The Film Daily (1918)

ZfeBRADSTREET of FILMDOM 7/pRECOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 123 Tuesday, September 10, 1918 Price 5 Cents JERSEY STUDIOS WITHOUT CURRENT Temporary Suspension of Production Necessitated at Goldwyn, Fox and World Plants The Fort Lee studios of Goldwyn, Fox and World were out of current part of last week on account of the demand made on the New Jersey Public Service by companies turning out Government contracts for war materials. The Public Service notified the various studios that they would be unable to furnish them with Hie c"«tomary amount of current starting Thursday afternoon, about two hours before the regular time to close down. All day Friday there was no power, except at night, and until ten o'clock Saturday morning when they were again given their alotted amount of current. At night, after most of the strain was relieved, the studios could get power and some of the companies worked then to keep up with their schedule, but for the most part production was suspended. A month ago the New Jersey studios received a request to cut down the electric current as much as possible. At that time Universal v/as just starting a new picture with Violet Mersereau and it was decided that electricity should be used only in "back lightings." The picture is finished and nearly assembled and it is one of the few pictures made in the east in which all the interiors were made in daylight and artificial current used only for special effects. Rosenquest Gets In H. E. Rosenquest, for several years an employe of General Film Company in the headquarters auditing department in New York, has resigned to enter the army, having been accepted for .service in the artillery. He goes to Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga., to enter a replacement group for intensive training with the prospect of qualifying for a commission. He has had four years of experience in the coast artillery. Unusual determination was displayed by Mr. Rosenquest in seeking enlistment. Several months ago, at his first examination, he was rejected for a physical infirmity resulting from an accident he had while engaged in military service on the Mexican border. Learning that this trouble could be corrected by an operation, he spent three weeks in a hospital undergoing treatment. After a period of rest, during which he recovered his strength, he was accepted for service and assigned to Camp Gordon. Confer on Thefts Swann Suggests More Care In Checking Up Film District Attorney Swann and Assistant District Attorney Talley yesterday conferred with a number of distributors on means of preventing further film thefts. At the close of the meeting the District Attorney stated that it was decided to cure the evil bjr more thoroughly checking up, on the part of the distributors themselves and on the part of the Customs officials. It was claimed that there exists a system of exchanges between film thieves in London and those here; that 90 per cent, of the American film shown in Mexico is stolen and that there is a house on 45th Street, called "The Den of Thieves," making a practice of receiving films from messengers who even stole from the trucks. As preventatives it was suggested that the film men devise a system of giving and taking receipts to replace the risky system of messengers. The matter will also be taken up with the Custom House authorities so that the Government can help check up there. State Righting "Wives of Men" "Wives of Men," starring Florence Reed, is offered by the Pioneer Film Corporation to state rights buvers after a successful engagement at the Casino theatre. All territory is available with the exception of New York and New Jersey, which is retained by Pioneer. FAMOUS PLAY FOR MISS CLARK Will Appear in "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" Next — Rights Secured from the Authors "Romance" Sold For Orient David P. Howells has purchased the Oriental rights to "The Romance of Tarzan," the sequel to "Tarzan of the Apes," which he controls in India, Java, Straits Settlements, Federated Malay States, Siam, the Philippines, Japan and China. The Famous Piayers-Lasky Company closed a contract with Sanger and Jordan yesterday whereby the latter firm, acting for Anne Crawford Flexner and Alice Hegan Rice, authors of "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," turned over the rights for the making of a picturization of the famous novel and play. The Famous Players-Lasky people will use it as a starring vehicle for Marguerite Clark. "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" was originally produced as a play by Liebler and Company who had Mable Taliaferro in the leading /ole of Lovey Mary. The piece was first shown in New York at the Savoy theatre about 15 years ago. At that time Hugh Ford was with the Leibler organization as a st^ge director. Mutual Adds to Sales Force Fred Sliter, New York branch manager for Mutual announces that he has added two salesmen to his force. L. S. Tobias, who was at one time assistant branch manager at New Haven, has been engaged to handle Mutual films in Connecticut. Charles H. Rosenthal, formerly of the Jewel forces, will canvass the Brooklyn territory. Dobbs Leaves Select H.-B. Dobbs has resigned as manager of the Seattle Select office and is now assistant manager off the De Luxe Feature Film Company, He has been succeeded at the Select office by Edward J. Hicks, formerly manager of the San Francisco branch.