Evening star., 1924-05-11
BY HALLET ABEND.

Los ANGELES, May s.-As was
anticipated by those in the know in
motion picture circles here, the final
consummation OF the Metro-GoIdwyn-
Mayer merger is serving to stir all
the big producers here to great ac-
tivity. Undoubtedly there will be a
battle for supremacy not only in the
matter of quantity of output, but
where quality is concerned, too. In
particular is a competitive year look
ed for where the new merger, Para
mount and First National, is con-
cerned.
Adolph Zukor and Jesse l. L.asky
of Paramount have fired the opening
gun by announcing an expansion of
production activities which will set
a new high level of output for the
Ikasky studios here and on Long Island.
Forty pictures will be released by
Paramount between August | and
February l. and this years schedule
has been enlarged by the decision to
put eighteen more companies to work
at the two studios within the next
thirty days-eighteen companies more
than have ever before been working
simultaneously at the two plants.
new ParamOuut Pictures.
The list of new pictures to be made
nounced includes open All Night"
to be directed by Paul Bern: "a
Woman of Fire" based on a Mary
Roberts Rinehart story; Betty Comp
son, in 1.-The Female: Bebe Daniels,
in wild Moments; Agnes Ayres. in
in "A Sainted Devil"; Richard Dix. in
Headlights; Bebe Daniels. in Ar
gentine Love-; Pola Negri, in a Lu-
bitch pictures not yet named: 1.-THE
Cave of Fallen Angles to be di-
rected by James cruzs; Gloria swan van
Crimson Alibi." Jacaueiin Lo-
gan and Antonio Moreno. which
George Melford will direct: I'm
guarded Women; an Allan Crosland
production to be called singers in
Heaven; Jack Holt, in Empty
pering Men: Victor Fleming pro-
duction called 1.-THE Honor of His
House; Bebe Daniels, in Little Miss
Bluebeard"; Richard Dix, in .'Manhat--
tan" which will be an adaptation of
F. Scott FTtzgerald's This Side of
ton, 1.-The Golden Bed" co-starring
Rod La ROGUE and Estelle Taylor;
"Playthings of Fire" starring Agnes
Ayres; Pola Negri, in "A Woman
Scorned," and WllllaIn DE Mllle
production named "A Broadway But
terf1y."
Maurice Tourneur has selected
Belonging" novel of European
life by Olive Wadsley, as his next
story for screen presentation. Al
bert Shelby lie Vino, who adapted
THE White Moth" for Tourneur. is
working on the script. Camera work
will be bgun about June l.
Jackie Morgan, who played Chester
in the Andy Gump comedies. has been
added to the cast of Judgment of
West Paradise" which is being di-
rected by Nat Ross at Universal.
Poia and Rod Deny.
Pola Negri and Rod La ROGUE have
issued joint denial Of persistent re-
ports that they are engaged to marry.
The rumor seems to have been found
ed on the fact that they are the only
at dinner parties which include Mr..
and Mrs Tony Moreno. Charles
Eyton and his wife, Kathleen Will
liams and Marshall Neilan and his
wife. Blanche Sweet.
Pauline Garon has left for New
York and will sail next week for
England. She is to make a picture
in London.
Blanche Sweet who has had no
vacation between pictures for two
years, will take a three-month rest
starting June 1. She plans to spend
most Of the time in France.
William A. Setter, formerly Baby
Peggys director, and recently di-
rector of "Daddies" for Rarner
Brothers, has signed contract with
Universal.
Hal Roach has returned from New
York and will soon expand produc-
ton at his studio at Culver City.
Hobart Henley is the first director
to start work at the Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer studio following the merger.
He is making Free Love"
Eileen Pringle, who played the
queen in Three Weeks" has been
cast in another Elinor Glynn film,
His Hour" She will play the part
of a Russian noblewoman.
Mary Pickford, hotel designer r..
Miss Pickford will have the final Q. h.
to put on plans for the building and
decoration of the new s1,50o,o0O Al
gonuuin Hotel to be built in Holly
and rank Case, manager of New
York's Algonquin, are the main back
ers of the new venture. The build
ing will be twelve stories high and OF
Spanish architecture.
John Gilbert, who recently refuse
to renew his Fox contract and said
he would rather be a free lance, has
changed his mind and signed for a
term of years with the new Metro
Goldwyn- Mayer Company.
Hitchcock a Cahph.
Raymond Hitchcock, stage come
dian, has signed with Thomas Wilkes
to play the lead in The Ca!lph,
new comic opera which will be pro-
duced here and in San Francisco II
midsummer.
Iaurette Taylor and her husband
J. Hartley Manners, have arrived
from New York to start productior
on zone Night in Rome" for the ne"
Metro -Goldwyn Company.
William S. Hart, returning IRON
New York made no announcement
concerning production plans, or
new release contract to follow MS
break with Famous Players,Laasky, 1or
., the title part of 'Babbitt" at War
ner Bros, and has begun Work IN an ar
untitled feature being directed oS
LInSe D GoIdwvn announces that he