Motography (Jul 1918)

July 6, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 29 "Cecilia" Goes Well in New York Houses Marcus Loew, Who Gave Picture Seventy Day Run, Tells Selznick It Exceeded All His Expectations MARC J V 1 son ARCUS LOEW has reported perally to President Lewis J. Selznick of the Select Pictures Corporation that the showing of Marion Davies' picture, "Cecilia of the Pink Roses," in the Loew chain of theatres in Greater New York, attracted unusually good business. Mr. Loew expressed himself as well pleased with the results attained in the star's first production. As a box office attraction, the picture had exceeded all expectations, Mr. Loew said. "Cecilia of the Pink Roses" was given a seventy-day run in Loew's houses throughout the greater city. The first days of this run were coincident with the showing of the picture at the Rivoli Theatre, but another week was consumed before the playing of the picture was completed. Mr. Loew expressed the belief that there had been no decrease in attendance at his houses on account of the presentation of the same attraction at the big Broadway theatre. Although "Cecilia of the Pink Roses" has just been released for general presentation— the Loew and Rivoli runs being especially arranged — many favorable t ___.. bookings have been obtained from Manager s Wife Does Kind Deed Greater New York theatres for immedi Mrs. W. P. Cullen, wife of the manager ate showing. Among these houses are of the Garden Theatre of Kansas City, the following: invited the children of the Spofford Home The Olympia, on upper Broadway, two in that city to view "Pershing's Cru days; the Elscmerc, Bronx, two days; saders" as her guests, when the film was the Burland, Bronx, two days; the New shown at the Garden. Brevoort, Brooklyn, two days; the Marcy Theatre, Brooklyn, three days, and the Park Theatre, Brooklyn, two days. T. L. Tally has bought the picture for a seven-day presentation at his Broadway Theatre in Los Angeles. The Modern Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island, will also show "Cecilia" for an entire week; the Egypt, Fort Worth, Texas, for four days; the Empire, San Antonio, three days; the Alhambra at El Paso, two days; Proctors', Schenectady, New York, three days; the White Way, Mansfield, Ohio, three days; the Alhambra, Canton. Ohio, the Schade Theatre, Sandusky, Ohio, the Marion at Marion, Ohio, and the Temple at Lorain, Ohio, two days each. As "Cecilia" is being released so soon after its acquisition by Select, and firstrun theatres had not been notified by a sales campaign of the picture's coming, many houses have been unable to find play-dates immediately and are arranging to show it within the next few weeks. Hayakawa Uses Jiu-jitsu During one scene in "His Birthright," the first of the pictures made by Sessue Hayakawa and his own company, the star has a battle with half a dozen rowdies who have been employed to "beat him up." Director William Worthington asked George Stout, manager of the Hayakawa studio, to "get the toughest-looking specimens of humanity you can lay your hands upon, as this is going to be a strong rough-house scene and I want these fellows to look like real scrappers." Stout combed Los Angeles and obtained the men he thought would fill the bill. But they didn't, for Hajrakawa put them all out of commission during the first rehearsal, using his jiu-jitsu knowledge with telling effect. When the men attacked him he scattered them right and left and the scene was as realistic as could be desired. "Great," exclaimed the director, "now we'll take it." "No, you won't, we're through," said two of the combatants, as they picked themselves up and rubbed their shins and elbows, while the others chimed in, "Count us out, too." It was not until several days later that the fight was filmed, Manager Stout getting his men from one of the athletic clubs and making them up to resemble the "toughest-looking specimens" wanted by the director. Miss Frederick Starts Film Under the direction of Emile Chautard, Pauline Frederick has started work in New York on her next Paramount picture to follow "A Daughter of the Old South." This subject is "The Shadow of the Rope," a story by E. W. Hornung which has been adapted for the screen by Eve Unsell. Miss Frederick plays the role of a young Australian bride, recently arrived in America, who is unjustly accused of the murder of her brutal husband. The big scene is laid in a court room where the web of circumstantial evidence all but succeeds in convicting her of the crime. The court room setting is said to be elaborate, even to the mural decorations, and is regarded by .all who have seen it as a masterpiece of stagecraft. Jane and Katherine Lee as they appear in their new Fox picture, "We Should Worry.' Caruso Succumbs to Screen Enrico Caruso, considered the world's greatest tenor, is going into motion pictures. According to a report from New York he will appear in two productions, one of which will be a screen version of "Pagliacci," his most popular vehicle in opera. His remuneration, according to the report, will be $100,000 a picture.