Exhibitor's Trade Review (Dec 1922 - Feb 1923)

December 16, 1922 First National's Sales Contest Called Big Success Associated First National salesmen of United States and Canada have just finished a merry contest for "played and paid for" business. This contest was planned by Floyd M. Brockwell, who was last week appointed Manager of Distribution for First National. The contest began on October 1st and ended November 25th. The prizes offered to "pep" up the entire sales force were $300 for the best increased "played and paid for" business, $200 for second best, $150 for third and $100 for fourth, in each district. There being six districts the total amount of the prizes was $4,500. The boys began with great energy and the first week's reports showed Alphonsus Gorman, of Montreal, leading the field with Lewis W. Carter of Atlanta second, Charles Rammage, of Toronto, third; Charles F. Harris, Portland, fourth; Fred Wilson of Detroit, fifth and J. M. Jacobs, Chicago, sixth. By the end of the fourth week, Charles J. Hamal, of Salt Lake, had jumped into the lead, with Lewis W. Carter of Atlanta, still second; J. M. Jacobs, of Chicago moved into third place ; Fred Wilson of Detroit, climbed a peg into fourth place; Alphonsus Gorman of Montreal, slipped back into fifth place and W. C. Cook of Chicago was sixth. The sixth week found the national line up as follows: J. M. Jacobs, of Chicago, first; Charles J. Hamal, Salt Lake, second; Fred Wilson, Detroit, third; Lewis W. Carter, Atlanta, fourth; John W. Howland, Chicago, fifth; and Alphonsus Gorman, Montreal, sixth. "Played and paid for" business has come into the First National New York offices so fast, it is stated, that with the contest closed it will take a couple of weeks to decide the winners. EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW 127 To Design Costumes for Films Adrian, the nineteen year-old designer who arrived in New York from Paris two months ago to design a number of the costumes for the new edition of the Music Box Revue, has been engaged by Arthur S. Friend head of the Distinctive Pictures Corporation, to design the costumes for the French episode of "Backbone," the allstar production which Edward Sloman is now directing for that company. To Release Jack Pickford Film "Garrison's Finish" Marking Star's Return to Screen, Set for January 15 A definite release date for January 15th next has been set for Jack Pickford's "Garrison's Finish," an Allied Producers and Distributors Corporation release which marks Mr. Pickford's formal return to the screen as a star after two years directorial work with his sister, Mary Pickford. "Garrison's Finish" is based on W. B. M. Ferguson's racing novel of the same title — a story that has been read and loved by many hundreds of thousands. It is described as a big picture in every sense of the word, and for its racing scenes has the actual running of the last Kentucky Derby won by the great Morvich at Louisville, as well as the last Metropolitan handicap at Belmont Park. "Garrison's Finish" has been booked for a pre-release run at the Grand Theatre, Pittsburgh. After the theatre management had seen the picture everyone was strong in congratulations for Jack Pickford and heartily endorsed the film as an excellent box-office and entertainment feature, according to a statement from Allied. Arrangements were made for a private showing of "Garrison's Finish" to all the members of "Sally," the stage play in which Marilyn Miller (Mrs. Pickford) is starring, as well as for members of all other theatrical companies playing In Pittsburgh. Because the Grand Theatre print had not yet reached Pittsburgh plans were made for having a print sent on by special messenger for this private showing. Fred Elliott with Feaster Company Former N. A. M. P. I. Secretary Elected to Directorate of No-Reivind Manufacturers Announcement was made yesterday that Frederick H. Elliott, who organized the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry and served as its Executive Secretary for over six years, has been elected a member of the board of directors and executive committee of the Feaster Manufacturing Company and has assumed his new duties at the general offices of the company, 16 West 46th Street. The Feaster Manufacturing Company is a $750,000 corporation which manufactures the Feaster no-rewind machine for attaching to the standard makes of projection machines and which eliminates rewinding, thereby prolonging the life of the film and is considered very essential from the viewpoint of fire protection. Mr. Elliott brings to this corporation a wide experience and knowledge of the motion picture industry, gained from his many years of service with the industry's national organization, which should prove invaluable to his associates in the Feaster Company. This is particularly true in connection with the fire prevention work of the National association which Mr. Elliott directed and which resulted in the adoption of many precautionary measures and policies affecting the studios, exchanges, laboratores and motion picture theatres and with a resultant protection to the lives of thousands of employees in the various branches of the industry. Mr. Elliott as a representative of the motion picture industry was active in the councils of the National Fire Protection Association and will serve in a simjlar capacity representing the Feaster Manufacturing Company. It is understood that Mr. Elliott has already been invited to become actively identified with the New York Chapter of the National Fire Protection Association, which has a membership of upwards of six hundred in the Greater New York territory. "Breaking Home Ties" Praised Letters Received sons in Varied Since the special showing in the grand ball room of Hotel Astor, New York, of the Associated Exhibitors feature, "Breaking Home Ties," every mail has brought to E. S. Manheimer, who presents the feature, letters extolling the picture. These come from persons in various walks of life, whose activities cover a wide range. George P. Kennedy, vice president of the Chatham & Phoenix National Bank, wrote: "It is without doubt a remarkable picture and one which everyone should see, as the lesson it conveys is one much needed in our present times." Abraham J. Herrick, attorney, of 99 Nassau street, said: "This production should have a wonderful future. It is a picture of intense interest from the first scene to the last." msm Commercial Developing and Printing From Many PerWalks of Life Special interest attaches to the comment of Mrs. David Lion, 220 West 98th Street, because of her well known interest in settlement work. In her letter Mrs. Lion said: "I have rarely seen such an interesting picture. I wish you the very best of success, and am sure that every Jew and Gentile that has the least spark of filial and brotherly love will enjoy the picture as much as we did. The climax was very beautiful and unexpected, and the acting was wonderful." Wallace Beery as Felix Bavu in '^The Attic of Felix Bavu, ' ' the Earl Carroll play of Soviet Russia which is being filmed by Universal N 1339-51 DIVERSEY PAPKWAY CHICAGO. U.S.A. i Exterior Scenes of "Famous Mrs. Fair" Are Finished All of the exterior scenes for the Fred Niblo photoplay version of "The Famous Mrs. Fair," have been photographed, according to information received at the New York offices of Metro, which will release this picture. The art department and mechanical forces are working at top speed on the construction of the interior settings, so that Fred Niblo, director of the film, will be enabled to continue working according to the schedule already fixed. In the cast are Myrtle Stedman, Huntly Gordon, Marguerite de la Motte, Cullen Landis, Ward Crance, Carmel Myers and Helen Ferguson.