Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 15 KEITH-U. B. O. TO STATE RIGHT BIG FILM FEATURES New York — [Special to "Exhibitors Herald"].— With the entry of the United Booking Office and B. F. Keith interests into the motion picture field, which was announced this week, another outlet will be found for feature photoplays which will mean considerable to the industry. Controls Many Theaters Officials of the vaudeville organization, which controls hundreds of theaters throughout the country, have just completed arrangements whereby they will exploit and distribute through theaters other than vaudeville houses features at popular prices in addition to the short subjects that they use for closing their regular vaudeville shows. The U. B. O. plans to buy up big features for exclusive distribution through their motion picture theaters, and also will work in co-operation with other theater owners for the presentation of such films as these managers wish to lease. Eliminate Middlemen The plan, which will be put into operation at once, is the outcome of their booking short-reel subjects direct from the manufacturers, and under the new system they will handle all features themselves, doing away with exchanges and middlemen. The films which they control will not be shown in connection with vaudeville, but will be shown independently in theaters devoted only to motion pictures. It is maintained that through the big Keith-U. B. O. circuit manufacturers will be able to reach territory which heretofore could not handle their output owing to wholesale competition. With the backing the vaudeville organization has, the features can be exploited in the same manner that the big vaudeville acts are shown throughout the country, it is said. MUTUAL ISSUES NOVEL THREE-SHEET POSTER ON NEW CHAPLIN FILM The Mutual Film Corporation is issuing a novel three-sheet poster for "The Immigrant," the latest of the Mutual-Chaplin specials. The lithograph presents Charles Chaplin in an unusual attitude, on shipboard. The film is said to be one of the best in which he has so far been starred. HOPP'S RESOLUTION FOR LEAGUE FAVORS HIS SON'S BUSINESS At a recent meeting of the Chicago branch of the Motion Pictures Exhibitors' League of America Joseph Hopp, president, introduced and had passed a resolution favoring the buying of supplies from the AmericanStandard Motion Picture Machine Company. Kdgar Hopp, son of the president of the Chicago league, conducts the Chicago office of this projector and supply company. Another resolution also was passed, authorizing the use of league funds to retain an attorney to defend certain members of the league against whom suits have been filed by Louis H. Frank and Maurice A. Choynski. • Attend the Chicago Convention — make the voice of square-dealing heard upon the floor of that assembly. PHOTOPLAY INDUSTRY SUBSCRIBES $5,000,000 TO LIBERTY LOAN, ASSOCIATION APPROXIMATES Although it is too soon to get exact figures of the amount subscribed to the Liberty Loan through motion picture sources, reports received by the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry indicate that it will approximate $5,000,000. This direct result does not take into consideration the countless millions subscribed by people who were influenced by the vigorous loan campaign conducted upon the screens of America's motion picture theaters. Liberty Loan subscriptions from the industry reported up to June 15 are as follows: Famous Players-Lasky Corporation $500,000 Universal Film Manufacturing Company 250,000 Vitagraph and Vitagraph-V-L-S-E _ _ 139,700 Metro Pictures Corporation 110,000 World Film Corporation 100,000 International Film Service 100,000 Argus Laboratories 100,000 Lasky Studios, Hollywood 75,000 Pathe Exchange, Inc 35,000 Edwin Thanhouser 50,000 Ivan Film Corporation 15,000 Cosmofotofilm , 8,700 Frohman Amusement Corporation 5,850 Frank Powell Productions 850 Dixon Boardman, E. I. S. M. P. Corp 500 Evans Film Manufacturing Company 3,000 Motion Picture News, officials and employees 12,600 Moving Picture World 9,750 Exhibitors in Greater New York (estimated) 25,000 Pathescope Company of America 500 MOTION PICTURE STARS Marguerite Clark, Famous Players 105,000 Mary Pickford, Artcraft _ 100,000 Douglas Fairbanks, Artcraft 100,000 Doris Kenyon, Pathe-Internations 50,000 Fatty Arbuckle Company _ 41,000 Maxine Elliott, Goldwyn 40,000 Mabel Taliaferro, Metro 31,000 Billie Burke's daughter _ 10,000 Linda Griffith _ 5,000 Earl Williams, Vitagraph 5,000 Individual subscriptions of the officers of the National Association Motion Picture Industry (estimated).... 100,000 The national association committee sent 30,000 patriotic slides to the 15,000 motion picture exhibitors of the United States, together with letters from Secretary of the Treasury William G. McAdoo and President William A. Brady of the association, asking for co-operation. Of perhaps greater influence was the patriotic trailer which was distributed broadcast to exhibitors. In animated form this told the need of supporting the Liberty Loan and ended with an inspiring paragraph from President Wilson's speech asking Congress to declare that a state of war existed.