The New York Clipper (February 1919)

February 19, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 33 VITAGRAPH ABSORBS KALEM SECURES MANY FILMS AND STORIES Vitagraph last week absorbed the Kalem properties, -which included a library of photoplay subjects and many successful stage plays, as well as all produced sub- jects in the negative archives of the Kalem concern. In the negative list which vitagraph acquired in the deal are "From tho Man- ser to the Cross,'' "The lion and the Mouse," about to be released, with Alice Joyce as the star; "The Third Degree" and "The Gamblers,'' all three by the late Charles Klein, possibly the most success- ful of dramatists; Eugene Walter's "The Wolf," Winchell Smith's "The Fortune Hunter" and George Bronson Howard's "Shenandoah." Four Dion Boucicault plays are on the list, as well as several by E. W. Hornung, author of "Baffles 0 and "The Amateur Cracksman," two plays by Joe Murphy, and there are some stories by Frederick K. Bechdoldt. Among the several hundred plays and stories that pass to Vitagraph are: "Shen- andoah," "The Octoroon,'* "Conn, the Shaughraun," "The Colleen Bawn," "Arrah-Na-Pogue,'* "The Kerry Gow," "Shaun Bhue," "An Innocent Sinner," "Wife for Wife," "The Runaway Wife," "The Arkansas Traveler," "The Invaders," "Shannon of the 6th," "Trooper Billy," The Third Degree," "Battle of Shfloh," "The lion and the Mouse," "Through "Fire and Fortune," "Daughters of Men," "Officer Jim," "The Gamblers," "The Wolf," "Erring Wife," "The House Next Door," "The Fortune Hunter," "Moran the Pythones," "The Weight of a Crown," "Threads of Destiny," "Stonewall Jack- son's Way," "The Spy's Way," "The Girl from "Frisco," "Grant, Police Reporter" and "The American Girl." Concurrently with the transfer of these properties, William Wright, secretary and treasurer of Kalem almost since the in- ception of that pioneer concern, becomes affiliated with Vitagraph's sales and pro- motion department. A further gain to Vitagraph in the Kalem deal regards the laboratories at the Brooklyn studio, which have been rein- forced with the complete laboratory equip- ment of the big Kalem studio, said to have been one of the most modern in America. Together with the transfer of this finely coordinated department to Vitagraph, the superintendent responsible for its organi- zation becomes a member of the chemical staff of Vitagraph, together with several of his expert assistants. The consummation of the deal marks one of the biggest transactions of the kind the Bel field has known and, in conjunc- tion with its own and that recently secured from Lubin, gives Vitagraph a library probably unexcelled by any film concern in the world. U. S. TO DROP FILMS Charles S. Hart, director of the Division of Films of the Committee of Public In- formation, announced last week that the United States Government Film Division will cease to exist before the middle of April. Mr. Hart stated that the Division of Films has completed Its work, and its affairs will be closed as soon as possible. The contract with the World Film Cor- poration for the release of "America's Answer," "Under Four Flags" and the "U. 8. A." aeries win be maintained until that concern has finished Ha bookings. LOCK WOOD LEFT *45,0OO The estate of Harold Lockwood, the motion picture actor who died last Oc- tober, is valued at $46,000, according to the will which was admitted for probate last week by Surrogate Cohalan. Two life insurance policies, each amounting to $10,000, are included in the estate. One of these is payable to the late actor's mother and the other to his 10-year-old son. Harold Lockwood, Jr. The will directs that the balance of the late actor's property be divided equally between his mother, Mrs. Jennie Lockwood; his son, Harold, Jr., and a friend, Gladys W. Lyle, who resides in Los Angeles, Cal. J. Robert Rubin and Charles K. Stern, friends of the late actor, were appointed executors and granted letters testa- mentary in the Surrogate's Court last week. FILM FLASHES "BIG FOUR" TO HOLD ALL STOCK At a meeting held last week by David W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks, Charles Chaplin and Mary Ffckford, otherwise known as the "Big Four," it was decided that all stock of the United Artists' Asso- ciation, as their official name is now known to be, will be divided among them- selves only, The meeting was held in Los Angeles, where it was revealed that Will- iam S. Hart has <i-finitely decided not t-j joint the combination, ana, in fact, is even doubtful about staying in films at all, as he desires to retire. The association will be capitalized at $000,000, and will sell shares at $100 each. All of the stock wil be bought up by the four, who will finance the organization. LASKY GETS "SECRET SERVICE" Jesse L. Lasky announced last week that the Famous-Players Lasky Corpora- tion has purchased William Gillette's famous play, "Secret Service." The play opened in New York with Gillette, in October, 1898, at the Garrick Theatre, and is said to be one of the biggest money-making theatrical produc- tions in the history of the American stage. It was revived in 1010 by Gillette and again scored a hit. The Famous- Players company have not yet decided who will play the leading part. IVY COMPANY BANKRUPT The Ivy Pictures Corporation, of 62 Broadway, was petitioned into bankruptcy a few days ago by Louis Halle repre- senting three creditors, in the United States District Court. The claims of the three amount to a total of $1,584. The lia- bilities of the company are said to be $5,000 while 'the nominal value of the assets is placed at $3,000. The Ivy Pictures Corporation held control of the film rights of "The Lure of Lady Luxury." WOMEN'S UNIT GOING ABROAD A women's film unit, with representa- tives from the General Federation of Women's Clubs, National Federation of College Women, Association of Collegiate Alumnae and the Women's Bar Associa- tion will leave New York for France about June 1. From there they will go to Italy, Russia and other countries. The object of the unit will be to aid in welfare work. ROTHAPFEL INCORPORATES CO. Albaht, N. Y, Feb. 13.—On the list of incorporations of today is found that of the Rothapfel Pictures Corporation, down for $150,000. The address is given as 136 West Forty-sixth street, and the names of the members of the company are listed as W. Eisenhardt, H. T. Biggs and S. L. Rothapfel. --.* . HART HAS NEW LEAD ^-~ William 8. Hart has taken for his next leading lady Juanita Hansen, who has; been playing in Keystone comedies. SHOW MEN AND ASS'N AT ODDS 1 Snappy Stories will soon be produced LEAGUE TO FIGHT CENSORSHIP on tho screen by A. K. SelgeL Universal will release "The Red Glove" on March 17th. Charles Ray Is working; on a new feature entitled. "Hayfoot. Strawfoot." That the movie exhibitors of New York State have decided to conduct an inde- pendent fight against the passage of the censorship bill that is now pending in the Legislature, was disclosed this week, In a letter sent to the National Association by Sydney Cohen, President of the M P. Exhibitors' League of America. Cohen,* who had been asked to become a member of the National Association's advisory committee, organised for the pur- pose of combatting adverse legislation such aa the New York State censor bill, apparently believe* that the exhibitors can handle the situation as an independent fac- tor, without tying up with the manufac- turers, and has declined to work with the Association's committee. In accordance with Cohen's plans of action, he has called a convention of the New York State picture showmen, which is scheduled to be held in Syracuse, on February 26th. The league will immedi- ately get busy on a campaign, that it has been working out for several weeks, and which it is confidently expected will have the effect of defeating the proposed censor- ship law. The Association will go right ahead with its own plana, with re s pect to defeating the censor bill, which if passed, will un- doubtedly mean that most of the New York State picture houses will have to raise their prices, with an excellent chance of losing business aa a result. CAPELLANI TO PRODUCE Albert Capellani arrived in New -York on Monday to start preparations'for the work of his new company. Oappellani, who has hitherto been a director for the Metro, and who directed Nazimova in all of her screen productions for that com- pany, has formed a new company, to be called Albert Capellani Productions, Inc., with headquarters in the East. He has already taken over the studio of the Solax Company in Fort Lee and work will be started within a week. Creighton Hale and June Caprice have been signed by the new company and negotiations are on with several other motion picture stars. /The first named will be starred together. Three French dramas have been selected for production. The films turned out by Capellani will probably be distributed -by the Pa the. FORT LEE STUDIO BURNS Foet Let, N. J., Feb. 14.—A fire in the laboratory of the Universal Film Com- pany's plant today destroyetd several thousand feet of film and caused consid- erable damage to (he building. The loss was about $0,000. The fire started while a photoplay was being made, and the players formed a bucket brigade and fought the flswi— One wideawake camera man took motion pictures of the actors trying to subdue the fire. No one was injured. There were fifty girls in the laboratory when the fire started. Robert C. Anderson haa signed a two- Sear contract with the Universal Film ompany. DIVORCES A TITLE Mount Vxszroir, N. Y„ Feb. 14.—Mrs. Adele Freed* von Dewitc, the former mo- tion picture actress, who 'married a title, secured a decree of divorce on February 13 from Supreme Court Justice Albert F. Seeger. Her former husband, "Baron'' H. *"ReH Dewitz, is also a motion pieture actor, and is said to come from Copen- hagen. The custody of their two-year-old /son was given to the plaintiff. The RIalto la featuring Unlversal'a "Lion and the Mouse" this week. Henry Walthall Is featured at the Rlvoll this week In "The Falsa Faces." Hugh Thompson will appear in the next United Picture with Florence Reed. Pristine Dean Is completing her. latest Universal production. "Raggedy Ann." . Gareth Hughes will be Florence Reed's leading man in her next United feature. Montgomery and Rock's new Big "V" comedy Is called "Damsels and Dandles." Rupert Julian Is completing "The Fire- Fllngers," In which he plays a dual role. Robert C. Anderson has. tar oonl ompany. Florence Reed's latest United production which will be released soon Is ,r Her Code of Honor.' »,V, p '* r L.5 0 f» Her~"Darndeat." with May Allison, win be released by Metro on Feb- ruary 14th. Leah Balrd's first .of the six Augustus Thomas plays for the. screen will be 1 'As a Man Thinks." Duatln Farnum's latest United feature la "A Man In the Open," to be released February "3rd. Mary Maolaren. having completed '■Whose Wldowr'ls resting in the'caU- fornla mountains. . ^ 2b S ,I S* n l lJ h ff ck to New * ot * »"er J.™',! 0 the middle west exchangee of the Universal Company. Joseph Ooodsteln will distribute Hou- dtol*s serial. "The Master Mystery." In the Rocky Mountain States. '•"■"■" .Major Jack Allen has signed a contract with Universal to produce a series of ani- mal and nature pictures. Charles F. Schwerin of the States Rights. Is toe father of a baby boy born lastweek. Mother and child doing wen. Samuel Zlerler has been promoted to general sales manager of the big "U" Film Exchange In NewYork City. Lynn . s » c * ro JL ■*■■ chief of the Inde- pendent Sales Corp., has left New Tork for a Coast to Coast trip for the company. -JU I ?S,J W 2i? t ?*JrUn«Tlail." Bessie Loves new Vitagraph feature, Is completed and Miss Love began on a new production thle week. Joseph A. Golden took his entire com- pany south last week to work on the new Western photoplay aerial. "The Great Gamble. «iJ h " i 8 - 6l Ro l& Company has opened an. office In New Orleans to distribute "The Master Mystery" serial In the south cen- tral States. S. L. Rothapfel delivered a lecture to the Cinema Composers of that department In Columbia University on Friday evening, February 14th. Joseph I. Schnlteer. general sales man- ager for the Universal Film Exchanges, left the city Monday on a tour of all the exchanges In the country. F. F. Livingstone has made his head- quarters In 1440 Broadway as the repre- sentative of Billy Van, who win soon ap- pear in the films under his real name.' Earl MacDonald. "The Tiger's Trail" will be the Path* serial to follow "The Lightning Raider." Ruth Roland will be the starT supported S? \? eo S 6 L " J Xr , *V. * tal * , Stronf, George Field. Harry Moody and. Frederick L. Kohler. May Allison, Jack Mower, Hector V. 8arno. 'Frederick Vroom, Gordon Marx. Edward Alexander, Chance Ward. Tom Kennedy, Mrs. Lucille Ward and Lillian West are In the east of Miss Allison's new feature. "The Island of Intrigue.*'