The Moving picture world (February 1920-March 1920)

1094 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 14, 1920 Pathe Erecting Twelve Story Building to Accommodate Business Increase PAUL BRUNET, vfce president and general manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc., announces that the rapidly increasing activities of the organization, especially after a recordbreaking year, have made it imperative that Pathe occupy larger quarters, which immediately meet and anticipated for some time to come, the expansion of the business. Ground was recently broken on the lots occupying numbers 35. 37 and 39 West Forty-fifth street, adjoining the present home headquarters of Pathe Exchange in the Century Building at No. 25, and, by the coming fall, a twelve story structure, erected there will be the new home of the organization. The ground aera to be occupied by the building is 50 by 100 feet. The design and arrangement of the structure is the last word in modernity. It is to be 100 per cent, fireproof, with sprinkling appliances throughout and will be equipped with every modern device for safeguarding the occupants. The eleventh floor will be given over entirely to the occupancy of Mr. Brunei and the board of officers of the company. There will be a commodious meetmg room for the gathering of the directors. Glass Studio for Art Department. The art department, which now employs thirty odd artists and experts having long since outgrown its present quarters, will be housed in a commodious glass covered studio on the roof of the structure. It will, in effect, be a building upon a building, furnished with every technical equipment to aid in the production and handling of the large amount of art work produced by New Pathe Home Whose twelve stories will house all home office organizations. Pathe, both for its own attractions and those individually distributed through the Pathe Exchanges. An entire floor will be devoted to the sales, publicity, exploitation and advertising departments; and the departments of accounting, supply and purchasing will also be located in commodious quarters. There is to be a special exhibition room on the floor occupied by the sales department for the sole use of that division and prospective buyers. In addition, there will be a projection hall for the routine use of the film committee and for special showings. New Home for Pathe News. After years of domicile in Jersey City, the Pathe News, upon the completion of the new building, will be transferred to New York. This will as indicated by Mr. Brunet vastly facilitate the production and distribution of this feature. The News will have a highly modernized developing plant for negatives, and the cutting room and vaults will have the benefit of the very latest improvements. "It was increasingly evident during the year," commented Mr. Brunet, "that the growth of business handled and in the corresponding increase in office and executive forces, that the ever present need is, and would be for considerable time to come, more room. We have occupied the eleventh and twelfth floors in the Century Building, but in the last year we were compelled to extend our organization to the eighth floor. Provides for New Developments. "The arrangement of the new building has been planned, not only with the idea of thoroughly accommodating all of the established and growing processes of the home offices of Pathe Exchanges, Inc., but to make provision, also, for the things that will shortly develop in the future growing . out of a wider expansion of the national activities of this organization and the accession of new and important factors. "With the occupancy of this new twelve story building, much of a big problem will have been met, along with a largely increased efficiency of operation and a greater capacity for handling the vast business of Pathe Exchange, Inc." Drama His Aspiration Comedy His Life Work WHILE Roscoe Arbuckle, now appearing in George Melford's production, "The Round-Up," has let it become known that although he prefers the feature screen drama to the comedies that have made him famous, he is firm in the belief that the production of laughs for other people is his duty, privilege and life work. He adds that if he should appear in dramas in the future he will demand that many a laugh be tucked away in his roles. Arbuckle has taken his first fling in the drama and a brilliantly successful fling it has been, too, if the unanimous opinion of officials and co-artists at the West Coast studio of Famous PlayersLasky is worth anything, and it ought to be. When he was cast for the star role of the fat sheriff in "The Round-Up," George Melford's special production for Paramount-.-\rtcraft, officials of the organization were certain they had made a fortunate choice. Suffice it to say that the funny fat man even exceeded expectations. "A good laugh," says Arbuckle, "is the most worth-while thing in life. I'll tell you how I feel — I want a laugh in everything about me, I want everybody with whom I associate to be cheerful. When I pick anyone to aid me either at the studio or at my home, I find out first if he has a sense of humor and second, if he can do the work. A sense of humor, to my way of thinking, covers an all-fired multitude of sins and shortcomings. "When I laugh, I want the whole world with me, and when I sigh — if I ever do — I'll want to sigh alone, away oflf by my lonesome, for I want no one else to see me in my shame." Broadway Houses Book Americanization Picture THE first Americanization picture production to be made by any producer following the suggestion of Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane, has been booked by every Broadway motion picture theatre in New York, it was announced this week. The production is "The Land of Opportunity," starring Ralph Ince, who also directed the picture. It was made by Lewis J. Selznick, who is chairman of the distributing committee appointed by Secretary of the Interior Lane to distribute suitable .'\mericanization pictures throughout the country. "The Land of Opportunity," which was announced for February 8 release, is declared to be one of the most forceful blows at "parlor Bolshevism." The film tells, in two reels, the story of how an American radical is converted to true American principals by the story of .Xbraham Lincoln's struggles and triumphs as recalled by an old man who knew Lincoln personally. Ralph Ince has the part of Lincoln and also the role of the radical, the action taking place in a modern club room where the old man, a waiter, tells the story of Lincoln in his early years. The story is projected upon the screen in a series of scenes taken from actual events in the rise of the poor Illinois rail splitter to the chair of President of the United States. Before this production goes to exhibitors it has had an unusual amount of exploitation matter prepared. The plan book turned out by Watt L. Parker, of the Selznick staff, is replete with helps and aids, and the lobby displays prepared by the service department are said to be complete in every way. The production was written and arranged for the screen by Lewis Allen Browne. There is a saving of $4.80 to those who pay the annual subscription rate of $3 to Moving Picture World. The newsstand price is 15 cents.