Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1923)

September 15, 1 9 2 1297 Views of Theatre Street in Yokohama, where were located the principal Picture Houses of the city. current attractions. The banners leaning out across the street were posters advertising prospering and which stood second to none in 1 be Island Empire. It is likely that Kowe will make his beadquarters temporarily in the Osaka branch until such time as normal business is resumed in the devastated legions. That may be months and even years. Universal's other Japanese exchanges — Otaru, Hakata and Seoul, Corea — meanwhile will have to function as best they can. Japan Prospects Were Bright Kowe, who recently was in New York, told in glowing terms of the bright film prospects in Japan, and how Universal pictures had increased in popularity during the last year, to the extent of increasing business more than fifty per cent. He told of the popularity of Priseilla Dean, Reginald Denny, Herbert Rawlinson, Hoot Gibson, Baby Peggy and other Universal stars with the Japanese picture public— a public made up largely of students and children. He told of the great plans he had for the Fall product and how his return to Japan would herald a new spurt in Universal presentations of big Jewel pictures in such theatres as the Great Imperial theatre, the linc>t amusement edifice in Japan. Today the Imperial theatre is a smoking ruin. One cheerful thought comes to Rowe as the President Grant ploughs westward to the land where the Rising Sun has set for a time. Mrs. (Lowe is by his side. She almost decided to remain in Tokio when he came eastward several months ago. Had she remained, her life might have been forfeited in the great disaster. Louis Auerbach of the Export & Import Film Company, Inc., reported that no word had been received from his company's Japanese agents since the earthquake. Several large film consignments were awaiting final cable instructions for shipment at the time of the catastrophe. All attempts to get into communication with the agents via radio have been unsuccessful. Inquiry at the office of the Peacock Motion Picture Corporation in New York, a subsidiary of China Industries, Inc., sponsored by a group of American and Chinese financiers, developed the fact that Frank Chamberlain, representative in the Far East, was probably sate. At the home office it was said that he had left Shanghai for Yokohama on August 11. but expected to return from Japan tO his headquarters in China within a week. Paramount rushed to its exchanges a large number of new prints of Paramount-Burton Holmes Travel Pictures dealing with Japanese subjects for the use of exhibitors who wish to supplement their regular programs with this Japanese Views Shown Here Taken by Edgar Lewis THE original photographs of Japanese scenes from which the cuts on these pages were made were loaned to Motion Picture News by Edgar Lewis, well known director. Mr. Lewis during his world tour in 1919 obtained numerous "stills" and much film of the very places that have been destroyed in the recent catastrophe. timely feature. These subjects include " Modern Aspects of Japan," which gives views of the modern docks, the Grand Hotel and other buildings in Yokohama, and then transports the sightseer to Tokio. Other subjects suited to the present emergency are : "Tokio, the Metropolis," " Around Fujiyama " and " The Hades of Hokkaido." Hayahawa as Commissioner In some quarters in the industry the suggestion was made that Sessue Hayakawa, now in Europe, be appointed a special commissioner to go to Japan and co-operate with the film men in the work of rehabilitation. It was pointed out that Hayakawa and his wife, Tsuru Aoki, both native Japanese, would make a fine committee to handle this work. George Mooser, former representative for United Artists in Japan, received word that his wife and daughter, who had planned to go to Yokohama from Shanghai, had changed their plans at the last minute and thus escaped the disaster. Mr. Mooser declared he believed few Americans lost their lives. He pointed out that the catastrophe occurred on Saturday, when most of the foreign population was in the habit of leaving for the hills or seashore. " During the summer," he said, " many families live in the mountain district of Karuizawa, eighty miles northwest of Tokio, and others make their summer homes ir. the mountain section of Ka Hakone. Neither of these districts was struck by the earthquake. If these resorts were attacked, the residents could escape over the mountains to the seashore." Mr. Mooser believes it will take twenty years to rebuild Tokio, Yokohama and the other destroyed towns. 645 Japanese Theatres There were about C45 motion picture theatres in the whole of Japan. Horace T. Clarke, of David P. Howells, Inc., an expert on film conditions in the Far East, gave it as h-.s opinion that most of the theatres in Tokio and Yokohama must have been destroyed. In Tokio, h? said, there were about 175 theatres, fifty of which were fairly good. Some of these were of very flimsy construction, while others were first-class. In Yokohama, apparently completely laid waste, he estimated there were thirty to forty picture houses. American distributors, other than those mentioned above, had no headquarters in Japan, but distributed through native organizations. One film man, commenting on the probable effect of the disaster on the picture business, pointed out that it might prove a boon. " Western methods will no doubt be introduced in the construction of buildings and in other ways," he remarked. " This may mean the Westernizing of Japan to a greater extent than ever before, and if that comes, of course the American motion picture will gain far greater popularity in the Island Empire." New Company Joins Houses in Schenectady With a name formed by taking the first two letters in the surnames of the incorporators, the Farash Theatre Company of Schenectady was incorporated during the past week by William M. Shirley, manager of the Strand theatre in Schenectady; William W. Farley, of Albany, receiver for the $500,000 State theatre in Schenectady, and William F. Rafferty, of Syracuse, principal owner of the Strand, also of Schenectady. It is understood that Mr. Shirley will act as general manager of the company. The incorporation is said to bring about a combination of the three big motion picture theatres of Schenectady, as it is generally understood that the Albany theatre, owned by Paul Alberts, is to be absorbed. There have been rumors for some little time past that such a combination would be effected in Schenectady. The situation there has been a peculiar one. While the Strand has probably made money, there has been a stiff fight with the State and the Albany. The State theatre went into the hands of a receiver some months ag'o, when Max Spiegel plunged into financial difficulties. It has since been operated by the receivers, represented by Mr. Farley, and with Captain Broome doing the booking for the house. According to all l'eports, Mr. Shirley will book for all houses and will make his headquarters at the State, Captain Broome being transferred to the Strand.