Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1920)

80 E X H I B I T O R S HHRAI.I) October 23, 1920 'THERE ARE SMILES THAT MAKE US HAPPY" Scenes from "Honeymoon Ranch," the five-part western feature being exploited by Bert Lubin. Half of the Territory Now Sold on Maurice Tourneur's "County Fair" Guy Croswell Smith announces that within forty-eight hours after the announcement that Maurice Tourneur's "The County Fair" would be sold on the state right market six * territories were disposed of. Options were taken by other independent buyers on additional territories, making approximately half of the country sold on the production. The initial week of "The County Fair," which S. Barret McCormick gave at the Rivoli theatre in Toledo, O., was such a decided success, it is reported, that word of its hit quickly reached the trade. More than 40,000 people saw the picture at the Rivoli in one week. Some of the exploitation possibilities of the distinctively American subject which Mr. McCormick utilized contributed to this success. Lesser Buys Territory The following well-known state right buyers have taken over "The County Fair" for their respective sections of the country: Joseph Skirboll for western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Ben Friedman of the Friedman Film corporation, for Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota. M. S. Rosenberg of the De Luxe Feature Film corporation, for Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho, Montana and the United States possessions in Alaska. Sol Lesser, for California, Arizona and Nevada. Fred Falkner, for northern New Jersey. A syndicate of Southern distributors for Georgia. Florida, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. The foregoing were taken within forty-eight hours of the opening of sales in addition to the options granted on other territories. At the same time the At'^tral'ar1 rights, together with about one-third of the foreign market, also were -disposed of. Record Established This is considered by some as a new record for speed in disposing of a state ri^ht picture proposition. If the same ratio is kept up Smith believes that "The County Fair" will be under way and the entire available territory passed over to representative distributors in the shortest time ever allotted to the disposal of a motion picture at such prices as are being accepted, it is said, for this picture. "The County Fair" was taken from the stage story which Neil Burgess made famous some years back, and which wa* one of the real rural comedy hits of all times. Closes Minneapolis Deal In his tour coastward for D. N. Schwab Productions, Inc., Walter J. Pofges. sales representative, concluded a deal whereby "Fickle Women," starring David Butler, was sold to Midland Films Company of Minneapolis. F. A. Burke representing the Midland concern's interest in the deal. Report Big Demand For Cook Comedies Additional Prints Made by Fox, It is Reported, To Meet Booking Requirements Fox Film Corporation reports that the booking demands on the first comedy featuring Clyde Cook, the man with the "India-rubber legs," are so heavy that additional prints have been made. Cook's first comedy is "Kiss Me Quick," which will be published shortly. This famous comedian's original and unique style of screen work is expected by Fox officials to create a sensation in the motion picture world. Clyde Cook last year was the attraction at the New York Hippodrome, and the countless thousands that viewed his performance of unusual comedy, his wonderful feats in eccentric dancing and his acrobatic accomplishments, have spread his fame throughout the land, it is believed. Previous to his engagement at the Hippodrome, Cook had appeared in leading theatres in his native country, Australia, in Fnglaud and on the Continent. Cook's peculiar adaptability for the screen is naturally through his excruciatingly funny antics. As a contortionist he is without a peer, and as an eccentric dancer he is unsurpassed. "Crimson Cross" Said To Be Startling Film Depicting Hypnotism "The Crimson Cross," the initial Fanark Corporation picture, which was written by N. Brewster Morse and directed by George Everett, is called a startling picture based on the subject of hypnotism. "Startling does does not seem a strong enough word to describe 'The Crimson Cross,' because, right before your eyes both the hypnotized and the hypnotist prove by their reactionary suffering the fallacy of the foundation," says a Fanark official. "It is plainly portrayed, for the first time on either stage or screen, that hypnotism is an evil for the hypnotist as well as for the victim." In the cast are well known players, including Edward Langford. Mane Swayne, who are seen in the leading roles, supported by such players as Van Dyke Brooks, Eulalie Jensen, Augustus Phillips, William E. Hallman, Archie Clark. Josephine Williams, Joseph Singer, Curtis Karpe and Ben Probst. Rosemary Theby to Make Shaw Picture (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES. Oct. 12— Rosemary Theby has signed a long-term contract with J. Lincoln Miller. She will make a series of special productions, the first to be a story by George Bernard Shaw. Palm, Pueblo, Now Open PUEBLO, COLO.— J. J. Goodstein, owner of the new Palm theatre, which is being remodeled from the old Princess theatre, has returned from a trio to the East, where he signed contracts to bring the best of high-grade photoplays to his theatre. The Palm was opened early in September.