Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

January 21, 1922 623 TERRITORIAL SALES AND PURCHASES In the Independent Field STATE RIGHT AND E X P 0 RT NEWS AND VIEWS Exploitation Material on the “Love Slave” ALL exploitation material for the Russell Clark Syndicate attraction, Lucy Doraine in “The Love Slave, a Sascha production presented by Herz Film Corporation, have been completed and supplies have been forwarded to the New York Exchange of First National for Greater New York territory, and to the Buffalo Exchange for New York State territory. Shipment has also been made to Turner & Dahnken, who acquired the California rights. Full advantage has been taken of the Oriental subject and of the fact that the Eastern scenes were filmed in the Damascus of the Bible, and in the Arabian Desert. Rich Oriental colors make the paper unusually attractive and the same color scheme has been used in the elaborate lobby display, slides, etc. The press book for “The Love Slave” is unique in form and very compact. It opens out as a most impressive broadside instead of being bound as a booklet. The covers, front and back, are rich in color, and there is enclosed a “Clip Sheet” with advertising and publicity cuts, press matter and a Music Cue sheet prepared by James C. Bradford. The advertising and exploitation matter is the work of Raymond Cavanagh, who recently returned to the of his former associate Buradvertising field in the offices ton Rice. Otis Skinner Host to Exhibitors The Exceptional Pictures Corporation and Otis Skinner acted as joint hosts at a series of theatre parties in honor of a number of Pennsylvania and New Jersey exhibitors during the week of January 9th. These parties were arranged so that the leading exhibitors of Lancaster, Easton and Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Atlantic City, N. J., where Mr. Skinner played during the week, might have the opportunity of witnessing a performance by Otis Skinner of “Blood and Sand,” the highly successful stage play in which Mr. Skinner is at present touring the country prior to starting work on his second motion picture, “Mister Antonio,” which will be produced under the direction of the Exceptional Pictures Corporation. 6i His Nibs” in Kansas City Exceptional Picture Scores with Exhibitors at Pre-View Showing <( T T IS NIBS,” the Exceptional LI Pictures Corporation production in which Charles (Chic) Sale is starred, was given a pre-view at the Liberty theatre, Kansas City, on December 28th, the special showing taking place immediately after the regular show. That “His Nibs” proved a success at this pre-view is borne out by the enthusiastic report of the picture carried by The Reel Jour nal, one of the leading regional motion picture trade publications. Under the heading “ ‘ His Nibs ’ Makes Hit at Pre-view Showing ” was the following comment : “Those who have been looking for unique picture entertainment will find their every desire fulfilled in ‘His Nibs,’ the novelty rural comedy featuring Charles (Chic) Sale, and which is distributed in the Kansas City territory by Superior Pictures, Inc. “At a pre-view showing of the picture at the Liberty Theatre in Kansas City Wednesday nnght to a representative gathering, ‘ His Nibs’ made a decided hit. Its quaint and droll humor and the very cleverness of the production itself brought forth many laughs from the audience. “ It is a picture that will please any audience. It is rich with humor and is a production of such uniqueness as will be well received anywhere. ‘ Chic ’ Sale scores a triumph in his portrayal of seven different rural types. His work is artistically done and his characterizations so peculiarly funny in themselves that they cause laughter on every appearance. “ ‘ His Nibs ’ is indeed a charming bit of artistry; a clean and novel production ; good photography; splendid types; wonderful acting, and a cast containing prominent players, among them being Joseph Dowling and Colleen Moore. “ Here, indeed, is a distinct novelty. And there is no question as to how the public will receive it. It has many exploitation angles and it should surely prove a box office sensation.” This was the comment of the editor of the Reel Journal. (( School Days” Accessories Array of Exploitation Novelties Issued for Warner Feature SELDOM has there been offered to exhibitors an array of exploitation novelties that have been devised for Warner Brothers’ latest production, Gus Edwards’ “School Days,” featuring Wesley Barry, according to a recent announcement. There are fully thirteen novelties, and these range from a sticker suitable for use on all mailing matter to what is said to be the most unique cut-out that was ever used in conjunction with the exploitation of a motion picture. The Wesley Barry cut-out is in five colors, measures 1 3)4 x 21, and it contains in the center a black space 5)4 x 8, on which can be written in chalk pertinent data relative to the store in which it is displayed. The possibilities with this cut-out are declared to be tremendous. Other novel exploitation aids include a series of four cartoon strips especially drawn for the picture by Clare Victor Dwiggins, a well known newspaper cartoonist, who has syndicated the “School Days” comic for the past twelve years to over 300 leading dailies throughout the country. With “School Days” eight comic slides (two to a set) have also been made, and each set is said to present a humorous incident pertaining to the picture. In other words, it has been the aim of the Warner publicity department to get motion pictures patrons laughing long before they actually see the production. In addition to these aids there has also been provided a Wesley Barry badge ; a Wes Barry lollypop ; a strip of Barry photos, a rubber novelty that is calculated to keep the teachers of the country guessing and the kids laughing; a postal card, one side of which contains five scenes from the picture; a blotter that can be distributed to all school teachers and business houses ; and a complete line of paper. One of the big features of the paper is said to be the six-sheet, drawn by Mr. Dwiggins for “School Days.” It is an exact replica of a Sunday comic section, and it contains every element of humor found in the Sunday papers. This has also been made available as a half sheet. Foreign Sales Reported by Arrow Film David j. mountan, Foreign Manager of the Arrow Film Corporation, in a statement issued this week announced a number of important sales for that company’s product in the foreign market. Among these was the sale of eighteen Spotlight Comedies for Porto Rico, Santa Domingo and Haiti to the International Film Agency of San Juan. Famous Players-Lasky Corporation purchased fourteen Broadway Comedies for distribution by the Feature Films, Ltd., of Australiasia. Famous Lasky Film Service, Ltd., 166 Wardour street, London, England, also secured the fourteen Broadway Comedies for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. A. E. Gonzalez, of San Juan, Porto Rico, contracted for the eight Jack Hoxie features and ten one-reel Hank Mann Comedies for Porto Rico, Santa Domingo and Haiti. K. D. & Brothers, Bombay, India, purchased twenty-six tworeel Hank Mann Comedies for India, Burma and Ceylon. “Great Authors” Picture at N. Y. Strand Edgar Allan Poe, “ the tragic genius of America,” is the hero of the “ Great Authors ” picture playing at the Strand theatre in New York this week. The “ Great Authors ” series includes twelve pictures, all of which are playing their pre-release engagement at the Strand. They will be released nationally within a few weeks, the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation acting as the distributors for the Kineto Company of America, the producers. The publicity departments and the advertising departments of Kineto and Hodkinson are co-operating in preparing material that will be of every possible aid to the exhibitor. Adams to Be Co-Starred with Sid Smith In all forthcoming Percy and Ferdie Hallroom Comedies on the present Federated series, Jimmie Adams’ name will appear as cofeatured with Sid Smith, on the main titles of the pictures themselves, and on “paper,” advertising, and billing, announces the produc