The Film Daily (1918)

iMA AlLY Saturday, November 30, 1918 MEETING THE PUBLIC DEMAND William Stoermer Trusts Exhibitor Sentiment in Constructing After -The -War Picture William Stoermer, of the William Stoermer Enterprises, believes that he has solved the problem of giving the public what it wants in the way of after-the-war pictures in "The Tidal Wave," an eight-reel subject just finished for state rights distributors. "The average moving picture exhibitor is a better critic of the things desired by the playgoing public than the most astute capitalist who ever backed a film or a play syndicate," said Mr. Stoermer. "The men who merely furnish the money that makes the wheels go round, are really merely brokers, speculators in the judgment of other men ,the ideas of authors, of directors, of exhibitors. The exhibitor on the other hand, is in daily contact with the pulse of his public. Where the capitalist speculates as to the best thing to do, the best kind of picture to produce, the exhibitor knows just what his public wants. "The Tidal Wave" is based upon the combined judgment of more than five' thousand exhibitors with whom I have had correspondence and interviews within the past year. It is big enough in theme to satisfy the most cynical observer of the big dramatic happenings during the four years of intense excitement that the war entailed. "Long experience in observing the tastes of audiences during my stage period which covers many years, convinced me that there is one perfectly safe kind of play investment. And the truth that applies to the stage proper naturally comprehends as well, the screen. "I have found that after everything is said and done, excitement is the emotion that brings audiences to the box office. Of course, the basis for the tension must be as reasonable as a cunning composition. There is an art in plot and counter-plot that is not to be lost sight of in planning a play with excitement its leading feature. The difference between, for instance, the tension plays that obtain successfully with undeveloped intelligences and those that address a more cultured taste, is that the lower grade pieces are instantly obvious in their progress. We know at the outset what the finish is to be. "The excitement play, on the other hand, that is for the more advanced mentality, suspends its development. It is designed to grip instantly, and continuously to speed along in characterization at a pace that outwits the keenest intelligence. It is this very element of uncertainty, following a reasonable thesis, that is psychologically the basis of the delight the observer gets from witnessing the progress of the drama. 'The Tidal Wave,' I confidently believe, fits snugly into the later classification." There's a lot of difference between sticking up for your ideas and being just plain obstinate. At Dayton Theatres DAYTON.— Although it opened rather weak, "Hearts of the World" came back strong the last part of its first week's engagement at the Memorial Hall here and will hold over for five more days. John Seifert, manager of The Ideal theatre here is to handle the Columbus showing of "Under Four Flags." He will play the film at the Memorial Hall, that city. The week of November 24th was designated by Mark Gates, managing director of The Dayton theatre, as Metro week at that theatre. Nazimova in "Toys of Fate" opened Sunday, followed by the late Harold Lockwood in "Pals First." Both pictures drew well. "Shoulder Arms" opened big at The Strand here on Sunday. Two other reels were run in conjunction with the Chaplin film and the show was timed down to about fifty-five minutes, with the result that the crowd was "turned over" many times. Chaplin is usually good for two repeats here. Broadway Engagement "Wanted For Murder," the new Harry Rapf production, will be released for a Broadway engagement within the next week. Just where the picture will be shown, has not yet been definitely decided upon. After receiving numerous letters from disappointed patrons, who were unable to see "Under Four Flags," at the Rivoli theatre, during the week of November 17th, Manager Rothapfel decided to book the film for a return engagement. It will be shown there during the coming week. From Minneapolis Preparing Entertainment For Rothapfel and Goldfish MINNEAPOLIS. — Minneapolis motion picture men are preparing a special entertainment which will probably take the form of a banquet for S. A. Rothapfel and Samuel Goldfish. The New York picture men are to be in Minneapolis December 6, on their way west. Mr. Rothapfel formerly managed the Lyric theatre in Minneapolis and has a wide acquaintance among picture people of the northwest. More than six weeks after final contracts were signed with its owners the Fox Film Corp. has finally opened the Shubert theatre in this city. Striking new interior effects have been achieved by the re-decoration. Theda Bara in "Salome" is running this week as the opening bill. Evelyn Nesbit in "The Woman Who Gave," Peggy Hyland in "Marriages Are Made," William Farnum in "Riders of the Purple Sage" and "Les Miserables" are other features announced for early production. Minneapolis' "Mile of Smiles" is on its way to France after a week's successful run at the New Lyric. In view of the patriotic purpose of the picture, which will carry home scenes to Minneapolis men overseas, the Dunwoodie Naval Training Institute band was loaned for several of the evening performances and gave concerts outside the theatre. Robert Bruce, formerly of Minneapolis, whose travel pictures are widely known, has recently completed a new series showing Rocky Mountain scenes. New Dress For Rivoli New splendor in proscenium hangings and decorations greet the spectator at the Rivoli theatre. After some months of research and experiment in miniature, John Wenger, the Russian colorist, has arrived at a scheme in accord with his own conceptions and the requirements of S. L. Rothapfel, the managing director. Mr. Rothapfel has long been seeking to endow the Rivoli with a bit more color and feeling. The purpose has been carried out in Mr. Wenger's creation by an elaborate set of hangings covering the dome, sides and proscenium proper, with splashes, dashes and floods of color, all under control of harmony and contrast by direct and transmitted lightings. Among the recent sales of the Arrow Film Corporation are: "The Finger of Justice" to the First National Exhibitors' Circuit of Virginia, Richmond, Va., for Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida.