Exhibitors Herald (Sep-Dec 1918)

EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOTOGRAPHY PERSONALS ■mmi "By George mil i iiiiiiiimimiuiini We believe that the greatest tribute paid to "Gene" Duffy was the sincere sorrow expressed everywhere when the news of his death became current in the loop last Friday afternoon. "Gene" was a true friend and a good pal and he leaves a void in Chicago film circles which will be difficult to fill. Ralph Proctor, who since his appointment as division manager has worked untiringly to make his territory 100 per cent efficient, has gone west for a well needed rest. He will be absent about a month from his duties. In the meantime the good work he has done will be apparent in the smooth running Pathe machine, which is under his guidance. Good luck, Ralph. Come back 100 per cent efficient both in mind and body. Clyde Elliott, of the Chicago Cinema Circuit, is reported as critically ill, having fallen a victim to Spanish influenza. D. M. Vandawalker has caused some comment through his early appearance mornings at his office. Us thought for a few moments that the janitors in the Film Exchange were on a strike and Van was down to man the brooms. He told us, however, that he has an uncle who drives down in the morning and he's got to come down early to ride with him. You can't slip anything over on Hershberg. He was standing outside the Riviera one night last week when they were standing them out as usual. Somebody remarked to Hersh that there were 1,500 people outside. "Aw, g'wan," sez our friend, "there's more than a thousand." Hersh likes to talk in round numbers, he does. A more or less prominent film man was seen the past week to ask a waiter what the amount of his bill was. "Don't they give him a check?" inquired an onlooker. "No," said his companion, "they just look at his vest and charge him accordingly." Ralph Crocker, fearless Elgin exhibitor, was called on for a speech at the Bryant Washburn-Donald Crisp dinner over to the College Inn and responded with a negro story which furnished untold merriment among the salesmen present. Not detracting from the worth of the story, we are compelled to observe that we never saw salesmen fail to laugh when an exhibitor tells a story, no matter of what vintage. F. M. Brockell, recently resigned manager of the local Paramount, announces his safe arrival in St. Louis via auto. F. M. begins his duty with Goldwyn in St. Louis, which was the occasion of the trip. Paul Bush, formerly manager of Goldwyn at St. Louis, passed through Chicago this week on his way to Detroit, where he will become manager of the Universal exchange. Pete Wales, of Lanark; Charles H. Camp, of the Plaza, Mt. Vernon, and Birch Wormald, organist of the Marquette Theatre at La Salle, were in our village the past week. Birch was wiseing up on a new photoplayer which is soon to decorate the Marquette. I On the Finn' Line Art Thompson has got the "Flu" on the run and will soon be back on the road with his little grip packed with celluloid samples. He has called for his clothes and a safety razor, and no doubt, within a day or two, will be demanding cigarettes, a sure sign of complete recovery. With Art's return to work probably the Thompson telephone will resume its normal duties, which will be considerable of a relief for Mrs. Thompson, us thinks. Joe (Obie) Campbell, of the Fox forces, returned to home port this week for repairs, he being considerable under the weather in the early rounds of a bout with La Grippe. Joe's just old fashioned enough to keep on calling it the grip. This is the adventure of an Irisher in the Kaskaska Hotel at La Salle, 111. Little Mac, of the 10-20-30 Circuit, plays the villain, ably assisted by Charley Sedell. The two entered the hostelry and demanded a room. A room with two beds was the desired article, but failing in this the twain agreed to take separate rooms, one on the fifth floor and one on the fourth. The two agreed to meet in Sedell's room for a social game of pinchknuckle. As Little Mac entered his room a large red candle assailed his eyes and he glared at the shrunken shouldered bell hop and demanded to know in his best Irish brogue why the candle was red. The bell hop denied complicity in the crime. Little Mac then entered the room of Sedell, the bell hop in his wake. On the mantlepiece quietly reposed a candle of deep emerald hue. "Pfwhat is this?" bellowed Mac as the bell hop cowered in a corner. "This big Jew gets a gre-en candle and I get a red wan. Pfwhat is this, I say?" In the meantime the bell hop had fled and later returned with the information that Sedell belonged on the fifth floor and that Little Mac was entitled to the room with the green candle. E. J. Mager, for the past two and onehalf years a salesman for Paramount, has joined Von Ronkel's force and will henceforth devote his talents to the sale of Goldwyn productions in the city. Johnny Balaban, who has been covering the Indiana territory for Select, has lesigned his position to take over the management of the Central Park Theatre, in which position Johnny will make sood, as usual, us thinks. Abe McMillan is reporting heavy business on the 10-20-30 pictures from "somewhere in Illinois," and judging from the smile on Izzy Flaherty's face, he believes everything Abe tells him. Xice for Abe, wot? Duncan Pushes Work On "The Man of Might" And May Break Record William Duncan, Vitagraph serial star and director, seems to have started out to break his own record for rapid production, judging from reports which have reached New York from the company's Hollywood studio, where he is engaged on his next serial, "The Man of Might." The picture is scheduled for publication beginning January 27, 1919. Duncan began work about September 1 and October 1 had completed the first four episodes and was starting in on the fifth. This is producing at the rate of about two reels a week and if he maintains his pace he will have the entire serial finished about the second week in December, which will put him approximately six weeks ahead of the publication date. During a period of sixty-two weeks previously Duncan produced eighty-four reels, an average of a little less than one and a half reels per week, but he apparently is on the way to exceed this in his latest work. New Vehicle Is Chosen For J. Warren Kerrigan Following his production of Kenneth B. Clarke's tale of Alaska, "The Unfinished Story," J. Warren Kerrigan will be seen in a picturization of John H. Blackwood's comedy drama, "Come Again, Smith." Kerrigan is cast as the son of a California oil millionaire who has been expelled from college on account of his disinclination to study and who, when he suggests to his father that he go to work for him, incurs the parental displeasure to the extent that he starts out to make his own living. His adventures thereafter supply the principal action. Lois Wilson will play opposite the star. The direction is in the hands of Ernest Warde. The W. W. Hodkinson Corporation will handle the distribution. Fox Announces Signing Of Madlaine Traverse Madlaine Traverse, known for her ability to portray strong dramatic roles, has just signed a contract with the Fox Film Corporation. Her pictures, to be published under the Excel group, will be the work of authors of recognized ability and will be marked by strength of story and lavishness of setting. The new Fox star has just left for Hollywood. What her first picture will be has not yet been announced. "Private Peat" to Be Widely Advertised A unique plan has been adopted by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation for the exploitation of "Private Peat," the Paramount-Artcraft special production which is to be distributed October 13. In putting over this story of the great war the soldier-author will lecture in many cities and the firm of Grosset & Dunlap. publishers of the second edition of the book, is preparing a special drive on the book through the book dealers. 48