Moving Picture World (Sep-Oct 1922)

130 MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 9, 1922 Backer Closes Big Deal with Mitchell-Bricker Three important deals were consummated this week by Franklyn E. Backer, president of East Coast Productions, Inc., involving three series of two-reel comedies. The final contracts were not signed until midnight on Tuesday in the spacious offices of East Coast Productions, Inc., in the Times Building. Involved in the deal were Bruce Mitchell and Clarence Bricker, two well-known comedy directors from the coast, who came to New York purposely to close this deal. As a result of the deal, East Coast will distribute, on the State rights basis, a special series of two-reel Crescent comedies with all-star casts, and a new series starring “Fatty” Karr, who is being boosted for the laurels formerly possessed by “Fatty” Arbuckle, and the Frankie Lee series, starring Frankie Lee, the “American Boy.” Mr. Mitchell, who has been producing the Monty Banks comedies for Ben Wilson, will direct the Crescent and Karr comedies, which will be produced by T. R. Coffin, of Los Angeles. This series will include six pictures, four of which are already completed. These are “Easy Pickin’,” “The Colorado Knight,” “Nobody There” and “Follow Suit.” “Fatty” Karr, who has appeared ir, “Fluman Hearts,” “Omar, the Tentmaker” and other specials, was signed in Los Angeles this week by a representative of Mr. Mitchell, according to a telegram received by this department. He has been placed under a threeyear contract and will make a series of pictures that will be released at the rate of one a month. Mr. Bricker is also well-known as a director of comedies and in landing Frankie Lee, one of the cleverest boy actors on the stage or screen, he has scored an effective scoop. Franklie Lee will be remembered for his splendid work in “The Miracle Man.” He has appeared in many pictures. He is 12 years old. The series will constitute 12 two-reelers, the first of which will be released on November 15. BRUCE MITCHELL, FRANKLYN E. BACKER AND CLARENCE BRICKER. Aronson Launches New Organization News of interest to independent producers of motion pictures is contained in the announcement by Alexander S. Aronson of the launching of an extensive business organization devoted entirely to important services which were, it is said, heretofore not available in any company to the independent producer seeking adequate distributing arrangements. Mr. Aronson resigned as general sales manager and vice president of Goldwyn Distributing Corporation earlier in the year to perfect the details of his own company to render service to independent producers in placing product for distribution, controlling sales, auditing and field selling. In addition to arranging distribution this organization will control all sales by the approval of contracts, by enforcing play dates and through a competent auditing staff in the field it will check up local exchanges so that the independent may secure what is coming to him from each booking. Mr. Aronson states that his organization will work actively in the field watching every first run situation and conferring with the distributor’s selling force in the exchanges so that product may be placed in the theatres with the maximum benefit to the producer and so that unsold territories may be followed up. A capable foreign department will look after the disposition of Lesser Will Produce on a Big Scale One of the biggest independent production deals of the year has just been consummated by the Principal Pictures Corporation, by which this organization will produce and release eight features during the year. Michael Rosenberg, secretary and Western manager of the organization, has arranged with Irving Cummings to produce a series of three big features, starting with “Chicago Sal,” an original story by Harvey Gates, author of "Hell Morgan’s Girl,” “Hurricane’s Gal” and other well-known screen stories. Elinor Glyn’s story, “The World’s a Stage,” directed by Colin Campbell, and featuring Dorothy Phillips, Bruce McCrea and Kenneth Harlan, will be the first of the series of eight productions to be distributed. world rights on independent product. Other departments of the new company include exploitation and booking of stars or featured players. A1 Lichtman to Tour Three States A1 Lichtman, president of the A! Lichtman Corporation, and vice president of Preferred Pictures, Inc., will be the guest of honor at a series of exhibitor gatherings to be held in three states early in September. The meetings are being arranged by Harry L. Charnas, president of the A1 Lichtman exchange and of the Standard Film the Lichtman service in Western Pennsylvania, Southern Michigan. Northern and Southern Ohio. At these meetings, which will be held in leading theatres of the cities visited, “Rich Men’s Wives,’1 the initial release of the A1 Lichtman Corporation, will be screened. Mr. Lichtman plans to leave New York Saturday, September 9. Service Company, to inaugurate Weber-North Will Build New Studio It was learned this week that the independent producing and distributing firm of L. Lawrence Wreber & Bobby North are receiving estimates and blue-prints from architects and contractors on plans for a studio to be exclusively used for Weber & North productions during the coming season. The ownership of their own studio was considered an advisable step by the producers in view of the extensive program of releases planned. The step suggested itself after Will Nigh completed his latest special production, “Notoriety,” for Weber & North. An Eastern studio was rented for more than two months. The studio was fully equipped for an average feature, but inadequate for the extra demands of an ambitious production like “Notoriety.” Special sets and effects were necessary, as Nigh’s property plans on the picture called for original settings. A huge courtroom scene in particular, which carries one of the big moments in the action was the first special job that confronted Nigh’s staff. SPECIAL Get an autographed copy of Richardson’s new fourth edition Handbook of Projection by sending in your order direct to this company before September 30, 1922. Copies ordered after that date will not be autographed. Price $6.00 post paid Chalmers Publishing Company 516 Fifth Avenue New York City