The Moving picture world (January 1926-February 1926)

February 13, 1926 E. THORNTON-KELLY Kelly On Confidential Mission for M. P. T. O. A. Joseph M. Seider, business manager of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America announces this week that E. Thornton-Kelly, proprietor of the Grant-Lee Theatre, Palisades, New Jersey, an associate director of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New Jersey, and active on the Arbitration Board of the Theatre Owners Oiamber of Commerce, has been entrusted with a confidential mission on behalf of the national theatre owner body. Mr. Kelly leaves for Chicago on Tuesday, February 9. From there Mr. Kelly goes to Detroit, Michigan, Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Directing Lillian Qish Nathaniel Hawthorne's masterpiece, "The Scarlet Letter," which is being produced by Irving Thalberg, and directed by Victor Seastrom, with Lillian Gish as the famous heroine of the story, was put into production last week in the forest some forty miles north of Los Angeles. The first sequence which will take up the director's and the principal's efforts for the next few days is participated in only by Miss Gish as Hester Pyrnne and the famous Swedish actor, Lars Hansen, whose first American role is the characterization of the Reverend Dimmesdale., Harriman Opens Office Colby Harriman, well known presentation producer, and Editor of "The Theatre of Today" department of Moving Picture World, has opened offices at 1674 Broadway, New York, where he will engage in a general presentation business. One of the outstanding features of his activities will be his attention to the programs of smaller theatres. Mr. Harriman has devised a series of "Cameo Classics" which he has in the course of production. These are artistic stage novelties particularly adaptable to small stages. Each unit will present artists of merit in complete scenic backgrounds artistically lighted. Mr. Harriman has just concluded his engagement as production director at the Mosque Theatre, Newark, N. J. Moving Picture World 643 Illlllll Niliiiiiiliiii Illlllliillillilllliiii IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII^^ I Entrants In First ISSational | I Exploitation Drive Must Have | I Material In By February 21 | RETURNS from exhibitors who entered the First | National Month Exploitation Contest are beginning to | I be received in large numbers from all parts of the coun | I try. In order that the judges may have adequate data on | I which to base their selection, the attention of exhibitors is | I again called to the terms of the contest in which $2,000 in cash | I prizes will bei awarded : | Theatres will be divided into three classifications: 1. Theatres of over 1,500 seating capacity. 2. Theatres of from 1,000 to 1,499 seating capacity. 3. Theatres of less than 1,000 seating capacity. The following cash awards will be made : For the best complete campaign in each classification .... $250 For the second best 150 For the third best 100 For the best newspaper advertisement 50 For the best lobby display 50 For the most original stunt 50 In addition, one prize of $50 will be awarded for the most effective newspaper stunt used by any theatre in any classification 50 Total $2,000 j The complete campaign will be judged on the basis of the | I best newspaper advertising, publicity stories, stunts, program | I matter, lobby displays, ballyhoos, presentations and their con | I tribution to the success of First National Month. Effective | I ness of display, originality, attractiveness and ingenuity of de | I sign, and the showmanship revealed in each effort will be the | I chief considerations in determining the best. The judges | I should receive photos of stunts and other data properly cap | I tioned, together with a complete story of the exhibitor's ex J I ploitation efforts throughout First National Month. | I All exhibits must be received by the Contest Editor, First | I National Pictures, Inc., 383 Madison Avenue, New York City, | I not later than midnight, February 21st, 1926. | I In the event of two or more contributions being deemed of | I equal merit by the judges, the prize tied for will be awarded | I to each entrant. | I In addition to the cash awards, there will be an Honor Roll | I on which the names of exhibitors whose work is of outstand | I ing merit will be inscribed. This Honor Roll will be given a | I prominent place in the national trade publications. | I Those whose names are included will receive a handsome | I parchment testimonial signed by the judges of the contest | I and officials of First National Pictures, Inc. | I Judges are: William A. Johnston, Motion Picture News; | I Joseph Dannenberg, Film Daily; Martin J. Quigley, Exhib | I itors Herald; Willard C. Howe, Exhibitors Trade Review; | I William J. Reilly, Moving Picture World, and Robert Lusk, | I Morning Telegraph. | iniiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiHiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiniiiiiiii iiiiii iiiiiiiiil