The Moving picture world (November 1920)

500 MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 27, 1920 'Bill" Cook Resigns from Fox Company; To do Publicity and Write "Originals WILLIAM H. COOK, known to his many friends in the theatrical and motion picture world as "Bill" Cook, is leaving Fox to give all his time to freelance publicity work and writing original stories for the screen. Mr. Cook has had a long career in theatrical life and has made good friends wherever he went. He entered the legitimate show business several years ago with the old firm of Liebler & Co., under the late W. W. Aulick. He did publicity for such stage successes as "The Battle" (Wilton Lackaye); "The Man from Home" (William Hodge), "Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," "Pomander Walk," "Alias Jimmy Valentine" (H. B. Warner), "The Deep Purple," "The Dawn of a Tomorrow" (Eleanor Robson), "The Fourth Estate," Marriage a la Carte" (Emmy Wehlen), "A Certain Party" (Mabel Hite), "The Melting Pot" (Walker Whiteside), "The Garden of Allah," "The Squaw Man" (Dustin Farnum), "The White Sister" (Viola Allen) and "The Call of the Blood" (H. B. Warner). W as with Vitagraph Mr. Cook left Liebler for the motion picture field in 1912 and joined the Vitagraph scenario staff, under J. Stuart Blackton, writing original stories and scenarios for that firm for a period of about two years, adapting short stories and collaborating with Ralph Ince, well-known director, on the series called "Bringing Up Father." He is the author of successful film productions, among them Vitagraph's prize animal comedy called "When the Circus Comes to Town," or "Wild Animals at Large," directed by Fred Thompson and exhibited by Vitagraph at the Grand Central Palace at a motion picture exhibition. Mr. Cook quit Vitagraph and went into the publicity game as a free lance and was a pioneer in the field of newspaper publicity for motion pictures and players. Later commercial advertising and catalogue work drew him away from the theatre and the screen for a period of nearly three years. This business was ended by the entrance of America into the war. He enlisted and earned a commission. From Metro to Fox Returning to civil life, Mr. Cook again turned his attention to the theatrical field and Arthur James, then head of the Metro advertising and publicity department, engaged him. With Mr. Jajnes, Mr. Cook went from Metro to the Fox a year and a half ago, where he has handled the trade paper publicity as well as doing special work on the Fox Broadway engagements and -introductory showings. As special representative for Fox he put on "While New York Sleeps" at the Shubert Theatre, Kansas City, handling the show itself and the newspaper advertising and publicity. Poll Books "Doun Home" R. Miller, of Poll's Theatrical Enterprises, has been among the first to book "Down Home," the Irvin V. Willat rural drama released by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation. He was greatly impressed by this picture and says that the revival scene, which is one of its high lights, must undoubtedly hold a strong appeal for every theatre-goer. "Down Home" will play for four days at Poli's Waterbury Theatre, three days in Bridgeport, three days in New Haven, and three days in Hartford. More Censorship Talk Wilmington, N. C, is having its inning with the agitators for motion picture censorship. Several weeks ago the Rotary Club passed a resolution asking that steps be taken to originate some plan of censoring for screen and stage entertainments before they could be offered to the "f ree-white-and-2l" population, and a committee was appointed to investigate and report. Three weeks ago, at a convention of Methodist churches of the circuit, a similar resolution was adopted. No radical action has yet been taken to combat the movement. WILLIAM H. COOK W ho is leaving the Fox publicity department after a year and a half supervision Chester Bennett Will Direct Vitagraph Film, "Three Sevens, " Starring A. Moreno CHESTER BENNETT will direct Antonio Moreno in "Three Sevens," his first feature production for Vitagraph, according to a telegram Albert E. Smith received from the West Coast recently. Production on this picture has already begun and after a few interiors have been filmed at the Hollywood studio, the entire company will journey to Florence, Arizona, where some scenes will be made at the Arizona State Penitentiary. Mr. Bennett is one of the best known directors now on the West Coast. Six years ago he gave up law to enter the motion picture business. In these years he has had experience in every department. He directed five pictures with Earle Williams, "When a Man Loves," "A Master Stroke," "The Purple Cipher," "The Romance Promoters" and "Diamonds Adrift." While the star was at the Eastern Vitagraph studios for "The Fortune Hunter" and other pictures, Bennett served as production manager of Western Vitagraph. Jack Mackenzie, chief camera man for Director Bennett in all Williams' features, transfers with him to Moreno. A strong cast is now being selected for "Three Sevens." The story is a melodrama, an adaptation of the novel of the same title by Perley Poore Sheehan. To head the company, it is expected that many of the principals at present at work at the Sennett studios in California will go east. Anticipating the exodus of some of his stars, many recent additions have been made to the brigade of beauties at the Sennett studios. Just what length of time will be consumed in the New York engagement cannot be foretold, but on its completion a tour of the largest cities of the United States will probably be undertaken. Sennett' s Girls to Be Seen in Broadway Revue Mack Sennett's New York representative, E. M. Asher, has made preliminary preparations with A. H. Woods, the producer of "Ladies' Night" and other successful comedies and musical comedies, for a sumptuous Broadway presentation of a musical revue, the plot and music of which are to be written around the Sennett beauties. H arry Levey Says Movies May Be Sent by Telegraph Moving pictures may be projected by telegraph, according to statements of officials of the Harry Levey Corporation, who gave out this information following a visit by M. Edouard Belin, one of the leading electrical experts of France, to the company's offices. M. Belin spent some time watching the making of a film showing all the uses and adaptations of electricity, and discussing the feasibility of applying to motion picture projection the invention he has worked out and proved successful for the sending of still photographs by telegraph. Recently, under the auspices of the New York World, Mr. Belin gave a demonstration of his invention, proving that photographs can be sent and received over a thin thread of copper wire. At the invitation of Harry Levey, he visited the Levey studios with a view to seeing whether this idea could be applied to transmitting motion pictures by telegraph, and declared that such an apparatus could be made, it is stated. M. Belin, who has been in America for six weeks, had intended returning to France soon but has agreed to extend his visit. 0 fie re's cm* re's cdl the fjum oft