Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05

presented a real problem to exhibitors,
particularly in the small theaters, and
that 1T Is time for the small exhibi-
tor to sit down. sharpen his pencil and
figure out just how sound pictures
affect him"
Richard A. Rowland has stepped out
as production head of First National
Pictures and there Is speculation as to
who will succeed him.
GiIda Gray has been engaged to star
In "Piccadilly" British international
picture, sailing for England immedi-
ateiy. The report states she may re-
main there for a second picture.
Joseph p. Kennedy, the new financial
wizard of the movies, is said to have
called for a 20 per cent cut in negative
costs and to have parted with IS minor
executives, including unit business man.
ayers and assistant directors on the
First National Pictures pay rolls. Lower
cost OF production without the sacrifice
Of quality is his aim.
Production has started on The Play
Goes On" which will star Carl Viedt
with Mary Philbin in the feminine lead
and with Paul Fejos as director.
The entire cast of THE Red Arrow"
which is being filmed in the Grand
Canyon, is composed Of native Indians.
BY arrangement with First National.
Al Santell will direct Wilma Banky in
| her next picture. to be produced by
Samuel Goldwyn for United Artists,
| title not given.
Lost in the Arctic" Fox picture. is
| being rated as one of the best Arctic
pictures ever filmed. with big thrills and
fine scenic shots.
! AS there will be eight companies
| showing the picture "Simba' on the
road next season, it may be interesting
to know that the dulcetone was used In
synchronizing 1t. The picture 10 being
| handled through the Granger ONCE.
| "Simba" the show, had its premiere at
the Earl Carroll Theater, New York.
Douglas Shearer, in charge Of record
| ing experiments for Metro Goodwin
| Mayer, says there is a need for
! ''fadeout for voices" in the sound pic
lures, so that we can have character
| speaking. then fade mis- voice out into
written title to take up footage where
a narrative spoken title might be too
/ long"
| News comes from London that Con-
servative party officials have purchased
eight sets of the Phonofllm equipment
| for installation in motor vans which
| will tour the country in the coming gen.
eral elections. It will thus be possible
| to tell as well as TO show the proletariat
by proxy and afford the talking politi-
clan a much-needed rest.
Paramount is preparing to provide a
complete show, picture and stage pres
entations, by sound and all. according
to a recent statement Of Jesse LaSky.
This may give legitimate vaudeville an
other chance.
Mary Pickford is reported to be agin
sound and will not utilize 1t In her next
picture.
There Is o report that Dolores Del
Rio is to be starred with SeSsue Haya-
kawa In 1.-The Darling Of the Gods,
| the famous old Belasco play In which
| Blanche Bates was starred. Henry King
is to direct the picture for United
| Artists.
Harry Rinehart Is to be Gloria Swan
sons new leading man in The Swamp,
| which is to be produced with dialogue
and sound effects Rinehart has part
in THE Wedding March," which has
not vet been released.
Lester Scharff. stage manager OF the
Fox Theater, staged one Of the many
successful Joseph Schildkraut produc-
| tons and has appeared in the pictures
He started with De Mile and only
left the silent drama because OF the
| urge of the theater. His last picture
was with Famous PlayerS-Lasky.
A complete mummy plant" to man
ufacture replicas of the Egyptian mum
mics was erected at the Metro Goldwyn-
Mayer studios to provide props" fol
shlvery thrills in Detectives"
The title of the Rupert Hughes story
for one OF the Great Stars and Au-
thors" series Of two-reel short features
has been changed from "Twinkling
Toes to 1.-THE Dancing Town" Ada
May. Hal Skelly and Helen Hayes are
included In the cast.
i 9 Evening Music @
II ER~ 49,