Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

1516 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 10 Serials and Series Take Strong Hold on Washington ■' Gloria's Romance," " The Mysteries of Myra," " Beatrice Fairfax," " Grip of Evil," " Liberty," "Timothy Dobbs" and Others Find Favor with Public FRANK POWELL DISCOVERS VETA SEARL Frank Powell, at work on his first feature to be released under his own banner, has made another discovery in the person of Veta Searl, an actress whom he has already awarded a part in support of Creighton Hale, Linda A. Griffith and Sheldon Lewis. Mr. Powell's discoveries Veta Searl are well worth watching, for it will be remembered that he was largely responsible for the start given Blanche Sweet with Biograph, and the introduction of Theda Bara to the screen. " Miss Searl," says Mr. Powell, " possesses in abundance those qualities which make for prompt and lasting screen success. She has a wonderful personality and will undoubtedly be heard from." "METER IN THE KITCHEN," WITH IVY CLOSE FOR KALEM A one-reel comedy novelty is promised from the Kalem Jacksonville studio, where the Ivy Close company is working on Meter in the Kitchen." With the exception of a few scenes at the opening of this picture all the action is being photographed at night, the comedy detailing the happenings that followed the shutting off the gas in a country town. Director Ellis has been fortunate in securing some unusually striking scenes by the night photography. Henry Murdoch, Mary Taylor Ross and William McKey are in the cast. " Meter in the Kitchen " is scheduled for release on Friday, September 8. STILLMAN THEATRE TO SHOW PICKFORD AND YOUNG PICTURES special to Motion Picture News. Cleveland, O., Aug. 26. In addition to the pictures produced by the Mary Pickford Film Corporation, the new Stillman theatre in Cleveland, may also book the productions of the Clara Kimball Company. The theatre is to open late next month. It is situated next to the Statler and is expected to be one of the finest film houses between New York and Chicago. It will share the Paramount program with the Knickerbocker. Special to Motion Picture News. Washington, D. C, Aug. 26. SOMEHOW serials and series have taken a firm hold on the public of Washington. " Gloria's Romance," with Billie Burke, had proved a big drawing card at Moore's Garden theatre, in the heart of the downtown district. The people have shovv'n as intense interest in this as in the continued story of the weekly magazine. " The Mysteries of Myra " at the Plaza, another Moore house in the same block, has kept up patronage despite season and weather. The " Beatrice Fairfax " series at this same house promises to be equally as impelling to patrons. These two offerings from the International Film Service have also found favor in the residential sections and Mr. Fritz B. Wathne, manager of the local exchange, reports close booking for both throughout his territory. The Pathe series, " The Grip of Evil," is being featured for several days at the Leader in the down-town section. " Liberty," from the Universal exchange, has been given first showing at the Hippodrome. Its patriotic theme has caught popular favor in the light of the spirit of the hour. Young America has especially made manifest its approval by frequent outbursts during the showing of " Liberty." The Hippodrome has also captured the first showing of the " Timo AFTER a meeting marked by long and earnest argument, the New York branch of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League decided on August 25 to ask exchange managers to continue the present reduced scale of prices until the epidemic of infantile paralysis has abated and confidence restored. The action was taken after two exchangemen had expressed their views, and announced their willingness to meet the exhibitors on any possible basis of fairness and reason. E. M. Saunders, manager of the Metro exchanges, declared that it was his intention to deal with each exhibitor separately, and not with the organization as a whole, as a flat rate of reduction is bound to work unfairly to many exhibitors. A number of exhibitors in Greater New York, he pointed out, have not been affected by the scourge of infantile paralysis and several are even doing increased business. It is manifestly unfair, in his view, to grant these exhibitors a reduction equal to that granted to the man whose business has felt the blow heavily. A counter proposition was then made that any disagreement as to price between exhibitor and exchange should be left to a committee on arbitration, to be headed by President Lee Ochs. This was rejected after a hot debate, as it offered representation of the exhibitors' side only, and implied an inability on the part of the ex thy Dobbs " series which has met popular favor. From bookings at the Universal offices, " Liberty " and " Timothy Dobbs " are in unusual demand throughout this territory. The Kernel Nutt comedies, starring Frank Daniels, have proved the cause of regular attendances on days of their showing at the Garden, Strand, Penn Gardens, and other houses. The same can be said of the Drew comedies at Loew's Columbia and elsewhere. The series featuring the intelligent monkeys. Napoleon and Sally, offered by the E. and R. Jungle Film Company is sure to bring capacity houses. The news weeklies are always in demand. The international, Pathe, Mutual and Universal are proclaimed by exhibitors to be excellent drawing cards not only among the men, but among the women and youngsters as well. Exhibitors report that cartoons have proved profitable subjects for increasing attendance on evenings that were once unpopular. The masculine contingent especially find these food for laughter. All this points to a popularity of " continued stories " on the screen and a " regular " attendance on certain days for a specific reason. It also points to a standardizing of the exhibiting end of the industry as against the hap-hazard show and the irregular attendnce. hibitors to transact their ordinary business. Nearly all the exchanges had sig^nified their willingness to let the matter stand as at present until the epidemic scare is over; the original agreement provided for the restoration of normal prices on August 28, but the exhibitors showed that conditions had not improved as rapidly as they expected. The Metro exchanges saw the need of putting back the price to its normal level in certain cases, rather than continuing the reduction on a flat basis to include all exhibitors. Joseph Partridge, of the V-L-S-E Exchanges, was also present. He declared his position to be such that he was outside the controversj', as he made no contracts and booked from week to week, at ^'aried scale of prices. Nevertheless, he declared his intention to meet the exhibitors in any discussion of the matter, and announced that any reductions granted would be given first to members of the League, because of their affiliation. A preliminary meeting was held on Wednesday, August 23, at which several exchange heads were present, notably Mr. Rogers of Fox Film Corporation, Mr. Sherry of the William L. Sherry Feature Film Company and Mr. 'Partridge. At that meeting both Messrs Sherry and Rogers expressed their inclination to postpone the return to original prices for the time being. New York League Asks Exchanges to Reduce Prices Epidemic of Infantile Paralysis Hits Many Theatres Hard — Exchangemen Express Willingness to Meet Request on Basis of Fairness and Reason