Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1921)

1120 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW Volume 10 Number 16. Federated Gets Good Reports on Exhibitors' Help First reports on business for Independence Month have just been received by Federated Film Exchanges of America., Inc., from its thirty-one branches throughout the country. The reports, without exception, show an extraordinary increase in bookings, much greater than the ordinary fall briskness, indicating both that exhibitors are favoring the leading independents, and that business generally in the motion picture industry is on the mend. One of the busiest of the Federated exchanges is also the newest — the branch ofiice just opened in Pittsburgh by Harry Charnas at 412 Ferry street. Mr. Charnas, who is at the head of the Standard Film Service, of Cleveland, with the acquisition of his new territory, is now the largest independent exchange man in the country. Mr. Charnas reports that the Federated-Warner-Selig wild animal serial, Miracles of the Jungle, is making an extraordinary showing, exceeding by 50 per cent the bookings on The Lost City, the previous jungle chapter play, which established a high-water mark for productions of its character. All the exchanges report heavy sales of the Federated comedies — the Monty Banks, the Chester animal comedies, with "Snooky" and other marvelous animals, and the Hallroom Boys, with Sid Smith, the daredevil cut-up. Twice as many of these comedies are being shown now at big, first-run houses as there were a few months ago. TWO TERRITORIES SOLD ON "THE NEW MINISTER" F. E. Backer Disposes of Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Rights to Screen Feature Promising news of the closing of contracts for three more territories for The Neiv Minister in the next few days, Franklyn E. Backer of Horizon Pictures, Inc., announced the sale of both Eastern and Western Pennsylvania. This block of territory on the big Will T. Bingham production of the stage play was acquired by S. S. Bloom of Philadelphia on his recent visit to New York. The names of the exchanges through which it will be made available to exhibitors will be made known at an early date. Mr. Backer reports a keen interest in the film version of the old rural comedy drama success on the part of exchange men in many parts of the country where human interest dramas of American small town life are especially popular with theatre patrons. He states that the indications are that he will have very little trouble in closing out about three-quarters of United States within the following month, if inquiries and pending deals are any criterion. Elk Has Art Acord Features Elk Photoplays take pride in announcing the buying of the only Art Acord Features in existence. Fighting for Justice is the name of the feature and it surely lives up to its name all the way through in the most characteristic fashion that made Arcord famous. Precision Completes Organization Plans Precision Pictures Corporation of Philadelphia, producers of Omar Comedies, are now comfortably installed in their new and completely equipped studio at Lansdowne, Pa. The Precision company is specializing on high-class two-reel comedies with novel situations and the comedies will be different from anything produced heretofore. The studio at Lansdowne is a model motion picture plant and is equipped to handle any type of production. The first two Omar comedies produced by the Bert Fassio company, under direction of Jack O'Neill, have been completed. Preliminary work was started this week on the third comedy of the Bert Fassio series. Lester A. Michael, president of Precision Pictures, has ordered that no expense be spared in producing Omar comedies. These comedies featuring the inimitable Bert Fassio bid fair to draw. Nigh Making Warren's "Her Da lighteriii-Law" William Nigh is breaking all previous time records in completing Her Daughterin-Law, which Warner Bros, are producing with Vera Gordon in the stellar role. The picture has been in work at the Biograph studio for the past two weeks and, aided by the efficient co-operation of the Tilford Cinema Studios, who are executing the sets, Director Nigh has Her Daughter-in-Law more than two-thirds finished. Ordinarily a production of the character and quality of Her Daughter-inLaxv would take from five to seven weeks to complete, but with the present system Director Nigh expects to have the film in the cutting room in less than three. Cal Hart Series Popular By the way the contracts are coming in to the Elk Photoplays on the series of Cal Hart Features it looks as if this series of features will be one of the most popular ones of the season. Bible Features Reach Metropolis The Bible pictures have reached New York. E. E. Van Pelt, special representative of the Sacred Films, Inc., with headquarters in Burbank, Cal., came to New York last week with the first subjects of the Bible series. Mr. Van Pelt, who is stopping at the Elks' Club, is planning to show the pictures to the local press and trade at private projections, with a New York booking to be announced later. Mr. Van Pelt has not fully decided just what releasing channel will get the pictures but each day his mail brings in new inquiries as to its disposal. It is not a serial, but a series of films, each subject complete and narrating a story founded upon Biblical narratives. The first four subjects that Mr. Van Pelt has here with him are entitled as follows: Creation, Cain and Abel, Noah's Ark and The Deluge. The pictures were made in Burbank, with the succeeding subjects also to be filmed in that picturesque country. Ernest Van Pelt, who is arranging for the distribution of the films from this point, is a brother of E. O. Van Pelt, who recently returned from a business trip to the coast. Handling New Feature The Ward Film Distributing Company of Buffalo is now releasing The Great White Trail, starring Doris Kenyon and ten Sunbeam comedies. This state right office has an exchansre at 13 Milnor Street in the Queen City of the Lakes. Rowley with Lande Max Rowley, formerly with Vitagraph ?<nd Empire State in Buffalo, is now on the road for the Lande Feature Film Company of Buffalo. This firm is handling the old Triangle productions. Moynihan Resigns Frank Moynihan has resigned his position as a member of the sales staff of Nu-Art Pictures. Inc., of Buffalo, and has joined the Associated Producers staff.