Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1920)

818 Motion Picture 5^1 V« l« ' I Cut from flashlight photograph of a dinner given by Oren F. Woody, Los Angeles manager of Realart Pictures, to Arthur S. Kane on the occasion of the latter's vi«i to the West Coast metropolis Sam Harris Leases Site for Big Theatre A telegram from the Coast conveys the information that Sam Harris of the Ackerman and Harris combine, which owns the Hippodrome vaudeville circuit, has just concluded negotiations for the lease of a piece of high-priced property at Seventh Street and Broadway, Los Angeles, which is to be used as the site of a new theatre and officebuilding estimated to cost two-million dollars. The theatre, which will have a seating capacity of three thousand, is to be devoted exclusively to the showing of motion pictures. It is also reported in the same telegram that S. L. Rothapfel, managingdirector of the California Theatre, Los Angeles, leaves the West shortly for New York. Robert Poole will manage the California house. Coast Banquets Arthur Kane Woody, Los Angeles Realart Manager, Arranges Testimonial; Notables There Fire at Tampa Causes Close-Down of Shows On Tuesday, December 30th, at 4 P. M., fire broke out along the waterfront in Tampa, Fla., which soon had two city blocks blazing like an inferno. Eventually the fire spread to the cable house of the electric power company supplying the city, and Tampa was left in darkness. Candles and lamps were called into service, and some efforts were made to stage vaudeville and picture performances at various local houses. The Prince Theatre, where vaudeville is given in addition to the pictures, Manager McLaughlin was able to find enough candles to light up one corner of the stage, and a show was presented, it is said. After a futile search for lighting equipment, the Sans Souci had to abandon all hopes of staging a performance. The Alcazar, too, where the picture " Everywoman " is being shown, was obliged to close down. Electric lights and street cars remained out of commission until ten in the evening, when connection with the power plant was re-established. OREN FREELAND WOODY, Los Angeles Branch Manager for Realart Pictures Corporation, gave an elaborate dinner recently in the Alexandria Hotel to Arthur S. Kane, the recently retired President of Realart. Mr. Woody gave the dinner as his personal testimonial to a man and friend with whom he has been identified for twelve years. Mr. Kane has arrived on the coast from New York, to renew old acquaintances in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. One of the largest assemblages of representatives of the press, theatres and trade papers ever attending a similar alTair was present at this function. Meredith P. Snyder, Mayor of Los Angeles, and his wife, were among the thirty-five dignitaries present. Mayor Snyder, in his speech, dwelt upon the immense importance of the film industry to this city. No mayor or official of any city has ever accentuated the value of an industry to a municipality more than did the Los Angeles head in crediting the motion picture industry. Mr. Arthur S. Kane, one of the deepest students of film affairs of this era, spoke at length upon his identification with this accepted industry. He told of his creation and formulation of Realart, which Mr. Kane was entirely responsible for. Other speakers were Wm. Desmond Taylor, the Realart Director; Edwin R. Collins, Wesley M. Barr, Henry Dougherty, J. E. Rickards, Leete Brown, Darwin Karr, J. C. Jessen, A. H. Giebler and Fred Miller. Among those present, seen in the accompanying photograph, were (standing, left to right) Jerome Lynch, Los Angeles Record ; Henry Dougherty, Los Angeles Express ; Darwin Karr, Motion Picture Trade Review; Leete Brown, New York Dramatic Mirror; R. H. Giebler, !Motion Picture World; Wesley M. Barr, City Editor, Los Angeles Herald ; Ivan St. John, mayor's secretary; H. H. Hicks, Vitagraph manager; Roy Miller, Miller's Theatre; Edwin R. Collins, Editor Herald; H. L. Massie, Exploitation Realart, and Toastmaster. Seated : Joe. E. Rickards, Phoenix, Ariz., president Rickards and Nace Amusement Company; J. C. Jessen, Motion Picture News; Mrs. Henry Dougherty, Mrs. M. P. Snyder, Mayor Meredith P. Snyder, Mrs. Charlotte Shelby, Mary Miles Minter's mother; Arthur S. Kane, Film Wizard; Fred Miller, Miller's Theatre; Mrs. Edwin P. Collins, George E. Periolat, Margaret Shelby, Mary Miles Minter's sis ter ; axfield Stanley, William Desmond Taylor, director; Grace Kingsley, Dramatic Editor Times ; Reed Huestis, writer, Los Angeles Herald; Mary E. Smith, Realart bookkeeper; Joseph England, Realart booker; Mrs. George W. Slater, George W. Slater, Realart salesman ; Oren F. Woody, Realart manager; Margaret Ettinger, N. Y. M. Telegraph; Randolph Bartlett, Editor Photo Play Magazine. J. Gordon Cooper to Direct Leonard J. Gordon Cooper has signed with Hallmark to direct Benny Leonard in a serial to commence upon his completion of the William J. FljTin stories which he is now making for the Oliver Film Co. Mr. Cooper is about the youngest director in the business but comes from a motion picture family, he being the brother of Miriam Cooper. Another Million-Dol Corporation {Conlinued from page 817) a favorite with theatre-goers in presentation of the smart countrjand the Irvin Cobb story entitlec Smart Aleck" which will be his picture, is said to suit him remarl well. "I am glad to go before the cai with the assurance that my pic will be given the best of direct and photographic aid," Sale said i he started West on his farewell ve ville tour over the Orpheum Ci which precedes his trip to the ( for the first step in his new v "The stage has given me every ar and financial return of which capable, but I realize that the m picture will open to me new and i broader fields. I know that wit! Exceptional Pictures Corporatic shall have everj' support to mak' productions a success and I am ( dent they will go over. I am pai larly delighted with the selection Smart Aleck' as the first." In speaking of the formation of thi company, an official of Robertson-Cole " The same care was taken to assure selves of the intention of the Excep Pictures Corporation to produce onl best that we hare taken in investigatir work of every producing company alliec us. In this case we find a group o who have e.xactly our own idea of pic that the public will immediately suppo meritorious, and will immediately mari disapproval the trashy and worthless uct. " We are of one accord and expe< most harmonious and pleasant relation: only two contracts which Exceptions tures have so far announced foreshadc gressiveness and a desire for the mos tentious pictures on the part of ou: ally. Having obtained these attractii the high prices they must of a necessit; cost, one cannot conceive of anythinj the most intelligent and careful use made of them." ^ The earliest reviews « all productions : Page 9( j CJ The latest booking —Page 838.