The Moving picture world (May 1920-June 1920)

105? THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 22. 1920 Proctor Joins Associated Exhibitors As Assistant to the General Manager RALPH O. PROCTOR, who resigned as assistant general manager of United Artists a few days ago, has become connected in an executive capacity with Associated Exhibitors, Inc. Mr. Proctor will act as general assistant to F. C. Quimby, general manager. His duties will keep him in intimate touch with exhibitors throughout the country, as well as give him opportunity to broaden the scope of his activities in the executive offices. Mr. Proctor has been an executive in various capacities with various organizations for more than ten years. He has a broad and deep knowledge of the film rental end of the business, as well as a wide acquaintance with motion picture men in every section of the country, that adapts him to cope with problems peculiar to certain territories. His experience has brought him into close contact with conditions that are existent in individual sections, and his knowledge and experience along these lines is considered authoritative throughout the trade. Film Career Began in 1910. Mr. Proctor's connection with the industry dates back a little further than 1910, when he began his film career as film inspector in the Wabash (Chicago) branch of the General Film Company. From the position of inspector he advanced, having held every position in the branch. He was branch manager for one year, when P. L. Waters appointed him special representative, having charge of Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City and Oklahoma City. Later he was made manager of the General Film at Kansas City. Mr. Proctor resigned from General Film Company to become branch manager for Metro at Chicago. After holding this important post for a year, Mr. Proctor organized the Standard Film Company of Chicago, an independent state rights proposition. This successful venture was operated by him for two years, when he severed his connection with Standard and became Pathe's branch manager at Chicago. Western Division Manager for Pathe. From the post of branch manager for Pathe, Mr. Proctor was advanced to the position of division manager, having under his supervision Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Omaha, Des Moines, Kansas City, Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo. Later he was appointed district manager of the western division, which included Los Angeles, Denver, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Spokane and Butte. Leaving Pathe, Mr. Proctor was made assistant general manager of United Artists Corporation, joining the organization at its inception. With the United Artists, Mr. Proctor had charge of the entire organization of the field force. He was also ill charge of distribution, covering every distributing territory in the United States. Cecil De Mille Tells Origin of His "Old Wives for New" WHILE he was in New York last week, when he signed a new contract to remain five years more with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Cecil B. DeMille, director general of the company, explained why he produced "Old Wives for New," his famous success which is to be reissued on June 6 by Paramount Artcraft. "I produced 'Old Wives for New'," said Mr. DeMille, "because I felt it would do more good than any picture I have ever produced It has a big human appeal. deals with intimate phases of marriage and divorce, every phase and humor of a woman is in it. It shows that a wife must compete with other women to the extent at least of retaining her delicacy if she wishes to keep her husband, and that by such competition she benefits physically, morally and mentally. "This picture, I believe, furnishes a real object lesson for pathetic wives who have not been taught that merely being virtuous is not, as it may have been at one time, enough in these days. The human note is self-sacrifice and renunciation and the ending is satisfactory. I believe the moral of the picture is convincing, but I wish to emphasize that there is not a trace of preaching in the story." Issue Effective Plan Book on "The Valley of Doubt" WITH the release of the Willard Mack story for Selznick, exhibitors booking "The Valley of Doubt" may obtain what is said to be one of the most complete campaign books ever offered with a Selznick production. Printed on coated stock it presents the appearance of an expensive catalogue. Fully five pages of editorial matter are contained in the book. The publicity pages contain stories of human interest about the play and the players. The complete biography of five of the most important players is one of the features of the book. Several snappy catch lines, program runners, a reproduction of an effective lantern slide and an editorial on the value of dignified advertising are included. Another decidedly novel feature is the suggested mail campaign which can be made effective by many exhibitors who have a mail list. "The Valley of Doubt" campaign books are now available at the Select exchanges, as are the cuts and mats. The attractive three, six, and twenty-four sheet posters which are reproduced on the book cover of the campaign books have been sent to the exchange, ready for distribution. Georges Carpentier Is Signed to Three-Year Film Contract ROBERTSON-COLE, which is releasing within a few days Georges Carpentier's first American society drama, "The Wonder Man," announces that it has signed the Frenchman to appear in pictures over a period of the next three years. The contract, first of all, will not keep Carpentier from entering the prize ring as often as he wishes, to protect his right to the championship of Europe. Matches between himself and Americans or other aspirants to world honors may proceed under the contract with complete facility. Matters are so arranged that he may leave the studio at any time when it becomes necessary to train for a championship bout. The total investment to be put into the pictures to be made by Carpentier will be in the neighborhood of $3,000,000, it is announced. An unusual clause of the contract is the provision that Carpentier's salary is to be doubled in case he defeats Jack Dempsey and wins the world's heavyweight boxing championship. The contract proves conclusively that the distributing corporation does not consider Carpentier alone as a champion pugilist, war hero, social favorite, sportsman and gentleman, but as an actor. Henry Ginsberg. liepresentatlve of the Educational Films Corporation. Ginsberg to Open Exchanges in Several Southern States FOR the first time the southern states are to have film exchanges handling only short subjects. Henry Ginsberg, of the New York offices of Educational Films Corporation, is in Atlanta to open the first of these branches. The second will be established in either Dallas or New Orleans. Opening of these offices will complete Educational's own exchange system which will be devoted to short subjects exclusively. Mr. Ginsberg has been authorized to offer acceptable motion picti.re men a percentage of interest in the southern exchanges, the control of each to remain in Educational, this being the policy that has been followed in the remainder of the country. Company officials believe that greater sales effort and additional benefit to the exhibitor will result from the officials being concerned in the profits, while the full guarantee of Educational and exhibitor purchase opportunity remains with the company retaining the majority of the stock in each office. Educational officials pointed out that unusual opportunities are offered in the southern territory since there has not been the general distribution of short subjects as in the remainder of the country. New prints of the subjects that have not been booked in that section, together with all of the new pictures, will be in readiness with t!ie opening of the two southern branches. Withdraw Names as Lackajre Supporters. Thirty-six prominent actors and actresses have withdrawn their names as supporters of Wilton Lackaye for presidency of the Actors Equity Association, and announced that they would vote for the regular ticket headed by John Emerson and Ethel Barrymore, according to a statement issued by Frank Bacon, chairman of the Emerson-Barrymore Committee. The statement declared that those withdrawing their names were not informed, when asked to sign the Lackaye petition, that Mr. Emerson was in the field or would accept the nomination on the regular ticket. As soon as it was discovered that Mr. Emerson had accepted the nomination tendered him by the official nominating committee, these Equity members hastened to withdraw their names as Lackaye petitioners.