Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

September 9, 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 1513 Christie Comedies Will Be Placed On Open Market " While I Expected the Independent Exchanges to Be Ready to Receive the Output of Our Studios, I Never Looked Forward to Such Enthusiasm as They Have Evidenced," Says Producer of High Class Light Comedies — Middle of September Is Time Set for First Release Under New Plan AL. E. CHRISTIE, one of the best directors of light comedy in the business, has announced the placing of his entire output on the open market. During the past three months since Mr. Christie severed his connections with Universal, he has been steadily producing onereel comedies with the result that at the present time he has about ten subjects ready to distribute to the independent exchanges when he is ready to start releasing. Mr. Christie has been connected with the motion picture business almost since its inception. He is thoroughly acquainted with the business of producing refined comedy. While with Universal he produced two comedies a week for over three years under the brand name of Nestor. These subjects were always in great demand by the Universal exchanges. Mr. Christie with his brother Charles, the business manager of the Christie Film Company, left New York City, Saturday, -August 27, after completing arrangements for the release of their pictures. It is their intention to get back to the studio in Hollywood as soon as possible to take up the work of production. Mr. Christie said to Motion Picture News before his departure : " While I expected the independent exchanges to be ready to receive the output of our studios, I never looked forward to such enthusiasm as they evidenced. Practically the whole country has been sold so far and with even the first two pictures we release on the new basis, I expect to have thirty-seven prints working. Decide on Open Market " My brother and I only decided on the open market after a thorough investigation of all available channels of release. I violate no confidence whefi I say, that we received attractive offers from some of the largest program and feature concerns in the country. But it is my belief that through the open market is the shortest and quickest way to reach the exhibitor. Under the arrangements that I have made, the exhibitor can secure Christie comedies without tying himself up to a contract for other pictures which he does not desire particularly to run. That the exchanges have been so eager to receive our pictures, I take as almost certain proof that the proposition will be a success. " I want particularly to impress upon the showman that Christie comedies are no new venture in the motion picture field. They have proven their value in the past and I mean to make them better in the future. The casts that appear in our comedies are the same with only two exceptions as they were when the pictures appeared as Nestors with Universal. At present I have two companies, one under my own direction and the other in charge of Horace Davey. If things continue to develop along present lines it will not be long before I add still another aggregation of players. " Present arrangements made by my brother and I with the independent exchanges call for one one-reel comedy each week, and every two weeks a subject of longer length, probably two reels. This program may be changed shortly, but we are waiting to see how the first releases go. Some of the exchangemen already familiar with my brand of comedy have requested that we start right off with a one and a two reeler each week, but whether or not this course will be followed we will learn very soon. " Our studio in Hollywood is next to the best equipped comedy plant on the coast — for our purposes it is the best. We have plenty of space for settings, a large assortment of properties and our own developing and printing plant. Even a onereel comedy should be laid in tasteful settings and I intend to pay attention to this end of the production as well as the others. " The comedies we have to offer," continued Mr. Christie, " embrace every variety except slapstick. Light comedy, dependent upon humorous situations to carry it over with opportunities that give the players a real chance to act are more and more coming into public favor. However, the children and a lot of grownups still like the ' chase ' picture, the burlesque and the rapid-fire farce. So you see we get the audiences going and coming as it were." First Release in Middle of September The first release of the Christie Film Company will fall on a Monday, probably in the middle of September, while other single reefers will follow on every Monday thereafter. The feature comedies will be released on alternate weeks. The stars and support under the Christie banner deserve mention. Billie Rhodes, leading lady, is one of the most popular of comediennes, bright, vivacious and skilled in her work. Betty Compson, who plays leads with the other company, is also gaining popularity with each new release. She is undoubtedly one of the prettiest girls on the screen today and her presence adds much to the value of any picture. Dave Morris and Eddie Barry have a great appreciation for eccentric parts, while Neal Burns and Harry Ham handle straight roles adequately, the former sometimes appearing in character as well. In support of these players there are Harry Rattenberry, Stella Adams, Gus Alexander, Ethel Lynne, Jane Waller, Nolan Leary and others, most of them people whose faces are familiar to picture audiences throughout the country. CLEVELAND COMPANY MAKES "SNOW WHITE" Sfccial to Motion Picture News. Cleveland, O., Aug. 26. Under the direction of Charles Weston, the Regent Photo Plays Company recently made a four-reel picture of the beautiful fairy tale " Snow White " in which about three hundred children, none over sixteen years of age, participated. William Ganson Rose, who is at the head of the Regent Photo Play Company, just returned from New York, where he gave an exhibition of " Snow White " to several large motion picture concerns, all of whom think that there is a large market open for good pictures that will appeal to children. The picture is now being reduced from four reels to three so as to make the action run a little faster. It has not yet been decided whether the company will sell the picture, outright, or whether they will lease it on state rights. Several inquiries for it have already been made. THREE NEW ACTRESSES ADDED TO FINE ARTS COMPANY Winifred Westover,, Mildred Harris, and Pauline Stark have been made members of the Fine Arts stock company. The first named made her debut in " Poor Papa." Miss Harris is playing in " The Old Folks at Home," and the last named is appearing opposite Wilfred Lucas in " Rummy."