Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

42 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 20, 1920 NOTICE THE NASTY LOOKS THEY'RE GIVING EARLE Earle Williams in a scene from the Vitagraph production "Captain Swift" by C. Haddon Chambers. Active Work is Begun by Terriss on Vitagraph's Program of Specials It Is Expected That Company Will be Taken to West Indies for Some of the Scenes for First Picture, "Girl From the Sky" After several weeks of preparation, casting and supervising the building of sets, Tom Terriss has begun active work of filming special productions with all-star casts, which Vitagraph will prosent during the current year. The first of these being directed by Mr. Terriss is an adaptation of "Trumpet Island." by Gouverneur Morris. Its screen title is "The Girl From the Sky." "The Courage of Marge O'Doone." adapted from the novel of the same name by James Oliver Curwood, is another of the all-star productions. Production on this story of the great Northwest is under way under the supervision of David Smith. Other Features Following Other big productions to follow closely, and for which scenarios are being written, are "The Hidden House," based on the novel of the same name by Amelie Rives, and "The Son of Wallingford," being the first adventures of the son of the famous "Get-Rich-Quick" J. Rufus. George Randolph Chester, the creator of J. Rufus, is at work on the novel, in collaboration with Mrs. Chester. "The Son of Wallingford" will be filmed while the novel is running serially in one of the magazines. The production will be made under the supervision of Mr. Chester, who is Vitagraph's editorin-chief. Great Care Is Taken Albert E. Smith, president of Vitagraph, states that he intends to make these new units of his company superlative in every way, and great care is being exercised in the selection of the players. The special Tom Terriss production will be unusual in a scenic way, it is reported, and it is expected that Mr. Terriss will take his company to the West Indies for some of the scenes. New mechanical effects are said to have been worked out for this feature. The scenario was written by Rudolph de Cordoba. Novelty Is Promised In "The Hidden House," Mr. Smith promises an absolute novelty. Mr. Chester has been working on the picture for more than six months. It is a "spook" play with real people, it is said. The story is so weird, and yet withal so real, that Mr. Chester has felt at liberty to go to any lengths for the groundwork of the picture proper. Massive sets of novel lighting, it is said, will be prominent features. The scenes of this production, to a great extent, will be interiors, and on account of their varied nature and large size, the picture will be made during the earlier summer months, when others companies will be working on outside locations. Working in Mountains David Smith is in the mountains near Truckee. He reports that the first three days of the expedition brought a terrific blizzard, which held the entire region in its grip. But far from hampering production, Mr. Smith seized upon this chance to inject the needed Northwest realism into his production. Pauline Starke and Niles Welch head the cast. What constitutes practically a menagerie is with the company, in the form of two large grizzly bears and wolves and huskies. These are but four of the special productions planned by President Smith, it is said, and these will not conflict with Vitagraph's output of features, serial and comedies. National Pictures Has Announced Its First Publication Lewis J. Selznick, president, announces the first publication of a National Picture Theatres, Inc., production in "Just A Wife." The issuance of this first picture, according to Mr. Selznick, marks the opening campaign of new methods m the producing and distributing of subjects. It also marks, he contends, the formation of a closer bond of relationship between the exhibitor and the producer. The National Pictures idea, Mr. Selznick says, is the final cementing of the various branches of fhe industry with but one object to achieve — successful showmanship. "Just A Wife" has in its cast Beatrice Joy, Kathlyn Williams, Roy Stewart, Albert Van and William Lion West. The publication of the second production, "Blind Youth," will follow shortly. The third production, "The Invisible Divorce," is now in production at the Selznick West Coast studios. According to Mr. Selznick, there will be a sufficient number of publications always available t^ assure every exhibitor and circuit manager who has taken out a franchise, a program of unusual merit and attraction. Theatres Organize to Get First Run Films MILWAUKEE, WIS. — Managers of twelve neighborhood motion picture theatres have organized the Milwaukee Associated First Run Theatres tor the expressed purpose of obtaining first run features for the outlying houses. The twelve playhouses plan to show first run productions simultaneously, or as nearly so as possible. The theatres comprising the organization are the Regent, State, Riviera, Colonial, Atlas, Venus, Climax, Savoy, Idle Hour, Astor, Empire and Downer. J. S. Finkenbiner Died ST. LOUIS, MO.— J Stands Finkenbiner, organizer of the Merchants' Feature Film, died at St. Luke's hospital after an illness of two weeks. ^iiii'jiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiuiuiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiuuniiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.'iniiiiiuig "Good Work" I To Exhibitors Herald: I am enclosing check to renew § my subscription to the Herald I which expires on January 25, 1920. 1 Your department, "What the Picture Did for Me," is just the § | thing for the small town exhibitor | | and has saved our show more than 1 | once. Keep up the good work. § | Would like to see more exhibitors j | give their opinions in the depart § | ment each week. | With success for your valuable j j paper, I remain Yours very truly, Liberty Theatre, J. L. Meyers, Ivesdale, 111. | samnMfnn iiiuttitiiiitmtiiiTiiiiuiiuuiui'ittitmii'inji ihubui uinuMiuiuwiniiniiuiHuiinnHMBiS