Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 25 ;\Y THEATER CO. MERGES INTERESTS OF A. HAMBURGER "THE PUBLIC DEFENDER" FIRST OF SPECIAL RAVER SERIES, NOW IS COMPLETED hain of Film Houses Absorbed as Chicago Business Men Enter Field Play Is Appeal for Equal Rights Before the Law; Frank Keenan, Alma Hanlon and Robert Edeson Have Stellar Roles in Production With the organization of the Contisntal Theaters, with headquarters in le Mailers building, at Wabash avenue id Adams street, Chicago, another cirlit of theaters in Chicago changes inds. The new company has taken the Ikes formerly occupied by the Alfred amburger Theatrical Enterprises, and ir. Hamburger will be the director:neral of the corporation. Back of the new concern is said to be iveral Eastern capitalists, as well as injential Chicago business men who are st entering the motion picture theater isiness in the central states on a large :ale. Announcement will be made soon of le acquisition of at least one large oop" theater, now completed, and an:her that is to be built. The new concern, through Mr. Hamjrger, has secured all first run pictures : the Artcraft and Paramount combinaon, for its circuit of theaters. "The Public Defender," the first of a series of big special screen productions 'treating of problems close to the minds of the masses, announced for presentation by Harry Raver, has been completed and now is ready for the market. Aside from the fact that "The Public Defender" is built on a basic idea of equal rights before the law. and that its cast contains the names of three great stars, in the persons of Frank Keenan. Alma Hanlon and Robert Edeson, it presents a story of strong entertainment values, it is said. "The Public Defender" is a drama of keen conflict between the opposing forces of right and wrong — founded on the book of the same name by Mayer C. Goldman. That the theory advanced so eloquently in "The Public Defender." which declares that every municipality possessing a public prosecutor should elect or ap point a corresponding public official whose mental equipment and legal attainments equal the qualifications of the former, is sound and of practical value, is acknowledged in the success of the nineteen "Public Defenders" established recently in various cities of the United States. The story is simple and direct. There is said to be a strong element of suspense running throughout the narrative and its heart interest is of the human everyday sort. The screen story was written bv Mayer C. Goldman and Frank W. Harris. That the technical detail of criminal procedure, which has an important bearing on the big situations of this drama, is minutely correct is vouched for by the fact that its authors. Messrs. Goldman and Harris, are both practicing attorneys and active members of the Xew York Bar. The adaptation was made for the screen by Frederick Rath H. VAN LOAN. NOW IN HONOLULU WITH COMPANY MAKING "HONEYMOONERS" SERIAL 'ublicity Man Makes First Appearance Before Camera in Film for Peter Pan Film Corporation Which Is Being Made in Trip Around World MARY McALISTER IN "HUBBARD" FILM SCHEDULED OCT 29 ^ i The first publicity man to combine cting with his duties is H. H. Van Loan, ho left a few weeks ago for a trip .round the world for the Peter Pan Film (iorporation, and. who, from the latest feports. has reached Honolulu. I The "junkman." as he is more familkrly known, has enjoyed quite a few adventures during the past two or three jears. He has accomplished many iiings for the sake of publicity for the arious firms he has been connected with, lut has never posed before a motion picire camera. It was Van Loan also who put Sarah ■ernhardt's artificial limb in the Iimc(ght. at the time the Bluebird Company wblished "Jeanne Dore." in which the great French tragedienne made her screen debut. Accompanying him on his trip, which will include practically every country in the world, are Gertrude Cameron, the famous "Battleship Bride," who is to play the leading role in a series to be known as "The Honeymooners": Peggy Aldrich, who is also a film actress and William Aldrich. an expert camera man. This is to be the first world-serial ever made, and the scenario, which is being written by Van Loan calls for a series of one-reelers. each one complete, which will carry the audience entirely around the globe before the final reel is reached. In addition to its unique features, it will be the longest serial ever put out by any film company, as it promises to run 100 weeks. A travesty on Old Mother Hubbard of the nursery rhyme, "'who went to the cupboard to get her poor dog a bone," has been made into a five-reel comedy drama by Essanay for its six-year-old star. Little Mary McAhster. The picture sets forth, m treatment of the lightest vein, the theory that times have changed but little since Old Mother Hubbard's time. And, wnile her cupboard was bare and her poor dog had to go boneless then, the high cost of living in the present day would enable them to fare no better now. The picture is entitled "i'oung Mother Hubbard." and it will be published on Perfection Pictures program October 29. The film has a screen time approximatelv of sixtv-five minutes. POSE OF GEORGE WALSH AND TWO SCENES FROM FOX FILMS — AN IMPRESSIVE SC ENE FROM •■CONSCIENCE." CENTER— GEORGE WALSH IN HIS GYMNASIUM. AND SUPPORT IN A RICH MAN'S PLAYTHING." (Fox Film Comp.l RIGHT— VALESKA Sl'RATT