The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 13, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 177 In the Independent Jield Charles Bartlett's "White Hell" Ready; "The Shadow Eater" Second of Series State right buyers were given their first opportunity to see "White Hell," the first production of the Charles E. Bartlett Productions, Inc., during the past week. Those who viewed the pictures were warm in their praise, and Jerry Abrams, sales manager, expects to dispose of the New York rights within a few days,, having received a number of offers. He will then go over the country in the interests of the series of eight productions which are being made. "The Shadow Eater," second of the productions, was completed last week and the negative shipped from Gloversville, where the company has its studio, to the Craftsman laboratory in New York. Production on the third picture will shortly be started. Richard Travers, starred in the series, was severely hurt during the filming of a daring rescue scene. His part called for him to wade out into a rapids to rescue a boy. The current was so swift he was swept off his feet and hurled along among the many rocks in the stream. Severe bruises have forced him to rest for some time before the start of the next picture. What State Right Features Are Doing C. H. Hays has closed a contract with the newly organized West Coast Distributing Corporation which will listribute Triangle Productions throughout four states of the Pacific Northwest. OlHces have been opened at 2022 Third avenue, Seattle, and 3!)3 BurnBide, Portland, while plana are practically completed to open offices In Spokane and Butte. According to a statement made by the company, it is the intention of C. H. Hays, who controls the franchise in the Northwest, to release on an average of ten newly re-created Triangle Features each month, including such stars as Wm. S. Hart, Douglas Fairbanks, Roy Stewart. Norma and Constance Talmadge, Charles Ray and all of the best of the productions directed by D. W. Griffiths and Thos. H. Ince. The company plans also to release ten newly re-created Keystone Comedies per month. This product has had phenomenal success in all parts of the U. S. and is considered the best available re-Issue at the present time. success, "Mother Eternal." Shows will be put over individually on an equitable basis for the exhibitors. Key cities will be handled personally by Hagerty. Special hand painted tront 10x20 feet given free with special oil painted lobby displays, to a,ll theatres booking prductions. "Mother Eternal" to be put over with new and original exploitation stunts. Releasing all Second National productions on a basis of the better class of program pictures, with a series of two-reel comedies and tworeel westerns. Abbott Oliver of the U. T. E., Philadelphia, has installed a "radio" which is attracting a lot of attention. Abbott states that if it does not work better than its past performances he will eject the said "radio" into the gutter. Ben Harris of the Masterpiece, Philadelphia, will give a motion picture show at his home for the benefit of his two children and friends. W. B. Ackles. formerly owner of the Washington Theatre, Seattle, N. R. Snyder and F. W. Bowen, comprise the West Coast Distributing Co. They have established an unique record in the opening of two offices which are In a going condition, within thirty days after entering the territory. The company reports splendid response, with six runs their first week in Portland, and exhibitors coming after the product. Tony Luchesse and Dan Heenan, prominent members of the film Rlalto in Philadelphia, were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Armato at an afternoon tea, last Saturday. Following a metoric success In putting over "Ten Nights" in the eastern Pennsylvania territory. W. J. Hagerty makes new connections as sales and exploitation manager with the Graphic Film Exchange, Philadelphia, of which A. J. Sherman is president and general manager. Their first release will be "Dante's Inferno," followed by Ivan Abramson's Johnnie Waters, well-known film man in Kansas City for his policy of tL "square deal," has resigned from his place with Peacock Productions. He has left for the East. It Is not known how long Mr. Waters will be gone, but probably not long, for he has offers from three film companies here. R. R. Nave, one of the best known film men in the Northwest territory, who has been in the offices of Greater Features, Inc., In Seattle, has been transferred to the sales organization, headquartering in Seattle. He will cover the western Washington territory. Big Boy Williams Is Signed Guinn (Big Boy) Williams this week affixed his signature to a threeyear contract with Frederick Herbst, president of Frederick Herbst Productions, Inc., to make a series of Western productions that Joe Di Lorenzo, Inc., will State right. Williams is now at work on the third of the current series, "The Freshie." Joe Di Lorenzo is on the coast and will start East next week with a print of "The Trail of Hate." Seelye Buys "Innocent Cheat" and Hoxies Charles R. Seelye, of Arrow Exchanges, Inc., this week acquired the rights to "The Innocent Cheat" and the newest Jack Hoxie pictures for distribution in the New York territory. "The Innocent Cheat" is a big Ben Wilson production, State righted by Arrow Film Corporation, being the successor to Arrow's "Ten Nights in a Barroom." FADING IN AND OU'T With Joe Lee *■ T^OWN in New Bedford, Mass., Elmer Clifton is producing "Dowm ■L' to the Sea in Ships." It is a story about the whaling industry. Director Clifton this week wirelessed in he had caught a "whale," I know a director who once wired in from the Coast : "Just caught a sucker, beginning production shortly." / remember when Leon J. Rubenstein, now running a regional in New England, was editor of "Film Reports." Remember that? Did you know that "The Life of Buffalo Bill" wa» the first American feature ever offered on a State rights basis? It was a long one — three reels. P. P. Craft produced it. There is an old saying that "When Greek meets Greek in America they open a restaurant." In the film business when Greek meets Greek they open a picture theatre. Do you remember when "Dante's Inferno" broke records at your house? Yes, the both of them, for there were two Dante features. It is said that the bigger production cost $6,500 for the United States and Canada rights. They are shortly to release, in the State rights market, a feature entitled, "The Bootlegger's Daughter." Enid Markey is the featured player. Anyway, they picked a bird of a title. Met a State rights exchangeman who remarked that the only way he desired to buy features on an "outright cash basis." He has an exchange in Buffalo. Now all the distributors are buffaloed. Once upon a time (that's the way all fairy stories start I guess) there were two important factors in the motion picture business — General Film Company and The Motion Picture Sales Company. Here was the lineup: General Film was releasing the following brands: Biograph, Lubin, Pathe, Pathe Freres, Malies, Edison, Vitagraph, Kline (Kline was then releasing the Famous Film De Art) which was headed by Sarah Bernhardt and the greatest stars in the world, while Motion Picture Sales Company was handling Atlas, Imp, Bison, Powers, Rex, Champion, Ambrosia, Centaur, and several others. The latter firm charged the producer one cent a foot for handling the pictures. Did you ever run any of these firm's pictures? If you're a pioneer you did. Remember those days, aye? "'Parted at the Altar" in two part's" zms the billing Charley Hinkel sent out some years hack. It was a good thing for Charley that Horace Goldin — he of solving the woman im half fame — ims'n't around in those days, for Hinkel might Ivave found trouble. Do you remember when "The Copper and The Crook" ran for one "full week" at the Fourteenth Street Theatre in New York? The papers played this "record-breaking run" up in those days. The picture was a one-reeler. Remember? One day a couple of weeks ago, New York proved itself no better nor wiser than the tank town. Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey show marched its big parade right down Fifth avenue — ^yes sir right by the Moving Picture World office— and both sides of the Street were jammed with folks looking curiously on. Tom North, George Hamilton and others of the white top fame were there, thinking of other days. C. B. Pricg has issued a tzventy-four sheet for a single reel called "Smiles." All of which shows that the business is actually going ahead strong and fast. PASSED ON — Those warblers who sang illustrated songs, such a« "Sunbonnct Sue," "In Dear Old Georgia," "Come Take a Ride in My Airship," etc., between reels. Wonder how a revival of this stunt would go? Sing the old songs, but eliminate the singer and substitute radio. Call it "Spook Song Night." You know what "Cohen" Doyle says about "spooks," well ?