Motography (Jan-Mar 1916)

January 15, 1916. MOTOGRAPHY 109 TO ESTABLISH CUBAN STUDIO World Film Corporation Leases Big Tract on Island and Will Erect Studio There That Will Accommodate Several Companies With the announcement of the departure at an early date of Clara Kimball Young and company for Cuba, comes the news that Lewis J. Selznick, vicepresident and general manager of the World Film Corporation, has completed plans for the establishment in that island of a great studio and general picture plant to be known as the World Film's tropical annex. Negotiations have been closed for a long lease of large sections of land near Santiago and the Dykeri mine district. The property includes long stretches of sea coast, many acres of dense jungle and cane fields and every possible variety of tropical settings. The sea coast included in the World Film holdings ranges from flat sandy beaches to cliffs of the most rugged and massive character. At points along the sea front the full force of the Atlantic sweeps in majestically in great rollers of green and white, while at other points are quiet lagoons of still water many feet deep, but so translucent as to permit the taking of motion pictures from above, in which the figures of divers and submerged wrecks can plainly be seen. "It has long been a pet project of mine to establish a tropical annex for our studios," said Mr. Selznick in announcing the new plan. "Many pictures involve scenes of a tropical character, and in addition it is impossible to take the exteriors of any picture during the winter months in this climate, except those demanding just such settings as we have here at that season. I feel that the cost of sending companies specially to California and Florida and transporting them back to Fort Lee to complete the interiors of their pictures could be greatly reduced by establishing a permanent place in a climate permitting work of all kinds throughout our winter months. "We secured the lease to the Cuban property at a remarkably low figure, and the architectural plans for the studio and living quarters for the company and working force have been passed upon. The work of construction will begin this month. It is our purpose to use the Cuban studio for many of our winter productions. It will be large enough to accommodate at least three companies at a time. On our property are locations available for almost every sort of scenic environment from mountains to sandy beaches. "Before closing with the Cuban property owners, our scouts visited Jamaica, but found conditions there impossible for the proper and prompt production of motion pictures. Aside from the climatic obstacles such as the frequency of violent storms and a peculiar atmospheric condition that has a tendencyAto befog the film, the severe restrictions of the British government since the war began decided us in favor of Cuba." sine, two Minneapolis film papers, also the following well-known exhibitors : James Keough, Strand theater, Minneapolis ; E. V. Calvert, New Garrick theater, Minneapolis; William Koening, Gaiety theater, Minneapolis; Prosper Schwie, Calhoun theater, Minneapolis ; W. E. Upham, New Nokomis theater, Minneapolis ; Messrs. Frankle and Jack Elliott, Lyric theater, Minneapolis ; George Granstrom, Strand theater, St. Paul ; Paul La Marquard, Starland theater, St. Paul, and Mr. Green, of the Cort, New Lake, East Lake and Hamlin theaters, Minneapolis. All those present pronounced the picture a masterpiece and congratulated Mr. Maude upon his wonderful work. Pathe Manager Entertains Cyril Maude Cyril Maude and several members of his company playing in "Grumpy" at the Metropolitan in Minneapolis last week were the guests of S. B. Sampson, manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc., to review "The Greater Will," a Gold Rooster play, featuring Mr. Maude. Among those present who met Mr. Maude were representatives of Amusements and Photoplay Maga LASKY MOVES TO NEW OFFICES Cramped for Space in Old Quarters, Lasky Feature Play Company Celebrates New Year by Moving to Fifth Avenue While the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company's studios at Hollywood, Calif., have been spreading out over a large tract of land, the executive offices of the firm, situated in New York, have been moved to larger and more commodious quarters also. The New York offices, heretofore comprising the entire top floor of the building at 120 West Forty-first street, are now situated in the new Rogers Peet Company building, 485 Fifth avenue, where they take in the entire eighth floor of the building. The process of moving from the old quarters into the new took place on New Year's day, soon after the return from Hollywood of Samuel Goldfish, executive head of the company. In the arrangement of the new offices of the Lasky company there has been a marked departure from the conventional system of office architecture. The first thing that will surprise the caller is a big waiting room, handsomely and comfortably furnished with easy chairs and lounges, reading table and writing desks. The entire Fifth avenue frontage is divided into private offices for Mr. Goldfish, Mr. Lasky, Arthur S. Friend, and a directors' room. On the Fortieth street side will be the offices of Whitman Bennett, business manager, and John C. Flinn, publicity manager. In the rotunda the stenographic department is situated, and in spacious quarters to the rear of the floor the shipping department is placed. Cincinnati League Elects Officers The Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce held its first annual election Tuesday, December 28, 1915, in Parlor "F" at the Hotel Sinton. The hours of voting were from 2 to 4 p. m. and in that period the major portion of the league's membership cast ballots favoring one contestant or another. Two tickets were in the field, designated as the red ticket and the blue ticket. The success of the red ticket, which was elected entire, was due to the progressive methods of campaigning at the polls adopted by the first vice-president, A. G. Hettesheimer. Each member of the league as he approached the ballot box was presented with a red carnation, symbol of the red ticket. These carnations were handed to the members by a red-headed girl. Following the election an excellent Dutch lunch was served. During the course of this lunch an informal session was held presided over by President F. L.