Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

X H B R H R D COMBAT MUSIC TRUST WITH MASTERS" 'OLD That the exhibitor should eliminate all taxable music from his program is the suggestion of Joseph O'Sullivan, director of music service for 4he Mutual Film Corporation, who has made an exhaustive study of the exhibitor's music tax problem. "There is no reason for the exhibitor to feel alarmed over the activities of the American Society of Authors and Composers in enforcing the tax on music composed and published by members of that society. However, precautions should be taken that no taxable music is used, as the simplest and most effective means of eliminating this rapacious element from the motion picture sphere is by ignoring their output and using only non-taxable music. Mutual Music Cues Helpful • "The exhibitor who is using Mutual cue-sheets is protected in this matter, as in all the musical settings only nontaxable music is cued in. By following the suggestions in these cue-sheets, the exhibitor can rest assured that he will not be liable to litigation on account of music tax. "Service to be of real benefit to the exhibitor should be all that the name implies, and of this service the music suggestions have become an important element. "Under present conditions it is up to the music service department of the film distributors to eliminate all taxable music from their cue-sheets so as to protect the exhibitor. For screen purposes the so-called 'popular' music is not essential, except in light comedies and direct cues for up-to-date dances, and even of this class of music there is plenty available that is not subject to tax. Beethoven, Wagner, Chopin Suggested "The motion picture theatre caters to a public that is primarily interested in seeing a good picture, drama, comedy or scenic, effectively presented, and anything that distracts the attention from the subject thrown on the screen minimizes the effectiveness of the production. I have called attention before to the wealth of the dramatic music material to be found in the works of such masters as Beethoven, Wagner, Grieg, Chopin, etc. For dramatic, pathetic and love situations, as well as descriptive scenes, nothing better nor more effective can be found than excerpts from their compositions, and the leader who confines himself to such music and to the compositions of present day composers such as Chaminade, Nevin, Berch, Gruenwald. Kriens, Frommel, etc., will never lack for music that will add tremendously to the effect of the screened action." World Pictures Has Big Star Cast for "The Beautiful Mrs. Reynolds;" Ethel Clayton in "Stolen Hours" World-Pictures Brady-Made will put forward another star cast when "The Beautiful Mrs. Reynolds" is published in January. The cast includes Carlyle Blackwell, June Elvidge, Evelyn Greeley and Arthur Ashley. This picture deals with the career of Alexander Hamilton, one of the makers of the early history of this country. The story, written by Samuel M. Weller, differs from the stage play upon the same topic excepting that both introduce many of the same characters and certain episodes of national importance appear in each version. Ethel Clayton will have John Bowers as leading man in "Stolen Hours," which will be published early in January. In this picture he is a young parliament leader who is in a gambling house when it is raided, and the beautiful daughter of the proprietor saves him from exposure and consequent political ruin. They fall in love, but his wife refuses to give him his liberty. "Diamonds and Pearls" is the name of the next Kitty Gordon World-Picture Brady-Made. This photoplay was formerly titled "The Hour Glass." She is a Southern girl whose father, a hard and overbearing man who would not let her participate in the innocent frivolities. He dies and leaves her penniless. She marries a rich man, hits it up too fast for him, and nearly ruins her own life before a very trying lesson causes her to pull up and begin anew. Montagu Love's next picture, not named as yet, deals in part with the ruthless brutalities of the kaiser's hosts toward those in Belgium. Theda Bara Completes New Fox Film of Greenwich Village Studio Life Theda Bara, working under the direction of J. Gordon Edwards, in Fox eastern studios, has completed another Standard Picture. It is Mr. Edwards' twenty-third picture for William Fox and the twenty-seventh that has been made by Miss Bara. The filming of the production has required about six weeks. The title as yet has not been selected. It is the story ol a girl who is raised under Puritanical influence in Greenwich Village, New York City. She is induced by an artist to pose for a painting of the Madonna and in the studio meets a friend of the artist who accomplishes her downfall and her revenge. The story is by E. Lloyd Sheldon. The picture will be published in January. "The Escape" Is the Last Chapter of Mutual-Serial "Lost Express' The mystery of "The Lost Express" has been solved, but the motion picture public won't know what happened to the missing passenger train until holiday time, when Chapter XV of the fifteen chapter Mutual-Signal photonovel is published. "The Lost Express" has shown the drawing power of a mystery serial more forcefully than any recent motion picture production, it is said. The exhibition of the production starring Helen Holmes has met with increased attendance at theatres where it has been booked. Chapter XIII of "The Lost Express" is entitled "The Escape." It is scheduled for December 10. The last chapter is entitled "The Return of the Lost Express." "A Man's Man" First Paralta Featuring J. Warren Kerrigan to Be Published in December "A Man's Man," with J. Warren Kerrigan as the star, will be the first Paralta Play to be; distributed through the newly formed W. W. Hodkinson Corporation. It will be published the first week in December. The story, which was written by Peter B. Kyne and adapted for the screen by Thomas G. Geraghty, has received praise from all who have seen it, and has been proclaimed as the most forceful and finished production in which Mr. Kerrigan has yet appeared. Mr. Kerrigan impersonates the role of John Stuart Webster, a western mining engineer, who loves peace but who never hesitates to fight when placed in a position to defend his rights or convictions. Gladys Brockwell, Tom Mix and Markova Head Fox Special Features for January Titles have been selected for three uncompleted pictures which have been tentatively set for January publication as Fox Special Features. The arrangement, as it now stands, is to start the month with a Gladys Brockwell picture and to follow with Tom Mix's first production as a star in Western dramas. The third offering will be another Sonia Markova feature. The Brockwell picture is to be called "Stolen Honor" and the Mix debut will be made in "Cupid's Round-up." For the Markova picture, the title "A Heart's Revenge" has been chosen. Miss Brockwell's production has to with the international situation, being, in some of its most important phases, a war picture. Involved in the story are a woman's love affairs, which are worked out under the most trying and difficult conditions. Most of the action is laid in Berlin. MAC QUARRIE TO SUPPORT FOX STAR Murdock MacQuarrie, film actor and director, has been added to the William Fox forces for an important role in Jewel Carmen's first starring photoplay. Mr. MacQuarrie, a veteran of the cinemas, also had a long career before the footlights, in support of Joseph Jefferson and E. S. Willard. Others in Miss Carmen's company will be Genevieve Blinn, G. Raymond Nye and Nancy Taswell. 30