Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

794 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 17. Rothapfel Praises "Ruggles of Red Gap** Says Picture Will Do More to Uplift Industry Than Any He Has Seen in Last Two or Three Years THE George K. Spoor feature, "Ruggles of Red Gap," featuring Taylor Holmes, has been having an unprecedented run, according to reports of the George Kleine exchanges. It has been shown now in the first run houses in practically all the large cities of the country and bookings are said to be pouring in. This picture, taken from the story by Harry Leon Wilson, has come in for an unusual share of commendation by the exhibitors showing it. Scores have written telling of their delight in it and of big business done. One letter, which is typical, was written to Mr. Holmes by S. L. Rothapfel, who ran it for a week in the Rialto Theatre, New York. Mr. Holmes appeared at the theatre in person during the entire week's showing. Mr. Rothapfel writes: "I have just finished showing 'Ruggles of Red Gap' at the Rialto Theatre and to say the least it was a perfect delight. Not alone is it one of the most amusing, but, in my opinion, it strikes a new note in the production of motion pictures. To me it proves without question that the most subtle humor can be portrayed upon the screen if done intelligently and with artistry of which 'Ruggles of Red Gap' is a perfect example. "Not alone did my business jump up in leaps and bounds from the first showing, but I have received hundreds of commendatory letters and any number of personal compliments on its showing. Clean, wholesome and in good taste, this picture, so ably presented by yourself, will do more to uplift and bring the motion picture into good repute than any film I have seen in the past two or three years. "I shall indeed look forward to whatever you may do, and I congratulate you and Mr. Spoor and Mr. Windom, and I trust that I may again have the honor of being able to present you in my theatres." The latest Holmes picture, "A Pair of Sixes," has been pronounced by exhibitors as the greatest comedy which he has appeared in. He is supported by an all-star cast, including Maude Eburne, Robert Conness and Alice Mann. It is taken from the stage production by Edward Peple. The Kleine offices have already reported a large number of bookings. Many Tourists Visit Studios of American Film It is conceded, even by competitors, that the studios of the American Film Company at Santa Barbara, in point of structure as well as locality, are the most beautiful in the country. When S. S. Hutchinson, president of the American Film Company, went through California six years ago to select a site he chose the spot at Santa Barbara without hesitation. No expense has been spared in the erection of buildings, as well as in the landscape features and greenhouses that form such a large part of the attractiveness of the place. Tourists who come to visit the studio not only exclaim at its beauty, but say that they came because of reports from other tourists who advised them to visit it as one of the beauty spots of California. While the area is not large, there are close to fifteen acres in the company's holdings and new buildings are constantly being constructed to allow for the increase in activities. At present there are three companies working constantly at the place — the Mary Miles Minter Company, the Margarita Fisher Company and the William Russell Productions Company. Miss Minter Gets New Play "The Ghost of Rosy Taylor," a picture adapted from the story in the Saturday Evening Post by Josephine Daskam Dodge and in which Mary Miles Minter of the American Film Company will be starred, will be possibly the most pretentious story in which the little actress has yet been featured. Edward Sloman, her director, has allowed nothing in the way of artistic creation or expense to stand in the way of producing the best story of the season. As the plaintive little girl who has lived abroad with her eccentric father so long that she is delighted to get back to America, even though she is penniless, fatherless and friendless, Miss Minter makes an appeal that is bound to keep the exhibitor's theatre filled to capacity. Little Rhoda Eldridge Sayles, the heroine, who is forced to undertake the job of a cleaning girl, is at first suspected to be a ghost because of her habit of slipping noiselessly about her work and next she is taken to be a thief by the son of her employer, who finds her gathering up the family silver to be cleaned. So poor little Rhoda has a variety of thrilling experiences before they discover that she is really the niece of the haughty lady for whom she cleans silver and rooms and rugs and things. Alan Forrest is the leading man and George Periolat is the father, while Helen Howard and Emma Kluge are in the cast. This will probably be a May release. A view of the beautiful studios of the American Film Company at Santa Barbara. City to Vote on Sunday Shows Sunday shows will be put up to the people of Birmingham, Ala., May 6, a referendum having been ordered by the election commission. Pending a decision Sunday shows will be prohibited after April 21.