The Moving picture world (December 1920)

1040 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 25, 1920 In the Independent JField Irving Lesser 's Company in Three Months Has Made Great Progress "Service to anyone who desires service" is the New Year slogan of Irving M. Lesser, general manager of Western Pictures Exploitation Company, formed three months ago, and which has now passed the embryo stage. Mr. Lesser spent the greater part of 1919 exploiting D. W. Griffith's "Hearts of the World" throughout the West, and is well acquainted with the territory his company covers. He is also interested in All-Star Feature Distributors, Educational Film Corporation of Southern California, and the Sol Lesser Motion Picture Enterprises. . Already the Western Pictures Exploitation Company announces it has disposed of the entire country on a number of picture, including "That Something," produced by Herman Film Corporation, with Margery Wilson and Charles Meredith in the leading roles; "Neptune's Bride," written and directed by Captain Leslie T. Peacocke; "The Stranger," produced by Hugh B. Evans, Jr.; "Sky Eye," "Sins of the World." starring Lola DeKay; "Souls of Men," featuring Will Jeffries; Romayne Film Corporation's "The Toreador," and Mack Sennett's "Yankee Doodle in Berlin." "The Art of Diving," a onereeler, featuring Annette Kellerman, and using slow motion photography, is also proving a big seller. In addition, Mr. Lesser is actively engaged in the production field. With Jackie Coogan, who played the title role in Chaplin's "The Kid," he is producing a series of "Peck's Bad Boy" features The above named pictures are being handled by the following exchanges: New York and northern New Jersey, Empire State Film Company; New England, Federated Film Exchange; eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, Masterpiece Film Attractions; western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, First National Exhibitors' Circuit; Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida. Associated First National Pictures of Washington; Michigan and Ohio. Standard Film Service: Kentucky and Tennessee, First National Exhibitors' Exchange; Illinois and Indiana, Celebrated Players; Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Associated First National Pictures of Northwest; Iowa and Nebraska. A. H. Blank Enterprises; Missouri and southern Illinois, United Film Service; Kansas and western Missouri. Crescent Film Exchange; Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, True Film Company; Company California, Nevada and Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Arizona by All-Star Feature DisMontana, De Luxe Feature *~" tributors. Merit Film of Denver Buys Quality Pictures Exchange The Merit Film Company of Denver reports it has bought the entire interest of the Quality Pictures Corporation of the same city, this being' the second exchange bought out within the last two 'months — the Mid-West Greater Features Company was purchased in November. The three concerns have been consolidated under the name of Merit Film Company, with Max Kravetz as general manager. Again they have moved to larger quarters and are now located at 1735 Welton street. Aywon Makes Many Additional Sales A number of sales of rights for Aywon subjects have been announced by Nathan Hirsh. Matthew Teplitz, president of the Penn Film Service of Pittsburg, bought the Joy comedies, fifteen Mary Pickford two-reel reissues, the Success series of fifteen two-reels, E. K. Lincoln in "The Man of Courage," "The Woman of Mystery," "When Dr. Quackel Did Hide," "The Evolution of Man," "Oh, Louise," "The Midnight Girl" and "My Girl Suzanne" for his territory. To the Lyric Film and Supply Co., Mr. Hirsh sold for Indiana "The Woman of Mystery," "The Evolution of Man" and "When Dr. Quackel Did Hid." To Quality Film Service of Atlanta, Ga., Joy Comedies, Close of Successful Year Finds Christie Well Ahead of Schedule Having kept pace with an unusually great impetus in its producing activities within the year, the Christie company is entering 1921 with production well in hand to take care of forthcoming releases. Marked not only by a broadening out into six-reel comedy-dramas, but also an increase in the quantity of its short subject offerings, the year of 1920 has been a big one for the Christie's first big feature, acknowledged as a success. The next of the six-reel comedy-dramas has already been made. It is "See My Lawyer" from the Broadway play by Max Marcin and will be released early ili the new year presenting T. Roy Barnes, and Grace Darmond. augmented by a list of other stellar players. Al Christie points particularly to the new two-reel comedies which Educational is releasing at the rate of two per month, which are said to be characterized by the same quality as Christie has produced in the feature pictures. "The demand for more comedies of a high grade this year has been met by a comedy which is at least fifty per cent, better in merit and pulling power than at this time last year," says Christie. "Not only that, but the comedies in the single-reel brand which have now been introduced as Vanity Comedies, are bearing the same stamp. "We are going right ahead with the two-reel and single-reel schedule, now making the comedies which will be released through Educational exchanges in March and April of the year 1921. Mr. Christie is now working on a two-reel special which will present Xeal Burns and Dorothy producing one-reel Vanity ComDcvore with a cast of five sup edies with the stock company of porting players from the largt players, which has been set aside stock company. William Beau exclusively for this one-reel redine and Frederic Sullivan are lease.