Motion Picture News (May-June 1921)

May 14, I g 2 J 305.i Associated PhotoPlays Have Morrison Series ARRANGEMENTS were made in Los Angeles on May 3 by which the Associated Photo-Plays, Inc., of New York City will release the series of eight pictures starring Pete Morrison. The Cliff Smith Productions, builders of the Morrison series, and Victor B. Fisher, general manager of Associated Photo-Plays, Inc., today signed the contracts by which Associated will release the entire Morrison output from the Cliff Smith studios. The first of the series is ready, and Mr. Fisher, who will leave for New York in a few days, will bring with him the negative of the first picture. At the New York offices of Associated Photo-Plays, Inc., it was stated that Mr. Fisher, in addition to bringing with him the negative of the first Morrison picture, would also have the negative of " The Wolverine." the first of the Spencer Productions, Inc., productions, starring Helen Gibson, to be released by Associated. Vic Potel Returning in Comedy Series A'ictor Potel, who is remembered for his brilliant work as Slippery Slim_ in the old Essanay "Snakeville " Comedies, is returning to the screen in fun films of the same type that gained for him so great an amount of popularity with exhibitors and the picture put)Iic while he was with Essanay. The comedian recently entered into a long-term contract with Webster Cullison, whereby he will portray the title role in Ellis Parker Butlcr.'s popular ina.yazinc stories Philo Gubb, the Correspondence School Deteckative." Surrounding Potel is a cast of considerable note. Including Otis Harlan, Dorothea Wolbert and Harry Todd. Others who will be seen in the Gubb stories include Ernest Shields, Mark 'Hamilton, Howard Crampton and May Foster Several Additions to Reelcraft Units Ollie Mack, long-time team mate of Charley Slurry and known to the vaudeville audiences throughout the world as Murr>' and Mack, has joined the Sun-Lite Comedy unit, producing two-reel comedies for the Reelcraft Pictures Corporation. Nancy Deavers has joined the -Aladdin Comedy unit as leading lady in support of Bud Duncan, the diminutive comedian. Joseph Baisel, long associated with Larry Seamon as assistant and continuity writer, has joined the Shiller stafif and will supply stories and co-direct with one of the units. William Gilbert, one of the original Keystone Cops, is also work ing in the Aladdin series. Forms Chain of Exchanges ixchange of N. Y. Sameth's Chain Forward Film F: Is First Link in ' I M I E Forward Film Exchange, Inc., the first of the chain of independent exchanges to be operated througluHit the United States by the Forward Film Distritiutors, Inc., has been ypened in New York for northern New Jersey and New York State. J. Joseph Samcth, president of the Forw'ard Film Distributors, Inc., in announcing the opening of the New York exchange, declared that the first of the chain was but a forerunner of what might lie expected from Foiward within a \cry short time. Samuel Freund, who established himself in the industry by his work with Paramount, Goldwyn and other companies, is manager of the New York Exchange. Joseph Joel, " of high prize fame," will assist him. The " Shadow," starring Muriel Ostriche, written and directed by J. Charles Davis 2nd, and " Hearts O' the Range," are the first two offer ings the new exchange will handle. Mr. Sameth in addition to securing the distribution rights of the Ostriche series made by Salient Film, Inc., has plans under way by which a complete yearly program will be mapped out. " Weeks ago, I stated that there is no such thing as depression in the motion picture industry," said Mr. Sameth. "To further prove my assertions, 1 am opening my exchanges .when all others are declaring that the time is not ripe. I contend thkt the right pictures marketed in a businesslike manner will be saleable at any time. " I have three men making a survey of the United States at the present time and within a very few weeks 1 shall announce the opening of additional exchanges and I will leave nothing undone to organize a chain of exchanges that will be a credit to the producer, the film and the distributor." Levey With New Exchange System to Cover Non-Theatrical Field; Offices in 15 Key Cities ANEW organization has been formed called National Nontheatrical Motion Picture Exchanges, Inc., to distribute motion pictures over the non-theatrical field which includes schools, churches, clubs, lodges, industrial plants, etc. This company, of which Harry Levey, well-known in the industry as a producer of industrial films, has been elected president, will distribute dramas, comedies, educational and instructive pictures. National Non-theatrical Motion Pictures Exchanges, Inc., are establishing exchanges in Boston, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Washington, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Omaha, Denver, St. Louis, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle STATE RIGHTS BUYERS SINGLE REEL DE LUXE and Salt Lake City, from which keycities sub-stations will be conducted. The exchanges will be operated under the management )f local men who are experienced in the nontheatrical field. The first release will consist of over four hundred films which will be placed in these exchanges where they will be at the disposal of nontheatrical subscribers. The educational pictures have been produced with the co-operation and in line w ith the school systems for the purpose of developing courses of visual education. It is conceded that the motion picture is one of the greatest aids to modern education. Mr. Levey has no hesitancy in saying that the non-theatrical field will eventually become larger than the theatrical field. The exchanges will have completely organized plans for special film service to Institutions, Public Libraries, fraternities, societies, and federations developing the field and market for home motion picture machines, establishing central film liliraries, film encyclopedias, film histories and film books of knowledge without competing with the theatre. AT HOME AT PLAY AT WORK With Stage, Screen and Dance Stars Wire for Territory Shadowland Big Business Reported on New Wed Series New Wed Comedy series, featuring Rosemary Theby and Harry Myers, is meeting with success throughout the country, is said to lie borne out by the reports reaching the Dominant Pictures, Inc. the distributers, from independent exchanges, exhibitors and other sources. It is seldom that short subjects can boast of stars of the magnitude of Theby and Myers and at the time when these players are heavily SCREEN REVIEW ^'"''^'^'''^'^ ^ production of the cali17 W. 42d St., N. Y.bre of " A Connecticut Yankee." First Broadway Comedy Ready for Release The .\rrow Film Corporation announces this week that the first release of the series of twelve new Hroaclway comedies which they are handling in the independent field is entitled " His Hansom Butler," featuring Harry CribI)on, Eddie Barry and Helen Darling, former well known players in the Christie Comedies. The second of this series is entitled "A Designing Husband" and is now being completed at the West Coast studio. Work has been started on the production of the third release. Cullison Planning Four Unit Organization With a series of two-reel comedies now in production at the Francis Ford studios in Hollywood, Cal., negotiations are being made by General Manager Cullison, erstwhile director and studio executive, whereby three new units will soon l)e added to his organization. To accomodate the production activity of the different companies, Cull ison has already ac quired an option on a large lot in Hollywood, where, it is stated, he intends to erect his own studios in the near future or as soon as a working staff has been assembled and all details pertaining to the various stories arranged. Western dramas, comedies, educational and scenic pictures will be the output of Cullison's organization, it is announced. Aywon Short Subjects Offered to Trade Now that Nathan Hirsh, president of the Aywon Film Corporation, has closed considerable territory on his feature production, "The Lure of the Orient," he has turned his attention to the marketing of fifteen two-reel comedie's starring the well-known Jimmy Aubrey and a series of six Diamond Dot Western thrillers of five reels each. "Hush" Runs Two Weeks in Baltimore "Hush," the fifth Clara Kimball Young production released by Equity Pictures Corp. is running for a second week at the Blue Mouse theatre, one of Baltimore's Largest screen theatres. This makes a total of eighteen first-run houses of different cities who have booked "Hush" for double its original run. PaglinDavidson Move Paglin-David.son announce the removal of their offices from 1393 Broadway to 130 West 46th Street. In order to be nearer the motion picture district due to their buying activities as state right buyers they have moved closer to the trade offices.