Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1914)

76 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS Chain of Feature Exchanges in View Allied Features, Inc., Formed for Project — Exclusive Program Will Handled— Herbert Lubin General Manager— Plans Announced Be TO establish a chain of exchanges throughout the Dominion of Canada and the United States is the project of The Allied Features, Inc., incorporated last week under the laws of New York. The duty problem has hitherto prevented any such international business, though geographically it was a natural outcome. The new corporation has evolved a HERBERT LUBIN scheme of deliveries which will obviate this difficulty. The International Feature Film Corporation. Ltd., of Montreal and Toronto, have been absorbed by the new corporation, the president and general manager of which will be Herbert Lubin. Negotiations are now under way for an alliance with a big feature film combination whose specialty is the production of widely known plays starring famous actors and actresses. These negotiations are expected to be consummated within ten days. For the present the new co-poration will confine itself to the Dominion of Canada. In addition to the offices in Montreal and Toronto, branches will be immediately established in Winnipeg, Vancouver and in the Maritime Provinces. The Exclusive program forms the backbone of the features already contracted for Canada. Among the brands whose entire output will b'i taken are Itala, Great Northern Special, Film Releases of America, Solax, Blache, and Great Northern Preferred. Several Wall street bankers arc interested as well as prominent film men, including Harry R. Raver, president of the All Star Feature Corporation and director-general of the Itala Film Company; Ingvald C. Oes, president of the Great Northern Film Company; Herbert Blache, president of the Exclusive Supply Corporation, Solax and Blache Features, and Joseph R. Miles, general manager of the Exclusive Supply Corporation. Cliarles (Feature) Abrams has been appointed New York manager and buyer, and John B. Clymer will take care of publicity matters. Three features a week will comprise the immediate releases, which will be rapidly increased. Inasmuch as Canadian exhibitors run a feature at least two days, this will ensure a weekly feature program. "JUNGLE" READY FOR SCREEN From the offices of the All Star Feature Corporation comes the announcement that "The Jungle," from Upton Sinclair's novel, is finished and will have its premier presentation in New York City as a theatrical attraction at a leading Broadway theatre. Managers Isaacs and Bryan of the .\11 Star Film Rental Company, distributors of the All Star productions for the territory of Greater New York and New York State, are at the present time negotiating with Upton Sinclair for his personal appearance in conjunction with tlie showing of the fihns. Prominent in the cast is Upton Sinclair, while featured as the star of the production is George Nash, late star of "Panthea," "Officer 666" and "The Gamblers." With Mr. Nash there is to be seen Gail Kane, leading lady of "Seven Keys to Baldpate." She will co-star with Nash in the coming fall production of "The Miracle Man." Others are .A.lice Marc, Jtilia R. Hurley, Robert Cummings and Clarence Handysides. KING'S FAVORITE IN FILM The cast of "The Highwayman's Honor" contains the names of several well-known people. Among these is Sir Hubert Von Herkomer, C.A., R.V.O., who was the favorite actor of King Edward VII and King George V. His entrance into screen work was hailed with delight, but unfortunately, after he had completed his first picture he died suddenly. Lady Herkomer and Miss Herkomer also have parts in the production, which was recently purchased, on the other side, by the Mecca Feature Film Company. AN ADVERTISING EXPERT Charles Mortimer Peck, the advertising manager of the Box-Office Attractions Film Rental Company, 126 West Forty-sixth street. New York City, is probably equaled by no other man in the motion picture industry CHARLES MORTIMER PECK to-day in range and varictj' of advertising and sales experience. As a newspaper man, Air. Peck was identified with the Chicago "Journal," the Chicago "Inter Ocean," and the Detroit "Evening News." He was advertising manager of the Siegel stores in Chicago, of Carson Pirie. Scott & Company and of A. AI. Rothschild. In New York he has been associated with the George Rr. Van Clcef and the P. H. O'Keefe .Advertising Agencies. Mr. Peck is one of the first, if not the first to introduce scientific advertising and sales methods into the motion picture field. NOTED SINGER IN ECLECTIC FEATURE Emmy Destinn, tlie noted soprano ot the Metropolitan Opera House, is featured in "The Lion's Bride,"' soon to be released by the Eclectic Company. This is the first and only time Mme. Destinn has appeared before the camera in a photoplay. She received a fee of $20,000 for appearing in the lion's den and her life was insured for $125,000. During the fifteen minutes the soprano was in the cage, one of the huge beasts jumped upon the piano near which Mme. Destinn was singing. To show her nerve, the young woman gave the lion a hug, and then tripped out of the den before the brute liad recovt'red from his surprise.