The New York Clipper (May 1917)

34 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER May 23, &17 FILM LENGTH SPLITS NEW EXCHANGE DISSENSION MAY BE SERIOUS The question of how many thousand feet long a film should be, has split the First National Exchange wide open. This is the assertion of * several chain theatre men who possess membership in the recently organized film buying group, which started with a capitalization of $20,000,000, and the avowed purpose of buying up all the top-notch feature films. It is declared the controversy within the ranks began on the closing day of the. or- ganization conference at the Astor Hotel. . Near the close of the conference it was agreed that the exchange should fix a standard length for all films purchased, in this way assuring its exhibitor members a uniform length of material, by which they could establish a uniform time for the duration of their shows. Right away the trouble began. It ap- peared that nearly every delegate had a different idea as to how long a show should ran and, by the same token, how long the pictures should be. Some of tbe ambitious showmen, whose houses, like the Rialto, run regular programs, including a feature film, a comedy two-reeler, an educational or scenic and a news pictorial, with possibly ten minutes of song, couldn't see anything but five reels for the feature film. This length would give them time for tbe rest of their program, running twice in the afternoon and twice nightly. A longer feature would knock the program out, so that fewer shows could be run, and the receipts would be cut down correspond- ingly. S. L. Rothapfel, president of the exchange, was in the five-reel group. Other contenders advocated six, seven, and as high as ten-reel lengths. No decision was reached. From last re- ports, the question still holds executives of the exchange in a crippled position. SMITH IS OPTIMISTIC Albert B. Smith, President of Greater Vitagraph, after the first vacation he has taken in five years, is back at the big Brooklyn studio of the company and, if possible, is taking an even more active interest in the affairs of the corporation than he has in the past. Mr. Smith says that he sees absolutely no reason for the air of despondency that appears to be hovering over plants of many of the pro- ducing companies and the headquarters of some of tbe distributing companies. "In so far as I can see," he said, "there is no reason for despondency with the producing companies that started to put their affairs in shape when they should have sensed the storm clouds gathering several months ago. I am glad to say that Greater Vitagraph was one of those com- panies that realized that safe and sane business methods could be and have been applied to the motion picture industry." LONDON WELCOMES FOX FILM The premiere performance in England of William Fox's million-dollar fantasy, "A Daughter of the Gods," in which Annette Kellerman is starred, took place at tbe Lon- don Opera House Monday Night. A symphony orchestra of fifty pieces played the elaborate musical score com- posed by Robert Hood Bowers. Special electrical effects were introduced for the first time in Europe. The London Timet and other newspapers have devoted more space to "A Daughter of tbe Gods" film than they have to many recent battles in France. . The Colonial Secretary of Lloyd George's cabinet has also taken a keen interest in the Fox picture, due to the fact that it was staged in Kingston, Jamaica, a British Colony, where thousands of the natives were employed. The star, Miss Keller- man, is an Australian by birth. Charles B. Cochran is directing tbe tour of "A Daughter of the Gods" for England, Ire- land, Scotland and Wales. Owing to a shortage of railroad cars, increased fares and reduced train service, a great many theatrical touring companies have abandoned engagements in the En- glish provinces. The English booking of- fices have scheduled "A Daughter of the Gods" as a regular road attraction. "A Daughter of the Gods" will, during the coming summer, be exhibited in Paris, Barcelona, Moscow and Petrograd. Joseph R Darling, of the Fox forces, is in South America for the premiere of the picture in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. The opening is set for July 1, which is the height of the theatrical season, and the South American winter weather. SELWYNS PRAISE FILM In connection with the production of "Within the Law" as a picture, Selwyn & Company, who produced the legitimate ver- sion, have written the Vitagraph Company as follows: "Congratulations on 'Within th3 Law.' It was a great play and is still a greater film. You have had an opportunity of looking over our books to see the phe- nomenal receipts which this piece played to all over the world, and we confidently predict that in film form it win even sur- pass its previous record. With heartiest appreciaion of the masterful way in which yon have handled this property we beg to remain.'' KARGER TO START CO. Maxwell Karger, who has been general manager of the B. A. Rolfe Film Produc- ing Company, will shortly sever his con- nection with that concern and branch out as the head of a special feature film con- cern being organized by the Metro Pictures* Corp. The new company will only produce special big features running from eight to ten reels in length. The new corporation is in the process of organization and, as soon as the details are completed, will commence work on a studio for the manufacture of their pro- ductions. The studio will most likely be located in tbe Fort Lee, N. J., district. In the future, B. A. Rolfe will be in full charge of the productions of the Rolfe and Columbia film producing companies and their studios. NEW PICKFORD FILM JULY 4 Walter E. Greene, president of the Art- craft Pictures Corp., has announced that the next Mary Pickford picture, entitled "The Little American," which is nearing completion under the direction of Cecil B. Dc Mille, at the Las ley-Holly-wood Studios in California, will be released July 4. In- dependence Dav was. chosen aa the re- lease date of this production because it will present Mary in a powerful patriotic appeal. NAVAL RESERVE FILMS WIN The Junior Naval Reserve, which pro- cured a little extra importance recently by getting the telephone number, Columbus 1492. is doing a big business booking pre- paredness films. The offices are at 143 West Fifty-eighth street. Naval reserve cadets distribute the films. EDNA GOODRICH IN "REPUTATION" Edna Goodrich is to be starred in "Reputation." one of the series of feature productions in which she will appear, and which will be released through the Mutual Film Corp. FILM INDUSTRY TO HELP SELL LIBERTYBONDS BRADY HEADS COMMITTEE VITA PREPARING RE-ISSUES The Vitagraph-V. L. S. E. is preparing to release a number of reissues of Vita- graph short-reel subjects, many of which were popular three or four years ago. The casts include a long array of film stars of the past and present. They will be known as the "Favorite Film Features," but the date for the starting of the new service has not been announced. A committee of leading film men last week appointed William A. Brady to head a special board of advisors to direct the efforts of the whole industry in the fur- therance of the sale of Liberty Loan bonds. The appointment was made following a conference called by Robert W. Woolley, publicity director of the loan. It is proposed that the motion picture industry provide at least $1,000,000 in subscriptions to the loan, directly from within its ranks. The publicity the films can give to the sale of the bonds is hoped to parallel, if not exceed, that of the news- papers. One of the first steps will be to send trailers and slides to every exhibitor in the country. The first committee meeting was chiefly taken up with the selection of sub-committees, which are: .Finance Committee—Arthur S. Friend, chirman: William L. SberriD, J. E. Bru- lateor, R. H. Cochrane, E. A. McManus. Publicity Committee—Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, Arthur James, presi- dent and chairman. Representatives of each of the motion picture trade papers. Committee on Trailers—Walter W. Irwin, chairman; P. A. Powers, B. N. Busch, Lee A. Ochs, Lewis J. Selznick. Committee on Securing Subscriptions to Liberty Loan—Adolph Zukor, Lee A. Ochs, N. T. Edwards, Lewis J. Selznick, Walter J. Moore. Committee on Slides—Joseph F. Coufal, Fred J. Hawley and B. F. Sbulberg. President's Advisory Committee—Will- iam L. SherrilL I. E. Cbadwick, Arthur S. Friend, Louis F. BlumenthaL William A. Johnston. Committee on Proclamation—Arthur S. Friend, William A. Johnston. These committees were instructed by Mr. Brady immediately to start work. The Pathe company's aid to the loan is seen in the fact that J. A. Berat, vice- president and general manager, has of- fered to receive subscriptions for the bonds from employees, giving each subscriber tbe.. privilege of paying for them at the rate of $5 per month for each $50 of the purchase price.. HARRY CLARKE FOR SCREEN Harry Clarke, who closed recently with "You're in Love," has been engaged by tbe Million Dollar Films Company and wfll be featured in their pictures. PHILADELPHIA GETS M P. EXPO. Pnn.inrT.vnT>, May 21.—Exhibitors in this city are elated over their victory in winning the State Convention and Exposi- tion of the Exhibitors' League of Pennsyl- vania, which will be held at the Parkway Auditorium, Broad and Cherry streets, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Jnne 25, 26 and 27. CUPID GETS CAMERAMAN Frank E. Williams, cameraman for Ros- coe "Fatty" Arbuckle, and Mildred E. Hansen, non-professional, were married last Saturday in the Little Church Around the Corner, this city. Miss Hansen is a California girl and came from her home in Los Angeles, arriving in New York on the morning of her wedding day. HART GETS A QUEER NOTION William F. Hart (not William 8.). scenario writer and director, who put the key in a lot of Keystone Comedies, ar- rived in town last week. Mr. Hart says his head would have burst from ideas if he had stayed on the coast much longer. He came to New York for quietude. SELZNICK WINS $15,000 Lewis J. Selznick is credited with having won $15,000 at poker last Thursday, from his fellow motion picture magnates, who were guests of Hiram Abrams on . his special train journey to Portland, Maine, for tbe opening of tbe baseball season there. FOX AIDS RECRUITING A letter from H. V. McCabe, in charge of the Southeastern navy recruiting sta- tions, written to William Fox last week, reports remarkable results from the motion picture publicity in behalf of recruiting. He praises the particular efforts of the Fox Film Corp. SECOND FAIRBANKS NEAR READY Walter E. Greene, president of the Art- craft Pictures Corporation, announces that the second Douglas Fairbanks Artcrait offering will be released on June 17. Its original title, "A Regular Guy," has been changed to 'Wild and Wooly." SELZNICK STARTS BRANCHES Lewis J. Selznick announces he has established five new branches of the Selznick Enterprises in as many cities, to carry out the policy of keeping Selznick pictures out of exchanges handling what he regards as inferior pictures. "OUR nGHTING FORCES" READY Pathe announces the early release of "Our Fighting Forces," a two-reeler. The picture shows military preparations all over the country. NEW ROOSTER FILM COMING Mollie King is featured in a forthcoming Gold Rooster play entitled "Blind Man's Lock." William A. Brady, Director-General. WORLD-PICTURES present ETHEL CLAYTON "THE STOLEN PARADISf Cast induding EDWARD LANGFORD Directed by HARLEY KNOLES Story by FRANCES MARION