The New York Clipper (March 1917)

32 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER March 21, 1917 'OH RIALTO OUTBIDS STRAND FOR FAIRBANKS KEEN RIVALRY PREDICTED Through the obtaining of the Douglas Fairbanks picture, "In Again, Ont Again," by the Rialto Theatre, from the Artcraft Picture Corporation, it was learned that in the future keen rivalry will ensue relative to the booking of special features, between the Rialto and Strand Theatres. The management of the Strand has a contract with the Artcraft concern, where- by the big house is to have first option upon all releases made by this concern. In the past, they have been running all of the Pickford and other pictures that have been made by Artcraft. They also have ob- tained the George M. Cohan picture, "Broadway Jones," which they will exhibit next week, A fiat rental of $2,000 a week was charged them for all films they rented. When word was conveyed to the Strand management that the Fairbanks picture would be ready for release shortly, it in- formed the Artcraft concern that it would like to have this picture at the Strand for its initial showing in New York. In the meantime, the manager of the Rialto theatre, who became friendly with Fair- banks when he was with the Triangle peo- ple, also put in a bid for the film. Harold Edel, of the Strand, then informed the Art- craft people that he would pay ?2,500 for the rental of the film. The manager of the Rialto, however, brought pressure to bear on Fairbanks to use all the influence possible to obtain the film for him, stating that rental price would be no object. He told Fairbanks that, as all of his former releases were shown at the Rialto, it would be wise for him to have his first release with the new company shown there also. The Rialto people then submitted a bid of $3,000 for one week of the film. The Artcraft Corporation then informed the Strand people that the Rialto was will- ing to pay this sum and, if'they cared to, they conld have the film at this figure also. Mr. Edel answered that be did not see his way clear to accept the film at that price and that, if they cared to dispose of it to their competitors, it was perfectly agree- able to him. Since Christmas the Rialto people have been booking film in the open market, but not once during that time have they tres- passed upon the field through which the Strand obtain their pictures until the pres- ent time. The Strand regularly run Para- mount pictures, but. however, when the Artcraft or other concerns have had an especially big release they have obtained it and paid for their Paramount service with- out nsing the film. The Fairbanks' film is scheduled to have its initial showing at the Rialto Theatre on April 22. ARTCRAFT GETS GRIFFITH David W. Griffith has entered into an arrangement with the Artcraft Pictures Corp. whereby all his future productions will be released through the Artcraft com- pany. KELLARD APPEARS IN PERSON Bbxdgepobt. Conn.. March 17.—Ralph Kellard, the Pathg star, appeared in per- son at the Liberty Theatre here last Satur- day, when "The Precious Packet," the final chapter of "The Shielding Shadow," and the current chapter of "Pearl of the Army," in all of which Mr. Kellard stars, were shown. INDICTED ON DUPING CHARGE Philadelphia, Pa., March 19.—George W. Brandenburgh, a former alderman of this city, is under federal indictment on a charge of "duping" a Mutual-Chaplin comedy GIm. He is charged with violating the copyright law by the making of a duplicate print of "The Floorwalker" and offering it for sale in England. KERRIGAN VISITS LYNCHBURG Lynchbtthg, Ya., March 16.—J. Warren Kerrigan, the Universal star, appeared at the Broadway Theatre for one day and made seven five-minute talks during the time be stopped off in Lynchburg, appear- ing in the spot at the conclusion of the picture in which he was featured. DEMANDS FILM EXPERIENCE Albaht, N. Y., March 19.—The pro- visions of a bill introduced into the legislature provide that motion picture machine operators before securing a license must have operated machines in a film house for a period of at least six months. NAVY CENSORS MOVIES The Navy Department has established a censorship of all moving pictures show- ing the activities of the American navy. Before any such pictures can be screened they must be properly passed upon by the authorities of the Navy Department. FOX CANVASS SUCCEEDS A nation-wide canvass in which more than a million persons were asked to ex- press their feelings toward "The Honor System" brought forth more than fifty thousand answers from persons in all classes of society. MARIE DORO LEAVES LASKY Marie Doro has left Lasky and is re- turning East for "Heart's Desire," which is being produced at the Famous Players' studio and at Fort Lee. It will be released by the Paramount Corp., April 12. FRANCE DENIES HART RUMOR R. W. France, general manager of the Triangle Distributing Corp., denies a statement to the effect that William S. Hart intends to withdraw from the Tri- angle-Ince management. NINE REPLACES GOOKIN Forrest F. Nine, city salesman in the Kansas City exchange of Vitagraph-V. L. S. E., has been promoted to the branch managership, to succeed W. C. Gookin, who recently resigned. COLLINS PLANS SERIAL Frederick L. Collins, president of the McClure pictures, is in Los Angeles per- fecting plans for the production of an- other McClure series to follow the "Seven Deadly Sins." TAKES OVER PARAGON STUDIO The Famous Players-Lasky Corporation has taken possession of the Paragon studio in Fort Lee. Hereafter it will be used for the production of Paramount pic- tures. WORLD GETS BERNHARDT FILM The World Film Corp. has secured the rights to Sarah. Bernhardt's "Mothers of France." which had a sensational recep- tion last week at the Rialto Theatre. FIELDING DIRECTING FOR WORLD Romaine Fielding is now directing for the World Film Co. He is supervising the production of "The Crimson Dove" at the Fort Lee studio. TOURNEUR WITH LASKY Maurice Tourneur, French director, has been engaged by the Jesse L Lasky Fea- ture Play Co. to direct nine pictures in twelve months. WHEELER COM. ADVISES NO FILM TAX FAVORS SUPERVISION BUREAU Albany, March. 19.—Recommendations to the effect that it would be unwise for the State, at the present time, to tax the mo- tion picture industry, was the report of the Wheeler Motion Picture Investigation Com- mittee to the Legislature, after conducting hearings in this regard. The committee, however, recommended the establishment of a State licensing bureau for the supervision of the motion picture business, including the operation of projection machines and the class of pictures to be -exhibited. With reference to the taxation measures, the committee was of the opinion that it would be inadvisable at this time to levy a special tax upon any particular industry. They were of the opinion, though, that on the return of normal conditions, the mo- tion picture business, as well as the whole amusement field, will be subject to tax- ation. The committee recommended legislation which would make the theft or intentional mutilation or destruction of, or injury to; any motion picture film, apparatus or de- vice, cause for the cancellation of the li- cense of the guilty person. In their report, the committee called attention to stock jobbing propositions with advertising of a fraudulent character in relation to moving picture machines, and the profits in the business. It is expected that legislation upon the recommendations made in the report will be enacted within the next few weeks. AGENT HELD ON SCHOOL LAW Mrs. Ann Wilson, who conducts a the- atrical agency in this city, was arraigned last Friday before Magistrate Cobb in the Municipal Court, charged with violation of the compulsory education law. Ac- cording to the complaint lodged against Mrs. Wilson, Sylvia Parnes, thirteen, Lil- lian .Levine, twelve, and Ida Meyers, four- teen, failed to attend school and went, instead, to a studio at Cliffside, N. J. The hearing was postponed till March 23. The film companies and theatrical agencies are ma kin g this a test case. They believe that when they engage children for studio work, with the consent of their parents, they are acting well within their rights. WILLIAM FOX ON SCREEN Los Angeles, March 12.—When Wil- liam Fox arrived at his Hollywood studios. Dal Clawson, his cameraman, took several hundred feet of film with Mr. Fox as the subject, and Mr. Fox saw himself on the screen later in the day in the Hollywood projection room. GRIFFITH TO FILM WAR D. W. Griffith has sailed for London and will later visit the war fronts to make a motion picture history of the great conflict. The governmental authorities of the na- tions at war have given him a commission to carry out the mission. SELZNICK BUYS LESSER FILM Lewis J. Selznick added another spe- cial fecature film to his States Rights purchases this week by a deal with Sol Lesser of San Francisco, for the New York State and northern New Jersey rights to the "Ne'er Do Well," Selig> fa- mous picturization of the popular novel by Rex Beach. Greater New York City will be han- dled through the New York Selznick Ex- change. _' ~. MORE HOUSES FOR PARAMOUNT Nine Southern theatres have joined Paramount during the past week and have signed contracts with the Atlanta ex- change. The new additions are the Opera House in Van Alstyne, Texas; Mazuma, Granbury, Texas; Happy Hour, Danger- field, Texas; the Mission, Ponce City, Okla.; the St. Denis, Sapula, Okla.; the Palace, McGhee, Ark.; Jewel, Coweta, Okla., and the Crystal Theatre of Estel- line, Texas. JAMES HUSSEY DEAD James J. Hussey, chief property man of the Popular Plays and Players studio, died of heart failure at Lakewood, N. J., whither he had gone in an effort to re- cuperate. Mr. Hussey bad been with the Popular Play and Players Co. for a year and a half. He was thenty-three years old. The funeral took place at Bayonne. LATHROP GOES TO COAST F. H. Lathrop, vice-president of the Sierra Photoplays, has left for the studios in Los Angeles, having closed a contract by which bis company is to make single reel comedies. of "Polly and Her Pals," based on the popular comic strip of that name appearing in newspapers throughout the country. FOX FORMS COMEDY COMPANY Not satisfied with his new Fox Film comedy program, William Fox has formed the Sunshine Comedy Company, the en- tire output of which "-will be released through his own exchanges. Mr. Fox is president of the new concern and Henry Lehrman vice-president and general man- ager. FITCH JOINS PARAMOUNT C. ,J. Fitch has joined the sales forces of the Win. L. Sherry Feature Film Co., of New York, distributors of Paramount Pictures in this district, and will take charge of the Rosco ("Fatty") Arbuckle Comedies. "WOMANHOOD" OPENS APRIL 2 The Vita graph feature, "Womanhood, the Glory of -the' Nation," will open its first showing at the Chestnut Street Opera House in Philadelphia April 2. It will have a run of three weeks. GORDON FOR "WHITE TRAIL" Paul Gordon has been engaged to play the leading role in "The Great White Trail," the first super-feature production now being filmed by Wharton, Inc., at Saranac Lake. .*' "DEEMSTER" RIGHTS TO MAYER Louis Mayer of Boston has purchased the New England exhibition rights to "The Deemster." This film play will begin its New York Run at the Broadway Theatre April 8. MOSS TO START ANOTHER The second of the eight special features undertaken by B. S. Moss for the cur- rent year, "The Sins of the Children," will be pnt under way early in April. YOUNG FILM BY WOMAN AUTHOR "Why I Left My Husband" is the title of Clara Kimball Young's next film play. It is from the pen of Virginia Terhune Van De Water. WARREN FILM TITLE CHANGED "The Warfare of the Flesh" is tie final title of Edward Warren's State rights fea- ture, heretofore referred to as the "Trans- gressors." GOLDFISH AROUND AGAIN Samuel . Goldfish is hobbling around again, after having been laid np with an injured ankle received while playing hand- ball.