Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

EXHIBITORS HERALD Arthur S. Kane Pictures Corp. Opens for Business in New York Associates of Film Executive Select His Name for Corporation of Which He Is President and Active Head Ince Studio Paper, "The Silversheet;* To Be SemiMonthly Exhibitors and motion picture theatre patrons, as well as those concerned with the industry in other departments, are to be placed upon the mailing list of The Silversheet, a semi-monthly publication announced for initial issue Feb. 1, to be edited and written by members of the Thos. H. Ince studios in Culver City. Hunt Stromberg. formerly Director of Advertising and Publicity tor a New York motion picture organization, will be editor-in-chief of the magazine. Authors on' the Ince staff and others about the studio will cooperate by contributing material of general and especial interest. Thomas H. Ince will personally edit a page in each issue and a department devoted to exploitation and advertising is one upon which stress is placed in the announcement. It is maintained that the studio is the proper place for the planning of exploitation and advertising campaigns and the work of this nature which will be done, it is promised, will be of the highest order. Jackie Band to Aid Submarine Feature Exploitation Drive The famous Jackie Band of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, which during the war was one of the big factors in recruiting the navy up to war strength, is to assist in the exploitation of "Exploits of the German Submarine U-35" in Chicago and adjoining territory-. Xaval officers have expressed great interest in the film and the tie-up appealed to them as a big aid to recruiting. They accepted the suggestion of J. L. Friedman, president of the Celebrated Players Film Corporation of Chicago, enthusiastically. One of the biggest bookings yet closed in for the twenty-eight days of the Ascher Circuit in Chicago. It is at several of the Ascher houses that the Jackie Band will appear. Rembusch Calls on Ford to Pay Theatre For Showing Films In a telegram addressed to Henry Ford. Frank Rembusch, executive secretary of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of America, Inc.. has called on the Ford Motor Company to discontinue charging rentals for the use of the "Ford Weekly" and to also pay exhibitors a nominal 'fee for showing these pictures. Rembusch cites the agreement entered into with the Universal Film Manufacturing company, whereby exhibitors will be given nominal amounts for showing its industrial films. Build at Carlinville CARLIXYILLE, ILL. — Frank Paul is to erect a theatre, seating 1,300 people, in the early spring. It is Arthur S. Kane Pictures Corporation, 452 Fifth Avenue, New York. This dispels the mystery which has surrounded the plans of Mr. Kane for the past six or seven weeks. He returned last week from a five weeks' trip to the Pacific Coast and already executive offices have been opened in the Knox Building, at the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue at 40th Street. This is diagonally across the corner from the Winrield Building, which houses Realart Pictures Corporation and Goldwyn. The quarters which have been fitted up and occupied by the new institution are on the second floor of the Knox Building. Names Chosen by Associates The name chosen, which pretty well tells the story of the business and aims of the enterprise, was selected by Mr. Kane's associates. They believe his name is so well known in the trade and has come to stand for such high class, square dealing that it is a distinct advantage to have the new corporation identified with his personality. It seems not to have taken long after Mr. Kane's return to New York to organize the concern, for in less than a week it was incorporated, installed in fully equipped offices and carrying on business. Arthur S. Kane is president of the new concern and is heavily interested in the company. It is not generally known that for the past three and one-quarter years Mr. Kane has been with the same firm. Because of the rapidity with which he put over different new enterprises he was constantly called upon to organize new promotions owned largely or wholly by his firm. The fact that each of these enterprises was called by a different name and none of them was publicly at the time announced as a subsidiary' or associated concern of the main corporation has caused many persons in the trade to believe that Mr. Kane has changed companies frequently. Such is not the case, however, for he has been a member of Famous Players-Lasky organization ever since September, 1916. Organized Artcraft Offices Beginning September 1, 1916. Mr. Kane organized the eleven western states for Artcraft Pictures Corporation, then just going into business, and operated them until June 14. 1917. It is said the organization which Mr. Kane built up on the Pacific Coast held all records in the Artcraft institution. At this time his headquarters were in San Francisco. So successful was he that when Artcraft was merged with Paramount Pictures Corporation, Mr. Kane was brought east and assigned the task of organizing, as general manager, the distribution system of the newly formed Select Pictures Corporation. He took charge July 31 of the concern which became on August 4 Select. Select quickly achieved a very high standing in the industry. Norma Talmadge. Alice Brady. Constance Talmadge and Clara Kimball Young were the four stars exploited and promoted. They proved to be wondermi drawing cards. In April, 1919, after twenty-one months as general manager of Select Pictures Corporation, the sale of its interest in that institution by Famous PlaversL-asky Corporation drew Mr. Kane 'back again into the central organization It was then that he conceived Realart Pictures Corporation. After arranging for its formation he spent the month of May up in Connecticut leading the outdoor hie getting ready for the grind which he knew was ahead. Returning to New \ork on June 2, he on June 9 opened the doors of Realart, of which he had been made president What followed is contemporary history. The trade is still talking about it It illustrates probably best of all of Mr. Kane's exploits his belief in the driving torce of an idea. Alice Brady, Mary Miles Minter and Constance Binney were the three youthtul. beautiful stars secured to lead the Realart bid for business. Under the manipulation of the Realart organization, they proved to be selling magnets of the highest power. Established Twenty Branches Opening for business on June 9th, the new concern had by August so fired the imagination of the industry that it was on every hand acclaimed a huge success. A wonderful field force had by July sprung from the home office force of two men and two stenographers which was all there was on Realart on June 9th. Twenty branches had been established, with excellent quarters and expert managers; publicity and advertising, purchasing, accounting, sales and other departments had been rounded out in the home office. Confidence or the entire trade had been secured and in August and September buyers were purchasing the expected product of the company with an assurance never before known for a new concern. It is known that Mr. Kane gives the principal credit for this to the exhibitors, the trade press and the newspapers. Although used to kindly aid from all these factors the overwhelming reception accorded Realart distanced everything ever experienced. The stars arid directors worked hard to make good Realart promises of fine pictures and they more than satisfied the assurances given by the field forces. Every plan and every policy was conceived and achieved within the Realart organization and for these Mr. Kane gives major credit to John S. Woody, John Pond Fritts. John C. Rag'.and. jay Gove. Ben F. Simpson. E. S. Flynn. L. W. Kniskern. Bert _ Adler and the twenty-one branch managers with their sales forces. Premier at Chillicothe The first public presentation of "Huckleberry Finn." William D. Taylor's Paramount-Artcraft production of Mark Twain's famous book, was given at the Sherman Theatre. Chillicothe. O, January 13. 14 and 15. 47