Exhibitors Herald (Sep-Dec 1918)

EXHIBITORS HERALD/AND MOTOGRAPHY The^Periscope Famous Fourths — July 4th; 4th Liberty Loan. By the way, have you got yours? If not, why not Uncle Sam is sure some figure in the firm world. He has 'cleaned up" over a quarter of a million dollars thus far on 'Pershing's Crusaders," and the four road companies showing 'America's Answer" produced a net profit of $9,500. The World Company wants it known that "The Road to France" is a propaganda picture. Well, it sounds like one. Maurice Tourneur couldn't see an offer of $75,000 for his "Sporting Life." Well, a good fillum is worth more, we say. Will Rogers wants the picture rights when Ireland gets its freedom from England. As for ours, we'd be satisfied with the rights to "Laughing Bill Hyde," Rogers' latest Goldwyn picture. New York theatre managers are trying to get around the lightless nights. They want to shut off the illumination Saturday nights after the crowd gets inside and use the juice thus saved on Monday and Tuesday. Dubb's Catch Lines (Dubb has just returned from an extended tour of such well-known film centres as Oak Park, Oshkosh, Hoboken, Tokio, Siberia and Troy (N. Y.). Everywhere his hints have been received with acclaim. Even the Bolsheviki are strong for his stuff, and are trying them almost nightly. — Editor.) Of the late pictures "The Talk of the City" offers unusual opportunities for nifty catch lines. Try these on your programs: "Do you talk in your sleep? See 'The Talk of the City' and don't. Do you have funny noises in your head? Are you bleary-eyed in the morning? Do you turn over in bed. Take in 'The Talk o\ the City.'" For "An Impulsive Woman" here's some catchy lines for your ads: "What would you do if you found your wife in the arms of another man? Would you apologize for intruding or get another wife?" "Have you a jealous disposition? Then don't miss "An Impulsive Woman." Save these hints. Cut them out. Use the meat axe or anything handy. Wadyer Mean "Perfectly at Home"? A contem., speaking of Al Jennings, former bandit, who has become a film producer, says: "Al should feel perfectly at home." That N. Y. actor who tried to blackmail Owen Moore and accepted $175 in marked money couldn't have been studying up on recent crook plays, or he'd have put it over better than he did. One N. Y. sheet tried to throw a spoke into the wheels of the Madison Square movie exposition, but it had about as much effect as a "dud" in No Man's Land. More Chicago Misinformation From the m. o. 1. reliable N. Y. Telegraph, we learn that "gloom prevails in Chicago because the all-night motion picture theatre is to close with the all-night saloon." Inasmuch as Chi. hasn't had any all-night saloons in twenty-five years, this is a sad blow. Add Non-Essentials Unsigned "Box Office Reports." German spy plots. Silk stockings on girls down on the dear ol' Revolvers in left hand drawers. Vampires smoking perfectly good smokes. /. R. M. An Open Letter to: Messrs. Wm. A. Brady Jesse Lasky Paul Brunet R. A. Rowland Wm. Fox James Sheldon Samuel Goldfish Albert E. Smith Ricord Gradwell Lewis Selznick W. W. Hodkinson Frank Tichenor Carl Laemmle Adolph Zukor and other Executives of Production and Distribution in the Film industry. Gentlemen: — That there is a great deal of waste in the production and distribution of films is known to us all. We can put our fingers on the collective waste, but refuse to find it in our own organizations, or cannot eradicate it, unless competitors do likewise. On September 1 4th, I sent a letter to the Priorities Committee of the War Industries Board at Washington, in which are recommended drastic curtailments in production and distribution, for the good of the Nation ; and possibly also for that of the Industry. Loudly proclaiming our patriotism, eagerly professing a wish to help win the war, some of us nevertheless increase production, piling Ossa upon Pelion, furnishing a Gargantuan feed to a market already overfed; we multiply distributing offices instead of reducing them; we cover the country with a swarm of traveling solicitors, while Uncle Sam needs able bodied men for war work. Let's help the government by lessening our activities, not increasing them. Action by Washington along the lines of my letter will have a vital effect upon the industry. Therefore, I will send a copy on request to executives and others directly affected by such action. Very truly yours, 63 E. Adams St., Chicago, 111.