Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

624 Motion F i c t u r e News Exclusive Has Curwood Series ONE of the most important developments of the New Year in the independent field is the announcement coming from the offices of the Exclusive Features, Inc., to the effect that this concern has ready and is now offering to the State Right buyers of the country a series of twelve two reel James Oliver Curwood dramas. The two reel offerings present a wide range of stories, and are said to be remarkable for the artistic and effective manner in which they were produced by Colonel William Selig. An elaborate and adequate line of lithographic advertising accessories have been prepared. The Exclusive Features publicity department have completed work on a press book designed to aid the exchangemen to sell the series to the exhibitor and at the same time contains abundant material from which the theatre manager can choose matter for use in both his house program and the local newspapers. In speaking of the reissuing of this series of James Oliver Curwood two reelers. an official of the Two Reel Dramas Were Produced bv Col. Wm. Selig ' Exclusive Features, Inc., stated that the action of his concern was prompted by the desire of placing in the hands of the independent exchange subjects which would be received by exhibitors as welcome additions to their programs. “ Our main desire,” continued the Exclusive executive, “ is to place upon the market product which the independent exchangeman can place upon the screens of his territory with a minimum of effort and expense. We believe that the merit and quality of the James Oliver Curwood series will command a quick and ready market, and will prove to be money getters for the exhibitor. “ The past year has been a very hard one for all branches of the motion picture industry, but on the whole the manager has had to fight on the very front lines. We all owe the exhibitor a deep debt of gratitude, and it is our duty to stand behind him by supplying pictures which will fill his house, at a rental figure which will assure him a reasonable and certain profit.” It is said by those who have seen the pictures of this series, that, in all respects they reflect great credit upon Mr. Curwood as an author, and Colonel William N. Selig as a producer. From all sections of the country there has been manifested a great interest in these productions among the progressive exchanges throughout the country, and the Exclusive office feels that a full hundred per cent distribution will result from the forthcoming exploitation campaign, which is now being mapped out. The Exclusive executives feel assured that good product will always find a profitable market, and they are certain that the offering of the revivals of the James Oliver Curwood series will prove to be a welcome event in the independent film circles of the country. “Ten Nights” Popularity Grows WORD received from W. E. Shallenberger, president of Arrow Film Corporation, states that the big Arrow-SuperSpecial “ Ten Nights in a Barroom” is enjoying excellent business. S. H. Bunce, who is releasing the picture in New England, through the Lightning Photoplay Corporation, has secured a number of one week contracts in theatres through New England. Amongst these are Lawrence, Mass., where it opened Monday, January 9th, to excellent business. Haverhill, Mass., New Bedford and many other cities. Mr. Bunce states that the picture will open in a down town theatre in Boston for an indefinite run the latter part of this month and says that exhibitors from all over the New England territory are evincing a keen interest in the picture. Another territory where the picture opens for a week run is Pennsylvania where Tony Luchase launched the premier presentation at the Arcadia theatre, Reading, Pennsylvania, on Monday the ninth, for a week’s run. John Lowell, star of the production and Baby Ivy Ward, who plays the part of little Mary Morgan, are appearing in person in connec Week Bookings Greet Arrow Special in New England tion with the Reading showing. Dr. Shallenberger says that Arrow is in receipt of a great number of letters and telegrams from leading theatres all over the United States, who are desirous of book ing this picture, which only goes to prove that given a real box-office attraction there is no difficulty in securing dates at leading theatres. It is the opinion of Arrow’s offi1 cials that the motion picture public I today are shopping. The old day I of going to a movie is passed. The ’ amusement loving public today are careful to select a photoplay which has real entertainment value and which they want to see. Independent Franklyn Backer Crisis Passed and Field Man ager Scott, Are Both Optimistic TWO REEL • COMEDIES • New — Funny — Sure Fire CARNIVAL COMEDIES featuring POLLY MORAN and “SMILING” BILL JONES Territory going fast Wire C. B. C. Film Sales Corp. 1600 Broadway New York OLLOWING conferences with T his field manager, Lester M. Scott, upon his recent arrival in New York, Franklyn E. Backer, who returned from an extended trip to the different exchange centers two weeks ago in which he made a thorough personal investigation of conditions for East Coast Productions, Inc., stated that the results of a careful study of their combined information shows to their entire satisfaction that the independent exchanges throughout the country have, in the great majority of cases, passed the crisis in the period of readjustment and are now entering definitely upon a career of slowly improving business. The territory covered by Mr. Scott included visits to Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha, St. Louis, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington and Baltimore, while Mr. Backer’s trip was also confined to exchange centers east of Minnesota. When the former reported to the home office of Amalgamated Productions, which are being distributed under a franchise plan by East Coast Productions, Inc., he found his chief busy superintending the fitting up of the new offices recentlv added to the suite in the Times building and says that he realized immediately that Mr. Backer had read the barometer of business conditions much the same as he had. “What impressed me the most on this last trip,” said Mr. Scott, “was the very marked improvement in the business methods, or perhaps I should say, the air of efficiency, that has taken the place of the easy-going methods from which so many of the exchanges suffered in times passed. My conclusions, which check up with those of Mr. Backer, are that the majority of exchanges have turned the corner and have learned many valuable lessons while negotiating the turn which will make for general improvement throughout the entire independent field.” New York Teachers to See “School Days” Before Warner Brothers release “School Days” in New York. Harry Rapf, the producer, will shortly give a private showing of this Wesley Barry film to all the public school teachers of New York City, by arrangement with the Board of Education. “Shadows of Conscience” Campaign Book Issued ^pHADOWS OF CONSCIENCE,” the seven reel American classic produced by the W. D. Russell Productions, Inc., is being introduced to exhibitors by one of the most attractive broadsides of picture history. It is printed in six colors, and is not only attractive to the eye, but gives the prospective purchaser of the “ Shadows ” picture a knowledge of the film almost as complete as if he had witnessed a showing. A sixteen page campaign book, for the “Shadows ” picture, is one of the most complete exhibitor helps ever published. Written and arranged by competent newspaper people, it contains many ads arranged for various sizes of newspaper space, as well as short snappy stories and reviews which can be used in the local newspapers without revision, and gives an abundance of ideas for practical, inexpensive exploitation. A Unique feature of the book is a complete prologue, written and arranged for showing in any theatre. The picture will be distributed in Kansas, Western Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, and Southern Idaho by George A. Levy, president of the I Liberty Theatres Film Exchange, of Denver. The Pioneer Film Corporation, of New York, will handle the “ Shadows ” picture in the territory of New York, northern New Jersey, Illinois and Indiana. Wisconsin and the upper peninsula if Michigan will be booked by the W. G. Gaskell Enterprises of Chicago. Albert ParkerJDirecting John Barrymore In the picturization of Conan Doyle’s famous detective story, “ Sherlock Holmes,” an Albert Parker Production, starring John Barrymore, the screen gets one of the most intensifving of mystery films. Some years ago, Director Parker played a role in William Gillette’s stage play of “ Sherlock Holmes,” and the idea of making a picture of it stayed with him. Last autumn, Parker spoke to John Barrymore about this project, and Barrymore, having just finished “ The Lotus Eaters,” and on the lookout for a good story, was immediately interested in the proposition. “Out of the Inkwell” at Kunsky’s Capitol Max Fleischer’s “ Out of the Inkwell” comedies, have been booked for John Kunsky’s new 4,000-seat picture palace, the Capitol at Detroit. Two subjects were shipped to the Capitol, “ Fishing ” and “ Invisible Ink.”