The Moving picture world (November 1921)

400 MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 26. 1921 Charles Ray Starts on First Trip to New York; Will Arrive Here Nov. 23 THE big event, long looked forward to by Charles Ray and long anticipated by his admirers has taken place. The star for the first time in his life is headed for New York City and the East, having left Los Angeles November 15, together with Mrs. Ray, Richard Willis and Albert A. Kidder, Jr., executives of the Charles Ray Productions. Inc., and George Rizard, his chief camera man. The party was met upon its arrival in Chicago by Arthur S. Kane, business associate of the star. Mr. Ray and his party are scheduled to arrive in New ^'ork City November 23, when the star will take up his headquarters at the office of the .Arthur S. Kane Pictures' Corporation. During his anticipated two week sojourn in the metropolis Mr. Ray will discuss business matters with his eastern associates and will make certain scenes for a future First National release. Elaborate plans have already been made for the star's entertainment in New York, complete announcement of which will be made upon his arrival here. THE studio organization which has assumed control of the Brunton film plant, will be known hereafter as United Studios, Inc.. and will function along the same lines as has prevailed heretofore. Michael C. Levee, former vice-president and treasurer of the Brunton studios, returned to Los .\ngeles from the east this week. Mr. Levee is president of the United Studios, Inc. Joseph L. .Schenck holds an interest in the new organization, and two of the stars under his management, Norma and Constance Talmadge, will produce their pictures at the studio. MOTION picture theatre owners are discovering the value of a hitherto unworked field of business prosperity close at hand and waiting to be tilled. This is represented by the increasing belief of boards of education, school superintendents, principals and teachers, in the efficacy of visual education by means of the picture screen in connection with entertaining programs presented at the regular picture theatres. Fresh proof is at hand that these influential citizens are ready to co-operate heartily with exhil)itors, in ways discussed at various conventions of the M. P. T. O. The success of a tie-up of this sort engineered by Dr. Leonard, superintendent of schools, and William Burke, proprietor of the North avenue Theatre in New Rochelle. .\. Y., is the subject WITH the return of John G. Rohlfs, assistant treasurer of the Wid Gunning organization, from a trip around the exchang:e circle, there comes news of considerable activity and enlargement, of the sales force of that company. In the Detroit territory exhibitors' interest has resulted in the sending of Joseph L. Steiner, home office representative, to the Michigan city. William M. Meyers, an exploitation and sales representative, is another addition to the Detroit office. Among activities scheduled for the star in Chicago is a luncheon on November 19. which w-ill be tendered to Mr. Ray as a means of meeting representatives of the local daily and trade press. The arrangements for this affair are in the hands of W. K. Hollander, publicity director for Balaban &■ Katz at the recently opened Chicago Theatre, which is one of the most magnificent houses anywhere in the country. Plans for the diversion of Mr. and Mrs. Ray in New York, in addition to the business matters which the star will take care of. have been arranged with a view to affording Mr. Ray the utmost pleasure on his initial visit to the metropolis. .Some of the affairs already arranged are a box party at the Music Box Revue, a visit to several important eastern football matches, including the Army-Navy game, a luncheon to be tendered to the daily and trade press, and attendance at several Broadway stage plays which Mr. and Mrs. Ray have stated a desire to see. Ruster Keaton, also under the Schenck management, will retain his present headquarters. Robert Brunton. who built the big plant and has managed it until now, will hereafter devote his energies to the production of pictures, an ambition which he has long cherished, if he does not take up another proposition which has been made to him. This proposition concerns the building of a big studio in the general vicinity of London which it is hoped would facilitate the interchange of various producing units between this country and Europe. Mr. Brunton has l)cen asked to superintend the building of this proposed British film plant. of lengthy articles in the New Rochelle Standard of October 28 and November 1, announcing, and later reporting, the event. Uixin this occasion the educational feature of the program witnessed by a hou.se crowded with teachers and school children, was from the popular series called Pathe Screen Studies. The New Rochelle Standard's report says : "The local educators were enthusiastic and applauded at the end of every reel. Before their eyes were visualized many of the lessons laboriously taught in school. Manager Burke was assured by Dr. Leonard of the most hearty co-operation in the matter of exploiting these educational films, and a plan has been evolved whereby pictures with a special appeal to children will hold forth every Friday and Saturday at the North .'\venue Theatre." Manager Whitmoyer, of the Minneapolis office is now in Chicago conferring with Division Manager Sidney J. Goldman and plans are being carried out for increased activity and enlarged sales force in Minneapolis territory. W. J. Naismith, well-known in the Pittsburgh territory through his former connection with Realart is now in charge of the Wid Gunning branch in that city. Mr. Naismith was one of the star men of the Realart organization. In the Buffalo territory plans are also under way for redoubled activity. It is expected that within the next three days Harold Beecroft, now associated with the home office exploitation organization, will be located in Buffalo where he will head the sales force. Mr. Beecroft formerly worked through the Cleveland territory where he is popular with film men. Three weeks after arriving in the territory he was an "honor man" with the organization with which he was associated. Recently, he has been very active in the exploitation work on "What Do Men Want?" All Century Comedies Must Be Absolutely Clean, Says Stem Julius Stern, who has just lieen appointed second vice-president of L niversal and who will make his residence permanently in California, is one of the best known men in the motion picture industry, lie is president of the Century Film Corporation, of the Pacific Film Company and of the Great Western, besides being a director in several film concerns. He .started his career as general manager of the old Imp Studio on Tenth avenue. New York. When the studios moved to California he went there as general manager and while there he formed his own company called the L-KO. His time was soon entirely given to making L-KO comedies, .\fter a couple of years he became dissatisfied and branched out into the much larger and more successful Century Film Cor|X)ration of which he is the head. .\mong its money-makers are Baby Peggy, the two-year-old star. Brownie, the Wonder Dog, the Century Lions, Harry Sweet. Louise Lorraine, and lately Lee Moran. Comedies for Children Mr. Stern has a reputation for making clean comedies with genuine humor. He will not stand for the slightest hint of vulgarity no matter how much of a laugh it may bring. .\mong the many actors and actresses who made good records under his management were such favorites as .-Mice Howell — at present the wife of Jack BIy stone— who appeared in his first Century Comedy he ever made. Hughie Mack. Ambrose, Gail Ilenrj and Vera Stedman. His latest idea, which will be welcomed by the censors, is one on which he has been working for some time — a series of comedies suited for children. .\ couple of these featuring little Baby Peggy have already been shown at first run houses, and have been enjoyed by grown-ui)s as well as children. Pictures of this sort, suitable for school and church enlertauiment, have been a long felt want for some time. JULIUS STBR.\' Brunton s Is Now United Studios, Inc.; Michael C. Levee Becomes President Pathe Screen Studies Help to Develop Tendency Toward Showing Educationals Several Additions Made to Sales Force of Wid Gunning Organization