Exhibitor's Trade Review (Mar-May 1922)

1240 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW Volume 11. Number 18 Scenes from "The Glorious Adventure," produced by J. Stuart Blackton, the first Prizma Natural Color Feature. Lady Diana Manners is starred Blackton Color Feature at Capitol, N. Y. '^'Glorious Adventure,^^ Starring Lady Diana Manners, Will Be Given American Premiere in April The first natural color feature drama The Glorious Adventure with Lady Diana Manners in the leading role, has been booked to the Capitol theatre in New York for its American premiere, some time in April. This picture, a six part production, was made in England by J. Stuart Blackton, of early Vitagraph fame, by the newly improved natural color process of Prizma, Inc., of New York. The presentation at the Capitol under Rothafel auspices follows the first showing of the picture in London where it played a successful run at the Royal Opera House, Co vent Garden. An especial technical interest attaches to this first American showing as a test of the strength of natural color as a factor in the production of the screen drama of the future, says the announcement. "Until the completion of the new Prizma camera in the laboratories of William Van Doren Kelley last July, the making of a feature picture, involving the necessity of much close-up action, Was a photographic impossibility for color processes. This because of the commonly knovsm and widely cursed fault of "fringing" — the blurring edge of color on fast moving objects, resulting from the imperfect registration of the component red and green images of the double printing process. This has now been eliminated by the use of camera devices which make the two-color impressions simultaneously, instead of successively as before, hence insuring the perfect blending of the color element in the print and on the screen." Within the motion picture industry the showing of the picture at the Capitol wtill be followed with a close interest by those whose future producing activities may be affected by any significant public interest in the color process and its results, in dramatic subjects. The plan of distribution for the United States and Canada of The Glorious Adventure is yet to be determined. Negotiations in this connection are pending in the hands of M. L. Malevinsky of O'Brien, Malevinsky & Driscoll, who represent Commodore Blackton, with Prizma, a considerably interested party. There has been some discussion of the probability of a "road show" presentation through the major cities. The picture which arrived from London in seven reels is undergoing editorial revision and titling at the hands of Katharine Hilliker and Captain Harry Caldwell. A considerable star value is claimed for The Glorious Adventure through Lady Diana Manners, who takes the role of Lady Beatrice Fair, heroine. Lady Manners enjoys the fame of being England's greatest beauty, besides carrying important social position and a leadersihip in the British ultra smart set. The story of The Glorious Adventure is by Felix Ormond, a member of the Blackton staff from the United States. The tale is a rather well chosen vehicle for natural color presentation. It is set in the middle of the strenuous seventeenth century's exciting days of adventure and discovery. It moves swiftly through a maze of British court life and intrigue, high and low, to a climax in the great fire of London. A. C. Wyckoff , Comptroller of Fox Corporation, Dead Albert C. Wyckoff, comptroller of Fox Film Corporation, died of pneumonia on Monday afternoon, March 20, at the Elizabeth, N. J., General Hospital, to which institution he had been removed on Sunday from his home at 1213 Fairmount Avenue. He leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters. The funeral was held from the residence at 2.30 on Thursday. Mr. Wyckoff was a well-known figure in motion picture financial circles in New York. Born in Brooklyn 54 years ago, his business life was passed wholly in the accountancy field, in which he long had been recognized as an expert. He entered the industry in 1915 as general auditor for the selling organization of the V. L. S. E. In October, 1918, he resigned this position to become comptroller of Fox. Mr. WyckofF's death removes an official who was held in the highest esteem by the Fox company, and a man who commanded the affectionate regard of all who were closely associated with him. Big Success Reported For "Silent Call" The Silent Call is winning the reputation of being one of the marked box office successes of the season, according to a statement by Associated First National this week. The production was directed by Laurence Trimble from the Saturday Evening Post story by Hal G. Evarts. The Silent Call is now in its sixth week at the Miller Theatre, Los Angeles, with the end of the showing not in sight as yet. When first booked such a run was not anticipated. Each week Roy Miller, the manager, delayed the other bookings, and " as the photoplay is still doing a smashing business, other postponements are being put into effect. "The answer to the cry for something different" is the slogan Mr. Miller is using in his advertising of the picture. Mr. Miller's conjecture that it would appeal principally to children was proved wrong, for it is drawing large adult business. Another tribute to the drawing power of the picture is contained in the following letter from Law & Blair, managers of the Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon, Ohio: "We had more voluntary compliments on this picture than any we have run in a long time, and as near as we can find out it is 100 per cent show and that doesn't mean 99 per cent. We came within fortyseven paid admissions of breaking our record for the year." Betty Blythe Returns from Personal Appearance Tour Hardly had Miss Betty Blythe returned from a tour of the country during which she made a personal appearance in many cities in connection with the showing of The Queen of Sheba, than she was signed to a contract to star in a Pyramid production. It so happened that Miss Blythe reached New York just at the time when her latest feature. Fair Lady, a United Artists release, was given its initial Broadway presentation. Miss Blythe is now working at an Eastern studio. This is the first time this has been done in some time, as most of her productions have been made on the Coast.