Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

40 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 20, 1920 "BLIND YOUTH" A NATIONAL PICTURE THEATRE'S SUBJECT A notable cast appears in this production including Walter McGrail, Leatrice Joy, Ora Carcwe, Clara Horton and Claire McDowell. Park States "Empty Arms" Approved By Clergy and Prominent Officials Byron Park, general manager of Photoplay Libraries, Inc.. ">00 Fifth avenue, New York, exclusive selling agents for the Lester Park-Edward Whiteside series of productions, has returned to New York after a tour of the leading western cities in the interests of "Empty Arms," which stars Gail Kane. It was directed by Frank Reichcr from Willard King Bradley's original screen story of that name. Mr. Park visited Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, Dallas and Kansas City. It was his original plan to continue eastward, stopping at all important cities to meet the buyers who are desirous of obtaining "Empty Arms" for their territories, but because the number of telegrams, telephone and other messages which have poured into the New York office, he decided to jump from Kansas City to New York, where the many buyers and independent exchange men will view "Empty Arms" at private screenings. Buyers Already Sold Immediately upon reaching his office, Mr. Park said: "So thorough and far-reaching has been our campaign on this sensational film that in every city I visited I found the majority of buyers and exchange men already sold to the picture, despite the fact that none of them actually had seen it. They had read our advertisements and announcements in the trade papers and the various pieces of literature on 'Empty Arms' which was sent out from our office, and were cognizant of the weight of the names of the author, director, star and featured players. "They already were intensely interested in the picture, its unusual theme and extraordinary box office drawing power, so it only remained for me to screen the print I had with me to convince them that we possessed a picture that measured up to everything wc have said about it. "Then, too, in the various cities I visited I found that public officials, the clergy and prominent men and women are heartily in sympathy with the picture's theme — the glorification of motherhood. They have signified their mten tions to do all in their power to bring it before the public. On the other hand, I am given to understand that representatives of the Birth Control league are lying in wait in an effort to cause trouble wherever it is shown. Frankly, whatever they do will only serve to make the picture the talk of the town wherever it plays. "My trip has shown me that there is a crying need in the state rights field for meritorious box office productions. I am convinced that 'Empty Arms' and the other Park-Whiteside features to follow it will do much towards filling the demand. Attends to Inquiries "For the -next ten days I expect to'be kept on the jump attending to the large number of inquiries for prices and screenings which poured in while I was on the road, and in projecting 'Empty Arms' for the many buyers who made it impossible for me to continue my trip further east than Kansas City. My best sales argument is contained in the picture itself. "Besides having the picture screened for him, every prospective buyer will be shown reproductions of the lithographs, banners, slides, stories and cuts for publication in local newspapers which our advertising and exploitation experts have prepared for 'Empty Arms.'" Buys World Pictures To Issue In Uruguay, Argentine, Paraguay \\ hat is described as one of the largest individual contracts ever made for the distribution of mo ion pictures in a foreign territory, was closed recently when Jacob (ilucksmann. American representative of the firm of Max (ilucksmann, independent distributors of motion pictures in South America, attached his signature to an agreement whereby he acquired the rights to sixty World pictures for physical distribution throughout Argentine, Paraguay and Uruguay. The transaction, which is said to involve a sum of money running well into five figures, in the culmination of a series of business conferences between (jus Schlesinger, manager of the department of foreign film sales of Inter-Ocean Film Corporation, and Mr. Jacob Glucksmann. By the terms of the contract, Max (ilucksmann takes over "The Scar," "The Crook of Dreams," "The Rough Neck," "The Golden Wall," "The Witch Woman," "The Corner Grocer," "The Man Who Forgot. rhe Madness of Helen," "The Black Circle," "A Broadway Saint," "Dust of Desire," and other productions. Such well known film players as Robert Warwick. Alice Brady, Mollie King, Clara Kimball Young, Ethel Clayton, June Elvidge, (iail Kane. Madge Evans, Kitty Gordon, Carlyle Blackwell, Louise I luff, Montague Love, Betty Compson, Ruby de Remere, Creighton Hale, and others are featured in the sixty publications. St. Louis To Have New Million Dollar Theatre A combination vaudeville and motion picture theatre is to be erected by Marcus Loew at Eighth street and Washington avenue at a cost of $1,000,001). according to announcement just made public. Building operations are to be begun at the expiration of certain leases held to buildings now occupying the ground. The plans call for a seating capacity of 1.400 upon the ground floor and balcony. Photographs Interiors LOS ANGELES— Henry King is making rapid progress photographing the interiors for "Behind Red Curtains." the Mansfield Scott mystery drama, which is being used by Jesse D. Hampton productions as H. B. Warner's cujrent starring vehicle. Anna Q. Nilsson plays opposite Mr. Warner, while others in the cast are Edward Bums. Frank Leigh, Thomas Guise, Dorothy Hagan, Adele Farrington. Lillian Rich. August Phillips, Ralph McCullough. J. P. Lockney. Howard Davies and Wilton Taylor. Volk Announces Plans ELIZABETH. X. J— Philip G. Volk. president of the Federal Amusement Company, announces that a new motion picture playhouse will be erected at North Broad street and Ridgeway avenue. Others interested in the undertaking are Joseph Ebert, Daniel Leeds Miller. Jr., and Alfred D. Halsey. Remodel for Playhouse MARION, KAN.— The Young Block has been remodeled by Harry Rogers into the Garden theatre. Haupert Buys Orpheum STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLO — C. D. Haupert has purchased the Orpheum theatre from A. V. E. WesSvls, who is secretary and treasurer of the Art-O-Graf Film Company, Denver.