Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2198 M o t i o n Picture News New Vitagraph Serial Is Praised Exhibitors Send Enthusiastic Letters to Vitagraph, Boosting the William Duncan Serial, "A Fight for Millions " IN the midst of congratulatory letters and telegrams arriving at the Vitagraph offices from exhibitors of " A Fight For Millions," the latest William Duncan serial, there came a telegram from the star himself. It was addressed to Albert E. Smith, president of the Vitagraph Company, and read as follows : "If you think 'A Fight For Millions ' is good, wait until you see ' The Man of Might.' It will make 'millions' look like three plugged nickels.' " The Man of Might " is the serial in which Duncan, supported by a strong cast, including Edith Johnson and Joe Ryan, is now engaged at the company's western studio. Like " A Fight For Millions," it was written by Albert E. Smith and Cyrus Townsend Brady, authors also of " The Fighting Train," " Vengeance — and the Woman," "The Woman in the Web," and " The Iron Test." The latter is the next serial scheduled by Vitagraph, and it will start on its course October 21, with Antonio Morano and Carol Holloway as the featured stars. The telegram from Duncan, star and director, would seem to indicate another big success for Vitagraph's serial business, because Duncan, who is known as " Silent Bill," doesn't often give voice to opinions. The only other time he ever commented on a picture in which he was working was when he predicted success for " A Fight For Millions," because it was a " regular he-man story." His forecast on this production has been more than borne out and the company is said to be in receipt of hundreds of letters and telegrams from exhibitors pronouncing it the greatest se rial success they ever have known. Two letters, from widely separated sections of the country, are typical of all of them, and were in the bundle which arrived at the Vitagraph New York offices last week. One, from Dr. Charles J. Allemen, proprietor of the Bijou theatre, Church Point, La., reads in part as follows : " ' A Fight For Millions ' opened up here last night to bigger business than any ever known for a serial in our house. Our patrons have come to know the fine quality of Vitagraph serials, they having seen ' The Fighting Trail ' and ' Vengeance — and the Woman,' both of which made us big business. These western plays seem to be peculiarly adapted to our patrons' tastes and Vitagraph knows how to make them with greater ' punch ' in them than any other we have ever used. This, coupled with the fine, equable policy of the New Orleans Vitagraph exchange, is bound to make staunch friends of the exhibitors with business alertness eno.igh to have given Vitagraph service a fair trial." A letter from a woman exhibitor, Mrs. F. E. Wilk, of Syracuse, Neb., was even mor» remarkable than the one quoted above. She writes glowingly of the success she had in a town of 840 population, against severe opposition, and says she had to run " A Fight For Millions " four times in one evening to satisfy her patrons. Her letter reads as follows: " Here's my record for opening show of ' A Fight For Millions': In a town of 840 population, I ran in opposition to the Opera House, where they had a troupe of players and offered as a drawing card a diamond ring to the most popular lady, a pig given away free, also money and cigar prizes. They chalked the walks, had boys out with banners and a bugler — all this against me. Here's what I did: I had a dandy lobby display, used about 800 heralds, chalked the walks, went out with my ' bill boys ' myself, and as a result we had to run our show four times that night. Can you beat it for a town of this size? " That " A' Fight For Millions " scored so strongly against the opposition outlined by Mrs. Wilk is a splendid testimonial, not only to Vitagraph and its serial but to the entire motion picture industry, because it shows that the public will support photoplays of real merit no matter what other attractions may be offered to them. Alice Brady's Big Week in New York City Alice Brady, the Select star, will have a big week in New York City. During the entire week, as usual, Miss Brady will appear in her new stage starring vehicle, " Forever After," at the Central theatre, and the week will also find her in " The Death Dance " at the Savoy, Morningside, Mt. Morris, Marcy, Oxford, New Kingston, Olympia, 77th Street, Adelphia, Hamilton, Majestic and Roana theatres. During the same week she will be seen ! in " The Whirlpool " at the 34th Street the ' atre, Park, Village, Webster, Lincoln, 14th Street, Globe and Myrtle theatres, while " The Ordeal of Rosetta," another Alice Brady picture, will be seen during the self i same week at the Amphion, Model, Mt. , Vernon, Columbia, Hooper, Auditorium (Fort Lee), Bergen (Newark), Strand , (Bayonne), Hyperion (Corona), Apollo, Greenwich and Tiffanv theatres. Christie Comedies Earn Twentv-four Sheets The Christie, the Fairbanks and the Chaplin pictures combined to make an all , comedy bill the attraction during the week of September 8 at the Palace theatre in Los Angeles. The giving of twenty-four 1 sheet honors to a one-reel comedy release I was rather a departure from exhibitor's I advertising methods generally, but accord 1 ing to Exhibitor H. B. Beckwedel, of the I Palace theatre : " I am going to advertise the Christie ' Company's one-reel comedies frequently | hereafter by the method of twenty-four | sheets which I have arranged to be ' placed throughout Los Angeles and Holly | wood. Christie comedies have meant a great deal to me in the building up of a steady clientele for my theatre." Norma Talmadge in Appeal for Liberty Loan At the request of Ben F. McCutcheon, manager of Publicity for the Fourth Liberty Loan, Norma Talmadge has given a three-hundred word appeal for the Loan which is to be syndicated in 3300 newspapers throughout the country. Kathleen Kirkham, to Appear With Douglas Fairbanks in " Arizona ™ Paramount-Artcraft Big October Schedule ■""THE Famous Players-Lasky Corporation * has just completed its schedule of releases for October, presenting a pretentious line-up of attractions. Four new celebrities will make their initial appearance as Paramount and Artcraft stars next month. They are Enrico Caruso, the opera star; Harold R. Peat, the soldier-author, better known as " Private Peat " ; Dorothy Gish, prominently identified with D. W. Griffith productions and Bryant Washburn, the well known screen star. The initial films of the month scheduled for October 6 release are William S. Hart in "The Border Wireless"; Wallace Reid in " The Man from Funeral Range " and Dorothy Gish in her initial Paramount vehicle. " Battling Jane." October 13 marks the release of the big Paramount-Artcraft Special, " Private Peat," Enid Bennett in the Ince production, "When Do We Eat?" and Lila Lee in " Such a Little Pirate." Enrico Caruso in " My Cousin " makes his bow as an Artcraft star on October 20, the Paramount releases for this date being Billie Burke in " The Make Believe Wife " and Bryant Washburn in " The Gypsy Trail," the last mentioned serving as Mr. Washburn's first Paramount vehicle. The last releases of the month on October 27 are Ethel Clayton in " Women's Weapons," Pauline Frederick in " A Daughter of the Old South " and Vivian Martin in " Mirandy Smiles." New Wm. Russell Picture Well Received None of the former William Russell pictures have met with such a cordial reception as " Hobbs in a Hurry," the first of a series of eight features to be made by the William Russell Productions for the American Film Company and released through Pathe Exchanges. In this picture Russell does some diversified acting in the role of a society man, a wild, dynamic youth, a woolly westerner, a black-face Pullman porter, a gun fighter, and an ardent lover, but always full of subtle humor and light comedy. LI