Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1912)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 31 :o[ CHICAGO LETTER. By Jas. S. McQuadk. It HARRY A. SPOOR, European representative of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, was seen last week in the city offices of that company on the day of his arrival in Chicago. Mr. Spoor, accompanied by his wife, arrived in New York on the Crown Princess Cecilia on midnight, Thursday, December 21, after an extremely rough voyage. Mr. and Mrs. Spoor will remain for about three weeks, visiting relatives and friends. I had an interesting conversation with Mr. Spoor on the condition of the film business abroad, and as he has made headquarters in London for over two and a half years, it can be expected that he is thoroughly conversant with conditions in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. In the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland the demand is for the pick of the world's films, with the greatest call on the American product, Mr. Spoor declared. This call is based strictly on the ground of merit alone, as films are selected by exhibitors or their representatives. Mr. Spoor asserted that the English product is steadily improving and that English manufacturers are getting their share of the market. It will be only a short time until their product will be on a par with that of any other film manufacturers. The English manufacturers at present are getting out fine marine subjects of a melodramatic character, also romantic gypsy subjects and good dramatic and industrial pictures, the last named, especially, selling well. The quality of these English pictures has improved wonderfully, Mr. Spoor states. American cowboy subjects and Western dramas still maintain the lead in the United Kingdom, and one scarcely fails to find pictures of one or the other on every program. Essanay, of course, takes the lead in popularity. G. M. Anderson, secretary of the Essanay Company and Western producer, is popular throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In Ireland he is familiarly called "Andy" by picture fans. Costello, of the Vitagraph stock company, is another big favorite among those who favor the silent drama. The Selig series of animal pictures made a tremendous success and holds the record for the number of prints sold. In France there is a growing market for all makes of films, owing to the rise of new theaters which are not making long-time contracts with any individual manufacturers. In Germany the American product is very popular — chiefly cowboy pictures and Western. The same rule obtains in Scandinavia and Denmark. In Spain and Italy there is a tendency towards American modern and Western dramas, and cowboy pictures are also well received. The day of the bloodthirsty melodrama has passed in Italy, and progress and improvement are noticeable in the film business throughout continental Europe. Three and five reel subjects are now the most popular pictures in Germany, and they are being produced in such numbers that hirers can depend on getting them regularly. In Great Britain and Ireland the many-reel subjects are also being received favorably. Speaking of moving picture theaters, Mr. Spoor informed me that exhibitors in the United Kingdom passed through a crisis last summer, when for three months business was practically at a standstill. The weather was so fine that everybody rushed to the country or seaside, and picture theaters were empty. Now things have recovered and the exhibition business is again in a healthy state. Competition between theaters is very keen in Great Britain and Ireland, and this naturally tends to an improvement in the standard and quality of the programs. High class, well managed moving picture theaters are to be found all over the British Isles. Questioned concerning the Associated Kinematograph Manufacturers and Renters' Association, Mr. Spoor informed me that the combination is wholly in the interests of future business and for the uplift of the picture. Some exhibitors as yet have not comprehended the purpose of the association, and fear that it may be used adversely to their interests in controlling rental prices; but when they realize that it is merely a court to which appeal can be made when the interests of the manufacturers, the renter or the exhibitor require it, they will become its ardent supporters. It will be understood, of course, that the renters have their association and the manufacturers theirs, and that the combination of the two organizations forms the court of appeal. The association is thoroughly representative of the trade. Any grievance, whether from the hirer (exhibitor), the renter or the manufacturer, can be settled in this court. The association was formed about two months ago and will be in full operation January i, 1912. In concluding Mr. Spoor gave another boost to the Essanay product. "It is maintaining a leading position to-day on the market," said Mr. Spoor. "As the market increases, so I find the demand for the Essanay product increases." Mr. Spoor also told me that the Essanay trade mark never fails to gain applause, all over the United Kingdom, when it appears on the title. The Hulsey Theaters. L. G. Bissinger, manager of the Olympic, Cozy, Orpheum, Star, Princess and Broadway theaters, in Oklahoma City, made a call at the World office last week. The six theaters mentioned are known as the Hulsey theaters. High clasg motion pictures are run in all of them and cheap vaudeville finds no place on the programs. The same owners have four theaters in Galveston and one in Houston, Tex. Licensed pictures are run in all the houses except two, which use Independent service. Two first-runs are used in each house and daily changes are made . Mr. Bissinger takes the entire weekly output purchased by the Oklahoma branch of the General Film Company, and then has not enough to go around. He reported excellent business. Carefully selected lady orchestras furnish the music in each house, and illustrated songs are sung during the interludes. "The Theater Reporter" is the name of a semi-monthly publication that is used to advertise the Hulsey houses in Oklahorna. It is a neatly printed, 20-page booklet, containing stories of the films, with illustrations, and is undoubtedly of great value to patrons. Manager Bissinger stated that 100 copies of the Motion Picture Story Magazine are sold in the Hulsey theaterf every month. Chicago Film Brevities. Mr. George Kleine returned to the city Friday morning, December 22, after an absence of nearly seven weeks, during which he visited London, Paris and Rome. He was accompanied by Mrs. Kleine and baby Helen, who had gone on to New York to meet him. * * * V. U. Young, manager of the Orpheum Theater, Gary, Ind., writes that he expects to open a new picture theater in that city about February 15, 1912. The plans have been drawn by H. S. Alschuler, of Chicago. Licensed pictures will be used and manager Von Ronkel, of the General Film Company's branch at 429 S. Wabash Avenue., will furnish the service. The admission price for the new house will be ten cents. The programs will consist of three reels and a song. A spot light singer will be used, and expense will not be spared to secure a talented voice. Mr. Young has left it to the citizens of Gary to select a name for his house and two prizes are oflfered by him for the best answers to questions regarding the management of his house, as they appear in an advertisement published in the local papers. * * * The World staflf had a pleasant call by W. P. Ready, manager and part owner of the new Princess theater, Nashville, Tenn. When completed the Princess will be the largest picture theater in the South. It will seat comfortably 1,500 people. It is built on property valued at $150,000, and the cost of the structure will be $60,000. A description of this house, with illustrations, will appear later on in the columns of the World. HERE ON BUSINESS. A visitor last week to the Moving Picture World was Mr. Frank E. Gorman, assistant manager of the Boston Film Rental Company, 665 Washington Street, Boston, Mass. Mr. Gorman says that business with him is all that could be expected and his visit to this city was on purely buiness grounds. PAUL MELIES GOES TO CALIFORNIA. Paul Melies, son of Gaston Melies and for some time manager of the manufacturing and sales department of the Melies Company, has gone to California for a brief rest. "Monsieur Paul" has not been in the best of health for some time and he thought a trip to the land of sunshine would be the proper thing. He will join his father. Gaston Melies, and the Melies company of players at Santa Barbara.