Moving Picture World (Aug 1920)

868 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 14, 1920 “Sticking to Hodkinson” Might Be Title of Story Based on Two Interesting Cases ABOUT three years ago Mrs. Anna Dunn of Philadelphia, with more than the ordinary foresight, decided that she would become an exhibitor of moving pictures. She had no money whatever. She had personal credit to the extent of $50. Her first step was to exercise her credit to the last cent. This gave her $50 in cash. With this she made the first payment and took the title to a substantially built moving picture house. She assumed a mortgage of $22,000 which was the purchase price. The motion picture industry has progressed with such lightning speed that it is hard to realize that there was a time not long ago when a 900 seat house, even in a well populated locality of a big city, was too big to make money. That was in the “nickelodeon stage” of the industry. The Washington-Palace, which ^ Mrs. Dunn bought with her borrowed $50, was ahead of its time — a white elephant — and the owner was glad to let Mrs. Dunn take it. Her First Film a Hodkinson. One of the first distributors with whom she talked about pictures for her new adventure, was the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation and Mrs. Dunn booked the first Hodkinson release. She booked the second, and the third; and from that time to this she has booked without exception every Hodkinson picture that has been issued, according to H. S. Beardsley, Hodkinson special representative for New York, Philadelphia and Washington territory. Had Healthy Bank Account. She has returned the $50 with interest; she has paid off the mortgage of $22,000 with interest; she has bought real estate in Philadelphia and Atlantic City for investment; she has been offered $65,000 for the Washington-Palace ; she has a healthy bank account. Mrs. Dunn is a “100 per cent. Hodkinson” exhibitor. Another instance. J. Greenstein owns the Penn Theatre in Philadelphia. One of his sons operates the projection machine; another is the door-man; their mother sells the tickets; the father visits the exchanges in a $5,000 automobile. He has played every Hodkinson picture since the fisrt release. He is “100 per cent. Hodkinson”; and he has made a fortune. How Hodkinson Does It. Throughout the United States there is a constantly increasing number of exhibitors whose names are being added daily to the “100 per cent. Hodkinson” list. The reason for this and the reason for the success of these exhibitors arises from one of the interesting developments in the motion picture industry. “No pressure or special inducements of any kind have been put upon or offered to these exhibitors to book every picture that the Hodkinson organization has issued or is issuing,” says a publicity statement at hand. “There have been no annual contracts or franchises offered. Hodkinson Earned Good Will. “You can’t get a man’s business continually unless you have his good will. The Hodkinson company has earned the good will of exhibitors by its fundamental policy, which has been rigorously adhered to from the start and which will always be maintained. “It was because of the variety, as well as the consistent quality of the Hodkinson output, that Mrs. Dunn and Mr. Greenstein and other exhibitors are able to play Hodkinson productions. It was the surest way to avoid a sameness and monotony in a program, such as results when product is only derived from one set of producing brains.” These are the claims of Mr. Hodkinson’s organization. Lesser Sends Wire Praising Ray’s First Kane Production THE finest thing that Charles Ray has ever done.” This is a description of the young star’s production of “Fortyfive Minutes from Broadway,” by Sol Lesser, the well-known Pacific Coast picture authority and theatre manager. Mr. Lesser was invited to attend a private view of the film at the Ray studios the other day, and he was so pleased that at its conclusion he sent Arthur S. Kane a telegram telling him just what he thought of it. “Forty-five Minutes from Broadway,” from the great stage success by George Al. Cohan, is Mr. Ray’s first work as an independent producer and its release will mark the star’s initial presentation by Air. Kane. Air. Lesser’s telegram to Air. Kane follows : “Had the distinction today to witness first presentation at private pre-view of Charles Ray’s first Associated First National ‘Forty-five Alinutes from Broadway.’ I consider this the finest thing that Charles Ray has ever done. It is clean, wholesome and wonderful entertainment. All First National franchise holders, I am sure, will welcome this production, and it should make a lot of money and friends for every exhibitor who is fortunate enough to show this picture. Congratulations.” The demand for exhibition rights of “Forty-five,” which heads the list of the First National’s schedule of autumn and winter offerings, has been spirited. It has come from all parts of the country, exhibitors everywhere recognizing the drawing quality of the combination — a star of wide poularity in the picturization of one of the greatest of comedy successes. Seitz Reports Progress on Feature A cablegram received at the Seitz studio in New York from George B. Seitz, now in Spain producing a feature in which he will co-star with June Caprice, announced the safe arrival of the company at Gibraltar on July 19. The message stated that some scenes were filmed in the quaint and historic old island of Ponta Delgada, one of the Azores group. In the company with Air. Seitz are June Caprice, Alarguerite Courtot, Harry Semels, Frank Redman, William Sullivan, assistant director, and Harry Wood, cameraman. Master Pictures Commences Work on Third Production Master pictures, inc., is now at work filming the exterior scenes of “Roman Candles,” a seven-reel comedy drama, the third of a series of feature productions to be made by the company. Pending the completion of the new studios which the company is building in Los Angeles, the exterior scenes of "Roman Candles” are being filmed at the Exposition Grounds in San Diego, which provide a suitable background for the South American atmosphere which the story calls for. The new studios which are being erected in the heart of the film district of Los Angeles will be among the largest and most modernly equipped motion picture plants. They will be large enough to house fifteen separate producing units. W. J. Conner, president, and one of the organizers of the company, is one of California’s leading citizens. Assisting Mr. Conner in the financial details are B. A. Small and E. F. Wells, both men of long experience in their particular lines of endeavor. W. S. Forsyth, identified with the picture industry since its birth, has been chosen vice-president and general manager of production. G. S. Mitchell has been named auditor and J. Frank Aloore, business manager. As director of publicity and advertising, the company has secured the services of Edward J. O’Hara, associated for a number of years in a similar capacity for various producing companies and most recently publicity representative of Alarshall Neilan. The Caption for This Picture May Be Read in the Electric Signs. However, we might add that this Paramount picture is continuing and is now in its tenth week.