The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

646 MoyiNG PICTURE WORLD December 16, 1922 Logan Returns Jacqueline Logan, who has completed her work as Nettie Vollar in George Melford's latest Paramount picture, "Java Head," has left New York for the coast, where she will have the principal feminine role in "Mr. Billings Spends His Dime," a forthcoming Faramount picture with Walter Hierj as the star. Records Broken Two box-ofTice records of two Chicago theatres, operated by E. E. Benesch, were shattered by two recent Metro releases, "The Five Dollar Baby," starring Viola Dana, and the Louis Burston production, "The Forget-Me-Not." "The Five Dollar Baby" surpassed attendance records maintained for seven years at the Bell Theatre; and "Forget-Me-Not" showed the best day's receipts during one year of operation at the Liberty Theatre. Ben Carre Starts on New Film Ben Carre, Pyramid's art director, returned to New York several days ago and immediately began work on a new Pyramid production entitled, "Wife in Name Only," to be directed by George Terwilliger at this company's Long Island studio. Knighthood" Breaks Record "When Knighthood Wat in Flower," starring Marion Davies, broke all records for attendance for three performances at the Criterion Theatre, New York, Thanksgiving Day, when it also started the twelfth week of its sensational Broadway run. Not a single seat was vacant during the three showings and extra chairs were placed in the rear of the theatre to meet the insistent demands of patrons. In creating a new record for attendance and receipts in the twelfth week of a run, "Knighthood" has again struck a new note in motion picture circles. The capacity audiences which viewed the production on Thanksgiving Day evinced all the enthusiasm at its beauty of settings and lavishness of production that has led cr'tics and leaders of art and literature to characterize it as a masterpiece in photodramatic art. Weak Wednesdays Increased Sales As a result of tlie widespread attention accorded the Cosmopolitan picture, "When Knighthood Was in Flower," starring Marion Davies, sales of the book by Charles Major have gone up by leaps and bounds in every city where the picture has been shown. Hook sellers and libraries have a hard time keeping enough copies of the famous romance on hand. Exhibitors have complained that Wednesday never saw tumaway business in their towns, or even fair crowds. Wednesday needn't be a poor show day. "Selling the Picture to the Public" is packed every week with ideas that other exhibitors have tried and found to be a tonic for business. Msmy ideas and stunts are being published in this practical department that you can use to build up your poorest day; ideas that cost as low as $2 to put over. There won't be any weak Wednesdays for the man who avails himself of the practical helps found every week in "Selling the Picture to the Public" Visits America to Investigate Market L. Schwartz, concessionnaire for Pathe Exchange, Inc., in the Dutch East Indies, and owner of several theatres in Java, has just arrived from the Far Elast, expecting to stay a couple of months in America to investigate the market. "The American productions are most liked in the Dutch East Indies." France comes next, followed by Italy and Germany. The last German productions imported at very low prices do not seem to satisfy the taste of our public. The picture houses are mostly owned or controlled by four film importers, and a few individuals, viz: the Universal Film Co., the Australasian Film Co., the Middle East Film Co., the Pathe Exchange, Inc., and recently a new branch of the Paramount (Sydne's office). These firms have their head office in Soerabaya or Batavia; they import about 80 per cent, of the American production suitable for the requirements of the country, and are generally desirous of obtaining the sole right for any big film outside of their own production. "Censorship is handicapping business to a great extent." The United States Navy Depart, ment has promised Vitagraph its full co-operation in the filming of the sea scenes for the forthcoming feature, "Masters of Men," adapted from the story by Morgan Robertson. The arrangements were made recently through Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt. As one of the important sequences in "Masters of Men" is the Battle of Santiago Harbor near the close of the Spanish American War, the coming U. S. naval maneuvers are very opportune. Vitagraph will send the cast and directors and mechanical stafi to the Panama Canal to make these pictures. "Masters of Men" is the second of the new series of special productions by twenty-four of the foremost authors planned by Vitagraph for the coming year. The first, "The Ninety and Nine," adapted from Ramsay Morris' famous melodrama of the stage, will be released during January. American Tactics "Kentucky Derby" Has Premiere "The Kentucky Derby," Universal's Jewel screen adaptation of Charles T. Dazey's celebrated stage melodrama, had its New Y'ork premiere during the past week at the B. S. Moss' Broadway Theatre. The premiere was slated for the Capitol Theatre, but the earliest date for that theatre available was in January, and Universal refused to hold the picture after its release date, December 4. The crowds which filled the Broadway Theatre the past week formed a composite mixture. There were those who wanted to see a good race, now that the racing season has moved southward from New York. Others remembered the thrills of Dazey's old melodrama and knew they would get the same thrills, and more, perhaps, in the screen version. Others crowded to the theatre because they knew from the advance campaign on the picture they would find an appealing story of romance and adventure. Navy and Vitagraph Co-operate on Film Goldwyn Buys Novel Goldwyn has purchased the motion picture rights to an early story by Joseph Hergesheimer, author of "The Three Black Pcnnys," "Java Head," "The Bright Shawl" and other outstanding novels. The story which Goldwyn is to picturize is "Wild Oranges." The screen rights to Edgar Wallace's new mystery novel, "Captains of Souls," have also been purchased by Goldwyn. F. B. O. Signs Baxter to Contract Warner Baxter, who appeared opposite Ethel Clayton in her first Film Booking Offices of .America release, has been placed under contract with F. B. O. to appear as leading man in future R-C productions. Films Exteriors of Fred Niblo Film All of the exterior scenes for the Fred Niblo photoplay version of "The Famous Mrs. Fair," have already been photographed, according to information received at the New York offices of Metro Pictures Corporation, which will release this motion picture. Amaze the ^riil^ PatheMakesDeal Associated First National is said to be creating quite a stir among British exhibitors and the British picture public through its exploitation and advertising campaigns. Bruce Johnson, First National foreign manager, who has been in England for several weeVs, has transplanted First National American methods into the British market without the least hesitation and this policy is winning out. The big First National product now is being released almost concurrently with the releasing date in America. One of the first pictures put out, "Smilin' Through" is now doing big business wherever it is being shown. "Oliver Twist." "Lorna Doone," "The Bond Boy," "The Eternal Flame." "The Masquerader" and other big First National pictures will soon be before the British public Pathe report* the doling of a record booking deal with Southern Enterprises, whereby "Dr. Jack" will be played oyer that entire circuit at rental prices said to be the highest ever paid by that extensive organization for any picture. The contract coTers first-run and repeat showings . in many towns. I