Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

X H B O R H R D Clifford Photoplay Company Contracts for Production ot 12 Five-Reel Comedies Features to Be Exploited on State Rights Plan — Shorty Hamilton the Star — Ernest Shipman Will Handle The success attending the private allowing of the first two pictures produced by the W. H. Clifford Photo Play Company has induced Victor Kremer, the general manager, to contract for the production of one five-reel feature a month. These features will be exploited on the state rights plan and a franchise for the entire twelve stories, to be published on the first day of each month during 1918, will be open to buyers. These franchises are available to distributors in the various states who may either purchase outright or make arrangements upon a cooperative basis. These features, it is claimed, will prove of unusual value to buyers and exhibitors because they introduce a comedian who already has the backing of over 20,000,000 motion picture fans, and by virtue of the splendid five-part stories in which he will appear and the superiority of his productions over past efforts will add to his established clientele the additional patronage of all high-class picture houses. Shorty Hamilton's first picture is entitled "Denny from Ireland." Tom Moore never wove a more interesting theme into song or story. The contrast between the pathos and ready wit of the lad in Ireland and his humorous escapades in the cattle country, form a theme that for mingling of laughter and tears has seldom been' surpassed upon the screen. Six of the subjects to follow have already been decided upon. Five of them will be known as Shorty Hamilton in "The Snail''; Shorty Hamilton in "A Prisoner of War"; Shorty Hamilton in "In Society"; Shorty Hamilton in "A Texas Ranger," and Shorty Hamilton in "On Wall Street." Through state rights buyers and prominent exhibitors, the motion picture public will be asked to vote their choice of other humorous stories which will be presented for their selection through the press. After thoroughly investigating market conditions the W. H. Clifford Company came to the conclusion that Ernest Shipman was the best qualified to handle the exploitation of this series, both in the United States and abroad and a contract was accordingly entered into, whereby all business in connection with this series of pictures will emanate from Mr. Shipman's offices, IT West 44th street, New York City. U. S. Exhibitors Booking Corp. Appoints Four Well-Known Western Representatives Recent additions to the sales forces of the U. S. Exhibitors' Booking Corporation include Joseph Desberger, G. W. Wilson, A. B. Lucas and Joseph Levy, all of whom have had long experience in the western district. Mr. Desberger comes to the U. S. corporation from the World Film Corporation, being former manager of St. Louis exchange, and will represent the booking concern in St. Louis. He will make his headquarters in the Hoffman-Foursquare exchange. Mr. Wilson, who will direct the marketing of U. S. productions in the Cincinnati district, resigned as representative of the Triangle Film Corporation in that city to join the U. S. forces. Before serving with Triangle Wilson was manager of the Paramount exchange in Cincinnati. A. B. Lucas also leaves the Triangle to take charge of U. S business in Kansas City, where he will make his headquarters in the Hoffman exchange. Mr. Lucas has served many years in the Western territory for important film concerns. He was with Paramount in Chicago, Triangle in Omaha and Kansas City and a'so served as the Triangle manager in Chicago, which position he resigned to affiliate with the U. S. Joseph Levy has resigned from the sales forces of Select Pictures, Pittsburgh office, to handle U. S. productions in Minneapolis. Mr. Levy formerly acted as the Fox representative in St. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha. Other district representatives will be named in the near future by Joseph Partridcre, division manager, for the U. S. Exhibitors' Booking Corporation, who is now engaged in assembling the company's sales forces beyond the Rockies. Mr. Partridge will announce shortly the names of the men who will act as U. S. representatives in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle, in each of which cities headquarters will be established in the Hoffman-Foursquare exchanges which have recently been opened. Newest W. & W. Line Sells Well in East Reporting a marked demand for the latest acquisition to their already long line of products, the Wertsner Silver Screen, Albert G. Wertsner of the firm of Wertsner and Wild, paid a visit to Chicago this week, the second time since the western plant was established by Fred Wild three years ago. Up to the present time this screen for motion picture projection has been manufactured exclusively in their eastern plant but during Mr. Wertsner's stay in Chicago the local plant will also be equipped to manufacture it. The newest W. &. W. product has met with success in the east and already some of the largest theatres in Philadelphia have purchased the screens. In addition to supplying the training camps and cantonments in this country the company has fhipped seventy-five of the screens to France and twenty-five to Russia. "Art" McDermott. for many years connected with Rand-McNally, in the map end of that business, has joined Wertsner and Wild and will give h;s attention to the map business of the latter company. Courtney R. Cooper Writing Scenario for Wharton Serial In selecting Courtney Ryley Cooper to prepare the scenario of "The Eagle's Eye" Chief Flynn's wide-heralded secret service serial, exposing the activities of the kaiser's agents in America, the Whartons are being congratulated upon securing the services of one of the most talented contemporary American fiction writers. Born in Kansas City, Mo., October 31, 1886, Mr. Cooper has spent most of his life in the West and during the past seven years has contributed over three hundred short stories to the leading magazines of this country. Mr. Cooper has written several successful screen stories for Joseph M. Schenck and the Whartons, prior to his engagement to arrange Chief Flynn's expose of the Imperial German government's propaganda. 'THOSE WHO PAY" AVAILABLE DEC. 15 Word has been received by Frank Hall, president and general manager of the U. S. Exhibitors' Booking Corporation, that the company's second special release, Thomas H. Ince's seven-part drama, "Those Who Pay," starring Bessie Barriscale, has been passed by the censor boards of Illinois and Pennsylvania. The production will be published December 15 and will be available to al\ exhibitors on the franchise or open booking plans. Madge Evans and Co. Make a Flying Trip Madge Evans, the World's kiddie star, with Director Harley Knoles, Lionel Bellmore, Gerda Holmes and a number of cameramen and assistants, made a flving trip last week to Charleston, S. C. The purpose of the journey was to utilize magnolia gardens located in Charleston as a background for the fairyland scenes of the picture, "Wanted: A Mother." 42