The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

February 7, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 895 Film Rights for World's Championship Wrestling Match Secured by Pioneer Chicago House Books Dooley Film. The Johnny Dooley Comedies will make their appearance in Chicago at the State Lake Theatre. Through arrangements made with Matthias Radin, president of Tyrad Pictures, during his recent stop in that city, the management of this theatre has contracted for the entire series of twelve subjects to be released during the year at regular monthly intervals. Johnny Dooley will probably make a personal appearance at the premiere of the first release of "Some Mind Reader." Heavy Bookings Reported on "$1,000,000 Reward" ENTHUSIASTIC reports of business done by the serial "$1,000,000 Reward," starring Lillian Walker, are reaching the offices of Grossman Pictures from exchanges. In territories where the serial has opened, reports indicate that house records were broken, while from those sections of the country where the serial has not yet opened, the reports are that very heavy bookings are being obtained. Aywon Film Corporation, controlling Greater New York, advises that bookings have been made on a large scale and that the serial, now being shown, is meeting with great popularity. A sirnilar report comes from Herman Rifkin, of the Eastern Film Corporation, controlling New England. In Illinois and Indiana, booked by Celebrated Players Film Corporation of Chicago, similar results were obtained. The opening in Canada, booked by Regal Films, Ltd., was a big success both in Toronto and Montreal. A large portion of foreign territory has already been disposed of by Export and Import Film Corporation, foreign distributors, while negotiations are under way for the open territory. Francis McDonald to Star in National Film Feature FRANCIS MCDONALD, who stepped into stardom through his work with Henry Walthall in "The Confession," with the National Film Corporation of America, and who was one of the stars in the National's last 1919 production, "Hearts and Masks," will be the central figure in the first of the National's "America First" series of photoplay features, adapted from magazine stories and novelettes. McDonald is now engaged with William Seiter in producing "The Kentucky Colonel" for the National. He will begin on the new series as soon as that production is concluded, which will be about February 20. Arro-w Gets Twelve "Tex" Features. Since publication of article appearing on page 592 of our issue of January 24, regarding the Capital Film Company securing rights to William Steiner's twelve five-reel detective pictures entitled "Tex, Elucidator of Mysteries," we have been advised by Mr. Steiner that the negotiations with that company were not successfully concluded, and that the world rights to this series of pictures have been secured by the Arrow Film Corporation. EXCLUSIVE motion picture rights for an unusually big sporting event and one that is attracting widespread attention have been secured by the Pioneer Film Corporation. This is the wrestling match to be held at Madison Square Garden, Friday, January 30, between Joe Stecher and Earl Caddock for the world's championship belt. At a luncheon on Friday the twentythird, given to the challenger. Earl Caddock, by Jack Curley, at the Hotel Claridge, which was attended by the sport writers of the big New York newspapers and representative of the motion picture trade press, Morris Rose, president of Pioneer, offered $30,000 for the picture rights. Contracts were signed later in the day, and arrangements completed for taking the pictures. A special staff of photographers under Jack Cohn will have charge of the work, and it is expected that the pictures will be ready for showing six hours after the contest. Pioneer will handle the pictures through its ofifices in New York, Buffalo, i Pioneer Will Film 'Em Jofr Stecher and Earl Caddock, film right to whose title wrestling bout have been secured by Pioneer. Cleveland and Detroit. Other territories will be handled on state rights and by means of direct bookings. This match is receiving a great deal of publicity, newspapers in all parts of the country devoting much space in their sporting columns. Jack Sherrill Jumps from Airplane in Serial Scene WHAT is promised to be an unusually sensational aviation feat will be shown in one of the episodes of "The Invisible Ray," the fifteen episode serial produced by the Frohman Amusement Corporation, in which Ruth Clifford and Jack Sherrill are co-starring. The scenario calls for the hero, impersonated by Jack Sherrill, to jump from a speeding aeroplane and land in the water, and then to swim to a boat and rescue the heroine. The company went to Jacksonville, Fla., to "shoot" this particular scene because the St. John's River furnished excellent atmosphere. Sherrill climbed in to the plane which was operated by an expert pilot who had been in government service, and they headed off toward the St. John River. As soon as the plane appeared the cameras beganclicking and at a signal the pilot guided his machine to a lower level. Sherrill climbed out on the wing and when at a point about fifty feet up, and almost directly over the little river craft he leaped from the speeding plane into the river. The whole scene went off without a hitch and when projected on the screen should give a real thrill. Kremer Back in New York After Completing Deals VICTOR KREMER, president of Victor Kremer Film Features, Inc., returned to New York this week, after a trip throughout the exchange centers of the United States and Canada, during which he disposed of many territories. The latest buyer is Herman Rifkin, of the Eastern Feature Film Company, Boston, who has purchased for New England "A Burlesque on Carmen," "The Champion," "The Jitney Elopement," "Work" and "By the Sea," and intends giving these Chaplins a wide exploitation campaign before the release of the first picture, which will be "Carmen." He will present the short length subjects as a series. Mr. Kremer also reports the sale of the five Chaplins for Michigan to the Independent Masterfilms, Inc., of Detroit, and Ohio to Essenel Productions, De Luxe, of Cleveland, for the four short length Chaplins. Mr. Kremer announces he has acquired "Skinner's Dress Suit," starring Bryant Washburn. An entirely new edition of advertising supplies will be issued for this picture and the marketing of same on state right basis will begin shortly. Mr. Kremer has found the Chaplin reissues which he controls meeting with extraordinary success in the various territories. "A Burlesque on Carmen" has been playing to big audiences in Chicago at the Rialto Theatre, while elaborate preparations are bemg made in Detroit to present "Carmen" at one of the leading theatres in conjunction with a chorus of dancing girls and several specialties. Mr. Kremer will leave for another trip to the various exchanges within the next two weeks. Pennsylvania Likes "Lord Helpus." The Standard Film Exchange of Pittsburg-h, Pa., who control the rights in that territory to "Lord Helpus," the one-reel Charlie Chaplin special being released now on the state rights market by Tower Film Corporation, and formerly entitled "Cruel, Cruel Love," report that this special single reeler is proving a success in that territory. Song for "The Sacred Flame." In addition to the other exhibitors' aids prepared to help in the exploitation of "The Sacred Flame," starring Emily Stevens, the Schomer-Ross Productions, Inc., announce a song of the same title has been written by Will R. Haskins, and is being published by a prominent New York music house.