Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

TORONTO, CANADA. Page Seventeen MORE TO BE PITIED HAS NEW YORK PREMIERE BROADWAY THe New York premiere of “More To Be Pitied” took place recently, with a Broadway run. This feature, the first of the series of six box office winners was booked for a special run at Moss’ Broadway Theatre, the run lasting throughout the week. The showing of “More to be Pitied” at the Randolph Theatre, Chicago, and the record it made there, where it was the first Independent picture to be booked into that theatre, has attracted considerable attention throughout the territory—with a result that the reports from the Randolph box office, and the reviews the picture received there are opening to “More To Be Pitied” new channels and booking that are usually open to program pictures only. The booking of “More To Be Pitied” for the Broadway followed a special screening of the feature in the theatre itself—and it was selected as an excellent picture for that house. The Broadway Theatre went in for big exploitation, covering the front of the house with effective displays and other interest-raising exploitation novelties. It is not unusual for a picture to attract a big crowd for the opening performance, but “More To Be Pitied” did something rather extraordinary during the week, when, on the closing night of its week’s run at the Broadway Theatre on Sunday, a line an entire block long waited to get in to witness the evening performance, Charles McDonald, of the Broadway Theatre, said this was an unusual showing for a feature in that house, and that, what was even more unusual, audiences throughout the entire week had signified their enthusiasm, both at the afternoon and evening performances, by applauding vigorously, something which they seldom did for a picture. The week’s run of this first of the C.B.C. Film Sales Corporation’s series of six Box Office Winners, released in Canada by Stephenson Attractions, Limited, was a big success, Mr. McDonald declaring it one of the best all-round audience box-office pictures the house had played in a long time. : “This is a box-office picture,” he said, after the final performance on Sunday night. ‘It is bound to make money for exhibitors everywhere.” “More to be Pitied” to play Strand Theatre, Toronto, week of Oct. 30th. Mgr. Eliot Transferred Griffin House, Owen Sound Mgr. Eliot, one of the victims of the fire catastrophe in Northern Ontario, having lost his theatre in Haileybury, this town being completely wiped out, has been transferred to Griffin’s Opera House, Owen Sound, Mr. Eliot has earned his designation as hero, having performed the ‘humanitarian and heroic act of conducting and taking care of a large number of little children during the progress of the fire. These little children had rushed down to the edge of the Lake, waiting to be rescued. Mgr. Eliot placed them upon a large raft and manoeuvering this raft from sundown until three in the morning managed to land the children safely. With Mr. Eliot as their leader the children followed him, as he cut through the bush, and headed for Cobalt which was about fifteen miles off. Fortunately for this brave little party they were taken up by a rescue party of automobilists. Most of these little children had been separated from their parents; and their parents had no idea of their rescue until they were reunited. Mgr. Eliot in an interview with The Digest stated that ts Sc lowing morning he found himself with about thirty cents in his pocket ; and was obliged to borrow some clothes in order to come to Toronto. Elis home and its contents were completely wiped out, the insurance on both not being large enough to cover a portion of the cost. However, Mgr. Eliot cheerily said, that he and his wife were convinced that with the same spirit in which they built their home, they would build another. We extend to Mr. Eliot our sympathy for his financial loss; and our very best wishes for a new era of prosperity for him. We are certain that under his management the Griffin Opera House will thrive. Novelty Show Produced Imperial, St. John, N.B., : To Be Filmed. A novelty is to be produced at the Imperial Theatre shortly which is to be a local fashion show put on by twelve young ladies in conjunction with leading merchants and the Daily Journal. This will be filmed at a public performance at the Imperial on Thursday and Friday evenings, diTe" by David Hartford. e “Night Life in Hollywood” Heralded as Unique Production In many ways “Night Life in Hollywood” is a unique production. Perhaps its greatest claim to distinction lies in the fact that as an “audience” picture it has never been equalled. This is said advisably, for not alone will it thrill and delight the regular movie fans but it will assuredly attract to the motion picture theatres of the world an entirely new clientele drawn thither by the cur. iosity which is in every mind regarding the inner workings of the motion picture industry. Every normal man, woman and child is interested and intrigued by the stage and screen and its folk. A certain glamour surrounds them which lifts them from . the plane of every-day hum-drum existence, and places them in a more rarified atmosphere. And because the stage and screen with their players are outside of the usual routine of our lives we feel concerning them a very great curiosity, and we grasp a very great opportunity of learning all that may be learned about these strange places and their alien people. “Night Life in Hollywood” presents a vivid exposition of the “inne! workings” of what is, perhaps, the most discussed community inthe world. We follow engrossed the adventures and misadventures of a country boy who, lured on by an overactive imagination, leaves his home in search of the hectic happenings which, according to the press, constitute the ordinary life of the denizens of Hollywood. What befalls this boy makes a fascinating story—a_ story which will make its appeal, as has been said, to every man, woman and child. Released through Stephenson Attractions, Limited. Letter Received by Bijou Manager, Winnipeg, “Where’s My Wandering Boy.” Winnipeg, Man., Oct. 4-22. ‘To the Manager of this Theatre: Dear Sir,— I have just seen the picture ‘Where is My Wandering Boy,” and I wish to make it known to you that I for one am glad that I have seen it, I have a mother that I have not seen for years and to-night I start for home and to my dear old mother. I wish that the picture can do for others what it has done for me. Yours truly, A Wanderer. Moonshine Valley, with William Farnham had an excellent run at Queen Square Theatre, St. John, NAB oy Qs oe eae 7) fase Coleman Electric Co., 21 Dundas St. E., Toronto.