Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

Vpril 29, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 71 Three Districts Buy "Your Best Friend" 3ig Demand for Vera Gordon Film Among Independents, Warners State That the latest Vera Gordon picture, Your Best Friend," a Harry Rapf prouction, is being eagerly sought by state ght buyers is pointed out in the anouncement of Harry M. Warner, of Earner Brothers, that three more exlusive territorial deals have been conjmmated. The latest buyers of the Warner feajre are the Creole Enterprises, New )rleans, covering the states of Louisiana nd Mississippi; Warner's Exchange, of ,os Angeles, purchasing the rights for irizona, California and Hawaii, and Varner's Exchange, Detroit, covering the tate of Michigan. Other purchasers of the picture include kirboll Brothers, Cleveland, for the tate of Ohio; A. L. Kahn Film Enterrises, Omaha, for Iowa and Nebraska; Jew York Federated Exchange, Greater .'ew York and northern New Jersey; associated First National Pictures, of 'ittsburgh, for West Virginia and westrn Pennsylvania; E. G. Tunstall, Minnepolis, for Minnesota, North and South )akota, upper peninsula of Michigan and V'isconsin; S. Schultz & Screenart Picures Corp., Boston, for the entire New England states. "Your Best Friend" was written and irected by Will Nigh. 'aramount to Publish Second Block of Seven Reissued Productions The series of seven productions reently published in block by Paramount, onstituting a "Revival Week" program, as proved so popular with exhibitors nd public that it has been decided by >idney R. Kent, general manager of disribution, to issue a similar block of seven nore of the biggest Paramount and Artraft films. The second block will consist of the ollowing features: Cecil B. DeMille's >roductions, "Why Change Your Wife?" The Woman God Forgot" and "We -an't Have Everything;" Mae Murray n "The Gilded Lily;" the Paramount vxtcraft special, "The Woman Thou iavest Me;" the William A. Brady prouction, "Little Women," and Elsie Ferruson in "Barbary Sheep." These pictures, it is announced, are •ow available for bookings under the ame conditions as the previous block, nd play dates may be arranged as soon s the new prints are distributed to the xchanges. GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR RESEATING YOUR THEATRE Opera Chair.— 825 High Grade Brown Leather— Almoit New. w BUclt Leather— 600 Unupholstered Now at McViclterj Theatre, Chicago. Mutt Sell at Once— Building Coming Down May 1. „, „ S. Pink, 24 No. Wells St. Phone: Franklin 3320 Chicago Dumas' "Monte Cristo" Announced By Fox for Next Season's Program John Gilbert Heads An All Star Cast Compromised of Estelle Taylor, Gaston Glass, Robert McKim, Virginia Faire and Others William Fox this week announces his third special production for the 1922-23 season. This special, Alexandre Dumas' "Monte Cristo," was made under the direction of Emmett J. Flynn, who also directed "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," the Fox comedy which has met with popular favor throughout the country. Gilbert Has Lead John Gilbert was chosen to head the all-star cast in "Monte Cristo." In his support are such well-known players as Estelle Taylor, Gaston Glass, Robert McKim, Virginia Faire, Maude George, Spottiswoode Aitken, Renee Adore, George Seigmann, William V. Mong, Harry Lonsdale, Albert Prisco and Ralph Cloninger. The two specials previously announced for the new season's schedule are: "Nero," produced by J. Gordon Edwards in Italy, and "The Town That Forgot God," directed by Harry Millarde, who was responsible for "Over the Hill." Coast Companies Busy Fox reports unusual activity at its West Coast plant. Charles Jones has just started on a new picture which has the working title, "West." Robert Eason is directing. Tom Mix is filming "The Gun Fanner," while Lupino Lane, the company's new comedian, has just finished "The Reporter." Shirley Mason's next, "Very Truly Yours," has been completed under the direction of Harry Beaumont. Mary Carr, the Ma Benton of "Over the Hill," has been much in demand by exhibitors playing this Fox tspecial. Her most recent personal appearances in conjunction with the presentation of the picture have been at Baltimore and VVashington. Since completing her latest picture she has appeared in practically every large city in the East. Allen Theatre to Play Series of Bible Stories Barret McCormick of the Allen theatre, Cleveland, has signed with Harry Charnas of Standard Film Service of Cleveland for the entire series of the Great Stories of the Bible, produced by Sacred Films, Incorporated. The initial episode, "Creation," opened on Easter Sunday at the Allen theatre and was received with great acclaim by the ministers and school teachers, as well as Mr. McCormick's regular patrons, it is stated. The Cleveland newspapers gave this single reel attraction more space than has been accorded many bigger features the past year. Strand Success Shows Popularity of Pat he Policy, States E. A. Eschmann With the Strand theatre's successful introduction of Managing Director Joseph Plunkett's "diversified program," which included Pathe News, Pathe Review and the one-reel Pathe special feature picturization of Rudyard Kipling's "Ballad of Fisher's Boarding House," Pathe considers that its short subject policy inaugurated a year and a half ago has justified itself with all classes of exhibitors. "The short subject program," says General Sales Manager E. A. Eschmann, "has won remarkable favor with exhibitors all over the country. They understand their business thoroughly, and were eager to be relieved of the automatic limits as prescribed by multiple reel features. But although they are not guided by the methods of their metropolitan comrades, still they like to feel that what is good for them is good for theatres like the Strand. Doesn't Fear Re-issues "The Strand is more than a first-class Broadway house. As directed by Joseph Plunkett, it is a motion picture American institution. It has that reputation with exhibitors everywhere, and it means something to them when the Strand plays the 'Ballad of Fisher's Boarding House,' and voluntarily testifies: 'It is a powerful picture, full of atmosphere and splendidly produced. It certainly made a big impression on our audiences.' "The Strand is not afraid of reissues because they are reissues'. It frequently plays a single reel Lloyd comedy, be cause Mr. Plunkett knows that thousands of his patrons never saw it before — and others probably would welcome it anyway. That's the way several thousand exhibitors scattered all over the country feel about it, evidently. Since Pathe began reissuing these Lloyds, one each week, the demand for them has steadily increased. It helps their business and pleases their patrons to know that Lloyd comedies originally released a few years ago are just as popular now with the class of New Yorkers who go to the Strand as with themselves." Gets New Westerns In rounding up the short subject program situation as viewed from the Pathe angle, Mr. Eschmann said that it was now so fully established in general exhibitor favor that Pathe was adding new material as fast as it became available. The latest acquisition is a series of twenty-six two-reel "Santa Fe Mac" Westerns. "One of the most healthful indications about the increasing vogue for short subject programs," said Mr. Eschman, "is seen in the remarkable booking activity of 'Pathe Playlets,' which is in excess of all anticipations. These compact threereel versions of successful features starring famous screen favorites are accepted as ideal short features, admirably serving that purpose on bills otherwise made up of Pathe News and Review reels, Aesop's Film Fables in animated cartoons, 'Topics of the Day' and examples of Pathe's comedy output from the Hal Roach studios."