Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March 17, 1923 1307 Production -Distribution Activities Raymond McKee Is Radio Orator Prior to his departure for Florida Raymond .McKee, who plays the important role of Thomas Elliot Dexter in Elmer Clifton's "Down to the Sea in Ships" released through the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, spoke last week to a few hundred thousand people via the radio, speaking from station WHN at Ridgewood, L. I. In his talk Mr. McKee went at length to explain all of the perils and hardships and some of the many amusing incidents that occurred during his two months' cruise on the whaler "Charles W. Morgan" at which time Mr. McKee harpooned a 90 ton bull whale. Radio fans for a radius of thousands of miles " turned in " on the radio and heard Mr. McKee's interesting narrative. Two days later, according to Mr. McKee, hundreds of replies were received from Radio fans complimenting him on his little talk. Vapor Used as Novelty Auxiliary in Film Vapor has been used for aeroplane sky writin? and for political argument around election times, but in the Metro-SL motion picture version of the Willard Mack play, " Your Friend and Mine," a screen of vapor makes an effective auxiliary to a striking " Dance of the Winds" in a big entertainment scene in an arist's studio. This number was arranged by Frederick Ko'vert dance innovater. A wall of vapor separated the dancers from the spectators. Then, slowly, as if it were drawn up by invisible cords, the curtain of steam rose evenly toward the ceiling and evaporated, revealing the dancers. As they went through their spirited movements, it seemed truly like a dance of the winds dispelling the clouds. "Safety Last" Promotes Get-Together Spirit As a result of exhibitor previews of Harold Lloyd's " Safety Last" achievement, Pathe reports the blazing of a new trail uniting distributors and exhibitors in a mutually profitable and frank gettogether spirit which has no precedent in the history of the picture industry. In a word, it is declared that the new Lloyd feature comedy flashes upon all who see it, qualities which make the flat rental contract illogical, out of date and ill-adapted to foster the best interests of either party. This — according to the statement of E. A. Eschmann, Pathe General Sales Manager — is not only frankly admitted but urged by the biggest theatre and circuit owners on their fir9t view of " Safety Last." Lois Wilson in Popular Contest Is Selected to Represent Industry in the New York Globe Competition LOIS WILSON, who plays the leading role in James Cruze's Paramount production, "The Covered W agon," has been nominated as the candidate of the motion picture industry for New York's Good Will Delegation to France. This delegation will be sent to France by Miss Anne Morgan's American Committee for Devastated France. The nominations closed Thursday and Miss Wilson's nomination, which was made by lot under the auspices of the Film Mutual Benefit Bureau, was announced, along with those of representatives of almost every other important industry and business in the city, in Thursday's New York Globe, which is officially sponsoring the enterprise of Miss Morgan's committee. The plan of membership in the delegation follows in general that under which the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs operate. One nomination is made from each leading industry and business and several of the professions. The final selection is contingent upon the nominee's securing 100,000 ten cent contributions to the fund of the American Committee for Devastated France, and the first seventy-five candidates who succeed in filling their quotas of contributions will comprise the Good Will delegation. National Drive on "Backbone" Distinctive Plans Extensive Poster Leading Cities Campaign in TO inaugurate the first of its twelve big 1923 features the Distinctive Pictures Corporaton on March 1 began a national advertising campaign of " Backbone," the photoplay which marks the screen debut of Alfred Lunt. The campaign will comprise twenty-eight sheet stands in more than a score of the leading cities of the United States and Canada — some regular showings, some special illuminated signs and some more elaborate painted spaces. Posting of these began in New York City on March 1 and March 15 will see the commencement of posting in other first key cities. These twenty-eight sheet stands comprise a twenty-four sheet lithograph, featuring the standardized nameplate for " Backbone," which will be used in all advertising matter from a one column teaser up, and a four sheet date. The standardized name is a wide block letter with colored shading against a solid black paneled background, the lines of which are broken half way by full semi-circles extending outward. The entire panel rises from left to right at an angle of fifteen degrees. After the posting of the boards n all of the cities newspaper advertising will be inaugurated, tying up with the outdoor stands. Further matter will be prepared as a follow-up on this first phase of the national campaign. " Backbone " is hailed in all of this advertising as the perfect audience picture." In addition to Alfred Lunt it has Edith Roberts and a distinctive cast, including William B. Mack, Frank Evans, George McQuarrie. Marion Abbott, James Doyle, L. E. La Croix and J. W. Johnson. "PenrocT Story for First Nat'l Wm. Beaudine to Direct "Penrod and Sam"; Benny Alexander in Title Role ENCOURAGED by the reception accorded "Penrod," which was made by Marshall Neilan, Associated First National has decided to produce another American-boy story, "Penrod and Sam" from the pen of Booth Tarkington. This announcement follows an agreement with Warner Brothers for the "loan" of the services of William Beaudine to direct the picture. The production will be presented by J. K. McDonald who has gained considerable fame as the guiding hand of "kid" productions. The production of "Penrod and Sam" is part of the policy that has brought Edwin Carewe, Arthur Levee and Maurice Tourneur, Sam Rork and James Young, Richard Walton Tully under the First National banner as independent producers. McDonald and Beaudine have selected Benny Alexander, protege of D. W. Griffith, for the role of Penrod. The continuity for "Penrod and Sam" is being prepared by Hope Loring and Louis Leightor in collaboration with Director Beaudine. First National, it is said, plans to make this picture an outstanding feature of the productions that will come to the screen in the autumn. The picture will be made in Hollvwood. Mary Pickford to Aid on Poor Farm_ Convalescent patients in hospitals and the aged women at the Los Angeles County Poor Farm will no longer want for reading matter when Mary Pickford's library plan gets under way. All magazines and newspapers subscribed to by the PickfordFairbanks studios are now being read with the utmost despatch and then collected by Miss Picklord and straight away distributed to hospitals and the poor farm. Nearly every publication of any consequence goes to Miss Pickford's studio, and since only a few days are required to read them each month, as they arrive, they can be sent to hospitals while their contends are still current. More "Teasers'1 Sent Out on "Temptation" Two more novelty "'teasers" were sent out this week by the C.B.C. Film Sales Corporation on their third Box Office Winner "Temptation." In accordance with their policy of keeping exchanges "pepped' up they are taking the fullest advantage of the possibilities offered by the title "Temptation" — and this week's chief novelty took the form of a miniature roulette wheel sent out in a box to each territorial holder of the feature. On the top of the box was the inscription "This started the trouble in ' Temptation.' " Warners Install Libi ary at Coast Studios In order to keep abreast of the times in the world of literature, and to adequately and efficiently carry on the production schedule of eighteen classics of the screen for the coming season, the Warner Brothers have installed a complete working library at the coast studios with Melvin Hudgins as librarian, according to Harry M. Warner. Books of every description, especially those of particular interest to the directors and technical staff, will be added to the thousands of books already purchased by the Warner organization.