Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Sep 1919)

EXHIBITORS HERALD AND MOTO GRAPH Y Frank G. Hall Will Distribute Special Starring Jess Willard Acquires United States and Canadian Rights to "The Challenge of Chance" With World's Heavyweight Champion in Lead Frank G. Hall, president of Independent Sales Corporation, has acquired the rights to United States and Canada to the seven-reel special. "The Challenge of Chance," featuring the world's heavyweight champion, Jess Willard. who on July 4 will defend his title against Jack Dempsey at Toledo. O. "The Challenge of Chance" was completed recently, under the direction of Harry Revier." The story and scenario were written by Roy Summerville. The first print of the big special reached New York last week and the select few who saw it predict that the picture, augmented as it is by one of the biggest publicity and advertising campaigns ever launched in the interest of a production, will be the greatest drawing card screened since "The Birth of a Nation." Figures Said to Be $500,000 The deal which was closed with Mr. Wilke. acting for Continental Pictures, and Mr. Hall for the Hall interests, is said to involve a half million dollars and gives Mr. Hall the exclusive rights of distribution for the Willard picture, to the United States and Canada. Immediately after the signing of the papers. Mr. Hall commenced negotiations for a Broadway house in which to open the Willard picture for an indefinite run. Harry P. Diggs, exploitation manager for the Hall interests, has set on foot one of the most extensive advertising and publicity campaigns ever inaugurated in the interests of a Broadway opening. Following the completion of the plans for the opening on Broadway, Mr. Diggs will leave for Chicago, where he will arrange for the opening in one of the prominent theatres of the loop district. Prior to the publication of "The Challenge of Chance" a national billboard campaign will be launched covering every center of importance from coast to coast, and this campaign will be supplemented by a newspaper campaign which has been carried on for the past several weeks in the news columns and sport pages of the dailies. The big national papers are carrying daily in their sporting pages a special article by the champion, and during the past weeks there has not been a more advertised figure in the country than Jess Willard. In view of his engagement on July 4 to defend the world's championship in the prize ring, and due to the fact that he is a national figure, there is every reason to believe said Mr. Hall, that his picture and his debut on the screen will arouse an interest never before manifested in a star of the silent drama. Arline Pretty in Cast In the principal supporting role opposite Willard appears Arline Pretty, who was Douglas Fairbanks' leading woman in "In Again Out Again." She appeared also in Pathe's serial, "The Hidden Hand." Albert Hart, one of the screen's well-known character men, is seen in a strong role in support of the champion. Mr. Hart has been seen in "The Grouch," "Big Foot Ben." "The Man Hunt," "The Page Mystery" and "A Woman of Redemption." The features of the production are two fight scenes in which the champ displays the prowess that has won for him th; world's title in the prize ring, and a racing scene which is a true picture of the famed Kentucky Derby, with all the spirit of the racing track as exhibited in the Bluegrass country. The scenes were taken on and near Willard's ranch in the West. S. W. W. R. Advance Men Plan Visit to 59 Cities Fifty-nine of the cities which will be visited by Universal's representatives who are to exploit the series of Stage Women's War Relief pictures in the United States, have been selected and are named below. The two men who will visit the cities are William Howard and W. R. Wilkerson. The cities which will be visited by Mr. Wilkerson are: Des Moines. Davenport, St. Louis. East St. Louis, St. Joseph. Mo.: Kansas City. Topeka. Kan.. Wichita, Muskogee. Oklahoma City, Santa Fe, Pueblo, Colorado Springs. Denver, Cheyenne, Lincoln, Omaha. Sioux City, Aberdeen, Fargo. Bismark, Helena, Butte. Spokane. Tacoma. Seattle, Portland. Salem. Boise. Ogden. Salt Lake, Frisco. Oakland. Sacramento. Berkley. San Diego, Los Angeles. Pasadena. Tuscon. San Antonio, Ft. Worth, Dallas, Houston. Galveston and New Orleans. Mr. Howard will call upon the exhibitors in the following cities: Houston, Montreal. Toronto. Buffalo. Cleveland. Detroit. Columbus. Cincinnati. Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. Frank Keenan Author Of Two of His Plays F. X. James, the author of "The Master Mind" and "The World Aflame." two of the four productions Frank Keenan has produced for Pathe, is none other than Frank Keenan himself. Mr. Keenan modestly insisted upon a nom de plume, but his friends couldn't keep the secrtt. Parke Again With Pathe William Parke is again to direct pictures for release by Pathe. according to announcement made this week. He has been engaged by Ruth Roland, Pathe serial star, to direct her in her new company, Ruth Roland Serials, Inc., and is to go to Los Angeles at once to begin work on her first personally produced serial for which she furnished the plot. DIRECTOR KIXG W VIDOR Director of Brentwood features. who (•rented "The Turn in the Road'* and "Better Times." which will he controlled hy Robertson-Cole. Australian Production Practically Non-Existent SYDNEY. X. S. W.. AUSTRALIA.— The production of film subjects locally, never a very flourishing industry, is practically non-existent at present, although a few pictures will be published as soon as the theatres open again. These include "The Sentimental Bloke," from the book of poems by C. J. Dennis, which has had an enormous sale in this country during the past two years. BeaumontSmith's racing drama. "Desert Gold." at present showing in the country, is also widely booked for cit} and suburban screening. This production is of more than ordinary interest, and has been well directed, while the photography is of a high order. R. L. (Snowy) Baker will shortly put his latest production on the market. This is entitled "The Man from Snowy River," the story being taken from the book of that name by the famous writer, Banjo Patterson, together with incidents from other works of that author. It is anticipated that this picture will set a new standard in Australian productions. Fans Like Riley Film World Pictures, which is distributing "Little Orphant Annie," a five-reel feature from the famous poem of the same name by James Whitcomb Riley, is in receipt of a large number of letters from Riley clubs throughout the country asking for information as to when this picture will be seen in their home towns and at what theatre. These letters in themselves indicate a splendid means of exploiting the local production of this picture and gives to the exhibitor o tie-up with his box office. 45