Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1921)

1514 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW Volume 10. Number 22. Welsh Joins F. B. Warren Corp, Managing Editor of Motion Picture News Will Head Company's Exploitation Department — Has Had Long and Successful Picture Career Following the statement last week that Wid Gunning controls the F. B. Warren Corporation, announcement is made this week of the association of Robert E. Welsh, for the past several years managing editor of Motion Picture News, with the distributing organization. Mr. Welsh will head the F. B. Warren Corporation's exploitation activities. With a picture career that dates back to the early days with Kalem, Mr. Welsh is one of the best known film men in New York. He has long been recognized as the wielder of a vigorous pen and his executive work as an editor marked him for choice by Mr. Gunning when the best in the industry was being sought. In his five years at the executive post on Motion Picture -News Mr. Welsh has built an acquaintance and friendship among exhibitors and other film men that is country-wide, while he has possessed an opportunity for an insight into the needs of theatre owners and the inner workings of production and distribution equalled by few film men. As "silent partner" in the capacity of confidential advisor to numerous independent producers and prominent exhibitors he has cemented many friendships and strengthened his reputation for keen film knowledge. High-lights in the career of Mr. Welsh previous to his association with Motion Picture News include, in addition to his service with K^lem, two years as editor of The Dramatic Mirror when that publication was a strong factor in the picture fieic r~" 'scatter activity that includes work in New York with The American and The Evening Telegram. While quiet and unassuming in manner and of the type of worker that keeps his name in the background, Mr. Welsh long ago established his worth as an idea man, an organizer, a forceful writer and an editor capable of instilling the enthusiasm that achieves. In the department headed by Mr. Welsh at the F. B. Warren Corporation is a nationally known advertising man, A. L. Hami'ton, who comes to the industry from the mercantile advertising field. Mr. Hamilton, who has been at the head of his own advertising agency handling many well-known national accounts, has been attracted to the film industry by the exceptional opportunities offered for real "copy" of definite sales value. Particularly is it expected that Mr. Hamilton's broad experience will find expression in THE SON OF WALLINGFORD giving real consumer appeal to the exhibitor aids prepared for the coming big specials handled by the corporation. With Mr. Welsh heading a deparrtment wherein such recognized advertising topnotchers as Mr. Hamilton are willing to learn "film methods" and Mr. Gunning and Mr. Warren, both advertising and exploitation specialists, an array of ability has been gathered which indicates the im portance given to exploitation in the scheme of things with this corporation. Roy Crawford of A. E. Starts on Long Trip Mr. Roy Crawford, treasurer of Associated Exhibitors, Inc., is on a trip through the Middle West. He plans to visit the Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis branch offices of Associated and to spend some time in Topeka. Mr. Crawford was active in the theatrical and motion picture field of that city for many years. This is his first opportunity to return there since his appointment to the treasurership of Associated Exhibitors, last spring. It was in Topeka that Mr. Crawford and Arthur S. Kane, chairman of the board of directors of Associated Exhibitors, were formerly partners. Thus, their present connection means the resumption of a highly satisfactory business association. In an interview before his departure from New York, Mr. Crawford said that he expected to be away for about two weeks, and although the nature of his business was largely personal, he expected to stop at as many branch offices of Associated as his itinerary permits. Beyfuss Defines Word "Exceptional" Alexander Beyfuss, vice-president and general manager of Exceptional Pictures Corporation, has issued this short but unique statement: "In selecting the title for our corporation (Exceptional) it necessarily devolved upon us to make that name good — except upon that basis, we could not hope to continue to exist and become a convincing factor in the industry. "In deciding upon 'Exceptional Pictures,' we were obliged to use as the keynote of our policy, a definition laid down many years ago by a mind which we are happy to be guided by — Noah Webster. "Webster's Dictionary is an accepted standard. It defines 'Exceptional' as follows: 'Forming an exception; Not ordinary; Uncommon; Rare. Hence: Better than the average; Superior.' "We cheerfully accept Mr. Webster's formation of our policy and, to date, have offered Martin Johnson's Jungle Adventures and Charles (Chic) Sale in His Nibs as pictorial definitions of 'Exceptional.' From every printed and spoken word we have been able to gather the public and the industry have likewise accepted them." Work Goes Forward Rapidly on New Doris May Film The work of filming Eden and Return,. Doris May's second starring vehicle for R-C Pictures, is progressing rapidly at the R-C Hollywood studios under direction of William A. Seiter and general supervision of Hunt Stromberg. Eden and Return will follow The Foolish Age, as the second Doris May release. It is a romantic comedy. Although practically all of the scenes of Eden and Return are being taken in and near R-C West Coast studio at Hollywood^ one important bit of action was recently filmed under the direction of Mr. Stromberg on Fifth Avenue, New York City. The continuity provided for a funeral procession, replete with horse-drawn hearse and four carriages. On each side of the hearse in which there reposed a coffin, was a big placard which bore the following legend: "New York is dead. We're going to bury the burg." — Gray. Pedestrians stopped at noon hour at Fifth Avenue and Forty-second Street, one of the busiest corners in the world, and looked on in amazement as the drab procession passed on down the thoroughfare, halted now and then by the frequent stoppage of traffic. Right ahead rolled a big 'bus from the top of which the camera recorded the picture of the hearse and carriages as they brought up the rear. The procession stopped at Thirty-fourth street and disbanded. Appearing in Eden and Return in support of Miss May will be Emmett King, Margaret Livingston, Margaret Campbell, Buddy Post, Gerald Pring, Earl Metcalf and Frank Kingsley. The work of production started on September 28 and ended October 22. Goldwyn Publicity Man Has New Book Published' L. H. Mitchell of the Goldwyn publicity department, and formerly on the staffs of the New York World, the Globe and the Evening Telegram, is the author of a new book on the fall list of Little, Brown & Co. of Boston, entitled "The Circus Comes to Town." On the title page of the book the author signs himself Lebbeus Mitchell. "The Circus Comes to Town" is a humorous child story of some 200 pages, and has just been placed upon the market for the holiday trade. It tells in straightforward narrative style how a little boy, stolen away from a circus, is reunited in dramatic fashion with his parents through his subconscious memories of a circus elephant and through the elephant's recognition of the child. Mr. Mitchell is the author of another child story, "Bobby in Search of a Birthday," which continues in active demand as a holiday book. Radios-Mat as o • c_> MJ talk with RADIOS ' O : . _1 today it's MEWS tomorrow HISTORY % 50 SADIO MAT SLIDES $2. o «I OS Accept no Substitute. , 3t CM • For Sale by all Leading Dealers