Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

February 16, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 333 ern mansion during a raid by guerrillas. The balance of the story is brought up to date and dwells upon a heritage of hate and passion that the Civil War incident brought to generations that followed. A ruthless raider of the war period, now an old man bent and decrepit, is compelled to see in his progeny the results of the extremes that his wild nature brought about. Action, quick-moving incidents and thrilling heart-interest that holds and sways, characterizes the story from start to finish. The Sterling Pictures Corporation announces that it will be sold to the independent exchanges of the United States "along the usual lines of the Sterling System" and that already responses have been made that indicate quick sales. Sales by W. H. Productions The W. H. Productions Company announces the following sales : The rights to William S. Hart as "The Two-Gun Man" in "The Bargain," six reels, to McMahon & Jackson, Cincinnati, for Kentucky. The rights to William S. Hart in "The Bandit and the Preacher," five reels, to McMahon & Jackson, Cincinnati, for Kentucky. The rights to William S. Hart in "The Hell Hound of Alaska " five reels, to McMahon & Jackson, Cincinnati, for Kentucky. The rights to twenty-eight W. H. Productions Company two-reel Keystone Comedies, to the Greater Features Company, Seattle, for Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. The rights of the same comedies to McMahon & Jackson, Cincinnati, for Ohio and K entucky. Finds Coast Business Good William Steiner, head of the Jester Comedy Company, who is now on the Pacific Coast giving screenings of the first two Jester comedies, "The Recruits" and "His Golden Romance," sends in encouraging reports of conditions up and down the Pacific. He writes that "the cry of inactivity on the part of the film producers has evidently been started by a few of the new comers in the field who are having a hard time of it." All the regulars are busy as bees, he says, and hard at work on some wonderful productions for spring release. The exhibitors in this territory are in a flourishing state, Mr. Steiner asserts, and are using the best that the market affords. Mr. Steiner has been successful on his tour. He has signed up for nearly all the territory from New York State to the Coast, and is now planning an invasion of the South. New Form of "Close-Up" The Whartons displayed a new feature in photography at the recent trade showing of "The Eagle's Eye" at the Strand Theater, New York City, in what they described as "the triple iris" — three diaphragms opening at once and disclosing three characters and then fading and showing a scene in which these characters appear in action. Now The Whartons announce a new form of "close-up" which will be made a feature of the photography of a later episode in "The Eagle's Eye." It is said that this new form of "close-up" will revolutionize the manner of making and give them more power in expression, more dramatic strength and more purpose. The innovation was originated by "Ted" Wharton, who is closely guarding his method. He believes it a new idea of great value and until it has actually been presented in "The Eagle's Eye," only the head of the Wharton photographic department and himself will know how the effect is attained. Mr. Wharton also has another new effect which will be shown in one of the final episodes. "Public Defender" Sales Renowned Pictures Corporation announces the following sales on Harry Raver's production of Mayer Goldman's book, "The Public Defender" : New York State— Walter E. Greene for Modern Feature Film Company. New England — Hiram Abrams, for Boston Photoplay Company. California, Arizona and Nevada — Turner and Dahnken, franchise holders in the First National Exhibitors' circuit. Illinois and Indiana — DollVan Company. Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota — Thomas Hamlin. Canada — Independent Film and Theater Supply Company, Montreal. Stellar roles in this production are taken by Robert Edeson, Frank Keenan and Alma Hanlon. Open Branch Office The Specialty Film Company of San Antonio, which has obtained the rights to the two W. H. Productions Company superfeature productions, "The Bandit and the Preacher" and "The Hell Hound of Alaska," and twenty-eight two-reel Mack Sennett Comedies for Texas and Arkansas, has established a branch office at Dallas to exploit these productions. W. G. Underwood will be in charge of the exchange. He says he sees vast possibilities and earning powers in the Hart Features. Though the pictures have not been released, the company now has more than $10,000 worth of bona fide contracts. New Jester Sales The following new sales on Jester Comedies have been reported : For Northern Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Alaska — A. Rosenthal, Seattle. For Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah and Southern Idaho — Swanson-Nolan Supply Co., Denver. For California — The Western F. F. Co., San Francisco. Only southern territory is open now. Shipman Announces Sales Ernest Shipman of New York announces the following sales on "Shorty Hamilton" : New York City and state, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and other southern territory. Mr. Shipman has just returned to his offices after being ill for two weeks at his home. Thomas Dixon, Jr., noted author, who has just signed with the Mastercraft Photoplays for the reproduction of all his future works. Re-enters Exchange Business Ben Title, proprietor of the T. N. F. Theater, Flatbush, Brooklyn, and formerly of the Imperial Film Exchange, has gone back into the exchange business. He has opened offices at 220 West Forty-second Street, New York City, and will handle Jester comedies for the state of New York.