Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

X H B O Six Paralta Films Completed; Work Started on Glass Studio President Anderson, Pleased With Concern's Development, to Visit Plant— Walthall Finishes "His Robe of Honor" Carl Anderson, president of Paralta Plays, Inc., left New York on Saturday, Nov. 17, for Los Angeles, Cal., where he will spend several weeks at the Paralta studios consulting on the future developments of the Paralta organization. Announcement was made last week that Paralta Plays were to be distributed by the newly formed W. W. Hodkinson Corporation. Kerrigan Film First Six productions are now completed: "A Man's Man," in which J. Warren Kerrigan appears as the star, will be the first picture to be issued and will be followed by Bessie Barriscale in "Madam Who." The subsequent publications will be announced shortly. At the present time there are six companies working at the studios which taxes them to their utmost. Additional ground was purchased recently, in order to increase the facilities to at least twice their present capacity. Work on the first glass enclosed stage at the new studio is to begin this week. Three out of the four stages that are planned for the Paralta plant have been completed. Two of them are equipped with diffuses, while the third which is to be the first glass enclosed stage, will not be provided with these light regulators until after the steel and glass work have been installed. Work Will Proceed With the approach of the rainy season in Southern California considerable apprehension has been felt over the prospects for continuous work by the various Paralta companies. Robert Brunton, director of productions, however, has completed negotiations with one of the iron works in California to supply the steel for the frame work over the new stage and has effected arrangements with a glass manufacturing plant to suppl3r the material to complete the work, it is announced. The sides of the glass enclosure will be 33 feet in height and the stage will have 25 feet in the clear. A new system is to be followed in the arrangement of the diffuses. In other glass enclosed studios the diffuses are suspended under the girders. With the new Paralta stage it is planned to place the diffuses directly under the glass roof. Sixty Days to Complete The contract calls for the erection of the steel frame work within thirty days. A similar period is allowed for the construction of the glass work so that sixty days will elapse before the first Paralta company can begin work under glass. "His Robe of Honor," in which Henry B. Walthall will make his debut as a Paralta star, is finished and Mr. Walthall will start on his second Paralta play within a short time. Before leaving New York, Mr. Anderson spoke most enthusiastically in reference to the future of Paralta. Upon his arrival at the coast he expects to be able to announce the addition of another star to the galaxy of artists already with Paralta. Simple Projector Installed for Sick in Seattle Hospital The Seattle Stage Lighting Co. of Seattle recently installed a Simplex Projection machine in the Tuberculosis Hospital at Seattle, Wash. The Simplex was mounted on a portable platform so that it can be moved from one ward to another and in this manner each floor secures its own entertainment without interfering with the patients on the others. The Operators' Union furnishes an operator one day a week without cost to take charge of the machine and run the show. TWO SCENES FROM "AMERICAN MAID" WAR TAX COLLECTIONS (Continued from page 15, column 3) been received. Some exhibitors claim a falling off of as high as 35 per cent, while others report little or no difference in their receipts. Others whose volume of business has decreased attribute it to other causes, as well as the tax, such as knitting clubs, Red Cross work, the Red Triangle campaign for funds, and other war-time activities. Join the A. E. A. Lend your voice to an organization which will make itself heard in demanding a square deal for exhibitors. Aid of Film Industry to Curb Unscrupulous Asked by Government The unscrupulous exhibitor who has used the war tax as a mask to cover profiteering by the imposition of the law, has come to the notice of the government. In a direct appeal through Mark Eisner, collector of internal revenue for New York, the government asks that the film industry hunt out these individuals and refuse to either sell or lease them films. "While in the case of certain high priced houses," said Mr. Eisner, "in order to avoid handling pennies, the price of 25 cent seats has been raised to 30 cents, inclusive of the tax there would seem to be little objection. But when we come to patrons less fortunately situated and find the proprietors of some 5 cent houses imposing upon the ignorance of their patrons by charging them taxes which are not designed to be turned over to the government it seems to me that some action should be taken. "While it may be possible to prosecute for receiving money under false pretenses those who are guilty of this offense, I feel that the houses that lease film can do much toward eradicating this evil by refusing to sell or lease to any concern which deceives its patrons in order to make a profit by false pretenses." Mr. Eisner stated that numerous instances had been found where the proprietors of 5 cent houses were charging 7 cents admission and attributing the increase to the tax. EDNA GOODRICH, THE AMERICAN-MUTUAL STAR, HAS LEADING ROLE IN FORTHCOMING PRODUCTION WITH SCENES LAID IN FRANCE AND THE WEST. (Mutual.) Petrova Picture Co. to Issue Booklet "Ten Reasons Why" The Petrova Picture Company, which, during the coming year, will present Madame Petrova in a series of eight pictures, has, in course of preparation, a booklet entitled "Ten Reasons Why." Among the various subjects dealt with are the star herself; the world-wide advertising campaign which has been inaugurated in behalf of the pictures; the selection of plays; pre-production counsel; cost of production; public popularity; supporting cast; laboratory treatment of pictures; editing and titling, and the staff of studio assistants. 22