The Film Daily (1918)

Monday, November 11, 1918 bM DAILY «* ■« Published Daily at 71-73 West 44th St. New York. N. T. By WID'S FILMS & fil.M FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Sintered as second class matter May 21 litis, at the post office at New York, N. Y. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States, Out side "f Greater New York, $10.00 one year; rt months, $5.00; 3 months, 3.00. Foreign, $20.00 Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Exhibitors Object Minneapolis Theatre Men Get No Encouragement from Health Officers MINNEAPOLIS. — M i n neapolis theatres will remain closed until November 16 and will open then only if deaths from influenza have been cut 50 per cent, from present figures, Dr. H. M. Guilford, city health officer has announced. The decision was made known recently, despite protests of 100 theatre men, mostly proprietors of motion picture houses who attended a city council hearing. By November 16 Minneapolis theatres will have been closed for five weeks, a longer shut-down than has been enforced in any other city. At the hearing, I. H. Ruben, a prominent exhibitor, said: "I believe we have demonstrated that we are more than patient. We have loyally upheld the closing order of the health department for four weeks while all other large cities have continued their closing ban for no more than three. At least 1,000 men who work in Minneapolis theatres have been thrown out of employment." With R. B. Scott, proprietor of the Metropolitan theatre, Mr. Ruben asked that the ban be lifted. Dr. Guilford refused. "Give these boys some idea as to when they will be able to make some monev and pay their bills," Mr. Scott urged. Caruso Again Postponed Owing to the decision of the motion picture distributors to extend the nonreleasing period another week because of the influenza epidemic, the Enrico Caruso Artcraft film, "My Cousin," which had already been postponed a week, will not be released until November 17. Completing Kerrigan Special In Los Angeles, Jesse D. Hampton is putting the finishing touches to J. Warren Kerrigan's most ambitious picture, "The End of the Game." It is a story of the stirring days of '49, in California and introduces Kerrigan in a role in which he has all manner of chances for effective screen acting. There is, according to reports, a wealth of adventure and romance in the story, while the comedy element is at all times well in evidence. Mr. Hampton will release "The End of the Game" as a special production, rather than as one of the regular Kerrigan program offerings. It will be a seven-reel product and will introduce Mr. Hampton in the role of a director for the first time, as all of the scenes were filmed under his personal direction. Twelve Instead of Nine Famous Players-Lasky has decided to release twelve specials during the 1918-19 season, instead of nine as originally planned. In this connection it is also announced that one of the specials, soon to be started, will be a John Emerson-Anita Loos production, "When the Boys Come Home." Other specials will include "Sporting Life," Maurice Tourneur's film, "False Faces." an Ince subject with Henry Walthall and, "The Silver King" with William Faversham. Lincoln To Make Three E. K. Lincoln has signed a contract to make a series of three special productions in which he will be starred under the direction of Ralph Ince. The combination will be called the Ralph Ince Film Attractions and the product will be distributed through Sawyer and Lubin of the General Enterprises. The first production, an orieinal story by Roy L. McCardell, will be started immediately. Thomas Bedding Sales Manager Thomas Bedding, who has been connected with the film business for many years, has been appointed sales manager of the American Feature Film Corp.. Inc., of Greenville, S. C. Mr. Bedding is handling the sales end of the organization in New York, with offices at 616 Candler Building. At the present time the company has "Hearts of Love." a six-reel production for distribution. A. R. Dietz, former booker and office manager at the Select branch in St. Louis, who underwent an operation to qualifv him for the army, has b^en accepted in the air service, and has reported for duty to the Commander of the 1st Battalion, 1st Training Brigade, Garden City, L. I. T. C. Wain right has purchased "The Still Alarm" for tin* United Kingdom from the Mayfair Corp. Some Sound Advice Brunet Points Out Need of Restoring Public Confidence "Now that in many cities and towns the influenza epidemic has so abated that the theatres arc either opening up or else plan to open up at an early date, it would be wise for the exhibitor to seriously consider advertising on a scale greater than any he has in the past." This is the keynote of a statement by Paul Brunet, vice-president and general manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc. "The Health Boards all over the United States have been educating the public to avoid crowds while the epidemic lasts. This was necessary and wise but in some sections there is but little doubt but what there will exist for some weeks a disinclination on the part of many who have so far escaped the disease to attend any public gathering whatever. It will be necessary to overcome that tendency by advertising. "The advertising should not merely create a desire to see the pictures advertised. It should point out intelligently and conclusively that the pictures may be seen in securitv and comfort. It would be well for the exhibitor to call upon his local Health Board, find out what measures should best be taken to make and keep his house strictly sanitary, carry their suggestions out and then advertise the fact, explaining the precautions taken in detail. There is no doubt but what one of the things suggested bv th" Health Board will be thorough and freonent airing. "Werp I an exhibitor I would make quite a feature of those airings. While everv door was open wide and the wind blowing through the house T would have a sign on displav out in front reading something like this: 'Fresh Air is the Deadly Enemv of Disease Germs. This Theatre is Aired Freniirntlv. Your Health is Safe Here!' Tf the liberal use of powerful antiseptics is advised I would use them as often as advised and advertise the fact. T wouldn't be afraid of the odor of carbolic or similar antiseptics in my house. I would rather like it than otherwise, knowing that the public, getting that smell, would say to themselves, 'Well, srerms can't live here. We are safe'." No Further Delay Announcement is made by the Division of Films that the wave of influenza has now sufficiently subsided to make it practically certain that there will be no further delay in the general release of "America's Answer," the second U. S. Official war picture, and that exhibitors throughout the country will now be able to promise their patrons an early showing of this war film.