The New York Clipper (May 1917)

36 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER May 23, 1917 NEWS REVIEWS STATE RIGHTS RE LEAS ES FORUM LESSER FORMS STATE RIGHTS LEAGUE ANNOUNCES MANY MEMBERS Official announcement came from the of- fices of Sol L. Lesser at San Francisco several days ago that he had virtually com- pleted an organization of state rights - buy- ers throughout the country. '..- ■'•£*£& The statement was sensational in its ' definiteness and completeness, but the basic fact that buyers were forming an offensive and defensive alliance of some sort has long been in the wind. Lesser asserts that leading state rights operators in every district of the country have pledged thousands of dollars to mem- bership in the big group. The plan is to buy pictures of the first order outright, and to apportion a percentage of the cost upon members of the group according to the distribution value of their territories. Chains of theatres are mobilized in many districts, it is announced, and these indivi- dual theatres will be assessed subdiviaional amounts for the rights in their territory. Altogether, the enterprise appears on its face, according to the view of film men in New York, to be a close parallel to the recently organized First National Ex- change. It will differ from the Exchange in the fact that its members are largely seasoned territorial rights buyers, who will retain to a great extent their former in- dependent distributing methods and facil- ities, and will merge their operations only to the extent of pooling their capital with the operators in other territories for the wholesale purchase of pictures. Mr. Lesser announces he will give the full list of members in the near future. Inquiries by The Clipper among New York buyers and producers failed to pro- duce any information on the new league - at this end. It was apparent that the project has been promoted with extreme secrecy. Though it was known that many - buyers bad been talking about organizing no one could be found to acknowledge him- self an actually pledged member of the Lesser group. Those who discussed the news expressed various opinions as to the feasibility of the plan. Among feature film producers, a notable sentiment of favor was found. Edward Warren and H. Z. Levine, re- spectively owner and manager of the Edward Warren Productions, releasing "The Warfare of the Flesh," discussed the matter with particular interest. It was from their office that original suggestions for the formation of such a buyers' leagne came several weeks ago. Mr. Warren characterized the new league as a long step forward. He expressed the belief that the grouping of buyers, and syndication of their capital in the pur- chase of big films was a logical and sane ■efficiency method. A group of buyers, it was argued, could procure a big, multiple reel, super-feature film at less cost than the aggregate of what the individuals would have to pay operat- ing alone. The buyers thus could ob- tain Elms for their territory, without the hazard which, otherwise, they might not dare to undertake. "A feature film, in most cases, is worth as big a price as the producer asks," said Mr. Warren. "When a picture of tremen- dous calibre is placed on the. market, an individual buyer who sinks the limit of his resources in it, is liable to a loss which would not occur if he were pooling with others." In this connection. Mr. Warren corrected a. statement recently attributed to him •describing the extreme hazard in super- productions. . He declared that such haz- ards, for buyers, only occurred in rare cases of over-exploited films. COMPLETE NEW FEATURE The Master Drama Features Producing Company last week completed a seven-reel state rights picture, entitled "Who's Your Neighbor," written by Willard Mack. It is a morality drama and was produced under the direction of S. Rankin Drew, a former Vitagraph director. At the conclusion of his work on the picture, Drew enlisted in the American Corps of French Ambulance drivers and sailed for France last Saturday. A din- ner was tendered hi™ by the officers of the corporation last Wednesday evening at Cas- tle Cave and Herman Becker, general man- ager of the concern, informed Mr. Drew that his position as director in the con- cern would be open to him upon his return. A trade showing of the film will be held next week. KAPLAN SAW RUSSIAN REVOLT N. S. Kaplan, of the Russian Art Films Corporation, in the Godfrey Building, New York, who recently arrived from Rus- sia with some remarkable films taken from Slav classics, tells hair-raising stories of the revolution. He witnessed the pop- ulace and soldiery shooting down police by the score. Mr. Kaplan also verifies the death of Rasputin, "the mad monk." He saw his body dragged ont of the River Neva. Among the films he brought are picturi- zations of the works of Tolstoi, Andrieff, Dostoiefski, Pushkin, Ostrofski, Sienke- witz and Gorky. BUYERS IN TOWN Among the state rights buyers who ar- rived in New York daring the last few days were: Abe Warner, of Cleveland. Harry Charmas, of Cleveland. Carlos Lescale, of Brazil. Harry Shaunios, of Cleveland. W. Palley, of Detroit H. A. Lande, of Pittsburgh. Benjamin Friedman, of Minneapolis. Mrs. Clement Mason, of Sidney, Aus- tralia. "GOD'S MAN" SOLD TWICE Harry A. Samwick, a director of the Ivan Film Productions, has just pur- chased the New York state rights to "God's Man" from the Frohman Amuse- ment Co. The price was in excess of $20,000. F. E. Backer, of the Dread- nought Pictures, Inc., purchased the rights for the northern section of New Jersey. It is said four exchanges entered bids for this territory. ■ SHERMAN SUFFERS ENNUI Harry A. Sherman, head of the Sher- man-Elliott Co., of Chicago, made several trips from Chicago to New York last week. He says he has tentatively arranged, in his leisure time, a string of private exchanges, and has prepared to produce two ten-reel pictures. He expects to make about a dozen films a year, and buy a few extra ones outright, be says. CABIRIA GOES WELL The Mammoth Film -Corporation an- nounces that after June 15 D'Annnnzio's "Cabins" will be removed from the market. Bookings all over their territory in New Jersey and New York state are said to be more than they can take care of. "SIN WOMAN" HAS BIG RUN Lee Gainsborg. who owns the Northern Xew Jersey rights to "The Sin Woman," reports that the Goodwin Theatre at Newark, played to capacity houses for a week with the picture. RUBENSTE1N LOSES SIGHT Leon S. ("Ruby") Rubenstein, sales manager of the Flora Finch Comedies Co., has temporarily lost the sight of his left eye from reading film prints. He is under treatment by an oculist and osteopath. HOFFMAN SEES PROSPERITY IN STATE RIGHTS NEW FACES ENTER GAME "I found new faces and new interests everywhere," declared M. H. Hoffman, dis- cussing his recent 'cross-country trip. Mr. Hoffman, whose enterprise, operating under his name, in the Godfrey bunding, New York, is releasing "The Sin Woman," went to the coast primarily to dose a deal by which he now handles the productions of I. Bernstein. "The program system is doomed," he continued. "I mean that the old .system of forcing exhibitors to take a schedule of pictures day by day and week by week, without having any say in the matter, is disappearing. "Old-timers and antiquated methods are being stirred np by the entrance of pro- gressive young business men with the sanest, best ideas from other pursuits. The open market has arrived to stay." IS AFTER ESQUIMAUX TRADE N. H. Spitzger, of the Kin e Bee Film Co, left New York yesterday for an ex- tended trip westward, purposing to reach Vancouver before turning back. He ex- pects to show some of his films to Esqui- maux buyers in igloo projection rooms. HATCH GETS "SUBMARINE EVE" The J. Frank Hatch Film Co., of 284 Market Street, Newark, has purchased the New Jersey rights to "The Submarine Eye." Mr. Hatch purposes to conduct an elaborate publicity campaign for the'picture in the principal cities of New Jersey. RUTH ROLAND MARRIED Ruth Roland, motion picture actress, was recently married to Lionel E. Kent, an automobile salesman of Los Angeles, canceling her engagement to Lieutenant Godfrey La Mothe, a British soldier now somewhere in Africa. SENNETT AND RORKE IN N. Y. Mack Sennett, general manager, and Sam Rorke, sales manager, of the Keystone Film Co., arrived from the coast a few days ago. They are arranging for the early release of "Mickey," featuring Mabel Normand. INDEPENDENTS BUCK MERGER Independent dealers in motion picture theatre accessories have organized for a co- operative publicity and selling campaign in competition with the recently organized merger of big companies. BALSHOFER ELECTED Fred Balshofer, of the Yorke-Metro or- ganization, has been elected a member of the Motion Picture Producers' Association of California. PROCTOR JOINS INCE George Dn Boise Proctor, formerly of the Lasky Studio, has joined the colony at the Thomas H. Ince studios at Culver City. ' FINE ARTS STUDIO TO REOPEN The Triangle Film Corp. announces that the old Fine Arts studio will be re- opened soon for immediate production work. MORRISEY MAKES CHANGE Edward Morrisey, who assisted Herbert Brenon in the production of "A Daughter of the Gods," has joined the Ince forces. H1LLYER BECOMES DIRECTOR Lambert Hillyer, recently scenario editor of the Ince staff, has been made a director. WIDE RANGE SEEN IN FEATURE FILMS FOR STATE RIGHTERS The names and addresses of feature film producers and titles of their current and pending releases that are especially suit- able for state rights exploitation are: Corona Cinema Co., Los Angeles, CaX— "The Curse of Eve.". Arrow Film Corp., Times Building, New York City—"The Deemster." De Luxe Spoilers Co., 728 Seventh Ave- nue, "The (De Luxe) Spoilers," Today Feature Film Corp., 1564 Broad- way, New York City—-"Today." Sol L. Lesser, Longacre Building, New York City—"The Ne'er-Do-WelL" Benjamin Chapin Studios, Ridgefield Park, N. J.—"The Lincoln Cycle." Williamson Bros., Longacre Building, New York City—"The Submarine Eye," Frohman Amusement Corp., Times Building, New York City—"God's Man." Gold Medal Photoplayers, 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City—"The Web of Life." - Cines Film Co., 130 West Forty-fifth Street, New York City—"The Fated Hour." Flora Finch Comedy Films Corp., 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City—"War Prides." Balboa Amusement Producing Co., 1600 Broadway, New York City—"The Twisted Thread." Ultra Picture Corp., 729 Seventh Ave- nue, New York City—"The Woman Who Dared." Frank G. Hall Productions, Inc., Long- acre Building, New York City-r-"The Bar Sinister." Variety Films, 126 West Forty-sixth Street, New York City—"The Price of Her Soul." Ivan Film Productions, 130 West Forty- sixth Street, New York City—"One Law for Both." Interocean Film Corp., 220 West Forty- second Street, New York City—"The Manxman." Edward Warren Productions, 1482 Broadway, New York City—"The Warfare of the Flesh." Cinema War News Syndicate, Longacre Building, New York City—"American War News Serial" Sheriott Picture Corp., 218 West Forty- second Street, New York City—"The Black Stork." Hanover Film Co., Columbia Theatre Building, New York City—"How Uncle Sam Prepares." Graphic Features, 220 West Forty-sec- ond Street, New York City—"The Woman and the Beast." Grand Feature Film Company, 220 West Forty-second Street, New York City— "Rex Beach Himself." Enlightenment Photoplays Corp., 220 West Forty-second Street, New York City —"Enlighten Thy Daughter." Universal Film Co., 1600.Broadway, New York City—"God's Law," "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle." Max Cohen Co., 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City—"The Fury of Civiliza- tion," "America Is Ready." Hiller & Wilk, Inc., Longacre Build- ing, New York City—"The Battle of Gettysburg," "The Wrath of the Gods." M. H Hoffman Co., 729 Seventh Ave- nue, New York City—"The Sin Woman," "Who Knows?" and "The Seven Cardinal Virtues." A Kay Co., 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City—"Terry Feature Burlesque." "Terry Human Interest Reel," "Golden Spoon Mary." Popular Pictures Corp.. 218 West Forty- second Street, New York City—"A Woman Wills," "The Princess of India," "The Burglar and the Lady," "The Little Or- phan," "Ignorance," "Unborn" and *!Black Stork." *^ Uncle Sam Awake Co., 220 West 42nd Street, New York City—"Uncle Sam Awake.** . "