Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

m M m life CHICAGO TRADE EVENTS By "Mac" Well, merrie old Kriss Kringle is with us again, and with his jolly majesty we greet you all and trust that this season will bring you every happiness. By th' Dec. 1 issue of the Vitagraph Family 'tis noted that Manager Bayley has christened his sales squad the White Sox (New Yawkers please note), and take it from us, they're a likely lookin' bunch, too. Thru the pull of Assistant Manager W. E. Banford, the teams' field captain, Vitagraph's editorial department was bribed to print a group photo of the boys. This work of art registers as follows: James Salter, Frank Redfield (rung in from Milwaukee), Ollie Moore (a four-baser all the time, ahem!), S. Norville, F. J. Delaney, J. A. Humphrey (of straw hat fame), and absent but not forgotten, the two modest whales, "Van" and McElroy, who positively refused to take a chance ruining a camera. Let it go at that, but just you keep your lamps peeled for that mob. R. L. Coffey, manager of the Standard Film Service, Dallas, Tex., was a recent "loop" visitor, en route from Cincinnati, homeward bound. He stated that general business throughout the South was splendid. While in Cincinnati he purchased the entire stock of the erstwhile Unicorn Film Company. Did we all have "some time" at that movie operators' affair December 5? Oh, boy! Oodles of it. F. M. Brockell, the boyish lookin' chap managing the Goldwyn offices, is now ensconced in their new and palatial suite in the College building. W. C. Cook, formerly of the Artcraft sales department, will henceforth be found in the icy Northwest tellin' the exhibs all about the Hoffman-Foursquare films from a managerial standpoint at the Minneapolis branch office. Our best wishes, "Cookie," old scout. M. J. Mintz, manager of the Unity Photoplays Company, slipped into town after a brief New York trip. Watch the local New York train sheds. Looks as though more "Unity winners" are being shipped to blaze the 1918 trail with. I. L. Laserman, manager of the Universal exchange, announces the appointment of Joe Roderick as manager of the serial department. Fred S. Meyer, for the past eight years manager of the Universal office at Minneapolis, has been transferred to the Milwaukee branch. What's the matter, Freddie? Does it look as though Minnesota is going dry? "Billy" Hamburg — you know, the guy w'at makes frames and everythin' — was up to Detroit last week, showing Pal M. S. Bayley how to run the E. A. Hamburg Company branch office, and is now on his way to Broadway to show the natives down there how wonderful he looks with the "little pink carnation" in that $$$$ coat of his. Oh, yes, it's a regular decoration with "boy" now. gathered in this year, just watch those merchant princes of State street sit up and break into smiles as Abe starts reducing that roll. A. Teitel is so busy these days that he's clean forgot to do his Xmas shoppin', and with that bundle of green he's Before we close, have you all seen Ralph Kettering of press agent fame recently? Well, just drop in and congratulate the boy at the J. L. & S. suite in the Rialto Theatre building. It's about five weeks old, and the dearest little mustache you'll see in many a jaunt. Foreign Trade Shows Interest in "The Spy Generally favorable reviews and the reports of big business on "The Spy" are resulting, according to the foreign department of the Fox Film Corporation, in many inquiries being made regarding the picture by exhibitors and agencies in territory outside the United States. Advices from London this week are to the effect that the picture received markedly favorable comment on the occasion of its recent presentation at British trade showings. Interest, of course, is heightened by the fact that experiences paralleling those pictured in the filmstory have been of common occurrence in England during the past three years. Theda Bara to Head Last Fox Production of the Present Year The last publication of the present year from the William Fox offices will be a Theda Bara picture, "Du Barry," which has been announced for initial showing on December 30. This will be the third of the Standard Pictures featuring Miss Bara to be published since September 30. This production, which very closely follows the original stage version, deals with the high lights in the career of a French adventuress, who became the power behind the throne in the court of Louis XV, but who was eventually guillotined. EBONY FILM CORP. CLOSES KENOSHA STUDIO AND OPENS WINTER QUARTERS IN CHICAGO Fresh from their summer activities in Kenosha, Wis., the actors of the Ebony Film Corporation returned to Chicago last week, where winter quarters were established at their studio, 2332 North California avenue. From all indications the stay in Chicago will be a short one, as it is the intention of the officials of the film company to transport the troupe to California shortly after the first of the year. There are, however, a number of interior scenes yet to be taken which will consume about a month's time. Up to date sixteen one and two-reel comedies have been completed by the company. A number of these were projected at a recent public showing held in Wurlitzer's Hall, New York, and some' of the later efforts of the negro artists were seen at a private showing held at the Art Laboratories in East Fortyeighth street. Three of these are reviewed in another section of this magazine. According to L. J. Pollard, a member of the executive committee of the Ebony Film company, the comedies were well received in New York city. They were appreciated not only for their novelty, he said, but for their excellent photography and clean comedy. Motion Picture Expositiorii Grand Central Palace . I > f I NEW YORK CITY iniQ «x / February 2-io.l9lo Under the auspices of -the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry and Motion Picture txhibitors League of Amerka^B^ 44