Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

July 6, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 49 ing for officials and the exchange men present, at which views and opinions were exchanged and considered in approved democratic fashion. President Selznick delivered the opening address on Wednesday. He expressed great gratification over the work accomplishd during the year, and highly complimented the branch managers on the intelligent and forceful handling of the'ir business. He announced that Anna Case, soprano of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, had been signed to appear in a coming special feature, the work on which would begin in a few days. He also discussed plans for adding to the number of stars in the Select forces and invited suggestions and opinions from the men close to the exhibitors, with the result that valuable opinions from the branch managers present were considered and accepted regarding the desirability of securing certain artists. The work of the convention was in charge of General Manager Kane, who was ably assisted by Assistant General Manager Rotchford and Field Manager Woody. The keynote of Mr. Kane's remarks and work was to establish closer relations between the home office in New York and the branch managers throughout the entire country. He advocated the adoption of new ideas in order to increase the efficiency of the sales methods already in vogue, and he demonstrated conclusively how these new ideas could not fail to increase Select sales. Free discussion of all suggestions concerning the improvement of existing methods was invited during the convention and practiced by all present. On Thursday announcement was made of the names of the stars retained for the year beginning September 1 and of those recently engaged. Clara Kimball Young, Norma and Constance Talmadge and Alice Brady will appear in photoplays adapted from fine modern stories by prominent authors, during the coming year. Marion Davies, a clever young ingenue, is one of the new stars, whose first picture, "Cecelia of the Pink Roses," is now scoring a success in New York and Chicago. It was shown that the selling plan of Select pictures for the coming year is so carefully systematized and stabilized that a certain number of releases can be positively offered at stated intervals, thus according exhibitors the advantage of an exact and definite control over their programs far in advance. A pleasant feature of Thursday's proceedings was the arrival at the West Room of Miss Constance Talmadge, who had timed her stopover, on a trip from Los Angeles to New York, so as to appear before the convention. She made a ripping little speech, which was enthusiastically received by the boys. But the convention was by no means all work. President Selznick entertained the visitors at dinner, in the College Inn, Wednesday evening, and "Friendly Enemies" at the Woods theater was viewed afterward. The latter treat was made possible by the efforts of San Bernard, a co-star of the play with Louis Mann, who contrived to secure four boxes, although the house had been sold out in advance. Nate Ascher, of the Ascher Brothers, was one of the theater, party. The visitors were also entertained at luncheon, in the Terrace Garden, Hotel Morrison, on Wednesday, Aaron J. Jones being a guest. On Thursday evening the visitors formed theater parties and were entertained in other ways. The branch managers present were: Sam E. Morris, Cleveland; A. M. Muller, Cincinnati; James O. K-ent, Detroit; Fred C. Aiken and assistant, Ben W. Bedell, Chicago; J. C. Ragland, St. Louis; C. W. Taylor, Omaha; A. H. McLaughlin, Kansas City; H. A. Rathner, Minneapolis; C. C. Ezell, Dallas; H. L. Knappen, Denver; B. E. Loper, Los Angeles; H. H. Hicks, San Francisco, and H. B. Dobbs, Seattle. President Selznick and General Manager Kane remained in the city until Saturday, June 22, when they returned to New York by the Twentieth Century. Old Swindling Lottery Game Revived. The American Investing Company, a concern with an office in the Boyce Building, this city, recently revived a swindling lottery game that was practiced in Chicago several years ago. The plan was the distribution of cards at picture theaters, so as to secure the signatures and addresses of patrons. Any patron whose name and address had been thus secured was called on later, at his or her home, by a representative of the concern. In each case the person called on was informed that he or she was the winner of a valuable lot in some adjacent State, the said lot having been raffled off at the theater on the night which this or that person had attended. The lucky individual in each case was assured by the wily agent of the bunco game that all he or she had to do was to pay a certain sum for the transfer of the deed and an abstract of title to the lot in question. It is believed that quite a number of victims were secured in this manner. Some of them squealed, with the result that the grand jury ordered detectives from the state attorney's office to raid the offices of the concern, seize its books and papers, and arrest those in charge. This was done and an inspection of the documents seized will be made by the grand jury. It is expected that indictments will follow. Mutual's Publicity Department Goes to New York. The publicity department of the Mutual Film Corporation and also the Screen Telegram department of that organization will make headquarters in New York henceforth. Terry Ramsey, chief of publicity and editor of the Screen Telegram, with the members of his Chicago staff, are already in New York, the temporary headquarters being in Mutual's office at 1600 Broadway. Mr. Ramsey and his staff will most likely occupy permanent quarters on another floor of the same building. This partial transfer of Mutual's forces from Chicago to New York may be the forerunner of the removal to that city of the general executive and the entire office forces now in Chicago. Action on Maypole Ordinance Deferred. No action was taken by the judiciary committee on the Maypole ordinance at the meeting held Tuesday, June 18. Action was deferred until the meeting which will be held June 25. Charles F. A. Young at Camp Grant. Charles F. A. Young, who wrote many interesting articles on projection several years ago for the Moving Picture World and who, since that time, has been operator in several Chicago theaters, was drafted for service about five weeks ago and left for Camp Grant at Rockford, 111. I had a letter from him the other day which afforded very pleasant reading. With other interesting news was the statement that he was stenographer and clerk of his company (the 39th 161st Depot Brigade), and t-hat he had been appointed corporal June 9. He is very humble in speaking of this honor, and his heart and mind are set on making good. Mr. Young is thoroughly in accord with his work and' is strong for the officers in the camp. About them he writes : "I just have to admire them for the work they can do. They work all day, drilling men, attending to details of their commands, etc., and then most of the night on reports and other 'paper work,' when occasion arises, or else studying in the officers' school. I am ready at any time to call to account any one who has an ill word for any United States Army officers." Good for Charley! Edgar Hopp Goes to Washington. Edgar Hopp, first class yeoman of the United States Navy, Great Lakes Training Station, Illinois, after eleven months' service there, will leave for Washington in the near future to work as cameraman and still photographer for the Bureau of Public Information. Edgar is the son of Joseph Hopp, president of Chicago Local, M. P. E. E. of A. "Cleopatra" Closes at Colonial. "Cleopatra" closed its engagement at the Colonial Sunday, June 23, after a satisfactory run of four weeks. The final week showed a marked daily increase in the attendance, as photoplay goers realized that the last days were on. J. R. Granger, Fox special representative with "Cleopatra," expressed himself as being gratified with the financial results of the showing, the total receipts for the four weeks having reached $35,000. The prices at the Colonial were 25 cents to $1. An orchestra of 25 pieces played the accompaniment. Two weeks' showing at the Rose theater, on West Madison street, in the Loop, have been arranged, and the feature is also well booked throughout the city in leading theaters. It has also been booked for the week of Sunday, June 23, at the Grand Opera House, Rockford, 111. H. Tipton Steck with Universal. H. Tipton Steck, for many years the efficient editor of Essanay's scenario department, has joined the Universal forces in Los Angeles. He has charge in Universal City of what is known as the reconstruction bureau, where poorly constructed scripts are transformed into serviceable photoplays. National Directors of Affiliated Meet. Joseph Hoop and Louis H. Frank, national directors of the Chicago unit of the Affiliated Distributing Corporation, left for New York Tuesday, June 18, to attend the first meeting