The Moving picture world (September 1924-October 1924)

October 25, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 703 Scenes from the First National release, "Husbands and Lovers," with F lorence Vidor an d Lewis Stone. Back from Trip, Auger Enthuses Over Splendid Vitagraph Gains BRIMFUL of enthusiasm over picture conditions in general, and highly gratified with the enthusiastic recep~ tion of current Vitagraph attractions by leading exhibitors of the country, Edward Auger, assistant general manager of Vitagraph, returned to New York late last week from a six weeks' trip across the continent. Mr. Auger went North into Canada, West to the Pacific Coast and South to the Gulf, conferring with Vitagrapli branch managers and renewing acquaintance with exhibitors in most of the principal key centers. The cities which he visited included, among others, Chicago, Minneapolis, Winnipeg, Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. In Washington Mr. Auger was joined by' John B. Rock, general manager of Vitagraph, who accompanied him to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and back to New York. "Viewed from whatever standpoint, my trip was a complete success," said Mr. Auger, upon his return to the Vitagraph general offices. "It was made primarily to ascertain conditions throughout the country, and in order to get in close touch w;th the actual situation I made it a point to talk directly with exhibitors. In no locality did I find a single person who was not thoroughly optimistic. "In the estimation of leading exhibitors Vitagraph now occupies an enviable place. They are more than enthusiastic over our latest offerings, such as 'Captain Blood' and 'The Clean Heart' or 'The Cruelties of Life,' and assured me that if the high standard set in these big specials is maintained throughout our schedule — as it will be — there can be no question of the commanding position we will occupy. That Vitagraph has reason to be gratified with this reception will be made obvious when I have named a few of the exhibitors with whom I conferred. Among them were: "W. P. De Wees, Vancouver; Mr. von Herberg and John Hamrick, Seattle; Manager Rotschild, San Francisco; Al Kaufman, of the Rialto, and Mr. Johnson, of the Forum, Los Angeles; George Carpenter, Empress, Salt Lake City; Harry Goldberg, Omaha, Tom Boland, Oklahoma City; Stinnett & Scharninaky, of the Capitol, Dallas; William Gueringer and Gaston Dureau, of the Sanger Amusement Co., New Orleans; Willard P. Patterson, Metropolitan, Atlanta, and Harry Crandall, of the Crandall Theatres, Washington. "As further evidence of the enthusiasm of these and other exhibitors, I may say that I closed interesting deals in nearly every city visited. Most of these have already booked 'Captain Blood' and many have signed 'The Clean Heart' or 'The Cruelties of Life." Everywhere I, as a representative of Vitagraph, was the recipient of warmest congratulations."" Plays Boy Part Wanda Wiley Essays This Role in Her Latest for Century "Some Tomboy," current release for Century comedies, stars Wanda Wiley, Century's newest star, as a champ baseball player and general all around tomboy, as the title implies. Those who have seen this two-reeler, say it is one of the best of the Wiley pictures so far released by Century. This story from which the picture was made sparkles throughout with wit and clever situations all of which Miss Wiley has carried to the screen in her own inimitable style. The screen story is laid to move swiftly with a laugh for every foot, and to be a wise selection for the star. Wanda Wiley was supported by Al Alt and several of the Century Comedy Kids, a group of clever child actors and actresses. Metro-Goldwyn Weeks Get Big "Play" from Exhibitors THE Stanley Company of America, the Crandall Circuit of Washington, D. , C„ and the Comerford Circuit in Pennsylvania are among the big exhibitors whose contracts for 100 per cent. MetroGoldwyn product featured the celebration nationally of the Metro-Goldwyn Weeks. During Metro-Goldwyn Weeks James R. Grainger, eastern sales head, has been on a swing around the eastern territory, including Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Norfolk. In Cleveland Mr. Grainger and W. C. Bachmeyer, division manager, held a central district meeting. In Buffalo Mr. Grainger conferred with S. Eckman, Jr., division manager. Edward M. Saunders, western sales head of Metro-Goldwyn, has been for several weeks on a tour of the western territory, and lias closed a number of important contracts. Paul Burger is also on a tour of the west and Canada. W. F. Rodgers of the home office sales department has returned from a trip to Boston, and W. P. Garyn, of the New York headquarters, has returned from a trip to Pittsburgh. The deals with I. Libson of Cincinnati for Metro-Goldwyn product in his Cincinnati and Louisville theatres and with the Stanley Company of America for first-run showings of Metro-Goldwyn pictures in all their leading Philadelphia houses were closed by Mr. Grainger. The Crandall Circuit in Washington, D. C, will play Metro-Goldwyn pictures immediately after the first run in Loew's Palace and Columbia theatres. "Yolanda" was sold in Washington to the Rialto Theatre and has ended an engagement of unusual success. In the Cleveland territory Metro-Goldwyn pictures will play first runs at the Allen, State and Stillman theatres. "Janice Meredith" opened an extended run at advanced prices at the Stillman Theatre this week. In Pittsburgh, Loew's Aldine is playing Metro-Goldwyn product, as Loew's Theatre is doing in Dayton, Ohio, and Loew's Valentine in Toledo. Louis Mueller, controlling the Palace and Casto theatres in Ashtabula, Ohio, has purchased the entire Metro-Goldwyn product. In Baltimore Dr. C. H. Whitehurst has purchased thirty-two Metro-Goldwyn pictures for the Century and New theatres, and will play a number of others at the Parkway and Garden theatres.