Moving Picture World (Jun 1919)

1792 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD June 21, 1919 BANK PANIC, FIRE GALL AND CONFUSION Exciting Times for Populace When Mary Pickford Played "Daddy Long Legs" at Moore's, Washington A PANIC among depositors in the Security Savings Bank of Washington, D. C, and a narrow escape from mob violence by the fire department of the capitol city were two of the series of unusual events caused by the first run presentation of "Daddy Long Legs," first of the Mary Pickford special attractions to be released by First National Exhibitors' Circuit, at Moore's Rialto Theatre. The production was booked for a run of two weeks. Preceded by an unusually novel newspaper advertising and publicity campaign, in which Mary Pickford as the star, the universal interest in the story of the attraction, and the appeal to all classes, were featured, "Daddy Long Legs" opened to more than capacity business. Throughout the week, according to Manager Tom Moore, the capacity of the Rialto was taxed at every performance, matinee and night. The local newspapers had been unusually lavish in their commendation of the production and of Miss Pickford's work in it. This contributed to the interest Washingtonians took in "Daddy Long Legs" and helped to make the work of the doormen and ushers more difficult. Mobs Fought Fire Fighters. "The most unusual incident," declared Mr. Moore, "happened on Thursday evening, when a slight fire was discovered in the second floor of Fisher's dyeing and cleaning establishment, just below the Rialto Theatre building. There was a line four deep, extending to the corner, more than half a block away, and around the corner for a considerable distance. In addition, there were hundreds of people packed in front of the theatre with tickets purchased during the morning and afternoon, waiting to get in. "Someone sent in a fire alarm, and when the fire engines, hook and ladder trucks and the marshall reached the corner nearest the scene of the blaze, they found the street absolutely blocked by the crowds. None in the packed mass of humanity had seen the blaze from the street, and someone shouted that the management had called out the department to break up the crowds and get them away from the theatre. The results was an outburst of protest when the police attempted to clear a way for the firemen. By nosing the big trucks so close people had to move or be run over, they finally succeeded in breaking through." Rumored Run on a Bank. On Saturday morning there was a repetition of the Thursday night mob situation, with results that were even more serious. "As early as 9.30 on Saturday morning, the last day of the first week of the run,", continued Mr. Moore, "there was a big crowd in line waiting for the box office to open. An hour before the Rialto opened the crowd had become so great that it reached down Ninth street to G and turned over G to Eighth street, completely encircling the Security Savings Banks building. "Within thirty minutes after the line had reached these proportions officials of the bank telephoned the city commissioners to send police aid to disperse the crowds. They explained that depositors passing had seen the line and started the report that there was a run on the bank. The predicament was a serious one for another thirty minutes, until the police and fire departments each sent details of men to help regulate the crowds." Another odd development of the first week's run was an item of the Rialto's maintenance sheet for several dollars' worth of smelling salts for the ladies' room. This, Mr. Moore declares, was because scores of women who had stood in line for an hour or more, had finally reached the theatre doors too exhausted to stand at the rear of the house and wait for seats. They sought the ladies' rest room and used the smelling salts in such numbers that a new supply of the aromatics had to be ordered. Governor Smith Takes Part in Thomas' "The Volcano" NEW YORK'S Governor turned motion picture player the other day for the filming of a scene in Augustus Thomas' recently completed socialindustrial drama, "The Volcano," starring Leah Baird, for Four Star Pictures, a W. W. Hodkinson release. The event was staged in the Governor's Room at City Hall. The executive portrayed the role of Governor Alfred E. Smith, and his chief function was "signing" the bill prohibiting the use of red flags in parades or other demonstrations. For the purpose of the picture a telephone was rigged up on the historic desk once used by George Washington, the first time it ever came in contact with such a modern device. The scene had the Governor answering a telephone call from the Sheriff of New York County, who asked executive aid in an effort to rid New York of the "Red" menace. Harry Raver, producer of the film, and director George Irving were there to give the Governor the necessary motion picture training, but that was an easy task, so well did Mr. Smith adapt himself to the requirements of the unusual occasion. "There's little you don't know about picture-making," Mr. Raver remarked to the Governor. "Well, I haven't seen hundreds of pictures for nothing," the executive smiled. Baltimore Theatre Engages Lecturer for "Red Lantern" WHEN the Parkway Theatre, Baltimore, of which Bernard Depkins, Jr., is manager, showed the Metro production, "The Red Lantern," with Mme. Nazimova playing the leading part, during the week of June 2, a special system of lighting was employed. Large Chinese lanterns of red paper were placed over the electric lights under the balcony in the lobby and one on each side of the screen. When the dramatic part about the red lantern came up in the film these lanterns were gradually lighted until they became a glowing red. Then, as the part of the story dealing with the red lantern went past, the lights gradually dimmed. The orchestra under the direction of Herman Federoff, played specially arranged oriental music. In conjunction with the picture, Captain H. J. Lewis, who was the official Chinese guide of the Barbary Coast in San Francisco, before the fire, was engaged to lecture on the customs and activities of the Chinese. The moving pictures he had with him graphically depicted the Chinatown life. Strand Stages "Upstairs and Down." In presenting "Upstairs and Down" at the Strand this week Manager Joseph Plunkett has invented a pretty introduction to immediately precede the showing of the Olive Thomas feature. At the back-center of the stage stairways comprising six steps have been erected leading to a short platform that joins the two short flights at the top. There is a duet, "Upstairs and Down," sung by a mild voiced young man and an attractive girl who sings well. As the couple sings the second verse they move up the stairs, cross the connecting platform, go down the second short flight and return to the bench from winch they started, to finish the number. The stairs and banisters are painted white and the lighting and cplor effects make a decidedly pretty picture. Metro's Hot Weather Hints. Furnished by Viola Dana in her latest, "Some Bride." Norma Talmadge Returns from Florida. Norma Talmadge, accompanied by her husband, Joseph M. Schenck, Director Edward Jose, Natalie Talmadge, Wyndham Standing,, Garreth Hughes, and Cameraman David Abel, returned from Honda this week, where thev have been making scenes on a deserted island near Miami for "By Right of Conquest." 1 his photoplay is from Arthur Hornblows novel by the same name. It has many thrilling and sensational scenes such as yacht catching fire in midocean' while the guests are in the midst of their merrymaking at a costume ball on deck