Variety (September 1918)

MOVING PICTURE 4!< GREAT ARRAY OF STAR FILMS TO BOOM L IBERTY LOAN DRIVE Entire Industry Goes in Generously for Special Stunts by Its Principal Players to Give Coming Bond Campaign Much Screen Publicity—Picture Plana for "Drive" All Set. Plans for the motion picture indus- try's distribution of its pictures for the forthcoming Liberty Loan drive have been perfected. They are as fo)lows: 1.—Each company shall distribute, through all of its offices in the United States, the prints in which its own • stars appear. 2.—Prints of any subject made by a company or individual not possessing a distributing organization, will be handled by any distributing organiza- tion selected by such company or in- dividual. 3.—Each office of each distributing organization will be held strictly ac- countable by its Home Office for book- ing solid during the four weeks of the drive each print delivered to it. 4.—At the conclusion of the drive, ' each branch office of each distributing organization shall immediately forward to its Home Office the original book- ing sheets showing the specific thea- tres and the dates for which each print was on exhibition, as well as the dates for which each print was in transit, such booking sheets to be .delivered by you, and by you transmitted to the Treasury Department. 5.—No charge shall be made directly or indirectly to any exhibitor for the exhibition of any Liberty Loan prints, nor shall the exhibitor be asked to pay express charges either way. 6.—Express charges shall be paid by the distributing organization; each ex- change shall maintain an accurate rec- ord thereof, and at the conclusion of the drive, forward the record, sup- ported by vouchers, to its Home Office so that the company may . be re-im- bursed by the Treasury Department. 7.—No exhibitor shall be permitted to book one subject for more than one day, nor shall any exhibitor be per- mitted to obtain a repeat booking for any subject. 8.—Uniform instructions shall be sent . by the Home Office of each distribut- ing organization to its respective of- fices, such instructions to be prepared by your committee, and to be published in the trade papers. 9.—The Government is to determine the number of prints to be made from each negative. 10.—Each distributing organization shall determine the division of such prints among its respective offices, ac- cording to the nature of the terri- tories, and the number of prints re- quired for each. The features vo be released are Wil- liam S. Hart in "A Bullet for Berlin"; Norma Talmadge in "A Liberty Loan Appeal"; Harold Lockwood in "Liberty Bond Jimmy"; "Fatty" Arbuckle in "A Liberty Loan Appeal"; Edith Storey in "Edith's Victory for Democracy"; Emily Stevens in "Building for Democ- racy"; Mae Murray in "The Taming of Kaiser Bull"; Kalem's all-star company in "My Country"; Sessue Hayakawa in "Banzai"; (Hurrah); Wallace Reid in "His Extra Bit"; William Farnum in "A Liberty Loan Film"; George M. Cohan in "A Liberty Loan Appeal"; Corinne Griffith in "A Wise Purchase"; GoldwyriV ait-'sfar cast:"iri "Stake: Uncle Sam to Play Your Hand"; Gladys Les- lie in "Sylvia's Last Pledge"; Lillian Gish in "A Liberty Loan Appeal"; Dustin Farnum in "Ready Money Ring- field"; Elsie Ferguson in "The Spirit That Wins"; Charles Ray in "A Liberty Loan Plea"; Dorothy Dal ton in "A. Liberty Loan Appeal"; Enid Bennett in "A Liberty Loan Appeal"; The Mack Sennett Stars in "It's a Cinch"; Alice Brady in "A Liberty Loan Appeal"; William Faversham in "A Liberty Loan Appeal"; Alice Joyce in The Choice"; Marguerite Dark in "The Biggest and the Littlest Lady in the World"; Mary Pickford in "100 Percent American"; Douglas Fairbanks in "Sic 'Em, Sam"; George Beban in "When It Strikes Home"; Harry T. Morey and Betty Blythe in -The Grouch"; Earte Wil- liams and Clara Whipple in "A Liberty Loan Appeal"; William Duncan in "The Decision"; Charlie Chaplin in "The Bond"; Mr. and Mrs. Cidney Drew in "Financing the Fourth"; Mine. Nazi- mova in "A Woman of France." LOAN FILMS SHOWN. The first showing of the Fourth Lib- erty Loan films was held before an invited audience at the Rivoli Tuesday morning. It was given under the direc- tion of the Liberty Loan Committee. The pictures have been made at the expense of, and are contributed by, the various picture corporations throughout the country. A number of the pictures have been donated by the stars themselves. They consist of short stories, some comic, some seri- ous, each carrying a plea for the Lib- erty Loan. The duty of the citizen to buy is emphasized, as well as the bene- fits- to be derived. Some grim pictures are shown, illustrating just how seri- ous the situation is. There will be 40 pictures in all and these will be shown in all picture the- atres, the agencies distributing them free of charge. The distribution will be under the auspices of the National Committee of the Motion Picture In- dustry appointed to co-operate with the Treasury Department i Adolph Zukor is chairman. The use of the Rivoli was donated by Lieutenant Samuel Rothapfel, U. S. M. C RE MISS YOUNG. Lewis J. Selznlck, president of Select, sent a registered letter to the trade papers contradicting a purported in- terview published in the "Trade Re- view," with Harry I. Garson. in which the statement is made that Garson se- cured a contract giving to him the right to sell outright pictures starring Clara Kimball Young for a period of four years. Mr. Selznick adds that the C. K. Y. Film Corporation, of which Select owns the entire capital stock, has an ex- clusive contract for the services of Miss Young for a period of several years and that Select is the exclusive distributor of pictures starring Miss Young. KILLED BY AUTO. San Francisco, Sept. 18. Mrs. Ruth Darling Franklin, formerly in pictures, 22 years old, and wife of Chester M. Franklin, was crushed, and. killed by an automobile as she waited for a street car here last week. Chester Franklin, now in the Ser- vice, was formerly a film director at Los Angeles. Mrs. Darling was a niece of Edwin A. Morris, manager of the Hippodrome. BROKERAGE CLAIM ON "TARZAN." - Harry A. Palmer is suing the Na- tional Film Corporation of Virginia, for the recovery of 500 pounds sterling, or $2,400 in American money, which he alleges he was supposed to receive as, brokerage feel for the disposition of the foreign rights to the National Film Corporation's feature, "Tarzan of the Apes." According to papers ready to be signed, the National people, acting through Palmer, who is a broker, agreed to concede the British rights to the Stoce Film Company, Ltd., for five years for 3,500 pounds sterling as in- itial part' payment, with the under- standing the Stoce people were to dis- tribute the film, as many prints as necessary, to all theatres possible with- in the United Kingdom. The Stoce interests were to keep the first 11,000 pounds, gained as revenue from the film. All moneys derived af- ter that for the rental of "Tarzan" to exhibitors within the United Kingdom, were to be equally divided between the producing firm, the National and the distributing firm, the Stoce people. It appears that after Palmer had gone to all this trouble in arranging terms, the National interests unexpec- tedly obtained a better offer from an- other British distributing firm, and called this former arrangement off. Palmer, however, claims his broker- age fee, on the ground of services ren- dered and no value received. The case comes up next month. CHICAGO'S PATRIOTIC FILMS. Chicago, Sept. 18. Chicago is full up these days with official and semi-official patriotic pic- tures, and the business they are doing is an indication of the city's temper. Among the patriotic films are ''Ame- rica's Answer* "Crashing Through to Berlin." "Why America Will Win. s "To Hell With the Kaiser," "Joan of Platts- burg," "My Own United States,", "Over the Top," "For the Freedom of the World* "The Beast of Berlin" and others. SUING FOR SHARE OF PROFITS. Edward Clark's suit against Arthur Hammerstein and the Advance Motion Picture Corporation comes up for trial within a fortnight. Through his counsel, Nathan Burkan, the plaintiff asserts that according to contracts signed last year, he, as the author, had half interest in the picture rights in his play, "De Luxe Annie," which Hammerstein sold, but for which be only paid the author $1,500, but a small portion of all the monies that Hammerstein received for the picture rights. With the release of the film—which had Norma Talmadge in the title role— Hammerstein, as owner of.the world rights, sold the picture rights to the Advance people, receiving a percentage royalty for them. Edward Clark, the author, signed a contract with Hammerstein who orig- inally produced it on the stage, where- by during the course of the legitimate version, the plaintiff was to receive as royalties, the 5 per cent, on the first $5,000, 7*A per cent, on the next $2,000, etc. Under the picture rights is was agreed the author was to have one-half interest DRILLING USHERS. Chicago, Sept. 18. The military idea has spread to the picture theatre. With the opening of the new Riviera, there will be engaged a corp of ushers who will be attired in full military regalia, and who will salute, patrons il they usher them to seats. In order that the thing may be done right, Lieut. W. E. Howett has been engaged to drill the young women so that they may conduct themselves with precision and in accordance with mili- tary tactics. v LAEMMLE TAKES SYMPHONY. 4 The Symphony theatre in the former ice rink of Thomas Healy's restaurant at Broadway and 95th street; has been taken over by Carl Laemmle, on a 50-50 percentage plan with Mr. Healy. Mr. Laemmle (Universal) is to con- duct the house, playing Paramount the first half and Bluebird (Universal) the second half. Bluebird is reported re- ceiving $500 weekly for its feature. M. Kashim, manager of the Broadway for the Universal will be shifted to the up- town place. The Symphony is due to open under the new arrangement very shortly. Mr. Laemmle expected to start on a trip to the Coast this week. The Symphony was opened during the summer as a picture theatre but a- few weeks later closed. The Broadway is to remain under the direction of the Laemmle interests for the winter, according to picture book- ing plans laid out in the Laemmle of- fice. . Shortly the U's big eight-reeled war subject, "The Yellow Dog" is expected to open there for a month's stay, while the Herbert Rawlinsrbn feature, "Kiss or Kill" is also underlined for a fort-, night's exhibition at that house. ;■.;■ . . •■•'-;■ ■ ■ ,,■*-. MRS. PICKFORD DUE HERE. Mary Pickford's mother is on her way east from the Coast and is ex- pected to arrive in New York tomorrow (Saturday). When here she will enter into a conference with the First Na- tional relative to the pending contract of her daughter, Mary, with that or- ganization, for future film services. One of the important members of the First National Said this week its con- tract with Miss Pickford had not been closed, and he would not be surprised to find that ultimately Mary would re- main with Paramount, V:: .■'.'. ■- ' '•■:i ■ , .• FLAG DAY OBSERVED. In the observance of "Star Spangled Banner Day" throughout the picture houses of New York and Brooklyn, the N. A. M. P. I. lent whatever assistance it could in making the commemoration as big a success as possible. _ The Mayor's Committee on National Defense set September 14 as the day and every picture. house had special music, with singers leading the audi- ence. Slides made so that the words of the verses and chorus were impress- ionably cast upon the screen. U. S. HOLDS UP FILM SHIPMENTS. The Brazilian shipments of film by the Universal have been held up by the Department of Justice, the manager in charge of the Brazilian office, being charged with pro-Germanism. Some time previous to the war the U had a German in charge, but later placed a man of Irish extraction in command of the office. Now the Department has notified the U that no more film can be shipped until a new man is engaged to handle the Brazilian business. The U has asked the U. S. to get it some American now in Rio. Billy Burke In "Annabelle." Paramount has purchased from Arthur Hopkins the picture rights to Clare Rummer's "Good Gracious An- nabelle," which will be used for Billie Burke. Irving Directing "Silver King." George Irving has returned to Para- mount and is directing "The Silver King," starring William Faversham. Barbara Castleton is the leading lady. Lawrence O. H. Opens With Picturea. Lowell, Mass., Sept. 18. After being closed for ten months, the Lawrence Opera House has been opened under the management of Al Haynes. Pictures will be shown for the present.