Moving Picture World (Aug 1920)

720 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 7, 1920 $100,000,000 FrenchAmerican Picture Exporting Firm Organized in Delaware THE Franco-American Cinematograph Company has been incorporated under the laws of Delaware for $100,000,000, for the exportation of American films to France and other parts of Europe and the importation and exhibition of French pictures in this country. The company is financed by French capital and indorsed by the French Government, which subsidized the Societie Cinematographique de France. The Franco-American Company is said to have been in conference with several large American producers and will discuss further their plans with American manufacturers. Frenchmen financially interested in the new company are reported to include M. Viviani, former Premier; Baron de Rothschild, Albert Dalimier, former Under Secretary of State ; Andre Messager, musical director of the Opera Comique ; M. Conyba, former Minister of Commerce and Industry; M. Letellier, owner of La Journel; Jean Richepin, a member of the French Academy and commander of the Legion of Honor; Pierre Wolf, former president of the Society of Authors and Composers; M. Simyan, former minister and president of the French Commission of Motion Picture Censors, and Marcel Prevost of the French Academy. Direction in French and American Hands. M. Himmel, who is quoted as being responsible for these statements, says: “The direction of this organization will be in the combined hands of French and American motion picture and financial interests.” The American directors are Lucien Jouvaud, president of the French Hospital; Howard K. Woods, president of the United States Corporation Company; Frank D. Pavey, president of the Alliance Francaise, and Senor Fiburcio Castaneda Calle, a Spanish Senator, now in Cuba. G. J. Fleischman, of the Fleischman Construction Company, was one of the incorporators of the company and has been retained to make a study of French theatres prior to laying out a plan of construction for similar theatres in this country. In an interview with M. Himmel’s secretary at the Hotel Seville, New York, the temporary headquarters of the company, the secretary said: “We can make no positive statement of our plans as they have only been formulated here during the past few days. They are only in their incipiency. Just as soon as we are ready to publish them in full we will see that you get a complete announcement. On being asked if the statement in the daily papers was correct, the secretary said: “Substantially.” Congratulate Betty Compson That Betty Compson will receive a royal welcome from both exhibitors and their patrons when she makes her appearance as a star in her initial Compson-made production, “Prisoners of Love,” is indicated in Him Be Sure You Get the M.P. W. Phonecap; It Means Efficiency and Good Health THERE will be no need of a waiting line for the Phonecaps which Moving Picture World will shortly circulate among the trade. There will be enough to go ’round and a few left to spare. These Phonecaps will be distributed by Moving Picture World during the coming week and presented with its compliments. Dr. Royal S. Copeland, Health Commissioner of New York City, has not only recommended the Phonecap, but has equipped the telephones of his department with it. Dr. Copeland is shown below talking into his telephone, the mouthpiece of which is covered with a Phonecap. Aside from its neat, efficient appearance the device is full health protection. It is charged with an effective antiseptic germicide which prevents the spread of any infection and is death to stray germs. No dust or dirt can collect in a phone-piece equipped with a Phonecap. The Phonecap is known as the UPresses-It Phonecap. Just slip it over the mouthpiece of your phone, press the center of the cap to open it, then press on the outer rim to fasten it on the phone. Not only will the cap which we send you be full health insurance, but it will remind you with our trade-mark that Moving Picture World is “The Trade Paper of Features” and is the best possible insurance your business can have. If you should happen not to get one just pick up your telephone as it is — without the Phonecap — let us know, and you will soon be transacting your business with Murray Hill 1610 through one of our Phonecaps. If you’re good you might get one from Cine-Mundial, Spanish offspring of Moving Picture World and “Your Best Latin-American Salesman.” Dr. Royal S. Copeland Health Commissioner of New York City, who recommends and uses throughout his department the Phonecap, which will be presented to the trade with the compliments of Moving Picture World. [iiiiiiiuhiiiiiiiiii! m Horace C. Judge. Who succeeds Earl Hudson in First National’s publicity department. Mr. Hudson has been promoted to the assistant to General Manager J. D. Williams. iiiiiimiiiimmiimiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiuifiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiimiiiiiuiiiiiitmiiiiiimiimiiiiimiiiiiiimiimiiiiinii 1 an announcement just made by Alfred A. Grasso, general manager of Betty Compson Productions. “We are in daily receipt of hundreds of letters from picture fans and showmen who are congratulating Miss Compson on her elevation to stardom, which they credit principally to her work in the George Loane Tucker production of ‘The Miracle Man,’ ” says Mr. Grasso, “and they are all anxious to know just when her first starring picture is to be shown to the public. By means of announcements sent out with her photographs and in many instances personal letters, we are keeping the public informed of her progress.” Truth Productions Will Be Released Through Pioneer HARRY LEVEY has selected the Pioneer Film Corporation as the distributing medium for Truth Productions, the industrial-educational motion pictures to be produced by the Harry Levey Sendee Corporation. Effective plans have been consummated for both theatrical and non-theatrical distribution of Truth Productions through the Pioneer exchanges by arrangement with M. H. Hoffman, vice-president and general manager. Principal branches have been established in all the large cities, chief among them being Detroit, Chicago, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Portland, Ore.; Cleveland, Boston. Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Dallas, St. Louis, Kansas City and Washington. Each exchange will be equipped with a man whose exclusive task it will be to represent the Levey firm and its interests, and further the effective distribution of the Levey pictures. Window displays, advertising, posters, mail matter — all phases of the matter of increasing interest in and circulation of films — have been carefully checked up and provided for. Non-theatrical distribution, which forms so important a part of the circulation of the industrial-educational films made by the Levey company, will also be carefully superintended, and the pictures will be circulated through plants, factories, clubs, department stores and other organizations. Chester C. Kleber, secretary of the Levey firm, is directing distribution for the Levey pictures.