Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

1996 Motion Picture News Vitagraph's New Booking Policy Decks Are Now Cleared for Inauguration of Vitagraph's New Democratic Booking Policy Taking Effect September 30 ON September 30 Vitagraph will inaugurate its new " democratic war booking policy," and reports from the company's distributing organization state that statistics from the branches for the week closing September 7 reveal that hundreds of theatres had, at the time, signed for the new service. These new contracts, the records show, include many of the leading theatres in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, the Twin Cities, Denver, Salt Lake, Detroit, Omaha, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, and other big centers. Among the 'first-run accounts listed are those of the Garrick theatre in Minneapolis, the magnificent new Riviera in Chicago, which is reported to be the finest motion picture house built in years ; the American leading theatre of Denver, and others. The response of exhibitors to the company's announced Policy of " a Democratic, not an Autocratic Booking Plan and Policy," has been extremely gratifying, according to a statement by Walter W. Irwin, general manager of the Vitagraph distributing organization, and his confidence in the success of the plan was reflected in the following telegram which he sent last week to all branch managers of the company : " I wish to congratulate the entire organization upon the results of the summer just closed. We are now in the fall season with definite, dependable sales policies on three fixed units of great merit — Blue Ribbon features, Big V special feature comedies and Vitagraph serials — and the showing already made on them causes us to look forward with the utmost confidence. The future never loomed brighter." It is asserted by Vitagraph that the introduction of its new booking policy has proved the most popular innovation in the history of the company, the exhibitors' overwhelming response testifying to their estimate of the merits and liberality of the new plan. This plan, as officially outlined, permits an exhibitor to book on the basis best suited to this individual theatre conditions. It ' provides, first, for booking on a fifty-two weeks basis ; second, for booking individual star series ; and third, for booking combinations of star series. This booking plan is backed by a guarantee of the entire year's productions to be released at definitely fixed dates, each of the six stars rotating on the program at intervals of six weeks, and the exhibitor knows a year in advance who his Vitagraph star will be in any given date in that period. Earle Williams, in "A Diplomatic Mission," is the first of the Vitagraph stars to appear on the newly arranged Blue Ribbon schedule. Gladys Leslie will have nine productions during the year. Harry T. Morey, in " The King of Diamonds," will appear on the program October 14th. Alice Joyce, whose growing popularity has been one of the fine things of the year in motion pictures, will follow Mr. Morey on the program in " Everybody's Girl." Corinne Griffith, another front rank Vitagraph star and a girl of extraordinary beauty and talent, will be seen on October 28th in " Miss Ambition." Bessie Love, newest of Vitagraph's stars, will make her bow as a Blue Ribboner on November 4th in " The Dawn of Understanding." Special Universal Reel on Auto Headlights Important light on the new law governing automobile headlights in New York State is shed by a forthcoming special onereel release of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. Great interest in the kind of lenses permissible is taken by over half a million licensed owners. Harry Levey, manager of the Industrial Department of the Universal, who recognized the demand for screen illumination on a subject of such importance to car owners because much confusion exists in their minds as to the exact requirements made imperative by the new legislation went to Albany and accompanied Secretary of State Francis M. Hugo on a night trip during which different styles of lenses were tested. Unlit roads in the rural districts were chosen as the proving grounds. The new law calls for lights that do not throw a blinding beam and which at a space of two hundred feet are only forty-two inches from the ground. The light, however, must be sufficiently strong to outline an object at that distance. Mr. Levey said that the Secretary of State reserved decision on the merits of the various lenses tested. The road was lighted from three hundred to five hundred feet, according to the lamp used. Some exceedingly novel and unusual pictures, Mr. Levey said, were taken, which will prove a revelation in night photography. Company Will Insure and Bond Exhibitors The Motion Picture Insurance Bureau, incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana, submitted to the American Exhibitors' Association a plan for handling insurance for exhibitors. In brief, this company has made definite nrrangements for the handling of fire insurance for all exhibitors, members of the affiliation, on a basis of a flat reduction of 25 per cent, from board or non-board rates; a flat reduction of 50 per cent, in theatrical liability insurance from conference rates, and has arranged for the use of corporate surety bonds guaranteeing the performance of film-rental contracts in place of the muchdisliked advance deposit system for such guarantee. After a thorough discussion, the entire plan was adopted without a dissenting vote. The whole proposition is the outgrowth of an inquiry and a suggestion on the part of L. H. O'Donnell of Washington, Ind., one of the most active exhibitors of Indiana. Eubank of Essanay Is Now Lieutenant in Army Victor G. C. Eubank, supervising director of Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, has been commissioned first lieutenant in the United States Army, and left Chicago for Washington to report for his new duties. Because of his expert knowledge oi the film business, he was placed in th< Signal Corps, where his work probabl] will be in charge of some branch of thi photographic division. Mr. Eubank has been connected with Es sanay for five years, and for the past tw< years has had entire charge of Essanay* production of pictures, besides having writ ten many scenarios. Before joining th'l Essanay forces, Mr. Eubank was one of th' I best known Chicago newspaper writers an< executives, having been at various times oi the staff of several of the large dailies an< also editor of the Associated Press. George K. Spoor, president of Essanaj stated that Mr. Eubank's severance of con nection with the company was only tempo rary, and that he expected him to return t the company when the war was over, Mi Eubank is a graduate of the University c Missouri. F. I. L. M. Club Activitie F. I. L. M. Club of New York City hel its first fall meeting Wednesday, Septen ber 4th, and expects to meet every Wedne: day from now on. Samuel Eckman ( Goldwyn is secretary of the grievance con mittee, which meets every Wednesday noc at the Goldwyn office to hear all complain from exhibitors. John Hammell of the General is chai man of the new entertaining and bene committee and several "affairs" are plarui' for the ensuing season. The C. B. Hi Reporting Agency continues to handle t credit bureau. Henry Siegel of Select chairman of the membership committee a announces that the Graphic Film Corpor tion has been added to the rolls. The club bulletin announces that F. Sliter became a benedict and a member the Mutual F. I. L. M. Klub at the sai time. F. H. Goldstein has been confin to his home for several weeks with a vere cold contracted while on his vacati' Frances Marion Appoint* for U. S. Work Abroad Frances Marion, who recently resigi from the West Coast scenario staff of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation to I gage in war work, has just received no1 cation of her appointment to an import post abroad in connection with the mol picture activities of the Committee on P lie Information. Among her more recent productions " The Amazons " for Marguerite Q " Rebecca of Sunnvbrook Farm," " i Could You Jean?" "Stella Ma> " M'liss " and " Johanna Enlists " for V Pickford and "The City of Dim Fat for Sessue Hayakawa. Her last work the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation the continuity of " Mrs. Wiggs of the < bage Patch," which Marguerite Clark be starred in. N inn 1111 iiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiuiiiiinu dh BJJY LIBERTY BONDSiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiimiiinintiiiifflirainnmiiiiiiiiimuiioimiii