Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

X H B O R H R D Ulen Film Corp. Gets "The Warrior" Film for Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Nebraska )eal Closed With General Enterprises, Inc. by J. R. Grainger — Feature Had Successful Run in New York City — Second Big Picture Handled by Company A state rights deal of considerable imortance was closed in Chicago last week etween Herbert Lubin and Arthur H. awyer, executives of the General En:rprises, Inc., and James R. Grainger, eneral manager of the Allen Film Cororation. Mr. Grainger purchased for the Allen ompany the Illinois, Michigan, Iowa nd Nebraska rights for "The Warrior," ne film spectacle featuring the giant, iaciste, which ran recently for four ery successful weeks at the Criterion "heatre, New York. Mr. Lubin and Mr. Sawyer spent last ,/eek in Chicago considering various ffers for Middle West distribution of heir feature, which is regarded as one f the most unique attractions ever ofered exhibitors. Maciste Is Featured "The Warrior" is a very difficult pio ure to classify, as it is a composition f spectacle, drama and comedy, with considerable emphasis on the comedy situations. The giant actor who has the featured role performs a rapid-fire series of Herculean stunts which in all probability could not be duplicated by any player on the screen. According to announcement by General Manager Grainger, the Allen company will issue "The Warrior" December 1. To assist in the exploitation of the feature, a special line of paper and other advertising is being prepared. Company's Second Feature "The Warrior" is the second big feature to be obtained by the Allen Film Corporation, the first being "The Garden of Allah," which has been meeting with unusual success throughout the Middle West and Western territory. Mr. Grainger states that he has under advisement several other important features, some of which are now in the process of production, which he plans adding to the Allen program during the course of the coming year. Vfew York and Chicago Theatremen Report Business Is Normal them without slipping something over in the end." Mr. Bach reports that to offset these two cases he has found any number of exhibitors who are enthusiastic over the idea. He is now on the Pacific coast. JOHN FRANCIS SKERRETT DIES IN NEW YORK After having been ill for a number of months, making a brave fight against a fatal malady, John Francis Skerrett died at his home in New York City on Saturday morning, November 10, at 3 o'clock. He was 42 years old. Mr. Skerrett was a native NewYorker, and for several years was the chief of the Bureau of Electricity of the Department of Water, Gas and Electricity of the City of New York. In 1913 he became the general manager of the Nicholas Power Company, and at a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of that company was made vice-president. Mr. Skerrett was a very broadminded man of great ideals, and was an enthusiast in his devotion to the Nicholas Power Company and their output, and had the happy knack of imparting his enthusiasm to all who were associated with him. He was a man of great culture and a versatile linguist and could converse with equal fluency in four or five languages. In the several years he had been identifield with the motion picture industry he had earned the hearty respect of his associates and all with whom he had business dealings, and a host of friends will regret his untimely passing away. The funeral was held at the home of the deceased, 1077 Fox street, Bronx, Monday morning, November 12, at 10 o'clock. A widow and son survive him. Reports from different parts of the ountry vary as to the effect of the war ax on theater attendance. Messrs. ones, Linick and Schaefer of Chicago. i'ho control not only a number of moion picture theaters, but vaudeville and egitimate theaters as well, state that 'usiness is normal at the Rialto, Mc"ickers and the Orpheum theaters and o complaints have been heard from parons regarding the war tax. S. L. Rothapfel, of the Rialto Theater, New York, states that business has ot been affected in the least by the imosition of the war tax and Marcus Loew f New York advises that his theaters re doing their usual amount of busiess. Some of the outlying motion picture ouses in Chicago report a slight falling ff in business. A SCENE FROM "OVER THERE" Jniversal's Plan to Install Service Dept. Success, Says Bach Distrust between exhibitor and disributor is gradually being broken down, ccording to W. A. Bach, who is installig service departments for the Univeral Film Manufacturing Company. Mr. Sach is making a country-wide trip in te interests of the film company. I "I have only recorded two cases out |f 120 thus far," writes Mr. Bach, "who *re actually opposed to the idea, and hese two could not see how their lereditary enemy,' as they characterized he exchanges, could do anything for ANNA Q. NILSSON (CENTER' 19 HAS THE LEADING ROLE IN THIS STIRRING WAR DRAMA (Select Pictures)