The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

898 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 7, 1920 inished business in any of their eighteen houses. On the contrary, business had been increasing. He also referred to the fact that patrons had often expressed their astonishment, long before the raise took efifect, that such excellent programs could be given for so little. He also stated that exhibitors fully realize that it is necessary to increase the prices of admission, in order to maintain the high standard of production demanded, and assured me that the presentations at all the Ascher houses had been raised to a higher plane. A strict rehearsal of appropriate accompanying music is given in advance at each house, for every change of program, and strict attention is paid to providing the necessary stage atmosphere for each picture. Capital's New Executive Plans Increased Output THE new year ushered in stirring times for the Capital Film Company, Inc., as it has been steadily forging ahead until it has now reached a secure place as a successful producing and distributing organization. In keeping with the rapid growth of its business development there has been a new and important alignment of the executive heads of the corporation. At a recent meeting of the board of directors B. Herbert Milligan, of Chicago, was elected treasurer and executive head of the company and also a member of the board. Mr. Milligan is a successful business man and president of a well known financial concern of Chicago. He has had previous acquaintance with the moving picture business, having taken over, in partnership with his brother, the well known Kalem studios. He brings to the Capital Film Company high efficiency as an organizer and the prestige and wisdom of an able business man. Forei^ Business Growing. Mr. Milligan will apply his successful commercial principles to the rapidly expanding business of the Capital, not only in the financial end but also in extending its chain of exchanges in the United States and Canada. The demand for Capital's special features has become so insistent that Mr. Milligan intends increasing the producing force from four to six companies. Mr. Milligan is giving special attention just now to the maintenance and extension of Capital's European business, which has grown so rapidly, in the United Kingdom especially, that immediate steps will be taken to meet the demand. Lilt« all successful business men, Mr. Milligan is an ardent believer in adTertising of the right kind. He announces that he will support Capital's ■exchanges and selling agents with a strong, comprehensive publicity campaign, during which the merits of Capital's super-special features especially will be brought forward. Sladdin to Publicize Goldwyn. S. G. Sladdin, who is well known in the advertising and publicity film world, recently arrived in Chicago in the publicity interests of Goldwyn. He will have his office at the Chicago headquarters, with Manager I. Van Ronkel. Mr. Sladdin was in Boston for the past four months, organizing the advertising, publicity and exploitation departments for Goldwyn, in all of the New England States. He expects to remain in Chicago for some time. Pat Dowling on Tour of Christie Comedy Centers PAT DOWLING, who has charge of publicity for Christie comedies, made a pleasant call at the Chicago office Monday, January 19. He was on his way from Los Angeles to New York, making a tour of all Christie exchanges, including Denver, Omaha, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston and New York. From this point he went on to Canton, Ohio, where his wife and relatives live. He spent a few days there and stopped over at Cleveland on his way to the metropolis. All the cities mentioned will be visited by him before he returns to Los Angeles. Mr. Dowling stated that Christie tworeel comedies are in great demand just now. His company makes one two-reel comedy a month and a one-reel comedy every week. Work is now being started on the first of a two-reel series, entitled "Bringing Up Father," which is being made for the International Film Company and to be released by Pathe as Pathe comedies. This series, twelve in number, will be made at the rate of one a month, and the first release will be made Monday, March 1. Christies Strong in Chicago. Mr. Dowling informed me that Christie comedies are going better in Chicago territory than in any other district in the country, although the demand for them is general. Four first run houses here played Christie comedies during the week of January 19; namely, the Randolph, Rose, Playhouse and Orpheum. J. L. Friedman, president of Celebrated Players, has all the rights to these comedies in ten Middle Western States. First National handles the Christie comedies in New York City and state. Mr. Dowling will return to Los Angeles about February 15. Operators in Moir Houses Are Called Out on Strike THE Rose and Alcazar theatres, on West Madison street, and the Boston Theatre, on Clark street, were closed at 6 o'clock Tuesday evening, January 20, when Thomas E. Maloy, business agent of Local 110, I. A. T. S. E., M. P. O., called out the operators. This action followed the refusal of William Hewins, secretary of Harry C. Moir, owner of the three houses, to increase the wages of the moving picture operator in the Terrace garden of the Morrison hotel, also owned by Mr. Moir. Business Agent Maloy, in stating his side of the case, says Mr. Moir's secretary told him that they could do without moving pictures in the Terrace garden and that he could take the operator out. He replied that Mr. Moir would have to do without the operators in his three theatres also. The operators, therefore, were called out at the hour mentioned and the patrons of the theatres received their money back at the box offices. Mr. Moir states that he had decided to dispense with moving pictures in the Terrace garden, but that Maloy told him he must hire two operators instead of one, at a cost of $60 a week each. Mr. Moir then said he would keep the three theatres closed rather than submit. Business Agent Maloy, however, announces that Mr. Moir, on Wednesday night, agreed to employ two operators at the Terrace garden, six hours daily, and pay each of them $50 a week. "In Old Kentucky" Given Fine Chicago Exploitation IN OLD KENTUCKY," which made record breaking runs of two weeks at the Playhouse and the Randolph, this city, has had able exploitation work done by Leon Victor, exploitation representative for Louis B. Slayer; Walter L. Hill, in charge of publicity and exploitation for Chicago's First National exchange, and Ralph Kettering, publicity manager for the Jones, Linick & Schaefer enterprises. Excellent publicity in the daily papers, attractive window displays in State Street music houses — where the entire stock on hand of Anita Stewart's song, "In Old Kentucky," has been sold out; the striking and attractive front of the Randolph, etc., have served to catch the eyes of many thousands. At the first night's showing in the Playhouse numerous members of the Chicago Southern Club were present on invitation, as were also many prominent persons in civic and club circles, and the house has been taxed daily to accommodate patrons. The Randolph, with its larger seating capacity, has also shown to fine business. "Do the Dead Talk?" Has Week's Run at Ziegfeld A UNIQUE six-reel feature produced by the Ebony Film Corporaof Chicago, "Do the Dead Talk?" was shown at the Ziegfeld during the week beginning Sunday, January 18, and created considerable interest. The Merit Film Exchange, owned by D. Padorr, is handling the picture in Chicago and tributary territory. Mr. Padorr reports quite an interest in the picture by several important Chicago exhibitors and that indications point to good business here. It is the purpose of the Ebony Film Corporation to handle this picture on the stale rights basis; but up to the present time no eflFort has been made to close any territory except that of Chicago and the subsidiary field. The picture will be shown in New York within the coming two weeks. Alice Howell Comedies Sell Well. The Cropper Distributing Corporation, which controls the world rights to Alice Howell pictures, produced by the Emerald Motion Picture Company, of Chicago, reports that the rights for "Distilled Love" and "His Wooden Legacy," the first two of the twenty-six two-reel comedies contracted for, are selling rapidly. D. J. Ghatkin, secretary of the Consolidated Film Corporation of San Francisco and Los Angeles, has just closed a contract for the entire twe«ty-six pictures. He wrote a letter to Mr. Cropper congratulating him on the high standard of the first Alice Howell release, both in story and production.