Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

38 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 13. 192Q "Sagebrusher" Given Praiseworthy Mention After First Performances Managers in Larger Cities Report That Picture Is Tremendous Success— Many Theatres Are Booking Latest Hampton Film Emerson Hough's "The Sagebrusher," the latest Great Authors' production presented by Benjamin B. Hampton, is being applauded generally in each large city at its opening performances. W. K. Hollander, reviewer for the Chicago Daily News, hails it as one of the genuine big screen dramas seen in Chicago in a long time. Scores a Success The first run of the picture at Harry Moir's Alcazar theatre in Chicago, under the management of W. C. Dineen. was a tremendous success, according to reports, as was the first presentation in Los Angeles at the Kinema theatre by Sol Lesser and the Gore brothers. Latest of the big first-run circuits to give the production enthusiastic approval and immediate booking, according to Hopkinson officials, is the Feiber and Shea Ohio chain of theatres, under the general management of D. B. Cool. This Ohio circuit includes the Park theatre. Youngstown; the Colonial. Akron, and the Grand Opera house. Canton. This same organization controls first-run houses in six or seven large Xew Jersey and New York state cities. Contracts for Week's Run C. E. Stillwell, owner of StiHwelfe Casino, Spokane, Wash., where Mr. Hampton's Zane Grey production. "Desert Gold," broke all house records for a week's run, has contracted for a week's presentation in mid-March of "The Sagebrusher." The Emerson Hough picture opened a week's engagement at the Columbia theatre. Pittsburg, the production being heralded by George Seifert, Jr.. managing director, with quarter-page newspaper advertising spreads for the three days preceding the opening. Tom Moore's Strand theatre. Washington, D. C, had the picture for a week's showing. Others Book Picture First-run booking of "The Sagebrusher" has been made by the Ansonia theatre, Butte, Mont., and the Imperial, Great Falls, Mont. M. L. Markowitz, the director of the Strand, San Francisco, announces "The Sagebrusher" for early presentation. Among other houses which have booked this production during the past few days through the Hodkinson organization are: I he Alhambra. L'tica. N. Y.; the Columbia, Peoria. 111.; the Palace, Wichita, Kan.; the Strand, Have'rhill, Mass.; the Majestic, Erie, Pa.; the Crystal, Joliet, 111.; the Majestic. Chillicothe. O.; the Princess, Terrc Haute, Ind.; the New Majestic, Evansville, Ind.; the Granby, Norfolk. Va.; the Hippodrome, Miami, Fla.; the Majestic, Jackson, Mich. Coinage of Billions Of Pennies Fails to Meet Great Demands WASHINGTON. — Despite the fact that there were over 3,500,000.000 pennies in circulation on June 30, last, the mints barely arc able to keep up with the demand, according to Raymond T. Baker, director of the mint. The admission and other war taxes, increased prices for newspapers and other commodities and increases in railroad fares have brought about a much greater demand for pennies than ever before. Yet, between the billions of pennies already in circulation and the 50,000,0(10 to 75,000, (K)0 turned out each month by the mints, there should be enough to meet all demands. Where the pennies go is a question that will never be answered satisfactorily, according to Mr. Baker. "I have tried in a great many ways to get an idea where the one cent pieces go," he said, recently. "We have coined over 3,750,000,000 of them, and we have not a one cent piece in the mints or subtreasuries today. As a matter of fact, the mint service has been behind, say, 10.000,000 one cent pieces at a time. We had to operate Sundays and holidays to catch up and at certain periods this year I had all the mints working twenty-four hours a day on nothing but one cent pieces." Jasper Studios Will Be Used Temporarily First Holubar Phillips Film for Kaufman to be Based on Story of Note (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 2.— The first Allen Holubar-Dorothy Phillips production under their contract with Albert A. Kaufman will be made at the Jasper Studios in Hollywood, pending the completion of the Kaufman studios. It. will be based on a noted story of international fame, according to Kaufman, but he refuses to divulge the name of the story as the negotiations for it have not yet been closed. Kaufman declared that $250,000 will be expended on the first production. There will be no restrictions on Holubar and he will have complete supervision. Kaufman intimated that in negotiating for contracts with other well known directors and the fact that he plans to build rather an extensive studio bears out this fact. Rothacker to Leave For Europe in May To Open Laboratory Returning from the Coast toward February's end, W'attcrson R. Ro hacker sent his traveling bag to the factory for a general overhauling. He leaves in May for Loudon, Paris, Rome, Athens and intermediate points. By way of warming up for this little trip he will go to New York early in M::rch to select a site for ano her Row acker studio-laboratory, having several Long Island sites in mind. However, he will be back on the Coast again on March 12 to attend a conference in regard to the erection of the studio-laboratory in Hollywood. The Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company's president is going abroad to find a site for a London laboratory. With the four laboratories Mr. Rothacker expects to cut down distribution time and costs for clients. From London he will proceed to France Italy and other countries to make a personal investigation of European motion picture manufacturing conditions and progress. David P. Howells, the photoplay exporter, and Mr. Rothacker plan to sail on the same boat. MARK TWAIN'S "HUCKLEBERRY FINN" IS SCREENED "Huck," Tom Sawyer, Aunt Polly, Mary, the Duke, "Huck's" Pap, and all the loved characters of the famous American story have come to life under the direction of William D. Taylor. (Paramount Artcraft.)