Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1914)

THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS *7 ^ OH, ITS AN INTERESTING LIFE! Punctuated by GEORGE D. PROCTOR 'J MORE talk is again heard of the day of the circuit in motion picture theatres. Some time ago, several persons evolved the bright idea, practically simultaneously, that an ideal business proposition, if sufficiently financed, would be to combine a large number of motion picture theatres into a circuit, having a central office to buy films for this circuit and booking the films over the route the way vaudeville attractions are now handled. At that time this was merely talk, but evidently the idea was practicable in the opinion of several persons. Now I hear by grapevine telegraph that two or three experienced film men are forming plans fdr the future which cannot be succelsful unless the day of the circuit arrives. ft will be a legitimate and natural step for the circuit to come. The theatres involved will save money by their co-operation. Surely the day will come when the motion picture industry will be conducted along strictly business lines and then, perhaps, we will see circuits, fn the meanwhile, as I said before, several of the wise ones are laying plans in the expectation that this will come true. The air is full of rumors about the Klaw & Erlanger and Biograph combination. The most leading of these are to the effect that T. Hayes Hunter has left the Biograph, where he was head producer for Klaw & Erlanger, and that K. & E. have withdrawn entirely from the combine. James McEnnery, American representative of the United Kingdom Film Company, who sold "A Message from Mars" in this country for almost $30,000, has informed his agent here that he will start for America in about two weeks with several new features for the American market. Judging by the manner in which he disposed of "A Message from Mars" he should be highly successful. While in England Mr. McEnnery formed a $100,000 corporation for importing English films into this country and showing American subjects in England. He will also start producing Western subjects here for the English markets, and plans big things in motion pictures. saw the four-part picture "Across the Continent," which he produced for Pilot on the screen. Don't overlook Bert, boys. As a comedy director he can hold his own with anybody. This is attested by comedies he directed for the Vitagraph Company of Amer DON'T OVERLOOK HIM ica for several years. When 1 saw "Across the Continent," I was agreeably surprised to see what a good feature he had turned out. f understand Bert is about to make a flattering connection pretty soon. Bert Angeles flashed across my mind a couple of days ago, when I Good for Omer F. Doud, of the George Kleine forces of Chicago. One paragraph of a recent advertisement of his reads: "If the man who coined the word 'movie' had seen 'Quo Vadis' first, that word would never have joined the forces at work against the better interest of this industry." That's the sort of talk that everybody who wants to see motion pictures given credit for and proper dignity and put on their proper high plane likes to hear. There is perhaps no single influence so subtle and so detrimental as the constant use of that word "movie." It conveys an impression of a fivecent show, the pumping poor projection, and all that those who have the future of the industry at heart have been trying to eliminate. It's not a vital point whether you use a motion picture or cinematography or any other justifiable phrase, as long as vou don't use the word "movie." On the first of January, Albert; Blinkhorn increased his office space iru the World's Tower Building, 110 West Fortieth street. He has now one-half of the nineteenth floor devoted to the ever-increasing business of his film agency. The shipping department has. been enlarged and a special showroom has been arranged for the "M ovoscope," his home projection, machine. Kinemacolor joins the ranks of the people showing pictures under flaming titles. A Kinemacolor four-reel feature, entitled "Sin," is now playing at the Park Theatre, replacing the white slave motion picture show recently closed by the police. "Alkali Ike" will soon be rechristened. Augustus Carney, the original "Ike" of Essanay, has gone with the Universal, and now that concern comes out with an offer of twenty-five dollars for the best "nom de cinema" for the funny little fellow. On Christmas day, the Universal Film Manufacturing Company sent out one hundred and seventy-two telegrams to their own exchanges and many of those conducted by the General Film and Mutual. They read as follows: "On behalf of the entire Universal organization, I extend cordial Christmas greetings and best wishes for the happiest of New Years to yours and yourself. Universal Film Mfg. Co. Carl Laemmle, president." C. Lang Cobb is back in town catching his breath after a very successful Western trip, on which he closed contracts with the states of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and Wisconsin, for the exclusive handling of Ramo features for the next year. Recently Cobb also consummated and signed contracts with William Fox, of the Box Office Attractions Film Rental Company, for three prints each of the entire output of Ramo features instead of the General Special Feature Film Company. George Magie, special representative of The Universal Film Manufac