Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

344 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 8 United States Exhibitors' Booking Corporation, says he is beginning to get many good reports. William Waldron, manager of the U. S. theater, Hoboken, one of the leading picture houses in New Jersey, wrote : "We exhibitors in New Jersey have no cause to complain regarding business this winter, as it has been uniformly good. However, I firmly believe that with the advent of milder weather, conditions will become even better. I believe that the vast amount of money now being spent by the government in getting ready for war is just beginning to circulate freely in trade. While there has been no tendency on the part of New Jersey theatergoers to hoard, nevertheless we are all human and it has behooved us to be cautious." Business in Canada Good E. Auger, eastern division manager of Vitagraph, returned from a tour of the Eastern Canadian provinces and reported to Walter W. Irwin, general manager of the Vitagraph distributing organization, that conditions in the dominion were most encouraging. "Despite one of the severest winters the country ever has known," said Mr. Irwin, "Mr. Auger found that the theaters in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, St. John and other large places are doing better now than for a long time past. Vitagraph, in fact, is handling a larger amount of business in this territory than at any time in its history and this we take as a fair example of general conditions across our northern border." An interesting part of the information brought to Mr. Irwin by his eastern manager was in relation to stricken Halifax. Although the city which was almost blown to bits a few weeks ago, has only begun to rebuild, motion picture houses are open and are doing a good business. ing the third. Both are of the melodramatic nature with excellent situations and elaborate settings. Louise Glaum Starts Work on First Play for Paralta Louise Glaum, who is widely known as "The Lady of the Peacocks," started work this week on a production in which she will make her debut as a Paralta star. Paralta has recognized in Miss Glaum a talent for dramatic and emotional acting which has, to a great extent, been confined to a small scope because of her continued appearance as a screen vampire. The executives of Paralta Plays, Inc., have decided to take Miss Glaum out of the vampire character and to give her an opportunity to gain fame in a new field. Her first picture, "The Snapdragon," is a straight drama full of strong action and gripping situations which has nothing of the seductress in it. Miss Glaum is quite pleased with the change. Prior to going on the screen, Miss Glaum did no vampire work whatever and even played ingenue when in stock companies, before she attained her height of popularity as a stage actress. Those who have followed the inarticulate drama since its inception will remember that Miss Glaum's first pictures were not of the vampire type and that she showed to great advantage in straight leads. "The Snapdragon" was written especially for her by Monte M. Katterjohn and it is a drama of international intrigue with many sympathetic touches. Two more productions to follow the first have already been arranged for by the Paralta scenario department. Thomas J. Geraghty has just finished the screen version of her second and Julian Louis Lamothe is writ Change in "Son of Democracy" Releases An announcement from Al Lichtman, general manager of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, calls attention to a change in the release schedule of Paramount's Benjamin Chapin series, "The Son of Democracy." The second episode will be "A Call to Arms," in place of "My Father." The second release will be presented to the public commencing February 18. The third offering will be "My Father," on February 25. "My Mother" was the first release. The first three releases are now finished and have already been shipped to the various exchanges throughout the country. Bookings on this production are said to be large and endorsements already received from many celebrities in and out of the motion picture industry, indicate that the hearty support of the entire amusement public as well as educational institutions may be counted on. Ten Paraltas Ready for Release That Paralta has a firm foothold upon the motion picture industry with a series of unusual feature pictures is shown by the fact that it has already completed and has ready for release ten productions starring the foremost dramatic artists of the screen. All of the pictures are seven reels in length and have been staged at the Paralta studios in Los Angeles under the supervision of Robert Brunton. Henry B. Walthall, whose first Paralta play, "His Robe of Honor," attracted such wide attention as One of the best portrayals of the screen, has finished two more pictures, "Humdrum Brown" and "With Hoops of Steel." Each of these productions presents him in widely differentiating characters, a fact which will interest his many admirers who realize and appreciate his remarkable versatility. Bessie Barriscale has five completed pictures ready for the exhibitors. They are, "Madam Who," a thrilling mystery story, "Within the Cup," an unusual emotional drama dealing with the life of the artists in the Paris Latin Quarter and in Bohemian Washington Square, New York City; "Rose o' Paradise," an adaptation of Grace Miller White's popular American novel ; "Blindfolded," a story of the underworld, and another production yet unnamed, which has just been completed under the direction of Raymond B. West. J. Warren Kerrigan has two pictures, a melodrama and a comedy-drama which are now booking. The first is "A Man's Man," which is a screen version of Peter B. Kyne's novel of the same title. This picture played at Clune's auditorium in Los Angeles and so great was the business that it broke all records of attendance of all pictures, including "The Birth of a Nation." The comedy-drama is "The Turn of a Card," written by Frederick Chapin and directed by Oscar Apfel. Mr. Kerrigan is about to start on his third Paralta Play, a romantic comedy-drama which combines plot intrigue with light humorous touches.