The Moving picture world (February 1920-March 1920)

2160 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD March 27, 1920 American Buys Rights to Famous Tales of Romance, Ambition, Peril and Humor AMONG the recent purchases effected by the American Film Company are the picture rights to "Their Mutual Child,' by Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, "The Blue Moon" by David Anderson, "The Thirtieth Piece of Silver" by Albert Payson Terhune. "The Week End," by Cosmo Hamilton, "Payment Guaranteed" and "The Gamesters" by Lois Zeliner. A few of these stories have already been filmed and have been marked up on the "Flying A" calendar for release to follow Samuel Merwin's novel, "The Honey Bee," which was chosen as the medium for Mme. Marguerita Sylva's initial appearance on the American screen. "The Thirtieth Piece of Silver," which -will soon be ready for distribution by Pathe, is said to be one of the "neatest, most compact and unique plots ever screened." The story centers on an old coin in the hands of an up-to-date society man whose penchant for coin collecting supersedes everything else in his life, even his love for his hard-earned young bride. Romance, Thrills and Humor. "The House of Toys" was written by Henry Russell Miller. The book is at this writing in scenario form in the hands of George L. Cox, a director of the .'\merican at the Santa Barbara studio. It is a strong drama of love and ambition, a picture of empty, superficial existence, a fragile structure, under which the author builds a foundation of worth-while living. "The Blue Moon" obtains its name from a gorgeous pearl, and the setting is among the pearl hunters on the Wabash flats of Indiana, who furnish the author with a new type and fresh inspiration. Paramount interest lies in the pearl hunters, a reckless, dangerous breed of river-men, their mode of life and their Strang occupation, from which develops a romance crowded with action, mystery and heroism. Through "Their Mutual Child," a 1919 novel, the American's silversheet will poke fun at eugenics and the attempt at bringing up children according to mathematical rules. In Cosmo Hamilton's "The Week End" the American will present a fast-moving love drama which attempts only to be mighty entertaining and amusing. What a pretty witch of a girl can't do at a weekend party, especially if she is being harassed by an unwelcome suitor, backed by her very proper parents burdened with constant memory of Mayflower antecedents, is not worth telling. And Cosmo Hamiltion's heroine isn't slow. Hillegass and Snyder Open Aurora Theatre at Pennsburg THE New Aurora Theatre, Pennsburg, Pa., is being advertised as the largest playhouse in the Perkiomen Valley. The New Aurora is a new building erected just in time for the winter season. The playhouse is jointly owned and operated by William I. Snyder and Foster C. Hillegass. Mr. Snyder has been in the picture business for upward of ten years, .'\fter the erection of this new theatre Mr. Hillegass, a newspaperman, bought a half interest. The theatre has been inspected by city managers, who are unanimous in their expression of opinion that "The New .\urora is truly a modern 'city' theatre." And especially are these managers surprised to learn that the theatre is located in a town of 1,200 population. The New Aurora has a seating capacity of 455, modern stage equipment, in fact the building is complete in detail. Added to all this Snyder and Hillegass have just contracted for the installation of a cooling system that will add another big feature to the comfort of the patrons next summer. Exploit New Jersey in Pictures. Under the auspices of the State Board of Institutions and Agencies, motion pictures in the interest of the 10,000 wards of the State of New Jersey are now being shown in many of the theatres throughout the State. The official series, hitherto unpublished, covers seven separate leels (one for each State institution), depicting the in teresting shop, industrial and recreational activities and scientific medical and research treatment in the seven largest institutions in New Jersey. Big Simplex Sales Is Report of Exhibitors' Supply Co. FROM the Exhibitors' Supply Company, with offices in Chicago, Milwaukee Indianapolis, comes a report of Simplex sales that indicate a large number of Simplex installations that have recently taken place in the territory of this theatre equipment house in the Middle West. A close perusal of the report indicates that not only are the theatres throughout the Exhibitor's selling zone demanding Simplex but many of the groups included in the non-theatrical field as well. De Mille's Latest Special Is Breaking Los Angeles Records ACCORDING to word received from Harold G. Ballance, Los Angeles branch manager of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, "Why Change Your Wife?" Cecil B. De Mille's newest special production, which recently started an engagement at Grauman's Rialto in Los .Angeles, will eclipse the records of all its Paramount Artcraft predecessors at that theatre. Mr. Ballance's telegram, which was addressed to Al Lichtman, general manager of distribution, was as follows : "'Why Change Your Wife?' at Grauman's Rialto, off to a flying start and will absolutely break all records in this territory. At close of first week's business 'Why Change Your Wife?' grossed eleven hundred more than "Male and Female.' Will undoubtedly run seven or eight weeks. Press unanimous in praise of this production. The line-up at the ticket window the past week has not broken since last Sunday, as there has never been a time that there have not been hundreds of people waiting to buy tickets." Among those who saw the De Mille production at a recent private showing at the Lasky studio in Hollywood was Jack Partington, of the California, Imperial and Portola theatres in San Francisco. "One hundred per cent.," was Mr. Partington's laconic declaration, and then added, "it's the last word in picture drama." "Why Change Your Wife?" probably will he released generally in May. Changes Title of Polly Moran Comedy. The title of the second Polly Moran onereel slapstick comedy, produced by the National Film Corporation and distributed by the Marion H. Kohn Productions, has been changed to "A Scrambled Romance." The film was previously titled "Dollars and Scents." It is one of a series of fast action comedy reels being produced by this company. The first of the group, "The Ragged Road to Romance," has been completed and is now ready for release. American Cinema Starts New Play. Walter Niebuhr, president of the -American Cinema Corporation, has just signed a contract with James Vincent, to direct its next production, which will be put under way next week. Mr. Vincent will take his company to Florida to film the exteriors which will be an all-star cast feature, based on an original story recently purchased from H. Thompson Rich. Save $4.80 by subscribins; direct for Moving Picture World. News men charge the IS cents per copy price. Send $3 and get your paper every week, by early mail, and miss no issues. That will give you $4.80 for War Savings Stamp investment.