Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24
The Moving Picture Album
BY ROBERT e. SHERWOOD.

! cost of $4,000. but the star of the
picture didn't like it: in fact, he didn't
care for the story to begin with, be-
| lieving that it gave him insufficient
| opportunities for the display Of his
| talents. An entirely new story was
| thereupon prepared by a scenario
writer--a friend of the star-at
| hadn't even read the novel in ques-
ton, but he applied its title to his
own story.
While the picture was in produc-
| ton the title was changed.
Adding up the figures quoted and
lacking on n few more thousands to
cover overhead, stenographic ex-
| penses, wear and tear, etc. you will
gather that the producers in ques
ton spent some $4,000 before they
discovered that they should never
have bought the story in the first
place.
This case sounds fantastic-but it
is regrettably otherwise. Not only
is it actual-it is typical.
X X X
Having completed q successful en-
gagement at the Paramount Theater
in New York, Paul Whiteman has
been signed TO make a 40-week tour
Of the PubliM palaces throughout the
country. For the services of himself
and his band during this period he
will receive the far from untidy sum
of $500, 900.
1t is further announced that CALI
Curci has been offered 100000 for a
10-week tour Of movie houses. Ac-
cording to the reliable reports, she
has declined this offer on the ground
that shows a day, z days week
for 10 weeks. would be somewhat in
furious to her voice: in fact, her MINI
BILE vocal chords would probably never
be the same again.
1t is not improbable, however. that
Galli-Curci will accept an offer from
the Roxy Theater to sing for while
in that lavish cathedral" at a
stipend Of $4,000 per week. Fritz
KreiSler also is expected to appear
at the Roxy. his salary being n mere
$4,000 weekly.
These are formidable sums, but
they are only a small part Of the
vast fortunes that will be spent this
year by proprietors Of movie theater
chains for sumptuous presentations.
Which brings us back to ques-
ton that was considered in this
column a short time ago:
Why are these presentations neces-
sary?
Why aren't movie theaters dedi.
Gated primarily to the display of NOV
ing pictures?
No answer is forthcoming.
X X X
Adolph Zukor, Marcus Loew Will
liam Fox and their brethren are doubt
less able to manage their affairs with
out any assistance from me. Further
more, when l tell them that they are
operating on a false economic basis
they are entitled to the enjoyment of
a hearty laugh.
/ cannot help confessing, however,
that their present tactics sadden me
and that the basis of my moroseness
is an affection for moving pictures.
The big producing corporations
should be able to turn out the best
pictures and thereby contribute most
largely to the advancement of the ST.
lent drama. In the past they have
done so-and that is why they are
rich and powerful.
But in the process of clarifying
their theaters and subordinating their
studios these big corporations have
come to attach less and less impor-
lance to the quality of their films.
Realizing that they couldn't fill ten
milIion-dollar palaces with 10-cent
movies, they have gone outside the
costly and eXtraneous talent.
Give us better pictures" is the fee
BILE cry that raise at this point, land
selves"
lcoprr;pht 1907 \