Exhibitors Herald (Sep-Dec 1918)

EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOTOGRAPHY f Vitagraph Launches New Booking Policy Six Stars to Rotate at Six Week Intervals — 52 Features a Year This week marks the beginning of a new chapter in the life of Vitagraph, its new booking policy of Vitagraph Blue Ribbon feature service now being in active operation. The announcement is made from the home offices of the Vitagraph Distributing Organization that the response of exhibitors to its declaration of "a Democratic, not an automatic booking plan and policy" has proved a splendid endorsement of that policy already, and that September 30 will see the inauguration of Vitagraph service in many of the important theatres of the country which have not been on a regular weekly basis. These are in addition to the thousands of houses which have been steady users of Vitagraph features for years past. Among the prominent theatres which have enlisted under the Vitagraph banner for first run showings under the new plan are the Riviera, Chicago, which, it it is said, is one of the handsomest theatres in the country; the Clemmer, Seattle; the Turner and Dahnken chain in California; the Orpheum in Chicago; the Jefferson in Dallas; the Regent in Newark; the New Grand in Montreal: the America, leading theatre in Denver; the New Theatre in Baltimore; the Park, Boston. No figures are available at the Vitagraph offices, but it is asserted that every branch office of the company has reported a vast increase in the number of bookings since the^company made its announcement of producing and booking plans a few weeks ago, with the result that the company now has on its books more theatres than at any other time in its history. This is attributed to the fact that exhibitors, accepting Vitagraph's pledge of service on a definite and liberal basis, see in it a fair chance to operate their houses at a profit. Fifty-two Plays Under its new booking plan, which, at the outset provides exhibitors with the dates on which the productions of each Vitagraph will be issued during the coming year, Vitagraph will supply the following: Eight Earle Williams productions. Eight Alice Joyce productions. Nine Bessie Love productions. Nine Harry T. Morey productions. Nine Corinne Griffith productions. Nine Gladys Leslie' productions. The plan assures exhibitors of getting all the productions of each of the players at fixed intervals of six weeks during the year, so that they may, if they so desire, make up their booking charts for a year in advance. Earle Williams, in "A Diplomatic Mission," issued September 30, leads off the new Blue Ribbon program and he will be seen thereafter at regular fixed intervals of six weeks. Miss Leslie in "The Mating" Gladys Leslie, in "The Mating," will follow Mr. Williams on the schedule October 7. and she will thereafter appear at intervals of six weeks. On October 14. Harry T. Morey will be presented in "The King of Diamonds," appearing thereafter at intervals of six weeks. Alice Joycewill have for her initial production on the new program "Everybody's Girl," listed for October 21, and will rotate thereafter at six weeks intervals. "Miss Ambition" will introduce Corrinne Griffith under the new rotating plan in October 28, she to appear at intervals of six weeks. Bessie Love, the latest addition to the ranks of Vitagraph stars, will make her first appearance on the Blue Ribbon program on November 4 in "The Dawn of Understanding." Field Carmichael Is Made European Agent Of Fox Corporation To supervise the establishment of several new branch offices abroad, made necessary by the tremendous growth of the Fox Film Corporation's business in Great Britain and on the Continent, Field Carmichael, for the last two years manager of the William Fox Detroit branch FIELD CARMICHAEL office, has sailed for London, where he will be the American representative of the Fox Film Corporation in Europe. The appointment of Mr. Carmichael as foreign representative is the outcome of the amazing popularity of Fox films in Great Britain and elsewhere on the continent. The growth of this popularity has been particularly marked in the last two years, with the result that an extension of the present facilities for handling Fox films in Europe is made necessary. Although Mr. Carmichael's headquarters will be at 74 Old Compton street, W. London, his territory will embrace practically all of Europe outside the Central Empires. Up to this time the Fox business in France, Spain and Italy has been conducted through agencies, but it is understood to be the intention immediately to establish branch offices in all of these countries. Mr. Carmichael will arrange for such offices in Paris, Madrid, Marseilles, Rome, Venice, Naples and other cities, and inaugurate direct service with Continental exhibitors who are not already receiving it. "Temple of Dusk" Film With Sessue Hayakawa Scheduled for Oct. 20 "The Temple of Dusk," the second of the Haworth Pictures Corporation series of productions starring Sessue Hayakawa, is set for publication by Mutual October ^0. The story presents in a convincing manner the high regard for, and the devotion to the family honor which is typical of the Japanese. As in "His Birthright," the first production, many of the scenes are laid in Japan. The settings and locations show with wonderful fidelity the exquisite beauty of the Kingdom of Flowers and the quaint and picturesque life of the Nipponese. Every Japanese character is taken by a real Japanese, most of them members of the troupe of native actors with which Hayakawa toured the Orient when playing Shakespeare in the native tongue. There are many little Japanese children in the production, whose work is by no means the least important. What a real Japanese tea-garden looks like is shown in a picturesque scene in which eight Geisha girls perform one of their graceful and dainty dances. The production was made under the direction of James Young and the cast includes such well known names as Jane Novak, Sylvia Breamer, Louis Willoughby and Little Mary Jane Irving. Caruso Will Sing At Exposition Opening Enrico Caruso, the noted tenor will officially open the National Motion Picture Exposition to be held Madison Square Garden, from October 5 to 13, with the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner." In accepting the invitation of William A. Brady, president of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry to officially open this war service exposition, the only stipulation made by Mr. Caruso was that half of the net proceeds for the opening day be turned over to the Italian Red Cross. Mr. Brady immediately accepted these conditions and Mr. Caruso then sent his formal acceptance. Caruso will sing from the Grand Box directly over the Madison Avenue entrance to the Garden. He will be accompanied by the orchestra of the Strand Theatre, which has been kindly donated for this occasion by Harold Edel. Charles Murray to Play Role in Lila Lee Feature Charles Murray, Mack Sennett comedian, has been loaned to Jesse L. Lasky to play the part of Lila Lee's father in the Paramount production, "Puppy Love," by Monte M. Katterjohn. Murray is a hodcarrier who rises to wealth and tries to "bust" into society. His efforts to get into the inner social circles are declared to be one of the strongest features of the oicture. 54