Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1920)

December 25. 1920 EXHIBITORS HERALD 209 Clyde Elliott Gets Several Big Films "The Woman in His House" Finished at Chicago Plant Virginia Xorden to Make Personal Appearances With Mayer Special at Several Previews \7IRGINIA XORDEX. personal rep" resentative of Louis B. Mayer, has been very busily engaged at the Rothacker plant, Chicago, for the last week in company with John Stahl. pu:t;r.g the final touches on the cutting and assembling of "The Woman in His House." Miss Xorden will make personal appearances with this feature at the previews to be held in Minneapolis. Butte. Spokane, Seattle. Tacoma. Portland. LOTOS B. MAYER San Francisco. Sacramento and Los Angeles. These previews will be given on an elaborate scale with orchestral accompaniment and prdper settings and invitations will be extended to prominent people in all walks of life in each city. In presenting "The Woman in His House" as a First Xational special. Louis B. Mayer is still receiving congratulations from people of renown in Washington, D. C, since Harry Crandall presented the same at his Metropolitan theatre. * * * Admiral Robert Coontz, chief of naval operation, U. S. X"., expresses himself that he was greatly pleased to state that he recommends "The Woman in His House" very highly, and continuing stated: "It undoubtedly points to the handling of a great question and one that often occurs in these times of our all too busy lives." Mabel T. Boardman. probably not only the most prominent woman in Washington, but in the entire world, through her activities as head of the American Red Cross, and who is now one of the commissioners of the District of Columbia, writes Mr. Mayer that 'T think the picture is most artistic and beautifully done and that the idea it gives forth is one of helpfulness to those who see it" Mary O'Toole, president of the Woman's City Club of Washington, with a membership of over 4,000. expresses herself as follows: "'The Woman in His House' represents a beautiful idea well carried out and produced. Would that we could all take the losson to heart and profit by it" * * * Harry Crandall was so elated over the enormous business that the picture did that he immediately contracted with Lieut. J. P. Anderson, general manager of Associated First Xational Pictures. Inc.. of Washington, D. C, for a tour of the entire circuit of the Crandall theatres, making a total in all of sixty days. Manager Anderson has been overwhelmed with orders for play dates from exhibitors in all sections of his territory. Mr. Mayer is to be commended in putting over this great big feature without the use of the star's name. Xone of the ads. billboards, lobby displays or anything pertaining to the exploitation of the picture, contained the name of Mildred Harris. Miss Harris is considered the first star on record to allow a production in which she was featured to be placed before the public without the use of her name. Miss Harris has received many letters of commendation for her act. Cutting Xo Cinch Browning Avers • •\T7HEX it comes to the cutting " room a feature film is like a dictionary'. "Thousands of strips of film of different lengths, each identified by a number, are at the editor's disposal. They form the vocabulary of expressions, the dictionary of action, from which he writes his photoplay. If the expression he desires is not in that dictionary — woe unto him. For he makes his dictionary before he uses it, and after it is prepared it is almost impossible — at the least extremely expensive — to go back and insert more 'words.'" * * * That is Tod Browning's nontechnical explanation of the problems of the cutting room and the reason that a picture that has taken fifteen weeks to film should take eight weeks more to edit. "It is an essential difference in the methods of the man preparing a story for the printing press and a man preparing a story for the projection machine," he continued. "The author can always change words, insert phrases. At the last moment he can put in entire paragraphs that never occurred to him before. * * * "The director does the real writing of his story" in the cutting and projection rooms. But he must select and prepare his entire vocabulary before he considers the actual piecing together at all. "For weeks before he can plan the seo.uence of his story, too. exactly, as he must photograph all the dramatic scenes called for by the script and any additional scenes that may occur to him. Scripts are no more than rough working sketches and the director is expected to elaborate on them as he goes along. It is better to have too much material to work with than too little" LVDE E.. ELLIOTT, president of Pioneer Film Corporation of Illi nois, returned from a visit to Xew York on December 12, with several new features and short subjects for his exchange. While in Manhattan he contracted for twelve Billy West comedies, a new series made by Joan Film Company. These will be published one a month commencing on January 17. 1 * » * He also obtained fifteen two-reel "Xick Carter" films Tom Carrigan. Each of these is a complete escapade and they will be issued one a week, commencing on February 7. by Pioneer in the Illinois territoryMr. Elliott also purchased the first of the Monroe Salisbury features. "The Barbarian," which he declraes is one of the most beautiful productions he has seen in years. In the cast are Monroe Salisbury. Allen Hale. Jane Xovak. Barney Sherry and the two Cudahy children. * » * Another short subject obtained on the trip was "Luke McLuke's Film-Osophy," a novelty in 500-foot lengths, to be published one every week. "The Inner Voice," starring E. K. Lincoln, which is being distributed by Pioneer, has just closed a four weeks' run at the Ziegfeld theatre. Chicago, where it played to SI top. and is now on its second week at the Castle theatre. " 'Sunset' Jones" Set in Santa Barbara Locality A large company of players and technical experts, many horses and automobiles, went into the hills near Santa Barbara to make scenes for American's forthcoming feature, " 'Sunset' Jones." The drama deals with train holdups and whole trains were used. A typical saloon, dance hall and gambling house of the Western style were built, and a large number of extras employed for the filming of the scenes. Krthleen O'Connor has an important part in this latest American, and Irene Rich plays the leading feminine role opposite Charles Clan.'. James Gordon enacts the heavy. George L. Cox directed the future. Charles Ray at Strand During Christmas Week The first Xew York showing of Charles Ray's newest feature. "Xineteen and Phyllis." will be the Christmas week attraction at the Strand theatre. Xew York City, beginning Dec. 19. Manager Plunkett has booked it with the faith that it will counteract the tendency of the last-minute rush of the holiday shoppers and other entertainments of the season, to attract away from the theatres. Arthur S. Kane is presenting Ray in this feature under First Xational distribution. Robarge Buys Another MERRILL. WIS. — A L. Robarge. who recently became owner of the Grand opera house, has taken possession of it. His daughter. Mrs. Ray Quade of Minneapolis, is in charge of the Cosmos theatre, another of his possessions. The Grand will undergo remodeling.