The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

November 25, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 335 In the Independent Field 35) ROGER FERHI Newsy Bits The Week in Review Trade Notes Edgar Seldon announced this week that his picture, starring Madge Evans, had been sold to Associated Exhibitors. "On the Baulss of the Wabash" will be the first release. Harry Garson is in New York, having brought East a print of his latest picture, "Tliat Old Sweetheart of Mine," based on the famous poem by James Whitcomb Kiely. A deal was closed this week for the independent distribution of "Blind Justice." Inasmuch as the final signatures would not be alflxed to the agreement until Monday, one of the parties being called out of town, announcement of the distributor will be made in this section next week. Warner Brothers will not produce "Nellie the Beautiful Cloak Model," it became detinitcly known this week. When the Warners purchased the screen rights to "Why Girls IjCave Home" they obtained the rights to a bulk of other melodramatic successes at the same time, among them being the "Nellie" play. Leon .T. Ilubenstein, now in Boston, has opened an exploitation bureau in the Bean Town tor the exploitation of pictures in New England. Eddie Bonns proved his mettle this week as Goldwyn's exploitation head when he put over a rattling good press yarn in conjunction with the premier showing of "Brothers Under the .Skin" at the Capitol Theatre in New York. Every metropolitan newspaper fell for the story which concerned the organization of an organization of men whose wives had got "under their skin." J. Charles Davis, 2d. assistant to Dr. W. E. Khallenberger, president of Arrow, returned to New York this week after launching an exploitation campaign in Erie, Pa., in connection with showings there of "Night Lite In Hollywood" and "Streets of New York." Joe Settle, photographer for Blazed Trails Productions. Inc.. of Gloversvllle, N. Y'.. came to New York this week to take pictures to be used in a picture on which he is now working. "Shadows," the Preferred Picture, directed by Tom Porman, which Al Lichtman Corporation is releasing, will open a week's engagement at the Strand Theatre in Newark, N. J., on this Friday. "Down to the Sea in Ships." the whaling picture that Elmer Clifton made in New Bedford, Mass.. will open for an indefinite engagement at the Metropolitan Opera House in Philadelphia on Nov. 27. Harry Houdini is making a personal appearance this week at the Strand Theatre in Newark, N. J., in conJunction with the showing there of his picture. "The Man from Beyond." Joe Lee is now with Houdini handling the bookings on this feature. Important contracts on "Shadows," which arrived at the Lichtman offices this week, included those covering runs at the Strand. Hartford. Conn.: the Franklin. Oakland. Calif., and the Liberty, Fresno, Calif. Prank Pay. who operates the Southwestern Film Corporation of Itallas. Texas, bought from Arrow Pllm Corporation the following pictures for Texas. Oklahom and Arknnsnfi: Four Peter B. Kynes and six William Fairbanks. The sale was negotiated by Tom Curran. a Special RepresentBtlre of Arrow Pllm Corporation. D IG names," so called, aic seemingly in big demand among independent producers. Today a single glance over the casts of various independent pictures in the course of production will furnish the reader with a fairly good idea concerning the extremes to which these producers are going to secure the services of established and proven box office stars. All-star casts are quite numerous in this particular market. 'I ''HAT this stiuation has contributed materitUy toward mnning ■*■ exhibitor patronage is accepted as most probable, for never before have so many first run dates been recorded for independent pictures as those booked during the past three months. Prospects of last September are materialising effectively, and this because the independent producer is paying as much attention to the box office as he is to story, director, cast and production in general. PRINCIPAL PICTURES CORPORATION is one of the many firms seeking popular stars. The first was Dorothy Phillips, who stars in that firm's initial release, "The World's a Stage." The services of Miss Phillips were obtained through the courtesy of Associated First National Pictures. But Miss Phillips, says Eastern ^lanager Irving Lesser, is only the lirst of a series of interna-tionally famous stars whom that concern will place at the helin of all-star productions to be released independently within the course of the next few months. I^QUITY PICTURES CORPORATION has hit upon an interesting idea, namely, that of allozving exhibitors throughout the country to select the cast for the ne.vt Daniel Carson Goodman production. We had hoped to publish the rules and regulations governing the contest, but, unfortunately, up to press time no o. k. had been received from the Post Office authorities who are studying the contest. We expect to have this approval next week, however. The idea is a capital one and puts the question of cast, etc., squarely up to the exhibitor. DR. W. E. SHALLENBERGER, President of Arrow Filtri Coi;poration, without a doubt is one of the most effective organizers in the business. The result of his trip about tlie country, when announced, wilj bear out this statement. Dr. Shallenberger has progressed with the industry, for the history of the latter has written his career as a motion picture executive. Associated with Dr. Shallenberger are a string of pioneer cxchm.E'emen, who should play no small part within the next year in making Arrow Film Corporation one of the most forinidable and powerful distributing organizations in the business. /WCLUDED in the daily batch of mail that this department receives from the Coast are scores of letters from producers, directors and players ivho praise our "West Coast Studio News Column." We are happy to know that the column is serving the purpose for which it is bcinsi ftublishcd and with the splendid co-operation we have been receiving from our Coast friends, zve hope to improve if with every issue. And we thank those who have written commenting constructively on our efforts. Constructive criticism in ivhalcver form it is submitted is always welcomed by this department. So shoot! BY the time this issue will have reached the Coast Thanksgiving Day will be but a few days oflf. We personally will be thankful for a million and one things. We're happy to be living, glad to know our friends are happy, satisfied with conditions in general ; in fact, we never felt happier nor better in our life. And we sincerely hope that this Thanksgiving Day will have everybody in the motion picture business equally as thankful. But more than anything else, we can not allow this opportunity to pass without expressing our hearty appreciation and thanks for every co operation given the editor of this department. It couldn't have been better. And we thank everybody. Sales on "Women Men Marry" That Edward Dillon's first independent production "Women Men Marry" has hit a responsive chord in picture circles is evidenced by the fact that two of the biggest territories were sold during the past week. New York and Northern New Jersey were sold to the Renowned Pictures, Inc., while Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey were purchased by Metro Exchange at Philadelphia. The first foreign sale to be consummated was for Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, which was signed by the Super Selected Pictures of Sydney, Australia. Michael Fields, acting for Rialto Productions, Inc., New York City, purchased from Arrow Film Corporation distribution rights for New York and Northern New .lersey on "The Lone Horseman," "Before the White Man Came' and "Western Justice." Thomas Toby negotiated the sale for Arrow. Announcement was made this week that Federated Film Exchange of Boston had purchased the New England rights to the Graphic feature, "\\ ildness of Youth," directed by Ivan Abramson. Kights to this piclure in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia and Peru wei sold this week to the Sociedad Generale Cinematographic Company. R. J. Robinson, manager of the New Orleans office of I'rogress Pictures, Inc., was in conference last week with W. Kay Johnston. VicePresident of Arrow Film Corporation, relative to future business transactions in that city, the rights to Arrow pictures there being owned l)y Artliur C. Bromberg's organization. A trade showing was held on Wednesday afternoon at the Simplex projection room. -20 West 42nd street. New York, of the latest B. P. Schulberg production, "Thorns and Orange Blossoms," which will be released through Al Lichtman Exchange. Gasnier directed this feature. Dr. W. E. Shallenberger, President of Arrow Film Corporation, returned to New York last week for a brief stay, holding a conference with W. Ray Johnsto]) and returning to the West to complete his trip in the interest of effecting permanent local .nfliliations for Arrow Film Cornoration. "Rich Men's Wives," the initial Al Lichtman special, was sold this week to the Compania Brazil Cinematografica for Brazil. Independent exchangemen and distributors in New York are taking a keen interest in the annual ball of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce to be held Saturday evening, Dec. 2. at Hotel Astor. The first ticket for the affair was bought bv Al Lichtman. Henry Ginsberg, sales-manager for Al Lichtman Corporation and Leon Netter, who recently joined that organization are on the road. Ginsberg is covering the West and Southwest territory with Denver his destination, while Netter is covering Cleveland. Cincinnati. Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington and the South. J. H. Raymond, of the American Relief organizations, has joined W K. Ziegfeld Productions. Inc. He will handle the affairs of the company in the Far East. The title of the Initial Amalgamated production has been chanired from "Madonna In Chains" to "The Woman In Chains." This is the picture in which E. K. Lincoln, Mrs. Rodolph ■Valentino, Martha Mansfield and W. H. Tooker appear. Export & Import Film Company announced this week the sale of Its 15-eplBOde serial, "The Jungle Goddess for Texas Oklahoma and Arkansas and Louisiana and MIssInatpDl to the Eltabran Film Company Bobby North, of Apollo Film Bxchange of New York this week engaged seven salesmen to handle the bookines on his first Will Nigh soeclal. "Notoriety."