Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1921)

October 22, 1921 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW 1445 rathe Re-Issues Lloyd Comedies Dr. Riesenfeld Will Re-Book Comedian's Early Pictures at Rialto — Exhibitor Demand Said to Have Prompted Revivals Johnson's "Jungle Adventures" Win Exhibitors Praise Martin Johnson's Jungle Adventures, the first offering of Exceptional Pictures Corporation, which recently played a most successful pre-release engagement at the Capitol Theatre, New York City, which shewing was referred to by one of the trade journals as "one of the talked-about events in the metropolitan cinema world," is the combination of so many of the factors which spell success, that since its initial presentation in New York it has become "one of the most talked-about events in the entire motion picture industry." Taking the consensus of the opinions of practically every film critic on the daily and weekly newspapers and all motion picture publications, as well as the expressed opinion of many of the most important executives in the film industry, Martin Johnson's Jungle Adventures contains the following important factors. First and foremost, this Exceptional Picture is conceded as being most unusual, far from the beaten path of the everyday photoplay; which even in itself is sufficient to recommend it to every theatre owner who is desirous of presenting that which is different to his public. Further, it is unanimously agreed that Jungle Adventures is artistic and has an exceptional entertainment value, both as to its interesting features, the like of which have never before been shown upon the motion picture screen; and from an educational standpoint, although it is stated by more than one critic that the picture is so cleverly put together than an audience does not feel that it is being educated, because its artistic and entertaining qualities so thoroughly focus the attention of the onlooker. Many Bookings Reported for R-C Twenty-six Not only have many of the leading exhibitors assumed a very receptive attitude toward independent producers and distributors and are showing keen interest in the productions announced for early distribution, but they are exercising greater discrimination than ever before in the selection of their attractions. This is the opinion of Charles R. Rogers, general manager of distribution for R-C Pictures, who bases his belief upon personal observations many of the foremost exhibitors in the country have made in the R-C Twenty-six — the scheduled output of R-C subjects for the next year. Among the important first run theatres which recently have booked the full list of R-C subjects, starring Pauline Frederick, Sessue Hayakawa and Doris May and the directors' series by Gasnier and William Christy Cabanne, are the Miles circuit of theatres in Detroit; Sam Harding's theatres in Kansas City; Mayne's American Theatre, Salt Lake City; Shea's Hippodrome, Buffalo; Regent, Rochester; Avon, Utica; Proctor's theatres in Albany, Schenectady and Troy; Strand Theatre, Youngstown, Ohio; Dayton Theatre, Dayton, Ohio; Beatty's theatres at Battle Creek, Mich.; Strand Theatre, Flint, Mich.; the Harry Grampp circuit throughout Illinois; Gore Brothers and Ramish circuit in California^ Hulsey circuit, Dallas, and other points in Texas, and Billy Gray's circuit in New England. Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld, managing director of the Rialto and Rivoli theatres, is probably one of the strongest supporters of Harold Lloyd in the exhibiting field, according to a Pathe statement. When Lloyd made his first appearance for Pathe in a multiple reel comedy, Dr. Riesenfeld immediately booked the series for the Rialto. Now the noted showman has again exhibited his faith in Lloyd's box office prowess by re-booking the first series of Lloyd two-reelers for their second Broadway showing. This series includes Bumping Into Broadway, Captain Kidd's Kids, From Hand to Mouth, His Royal Slyness, Haunted Spooks and An Eastern Westerner. It was this series that established Lloyd as a big box office attraction. After several years leading the field in one-reel comedies, Hal Roach decided to introduce him in two-reel comedies. It was an experiment until Bumping Into Broadway actually hit Broadway. The success with which the re-issued Harold Lloyd one-reel comedies are said to have been accorded by exhibitors has caused Pathe to release a second series of the comedies. The new series of ten Lloyds will be released October 30, the first offering being Pistols for Breakfast. As with the first series, these pictures will be released one each week for ten weeks. Just Dropped In will be the second release, with Crack Your Heels, The Marathon and Back to the Woods following. The manner in which contracts came in from exhibitors owning large theatres in Repertoire Motion Pictures Mme. Nazimova's New Plan With the announcement that Mme. Alia Nazimova, whose forthcoming films will be released through United Artists, will make at least two more pictures before considering a return to the speaking stage, comes the added news that she will introduce in these two films the repertoire motion picture. "The first of these pictures," says Charles Bryant, Mme. Nazimova's representative, "will constitute an entirely new departure from anything heretofore shown on the screen. We will produce Ibsen's A Doll's House on the same bill with a shorter story of about two reels, thereby carrying out the repertoire idea." Mr. Bryant went on to say that the production to follow "A Doll's House" and the shorter picture, would be more elaborate than any in which Mme. Nazimova has been seen on the screen. It will be from an original story written especially for her. Mr. Bryant says he wishes to make it very plain that Mme. Nazimova's "Repertoire Film" will not be in the nature of "great moments from famous plays," nor will the stories be in tabloid form. Each story will be quite complete in itself, though there will be two, or perhaps three more stories presented on a single program. big cities to showmen in the small towns, shows the popularity of the star and his tremendous drawing power with any audience. While the re-issued series are perhaps not as pretentious as his current tworeel and three-reel offerings, exhibitors recognize the fact that they are the comedies which made Harold Lloyd famous and brought him to the front as a screen comedian. In addition to Lloyd, the re-issued series boasts of a three star combination, besides the funmakers whose ensembled antics have set a new standard in comedy. Bebe Daniels, now a star in her own right in feature productions, plays opposite Lloyd; and "Snub" Pollard, featured in Hal Roach comedies, is the spectacled star's runningmate in each offering. As a "feeder" for the comedian he exhibits his own particular brand of humor as prominently as in the comedies in which he is now being featured. The series were produced by Hal Roach, producer of the current Harold Lloyd comedies, and his supremacy in the single-reel comedy field is unquestioned. Gance Goes to France; Film Scores Hit in N. Y. While I Accuse, the United Artists' release, is being shown at the Strand this week, Abel Gance, its author and producer, is on his way to France, an unexpected business trip having prevented his appearance at the American premier of the picture. Before sailing Mr. Gance announced that the reason for his sudden departure included plans for the bringing to America of another picture which will be a worthy successor to "I Accuse." If his present plans are not changed he will return to America some time in December when he will start a campaign for the presentation of the new picture.