Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

X H B O R H R D Fox Film Corporation Completes History-Making Year in Industry More Than One Hundred Productions Averaging Six Reels Each Put on Market— 8,000 Miles of Film Consumed One hundred and five productions averaging six reels each is William Fox's contribution to the screen for 1917. Twenty photoplays in this total were specially elaborate. The output from the Fox studios is said to be the largest for a year of any concern having no subsidiary' producing organizations. It represents an annual consumption in excess of 8,000 miles of film. About three-fifths of the pictures were taken in California. The rest were made at the Fox plant in New Jersey. All of the twenty-six Fox film comedies and the six Fox-Lehrman Sunshine comedies were done in the West. Such pretentious productions as "The Conqueror," "The Honor System," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp," "Treasure Island," "Cleopatra," and many others, were likewise screened on the Pacific Coast. Publications by Months The largest number of publications was twelve in April, December following with eleven, January with ten and the other months following with from six to nine each. Of the total productions, thirtynine were made in Fox Eastern studios and sixty-six in California, Hollywood having decided tactical advantage because of being the home of the comedies and most of the Standard Pictures. In production, in volume of business done, in number of persons employed, in footage of film purchased, in companies of actors maintained, in domestic and foreign exchanges established, in directorial strength, in studios operated, in development of new stars, in office space required, in capital utilized, in perfection of the policy of co-operation with exhibitors— in all these respects, and in others, the year 1917, according to Mr. Fox, has been the biggest and best in the history of his organization. President's Comments "Only 145 days ago," said Mr. Fox, in summing up the year's activities. "Standard Pictures, so far as the exhibitor was concerned, were a dream. True, we had spent many months in preparation for them, as our ability to release them at the average rate of one every eleven days has demonstrated, but the exhibitor knew nothing of this. Today, the series is as firmly established — is as much of a staple in the market — as if its history dated back to the beginning of the industry. We put $5,000,000 in these pictures without saying a word about them to anyone. First we perfected them and then we showed the exhibitors what we had. From the outset we have insisted that the productions must be seen before they could be booked. And they have gone over the top the way Haig's men went over the other day in the dash toward Cambrai. It has been a smashing achievement. "But if the success of Standard Pictures as a whole has been remarkable, what must I say of the greater venture, the excursioning and pioneering into wholly new fields with productions featuring Jane and Katherine Lee, Francis Carpenter and Virginia Lee Corbin and Georgie Stone and Gertrude Messinger? 'Jack and the Beanstalk' was the forerunner of a type of play new to the dramatic world — productions which have visualized, as only pictures could, the stories that for ages have been welding stronger and stronger the home ties of young and old alike. Here was adventure indeed. Business adventure into the virgin wilds of dramatics. And we, and hundreds of exhibitors with us, have found the buried gold on 'Treasure Island.' " Titan Pictures Corp. Signs Marjorie Steed to Star in Comedies The Titan Pictures Corporation announces the engagement of Marjorie Steed for leading roles in "Titan Comedies." Miss Steed has had extensive experience, having appeared in principal roles with Lubin and other big producers. She played opposite Peggy O'Neil in a recent production. It was at the Rothacker studio that her work attracted the attention of Frederick Russell Clark, president of the MAJORIE STEED. Titan Picture Corp. Star. Titan Company, and his director, Rex Weber. She was approached and a contract signed. Miss Steed will have special scripts written for her, announcement of which will be made in the near future. Her engagement by the Titan Company is a deviation from the procedure of this company which in the past has used separate stars for each picture. The Titan Company will continue to use the nationally-known stars, but will feature Miss Steed in many pictures, it is announced. THREE GRIPPING SCENES FROM "THE DEBT" BIG MOMENTS FROM THE FRANK POWELL PRODUCTION, FEATURING THE NOTED STAGE STAR. MARJORIE RAMBEAU, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED THROUGH MUTUAL. 36