Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

314 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 7 Big Drive for ''The Son of Democracy" Paramount Sets in Motion One of the Most Pretentious Publicity Campaigns Ever Made in History of the Industry ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE, the famous newspaper and magazine writer, has commenced a novelization in serial form of "The Son of Democracy," based on the Paramount series of the same name, written, directed and produced by Benjamin Chapin. Mr. Terhune's novelization of Mr. Chapin's series of dramatic film stories of America in the making will present a fiction article of 30,000 words which will appear from day to day in the New York Evening World, commencing February 4. This novelization will also be syndicated to other newspapers throughout the country by the New York World Syndicate, which supplies material to a list of thirty-five publications including the Boston Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Press, Buffalo Times, Chicago Journal, Minneapolis Journal, Cleveland News, San Francisco Bulletin, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington Post, Los Angeles Tribune, Salt Lake Telegram, Denver News, New Orleans States, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Ft. Wayne Journal and Gazette, Mobile Item, Tacoma Tribune, Baltimore Nezvs and others. In connection with its publication of the story in serial form, the New York Evening World will conduct an extensive exploitation campaign in which thousands of dollars will be spent boosting "The Son of Democracy." One-sheet posters of the film will be used on delivery wagons, news stands, etc., announcing the story by Mr. Terhune, the publication of which will be tied up with the film, thus creating wide advance publicity for the subject. One of the foremost contributors to newspapers and magazine throughout the country, Albert Payson Terhune is widely popular among the American public. Among his stories which have appeared in the Evening World and its syndicated papers are "Fifty Failures Who Came Back," "Americans Under Fire," "Famous Children of History," "Stories of Great Novels," "The Story of the Presidents," "Stories of the Operas," "Great Love Stories of History," "World's Greatest Events," etc. His stories in the Saturday Evening Post and other national magazines are well remembered. In addition to this, Mr. Terhune has been active in the scenario field, some of his scipts being "Years of the Locust," produced by Famous Players, "Dollars and the Woman," "Happiness of Three Women," etc. Besides the above publicity, a special advertising campaign has already been started on "The Son of Democracy." This drive is aimed particularly at the man, the woman and the child who is not a regular patron of the motion picture theater. Among twenty-two magazines in which advertising copy will appear are The Saturday Evening Post, Literary Digest, The American Boy, The Youth's Companion, The American Club Women, St. Nicholas and the best of the magazines that reach school teachers and other educators. This advertising will be backed with a direct-by-mail campaign to several hundred thousand club women, teachers, librarians, etc., appealing to them to get behind the exhibitor showing "The Son of Democacy" and prove to him that the public does want good pictures and will make them great box office successes. Miss Rose Tapley, special Paramount traveling representative for this series of film, has already started on a tour of the country to address schools, women's clubs, etc. On the whole, the general exploitation drive on these pictures is perhaps one of the most pretentious ever created to pave the way for the exhibitor. The great national publicity which will be accorded this production, the first three installments of which are released in February, together with the direct appeal to prospective patrons now being conducted, is expected to make this a gigantic box office attraction. Fairbanks to Do His Bit in a New Way That Douglas Fairbanks is a very prominent representative of the motion picture industry is evidently the opinion of the United States government, for it has requested the acrobatic actor to prepare a propaganda film for distribution among the men of the army and navy at home and abroad. Major William F. Snow of the Surgeon General's office, in a letter to Mr. Fairbanks, asked: "Will you do this for the United States government as a patriotic contribution? This form of educational work constitutes an important part of the surgeon general's office and of the War Department Commission on Training Camp Activities. Your participation, therefore, would be a valuable and far reaching service. "What we want to put across to the men is the idea that clean living and physical fitness, are, after loyalty and obedience, the prime requisites of the soldier. This picture to be most effective, however, must be intermixed and sugar-coated with unalloyed entertainment." Immediately upon receipt of Major Snow's letter Mr. Fairbanks wired Washington that he is prepared to undertake the suggested film and requested further details. In the meantime Mr. Fairbanks, with his director, Allan Dwan, is at work on a scenario which they will submit for the purpose. Alice Brady in her new World picture, "Spurs of Sybil."