Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

26 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 20, 1920 vi, ,, , " ' ' !!ti:iillillil)iiil!iiii!i!iniiillilii:iil1:iiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiuiliiiii! CHAPLIN'S SENSATION IMMINENT Famous Comedian Said to Have Completed Six-Reel Feature Which He Will Not Send Through First National or the "Big Four" ^iiiiliiiiiiliiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiii;iiiiiiiiiiininiiiiiiiiui^ Out on the west coast, there are many things constantly transpiring which affect the future of the film industry. Some of these never reach the light. Others are "dug up" by energetic correspondents. Such a correspondent is Jay Balfour. Did you read his letter in Exhibitors Herald last week? If not you missed one of the newsiest dispatches a trade paper has carried in months. Correctly speaking, it was not just news — it was news in the making. And here is another of his inside stories: By JAY BALFOUR HOLLYWOOD, CAL„ March 9.— Charley Chaplin is about to spring a sensation, if rumors just starting to circulate are true. According to the aforementioned rumors, Charley has recently completed the filming of a sixreel feature picture starring himself. There isn't anything very sensational about that because everyone knows that Charley has always had the "feature bug." The sensation is expected to develop when Sir Charles announces the release of the picture. Mr. Chaplin does not intend to give the picture to First National, it is said, despite his contract with that concern; and he doesn't want to release it through United Artists because he is loathe to drag his confreres — Mary, Doug and D. W. — into the morasses of extensive litigation. Therefore his disposition of the picture should be of interest to the business at large. There is little doubt that the initial announcement will be followed by the initiation of legal steps by First National. History Is Interesting The history of the first Chaplin multiple reeler is interesting. Like others, it was started as a two-reeler. During the course of the filming the services of a child were required and Charley made a find. He got hold of a fiveyear-old boy who was so good under Charley's direction that he determined to write a bigger part for the youngster. He also extended the part of Edna Purviance and wrote in a lot of sob stuff for the boy. The picture has been sent East, perhaps for the purpose of evading piifllimniiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiniiumiiiiiinu iiiiniiiiiiiiinimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiini Real Value m To Exhibitors Herald: § I am not overly anxious to spend | | my money, but you are giving us § | all too much for $1.00 per year. | | How can you do it? Respectfully yours, H. A. Wishard, Wishard Theatre, Bloomfield, Iowa. | SInitTUiiiiti]iiiiiiiiiiiitiiutiTriiTiititi?ini[)iiiiTiiiiiiMjitiii]iiiitiii)tJt)T!!iriii»iii:titiiiTiiiii<r;firiiiriritiiiiiiiiiitlW some legal step by First National. It is not the first time that Chaplin made a feature length picture. The length of "Shoulder Arms" when completed, was five reels. But First National refused to accept it at Charley's valuation, said to have been a quarter of a million dollars, so great gobs of it were cut out and it was reduced to three reels. Filming Bob Chambers Sid Franklin has started the filming of "Athabc," one of the most novel of the Robert W. Chambers novels, for Mayflower. Sid had considerable trouble with his adaptation and was finally compelled to run the sexiest part of the story through a septic tank to make it filmable. The chief roles are being played by Conrad Nagel, the handsome young juvenile who came out from New York to play the lead in "The Fighting Chance." and Sylvia Brcamer, formerly with Incc and Blackton. Betty Compson to Star Betty Compson is soon to be launched as a star as her own. It is announced that Art Rosson will do the directing of her first picture but it is generally understood that George Loanc Tucker, with whom she has a contract, will do the supervising. Important Deals Are Rumored Prior To The Convention Of U. P. T. With rumors of several important deals being negotiated, the quarterly convention of directors of the United Picture Theatres of America, Inc., which will be held at the Sherman Hotel. Chicago, on March 16, 17 and 18, is taking on an added importance. J. A. B«rst, president of the United Theatres, was expected in Chicago this week to close one or more of the pending deals. Gossip from the east indicates that the United Picture Theatres may purchase the features now owned by the Hallmark Pictures Corporation. If this deal is closed, it is said, the Hallmark Corporation will place its future product on the state rights market. Report Borden Heirs Hold Hallmark Stock (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK. March 9— It is reported that the Gail Borden heirs now are heavily interested in the Hallmark Pictures Corporation. Lathrop Again Editor (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES. March 9— Monroe Lathrop leaves Willis and Inglis to resume his position as motion picture editor of the Los Angeles Exhibitor. Twice Lathrop left his desk for publicity berths, once for W. H. Clune. I'. \. POWBRI \\ hi> In nii III li> Im n<-K»lliitine tor Ihr UlC mi hi* latere ■< in the I nivrraal Film MiiniiftH'lurlni: i uni pa n J Rumored P. A. Powers May Retire From "U" NEW YORK, March 8— A deal is now being negotiated whereby P. A. Powers, treasurer of Universal Film Manufacturing Company and largest individual stockholder, will dispose of his interests and retire from the company, according to confidential information obtained here. Mr. Powers was one of the organizers of Universal and has played a big part in its development. The control of the company has been split between Carl Laemmle, Robert Cochrane and Mr. Powers, with the stock of Mr. Laemmle and Mr. Cochrane representing the majority interest. Strike Is Hampering Movement Of Films A strike of the express handlers throughout the Chicago district, which began on March 0, has handicapped seriously the shipment of film in the Central West for several days. The first day, several shipments were missed. Exchange managers immediately started sending their film by parcel post special delivery, however, and everything was running smoothly within twenty-four hours. The principal difficulty to date is with return shipments, which in many cases are missent or greatly delayed. Wild Tales Exploit "Virgil ofStamboul" (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 9— H a r r y Rcichenbach signalized the opening of his campaign to exploit "The Virgil or Stamboul," for Universal, by putting over wild column stories in the New York morning papers about a lost Turkish girl, yesterday.