Motion Picture News (Jan - Feb 1926)

74 Motion Picture News Left to right: Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld who presented the medal (pictured in center) to E. W. Hammons (right), president of Educational Film Exchanges for the production ctistributed by Educational titled "The Voice of the Nightingale." Asks Short Subject Support R. F. Woodhull Urges New York Critics to Support Short Features THE Short Features Advertising Association was host to the critics of the New York daily newspapers one day during the week, with R. F. Woodliull, President of the M. P. T. 0. A. as chief speaker. Woodhull impressed upon the newspaper men the interest there was on the part of the public in short subjects and urged them to stress this angle of the industry in their ci'iticisms. The President of the National association pointed out that there was frequently more interest in ■ the shorts than in the feature picture. He gave as an example a judge of New Jersey -yvho attended a showing in the Capitol, Brpadway, last week and could not recall the feature, but declared that the short feature, "The Suwanee River" was one of the most beautiful things he ever saw. He also recalled an incident in his home town of Dover, where a patron had said he wasn't interested the least in the feature, but thought Al St. John in "The Iron Mule" Avas one of the funniest pictures he had ever seen. Woodhull dwelt at length on the importance of Laugh Month and asked all the sfti)port possible for that event. He declared that if the exhibitor ever took the short comedy out of his bill he would soon ai")preciate its real value if he did not already. Sums Upvalue of Laugh Month James R. Grainger Declares Drive Will Launch Excellent Propaganda For Picture Theatres N ATIONAL LAUGH MONTH with its emphasis on the comedy form of entertainment and the suggestion that the picture theati'e serves as a haven of respite from the drab realities of life, will prove a most valuable form of propaganda for the exhibitors, asserts James R. Grainger in a statement issued this week, in M'hich he praises the idea behind the campaign sponsored l)y the Short Features Advertising Association. "When Fox Films took for its slogan," he declares " 'start the New Year with a Laugh,' we naturally had National La^^ll Entry Blank for Laugh Month Exploitation Contest (Use this coupon to file your entry in the prize contest for the best Laugh Month exploitation. Send entry to Laugh Month Committee, 218 West 42nd Street, New York City.) Name of Theatre '. Address : City or TownState Name of person responsible for campaign (This is the person to whom money will be paid if this entry wins) Is theatre first run, second run or subsequent run? Seating capacity Population of City or Town Was campaign for one day, two days, three days or a week? Was a particular comedy exploited? If so, give title and name of distributing company (It is not necessary that a particular comedy should be exploited, it being sufficient if the campaign boosts Laugh Month. But if a particular comedy is exploited, it must be a short comedy — not more than three reels.) Month in mind, but we were also of the opinion that if we put sufficient punch behind the suggestion to 'start the New Year with a laugh,' it would be mighty good propaganda for the exhibitor to spread among his patrons. •'Fox Films heartily joins liands with anybody who starts out to distribute smiles and laughter. National Laugh Month is a splendid idea. It should be productive of more genuine mirth and healthy amusement than was ever created by any given agency in the history of the world, if exhibitors of motion pictures will co-operate with the creators of this unique idea. Millipns of men, women and children will patronize the thousands of motion picture theatres during January and, in my opinion, if everybody will support the plan, young 1926, starting to work with a broad smile and a hearty laugh, will carry on much in the same manner throughout the year. "Live-wire exhibitors will grasp the importance of this plan with one accord for it will be to their advantage to give their patrons the benefit of an idea that has been so generously endorsed. To 'start the New Year with a laugh.' means to start the New Year right, and show me the exhibitor who does not want to 'get off on the right foot.' " Black Has Prominent Role in ''Prince of Broadway" G. Howe Black, negro comedian who gained prominence in "The Wizard of Oz," has a prominent role in "The Prince of Broadway," George Walsh's current Chadwick starring: vehicle. Scenes from the latest Wanda Wiley comedy "A Winning Pair." released through Universal.