Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

304 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 7 Death Takes Two Prominent Men Leander Richardson of World Films and Joseph Kaufman, Famous Players-Lasky Director, Succumb Few Hours Apart THE deaths of two men prominent in the film industry, Leander Richardson of the World Film Corporation, and Joseph Kaufman, Famous Players-Lasky director, occurred within a few hours of each other, both victims of pneumonia and both after an illness of little more than a week. Mr. Richardson died Saturday morning at his home, 130 West Forty-seventh street, New York City, at the age of sixty-two years. For the last three years he had been publicity director and manager of the World Film Corporation. He had been prominently concerned with theatricals for the greater part of his career. He was born in Cincinnati, and was the son of Albert Dean Richardson, a prominent journalist, later editor of the New York Tribune. On this paper Richardson began his journalistic career. He became a general writer and dramatic critic for several metropolitan newspapers and was later on the staff of various dramatic publications. He is the author of many plays and novels in addition to his newspaper articles and the large amount of publicity which he wrote for the various theatrical stars and companies by whom he was employed. Arrangements for the funeral were made by William A. Brady and the World Film Corporation. Joseph Kaufman died Friday night at the Polyclinic Hospital, New York City, after an illness of about ten days. His death was due to pneumonia, which he contracted while directing the Paramount play, "Let's Get a Divorce," starring Billie Burke. Mr. Kaufman was thirty-five years old. He was born in Russia, but came to America when young. He is survived by his widow, Ethel Clayton, star of many pictures on the World program. Among the pictures which Mr. Kaufman directed were "The Song of Songs," starring Elsie Ferguson, released this week ; "Broadway Jones," which introduced George M. Cohan to the screen ; "The Amazons," with Marguerite Clark, and other features starring Clara Kimball Young and Pauline Frederick. Mr. Kaufman was a member of the Lambs' Club and was a prominent director of the Motion Picture Directors' Association. Two Ince Films This Month During February two Thomas H. Ince productions will be released under the Paramount trade-mark. These subjects will present as stars Dorothy Dalton and Enid Bennett, the popular actresses whose achievements have placed them among the foremost in the eyes of the fans. The Dorothy Dalton vehicle is "FlareUp Sal," by J. G. Hawks. The story is described elsewhere in this issue. Enid Bennett's -new subject is "The Keys of the Righteous," a stirring play of particular dramatic depth in which the charming little star appears in a character unlike anything in which she has appeared before. Jerome Storm, whose recent work has attracted no little attention, directed Miss Bennett in this film under Mr. Ince's personal supervision. The story of "The Keys of the Righteous" is from the pen of C. Gardner Sullivan, the popular motion picture author, and offers one of his most notable accomplishments, it is said. Supporting Miss Bennett is an exceptional cast including Earl Rodney, George Nichols, Joseph Swickard, Carl Forms, Gertrude Claire, Lydia Knott and Melbourne MacDowell. The film will be released February 18. New York Adopts Sales Plan The following has been received by Motography from promoters of the Manufacturer to Exhibitor Direct plan : "At a meeting of the New York Local No. 1, of the M. P. E. L., the Manufacturer to Exhibitor Direct plan, which was approved by the Allied Exhibitors' convention in Washington in December, was presented. I. ,M. Chadwick, Joseph A. Golden, Harry Rapf, Louis L. Levine and Charles C. Pettijohn, presented the details for the consideration of seventy-five exhibitors who were present. "A motion was made and unanimously carried to put the plan into immediate effect in New York City and a committee was appointed by President Manheimer to secure signatures necessary to guarantee New York City's minimum quota. "Quotas now have been guaranteed under this plan for sixteen states and quotas are now organizing to adopt the plan for sixteen other states, New York City and Brooklyn. "Exhibitors' booking units are springing up in all parts of the United States for the purpose of marketing film under this plan. The seven independent producers engaged in this enterprise are receiving many inquiries and great encouragement from exhibitors in every mail." A thrilling moment in "A Woman Between Friends," a Vitagraph Blue-Ribbon feature, starring Alice Joyce and Mark MacDcrmott. Nineteen Fox Directors Now When Edmund Lawrence joined the staff of directors of the Fox Film corporation, it brought the total number of directors up to nineteen. Two others, Edward J. Le Saint and Cscar A. C. Lund, are recent additions. Mr. Lawrence is directing Virginia Pearson in a new war play. Mr. Le Saint is working on the Pacific coast and Mr. Lund is in New Orleans taking scenes of Peggy Hyland's first picture for Fox.