Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

1184 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 25 Latest News of State Rights Productions UP-TO-THE-MINUTE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INDEPENDENT FIELD Shipman Gets Big South African Success Will Exploit "The Rose North and South America— ERNEST SHIPMAN has made arrangements with Joseph Fisher of Capetown to represent Fisher in this country in the purchase of six, seven and eight reel pictures for exploitation in South Africa. He has also agreed to exploit Mr. Fisher's big South African success in eight reels entitled "The Rose of Rhodesia" throughout the Americas. It will have an early showing in New York City. Frederic Shipman has cabled Ernest Shipman from Australia for additional feature pictures, having already paid the record price for "Neptune's Daughter" and other successes. Mr. Shipman is exploiting pictures throughout Australasia and the Orient and has arranged local representation in all of his territory. A number of state rights buyers have arranged with Ernest Shipman to represent their interests in New York in the selection and purchase of such pictures as they may require from time to time. This enables Mr. Shipman to negotiate for any desirable pictures available for the open market in the interests of his clients. Arrangements have been made with Walker Whiteside, whereby he will interpret the part of a Japanese secret service agent in America in a seven reel picture based upon the most up-to-date and stirring episodes of the war. Nell Shipman's two stories, "The Tiger of the Sea," and "The Coast Guard Patrol," have received additional values from the recent operations of submarines along the Atlantic Seaboard. Both of her stories have vital situations in them based upon these activities. Nell Shipman has kept abreast of the times in her writings and will now reap the reward. Lloyd Carleton, noted director and head of the Carleton Attractions, arrived in New York from Los Angeles the other day, bringing with him a feature picture for exploitation. Mr. Shipman saw the picture immediately, leaving on the Twentieth Century Limited the same day for the coast. The object of this trip is to close contracts for a number of new productions now in the process of manufacture and to decide some important deals which have been pending for some time. Mr. Shipman will meet in person pro of Rhodesia" Throughout -Other New Features Soon gressive state rights buyers with whom he has been doing business for the past six months. He will have a number of special attractions to announce upon his return. M. H. Hoffman to Enter Hospital M. H. Hoffman, long identified with large interests in the motion picture industry, is preparing to enter a hospital this week to undergo a serious operation. Before leaving his offices, Mr. Hoffman stated briefly his intentions for the future. "I disposed of my interest in Foursquare Pictures, and withdrew from that organization, solely because of my health," he said. "Had I been well I should have bought, not sold. The arrangements provided for my purchasing the New York Exchange of Foursquare, which I will now own outright; but the active manager will be Hy Gainsborg. "As the smaller part of my future operations is to be the exchange, which I shall conduct under the name of the M. H. Hoffman exchange, I shall devote my time, after the recovery of my health to larger motion picture operations. "I shall be open to the acquiring of feature pictures — in conjunction with Mr. Gainsborg — but they must be strictly of the finest quality. Whether I shall start another organization or affiliate myself with one of the existing large companies, will depend largely upon my decision on those offers now before me." New Shipman Sales Ernest Shipman's office reports the following additional territory sold. The Shorty Hamilton series: Texas, Specialty Film Company, Dallas, Texas; Mississippi and Louisiana, Josiah Pearce & Sons, New Orlean's, Louisiana; Tennessee and Arkansas, Kaufman Specials, Memphis, Tennessee; Illinois, Unity Photoplay Company, Chicago; Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Elliott & Sherman, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Kansas, V. H. Hodupp, Indianapolis, Indiana. Josh Binney comedies: Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama, R. M. Savini, Atlanta, Georgia; New York state, Doo-lee Film Co., Syracuse, New York. Metro Buys "Warrior" and "Mother" "The Warrior" and "Mother" have been acquired for the states of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky by the Metro exchanges. Contracts to this effect have just been consummated between Arthur H. Sawyer and Herbert Lubin of General Enterprises, Inc., and representatives of the Metro exchanges. "The Warrior," starring Maciste, hero of "Cabiria," has been one of the state right sensations of the past twelve months, playing return engagements as many as three times in leading houses throughout the country. "Mother," the George Loane Tucker seven-part offering, featuring Elizabeth Risdon, has been equally successful. The Metro exchange of New York has also purchased "The Warrior" for New York city and state and it has planned to offer the feature as a special attraction during the summer months. All territory in the United States and Canada for "The Warrior" has now been sold. They're Not All in Bottles Za Su Pitts reported for work at Metro's West Coast studios in Hollywood one morning recently with one eye discolored and a large bump on her forehead. Miss Pitts plays Sal Sue in "As the Sun Went Down," a picture starring Edith Storey, now under production, and as she entered the studio gate she happened to meet Miss Storey. "Why, Za Su, what has happened?" exclaimed the star. "Snakes," replied the young woman, ruefully, "all kinds of snakes. Big ones and little ones." "But Los Angeles is dry," interposed Miss Storey. "I know; but since I've been playing the part of Sal in your picture and have had to carry a rattler around in a cage as a pet, all over the studio stage and even out on location, it's sort of made me nervous. Last night I dreamed that he — the rattlesnake, I mean — escaped." "Horrible!" "Yes, and the rattler multiplied. Soon there were a million of 'em, crawling all about me. And I — I — " "Woke up?" "No. I fell out of bed," said Miss Pitts, as she rubbed the lump on her forehead.