Motography (Jan-Jun 1915)

June 5, 1915. MOTOGRAPHY 941 Brevities of the Business E. R. Pearson, manager of the Kansas City Branch of the V. L. S. E., is a veteran film man who, through four years' experience with the General Film Company, is thoroughly acquainted with the past performances of "The Big Four." Mr. Pearson joined the General Film Company at Omaha, as assistant manager, in February, 1911. In 1912 he was appointed manager, remaining there until June, 1914, at which time he resigned and accepted the management of the Omaha Branch of the Eclectic, later called Pathe. Just previous to accepting his present position, Mr. Pearson devoted his time to the booking of special features. "In this business there is certain to be a 'tomorrow,' " says Mr. Pearson, "and he who looks into that tomorrow, will find practically certain proof of the success of the V-L-S-E. No industry can stand still. It must either advance or retreat. V-L-S-E represents the greatest advance that has been taken since the inception of the business." It can be said that Mr. Pearson is justifying his faith by his works,, and his is a busy office. M. H. Hoffman, who has been general manager of the Universal Film Exchange of New York for the past year, was last week appointed general manager of exchanges for the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. This is one of the most important positions in the Universal organization and the officers of the company feel that they have selected the logical man for this exacting office. The choice lay among some ten or twelve men of long experience, any one of whom would have been fully qualified for the work, but the fact that Mr. Hoffman happened to be located in New York, where he would be in closer touch with the executive officers of the Universal, turned the scales in his favor. Mr. Hoffman's rise in the exchange field has been very rapid and entirely due to his own efforts and personality, having been successively manager of the Twenty-third Street and the Messa Exchanges. He is at once business like and genial and has always been a personal friend to every exhibitor in his territory, which accounts for his success. William Worthington, who played "Craig" in "The Black Box" serial, is now directing his own company. His first picture will be "Jackals All," a two-reel drama of novel theme. Otis Turner in future will handle the Hobart Bosworth Company. Mr. Worthington finished several of the reels of "The Black Box" serial in the absence of Mr. Turner and, despite his protests, was forthwith harnessed up to a director's job as a reward for his good work. Howard Scott, one of the most remarkable interpreters of character roles in the legitimate, has been added to the rapidly growing number of new artists at the Selig coast studios. Mr. Scott first will be seen in "The Isle of Content," a sea story now in the hands of Director George Nicholls. Frank Griffin, one of Mack Sennett's Keystone directors, is back at work after a few days on the sick list. He has temporarily joined Managing Editor Del Ruth's scenario department. Miss Olga Printzlau Clark has joined the scenario department of the Universal Pacific Coast studios. Miss Clark until recently had been doing scenario work for the American company at Santa Barbara. Little Peggy Shannon who is playing opposite Joe Sullivan, the original Peaceful Rafferty created by Charles O'Hara, has signed up permanently with the All-Celtic Film Company to play the leading feminine roles in the Rafferty comedies. Lawrence B. McGill of the Metro forces is assembling the cast for the forthcoming production of "Sealed Valley." William J. Bauman the other newly secured director is now at Los Angeles with Francis X. Bushman starting work on the first Quality-Metro release, in which Bushman will appear, "The Second in Command." Henry McRae and his Bison players followed the SellsFloto show all over California for more than two weeks in order to obtain all the circus scenes required in "Patsy of the Circus," a two-reel drama featuring Marie Walcamp and Wellington Playter which is to be released under the Bison brand on June 12. Marshall Neilan and Al Filson are the latest directors to join the Selig Polyscope Company. Mr. Neilan is now Film Market Quotations and Financial Gossip Supplied by R. D. Small of A. E. Butler & Co., Chicago. Bid Asked American Film Mfg. Co 172 Biograph Co 56 62 General Film Corp. pref 48 53 Majestic Film Mfg. Co 162 180 Mutual Film Corp. pref 57 60 Mutual Film Corp. com . 71 75 North American Film Corp. pref. 50 60 North American Film Corp. com 50 60 New York Motion Picture Corp 79J 83 Reliance Motion Picture Corp 29 36 Thanhouser Film Corp 87 93 Universal Film Corp 138 .... World Film Corp 4 4£ World Film Corporation — It is freely predicted, from what might be called semi-official sources, that the stock of this company will go on a dividend basis on or before July 1. On the other hand, information which cannot be ignored has been offered to the effect that the operating expenses of this organization make such a tremendous cut into its gross revenue that profits are not what might reasonably be expected. Stock can be had in fairly liberal amounts around 454 Mutual Film Corporation has been unquestionably weak during the past five days, and there have been quite a number of offerings from New York. As the annual meeting takes place on June 16 and proxy requests are now in the mail, both politics and some possible change in the policy may explain the decline in the market. Metro Film — This company has made a very decided impression in the film field and its offerings are having due effect upon the business of the older and larger concerns. Its securities have not as yet become sufficiently active to warrant their general quotation, but this company must be reckoned with in the general distribution of business. New York Motion Picture Corporation continues to be the strongest stock irrthe last week and sales have taken place at figures above 80. Offerings are, however, very scarce. North American Film Corporation — That "The Diamond from the Sky" represents a' very distinct find as an interest-holding story, is made known from the tribunal of last resorts, namely — "box office receipts." Beyond any question of conjecture this production is a very decided success, with bookings in force jumping each week to new high levels. An interesting evidence that many of the foreign countries, despite their enforced attention on war conditions, still secure their amusement through the films, is found in a statement of the American Film Releases' foreign representative as to the size and continuity of orders for releases during the past two months, particularly for English moving picture theaters. _ This goes to show that the film industry enjoys a certain immunity even from war problems.