The Moving picture world (May 1922)

164 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 13, 1922 Early Bookings Point to Extensive ^slZs^ProluMon Distribution of "Reported Missing" in Hollywood Production activities at the United The box-office test for "Reported Missing" has completely fulfilled expectations for the new Owen Moore picture during its first public exhibition at the Criterion Theatre, New York, is the belief of John H. Woody, general manager of Select, and the early bookings indicate that a country-wide distribution of the Selznick special will be accomplished in record time. Special showings for exhibitors have been given in Chicago and Minneapolis, and showmen in all of the large centers of population will see "Reported Missing" at special screenings during the next fortnight. The Chicago showing resulted in "Eddie" Silverman, local manager of Select, closing with Aaron Jones, of Jones, Linick & Schaeffer, for the first run of the new Selznick attraction at the Randolph Theatre, with other J. L. & S. theatres to follow. Henry Siegel, of the New York Exchange, has contracted with Marcus Loew for the metropolitan appearances of "Reported Missing" after the Criterion initiation. The Moore picture also goes to the other houses on Loew's Circuit with the State, Cleveland and Valentine, Toledo, announcing May playing dates. The Lynch Enterprises, with theatres booked out of Dallas and Atlanta, will first show the new offering in the principal cities of the South and Southwest. Whitehurst's first Omaha, Neb., showings and Mr. Blank will also play "Reported Missing" at his Des Moines, Sioux City, Waterloo and his many other theatres in Iowa. Libson's Walnut will give the first showings in Cincinnati; the Alamo will present the picture for the first time in Louisville, and Frankle Brothers will play it a full week at their Majestic, Columbus. The Broadway, Richmond; Brent Fabian's Brantford, Newark and Montauk, Passaic ; and Adams' U. S. Theatre, Paterson, are given as other scattering instances of where the new Moore show has been contracted for exhibition. In New Picture "The Bonded Woman" is Betty Compson's latest Paramount starring feature. It is a South Sea Islingers theatres in Fort Wayne and land picture. John Bowers is leadEvansville; Empire, Syracuse; in? man. sliidios, Hollywood, now include tiie activities of Myron Selznick, who lately arrived on the coast with his stars and staff to continue the creation of Selznick attractions which was interrupted a month ago when the Talmadge studios, in New York, were abandoned. Tamar Lane, who went to Hollywood as publicity representative, has begun transmitting information to the home office publicity department. Owen Moore has begun work on a production to be directed by Victor Heerman from Sarah Y. Mason's scenario. Margery Daw has been secured to play one of the two important "girl" roles opposite Mr. Eastern Production Increases, Tilford Company's Work Shows^'^^^^^iT^^S^L forwarding the work of producing a Production activities in the E^st are beginning to show a marked increase, according to a statement by Walter Ford Tilford, president of the Tilford Cinema Corporation, which took over the studios at 332334 West Forty-fourth street, formerly the Tiffany studios, New York City, on the first of last month. The Tilford Company, which does all its work on a definite contract basis, completed "Destiny's Isle" for W. P. S. Earle and J. Stuart Blackton, Jr., a few days ago, and built the sets and handled all of the studio work on the Arthur Housman feature just completed at the Biograph studio. This week it is busy with contracts for three new, Century will give the first showing big productions, in Baltimore; Pittsburgh will be in The first of these covers the troduced to the new work at Harry settings on Mae Murray's next picDavis' Grand, with the Camera ture for Metro, "Broadway Rose," phone, East Liberty, also contracted, which is presented by Robert Z. A. H. Blank's Circuit will give the Leonard. The company is also handling in its entirety the production now being made by Holtre Productions, Inc., with Irene Castle as the star, for Hodkinson release. This unit is now in Miami on location, and the picture, which is tentatively titled "Don't Weaken," is being directed by Alan Crosland. The Tilford Company is making the whole production at a fixed figure under contract. At the Biograph studios it is producing the next Triart picture, starring Mary Astor, based on the famous painting "Hope," which is being produced under the direction of Legaren A. Miller. This picture also is being filmed under contract. The Tilford Company expects to begain work on the first William Nigh independent production within a week or ten days, and it is Mr. Tilford's opinion that production in the East is beginning definitely to speed up. successor to "Reported Missing." Elaine Hammerstein, directed by George Archainbaud, will begin at once the screening of "Borrowed Wings," a scenario by Edward Montague, who wrote "Under Oath," the last picture Miss Hammerstein made in the East before departing for Hollywood. Myron Selznick is now completing the cast ''Too Much Business" at Capitol Inspires Much Hearty Laughter The Capitol Theatre on way, New York, known as "largest theatre in the world," was Broad The audience liked the picture and (Jie had every reason for doing so. 'Too Much Business' is good, clean, ^. , ^, . , legitimate fun. It is bright and the scene of the openmg of Too pleasing entertainment that is bound Much Business." Judging fnm. the to find favor with all who are for way the "first night" audierce re tunate enough to see it." reived the picture, which is unique •n being a seven-reel comedy, "Too Much Business" is likely to prove all that its name implies for the management of the Capitol "At the Capitol yesterday," observed the reporter for the Morning Telegraph, "there was hearty laugh wrote the Morning World, "is ter at many of the amusing scenes, ture version of one of Earl The other reviewers in the New York morning newspapers agreed pretty well with the verdict of the audience at the Capitol. Attractive in Theme "Here at the Capitol Theatr Bigger's Saturday Evening Post stories of the 'John Henry' series. It seems to be just a little funnier than most of our present day screen comedies, and it is more than that. It is so directed by Jess Robbins that it keeps right after its story every minute of the time. So that at the end you feel a natural desire to applaud. Did you ever notice how few photoplays ever cause you to lay your hat and coat in the next seat and clap your hands? 'Too Much Business' is attractive in theme largely because it stands right up face to face with 'big business' and exposes the sham of parts of it." /. Lesser Promises Twelve Specials Twelve special productions in addition to an elaborate feature output, consisting of twenty-four features, will be released next season by Western Pictures Exploitation Company, Irving Lesser announces. One of the specials, "Flesh and Blood," is already completed. Lon Chaney, Jack Mulhall, Edith Roberts and Noah Beery are included in the cast. Another of this group is written by Elinor Glyn, entitled "Through Eyes of Truth." Mr. Lesser will remain in New York until plans for distributing the Jackie Coogan features have been completed. Film Begun May 1 May 1 was the startins: date for "Pink Gods," Penrhyn Stanlaws' next Paramount production in which Bebe Daniels and James Kirkwood will head the cast, with Anna Q. Nilsson, Adolphe Menjou, Raymond Hatton and others in prominent roles. Hk Selznick Gives Midnight Derr R, C Bruce Touring California to Make ''Shots" for New Films ''^^^l Showing of "The Referee ft Robert C. Bruce, whose Wilderness Tales now being distributed by Educational are proving the most popular works of his career, is touring the state of California by automobile with a party of photographers and actors on the first picture making expedition in his second season of making Wilderness Tales. Mr. Bruce went to Portland a After the evening presentations of "Reported Missing" at the Criterion New York, on May 3, . Selznick screened a showfew weeks ago to make his head ing of Conway Tearle in "The quarters there and prepare for his Referee" for the entertainment of second summer's work. the sporting fraternity and sport Having organized his companies writers on the New York dailies, of actors and made other prepara As its title indicates, "The Referee" tions for the season's work, he and in its plot development,, shows box his party left Portland several days ago to travel virtually the entire length of California, most of the trip to be made along the coast to pick locations for "shots" to be made on the return trip. ing in many phases and climaxes in a prize fight as its "big punch." In staging the presentation at Fort Lee, when the Selznick studios were over in Jersey, Myron Selznick assembled a number of celebrities from local sporting circles to appear in the fight scenes and give authenticity to the encounter. Appears in Person At the Criterion show Conway Tearle appeared in person; Ralph Ince was there, Joe Humphrey watched himself on the screen, and in the audience was noted many of New York's sporting fraternity. Sport writers who sign most of the "dope" on New York sporting pages were present and for once the Criterion took on the appearance of a sporting club being entertained by a picture right "in the subject."