Motion Picture News (Apr-Jun 1917)

June 30, 1917 Wiartons at Work on Film for Red Cross Campaign Donating their time and energies, and tlicir whole organization, (or that matter, (he Whartons are now making the film' that will be used by the city of Rochester, N. Y., in its effort to raise one million dollars as its part of the national campaign for the Red Cross. Leopold D. Wharton is directing the picture personally, at the request of George Eastman, of the Eastman Kodak Company, who is interested in the campaign. In the effort to raise a million dollars as Rochester's donation to the Red Cross fund, Mr. Eastman has turned his entire attention to the work. The scenario of the picture was written by Leopold D. Wharton, and following its completion he left immediately for Rochester with Levi Bacon, camera man ; Marshall Francisco, head of the Wharton developing rooms, and LeRoy Baker, technical expert, to summon his forces and to begin the active filming of the picture, which is to be shown throughout the Rochester vicinity the week of June 25. MOTION PICTURE NEWS Rothapfel Books "Parentage" for Rialto Theatr 4079 Advertising Novelties for Aid of " Rising Sun " A number of special advertising novelties has been prepared for "The Land of the Rising Sun," released on the state rights plan by the American-Japan Pictares Company, 15 William street, New York. They include unique glass transparencies, besides beautifully colored photographs and Japanese banners. Special publicity for each episode is planned for the series, which are having a successful run at the Rialto, New York. Human interest is said to be the keynote of the ten parts, with an abundance of life and action against a background of gorgeous Oriental scenery. Gainsburg in Charge of Foursquare Announcement from the office of M. H. Hoffman states that Mr. H. Gainsburg, formerly in charge of the New York Universal Mecca branch, resigned this position to take over the first of the Foursquare exchanges, this being rushed to completion ™ the seventh floor of the Godfrey Build"■g, 729 Seventh avenue. Mr. Gainsburg is well known among the exhibitors and is able to render the exhibitors who book Foursquare pictures splendid assistance and co-operation in ex u"^ their productions. . Mr. Gainsburg is now arranging bookings and dates on " Madame Sherry," The Sin Woman," "Should She Obey?" and "The Bar Sinister." War Subjects Draw Crowds Packed houses are the rule at the Ulympia, New Haven, Conn., during the snowingjjf official war pictures, three days ^ Week. Each performance finds people ■nrned away. Recent showing of "The daughter of the Gods," at Shiibert's seemed to have established record attcnnance for a week of pictures, but Olympia's nree-day crowds have been bigger. Henley Picmre Will Bi 8— Jones Plans to Put jyjANAGING Director Rothapfel, who has been enthusiastic regardiim Hobart Henley's thought film of reaTlife Parentage, since he first saw it screened; has booked that feature for his Rialto theatre, for the week of July 8. ^ This showing will take the place of a run ' on Broadway, as Mr. Seng, who is presenting " Parentage " believes that these so-called "runs," have lost their significance. " The producers lose money on these forced runs and intelligent buyers and exhibitors no longer consider them a mark of quality," said Mr. Seng. Mr. Seng has implicit confidence in " Parentage," as a picture for the masses and the classes, for the largest of cities, and the smallest of towns, which can be shown anywhere in the United States, successfully at from ten to fifty cents. "Mr. Rothapfel frankly stated that he booked ' Parentage," because he considered it one of the most human character portrayals that he has ever seen screened, and a feature in which the types are the most distinctive and realistic," said Mr. Seng. He will place his stamp of personal guarantee upon " Parentage," in his own daily newspaper advertising presenting it to his patrons. Supplementing Mr. Roth Shown for IPeek of July Film on in Chicago apfels' own campaign in the greater city, .\ r. Seng will depart from the usual custom of markeliiiK slale rifilus hv .MmH.niiiR his advcrli-iiiK In III,. |,„1,||,. ||„. showini; Tlii. piihlicilv will !«■ ,,f great aid In e,xliil,ii,„s who book "Parentage," in and ,irniii„i x,.w York through the Schnick c.xclKiii.iiL'. Aan,ii J,nu>~. wlln jiisl iis i-iilliiisiastic aboni " I'.nviii.iK,-," will piirallel Mr, Koth»pfel% slHwins. .is far a« wIvoWnK goes, when he opiii^ willi ,-i nm wilh ■' I'arentage," at his hoaiiiiiiil i_-„Umi,\ iheatre, Chicago, during coiiveiitiuii week. July IS. Mr. Jones stated that, with llie exception of on,' twn m.issivo spriliuhs. In conSlderi',1 " l';iiviil,-,,t;,.," ili,. 1,,.^ i ninbiiiation of cntertaiiiiiuiil v.ilii, ;iiiil .hln'iiisiiiK pessibilities he li.i.l niT sr. n, II, , |,i,s;.(| it as the best l.nx-,,lliLr v.iliu' i,f ili,. u„ to fifty cent class he had ever |iies,'iited. Not only have Mr. Rothapfel, Mr. Selznick, and Mr. Jones acclaimed " Parentage," but every review from thj trade papers lias been just as unanimous in praising the production. These reviews c.impb l,: , x.iclly as published, will be re|iriii(,d in h,,,)klet form to be distributed tn llie stale right buyers or exhibitors. Brenon Picks Cast for " The Fall of the Romanoffs " HERBERT BRENON lias almost completed his cast for his state rights picture. "The Fall of the Romanoffs," featuring Iliodor. the " Mad Monk," on which he has been working for live weeks at his studio on Hudson Heights, N. J. The picture will show the conditions that led up to the recent revolution in Russia, and the sensational disclosures of the Monk Iliodor, who. for a year, has been a refugee in New York. Joseph F. Lee With Iliodor acting his own role, Nance O'Neil as the Czarina, Alfred Hickman as the Czar, Edward Connelly as Rasputin, Mile. E. Katerina Galanta as Anna, the girl who was the immediate cause of Rasputin's downfall and death, and Conway Tearle as the young Prince, Htrhert Rrcnon's selection of players is one th.if will awaken the interest of state ri^lits hnycrs and the public, while William E. Sli;iy and Mile. Marcelle complete ihL casl. All of these arc arti'^ls who li:ivi jjroved their worth, and hold a liit'li |i).i< i in ihe annals of the screen and (Iniin.itii sUit;c, with the exception of Mlli-. < ;,ii,fiii;i, vvho as yet is little known heri', Imi li< i ^.n-^er on the other side has been oi m ), i ,ilil,rc as is bound to produce a rc.|ii-n',<' lu rr. Mile, Gaianta is a "find" <•{ ,\)r llrenon's. She is a yoiini^ Russian ^irl who came to this country Iwrj jr^ars ago with the Russian IJallet, and api-rared in all the hallcts }><,th at the .\li.'lrn|)()Iitan and -Manhaltan Or^'ra llnnsus, \\l„.n flic .-ompatiy rL'turni'd in fMiri,|ii cariii r in [lie sLusrij]. slie remained \u lliis counlry, and was en;iak''--d for tlii' daiicin;.; ;^]rl in "The Wanderer.*' where h<.T ilaricini^' was t|uite a feature of the perfurniaiice. f( was durinH her enLiayenn.nl lliere that Herhert IJrenon lirst was struck hy Ikt talent holll a.'^ a dancer and actress, Galanta will have ample opportunity to display her versatility in her first screen r^-Ii for the part of Anna ItrinK'^ into use hi, til her powers of acting and of dancing. J'ir-t slie is seen as a peasant girl; later as one of the foremost ladies of the lanrl, whither Rasputin's enormous influence at court has placed her.