Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

728 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 15. Notes of the Industry In General BRIEF NEWS OF NEW YORK IN PARTICULAR M OTOGRAPHY has received the following telegram from Bessie Love: "Pathe has purchased from the Dodd, Mead Company the picture rights of 'Carolyn of the Corners,' the best selling book issued this year, for my next production, which will be my last Pathe play. Work on this picture will start next week and we hope to take the final scenes by May 1, on which date my contract expires. "Before accepting either of the offers already received from large producing companies I will carefully consider the advisability of forming my own producing company in order always to have the highest quality stories, direction, photography, etc., and with this in view have already obtained an option on a Los Angeles studio." 4: •$• •$• Jack Pickford, Paramount star, who recently went to New York from Los Angeles to join the colors, is a member of the navy now. He has been assigned to the intelligence department and given the task of censoring films for export. His first work was done in the projection room of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. Whenever scenes showing preparedness preparations appeared in Universal's Screen Magazine and Current Events he ordered them eliminated. While proper to show at home, he said, the government did not desire to have such pictures get outside of the country. 4, 4. 4, The Artcraft production of Maeterlinck's "The Blue Bird," an Easter release, was given a great advance showing in New York. The picture was screened at the Rivoli theatre. Long before the time set, the house was filled with exhibitors, exchange men, trade journal and newspaper critics, directors, stars and others in the industry. S. L. Rothapfel had arranged an excellent musical setting, together with many new effects in lighting. Hugo Riesenfeld, conductor of the orchestra, drew from the works of twenty-two noted composers, in addition to original compositions. Much praise was given by all who saw the film. 4. 4, 4, Announcement is made of the organization of another film producing company in Canada, the name for which is the Pan-American Film Corporation. The new concern has taken possession of the studio at Trenton, Ont., formerly occupied by the Canadian National Features, Limited, which went into liquidation several months ago. It is the announced intention to produce photoplays of the Canadian Northwest and the title of the first release is "When He Brought Back His Man." The company is also arranging for the release of a Canadian news weekly, the first of which is promised for some time in April. 4. 4. 4. "Mother" Mary Maurice, Vitagraph's beloved old actress, is in St. John's Hospital, Brooklyn, recovering from an operation which was performed a week ago. She was stricken a few days after she had completed her work in "Over the Top," in which she played the role of Sgt. Empey's nurse. Mother Maurice is 74 years old. Harry Waldron, another member of the Empey company, also is in the hospital. He was thrown from a horse and trampled upon during the taking of the final scenes. 4. 4. 4. A special meeting of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce was held last week to consider a request from the Moving Picture and Projection Machine Operators' Union for an increase in wages. Although a three-year contract has been signed by both organizations, the union justifies its request because of abnormal prices under war conditions. A committee consisting of A. G. Hettesheimer, chairman, John Weinig and I. Libson has been instructed to meet with representatives of the union and try to arrive at a satisfactory adjustment. 4. 4. 4. John Emerson, one of the Famous Players-Lasky directors, was operated upon last week in New York for splenic anaemia. The entire spleen was removed. Mr. Emerson's physician predicts his rapid and complete recovery. After a rest of a couple of week, Mr. Emerson will begin work in collaboration with Anita Loos on a production for Paramount release. 4. 4. 4. P. O. Parsons, formerly publicity and advertising manager of Pathe, has been appointed advertising manager by Paul Brunet, vice president and general manager. Tarleton Winchester, formerly serial publicity manager, has been made publicity manager. Harry Lewis has been appointed manager of the art department. I. Libson, manager of the Family, Walnut, Strand and Bijou theatres, Cincinnati, has leased the Grand Opera house, one of Cincinnati's two large theatres, for the spoken drama, for the coming summer. Mr. Libson's policy will be to run special feature pictures at slightly advanced prices. 4. 4. 4. "Men Who Have Made Love to Me," with "I Mary McLane," has been barred from Kansas City, the Kansas City court of appeals having made permanent a writ of prohibition obtained by the city officials February 6. 4. 4, 4. D. Wolfe, proprietor of the Verdun Palace, Montreal, Canada, has obtained the Queen's Palace at Pointe St. Charles, Quebec, and is having it improved and redecorated. He plans to reopen about May 1. 4. 4. 4. Edward Felix, formerly with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, has taken a position as salesman for the southern part of Wisconsin with Metro Pictures Service, Inc., Milwaukee. 4. 4. 4, Having completed "Thais" and "The Splendid Sinner" for Goldwyn, and made a triumphal return to opera in Chicago, New York and Boston, Mary Garden will soon go to France for the summer. 4, 4. 4, The Strand theatre, New York, gave a benefit show under the auspices of Miss Anne Morgan and the Committee for Devastated France last week. After the show $20,000 in cash was turned over to the committee. Reception room at new headquarters of Mutual in New York.