Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

364 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD July 20, 1918 Wilkes Booth in "The Birth of a Nation," and for the past three years has been directing for William Fox. Captain Calvert was for six years associated with Essanay. He directed some of the first feature productions made in America, at a time when a three-reel film story was an achievement. From that day until now he never has forsaken his shadowy muse of the screen. "The Crimson Wing," Hobart Chatfield-Taylor's famous novel, was made popular in film under Captain Calvert's expert direction. The film division certainly has able advisers, and they are rendering able assistance. For instance, they read and recommend scenarios for the division. At the present time, in fact, the advisory board is requesting writers to submit scenarios with strong human interest, of a nature calculated to arouse patriotism and activity. Also a committee of four has been appointed to prepare for release the next United States official feature. This advisory board meets at the office of the film division in the Times Building once a week to act upon any work which may be awaiting it. Hut ner's Smoke Stand Western Manager Invents Cigar Checker That Serves as a Unique Ballyhoo. RALPH R. Rl'FFXF.R. of the Jensen & Von Herberg theatres, at present located in Butte. Montana, has evolved what he calls a smoke stand but which at first glance looks more like an economical Christmas tree. This was first put into use in Portland, where lie was at the time in charge of the Columbia, and tor several days he had a crowd constantly in front of the lobby while the machine was in commission, and he has supplied similar i era! brother ill of whom lare the de\ • th it w eight in pi alone. r checkers, generally of the brass com partment tray variety, are hy no means unci I i, but Ruffner's dedifferenl \s the cut -hew -. it cniiof an upright with tWO ! ; , , HI the latter chains depend I which are ordinary spring cloth. pin-. At the top i a cicular f r. . and ■ tions sheet, which read-: nun Up off ill. ii ■ Tin j paper referred 1 JUSl below the sign and each -lip instruct the victim t wrap around moist end of your cigar." This the chewed end from contamination 1>\ d Ruffner points out that perhaps this advertisi can lie sold merchants. The doorman or lobby i hould be in structed to keep a -harp eye on "snipe shooters." when a desirable stub is in the custody of the machine, fo lock is provided for the clothe pins. Originally the machine was planned as a joke; something to make talk "just once," and then to be retired, but the success of the scheme was such that Ruffner is planning to put the stand on the market, for it has actually blocked the sidewalk in Portland and Butte as well a at other places in Washington. It is not so much the utility of the thing that counts as it is the talk it makes, for the directions get a laugh and even the scissors provided the cigarette smokers comes in for a giggle. Mr. Ruffner has not yet worked out the possibilities of advertising frames above the cross arms, but that is easily handled. Mill C. Smith General Manager Nicholas Power Company, Inc. THE subject of this sketch is so well known to the moving picture fraternity that it almost seems a waste of space to mention him. There is something about the word "Will" that betoken bon camaraderie and whole-heartedness; and it seems to fit here. Will C. Smith was born in Washington, D. C, and experienced the vicissitudes of the average American youth not born with a silver spoon. His experience has been most comprehensive and covers the entire life of the industry. Always he has been a machine man; and for many years all his w a k i n g moments have been devoted to the improvement of motion picture projectors. \\ e find him prior to 1903 rating one night -land shows throughout the country. In 1903 he me associated with Lyman II. Howe, the celebrated traveling exhibitor, sen his chief operator. 1 le then w ent abroad and covered the European continent for the purchase of films. I le became associated with Sir Ernest Shackleton in 1('()(»; and one of his proudest possessions i the letter of tribute received from that eminent explorer. When l-i ed Niblo made his suc: nl tour as a lecturer, it was Will Smith who handled the producing end of tin game for him during hi extensive journeyings with his unique entertainment. to 1''12 Mr. Smith conducted a film exchange and ily house at the expiration of which time he entered of the Nicholas Power Company as assistant \nd there he has been ever since. ! > neral manager, having attained this l in November, 1917. There i no secret to hi success Ii is the result of hard wink and the knowing of one thing well. In this 1. there is a time clock. But Will Smith ["he chat that if he did he would ted with more boms than any clerk in the i That's the way he works ■ i i-d two terms isurer of the Si Club, and is also treasurer of the Socicfv of Mi. linn Picture Will ( Smith i known pretty much everywhere. Throughout the entire motion picture profession he is liked ai. i d. Will C. Smith. BUSY LEES ARE THESE MITES THESE DAYS. Si hardly a day of rest for lane and [Catherine Lee, the William Fox baby grands, who have just fin "Doing Their Bit." One Sunday recently they took part in an entertainment for convalescent and wounded soldiers at umhia University Base Hospital. The -ami afternoon they scampered over to the I'elham l'.a\ Naval Training Station, where they entertained I neb Sam's Jacl with song-, recitations and dances. Kathi and Jane siiml; and then they both danced. Their sketch ended in a r eering from the sailors. Sunday. July 2. the two children attended the baseball gam< pton between a nine composed of s<,I<li,-rs and a team of actors. Jane and Katherine were the center of attraction. Taking a brief rest at home thi en hurried over lo the Astor theater and helped Adrle Rowland stage her big benefit for the soldiers and sailors. Later in the week Jane and Katherine wen guests of Al Jolson at a performance of "Sinbad." and also were guests of Miss Louise Dresser at a garden party at her home.