Motion Picture News (Dec 1920-Feb 1921)

840 This is the zvay \V. R. RowcU. manager of the Gem theatre, El Dorado, Kansas, decorated his lobby for the showing of " The Penalty " Kunsky Theatre Presentation Madison and Adams, Detroit, Originate Many New and Novel Specialty Numbers A UNIQUE and original idea in stage settings has been introduced by Howard O. Pierce, managing director of exploitation and publicity for the John H. Kunsky interests in Detroit and Thomas D. Moule, manager of Mr. Kunsky's Madison and Adams theatres of that city. This idea consists in the presentation of various song numbers from time to time in a cabinet set centre stage. This cabinet, which is about six feet deep and with an opening twelve feet square is sometimes set off with a great gold frame and closed in on the sides with soft pretty draperies, no stiff scenery being apparent on the entire stage. Through a system of the most artistic lighting, soft shades of varied color bathe the entire stage, while in the frame itself is presented a minature setting, with the living figures of the singer or singers, who go through their business, presenting in a way an animated living picture, and all in keeping with the story or the theme of the song number being introduced at the time. With the subdued lighting on all sides and with an entirely different and diffused lighting on the inside of the frame, which in some instances ranges in three colors or more, a picture of the utmost charm is introduced, which when blended with the song invariably charms the audience to the utmost enthusiasm. This idea has been used for several months at different times by both the Madison and the Adams with the most splendid results. Recently the Madison introduced a novel setting along these lines with the rendition of the song number, " The Love Nest," from " Mary," George Cohan's new musical piece. The stage was draped on both sides by great, soft btue curtains sprinkled with just the least touch of gold. In centre stage was a quaint, pretty drop of a high green English hedge row, with high sides and dropping towards the centre with a graceful curve. Directly back of the row was shown the red tiled roof of an old English house, chimney and a section of the house itself. In this setting the first part of the song was sung together with the first chorus. Then, as the chorus was still being sung, the stage was darkened, the singers disappearing behind the drapes, but continuing the song, that no break might occur in the presentation of the number. As the chorus progressed the lights slowly came up behind the special hedgerow drop, as described, revealing it to be a transparency which as the lights came up to full behind it brought forth the interior of the same house as shown in exterior on the drop itself, and, in a quaint setting of a breakfast room, with a high double window of old design and which could be seen through, and which was banked off at the sill by an old fashioned window flower box filled with bright flowers, sat the two singers, man and woman, at each side of a small tea table in the act of drinking tea while going through with the action of the chorus sung as a repeat. With artistic lighting as set off with a red glow from a fireplace at one side and a moonlight effect through the window as seen above the heads of the singers, the scene was most effective. " Huvioresque " exploitation stunt by the Lyceum theatre. New Britain, Conn Motion Picture N etk This Is Surely New at Novel A sensation occurred in the municq elections in Toronto, Ontario, when mysterious candidate figured in the ca paign for the mayorality until practica the last moment. The whole city was ii state of excitement because of the parti pation of the " dark horse " in the electi drive, but had a good laugh when the i nouncement was made that the disturbi " third party " was none other than a chi acter portrayed by Fatty Arbuckle " The Life of the Party." Two real candidates were in the d' field for election to the mayor's chair, t a huge surprise occurred when a third m apparently threw his hat into the ring. T name of this candidate was " Algem Leary," and the local newspapers soon 1 gan publishing election advertisements i the mysterious individual. The Algera Leary displays were grouped right alo with other campaign announcements f more than a week but no Algernon Lea made an appearance in public. His new paper announcements were clever a; caustic, however, so that the public beg. to give him serious consideration in spi of the name " Algernon." On Friday, December 31, the day befo the local elections, the Toronto newsp pers carried a paid announcement whii stated that " Algernon Leary, Candida for Mayor, will issue an important stat ment in the week-end papers. \\'atch fi it." Then came the big surprise. The Satu day evening editions carried big display which read : " Algernon Leary, Candida for Mayor, says, ' Gosh I'm licked,' hi I will be the ' Life of the Party ' for I a none other than Roscoe (Fatty) A buckle, and I am the candidate that lookt like the " Dark Horse ' you have been rea( ing about. At that, you'll agree, some ( the planks in my platform are worthy ( consideration. One thing is sure, you vote me ' the life of the party ' in this e? cruciatingly funny photoplay in which really do run for ^layor in one of the liv« liest campaigns ever waged." Announc« ment followed that " The Life of tl: Party," with Algernon Leary in the lea( ing characterization, would be presente at the Pantages theatre, Toronto, durin the week of January ^. The man responsible for the big stur was N. K. Miller, manager of the Toront Pantages. Without quahfication, Toront never before saw such a publicity achievf ment as the phoney election campaign c " Algernon Lear}-." It had the whole cit talking and there was immense excitemer over the puzzling activities of the unknow third candidate. Mr. Miller took re. " slams " at public issues and some of hi statements were really bold — as compare with the advertisements of other candi dates. One blatant Learv advertisement read "I'll fight the beef' trust, the milk trus the leather trust — and any other trust ths abuses the defenseless cow."