Moving Picture World (May 1919)

642 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 3, 1919 GEORGE SMITH SAILING FOR LONDON Vitagraph's English General Manager Returns with Perfected Plans for Company's Expansion GEORGE H. SMITH, general manager of the Vitagraph Company in London, England, arrived in New York again this week on his way home. Mr. Smith sails for Europe on Satuday, having perfected arrangements for a remarkable expansion of Vitagraph's foreign business, now that war conditions make a resumption of normal business possible. Mr. Smith's last trip to America was in December, 1916, but his whole time in the United States on the occasion of that visit was scarcely a week. His present trip has embraced almost two months and he journeyed all the way out to Vitagraph's Hollywood studio and participated in the reunion of the Smith family in Santa Barbara. Mr. Smith said that the picture business in England was never in a more flourishing condition. Big Business for Theatres. "The entire amusement business in England is better than it has been in years. We have a vast floating population in the big English centers. Troops and civilians from all over the world are traveling through England, hotels are crowded and picture theatres are doing the biggest business in their history. "A big boom is coming for Vitagraph, and it was mainly for the sake of speeding up negatives for shipment abroad and for the closing of contracts for the company's export business that I came to America. "When I get back to London we are going to initiate a big campaign. We are going to install American booking methods throughout our organization on the other side and I am going to have my rental manager make a trip to America to study at first hand the rental methods employed here by Vitagraph. London Office Resumes Pre-War Status. "Before the outbreak of the war, and particularly up to the time of America's participation in it, we did a truly phenomenal export business through our London office. We covered the entire Eastern Hemisphere with Vitagraph product, and I dare say that no company has as big a representation in the Far East as Vitagraph had. "When the war came, and particularly when America entered the war, the exportation of negatives was so limited that our export business naturally could not keep apace with the demand. Now that normal conditions are in sight once more, the London office will again take over the exportation of Vitagraph pictures to the Eastern Hemisphere. "We have closed a number of important contracts for Vitagraph productions, serials and two-reel comedies that will give the product of our company a remarkable I'epresentation in the Eastern Hemisphere, and within the " next six months I look to see a bigger Vitagraph export business than at any time in the company's history. Did Big War Business in England. "Even during the war years we have done a remarkable business in the United Kingdom with the big Vitagraph specials, 'Over the Top,' 'The Common Cause' and 'Womanhood, the Glory of the Nation.' 'The Battle Cry of Peace' we released in England under the name of 'The Americans' Home,' and what the picture did stands as one of the achievements of the cinema business in England. George H. Smith is a brother of Albert E. Smith, president of the Vitagraph Company. His visit offered him the opportunity of participating in the reunion of the Smith family, which occurred out in Santa Barbara about April 1. Mrs. Drevf Wants Scripts. Stories' in synopsis form for two-reel comedies of the familiar Drew type are still wanted by the V. B. K. Film Corp., 220 West Forty-second street, and are wanted very badly at the present moment. Mrs. Sidney Drew will continue to produce two-reel stories for the Paramount program, adhering to the original lines, and as she has always looked after the scenario end the stories will be unchanged in their general style. The full synopsis only is wanted. Full continuities will not be considered. George H. Smith General manager of Vitagraph'B London office. Tate to Assist James Cruze. Cullcm B. Tate, who just returned from France after over a year's service in the Camouflage Corps, will be assistant director to James Cruze in the production of Wallace Reid's new picture, "You're Fired," on which work was begun last week at the Lasky Hollywood studio. Mr. Tate was employed at the studio for several years before he enlisted. Charlie Takes the Pastry From the Green Room Magazine, of Sydney, Australia. The Very Well-Known Cake Goes to Charlie Chaplin FOR several years past the Green Room Magazine of Sydney, Australia, has given a huge cake to the most popular screen or stage star appearing in that country during the year. Heretofore, women stars have always been the lucky recipients of the pastry, but this year, by a popular vote of the people, the cake was awarded to Charlie. The cake, covered with an icing that represented a decorative relief map of the Australian continent, arrived at the studio on Chaplin's birthday, April 16, and was shared by the comedian with the kiddies of a Los Angeles children's home. Universal Engages Winter Hall. Winter Hall, who has been seen in a number of Cecil B. DeMille productions, and who was more recently seen opposite Helen Jerome Eddy in "The Turn in the Road," has ben engaged by Universal to support Dorothy Phillips in her next Universal drama now being produced at the West Coast studios by Allen J. Holubar. Simultaneously with the announcement of Mr. Hall's addition to the supporting cast comes word that Alaxine Elliott Hicks, well known to Broadway theatregoers because of her many appearances on the stage in juvenile roles, has also been given' a prominent part in Miss Phillips' production. Other members of the Phillips cast are William Stowell, Robert C. Andersen, Stanhope Wheatcroft, Thurston Hall and Margaret Mann. Ernest Dench Leave's for England. President George Julian Houtain, of Gray Seal Productions, announces the resignation of Ernest A. Dench as publicity director. Mr. Dench left Saturday, April 26, on an extended trip to England in the interests of Gray Seal Productions.