Moving Picture World (May 1919)

May 3, 1919 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 669 ALL TERRITORIES ON CHRISTIES SOLD Contracts Closed on Specials for Entire World — Charles H. Christie a Visitor to World Offices CHARLES H. CHRISTIE, of the Christie Film Company, visited the Moving Picture World offices during the past week. He is on a trip to the East in connection particularly with the new series of two-reel Christie specials, and announces that contracts have been closed with E. A. Golden, manager of the American Feature Film Company, for rights to both the specials and the one-reel comedies for the New England States, and with the Arrow Photoplay Company, of Denver, for Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico. Mr. Christie, who is a brother of Al E. Christie, producer of the Christie Comedies, is enthusiastic over the success of his mission, and announce that the independent exchanges distributing the new series of two-reel specials are arranging to feature these productions in the same manner as five-reel or longer subjects are handled. All Territories Closed. The signing of the above mentioned contracts completes the allotment of territory for the United States and foreign countries on the specials. Booking arrangements already have been in operation on the one-reelers, but other concerns in several instances are to handle the new productions. The Electric Theatre Supply Company of Philadelphia has secured rights to Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, and the Baltimore Booking Company to Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia. Rights to Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri have been secured by the Celebrated Players Film Company of Chicago. The Supreme System of Minneapolis, Crescent Film Company, of Kansas City, A. H. Blank, of Omaha, and Mid-West, of Milwaukee, will book for their particular states. Christie Films are represented in Canada by the Famous Players; Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati and St. Louis by the Standard Film Service. In Canada the productions are handled by the Famous Players Film Service at Toronto and the First National Exchange at Vancouver. Other territories will be covered by the exchanges which have been distributing Christie comedies in the past. Fred Fishback Joins Universal. Fred Fishback, formerly connected with Mack Sennett and Henry Lehrman in the making of their respective brands of comedies, is now at work at the L-Ko studios at Universal City. The first picture to be produced by the new director is one which he has himself prepared. It is expected that Edith Roberts and Charles Dorety will have the principal parts in the production with Bud Jamison, Jimmy Adams and a bevy of L-Ko beauties in support. Clare A. Briggs New York Tribune cartoonist who gets your laugh with "When a Feller Needs a Friend." CONTRACT SIGNED FOR BRIGGS FILMS "Skinay" and Others Will Be Distributed by Famous Players-Lasky — Not Cartoon Pictures Charles H. Christie. CONTRACTS have just been signed by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation and Briggs Pictures, Inc., for the world distribution of the Briggs films, which have scored such a success at the Strand Theatre in New York. Alex Yokel, vice-president and general manager of Briggs Pictures, Inc., had no less than six contracts from various distributing organizations offering him attractive terms for the handling of these pictures. One Comedy a Week. Briggs Pictures. Inc., will turn over to the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation one one-reel comedy a week for distribution. Several special releases running three reels in length also are under consideration. The Excel Studio in Yonkers has been leased by the producers and work will be started there immediately following the completion of the film now being staged at the Thanhouser plant. Briggs Pictures for Paramount release will be prepared in various series. Bert C. Carver has been engaged as technical director and W. A. Hutchinson as cameraman. The executives of the Briggs company are Clare A. Briggs, president; Alex Yokel, vice-president and general manager, and J. S. Gillespie, second vice-president and treasurer. Playing the important parts in the Briggs pictures are John Ca'rr in the title role of "Skinay," Stephen Carr and Rosemary Carr. All three of these child artists have had considerable experience in motion pictures, appearing at various times in Famous PlayersLasky subjects. The initial Paramount-Briggs film will be released early in September. Seven pictures are finished. Attention is called to the fact that these films are not animated cartoons, but are actual motion pictures with players, the scenarios being based on cartoons by Mr. Briggs. Fox Expected Back from French Battlefields Soon WILLIAM FOX will return from Europe the later part of May and is expeced to have important announcements to make shortly thereafter respecting the signing of new stars and the elaborated plans of the Fox Film Corporation for the coming season. Winfield R. Sheehan, general manager, who went to Europe with Mr. Fox, may not return with him. Mr. Sheehan, it is understood, will remain to complete arrangements under way for extended production which it has been announced will constitute an important part of the Fox program for 1919-1920. According to cabled reports received at the Fox offices in New York, Mr. Fox and Mr. Sheehan have spent the last ten days or two weeks in Paris, on the battlefields of France, at Rheims and at Verdun. They are now said to have practically completed arrangements for the filming of the series of big productions, which will have these historic places as their background. It is declared to have been decided in connection with these locations just what American directors shall be sent to Europe and what stars will be featured in the various projected productions. These details probably all will be announced at the time of the annual convention of Fox branch managers and the news will be disseminated through them and through the trade press. Finish the Job — Invest