Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1920)

156 EXHIBITORS HERALD December 25, 1920 ROBERTSON-COLE'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE (Continued from page 7/5) Little 'Fraid Lady," which was directed by John G. Adolfi, is the first Marsh special, and is ready for publication as the year ends. On January 20 "The Beloved Cheater," produced by Gasnier, was issued. It was the first special attraction of the year for Robertson-Cole and one of the first in its history. On February 1, Georges Carpcntier was signed, following his retirement of the British champion, Joe Beckett. John G. Adolfi was selected as director of the Carpentier picture. A few days later in February "The Fortune Teller," starring Marjorie Rambeau, one of the foremost American actresses, was acquired. * ♦ * On February 28 occurred one of the biggest events of the year, the signing of Otis Skinner, the foremost American romantic actor, and a man representative of the best ideals of the American stage, to appear in "Kismet," his masterpiece. On March 1 Dustin Farnum was signed by four attractions a year, the first of which, "Big Happiness," was issued some time later. On March 15 Sir Ernest Shackleton's exploration picture. "The Bottom of the World," was acquired for America. The first convention of RobertsonCole branch managers and supervisors took place at the Hotel Astor, March 16 to 19. On March 28, Sessue Hayakawa was signed for four attractions a year, the first of which, "The First Born," will be published early in 1921. Soon after this the plan to erect a Robertson-Cole home office building at the corner of Seventh avenue and Forty-eighth street, N'ew York City, was announced. The building, now complete, is a twelve-story structure containing offices for Robertson-Cole Distributing Corporation, Robertson-Cole Company, Division of Films, Robertson-Cole New York exchange and the Robertson-Cole foreign department. On April 12 a contract was made with Al Christie to adapt "So Long, Letty," the celebrated Oliver Morosco musical comedy, to the screen. A few days after this, the signing of Pauline Frederick for four specials yearly took place, and Miss Frederick immediately started to work. May 1 found Robertson-Cole busily preparing for a trade publicity announcement that specials were to be built only henceforth. Robertson-Cole pledged itself to maximum attractions of greatest possible box office returns, exploitation and artistic possibilities henceforth. On January 14 announcement was made of the leasing of the Robertson Cole ranch at Santa Monica, Cal. Here is provided a great stretch of seashore, river, mountain, plain, hamlet and village, which is being used for exterior scenes in Robertson-Cole productions. A few days later, work was started on "Kismet" in California, Mr. Skinner spending most of the summer there. On July 1 the Robertson-Cole studios building was started at Hollywood, Cal. * * * The end of August marked the premier of the first of the "Big 8" fall publications. This was "Big Happiness" starring Dustin Farnum, which opened at the Broadway theatre. A scenario department was inaugurated at the Robertson-Cole studios on September 1. All summer William Christy Cabanne had been at work in the East on "The Stealers." It was presented at the Hotel Astor on September 17 for a trade premiere. The middle of October marked the distribution of the first Pauline Frederick special, "A Slave of Vanity." which has pleased the great Frederick following all over the country since. "Kismet" was shown on October 25 at the Hotel Astor to the trade. The largest crowd which ever turned out to a trade premiere stormed the Astor on, this evening. On November 1 the Robertson-Cole studios were completed and occupied. On December 15 the first birthday of the Robertson-Cole Distributing Corporation was observed. LUCY COTTON— GREETINGS Title role "The Misleading Lady" with Bert Lytell. Feminine lead opposite George Arliss in "The Devil"