Variety (February 1915)

MOVING PICTURES 21 LONDON HAS BIG FILM SUPPLY THAT LACKS AMERICAN MART European Pictures Plentiful. United States Film Men Must Cash Before Shipping. Steps to International Distribution. London, Feb. 2. Many excellent films produced in England are never sent to the Ameri- can market. There is a good reason for this apparent lack of international enterprise. The English producer, with characteristic native conservatism, refuses to sell in the foreign market without having the cash deposited here in advance. This condition does not of course apply to European film concerns hav- ing their own agencies in America, but simply to producers who have not sufficient output to establish individual agencies. Like many another compari- tively new business, the film industry has been invaded by men from all walks of life, and there is necessarily a proportion that would not stand the test of genuine business integrity. Dealers of that ilk negotiated with Eu- ropean producers for the importation to America of their respective outputs, the result of which proved financially disastrous to the conservative manu- facturer of the eastern hemisphere. In some instances films had been shipped to New York and were never taken out of the custom house for the reason that on arrival the consignees had not even sufficient funds to pay the cus- toms taxes. A movement is on foot here at the present time for the establishment in New York of an independent film dis- tributing agency to handle the output of a number of the small producers who are not at present distributing through any of the larger agencies. London on the other hand is har- assed with a surfeit of the entire world's film creations. It is the mar- ket of the world because it is nearer to all countries than any other and outside films are admitted here free of duty. This necessarily has an ap- preciable effect upon the price. A couple of years ago the United States received the bulk of its features from Europe because comparatively few were at that time being made in the States. Now everybody in Am- erica is making features and the native supply is better suited to their clien- tele. In fact American features seem to be more popular, or at least as popular, in Europe as the local products. There are still a number of Ameri- can manufacturers and dealers in fea- tures who have made no arrangements for the shipping to England of their productions. They have been unable to secure what they "Tsider adequate prices for their wnres t ' re'ti.-c to en- ter the Europeai. markci wH, 1 , such time. "CLANSMAN" ENJOINED. Loi Angeles, Feb. 10. The courts have issued an injunc- tion restraining the exhibition of "The Clansman/' the big D. W. Griffith film feature, but permitting the picture per- formance pending an appeal on the part of the photoplay people. Meanwhile the film is packing the huge auditorium where shown and lines, starting early at 7 o'clock for an afternoon showing, are formed. When "The Clansman" in 12 reels is first shown at the Liberty, probably March 1, it will be under the title of "The Birth of a Nation." Prices wiU be from 25 cents to one dollar. The front rows of the balcony will be con- verted into loges at $1.50 a seat Klaw & Erlanger are said to have an interest in the 12-reeler with David W. Griffith and his company. J. J. McCarthy will be general man- ager of the Liberty venture. He hand- led "The Clansman" as a play. Theo- dore Mitchell has been given the pub- licity to look after. USING COHAN'S NAME. George M. Cohan's name is going to be used on a two-reel film produced for May Elinore and Madame Herrman by Hunter and Bratton. The scenario was made from a sketch written by Cohan for the Elinore Sisters some years ago and was called "The Danger- ous Mrs. Delaney." Mr. Cohan has turned down offers from companies that wanted to use his name on the screen, so it is said. SCENARIO WRITERS LAND. All of the scenario men, with proba- bly one exception, who had their heads lopped off some weeks ago by-a sweep- ing edict of the Universal had no trou- ble in making new connections. Captain Leslie T. Peacocke, one of the U' most prolific writers, is now at- tached to the Peerless scenario staff, while Jacques Byrne left Feb. 2 for Los Angeles to write for the Kriterion companies. Frank B. May, the former U scenario chief, has also made new connections. WORLD FILM RUMORS. Many rumors were rampant during the latter end of last week and the early part of this week to the effect that Lewis J. Selznick had been supplanted as president and general manager of the World Film Co. A World Film man said Wednesday there had been no grounds for that report or any of the many others in connection with it. VITA'S ANNIVERSARY. This week is the first anniversay of the Vitagraph's possession of the former Criterion theatre at Broadway and 44th street, now called the Vita- graph. The Vitagraph was the first Broad- way house to charge up to one dollar continuously for a picture policy. The place opened with a feature film show, apparently having had several Vita features held back for it When these were exhausted, the picture program, composed of Vita subjects only, be- came an ordinary feature show, of no more value, it would seem, to the pub- lic than any of the other feature places around town where 15 cents is the top admission. In consequence the Vita's business dropped off until at present the patronage that pays at the box of- fice would not reimburse the Vitagraph for the salaries of the working force and lights. The returns to the Vitagraph are said to have been satisfactory, how- ever, obtained through publicity as well as the additional demand "Direct from the Vitagraph theatre, New York," as billing matter on its features displayed there first, has created. On this week's Anniversary Bill at the Vita, a three-reeler is the star at- traction. FILM CARRYING RULE. The Fire Department of the City of New York has sent forth a statement about the public transportation of in- flammable picture films. The depart- ment has ordained that "No person shall transport inflammable motion picture films in any street car, subway or elevated line, omnibus, ferry boat or N any other public conveyance or carry the same into any railway, subway station or ferry house unless each of such film shall be enclosed in a suit- able metal box with a tight-fitting cover, and not more than ten (10) films so enclosed shall be carried at any one time by any person." Fire Commissioner Robert Adamson decided upon this ruling as a result of the damage, injury and death result- ing Nov. 24 last on a passenger car out of Chicago. A paper wrapped package containing four reels of film exploded and in the excitement follow- ing 38 persons were badly injured, two dying later from their injuries and one not expected to live. The damage to railway equipment was $2,465. CLUB'S MEMBERSHIP. The Cinema Club in the Bronx has 104 exhibitors enrolled. The club has been organized six weeks. The M. P. Exhibitors' Association has 241 members in Brooklyn and this number went up a few notches as re- sult of last week's meeting in the Cand- ler theatre. WIFE NAMES GRACE CUNARD. Los Angeles, Feb. 10. Scandal hit the ranks of the Univer- sal forces when Mrs. Elsie Ford ap- peared before Judge Monroe and asked for a divorce from Francis Ford, the U director, naming Grace Cunard, the picture actress, as corespondent Mrs. Ford also asks the custody of the Ford boy, Robert. SAM BERNARD'S PICTURE. After "The Belle of Bond Street" closes at the Standard, New York (week Feb. 22), Sam Bernard, its star, will start making "The Dangerous Maid" into a feature film for the Fam- ous Players. PUSHING OUTPUT. London, Feb. 2. The Hepworth company here has adopted an original method of boom- ing its output by creating a demand for films among the picture fans. On all the underground stations there is posted weekly a one-sheet bulletin of its releases, together with a brief synopsis of the plots and the names of the cinemas where they can be seen in London. They have also revived interest in talking pictures by showing them for the past few weeks at the Pavilion, with new subjects, excellently synchronized. FIRM'S THREE NEW ONES. Buffalo, Feb. 10. Within a month almost Mitchell and Moe Mark will open three new pic- ture houses, all of large capacity. Two are in this city. The Victoria, seating 2,000, starts Feb. 20. The Palace, seating 1,200, opens a week later. The third is the Strand, Syra- cuse (2,000), opening March 15. MARIE DRESSLER "ASSISTING." Chicago, Feb. 10. In the exhibition of "Tillie's Punc- tured Romance" at the Star, the thea- tre's advertisements are featuring Charlie Chaplin over Marie Dressier and the picture's title. The billing reads "Charlie Chaplin, assisted by Marie Dressier and Mabel Norman." CRANE WILBUR DIVORCED. The Crane Wilburs are divorced. Mrs. Wilbur appeared before Judge Blanchard in the Supreme Court Wednesday and told him her husband had trifled with her affections. A witness testified Wilbur lived two weeks with an actress called Cecelia Santon at 123 East 34th street, whom he called his wife. The witness swore the Santon woman was not the Mrs. Wilbur who appeared in court. Mrs. Wilbur got the divorce in about ten minutes. ROLFB IN METRO. Though it was reported and admitted B. A. Roife had contracted with the new Equitable service to place the Rolfe feature films, the forthcoming Rolfe pictures, "Satan Sanderson" and "The Cowboy and the Lady" will be distributed through the lately formed Metro. REPORTED KILLED. Los Angeles, Feb. 10. News has reached here anonuncing the death on the European battlefield of Col. C. Ryse Pryce, soldier of for- tune and well known as a former movie director.