Moving Picture World (Aug 1917)

1088 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 18, 1917 m <<_. gg g g. g> ^ gg >s> §g |2 |g |g <g> jag <g • -^ °s 21 *1 °s? -^ «g «^ -s? °s? -:a »s «s «s -^ ^ ft J? (J Pi 9 1 State Rights Department Conducted by BEN H. GRIMM g« '-C« ^ *:° g« g~ ^C° 6T» g. g» €ST» g-» 6T g» »:• gT ♦ • ^ ^ ^ OS? g gg g g § g «Sjg °^ ^ »S "^ "Lms/ o/ ffte /l<7es" Completed Cgden Pictures Corporation Completes Massive Production With Lillian Walker as the Leading Player. WITHOUT the usual advance notices that have characterized the releasing of extraordinary attractions by film producing concerns, the Ogrden Pictures Corporation, after continuously working for a period of seven months, have completed what promises to be the greatest film spectacle produced since "The Clansman" was filmed. The Ogden Pictures Corporation was formed to produce a series of extraordinary attractions starring Miss Lillian Walker, popularly known as "Dimples," and whose enviable work for the years that she was with the Vitagraph Company has placed her in the ranks of the very few female stars with whom the film fans of the world are captivated. Under the direction of Harry J. Revier, one of the advance Scene from "The Lust of the Ages" (Ogden). guard of directors of massive productions, the initial attraction was produced at the studios of the Ogden Pictures Corporation at Ogden, Utah. This initial production is entitled "The Lust of the Ages" and deals with a subject that is at present engaging the attention of the entire world apart from the present world war. No inkling of the character of the story has been forthcoming excepting the bare information that it is not a sex play nor a war subject. In order to set the highest standard possible by which the public and the trade might judge the future activities of the Ogden Pictures Corporation, Albert Scowcroft, the president, and Lester Park, the general manager, determined to spare neither time nor expense in the staging of the production, and gave Mr. Revier carte blanche, with the result that $100,000 is below the actual cost, "but," Mr. Scowcroft stated, "every dollar of it shows its value in the picture." The exploitation and sale of "The Lust of the Ages" is under the managership of Jesse J. Goldburg, who lately returned from a tour of the country selling the state rights market, and offices of the company have been temporarily opened at 72ft Seventh avenue, Suite 1202, New York. Extensive plans are being made for a scheme of advertising and publicity and along lines and on a scale never heretofore attempted in connection with any other motion picture attraction. The A. M. Sweyd Co., advertising specialists, have been employed to assist Mr. Goldburg in the exploitation of the production and it has been stated that $9,500 has been set aside for trade paper advertising alone, the major portion of which is to be expended for the benefit of the buyers of the production, and which advertisements are to be directed largelv to the exhibitors throughout the United States. The pictures will be released on the state rights basis. SHOWINGS OF ITALIAN WAR FILMS. The first official Italian war films to reach the United States, known as "The Italian Battlefront," will be exhibited in New York on Wednesday night, August 8. They were taken by the cinematographic division of the Italian army, under the supervision of the Italian Supreme Command, and are said to be the most wonderful war pictures that have reached America thus far. The Italian Government, through its American representatives, has placed the exploitation of its first official war pictures in the hands of the Port Pitt Theater Corporation of Pittsburgh, of which William Moore Patch is president and managing director. Mr. Patch was selected for this purpose by reason of an interesting series of events which have just come to light. The pictures were produced in Buffalo at the Teck theater on Saturday night, August 4, Mr. Patch leaving Buffalo Saturday midnight in time to reach New York for the opening. Boston has been chosen as the next city on the map. The pictures will open for an indefinite engagement in the Tremont theater there on August 13. Chicago has been set for August 20 in the immense Auditorium, which holds four thousand people. Other productions will follow In Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit. St. Louis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis. BACKER GETS IVAN PRODUCTIONS. A deal just consummated by Pranklyn E. Backer, president of the Mammoth Film Corporation, gives this booming state rights concern an attractive addition to their already impressive list of popular box office winners. Mr. Backer has secured control of the entire output of the Ivan Film Productions, Inc., for Northern New Jersey. The first release will occur on September 1st, being the seven-reel super-feature "Babbling Tongues," with James Morrison and Grace Valentine. Further offerings will occur in approximately monthly periods, the titles and stars of which will be announced as occasion requires. Some exceptional scenarios pri& popular stars have already been arranged for. SHORT SUBJECTS IN DEMAND. The Lea Bel Company, of 64 West Randolph street, Chicago, 111., which has charge of the distribution of the Motoy Comedies in Illinois, Indiana and Southern Wisconsin, report an annual demand for short" subjects by the exhibitors, and announce extraordinary bookings throughout their entire territory They say that Motoy Comedies are the most popular short subjects they have ever handled. CORONA TO PRODUCE BIG OUTDOOR STORY. A thrilling story of the great outdoors, being a picturization of one of the most popular novels of the day, with an all-star cast, will be the next production of The Corona Cinema Com1-any, producers of "The Curse of Eve," it is announced. It is understod that this company has quietly secured the exclusive right to screen all of the works of one of America.'* foremost authors, who will also be actively connected in the production ot his work. Direction will be in the hands of a successful producer of feature pictures in the East, who will sign a two years' contract with the Corona people. "The Curse of Eve" will shortly be released in New York if its producers accept very flattering offers made for the world rights for the film. BLYSTONE CREATES ANOTHER CENTURY COMEDY SUBJECT. With three features ready for distribution and a fourth subject just about ready to quit the factory, Century Comedies, in which Alice Howell is the. star, are soon to be augmented by another J. G. Blystone production. The Century series of bounce and bump laugkmakers are now controlled, as to selling rights, by the Longacre Distributing Company, and by the first of September complete arrangements for marketing Century's from various distributing points will be completed "Alice of the Sawdust" will be ready within a fortnight to show to State right operators, and Miss Howell's circus stunts are asserted to be "the limit." General Director Blystone is now putting the clever comedienne through her paces in a two-reeler that shows Miss Howell forever in the clutches of an amorous blacksmith. There is a thrill promised in this new one that will far surpass anything Mr. Blystone has yet accomplished.