Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

2656 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 17 The Big Exterior Sets Shown Left to Right are from " A Daughter of the Gods," Fox's Multiple Reel Production. Who Plays the Lead In the Centre is Annette Kellermann, ful on Monroe avenue in Detroit and yet be wholly wrong for my territory." C. A. McVicker Talks Charles A. McVicker, general manager of the William F. Klatt chain of theatres in Detroit, does not believe in a seven-day open booking arrangement, but does contend that it is best to keep a few nights open at each house for special things that may come along, especially at a time like now when there are so many changes being made. The fact that Mr. McVicker has signed up with one concern to play its features one entire week at the new Regent theatre is best proof that he does not favor open booking. He says that open booking causes too much bidding for pictures because usually the exchange man gives his features to whoever will pay the most in each locality, Eddie Murphy, manager of the Gladwin Park theatre, Detroit, says that it would be almost impossible for an exhibitor with a daily change in a neighborhood section to play an open booking policy the entire week. " I wouldn't think of wildcatting seven days a week," he said. " At present, I have only one night of the week open and I use it for rebooking pictures or geting something special that comes along. I have the Paramount, Triangle, Fox and Metro features that consume six nights a week, and I feel that I am getting a fine assortment of pictures, the best stars and good service. I would not want to change. Like all other exhibitors, the thing that is somewhat worrying me is — how long will all of the stars on the present programs remain there. " If we work up a big clientele on Douglas Fairbanks, for instance, and he leaves the Triangle to go with some company with whom he are not booking, where do I stand and what should I do? Sign up with the company that he goes with, which would probably mean that I would have to cancel something else? If the producers will keep their stars on the regular program, the exhibitor who signs up with that particular company will not find fault." Views of a Film Exchange Representative R. Von der Goltz, who has been representing several film exchanges through Michigan, writes : " In traveling through the State of Michigan, I have received many inquiries as to the opinion of various exhibitors regarding the holding open of one day each week for booking independent productions. The majority of exhibitors catering to high-class patronage favor independent bookings, claiming it gives a greater variety of attractions, creates more publicity, keeps the patrons interested and improves the standard of their theatre. " There are a few who claim they are now doing a capacity business and that their admission business can not be increased, that they would not want to increase their prices and naturally to pay the increased rental for the independent features would only result in a loss of profit, even though they packed them in and even turned people away. Of course, the fear that the opposition house might get the independent attractions forces the high-class theatre to contract for them first, and only the future will tell whether these open bookings will remain with the business. " They must be give a thorough e!fperiment first. I find that many managers of high-class theatres are preferring the policy of open booking because they want the big features and find that they can't get them unless they have an open booking policy at least for part of each week. If the exhibitor books a solid program seven days a week and then sees a big feature that he would like to play, he must put some picture on the shelf and pay for it, which means a double expense. As long as producers release big features there will be a tendency to keep some nights of each week open." The Majestic theatre, one of Detroit's largest, most beautiful and most popular playhouses, has played a policy of contract booking ever since it opened. This is probably the best indication that open booking is not in favor at this house. PECK IS NOT INTERESTED IN GENERAL FILM The Melies Manufacturing Company desires to deny an article recently appearing in several trade papers reporting that Fred S. Peck, a Boston woolen man, had bought into the General Film Company through this company. Nor is it true that the Eastern Film Corporation of Providence, R. I., is in any way connected with the Melies Company. The only grounds for such a rumor is the fact that the Vim Film Corporation, manufacturers of Vim comedies which are released by us on the General Film Program, recently assigned its contract with us to a corporation called the Amber Star Film Corporation, of which Mr. Mark M. Dintenfass is president and Mr. Louis Burstein is vice-president, and control the management thereof. Messrs. Dintenfass and Burstein were and are the sole owners of the Vim Film Corporation. We understand, however, that Mr. Peck has some interest in the Amber Star Film Corporation and hence this rumor. The Melies Manufacturing Company's activities comprise far more than Vim comedies. It releases on the General Film Program, Knickerbocker Star Features, consisting of two-reelers and three-reelers released alternately each week. These are produced under the supervision of H. M. and E. D. Horkeimer and it is obvious that Mr. Peck or Mr. Dintenfass or Mr. Burstein have no interest in them whatsoever. Mr. Paul G. Melies, president of the Melies Manufacturing Companj-, is also a director and treasurer of the General Film Company and active in its affairs and administration. LULE WARRENTON TO MAKE JUVENILES IN LANKERSHIM Lule Warrenton, for several years associated with the Universal in the capacity of character actress, and later placed in charge of producing juvenile pictures in which practically all the players were children, has left the Universal and organized a company financed by Lankershim business men. It is planned to make child pictures, and a plant for this is being constructed in Lankershim. The first picture to be made is " The Bird's Christmas Carol." WILLIS GOES TO AUSTRALIA Lloyd D. Willis, assistant general manager of the Fox Film Corporation, is on his way to Australia, sailing from San Francisco October 17. Mr. Willis, in addition to making a general survey of the field in the interests of \\'illiam Fox,, will supervise the premiere of the Kellermann feature. " The Daughter of the Gods," which it is expected will take place about December 1.