Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

724 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 15. Latest News of State Rights Productions UP-TO-THE-MINUTE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INDEPENDENT FIELD Many Seek Mutt and Jeff Rights Abroad lerritory Open Except Where Fox Has Offices — Valuable European Field Barely Scratched So Far FOLLOWING the widespread announcement by William Fox of the conclusion ot a contract with Bud Fisher ;or world-wide distribution of Mutt and Teff animated cartoons a lb-elv contest for foreign territory has d^ve' oper1. Tt i« now stated bv Winfield R. Sbeetian, general manager of the Fox coi.ipany, that territory will be available except where the Fox company has its own branches. "We are getting inquiries all the time," said Mr. Sheehan, "and contracts are being closed daily, but as matters stand there is some good territory remaining in Central and South America, some m Europe and some scattered through vanous other parts of the globe. "Mexico, for instance, has not yet been disposed of and neither have the Central American countries. In Sou;h America. we have Chile, Peru and Bolivia available. Probably the biggest opportunity, nowever, exists in Europe. France, Belgium, Russia, Holland, Spain and Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and the Balkan States can all be obtaired. These latter countries will be especially inter ested in the animated cartoons because Bud Fisher now is a captain of artillery in the British army and his drawings will deal largely in the future with life at the front. "There also will be lively interest in the announcement that we are prepared to sell the Mutt and Jeff rights for the Philippine Islands. China, India, the Dutch East Indies, Egypt and South Africa likewise are on our open list." Francis Ford Play Finished Having finished his first production, "Berlin via America," Francis Ford announces that he is considering offers for territorial allotments. Mr. Ford, in addition to his duties as producer and director, himself enacts one of the principal characters in the story, an aviator in the army of the Huns, who is not all he appears to be. Edna Emerson plays opposite Mr. Ford in the role of an American girl "doing her bit." The story contains an element of mystery as well as romance. Record Quantity of Film Sent to France Sidney Garrett Ships 750,000 Feet to Mundusfilm Company of Paris, for Which He Is Purchasing Agent T' 'HERE left for France last week what is probably the largest consignment of quality film ever shipped to that country by any individual — 750,000 feet. Among the super-productions exported were Charlie Chaplin's "A Dog's Life," "The Whip," "The Bar Sinister," "The Cold Deck," "The Submarine Eye," "The Carrier," and the latest Metro, Paralta and King Bee Billy West comedies. These productions are shipped to the newly-formed Mundusfilm Company of Paris. Sidney Garrett has been elected exclusive purchasing agent for this company. Mr. Garrett purchased exclusive rights to all these productions for France and the bigger part of Europe, for which he paid a price said to be the greatest in film history. Mr. Garrett is president of J. Frank Brockliss, Inc., and buys more first-class productions for the foreign market probably, than any other two companies combined. He has recently been elected president of the newly-formed Bengar Pictures, Inc., organized to export all the Selig productions. He has closed for Scandinavian territory for these plays and in conjunction with his other interests expects to ship more than one million feet of film before Mav 1. When E. J. Myrick. maniging director of the Liberty Theatre at Portland, Ore., showed "The Garden of Allah,'" he deeided to present it in an unusual manner. The picture above illustrates one of his ideas. All the ushers zuere costumed in harmony with the picture. The costumes zvere designed by Mr. Myrick himself. Scrantonia Expands The Scrantonia Photoplay Corporation, which has announced for immediate release six one-reel comedies featuring the Chinese actor, Charlie Fang, has expanded operations and will immediately commence the producing of six and seven-reel photoplays, to be released by way of the state rights market through Jesse J. Goldburg. Negotiations arc pending for the purchase of the Crystal Palace at Rocky Glen, Pennsylvania, six miles out of Scranton. The Crystal Palace is the largest all glass enclosed structure in the United States and is perfectly suited to studio purposes.