The Moving picture world (February 1920)

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812 MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 12, 1921 Vitagraph's "Black Beauty" Is Booked for Strand Theatre VITAGRAPH'S special production, "Black Beauty," featuring Jean Paige and an all-star cast, has been booked for two weeks by Joseph Plunkett, of the Strand Theatre, New York City, starting February 20. During the first week it will be presented at the New York Strand, on Broadway, and the following week at the Brooklyn Strand. Elaborate plans for the presentation of this unusual picture are being completed by Mr. Punkett, and full advantage is being taken of the wealth of exploitation possibilities back of "Black Beauty," with its years and years of publicity through Anna Sewell's famous book. Representatives of the Strand Theatre were in the audience which saw the first showing of the film to invited guests at the Astor a few weeks ago, and from the start of the great race scene near the end of the picture to the finish of the race at the close, the applause was continuous, it is said. In making the adaptation of "Black Beauty," Mr. and Mrs. George Randolph Chester not only have retained all the characters, both human and animal described in the story, but have added an entrancing story, using only the persons told of in the book — the legitimate thrills which have been added are logical and independent of the story proper, it is stated. The production, according to the reports, holds an appeal for all ages. Vitagraph reports more interest on this production than in any it has ever put out. Its special school and child appeal is entirely independent of its general appeal. Its race scene and other spectacular thrills are such as to create enthusiasm in any audience, but the appeal behind the title, regardless of the thrills, is a powerful lure to children, educators and others who seldom attend the motion picture theatres. The picture was directed by David Smith, and it is one of the few productions, it is said, in which more persons were in back of the camera than in front of it— this despite the unusually large cast. Jean Paige portrays the role of "Jessie Gordon" at three different periods of life, first as a little girl, then as a girl in her middle 'teens, and finally as a young lady. James Morrison appears in the opposite role, and he, also, gives three different characterizations, at three different ages. Allen to Tour World Ben Allen, president of the Allen Theatre Enterprises, Toronto, and father of Messrs. Jule and J. J. Allen, is due to sail from Vancouver, B. C, early in February for the Orient, this being the first leg of a tour around the world which will occupy a period of two years. Mr. Allen will reach London for the opening of the big Allen Theatre there in 1923. It is intimated that he will spend considerable time in the investigation of foreign markets with a view to the establishment of Allen theatres in distant countries. S. R. Kent Calls Meeting of District Managers S. R. Kent, general manager of the department of distribution of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, has called the annual meeting of the company's district managers to be held all of next week in the home office. Mr. Kent will preside and plans for distribution during the coming months will be discussed. Those who will attend from the field force will include Herman Wobber of San Francisco, Louis Marcus of Salt Lake City, H. P. Wolfberg of Chicago, R. C. LiBeau of Kansas City, H. A. Ross of Detroit, H. H. Buxbaum of New York, W. E. Smith of Philadelphia, J D. Clark of Philadelphia, Joseph H. Gilday of Kansas City, Philip Reisman of Minneapolis, George Schaeffer of Boston, Mr. Pratt of Atlanta, and Mr. Dent of Dallas, representing the Southern Enterprises, Inc. Semon Comedy at Capitol Larry Semon's first comedy of the 1921 season, "The Sportsman," will be shown at New York's Capitol Theatre for a week, starting Sunday, February 6. Larry has a chance to disport in his most Semonesque manner in this new comedy. He plays the role of a comedy hunter, who shoots at lions, and things. Personal Touch (Continued from page S07) be in six reels when assembled, is photographed before black drops and the characters are made up in white face. Several noted pantomists are included in the cast. "Lune D'Amour" was directed by Will Bradley and photographed by Harry Smith. * * * Frank B. Champury, the well known stage and motion picture designer a"nd architect, recently completed the art direction for "Her Majesty," featuring Molly King and Creighton Hale. Incidentally, Mr. Champury has the distinction of being among the first men to use illustrations in advertising in the Moving Picture World, 'way back in the old days. In those days of type ads he was considered an absurd radical. * * * William B. Davidson and Hedda Hopper are to be featured in "You Can't Kill Love," with a plot to prove it. » * * W. Christy Cabanne, who recently brought to New York the print of "What's a Wife Worth?" has returned to Los Angeles to start work on another picture for Robertson-Cole. * * * Tom Spry, First National manager in Boston, is in town. * * * Over in Japan the plot of photoplays comes to the audience so thick that the theatre manager hires a man to stand beside the screen and explain the story as the plot enfolds. Here in America we do things differently. The audience reads the subtitles aloud. * * * Arch Selwyn, the theatrical producer, has started on his annual pilgrimage abroad for the purpose of securing plays and productions for American consumption. Included in the usual parting statement issued to the press Mr. Selwyn said that he intended visiting Italy some time during the trip to view a picture entitled "The World Upside Down," a mammoth, spectacular production, and will arrange for its showing in a Broadway theatre if it is all its sponsors claim for it. Careful inquiry among men in close touch with Italian film affairs has received the same answer in every case that they have never heard of the picture. They state, however, that it may have been produced and is being shown under a different and Italian title. * * * Incidentally Conway Tearle has dedicated a film to the movie mutterers. "Whispering Devils" is the title. * * * M. Lowell Cash is now handling publicity for the Harry Levey Service Corporation. * * * Charles Chaplin has arranged the complete musical scores for his "The Kid." This is the first time that he has ever performed the work of one of his pictures, even though he is an accomplished musician. * * * Lew Cody came to town a short while ago to attend to some important business matters. One of them was to arrange a vaudeville tour, on which he will offer a monologue. Speaking of Cody reminds us that it was only eight years ago that he had a sketch playing over the Loew time, which had a cast that included, beside himself, Dorothy Dalton and Bernard Granville. The weekly salary for the act was $175. * * * Elmer Pearson, director of exchanges for Pathe, has returned to his desk following a troublesome but not dangerous operation. He was severed from a set of unnecessary and temperamental tonsils. The parting took place at Dr. Stearns' Sanitarium. * * * It is understood that Chester DeVonde will shortly start work on another picture. He is to be held wholly responsible for the scenario. Also it is probable that Dee will have to work without his usual assistant director, James O'Neill. Jim is now reporting for duty every morning at nine o'clock or thereabouts up in the Equity offices. * * * Roscoe Arbuckle reached his California home last week from his recent trip abroad. In describing his trip to a friend he stated that Paris and London are good for the French and English, but that he feels quite at home in America, thank you. "In Paris," said Arbuckle, "a Frenchman kissed me. Otherwise had a very good time." » » * H. C. Simeral, prominent states rights man in Pittsburgh, has been in town during the' past week buying pictures for his territory. * * * The rumor hounds have the germ of a story in a luncheon group the other day in the place where all rumors seem to formulate, the well known Astor. Around an inconspicuous table sat Charles Kessell, Charles Bauman, Hy Winik and George Washington Grant, one of the owners of the Boston National Baseball Club. Now make what you want of it. * * * Frank Talbot told us that for the tim« being he was not confining his time to picture activity. He promoted and is staging the Fashion Revue that will be staged on the Hotel Pennsylvania Roof during the week beginning February 26. * * * Earl W. Hammons, president of Educational, recently left New York for the Coast. » * * Eddie Barnes, general manager of Chester Comedies, was another recent travellor to California. * * * Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne will be headlined at the Palace Theatre during the week of February 7, in a oneact satirical comedy by Edwin Burke, entitled "Poor Rich Man."