Moving Picture World (Jul 1920)

192 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 10, 1920 Goldwyn to Release for Betty Compson; “Prisoners of Love, ” Her First Feature Announcement has just been made by the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation that it is to distribute Betty Compson Productions. The company has secured the rights to the productions of a young actress who promises to be a leading feminine star. “Prisoners of Love,” the first photoplay of the Compson organization, has already been completed. The release date has not yet been published. Miss Compson, who has now attained the rank of “artist-producer,” is supervising the making of her pictures at the Brunton studios in Los Angeles, where she has established the offices and studio of Betty Compson Productions. She is selecting her own stories, assembling her own supporting casts and personally transacting all the financial and other business of her company. Many producers sought to place Miss Compson under contract as a star following her portrayol of her role in “The Miracle Man,” and when it was learned that she had decided to make her own pictures, overtures were likewise made to her by most of the big distributing organizations. Four Features a Year. Miss Compson will make about four features each year, and the first six or eight productions will be entirely different from one another, both from the standpoint of the theme of the story and her own stellar characterization. Her production staff includes many of the George Loane Tucker aides who assisted him in the making of “The Miracle Man. Alfred A. Grasso, general manager, was for eleven years with Henry W. Savage in New York as secretary and later in the publicity, booking and stock play departments. He was engaged by Edgar Selwyn and Margaret Mayo for the Goldwyn scenario department. Ernest Palmer, as chief cinematographer, and Chester Roberts and Jack Little, technical directors, are others who have joined the organization. Arthur Rosson is her director in “Prisoners of Love,” and has been signed to direct her second picture, which has not yet been named. The cast engaged for “Prisoners of Love” is a notable one. It includes Roy Stewart, Emory Johnson, Walter Miller, Ralph Lewis, Clara Horton, Claire McDowell, Kate Toncray and Betty Schade. Harry Levey Incorporates to Conduct Film and Ad Agency FOLLOWING the severance of relations between the Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Harry Levey, manager of the company’s industrial department, and the withdrawal of Mr. Levey with a considerable portion of his working force to temporary headquarters in the Hotel Astor, New York, papers incorporating the Harry Levey Service Corporation were filed on June 28 in the secretary of state’s office in Albany. The papers reveal the incorporators and directors to consist of Harry Levey, 522 Riverside Drive, and Isaac A. Harris, 314 West 100th street, New York City, and Herman A. Mintz, 142 Berkley street, Boston, each subscribing to 100 shares of stock. In outlining its purposes, the company declares its intention of conducting a general film and advertising agency, producing either for itself or others all sorts of industrial, educational and advertising films, slides, photographs and lithographs, together with the privilege of erecting and operating studios and theatres. The amount of capital stock is 7,100 shares, of which 1,100 are of a par value of $100, classified as preferred stock, while 6,000 shares will be listed as common stock without par value. The company will carry on business on a capitaf of $140,000, the principal business office to be located in New York City. Employes Share in Profits.* Mr. Levey’s new company is probably the first motion picture producing company to be established^ on a co-operative, profitsharing basis. Each employe in the company becomes a partner in the business. The privilege is extended to employes of buying capital stock, and percentage of profits is to be paid to every employe in the company. It is Mr. Levey’s belief that this form of organization will make for a big step forward in the progress of motion picture production, eliminating all waste and making for the greatest care and best efforts obtainable in the screen industry. Royal Air F jrce Veterans on Famous Players’ Staff at Studios in Islington MUCH of the credit for the smoothness of operation which characterizes the administrative machine of the new London studios of the Famous Players-Lasky British Producers, Ltd., belongs to the staff of assistants with which General Manager Milton E. Hoffman has surrounded himself. Without exception, they are men of proved executive capacity and in many instances they have led picturesque careers. Two of these officials, Major Charles H. Bell, assistant studio manager, and Charles E. Lovick, location manager, not only are veterans of the world war, but were members of the Royal Air Force. On leaving college, Major Bell pursued the study of electrical and general engineering and his sound knowledge of these subjects and of building and construction work in general have stood him in good stead in tackling the reconstruction work at Islington. Location Manager Lovick, who also served in the Royal Air Force, lived for a few years in Toronto before the war and then migrated to Phoenix, Arizona. Eventually he located in Santa Barbara, but returned to England when the war started. He was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery and was in action on the Somme, at Armentieres, Arras and in the Peronne sector. In 1917 he was transferred to the Royal Air Force as an artillery observer and saw seven months’ further service. He was wounded over Mount Kemmel, but later rejoined his old squadron and in a subsequent encounter with six Boche triplanes had a narrow escape from death. The art director is Leslie Dawson, an artist whose work frequently has been seen at the Royal Academy. Air. Dawson finds himself in a most congenial atmosphere, for he has had many years of experience in theatrical designing. Change MacLean Film Title Douglas MacLean’s sixth Ince-Paramount-Artcraft picture, announced previously under the working title of “Lucid Intervals,” has been changed to “The Rookie’s Return.” The new comedy is described as “a cousin, in action, speed and original situations, to the unforgettable “Twenty-three and One-half Hours’ Leave,” depicting the ups and downs of an American rookie upon his return from gallant service overseas. Betty Compson. To be starred in pictures distributed by Goldwyn. iiiiiiiiiiilliiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiHiiiiitiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiimiiiiciiiiiiMmu Report Girl Missing Ethel Palmer Leake, 22 years old, of 6208 Chestnut street, West Philadelphia, Pa., has been missing since April 29 and is supposed to have gone with a motion picture company. She is five feet, two inches in height, weighs ninety-six pounds, has light brown hair and blue-gray eyes, is of slender figure and has a small scar on the left side of her upper lip. Communicate with Bureau of Missing Persons, Police Detartment, Spring 3100, West Philadelphia, Pa. Western Inter-Ocean Office Just Opened in Hollywood FORMAL opening of Inter-Ocean Film Corporation’s Los Angeles service office at 6614 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, the first of three offices which the company proposes to establish on the West Coast, and which will serve as branch depots to accelerate shipments of American films and motion picture accessory products into the far eastern film markets. An entire building has been rented at the above address. It is further understood that the building has been entirely overhauled to suit the company’s manifold requirements. Eugene H. Kaufman, manager of Inter-Ocean’s accessory department, who left for California two months ago as accredited representative, selected the building and was instrumental in arranging the lease. After remaining at the Hollywood office for a few weeks, Mr. Kaufman will proceed to San Francisco where plans are under way for the opening of another branch office. After his work in San Francisco, Mr. Kaufman’s itinerary will take him into Portland, Oregon, where an additional branch office will be opened. Musicians Get More Money The threat of a strike of New York theatre musicians disappeared June 30 when Local 310 of the American Federation of Musicians voted to accept a compromise offer made by the theatrical managers. Musicians in dramatic productions hereafter will receive $45 weekly, those of the musical shows $57 and those of the vaudeville, burlesque and motion picture houses $56 to $70. The figures represent average increases of about 40 per cent, in the vaudeville and picture houses and 50 per cent, in other troubles.