Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1917 - Jun 1918)

CHICAGO TRADE EVENTS )oll-Van Film Corp. Has 111. and Ind. for "Carmen of Klondyke" With the first purchase of the newly ormed State Right Distributors, the )oll-Van Film Corporation of Chicago ibtain the rights to the seven part jelexart production, "Carmen of the ■Clondyke." The picture will not, howver, be available for distribution until he middle of March or the first of April. "This is the first production of suffiient magnitude to warrant a purchase >y the State Right Distributors," said D. A. Vandewalker, of the Doll-Van Corloration. "The picture was seen by repesentatives of the organization which ncludes in its membership sixteen inde>endent exchanges in United States and Canada of which our company is one, laving the distribution rights to the proluction in Illinois and Indiana. The >roduction was purchased without one lissenting vote." The Doll-Van Corporation has also >btained the Illinois and Indiana rights o the Renown Pictures production, "The 3ublic Defender," in six reels. Contracts lave been signed by the Ascher Brothers or the appearance of this picture in their :hain of theatres as well as those of ^ublrner and Trinz. Unity to Distribute Anti-Cigarette Film A number of one-reel subjects being nade in the interest of the Anti-Cigaette League of America, whose super'ntendent, Lucy Page Gaston, is now :onducting a million membership cam>aign, will be distributed through the Jnity Photoplays Company. The films .vill show various aspects of the ciga'ette evil, but are to hold enough story nterest to make them worth showing, ::ven if they had no value as reform iropaganda. They are based on the League's slogan, "Let us make our boys it to maintain the democracy our soliiers are fighting for." "Over Here," a one-reel film showing ..vhat large industrial plants are doing to lid the United States, is also being dis:ributed by the Unity Photoplays Company. B. N. Judell Forms His Own Exchange B. N. Judell, formerly manager of the Mutual exchange and who left Chicago three months ago to manage the Universal Exchange, Minneapolis, has resigned the latter position and opened an independent exchange to be known as B. N. Judell, Inc. The offices of the new company are located in the Exchange building, Minneapolis. Mr. Judell has secured the rights to "Redemption" and "Purity" for the northwestern territory, and within a fortnight intends opening a branch office in Chicago, to handle big features in nearby territory. A. SILBAR JOINS WHOLESOME STAFF A. Silbar, one of Chicago's most fashionable garment makers, has become associated with the Wholesome Films Corporation, in which he is a stockholder, and will devote himself entirely to the producing end of the film business. Mr. Silbar has conducted a ladies' tailor establishment for fifteen years and his knowledge of styles and designing will prove a big asset in costuming Wholesome productions. Forthcoming pictures will show the handiwork of the man who has had as patrons Mrs. Carter H. Harrison, wife of the former mayor of Chicago; Mrs. Lockwood Honore, widow of the late Judge Honore; Mrs. William Wrigley, wife of the chewing gum magnate, and many others. Flaherty Acquires Interest in Exchange Frank J. Flaherty, the genial and aggressive Chicago exchangeman, is now a part owner in the Hoffman-Foursquare Exchange. Mr. Flaherty acquired a fourth interest in the local exchange upon a recent visit of M. H. Hoffman. T. W. Wharton, of the Wharton Bros., Inc., also came to town to meet Mr. Hoffman, to screen the first three episodes of "The Eagle's Eye," the new Wharton-Hoffman serial. The showing took place at the Rothacker studios. Mr. Flaherty opened the Hoffman Chicago Exchange and is well equipped to handle the Foursquare output, he having gained a wealth of knowledge while with the Bluebird and Mutual exchanges. Spanuth Goes East With "Frozen Warning" H. A. Spanuth, president of the Commonwealth Pictures Corporation, left Friday for New York and New England points, to be gone two weeks on a selling campaign with the Charlotte film "The Frozen Warning." Western Canada was disposed of during the past week, Mr. Spanuth announces. Throughout the mid-west "The Frozen Warning" has played to capacity business. Fitzpatrick-McElroy Open New Mich. House The Fitzpatrick-McElroy Company of Chicago, which controls a chain of motion picture theatres in the state of Michigan, have added another to their already long list. It is the Lyric Theatre of Cadillac, Mich. Formal opening of the new house took place on Wednesday night, February 6. The company distributed attractive invitations throughout the trade to be present at the affair. Samuel S. Hutchinson Back From Conference Samuel S. Hutchinson, president of the American Film Company, Inc., has just returned to Chicago after an extended trip to New York and Washington, where he was in conference with George Creel, relative to important motion picture developments. PERSONALS By "Mac" Geo. Paul, owner of the States Theatre, and Nathan Joseph have taken over the Owl Theatre, 47th and State streets, with Frank H. Salkin, one of Chi's oldtimers, at the managerial helm. Watch this combination. They don't know what sleep is; got their eagle eyes open all the time. Wiliam N. Selig went 20th Centuryin' down to New York last Friday, Feb. 1, for a several days' visit. Kolb and Dill, purveyors of fun at the Olympic Theatre, were recent visitors to the American Film Company's plant and were given an opportunity of viewing themselves in films they appeared in under the American Film brand, such as "Peck o' Pickles," "Lonesome Town" and several others. Colin Campbell, director for Selig features, is now in the city for an extended stay. George Periolat, character actor for the American Film Company, was giving Chicago the o. o. during a stopover amidst our recent blizzards. While in town Georgie attempted to visit an old pal of his out on Sheridan Road, via the taxi route. Well, all was going along matter-of-fact until said taxi started fussing matters and took on a regular skidding stunt, landing the natty Periolat plump into a huge snow drift. Orful, ye shout; nix, sez we. Why right in this particular drift a mob of Chi's fairest damsels were busily engaged doing a shovelin' sketch and after prying George loose from the elements (we mean snow, of course) why-er-er-ah, let him tell it, he was there. Wots the idear? Someone told us E. Schwartz of the E. S. Film exchange was seen running around about Milwaukee avenue and Noble street early last Sunday A. M., hatless and coatless. How about it, Elias? U. S. conservation orders? No — it must have been one of those wild Polish balls they have a habit of pullin' out that way every now and then. Phil Ryan, general manager of the Standard Film Corporation, is in the city for a while going over company matters with Frank B. Rogers, local manager. 37