Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1921)

1386 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW Volume 10. Number 20. Vitagraph Has "Little Minister" Famous Play Will Be Scenarioized for Alice Calhoun Who Will Be Starred in Role of Little Babbie Woody, Realart Manager, on Way to New York Advices received at the Realart home office are to the effect that J. S. Woody, general manager, who has been on an inspection tour of the branches since the second week in August, left Los Angeles and is now en route to New York on the last leg of his journey. While on the Coast Mr. Woody inspected the new Realart studios, which have been greatly augmented in conformance with plans laid out by President Morris Kohn. During his stay at the West Coast studios, Mr. Woody had the opportunity to review two of Realart's newly completed features which so impressed him that he dispatched a telegram to the home office at once, part of which is here quoted: "Reviewed Speed Girl yesterday and Morals to-day. Former eclipses all other Daniels pictures and latter a McAvoy triumph." The Speed Girl is the next Bebe Daniels feature, scenarized from an original story by Elmer Harris, and was directed by Major Maurice Campbell. Morals, starring May McAvoy, is an adaptation of The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne, which was written by Edward Locke, the noted author. This book was one of Locke's most popular novels, its sales necessitating the printing of several issues. Morals was directed by William D. Taylor. "Sign of the Rose" With George Beban Has Been Finished George Beban's The Sign of the Rose has been completed at the Garson Studios, under the direction of Harry Garson. Mr. Beban needs no introduction to the public, for his wholesome dramas of true life have endeared him to millions of people all over the world, but in The Sign of the Rose he is said to do his best work. Mr. Beban has spared no expense in making this production the finest of his career and has surrounded himself with a notable cast, including the following: Helen Sullivan, Carl Stockdale, Eugene Cameron, Jean Carpenter, Dorothy Giraci, Louisa Calmenti, Stanlope Wheatcroft and Arthur Thallasso, and others. For the stage version Mr. Beban will carry the exact flower shop set used in the picture. The traveling company, in support of Mr. Beban, includes Miss Sullivan, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Thallasso, Jean Carpenter, and an advance representative, personal manager, press agent, and an Orchestra conductor. All bookings are to be handled by Harry Garson, with headquarters at the Garson Studios, 1845 Allesandro Street, Los Angeles, Cal. The Little Minister, one of the most famous plays ever written, is to be filmed by Vitagraph with Alice Calhoun in the star role of Little Babbie. This announcement was made yesterday by Albert E. Smith, president of Vitagraph. That company has owned the rights of Sir James M. Barrie's far-famed play for years and believes that there is no time more propitious for making a film super-feature out of it. Alice Calhoun is regarded as a perfect type for the role created on the stage by Maude Adams. Production on The Little Minister started Saturday at Vitagraph's Brooklyn studios. It is quite probable that there has been more conjecture in film circles and more discussion on The Little Minister than on any product of a famous author, and as soon as the news leaked out at Vitagraph yesterday, both the studios and the executive offices received a number of calls seeking. verification of the rumor. Alice Calhoun, Vitagraph star, has for years yearned for just such a role as that of Babbie in Barrie's incomparable creation. Vitagraph has been approached at various times with tempting offers for the purchase of the rights of The Little Minister. A prominent trade authority recently placed the probable value of these rights at not less than half a million dollars in the hands of a producer equipped to give it a production in keeping with its ineffable charm. The Little Minister is a title brilliant in the pages of dramatic literature. Only a Barrie, it has been said, could have created a dramatic document such as this. This wonderful love story of Gavin Dishart, the Auld Licht minister, and Babbie, the gypsy — known to the good people of Thrums as "the Egyptian" — offers unlimited possibilities for the screen. It was an enormous success when presented on the stage at the Empire Theatre, New York City, by the late Charles Frohman, and throughout its tour of the country covering not a mere one or two, but several seasons, it was the play of the day. It brought fame to Maude Adams and raised her not alone to stardom but to the highest place on the American stage. And, years after Miss Adams' original success in this play, it was revived for her, and the revival proved a greater success than the original presentation. Attendance records were broken in all the big cities of the country where The Little Minister wasplayed. The title role in The Little Minister was played by Robert Edeson, then young in his career, but now a star in his own right, a position due, in part at least, to this specific role. While the story is named for the little minister in Thrums, it is Babbie who holds the center of the stage in the story. For years, despite its success, the opinion has been voiced that the stage could not do full justice to this Barrie classic. The author described big storms and raging torrents, hazardous undertakings in the Highlands of Scotland, quaint customs and big gatherings, gypsy camps and gypsy weddings and a hundred and one other things vital to the story but far beyond the limited reach of the stage. Vitagraph will show these in its film version. This will be a special production, spectacular and tense, but in perfect keeping with the dignity of the subject. Considerable time already has been put in on the casting for the special types required in the production of the story, effort being made to secure players who fit the supporting type parts as perfectly as Alice Calhoun fits the star role. In youth, beauty, simplicity of manner and general personality, Miss Calhoun is just as Barrie described little Babbie. Miss Calhoun will be fortified with an all star cast, but no player will be engaged, regardless of name, who cannot look and play the difficult type parts. RadiO-^-Mat o UJ o 1^ -the most ef fectire slide costs less than five cents RadiO-Mat 50 RADIO MAT SLIDES $3. Accept no Substitute. J (— ' • For Sale by all Leading Dealers Index to Reviews in This Issue Page 1419 RESULTS COUNT The Theatre Inter-Insurance Exchange writes fire insurance on motion picture theatres at the same initial cost as do other companies. For the year ending June 30th, 1921, there was a saving of 40 % . Forty dollars of every hundred dollars premium was saved to the policy holders. Think this over and investigate. THEATRE INTER-INSURANCE 137 South 5th St. EXCHANGE Philadelphia 4 A hundred successful picture theatres This organization has designed a hundred — and more — picture houses that in every feature have proved workable. Among them the successful Stanley Theatres. That is the surest proof of practical work. Hoffman-Henon Co., Inc. Architects and Engineers Finance BuiMing Philadelphia, Pa. 2