Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-24
CHAPTER KIN

0HAt ltk ALN
"Nov, here's one thing that has
got TO be arranged right away-a
theater. for our New York showing.
That's a job for you. I'll give you a
letter to my friend McGrath-he's a
big stakeholder III the Imperial-they
release for Successful Players. and
the Goldstein group. I've talked with
him about our picture, but Of course
he couldn't guarantee anything. Most
Of the big distributors, controlled BY
old-line companies, with their own
programs 10 take care OF. are not
keen about releasing for independent
producers. But III we've got the goods
If the critics, the public, like our
picture want 1.-THE distributing
end will take rare Of itself. We
won't have TO run after them-theyll
be coming TO US.
The important thing is = first
class New York showing. We N have
I trouble getting a house, in October,
with hundreds OF new pictures,
shows, eager to book in for q Broad
way opening. Davidson has his own
theater. of course. Its q cinch for
him. We've got TO get one. And !
don't mind telling you that Davidson,
as soon as he gets wise TO what we're
doing, will use all the influence at his
command to block Us. He's interest
ed IL a lot of other houses besides
the Plaza. Both legitimate end pic.
ture thsaters. His game will he 10
shut us out until after his own pro-
duction has been shown. What we've
got to do is ran for ~ theater
now. and We haven't n ome "a
lose. Don't think I've neglected that
end Tony went on. "Only ] hadn't
any idea, until today, that We we're
going TO he in such 2 hurry"
But" Hardy objected. how can
We engage a therter until we know
when we van it?'
I'VE know now-or at any rate
we'll take a chance. October seventh.
That will give me a week, after We
finish shooting, TO put the picture to-
gether. Quick work, for cutting,
titling. assembling. but ] expect 70
do a lot as we 20 along. II VIC can't
open the seventh. we'll postpone Il,
paying for the theater. Of course,
But that will be over my dead body.
I'll work all night, IL necessary. to
get the film ready On time. a lot Of
things, tintinE. retakes. you can't
tell much about until you see the pic
ture AS a whole. Now I've been fig
uring this thing out. The first Of
October comes on a Monday. ! want
TO give this picture its private show
ing on Sunday night. October
seventh. That's when we want the
theater. From then on
But said Hardy. "if We set our
opening for the seventh, won't Dav-
idson get on to itY'
"Of course. So we'll set il for q
week later-the fourteenth. Adver-
tise it--let everybody understand il
that way. II will cost something, but
il will be worth il. Not now, OF
course-we won't say r word about
our plans for the present. But wher
the fight comes out in the open. My
prediction is that inside Of two week:
everybody in town will know about
il. And il will be moro than just
fight between two rival producers
a battle royal between two womer
stars. Everybody knows, OF viii
know. the circumstances which LED
up 10 James retirement, and mine
from Davidson's company. The ef'
forts Irene Shirley has made to vamr
herself to stardom.
"1t's "A big, human story IN itself
Ben. and one of the greatest publicity
breeders New York has had in years
A race like that between two beauti'
ful rivals. The newspapers will eat
it up. People will be betting on il
As for seats. for the private showing
you'll be deluged with requests
Don't give out any tickets until the
last moment. Well 20 over the lists
together. Don't even say what the.
alter we're opening AZ. Just give the
date, October fourteenth. Say we
hope 10 be ready then. but IL NAV bs
the week following. Keep everything
else dark"
"But when Davidson hears oui
| opening date, won't he try 70 beat
it,"
"Surs he viii. I'm counting or
thta. II he can. ! don't believe he
| can. no matter how much steam he
puts on. But OF course he might