Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1920)

October 23, 1920 EXHIBITORS HERALD 79 Capitol Run of "Homespun Folks" Tops Previous Attendance Records Rothapfel Presentation Aids Materially in the Successful Showing of Film — Specially Prepared Music Cues Played -lanley Is Touring the Country for Lesser's Exploitation Company With the departure of Edward Man?y, representative for Irving M. Lesser, eneral manager for Western Pictures Exploitation Company in Los Angeles, .esser announces that national distribuion is now completed for the Hugh Evans production of "The Stranger" and he feature film '"Sky-Eye." The Western organization is a new ompany formed by Lesser, and, alhough but a few months old, has conrol of distribution for many well-known lm features. Manley will visit all the important exhange centers throughout the country nd will ultimately reach New York City, vhere he will work on foreign rights or Lesser's features, among which are That Something." "The Sentimental 31oke," ''Souls of Men," '.'Sins of the Vorld," all Cinal slow motion process ilms, and an Annette Kellerman feature itled "The Art of Diving." ' vlary O'Connor Writes Script for Paramount Jesse L. Lasky has announced the reirement of Mary O'Connor as scenario .nd film editor at the studio of Famous 3layers-Lasky Corporation, to take up cenario writing exclusively for the com>any. Miss O'Connor's first work und'er ■he new arrangement will be the scenario or an original story by Hector Turnmil, which George Melford will produce. Miss O'Connor's place will be taken >y Lee Daugherty. Previous to her association with Famous Players-Lasky,. \Iiss O'Connor was employed at the jriffith studio and wrote many of the 7ine Arts original stories for Dorothy ind Lillian Gish. Bessie Love and other ■tars then playing under Mr. Griffith's lupervision. Lee Daugherty was one of he first scenario editors in the motion )icture business, having served in that :apacity with Biograph in 1906. Russell Special Popular Feature American Claims One of the most successful "Flying A" >ictures from the box office standpoint, ind one reported to be holding its own ■teadily as a big money getter, is "Slam 3ang Jim," a special in which William •tussell is the star. Many of the better grade houses, it is •aid, are booking this Russell drama, imong them the Hippodrome of Los \ngeles, where it will have an extended un this montn. Uhletic Club Will Show Film Features Contracts to show Goldwyn pictures n their clubhouse have been signed by he Ludlow (Mass.) Athletic and Recreition Association. During the coming season Goldwyn >ictures will play a prominent part in he social life of this unique association, t is said. Battle Creek Remodeling BATTLE CREEK, MICH.— The Dreamland theatre, which was recently purchased by Lewis Losey, is being remodeled and redecorated, and suction fans have been installed. Extensive repairs are also being made. '"Homespun Folks," Thomas H. luce's first special for Associated Producers, comprising, in addition to Mr. Ince, Mack Sennett, George Loane Tucker, J. Parker Read, Jr., Marshall Neilan, Allan Dwan and Maurice Tourneur, is claimed to have broken all existing records in one of the world's largest theatres, the Capitol, at its New York premiere on Sunday, Oct. 3. Paid admissions topped those recorded for the biggest previous Sunday in the history of the theatre. Credit Given Rothapfel Credit for a measure of the success of "Homespun Folks" at the Capitol is accorded by Associated Producers to Samuel L. Rothapfel for his remarkable picture presentation. The Ince production had a typical Rothapfel presentation, which is to say that it was put before the audience with every pretty adjunct that keen showmanship could devise. A specially prepared music cue, played for the picture by the Capitol's symphony orchestra, added no little to the effectiveness of the picture. Old favorites of the "back home" type of ballad were featured, deftly interwoven with some of the more modern successes. Musical Program Given. As part of the musical program, and in keeping with the homely nature of the feature picture, the Capitol male quartet, accompanied by violin, harp and cello, sang "When I Hear the Gate a'Swingin' ", by Leo T. Croke, and "O, Time, Take Me Back," by Carrie Jacobs Bond. The orchestra played the Toreador song from "Carmen." Lake's "Evolution of Dixie" as an interlude and the "'Hungarian Lustspiel" as an overture. When "Homespun Folks" reached the point of its fast-moving election night scenes, a small brass band back stage replaced the orchestra long enough to render in typical country town style "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight," "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" and other classics of America's wildest annual holiday. Critics Praise Picture Critics of New York's newspapers praised the production. Following are excerpts from some of the reviews: Evening Post: "Screen plays like Thomas H. Ince's 'Homespun Folks' always stimulate hope in the motion picture as an art and bolster a waning belief in spite of dozens of alleged 'masterpieces.' There is a real story in Julien Josephson's scenario. There are real characters in the cast."" The Neivs : " 'Homespun Folks' has as its leading man Lloyd Hughes, who very engagingly plays Joel Webster, the youth who tries to milk with both eyes fastened on a law book. You'll want to see it because it is a good picture, and because Joel and 'the constable and the vitriolic country editor and the small town politicians are so funny, but most of all because it's an antidote for the fed-up feeling you get when you've seen too many opulent movies." Reopen Kalamazoo Theatre KALAMAZOO. MICH.— The Elite, Kalamazoo's oldest motion picture theatre, thoroughly redecorated and modernized, recently reopened for the season. Close to $5,000 was expended upon it. DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES A HOUSEBOAT BUILT FOR TWO First view of the American Film Company's six part feature "The Plue Moon."