Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

August 24, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 112; American staff, has placed "The Victim," featuring Robert T. Haines, in Panama and Columbia. * * * The Guarin Ibero-American Corporation, of Madrid and Barcelona, will shortly begin to release in Spain the newCharlie Chaplin pictures produced under contract with the First National Exhibitors' Circuit. * * * The International Supplies Co., 26 Coram Street. London, W. C. I., advertises a five reel Charlie Chaplin picture in a Spanish trade paper that has just come to hand. We wonder. * * * The Buenos Aires Agency of the Fox Company has released in Argentina the special production "Jack and the Bean Stalk." * * * The North American Motion Picture, Inc., of New York and Buenos Aires, has begun to release Paralta pictures in Argentina, according to advices received from L. H. Thomas, secretary of the company. Max Glucksmann has just released in Buenos Aires the Mutual-Chaplin production "Easy Street." * * * The Sud Americana Cinematografica released in Argentina about two months ago the Universal Feature "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." Last week .saw the opening of an important drive by Sidney Garrett, president of J. Frank Brockliss, Inc. It is his avowed intention to control for his concern as many good short comedy releases as possible. The first week saw big results for him. and four franchises for world's rights, outside of the United States and Canada, four comedy releases are added to his short reel department. Tom Brett Comedies, Walt Mason Comedies, Crystal Comedies and Selig Chimpanzee Comedies are the particular four to be included in the first capture. These in addition to half a dozen other franchises, including that of Billy West, are giving the house of J. Frank Brockliss, Inc., a commanding position in the foreign comedv field. QeygjjgjQifiafgjgj^^ By J. B. Sutcliffe. THERE must be many in the moving picture profession in the U. S. A. wondering at the lethargy of the London Film Co., the producers of "The House of Temperley," "The Prisoner of Zenda," and several other classics of modern English literature, only a few of which were successfully exploited in the States. They need not wonder long, for now that internal dissensions in the parent company have been finally allayed the L. F. C. is again about to embark upon new exploits. Sir D. F. Jury has joined the board of directors and the first move is the re-issue on the home market of the old successes of which Jury's pictures are distributed. In the meantime an ambitious new production will be started upon at the Twickenham, or probably another studio. As a successor to "The Manxman" it should do much to restore the beefeater trade mark to its once unassailable place on our screens. How often is it that the art of the film title becomes the art of film salesmanship? Apart from intrinsic merits there is one Fox comedy due for early release that has sold everywhere on its label, to borrow a commercial phrase. It is called "Are Married Policemen Safe?" The production, I notice, tactfully avoids a definite answer to the titular query, although the Fox office boy, a reputed wag, tells customers they may have it either in the negative or, and very emphatically (28 points) in the positive. * * * Capt. Bud Fisher of the Canadian army was among recent visitors to Wardour street. He is now in France and promises novel sketches of the doughty doings of Mutt and Jeff in the trenches. * * * S. F. Edge of motoring fame and a former financial backer of moving picture enterprises appears once more to be drifting into the industry. He has now become associated with J. C. Bee Mason, the bee king, in a new limited company for taking films of agricultural and natural history subjects. Air. Mason has for several years been experimenting with the camera at his own bee farms in Sussex and since the beginning of the war Mr. Edge has become celebrated as a tiller of the land. * * * Sir Jesse Boot, the drug store magnate of the many stores bearing his name, is, I am told, also coming over to the pictures as a field for speculation. * * * Lest it should offend by innuendo the multitudes of hard working women munitioneers the Ideal Film Renting Co. has changed the title of its recent acquisition from "A Women of Today" to "A Frivolous Woman." In connection with the issue of the Transatlantic Co.'s next serial a competition for War Savings Certificates is offered to patrons of moving picture theatres. The competitor has to discover "What Did Eddie Say?" at certain junctures in each episode of "The Bull's Eye." The Eddie referred to is, of course, the one and only Polo. The first prize is fifty War Savings Certificates worth on maturity one pound each. Film Booking Offices, Ltd., the distributing agency here for Essanay, Kalem, A. B. and M. P. Sales Co. have appointed an exhibitor as its manager, S. Thornton Smithwaite. * * * At last, after many promises, much heralding and more speculations on the causes of its delay in shipment the multi-reel "Mickey" has safely landed in London.' The Western Import Co. would have been in an unfortunate position if it hadn't, in view of the many bookings already received. Upon the booking of films in anticipation of their arrival from the States within a specified time London distributors are becoming more cautious. Only recently the Pathe Co. was compelled to cancel thousands of dollars' worth of contracts for its serial "The Mystery of the Double Cross" through the failure of the negative to be guaranteed in time for the original release date of the first episode. * * * Exchangemen of the Newcastle district have made an emphatic reply to the suggestion that they should only suppiy films to exhibitors who are members of the Exhibitors' Association. The renters strongly deprecate the idea and regard it as an attempt to use them as recruiting officers for the rank of the Exhibitors' Association. By Thomas S. Imrie. Sydney, N. S. W., Australia, June 18, 1918. H HAVING experienced its fair share of vicissitudes as theatre and opera house, church and lecture hall, the Sydney Lyceum Theatre has during the past three months been transformed from a typical "old-time" theatre into one of the most comfortable and artistic photoplay theatres in Australia. The renovation is mainly internal, and is of the most complete character. In place of the old drab chasm-like entrance which did not admit of any lobby display there is now an open vestibule, with walls cased in beautiful Australian marble, and a broad stairway of dignified proportions leading to a spacious foyer, which extends the width of the building and opens out on either wing to the dress circle accommodations. The old circles, upper and lower, with their numerous supporting columns, have disappeared, and new balconies have replaced them. Warren bridge trusses make columns unnecessary, and it may be said in passing that no other theatre in Australia boasts a 64-foot span under these circumstances. The exhaust system of ventilation has been installed, the