Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

1020 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 21. Latest News of Chicago OF INTEREST TO ALL THE TRADE WL. HILL fairly beams these days whenever • "The Bluebird" is mentioned. Nearly everyone had predicted that the picture was "too highbrow" to run successfully for a week at a downtown theatre. Mr. Hill held the other side of the argument. He contended that a picture might be a work of art and a money-maker at the same time; that the people would support the best. The newspapers tell part of the story. They announce that by public demand the picture is held over for a second week. ._Mr. Hill will gleefully tell you the rest. During the first week of its run, with unfavorable weather conditions, "The Bluebird's" record was this : It opened Monday, May 6, to a good audience. Business on the second day increased ninety-two per cent; on the third day, 122 per cent over the first day; on the third day, 153 per cent, and something of an increase each day thereafter. Mr. Hill, who is publicity manager of the Famous Flayers-Lasky exchange, is greatly enjoying the return to his first love, exhibiting. He planned in detail the excellent presentation of the picture. Among the noteworthy features is the use of a saucer-shaped screen, so that the picture can be seen perfectly from any angle. Mr. Hill insists that the projection receive unusual attention and that the picture be run in correct time and never speeded. The musical accompaniment is carefully worked out and the aim is to have the entire program harmonious. A little courtesy characteristic of Mr. Hill is his forethought in taking care of the press, so that the theatre pays even the war tax on their passes. Mr. Hill gave the picture an interesting firstnight presentation. A very distinguished audience viewed the play. Boxes were occupied by the British consul-general, Horace Nugent, and party ; the Belgian consul, M. Albert Mouleer, and friends; the Japanese consul, M. Kurusu, and party, and M. Barthelmy, the French consul. The boxes were draped, each with the flag of the nation represented. Another interesting party was that of Mrs. J. B. Sherwood, the well-known society woman, and a deep student of Maeterlinck. She was 'delighted with the screen version of the play, declaring it was interpreted perfectly. 4, 4, 4 Efficiency and motion pictures, once strangers, become better acquainted every day. Efficiency in studio management is becoming the rule rather than the exception, but the addition of an efficiency manager to the staff of a film exchange is a further step ahead. The Universal offices in Chicago now boast one in the person of F. W. Barlet. When the fifteenth floor of the Consumers building, which contains the Jewel, Bluebird, Universal serial, Century Comedy and other divisions, became so busy that a traffic policeman was almost a necessity, Efficiency Manager Barlet was called in instead and he set to work harnessing up some of the "lost motions" and wasted energy. His office is in the center of things and he is perfecting a most business-like arrangement, under which everyone, while unhampered • in his own field, is responsible to one authority. Mr. Barlet has had military training and is putting army ideas into officepractice. He is seeking to develop whatever initiative and special ability each employe may have. 4. 4. 4? Local theatres are already at work aiding the fuel administration in the "Buy your coal now and increase storage facilities" movement. An educational film is being run which shows coal undergoing the various process from the mine to the consumer. The picture was made merely as an educational, but proved to be excellent for the administration's purpose when a few changes were made in it and a few subtitles added. I. L. Leserman, manager of the Chicago Universal offices, supervised the arranging of the film for government purposes. The Rose Theatre, managed by H. C. Miler, has obtained a seven-day first run Loop franchise from the United Picture Theatres of America. 4? 4? 4? T. W. Chatburn of the Vitagraph exchange is busy with plans for an elaborate presentation of "Over the Top," the big patriotic feature, at the Auditorium in the near future. He hopes to have Sergeant Arthur Guy Empey, the author and star, present at the opening performance. Billboard displays are ready for posting, and as soon as the date for the opening is set, further announcements will be made. A twenty-two piece orchestra will interpret the music written for the picture. . Mr. Chatburn's desk is ornamented with interesting models of proposed stage settings for the presentation. The picture is being booked rapidly throughout Illinois. 4? 4? 4? "Revelation," the Metro feature starring Nazimova, is this week's attraction at the Playhouse, following "My Own United States." Major Funkhouser, who, after giving it a white permit, changed his mind and made it pink, took another look at it and again issued a white or general permit. Therefore, a week later than it was scheduled, it opened at this Michigan avenue theatre.^ The picture attracted capacity houses on its opening day in spite of rain. The audience was very evidently delighted with the vivid work of the star and the high character of the story and applauded it generously. The picture is above the average in every respect and is a credit to Metro. 4* "t 4? Bookings for "The Unbeliever," following its successful presentation at the Auditorium Theatre, are pouring into the George Kleine offices. Among the Chicago houses in which it will be shown are those of the Ascher and Lubliner & Trinz circuits, the Gold, the Crawford, Kedzie Annex, New ' Americus, Oak Park, Karlov, Woodlawn, Julian, Century, Sitner's, Schlinder's, Oakley, and Paulina. All of these theatres are planning a special presentation of the feature. The picture also will be shown for another week or more in the Loop at H. C. Miller's Rose Theatre on Madison street. 4, 4. 4. F. B. Rogers, manager of the Pathe exchange, gave a showing of "The Yellow Ticket," which features Fanny Ward, to the trade and newspaper critics last week. The picture, which is an exciting melodrama of Russia before the Revolution, received many favorable comments. It is very interesting, well directed and well photographed, and in it Miss Ward creates one of her best screen roles. 4, 4. 4. Martin Saxe, manager of the Knickerbocker Theatre, 6225' Broadway, for Lubliner & Trinz, has enlisted in the navy and expects to be called to the country's service at an early date. Because of his success at the Knickerbocker, Mr. Saxe was named as the manager of the new Pantheon Theatre, which will open some time in August, but he will probably be in war service by that date. 4? 4* 4? The Howard Theatre, the new Seaver & Zahler house, just opened on Howard avenue, near Evanston, has one of the most attractive lighting displays imaginable. This illumination is specially effective as seen from the "L" trains and undoubtedly brings many patrons from Evanston. The high class presentation of pictures and the good music then make regular customers of them. 4. 4, 4. Samuel Goldfish, president of Goldwyn, came through Chicago on his way to California and paid his first visit to the local Goldwyn exchange. With the acquisition of Pauline Frederick and Geraldine Farrar as Goldwyn stars and the renewed contracts with Mabel Normand and Madge Kennedy, the company is attracting its full share of attention from exhibitors. 4* 4* 4* Irving Mack, publicity manager at the Universal exchange, now has an assistant, Miss Gertrude Abrams. It seems that whenever the "pow Close-up of Belle Bennett, Triangle leading woman. ers that be" want anything well done, they appoint Irving as the man to do it, with the result that in addition to being publicity manager, he might have half a dozen titles. 4 4. 4 The old Parkway Theatre, Clark street and Diversey Parkway, has been remodeled and rebuilt, and is reopened as the Drury Lane Theatre. "Hearts or Diamonds?" first of the William Russell pictures from the Russell studios, was the first attraction. The Drury Lane has a seating capacity slightly less than 1,000. As the Parkway Theatre it was one of the first big neighborhood motion picture theatres in Chicago. It has been dark alternately for more than a year. The owners, Grossman and Mitchell, have spent a large sum rebuilding it and have placed W. R. Riddell, an old-time theatrical manager, in charge as manager. 4. 4. 4. John Hahn, assistant secretary of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company, is making an extended trip through the West in the interest of the Rothacker organization. Mr. Hahn will spend several days in Denver at the studios of the National Film Corporation, a day or so at Salt Lake City visiting the members of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit there, and then will go direct to Los Angeles, where he will devote two or three weeks to personal calls on the Rothacker customers and friends in that territorv. Mr. Hahn expects to return to Chicago about May 28. 4, 4 4, E. O. Blackburn, of the sales department of the Rothacker ^ organization, has returned from his Eastern trip, where he was personally directing the production of a number of multiple reel industrial pictures. Jack Byrne, of the studio department of the Rothacker organization, is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, co-operating with Major Schmidt in the production of a picture to be presented by the United States Fuel Administration. 444. Blaine McGrath, editor of the Mutual Screen Telegram, gave a special exhibition of one issue of his news reels before the Women's Advertising Club of Chicago the other day. The issue contained pictures of ^ members of the club busy making Martha Washington bags for French refugees. . . 4* 4* 4* Restitution, an elaborate ten-reel production, made by the Mena Company and showing the struggle between democracy and autocracy since the beginning of the world, is the present attraction at the Auditorium Theatre. 4* 4* 4? Geraldine Farrar was in the city last week, visiting her husband, Lou-Tellegen, who has been starring here in the stage play, "Blind Youth." Miss Farrar begins her picture work with Goldwyn about June 17. 4, 4 4. G. S. Anderson, of the sales department of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company, has . just returned from an extensive trip through southern Illinois, where he was supervising a number of industrial productions. 4* .4? 4? William N-.les has been added to the force of Vitagraph salesmen and will cover northeastern Illinois for the Chicago office. Mr. Niles is well known in newspaper and film circles. 4? 4? ' 4? J. B. Kopnel of the Adelphi Theatre is planning to use the Boy Scouts in his neighborhood to aid him in presenting both "The Unbeliever" and "My Four Years in Germany." 4. 4. 4. Harry Levy, head of the industrial department of the Universal Film Company, has come to Chicago from New York for the purpose of opening an industrial department here. 4? 4* 4" Tarzan of the Apes" succeeds the Gerard picture, "My Four Years in Germany," at the Colonial Theatre. 4. 4, 4. Mrs. Sydney Goldman, wife of the Jewel manager, is on her way to California to visit friends and relatives. 4 4, 4 Hearts of the World" is pulling capacity business at the Olympic. OPPORTUNITY— The Scott opera house at Waukomis, Okla., is open for two nights per week for motion pictures. Splendid location. In great wheat belt. Address Drs. Scott & Scott, Waukomis, Okla.