Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1915)

66 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 12. No. 4. Life of Kalem Serial Is Governed by Its Quality "Hazards of Helen" Railroad Series, Begun in According to Public Taste Gauged in OW long should a series run?" is "H PAULINE FREDERICK IN Players) "SOLD" (Famous a question which has evoked considerable discussion in the past and which is sure to pester the producer who has a series up his sleeve. As a matter of fact, there is no reason why a series should last for only fifteen episodes, or whatever number is decided upon, if it possesses the one great essential picture quality. Kalem's "Hazards of Helen" railroad series is an example of what quality will do for a series. Motion picture series have come and gone, since this form of story was introduced some years ago. Many ran their courses and with the issuance of the final episode, sank into oblivion. The "Hazards of Helen" railroad series, however, like Tennyson's brook, seems likely to run on forever. Although the first episode was released in Novem Select Film Furnishes Striking Paper for "Alien" Company Brings Out Two Styles of One, Three and Six Sheets, Window Cards, Folders and Other Advertising Matter of Unique Design Pittsburg, Pa., 37 South Wabash avenue, Chicago, 111., and 532 Walnut street, Cincinnati, Ohio; Casino Feature Film Co., Dime Bank building, Detroit, Mich. ; Kansas City Feature Film Company, Gayety Theatre building, Twelfth and Wyandotte streets, Kansas City, Mo. ; Famous Star Feature Film Service, Produce Exchange building, 608 First avenue, N., Minneapolis, Minn. ; Notable Features Film Company, 133 East Second South street, Salt Lake City, Utah, and 1749 Welton street, Denver, Colo. ; Progressive Motion Picture Company, 645 Pacific building, San Francisco, Cal. ; Central building, Seattle, Wash., and Marsh-Strong building, Los Angeles, Cal. RARELY are as many publicity and advertising helps furnished to the exhibitor with a film as in the case of "An Alien," in which George Beban appeared so successfully at the Astor theatre, New York. The Select Film Booking Agency has almost broken records in such matters. Two styles of one, three and six sheets, and an especially striking 24 sheet are included in the list of "paper." Window cards, folders, a beautiful advertising novelty— a fan in the form of an American Beauty rose, a special press sheet, large hand-colored photographs and an oil painting for lobby display have also been made up for the exhibitor. "An Alien" has been described by the New York papers as "A play that makes dimples to catch the tears." It is an adaptation of "The Sign of the Rose," produced by Thomas H. Ince with an excellent cast including, beside Mr. Beban, Andrea Lynne, Heyward Ginn, Blanche Schwed, Thelma Salter, W. J. Kane, Edith MacBride and others. After five big weeks at the Astor theatre, New York, it has now been released in the territories covered by the list of Paramount exchanges given below, and is playing with great success at the largest and most important theatres throughout the country, where its powerful appeal is responsible for its ever growing popularity. The exchanges through which "An Alien" may be booked are : Famous Players Film Company of New England, 31 Beach street, Boston, Mass., and 19 Congress street, New Haven, Conn. ; William L. Sherry Feature Film Company, 126 West Forty-sixth street, New York; Famous Players Exchange, 71 West Twentythird street, New York, and 1321 Vine street, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Famous Players Exchange, Second National Bank building, Washington, D. C. ; Famous Players Film Service, Inc., Paramount Pictures building, Pennsylvania avenue, at Twelfth street, SCREEN VERSION OF "DESTINY" WILL APPEAR BEFORE "LEGIT" VERSION "Destiny" is the title of a new play, by Anthony P. Kelley, secured for the Metro program. The B. A. Rolfe Company will make the screen production. It is an allegorical study. "Destiny" is an original play that has never been staged. Its screen presentation will mark one of the very few instances where an original play has been utilized for moving pictures before being produced on the regular dramatic stage. Emily Stevens will be seen in the leading role. This production will mark her second appearance under Metro auspices. Her last engagement was in the Rolfe production of "Cora." "Destiny" will be a Metro release for September. EDWIN STEVENS IS CAST FOR SCREEN DEBUT ON AUGUST 15 Commencing about August 15, Edwin Stevens, "the devil" of the legitimate stage, will start his screen debut in "The Crime Syndicate," a five-reel drama by Raymond L. Schrock and Hugh Weir, both well-known playwrights. John Adolfi will direct the piece. 1914 and Released Weekly Ever Since, Will, Exhibitors' Letters, Run Indefinitely ber, 1914, and the succeeding episodes at weekly intervals, it is actually increasing its hold upon the public. As an example of what the average exhibitor thinks of this Kalem railroad series, here is a letter which was written by Thomas M. Thatcher, of the Gem theatre, Somerset, Kentucky. As an exhibitor of fifteen years' experience, Mr. Thatcher is well qualified to pass upon the merits of a production. He wrote: "Please permit me to add a testimonial to the excellence of the wonderful series you are giving to the public in the 'Hazards of Helen' railroad series. There has never been anything like them for genuine thrills and hairbreadth escapes. My patrons wait with keenest anticipation for the next episodes. "Aside from Miss Holmes' daring, these films possess an educational value for the thousands of people who are unacquainted with the thrills of modern railroading. For the past fifteen years I have exhibited almost every class of picture that has been filmed, but your railroad series possesses a fascination for me that is simply indescribable." According to Kalem, the same mail brought a letter from William Hilkemeier, of the Jefferson Photo Show company, Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Hilkemeier, who is just as enthusiastic as the Kentucky exhibitor, wrote: "I want to congratulate you on the 'Flazards of Helen' railroad series. I think they have any so-called feature serial ever made beaten a mile. We're not forced to pay a sandbag price on it, either. I honestly believe the series could last for years. The episodes are short, sweet — and make the patrons come back for more." All of which would prove that if a series possesses quality it can run indefinitely. At any rate, this seems to be the experience of the Kalem series. TOM HOLDING (Famous Players)