Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1916)

February 5, 1916. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 701 EXHIBITORS ASK FOR "SIS HOPKINS" BEFORE IT IS RELEASED Though the first announcement of the "Sis Hopkins" comedies was made only a few weeks ago and none are ready for release, General Film exchange reports state that a number of exhibitors have already made advance requisitions for bookings and many have written Kalem for cooperation in preparing their publicity for the new subjects. This advance ordering is more surprising when it is considered that the Kalem productions will mark Rose Melville's screen debut. The National Amusement Company, of Akron, Ohio, probably has the honor of being the first to book a "Sis Hopkins" comedy as shown by this letter received by Kalem from the president, L. A. Schiappacasse : "Gentlemen : — Have made arrangements to have the 'Sis Hopkins' comedies placed on our program as soon as they are released. Meanwhile would like to have any special advertising matter you will have for these comedies, and cuts for the newspapers." "Undine" Follows "Secret Love" From the Bluebird Latter Is Scheduled for Release on January 31— Third in the Brand, "Winch Was Directed by Henry Otto, Will Be Followed by "Hop, the Devil's Brew" JANE GREY JOINS TRIUMPH FOR "MAN AND HIS ANGEL" For the Triumph Film Corporation's production of "Man and His Angel" Jane Grey, last seen in the Famous Player's production of "The Little Grey Lady" and a big Metro feature, has been engaged and will appear as co-star with the noted French player Henri Bergman. Edmund Lawrence will handle the production end and a specially elaborate feature is promised by Triumph. Miss Grey, well known on the speaking JANE GREY stage, appeared at the Longacre and Republic theatres last season in A. H. Wood's production of "Kick In" and was so well received in the role of the adventuress that when the show went on tour, Miss Grey was co-featured with John Barrymore. "Man and His Angel" will be released by Equitable early in March and will be followed by Mary Boland in "Three Pairs of Shoes." BLUEBIRD PHOTOPLAYS have stirred advance interest that seems to promise an immediate success when the release of Mme. Sarah Bernhardt's "Jeanne Dore" goes into effect this week. The preliminary release of the Bernhardt feature in New York and vicinity was marked by great public interest. The release for January 31, immediately following Bernhardt, will be Helen Ware's IDA SCHNALL AND DOUGLAS GERHARD IN A SCENE FROM "UNDINE." BLUEBIRD PHOTOPLAY portrayal of Joan Lowrie in "Secret Love," a feature founded on Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel, "That Lass o' Lowries"; and the third Bluebird will be "Undine." Henry Otto, who produced the screen version of De La Motte Foquet's fairy tale, went to the Catalina Islands, off the California coast, to find suitable land and water opportunities to realize the great possibilities of the picture phantasy. There, among the grottos and along the beautiful stretches of shore, he found settings for some wonderful photography. _ "Hop, the Devil's Brew" is scheduled for release, following "Undine," on Febru ary 14. This feature has as its basis the traffic in opium, and in working out the details, customs officials of San Francisco co-operated. As indicating the success that has attended the early campaign, M. H. Hoffman, executive manager of Bluebird Photoplays, Inc., said, in an interview with Motion Picture News, the other day : "I like these long winter nights. They give me so much more time to add to a day's work. We have been forced to unprecedented activities by the demands exhibitors have made upon us for Bluebird Photoplays. "The news that the Bernhardt film had been pre-released in New York spread quickly throughout the country, and this evidence that 'Jeanne Dore' was actually arriving at a general release has flooded us with demands for the film. "Whether Bernhardt shall ever come to America remains a question that time alone can solve ; but it is a certainty that she cannot come for many months, even if she is ever able to appear upon the stage over here again. "The fact that Bluebird has her in pictures, and in the last play she appeared in, is an advantage exhibitors have been quick to realize, and they are anxious to 'cash' on the great amount of interest in Bernhardt that the cable reports to the daily papers are creating. "There is great demand for the subsequent Bluebird releases. Helen Ware, in 'Secret Love,' is a wonderful feature, full of sensations, and when exhibitors get 'Undine' they will realize what a real feature can do in the way of creating public interest. "I look for 'Undine' to become the most talked about and sensational feature of the season. Yes, indeed, it looks pretty good for Bluebird and those who exhibit our features." "V" Studio Will Accommodate 10 Directors at Once Rooms of an Up-to-Date House Arranged for Particularly Long Throws Will Be All on One Floor of Flatbush Structure, 150 by 200 Feet IN keeping with the new policy about to be announced by the Vitagraph company, plans are under foot to construct a new type of studio on one of the plots owned by the Vitagraph company in Flatbush, N. Y. Within a short time ground will be broken for the studio, directly behind the present gigantic plant. The studio will approximate ISO x 200 feet, and will enable at least ten directors to work at the same time. A modern lighting system will be installed, and from present indications it looks as though many revolutionary effects in this branch of the industry will be embodied in this system. The plans as outlined make provision for the rapid installation of sets, and it is intimated that a new method of scenic effects will be utilized by this company. These studios will contain ten separate and distinct studios. In other words, it is planned by the Vitagraph company to have a bedroom, living room, drawingroom, kitchen, bathroom and, in fact, every style room, all on one floor. The partitions will be solid construction and each room will represent the ideal of its type. One point of particular interest is the fact that the sets will be arranged in such a way as to give particularly long throws. The structure will be a modern, steel and concrete affair, and particular attention has been paid to the ventilating and heating appliances. "ELAINE" SERIALS PROVE POPULAR IN PORTO RICO "Elaine," slightly disguised with Spanish titles, is going very strong in Porto Rico. Record audiences are reported on it all over the island, and "Elaine" hats, scarfs, cigars, etc., are seen in shop windows everywhere.