Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

[EXHIBITORS HERALD] MUTUAL'S "PLANTER" WITH TYRONE POWER PLAYS TO CAPACITY Box-Office Value of Stars Proven — St. Louis Gets Film for Return Date The box office value of the star has been proven effectively in the success which has been attained by "The Planter," the seven-reel Mutual special which was published November 14. "The Planter" presents an unusual combination of stars. The star in the picture is Tyrone Power, celebrated American actor. The picture is from the novel, "The Planter," by Herman Whitaker, well known novelist. From the box office as well as an artistic angle, actor, story and author are effective drawing cards. From the Boston Theatre, Boston, to the Strand at San Francisco "The Planter" has played to big houses. The Central Amusement Company repeated its week's booking in St. Louis with a second week to meet the demand of patrons who missed the picture the first week. Progressive exhibitors have been adopting effective ways of advertising the production. Mutual issued a complete press book on "The Planter" with a variety of advertising accessories. Newspaper copy has been used extensively also, material for which is furnished in the press book. Toronto, Ont. — In connection with the increased cost of operating theatres in Canada, Pete Griffin of Griffin Amusement Co., controlling a large circuit of theatres in Ontario, has raised the prices to all the theatres on his circuit to 25 cents flat. LOIS WILSON, appearing in "A Man's Man," Kerrigan-Paralta play published through W. W. Hodkinson Corp. Lubin and Cabanne Form Film Enterprise To Produce Features Through a contract signed this week Herbert Lubin of General Enterprises, Inc., and William Christy Cabanne have become associated in a film enterprise which will produce a series of pictures bearing the title of Cabanne Super Productions, to be published during the forthcoming year. Mr. Cabanne was formerly one of the leading Metro directors and is responsible for two of the film successes of the current year, "The Slacker" and "Draft 258." He is the author of both pictures which have been presented' through Metro. The General Enterprises executive has not yet decided upon the channel of distribution through which the Cabanne productions will be presented, but stated that "he had another pleasant surprise in store for exhibitors throughout the country." Margarita Fischer in Army Post Story on Mutual Program Margarita Fischer's first production under her recently made contract with the American Film Company, Inc., "Miss Jackie of the Army," is set for publication on the Mutual schedule for December 10. Miss Fischer, heroine in "Miss Jackie of the Navy," is cast in "Miss Jackie of the Army" as the irrepressible daughter of an American army post, in love with one of her colonel-father's aides, a young lieutenant. The picture shows both the social and military sides of life at an army post. There are impressive camp scenes, a Red Cross benefit with a kiss auction, alien spies, traitorous soldiers and knitting bees. "Miss Jackie of the Army" was produced under the direction of Lloyd Ingraham, who has directed the last few Mary Miles Minter pictures, at the American studios, Santa Barbara. It is from the pen of Beatrice Van and William Parker and was adapted for the screen by Chester Clapp. Marguerite Snow to Co-Star With Baggot in Wharton Serial Marguerite Snow has been signed to star with King Baggot in the serial from the story by William J. Flynn, chief of the United States secret service, which will be produced by the Whartons and distributed by M. H. Hoffman, Inc., through Hoffman-Foursquare exchanges. Miss Snow has not been seen on the screen for several months, her last appearance being in support of George M. Cohan in "Broadway Jones." She has been waiting, it is said, for a production offering similar opportunities to those she had in "The Million Dollar Mystery" and is of the belief that such are to be obtained in the Wharton serial. Sawyer and Lubin Show "Warrior" to Soldiers In an effort to "do their bit" for the American soldiers who will soon be on their way to France, Messrs. Sawyer and Lubin of General Enterprises, Inc., arranged for a showing of the film spectacle, "The Warrior" for the enlisted men at Fort Slocum, New York. The spectacle, starring Maciste, hero of Cabiria, was screened for the soldiers last week, Sawyer and Lubin personally making the trip to the Fort in order to supervise the entertainment. Because of the many sGenes of actual warfare between the Italians and Austrians, which form an important part of "The Warrior," John F. Chenoweth, Chaplain and Amusement Officer at Fort Slocum, requested the courtesy of presenting the picture to the soldiers of Uncle Sam. Big Business Heads Take Up Freuler Plea For a New U. S. Coin Men prominent in big business organizations are pushing the campaign for a fifteen-cent coin which was launched by John R. Freuler, president of the Mutual Film Corporation. Chief among them are Edward Wise, president of the United Cigar Stores Company; S. A. Perkins, proprietor of the Tacoma Ledger and owner of seven coast papers; John G. Shedd, president of Marshall Field & Co.; Robert Mandel, of Mandel Brothers, Chicago, and Thomas J. Connery of Pittsburgh. The new coin advocated by Mr. Freuler does not involve the withdrawal of any coin now in circulation. It is his contention that there is urgent need for a coin between the dime and quarter in value. The business men who are enthusiastically back of the project and hope to have the matter presented to Congress in the near future, point out that so many articles are priced at 15 cents that the need of the new coin is really imperative. CANADIAN CENSORS VISIT GOLDWYN PLANT Members of the Ontario, Can., board of censors, who spent the past week in New York, visited the Goldwyn studios in Fort Lee, N. J., and watched Mary Garden, Mae Marsh and Mabel Normand at work. The party was headed by C. W. Matthews of Toronto, who expressed himself as gratified at the opportunity of seeing the Goldwyn stars at work. Toronto, Ont. — A regretable accident occurred at London, Ont., when A. Kay, cameraman of the Pathescope of Canada, Ltd., Toronto, was instantly killed when a taxicab in which he was riding was struck by a railway train. He was on his way to take pictures at the London Asylum. After an inquest, the body was removed to his former home, Philadelphia, Pa. The deceased leaves a wife and family. He was a veteran cameraman and was originally associated with Lubin. 22