The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

930 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 7, 1920 Vitagraph s New Exchange Building in Dallas Represents $250,000 Outlay THE contract for the Vitagraph Building in Dallas was let and construction has already been started. The cost of this new block in the business section of Dallas will approximate $250,000. The structure will be of brick and marble, two stories in height and will cover a space of 50 by 100 feet. Big increase in Vitagraph's business has made necessary either new quarters or greatly enlarged old quarters in nearly every one of their exchange cities. Vitagraph's business of today in several of its branch offices is more than three times what it was a year ago. Reports compiled for the week ending January 3 showed that Vitagraph pictures were exhibited in 9,740 theatres in the country during that week and 672 theatres in the Dominion of Canada. The exchange is expected to be ready for occupancy in March. The building will be located on Commerce street, between St. Paul and Bryan streets, almost directly across the street from the exchange's present quarters. The main structure will be of reinforced concrete throughout. The ground floor front will present a decorative exterior of plate glass and ornamental marble. The second story and side walls are to be of pressed irick. Has Big Projection Room. The structure will have hot water heating system and a sprinkler system. Several spacious fireproof vaults are to be built on each floor. On the second floor there will be a projection room, 15 by 30 feet in size. The new quarters in Seattle also make up a part of the chapter of broad expansion in the company's distributing aflairs. The new Seattle quarters will take the place of a structure which was itself a specially built film exchange. The old quarters were long regarded as among the most modern used in the West for film exchange purposes. The last six-month period has been an unusually intensive one in Vitagraph's construction and enlarging era. During this period Vitagraph opened new branches at many points and greatly enlarged several of its old exchanges. New branches were established at Albany and Buffalo. Moves to larger quarters were made in Philadelphia. At Washington an extensive enlargement was made of the old structure on Eleventh street. A notable feature of Vitagraph's elaborate branch at Denver is the projection room for the use of exhibitors. New Orleans Branch Expands. Vitagraph's New Orleans branch recently moved from the old building on Carondelet street to a newer and larger three-story building at 420 Camp street. \'itagraph's Kansas City force moves to i's new office this week. Its new space is more than three times that of the old Vitagraph exchange building in that city. Vitagraph's progress has been speedier than the discovery of new buildings to house all of its new branches, and negotiations are now under way for new buildings in Chicago, Cleveland, Omaha and a few smaller exchange centers. Fawcett Directs Dorothy Gish. George Fawcett, one of the most popular actors of the stage and screen, and for a number of years chief character actor in D. W. Griffith productions, has been loaned by Mr. Griffith to Dorothy Gish to direct "Her Majesty," a forth coming Paramount Artcraft production, starring Miss Gish. Among those engaged for principal parts are William Riley Hatch, Ralph Graves, George A. Siegmann and Marie Burke. Manager Praises American Film. John G. Gregory, manager of the Liberty Theatre, Springfield, Ohio, echoes the story which the "Flying A" managers have become well accustomed to hearing of late, when he writes : "'Six Feet Four' is the best western picture we have shown for a long time, and the comments of the people who have seen it strengthen this opinion. Speaking from the box office standpoint, we did an exceptional business, it being just a question of a few dollars to begin a record breaking run." Charles Watson Recovers from Serious Injuries THE many friends of Charles Watson, president and general manager of the Novograph Film Corporation, will be relieved to hear that he is recovering rapidly from injuries received on January 6 when, while preparing to take "Analysis of Motion" pictures in Staten Island, he slipped on the icy ground and fell. It was about thirty minutes later that Mr. Watson recovered consciousness. He insisted that the work proceed, despite the urging of H. G. Mason, director of production, that he be taken to a hospital. He was taken to a shack, where a fire was built. There he remained from 11:30 a. m. to 4 p. m., unable to maintain other than a standing position because of pain. Mr. Watson was taken by automobile to his home. An examination revealed three broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder and sprained ligaments in his back. A few days later pleuro-pneumonia developed. Mr. Watson has now shown marked improvement and it is hoped that he will be up and about within ten days. His pluck in remaining on location to direct the work, although severely injured, is but one of the many examples of the determination of motion picture men to get what they go after. Schomer-Ross to Make "Non-Censorable" Films IT is announced as the policy of Schomer-Ross Productions, Inc-, to make and offer state right buyers and exhibitors, clean, strongly dramatic pictures which, according to Agnes Egan Cobb, state rights sales representative of the company, will be "non-censorable" — that is, "so carefully and cleverly made that there will be nothing for the censor to object to." Well-known stars and good box-office types will be selected, and the utmost care used to suit the exhibitor whose aim is to attract to his theatre a class of people who love clean pictures with human heart-interest stories, well acted. The first release is "The Sacred Flame," starring Emily Stevens, and it is announced that the paper prepared for this production is striking without being sensational. A nation-wide publicity plan will be promoted, and Mrs. Cobb will shortly tour the country in the interest of the production. "This Way for the Big Show — The Big Performance Is About to Start.'' Flashlight taken at the Hotel Commodore luncheon and showins of .Shirley Mason's first Fox, "Her Elephant Man." Pearl Doles Bell, author of book and play. Is holding her hat in her hand. At her right is Bird Millman. wire artist; while at her right is Lew E. Graham, "big top" veteran.