Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

1034 MOTOGRAPHY Universal Consolidates Its Exchanges Products of Parent Company and Subsidiaries to Be Handled Jointly by Single Organization in Each City ONE of the most complete changes ever attempted in the industry is being completed by the Universal Company in its distributing organization for the purpose ,of promoting economy and efficiency. The change was inaugurated on May 20, when the Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., took over the business of all of the branch exchanges distributing Universal products in the United States, with the exception of a few exchanges not controlled by the producing company. Now not only will Universal attractions be handled by Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., but these exchanges also will handle the output of Jewel Productions, Lois Weber Productions, Bluebird Photoplays, Century Comedies and Lyons and Moran Comedies. It is in combining the numerous interests that the economy will be practiced. For a long time Bluebird controlled its exchanges and Jewel also had exchanges, entailing a large overhead expense in rents, salary of office force, deliveries and incidentals too numerous to designate. With the combination of the exchanges this excessive expense will cease. Eventually the saving will be felt by the exhibitors, who will be given the benefit of the economies caused by the new system. By the new arrangement the Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., takes over the business of Universal exchanges as follows: Independent Film Exchange, Pittsburgh. Universal Film Exchange, Detroit. Universal Film & Supply Company, Kansas City. Universal Film & Supply Company, St. Louis. Universal Film & Supply Company, Oklahoma City. Universal Film & Supply Company, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Universal Film & Supply Company, Wichita, Kansas. Universal Film Exchange, Chicago. Universal Film Exchange, Milwaukee. Universal Film Exchange, Denver. Universal Film Exchange, Salt Lake City. Universal Film Exchange, Butte, Montana. Film Supply Company, Portland, Oregon. Film Supply Company, Seattle. Film Supply Company, Spokane. California Film Exchange, San Francisco. California Film Exchange, Los Angeles. California Film Exchange, Phoenix, Arizona. Laemmle Film Service, Minneapolis. Laemmle Film Service, Omaha. Colonial Film Exchange, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Laemmle Film Service, Des Moines, Iowa. Cincinnati Buckeye Film Company, Cincinnati. Cincinnati Buckeye Film Company, Columbus, Ohio. Cincinnati Buckeye Film Compay, Louisville. Central Film Service, Indianapolis. Rev Film Service Albany, N. Y. Victor Film Service, Buffalo. Victor Film Service, Cleveland. C. H. MacGowan, general manager of Universal, on Saturday, May 18, accompanied by six assistants, left New York for a trip around the entire circuit for the purpose of supervising the change. Before leaving he said that the change would be effected automatically and that everything would be working smoothly from the start. The change in the method of distribution does not mean that changes will follow in the Universal sales organization. All of the branch managers will retain their positions, but hereafter will be given assistance by the home office that will lead to greater possibilities for themselves and for the exhibitors served by them. Vol. XIX, No. 22 rolling from three sides of the auditorium onto the heads of the extras. -But just at this moment some enthusiastic stage hand touched off a particularly enthusiastic "smoke pot" down in the orchestra pit, just at Miss Talmadge's feet. Up bellowed the smoke in dark, nauseous clouds, and down went the star for the count! Miss Talmadge was quickly carried to the wings and revived and a little while later the filming was resumed with one stage hand less on the company's payroll. Smoke Makes Star Unconscious "Striving for realistic effects is all very well in its place," says Norma Talmadge, "but—!" The star's remarks were occasioned by a scene in her next Select production to follow "De Luxe Annie." The location was the roof of the American Theatre, Eighth avenue and Forty-second street, New York, kindly loaned to Miss Talmadge and her company by Marcus Loew. The story called for a brave action on the part of the heroine. The star stepped out before the safety curtain on the stage and addressed the extras who were impersonating the audience. "Don't be frightened," she called, "take your time and all will get out safely." This was all a part of the story — so were the volumes of choking smoke Actress Balks at Kissing Whatever egotism Frank Mayo may ever have had, he hasn't any now. For two weeks the process of filming a new feature had been going on and the director finally reached the point where he planned to shoot the love scenes. "Now you put your arms around his neck and kiss him," said the director to the young woman playing opposite Mayo. "I don't do anything of the sort!" cried the girl, stamping her foot. "What do you mean — why won't you?" asked the director. "I don't dare to kiss him," the girl declared. "It is one of the things that is forbidden by my church." All efforts to overcome her conscientious objections failed. She simply wouldn't do it. Consequently it became necessary to rewrite the story so that the kissing could be eliminated, as the girl had already been filmed in too many scenes to permit of her removal. V'. A tender moment in Goldwyn's new Mae Marsh feature, "All Woman."