The Moving picture world (February 1920-March 1920)

March 20, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1999 National Picture Theatres Announces "Just a Wife/' Its Introductory Film IN the news announcements of the week few are more interesting than that byLewis J. Selznick in which he reports the first release of a National Picture Theatres, Inc., production. Mr. Selznick, president of the National Picture organization, in this announcement adds another page to the history of the film industry. The release of this organization's first picture, it is said, marks the opening campaign of new methods in the producing and distribution of picture productions. It also marks, it is contended, the formation of a closer bond of relationship between the exhibitor and the producer. As has been said before, the National Picture idea is the final cementing of the various branches of the industry with but one object to achieve, that object being successful showmanship. The title of the first picture, which was released this week, is "Just A Wife." It is described as a gripping story of how a selfish man uses two women to further his business career. One was his secretary and the other his wife. One oflfers him inspiration and the other afifords him respectability. And for all these gifts he offers nothing but money in return. "Just A Wife" was produced with an excellent cast, according to the announcement this week, each player having been picked with the view of obtaining a t/pe best suited to the character to be portrayed. Prominent in the cast are Leatrice Joy, Kathleen Williams, Roy Stewart, Albert Van and William Lion West. Having started the releases, the release of the second production, "Blind Youth," will follow close after the first one. The third production, "The Invisible Divorce," is now in production at the Selznick West Coast studios. According to Mr. Selznick there will be a sufficient number of releases always available to assure every exhibitor and circuit manager who has taken out a franchise, a program of unusual merit and attraction. It has been but a few mtinths since the announcement of the National Picture movement and within that time, it is claimed, practically every large circuit and league in the country has endorsed the organization. Predicts Big Business Boom for Minneapolis Theatres AFTER a severe winter and a period in which influenza curtailed business to some extent, the Minneapolis territory is due for a great spring and summer season, according to Charles W. Stombaugh, manager of Pathe's Minneapolis exchange. Business is already starting to jump and he expects that March and April will be the two biggest months of the year. To emphasize his opinion, Mr. Stombaugh stated that he had brought to New York to the executive offices of Pathe Exchange, Inc., a big collection of contracts for spring business with the Reuben & Finklestein interests for the Harold Lloyd $100,000 two-reel comedies. These important exhibitors have taken the comedies for their entire circuit in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth. The first Lloyd comedy played in St. Paul on March 7 and is booked for Minneapolis on March 14, and every assurance has been nuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiniijiiiiiriiiitiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiriiitiriiiiiiiiiiiijHiiiiitiiiiiitiiiiiiiiii given that nothing will be spared in the way of presentation and exploitation. The contracts for the Lloyd pictures have been closed for practically all the important theatres in the territory. "In January and a part of February we had about 100 towns closed entirely on account of the influenza," Mr. Stombaugh said. "The winter is about over now, people are coming out and the theatres are in for a fine spell of business." Pathe Gets Congratulations on "Daredevil Jack" Serial DOCUMENTARY evidence of the success of the Pathe serial "Daredevil Jack," in which Jack Dempsey plays the star role, continues to arrive daily at the home office of the Pathe company from exhibitors in various parts of the country. Manager Gray, of the Majestic Theatre, Cleveland, sent the following wire to Pathe: "Played Jack Dempsey in 'Daredevil Jack' with greatest box office receipts in history of my house. I think this is wonderful as I have been in the same stand six years. All records were broken including holidays." W. E. Raynor, manager of Pathe's New York Exchange, announces that the New 14th Street Theatre in New York has increased its booking on the picture from one to two days run, stating that Murray Weiser, manager of the house, doubled the booking after showing the first episode of the serial on Monday February 23, to the largest business in the history of the theatre. In a letter to the Omaha exchange, Mr. Gailey, manager of the Crystal Theatre in Omaha, writes that the first episode of "Daredevil Jack" went over in such a big way that he is convinced it is going to be the biggest clean-up in serial history. "His House in Order" Based on Pinero's Drama in Exchanges SIR ARTHUR WING PINERO'S great drama, translated to the screen by Hugh Ford and presenting Elsie Ferguson in the stellar role, is now available to exhibitors at the Famous PlayersLasky exchanges. "His House in Order" is a feature film and shared the honors of the Paramount-Artcraft schedule for March 7 with Charles Ray's latest Thomas H. Ince production, "Alarm Clock Andy." The central figure in the story, as scenarioized by Hugh Ford, is Nina Graham, a pleasure-loving English girl. Elsie Ferguson plays the role of Nina. Supporting Miss Ferguson is Holmes E. Herbert, Vernon Steel, Margaret Linden, Marie Burke and a clever youngster named Lawrence Johnson. Another of those Charlie Ray country boy pictures, directed by Jerome Storm, photographed by Chester Lyons and supervised by Thomas H. Ince, is promised in "Alarm Clock Andy," which was written by Agnes Ch?!stine Johnston. Andy is a bashful, stuttering motor truck salesman straight from the "Sticks." Millicent Foster is Ray's leading woman, and support is furnished by George Webb, Tom Cuise, Andrew Robson and others. Henley Back from Vacation. Hobart Henley has returned from a much needed rest at Lake Placid, N. Y., and is about to commence work on a big production for Pathe. Forgetting motion pictures and the strain he had been under while working on his latest photoplay, "The Miracle of Money," which Pathe has sched "Shake!" Says Priscilla Dean, as phe puts a little punch into Universal's "Tlie "Virgin of Stamboul." iiiiriiriiliiiiiiiiiiriiiiriiiiiiiiritlillliiliiiriirillHliiiiilliliniilii[iiiii]iriliiiirliiiiiiriii[iiiriijiMiiiiiiiiiiiFiitiiiiiiiiiriiiiiMIIB uled for release at an early date, he returned to his "kid days" again and took a keen interest in all the winter sports at the popular resort. As yet Mr. Henley has not announced the title of his next picture or the name of any of his contemplated players. Davis Announces Plans to Buy Big Independent Pictures GEORGE H. DAVIS, head of the Equity Pictures Company, San Francisco, who bought and was in charge of the distribution of "The Confession," the successful National feature which offered Henry Walthall as its star, arrived in New York this week, and announced himself on the market for independent productions. Mr. Davis was full of the success with which "The Confession" had met. He said that all territory in the United States and Canada had been sold, with the exception of two or three Southern states, and that these would be disposed of within the next few days. "I would like to buy some big independent production for the western territory or for that matter, for the entire United States while I am in New York," he said. "The great success of productions in the independent field makes me believe that this angle of the industry is the one which is due to develop even more materially than it has during the last year." Mr. Davis will be the guest of Joe Brandt, eastern representative of the National Film Corporation of America, while in New York. George V. Hobart Piece for Selznick. A George V. Hobart comedy is to be produced by the Selznick organization, according to a statement from Myron Selznick. The title of the story is "Stop That Man," and it is one of the most recent works of the well-known playwright and author of magazine and newspaper stories. "Stop That Man" will be used as a vehicle for Owen Moore, who is now working at the Selznick West Coast studios. Carlton in Cast of "Dangerous Paradise." William P. Carlton, well-known screen player, has been signed for a part in the next Olive Thomas production, "Dangerous Paradise," according to a statement from Myron Selznick. He will have the role of Richard Channing in this picture, the story of which was written by Frances Marion. Alan Crosland is directing.