Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1919)

2786 Motion Picture News Civic Problem Teaching by Film MOTION pictures will play the most important part in a campaign undertaken by the State Reconstruction Commission, recently appointed by Governor Albert E. Smith, for the education of the people of the State of New York during the next few months, following a conference in New York this week between Airs. Belle Moskovitz, secretary of the commission, and Dr. Francis Holley, director of the Bureau of Commercial Economics, Washington, D. C, and Harry Levey, head of the Industrial and Educational Departments, Universal Film Mfg. Co. Chief among the subjects upon which the campaign is to be based are the development of highways and the furtherance of the ship-by-truck movement. Motion pictures boosting these two great activities will be sliown in every city and town in the state of New York during the progress of the lour, Mrs. Moskovitz declared after the conference. In the development of the ship-bytruck movement and tlie educative work connected with the Good Roads movement, the Commission will have State Reconstruction Committee Adopts This Method the support of New York's new State Highways Transport Committee, which was appointed by Governor Smith, its personnel having been announced last Thursday. While these two important movements will be furthered during the tour, the commission plans the production of several motion pictures which will impress the state populace upon such important topics as suitable housing needs in congested industrial committees ; public health insurance ; the development of hydro-electric power, which is being urgently supported by Governor Smith himself, who believes that the water power in the state should be controlled by the state, and harnessed for the use of its citizens ; public health movements of all kinds ; the question of control of the milk supply, and sundry other topics of a similar nature. The production of these films will be under the supervision of Mr. Levey, as head of the Industrial and Educational departments of the Universal. They will be produced under the sanction and approval of Governor Smith, who will appear in several of them with his entire cabinet. In the matter of good roads, " ship by truck " propaganda, food ciuestions, and others included in the program as outlined at the conference, Mrs. Moskovitz said that the commission, of which Abram I. Elkus is chairman, had some startling facts to portray upon the public screen. She declared that "^^he screen offered the most satisfactory means of presenting these tacts to the public — that by this method more people would be reached than by any other. Governor Smith has officially approved the tour, and will lend it the influence of his office and his personality. The chambers of commerce boards of trade and other civic organizations in each city or town visited W'ill co-operate with the commission and the Bureau of Commercial Economics. More First Run Realart Booking MR. E. H. HULSEY, one of the largest exhibitors in the South, has contracted for Realart Pictures. The deal was closed by Mr. Herschel Stewart for Mr. Hulsey and Mr. Diaz Callahan, Dallas Manager for Realart. Dallas, Houston and Waco first runs are covered by the agreements. The well-known Queen Theatres in these cities as well as the Old Mill, the Hippodrome in Dallas and others in the three cities are being added to by tremendous, new, modern edifices according to announcements recently emanating from the Hulsey headquarters. Lubliner and Trinz, who control a large chain of theatres in Chicago, also have been signed by Harry W. Willard, Realart manager, to show Realart Pictures in their houses. This circuit numbers eleven theatres, including the Covent Garden, the Michigan, the Pershing, the Biograph, the Knickerbocker, the Paramount, the Crawford, the Oak Park, the Vitagraph, the Wilson and the West End. Sig Faller has secured first showings downtown for his well-known Bijou Dream on State Street opposite the Palmer House. Hundreds of Many More Big Houses Contract to Take the Output thousands of persons daily pass the Bijou Dream which is one of the busiest spots in Chicago's famous Loop. The Loew houses in Boston will use Realart Pictures as first run. These are the Orpheum, one of the best known theatres in New England, and the Globe. Runs will be simultaneous in the two houses, it is announced. Vic Morris, manager of the Orpheum, Nicholas Schenck of the New York office of Loew's Enterprises, and Walter Scates, Boston manager for Realart, made the deal. Pictures distributed by Realart will be shown in Cleveland at three Loew theatres, the Stillman, the Alhambra and the Euclid. Part of the productions will go to the Stillman exclusively and others will be presented simultaneously in the other two houses. Jack Kuhn directs the Stillman and James B. Rcilly is Realart's Cleveland manager. The F. F. Proctor circuit with theatres in New York and New Jersey is another of the metropolitan firms which will run Realart Pictures as feature parts of their programs. The New York territory contract with this concern covers the Proctor houses in Troy, N. Y., Elizabeth, N. J., Port Chester, N. Y., and Plainfield, N. J. Keene and Rogers who run the Colonial Theatre in Brockton, Mass., are among other New England exhibitors who have signed with Realart. When Mary Miles Minter was on location at Dedham, Mass., filming the exteriors of " Anne of Green Gables," she made a personal appearance at the Colonial Theatre, and her reception by the public was so enthusiastic that the conclusion of a contract followed immediately. In Milwaukee, Realart Pictures are booked at the Merrill Theatre. Ellis Bostick, one of the best known exhibitors in Wisconsin, is the manager. Another Wisconsin theatre that has secured the company's pictures is the Fuller in Madison, which is under the management of Asher Levy. Herman Doering. chief negative developer, Palisade Laboratories Player May Appear in Person During Run The management of the Strand theatre, Hoboken's largest and most beautiful photoplay theatre, has arranged several special features in the presentation of " Virtuous Men " which they have booked for an extended engagement beginning September 25th. This is the first time that the S-L picture starring E. K. Lincoln has been seen in the city of Hoboken and due to its importance, the Strand will exploit the production in an unusual manner. -Arrangements have been made with S-L Pictures whereby Grace Darling, who plays the leading female role in the film may appear in person during the length of the engagement. Miss Darling if she does appear, may give a short talk at each performance and as a special inducement to the women patrons of the Strand w^ll wear a different gown creation at each appearance. The' Strand Management is advertising the forthcoming appearance of Miss Darling in person extensively both the local newspapers and by means of their screen and various folders and circulars. In addition to this feature, the orchestra at the theatre will be specially augmented to twenty pieces during the engagement of the picture and a new stage setting has been prepared. Judging from this picture, Mary Miles Minter is receiving her full share of advertising from the New York World. one of the many sign boards used by that paper And this is only Victor Moore's Screen Return Hailed A most potent and significant justification of the Riskins Brothers' formation of the De Luxe Victor Moore Productions and their plan to present he comedian in his famous stage successes in motion pictures of multiple eel length, comes in the form of nunerous congratulatory telegrams and ?tters from his host of friends in the ulustry. including many prominent xhibitors and indf'pendent exchangenen, welcoming Victor Moore's reppearance in comedies of feature ?ngth. Titling Rolfe Films Ralph Hill, formerly art editor of 3oys' Life Magazine, and for three ind a half years the head of Metro's 'rt title department, is now making he art titles for the B. A. Rolfe productions to be presented throufch A. H. Fischer Features, Inc.