Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1921)

1518 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW Volume 10. Number 22. J. A. Levinson Invades Market with Pola Negri Jesse A. Levinson, formerly with Universal Film Manufacturing Corporation, announced his entry into the State rights distribution field this week. Mr. Levinson resigned from that firm for the purpose of organizing his own concern, which will deal extensively in the distribution of high class feature productions in the State rights market. Mr. Levinson already has completed arrangements whereby he will distribute a series of cinemadramas in which proven and well known box office stars will appear. The temporary quarters of the new firm are located on the eighth floor of 1600 Broadway, New York. This week Mr. Levinson announced his initial independent release, The Polish Dancer, starring Pola Negri, the international star of Passion, Gypsy Love and One Arabian Night. Already a number of territories have been disposed of for this picture, which has been praised by all who have seen it as one of the most exceptional pictures reflected on the screen. The star is seen to advantage in The Polish Dancer, inasmuch as the story was inspired by the very meteorically remarkable career of this famous artiste. Scenically, it is a continuous string of beauty, the settings being in that ever fascinating land of Russia. Mme. Negri assumes the interestingly emotional role of a peasant girl, who runs away from home, becomes a dancer and in comparatively short time has the world at her feet. But interwoven in this feature is a heart-interest love story which calls for the best there is in Mme. Negri, who responds successfully and meets the every requirement of the role. Clark-Cornelius Buys New Film Emile Chautard's Living Lies was purchased this week by Clark-Cornelius Corporation and will be distributed on the State rights market. Mr. Chautard is one of the foremost film directors and the fact that his picture will be put out on the independent market is evidence of the quality of production that State rights exchanges are today demanding. "We feel that we have the sort of picture the State rights man has been constantly demanding," said S. J. Rollo, general manager of Clark-Cornelius Corporation. "The market has been demanding big pictures and in acquiring Living Lies we are filling that demand." Weiss Back with News of Sales Louis Weiss, secretary of adventures of Tarzan Serial Sales Corporation, returned to New York this week following a trip to the various State right exchanges in the interest of Adventures of Tarzan, the new serial, starring Elmo Lincoln. Weiss reported conditions as excellent in the various independent exchange centers of the country. He offers as proof of this statement the number of sales consummated for the serial during his trip. His swing around the country took him as far as Omaha, where he closed contracts with Al Kahn for the distribution of Adventures of Tarzan. Kahn, who controls the Federated Film Exchanges in Kansas City and Omaha, bought the serial for western Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. In addition to the territory purchased by Kahn, Weiss also disposed of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, to First National Exhibitor's Circuit, Minneapolis; northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana to Samuel Spitser of Reelcraft Exchange of Chicago. Upon his return Weiss announced that the following territories are the only ones left unsold for Adventures of Tarzan: Washington, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho, Montana, New England, Ohio, Michigan and Canada. The greater part of the foreign rights has been disposed of and negotiations are now pending for the sale of the United Kingdom. A special representative will make a trip to London shortly for this purpose. Kopstein Finds Improvement in the S. R. Field Jacques Kopstein, of Dominant Pictures, returned this week from a successful road trip on which he sold the two-reel Western Star Dramas and twelve one-reel New Weds. The following sales were reported by Mr. Kopstein: To Moses Coleman of Seaboard Film Attractions (or Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and District of Columbia ; to Square Deal Exchange of Philadelphia for New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and District of Columbia he sold six Catherine Calvert five reelers ; to the State Film Company of Cleveland also Calvert features ; to Federated Exchange Mashed Marriages, for Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and District of Columbia. Mr. Kopstein reported that he found the State rights market considerably improved. "Exchanges," he said, "are willing to buy film provided prices are based on equitable apportionment. Prevailing signs point to a quicker turnover of film products and more action in sales is the desire. Exchanges want pictures and will buy if the distributor will remember that it isn't the cost expended in the making of the picture so much as the story, plot and acting that counts in the salability of the product." Mr. Kopstein is now negotiating for the acquisition of new features which he will distribute on a State rights basis. NEW PRODUCING UNIT ORGANIZED E. O. Van Pelt Enterprises Makes Its Appearance — Will Produce for Independent Market A brand new producing unit has shied its castor into the picture making arena. It is to be known as the E. O. Van Pelt Enterprises and will make a series of big films, the first to be taken on the western coast. It is the purpose of the new organization to place multiple-reeled subjects in the field, the themes to bear upon romantic stories of the outdoors. Heading the new enterprise is E. 0. Van Pelt, who has heretofore confined his celluloid activities mainly to the exploitation and territorial distributing end, has been personally instrumental in putting over pictures here and abroad. Federated Buys Star Ranch Western Series C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation this week sold the Southern territorial rights to the Star Ranch Western series to M. Mitchell of the Federated Exchange of Atlanta, Ga. The deal includes six States, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. Those who appear in the series are Grace Cunard, Eva Lang, Jack Halliday, Catherine Craig and C. Edward Hatton. Dr. Shallenberger Tells of Arrow's Extensive Plans "The demand for pictures of the Arrow standard and caliber," said Dr. W. E. Shallenberger in reply to a question put to him last week, "is embarrassingly great, simply because we are unable to cope with it. Our stars are remarkably popular— and they are popular on their merits. Such names as Ann Little, Faire Binney, Neva Gerber, Marjorie Daw, Grace Davison, Billie Rhodes, have a magnetic effect on the public, which is flocking to see their pictures in vast numbers. Our producers are busy and we are having the most successful time in the history of our corporation. "Comedies alternate with great dramas and in our output serials and novelties are included. Arrow pictures are suitable for the greatest motion picture houses in the world. "Our men stars belong to the new and younger school. Jack Hoxie, John Lowell, Roy Stewart, Pete Morrison, Eddie Barry, Eddie Lyons, Meely Edwards, Bobby Dunn — in the language of the man in the street, 'can you beat them?' I think not. Of course, I'm an optimist, I always was. In the motion picture industry optimism is vital. There is always to-morrow. The public appetite for good pictures is insatiable. Yes! I'm for liberty, freedom and independence. Attempts to monopolize the motion picture business are foredoomed to failure. It was tried before and failed. Why? Simply because it is an inherent trait of human nature that it resists injustice, coercion, compulsion. Arrow's outlook is not merely encouraging — it is stimulating and brilliant. I shall live to see the time when most theatres in the world will show Arrow pictures." Jack Cohn Off to the Coast Another member of the firm of C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation has gone to the Coast. Although Joe Brandt returned only a few days ago, Jack Cohn, one of the best liked State rights men in this country, left this week for California, where he has gone to start the production wheels moving on two short novelty release features. The exact nature of these features has not been divulged. Mr. Cohn characterizes the new features as "distinctively new novelties," different from either "Screen Snapshots" and the Hallroom Comedies, which that firm produces. He will also talk over future plans of the firm with Harry Cohn and Louis Lewyn. NEW EXCHANGE IS OPENED IN GOTHAM Rollo Sales Corporation Establishes Branch in New York — F. C. Sumner Is Sales Manager A new exchange was added this week to the independent ranks in New York in the opening of offices by the Rollo Sales Corporation at 729 Seventh Avenue. F. C. Sumner has been engaged as sales manager of the new exchange and it is understood that that firm will establish a string of exchanges throughout the country. The Rollo Sales Corporation will purchase through the independent market. The firm opens with a number of new releases, many of which were secured from Clark-Cornelius Corporation.