Moving Picture World (Dec 1917)

December 8, 1917 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1511 Patch Presents Film in California San Francisco's Civic Auditorium Used for Motion Pictures for the First Time in Its History. THE Pacific coast obtained its first glimpse of "The Italian Battlefront" pictures when they were presented November 24 in the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, Cal. before an audience estimated at more than ten thousand, including Mayor Rolfe and other dignitaries. It was stated on the night before the opening of the films that the entire net proceeds were to be turned over to the fund for Italian refugees now being collected in this country. This announcement came from William Moore Patch, president of the Port Pitt Theater Company, of Pittsburgh, which controls the official Italian war films for the United States. For his part, he said, he did not care to make any profit in San Francisco, where there was a large Italian colony, which had rendered invaluable service in the exploitation of the films and presentation of Italy's message to the people of the Pacific coast. Mr. Patch's attitude was upheld by the Italo North American Commercial Union, of Milan and New York, wno hold exclusive rights for all official Italian war pictures which reach the United States. The engagement of "The Italian Battlefront" in the Civic Auditorium was made interesting because of a controversy waged on the subject of using the Civic Auditorium for films, a thing unheard of in San Francisco until the Fort Pitt managers approached Mayor Rolfe for the use of this splendid building for the official Italian films. As soon as the Mayor had given his permission and Mr. Patch declared his intention of utilizing the magnificent organ, which is a feature of the auditorium, the city organist of San Francisco made a violent protest that the use of the organ for films would degrade and cheapen it. He positively refused to play, although it is stated that Mr. Patch offered him as high as $250 or even $300 a week. The papers took up the controversy and sided with Mayor Rolfe, who stated that he had been influenced in his consent to have the picture shown in the auditorium by a desire to impress upon the people of the Pacific coast the enormous part Italy has played in the European war. Naturally the publicity resulted in the audience crowding the Civic Auditorium. It looks as though at least $5,000 will be raised for the fund. In Tremont Temple, Boston, last week, these war films, which were first exhibited last August in the Tremont theater for two weeks, played a return engagement. PYRAMIDS READY FOR MARKET. With four comedies completed and the advertising campaign already launched, Pyramid Comedies this week are announcing their readiness to market their product through independent buyers throughout the world. It was this organization which ran the blind advertisement in last week's issue. The Pyramid concern is featuring Ray Hughes, an eccentric comedian of more than ordinary accomplishments, and who in the four completed comedies has ably demonstrated his worth as a screen comic. So generally satisfactory was Hughes' work in the four pictures now ready to show that the Pyramid concern has engaged him for a period of five y.ears. The policy of the Pyramid Comedies, Inc., is to make twentyfour productions a year, two reels in length, and release them on a semi-monthly basis, either the 1st and 15th of each month or the 7th and 23d, in order not to conflict with other comedy releases and to enable exchanges receiving other comedies on either of these dates to make their releases fit in with the Pyramid productions. The production arrangements have been completed, the studios being at Fort Lee, N. J., for a short period, after which the plant will be removed to Hollywood. In executive charge of the organization are associated Arthur Werner, Charles F. Adams and Harry Palmer, while the productional direction is under the auspices of William A. Seiter. The titles under which the first quartet of comedies will be released are "In and Out," with the action revolving around difficulties in a hospital; "Beauties and Bombs," in which the usual destruction and comedy situations occur in a restaurant; "Love and Lunch," staged at a studio, within a studio, and in one of those get-full-quick lunch-carts, and "Beach Birds," which was produced at Long Beach, N. Y., with several thousand habitues of that place participating. A trade showing of the four comedies will be given early next week. The advertising and exploitation is under charge of Harry L. Reichenbach. GILMAN ASSISTS MAY. F. H. Gilman, formerly of the Famous Players' sales staff of Philadelphia, has resigned to represent the U. S. Exhibitors' Booking Corporation in the western Pennsylvania territory. Mr. Gilman will co-operate with Allen May in the management of the U. S. Philadelphia branch. Mr. Gilman has had long experience in the film business and has served with many of the largest concerns during the last ten years. He is at present engaged in giving a series of trade showings of the first U. S. release. "The Zeppelin's Last Raid," in his district. "RAFFLES" SHOWING ON WEDNESDAY. "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman," will be screened for the trade for the first time in the projection room of Joseph R. Miles, at 220 West Forty-second street, at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, November 28. Everything, including paper, lobby display, heralds and stills, have been delivered and may be seen directly after the showing at the Hilier & Wilk offices in the Longacre building. "Raffles" i3 the first big special feature to be presented by the L. Lawrence Weber Photo Dramas, Inc., and is to be followed rapidly by other high class productions. After securing the picture rights to "Raffles" the producers set out for a wellbalanced cast. After much persuasion John Barrymore agreed to return to the screen long enough to play the leading role in the seven-part picture. It was a daring proposition on the part of the producers to attempt to change a matinee idol like John Barrymore into a slick crook in the role of "Raffles," but their judgment is justified in the finished production of the picture. Barrymore has the support of an evenly divided cast consisting of Frederick Perry, H. Cooper Cliffe, Christine Mayo, Evelyn Brent, Mike Donlin and other players equally well known on the screen and on the legitimate stage. The picture itself represents six months of effort on the part of Director George Irving and the investment of thousands of dollars in sets. "Raffles" as a novel was one of the "best sellers," and as a legitimate play it was the sensation of the stage for several years. The picture is destined to be just as popular as the novel and far more popular than the legitimate play, according to the firm of Hilier & Wilk. Scene from "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman." Notwithstanding that the first trade showing will not be held until November 28, some of the territory already lias been disposed of by Hilier & Wilk. The Special Features Company, of Knoxville, Tenn., has purchased the rights for the states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee and the Dawn Masterplay Company has purchased the rights to the state of Michigan. Both of these purchasers took the picture without even having seen it. TURKEY FOR KING BEE'S THANKSGIVING. Word comes from Hollywood, where the King Bee players are mal;ing two-reel comedies, that on Thansgiving Day the entire organization will celebrate with a Thanksgiving dinner and private entertainment, to which over one hundred people have been invited. Including many local celebrities and prominent screen artists. President Burstein has fifteen chestnut-fed turkeys on ice. Before killing them they were used in a scene in the latest "Billy West Comedy." The Bee Hive exchange, handling Bill? West King-Bee Comedies exclusively, is a very busy office these days. Julius Singer, manager of the Bee Hive, has over four hundred exhibitors showing Billy West Comedies. On Tuesday he reported to Nat H. Spitzer that one hundred and twelve cheeks were deposited, all of which had been received from exhibitors for the last two releases. "The Candy Kid" and "The Pest." BUCK ALIGNS WITH M. H. HOFFMAN. A. G. Buck is now a member of the Hoffman-Foursquare interests, having taken Charge of the Philadelphia office. Mr. Buck has managed the K-K-S-E Philadelphia exchange for the in, and his activities have made him prominent in that territory.