The Moving picture world (May 1920-June 1920)

May 15, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 939 H I C AG O LETTER JAMES M C QUADE Frank Rogers Finds Western Exhibitors Want Pictures with Strong Heart Appeal FRANK B. ROGERS, general sales director of J. Stuart Blackton Features, Inc., arrived in Chicago on Wednesday, April 28, from a trip that occupied five weeks, during which he visited all branches west of Chicago. The main objects of the trip were to stimulate interest in the Blackton product and to learn from exhibitors themselves the kind of pictures their patrons want at the present time. He found quite a diversity of opinions, but all were agreed that bigger and better pictures, with a strong heart appeal, were needed most. He was also told that good comedies were always highly favored. "Mr. Blackton has fully determined to make nothing but big pictures from wellknown stories by famous authors, with renowned stars and strong supporting casts," said Mr. Rogers to the writer. "He will be just as careful in the selection of the members of the casts as he will be in the selection of the stories and the stars. "I might state here that 'Passers By,' with Herbert Rawlinson and an exceptionally strong cast, will be released on June IS. I personally believe, after viewing this picture, that it will rank high among all the big pictures of 1920. "The exhibitors throughout the West arc all optimistic over the prospects for this year. I found them good business men and substantial business men, too, who are both willing and able to pay the price for any picture desired." San Francitco Prosperous. Mr. Rogers was especially impressed with San Francisco as one of the most active and prosperous picture centers in 'the country. He found that considerable interest was taken in the Blackton product by exhibitors of San Francisco, and also in every city visited on the Pacific Coast, and expressed himself as being greatly satisfied with the demand for Blackton pictures, i The central western district, with Chicago in the lead, is doing a very satisfactory business with the Blackton product, Mr. Rogers stated. Denver and Omaha are showing great strides with the product, while Kansas City and Minneapolis are also making satisfactory showings. . Reverting to the Pacific Coast, Mr. Rogers dwelt for some time on the highclass presentations there. He was especially attracted by the artistic merit of these presentations and by the good admission prices which prevail. The attendance everywhere was exceptionally fine. Mr. Rogers left for the home office in New York City on Sunday, May 2. He will remain there for about three weeks and then will start on a trip through the entire South, where the demand is especially strong for Blackton productions. As an afterword, just before leaving, Mr. Rogers said to the writer: "You can say for me that Mr. Blackton has already made g^reat plans and preparations for future productions, and that they will positively far surpass in every respect the best of his former product. He has made a careful study of the near future demand and his aim is to meet that demand in a superlative way." Pictures Boom in Indiana, Realart Manager Declares HW. WILLARD, Chicago manager of Realart Pictures Corporation, re• turned on Monday, April 26, from a six-days' trip through Indiana, during which he visited La Fayette, Kokomo, Logansport, Marion, Anderson, Muncie, Huntington and Fort Wayne. In these cities he had great success in closing contracts for Mayflower specials and Wanda Hawley in "Miss Hobbs." He contracted for the latter in each city at top prices for runs of two to four days. In the Luna-Lite Theatre, Marion, "Soldiers of Fortune" showed to extraordinary business, the returns exceeding even those of "The Miracle Man," which held the previous record. Owing to the excellent business prevailing in picture theatres throughout the Hoosier state, exhibitors are on a sharp lookout for new locations in the various cities, with the view of building larger and better theatres. The tendency everywhere is towards higher admissions. Fort Wayne houses are charging 35 cents for their programs and all are doing well. Kokomo, now the tenth city of the state, as shown by the recent national census, is one of the liveliest spots in Indiana and the picture theatres are showing to excellent business. Fox Chicago Office Now in Famous Players' Building THE Fox Film Coroporation's temporary Chicago offices have been installed on the seventh floor of the Famous Players-Lasky building at Ninth street and Wabash avenue, where they will remain until the organization's own building will be completed. Fox films will be handled from the Beehive exchange on the eighth floor of the Film Exchange Building, 207 South Wabash avenue, where space has been rented from R. C. Cropper until the Fox building is ready to house the office and film-handling forces of the Chicago organization. Ralph O. Proctor Enthused Over His Far Western Trip RALPH O. PROCTOR, assistant general manager of United Artists, came into the city on Tuesday, April 27, from Minneapolis, after making a complete circuit of the western states during the last five weeks. He visited Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake, Denver and Omaha and found the prospects for United Artists very bright in all these cities. San Francisco, especially, impressed him because of the great boom now on in the building of new picture theatres, in addition to excellent, current business. The other cities mentioned are also very prosperous. Mr. Proctor is much pleased with the volume of business being done by the Minneapolis Auditorium and says that it exceeds his expectations. The symphony orchestra of thirty-seven pieces is a leading feature of the presentations. Director Richard Long has already made a name for himself in Minneapolis by his musical adaptations, and a great deal of the credit for the success of the Auditorium must be awarded him as well as to Manager Charles Branham, Mr. Proctor was careful to state. The presentations start at 12.30 p. m. daily, and not at 2.30 p. m., as was planned originally, the patrons being in favor of the earlier hour. Harry Weiss Organizes His Superior Screen Service, Inc. HARRY WEISS, formerly co-manager with R. C. Seery, of First National's Chicago office, has formed the Superior Screen Service, Inc., in which he owns the controlling stock. He has established offices in the Film Exchange Building, 207 South Wabash avenue, and announces that he has secured twenty-six big pictures for the balance of the present year. The first of these is "Confession," in which Henry B. Walthall is starred. Matt Moore in ""The Sport of Kings" is the second release, and the third is "The Greater Sinner," with James K. Hackett, supported by Ormi Hawley and Irving Cummings. Mr._ Weiss is confining his operations to Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan and reports very encouraging business. Adolph Zukor's Son Weds Kansas City School Teacher THE marriage of Eugene J. Zukor, son of Adolph Zukor, president of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, and Miss Emma Dorothy Roth, daughter of John Roth, Kansas City, was solemnized on Thursday evening. May 6, at the Hotel Blackstone. The Rev. G. B. Levi, of Chicago, performed the ceremony. The groom is assistant treasurer of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation and the bride has the honor of being the youngest teacher in the Kansas City public schools. Triangle Office Good Till June 1. L. A. Rozelle, manager of Triangle's Chicago office, has arranged to continue business in the Mailers Building until June 1. The films have been moved out to Evanston, where inspection will be made until further notice. The central delivery point for films will be in the old Doll Van office, 207 South Wabash avenue. Court Give* Lila Lee to Parents. On Tuesday, last week, Judge McGoorty awarded little Lila Lee to the guardianship of her parents, in Chicago. The suit, which has occupied the last two weeks, was brought to release Lila from the guardianship of Mrs. Gus Edwards, who has been her guardian for the past ten years andt who during that time had arranged for her appearance in child roles in drama and I» moving pictures.