The Moving picture world (July 1920)

352 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 17, 1920 3,000 Kiddies See "Married Life" It was a great day for the kiddies. They surged into the Strand Theatre lobby like the white capped breakers of a restless ocean. There were three thousand of them of all ages, and they saw Mack Sennett's "Married Life." Henry Morgenthau, former ambassador to Turkey, who happened to be a former pupil of a New York public school — but this was many years ago — happened to remember that it was the fiftieth anniversary of his graduation from Public School Number 14. Mr. Morgenthau secured permission from the school authorities to invite three thousand guests. Mr. Morgenthau enjoyed the picture just as much as the children, for at the conclusion he declared that it was a fine picture, with an appeal for young and old, and clean and refreshing throughout. Gorgeous Gowns! Dozens of them to feast your eyes upon when you see CORINNE GRIFFITH in Tfo WHISPER MARKET" As Erminie North, leader of the gay social whirl of Rio de Janeiro. Miss Griffith is graced by the most gprgeous gowns ever created by the modiste's art for a photoplay production. Her dazzling beauty and grace of figure are accentuated by these creations, made especially for her use in this interesting and unusual photoplay. Western New York Exchange Managers Begin Drive on the Bicycling of Films SCANDALS in the picture industry usually happen on the screen, but now and then in real life. It is doubtful, however, if anything quite so sensational has struck western New York exhibitor circles in a long time as the outcome of an organized crusade on the part of film companies to secure positive evidence of criminal wrong doing by exhibitors. And the end is not yet, for it is believed that some of the evidence actually secured will be used in a determined effort to place a number of exhibitors behind the bars. It long has been known that "bicycling" existed in the territory served by the exchanges in western New York. Exchange managers have been aware of it and so have exhibitors, but both classes have seemed powerless to stamp it out. On the contrary, the practice has flourished so extensively that the Exchange Managers' Association decided that they must do more than talk about opposing it. Accordingly, the various exchanges put up money for a survey of parts of their territory and the reports of showings of bicycled film were so numerous as to astonish even the exchange managers. It was seen that only stringent remedies could correct the evil, so a large corps of private investigators was organized and it is now said that sufficient evidence has been gathered to place a number of exhibitors behind the bars. Early in the investigation Rochester was selected as good ground for the investigators to work in. One of the first reports was that a Rochester exhibitor showed eight stolen films in three consecutive programs. A letter from one of the film companies, signed by the branch manager, asked that additional investigators be assigned to watch nine specified theatres in Rochester, against all of which evidence of bicycling was being gathered. The system pursued was to have one investigator in every suspected house every night in the week. These investigators reported the bookings to the association and when they were checked up and found to be films not booked to them, additional men were sent to watch the programs in the houses. It is now said that so much evidence has now been gathered that the exchange managers are no longer keeping the matter of the investigation secret. Neither are they talking much, but they are expected to do a lot of talking at a meeting to which all exhibitors will be inevited. At this meeting accused exhibitors will hear the evidence against them. It is believed that some will be permitted to pay for films used illegally, while in other cases the evidence will be turned over to the criminal authorities and civil suits for damage instituted. Vignola Has Method to Lessen Subtitles; Brings Change in Continuity Technique ANEW development in the method of conveying ideas and thoughts upon the screen, as important, it is said, as was the cut-back or flash-back when it was discovered by D. W. Griffith a few years ago, has been discovered by Robert G. Vignola and will be revealed to the public for the first time in "The World and His Wife," Vignola's initial production for Cosmopolitan Productions which will be released through Paramount-Artcraft, soon. While Director Vignola prefers to keep his revolutionary method secret until his first Cosmopolitan production is shown upon the public screen, he does say that it will make a radical change in the technique of the continuity as it is at present. Two important phases of the new idea, according to Director Vignola, are, first, that it will tend to minimize, if not wholly eliminate, the subtitle without in the least affecting the psychological value to the picture as a whole, and, second, that it will smoothen the continuity. "One of the chief weaknesses of the motion picture," said Director Vignola, "has been that it leaves very little to the imagination of the spectators. Read a story in a magazine or in a book and a line or perhaps just a phrase will convey to the reader a mental picture of his own creation. The reader likes to do that. It is one of the joys of reading. But transfer that same line to the screen, and, according to past and present methods, too much detail is shown : nothing is left to the spectator's imagination. The result is that only too often the line or phrase in the story is far more beautiful and meaningful than the screen version of it. So it is with this phase of motion picture making that my idea deals. I've given the matter much thought and I believe I have discovered a way of bringing to the screen that same quality of imaginative beauty that the printed story has. I tried it out in 'The World and His Wife' and I want to wait till the public sees it before I describe it." Earl L. Crabb Becomes General Manager Buffalo Motion Picture Company Affairs EARL L. CRABB has been appointed general manager of the Buffalo Motion Picture Company. Mr. Crabb has established headquarters in the New York office of the company and will begin immediately to work on a new picture. It is hoped by late this fall, the Buffalo studio at Main and High street will be ready for the making of pictures in the old home town. Mr. Crabb began with the late Mitchell H. Mark in the Penny Arcade, Indianapolis. In 1906 he purchased two theatres in Fort Wayne which he operated three years. He then took a position with Universal in 1909. remaining until 1916. in which year he went to Buffalo as manager of the Strand, succeeding the late Harold Edel, who at that time took over the management of the Strand, New York. Last October Mr. Crabb took an executive position with Universal. In his new position, Mr. Crabb will look after the production end of the business. The board of directors have given him carte blanche, on the expense end and he has been instructed to go ahead. The latest production which the company has released for distribution through the First National Exhibitors' Circuit, is entitled "Her Rightful Heritage." Mr. Crabb left Buffalo Saturday evening, July 3, for the New York office, after conferring with officials of the company.