Exhibitor's Trade Review (1919)

March I, 1919. EXHIBITOR'S TRADE REVIEW 973 Robertson-Cole Units Now Producing Coordination of all producing units of the RobertsonCole Company, which releases its product domestically through the Exhibitors' Mutual Distributing Corporation, has been definitely effected, and with the exception of H. B. Warner, every star of the organization is now producing. Warner was due to leave for California on February 20, but his departure was delayed owing to legal procedure instituted by John D. Williams, following Warner's notice that he was leaving the cast of "Sleeping Partners," the star's big success this season. Little more than three months after the organization began film operations, the following companies were working in California: National Film Corporation, Jesse D. Hampton Productions, Winsome Stars Corp., B. B. Features, Inc., and Haworth Pictures Corp. The Robertson -Cole organization has also been devoting itself to the foreign exploitation of the rights it holds to all the features of its subsidiary combinations. Five Releases For World in March Five feature productions are scheduled for release by World Pictures during the month of March in addition to the regular release of Prizma Master Pictures, Twicea-Week Kinograms and the big special feature production "The Better 'Ole," which is scheduled for national release on March 16. First of the month's program is "Crook o' Drams," starring Louise Huff, which will be published on March 3. A week later World Pictures will publish "The Unveiling Hand." starring Kitty Gordon. The release scheduled for March 17 is "The Hand Invisible." starring Montagu Love, with Virginia Hammond appearing in an important role. Carlyle Blackwell and Evelyn Greeley are co-starred in "Hit or Miss," which will be released on March 24. The final release of the month is "The Love Defender," which will be published on March 31, with June Elvidge as the star. Fox to Release Seven Plays in March Seven productions will be released by William Fox during March. Of these two are Standard Pictures, three Victory Pictures and two Excel Pictures. ' One of the Standard Pictures is a super-production, "When Men Desire," which was staged by J. Gordon Edwards. The other Standard Picture to be released in March is "Thou Shalt Not," featuring Evelyn Nesbit. March will see another picture starring Gladys Brock well, entitled "The Forbidden Room." George Walsh will have a picture released next month. It is "Never Say Quit," under the direction of Edward Dillon. Another Tom Mix play is carded for release next month. This is "Fighting for Gold." It is an adaptation of the novel "The Highgrader," written by William McLeod Raine. In her March release, "The Unkissed Bride." Peggy Hyland, will be seen as a girl of the Ozark Mountains. "Gambling in Souls" is the title of Madlaine Traverse's March picture. Reports Coming In On Tax Fight During the past week the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry has been swamped with the reports that have been coming in from all over the United States showing what has been accomplished by the exhibitors and exchangemeu in the fight for the elimination of the five per cent film rental tax from the new revenue bill. Should the industry be successful in having the five per cent film rental tax eliminated from the present bill, the fifteen-cent per reel per day charge now in effect would likewise be eliminated. Stars From Coast Arrive in N. Y, Alma Rubens, now starring in productions made by the Winsome Stars Corporation, releasing through Exhibitors' Mutual, has arrived in New York on a short visit. Miss Rubens has just completed "Diane of the Green Van." Bessie Barriscale, who is now starring in her own productions, released by Exhibitors* Mutual, is also an arrival in New York. She was accompanied by her husband, Howard Hickman, who directs ail her pictures. This is her first visit to New York in three years. Mr. Hickman brought with him a print of Miss Barriscale's newest production, "Hearts Asleep," which is produced under contract with Robertson-Cole Company. Harry Levey Takes "U" Studio The Universal Studio at Fort Lee, N. J., has been taken over by Harry Levey, manager of the industrial department of Universal, according to announcement. Mr. Levey has also announced that 57 trade papers, representing every branch of American industry have pledged their co-operation in a nation-wide publicity campaign inaugurated by Universal to place the commercialeducation film on a higher plane. Exhibitors1 Mutual Showing Every Monday The Exhibitors' Mutual Distributing Corporation have arranged to bold a weekly exhibition of current releases for the benefit of the trade and press and will stage a picture every Monday afternoon in Wurlitzer Hall, 120 West 41st Street. All exhibitors arc invited to these showings. Eastman Builds Theatre In Rochester Through the generosity of George Eastman, president of the Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., is to have what is believed to be the first endowed institution for combined moving pictures and orchestral music, both of the highest possible standard. Mr. Eastman will erect in one of the best business sections of the city an Institute of Music, to serve both as a school and a place of high class musical entertainment. He will present this institute to the city. The building is to have an auditorium capable of seating 2.500 persons, Chance For Sunday Shows in Indiana With a few amendments tacked on which will place the burden for obtaining permission for the exhibition of Sunday shows on the motion picture exhibitors, the McCray bill, legalizing the operation of motion picture theatres in Indiana on Sunday, was reported favorably to the Senate this week by the Committee on Rights and Privileges. The principal amendment is titat the consent of the mayor of a city or the trustees of a town must be obtained by the motion picture men before performances may be held. Investigators to Watch Exhibitors Two special investigators will be employed, it has been decided, by the Detroit Board of Motion Picture Exchange Managers, who will spend their time touring the State making reports on the number of days certain films are being shown in some of the towns. This is to be done to prevent some exhibitors from stealing extra days. The secretary will turn the investigators' reports over to the various managers. Paramount Makes Record^ Releases Four Artcraft productions and eleven bearing the Paramount trade-mark are included in the list of releases by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation for the month of March, announcement of which has just been made by Walter E. Greene, Vice-President in charge of distribution. "March, 1919," says Mr. Greene in his announcement, "equals the highest previous month in our history in point of total number of releases." Hodkinson's "The Forfeit" Out March 10 The W. W. Hodkinson Corporation announces the release on March 10 of "The Forfeit," a Frank Powell production, co-starring House Peters and Jane Miller. It is adapted from Ridgewell Cullom's well-known novel, "The Forfeit." In support of the stars are William Human, as the weak younger brother; Hector V. Sarno, as the chief cattle rustler; L. H. Welles, as the ranchman; Blanche Abbott, as the ingenue, and George Murdock. Milwaukee Association Holds Ball The Milwaukee Theatre Managers' Association and the Wisconsin Motion Picture Association gave a ball at the Auditorium, Milwaukee, on Saturday night, February 15. Watterson R. Rothacker, of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company sent a company to Milwaukee, and on a stage erected at one end of the Auditorium 'they produced a complete one reel picture. United Pictures Increases Membership Among the additions to United Picture Theatres of America membership reported this week are the Bennethum circuit houses : Hippodrome. Pottstown, Pi. ; Palace, Coatesvillc, Pa. ; Hippodrome. York, Pa,, and the Commerford circuit, including Park Theatre, Scrmnton. Pa.; Dreamland. Pittston; Alhambra. Wilkcs-Barre, and Rialto. Scranion, Pa. A. E. F. to See "Made in America" General John J. Pershing cabled through the New York Herald to the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation that "a favor" would be conferred "on the A. F_ F." if the serie> "Made in America" would be sent overseas. General Pershing added, "I would like to have it shown to the staff and troops remaining." Immediately a print wa* ordered shipped overseas. Farewell Dinner to Milton Goldsmith The biggest social event in Los Angeles motion picture circles during the past week was the dinner served at Hotel Alexandria, with J. A. Berst, president of United Picture Theatres, Inc., as host. A number of well known artists and others prominent in the Los Angeles film colony were present. The guests were: Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Washburn, Mr. and Mrs. Hal Roach, Mr. and Mrs. Mahfon Hamilton. Miss Kitty Gordon. Miss Vera Beresford, Miss Winifred Kingston, Miss Juanita Hansen, Dustin Farnum, Jack Wilson, Sydney Cohen, Milton M. Goldsmith, and others. The dinner was in the nature of a farewell in honor of Milton M. Goldsmith, treasurer of United Picture Theatres, Inc., who immediately after the close of the social function, left for New York City. Vitagraph to Do "The Cambric Mask" Vitagraph announces thai the next starring vehicle for Alice Joyce will be a screen adaptation of Robert W. Chambers' novel "The Cambric Mask." A strong cast wilt support her and the production will be under the direction of Tom Terriss. House Peters in Hodkinson Features House Peters will be seen in two productions for distribution by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation. The firit is "The Forfeit," a Frank Powell-Sunset adaptation of Ridgewell Cullom's novel. The second is "Thunderbolts of Fate," an Edward Warren production. Jane Miller i| featured with the star in "The Forfeit" and Anna Lehr in "Thunderbolts of Fate." New Tax in Cincinnati Hits Films Cincinnati film exchanges and producers of motion picture films are hit by the occupational tax that will be levied by the city administration. This action is necessary because Cincinnati will lose $600,000 annual revenue when the Stale goes dry on May 27. The film exchanges and producers will have to pay an occupational tax of $100 a year. „'inlT!;nii-M :v . . in Ohio i? confronting E ;atre man * ay shows, f I Big Fight On for Sunday Shows in The moat important question now coi I Cincinnati and Ohio motion picture tricot g agers is the attempt to legalize Sunday I Christian Endeavor societies have bee deluging f members of the Ohio Legislature with telegrams | begging them to reject the Hinchey bill, which £ prdposes to make motion picture theatres im 1 mune from enforcement of the present low thai I forbids shows of all kinds on Sundays. _ The I penalty attached to this law is six months' inv J prisonmcnt and $100 fine. While the law has I been on the statute books for over 25 seldom is enforced. Jesse Lasky Goes to the Coast Jesse L. Lasky left New York this week for California r,n his annual mid-winter visit to the Famous PlayersLasky studios at Hollywood, where he will confer with Director-General Cecil B. DcMille and other officials of the organization on new productions and the general routine of the production department Just before leaving for ihe West, Mr. announced the appointment of his general assistant, Whitman Bennett as manager of the producing department of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. Earl Metcalfe to Direct Flagg Comedies Lieutenant Earl Metcalfe, recently returned afler a yo at the front, has been engaged by Town and Country Film Inc., to direct the Paramount-James Montgomery Fla«§ comedies on the Paramount Program. Lieutenant Metcalfe's engagement adds another unhurt member to the list of those already employed by the fin Pauline Stark. Jack Mulhall and Kathryn Adams, three ol the featured playe "Whom the God* Would Destroy."