PERSONAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18015, 27 November 1926, Page 22

PERSONAL AND GENERAL.

(Supplied by the Film Exchange Association of New Zealand.) WELLINGTON. November 24. A definite announcement is now made of the opening of Williamson’s beautiful new theatre. The Regent, in Planners Street. Wellington. The scaffolding in front of the building is cleared, disclosing a nimposig edifice. The Regent will be opened at S o’clock on Friday, December 3, with a programme consisting of the Paramount super attraction. “Beau Geste,” and a strong vaudeville programme. An operatic orchestra will render a specially arranged musical accompaniment: Two performances will be given daily at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., while intermediary sessions of the picture programme only will be held at 12 noon and 4.30 p.m. “Moana.” Paramount’s film of Samoa. New Zealand's mandate in the South Seas, was screened privately in Wellington last week. The screening was held in the projection room of the Government Department of Internal Affairs, and there were present. Sir Maui Pomare. Minister in charge of Cook Islands, the Hon R. A. Wright, Minister of Education, the Hon G. J. Anderson. Minister in charge of Publicity, Mr J. D. Gray, Secretary of Internal Affairs, and representatives of the New Zealand Government Publicity Office. “Moana’’ proved to be an interesting story of the scenery, life and customs of the Samoan people. It will be released in New Zealand at an early date. Mr E. J. Righton. managing director of the New Zealand Picture Supplies, Ltd., has disposed of his interests in that company and intends to retire. Mr Ri&hton has long been known as the “Daddy’ of the picture business in New Zealand and has always been a leader in anything for the betterment of the business generally. Being a man of sound judgment, Mr Righton’s advice was largely sought by many less experienced in the business, and if he sticks to his present intention of retiring right out of the business, he wlil be sadly missed. It is doubtful, though, whether “E.J.” will be able to keep out of the game for long, as he is so full of enenrgy and the amusement business has such a strong pull. However, his intentions at present are to retire to his beautiful home at York Bay and devote his time to his garden. Mr John Fuller, of Fullers’ Ltd., and Fuller-Hay ward Pictures, returned to Sydney yesterday after having spent a week or two in Auckland and Wellington on business.

Mr John W. Hicks, jun., managing director of Famous Lasky Film Service Ltd., returned to Sydney by the Tahiti on Tuesday.

Mr Arthur Davis, managing director of Exhibitors’ Alliance Films Ltd., returned to Wellington on Monday after having been on a business visit to Rara tonga.

Mr Les. Keast, late N.S.W. manager of Fox Films, arrived in Wellington from Raratonga on Monday en route for Sydney. Mr Henry Hayward, of Auckland Theatres Ltd., and Fuller-Hay ward Pictures, visited Wellington on business during the week. Mr Eric Rutledge, Wellington manager of Fox Films, is now back at headquarters after having made a business tour through the South Island. Mr George Johnston, of the Octagon, Grand and Plaza Theatres, Dunedin, and the Paramount and Britannia Theatres, Wellington, left for Sydney on Tuesday on a business visit.

It has been derided to close the Paramount Theatre. Wellington, in two weeks’ time, in order that the work of reconstruction can be commenced. This work will take about four months and when reopened, the Paramount Theatre will be ranked as one of the finest in the Dominion.

Advice has been received that the tog organ to l>e installed in the De Luxe Theatre, Wellington, is expected to arrive shortly. This organ, which is said to costing in the vicinity of £IO,OOO. should lie a great asset to the De Luxe, and Mr W. R. Kemball is to be congratulated on keeping abreast with the times and installing such a splendid instrument in his fine theatre. Mr Cecil Mason, assistant general manager of First National Pictures, who hoped to leave for Sydney last week, was unable to get away until Tuesday, when he sailed on the s.s. Tahiti.

“The Sea Beast.’’ a big Warner picture featuring John Barrymore and released by Australasian, opened at the Empress Theatre. Wellington, last night to a capacity house. This attraction, which is considered one of the best of 1926, should greatly- appeal to all picture fans and manager Bob Iladdow\ of the Empress, is confident that it will break the previous record at this theatre.

Tom Mix’s latest picture. “The Great K. and A. Train Robbery,” arrived in Wellington last week and was privately viewed at the office of Fox Films. This picture should prove to *ne Mix’s greatest and will be very popular with picture-goers. Most of the picture was filmed in the Royal Gorge, Colorado, and it must be said that the scenery is absolutely wonderful. It is expected that an early release date will be fixed, as Tom Mix pictures are much in demand. The Metro-Goldwyn attraction, Bev erley of Graustark,” opened at the Majestic Theatre, Auckland, on November 19 and has been playing to capacitv business. This picture is considered to be one of the finest yet shewn at the Majestic and patrons of that theatre are loud in their praises of the beautiful colour scenes, and at the acting of Marion Davies. Mr B. llarschel, Zealand manager of Metro-Gold-

wyn, advises that he is receiving wires from all over the country requesting screening, dates for this attraction. Mr Grant Borman, United Artists' newly appointed cxploiteer and publicity man, is having a bufey time these days dodging about from one town to another, assisting exhibitors in the exploiting of his firm’s big attractions, and with such productions as “The Winning of Barbara Worth," Charlie Chaplin’s "The Circus," John Barrymore iu “The Beloved Rogue." etc,, looming on the horizon, a much busier time is ahead of him. The beautiful photographs United •Artists have on “The Son of the Shiek" evidently proved too great a temptation to a certain well-dressed youth in “Oxford bags" in Auckland, who was caught removing one from the frame in the lobby display of the Majestic Theatre. When examined, he admitted taking the photo and said it was for his girl friend. A great deal of this sort of thing has been going on lately and United Artiste have lost quite a number of photographs. FILM PERSONALS. Blanche Sweet has signed a contract to make pictures under the William Fox banner. Milton Sills and Deris Ken von were married at Au Sable Forks, New York on October 12. Richard Barthelmess has concluded his contract with the Inspiration Pictures Company. He is now with First National. Florence \ idor has now received her final decree of divorce from King Vidor, and Hollywood is therefore anticipating the probability of a wedding between King and Eleanor Boardman, and Florence and George Fitzmaurice, the director (savs “Picture Play). Katherine MacDonald is in business in Los Angeles as a manufacturer of cosmetics. and beautifiers, which she makes from her own secret preparations, the formulas for which were given her by an old German nurse who once lived with her family. Miss MacDonald’s own beauty should be a wonderful advertisement for her business. A real life romance of the movie studios will be culminated November 14, when Laura La Plante, Universal star, becomes the bride of Wiliam A. Seiter, who has directed her in a number of pictures* (says a Los Angeles message of October 28). The romance of the pair blossomed three years ago, when they met while working together on the production of a film on the Universal lot. Their betrothal was announced several weeks ago. A tragic event happened a few weeks ago at Santa Monica when Joe Moore, urother to Owen, Matt, and Tom Moore and also a well-known pic.u.e actor, was drowned while bathing, apparently through a heart seizure. Moore's wife was on the beach at the wime, but had not gone in the water. She was formerly Grace Cunard, well known in pictures for her work in serials, and the ccup ; e had bee n married since 1917. None of the other members of the Moore family were in California at the time, Owen being in New j V'ork, Tom in Yellow;-.-one Park on vacation, and Matt on his way to CanI fornia from New York. Miss Dolores Del Rio, the Charmaine of the screen version of “What Price Glory,” jumped from obscurity to fan e in the remarkably short period of 14 months, a record even for the realm of magic—meviedom. She was a soeie'v girl in her’native Mexico when Edwin Carewe, the motion picture director, met her at a social affair, in Mexico fity. Carewe, taken with her gra'.e and beauty, induced her to go to Hollywood. That was in September, 1925, In November she became a star, and in February of this year she was g ven he big role of the French girl in the Jarring war drama. Miss Del Rios first engagement was in “J: anna.” She made a big hit in “Pal’- F.rst" in .vhich she had the leading feminine part.

; Carl Laemmle returns to America to a welcome such as few even of the nation's greatest have ever received, an unusual tribute to an unusual man, who e yalue to this industry cannot be measured except in the esteem and sentimental regard in which he is held by all - ranks within and without it (says “Moving Picture World," an American trade publication). In this singular recognition accorded the President of Universal, there is much of gratitude —a feeling of real reLef and appreciation that he has come safely and surely through the ordeal, which so seriously threatened his life a few months ago, and is once more with us. Carl Laemmle has given more than 20 years already of his active and useful life to this industry. That he will give many more years to its service is the earne.t hope of all who know h-m. It is difficult, in fact, to think of motion pictures and their marvellous development without thinking of Carl Laemmie and Universal -the twain are inseparable—and what Carl Laemmle is to motion pictures motion pictures aie to Carl Laemmle.