Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1917 - Jun 1918)

o?r>&3 i — — X H I B I T O R S H E R A L D T' ■ Film Exports from U. S. for 1917 Show Decrease of Million and Half Greatly Reduced Shipments to France and Great Britain Mainly Responsible — Figures Exceed Those of 1915 Considerable falling off in the value of films exported from the United States during the year 1917, is shown in a report of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce. Figures compiled by this department show $1,500,000 decrease in the amount of films exported as compared with the 1916 shipments. The decrease is charged to the greatly reduced shipments to France and the United Kingdom according to the bureau's records. In 1915 France took 2,228,209 feet valued at $105,214; in 1916, 15,928,194 feet valued at $534,800, but the last year took only 10,599,788 feet valued at $287,669. Practically the same condition obtained in the United Kingdom. The total exports of 1915 were 50,771,783 feet valued at $1,903,575, were increased in 1916 to 79,608,975 feet valued at $3,651,237, but fell off in 1917 to 28,483,109 feet, valued at $2,277,254. Unexposed Film Figures Exports of unexposed film have been falling steadily for more than two years. The total exports of that commodity in 1915 were 125,892,304 linear feet with a value of $2,857,800. In 1916 the exports had dropped to 60,304,446 while the value decreased to $1,883,427. In 1917 a still further reduction is noted, the exports being 54,713,975 feet, valued at $1,224,874. The figures on exposed film in 1917 while considerably less than those of 1916, show a gain over 1915. The total of 72,996,533 feet, valued at $3,855,374, exported in 1915 increased in 1916 to 164,514,434 feet, valued at $7,377,648. In 1917, however, this was reduced to 111,808,709 feet valued at $6,309,768. According to figures available in the department, Italy is taking a lower grade of film. Whereas, in 1915 that country paid $70,815 for 2,139,998 feet, the 1917 figures show that only $306,066 was paid for 12,624 feet. Canadian Exports Increase Canada continues to show increased importation of film from this country. Last year the total value of film absorbed by the dominion amounted to $1,201,301, an increase of nearly $250,000 over the preceding year. Australia has shown a marked increase in the amount of American film imported and according to the figures of the department of commerce the film taken by this country is of a higher grade than that exported to other European countries. Newfoundland and Labrador show a decrease steadily since 1915. Corporation, by which the picture is being distributed. Sister Mary was stationed in a little border town in Belgium when the Germans invaded the Kingdom and she lived through the bombardment of Liege. During, the attack on that city she several times risked death while ministering to wounded Belgian soldiers. The scenes of the invasion depicted in "The Belgian" so impressed Sister Mary that she sent a lengthy letter to Mr. Olcott expressing her keen enjoyment of the spectacle. Mr. Olcott is also in receipt of a letter from Frederic Hume Paulton, the British war correspondent, in which he too, complimented the director upon the accuracy of detail with which he converted the scenes of the invasion of Belgium to the screen. Censor Board Cuts Physical Culture Feature "Zongar' The Pennsylvania State Board of Censors has ordered nine changes in the Physical Culture Photo Plays feature, "Zongar." These include scenes showing the struggles between the characters, the gag in the mouth of the abducted heroine, the close-up of a man after being mauled in a fight and two sub-titles, "The Wages of Sin" and another referring to a sculptors' model's figure as being superior to that of Venus. Rernarr Macfadden, president of Physical Culture Photoplays, has filed protest to the censors' action. "Zongar is a physical preparedness drama," says Mr. Macfadden. "It teaches a lesson of splendid manhood, strong, capable womanhood. The National Board of Censors passed this play in New York not only without criticism, but we were congratulated because of the splendid character of the play throughout." Mr. Macfadden has called the attention of the board to the fact that the eliminations would impair the financial success of the film. He also says President Wilson has been so favorably impressed with the physical culture work as to publish his health message in the Physical Culture Magazine, which should convince the Pennsylvania board of the Macfadden sincerity and honesty of purpose. Mr. Macfadden has asked the board to go over the rejections again, viewing the play in the light of patriotic drama, when lie believes they will find little to criticize. Two Governments Approve Jaxon Patriotic Serial The official stamp of approval of two governments has now been given "A Daughter of Uncle Sam," the Jaxon serial, reports General Film Company. A few weeks ago the United States censor's office witnessed a run of the first few episodes of the serial and passed it with the department's approval. The Canadian chief press censor, Col. Ernest J. Chambers of Ottawa, has gone a step farther, it is said, and broken an office record by issuing a letter highly recommending the General's spy serial. This is the first picture ever to receive an endorsement from the Canadian government, and Canadian exhibitors are elated as the result of the official stamp of approval. Reports from Canada indicate that "A Daughter of Uncle Sam" will be one of the best selling features in that country. Foreign Church Woman Praises "The Belgian" Sister Mary Ignatius O'Kavanaugh, said to be one of the most prominent church women of Belgium and a special representative of Cardinal Mercier engaged in relief work in this country, was the guest of honor at a special presentation of Sidney Olcott's production "The Belgian," given for charitable purposes in Cleveland, Ohio, under the joint auspices of Mr. Olcott and Frank G. Hall, of the U. S. Exhibitors' Booking 44 Record Sale Reported For Jester Comedies By William Steiner One of the fastest selling campaigns ever made has been achieved by William Steiner, founder of the Jester Comedy Company, it is claimed. Mr. Steiner has disposed of every territory with the exception of the District of Columbia in twenty-one days, closing contracts for the Jester comedies, featuring TwedeDan, the international mirth-maker, for one year. Mr. Steiner declares he would have cut off two days of this time had it not been for adverse railroad conditions. Not alone did he succeed in disposing of his comedies, he says, but found time to call on many of the large exhibitors, and gave them screenings, which has developed into very gratifying results, as the comedies have been signed up by a number of the first-run houses, including William Seivers' New Grand Central" Theatre at St. Louis, Mo.; the Empress Theatre at Omaha, Neb.; the Strand' Theatre at San Francisco, and all tht S. A. Lynch houses throughout tht • southern territory. Sterling Picture Adds 21 Productions to Lisi H. R. Ebenstein, manager of sales fo the Sterling Pictures Corporation, Oil which Arthur F. Beck is president, ha left New York for a ten-weeks trip covering all exchange centers, during whic! time he will place the production handled by the Sterling Corporator These are to be placed with independen exchanges of the United States SHi'l Canada, under an arrangement known a the "Sterling System." It is not the intention of the Sterlin Pictures Corporation to confine its opera tions to the distributing of Sterling fea tures only. They will handle othe features on the basis of an outright tei ritory sale. In addition to the Alma Hanlon serie and the Jean Sothern series, consistin of six productions each, they have adde to their list a Star Series of three fe tures, each starring Anna Q. Nilssoi and a series of four feature production each starring Catherine Calvert. The have also taken over the George Loar Tucker production, "I Believe," an acquired from the France Films, Inco porated, "The Natural Law," featurir Marguerite Courtot. j