Billboard advertising (May 1920)

Endeavors ever to serve the Profession. honestly, intelligently and usefully Courrieht, 1229, by THe FAMOUS PLAYERS-LASKY BUYS FROHMAN INTERESTS Deal Causes Big Stir in Stir in Theatrical Circles—Empire and Lyceum Theaters, New York, and All Frohman Plays Included in Outright Purchase by Film Corporation New York, April 26.—A dig silr was made in theatrical circles last week when the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation announced that it had purthased outright all the interests of the late Charles Frohman, known since his death as Charles Frohman, Inc. The purchase includes all the plays owned by the Frohman interests and possession of the Empire and Lyceum theaters. ‘According to the film magnates’ plans, the Empire and Lyceum will be continued as drama production houses, and they will underwrite various mana~ gers in the production of plays, getting In return for their investment the motion picture rights to them. ‘This will accord with their activities this season, The Famous Players-Lasky Corporation has financed ‘the production of “Sacred and Profane. Love.” with Elsie Ferguson as the.star; “Declasse.” with Ethel Barrymore; “The Letter of the Law,” with Lionel Barrymore, and “Beyond the Horizon,” with Richard Bennett. Managers who have been backed include John D. Willims, George Broadhurst, Oliver Morosco and Walter ‘Wanger. ‘A great deal of comment has been aroused and some fear expressed; by newspaper. eritics and. others that the POSTER ‘PRINT MEN" Hold Convention in Chicagoand Elect New Officers—H. C. McCoy Chosen President. -Chicago, April 24-“Thirty-two men sat in a parlor in the Hotel La Salle Friday ana admitted” that they: didn’t know where they were “at.” Business was all right, thank you, but there were too many sprites nfbbling at. old Dob{ bin for peace ‘and system. ‘They were the members:of the. Poster Print Association of the United States and Canada, A reporter for The Billboard called ~ on the gathering. for news. “Paper's Scarce,” suggested a member. The rePorter didn't think that was news and sald so. “If we uncover any news we'll let W. H. Donaldson know about it.” sugx (Conttoued om page 16)". motion picture would dominate the spoken drama, at least to the extent of making the selection of play for froduction dependent to a great extent on its value asa scenario. Many seem to think this is what will happen. Jesse L. Lasky came out last Saturday with @ statement that vigorously combats this idea: “The action of our company,” said Mr. Lasky, “in helping to finance plays and in securing control of various theaters is not going to hurt the stage, as some people profess to think, bint, on the contrary, it {s going to help it. “Persons who Have said our entrance into the. legitimate producing field would debase the standard of the drama seem to‘forget that the most artistically successful legitimate plays in recent yars have been made. into motion pictures. The fact that a play is artistic in no way bars it as film material; on the contrary, if any’ Broadway producer puts on a production that is’ artistic, no matter what its commercial success may be, he will find the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation the first to bid for its motion picture rights. Instead of seeking to lower the standards of the legitimate drama, we want to raise those standards. “Our critics also seem to ignore the fact, well known in the theatrical business, that no Broadway manager will accept a play for stage production unless he also can have the motion picture rights to that play, for disposal, at a big profit to him, to the motion picture producers. No matter how high and artistic the standard a given play may set, not a producer on Broadway will put it on the stage unless he has the motion picture rights. “The ‘entrance of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation into the legitimate field can not but have a salutary effect on the American drama. It stands to reason that if an arrangement is made between a producer and. @ motion picture organization whereby” the former is assured against loss he can select his plays on artistic merit alone. “Let me call to attention that this is the first season in which the influence of motion pictures has been felt in the theater, and that this has been the greatest season in the history of the theater for the independent producer.” Another angle that so far. does‘not seem to have struck the-commentators is thé superiority of the drama as plblicity medium to that of the movie. It may well be that this was one of the principal factors in causing the purchase of such a well-known producing firm as Charles Frohman, Inc. The (Continued on page 25) C. A. WORTHAM’S SHOWS Have Auspicious Start at San Antonio, Texas— Located on Prominent Plazas During “Battle of Flowers” Celebration— ‘Midway an Enormous One San Antonio, Tex, April 23—C. A. Wortham’s World’s Greatest Shows opened: the‘1920 season here Monday, shows being located on Main, Military and Haymarket Plazas. Ail of the. at tractions and. concessions are doing well, Weather conditions have been favorable, and each day “has seen an increase in patronage over the previous one: The “Battle. of. Flowers” has ‘aroused a great ‘deal of interest this year, and visitors have been. pouring into, San Antonio from every part, of ‘Téxas, The. “Fiesta” is a tig-success ~ and the different parades and events which are on the Program are wonderful. ‘Mr. Wortham: received a large aumber of. telegrams wishing him success and good luck from his numerous friends thruout the country, and visitors, including showfolks sind fair sécretarics; have been. numerous this week. “Bill” Rice wired: “Best wishes from myself and all railroads,” which got many hearty laugh. General Agent Steve A. Woods managed to get down here for the opening, and, after spending @ few days on the show, departed northward. ‘The C. A. Wortham Show this year is‘a new show in everything the name. implies. New wagons have been built, new fronts constructed and-many new ears added to-the train, The wagons and fronts are actually new,: from thé wagon rims to the top of the panels— not rebuilt and repainted, but new all thru, The train is one of the best equipped and most modern in the cariaival business today: Jim Anderson, of the Texas State Fair, Dallas, was among the visitors, and was loud in his praise of the show. R. L. McKinley, of the Fort Worth (Coatinuat on page 15) EVANS’ SHOW To Be Completely Motorized New York, April 24—Victor J. Evans, millionaire patent attorney of ‘Washington, D. C., is about to place on the road a cireus of the major class, to be known as “The Victor Motorized Show & Buffalo Bill Wild West” Combined.” Walter K. Sibley is out~ fitting and equipping the show, which, as the name indicates, will be comPletely motorized, $65,000 worth of amotor trucks and $35,000 worth of trailers having been purchased for transporting the show. Forty mechanjes are working night and day in Springfield, O., overhanling and preparing the trucks, which will be transPorted overland from Springfield to ‘Washington within the next ten days. ‘The routing is not completed, but the show will open May 10 and the movement of the organization will naturally be over good roads territory. ‘Louis E. ke, the veteran circus man, will act as general agent and also. in an advisory capacity for the Evans Shows. Another agent who is well known in the business has also ‘been engaged. Satisfactory arrangements have been made between the Evans and H, H.Tammen interests for the ‘Wild West features of the Evans Shows, also an agreement has been made with Pawnee Bill of the once famous Pawnee Bill Wild West for the use of the title. As Mr. Evans is also an Indian agent, and one entire floor of the Evans Building, Washington, is devoted; to this branch of his activities, he is;naturally in a position to secure the best Indian talent for his big organization, altho aside from its Wild West interests the show will also be complete from a circus standpoint and will have a huge ageregation of animals and cireus talent of every description. EQUITY’S TWO TICKETS Start Many False and Misleading Rumors Ramor mongers Were busy on Broadway last week. All sorts of stories of all sorts of splits in Equity were current on the street, and, as usual, there was not the slightest foundation for any of them. ‘There is no schism nor any danger of any. ‘The two tickets are simply 2 sisn of healthy and lively interest, and the organization will emerge from the campaign strengthened and benefited in a dozen ways. Equity is founded on a rock. Last Wes isn of ia Biba Contaoed 195 Chsied bis, Totlng 7257 Lines, and 90 Uislay Ads, Totaing 2,79 Lines. 245 As, Occopying 29516 Lines in Al _SEVEN AND ONE-THIRD COLUMNS OF ADVERTISING ARE CROWDED OUT OF THIS ISSUE. .. _ The Edition ‘of This Issue of ‘The Billboard Is 56,400