Motion Picture News (May-Jul 1916)

MOTION PICTURE NEWS 4047 Vitagraph V-L-S-E Offerings: Lucille Lee Stewart in "The Conflict"; Edith Storey in "The Shop Girl" and Frank Daniels in "Kernel Nutt ' PROGRAM CHANGES IN MILWAUKEE HOUSES Special to Motton Picture News. Milwaukee, Wis., June 18. A number of changes have occurred in the bookings of the local houses. The Merrill theatre, since its opening showing Triangle plays, has let go its contract for these productions, which after the first of the month will be shown at the Toy theatre. The Toy has had to cancel the Metro program which it has been playing for some time in order to handle the Triangle program. It is expected that the Merrill will play Metro pictures part of the week instead of Triangles and then fill in the balance with opening market bookings. Manager H. D. Graham, manager of the Merrill theatre since it opened, who has had much to do with its success, with a fifteen cent admission fee in the face of much adverse criticism, has resigned. His resignation, which will take effect July 16, was a great surprise to his many friends in this city. It is said that Mr. Graham will go with the Kleine people, working out of their Chicago office. Just who will succeed Mr. Graham has not been announced. CHANGES MADE IN MUTUAL OFFICES AT MILWAUKEE Special to Motion Picture News. Wilwaukee, Wis., June 18. E. Auger, special representative of the Mutual Film Company, arrived in this city last week to go over the affairs of the local exchange. Coincident with his arrival here a number of ch^mges have been made in the local forces. Alfred Tanzer, who has been handling " The Fighting Germans " arid " On the Firing Line with the Germans " out of New York, was appointed assistant manager. John Griffiths will specialize on the Star series, while E. L. Leith, who has been with the General Film Company as special man for the Essanay releases, will go on the road for the local office. Mr. Auger expects to remain in Milwaukee for some days, and will inaugurate a number of new features in the exchange offices. ASHER RETURNS TO THE PACIFIC COAST E. M. Asher, who has been in New York for the past five months, haS left for the Coast. Mr. Asher was formerly associated with Sol L. Lesser, with whom he came East for the purpose of inarketing the " Ne'er-Do-Well." Mr. Asher and William Bastar, manager of Art Smith, the aviator, are making the trip West in an auto. The negatives of the motion pictures of the World's Fair, which were controlled by Mr. Asher, are being marketed by the National Cinema Syndicate, Inc., 1600 Broadway. Asher has not given out anything as to his future plans ; but will have an announcement to make after his arrival in the West. CUB COMEDY COMPANY BOASTS OF A BAND The Cub Comedy Company, funmakers of the Horsley-Mutual forces, have a band. It is a regular aggregation of musicians, eleven in number, with George Ovey as the leader. The other members are : Ross Fisher, Robert Turnbull, Clair DeWitt, Joseph VonMeter, Jefferson Osborne, Arthur Mund, Gordon MacGregor, Abe Lincoln, Robert Kenyon, George George, and A. V. Wiggins. AMES IN CHARGE OF GENERAL AT DETROIT E. M. Ames arrived in Detroit June 12 to take charge of the local branch of the General Film company here. He succeeds A. J. Gilligham, who has opened the National Film company in the Empire theatre .building, which he owns. Mr. Ames was formerly assistant manager of the Twentythird street exchange of the General, and his associations with the General date back for a period of five years. AN ESSANAY SHOWS PANAMA EXPOSITION; 70 VITAGRAPHERS AT SAN DIEGO Special to Motion Picture News. San Diego, Cal., June 17. Capt. Wilbert Melville, who has been at the head of the Lubin studio at Coronado, has sold his private yacht Vergana to C. H. Crocker of San Francisco. Charlie Chaplin in " Police " has been a big drawing card at the Cabrillo theatre. Seventy members of the Vitagraph Company were among the passengers on the Harvard from the north on Friday, and between San Pedro and this city a number of scenes were taken for a feature. Among the recent releases from Essanay is a reel devoted to the exploitation of the Panama California International Exposition, now being held here. The film gives many representative views of the grounds, buildings and crowds, as well as scenes along the Isthmus. DUSTIN FARNUM WILL CROSS CONTINENT BY AUTO Not only a cross country automobile trip, but one that will start at the most southwesterly point in the United States and has a northwesterly point as its destination is now being arranged for by Dustin Farnum, the Pallas-Paramount star. With San Diego, Cal., as the starting point " Dusty " is mapping out a route that will terminate at Bucksport, Me., his home town, where he will spend his vacation. It is planned to have the first print of " The Parson of Panamint " delivered to Carl H. Pierce, head of the New York office, by " Dusty " on his way through New York. For his trip across the country he will use a powerful new Marmon roadster and it is understood that he will be accompanied by Tom Kennedy, the pugilist who has promised to lift the car out of any bad spots encountered on the trip. Virginia Pearson (Fox) AMATEUR WRESTLING BOUTS AS A LIVE WIRE STUNT James W. Pribyl, manager of the Columbia theatre, Tenth and Hickory streets, Omaha, noticed the number of amateur wrestlers in his neighborhood. Joe Stecher, aspirant for the national championship and now nationally celebrated in sport circles, lives in Dodge, Neb., near Omaha, and his fame had stirred up admirers in Pribyl's neighborhood. So between pictures lately he has been giving aspirants a chance to match their abilities. They gladly do it for nothing.