Exhibitors Herald (Mar-Jun 1919)

EXHIBITORS. HERALD AND MOTOGRAPHY W. W. Hodkinson Corporation Begins Enlargement of Business Activity Addition of F. B. Warren to Executives Is Simultaneous With Announcement of Acquiring Zane Grey Pictures Election of F. B. Warren as vice president of the W! W. Hodkinson Corporation and announcement that the Hodkinson organization is to handle Zane Grey Pictures, coming within a few days of each other, forecasts an immediate enlargement of the Hodkinson activities. As vice president and director of the Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, Mr. Warren has established a name for himself in publicity and advertising activities, and is thoroughly familiar with everj' phase of the distributing and saleend of the business, Mr. Hodkinson's Statement "] think Mr. Warren shares my own opinion a> to the necessity for the integrity of product and the improvement of relations existing between the exhibitor and distributor of motion pictures," said Mr, Hodkinson in making his announcement "J have watched his development in the industry, and have felt that his previous experience as an editor and publisher of .important newspapers gave him a soimd base for straight thinking. After all. both the making and the selling of motion pictures is a publishing function, and the most successful publisher of pictures will be the one. who rejects unfit materials in hi}: search for the selective, finer materials upon which he can place his imprint. '"During the past year the W.. W. Hodkinson Corporation has proceeded with great deliberation to build an. internal organization capable of doing the big ami i: Jdi < k htnr of \ lta(?rni»h*H lutt-xt production! "The Cambric Mn»k." things we have in prospect. We have not wished to expand too quickly, for that has been one of the big faults of the industry both in its business and production sides. 1 am now gathering about me both the men and the product that will make our company's name stand for a definite quality in production and service. And by service 1 mean our business relations with the exhibitor as well as the aids rendered the exhibitor in con junction with the pictures he receives from us. I shall next week make a comprehensive announcement of the product that 1 have assembled for our new season together with some plans for a releasing innovation which I am certain wjll win exhibitor support immediately." The Zane Grey Announcement The identity of the second of the big new lines of product to be handled by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation is made public this week, with the anouncement that the Hodkinson organization is to handle the Zane Grey Pictures. Inc. The announcement of the first of the new Hodkinson lines was made in this paper two weeks ago, when it was officially given out that the Augustus Thomas — Harry Raver Artco Productions, known as the Four Star series, directed by George Irving and featuring Leah Haird, would be put on the market by the Hodkinson Corporation. It is the opinion of Mr. Hodkinson that the Zane Grey Pictures are thoroughly worthy of being offered to the exhibitors and to the public as productions of the highest type — genuinely big pictures, big in every sense of the word, thoroughly in keeping with the Hodkinson policy of handling only the best productions that can be secured. 2,000,000 Feet of Film To Boost Victory Loan .WASHINGTON.— The motion picture industry has been mobilized for the Victory Loan drive. More than 3,000,000 feet of film will be employed in explaining the necessity for buying bonds — "and more bonds." One 5,000-foot film, "The Price of Peace," contains battle scenes, including the American attack on Chateau-Thierry. Among the actors who have made films are Douglas Fairbanks and Julian Eltinge. Return From Service JOLIET. ILL.— H. A. and Claude B. Rubens of the famous Rubens family, are back in the exhibitor business here again. II. -A. was a sergeant in the army, while Claude B. was in the naval aviation service." •' ■ '» = New Film Rights Sold Jacquez Tyrol of the Tyrad Pictures, Inc., has acquired the American and Canadian rights to the feature. "Your Wife and Mine." 3 in 1 Fred B. Thompson, Inventor of Processing Machine Is Also Expert Chemist and Engineer FR10II B. THOMPSON Fred B. Thompson, who perfected the new Spoor-Thompson automatic processing machine for the development and printing of films, at the instigation of George K. Spoor, president of Essanay. is not only an inventor, but an expert engineer and chemist. Knowledge of both were necessary in working out this process, as the work involved not only the construction of the machines, which are forty feet in length and weigh fifteen tons each, but a thorough knowledge of the action of chemicals on films. Formerly With Edison With the Edison Company he was in charge of the Little Home pictures and later western manager for the talking pictures. He went to Europe with Pathe to develop the technical end of the film work. Among his inventions is a water-proofing process on films. He was also a pioneer in color photography and the three process in photo-engraving. Mr. Thompson spent more than a year in experimental work on the SpoorThompson process before he had a practical working machine. Since then he has constantly made improvements until the machine has reached its present stage of perfection. Machines of Great Worth These machines have not only prove their worth under the most exactin conditions, but are now turning out mi lions of feet of film of uniform, hig grade quality, film that is evenly proc essed in 1,000-foot lengths, witho flaws or imperfections.