The Moving picture world (February 1920-March 1920)

February 14, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1091 Gets World Rights to Norris Novel. Louis B. Mayer has purchased the world's motion picture right to "Harriet and the Piper," a novel by Kathleen Norris, running serially in Pictorial Review. Anita Stewart will be featured in the future. On completion of the story in its serial form it will be published in book form. George Smith at Farewell Luncheon Diagnoses English Film Situation Loeb Affiliates with the Kane Organization IOUIS E. LOEB, a film man of long _j experience, is the first prominent addition to the staff of the Arthur S. Kane Pictures Corporation, organized two wee'ss ago at 452 Fifth avenue. New York, with Mr. Kane as president. Mr. Loeb will act as assistant to Mr. Kane. Mr. Loeb has been an active worker in the industry for about ten years and has a thorough knowledge of many phases of the business, especially film distribution, in which he has had extensive experience. When the General Film Company opened offices in San Francisco in 1910 Mr. Loeb was one of the first employes, acting in the capacity of assistant branch manager for almost five years. Coming to New York, he became connected with the home office of the Paramount Pictures Corporation, which was later absorbed by the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation. When the Artcraft Pictures Corporation was organized, Mr. Loeb became assistant general manager, and perfected and installed the routine of the twentyeight branches as well as the home office. With the consolidation of Paramount and Artcraft, Mr. Loeb was given complete charge of accounting in the department of distribution. In the course of his exchange activities he had made five extensive tours of the country, thereby securing an intimate knowledge of national conditions. Mr. Loeb was with Famous PlayersLasky for five years prior to his present connections. He left the latter concern to join Mr. Kane in his new enterprise. Randolph Bartlett Back With Sdlznick. Every once in a while Randolph Bartlett gets away from Selznick. Years ago he left to become eastern representative of Photoplay Magazine. Then he went back to Selznick when Myron began "on his own." Photoplay Magazine took him away a few months ago to become Pacific Coast representative of that publication. The score is now 3 to 2 in favor of Selznick — for Mr. Bartlett is back again, to do special publicity work for the Selznick stars. First of Drew Two-Reel Comedies. "The Charming Mrs. Chase," first of Mrs. Sidney Drew's "After Thirty" series of comedies has been scheduled by Paths for release February 22. These features have been adapted from the well known stories of Julian Street, in which John Cumberland, of bedroom farce fame, is starred. There will be eight of these modern comedies. The first is a typical Drew production with all the trials and tribulations of matrimonial bliss, after the glamor and romance has worn off. The comedies are two reels in length. SUMMONED by the slogan "George is going to London" fifteen of the friends of A. George Smith gathered in the yacht room of the Astor at noon, January 29, to bid godspeed to the new European reperesentative of Goldwyn, who, it had been announced, was sailing for London, February 2. At the conclusion of a substantial luncheon Mr. Smith was presented with a handsome traveling bag, equipped with all the needful accessories. In the course of the presentation speech Mr. Smith was praised as a man of few words and also as a man of his word ; who knew what he wanted and who quickly decided what a production was worth to his company; who nominated the sum and was prepared to "plank it down;" who was returning to his old ho'iTie on an important mission, the fulfilment of which was a certainty in the opinion of those who knew him best. In his response Mr. Smith spoke feelingly of his relations with Americans during the past two and a half years. He referred to the warnings given him as to the rough treatment he might expect in the United States, but he declared he had found the fears of his anxious friends unfounded ; that in spite of the pessimists his admiration for American business men steadily had broadened. While in fact London was his home, also he had learned to look upon New York in the same light, and he wanted to feel he was coming back. English Pictures for England Only. The former representative of South African Films referred at some length to the international film situation. Speaking of English productions Mr. Smith said he would talk with frankness and declared it his belief that one reason underlying the struggle English manufacturers experienced in selling their pictures on the American market was that English productions were made for showing on domestic screens, in other words, to please the English people. In contrast, Mr. Smith called attention to the cosmopolitan character of the population of the United States, pointing out the advantage that gave to producers here. He said pictures that suited the American public were practically sure to please the peoples of other nations. Mr. Smith quoted figures showing that England has exported in 1919, 140 per cent more pictures than it had in 1918 and predicted that in 1920 she would export three times the amount recorded in the past twelvemonth. As to how the United States would be represented in that bulk, he said, it would depend entirely on the character of the product — as to whether quality dominated rather than quantity. Why Foreign Pictures Are Not Popular. Following the talk by Mr. Smith there was a round table discussion as to why foreign pictures and English particularly had not proved popular in the United States. It was the consensus of opinion that apart from the question of quality, which it was pointed out had not been on a par with that of American productions, the handicap chiefly lay in the prejudice of exhibitors against a picture in which the star was not known to his clientele. Another complaint was that in many instances the players were miscast, that insufficient attention was given to types as well as to securing men and women of screen presence and then attiring them in attractive garb. Those present to say good-bye to Mr. Smith were Sidney Garrett, Bobby North, Nathan Hirsh, Arthur Ziehm, H. Barnes, Louis Brock, George Blaisdell, Meyer B. Schlesinger, George W. Newgass, Gus Schlesinger, Jacobo Glucksman, Leon Schlesinger, Robert W. Priest and L. A. Auerbach. Fox Building Big Stage in Los Angeles for Interiors 1^ HE producing industry in Los Angeles and its environs will boast a stage larger than any it now possesses when the one under construction at the William Fox studios at North Western avenue and Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, is finished, which will be in a few weeks. No fewer than five dramatic groups will begin shooting pictures there as soon as the place is available. The stage is 220 feet long, 70 feet wide and 25 feet high in the clear. As it is the experience of Hollywood directors that glass and open stages are difficult and expensive, this has been built as a dark stage, on which only interiors will be taken. The building of the stage is under the direction of the general superintendent of the Fox studios in Hollywood, Sol M. Wurtzel, with C. W. Telfeau, general manager, in immediate charge. The space used for this stage was formerly the site of an open stage and is located on the dramatic or east side of the Fox studio plot. "Manager Wanted" is an advertisement frequently appearing in The World's Classified department. Give it a try and better vour position. N (iiiiiiiiiiiriiiiti iiiiiiiriiiiiiritiiiiitiiiiiiitiitiiiriiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimiiriiiitiiiirniuini Lon Megargee Will paint titles for GeorRo Melford's "The Round-Tip" for ParamountArtcraft.