Motography (Jul-Sep 1916)

July 1, 1916. MOTOGRAPHY 47 Sifted from the Studios ATLANTIC COAST NOTES Robert Grau has been appointed by Thomas H. Ince as general manager for both national and international publicity campaigns to be undertaken on behalf of "Civilization." Norman S. Rose, of the publicity department of the Triangle Film Corporation, was married on June 10 to Miss Eloise de Montford, stepdaughter of Maurice V. Samuels, the playwright. Shannon Fife, the photoplaywright, who has been in Dallas, Texas, for the past few months, has returned to New York. Jule Power, who appears with Billie Burke in "Gloria's Romance," writes poetry for publication. Olive Thomas, of the Ziegfeld "Midnight Frolic," has joined the International Film Company forces as leading woman for Harry Fox in comedies. Victor L. Schertzinger, who wrote the musical score for Thomas H. Ince's eleven reel photodrama, "Civilization, at the Criterion Theater, has introduced a new march into his music, dedicated to Mr. Ince, and entitled "The Civilization March." This will be published shortly in sheet music form. Bennett Southard, who has appeared on the speaking stage and in pictures for the Famous Players and the Equitable has been engaged to play opposite Mabel Taliaferro in Metro productions. Reina Valdez, who has been leadingwoman with Essanay and Lasky companies in the west, has returned to New York, where she will join an eastern film company. Miss Valdez has also written and directed photoplays. Antonia Gaudio, formerly cameraman with the Universal and American companies, has joined the Metro-Yorke forces and will travel to California with Harold Lockwood and May Allison when these players finish their work_ in "The River of Romance," now being produced at Thousand Islands. Before coming to America, Mr. Gaudio was head cameraman for the Ambrosio Film Company of Italy. Paul Dickey, director general of the International Film Service, played football for the University of Michigan in nineteen hundred three, four and five. Gertrude McCoy is being starred in a series of three-act features now being prepared at the Gaumont-Mutual studios. The first, "Gates of Divorce," a story of city life, was written by Robert Burns, a New York newspaper man. Gertrude Robinson, who has returned from the Gaumont winter studios at Jacksonville, recently entertained a number of her studio fellow workers at dinner at her home. Irene Castle, who is to do a series of pictures for the International Film Service, has returned from a short trip to England. In the Vitagraph play "The Secret Kingdom," Dorothy Kelly, who plays "Inez," the villainess, assumes many disguises, appearing as a little old lady, as a parlor maid, as a widow, as an innocent ingenue, and as herself, the wicked adventuress. Charles Brabin, who has been directing for the Essanay Company, is now with Vitagraph and will direct Marc MacDermott's next play, which was written by Mary Imlay Taylor. Brabin formerly directed MacDermott in the latter's first five-reel features, when both were with Edison. The Wharton studios at Ithaca, N. Y., where "The Mysteries of Myra" is being produced, employ no violet ray lights, being equipped with 1000-watt Mazda lights throughout. They also have the dimming process well worked out and are able to take advantage of many rare photographic effects. Film Market Quotations ana Financial Gossip Supplied by R. D. Small of Butler, Small & Co., Chicago. Bid Asked American Film Co., Inc.... 85 92 Biograph Company 30 Famous Players Film Co... 65 100 General Film Corp., Pref 30 Lone Star Corp., Com 27 35 Mutual Film Corp., Pref 41 47 Mutual Film Corp., Com... 41 47 No. Am. Film Corp., Pref... 100 108 No. Am. Film Corp., Com.. 40 47 New York M. P. Corp 35 42 Thanhouser Film Corp.... 2y2 3%* States Film Corp., Com... 43 50 Triangle Film Corp 2 3</a* Universal Film Mfg. Co... 185 *Par $5.00. General Film Corporation: A receiver for this company has been asked by P. L. Waters of New York and Jas. B. Clark of Pittsburgh, acting as a protective committee, and action was begun in the Superior Court of New York against various directors by owners of the common stock of the General Film Corporation. The plaintiffs are represented by one of the leading law firms in New York — Messrs. Cadwallader, Wickersham and Taft — and the action charges gross mismanagement and improper dissipation of assets amounting to $2,240,164.87. The summons and complaints were served upon defendants Monday, June 12th. The net of the whole suit seems to be in the charge of discrimination against the interests of the General Film stockholders in favor of the organization known as V. L. S. E. and also the George Kleine Feature service, which is in violation of Paragraph 6 of contract dated 1910. It is impossible to secure a bid on General Film preferred at the present time. Paramount Pictures Corporation: At a meeting of the Paramount stockholders it was announced the Famous Players and Lasky Film corporations, instead of becoming affiliated with another organization, will continue to distribute through the Paramount Pictures Corporation. Vogue Films Incorporated: There is no question in the minds of the management of the company but that Vogue comedies will show net earnings in excess of 50 per cent for the year. While they have taken on the more expensive program and highest paid stars, such as Turpin, the popularity of the Vogue releases has been exceptional all over the country. It is pretty generally under stood that this company, with its very small capitalization of $100,000, will, eventually, be increased to a very much larger figure. With Thanhouser out of the Mutual production program, Vogue now partially fills that vacancy and has an opportunity to greatly increase its earnings. Purchases at anywhere near the present market we feel will very decidedly repay the investor. American Film Company Incorporated: Is making a world's record in output of film, averaging between 700,000 and 800,000 feet per week, or at the rate of 40,000,000 feet per year. This, of course, includes the printing they have to do for outside companies. The American Film Company Incorporated, in its new policy of financing with its own money such special features as "The Secret of the Submarine," has justified its judgment. Bookings on that serial have already gone to $200,000 and the most conservative expectations are $400,000. At this rate the American makes about $110,000, and it has already made $100,000 and over in net profits on "Damaged Goods'" alone. The company also makes approximately $90,000 profit in printing for other concerns. At the present time it is reported to be earning at the rate of $500,000 per year. North American Film Corporation: Bookings in England are in excess of $20,000. There has been a wonderful impetus in the demand for "Diamond From the Sky" in all the country districts throughout the United States. It has already been pretty thoroughly shown in the cosmopolitan cities. Common stock is again in demand between 40 and 47. Lone Star Corporation: If the company stopped operations today or its principal died, there would be sufficient net earnings to pay out the entire preferred and pay off a very substantial surplus to the common stockholders. In one week in Los Angeles theater, Lone Star Corporation secured $750 for the Chaplin releases, or at the rate of over $107 per night, which is a record for a two-reel comedy in the United States. Mutual Film Corporation: Directors' meeting occurs this week. While nothing definite is known at this time, it is reported a number of the directors favor a resumption of dividends on the preferred (at the rate of 7 per cent per annum) and on the common at the rate of 6 per cent per annum. If this news is confirmed there should be at least a 10point advance in the preferred and about 15 points in the common.