Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

636 Motion Picture News Changes in Cosmopolitan Producing Staff A REORGANIZATION of the Producing Department of Cosmopolitan Productions has been effected with the designation of William Le Baron as Director-General, the appointment of Verne H. Porter as Scenario Editor and the appointment of Howard Irving Young as Film Editor. As Director-General Mr. Le Baron, heretofore Editor-inChief of the Scenario Department, will be responsible for the approval of stories, for the due development and dramatic construction of the story throughout the making and editing of the picture. Mr. Le Baron, in addition to being well known in the motion picture industry, has an enviable reputation as a dramatist. He is the author of many stage productions. Joseph Urban, besides his duties as Production Manager, is in charge of all construction, costuming, lighting and analagous matters. His settings for Cosmopolitan Productions have been accorded the highest praise in this country and abroad, his very name having come to mean perfection in scenic art. William Sistrom, Mr. Urban’s assistant, is thoroughly equipped with knowledge concerning the production of motion pictures, having won his spurs as manager of Universal City. Verne H. Porter comes to the producing company from Cosmopolitan Magazine of which he has been editor since 1918. Mr. Porter has had an interesting career as a newspaperman, magazine editor and scenario writer. Howard Irving Young brings to Cosmopolitan Productions, in his capacity of film editor, a ripe experience of motion pictures. In the Production Department, under the reorganization, there will be a Production Board, consisting of Messrs. Urban, Le Baron, Sistrom and Porter. There will also be an Editing Board, consisting of Mr. Le Baron, Mr. Young, the chief cutter and the scenario writer of each picture under consideration. The reorganization is aimed at establishing in the producing company a division between departments, patterned roughly after the distinction in the publishing business the editorial department and the business .office. The institution has been divided into the Producing Department and the Financial Department. “Theodora ’’Breaks Record Goldwyn’s Sensation Smashing House Records Throughout U. S. REPORTS received at Goldwyn headquarters from the large cities where its Italian spectacular photoplay, “Theodora, is showing, indicate that this film is destined to be the world’s premiere moneygetter, announce that company. Furthermore, it is stated that it has shattered all previous house records in every motion picture theatre where it has been showm and where reports have been received in New York. The world’s greatest theatre, the Capitol, in New York City, is included in that statement. It did $23,240 in its first two days at the Capitol and paid admissions were 37,081 for the two days. Despite its previous four months’ run at $2 top at the Astor theatre, a legitimate house, the engagement of “Theodora” at the Capitol was extended for a second week. “ ‘Theodora’ has broken house records at the Roosevelt, the big new picture house in Chicago,” states Goldwyn, in listing the sensational picture achievements, “It has broken all house records at the California theatre in Los Angeles. It has broken all house records at the American theatre in Denver. Also at the Majestic in Wilmington, Del. “At the New' York showing at the playing immediately are : America, Denver, Colo. ; ParamountEmpress, Salt Lake City ; Alhambra, Ogden, Utah ; Liberty, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Empress, Laramie, Wyo. ; Columbia, Portland, Ore. ; Strand, Seattle, Wash.; California, Los Angeles, Cal.; Franklin, Oakland, Cal.; Imperial, San Francisco, Cal. Ascher’s Roosevelt, Chicago, 111. ; Alhambra, Milwaukee, Wis. ; Princess, Springfield, 111. ; Circle, Indianapolis, Ind. ; Gary, Gary, 111. ; Orpheum, Fort Wayne, Ind. ; Ascher’s Capitol, Cincinnati, O. ; Orpheum, Akron, O. ; Pantheon, Toledo, O. ; Liberty, Dayton, O. ; Majestic, Springfield, O. ; Grand, Columbus, O. ; Allen, Cleveland, O. ; Majestic, Wilmington, Del. ; Aris, Erie, Pa. ; Gillis. Clarksburg, W. Va. ; Capitol, Charleston, W. Va. Alamo, Louisville, Ky. ; Adams, Detroit, Mich. ; Isis, Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Tulane, New Orleans, La.; Globe, Boston, Mass. ; Fay’s, Providence, R. I. ; Imperial, Pawtucket, R. I.; Smith, Woonsocket, R. I. ; Fox, Springfield, Mass. ; Palace, Buffalo, N. V. ; Fay’s Rochester, N. Y. ; Opera House, Kingston, N. Y. ; Bareli, Schenectady, N. Y. ; Stone O. H. Binghamton, N. Y. ; Lyceum, Elmira, N. Y. ; Strand, Albany, N. Y. ; Fox’s Liberty, St. Louis, Mo. The spectacle will also be screened at early dates at the following theatres ; Strand, Plainfield, N. J. ; Garden, Princeton, N. J. ; Fox Liberty, Elizabeth, N. J. ; Fox American, Paterson, N. J. ; Suffolk, Holyoke, Mass. ; Empire, Portland, Me. ; Broadway, Lawrence, Mass. ; Strand, Gloucester, Mass. ; Hamilton, Yonkers, N. Y. ; Rialto, Glens Falls, N. Y. ; American, Troy, N. Y. ; Cohen’s, Newburgh, N. Y. ; Rialto, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; Sheridan, New York City; Columbia, Washington, D. C. ; Parkway, Madison, Wis. ; Garrick, St. Paul, Minn. ; Garrick. Duluth, Minn. ; Colonial, Urbana, 111. Hodkinson Leaves for Coast In Search of Pictures for Coming Year; Aims to Surpass 1921 Record WW. HODKINSON, presi. dent of the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, left New York Tuesday on his annual trip to the Pacific Coast in search of newr productions for the coming year. He will proceed direct to Los Angeles, W'here he will make his headquarters at the Hotel Ambassador, and on his return, probably by March 1st, will endeavor to visit a number of the new Hodkinson Branch Exchanges, all of which have been established since his last visit to the Coast. “ We tried to keep our last year’s product above the average run,” Mr. Hodkinson said just before leaving, “and that we succeeded is borne out by a rather unusual tribute accorded our pictures by the National Committee for Better Films of the National Board of Review. Among forty-seven productions chosen by the Board’s Committee as the ‘finest year’s group since the photodrama was created,’ five bore the Hodkinson seal — ‘Jane Eyre,’ ‘A Certain Rich Man,’ ‘Rip Van Winkle,’ ‘The Man of the Forest,’ and ‘ Lavender and Old Lace.’ In other words, with about 2% of the country’s distribution to our credit, we registered more than 10% of its best pictures, and I want to see this record out distanced in 1922, for it is something that our producers may well be proud of. This is practical proof of the soundness of the principle of selecting pictures solely on merit from various sources of supply, and it is all the more important because it coincides with one of the most ambitious moves yet made to get away from factory production on the part of screen artists desiring to form a direct contact with the exhibitor. I allude to the recent formation in Los Angeles of the Screen Artists’ Guild, which also has for one of its objects the elimination of salacious and suggestive pictures from the motion picture theatre. Certainly, until the men and women who make their living in moving pictures take firm hold of this situation and insist upon a wholesome screen, there will be continually hanging over them the bug-bear of federal, state and even municipal censorship. “If the efforts of this and other strong bodies can be merged in the common good, in encouraging serious minded advocates of a clean screen, the producer with the offcolor picture will find few doors open to him. This is the easiest, best and most efficacious way to beat censorship.” Pathe Releases for Jan. 22 Lloyd Revivals Popular; “That’s Him ” Is Announced for Re-Issue PATHE EXCHANGE, INC., announces that because of the tremendous popularity with which the re-issued one-reel comedies starring Harold Lloyd have been received by exhibitors, “ That’s Him,” the latest re-issued comedy, deserves to rank at head of shortsubject features and the one serial episode scheduled for release January 22nd. “The Lost Trail,” is the title of the fourth episode of “ White Eagle,” the new Pathe serial starring Ruth Roland. “ The Bear and the Bees ” is the latest animated cartoon of the series of “ Aesop’s Film Fables.” “ Call the Witness ” is the title of the latest Hal Roach comedy starring “ Snub ” Pollard. The diminutive, moustached comedian appears as a husband who is being sued for divorce. Marie Mosquini is the wife. The Hal Roach comedians Pathe Review No. 139 is filled with interesting and entertaining subjects, the outstanding feature being “Getting Through to Baroda,” a Pathecolor offering showing an expedition into the little known wilds of Abyssinia. Other subjects included are: “The Unseen River,” a thought or two on the water supply system of New York City; and " The Fox Fur Factory,” a new industry of the North. FRED STARK Musical Director 147 West 117th St. New York City Long Experience, Best Reputation, Finest References, Immense Library. At Liberty! Now! ORCHESTRA LEADER Master Conductor Solo Violinist for HIGH CLASS MOTION PICTURE THEATRE Only first-class Houses with large Orchestras and modern equipment considered. Master of arranging and synchronizing Musical Settings for pictures. Finest modern and artistic Film Presentations.