Moving Picture World (Dec 1920)

December 18, 1920 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 897 Pathe* s Reports on Bookings Show H. B. Warner in “Dice of Destiny" Has an Unusual Commercial Value CONVINCING testimony of the regard in which H. B. Warner is held by the exhibitor as a box-office attraction is furnished in the bookings recorded on “Dice of Destiny,” the new Jesse D. Hampton production in which he will star; up to a week previous to the date of release Pathe branches report these to be notably large for any feature. Warner’s appearance in a role such as he is provided in this screen version of John Moroso’s popular novel was expected to bring a hearty response, but it is stated that the returns so far have exceeded anticipation and are considered an encouraging sign for a tuture in which doubt has been aroused by business conditions in enterprises outside the picture industry. Since his stage success in “Alias Jimmy Valentine” the public has associated Mr. Warner with the type of role given him in “Dice of Destiny,” and the new play affords an opportunity for the exhibitor to capitalize the tendency in the advertising for the picture. This angle of the Pathe feature is believed to be an important item in the estimates that concede “Dice of Destiny” to be an offering of unusual commercial value. The bookings so far show the picture to be in demand in downtown and community houses in an almost equal degree. A formidable list of houses that have booked “Dice of Destiny” is reported from the New York, Philadelphia and Chicago branches. In New York City the picture has playing dates in the Grand Opera House, the Academy of Music, Audubon, Crotona, Star and Nemo, and among the Fox theatres in Brooklyn, the Comedy and the Folly. The Fourteenth Street, Standard, Circle, Fortysecond Street, Burland, Victory, Spooner and Loew’s Brevoort in Brooklyn are also booked. All of them say they are looking forward to big business. In Philadelphia the list contains the names of the Empire, Richmond, Carman, Montana Palace, Olympia, Dixie and numerous others likewise situated in the downtown sections, and in Chicago, the State, Hamilton, Bower, Grayland, Lincoln and Hyde Park. Realart Attracts Many Skilled Workers; West Coast Employes College Graduates THERE’S no question about it — motion picture production is drawing to it the very best in talent and brains.” This statement, according to J. S. Woody, Realart’s general manager, sums up one of the reasons for the industry’s progress, and particularly Realart’s growth and success. “I have always realized that motion pictures are demanding, in their production, the highest type of men and women,” said Mr. Woody, “and this realization has been strengthened by a consideration of the educational qualifications of some of Realart’s employes in its West Coast studios. I am particularly impressed by the fact that a large number are college graduates. Not only department heads, who are men and women of exceptional training, but workers in all departments of our organization are of the same fine type.” Maurice Campbell, who directed Bebe Daniels in “Oh Lady, Lady,” “She Couldn’t Help It” and “Ducks and Drakes,” is a grad uate of the University of New York, and Frank V. Biggy, superintendent of the laboratory, secured his degree from Santa Barbara College. Fred Harris, location director, was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Ames University, while Paul Sprunck, head of the title department, studied brush work at the College of Fine Arts, University of Southern California. Many other college trained men and women are on the list. Julian Fleming, architect of Realart sets, secured his bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. Louise Long, cutter of Sam Wood’s Wanda Hawley productions, varied her collegiate career between George Washington University, University of California, and the University of Southern California. A member of the transportation department was educated at Harvard. Laboratory employes include among their alma maters Mount Royal College and University of Southern Illinois. Selznick Begins New Policy which Calls for Joint Review of all Completed Films MYRON SELZNICK, president of Selznick Pictures Corporation, says that beginning with the most recently completed Selznick picture, “Broadway and DOWN WITH THE SOUR SUNDAY Home,” starring Eugene O’Brien, a new policy has been inaugurated which calls for a joint review of each completed production by the various department heads and their assistants. This group will be known in the future as the Selznick’s Studio Survey. The purpose of this board is to give each member of the studio force an opportunity of viewing the result of his efforts put forth toward the completion of each picture. In this way members of the purchasing department will be enabled to judge the screening qualities of the articles purchased for the various sets, location men will be afforded the opportunity of noting how the locations selected appear on the screen, and stars and principals will glean a comprehensive idea of their clothes and general make-up. The new plan has been received with enthusiasm by the studio force. “MAY 1 KISS YO YOUR HAND i” Pretty bit from “Princess Jones,” which is Alice Calhoun’s first starring picture for Vitagraph New Belmont in Montreal Is Owned by Ind pendent Montreal, Quebec, now has a new picture theatre of good size and excellent appearance, owned and controlled by independent interests, the Belmont, Main and Mount Royal avenue. It has been leased for twenty years by the St. Lawrence Amusement Company, the president of which is J. O. Gareau, a prominent merchant and manufacturer of Montreal. The Belmont is the first of a series of theatres to be erected in Montreal and Eastern Canada. The Belmont, seating 2,000, was designed by James Atsalinos, of Montreal, and was built by A. L. Allard, a Montreal contractor* The owner is P. G. Demetre, of Montreal, and the cost of construction was over $200,= 000. The interior decorations were done by Guido Nincheri, a Montreal artist. Everything was supplied and installed by Montreal concerns. All but the box seats are found on the one floor. The boxes are in a small balcony over the entrance promenade and are furnished with wicker chairs. The manager is Thomas E. Conway, of Montreal. The opening attraction was “What’s Your Hurry?” starring Wallace Reid. The conductor of the orchestra is J. Shea. The matinee price is 17 cents and the evening price 35 cents, including the tax. Meighan Off to Coast Thomas Meighan is commuting to Hollywood again. This time to finish his latest Paramount picture, “The Quarry. This is the fourth time in a year that Mr. Meighan has traveled between New York and Hollywood for picture making. “The Frontier of the Stars” and “Civilian Clothes” he made in the East, and “Conrad in Quest of His Youth” ’and “Why Change your Wife?’ were produced on the west coast and for the latter picture Mr. Meighan jumped to the Pennsylvania station. New York for several scenes. WATCH THE WORLD