Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

February 23, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 387 Latest News of Chicago DETAILS of the Manufacturer to Exhibitor Direct Sales plan were explained to members of the Chicago Theater Owners' Association last week by C. C. Pettijohn, Harry Rapf and Frank J. Rembusch, national organizer of the American Exhibitors' Association. The promoters of the new plan screened "Passing of the Third Floor Back," the latest release of Herbert Brenon, one of the pictures they have obtained for weekly distribution. "These pictures are available to exhibitors whether large or small at prices so reasonable that not a single man should fail to book them," said Mr. Pettijohn in the course of his talk. * * * Of interest to his many friends in the film business will be the announcement that Edwin Silverman will hereafter be associated with Select Pictures. Mr. Silverman is one of the best known and most youthful men in the Chicago film world, and earned for himself an enviable reputation while with the Universal Film Company at the head of Butterfly Pictures, and before that while with the V. L. S. E., under the I. Van Ronkel regime. * * * Several one reel subjects being made in the interest of the Anti-Cigarette League of America, whose superintendent. Miss Lucy Page Gaston, is now conducting a campaign for 1,000,000 members, will be distributed through the Unity Photoplays Company. The films it is said, will have enough story interest, to make them worth showing even if they have no value as reform propaganda. * * * At least two theaters had to close because of Chicago's fuel famine. The Temple at Lincoln and Belmont avenue, of which Louis Gumbiner is owner and Charles W. Cadwallader, manager, was one. It closed for a week. The other was the Clark at Clark street and Wilson avenue, which shut down four days. J. W. Brett is owner of the Clark. * * * Norma Talmadge in "Ghosts of Yesterday" is smashing all records for the Select office. Booked for a week at the Bijou, it proved such a good box office attraction that Bijou postponed its next feature and held "Ghosts of Yesterday" over for a second week. Harry Weiss of the Central Film Company departed from Chicago this week for another swing through Illinois. The object of his present trip is to exploit "The Fall of the Romanoffs," a First National Exhibitors' release for which the Central Film Company has the Illinois rights. Mr. Weiss also will visit Indiana on other matters. •fr * + Celebrated Players has obtained "The Thirteenth Labor of Hercules" for Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The film already is enjoying successful runs at the Rose, Boston and Alcazar loop houses, and the twenty-one theaters on the Ascher Bros, and Lubliner & Trinz circuits. * * * Louis B. Goulden of Celebrated Players has just returned from a five weeks' trip through Illinois, booking Christie comedies and features. Out of eight theaters in Rock Island five were running Christie comedies a week or so ago, Mr. Goulden reports. * * * A. R. Nelson has been appointed Wisconsin representative of the Central Film Company. He has established headquarters at Milwaukee. Mr. Nelson comes to Central Film from the local sales force of Select. * * * A. Friedman, manager of the Palace theater at Racine, Wis., disclosed during a visit to the Paramount office that he ,.^^Sfe 4 V ■ 1 1 i jf i ^ Katherine MacDonald, Douglas Fairbanks' new leading lady. will read a paper before the Rotary club of Racine on "The Motion Picture Industry." Julius Bernheim, formerly manager of the Universal exchange at Minneapolis, is now connected with the sales force of the Chicago Universal exchange. * * + Joe Kallison, formerly of Vitagraph and more recently of Paramount, is now booker at the Celebrated Players Filmi Co. and is busier than ever meeting his friends and lining them up with Christies and specials. * * * Charles Schaver again is manager of the Dearborn theater, 41 West Division street. He has been away from the house for two years. Many old patrons told him they were glad to see him back. * * * Frank J. Rembusch, national organizer of the American Exhibitors' association, is getting to be a steady caller in Chicago. He has been in the city twice now in two weeks. + + + Bessie Love, Pathe star, delighted the Pathe forces by calling at the offices last week during a stopoff enroute to the coast. * * + Leonard G. Rover, proprietor and manager of the Family theater at Dixon, 111., was one of the callers at the Paramount office last week. * * * Johnny S. Mednikow, former manager of the independence theater and city salesman of Universal, is now one of the Celebrated Players city men. * * * L. A. Bernstein, owner of the Lyric and Star theaters at Lincoln, 111., was a caller at the Paramount offices last week. Ed Saiter of Celebrated Players is out in Indiana hustling up business and, according to contracts, he is sure on the run. * * * Sidney E. Abel, special representative of Select, spent a week in Chicago boosting the exhibition of Select's star features. * * * The Fitzpatrick-McElroy Company, Inc., which controls and operates several theaters in the middle west, has opened a new theater in Cadillac, Mich.