Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1923)

1294 Motion Picture News A review of the past year in AN event of interest to the industry at large is the observance this week of the first anniversary of the Eastman theatre at Rochester, New York, the gift of George Eastman to the University of Rochester and maintained for the promotion of musical interests generally in the city. Perhaps the most magnificent theatre in the country, it is unique among theatres in that it is not an enterprise for private profit, and it has maintained the highest possible musical and artistic standards, the program states: " That the aims of the donor have been appreciated is evidenced by the manner in which the public, in steadily growing numbers, has supported the theatre. The stronger this support the greater the return which the theatre will be able to make in the conception and elaborateness of its programs, to the community which it serves. " The Eastman theatre orchestra during the year has established itself as an integral part of the musical life of the city. It is consistently, and in an increasingly large measure, fulfilling its mission of inculcating a love for and an appreciation of better music. " Our first year has ended. The record of its achievements will be found elsewhere in this Anniversary Program. We have tried not to wander away after the will-o-the-wisp of visionary but impracticable idealism but to combine a comprehension of public taste with an intelligent adherence to the definite purpose for which the institution was established." Another item of particular interest elsewhere in this same program is a resume of the box-office results on the pictures played during the year. This reads, in part : " During the year just ended more than 1,800,000 people attended the motion picture presentations, concerts and grand opera performances at the Eastman theatre. " Looking backward over the first year it is interesting to study the popular appeal of the various stars and productions presented. The honor of being the greatest drawing card of the year is about evenly divided between Harold Lloyd in ' Safety Last ' and Douglas Fairbanks in ' Robin Hood.' While the Lloyd comedy attracted the greatest number of people it enjoyed a run of seven days while ' Robin Hood,' because of the Chaliapin concert during the same week, only had a presentation of six days. " The next five most popular pictures were ' Penrod ' with Wesley Barry; 'Dr. Jack' with Harold Lloyd; 4 The Old' Homestead,' ' Three Wise Fools ' and last week's offering of ' Hollywood.' " Jackie Coogan has a strong popular appeal, evidenced by the fact that his three pictures, ' Oliver Twist ; ' ' Circus Days ' and ' Daddy ' ranked eighth, ninth and tenth in order of drawing power. Thomas Meighan in ' Homeward Bound;' 'The Prisoner of Zenda ' which was the opening attraction and George Arliss in ' The Man Who Played God,' ranked next in order. " An interesting feature revealed through examination of the popularity of the various offerings is that the male stars seem to draw better than the feminine screen luminaries. Norma Talmadge in ' Within the Law ' led her sisters of the screen with the Gish sisters in ' Orphans of the Storm ' running second." * * * LENORE ULRIC has returned to New York. Although the filming of " Tiger Rose " has not been completed, the title role was rushed through so that she might return to New York to resume playing " Kiki " on the speaking stage. Upon PICTURES AND PEOPLE her departure from the Coast, a farewell reception, so to speak, was tendered Miss Ulric by H. M. Warner, Jack Warner, Director Sidney Franklin, the entire cast of the production and the technical staff. For the last seven wyeeks Miss Ulric has worked with the " Tiger Rose " company, and during the last two weeks she is said to have remained at the studio up to a late hour every night in order to complete her role in time. Lenore Ulric declared at the reception given in her honor that she enjoyed her sojourn at the Warner Studios, the picture people, the beauty of the country and climate, and that she hoped to return to the Coast sometime next year to film some of her other stage successes. * # * JMONG departures for Europe recorded this week was that of E. W. Hammons, president of Educational, who left on a six weeks' trip. * * * OROTESTING the practice of producers purchasing a " title " of a well known book and play and then having a scenarist evolve an entirely original story around the title, Sada Cowan and Howard Higgin, scenarists, have declared they will never again accept such an assignment. It seems probable other writers will line up with them in their stand, as feeling has run high among many whose brain creations have been wrapped around a title, with the credit for the work going to the person from whose work the title was lifted. Miss Cowan and Mr. Higgin collaborate on their originals and scripts. Their original " Fashion Row " has recently been placed in production by Mae Murray, and their latest story " Woman's Intuition " was last week purchased by Metro. " It is unfair," they declare, " to hand a scenarist a book which is not adaptable for screen purchases, and which has been purchased merely for the advertising value of its name or its author's name. The scenario writer must then write an entirely new and original story, fitted for screen purposes. And when the picture comes out, it is the author of the book or play who gets credit for the story really evolved by the scenarist. In future we will not accept such work." * * * ATTESTING to the energy and progressiveness of W. C. Quimby, Fort Wayne, Ind., exhibitor, word comes this week that this enterprising showman is negotiating for the Palace theatre in that city. The proposed deal would give him 50 per cent, of the stock and a long term lease on the theatre. The deal involves about half a million dollars. Mr. Quimby, who usually hails into New York about twice a year, is fast gaining a reputation as a live showman and this news of his proposed expansion will be welcomed by his friends. T D. WILLIAMS, Ritz-Carlton chief, has arrived on the * Coast in company with William M. Vogel, who will probably handle the foreign distribution of Ritz pictures. Production plans are given as the reason for the trip. * * # SOME interesting views are set forth by Chaplin in an article in one of the popular family magazines, which will bear quoting: " The reason why so many people like the news weeklies and educational films better than the feature plays is because they present people who are doing things. I am not interested in the opening of a park by a mayor in some town where I hope never to be, but the whole circumstance carries with it that conviction of life which so many photoplays lack