Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

2004 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 13 "BRIDE AND GLOOM" FROM CHRISTIE Director Al E. Christie is making the last scenes for the first special two-reel comedy release by the Christie Film Company, through independent exchanges contracted with, the date of the release having been fixed for Thursday, October 26. " Bride and Gloom," is the attractive title given the story, but also one that fits the tale told in the film. It is a story of many laughable situations, dealing as it does with the rivalry between a bookkeeper of middle age, taken by Eddie Barry, and a young secretary played by Harry Ham. Billy Rhodes is the maid they both seek, but cupid throws the dart at the feet of the secretary, and he wins in a walk. But once the marriage ceremony is completed Gloom steps forth. The lonely bookkeeper tries to drown his sorrow in drink, and then he receives a mysterious present • — a folding bed — with a note from the groom, stating " here is an article we will not need, so are sending it to you as a present." The groom had found his bride detested folding beds, and he arranges for the expressmen to take it. Then he is called out and the girl friends of the bride put her to sleep in the bed and close it up. Thus the bed with the contents and letter is taken to the bachelor's apartments and after a lively chase, explanations, and unexpected comedy, situations, everything is righted and Mr. Bookkeeper is last seen vowing no brides for him, as the bed closes and stands him on his head. Mr. Christie has used all new sets, properties and costumes in this subject. HEALTH BOARD ORDER IN PITTSBURGH HOLDS UP "MENACE" " The Yellow Menace," which was to have been released in Pittsburgh on September 4, has been held up as a result of the health board order, prohibiting children under sixteen years of age to attend the theatres. Manager Harry Lande of the Quality Film Company announced this fact and states that the first episode will not appear until September 11 or later. Several important bookings of the story had to be canceled as a result of the health order, but the exhibitors see the advantage in the later date and readily acquiesced. The serial is booking rapidly in Pittsburgh, and bids fair to be one of the serial successes of the day. Sydney Ayers Is Dead in Oakland, California Pioneer Actor in Screen Drama Was with the Selig Company for Three Years, the American Company at Its Santa Barbara Studio for a Year, and with Universal Stecial to Motion Picture News. Oakland, Cal., Sept. 14. A PROMISING career was cut short by the death of Sydney Ayers, following an illness of several months from a complication of disorders due to a nervous breakdown, at the Merritt Hospital in Oakland to-day. Mr. Ayers had been with the Selig Company for three j'ears and with the American at Santa Barbara for one year. Later he went to the Universal, where he remained for three years, playing leads and directing all his own pictures. The great strain of acting besides producing these pictures for Universal finally caused the breakdown that resulted in his death. Mr. Ayers was regarded by the Universal as one of the promising and talented directors in the employ of the concern. He was the son of James H. Ayers, a pioneer Oakland business man, and started his theatrical career at the age of seventeen, joining the Lewis Morison's Company in the presentation of " Faust." He played many roles in companies in the East, returning to Oakland about eight years ago, when he became leading man for Ye Liberty Stock Company. After several engagements at Ye Liberty Theatre he toured the Orpheum Circuit with a number of his own sketches, and from there went into the moving picture field, joining the Selig Company in Los Angeles in 1910 as leading man. When playing with the Selig Company he married Anna Franck, a Los Angeles society girl and noted beauty. He is survived by his widow and one child. Baby Ann Ayers, and two sisters, Mrs. A. Homer and Mrs. Howard Doane, of Oakland. He was 35 years old. Sherman, in New York, Tells of " Crisis " Marketing Plans State Rights Basis East of Chicago — West of That City He Will Book It Independently with Traveling Companies — Canada Goes Outright HA. SHERMAN, president of Sher• man-Elliot, Inc., the largest state rights buyers in the United States, arrived in New York Saturday afternoon after completing arrangements for the purchase of the Selig production of " The Crisis." The price paid for the rights for the United States and Canada was a quarter of a million dollars. Mr. Sherman when seen by a representative of the Motion Picture News, said relative to the manner in which he would dispose of this mammoth production of Winston Churchill's celebrated novel : " I will dispose of it by state rights for all of the territory east of Chicago. For the western territory I will handle it in the same manner as I did ' The Birth of a Nation ' and ' Ramona,' that is, book it independently with traveling companies to the regular theatres throughout that territory. For both of these productions I have had seven traveling companies out, and the way business is going they will be out for two or three years yet. " As to the Canadian rights, I have not made up my mind as yet, but they will probably be sold outright. In my opinion ' The Crisis ' is the equal in every way of ' The Birth of a Nation.' It has a big storj-, is replete with action from start to finish, has been wonderfully produced and directed, and contains some fine photograph}-." Mr. Sherman has arranged for an invitation performance of the picture at the C. and H. theatre for some day early next week. For the purpose of carrying on the vast quantity of business that will develop as a result of his purchase of the rights to this picture, he has opened offices on the seventeenth floor of the Candler Building. This is in addition to his offices in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Kansas City and Denver. ARTHUR HOOPS DIES SUDDENLY Arthur Hoops, the actor, died suddenly last week of heart disease in Long Island City. Mr. Hoops was motoring from New York to Bayside, L. I. While passing over the Queensboro Bridge he became ill and his chauflfeur hastened with him to St. John's Hospital, Long Island City. The stricken man died before the automobile reached the hospital. Mr. Hoops was 46 vears old.