Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

February 2 5 , 1922 1219 FIRST NATIONAL celebrates this week its Fourth Anniversary. It is the anniversary of an idea — an idea which like other big ideas began in a little way and steadily grew till it rattled and reordered things in general. Reminiscences are in order. The writer can well recall a long letter received from J. D. Williams, some years ago in which he spoke at length of big theatres and little theatres and of a new order of events that was about due. The letter was written from the West Coast and Mr. Williams was just starting out on a circle of the country, to sell the idea to exhibitors. He came back to New York and some exhibitors followed him here. Then some small offices were opened at 18 East 41st Street. Just J. D. and a small clerical force. Then C. L. Yearsley who was with Mr. Williams in Australia came along. It was tough sledding at first. The writer also recalls a lunch with J. D. and a long discussion of this same tough sledding. But the idea went along. The industry began to talk a good deal about it. It’s a good idea — about the best so far, everybody agreed; but, said everyone, a crowd of exhibitors like this will not stick together ! That’s the weak point ! Of course, if they do — ; but then, they won’t! It isn’t possible. But they did; and they are together. The idea held them together; and now it holds a very large number together; and the institution is a big and solid one. With every idea, however, there are always men; if not, the idea however good doesn’t get very far. It is often said that good men are a great deal scarcer than good ideas. Does anyone fully realize how true this is? So we take this occasion to take off our hat — as we have often and frankly done in a verbal way before — to J. D. Williams, Harry Schwalbe, C. L. Yearsley and all those who have so sturdily and staunchly stood in the trenches of a mighty long and engaging struggle. PEOPLE AND PICTURES We are glad that the Rev. John Roach Straton of New York City elected the pulpit instead of the stage for a professional career. .The church, of course, is not to be blamed for the Rev. Straton. When the latter recently staged, or should ive say, pulpited <1 debate between himself and Wm. A. Brady— this to take place at the Calvary Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Brady, who reluctantly came to the pulpit, pointed out that the place was not fitted for the debate the Rev. Straton has so long and persistently clamored for. If the Rev. Straton’ s congregation wants Sunday entertainment may we not suggest that he use motion pictures $ They ure not so sensational it is true: but they are more instructive and certainly cleaner. They would not, for instance, dare to express silently the subjects of immorality so boomingly littered by the Reverend Straton. * * * Julian Johnson former editor of Photoplay Magazine, and who is recognized as a successful film production editor, will henceforth hang Ins hat m the Eastern office of Famous Players In the limelight this week at Albany; Charles O’Reilly and Sydney Cohen Jesse Lasky has announced his appointment as manager of the Editorial Department of the concern. ^ ^ There is something more than an idea behind the formation and production plans of Visuagraphic Pictures. Tarkington Baker, president of the new concern, has a purpose — one which if carried out persistently will ally many men of influence, who if not actually hostile, have previously shown no great friendliness for the industry. The first important step has resulted in the signing of a contract with Science Service, an endowed institution of Washington, D. C., devoted to dissemination of scientific information in popular form, and an organization severely hedged about by ethical restrainments. With the assistance of this body, which numbers on its Board of Trustees, some of the most noted educators, and scientists in the country, a series of illuminating short reel pictures will be made. Later it is contemplated to produce scenarios from the' pens of such notables as Sir Oliver Lodge, Thomas A. Edison, Dr. Woods Hutchinson, David Starr Jordon and Mary Roberts Rinehart. # =& * Page Mr. Hard Times! Jos. W. Farnham wishes to give him an earful of complaint. Complaint to the effect that he has never experienced such busy times. Says he is loaded up ivith agreements to edit and title pictures. You wfn, Joe — six lines of free space. * * # An interesting booklet replete with facts, figures and illustrations, has been issued by the Fox Film Co. It is really a history of the organization, leading the reader from the first days of the concern right down to the present. Profusely pictured are the studios and offices of the organization in New York, Los Angeles and Rome. It is really a compact history of eighteen milestones of progress of the picture industry. * * * It can scarcely be said that R. S. Cole and his associates have a pessimistic outlook. Not when their schedule of production and distribution activities for the year exceeds last years by 14%. Twenty eight releases last year, and an estimated thirty-six for the present year ending in August, tells the story. * # # Whenever Carl Laemmle thinks of the cost of those sets in “ Foolish Wives ” — those Monte Carlo affairs which fill the heart with a longing to hop across the briny — he can find some consolation if he thinks of what happened when they made “ Sodom and Gomorrah ” over in Europe. It may be recalled that these two Biblical hamlets got a pretty rough deal when they didn’t behave. So two beautiful film cities were built up. In due time they were to be fired or otherwise exterminated. And they were. Only they caught fire before schedule time, and the cameras were not there. * * Mabel Normand, unfortunately drawn into the Taylor case by having visited him the night of his death, has been completely exonerated of any connection with it by the District Attorney of Los Angeles. The “ yellow ” dailies must, perforce turn scandal pens in other directions now.