Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1916)

October 7, 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 2233 | A Trio of Universal Releases. — Victor Com I | edy, “ A Charming Villain,” with Billie § | Mason — “ With the Spirits Help,” with Eddie | jmiiiiiiiiiniiiiiinimiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinimiiiimmmiiiimiiiiiiimimimmmmimnnmmmiimimiimji | Lyons and Lee Moran — “ Somewhere on the | | Battlefield,” with Hobart Henley, Claire Me | Dowell and William Walsh _ SbEBBnHSI LEO DENISON IS TRANSFERRED FROM DETROIT TO NEW YORK AND WILL SUPERVISE PARAMOUNT BUSINESS IN DETROIT, CINCINNATI AND CHICAGO DLEO DENISON, former manager of the Detroit office of • the Paramount Pictures Corporation, has been transferred to New York, where he will supervise the company’s business in Detroit, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Chicago. Mr. Denison will spend about half of his time on the road, keeping in direct touch with conditions in the territory allotted to him. The position he assumes is one newly created and for which Mr. Denison is aptly suited in view of his long experience in the exchange end of the Paramount Pictures Corporation. In addition to handling these four exchanges, Mr. Denison will act as personal representative for James Steele, secretary and treasurer of the Paramount Corporation. J. O. Brooks, connected for the past twelve months with the Detroit office, has been appointed manager to succeed Mr. Denison. Mr. Brooks has also had considerable experience in the film and dramatic end of the theatrical profession. His success in the profession has been attributed to his willingness to always see the other fellow’s viewpoint. Mr. Denison announces the following additional appointments at Detroit: Harry Manning in charge of the advertising and poster departments, and G. N. Shield, formerly with V-L-S-E in Kansas City, as assistant ; George Almardt, formerly with the Triangle exchange in Buffalo, as manager of the short reel program ; Will M. Elliott as manager of the new publicity department, which is already working out some wonderful stunts for the exhibitors; and Jack Loranger and C. C. Pippin as Michigan traveling representatives. Mr. Loranger was formerly with the Casino Feature Film Company, while Mr. Pippin comes from the Mutual. IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO “KID” THIS STORY ABOUT THE ELEPHANT GETTING HIS TOE NAILS MANICURED —SO WE AIN’T GOING TO ANIMALS are not unlike human beings in that they have ailments and need attention from specialists, and this is particularly true of the beasts of the jungle when in confinement. Therefore, it frequently happens that Rex de Rosselli, superintendent of the zoo at Universal City, has what he calls “a mending day.” At least once a year the toe-nails of an elephant have to be trimmed and he must also be scraped and his skin thoroughly oiled. Sometimes, too, the tusks have to be filed. When an elephant is kept in confinement and does not get the amount of walking required in native haunts the toe-nails grow long and turn inward, causing sores. Therefore it is necessary to trim them at stated periods. Charlie, the Universal elephant, does not enjoy the process but nevertheless Rosselli and his assistant, J. A. Futrelle, perform the operation. Then the entire body is scraped with a wire brush, which is followed by a coat of oil over the entire skin. Monkeys are quarrelsome, and often the men at the zoo are called upon to repair wounds after a battle in one of the cages. The lions while loose in the big wooded arena frequently get splinters in their feet and these must be extracted. A few days ago a black diamond rattlesnake was brought to the zoo. Rosselli performed the operation of removing the poison sack from its mouth and it is now destined to become an actor. OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF AMERICAN PREPAREDNESS TAKEN BY “UNCLE SAM AWAKE” <<T TNCLE SAM, AWAKE,” a feature production emphasizing the strength of the American Army and Navy, which is being handled by the firm of Hiller and Wilk, Inc., 924 Longacre Building, New York City, is now being booked on the state rights basis. The picture is now enjoying a run at the Brighton Beach Music Hall, where it was booked for an indefinite period, to follow “ Civilization.” So good an impression has it made with the clientele of this house that the selling agents, Hiller and Wilk, Inc., are now negotiating for a Broadway house which they expect to procure for the presentation of “ Uncle Sam, Awake,” within two weeks. In this production the critics of the American fighting forces are given their answer. They are shown the activities of the United States Government along the lines of preparedness, just how the military and naval institutions have been brought up to their present war footing, and just what protection citizens can look for in the event of trouble. Recruiting officers in cities where the picture is booked have been advised to get in touch with the theatre to work in conjunction with the management to stimulate recruiting. Exhibitors in many localities have been quick to realize the opportunities presented by this voluntary co-operation of the government, and as a result application for state rights are coming in fast. The producers of the picture received the official sanction of the Adjutant General of the Army in making the scenes, which gave them entree into all army posts and assured them of every assistance. HERALD FILM COMPANY MAKES FLAT RATE OF FIFTY DOLLARS A DAY FOR “AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS ” LROSENGARTEN, president of the Herald Film Company, • 130 West Forty-sixth street, who is releasing the Jules Verne feature, “ Around The World In Eighty Days,” has adopted the plan of advertising the feature to exhibitors at a flat price, fifty dollars a day. Any exhibitor contracting for a week’s run is immediately given a first-run print. Exhibitors taking the film for less than one week, get second, third and fourth runs, depending upon the number of days contracted for. After all the territory in certain sections of the country, especially the larger cities, has been covered the film will be sold outright at a figure to conform to the territory to be covered. The advantage in this method it is claimed is that exhibitors in small and medium sized cities can secure first-run films, which they cannot do under existing methods.