Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

EXHIBITORS HERALD AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR SELZNICK ENTERPRISES Lewis J. Selznick Outlines Extensive Program for 1920 to Surpass All Records Made in Past LEWIS J. SELZNICK, president of Select Pictures Corporation, has announced extensive plans* for the present year in which the organization he heads will surpass anything it has before attempted so that by he first of next year it expects to take the lead in covering the entire motion picture field. NTot only has Mr. Selznick garnered a rield of noted authors to write stories for his stars, but the organization will enter the serial field, get out a news reel, present a series of Americanization pictures and produce several big specials, Seside making Herbert Kaufman editorials into screen form. Principal Production in East The major portion of Selznick pictures .vill be produced at the Fort Lee and Bronx studios until the big studio in Long Island City is completed. Beginning shortly and continuing throughout the year, Ralph Ince will make special Ralph Ince Pictures, which he will direct and take part in. The first of these is "The Law Bringers." by G. V. Lancaster, which will be made in Saskatchewan, Canada. Ince will also make a series of Amercanization pictures, at the suggestion of Secretary Lane, the first of which is a | story of Lincoln called "Opportunity," written by Lewis Allen Browne. There vill be a number of these stories. The Selznick stars will be presented ■ in stories especially selected for them and adapted to their individual style. Olive Thomas, who is now working on Glorious Youth" by John Lynch, Selzlick's scenario editor, will next appear in "Jenny" by Roy Horniman. "Pretty Thing" and "Red Pepper" are also two pictures announced for Miss Thomas . luring the first half 6f the year. Other oictures being considered for her are The Girl with the Faun's Ear" by Phylis Dugan. "False Pride" and "The Magde. len of Mudville." To Change O'Brien Stories Eugene O'Brien seems to be gradually stepping away from the "handsome hero" roles and clever pictures are promised tor this actor during the year. With his director. Robert Ellis, and leading lady, Ruby De Remer. and members of his company. Mr. O'Brien is now in the Thousand Islands making exteriors for his newest picture, "A Fool and His Money" by George Barr McCutcheon. Mysterious Moments" and "The Honor of His House" are at present the stories ^elected to follow his present picture. Elaine Hammerstein will soon complete her latest Selznick picture, "The Woman Game" by Leighton Osmun and Frank Dazey under the direction of William P. S. Earle, and begin "The Shadow of Rosalie Byrnes" under the direction of George Archainbaud. Following this, Miss Hammerstein appears in "The Palace of Darkened Windows." The Proof of the Pudding" by Meredith N'icholson and "Keep Him Guessing." Many More Vehicles Owen Moore who is now at Selznick West Coast studio with his director, Wesley Ruggles, working on his new picture "Love Among the Chickens" by Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, has a promising list to offer for the year. "His Word of Honor" by Edgar Franklin, "Chivalrous Charlie" by May Tully, who is co-author of Lewis J. Selznick's stage success "Bucking the Tiger," are announced to follow the Wodehouse picture, and James Montgomery, the clever playwright, is writing several stories especially for Mr. Moore. Among the big specials to be made by Selznick this year are "The Women God Sent" by Sophie Irene Loeb. of the Evening World staff, already well under way with Zena Keefe in the leading role directed by Larry Trimble, who adapted the script for the screen. Another feature which Mr. Selznick is enthusiastic over is "The Prince of Pines," a powerful story by Williard Mack, which will go into production in a short time under the direction of Burton George, one of the best known directors in the country. Mr. George made the first two one-reel pictures "Little Red Riding Hood" and "The Faded Butterfly." The Herbert Kaufman Weekly, illustrated editorials from the pen of America's leading editorial writer, are now in the hands of John Lopez and will be released after a sufficient number of them have been prepared. They are something entirely new to the screen. Busy on West Coast The West Coast studio under the direction of Harry Rapf are producing, ac Edith Hallor cording to schedule, "Blind Youth," "Just a Wife" and "Who Am I" for National Pictures Inc., which was organized by Lewis J. Selznick and which is composed of leading exhibitors of the country. The West Coast studios will produce features by all-star casts exclusively this year. Some interesting contracts will be signed and announced later, according to Myron Selznick. Feature specials, which will be produced in the east, include the screen version of "Bucking the Tiger," "The Prophets Paradise," "Straight Down the Crooked Lane," "Jeanne of the Marshes" and "The Man Tamer." Strong Scenario Staff The Selznick scenario department sounds like a "Who's Who" in popular literature. Headed by John Lynch, veteran scenario writer, assisted by Melville Hammett, the list includes Lewis Allen Browne, who in addition to numerous scenarios, is a writer for the stage; Charles Belmont Davis, brother of Richard Harding Davis, whose stories need no introduction: Jack Lait, the playwright, who is under contract to write exclusively for Selznick; Louise Wintern, writer of snappy comedies, whose "Princess Virtues" is now being produced for the stage; Merle Johnson, youngest writer on the staff, who already has a couple of good stories to his credit, among them "Red Pepper," which will be played by Olive Thomas; Edward Durling, well known as a writer of the more serious dramas, and Albert Payson Terhune, eminent novelist, who is writing the first serial, and will be represented by other stories later on. The continuity writers are Edward Montaigne. Katherine Reed, Ella Stuart Carson. George Proctor, Dorothy Farnum and R. Cecil Smith, the latter the most prolific and clever writer of continuity in America. A number of notable directors have been added lately to the Selznick forces among them George Archainbaud, Burton George, William P. S. Earle. Alan Crosland, Robert Ellis, Wesley Ruggles and John Lopez. Details for the news weekiy have not been announced but it will be issued twice a week, and contain subjects from many parts of the world not now covered by photographers. Who is appearing: in L. Weber Productions soon to be published through Select. Theatre Seating 1,500 For the Canadian Soo SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH.— Sault Ste. Marie. Ont., will have a new and up-to-the-minute type of theatre building before this year is ended, according to announcement which was made in Toronto by officials of the Allen Theatre Enterprises. A lot with a frontage of 37 feet has already been acquired as a location for the building. This site is at 367 Queen street, between Elgin and Bruce streets. The estimated cost of the proposed new structure is not given. 41