Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1917 - Jun 1918)

X H B O R H R D but a place in the Liberty Army is the opportunity of a life time. Our old pal Salter allows he's got the whole north side sewed up tight on the new serial, "Woman in the Web," to which he has been devoting all his energies for some little time. "And I didn't have to work Saturday afternoons, either," he adds. Sterling System Gets "Natural Law" Film Charles H. France, producer and director of "The Natural Law," the play picturized immediately after its tour of the first-class theatres with the same cast that played at the Republic Theatre, New York, for eight months, has decided that the "Sterling System" qffers the best means of country-wide distribution as well as the most equitable arrangement for the independent men of each territory. After several talks with Arthur F. Beck, president of the "Sterling System," Mr. France concluded to place all his future productions with the Sterling Pictures Corporation. Mr. France had several conferences with prominent independent exchangemen of the country, and they have placed their approval on the deal just closed between Mr. France and the Sterling Pictures Corporation. Allan Rock Forms Press Service Bureau Allan Rock, for five years with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, has severed his connections with that concern and organized the Press Service Bureau with offices at the Knickerbocker Theatre building, New York. Mr. Rock's knowledge of the most effective methods of exploiting films, gained through his years of practical experience with the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Co., Paramount Pictures Corporation and finally the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, combined with his new connections, should prove of great value to theatrical and motion picture producers seeking to utilize every possible medium for publicity. The Press Service Bureau offers to film and theatrical publicity representatives a new field of operation through its extensive newspaper affiliations. The staff includes experienced motion picture and theatrical advertising men as well as copy-writers and artists. Case Russell Writes Play for Kitty Gordon L. Case Russell, who has written many of the big successes in which Madame Petrova has starred, has just written a story for World Pictures in which Kitty Gordon will star. This story bears the attractive title of "Merely Players," and it will shortly be placed in work by World Pictures. It will be published on the regular World program during the coming summer. A BIG SCENE FROM "THE KAISER' RUPERT JULIAN, AS THE KAISER, IN THE FAMOUS "SCRAP OF PAPER" INCIDENT™ AS PICTURED IN THE JEWEL PRODUCTION FRANCIS FORD TO MAKE NEXT PICTURE IN HIS OWN STUDIO ON WEST COAST Fordart Company Will Maintain Offices in New York Cit; As Distribution Point — Will Be Able to Produce With Free Hand "Berlin via America," Francis Ford's first independent production, being finished and plans for its distribution well under way, Mr. Ford is preparing to leave for the West with his company. They expect to arrive in Los Angeles about April 15 where Mr. Ford intends to build a studio and make his permanent headquarters for production. The New York office will look after his interests in the East and take charge of the distribution of all the products of his studios so that Mr. Ford may give his undivided attention to the making of pictures. "It has always been my ambition to make pictures independently," said Mr. Ford," because the innumerable expressions of opinion I have received from fans, and they are the ultimate judges, make me feel that I know what they want. Now that my opportunity has come and I can produce with a free hand, T shall strive to make what they want. And, not the least important, it is that type of picture that is bringing the greatest benefit to the exhibitor. "To do just that the first and foremost duty of the producer is to get a story that is a story. That is one of the fundamental principles upon which I will base my work." Preparations are being rapidly completed for. the trip to the coast. On their way out it is the intention to take scenes at the principal points of interest which will be incorporated in the second Fordart Production which has already been 40 decided on. With the company will t Francis Ford and Edna Emerson, lead: Elsie Van Name, scenario writer, camei W"" man, and a company of extras and tf working staff. Blind Organist Prepares Music for "Eagle's Eye Walter Goetzinger, organist at tl Bijou Theatre, La Crosse, Wis., wide, known because he is blind and therefo unable to read music, is preparing a sp cial musical score for the opening > "The Eagle's Eye" at the Bijou on Api 10. Much attention has been attract! to him because of a peculiar "pictu: sense" in a film he has never been to about. Goetzinger declares that the "feel" the audience tells him the action of picture while it is being shown on tl screen. He has proved that there is son way or other in which he can folio the action without being able to see, 1 changing the tempo of his incident music simultaneously with a change scene in film he has never been to about. He was at the exhibitors showing the first three episodes of the serial ai "vincd a prpat nte-e^ in the nictm He had a friend tell him the detail story of the episodes, and then receiv from the Foursquare Exchange a sche ule of the footage on the various seem He is timing his music to agree with t footage and practically the entire sco will be his original composition.