The New York Clipper (May 1917)

May 30, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 35 NEWS REVIEWS SHERRILL SENDS MAN TO TEACH BUYERS STARTS STATE RIGHTS SCHOOL STATE RIGHTS RE LEAS ES FORUM William L. Sherrill, president of the Frohman Amusement Corporation, an- nounces the beginning of an original cam- paign to teach state rights buyers how to handle their business, and to help the buyers actively in distributing a picture. To this end, the Frohman Corporation has employed Jesse J. Goldbnrg, a well known motion picture authority, to tour the country, investigate the problems of individual buyers of the Frohman super- production, "God's Man," and give advice. Mr. Goldburg started last week on his trip, which will cover three months and will take him from one end of the country to the other. Mr. Sherrill's statement, describing the service plan, is in part as follows: "Mr. Goldbnrg will interview all of the reputable and responsible state rights buyers in the United States, essentially for tiie purpose of discussing, in general, methods of booking and exhibition and to render such other assistance as may be re- quested of him. I feel that, since our institution is devoting its endeavors to the production of super motion picture attrac- tions, that the productions merit and as- suredly deserve this unusual attention. "It occurs to me that there is a prevalent thought in the minds of the greater number of state rights buyers and exhibitors that the manufacturers of motion pictures are content to spend but little effort on an ordinary or mediocre advertising equip- ment for their production, or else the man- ufacturer is wont to display an over-eager- ness toward sensational advertising, which serves only to belie the production when it is finally thrown upon the Bcreen before their audiences. While there are certain set principles of creating a demand which we have definitely decided upon should be attached to each of our releases, still, on the other hand, each production being totally different from its predecessor, I deem, therefore, that a special individual attention and devotion of new ideas is necessary for the proper and successful handling of our product. Consequently, the Frohman Service Department is to keep abreast and a step or two ahead with ideas, working at all times in harmony with this office and our clientele of purchases. Thus, it may be readily seen that, conforming with our motto 'Service to the State Rights Buyers,' every Frohman release is to receive its own individual and special attention from our service department. "Mr. Goldburg's trip will extend over most of the next three months. His office will be to assist not alone the purchasers of "God's Man" and other Frohman pro- ductions, but also to prepare for and to let tbem have every benefit and idea for exploitation at his command." "AUCTION BLOCK" NEARLY READY With the taking of a big gambling house raid last Saturday night, the final studio scenes of "The Auction Block," the second production of the Rex Beach Pictures Co., were completed and there remains only a steel mill scene, which will be taken in Pittsburgh within the next few days. When this has been done Director Trimble will start at once on his task of cutting and titling the picture, which will be ready for Exhibitors, September 1, 1917. "The Auction Block" has a number of big sensational scenes, including an exact reproduction of the famous Ziegfield Mid- night Frolic with the show going on and the audience present. RUSS REVOLT IN FILM The Iliodor Picture Corporation, re- cently chartered at Albany, has, by special Arrangement with the Herbert Brenon Film Corporation and Lewis J. Selznick, ob- tained the services of Herbert Brenon to make a vast and significant drama of the Russian revolution, which will be presented in a few weeks. This vast drama of the overturn of a nation's rulers and the establishment of human liberty is being made under the title "The Downfall of the Romanoffs," and Iliodor, the fugitive monk, who was the spiritual adviser of the Czar Nicholas, is the featured player. Hiodor's own story of the intrigues and scandals of the Rus- sian court, is now appearing in more than three hundred daily newspapers through- out the United States. FILM MAY STIR UP REFORMS "Who's Your Neighbor," the super feature production announced for early re- lease by the Master Drama Features Pro- ducing Co., promises to stir up civic re- forms, besides offering entertainment. The picture depicts the evils wrought by the scattering of immoral characters through- out a city by the police regulations that break up segregated districts. Unusually high class talent is featured, and a strong story is portrayed by the film. It is of seven reels, but, according to its sponsors, the action of the play moves so rapidly It gives the impression of a three-reeler. HALL "C1RCUS1NG" BIG FILM Using two styles of twenty-four sheet stands for the bill boards, two styles of half sheet cards for "sniping" and three styles of pictorial one sheets for "window wprk," Frank Hall is literally plastering New York and New Jersey with paper an- nouncing tbe playing of "The Bar Sinister" at the Broadway Theatre. Hall's methods of advertising a special picture are well known to his fellow exhibitors and ex- change men, who have seen him take over one losing theatre after another and turn failures into winners practically over night. LAWHEAD JOINS WILLIAMSONS Rex O. Lawhead has left New York to act as general representative for the Will- iamson Brothers. He will handle "The Submarine Eye" throughout the middle West States, with headquarters in Chi- cago. En route, be stopped in Detroit and gave a private showing of tbe picture to a selected list of exhibitors. Tbe Detroit showmen were enthusiastic over the pro- duction and written expressions of their opinions have been reecived at the New York office of the Williamson Brothers. PIERCE QUITS CIRCUIT Eugene Pierce, of New Orleans, has re- signed his membership in the First Na- tional Exhibitors Circuit, giving as his reason that he could not agree with some of the Circuit's policies. His place is taken by the Sanger Amusement Co. of New Orleans. WEINBERG SELLING BIG FILM Akiba Weinberg has taken over the selling rights for "Should She Obey," the super picture produced by the Arizona Film Co. Mr. Weinberg is operating under tbe firm name Renowned Pictures Corpo- ration, at 1600 Broadway, New York City. "HUMILITY" IS READY "Humility," the first of the Seven Car- dinal Virtues series^ produced by the Bernstein Film Poductions, is offered this week for release to state rigbters through the M. H. Hoffman Co., 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City. "0NTRIAL"F1RST RELEASE FOR BIG CIRCUIT STANDARD LENGTH LOSES "PARENTAGE" AROUSES INTEREST Frank J. Seng announces considerable interest has been aroused among independ- ent distributors in his new film "Parent- age." This production carries a strong message to parents regarding the rearing of children. With the announcement that it had pur- chased outright the Essanay super feature "On Trial," the First National Exhibit- ors' Circuit, Inc., this week gave The Clipper official information of its progress and plans. Tbe decision to buy pictures of all lengths from four to ten reels and abandon the thought of keeping to a fixed standard, formed the principal detail in tbe state- ment. This was given as a solution of the differences of opinion among members of the circuit, which had been rumored as so grave that the project was on the rocks. J. D. Williams, manager of the circuit, whose headquarters are at 18 East Forty- first Street, issued the statement. Mr. Williams declared that the problem of hitting upon a standard length had come up only after the organization had concluded all other details, and that it bad not lasted long. He attributes the reports of serious discord to persons wbo fear the competition of the circuit. "We are in complete harmony," he said. "We have solved every detail of operation. We expect and invite other organizations of buyers to spring up, and we give all our members free reign to resign when they choose." He explained that the members were not compelled to exploit every picture pur- chased. If a film was too long or short for the particular program of one man or chain, the latter could resell the product to other distributors, he said. The first release, "On Trial," is reported to have cost tbe circuit $75,000, which is looked upon as a moderate price for the national rights to a film of that character. It is understood that interests opposing tbe Circuit attempted to boost the price up to $100,000 by an eleventh hour bid. The distribution of this film will be watched with considerable interest through- out the industry, as it will, to a great ex- tent, establish the success or failure of the Circuit. The film is regarded as a lucky find for a test. It is a tremendously strong production, built upon the stage drama that enjoyed nation-wide showing. "ONE HOUR" COMPLETED After four months of effort in the prep- aration and exploitation of "One Hour," B. S. Moss announces that his latest ef- fort has reached the last stage of comple- tion, and is now being edited by John S. Lopez, preliminary to its initial release on June 11th in the Moss theatres around New York. The trade showing of "One Hour" is now being arranged. This six- reeler is a sequel to "Three Weeks" and "One, Day" of the Elinor Glyn series, in- troduced by Moss. BERNSTEIN ADDRESSES WOMEN Isadore Bernstein, of the Bernstein Film Corporation, releasing "The Seven Cardinal Virtues," addressed a women's committee on clean films last week in Los Angeles. Mr. Bernstein holds that it rests with the women of the country whether vicious films will be removed or not. CHRISTIE OFFERS COMEDIES The Christie Film Company offers the Christie Comedies for sale to state rights buyers in three territories, the New Eng- land States, New York State, and Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. ISSUES ELABORATE HERALD The Arizona Film Co. has issued an elaborate four-page herald to exploit "Should She Obey/' LATEST FEATURE FILMS, CURRENT OR PENDING, 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, Cnl.— "The Curse of Eve." Arrow Film Corp.. Times Building, New York City—"The Deemster." De Luxe Spoilers Co., 720 Seventh Ave- nue—"The (De Luxe) Spoilers." To-day Feature Film Corp., 15C4 Broad- way, New York City—'To-day." Sol L. Leaser, Lbngacre Building, New York City—"The Ne'er-Do-Well." Benjamin Chapin Studios, Rldgefield Park, N. J.—"The Lincoln Cycle." Williamson Bros., Longacre Building, New York City—"Tbe 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 Aveuue, New York City—"War Prides." Balboa Amusement Producing Co., 1000 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—"The Bar Sinister." Variety Films. 126 West Forty-mirth 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—"Tbe 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—"Tbe 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—"Tbe Woman and the Beast" Grand Feature Film Company. 220 West Forty-second Street. New York City— "Bex 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." 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—"Tbe Sin Woman," "Who Knows?" and "The Seven Cardinal Virtues." A. Kay Co., 729 Seventh Avenne, 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 Orphan," "Ignorance." "Unborn" and "Black Stork." Uncle Sam .Awake Co.. 220 West 42d Street, New York City—"Uncle Sam Awake." Master Drama Features Producing Co., 1493 Broadway, New York City—"Who's Your Neighbor?"