Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

32 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 21, 1922 DW. GRIFFITH has a dark secret. He knows something he won't • tell. Or maybe it is Jack Lloyd's dark secret. At any rate the opening of "Orphans of the Storm" was the occasion of slipping something along that has started a whole lot of news sleuths sleuthing. The story of "The Two Orphans" is printed on the program handed to cash customers at the Apollo. After telling ot the establishment of the Reign of Terror, of the guillotine, and of Robespierre using the committee of safety for eliminating all' who do not think as he does, comes the following cryptic utterance: "A similar condition exists in Russia today. Some might see in this a lesson for our own people. There are those who seem to find that recently right here in our own United States small, but quite efficiently, aggressive minorities have been able to secure the passage of most any kind of law they desired. Perhaps there are those who think we will do well to keep our eyes" open, and feel that it is not altogether impossible for us to lose our democratic form of government as did the people of France at the time of our story. There are some who fear we might come under the tyranny of small, but aggressive, parties who could hold and sway all government to suit themselves, while the majority of the people were unsuspecting of what they are seeking and until the great damage is done." There are many guesses as to what it all means. Some construe it as a wallop at the evils of censorship. Mr. Griffith not being available for information, Jack Lloyd was asked to elucidate, but declined. "That's our secret," said he. * * * And speaking of Mr. Griffith and his works, A. Swivel Chair, special rumor correspondent of this column for Broadway and vicinity, reports the following conversation, which did not take place. After the first showing of "Orphans of the Storm" Mr. Griffith and Mr. Lubitsch met in the lobby of the theatre. "You have made a wonderful picture, Mr. Griffith," said Mr. Lubitsch. "I consider you the Lubitsch of America." "I have seen 'Passion,' Mr. Lubitsch," responded Mr. Griffith, "and I consider you the Griffith of Germany." * * * Even the Volstead law enforcement officials now recognize the value of being in right with the motion picture industry. Not to the extent of passing any one by when we have anything on the hip or under the table, however. But here's how Jack's famous old cafe at Sixth avenue and 43rd street was raided last week and several truck loads of hootch was carted away. Before making the raid all the news reel men were called up and tipped off to be on the job. They all got pictures of plenty of hootch. Pictures only. * * * After pointing out many of the pros and cons of making Will Hays the Judge Landis of the films, H. I. Phillips, the Globe Trotter, springs this as a bulletin possibility some time in the future: New York — Solomon Goldfiddlc, president of Super-Sex Film Company, was fined $5,000 and ordered not to report for spring training for two years by Filmmastcr General Hays today. ( loldiiddlc violated the commissioner's orders by going barnstorming with "The Sweet Sister." Harry Reichenbach's press agent sends us the following with the request that we print it, so here it is, Harry: Harry Reichenbach, who has been handling the special exploitation and advertising for Universal's "Foolish Wives," has resigned to take effect immediately after the opening of that picture at the Central theatre and will immediately join Famous Players-Lasky for special work on big pictures for that concern. Reichenbach has been in charge of all the "Foolish Wives" display advertising and news matter since his return from Europe last September and was responsible for the special train that carried a cutting car from Los Angeles to New York. He has syndicated pages throughout the country and succeeded in getting more than five hundred newspapers to carry his series of "Foolish Wives of History." It is remarkable that he dressed his news matter sufficiently that he did not resort to paid display advertising until ten days before the opening at the Central theatre. The four-page layout in the Sunday World, January 8, the first ever inserted in a daily paper in the history of amusements, is also of his origin and design, as also are the unusual has relief effects and practical designs in the lobby of the theatre. Reichenbach's efforts at Paramount will be in behalf of "The World's Mistress." Jack Lloyd was quite disturbed on reading in the Evening Mail a headline referring to Griffith's "Orphans of the Sea." "Gosh," quoth Lloyd. "Has D. W. changed the name again?" * * * J. Charles Davis. 2nd, back from exploiting "Ten Nights in a Bar Room" in New England for Arrow, said: "Tear bombs wouldn't have kept the crowds away. And while seeing the picture the audience acted as if they had been used." * * * Paul Perez, reading some fashion notes, learned that "For trimming, gray slinks and gray squirrel are with monkey the favorites." He doesn't know what it means but it listens good and he's trying to find some way to use it in connection with one of Universal's stars. Any help will be appreciated by Paul. * * * A. J. Moeli.er, general manager of the M. P. T. O. A., is back on the job after a ten days' visit to his home in Detroit, and also Chicago, Milwaukee and Toledo, all pepped up to organize all the other states of the union which are not in the M. P. T. O. A. FRED Baer, of Kineto, decided to make especially festive and memorable the glad Yuletidc, so he hied himself off to Chicago to get married. The young lady who is causing all Bear's friends to tell him how lucky he is, is Miss Helen Roth, of Chicago. * * * Herman F. Jans gave a party Monday night in New Brunswick, N. J., to celebrate his assumption 'of the direction of the Rivoli theatre in that city. Many New Yorkers Mondaycd in New Brunswick and a good time was had by all. — John S. Spargo. J. Chas. Davis 2nd. Director of Advertising and Publicity for Arrow Film Corporation. LL the calendars hanging in the homes f\ and business houses of Oyster Bay, have October 27 marked off as a holiday, for on that date in 1858, was born the man who beat out J. Charles Davis, 2nd, from putting that particular Long Island village indelibly on the map. At the annual celebration last October of the birthday of the immortal Roosevelt, one old settler remarked to another: "Teddy Roosevelt, the greatest man that ever lived, was born in Oyster Bay." "J. Charles Davis, 2nd, was also born here," replied the other. "He's not as great as Teddy," asserted the T. R. booster. "Be that as it may," replied the other O. S. "But remember Charley Davis is a young man yet." And also be this as it may, if there is a movement on foot to add another holiday to Oyster Bay's roster, it is being kept under cover. To delvers in Long Island history, J. Charles is as coy as a maiden lady of uncertain age when asked the date of the second rate Oyster Bay event, but he admits that he was born there. Leaving Oyster Bay to shift along with only Roosevelt's aid, Davis came to New York and mingled with the alphabetarians of a private school long enough to fit himself for the advertising business. After several years in special premium work, he busted into the picture business. In moments of forgctfulness he admits acting in one of his own pictures, but usually tries to live it down. For a number of years he was advertising and accessory manager for Famous Players, later doing exploitation work for the same company. He is now and for some time past has been director of advertising and publicity for Arrow Film Corporation. If backed into a corner Mr. Davis blushingly admits that "Ten Nights in a Bar Room" is a great picture.