Motography (Jul - Dec 1915)

726 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIV, No. 15. feature produced by Tefft Johnson, in which Virginia Pearson, Joseph Kilgour, Bobby Connelly, Naomi Childers, and Robert Gaillard, will be seen in the portrayal of the principal roles, is the first. A Cyrus Townsend Brady story, "Heights of Hazard," that contains every known thrill, will add additional interest to the month's program. "Heights of Hazard" is also a five-part feature and will introduce Charles Richman, Eleanor Woodruff and Charles Kent in the leading characterizations, the production being made under the direction of Capt. Harry Lambart. Robert Edeson, Fay Wallace, Lillian Burns, Charles Eldridge, John T. Kelly, and a special cast of Vitagraph players, will be seen in "The Cave Man," the last week of the month, produced under the direction of Theodore Marston. December will be ushered in by the release of "A Price For Folly." one of the strongest dramas on the Vitagraph program. It was written by George P. Dillenbeck and produced in five parts by George D. Baker, with Edith Storey, Antonio Moreno, Harry Morey, Charles Kent, Louise Beaudet, Ethel Corcoran and Arthur Cozine. Frank Daniels, the inimitable king of comedy, whose first Vitagraph release. "Crooky?' established him as a screen comedian in a class by himself, will round out the year's Vitagraph Blue Ribbon features in "What Happened to Father," written especially for him by Mary Roberts Rinehart. It is a story of the theater ; a story of that region known as "back stage," that has always been a mystery to the uninitiated. A strong. Vitagraph cast support Mr. Daniels in the enactment of the comedy, which was produced in five parts by C. Jay Williams. ELABORATE LOBBY DISPLAY Plimpton to Distribute Through Authors The Authors Film Co., Inc., which has been making such success in its new method of -express distribution with Walker Whiteside's "The Melting Pot," announces that contracts were signed last week' with Horace G. Plimpton, formerly general director for the Edison Company, who has just formed what will be known as the Plimpton Epic Pictures Corporation, whereby it will manufacture big features with big stars exclusively for the Authors Film Company, Inc., and its express distribution. Exchanges of V. L. S. E., Inc., Offer Exhibitors Oil Paintings and Lobby Advertising of De Luxe Kind on Features The sales force of V. L. S. E., Inc., are earnestly spreading broadcast the doctrine that the proper place for lithographs is on the billboard, and that an artistic, dignified lobby makes the greatest appeal to the largest number of the most desirable patrons. This propaganda is in line with the unceasing efforts of the "Big Four" organization, to increase the prestige of the photo-drama and thereby aid the exhibitor in attracting the better paying class of patronage. Backing up their declaration that the exhibitor should look not only for good features, but good features accompanied by the best material to exploit them, the V. L. S. E. have had built a number of sample lobby sets on the Vitagraph feature, "Playing Dead," which will be displayed in the various branches of the organization as examples of the most effective type of lobby display. These sets consist of five pieces, each of which is an original oil painting. There are no reprints. All of the art work has been done with a brush, by hand. They are made up in two ways : Some of the pieces are distinct and individual scenes from the play, while others provide artistic frames in which to set "stills." In the latter case, the space on the board not occupied by photographs bears impressionistic decorations, suggestive of the theme of the features. The display on "Playing Dead" is only the forerunner of a similar series to be prepared for the other V. L. S. E. releases. The C. J. Dryden company, which was so successful with this first issue, has also been engaged by the Selig company to visualize the main incidents in "The Circular Staircase," in a like manner, and by the Essanay company to prepare the display for "The Man Trail." Features to follow from these manufacturers' studios will be treated, likewise, and the Lubin company has signified its intention of adopting the advanced idea. ' It is interesting to note that this move' of V. L. S. E. is not only commercially sound, but that it is in line with the agitation in many cities to prohibit the use of mounted paper in any form in the lobbies of moving picture theaters. Boise, Idaho, is one of the cities to adopt an ordinance against this kind of display, on the ground that nothing is more inflammable than paper mounted on canvass, and that where this kind of paper is hung in theater lobbies, the main avenue of escape, in case of fire, is entirely cut off. A cigarette thrown aside as some careless person enters the lobby, a half lighted match carelessly tossed away, a short circuit in the wiring, or various other causes, might easily start a fire at any moment. The State of Michigan has also taken cognizance of this danger, and has passed a "law abolishing this kind of advertising throughout the state. "Shanghaied," hailed as Charles Chaplin's funniest comedy, has been completed in Essanay's Los Angeles studio, and critics who have seen it are unanimous in the assertion that it is the best laugh-making photoplay Mr. Chaplin has ever produced. It is released Monday, October 4.