The Moving picture world (November 1923-December 1923)

Ma News Frc>m The Producers Agnes Ayres in Leading Role The popular Paramount star, Agnes Ayres, is to play the lead in "Souvenir," Halperin Productions' second big feature for Associated Exhibitors distribution, special arrangements having been made with Jesse L. Lasky. Miss Ayres, recognized as one of the most beautiful and talented of screen stars, achieved a marked success in "The Sheik," with Valentino; "Raving Hearts," "The Love Special," "The HeartRaider" and many other big photoplays. EDITED BY T. S. DA PONTE "The Acquittal" a Big Success in Chicago Exploitation Matter For Vitagraph Film The accessories prepared for the exploitation of "The Man from Brodney's" by Vitagraph includes a four page rotogravure section showing action stills and portraits of this forthcoming David Smith production. The portrait stills of J. Warren Kerrigan, Alice Calhoun, Miss Du Pont, Wanda Hawley and Pat O'Malley, as well as scenes from the hand to hand battle between the Orientals and the whites in the chateau are particularly attractive. "The Acquittal," Universal's Super Jewel production of Rita Weiman's celebrated mystery play, had its world's premiere last Sunday in the palatial Chicago Theatre, Chicago. It was hailed as one of the greatest pictures ever made, Universal states, and heralded as one of the biggest successes of the year. The Chicago is the big first run show house of the Balaban & Katz interests, the first-run fran chise holders for First Xational pictures in Chicago. "The Acquittal" will be shown in two other Balaban & Katz houses following its week's run in the Chicago Theatre.' The newspaper reviewers present in the Chicago Theatre paid unbounded tribute to the high qualities of the production, as well as to the excellent acting of Claire Windsor and Norman Kerry, the principal figures in the cast. The production was directed by Clarence L. Brown. First National Foreign Sales Associated First National Pictures, Inc., reports the following foreign sales: "Circus Days" to the Madan Theatres, Ltd., for India, Burma and Ceylon; "Trouble" and "Peck's Bad Boy" to Karl Suering, for Soviet" Russia and Border States; seventeen Mack Sennett comedies to Johan Kerre, for Soviet Russia and Border States; "The Girl in the Taxi" to Albion Cinema Supplies Co., Ltd., for Austria-Hungary, Czecho-Slovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Roumania, Turkey and European Greece. Saenger Gets Quota of Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan Warner Film Making Big Success According to reports from the Franklin Film Company in Boston, franchise holders for the Warner Brothers throughout the New England territory, the Warner classic, "Where the North Begins," starring the police dog hero, Rin-tin-tin, is meeting with great success everywhere that it is being shown. Indications from all other sections also are proving that the Warners have a big box office winner in the dog picture. The Saenger Amusement Company of New Orleans has booked the full list of Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan releases for the current season for its entire circuit of theatres in New Orleans, Louisiana and Mississippi. The contract was signed by Messrs. Dureau and Gueringer for the Saenger Amusement Company on their recent trip to New York. J. R. Grainger and Sam Eckman. Jr., acted for Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan in closing the deal. The full list of Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan releases will be shown at the new theatre just being completed in Long Beach, Cal. Its opening attraction will be Marion Davies in her new Cosmopolitan picture, "Little Old New York." All of the current GoldwynCosmopolitan releases have been booked by the Nathanson Strand and Amusement Co., which controls the Strand and the Modern theatres in Providence. R, I. Mary Pickford Film Makes Hit in Chicago Cutting "Drums of Jeopardy" "The Drums of Jeopardy," Elaine Hammerstein's second production of her series for Truart Film Corporation, is completed and being cut and titled. This is the second offering of the series of Truart Productions which have already been franchised to independent exchanges throughout the country. The third has already been decided upon and work of casting has been begun. "The Drums of Jeopardy" will be released about December 1. It was adapted from the novel of the same name by Harold MacGrath, which also appeared serially in the Saturday Evening Post. Arrangements are under way for a photoplay edition of the novel which will he released concurrently with the release of the motion picture. Hodkinson Prepares New PressBook In accordance with its policy to make accessories of the greatest possible aid to the exhibitor, the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation has prepared an unusually helpful press book for its desert picture "Shifting Sands." Instead of having a separate exploitation sheet, a press sheet and a press book, they are all incorporated under one cover. Tully Signs Nilsson Richard Walton Tully has engaged Anna Q. Nilsson to play the part of the heroine of Rex Beach's novel, "Flowing Gold." This is his forthcoming screen production of that story which he will film for First National. That Mary Pickford's "Rosita," the United Artists release, pleased both Chicago public and critics when it opened at the Orpheum Theatre, is evidenced by the Jones, Linick and Schacfer announcement of the biggest opening business in the history of the house, and the tenor of the newspaper reviews. The exhibitor announcement concerning "Rosita" from a boxoffice viewpoint came in the form of a telegram from Jones, Linick and Schaefer to Hiram Abrams, president of United Artists. The message read: "Mary Pickford in 'Rosita' opened at the Orpheum Theatre November 3 to the largest business in the history of the theatre. As the Orpheum has been in existence for seventeen years, this is ah achievement of which Miss Pickford can be justly proud." As for the critics and their reviews, the following excerpts tell the story: "Put 'Rosita' among the year's best pictures," said the Tribune. " 'Rosita' is eight reels of golden entertainment," said the Evening American. "There is everything pictorial about 'Rosita,' something vast, and in that vastness something inspiring." wrote the Journal. Completes Filming of "Flaming Barriers" George Melford has just completed the filming of his latest Paramount production, "Flaming Barriers," most of which was made on location near Sonora and in the mountainous district of Tuolumne County in Northern California. "Flaming Barriers" was written for the screen by Byron Morgan, author of the Wallace Reid automobile stories, who watched its production on location. Jacqueline Logan, Antonio Moreno, Walter Hiers and Charles Ogle are featured, with Luke Cosgrave and Robert McKim prominent in the support. "Green Goddess" in Chicago Distinctive's "The Green Goddess" has been booked for the Chicago Theatre, Chicago, beginning Monday, November 19. This photoplay, starring George Arliss, will be seen at the Royal Theatre, Kansas City, on November 11. It will play the Capitol Theatre, Cincinnati, on November 25. "The Green Goddess" did so well at the Merill Theatre in Milwaukee that it was held over for half a week. The play has also just finished a successful double engagement at the Modern and Beacon Theatres in Boston. Ray L. Hall Returns to Kinograms Ray L. Hall, one of the organizers of Kinograms and for three years its managing editor has returned to the staff as Associate Editor, after an absence of two years in other moving picture activities.