Motion Picture News (Apr-Jun 1919)

3574 Motion Picture N e w & The Big U exchange men sat around the table in New York on May 17 to strike enthusiasm for the Universal birthday party Famous Players-Lasky for Europe New $3,000,000 Corporation Formed in London by Company Which Will Produce Super-Pictures on Famous European Backgrounds FORMATION in London of a great $3,000,000 corporation which will produce Paramount-Artcraf t motion pictures against famous European backgrounds and build studio plants in the capital of the Old World is announced by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, number 405 Fifth avenue. The name of the new firm is the Famous Players-Lasky British Producers, Ltd. Construction of extensive studios and production plants on a scale equalling those of the Hollywood and Los Angeles districts in America will be started immediately by the Famous Players-Lasky British Producers, Ltd., it is said. London is to be central headquarters for production, since most striking Old World color is available in Wales, Southern England and the Scottish lakes regions. Special pictures starring American and continental artists made in Europe will open up a new epoch in the motion picture art according to the corporations announcement, made yesterday by Emil E. Shauer, who has just returned to New York after four months abroad. He said: " The possibilities opened up by peace for international competition and cooperation by American industry, and in particular the motion picture industry, are boundless. "British financiers who have joined this American enterprise include Major David Davies M. P., well known coal and landowner; Major Norman Holden, Alexander Nisbet, W. J. Burdon Evans, Albert Hurst, the woolen manufacturer, A. W. . Kerley, Thomas Wrigley, banker ; J. H. Kippax, who controls Manchester cotton manufacturies, J. G. Thompson and George, Isaac, and Abraham Collins. J. C. Graham, identified for some time with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, will be managing director of the British organization. " Agents of the corporation headed by Albert A. Kaufman formerly Eastern Production Manager will leave immediately for Europe. Actors and actresses, famous throughout the United States, will leave soon after." Chicago to Have Chinese Picture Theatre Louis Sing, one of Chicago's Chinese merchants has launched a novel project in the building of a one hundred thousand dollar theatre it is said to be located on property adjacent to Chicago's Chinatown with a seating capacity of about twelve hundred and which will cater principally it is stated to the natives of the flowery kingdom, furnishing them with a home grown variety of entertainment with all vampire and sex problem films eliminated which, according to the sponsor of the enterprise " makes the Chinaman sick." According to Mr. Sing the orientals are in need of an amusement resort in Chicago, and he means they shall have one all their own. Sing gives his little daughter, Silvery Waves, the chedit of being the originator. That Settles It! Despite the fact that the close of the open-market discussion was announced in the last issue of Motion Picture News, Harry Sherman declined to " let it go at that," with the result that the following telegram reaches our desk as we go to press. It speaks for itself : " You asked who opened the open market — Harry Sherman did." (signed) Harry Sherman. Levey's Anniversary In observance of the second anniversary of his inauguration and assumptio^p of the management of Universal's Education and Industrial departments, Harry Levey was host Saturday afternoon, May 24, at a luncheon at the Hotel Astor to members of his department and Universal officials. Says Chicago Will Have Largest Theatre News comes from Chicago that Balaban and Katz of Riveria, will give that city the distinction of having the largest theatre in the country. Plans are being completed1 for the erection of a six story building with a frontage of 225 feet and a depth of 125 feet, in Cottage Grove Avenue near Sixtythird street for theatre purposes only. The theatre it is said will have a seating, capacity of over five thousand, surpassing anything ever erected for pictures, and will1 cost it is stated about one million dollars. It will be built along the French architectural lines with play rooms, rest rooms and lobby, will be five stories high, it is said, and patterned after the chapel of Versailles, with full stage for scenic presentation of pictures, and will have a fifty piece orchestra and big chorus. Rapp and Rapp who are the contractors will start work in six weeks it is said and the theatre will open next April. Famous Players Hosts to Visiting Officials In honor of the district managers and special representatives in session in New York, the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was host to the visitors and members of the home office organization, to the number of nearly one hundred, on Thursday evening, May 15, at Castle Cave. All of the company's Eastern executives were present, it is stated and the spirit of mutual loyalty and goodf ellowship which permeated the gathering as well as the feeling of pride in the past and enthusiasm fur the future, which was at all times evident, it is said, made the assemblage one of the most noteworthy in the annals of the motion picture industry. Bacon Gives Dinner Gerald Bacon, whose affiliation with Frank Hall and the Independent Sales Corporation as producer was recently announced, gave a dinner at his home in New York to members of the trade and daily press on Saturday, May 17. The occasion was in the way of a celebration of Mr. Bacon's initial step in producing his first picture for the Hall interests. Mr. Bacon was assisted in entertaining his guests by Mrs. Gerald Bacon. Among those present were: Kelcey Allen, S. Jay Kaufman, Louella Parsons, Alison Smith, Harold F. Rendall, Louis Reid, Laurence Reid, Ben Grimm, Walter K. Hill, C. S. Sewell, Al Cormier and Peter Milne. Ben Ross in Metropolis After owning state right exchanges in the Minneapolis and Middle West territories, Ben Ross affiliated himself with the production of "The Black Stork" in Chicago. Then a plunge in films in the Indiana territory. Mr. Ross then went to Texas and interested himself in several oil ventures. He is now visiting New York with the determination to return to the motion picture business.