Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2018 Motion Picture N e w i\ mm® m®m UCP©DD0 Vitagraph All Set for New Plan Plans All Completed for Inauguration of New " Democratic," Not " Autocratic " Booking Schedule, Announces Vitagraph EVERYTHING is in readiness for the inauguration on September 30, of Vitagraph's new " democratic " not " autocratic " booking plan, according to a statement issuing from the offices of the Vitagraph Distributing Organization. Prints on " A Diplomatic Mission," the Earle Williams Blue Ribbon feature which will be the first release under the new booking plan, were shipped to the company's branches last week, and exhibitors will be able to see it screened all over the country by the end of the coming week. In addition to " A Diplomatic Mission," which was written by Don Bartlett and directed by Jack Conway, Mr. Williams has finished another feature, which was directed by James Young, and will be the second in the series of eight Blue Ribbon features in which Mr. Williams will appear during the year, commencing September 30. It is scheduled for release November 11. The Vitagraph Distributing Organization reports that the new Blue Ribbon booking plan and policy has already proved to be the most popular departure the company has made in years. Letters have been received from exhibitors all over the county commending the company's stand for equitable rentals, and the sales department of the organization states that these commendatory messages are being backed up by voluminous contracts. The greater percentage of these contracts are on the fifty-two week basis, whereby an exhibitor will get during the year the J. Stuart Blackton, Producer of " The Common Cause," to Be Released by Vitagraph following stars at intervals of six weeks : Earle Williams, eight productions ; Alice Joyce, eight productions; Bessie Love, nine productions; Harry T. Morey, nine productions ; Corinne Griffith, nine productions ; Gladys Leslie, nine productions. The first productions in which these stars are to be presented have been listed as follows : September 30, Earle Williams in " A Diplomatic Mission;" October 7, Gladys Leslie in " The Mating " ; October 14, Harry T. Morey in " The King of Diamonds " ; October 21, Alice Joyce in " Everybody's Girl " ; October 28, Corinne Griffith in " Miss Ambition " ; November 4, Bessie Love in " The Dawn of Understanding." Aside from the fifty-two week phase of Vitagraph's new booking plan, an exhibitor may book any star's series as a unit, or combination of stars. Many Tributes for Ince-Ray Paramounts A RECENT series of reports on Thomas H. Ince pictures for Paramount, starring Charles Ray, indicate that the public is becoming more and more responsive to the clever characterizations of the young actor and sensible of the splendid stories that have been provided him by the producer. Here are some of these reports clipped from various trade papers at random : " The Hired Man " with Charles Ray (Paramount) — Very fine picture, of a type that our patrons like. Apparently not an expensive picture to make, and pleased more than productions with elaborate settings. Give us more like it. — R. L. Hensler, Bijou theatre, Carrollton, 111. — Mixed patronage. " The Claws of the Hun," with Charles Ray (Paramount) — Great picture. Good box-office attraction. — W. C. Lamoreaux, Lakeside theatre, 4730 Sheridan road, Chicago.— High class neighborhood. " His Mother's Boy," with Charles Ray (Paramount). — This star always pleases here. This is some good picture and will please any kind of an audience. — R. A. Shobe, Kentland theatre, Kentland, Ind. — High class patronage. " The Hired Man," with Charles Ray (Paramount). — They don't make them any better than this for supplying an audience.— R. J. Relf, Star theatre, Decorah, la. " String Beans " is the title of a newly completed Ray film, written by Julien Josephson and directed by Victor Schertzinger. It is said to be in the same vein as those mentioned, though with a new and novel story. Jane Novak is leading woman. Ray's popularity is growing. Paramount-Mack Sennett's Latest Is " Sleuths " There are four comedians in " Sleuths," the latest Paramount-Mack Sennett comedy which will be released September 22. They are Ben Turpin, the man with the cross-eyed squint which has made his fortune ; Charley Lynn, Marie Prevost and Tom Kennedy. Turpin and Lynn are private detectives whose peculiar business methods get them into serious trouble, while Marie Prevost is their stenographer who sets things right for them in the end. Kennedy plays a gentleman crook. " Sleuths " is directed by F. Richard Jones. Rowan Installs Special Department It was announced from the West Coast this week that R. A. Rowan and Company, of Los Angeles, one of the better known real estate firms on the Pacific Coast, has installed a special motion picture rental department. This new branch, it is said, handles motion picture business exclusively, and is equipped to take care of every requirement of producers going to the Coast. The Gentleman on the Left Has Not Had His Physiog in Pictures — Yet. But Goldwyn is to Star Him in Laughing Bill Hyde." He is Will Rogers