The Moving picture world (July 1920)

July 3, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 115 Author of "If I Were King" Opens New Fox Building in London Film District ONE of the finest buildings in the British film world is now occupied by the Fox Film Company. The building, situated at 13 Berners street, London, was opened officially recently by Justin Huntly McCarthy, author of "If 1 Were King," which William Fox has made into a motion picture with William Farnum in the role of Villon, the vagabond poet. Two gold keys were made. With one of these Mr. McCarthy opened the front door and later it was given him for a souvenir. The other key was sent to William Fox in New York. Winfield R. Sheehan, general manager of Fox, was in London at the time and took an active part in the opening ceremonies. The building — which is a double one in depth — has a frontage of 25 feet and a depth of 108 feet, the rear opening on a small street or alleyway known as East Castle street, through which the films, posters and other material are shipped, so that there is no carting by way of the front entrance. Just within the front door is a reception room measuring 19 by 23 feet. This contains comfortable leather covered chairs for visitors. A large table on which are trade paper magazines, newspapers and weekly publications is in the center of the room. On the walls are pictures of the Fox stars. Four Fireproof Vaults. Back of the reception room are the offices of the purchasing agent, the London branch manager, his assistant and the London branch accounts department. In the basement is the office for the receiving and dispatching of films and posters. Here also is the film hospital, and the film is kept in four specially made fireproof vaults. Under the front sidewalk is the boiler for heating the building. The managing director's office is on the first floor front, half the front space being occupied by his private room and the other half by his secretaries. Back of this is the sales manager's quarters and also the office of the Fox News sales manager. Further back is a theatre 13 by 30 feet, alongside which is a smaller theatre, 6.6 by 14 feet, used by the technical manager. Two projection machines are used in the larger and one in the smaller theatre. The for mer, like the reception room and the managingdirector's office, is decorated with leather wall paper. The second floor is occupied by the sales manager and the contract department. On this floor the main building is connected by a bridge with what is called the annex on East Castle street. In the second floor annex is the Fox News staff, and it may be said in passing that the Fox News, which was first released April 26, is doing a big business. Supplies in the Annex. The third floor of the main building is occupied by the counting house, while across the bridge in the annex the poster stock and the stationary is kept. Here, too, is the telephone operator. The fourth floor contains the publicity department and the technical manager, who has charge of the films. The annex is only three stories in height. On the fifth floor of the main building are the negative and positive examination rooms and the Fox News projection room, also seven specially built film vaults. The Fox Company is now under the managing directorship of F. W. Mordaunt Hall, who was appointed to the position soon after he was discharged from war service in the British navy. At present there are Fox branches in Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Newcastle. Construction Has Begun on Downtown Atlanta House FOLLOWING the recent organization of the Metropolitan Theatre Company in Atlanta, Ga., a permit has been issued by the building inspector for the new Metropolitan Theatre at Broad, Luckie and Forsyth streets, in the downtown hotel district. It calls for a building to cost $350,000. Announcement that such a theatre would be constructed in Atlanta by Sig Samuels and others was made some time ago in the Moving Picture World. The project is just now getting under way and the buildings which occupied the site are being wrecked. Construction work will probably start in the near future, and it is believed the theatre will be completed and ready for occupancy by January 1, 1921. The building is to be six stories high, 191 by 50 by 50 feet, with a frontage on Broad and Forsyth streets running along Luckie street a full block. The upper stories will be devoted to offices. The main entrance will be on Broad street. The theatre was designed by C. K. Howell and will be one of the most modern in the South devoted entirely to motion pictures. The following officers have been elected : James S. Floyd, president; Werner Byck, vice-president; Sig Samuels, present owner of the Criterion Theatre, treasurer and general manager. W. V. Kingdon and Sig Montag are on the board of directors in addition to the officers. Willard Patterson, who is now manager of the Criterion, will also manage the new theatre. Who's She Looking For? No one in particular — just spreading sunshine with her cheerful smile. Wanda Hawley in Realart's "Miss Hobbs." Gaumont Buys Crest Play Rights Carle E. Carlton, president of Crest Pictures Corporation, has cabled his New York office that the exhibiting rights for the United Kingdom of the Crest photoplay entitled, "Children Not Wanted," starring Edith Day, who is now captivating British theatregoers in "Irene" in London, have been sold to Gaumont Film Company. Allen Holubar Who will direct "Man. Woman . and Marriage," to be distributed by Associated First National Pictures. Inc. IIUIHII mtiiiM Holubar to Direct Picture for Release via Associated First National Pictures REPRESENTATIVE of the aim of Associated First National Pictures, Inc., to enable directors and producers to bring forth screen entertainment of high merit, negotiations between Joseph M. Schenck and Associated First National Picl ures, Inc., terminated this week in the signing of a contract whereby Allan Holubar will dirct the most pretentious and ambitious picture of his career. Joseph M. Schenck, as the producer of this feature, announces that the title will be "Man, Woman and Marriage" and will star Dorothy Phillips. Details coincident with the production of this feature are unusually novel from an exhibitor standpoint. "Man, Woman and Marriage" will mark one of the few pictures arranged for under contract and qualifying which no time or money limit has been set. It has been unanimously agreed between Messrs. Schenck, Holubar and First National executives that, regardless of the time needed for its making, "Man. Woman and Marriage" shall bear the stamp of Mr. Holubar's maximum in direction. Examination of the script from which the production will take its theme shows that the producer and director have selected the type of picture most successful from a box office standpoint and have determined to create an attraction that will elaborate on the previous productions featuring domestic situations, especially aiming to surround the central theme with events of sufficient importance to make the happenings in "Man, Woman and Marriage" hold a vital interest for others besides the central figures of the story. First Parker-Talmadne Picture "The Branded Woman" is the title of the first feature starring Norma Talmadgc to be directed by Albert Parker. Previous to his affiliation with the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation, Mr. Parker directed Clara Kimball Young in "Eyes of Youth" as well as several of the Douglas Fairbanks pictures. Mr. Parker is one of those who has^comc to motion pictures from the stage. For many seasons he was leading man in successful plays while his early training was received as a member of the HunterBradford stock company of Hartford.