Exhibitors Herald (Aug 1920)

August 14, 1920 EXHIBITORS HERALD 57 Selznick Announces Plans Six Star Series, Twelve Special Productions, Six National Theatre Pictures and Short Subjects Included in Schedule gtiuniiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiNiimiiiiiii rtfiriiriiiiMtiTiir iittiDim mitrttici t ii mill it tiiuri i Kiimiiii'ir! i mi ii iin tin i iiitmithiu itiiim in iiiuiuiiiniiiinHiimimiPiiiHiiiiimiiiniimiiiHiiaiiimiiiumiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiii iiiiuitiiinniiiiiii mmiiiiiiimi iimmi unmniuiii nrtmniniimnmu^ Policy Is Unchanged In announcing its policy for the coming year, Selznick Enterprises accents the significant fact that the Lewis J. Selznick slogan: "I consider myself a failure unless the exhibitor is a success" will be imprinted in even bolder letters upon the mind of every man in the organization. "I do not own and do not want to own a single motion picture theatre," is President Selznick's assurance to exhibitors. This has been the stand of Mr. Selznick's organization all along, and the coming year will not see it changed. * * * Thus the Selznick policy is the same as before with a few additions built on to accommodate increased business. The outstanding growth has to do with carrying out the principle of the closest possible contact with and service to exhibitors. To accomplish this the various units and branches of the organization have been consolidated, the centralization meaning that all territories are served across "a single counter." While, in the larger territories, there are specializations in the sales forces, all subjects, from the short features to the big specials are handled in one office under one manager. This eliminates all lost motion and simplifies booking for the exhibitor. Carrying out this principle still further, some of the larger territories have been subdivided, and new offices have been opened. These include Portland, Maine, Oklahoma City, Milwaukee, Charlotte, N. C, and New Jersey. * * * Mr. Selznick believes that the greatest permanent success is to be reached by providing service and avoiding competition with customers, and he has definitely and finally adopted this policy. On the other hand, many of the most important exhibitors have expressed a strong desire to ally themselves with a producing concern, in order that they may be assured of an unfailing supply of productions. To satisfy this demand, Mr. Selznick organized National Picture Theatres, Inc., which enables exhibitors to shape production policy and share in the profits. The rapid growth of this unit of the Selznick Enterprises is proof of exhibitors' appreciation of the opportunity offered them. ^iwiimmiinuuiuimiiuiium umiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'iiiiiiinniiiiiiiiiiiii^ 4<X T3T only can exhibitors look for Selznick Pictures to maintain the high standard set in the past, during the coming season," says Myron Selznick, president of Selznick Pictures and general production manager of all the Selznick Enterprises, "but they can bank on as near one hundred per cent productions as it is possible for human endeavor to make them. "Our organisation went to considerable pains during the past year," continued Mr. Selznick, "to feel the pulse of the public so that we could correctly gauge its demand for pictures. Our policy for 1920-21 is based entirely upon suggestions from the exhibitors, whom we feel are silent partners in our organization, and can be depended upon to know what their patrons want." Following out this policy Selznick Enterprises is prepared to announce a program for the approaching season that will be of great importance to exhibitors all over the country. Complete Plans Given After careful consideration it has been decided to produce and publish during the season of 1920-21 six Star Series Pictures, directed by men who have demonstrated their ability; twelve SuperSpecials directed by Ralph Ince and Hobart Henley; six pictures for National Theatres in which Conway Tearle will be starred and ten others for National with all-star casts. The short subjects will be the Prizma Natural Color Pictures, which have swept the country with a popular appeal; the Herbert Kaufman Masterpieces with their gripping messages to humanity and the Selznick News Reel, which in the short time it has been launched has won popular approval and holds a prominent place in the programs of exhibitors from coast to coast. Stories For Olive Thomas In the Star Series, among the pictures in which Olive Thomas will appear are: "Nobody" from the pen of John Lynch, Scenario Director for Selznick; "Keeping Him Guessing" by Idyll Shepard Way; "The Girl With the Faun Ears," by Phyliss Duganne, "The Magdalene of Mudville" by John Lynch and "The Fib" by George D. Hodenpyl, Jr. These are all stories purchased by Myron Selznick specially for Miss Thomas and there will be others. William Faversham will appear in a number of specials and among the first is "The Sin That Was His," written by Frank Packard, who is responsible for "The Miracle Man" and directed by Hobart Henley. Concerning this picture. Lewis J. Selznick, President of Selznick Enterprises says: "I consider this the very best picture I have ever made." Ince To Star and Direct Ralph Ince will appear in a number of specials which he will also direct. Among the earlier releases are "Red Foam" by William H. Hamby, which appeared in The Saturday Evening Post," and "Out of the Snows," by E. Lord Corbett. Mr. Ince plays the lead in both of these specials and they with the rest will be known as Ralph Ince Productions. For Elaine Hammerstein, Myron Selznick has in view a series particularly adaptable to the winning personality and charm of this star. Among the stories in which she will appear are: "The Daughter Pays," from the book by Mrs. Baillie Reynolds, a novel that took England by storm; "Idle Hands" by John Lynch; "Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby," by Kathleen Norris and "The Proof of The Pudding" by Meredith Nicholson. Other stories "by eminent writers are also in view. Tearle In Six Pictures Conway Tearle is a National Pictures' star and will be seen in six pictures among which are "Marooned Hearts" by Lewis Allen Browne, who wrot'e "The Land of Opportunity," the first Americanization picture. In this picture Mr. Tearle will be supported by Zena Keefe. Another early release for Mr. Tearle is "The Road of Ambition," by Elaine Sterne. Other pictures for the star are under consideration. Comedy roles have been selected for Owen Moore and among the pictures he will appear in are: "Love Is An Awful Thing" by J. Shakespeare Sap, the Swiss author; "Chivalrous Charlie" by May Tully writer for the stage and screen and "Love Among the Chickens" by P. G. Wodehouse, whose Saturday Evening Post stories have attracted considerable attention. Change in O'Brien Pictures Eugene O'Brien's releases are to be somewhat different from those he has been seen in in the past. They include "The Wonderful Chance," by H. H. Van Loan, who during the past year has come to the front as the writer of big successes; "Mysterious Moments," by Izola Forrester and Manna Page; "A Man's Word," by Lewis Allen Browne, and "The Fighter," by Albert Payson Terhune, novelist and special writer. Among the specials announced for release beside those mentioned are: "The Wilderness Fear." by Michael J. Phillips; "The Alibi," by Eugene Walter from the story by Leigh Gordon Oilman; "The Dangerous Paradise," by Edmund Goulding; "Bucking the Tiger." by May Tully and Achmed Abdullah; "The Law Bringers," by C. B. Lancaster; "The Honor of (Continued on page 65)