The Billboard 1917-06-16: Vol 29 Iss 24 (1917-06-16)

= aes The Billboard JUNE 16, 1917 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION J MOTION PRC TURE NDR'STRY GOLDFISH DESCRIBES PLAN OF GOLDWYN PRODUCTIONS Head of Big Producing Concern Tells How “The New Idea” Behind the Organization Has Succeeded Beyond All Expectations New York, June 11.—Practically on the eve of showing the first of the Goldwyn productions to the nation’s exhibitors at the various Goldwyn branches in the United States and Canada, Samuel Goldfish, president of Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, has for the first time talked personally about his organization’s productions. Goldwyn’s first trade showings at its exchanges will be held in July and not less than four pictures, with as many stars, will be ready for inspection. *“‘We have deliberately set out in our Goldwyn Pictures,’’ says Mr. Goldfish, ‘‘to show both exhibitors and the public that there is a great deal more that can be put in a motion picture than the featured personality known as the ‘star.’ “1 have a feeling now that goes much deeper than the feeling I had four years ago when I founded and organized the Lasky Company, whose productions were innovations in the film industry. I believe that today and for a long time into the future the quality of the story and the manner of its production will be the essentially big factors of successful pictures, “I make no prediction about the lessening infinence of stars, por do I foresee the elimination of the star system. In Goldwyn we frankly recognize what we term star values by having exclusively in our service immensely popular women known everywhere and having box-office value everywhere. We expect exhibitors to advertise and exploit these stars because of their powers of andience attraction, but we know from within our organization that we can make the production itself our greatest mercantile asset. Incidentaliy we make the stars themselves much better thru the medium of powerful stories produced and directed by important artists. “The splendid snecesses achieved by Edgar and Archibald Selwyn, Margaret Mayo, Arthur Hopkins, who are the associated owners of Goldwyn, as well as the achievements of the other distinguished factors we have enlisted with us, could not fail to exert a great influence for good in the world of motion pictures. “In this alllance we have not been scared or even slightly influenced by precedent—which is the dangerous obstacle to progress in any art or industry. We have defied all of the estab lished picture conventions as well as the business conventions of the industry. We have resisted from the beginning any and all influences that cause a producer to make time-clock pictures. We prefer to make pictures slowly. “We have inventive, creative, imaginstive artists in our service and we have not wanted them to think and work under’ excessive pressure. In other words we have taken our time and will continue to do so, “TI feel that the day of the specialist is at hand in picture making. I believe that the time bas come to utilize the ablest and most resourceful American painters and _ creative artists, the men whe have done the decorations (Continued on page 63) COHAN’S SECOND PICTURE To Be Seven Keys to Baldpate New York, June 9.—George M. Cohan commenced work on his second photoplay for Artcraft Pictures last week at the Famous Players studio. As his new motion picture vebicle, following Broadway Jones, which scored a big hit thruout the country, the popular actor-authorproducer has selected his theatrical success, Seven Keys to Baldpate. The second Cohan production to be released by Arteraft is being staged under the direction of Hugh Ford. GOVERNMENT LENDS AID To Metro in Filming The Slacker New York, June 9.—The Slacker, the forthcoming Metro photoplay, in which Emily Stevens returns to the screen after q successful season on the stage, is being rushed to completion. Last week the company spent most of the time, when the weather would permit, working on the exterior scenes, In a little more than a week The Slacker will be finished, as far as the photographing is concerned. Next week the company will journey to Fort Totten, where the military scenes, which will form part of the background of the picture, will be photographed. Permis sion has been obtained from the Government authorities to take such scenes in the army post as may be required to give this production the true military touch, Director William Christy Cabanne, who wrote the story, is well pleased with the progress that the picture has made, and believes that in The Slacker he has a picture that will do much ta aid the Government in getting reeruits for the army and navy. PRODUCTIONS STARTED By Wholesome Films Corporation Chicago, June 9.—M. J. Weisfeldt, general Manager of Wholesome Films Corporation, announces that production already has been started on Everybody’s Lonesome, one of the most delightful of the many good stories from the pen of Clara E. Laughlin. Release date for the new picture, the first on the Wholesome Program, will be decided upon and announced shortly. Everybody’s Lonesome will be presented as a five-reel drama with a competent cast. Miss Laughlin is personally supervising the work of filming her story. Production will shortly begin on another of her stories, entitled The Penny Philantbropist. “It is my belief that Miss Laughlin will become one of the most popular screen writers of the day,’”’ Mr. Weisfeldt asserted. ‘Her writings have that human touch that the public loves. Her stories are natural and true to life, and everything she has ever written measures up to the new standard of wholesomeness which this company is to present on the screen. “She has a following of thousands who have read the many novels she has written and are eagerly awaiting the presentation of her stories in motion pictures.”’ JACK RICHARDSON Latest Addition to Triangle Forces New York, June 9.—Jack Richardson, who makes his first appearance on the Triangle program in the heavy part opposite Loufse Glaum, in Love or Justice, is one of the authentic veterans of the silent drama. It is more than six years since Richardson began work before the: camera with the Selig Company. Previous to that he had filled a minor role in The Royal Chef, a musical comedy, and had played a variety of parts with various stock organizations, Figuring his connections with the Selig, Bison, American, and now with the Triangle forces, Richardson has appeared in about 325 pictures. In nearly every play he has taken a heavy part, and has the reputation of having been killed in the films more frequently than any other villain in captivity. Not long ago Richardson won a valuable diamond trophy in a contest held by one of the magazines to decide the screen’s most popular heavy, polling more than 900,000 votes. ONE-REEL COMEDIES To Be Produced by Horsley and Douglas Los Angeles, Cal., June 9.—From the David Horsley Studios comes the announcement that production has begun on a series of one-ree| parlor comedies, featuring Gertrude Selby anid Neal Burns, directed by Horace Davey. The method of distr:bution, which will be at the rate of one picture per week, has already been arranged and will be announced in the near future. The new venture is the result of 4 combination between David Horsley and W. A. Ss. Touglas. Miss Selby is well known as a comedienne, having been with the L-Ko Company for about two years. Mr. Purns has also made a name for himself, having lately been featured in Christie Comedies, According to Messrs. Horsley and Douglas, distribution of these pictures will not come for several months. Owing to the fact that they will be released weekly, a round dozen will be wade before the first release in order that the exhibitor is assured of a steady and continual supply. SELIG’S GARDEN OF ALLAH Given Enthusiastic Reception in Ohio Cleveland, O., June 8.—The Garden of Allah, Wm, N. Selig’s master production, which opened last week at the Hippodrome, was accorded a most enthusiastic reception, and, if the opinion of Cleveland picture patrons is any criterion, this feature is destined to meet with great success thruout the State. Leon J), Netter, head of the Masterpiece Film Attractions, which concern controls the production for the State of Ohio, indicated, in presenting this feature, that he is alive to the necessity of introducing new ideas in exploiting feature photoplays. Prior to the cpening of the picture at the Hippodrome, Mr. Nefter arranged a caravan procession thru the streets of the city, made up of camels bearing Oriental maidens, Arabs, ete. A special stage setting was also used, representing a sceve in the Orient. TYRONE POWER SIGNS With the Marine Film Company Los Angeles, June 8,—Tyrone Power, the wellknown legitimate star, has signed a contract with the Marine Film Company, of this city. his signature being obtained by the general Manager of the concern, M. Philip Hansen The first feature in which Mr. Power will appexr is a sea story, written by Richard Willis, and will be directed by Henry (tto. The cast will also include Frances Burnham, Agnes Blanchard, Jay Belasco, Gypsy Abbott and Winnifred Greenwood. This production will be in six or seven reels and will be exploited on the State-rights basis. Scene in The Question, Greater Vitegraph Blue Ribbon feature. Scene in the Universal serial, The Gray Ghost, 9 ‘eee ererae “ ** ell ,e Rh ~@ Rew ~s +s Ss © & * +e " ; 2 eee etetecs ¢