Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

April 20, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 771 Latest News of Chicago OF INTEREST TO ALL THE TRADE T BERNSTEIN of the Star Theatre !• at Lincoln, 111., called on Walter L. Hill, publicity manager of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation last week and arranged for exploitations of "The Son of Democracy." Mr. Bernstein told Mr. Hill that the war had created a problem for him, many of his best patrons having been taken away by the draft. Lincoln has a population of 12,000. It has 100 men at the front and two companies of Home Guards comprised of 130 men drill on four nights a week. The women of the town are busy day and night making comforts for the fighting men. The result has been decreased attendance and Mr. Bernstein has been compelled to use all of his ingenuity to make up for the losses. 4? 4* 4* The Allied Amusement Association, representing all amusement interests in the city, formed especially to combat the recent demands of the Operators' Union, is marking time in its fight pending the appointment of a committee to meet a committee of the operators in an effort to arbitrate the dispute. No difficulty in adjusting the situation is expected, once the two sides get together. 4? 4? 4 Walter L. Hill, publicity manager of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation office, says that Ludy Bosten, manager of the Amuse-L" Theatre at Muscatine, la., is one of the most progressive exhibitors in the middle west. For illustration, he says that Mr. Bosten is daily using ten inches or more of space in the newspapers of Muscatine and has six 24-sheet stands, eiglit 6-sheet stands, six 3-sheet stands and twenty 1-sheet stands working for him. From the secretary of state Mr. # Bosten obtained names of all the holders of automobile licenses in Muscatine and each week mails them notes about his pictures. A boy on the outside checks up the results among the automobiles at the curb. From the library Mr. Bosten obtained a complete list of book borrowers and he canvasses the list on every picture that is an adaptation of fiction. In addition to all these publicity methods he gets after the society leaders on every picture of special note, such as Maeterlinck's "The Blue Bird." His efforts are slowly but surely being rewarded. * -! ■k Louis B. Goulden, sales manager of the Celebrated Players Film Corporation, has joined the colors at Camp Custer, Battle Creek, Mich. Mr. Goulden has been con nected with the industry since its infancy, having operated theaters in Milwaukee, Jefferson, South Bend and South Milwaukee, Wis. Mr. Goulden can also be remembered as president and general manager of the Federal Feature Film Supply Corporation, which operated offices in Chicago and Milwaukee, and the Northern Feature "Film Company of Chicago. In 1915 he organized the Goulden Film Corporation and erected a fine studio in Milwaukee, but disposed of his interests. ■j? 4* 4? The local office of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit announces that Charlie Chaplin's new picture, 'A Dog's Life." will be given its premiere in Chicago at McVicker's and the Rialto theatres the week of April 15. The picture will be the headline attraction at these houses, which are controlled by Jones, Linick & Schacfer. The following week the picture will go to the outlying houses. Twenty-two prints are available for this territory. 4? 4* ' 4* Maurice Fleckles, president of Screencraft Pictures and vice-president of the Renown Film Company, of which A. Weinberg is president, was a visitor in the city last week. Mr. Fleckles has been traveling throughout the scuth and Margarita Fisher as she will appear in the American-Mutual comedy, "A Primitive Woman." west, meeting state rights buyers. He has disposed of all of the United States territory for his new brand, which he promises will be of the highest standard. Mr. Fleckles reports that business is good throughout the country and is exceptionally good west of the Rockies. 4* 4* 41 The exchange of Greiver ■•& Hertz will handle the shipping and inspection work connected with the exploitation of the third Liberty loan, its offer to do this having been accepted by the Seventh Reserve District Committee in charge. Exhibitors will be under no expense except for express. The Seventh Reserve District comprises part or all of Illinois, Indiana, southern Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan. 4 4* 4? Advance bookings on "The Woman in the Web," the new Vitagraph serial, have been much greater than those on the other two Vitagraph serials, "The Fighting Trail" and "Vengeance — and the Woman*." The first episode of the new serial was released Monday. Ten prints are available and it is expected more will have to be obtained. 4* .41 4? "The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin," which has just completed a successful two-weeks' run at the Ziegfeld Theatre, will play simultaneously in two loop theatres, the Rose and the Casino, just across the street from each other on Madison street. Each theatre has booked the picture for a week's run. 4 "b 4 Rockwell Barnes, head of the Art and Animated Cartoon Department of the Rothajcker Film Manufacturing Company, has gone to Camp Grant at Rockford in answer to a call to the colors. I. Ticktin will do his work while he is at the front. 4* 4* 4? H. J. Bayley, manager of the Vitagraph office, announces that it has been necessary to increase the clerical force to take care of the spring boom. Vitagraph, he says, has all the business it can handle. 4" 4r 4* Little Zoe Rae, Bluebird's six-year-old star, is spending a few weeks in the city, enjoying her first vacation in some time. Zoe is with her parents.