Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

September 28 , 1 9 / 8 2055 Gaumont News and the Graphic Gaumont News No. 25, released September 10, shows the christening of a new big American vessel by Countess di Cellere ; damage inflicted upon the Chicago postoffice by a bomb explosion ; War Service Day at the Harvard Stadium ; the celebration in the nation's capital of Lafayette Day and the victory of the Manic; the final good-byes and cheering messages which the Cabinet and prominent officials gave Y. M. C. A. officials leaving for overseas ; Uncle Sam's call for women to be trained for wireless work, and the graduation of the first class of civilian sailors for our new merchant marine, etc. Gaumont Graphic No. 25 is released September 13, and its principal subject shows what our boys are doing in France, and show the immense commissary buildings which are being constructed; the transportation of supplies ; the camouflaging of a road to headquarters ; the carrier pigeons : balloon squads ; the man who invented the " tank " ; pictures of Elsie Janis, the dainty motion picture and stage star ; the final review by the Secretary of the Navy of 4.000 members of Gen. Butler's "Fighting Marines"; Uncle Sam's new " chow gun " ; millions of pennies collected to provide milk for war babies, etc. Wounded Gaumont Employee Returns from France Realizing that England needed the services of all her sons, Bernard H. Bromhead, a British employee of the Gaumont Company at Flushing, N. Y., went to Canada in 1915 and enlisted as a private in the 148th Battalion. He was soon made a corporal, and after six months' training was sent to England, where he was drafted into the 42d Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada. After many months of distinguished service in France, during which he was in several sanguinary battles, Mr. Bromhead was severely wounded during the fierce fighting on Paschendaele Ridge, in Flanders, on November 3, 1917, and taken to No. 12 General Hospital, at Rouen. Although he practically regained his former good health, it was found that the bones of his left shoulder were so badly fractured that his return to fighting would be impossible. Therefore he was sent back to his point of enlistment in Canada, where he received an honorable discharge. Lincoln-Cassinelli Cast for Perret Series Perret Productions announce that they have completed the casting of the support for E. K. Lincoln and Dolores Cassinelli, who will be the featured players in the second of the series of patriotic productions to be produced by Leonce Perret. Work on this production has already commenced at Lake Hopatcong, where the first scenes have been taken. The company is now at Russell Harbor, Great Neck, L. I., where the remaining scenes will be photographed. Florence Reed Is Star of " Wives of Men," Produced by Pioneer Plunkett-Carroll Engage Creighton Hale In the cast that will appear in Plunkett and Carroll's super-production. " The Woman the Germans Shot," based on the shooting of the British Red Cross nurse, Edith Cavell, and written by Anthony Paul Kelly, will appear Creighton Hale, who will play opposite Julia Arthur. Mr. Hale assumes the very important part of an English boy captured by the Germans during the invasion of Belgium. Director John G. Afolfi is now on the finishing touches of the picture and he has surrounded these two players with the following splendid cast which includes, Jack Johnson, Paul Panzer, Giorgo Marjoni, Martin Faust, Fred Kohlgrin, besides a large number of extras. Raver Selling Territories on " Master Crook " • Harry Raver announces the disposal of considerable territory for his newest production, " The Master Crook," a mystery play in which the protean artist Edmund Breese enacts the title role, with Alma Hanlon playing the principal female lead. Among the exchanges who have recently closed contracts for the purchase of territory for " The Master Crook " are the First National Exchange of Pittsburgh, Yale Photoplay Company of Kansas City, Celebrated Players' Exchange of Chicago ;, Standard Film Exchange of Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit, Modern Feature Photoplay Company of New York, Boston Photoplay Company of Boston, and the Independent Theatre Supply Company of Montreal. W. H. Productions Announces Two More W. H. Productions Company announce the release this week of two single reel comedies, entitled, " The Good-for-Nothing," former title, " His New Profession," featuring Charlie Chaplin, this being another one of the series of twenty-six singlereel Charlie Chaplin comedies ; also " Batty Butts In," former title, " Fatty's Debut," which is one of the series of twenty-four single-reel Fatty Arbuckle comedies. The box-office values of these productions are said to be establishing a record of boxoffice returns throughout the country. Important Film Deals Made by Nathan Hirsh In the recent purchases of " Still Alarm," " Accidental Honeymoon," and " Wives of Men," by the Pioneer Film Corporation, Nathan Hirsh, president, recalled some of his previous film purchases in the independent field. In 1912 he bought the Cosmos Film Corporation. His purchase included the " Little Girl That He Forgot," " Lena Rivers," " Three Musketeers," and pictures of like caliber. From then on Mr. Hirsh rose as an " Independent," and purchased all New York state rights of the Great Northern Film Corporation until that concern went out of business. Not satisfied with state rights. Mr. Hirsh then decided to have his fling as an independent producer and his first offer was little M. Gorman in the " Soul of a Child." The Civilization Company was then formed and that picture was bought for New York and New York State for $75,000, said to be the highest price ever known to have been paid for a feature. This company was then re-organized as the Pioneer Film Corporation, which has since purchased for New York State the following features: "Redemption," "Mad Lovers," " Submarine Eye," " Today," " Cold Deck," " Garden of Allah," " Carmen of the Klondike," " Struggle Everlasting," " Still Alarm," " Accidental Honeymoon," and " Wives of Men." The present policy of this company is to buy negatives for the world's rights and sell state and foreign rights. " 'Tis Tough to Be Tender " on October 7 Robert C. Bruce, the Educational's builder of Scenics, puts a novel twist to his latest one by making Marion K. Kohn, president of the Consolidated Film Corporation of San Francisco, Cal., the protagonist of the story. The title of this is " 'Tis Tough to Be Tender," and it records a recent trip in which Kohn accompanied Bruce into the wilds of the Yosemite Valley. In a prerelease at the New York Rivoli week of September 15, applause for the magnificence of the Yosemite was punctuated with hearty laughter over the ludicrous mishaps of the way. The release to the regular Educational houses throughout the country takes place the week of October 7. Hugo Frank Buys Rights to Arrow Film The right to exhibit " Huns Within Our Gates " in Greater New York and Northern New Jersey has been purchased by Hugo Frank, head of the " Mothers of Liberty " Company, 145 West Forty-fifth street, New York, the production emanating from the Arrow Film Corporation, of which Dr. W. E. Schallenberger is president. " Huns Within Our Gates," which has already been exploited, comes in six parts, and, while it is stamped as a war picture, there are said to be no conventional battle scenes.