Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

28 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS STAR BLACKWELL IN DAVIS DRAMA For their second release, the Favorite Players Film Company have secured the rights to make a photo dramatization of Richard Harding Davis' famous story, "The Man Who Could Not Lose," featuring Carlyle National Board Makes Neutrality Move Asks Exhibitors to Run Captions Before War Films, Requesting Spectators to Refrain from Making Any Sympathetic Demonstration CARLYLE BLACKWELL Blackwell in the leading role, scenario by Robert A. Dillon. This is in keeping with the policy of the above-mentioned company to produce only the works of wellknown authors for their productions. DAVID H. THOMPSON BACK IN FILMS Announcement is made by the Thanhouser Film Corporation that David H. Thompson is to appear in pictures again. A year ago, the Thanhouser Company decided that it needed some one to handle its extra people and cast, so Dave was selected. The call of the motion picture was too great for Dave, so he tutored Frank Grimmer, an assistant director, and when the time was ripe, Frank "stepped in" and Dave "stepped out." Dave will be remembered for his work in "Aurora Floyd," "Kathleen, the Irish Rose," "Their Golden Wedding," "The Musician's Daughter," and other Thanhouser productions. TERRY WILL OPEN SOON Special to The Motion Picture News Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 3. The Ellen Terry Theatre will open in a few weeks. John R. Oshei, manager of the Teck Theatre, and a large stockholder in the Ellen Terry, announces that an outside man will managed this theatre, but has not disclosed the new manager's name. THE importance of the sentiment expressed in the proclamation of President Wilson to the effect that the people of this country should refrain from taking sides in the European war, for the purpose of avoiding any unnecessary expression of feeling likely to be engendered by the sympathies of our diversified population, was recognized by the film industry. The National Board of Censorship saw in the appeal an opportunity for exhibitors throughout the country to perform a service in the interest of local peace and national dignity. The organization has issued a request to exhibitors to run a caption before war films asking audiences to refrain from uttering any partisan expressions. The letter from the board follows: "Gentlemen: August 27. "The preservation of a spirit of absolute neutrality on the part of the American people, as suggested by President Wilson in his recent proclamation, is a matter so vitally important that the National Board of Censorship makes the following suggestion: "When you are producing pictures containing war scenes, please precede the actual pictures with about five feet of caption asking the audience kindly to refrain from any expressions of partisanship as the pictures are shown. You will strengthen such an announcement very materially by adding that this request is directly in line with the policy of President Wilson. "We further suggest that scenes v.hich tend to arouse race hatred because of their realism and horrible detail be treated in a restrained manner. "Thank you. "Very truly yours, "National Board of Censorship of Motion Pictures" Mr. Binder sent a copy of the letter to President Wilson and received this reply: THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Aug. 28th, 1914. My Dear Mr. Binder: I have your letter of August 27th, and thank you very much for your courtesy in calling my attention to the enclosures. I shall be glad to bring it to the President's attention as you suggest. Sincerely yours, (Signed) J. P. TUMULTY, Secretary to the President. Los Angeles Houses Pledge to Raise Prices Theatres Showing First and Second Charge Ten Cents Special to The Motion Picture News Los Angeles, Aug. 24. TWO very important film contracts have been made in the past week by Thomas L. Tally, owner of the Tally Broadway, who recently secured Los Angeles rights for the entire program of the Paramount Pictures Corporation. The Paramount pictures will form the program for three of the principal film houses for the next year. Mr. Tally is to have choice of the service for his house, and will run each picture one week. The other first-run program will be shown at Miller's Theatre, which has heretofore been using seven reels of General and Eclectic pictures. ■ Frank Hawkins, of the Alhambra, where the Universal program has been used since the opening of the house more than a year ago, has contracted for the first choice of pictures for second-week projection. The contracts became effective for the Alhambra, August 24, when "The Man On the Box," with Max Figman and Lolita Robertson, will be shown, following a week's run at the Tally, and at Miller's, August 31. The three theatre managers will Runs of Paramount Service Must for Front Seats co-operate in advertising the pictures, and will receive material help from the Paramount people. It is planned to use 150 24-sheet stands, 50 of which are paid for by the manufacturer. The names of the houses and date lithos will be changed daily from the first to the second-run houses. United newspaper advertising will be used and the managers are planning to furnish matter for page and halfpage copy. One feature of the contracts is the stipulation regarding admission prices. Each theatre, whether first or second-week run, must charge ten cents for seats in the froiit section of the theatres, twenty cents for rear seats, and if the theatre has loges, the prices for these has been stipulated to be thirty cents. The Alhambra has been a five-cent house and the prices here will be raised to ten and twenty cents. Miller's Theatre has heretofore charged ten and fifteen cents, which will hereafter charge ten and twenty. Later Mr. Miller anticipates loges will be added. The Miller's Theatre will add an orchestra in addition to pipe-organ concerts.