The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

December 16, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 653 Principal Pictures Corp. Closes Deal Involving Approximately $340,000 Irving Lesser, Eastern manager of Principal Pictures Corporation, his week announced the receipt of a lengthy telegram from Sol -esser, on the Coast, concerning the acquisition by that company of creen and stage rights to Harold Bell Wright's novels. The deal, ccording to the Coast despatch received by Mr. Lesser, fixes the mount involved in this deal at approximately $340,000. Nine volumes re involved in the transaction, and these are estimated to have been ead by more than 14,000,000 people, for that many copies have been ublished and distributed in all parts of the world. The books that will go down in years that have elapsed in this history via the silver sheet industry can give. )ute include the following popuir works: "The Eyes of the Meanwhile, Eastern Manager Irving Lesser is concentrating on ^orld," "The Re-Creation of the distribution of the company's rian Kent," "The Uncrowned ing," "The Winning of Barbara /orth," "The Calling of Dan [atthews," "The Shepherd of the :ills," "The Printer of Udell's," A''hen a Man's a Mail" and "Their esterdays." Principal Pictures Corporation, rough its officers, Sol Lesser as •esident, Michael Rosenberg as ce-president, A. L. Core as sectary, Irving Lesser as Eastern lanager, and Adolph Bemish as easurer, plan to start production the first story at once. "The e-Creation of Brian Kent" has ;en selected as the first picture, d casting already is well under ay. two initial orodurtions, the Elinor Glyn special, "The World's a Stage," with Dorothy Phillips featured, and Bruce McRae and Kenneth Harlan, and the Irving Cummings feature, "Chicago Sal," co-starring Alice Lake and Milton Sills. Shallenberger and Al Kahn Have Big Deal Under Way OMAHA, NEB. — (Spoeial), — AI Kahn of the Crescent Film E.xchiiuge hiis auBmentcd his staff. Dr. W. E. .Shallenberger, president of Arrow Kilm Corporation, while on his tour Frank Ilnvd Hirprtnr nf the country, was in this city and 1 ranK Lioya, airector oi was here for four da.vs, conferring le latest Jackie Coogan picture, daily with Mr. Kahn. " it is relialily — ■ learned that Messrs. Shallenlicrfie'r and Kahn effected an agreement whereby Mr. Kahn will in the future Dliver Twist," has been signed to sist in the continuity. Sol Lesser, in a later statement handle most of the big Arrow features in this territory. No official announcement was given out, however, from either party after the conferences. sceived in New York this week y Irving Lesser, said that rincipal Pictures Corporation in;nds spending approximately !50,000 on each production. That the Shallenberger visit to this clt.v was an important one insofar as Crescent E-xchange is concerned is accepted as being a fact among film men in this city. Dr. Shallenberger while here visited no other exchange. In fact, after the four days' of conferences Kahn went to New York while "Bud" Barlcev. manager of the local Crescent E.xchange, went down to Denver. Vincipal Will Remake Two H. B. Wright Stories Announcement was made in ew York this week bv Irvine Knli'i and his associates in the oper esser. Eastern manager of Prmpal Pictures Corporation, that :at firm, because of the popular That there Is a strong probability that Arrow may be associated with ,\1 ation of exchanges in this city. Kansas City and in Denver is more than probable. c .1 I. ^ -11 ■ ■ I Fontenellp Film Company of this y Ot the subjects, will re-niake city is autl-.ority for the announcement o_ famous Harold Bell Wright ories that years ago, when iaptcd to the screen attracted ide attention. These are "The Chaplin classics this exchange has yes of the World" and "The lepherd of the Hills." These, ce Mary Pickford's "Tess of the :orm Countrv " and Jac''ie CoogI's "Oliver Twist," will be reined with each and everv mod that it has purchased twelve nevr pictures for distribution in Nebraska. The first snblect is "Easy Street " and represents the first of the Charles acnuired for distribution in this territory. Pontenelle Film Company also has acqtiirpd the new David Butler series. The first two issues are "The Milkv Way" and "According to Hovlp." Th's evrhange is snecialis^ing o»i short „ ■ i .1 . 1 ,, subjects, on which it Is doing an n improvement that only the enormous business. Busiuess in this territory is picking up considerably witli reports tiom e.M;n;iugcmc'ii uud e.vuibitors equally enthusiastic coiicerniug the tuiure. Ijiitu luo latter part of October motion picture patronage had been very slim. Particularly true was this in tiio rural secuous ot the territory. Business in Omaha and Des Aloiues has been steadily improving. Exliibitors in Nebraska and Iowa are about to witness the greatest campaign ever executed on a special motion picture. Outdoing all his previous exploitation achievements, Harold Home, head of Home's Exploitation Service, has just completed a bewildering campaign on D. W. Griffith's "Hearts of the World," which will be soon released by Liberty Films. Inc., of this city. Candy manufacturers, nationally known oil companies, cigar manufacturers, biscuit makers, dry goods concerns and many others have been lined up. Independents Are Progressing in Canadian Houses MONTREAL. ONT.— (Special).— Independent productions have grown in exhibitor demand in the Dominion, judging from reports that have been pouring into the independent distributing offices in this city, Toronto, Winnipeg and 'Vancouver. There are two independent producers now making Canadian pictures. However, the most popular of these is none other than Ernest Shipman of New York, who has the patronage and financial backing of some of the shrewdest liusiness men and capitalisis in the Dominion He already has completed two pictures and from the schedule announced recently it is evident that he will make a series of six with David Hartford assuming the directorial reins. Arrow Film Corporation's independent productions in the Dominion will be released by Stephenson Attractions. Ltd.. of Toronto, which, by the way, is making rapid progress. Another motion picture producing company is well under way with roots in Montrael. This comnanv is be'ng promoted by Harry Kaufman, formerly assistant manager of Regal Films Corporation. It will be known as the Anti-Narcotic Film Company. Limited, nnrl is being formed to combat the drug and white slave trafBc in fnnad'i. Co-oneralin*r with Mr. Kaufman is said to be Judge Erail.v Murphy and S. Morgan Powell. dr;i ■ mafic editor of the Montreal .Star, the latter writinn" the scenario for the first picture which will be photographed in Quebec. "The Rapids" is the latest Ernest Shinman production announced as completed. Mnrv Astor and Harry >Tn-ev are co-featured in this production. Busy Independent Producing Season; Eastern Studio News The current season is the busiest production year in the history of independent production, judging from observations made during the past week at various New York and vicinity studios. Not one studio in New York City, New Jersey and Long Island is idle, and most of them are busily engaged turning out independent productions. Something liko twenty-four productions are now being made in the metroiiolitan district for independent distribution with as many more being planned to be made early next year. John Adolphi has started production on the next picture, "The Little Red Schoolhouse." starring Martha Mansfield and E. K. Lincoln. Edmund Breese also appears in the cast. Kenneth Webb. who direeted "Secrets of Paris" for Whitman Bennett and Charles C. Burr, will shortly start for Miami. Florida, where he will start production on a new independent picture. Nell Shipman and her director, Bert Van Tuyl. are in New York. Edward Earle, the popular leading man, has signed a long term contract with Burton King, in whose future pictures he will appear. Arrow will release the King productions. ".Jacqueline," the latest Dell Henderson-directed James Oliver Curwood special which Arrow will release, is in its third week of cutting. More than one hundred .mii fifty thousand feet of film were taken, and this quantity is being cut down u> six reels. Will Nigh starts production on his second picture for Bobbv North-L. Lawrence Weber release this week at Tilford studio. "Night Life in Hollywood." Arrow newest picture, opened at the Grand Opera House in Toronto. Out., on Monday night to a turn away business. The box office statement on Tnesda.v night indicated a recordbreaker for this picture at Its premier showing in Canada. C. C. Burr, with two productions now being made at his spacious Glendale. L. I. studios, is planning for several other big pictures that will bo m.nde under his supervision and distributed by him in the independent market. Plans for the annual frolic of the Green Room Club are now being made. It is expected that the annual frolic will be held some time in January. The Motion I'icture Directors' Association also is planninir for its annual supper and dance, which as in the past years will in all probability be held late next month or early in February at Hotel Astor in New York. This is the organization that last year introduced ofl^ciallv Will Hays to the motion picture industry. Directors. producers. stars and photogrnnhers are iiri'cd to keep in touch with this denartmcnt in view of the many innuiries being received daily from indi'pendents concerninpT the wherenboufs of indopendeiit directors, stars and photographers. <OT A SINGLE 100-FOOT STRETCH IN THE ENTIRE PICTURE THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN A THRILLING EPISODE IN THE ADVENTURES OF LOVABLE PEOPLE, in says Roger Ferri—and Roger knowi a box-office picture when he sees it.