Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

EXHIBITORS HKRALD Republic Will Distribute New Jose Feature "Mothers of Men" Production Is Declared Biggest Offered By Company Since Publication of "When Bearcat Went Dry" "Mothers of Men," a special production made by Films Special Inc., and directed by Edward Jose, is announced for early publication by the Republic Distributing Corporation of which Lewis J. Selznick is Advisory Director and Briton N. Busch, President. This is, perhaps, the biggest production announced by Republic since it released "When Bearcat Went Dry." The stars are Claire Whitney, Lumsden Hare and Martha Mansfield and the screen version was adapted from the story written by William Henry Warner and DeWitte Kaplan. Said to Be Strong Feature "Mothers of Men" is said to be one of the most beautiful stories ever produced for the screen. The continuity, it is said, is smooth running and the photography offers a refreshing contrast to the majority of so-called special productions. Love, romance and intrigue form the base of the plot which introduces a score of new situations. The scene of the story is laid in Europe and a specially strong cast has been engaged to support the stars. Claire Whitney, who plays the leading role, is a New York girl who went into theatricals direct from Wadleigh High School, and who has had a varied career in vaudeville, musical comedy and on the legitimate stage. She began her stage career at the old Biograph company where she appeared in twenty-one different parts in as many weeks. She. has also played in a number of Fox, Metro and Select successes, some of $1,500,000 Theatre New Ackerman & Harris theatre, which will be bnilt in Los Angeles at Seventh and Broadway. her more recent appearances being in The Man Who Stayed at Home," "By Right of Conquest" and "The Greater Victory." Miss Whitney's last stage appearance was in "The Net" at the Forty-Eighth Street Theatre. She has been engaged for an important Broadway role. Lumsden Hare in Support Lumsden Hare, who supports Miss Whitney, is also a well known leading man of the stage and screen. For twenty years he was with Ethel Barrymore, Maude Adams, Billie Burke, John Drew and Gertrude Elliott. His screen appearances have been with the World, Pathe, Artcraft and McClure companies in which he appeared in "Love's Crucible," "Arms and the Woman," "Friday the 13th," "Barbary Sheep" and "Envy." Martha Mansfield is a former Follies girl, who has recently gone into the pictures. Another member of the cast is Gaston Glass, the French aviator, who sovered himself with honors in the recent war, winning a Croix de Guerre for bringing down two Germans in a singlehanded battle. Frankic Bailey, a well known show girl in the early days of the American Music Hall, has been engaged by Edward Jose to play the part of a cabaret dancer. Mr. Jose, who directed the picture, has had a long association with the D. W. Griffith, through his general manager, Albert L. Grey, has issued a general warning to all exhibitors, and through them to their patrons, not to accept any motion picture production as being "A Griffith Picture" unless the initials, "D. W." and the written name. "Griffith" are stamped on the main title and on important sub-titles. Recently Mr. Griffith's attention has been directed to certain pictures about to be released as "Griffith productions," one of the announcements as recent as January 12th, going so far as to say, "one of the best productions made by the D. W. Griffith combination." Statement in Full Last week Mr. Griffith's general manager came across an announcement calling attention to a picture entitled "Tiger Girl," and among other statements came to one reading: "A large advertising campaign will be begun to acquaint the public with this production, and exhibitors will have the same opportunity to cash in on this feature as they have on Mr. Griffith's more recent productions." When Mr. Griffith's attention was called to the advertisement, he issued the following statement: "All genuine Griffith productions screen and has directed such successes as the Pauline Frederick series for Paramount including "La Tosca" and "Resurrection." Some of the specials which have made his name stand forward in the front ranks of the best directors of the day are: "Private Peat," with Guy Empey; "My Cousin," starring Enrico Caruso and the recent Salvation Army picture, "Fires of Faith." The screen adaptation was made by Charles Whittaker and the photography is by Ernest Haller. Musical Comedy to Augment Photoplays LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20— Musical comedy and photoplays will mix under the new policy of the Symphony theatre. Jack Roberts' "Leap Year Girls' Revue" has been engaged for an indefinite run, presenting a new tabloid each week in ronnection with the film feature. Cleveland Made Head Of Hampton Writers LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20— Dwight Cleveland, former manuscript chief at Universal and later at Haworth, has returned from New York and accepted the head of the scenario department at the new Jesse D. Hampton studios. Naomi Childers to Marry Luther Reed LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20— Luther Reed, Ince scenarioist, and Naomi Childers, Goldwyn leading woman, are to wed soon, according to Los Angeles newspapers. carry the initials, D. W., and the written name, Griffith, on the main title as well as on the important sub-titles, and any motion picture offered without these trademarks .not only is fraudulent, but is being fostered on the exhibitors and the public in . a direct attempt to mislead and deceive. "In justice to all concerned, I hereby ask all exhibitors, for the protection of themselves and their patrons, not to advertise any picture as a Griffith production unless it carries the above trademarks." Directed by Paul Powell In commenting on "Tiger Girl," Mr. Griffith said: "This picture was directed by Paul Powell during the time he was associated with Reliance-Majestic, and it is therefore an injustice to Mr. Powell as well as to myself to advertise it as a Griffith production." Albert L. Grey stated that the picture about to be called "Tiger Girl" and put forth as a Griffith production, was none other than an old print originally named "The Lily and the Rose," which seems to have been resurrected for the sole purpose of trading on Griffith's name merely because Mr. Griffith happened to be directing for Reliance-Majestic at the time "The Lily and the Rose" was made. D. W. Griffith Issues Warning on Use of His Name on Productions 46