Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

March 20, 1920 EXHIBITORS HERALD f.l "Witching Hour" and Tarkington Novel Purchased by Jesse L. Lasky Broadhurst and McCutcheon Stories Acquired and Will be Used by Famous Players-Lasky as Vehicles for Washburn and Reid George Montgomery Is Given Promotion Field Manager Made General Sales Manager of the Hallmark Company George N. Montgomery, field manager of the Hallmark Pictures Corporation, has been appointed general sales manager of the Hallmark organization to succeed W. F. Rodgers, resigned. Mr. Montgomery, who has been making his headquarters in Chicago, left for New York immediately after being notified. With the announcement of Hallmark's increased output in both serial and fea GEORGE N. MONTGOMERY ture production, the new general sales manager will be afforded unlimited opportunity. Mr. Montgomery was closely allied with Mr. Rodgers when the latter was sales manager of the General Film Company. He also served a long term as personal representative of the president of the World Film Corporation. A year ago he resigned the western district managership of a large distributing organization to again affiliate with W. F. Rodgers in Hallmark. A deal of considerable importance recently closed by Mr. Montgomery was the purchase for Hallmark of the DollVan Film Company of Illinois, combining their product in the Illinois territory and taking over their entire sales organization. The Doll-Van was one of the big state-rights concerns of the country, and its general manager, D. M. Vandawalker, was made manager of the Chicago offices of Hallmark, in complete charge of his territory. To Build Fifth House BROOKLYN, N. Y— A. H. Schwartz is to build his fifth theatre at Kings Highway and Coney Island avenue. H. Clay Miner, Benjamin Herman, James P. McAllister, Oscar Palmleaf, Ralph M. Beach, David Schlein, Otto D. Katcher and Samuel D Holiner are associated with him. Name Erwin Assistant DU QUOIN, ILL.— Winnie A. Erwin has been appointed assistant manager of the theatres in Southern Illinois belonging to Reid, Yemm & Hayes. Augustus Thomas' celebrated drama, "The Witching Hour," in which the late John Mason scored a great tuccess, heads a list of well-known plays and novels recently acquired for early production, according to an announcement by Jesse L. Lasky, vice-president of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. The other plays included in the list are "A Celebrated Case," by D'Ennery and Cormon; "What Happened to Jones," by George Broadhurst, and "The Shulsmite," by Edward Knoblauch. The books purchased for picturization are "The Conquest of Canaan," Booth Tarkington's famous novel, and "The Husbands of Edith," by George Barr McCutcheon. Starring Vehicles "What Happened to Jones" and "The Husbands of Edith" will be used respectively as starring vehicles for Bryant Washburn and Wallace Reid, and all the others will be produced as Paramount Artcraft specials. "The Witching Hour" probably is one of the strongest dramatic works which American playgoers have seen. It was first produced by Charles Frohman at the Hackett theatre, New York, in 1907, and ran almost two seasons. Coming at a time when spiritualism was little talked of, it was for this reason perhaps the more startling. Its theme deals with the power of hypnotic force and the mental will to overcome its hold. The story is built around a young man who, believing that he cannot resist the evil influence of a cat's eye jewel, murders a drunken man who taunts him with one. The play was Actionized and published by Harper & Bros, and Grosset & Dunlap. Story of Country Life "The Conquest of Canaan" was published by Harper's in 1905 and later republished by A. L. Burt. The simple story of country life and politics had a tremendous appeal. Although many of Booth Tarkington's works have been done into plays, this one never has been presented before the footlights. "What Happened to Jones" is a sample of George Broadhurst in his best mood of light, farcial comedy. The play was produced first in London some twenty years ago, and soon after in New York. It was revived for a short run in 1917-18 at the Forty-eighth Street theatre. Deals With French History "A Celebrated Case" deals with the days of the Pretender in France, centering at the time of the battle of Fontenoy. Following its premiere in London in 1878, the play was produced in New York in the early '80s by A. M. Palmer at the Union Square theatre, with Charles Coughlan and Sarah Jewett in leading roles. It was revived in 1898 and again, this time with an all-star cast, in 1915 at the Empire theatre. Numbered among those who had parts in this production were Helen Ware. Florence Reed, Ann Murdock, Otis Skinner, Robert Warwick, Nat Goodwin, • Beverly Sitgreaves, Frederick De Belleville, Josephine Victor, Minna Gale Baynes and Eugene O'Brien. "The Shulsmite" was founded on a book written by Alice and Claude Askew, authors of "Eve and the Law," "Anna of the Plains" and "The Etonion." Dramatized by Edward Knoblauch, it was presented at the Savoy theatre, London, in 1906, with Norman McKinnel and Lena Ashwcll. Miss Ashwcll retained the same role when the play came to this country the next season. "The Husbands of Edith," from the pen of George Barr McCutcheon, was published by Dodd, Mead & Co. in 1908 and later republished by A. L. Burt. It has a distinct vein of light c'omedy, suited, it is said, to Mr. Reid, who will be starred in it next season. Speakers Uphold Work of Censorship Board PORTLAND, ORE.— Speakers at a mass meeting in Central library lauded the work being done by the local motion picture censorship board. Exhibitors' efforts to change the personnel of the board were scored by them. Speakers were Mrs. Maria L. T. Hidden, Mrs. F. W. Swanton of the Oregon Humane society, the Rev. M. A. Christenson and Mrs. A. C. Newill. Blank to Build in Omaha OMAHA, NEB.— A. H. Blank, owner of the Strand and Rialto theatres, has leased property at 4821-23-25 South Twenty-fourth street, on which he will build a playhouse. RALPH BUSHMAN Son of Francis X. Bushman, who is soon to be seen in Christie Comedy drnmas.