Variety (November 1918)

vKr^LM**'* v>] p.5S>7r55^^^ M0' MOVING P I C T U ^Ss. ferf- m' ffi^:-i- ip?- Ik ■ - M^-^ . PICKFORD'S CONTRACT. * There are several rumors afloat con- cerning the duration of Mary Pick- ford's contract with the First National Exhibitors' Circuit. It may be stated the agreement is for three pictures—the star to make her own productions and turn them over to the First National for distribution, for which she fs to receive $250,000 per negative. Miss Pickford has the op- tion of making for the First National three additional features upon serv- ing notice of such intention simultane- ously with the delivery of the second negative. These pictures will not be sold as a series, the exhibitors contracting for each one, with the privilege of refus- ing any or all after a private screen- ing. The First National has contracted for six Anita Stewart productions to be released on the same basis. None of its releases will be sold in con- junction with any other, each picture being, contracted for by the exliibitor on its individual merit. It v'<is said around the oflfires of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit Ex- change this week that the first of the new Pickford subjects hereafter to adorn the services of the F. N. .will be ready for release by the first of the year. Just when the next Charles Chaplin subject will reach New York for pub- lic screening is not known, although speculation is that it will not be listed until Jan. 1 or later. OPINION ON UNCERTAIN DAMAGE. In an appeal by defendant from a judgment for $1,000 entered in the Municipal Court of Manhattan, in favor of the plaintiiT, two judges of the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court reverse the judgment, with a third justice dissenting. K. & R. Film Co., Inc., entered into an agreement with William A. Brady to play its feature, "The Masc/ue of Life," at the latters' theatre in Wil- mington, Del. Mr. Brady agreed to "lease" His the- atre for one week to the K. & R. Co. for the exhibition of the picture, play- .ing. upon a 50-50 basis. Thereafter Brady, it is alleged, broke his contract, and K. & B. was unable to exhibit the picture. In an action to recover damages it was held by Justice Lehman the prof- its were purely speculative and not susceptible of proof and a.new trial ordered. Justice Pendleton concurs in this finding, but Justice Finch, in'^a dissenting opinion say.s that the breach of contract was due to the wilful act of defendant and cites a former tuling which says: "A person violating his . contract should not be permitted .to entirely escape liability because the. amount -of damages which he has caused is uncertain." MARRIAGE HELPS. With the marriage of Mildred Har- ris to Charles Chaplin there has come a big boom in the demand for Mrs. Charlie Chaplin films. Universal has been quick to take advantage of the situation and has stripped all of its Harris paper on hand to conform to its star's marriage to the comedian. Film at Grand, Syracuae. Syracuse, Nov. 20. The Grand opera house will reopen Thanksgiving with a picture policy. It \yill play "Crashing Through to Ber- lin" as the first feature. The house at one time played Keith's vaudeville. Picture* at Auditorium, Quebec. Quebec, Can., Nov. 20. The Auditorium has been taken over by Jay and Jules Allen. It will play pictures. At one time the house played vaudeville. -NEWSTANLEY COSTING $2,000,000. .. ^ n^r : . pjjjj^^^^ Nov. 20. ~ The Stanley Amusement Company, of this city, intends to build a picture theatre estimated to cost $2,000,000, at 19th and Market streets. The work will begin as soon as conditions will permit. It will have a seating capacity /)f 4,000, with a roof garden attached where pictures will be shown in the summer. The theatre will be called the New Stanley, in memory of the late Stanley Mastbaum. CAUGHT WITH WAR FILM. Peace caught some ivfeW York pic- ture men with a big feature whose market renting value tumbled a few pegs. "The Kaiser's Finish," filmed accord- ing to report from former Ambassador James W. Gerard's second book, was finished some time ago, but the men controlling it are understood to have held out for a fancy rental price. HARTSAILS FOR PARIS. Charles S. Hart, chairman of the Di*rc; vision of Films of the Committee on Public Information, and Carl Byoir, Assistant Director General of the for- eign section of the committee, sailed for Europe this week. They will be present in Paris during the peace conferences and will make arrangement for the spreading of American propaganda in foreign coun-", tries. r Frank V. Bmner has resigned as publicity repreaentatlTe for Norma Talmadge to Join tlie Patbe publicity department. With peace, the Pioneer Pllme contemplata re-lSBUlQg "ClvUUatlon." If your patrons had just one V Suppose you said to your people to-day, '"What kind of a picture would you give your right arm to see? Think hard, folksl" ■~ They'd answer, "A D. W. Griffith picture about Victory, and * love, and democracy, and Americanism. We'll jam your house and pay any old price to see one like that." M m Vi ya Would they? You bet they would! W ■>■*,- Then you'd say, *Tou get your wish!. Come on folks, I'm going to deliver the goods." v . ., And you'd run right down to the exchange and book, for as many davs as you could get it, this very picture D^^GRIFHTH Presents Ihe Gi'eatest Thing in life An ARTCRAFT Picture Personally Directed by D. W. Griffith Story by Capt Victor Marier Photographed by G. W. Bitzey RELEASED EARLY IN DECEMBER -.••^5i ■■■■,r-y- .5r • - r^. •■-■■;--rr ■■^ m m w »♦*•• BOSSEBOSBBSK i ^l)OtPaz\W3KPns.JESSEI^l^S«Y^>»»Prvs.CXaLKm^MIU3i])itv^ •-NEW Yonio ' •■"1