Motion Picture News (Apr-Jul 1915)

MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 11. No. 25. Fox Exchange Managers to Meet in Convention Event Is Scheduled for July 1, and Will Be Held Five Days — Auditors and Bookkeepers of Home Office Will Be Present to Answer Questions A HIGHLY interesting convention will take place in New York on Thursday, July 1, when the first annual convention of the managers of the Fox Film corporation will take place. The representatives of the Fox Film corporation from coast to coast will meet William Fox, the president of the Fox Film corporation, and WINFIEI-D E. SHEEHAN Winheld R. Sheehan, the general manager of the concern. During the convention, which will continue for five days, Mr. Fox himself will explain to his branch managers and other representatives gathered his ideas on the problems and situations which they find themselves called upon to meet. The first session of the convention will be called to order on July 1. The first day's business, will, so it is expected, be devoted to a general discussion of conditions throughout the country', and Mr. Sheehan, who has recently returned from a painstaking tour of investigation throughout the country, will give to the delegates the results of his observations, which have resulted in the compiling of an immense amount of extremely valuable information concerning trade conditions. Auditors and bookkeepers from the executive offices of the Fox Film corporation will be present at the convention to answer any and all questions which may be put by the various representatives present. Mr. Fox believes firmly in keeping in personal touch with even phase of his business, and the object of the convention, aside and apart from vital matters which will be discussed and decided upon, is to foster that "gettogether" spirit without which no such great organization can attain the highest degree of efficiency. Mr. Fox himself intends to outline to the assemblage the future plans of the concern, which embrace the most ambitious program ever conceived by any film magnate. It is noteworthy in this connection that a highly important new policy which Mr. Fox inaugurates in September will be explained at great length to the end that the exchange men may thoroughly appreciate the great advantages of this new policy and be able to preach the gospel of prosperity to the various exhibitors of their territory with a full and complete understanding of the situation involved. Included in the list of those who will attend the convention, are the following exchange managers : WITH the beginning of the summer, the producing companies of the United program are taking on an added activity, which insures even better short story films of a high quality, for the United Film service then in the past. Joseph J. Franz, formerly director of the Premier company at Santa Paula, Cal., has returned to the studio after an absence of some time, and will continue his work of directing the making of two part dramas of western life. Two other new members, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Garcia, have joined the company and will support Lillian Hamilton and Fred Church, the leading players. At the beginning of the week Arthur Smallwood, president of the Smallwood Film corporation, announced the fact that he had secured new studios for the Pyramid company, of which Edwin August is the star and director, at Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. The studio occupies a new building especially erected for the purpose and is one of the largest glass-covered studios in the country. The stage is large enough to permit the setting of four large scenes at one time. Here two reel dramas in which Ruth BEYOND doubt one of the most important social functions yet recorded in the moving picture field took place in Los Angeles, Cal., on Saturday. June 12, when Messrs. Lasky. Goldfish and De Mille gave a dinner, reception and dance in honor of Geraldine Farrar, who had just arrived at the Lasky studios to pose for a series of photodramas. This dinner took place at the Hollywood Hotel, and the list of important guests reads almost like a roster of the famous Broadway theatrical companies during the height of the season. Among those present at the dinner in addition to Miss Farrar and Mayor Rose of Los Angeles, were John Drew. Raymond Hitchcock, Julian Eltinge, Mary Pickford, Fannie Ward. Charlotte Walker. Laura Hope Crews. Flora Zabelle, Blanche Ring, Atlanta, Ga., O. P. Hall; Boston, Mass., H. F. Campbell ; Chicago, 111., C. L. Worthington ; Cincinnati, O., A. M. Muller ; Cleveland, O., P. C. Mooney; Dallas, Tex., Leo F. Levison ; Denver, Colo., Field Carmichael ; Detroit, Mich., A. E. Siegel ; Kansas City, Mo., Chas. W. Hardin ; Los Angeles, Cal., A. T. Lambson ; Minneapolis, Minn., E. A. Westcott ; Newark, N. J., Nat Beier; New Orleans, La., S. T. Stephens; Omaha, Neb., Joe Levy ; Philadelphia, Pa., Jack Levy; Pittsburgh, Pa., H. B. Day; Salt Lake City, Jos. B. Roden; San Francisco, W. J. Citron; Seattle, Wash., E. R. Redlich ; St. Louis, Mo., S. J. Baker ; Syracuse, N. Y., Herman Robbins; Washington, D. C, J. P. Anderson; New York, N. Y., Louis T. Rogers, and Harry Leonhardt, Pacific coast manager, 734 South Olive street, Los Angeles, Cal. Blair and Florence Hackett, the newest acquisition to Mr. August's company, will support the well known star, will be produced. With the addition of Gertrude Bondhill to the Lariat company at the Garden of the Gods studio, this company will deviate from its policy of making only western two part dramas, and will add Biblical and poetical photodramas to its output. The Superba company has decided to greatly enlarge upon the size and pretentiousness of its one reel comedies for the United by adding a large company of new players. Edith Thornton will continue to play leads, supported by W. E. Browning, Joe Burke and Max Uligh. The new outdoor stage of the Empress company at Flushing, is enabling Joseph Levering to stage with great efficiency the two reel sociological and psychological dramas which are being written for his company by Rev. Clarence J. Harris. Under the direction of three directors, Frank Beal. Carl Levins and Webster Cullison, the Ideal company at Hollywood is making film history in their excellent dramas of domestic heart interest and thrilling varieties. Julia Dean, Blanche Sweet, Alexandria Carlyle, Francis Ring, John Mears, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Gest, Mrs. David Belasco, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Farrar, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Zukor, Owen Moore, Carlyle Blackwell, Pedro DeCordoba, Orrin Johnson, Hale Hamilton, Frank Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Reicher, Mr. Hector Turnbull, Jack Dean, Tully Marshall, Marion Fairfax, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Lasky, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Goldfish, Mrs. Lasky senior. Theodore Roberts, James Neill, George Melford, Alfred Hertz. Louis Gottschalk, Thomas Meighan, Ralph Kellard and Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Buckland. During and after the dinner, many of the stars entertained, and the succeeding dance was especially brilliant. Geraldine Farrar and John Drew did a one step which was the hit of the evening. Summer Weather Brings Added United Production Arthur Smallwood Secures New Studios for His Company — Franz, Premier Director, Returns to Santa Paula, Cal., and Begins Work on Westerns Farrar Dinner at Lasky Studios Brings Out Notables List of Guests Reads Like a Roster of Broadway Celebrities at Height of Theatrical Season inNew York — Diva's Arrival Duly Celebrated