Moving Picture World (Sep-Oct 1922)

128 MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 9, 1922 Famous Players, Ltd., Gets Equity’s Goodman Film “What’s Wrong With the Women?” Daniel Carson Goodman’s production for release on the independent market through Equity Pictures Corporation, will be issued to Canadian exhibitors through the Famous Players Film Service, Ltd., of Toronto, Canada. This sale was consummated recently between Abbe Cohn, of the Canadian exchange, and Louis Baum, vice president of Equity, who is now on a tour of exchanges in the interest of the Goodman picture. The opinion of Mr. Cohn on this unusual production coincided with those of Mr. Sam Zierler, of New York; Sam Grand, of Boston; Joe Friedman, of Chicago, and Ben Amsterdam, of Philadelphia, four leading independent exchangeman, who have already purchased the picture for their respective territories. “It is seldom,” stated Mr. Cohn, “that I have agreed so perfectly with the trade paper critics in their opinion of a picture. The reviews I had read on this picture naturally lead me to expect one of the biggest independent productions of many years and I entered the projection room thoroughly convinced that the produc Announcement was made this week by Producers Security Corporation that it will release “Madame Sans Gene” on the State rights basis. This statement virtually sets aside certain rumors relative to the intentions of several program companies releasing such a picture. “Madame Sans Gene” ranks as one of the most famous stories and also one of the best book sellers. In Europe Sarah Bernhardt immortalized the character, while in America Amelia Bingham made that role famous. Producers Security Corporation contends this feature will rank among the best of the year. Aubrey Kennedy produced this picture while Margaret Mayo titled it. Sam Werner of St. Louis has completed his plans for the ensuing year and right now he is taking a trip through his territory, personally interviewing exhibitors to whom he is submitting a novel booking proposition. News of the expansion of the Sol Lesser-Mike Rosenberg production activities on the Coast cheered the New York offices of the Western Pictures Exploitation Company, whose forces have been working overtime, but have been quietly delivering the goods. A rumor was circulated in New York this week that C. C. Burr was about to launch an independent exchange in that city. However, there is absolutely no truth whatsoever in this canard, for Mr. Burr is perfectly satisfied with the releasing arrangements he has with Sam Zierler of Commonwealth Pictures Corporation. Sam Zierler is one of the most aggressive and progressive exchangemen in this country and it would be folly for any national distributor doing business with Zierler to attempt to tion would have to be 100 per cent, from every standpoint in order to enthuse me. I found it just that. Seldom have I seen a picture that shows such a keen knowledge of box-office values on the part of its producer. There is an appeal here for every class of people, and people of every age. It is a story which leaves a profound impression upon the mind, yet first and foremost it is entertainment, not preachment.” Mr. Baum, vice president of Equity, is now in San Francisco. According to latest reports from him, many sales are pending on “What’s Wrong With the Women?” which, when consummated, will come near to establishing a sales record on the independent market. In every case where the picture was screened, the opinions were unanimous, especially on the point of its universality of appeal. It has never been characterized as a “man’s” picture or a “woman’s” picture, or a “small town” or “big city” drawing card, but rather as a special of general appeal. “The need of big special productions,” states Mr. Baum, “is just as acute in the independent market as it is in the national handle the distribution in the metropolitan district. Just what has happened to M. H. Burnside’s plans relative to the State rights distribution of “Yankee Doodle Jr.,” one of the best bets on the market, is still a mystery, for several exchangemen who have sought to buy the picture during the past week were unable to even get in touch with Mr. Burnside. “Rich Men’s Wives,” the first of the A1 Liehtman Preferred Pictures, will have day and date showings at the Liberty Theatre, Portland, and the Coliseum. Seattle, September 16. The Liehtman product is distributed through De Luxe for the four Northwest states. A1 Rosenberg is the local manager. The Seattle Educational should be flying a pennant from the roof these days, with the bookings of the entire 1922-1923 product for first runs, in all key cities in the Pacific Northwest. J. A. Gage is the live wire manager of the lcrcal exchange. L. N. Walton, manager of the Butte Exchange, Greater Features, Inc., of Seattle, since its opening, has found it necessary to return to the Coast on account of his health. He has been given charge of the Oregon territory, with headquarters in Portland. Paul Schulz, an old time theatre and exchangeman, formerly manager of three downtown houses in Seattle, and more recently salesman for one of the larger national distributing corporations, will be the new manager in Butte. Equity Sale “What’s Wrong With the Women?” Daniel Carson Goodman’s production, will be distributed in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia by the Columbia Film Service, of Pittsburgh. distribution field. The State right exchange looks upon a production that can be conscientiously offered as a ‘special’ as a lifesaver and this is the reason that ‘What’s Wrong With the Women?’ has been so well received by the exchangemen who have seen it. There is a plentiful supply of mediocre, ‘program’ pictures, but they are the curse of the independent market just as they are in the national distribution field.” While Mr. Baum is touring the exchange centers, the Equity Pictures advertising department is getting into full swing with their advertising and publicity campaign which will launch the picture with a publicity impetus seldom equalled in the history of the independent field. That the biggest and best theatres are opening more and more to good independent features is proved once again this week with word that the premiere of “More to Be Pitied” will take place at the Randolph Theatre, Chicago. This C. B. C. feature has been booked into the Randolph for a run, starting Sunday, September 3. This is an important move in the independent field, the Randolph being one of Chicago’s best long-run houses at the present time, playing program features. It is the first time in its film history that this theatre has booked an independent feature, the management booking “More to Be Pitied” on its merits as a box-office picture, because it was convinced that this is one of the big pictures of the season, and good for a big first run. Booker Mitchell of Loew's Metropolitan circuit, booked Producers Security Corporation’s “The Country Flapper,” starring Dorothy Gish, on the tip given by this department. And he’s darn glad he did, for when that picture played the New York Theatre and Roof on Tuesday, Aug. 28, there was a heavy turnaway. “As a consequence, the picture will play the entire Loew circuit. Arthur Whyte, who is booking pictures for the B. F. Keith houses, is giving the independent pictures the once-over and grabbing all the good lookers in sight. Lou Berman of Independent Film Corporation of Philadelphia, after considerable dickering, finally got a Boardwalk theatre to show ‘ Warner Brother’s Harry Rapf feature, “School Days.” in Atlantic City. N. J. With the weather break in favor of theatre patronage, the picture jammed the house, despite the opposition of “Blood and Sand” at the Virginia Theatre, and at the Colonial Theatre, in the immediate vicinity. The Jack Dempsey-Georges Carpentier fight was fought in Jersey City a year ago last July 2. but that apparently doesn’t mean a thing, for the reason that the pictures of that fight are still drawing big houses, particularly in the South, whore it is being road-showed with great financial success to distributor and exhibitors. Big Staff at Work on New North Feature A special staff of six has been engaged by L. Lawrence Weber & Bobby North to assist Will Nigh and Ben Behrens, his associate, in cutting the 100,000 feet of film shot on the director’s latest picture — “Notoriety.” Closed quarters in the film room adjoining Weber & North’s offices were assigned for the work. The job of eliminating footage from the thousand reels down to seven — which will probably be the finished length of the picture, is nothing unusual in Nigh’s life as director. The independent director has always made it a point to over-shoot, as it assures him a wide latitude of choice for the final form of the picture. He took excess footage on “Why Girls Leave Home” and “Schooldays,” and his wisdom in filming 100 times the necessary footage was proven in the finished product. “Ashamed of Parents.” a Warner feature that wasn’t put down as likely to break records, is proving a big surprise everywhere, for it is getting big money at the box office and is entertaining to the point that the folks go out talking about it. Anyway, that’s the experience of Jack Kairns in Detroit. “Rich Men’s Wives.” the Ben Schulberg feature which A1 Liehtman Corporation is distributing, showed to wonderful business at Peter Adam's TT. S. Theatre in Paterson, N. J., last week, business holding up all week. FIGURE IT OUT If Will Nigh and only ONE Star could make a Box Office Gold-Mine like “SCHOOLDAYS” What Can Will Nigh and TEN Stars make? Answer : “NOTORIETY” COUNT THE STARS MAURINE POWERS MARY ALDEN ROO LA ROCQUE GEO. HACKATHORNE J. BARNEY SHERRY MONA LISA RICHARO TRAVERS IDA WATERMAN WM. H. TOOKER ANDERS RANOOLF Ready for Independent Release in September by L. LAWRENCE WEBER and BOBBY NORTH 1600 Broadway N. Y. City Will State Right “Madame Sans Gene” Chicago House Books First S. R. Feature