Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1268 Motion Picture News Associated Authors Is Organized New Producing Company Headed bv Frank Woods to Release via Allied ANOTHER producing company is active in Los Angeles, due to the fact that releasing contracts have just been signed at the Pickford-Fairbanks studios by Frank E. Woods, president of Associated Authors, and Hiram Abrams, president of United Artists Corporation and Allied Producers and Distributers Corporation. Associated Authors, made up of Frank E. Woods, Elmer Harris and Thompson Buchanan, is the newest concern to be established in the picture industry. " Formed for the purpose of promoting a closer association of authors with regard to the production of pictures," said Mr. Woods, " the Associated Authors will devote themselves to the developing of special features of the Very highest type. Our first offering will be ' The Talisman,' and Wallace Beery, who won distinction in the role of Richard the Lionhearted in Douglas Fairbanks' ' Robin Hood,' will be featured in this same role in the Sir Walter Scott classic." The pictures turned out by the Associated Authors will be released through Allied Producers and Distributers' Corporation, a subsidiary of United Artists' Corporation, owned and controlled by Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith. It has not yet been decided definitely at what studio the Associated Authors will operate. This is to be arranged shortly by Clarke 1 Thomas, associated for years with Thomas H. Ince, and who has been appointed general manager of the new organization. Associated Authors will produce in rotation instead of attempting simultaneous operations. The present plan is for Mr. Woods to do " The Talisman " as the first offering, and when photography is complete, Elmer Harris will put a picture into work. As soon as all scenes for this have been taken, Thompson Buchanan will then start a production. This, it is believed, will insure a steady output, and will enable the authors to advise with each other to the best advantage, and to concentrate upon one picture at a time. In addition to being producers, each of the tli tee authors named is an officer in the new organization. Elmer Harris and Thompson Buchanan are both vice-presidents, while Frank Woods holds the portfolio of president, with Clarke Thomas acting as general manager. " Now that our releasing agency has been established," said Mr. Woods, " I will start at once to gather a cast for ' The Talisman.' ft is our hope to have this production ready as one of the picture offerings for the coming Spring. Work will start as soon as the cast is chosen, by which time we will have been definitely established in a studio." "Oliver Twist" Feature of Dickens Celebration Over eleven hundred poor children celebrated -the 111th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens by attending a special showing of Jackie Coogan in " Oliver Twist " at the Empire theatre, London, February 7. This showing was arranged for them by Ralph J. Pugh, managing director of Associated First National, Ltd., and was attended by the Lady Alayoress of London and Lady Marie Dickens, wife of the novelist's son. The children came from institutions of thirty boroughs in London and were conveyed to the big Leicester Square playhouses by special automobiles. Five Buster Keaton Comedies Sold for Brazil First National has contracted with the Companhia Brazil Cinematographica of Rio de Janeiro for the following five Buster Keaton comedies : " Frozen North," " Electric House," " Day Dreams," " Balloonatic," and the " Love Nest." Scenes from " The Bolted Door," a Universal attraction. Harvey Day New Sales Mgr. for International Edgar B. Hatrick, general manager of the International News Reel Corporation, announces the appointment of Harvey B. Day, veteran exchange manager, as sales manager for the corporation, to fill the vacancy left by R. V. Anderson, who recently resigned to become sales promotion manager for Universal. Day already has assumed the office and now makes his headquarters in the Universal home office, where he has established liaison between the news reel organization and Universal, distributers of the product. Al Lichtman Opens New Exchange in Buffalo A new Al Lichtman exchange has been opened at 265 Franklin street, Buffalo, for the distribution of Preferred Pictures beginning with " Poor Men's Wives." The first four Lichtman releases will continue to be handled by the Bond Photoplay Corporation which has represented Lichtman in Buffalo up to now. These releases are " Rich Men's Wives," " Shadows," " Thorns and Orange Blossoms," and "The Hero." To facilitate the operation of this new exchange Al Lichtman has arranged with United Artists for the physical handling of his pictures. "Othello9' to Move to Rivoli from Criterion " Othello," starring Emil Jannings in the title role, has been booked by Hugo Riesenfeld for the Rivoli theatre and will open there on Sunday, March 11th. The screen version of the Shakespearean tragedy has been running two weeks at the Criterion, and Mr. Riesenfeld's decision to continue the showing of the picture, for another week at the Rivoli is accepted by officials of Export and Import Film Company and David P. Howells, who are presenting the production, as evidence of its audience appeal.