The Moving picture world (June 1921)

504 MOVING PICTURE WORLD June 4, 1921 Success of First National Pictures in Ohio Shows Business Is Improving IN the general industrial hiatus which has been apparent in many sections of the coun- try, Ohio, a fifty-fifty manufacturing and agricultural state, has been slow to give signs of a revival. That conditions are bettering for Buckeye people, however, is indicated in an interesting survey made by correspondents for the statistical department of Associated First National. The theatre has ever been a barometer of the state of the public purse, the failure of so many legitimate stage attractions on the road during the present season offering gloomy proof of the fact. The reports to First National, made as the result of an investigation begun the last week in April, show that in Ohio, at any rate, the situation is improving. In Cleveland, the Metropolitan' and Strand theatres played "Sowing The Wind," featuring Anita Stewart, day and date for a week, and the results were so gratifying they both held it over for a second week. In the case of the Metropolitan, Manager William Freedman said. "The picture went over bigger than any we've run since the business depression set in." In booking it for a second week, the Metropolitan broke a policy that had stood for six years. At Sandusky, George J. Schade, owner and manager of the Schade Theatre, reports that "Passion," which he played for three days at increased admission, brought in more money than any picture he ever exhibited. "The Kid," played at regular prices, exceeded in number of paid admissions, but the gross financial re- turn on "Passion" beat the Chaplin picture's total. Ordinarily the Schade scale is 35, 30 and 15 cents. For the Pola Negri engagement they were lifted to 25, 50, 75 and $1. Explaining his price increase, the first in five years at his theatre, Schade declared economic conditions did not warrant it at the time of "The Kid" showing, but felt the higher scale warranted now. E^yria, O., population 23,000, has been re- ported as the scene of labor troubles, but O. J. Bannon, manager of the Colonial there, did capacity business with "In the Heart of a Fool." The Lion Theatre, G. R. Moore, manager, at Bellevue, a town of 6,000 inhabitants, played to extraordinarily big business with the Marshall Neilan special "Go and Get It." In Mansfield, W. A. Partello, manager of the Majestic and the Mansfield Opera House, played "Nomads of the North" for three days at the former to such Charles H, Rogers States that Franchises Will Not Be Given POSITIVELY no proposition to franchise any territory will be considered by our organization. The territories will be handled exclusively by the branch offices of the organization. No exchange will be abandoned and on the contrary, new ex- changes will be opened in the various dis- tributing centers of the country." Charles R. Rogers, general manager of Robertson-Cole, made this emphatic state- ment at a conference of western managers, held at the Los Angeles studio recently, and declared that it was made to refute rumors relating to the plans of the organization which had gained circulation. Mr. Rogers visited several of the branches on his way East to the home office. "I am making this tour of the country in order to ascertain just what type of pro- ductions exhibitors want, and to obtain first hand information in regard to conditions generally. I have found that condition.s are very satisfactory, and that the period of so-called depression has practically passed. "The policy of the Robertson-Cole com- pany always has been one of complete co- operation with exhibitors, and as general manager of the organization, I can assure them that this co-operation will continue. We intend to launch a new policy of dis- tribution this fall, one that will prove an innovation in the industry, and one that will increase the prestige and efficiency of Rob- ertson-Cole." Much Pleased Mr. Rogers was very much pleased with the conditions which he found during his visit to the Robertson-Cole studio. He stud- ied the different angles of production, and immediately upon his return to New York will make recommendations regarding fu- ture productions from conclusions drawn and from talks with leading exhibitors throughout the country. big business that he booked it for two additional days at his other house. August Ilg, manager of the Wonderland, at Lorain, a big ore port whose population is made up chiefly of workers in the shipping and iron ore trades, sent in strong reports on four First National attractions, "Not Guilty," "The Woman in His House," "Scrambled Wives" and "Nineteen and Phyllis." He declared busi- ness more than satisfactory on all of them. Thirteen Companies Recently Incorporated Thirteen companies incorporated in the motion picture industry in this state during the. past week, and filed papers with the secretary of state at Albany, N. Y., noting capitalizations aggregating $1,395,500. These companies, amount at which each was in- corporated and the board of directors for the first year, are as follows: Roder Cowen Service Corporation, $10,- 000, Eugene Roder, G. F. Cowen, S. E. Blogg, New York City; F. I. L. M. Club of Buffalo, Inc., $500, M. A. Chase, A. E. Moses, R. T. Murphy, Buffalo; Krackerjack Komedies, Inc., $100,000, James Montalbana, Palisades Park, N. J, F. A. Blumberg, Brooklyn, H. Y. Dushey, New York; La Vida Amusement Corporation, $50,- 000, David T. Helprin, New York; Louis J. Maltz, Andrew Manza, Brooklyn; Sce- nario Music Company of Philadelphia, Inc, New York, $50,000, Jacob Silverman, Henry Kleuber, Joseph A. Myruski, Brooklyn; Barcli Theatre, Schenectady, $100,000, J. J. Walker, Schenectady, James A. Leary, Will- iam E. Benton, Saratoga Springs. Phono-Toy Company, Inc., moving picture and phonograph business, $500,000, Edith and James Ennisson, Max D. Farmer, New York; Gold Seal Photoplays Corporation, $500,000, William S. Grey, New York, G. R. Hamilton, Jersey City, Ralph V. Lake, New York; R. D. Skinner & Co., New York, $50,000, O. Glenn Saxon, Yonkers, H. A. Wight, R. D. Skinner, New York; Belmore Realty Corporation, Brooklyn, $15,000, Louis Odessky, Bluma Welinsky, Ida Moses, Brooklyn; RiaUo Productions, ^0,000, Isidor Katz, Gardiner Conroy, Daniel A. Lennon, New York; Hampton Play Corpo- ration, scenarios, $40,000, Joseph F. Rinn, B. M. L. Ernst and David J. Fox, New York, Owego Amusement Company, Inc., Owcgo, $30,000, R. N. Merrill, Waverly, F. D. Rundell. Owego, and M. E. Comerford, Scranton, Pa. FROM TESEMENT HOUSE TO TRANSATLAXl iC EUXURY A wide variety of locales is found in "Journey's End," Hugo Ballin's production for Hodkinson release, showing the rise in the world of the heroine