Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 17 , MACK SENNETT OFFICIALLY QUITS TRIANGLE; HART SAYS HE WILL SEVER CONNECTIONS Western Character Star Will Follow Ince, According to Contract, Is Word; Will Use Fairbanks' Angle; Concern Threatens Legal Battle Mack Sennett, the producer of hundreds of Keystone comedies published through Triangle, has severed his connection with the Triangle Film Corporation. Papers effecting his release were signed Friday, June 22, and it is thought Mr. Sennett contemplates joining one of the other large companies immediately. The Triangle company will retain the Keystone trade mark, and H. O. Davis, general manager of the corporation, will hereafter handle the Keystone comedies, it is stated. Hart to Quit Triangle The releasing of Mr. Sennett was but one of the important developments in Triangle's affairs during the week. It is now rumored that William S. Hart, the noted delineator of western roles, has also served notice on the concern that he will no longer appear in Triangle productions. H. O. Davis of Triangle asserts, however, that Mr. Hart cannot break his contract with his organization, notwithstanding Mr. Ince's retirement as supervising director. The Triangle company will, it is said, institute legal proceedings should Mr. Hart attempt to produce pictures for other than the Triangle program. Mr. Hart informed the Triangle heads Wednesday, June 20, that he intended to break with them, follow' ing the signing of the papers which released Thomas H. Ince. He states that there are several clauses in his contract, which he signed two months ago, indicating that as soon as Mr. Ince left Culver City as supervising director, he could terminate his contract. Mr. Hart has recently directed his own pictures under the supervision of Thomas H. Ince. Seen as Fairbanks Parallel William S. Hart contends that his contract is similar to that of Douglas Fairbanks, who left Triangle to produce for himself, after D. W. Griffith left the organization. On the other hand, H. O. Davis states a clause in Mr. Hart's contract merely says: "As long as he is supervising director,"' which clause was inserted to prevent a possibility of cne with less ability than Thomas H. Ince directing Hart. There apparently will be another legal battle as soon as the portrayer of western characters attempts to produce his own pictures, which it is stated he intends to do. Both Ince and Hart have been negotiating with one of the other large producers, it is said, but neither has signed as yet. It is not known what Mr. Sennett will do, but it is more than likely he will also sign with one of the big producing concerns thij week. FRANK HALL USES IMPRESSIVE STAGE SET, EXACT COPY OF FILM SCENE, FOR "BAR SINISTER" Plunged Audiences Into Drama's Atmosphere Before First Scene of Play Is Flashed on Screen ; Used in New York and Pittsburgh Theaters Elaborate stage sets are gradually making their appearance in connection with the showing of special pictures and offer theaters an excellent opportunity to give their patrons something new from time to time in the line of pleasing decoration as a change for the eye. Frank Hall took advantage of scenic effects when he presented "The Bar Sinister" at the Broadway Theater, New York, and also during its run at the Pitt Theater, Pittsburgh. He plunged his audiences into the atmosphere of the drama even before the first scene of the picture was thrown on the screen. "The Bar Sinister" stage set is an exact copy of scenes from the picture. A large Southern home is in the foreground with a cabin down stage left, up stage right is the turpentine "still" which plays an important part in the story. Colored singers occupy about five minutes between the finishing of the overture and the starting of the picture, and as the strains of "My Old Kentucky Home" die out, the main title is thrown upon the front of the house. The two center pillars of the house are then drawn up into the flies and the screen lowered until it centers in the handsome frame formed by the other two pillars, the porch and the roof of the mansion. SPECIAL FEATURE STAGE SET FOR "THE BAR SINISTER" THE BEAUTIFUL SET. USED EFFECTIVELY IX THE NEW YORK AND PITTSBURGH SHOWING. IS COMING INTO VOGUE RAPIDLY. THE SCEXE WAS TAKEN FROM THE PRODUCTION ITSELF (Frank Hall Productions)