The Film Daily (1918)

7j£?3RADSTREET of FILMDOM .Mi 3~^ Authority Vol. VI, No. 35 Monday, November 11, 1918 Price 5 PIGKFORD WITH FIRST NATIONAL Star Signs Contract — To Have Full Control of Her Own Producing Company After several months of uncertainty, during which she was one of the main topics of conversation in motion picture circles, Mary Pickford did, as it was generally expected she would do — accepted a contract with the First National Exhibitors' Circuit. The papers were signed by the highest paid actress in the world and by J D. Williams, general manager of the Circuit, at the Hotel Knickerbocker, Saturday afternoon. The deal was handled by Mr. Williams and Harry O. Schwalbe and no agent was involved. In the main essentials, it is understood that the terms of the agreement between Miss Pickford and the exhibitors' combine resemble those under which Charlie Chaplin is working, for the First Circuit is not and has revealed no intention of becoming a producing organization. Miss Pickford will be her own manager and producer with full authority to choose her own director and supporting casts. Pictures will be made at the star's studios on the Coast. It is estimated by First National officials that Miss Pickford's income will exceed that of Chaplin. She left for Los Angeles yesterday. The acquisition of the Little Mary by the Circuit, comprising some thirty leading exhibitors, is deeply significant in showing the steadily increasing power of exhibitor combines in controlling the output of the foremost players, who find it profitable to work independently with an assured market for their pictures. Cleveland Ban Lifted CLEVELAND.— The ban against theatres, moving picture houses, dancehalls, night schools, business colleges, Sunday schools, and churches was completely raised Sunday at midnight. The closing order has been in effect four weeks. The order under which business concerns in the downtown section were to keep open only to 6 p. m. and restaurants and Salens all over the city were required to close at 8 p. m. and 6 p. m., respectively, was withdrawn Sunday midnight. L. C. McChesney Dies Leonard C. McChesney, aged 59 years, for the past sixteen years advertising manager of the Thomas A. Edison Co., died of heart disease at his home, 174 High St., Orange, N. J., on Sunday. Mr. McChesney was well known in the picture business. He leaves a widow, a son and a daughter. Improving Service Gaumont Prepares To Expand News Issues With Coming of Peace The Gaumont Company is planning to improve its news service as soon as peace is declared. All of its offices will be re-established, and its large staff of comeramen will be increased. Every nook and corner of both hemispheres where news is liable to "break" will be covered, according to present plans. In France, the Gaumont news service is released under the name "Gaumont Actualities;" in England, as the "Gaumont Graphic." In this country the service is released semi-weekly, the Tuesday issues being named "Gaumont News" and the Friday issues, "Gaumont Graphic." The "News" and "Graphic" will continue to be released in the United States and Canada through states right exchanges, as at present. For the time being the semi-weekly schedule will be maintained. TO USE ESTABLISHED EXCHANGES George Kleine's System Becomes a Part of Jacob Ruppert's Film Clearing House The Film Clearing House, whose plan of operation for the benefit of the 7 There is Only * One Thought ^ For Today * Ha Victory \ Start Work Today Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Baype are expected at the Vitagraph studio this morning to start work on the first of their features for the Vitagraph company. The name of the :t has not been disclosed, but it. is reporter] to be dramatic in character. and Peace A f?ifiiiHini independent producer was recently published in detail, has acquired control of the George Kleinc exchanges as a medium through which pictures may be distributed. The Kleinc string of branch offices offers an immediately available circuit for the marketing of pictures, as planned by Jacob Ruppert and his associates. Ashabel P. Flitch is president of the Clearing House. The Kleine exchanges, and others to be opened at points where they are needed, will be organized on a basis of handling each production as a separate unit, giving it the requisite exploitation and providing for a weekly settlement with the producer. Tt is definitely stated that the Clearing House will not be affiliated with any producing company and that no sales force will be maintained by th. changes. Business organizations in various territories will be for the p distributing the film, keepinj rental receipts, etc., and will to the sales representath ■