The New York Clipper (July 1917)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER July 11, 1917 STATE RIGHTS MEN MEET AUG. 7 NEW ASSN. TO BE LAUNCHED Now that plana for the launching of a National Organization of State Rigbts_Buy- ers are practically complete, August 7 has been set as the date for the official birth of the organization, at which time state rights buyers from all over the United States and Cannda will convene in New York City for the purpose of forming an association for their mutual protection and benefit. The organization, which is sponsored by Sol L. Lesser, will have a personnel of state rights buyers, representing every sec- tion of this country and Canada, but only one buyer from each section will be ad- mitted to membership. The organization will then be in a position to purchase the Canadian and American rights to feature productions outright for the entire ter- ritory, which will work a decided ad- vantage to the producer who, under present conditions, must Bell his rights piece-meal, and, in many cases, finds, in the end, that he has not been able to dispose of all of his territory. But those producers who close a deal with the new organization will be able to dispose of their entire' interest at one time. It is the purpose of the organ- ization, after purchasing a feature, to split the territorial rights among its members on a pro rata proposition. Although Lesser has not, as yet, given out the names of the men connected with the organization, it seems assured that the roster of members will include some of the biggeBt state right buyers in the industry. The convention will probably be held at the Hotel Astor. RUSSIAN ACTOR TO BE AVIATOR Word has been received in New York that Mozukin. the Russian actor, has joined the Moscow division of the Russian avia- tion corps, after an unsuccessful attempt at enlisting in the army. The first screen appearance of Mozukin in America was made in Washington on the occasion of the reception of the National Press Club to the special Russian Commission here last week at the Willard, in the screen version of Pushkin's "The Queen of Spades" un- der the direction of N. S. Kaplan and the Russian Art Film Corporation. Mozukin, it is said, intends visiting America in per- son late in the Fall. FOOD ECONOMY FILM SHOWN Baltimore, Md., July 9.—"Fight at Home," a local picture urging economy on food, was given its first showing at Ford's Opera House last week. The scenario was written by Dr. Clement A. Penrose, chairman of the Food Economy Commission. The Mayor and his fornily make their appearance in the picture. The film is to play an important part in the local campaign to help Herbert Hoover. TO DISTRIBUTE SUBMARINE EYE A deal has been consummated between the Williamson Brothers, producers of "The Submarine Eye." and Nathan Hirsh. president of the Civilization Pioneer Film Corporation, whereby the latter concern will distribute this feature throughout »w York State, including Greater New York. RELEASE "SAWDUST RING" JULY IS Triangle's long-heralded story of circus life "The Sawdust Ring," starring Bessie Love, will be released July 15, oa the same, program with "The Mother Instinct," m which Enid Bennett is starred. VITAGRAPH MEN ENLIST The Vitagraph Co. completed its full quota to Uncle Sam when during last week Victor Smith, a brother of Albert E: Smith, president of the company, left Ms position as production manager to begin training at Plattsburgh for an officer's commission. Henry Bergman, of the scenario department, is also at Plattsburg. William Gladd, William Spratt, James Murray and Martin Krouse, of the labora- tory department; Edward Dunn, comedian : George Mayer and Peter Young, of the upholstering department; William Court- ney, of the scenario department; Percy Pulver, Donald Weiss, and P. J. Gallagher, of the purchasing department; Leigh Levering, dare devil stunt man; Louis Eklund, and George Plympton, of the scenario department, are among those who have enlisted. ART DRAMAS TO ISSUE MAGAZINE As a further aid to its exhibitors in ad- vertising their pictures, Harry Raver an- nounces that Art Dramas, Inc. intends to issue a weekly magazine, dealing with Art Dramas generally and specifically, and con- taining, besides news, advertising sugges- tions, clip sheets, and other publicity ma- terial. The publication, which is to be known as Timely Topic*, consists of eight pages, eight and one-half by eleven and three-quarters inches in dimension, printed on best grade calendared paper and plenti- fully illustrated. Each issue will contain press sheet matter for the current release, and also editorials, comments on the films, special articles on different phases of the film industry and other departments. INVESTIGATORS INDORSE FILM Such a profound impression has "Who's Your Neighbor?" the seven-part sociological cinema spectacle written by Willard Mack, directed by S. Rankin Drew, and sponsored by Master Dramas Features, Inc., created that several organizations investigating social conditions in New York City have put themselves on record as approving and being in sympathy with the picture. JEROME ABRAMS JOINS HOFFMAN Jerome Abrams, one of the best known men in the distribution end of the motion- picture industry, has joined the Foursquare forces, M. H. Hoffman, Inc. Mr. Abrams, who was the first special representative of the Bluebird features, will have the same title in his new association and will devote himself to organizing the Eastern Four- square Exchanges. SHEPARD & VAN LOAN GET FILM Before leaving for the Pacific Coast last week Isadore Bernstein announced that he had made arrangements with Shepard and Van Loan whereby this company, which was incorporated for the purpose of han- dling the advertising, publicity' and ex- ploitation for.big organizations, will act as the world representatives of Bernstein Film Productions. PARAMOUNT TO RELEASE 50 MOREFILMS LIKES OPEN MARKET PLAN The third set of Paramount pictures to be placed' on the open market, available to all exhibitors throughout the country regardless of the franchise clause in their program contracts, was announced by Paramount last week, through its execu- tive department. This brings the total of Paramount pictures on the open market up to 156, and it is said the list contains some of the best productions that have been made by the Famous Players, Lasky, Morosco and Pallas companies. The decision of Paramount, about two months ago, to place some of its best screen features on the open market has been found so successful, according to of- ficials of the company, that it was agreed to release an additional fifty-two. Among these latest is "The Cheat" in which Fanny Ward and Sessue Hayakawa co- starred, and which proved a big box office magnet when it was shown as a regular program feature. Others include Mary Pickford in "Esmeralda," "Madam Butter- flv," "The Girl of Yesterday" and "The Foundling"; Marguerite Clark in "Still Waters," "The Prince and the Pauper," 'Mice and Men" and "Out of the Drifts": Pauline Frederick in "Zaza," "Bella Donna," "Lydia Gilmore" and "The Spider." It is announced that in this most recent set released for the open market are also the first productions in which Geraldine Farrar appeared, "Carmen" and "Tempta- tion," and three productions starring Hazel Dawn, two in which John Barrymore is featured, three with Blanche Sweet in the leading role, and others with such stars as Marie Doro, George Fawcett, Charlotte Walker, Cyrile Mande, Lou-Tellegen, Elsie Janis, Donald Brian, John Mason, Laura Hope Crews, Blanche Ring, Charles Cherry, Edna Goodrich, Victor Moore. Dustin Farnum, Theodore Roberts, Maclyn Arbuckle, Valeska Suratt, Constance Col- lier. Cleo Ridgely, Wallace Reid, Anna Held and Florence Rockwell. LINCOLN CYCLE STILL RUNNING The Benjamin Chapin "Lincoln Cycle" continues its run at the Globe Theatre, and will reach its 200th performance dur- ing the coming week. From now on the entire Cycle of four features — "My Mother," "My Father," "Myself and the "The Call to Arms"—will be known under the one title, "The Call to Arms," the other three features retaining their designa- tions, however, as parts of the whole. "LONE WOLF" RELEASE SET The success achieved by Herbert Bre- non's latest production for Selznick Pic- tures, "The Lone Wolf," which is playing at the Broadway Theatre, and the Stude- baker Theatre, Chicago, has resulted in the formation of plans to open this feature in ten cities early in August as a pre- release showing. Following the opening in New York and Chicago the Selznick offices received many telegrams and letters asking for the pictnre before the regular release date, about Sept. 1, and it has been de- cided to open it in August simultaneously in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Boston, St Louis, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Detroit. The New York dailies declared "The Lone Wolf' to be a Brenon triumph and even a better feature than his "War Brides." The American said: " The Lone Wolf at the Broadway is dominated by its director, Herbert Brenon. Like a Belasco-made play a Brenon-made photo-play bears its" own stamp. Mr. Brenon supervises with a painstaking as well as an inspired hand and in this latest presentation of his there are many master strokes." The Tribune said: "There is never a dull moment from start to finish. Things happen in such rapid succession that it leaves one breath- less. Nothing quite so exciting has ap- peared on the screen as the chase by the 'Pack' after The Lone Wolf and 'Lucy Shannon.'" The Bun said: "As General Joffre might have said of The Lone Wolf at the Broadway, "Ca Marche.' In other words, it travels some." All the other New York dailies also commended, the fea- ture. With three distinct punches in the burning of the Hotel Troyon, the auto- mobile falling from the raised jacknife bridge, and the battle between aeroplanes in mid air this pictnre will undoubtedly prove to be one of the biggest money get- ters of the year. A feature of the Broad- way opening was "the showing of important scenes in-"The Fall of the Romanoffs," the Rusian picture Mr. Brenon is directing with Iliodor, the "Mad Monk" of Russia himself playing the leading role. WORKING ON FIRST BACKER FILM Work on the first George Backer Film Corporation Foursquare picture, which is to be released when completed through M. H. Hoffman, Inc., is progressing steadily. The featured stars, Ruth Roland and Mil- ton Sills, and the associate artists are co- operating in an effort to make this super- feature one of the most important of the year. ROBINSON AND BURNS EXPAND « Robinson and Burns, who operate a number of large motion picture bouses in New Jersey and New York, have added another house to their chain. They re- cently opened the new Apollo Theatre, at Wilkenson and Jackson avenues, Jersey City. The house seats one thousand people and was erected at a cost of $60,000. KEY TAKES UP NEW DUTIES Pierre Key, of the New York World, has taken up the duties of publicity manager and Sales Manager of the M. H. Hoffman Company, Inc., and in addition answers to the title of production manager of the George H. Backer Corporation. Key still retains his position with the World. NETTER RETURNING HOME Cleveland, O., July 9.—Leon D. Netter, head of the Masterpiece Film Attractions, will return to his office here the latter part of this month from San Francisco, where he has been spending the past four weeks. TRIANGLE ADVISES WRITERS The Triangle Film Corporation requests that scenarios be sent to the Triangle Film Corp., Scenario Department, Culver City, Calif. WILLIAM A. BRADY, Director-General. WORLD-PICTURES Present KITTY GORDON fa "The Beloved Adventuress" Story by FRANCES MARION Directed by GEORGE COWL _