Motion Picture News (Apr-Jun 1918)

3283 Universal Combines Exchanges June i , i 9 i 8 William Fox Engages Burton George William Fox announces the addition of Burton George to his directorial staff. Mr. George is a director of long standing, most of whose work has been done on the West Coast, but he will make his pictures for Mr. Fox in the East. The first will star George Walsh, and bears the tentative title of " The Sleepwalker." Carl Harbaugh, under whose direction the last two Walsh subjects have been filmed, is to direct Peggy Hyland in her third Fox production, " Other Men's Daughters." The features Mr. Harbaugh has made include " The Scarlet Letter," "The Derelict," "The Broadway Sport," " When False Tongues Speak," " All for a Husband," " Jack Spurlock — Prodigal " and " Brave and Bold," most recently. Both directors began screening the stories for their new charges last week, in the studios at Fort Lee, N. J. Only the preliminary scenes of " The Sleepwalker " have been photographed as Mr. George has not yet chosen many important members of the company. It is announced, however, that Violet Palmer is to appear opposite Walsh. Metro Engages Herbert Blache as Director Herbert Blache, a figure well known in the motion picture world both as an active producer and as an executive, has been signed by Metro to direct Emily Stevens in a picturization of Rachel Crothers' powerful play, " A Man's World." Hugh Thompson has been engaged to play opposite Emmy Wehlen in the star's forthcoming Metro All-Star Series picture, " For Revenue Only," which was written by Katharine Kavanaugh and adapted for the screen by June Mathis. Clover Stars Gain " Pep " Reports from the National Film Corporation's Denver studio, where " Bud " Duncan and " Dot " Farley are being co-starred in Clover Comedies, are to the effect that bringing them together in the same productions has had a stimulating effect on the work of both. " Kewpie " Morgan, one of the biggest and best-natured of comedians, is the other featured player. Rhea Mitchell, In " Honor's Cross," a Selexart Distributed by Goldwyn Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., Handles All Jewel, Lois Weber and Bluebird Productions and Century and LyonsMoran-Comedies EFFECTIVE May 20, the Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., an organization incorporated in New York, has taken over the business of all the branch exchanges, distributing Universal products in the United States with the exception of a few, exchanges not controlled by the producing company. . After the change goes into effect not only will Universal attractions be handled by Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., but these exchanges also will handle the output of Jewel Productions, Lois Weber Productions, Bluebird Photoplays, Century Comedies, and Lyons and Moran Comedies. It is in combining the numerous interests that the economy in distribution will be practiced. For a long time Bluebird controlled its exchanges and Jewel also had exchanges entailing a large overhead expense in rents, salary of office force, deliveries and incidentals too numerous to designate. With the combining of the exchanges this excessive expense will cease. Eventually the saving will be felt by the exhibitors who will be given the benefit of the economies caused by the new system. The exchanges now operated by Universal Film Exchanges, Ina., are as follows : Independent Film Exchange, Pittsburgh, Pa. ; Universal Film Exchange, Detroit, Mich. ; Universal Film & Supply Company, Kansas City, Mo. ; Universal Film & Supply Co., St. Louis, Mo. ; Universal Film & Supply Company, Oklahoma City, Okla. ; Universal Film & Supply Company, Fort Smith, Ark. ; Universal Film & Supply THREE newly finished productions, with Mae Marsh, Mabel Normand and Madge Kennedy as their respective stars, are in immediate prospect at the Goldwyn studios at Fort Lee. A last-minute change in plans makes the Mae Marsh release for June 2 a dramatic photoplay from the original story of F. Lloyd Sheldon called " All Woman." This is to be released in place of the same star's " The Glorious Adventure," which with the substitution automatically becomes the subsequent Marsh release, falling probably about the middle of July. " All Woman " is being directed by Hobart Henley, whose capable supervision of Miss Marsh's work in her most recent Goldwyn success, " The Face in the Dark," gained for him wide praise. The new production gives the star a stronger dramatic role than any she has had. "All Woman" tells the story of Susan Sweeney, " the good girl who tamed a bad town." Every inch a woman — a real woman — is Susan, though the beginning of the story finds her a New York factory girl. She goes to a little Company, Wichita, Kan. ; Universal Film Exchange, Chicago, 111. ; Universal Film Exchange, Milwaukee, Wis. ; Universal Film Exchange, Denver, Col. ; Universal Film Exchange, Salt Lake City, Utah ; Universal Film Exchange, Butte, Mont.; Film Supply Company, Portland, Ore. ; Film Supply Company, Seattle, Wash.; Film Supply Company, Spokane, Wash. ; California Film Exchange, San Francisco, Cal. ; California Film Exchange, Los Angeles, Cal. ; California Film Exchange, Phoenix, Ariz. ; Laemmle Film Service, Minneapolis, Minn. ; Laemmle Film Service, Omaha, Neb. ; Colonial Film Exchange, Sioux, S. D. ; Laemmle Film Service, Des Moines, Iowa; Cincinnati Buckeye Film Company, Cincinnati, Ohio ; Cincinnati Buckeye Film Company, Columbus, Ohio ; Cincinnati Buckeye Film Company, Louisville, Ky. ; Central Film Service, Indianapolis, Ind. ; Central Film Service, Evansville, Ind. ; Rex Film Service, Albany, N. Y. ; Victor Film Service, Buffalo, N. Y. ; Victor Film Service, Cleveland, Ohio. C. H. MacGowan, assistant general manager of Universal, on Saturday, May 18, accompanied by six assistants, left New York for a trip around the entire circuit for the purpose of effecting the taking over of the exchanges by the new corporation. Before leaving he said that the change would automatically be effective as of May 20, and within a few weeks from that date he expected everything would be working smoothly in every one of the exchanges. The change in the method of distribution does not mean that changes will follow in the Universal sales organization. All of the branch managers will retain their positions, but hereafter will be given assistance by the home office that will lead to greater possibilities for themselves and for the exhibitors served by them. Adirondacks town and finds herself in a tangle of exciting circumstances which eventually lead to her being suspected of murder. It all comes out right, of course, but not without a succession of thrillingdevelopments. Mabel Normand is at work on " The Venus Model," written by H. R. Durant, of the Goldwyn scenario staff. It is a story of business and a romance built around a. bathing frock dubbed the Venus Model. It recalls Mabel Normand's happiest adventures on the screen and is said to provide many moments of laughter, suspense and genuine charm. Madge Kennedy is busy at Fort Lee on " The Service Star," written for her by Charles A. Logue. Despite the title, this is not a war story. The only part the great world conflict plays in the drama, it is said, is to serve as a sketchy background for an intensely modern story enacted right here at home. Charles Miller, who directed Miss Kennedy in " The Fair Pretender," is supervising the new production. Three New Goldwyns Are Near Completion