Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

32 EXHIBITORS HERALD THOUSAND DAYS IN BOOKINGS ON "REDEMPTION" ARRANGED FOR IN TERRITORY ALREADY SOLD The popularity of Julius Steger's production "Redemption," featuring Evelyn Nesbit and her son, Russell Thaw, is best shown by the fact that more than 1,000 days of bookings have already been arranged for the' film in the territory already sold. The film has been booked already for 400 consecutive days in New York City alone, where it will be shown in all the Loew theaters, the Keith and Proctor houses and other large theaters. In New Jersey 125 days have already been booked,' to start August 15. In Illinois Jones, Linick & Schaefer have already booked 223 days, and further bookings are coming in constantly. Sufficient bookings have been arranged in Pennsylvania to bring the total up to 1,000 days. An indication of the drawing power of "Redemption" was the business done by the film at the Far Rockaway Theater, Far Rockaway, N. Y., last week. Manager Silverman stated that the house was crowded at four performances each day, and he turned away at least 1,500 persons daily. All records for attendance and receipts were broken at the Broad Street Theater, Newark, and every other theater which showed the film played to unusual business and profits. FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN CO. SEES GREAT PLANT WHERE PUNY ONE ONCE STOOD Present Roster of Players Grew from Company of Cowboys; George Periolat Is Only Actor of Old List Remaining at Santa Barbara Studio The American Film Company, Inc.. at Santa Barbara, Cal., is celebrating its fifth anniversary of location there. Five years ago a company of cowboys rode up the main street of the town. They formed the vanguard of the American forces. Of these players .there remains but one, and only a few of the mechanical employees. George Periolat is the lone actor who remains. In those early days Periolat supported "Jack" Kerrigan. "Chick" Morrison. Sidney Balderidge and Smith M. Wilson are the three mechanical men who remain of the original company of eighteen. Morrison superintends the plant and Balderidge the technical department. First Studio Puny Affair The first studio was a puny affair upon an ostrich farm. Frequently the big birds uprose and kicked up so much trouble that the production was stopped for the period. The location was at State and Islay streets, which has long since given way to intensive improvements. But from the first success blessed the American's efforts, and in the fall of the initial Santa Barbara year Samuel S. Hutchinson, president of the company, visited the town and with ra*re foresight purchased property where the present beautiful film town has been developed-. Chicago Factory Increase While the fairy city grew under the California sun, the Chicago factory increased in size from 6,000 to 50,000 square feet of floor space, and increased in weekly output from 60.000 to 1,500,000 feet of celluloid. Changes in personnel in the central office have been many, but through the period R. R. Nehls, manager, and Charles A. Ziebarth, superintendent of the plant, have watched the business grow. MUTUAL CATALOG INDEXES $15,000,000 IN FILM REELS, AND STARS, NOW AVAILABLE First Quarterly Lists Earliest Productions and Stars Down to Forthcoming Offerings and Exchanges Handling Products Feature film productions representing a total investment of slightly more than $15,000,000, including hun-. drcds of big pictures, are presented in the first quarterly catalog of the Mutual Film Corporation, just issued. The Mutual's catalog is a compact 24-page volume, illustrated with pictures of all the Mutual's stars, beginning with the earliest films and running from the early W. S. Hart and Mae Marsh pictures down to the Mary Miles Minter pictures to be published two months hence and the coming plays of Charles Frohman successes in motion pictures. A survey of the Mutual catalog brings before readers an array of stars whose pictures arc available at the Mutual's exchanges. Familiar faces of many favorites now scattered through the field of picture production are to be found. There are Robert Harron, Bessie Barriscale. Louise Glaum, "Fatty" Arbuckle and many others of the early Mutual films. Coining down to date, Marjo1 rie Rambeau, Nance O'Ncil, Ann Murdock. Julia Sanderson, W illian I Russell, Margarita Fischer, Gail Kani and others of the current Mutua j films are to be found. The catalog issued by Mutual con tains condensed information on eacl of the sfars and each of the pictures with complete numerical designation so that the reels can be locatei promptly in the exchanges and clear ing house, regardless of date. Ottawa, Ont. — All theaters in Ot! tawa report splendid business durin I the past week. Ben Stapleton at^h Center did a fine business with "ThJ Clodhopper." while Mr. Moxley ;| the Regent packed them in with P«| trova in the "Awaiting Soul." St. John, X. B.— The Motion Pi ture Convention will be held in S| John, X. B., Sept. 7 and 8. The unit' efforts of the league in having t!i tax against theater tickets withdrav should be a good argument to ga| an increase in membership. It ' expected that one or two motion p ture stars will be present and a go' program of entertainment has bet planned. St. John, X. B. — "The Americ Girl" serial has been booked by Fi Winter of the Grand Theater, Mo ton, X. B. WATC ThisLuchy Card