Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

2020 Motion Picture N e',\ Anatol" Smashing Record DeMille's All-Star Production Has Huge, Country-Wide Success | A scene from " His Nibs," the Exceptional Pictures attraction, starring Charles (Chic) Sale Endorses First Nat'I Stars Have Proved to Be Biggest Drawing Cards in His Town, Says Exhibitor UTj^IRST NATIONAL has the " greatest drawing stars on its lists of any film distributing agency in the nation today." This is the statement of B. F. Brentlinger, manager of the Victory theatre of Evansville, Ind., as quoted in a statement just received from the First National homeoffice. "But, more it is the admission of other theatre men in Evansville who look with envy on the array of stars that First National offers since Associated Producers have signed up for distribution of their products," continues the First National statement. "Constance Talmadge is the biggest drawing star that can be offered to Evansville theatre-goers. This has been established time after time here and was demonstrated effectually when Wedding Bells broke all box office records in Evansville as well as smashing all attendance records. "In male stars Charles Ray has come to be among the leaders with Evansville audiences. Next to Constance Talmadge Anita Stewart seems to be the choice of Evansville motion picture audiences. Mary Pickford is a favorite but seems to have lost some of the early popularity which crowded theatres here. "While he says he is satisfied with his present service from Goldwyn and other producers, Charles Sweeton of the Majestic Theatre is fair and admits the drawing power of the First National galaxy of stars. "It is a grand array of stars and a great variety of tales that First National gives in its productions, he admits." WITH the arrival of the release date, September 25, and the automatic termination of the pre-release showings in New York, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Washington, Portland and other cities, Cecil B. De Mille's " The Aflfairs of Anatol " was ushered into a career of record-breaking. That is the statement issued from the Paramount offices and a big batch of telegrams from exhibitors is offered to back it up. Following are brief excerpts from some of the telegrams received by S. R. Kent, general manaer of distribution, on Monday last : Frank L. Newman, Newman theatre, Kansas City, Mo. : " Congratulations. 'Anatol ' showed to over ten thousand people Sunday. They fought like mad to get in. Broke all previous records by approximately two thousand paid admissions. A triumph." L. W. Carroll, Rialto theatre. New Haven, Conn. : " 'Anatol ' opened yesterday to biggest crowds in history of Rialto, breaking all box office records by wide margin. In spite of rainy weather crowds stood in line long before opening. Consider 'Anatol' greatest box office attraction ever made." C. W. Deibel, Liberty theatre, Youngstown, O. : " ' Affairs of Anatol ' opened to greatest business in history of Liberty theatre. Thousands turned away. Congratulations to all responsible for this wonderful attraction." John A. Schwalm, Jefferson theatre, Hamilton, O. : "'Anatol' proved most successful opening of any picture shown in our theatre. Everyone pleased." George Fenberg, Auditorium theatre, Newark, O. : " 'Affairs of Anatol ' opened to tremendous b • iness and I look for record-bre ing week. Congratulations." Allan S. Moritz, Paramount I change manager, Buffalo, N. ' " 'Anatol ' opened today and d e at four theatres, Hippodroi [ Criterion, North Park and Co Street to most phenomenal busin , ever seen here. This is first ti : a feature or even a comedy J \ t\tT played this number of t atres at the same time. Impossi : to have played to more people. Shea Amusement Co., Buff; N. Y. : "Business for ' The Aff: ; of Anatol ' tremendous. It is biggest box office attraction have played this year. They ca : early and stayed late." Botzum Bros,, Orpheum thea^ Akron, O. : " Congratulatic 'Affairs of Anatol ' opened here Orpheum theatre to capacity bi| ness. All previous records for ( tendance and receipts broken. EJ rons enthused. Sure is a kno| out." Phil G 1 e i c h m a n, Broadw Strand, Detroit, Mich.: " WitJ thousand dollars smaller advei ing expenditure, 'Anatol ' s house record held by ' H esque.' In view of the fact ']moresque ' opened on Labor 1 v and at same scale of prices, I d^ i this a wonderful tribute to j r entire organization." Oliver Kehrlein, New Fran a theatre, Oakland, Cal. : "UnheJ of business with 'Affairs of tol.' Holding them out from e P. M. till after ten, a feat n( r before seen in Oakland. Only gret we didn't have two thous i more seats. Expect to run i ^ month." Jungle" PictureinDemand Martin Johnson's Film Arouses Deepest Interest Here and Abroad Eight Goldwyn Releascj Second Group of Fifth Year Product Now Ready for Exchanges UNUSUALLY keen interest has been aroused by Martin Johnson's " Jungle Adventures," the initial production of the Exceptional Pictures Corporation, which recently played a successful pre-release engagement at the Capitol theatre, New York City, receiving high praise from the metropolitan critics. Telegrams and letters from exhibitors in every section of the United States are being received at the offices of Exceptional Pictures requesting information regarding this unusual feature production and expressing the desire to book it at an early date. It is understood that several of the largest national distributors have been in consultation with Alexander Beyfuss, vice president and general manager of Exceptional Pictures Corporation, at the present time, with the object of securing " Jungle Adventures " for release. It is also known that the majority of the representative state rights exchanges are desirous of obtaining this production for that market and several of them have sent executives to New York with the view to purchasing it for their territory. Mr. Beyfuss has under consideration offers for the greater portion of the United States and Canada. In addition to the domestic field, Martin Johnson's " Jungle Adventures " is also in demand among the foreign countries. This has already been proved by the inquiries received for terms for practically every buying country in Europe. The inquiries include among numerous letters, two cables from London and one from Paris. Such continental buyers as have representatives in New York are already in consultation with Alexander Beyfuss. EIGHT pictures are included in the second group of its fifth year product, soon to be relased by Gold\vyn Pictures Corporation. Prints of all of the films are in the twenty-two Goldwyn branch exchanges. The group consists of " Poverty of Riches," Will Rogers in "A Poor Relation," Tom Moore in ■' From the Ground Up," Max Linder in " Be My Wife," " The Grim Comedian," " The Night Rose," with Lon Chaney; "The Man from Lost River," with House Peters, and Vivian Martin in "Pardon My French." These photoplays embrace a wide variety of subjects and treatment. " Poverty of Riches," written by Leroy Scott and directed by Reginald Barker, is a powerful drama of thwarted motherhood. Will Rogers has a great role as the poverty stricken inventor ; Noah Vale in "A Poor Relation," adapted from Edward E. Kidder's famous stage comedy. Tom Moore has been fitted to perfection by Rupert Hughes in his new comedy of an Irish immi grant who rises from ditch-dij i to builder and contractor. 1 Mason Hopper directed. ] x Linder has another of his orig »1 and irresistible comedies in e My Wife," written and directe( y the star himself, distributed y Gold^v\•n. Vivian Martin ha a whirlwind farce-comedy in ". > don My French," from Ec ■• Childs Carpenter's story of "F i? in the Pantry." This is a M >more Kendall production, dire d by Sidney Olcott. "The Grim Comedian," F:# Lloyd's production of a Rita ^* man original screen story, : a gripping drama of life behind it scenes of New York theatrical t with a great cast including i Holt, Phoebe Hunt, Gloria H,* Bert Woodruff, Laura Lava* Mae Hopkins, John Harron W Joseph J. Dowling. " The ^ * Rose" is a tense and swift n > drama of adventure in the ur rworld life of San Francisco. " The Man from Lost River a Katharine Newlin Burt op: screen story of adventure in forests of the Great North