 "Bridge of San Luis Bey".. Thornton Wilder .2.50 "Bambi'*. .Felix Salten. 2.00 "The Age of Rea.son" .Philip Gibba. . 2.00 Both these wholesalers, additionally, issue weekly bulletins. The. Baker & Taylor list is broadcast by United Press, but will, be pubiisiied in Variety fully a week ahead starting currently. These reach Variety every Tuesday, covering the week preceding. Baker & 'Taytyr's six tfest; sellers in fietion and. non-fiction for the past week are: Fiction ICdith Wharton......*. .$2.50 , .Warwick Deeping............. 2,50 "The Children" . "Old Pybus"...... Strange Case of Miss Annie Spragg....... "Show Girl"... . ...... "Destiny Bay"........ "Bad Girl"..... ; Louis Bromficld. •J. P. McEyoy...... iJonn Byrne..;.. Vina I.)elmar.... >••«••« 2.5,0 2.00 2.50 2.50 Non- "John Brown's Body". "Goethe". , "Strange Interlude". "Francois Villon". "Poems in I'rai.se of Practically Nothing" "20 Hours, 40 Minutes" The American News Company ers in the past week is: "Swan Song" "All Kneeling" "Green Murder Case" """FoollSh-^Virgin—.v-rTri=T».tTT-. "Tide of Empire" "Bad Girl" "Brook Evan.'}" "Beau Ideal". "Bridge of San Luis Rey"....... "Mystery of Blue Train". Fiction .Kte])hen Benct. .$2.50 Emil Ludwig 5.00 .l-:ugene CNejll 2.50. B. B. Wynham-Lowis 5.00 Samuel Hoffenstein 2,00 iAmelia Earhart 2.50 s symposium of its own best sell- John Galsworthy... $2.50 Anne Parri.sh................ 2.50 S. S. Van Dine 2.00 KalMtiGn^.;ir)i:ris.« • • ^i*^ ^ Peter B. Kyne.............T. 7Y.i)(f Vina Delmar 2.50 Susan Glaspellr 2.50 Percival C. Wren 2.00 Thornton Wilder.... 2.50 Agatha Christie.2.00 story relating the complaints filed with the Hays organization against underworld nun iiig pli>turi'.s. The claim l.'^ nuule ilu' .scenarios funiisli too many n(>w and pu.^sible ways of thievery or other crinie.-^. Playwrights for Smith An Aiithiirs', Aolor.s' and Artists' eon\niiltei» to work for tlie election of Alfred 10. jHmith has been or- .wnized by the Demoe.nulc National Committee, with Owen .Tohnsoii, the author, in eli;irj^e of lu>a.d(i.uarters in the Biltmore Hotel.' Playwrights wiio have already pledged their.suppurt to the Demo- cratic party . inelude: Gone- Buck, Marc Connelly, Fi-ank Craven, Elmer Davis, Ruth ,Draper, Sus.an Olaspell, John CJolden, : Sydney Howard, George S. Kaufman, Mon tague Glass, Jesse Lynch Willi;|Lms, Anita TjOos, Charles Mac.Arth\iri Williard Mack, J. P. ISIcEvoy, William S, MrXutt, Anne Nichols, Kenyon ■ Nieholson, Channing Pollock, I>aurence Stall-, ings and Winchcll Smith. Macfaddeh Claims Gains . Macfadden Publications , and its attorney, Joseph SchuHz, claim that the Mucfaaden mag. True Stories, has .sho\4 ii a consistent gain in cir- culation for the- past six months, without having lest at any time. Variety printed i;ome weeks af;o that confession riiag.azines were shbwir.j losses in circulation. - Youngest, Hearst Reporting. Williiim Randolph He;irst, Jr.,. youngest son of the publisher, start- ed, working on his father's Now York American last week as City Ifall reporter. After a few weeks on that assignment he intends to learn how to cover ship news, police, city courts and the Federal building. His brother, George, riov/ pub- lisher of the Hearst daily In San Francisco, started- hl.s nevv.spaper career on the New York Mirror, working in the mechanical depart- ment ,6f the tab. PoBce Question Gregory Chicago, Sept. 18. S. J. Gregory, forrner president of the Gregory-Bernasek Theatre Corp., now operated by the Chicago Title and Tru.st Co., was held at the detective bureau here last w^ek. He .was questioned about the recent bombing of the firm's Parthenon theatre at Berwyn. Investigation r6vealed that Gre- gory had sold $580,000 worth of stock in the corporation, while his aisscts were $450,000, Fox Expands in Wis. New Deluxe for Mil. Milwauki>e, Sept. IS. More expansion pl;ins fur Fn.v. in Wi.seonsin were diseldsoil this week by Joe Leo, geiieral e.xe.nitive man- ager for tl-.e eiuiin in the state. Work was started Monday on tearing down old buildin.s?,s to i.nake room for Fox'.s new l,l)00-se;iter at Appleton. . The eontvaet calls.fur the house being epriipleted within, six niinrths. TWO mope state houses >vill also be built, Leo sa,id, but due to gath- ering options on jiroperty. now under way, he would not disclose the .<Jites. ilidwesco-F.ox plana .another downtown Milwaukee deluxe house to be completed \yith a year. . "If the town is overseated now, It will be ripe for a new deluxe soon," Leo' said. "We might as well build it.". V ■ ■ • Due to agreements still running made several year.s ., ago, neither Paramount nor Metro can build In Milwaukee. Universal already has ii hoUso and the only other two hou.ses arc independently owned; Variety missed on its grosses for the two ace downtown houses of the! Fox chain week , of Aug. 12. Strand, which opened for the first time with Movietone, playing "Street Angel" .did $18,600. .Wisconsin reaped about $15,000. Leo also announced the appoirit- ment of E. P. Volendprf, long con- nected witK the Fox exchange here, as booker for the circuit, succeed- ing John Strain. Lloyd Chooses Movietone Despite the fact that Paramount has adopted the. disk method for sound, Harold Jjloyd has decided to go a ia movietone. Among the reasons Lloyd pre- fers sound on filrii. Is that his next picture will- be in the 100 per cent, dialog class and he la said to feel that synchronization, sub- ject to the ordinary editing, can best be accomplished with this method. William Fraser, Lloyd's general mana.ger, arrived in.New York Sun- day, for a short stay. 'lonesome" Opens Colony Universal relights the Colony, New York, Sept. 27, with "Lonc- ..somc,'' featuring Glenn Tryon, "The picture is sounded, wltTi .dialdgT "Melody of Love," Unlversal's first 100 per- cent al 1-talker, Is f^n- Lshed and will prol^ably be ready for the Colony v/ithin a month. No musicians will be emplf)ycd at the Colony, Scale will probably be 50-75, as fornieriy,. . Receiver Pays 27 % Waterloo, Iowa, Sept. l8. In a final report and application for discharge, H. R. Parker, re- ceiver for the Frank Amusement company; Inc., states to the court that he has paid creditors 27 per cent, of the amount of their claims, of $.11,129, He states that he has collected from all; sources the aura of $20,223, Monroe in ,Chicago Reopens Chicago, sjept, 18. Fox's Monroe has reopened after being closed for the summer.. Hous© lias been remodeled, with new seats installed and an augmented sigti over the mjfrquee. Policy will feat- ure sound pictures and shorts. Abe Col?ei) remains as manager. TIVE OUOCK GIRL' Starring Marion Davies Will Be Directed for M-G-M Release by £. Green FANCHON r MARCO IDEAS In all West Coast Theatres, Inc, De Luxe Picture Houses and Every One of-^^ the T^^ atres Showing a Healthy Weekly Profit