Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1918)

January 26, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 489 PHILADELPHIA LEAGUE GAINS MEMBERS. During the last meeting held by the Exhibitors' League of Philadelphia, Charles H. Goodwin, secretary, reports that some forty members of the American Exhibitors Association were admitted into the League. Charles Rappaport and S. Miller, two members of the League, received threatening letters from the music publishers and a motion was passed to stand behind these two exhibitors to the finish, who will be supported under all circumstances. A large number of the members of the League have arranged to prepare to visit the Motion Picture Exposition to be held in New York from February 2 to the 10th. Paralta's Eastern Scenario Department New Office Has Capable Staff in Charge of Henry Chandlee. IT WAS with the idea of branching out along new lines that Carl Anderson, president of Paralta Plays, Inc., established the eastern scenario department of that organization at the company's New York offices. Paralta maintains a producing scenario department at its western studios— and many of its stories are written by staff authors —but to assure enough material with proper variety of subject and treatment, it is Mr. Anderson's intention to purchase a large number of stories from outside authors. It was vfith the idea of taking advantage of near-opportunities to acquire good stories, that Mr. Anderson placed Harry Chandlee i n charge of the Eastern Scenario Department o f Paralta Plays, with instructions to decline no story until certain that it contained nothing o f value as picture material for Paralta, giving him a free hand in management of the department otherwise. Mr. Chandlee has associated with him a force of persons experienced in the scenario end of the industry— notably HelenChristene Hoerle and Elizabeth Petersen— "both of whose screen stories are well known. When a story is received which, with a few changes, would prove available, an outline of the changes is worked out and the author is then called into conference— whenever possible the changes being discussed with him and the form of the revised story being decided upon, with the result that a story which might otherwise be declined, is made often available. In addition, the author becomes familiar with Paralta requirements, and can be guided in his future work for the company. An added advantage lies in the fact that the story, when finally sent to the Los Angeles studio, is worked out from a picture standpoint, and thus the making •of the continuity is greatly facilitated. Already, the eastern department has increased the available material something over one hundred per cent. Harry Chandlee J. A. HAMMELL WITH GENERAL. J. A. Hammell, one of the most popular and best known ■exchange men in the film business, last week assumed charge of the New York City sales office of General Film •Company, succeeding P. A Bloch, who has been assigned to special work of importance. Mr. Hammell leaves a responsible position with Pathe Exchange, Inc., to return to the General Film position he held until about six months ago. Prior to his retirement from the General Film family last year, Mr. Hammell had been continuously engaged in General Film service for many years, holding important positions in various departments. Sonia Markova's Second Release Ready MADAME SONIA MARKOVA'S second production as a William Fox star will be released to exhibitors January 20 under the title, "A Heart's Revenge." This Fox special feature is said to contain a number of thrilling scenes, the climax being in an exciting motorboat chase on Buzzard's Bay. It is heralded as a picture replete in action and one that shows the new star to better advantage even than did her first production, "The Painted Madonna." Rivalry in love between a Russian nobleman and an officer in the United States navy furnishes the theme, Madame Markova portraying the role of the heroine, the daughter of the Russian ambassador. A Chinese poison is employed by the nobleman in temporarily getting rid of the naval officer, and the plot thereafter revolves about the girl's efforts to learn her sweetheart's whereabouts. Assee Leung, a real Chinese woman whose stage name is Helen A. Long, has an important role in the production. Others in the cast besides Madame Markova are David Herblin, Frank Goldsmith, Eric Maigne, Bradley Barker, Stanley Heck, Fred Ratcliffe and J. Ailing. The story was written especially for Madame Markova by George Scarborough, and the picture was made under the direction of Oscar A. C. Lund. Sonia Markova. KATE PRICE TO SUPPORT WALTHALL. Photoplay "fans" who were devotees of the photoplay theaters a few years ago will welcome the news that Kate Price is again to be seen upon the screen in the support of Henry B. Walthall in his second Paralta play "Humdrum Brown." A few years ago Kate Price was one of the most popular actresses of the screen appearing in photoplays of the Vitagraph Company. At that time Miss Price was one of the most versatile of the screen actresses and appeared in productions ranging from heavy melodrama to the lightest comedy. That was in the days when the late John Bunny was at the zenith of his popularity and Kate Price appeared opposite him infrequently. -In "Humdrum Brown" Miss Price will be seen in the role of Aunt Elvira, a character part which is bound to bring to memory the kind of acting that at one time made her one of the mosi popular women of the screen. NEW THEATRE EMPLOYEES' UNION. A new organization has been established under the title "Theatre Employees' and Machine Operators' Union of Long Island and Brooklyn, N. Y." Being a regularly chartered body, all members of this new union are protected by the laws of the state from any other unionized bodies and they are not affected by existing injunctions and the managers and operators of the theatre, who are employees, have redress by law if any unfair means are employed to interfere with their business. They have already over fifty enrolled members on their roster. LAURA AUSTIN NOT CAMPBELLS DAUGHTER. In the World of January 5 it was in error stated that Eric Campbell, the comedian who was killed in an automobile accident, had left a daughter, Laura Austin, an actress. In the issue of January 12 it was correctly stated that Mr. Campbell left a daughter, a pupil in a Los Angeles school. The World is advised by the publicity department of the Chaplin studios that Laura Austin is the wife of Albert Austin, one of the members of the Chaplin organization. Our apologies are extended to Mr. and Mrs. Austin.