Variety (Sep 1928)

24 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, September 26, 1928 Coast Notes A! De Mond titling "Red Hot Speed" (U). Walter B. Anthony titling "Port of Preams" (U),. Garrett Graham to titl<» "Romance of the Undevworlfi" (Fox). Evelyn Selbio added to "King of the Mountains" (U. A.) "Rodeo Roniance," circus story, will: be the third Fay Wray-Gary Six Months at Coconut Grove, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, Cal. JOHN FREDERICK and MARIAN DABNEY DeLUXE DANCING TEAM Now Touring Publix Circuit of Theatres Direction WIIXIAM MORRIS Chicago bfflM Cooper co-starring picture for Para- mount. Alan Crosland has been signed by United Artists to direct Harry Rich- man in "Say It With Music," to be produced In New York. Harrison Fprd and Julia Swaync Gordon added Par's "Three Week Ends." Paul Lukas added "Wolf of Wall Street," Par. tbuis Wolheim added Par's "Wolf Song." Clinton Lyle added "Hummini Wires," M-G William Christy Cabanee has been assigned to direct '.'College Coquette" for Columbia. Don Alvarado for male lead In "Apache," Columbia directed. Cast for "Lone Wolf's Daughter," directed for Columbia by Al Rogel, are Bert Lytell, Gertrude Olmstcad, Madeline Morehead, Charles Gcrrard and Arthur Rankin. Florence Ryerson and K^ene Thompson are writing co-starring Par story for Ruth Taylor and James Hall. Lloyd Corrigan is writing con- tinuity from Grover Jones' adapta- tion for Bebe Daniels' next for Par. George Yohalip.m, recently assist- ant director at Par, is now assistant WHY IS A SEX An Appeal to My Friends ByBERTADLER 1 have jumped the barriers of trade respectability, ac- cording to supposedly sane associates of mine in the motion picture business, because I am ofiering a "sex picture" to the trade. I have become ah overnight menace to the well being of the businessi And an important trade journal says my picture is "in . a jam" with the police censor of Newark, New Jersey. Sheer nonsens^! I have a box office picture, it is true, with a million-dollar title—"Fighting the White Slave Traffic." Of course, ,it has some sex in it, not as much as many large producer pictures I-have seen, but still an essen- tial siex element. Mainly, my picture is clean melodrama! Nothing in it that shouldn't be there, nothing to cause the slightest box office reaction after showing. . What I am trying to discover (and I must have enough frieiids in the industry to learn the answer) is: Why does a theme like that in my picture pass without notice in a large producer picture, but draw wholesale comment when offered by an independent? Why is such a picture a perfectly reputable product when k carries a large producer label, and a "sex picture" when Woody and Adler offer it to the trade? Why is a "sex picture"? and WHAT is a. "sex picture"? The public want sex within reasonable limits in their picture fare. The box office proves that. "Fif^hting the White Traffic" stays within all those limits. That being the case, HOW COME? to J, O. Bachmann, Par associate pr'oducor. Otto Hewer's second for Para- mount will be another* Zane Grey story, "Sunset Pass." J. Walter Ruben Is writing the adaptation. Dolores Brinkman addt'd My.st<U'ious Island," M-G. "The iTal Yates will direct socond Hal Roitch comedy employing femme team, Marion Byron and Anita Gar- vin. Ed Kennedy in support. 1922 S. Vermont St. (Bryant 0207) New York City Los Angeles, Cal. 723 7th Ave. OREN F. WOODY BERT ADLER James Cruze will direct William Ualnes in "TheDuke Steps Out" for M-G. Billie Dove's latest for First Na- tional has had Its. title changed to "Adorjatlon." . Edythe Chapman added to "Three Week Ends" (Par). " "The Farewell," next to last of third "Collegians" series, finished by Nat Ross for Ui Eugene Pallette, B. H. Calvert and Ixiwronce Grant added to "Canary Murder Casie" (Par)i Walter Fabian has completed. "A Clean Sweep," short comedy west- ern, U. Sam Blum added to "Love Song," UA. Hannah Washington added to Mickey McGuire series, Darmour- FBO. Walter Lang, directing "Spirit of Youth," with Dorothy Sebastian and Larry Kent, for T-S, J. G. Blystone has started an un - titled Fox picture with Victor Mc- Laglen and Claire Windsor.. Clyde Cook suppoirtlng. Glen Lee, screen actress, has been signed to a new term contract by M-G-M. Stepin Fetchit added "Badges" (Fox). John Holland added "She Goes to War" (Inspiration). Hobart Boswprth to play clergy- man in untitled John Barrymore, temporarily called "King of the Mountains" (U, A.). Grant Withers opposite Dolores Costello in WB's ''Madonna of Ave^ n\ie A." Otto Hoffnja-n also in cast. Edna Mae Cooper added to M-G's "Sioux Blood." Olive Borden femme lead In FBO's 'Xove In the Desert." Nacio Herb Bro'w'n added musical staff at M-G-M. , Alice D. G. Miller will adapt for M-G-M "The Bridge, of San Luis Key." 73oris Dawson added to "Ritzy Roaie" (FN). director, signed to new-term con- tracts by F. N. Luclen Prival loaned by Caddo to F. N. for "The Stolen Kiss." Bo Ling, Chinese dancer, added to "Husbands Are Liars" (Fox). Herman Mankicwlcz Is titling Par's "Take Me Home." Clinton Lyle added "A Man's Man," M-G. . . Walter Lang will . direct "The Spirit of Youth" *for -T.-S. Charles Middleton and Noah Young added to Harold Lloyd pic- ture. Fred Kelsey and Gcorgle Stone win team as detectiVe and crook In FN's "Ritiiy Rosie." Al.so added are (Continued on page. 47) Warners' Report Denied Chicago, Sept. 25. A report here that Warner Broa. are negotiating for the bankrupt National Playhouses, a circuit of 10 Chicago houses, is denied by the Chicago Title. and Trust Company, operators in receivership.. ■ Tryort-Kent's Viisit Los Angeles, Sept.. 25. : Glen Tyron and Barbara Kent, featured, leads In "liOhesome", have gone to New York to attend the opening of the Colony theatre. New Fox News Bas« " San Fi-anclsoo, Sept. 25. Fox's Movietone has established a northern California base' here, with news events for this section and vicinity to be handled in Frisco. Oriental's 1st H. 0. Chicago, Sept. 25; Record biz .piled up by "Dancing Daughters," now Cosmopolitan fea- ture, opening at the Oriental last week, kept the picture in that hoiise for another week,, This Is the first film -ever held over by the Oriental. "Devils" Soorr Due "Four Devils" Is scheduled to-re-^ place "The Air Circus" at the Gaiety, New York, within three weeks. TRADO TWINS Gentlemen of Comedy, Song and Dance Mr. Peter and Mr. Frank I Week $ept. 29-Oct. 5 r Senator Theatre, Sacramento Michigan Vande Kgn. Ass'n Charlie MACK Booking the most extensive circuit of vaudeville and presentAtloii the- atres between New York and Chicago Michigan Theatre BIdg. DETROIT standard A<:tB. Write or Wire HELENE HUGHES ROY SMOOT Featured with FANCHON and UABCO Gaston Crlass added to"GeraldInc" (Pathe). Lesley Mason titling "The Tiger's Shadow," serial (Pathe). Alona Marlowe, Jack Raymond added "Three Week Ends" (Par). The title, "The Black Gang," has been restored to Victor McLaglen's new Fox picture. It was known as "Life's A Gamble." "Someone To Love" has been chosen as the final title for the cur- rent Charles Rogers picture for Par, first called ''Charm School." George Arthur Gray, serial scenr arlst, Is putting the finishing touches on. Pathels .next chapter play, "The Fire Detective." It goes into pro- duction next month. Third Pathe serial of the year will be "Queen of the North Woods." , Dorothy Farnum is again under contract as an M-G-M scenarist. Dough Fairbanks, Jr., Jobyna Ralston, Robert Edeson and Del Henderson in "Power;Qf the,Press" (Columbia). Jean Arthur added "Canary Mur- der Case" (Par). Jo.s. GIrard added "Redskin' (I'ar),. lOdward Mai tindel added to "Des- ert Song" (W. B.). John Arthur and IjOuise Fazenda only other.s clioscn to date for fir.st Vitaphonc musical comedy. Olarcnce Brown's next fur M-G-M will be "Wonders of Women," ba.spd on the Henry Suderman novel, "The Wl f o""-Cf--arcphT'n--^r om bol fc;'i-=j us L- piircli;x,sod by the company. Brown will begin work on it as soon as he finishes his cuxTcnt film, "A Woman of Affairs." liouis Wolholm farmed by How ard Hughes (Caddo) to Par for "Victory." Maria Corda, screen actress, and hor husband, Alexander Korda, film The intelligent, detailed analysis by the uritcrs on "Variety of the rle^ ments that make a picture a success show a real understatiding of what the studios are. trying to do and what the exhibitors zvant. HOWARD ESTABROOK Paramount SCREEN PLAYS'- "FORGOTTEN FACES^^ $74,629 at Paramount Theatre "DRESSED TO KILL" (Fox) . $227^00 in Two Weeks at Roxy "SHE GOES TO WAR" inspiraiion'United Artiata In Production. "THE FOUR FEATHERS" _ _ ,P In Production ^THE SHOP-WORN ANGEL" Paramount Feature in Production "VARSITY" Paramount Feature Ready for Release Feature Organist ORIENTAL THEATRE, GHICAGO Playing .This Week "WHEN SUMMER IS GONE"