Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

September 30, 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 2039 IN AND OUT OF TOWN | William N. Selig was in New York for a few days last week, leaving on Thursday for Chicago. M. Kashin, publicity manager of the Midway Theatre, Montreal, P. Q., returned to Canada Saturday after a visit to New York. Casper W. Schults, of Riordan and Schults, exhibitors of Little Falls, N. Y., was in town last week for several days. Mr. Schults was called here to consult with the National Association in regard to their plans for sending the campaigning party into Herkimer and Fulton Counties, N. Y. Louis R. Lurie, of the Rialto Theatre on Market street, San Francisco, is preparing to make a flying trip to New York on business. Fred B. Murphy, Eastern division manager, and J. E. Willis, Western division manager, Unicorn Film Service, were in New York last week, to consult with General Manager Schlank. Winfield R. Sheehan, general manager of the Fox Film Corporation, and Mrs. Sheehan returned to this country on La Touraine, arriving Wednesday, Sept. 13. David Horsley arrived in New York City Thursday last. H. A. Sherman, of Minneapolis, is in New York this week, attending to the opening of his office in connection with the marketing of the Selig feature, " The Crisis." Ivy Close has returned to England. Larry Trimble has taken a flying trip to London on some important business proposition. R. C. Spurin, of Roscoe Exclusives, has arrived from England on a business trip. Mr. Szudos is here from Australia. Mr. Fisher has arrived from South Africa via Australia. SUPERIOR PREPARED TO MAKE TITLES Manager Robert A. Brackett, of Superior Films Company, Los Angeles, has sent out to the trade announcements of the company's preparedness for making titles of all kinds, and the installation of a complete laboratory equipment. The title making machine is one made by Mr. Brackett himself, and contains a number of convenient attachments that will make possible many new effects in titles. It provides for trick work of a type absolutely new. The Superior Films studio is located in the Knickerbocker building, two squares from the business center of Los Angeles, and in addition to the above equipment is prepared to make all kinds of motion picture films, the studio attached having all kinds of settings, properties, and the only indirect artificial light system in a west coast studio. MACHUGH IS BACK WITH MOSS Arthur E. MacHugh has rejoined the B. S. Moss Motion Picture Corporation in the capacity of advertising manager and press agent. Mr. MacHugh will be located at the main offices of the company, 729 Seventh avenue, New York City. Frohman Is Pleased with Company Officials Consider Picture the Best People Are Shown in Some of Mob CHARACTERIZED by large sets, unique locations, absolute fidelity to detail and showing the actual usage of over two thousand people, the Frohman Amusement Corporation's production of " The Conquest of Canaan " now complete and ready for the market, may prove to be, by far, the best yet of the Frohman features. " What Happened at 22 " and " Jaffery " showed marked improvement, respectively, over any previous Frohman productions and now, according to everyone concerned, " The Conquest of Canaan " represents the best work of Director Irving and his producing staff. The role of Joe Louden is suited to Jack Sherrill's particular ability, while Edith Taliaferro lends to the part of Aeriel, the winsome personality that won her so favorable a standing in her work in " Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," " Young Wisdom," etc. For the exterior situations Technical Master Ralph Dean arranged with the civic authorities at Mineola, Long Island,for the use of the principal streets and municipal buildings for several half Saturdays. The court house, post office, fire department buildings, police station, county and city jails and various city of The Conquest of Canaan " It Has Yet Brought Out — Two Thousand Scenes and Locations Are Unique fice suites were all used to good advanatge. The populace, in response to an invitation, assisted in various, ensemble scenes to such an extent that perfectly natural effects resulted and the stereotyped mob scenes have been improved upon to no mean extent. The entire company journeyed to Trenton, N. J., where a number of scenes were staged at the head of an old bridge, across the spot Washington was supposed to have made his memorable crossing. The bridge is over a century old and formed an admirable background for numerous situations. The production is in six parts. The story in itself, in book form, extended four hundred pages and Director Irving stuck as close to Tarkington's tale as the camera necessities would permit. An extra large cast of principals features the production. Edith Taliaferro, Jack Sherrill, Ralph Delmore, Ben Hendricks, Marie Edith Wells, Walter Heirs, Geno La Motte and George Melville, all have important parts, while over two thousand people were used in all. The releasing arrangements will be announced by the Frohman company within the next few days. Alice Brady Refuses Many Offers of Stage Engagements Popular Actress Declines Propositions from Cohan and Harris, Oliver Morosco, lohn Cort, the Shuberts and Her Father, to Remain with " Those Dear Movies " going over the same ground day after day until you are as perfect as you ever will be. ALICE BRADY will not be seen upon the speaking stage for some months to come. Miss Brady has recently declined propositions from Cohan and Harris, Oliver Morosco, John Cort, the Messrs, Shubert and other producing managers, including her father, William A. Brady. The manager last mentioned wanted her for a new play by Owen Davis which he expects to place in rehearsal following the comedy by Montague Glass and Jules Eckert Goodman, now in preparation, but when Miss Alice had stated her case he was satisfied with its business wisdom. " You see," said Miss Brady, " I am going along so famously in moving pictures that I think it would be poor judgment to interrupt my progress at present. It would be different if I had any considerable time on my hands between productions, for of course a stage hit stimulates the demand in the studios and increases one's value — particularly if that value happens to be a trifle uncertain. " But this case does not apply to my situation, at present anyway, I am very happy to say. When one picture is finished I scarcely have time to draw a long breath before another begins. I had only eight hours' rest between ' The Gilded Cage ' and ' Bought and Paid For,' and now a single day follows the latter before I begin on the next play, which I hear is to be called ' Loneliness.' " " What does stage experience amount to as compared with what you get in the pictures ? When you are making ready for a stage play you rehearse for a given time. Then, full of ambition and excitement, you come up to your first night and perhaps make a big hit. "Then what happens? You go on doing the same thing in the same way, night after night for months — and what do you get out of that? "Experience? Nothing of the sort. You have ceased to operate your creative faculties and permitted yourself to become a machine — a very fine machine, perhaps, but a machine. " With the pictures, on the other hand, when you come to your first night you are finished with that particular affair, and you begin all over again upon a totally different proposition. It is just one character after another, one set of requirements following upon the preceding set — constant change." " Child," said Mr. Brady, " you are wise beyond your years. Go your way. I will find somebody else, for the Owen Davis play, or if he won't agree to that, I will get him to hold the production back." LOEW TO USE "CRIMSON STAIN" IN EIGHTY HOUSES Marcus Loew has booked " The Crimson Stain Mystery" made by Consolidated, and will present it for the first time in Greater New York on Thursday, September 21. In addition to this, Mr. Loew stated that he was so well pleased with the picture that he intends to use it in more than eighty houses.