Motion Picture News (Aug-Oct 1920)

October 16, 1920 3027 The most important .announcement in the season's activities of Gore Brothers and Sol Lesser is their statement that they have secured the direction of the magnificent theatre in the New Ambassador Hotel as the world's premier place for all forthcoming First National attractions. The theatre is to be the last word in luxury. The wellknown scenic artist, Joseph Urban, will paint the curtain and lay plans for scenic equipment. The orchestra, which is to be a chamber musical organization with a predominance of s:iinged instruments, will be under the direction of one of America's foremost composers and leaders. The foremost concert artists are to be engaged from time to time, and already the names of Carolina White and Orville Harold are mentioned as features of the opening night. The opening is to be the crowning social event in Los Angeles history. The seat sale for the first night will be announced soon. Tickets will be $20.00 for each seat, states First National. After the opening night the prices of seats will range to $1.50 top, with every seat reserved: They will be sold two weeks in advance. Realart Finishes <k Her First Elopement" Wanda Hawley, Realartist, spent several days in restful quiet after a " romantic elopement " on a millionaire's yacht. Of course Miss Hawley did not really elope, but it is about an affair of this character that the scenes of " Her First Elopement " are based. Work on this picture has been completed. Jerome Patrick .played party of the second part in the " Elopement." Other members in this cast include Xell Craig, Lucien Littlefield, Herbert Standing. Ed" in Stevens, Helen Dunbar, Jay Eaton, Margaret Morris, Ann Hastings, and Tohn McKinnon. Bob Lee assisted Director Wood 'with Al Gilks at the First National Enrolls Many AN c last X outstanding feature of 1st week's convention at Kansas City is the reported landslide of exhibitors en-, rolling as holders of Associated First National Pictures, Inc.. says, First National in a statement just issued. R. L. Pramer, recently elected president of the Nebraska State Exhibitors League, reported, according to the First National statement, that Omalja and suburb's, for example, had gone one hundred per cent Associated First National by the absorption of the whole quota of franchises allotted, to that division ; and similar figures were reported, it is said, by, other prominent exhibitors attending' the convention. ■ . An important "social feature of the gathering was furnished by the banquet given by Associated First national at the Hotel Baltimore on the Tuesday of convention week. Stanley Chambers of the Palace Theatre, Wichita, Kansas, acted as chairman and toastmaster and introduced R. G. Liggett, president of the Kansas State Exhibitors Association a'nd Associated First National Franchise holder for the Gene Gauntier Theatre in Kansas City, Kansas; Mr. Liggett commended the franchise and First National pictures, which he char^ • acterized as well worth the price •paid for them. Frank L. Newman, president of the Newman Theatre Company of Kansas City, Mo., was the next speaker and was followed by Jack Truitt, Sedalia. Mo.; Charles T. Sears, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Missouri ; M. B. Shanberg, managing director of the Midland Circuit of Theatres, and M. Van Pragg, secretary of the Kansas Exhibitors Association and of the National Association. Mr. Shanburg recommended a " hve-and-let-live " policy to be adopted by the men in the industry and stated as his belief that gatherings such as this First National banquet are of special value in enabling exhibitors and exchange men to become better acquainted and so lead to a better understanding. J. D. Williams, manager of Associated First National, in an in Mr. and Mrs. Carter De Haven have made " Twin Beds " for First National formal address said in part : K The men who originated and founded First National did so because they were dissatisfied with the methods and lack of method employed by certain film companies. They were heartily tired of the unfair kind of deals that were being handed to them. They were men who knew the danger to the industry from such methods. These men had millions of dollars invested in theatres and they wanted to protect their interests. They for'm;d an • organization which is based on mutual interest and principles. The franchises held by big exhibitors are identical with those held by the smaller exhibitor. They do not make fish of one and fowl of the other. " "If you are an Associated First National franchise holder that organization belongs in part to you. Its board of directors is elective, and itself in turn selects an executive committee and-this in turn appoints a manager. You have a voice in all this. All these men can be removed on short notice. In short, Associated First National is a cooperatve proposition in which you have a personal interest and share. " Our source of picture supply is absolutely secure. Our pictures are bought in the open market, and no matter how hard rivals may try they never can close the market so long as. bra.i.s cziioi.' 'Independent stars and independent producers make pictures for Associated First National. It is our aim to encourage more stars and more producers to be their masters. To work for themselves, to break away from monopolistic dictation. In this we haw succeeded and are succeeding." Knoblock Joins Paramount Comes Here from Study Methods o JESSE L. LASKY, first vice«J president of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, has received a cablegram from Edward Knoblock, famous dramatist, stating that Mr. Knoblock has sailed for New York, where he will enter the nc.v £"2,000,000 studio of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation and learn the technique of writing for th^ cereen. Mr. Knoblock, who is fiuihcr of " One," the current Belasco success, and numerous other plays in which Francis Starr has appeared, will write an original :Story for Paramount Pictures while England and Will f Screen Writing here and assist in its production. Paramount announces, working in close collaboration with the direction and the continuity writer and supervising the details of the production. Mr. Knoblock's announcement of his coming to America is timed with the departure for Hollywood today of Sir Gilbert Parker, the well known novelist, who is going to the Lasky studio to learn motion picture technique an to write original stories for Paramount Pictures. I On the left and right are two scenes fror 'Tiger's Cub," Pearl White latest feature production for Fo: something in "From Now On," another Fox release x. In the centre is George Walsh preparing to start