Exhibitors Herald (Sep-Dec 1918)

EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOTOGRAPJJY Construction Ban Absolute In Utah No New Theatres at All, Defense Council Rules SALT LAKE CITY.— The ban of the War Industries Board on theatre construction is expected to be absolute in Utah. Following the action of the State Council of Defense in forbidding the erection of a new Pantages Theatre here, the Council of National Defense wired to Arch M. Thurman, secretary of the state council, approving the state council's stand. Called Proper Step "Your action in protesting against the erection of the Pantages Theatre is an entirely proper step," the telegram read. "While there may bt no local labor shortage in Salt Lake, there is a demand for every common laborer available for use in war industries. "The employment service also reports a shortage in skilled laborers, carpenters, steel workers, and, in fact, in all industries. The national shortage will be increased by the coming draft. "The labor department is wiring the Salt Lake Building Trades Council approving your action to stop non-war construction, and the War Industries Board absolutely concurs." The telegram was signed by Arthur H. Fleming, chief of the state section of the national council. War Board Backs Stand A letter to the state council from D. R. Richardson of the priorities committee of the War Industries Board says the board does not favor granting priority "for any material for such purpose as building a theatre at this abnormal and critical time." Considerable discussion was aroused by the information from Washington because theatre owners were under the impression that construction under way could be finished provided the materials and equipment were on hand. Moore's Next Picture To Be "Thirty a Week" Tom Moore's initial starring vehicle "Just For Tonight" revealed how easily a handsome and likable young man can be made into a star when exhibitors and the screen fans demand such action by a producer. His second picture, "Thirty A Week," is declared to be even livelier than his previous production and he has a new and destined-to-be-popular leading woman in fascinating Tullalah Bankhead, granddaughter of an Alabama United States senator. This is Miss Bankhead's first leading role. Son of Evelyn Nesbit To Support Her in Film One of the most important parts in "The Woman Who Gave," the first of a series of Standard Pictures which Evelyn Nesbit is making for William Fox, is taken by Russell Thaw, the star's seven-year-old son. This will be the boy's first appearance before the camera. L. V. Calvert in France A party of friends that included VicePresident Hammons of the Educational Films Corporation visited one of the army camps near New York recently and said goodbye to Sergeant L. V. Calvert of the Signal Corps, who went abroad with his fighting unit immediately thereafter. Sergeant Calvert formerly was manager of the New Garrick Theater at Minneapolis and the New Garrick at St. Paul. Essanay Pigeons Make New York to Chicago Trip in Twelve Hours Madelyn Clare who has just finished! her work in the leading feminine rolel in "Young America," at the Essanay] studios in Chicago, has returned to New! York. She took with her two of Es-J sanay's carrier pigeons, which are being] trained for < government work, to test! their speed in flying from New York to Chicago. The pigeons were placed in a closed! basket and were released from the top] of an apartment building in Manhattan.! After circling about a few times they' started off in the direction of Chicago. ' They were released early in the day and at night were back in Chicago, having made the trip of a thousand miles in a little less than twelve hours. Each carried a message attached to a tube on the foot to the effect that Miss Clare had arrived safely. Next W. S. Hart Picture To Have Gotham Setting William S. Hart, Artcraft star, has had his ear to the ground, and, responding to the insistent request of exhibitors whoj want him to strike out along a new line, he will appear in his next picture in a New York setting — a cowpuncher transplanted. The picture will be called "Branding Broadway." Seena Owen will be the star's leading woman. Gen. Pershing Picture On Independent Basis "Why America Will Win," the drama based on the life of General John J. Pershing, has been issued by William Fox on an independent basis as one of his, series of big timely pictures. Backed by a country-wide advertising campaign, the feature has already been booked for practically every city and town in the country. To Sell Houdini Serial On States Right Plan Announcement has been made by B. A. Rolfe, Inc., producers of the Houdini serial, that the picture will be distributed in the open market. Select's New Brochure Select Pictures Corporation, to announce its forthcoming productions fon the second star series, has published a very attractive booklet containing new portraits of Clara Kimball Young, Norma Talmadge, Constance Talmadge, Alice Brady and Marion Davies, together with an interesting write-up on each star. Typographically the brochure is aj work of art and a credit to the Select company. It contains, besides, information regarding the features to be issued, cuts, lantern slides, stars' portraits, affl well as a complete list of the Select offices. 60