The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

/•56 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 23, 192 C.C. Burr, with 1922 -23 Program Almost Complete, Laying P lans for New Season With "The Big Six" program he announced early this Fall almost completed, there being but one production on which work has not yet been begun, C. C. Burr. President of Mastodon Films, Inc., this week stated that he is making elaborate plans for his production schedule for next season. During the past week Mr. Burr announced that, while the first Edgar Lewis production. "Fires of Youth" was still in production, the second picture that producer would make for independent distribution through Mastodon Films, Inc., will be "Oh, Ye Fools!" Mr. Burr is at present dickering with the producers of a number of well known productions and authors whose works will be embraced in the 1923 program. Gone Marcus of Twentieth Century Exchange will release the first Principal picture. "The World's a Stage," based on Elinor Glyn's story, with Dorothy Phillips starred, late In January. Right now he Is concentrating on "Deserted at the Altar." abandoned and the picture leased t Marcus Loew for presentation ove his circuit the week of January 8. Meanwhile reports on the current C. C. Burr attractions. "Sure I'ire Flint" with Johnny Hines starred, and "Secrets of Paris" with an allstar cast, are scoring well at the box offices of representative first run houses. This statement is borne out by reports received by special correspondents of this department and from exhibitors' reports published in Van Powell's "Straight From the Shoulder" section. Mr. Burr this week concluded a deal whereby "Sure Fire Flint" will be given its Broadway premiere at the Cameo Theatre in New York. "Secrets of Paris" also will shortly be introduced on Broadway, a deal for one of the big first run houses now being under way, according to Mr. Burr. This is the production made by Whitman Bennett. Mr. Bennett had long planned this production which is none other than Eugene Sue's famous Apache romance "Mysteries of Paris." The several years of preparation which Mr. Bennett put into it before starting actual production have served to bring forth a picture which is a great story and a work of art. "Sure Fire Flint." the second Johnny Hines feature ("Burn 'Em Up Barnes," that famous moneymaker was the first) has already been released and has proven as huge a box office attraction as its predecessors. Johnny Hines is also adding lustre to a third feature picture called "Luck," which is still in production. "Luck" is based on the story of the same name by Jackson Gregory. There is no doubt if example is to be taken from Johnny's two earlier features that the personality of this versatile young man will make this third feature another good box office bet for the exhibitors. Two Edgar Lewis productions are included in this program, one fast nearing completion and called "Fires of Youth" and the other entitled "Oh Ye Fools" as yet in script. It is announced from the office of C. C. Burr however, that Mr. Lewis will begin work upon this second feature immediately after he has finished with "Fires of Youth." _ On the program of the "Big-Six" announced by Mr. Burr is "The Last Hour." It is based on the story of the same name by Frank R. Adams, which ran serially in Munsey's magazine. This picture was directed by Edward Sloman and is already completed. It is awaiting a definite release date. The "Big-Six" program does not include the series of All Star comedies which have become a feature of the C. C. Burr productions. These comedies have proven very popular with exhibitors by reason of their big box office value. Ben Amsterdam's Masterpiece Film E.\chanerc is doins a wonderful business. The Al Lichtman special, "Shiulows" has several records to its credit at the bigger Stanley Philly houses, including the Victoria, where it opened several weeks ago. Amsterdam's short subjects have been taken over by David Starkman Exchange. Johny Hines will hare his feator production, "Sure Fire Flint." whlc Sam Zierler Is releasing for C. C Burr, shown at a Broadway hons for (he first time, for that much-ad vertised and mone.v-maklng specia opens at B. S. Moss' Cameo Theatr within two weeks. Ttie engagemeo will be elaborately exploited In Ne? York. A Exhibitors at Big Showing of Warner Picture I'ini.ADELl'HIA (Special) — Representative exhibitors from this territory and Harry M, Warner, President of Warner Brothers, and others from New York, attended a special sliiiwiiig of Warner Brothers' Harry Uapf production. "Heroes ,oB the Street," with Wesley Barry, at the Knickerbocker Theatre here on Sunday night. Several hundred members of the police force were the guests of Lou Berman of Indepeiident Film Corporation, under whose auspices the showing was held. The production was enthusiastically received. Following the showinir the prominent guests and representatives of the Philadelphia police force were the guests of Mr. Berman at a supper. Harry M. Warner made an address in which he told exhibitors that it was the Intention of Warner Brothers to give them "nothing but the best." He discussed production costs, saying that the estimates made on certain productions that that firm will release in the near future have lici'ii exceeded and in one case trebled. Independents in A. B. C.-Syndicate Booking Squabble The competitive bidding between the A. B. C. and syndicate bookers in New York City involves independents. Already one company — Warner Brothers — has decided to play with the independents. The Warners broke with the syndicate bookers last year when they were exploiting "School Days." The syndicate proposition was turned down Hat because of the alleged ridiculous figure set by the bookers. At that time Harry M. Warner announced he would book his pictures in independent houses. The experiment was a successful one. for, according to Mr. Warner. "School Days" grossed a record figure and since" then Warners' productions have been playing independent houses. The new Renown Pictures Bi change has taken over the New Yort State and New Jersey rights to thi second Principal Pictures picture "Environment." co-starring Alio Lake and Milton Sills. This flm also will release "Malcolm Strausf Salome" and the first Principal release, "The World's a Stage," wltl Dorothy Phillips. The flght that has developed out of the alleged action on the part of Amalgamated Film Exchanges, Inc., of selling territorial rights to their pictures to Robert Lynch of Metro Exchange when a previous contract is alleged to have been signed by David Segal of Royal Pictures. Inc., will be settled early this month in the United States District Court. In a letter to David Barrist. publisher of The Exhibitor, a Philadelphia regional, Mr. Lynch states that he has "not received any court order from Mr. Segal's attorneys." He adds (further: "and so there will be no further misunderstanding as to the merits of this case. Please be advised that as far as I know Mr. Segal signed a contract for these pictures back in July and I also signed a contract for them thirty days after without any knowledge of him having already signed. His action now is against the manufacturer, who signed the contract with him, and I have nothing whatever to do with the matter." There is a merry war brewing in film circles hereabouts. It concerns the A. B. C. and syndicate booking offices. Allied Distributors will release its massive "Salome" production early next month. This production will be shown at one of the Broadway first-run houses and then is slated to play the Marcus Loew metropolitan circuit. The A. B. C. have abandoned hope to land this picture, but with the announcement made last week of the release of Malcolm Strauss' "Salome" bOi/n Independent distributor, Gei^e H. Wiley, plans are in the making to book this picture over the Independent houses. Whether or not this independent will be shown day and date as opposition to the Allied "Salome" remains to be seen. Foster Moore of the Jans Film Exchange exploited the Al Lichtman special. "Shadows." on a pretentloai basis during its premiere showing at the Strand Theatre in Newark. N. .T. .\ transparency was used. ThiE is a shadow box standing aboat eighteen inches high and is aboat twenty-four inches wide and six inches from the proscenium ar<-h to the back wall. There is an electric light booked %vltb a skinoC'dle plug arranged Just back of the wall, directly back of a man and woman cutout. When the skidoodle plof shoots the light on tlie shadow appe.nrs it the window and when th« light goes off the shadow disappears, giving the illusion of sudden motion and a surprise and suggestion of drama which stops the "window shoppers." The stunt also was used in Elizabeth and Paterson, N. J. Sam Zierler of Commonwealth Pictures Corporation, handling the Al Lichtman product, could have obtained a Broadway showing at two big houses had he selected to delay the release of the B. P. Schulberg special. "Shadows" with Lon Chaney, until the latter part of next month. Subseqnently the Broadway run was Eddie Earle Is Still Dickering Contrary to the report published in this department last week, the publicity department of Arrow Film Corporation this week said that while such a deal was pending, Edward Earle, one of the most popular leading men in the business, had not signed the longterm contract with Arrow, as reported in this publiction. Several other companies, according to this latest report, are dickering for Earle's services. Right now he is making personal appearances in conjunction witb .Arrow's Burton King special, "The Streets of New York." Wilkes-Barre was signally honored recently when Johnny Hines, Robert Edeson and Violet Mesereau visited that city to shoot scenes at the mine operations of the Glen Alden Coal Company for the next picture C. C. Burr is making with Hines starred and entitled "Luck." Robert Edeson had a holiday, for Mayor Daniel L. Hart of Wilkes-Barre is an old friend of his. More independent pictures are being booked in this territory by the big circuits than ever before, according to reports from the various exchanges. The melodramas are in big demand in cities and towns outside of Philadelphia, while the high class pictures get their biggest draws in Philadelphia. "Deserted at the Altar" is doing a land-ofBce business in suburban towns, according to exhibitors reports. Principal Gets New Features "Mind Over Motor" is the title of the third Principal Pictures Corporation's release, which will be ready for general distribution through foremost exchanges handling Principal pictures early in January. This announcement was made this week by Irving Lesser, eastern manager for Principal Pictures Corporation. Starred in "Mind Over Motor" is Trixie Friganza, one of the best known stars on the stage today. The production, which is characterized in Coast despatches as one of the most pretentious independent pictures of the year, was several months iti making. Ward Lacsalle directed and produced the picture which embodies a cast of well-known and popular players. , Burr Film at Cameo "Sure Fire Flint" is to be the New Year's week offering at the Cameo Theatre according to latest reports, coming from the offices of C. C. Burr. This will be the second full length production featuring Johnny Hines which Mr. Burr's organization is putting out to the independent field as part of his "Big-Six" program. .