Variety (November 1917)

MOVING PICTURE DEPARTMENT PAGES 48 to 58 METRO TO BUY EXCHANGES AND INCREASE CAPITAL STOCK RIALTO PAYING $3,000. Big Film Manufacturing Company Indicates Notable Progress by Assuming Complete Control of All Its Picture Channels—Plans to Raise Pres- ent Capitalization to Specialize on Seven-Reelers. - A new twist in the amalgamation rumors occurred this week when a report gained currency that Metro was figuring with Paramount for some sort of an alliance. Color was given to the stories when it became known Tuesday that Metro officials were in conference Monday night. Questioned by a Variety repre- sentative Tuesday, Richard A. Row- land, president of Metro, said the rumors were all wrong, and frankly explained the object of the Monday evening meeting. Metro is shortly to purchase all its exchanges and its present capitaliza- tion of $3,600,000 is to be materially increased. This follows the move of last January, when Metro took over all its manufacturers, completing the formation of one corporation in the spring, with the exception of the Yorke Producing Company, the majority stock of which is controlled by Metro. It has been decided by Metro to practically confine its producing activi- ties to the turning out of "big stuff," like "The Slacker," "Draft 258/' 'Blue- jeans," "The Legion of Death," with Edith Storev, and "God's Message," with Nazimova. All these are seven- reelers. Two directors will be assigned to each of its big stars, working alter- nately. Featured players will turn out one picture monthly. Mr. Rowland states that "The Slacker" is the biggest money-maker of the year; that "Draft 258," from present indications, will be even bigger and that he regards "Bluejeans" as the greatest picture ever turned out, from the standpoint of a special re- lease. PENNY PANIC GROWING ACUTE. Chicago, Oct. 31. The problem of the penny reached its full development in theatrical and picture circles here this wct-k. Following the report of the penny famine in last week's Varikty, local managers woke up to the impending dilemma and set about to participate in the latest little game, "Pennies, pen- nies, who's got the pennies?" The supply is getting smaller and smaller. Banks are cutting down on the number of pennies they will sell. Managers of the $2 loop houses, who never before have found it necessary to keep coppers in their tills, besieged their banks for supplies, without suc- cess. With a dozen first class theatres in the loop asking for from 1,000 to 5,000 pennies, with the vaudeville houses requiring several times that amount, with the hundreds of picture houses making even more prodigal de- mands, the totals run into the millions for Chicago alone. The film men are storing their pen- nies and makin^ arrangements to ward off the copper pinch. Lubliner & Trinz are collecting all the pennies they can get and storing them for future short- age. The manager of the Castle the- • P. H. Clark, of the First National Exchange, which is to handle Chaplin's new "signature protected" comedies in New York state, says the first comedy under the Chaplin contract will be re- leased about Jan. 11. The only thing decided so far is that the Rialto is to have the New York City first release—the price of which will be $3,000^with the usual first release protection. An announcement well in advance of the first release date. On Wednesday salesmen for the First National visited a number of exhibitors and quoted $100 a day for the new Chaplins to be released by them for first runs. This is twice the price charged by Mutual for similar service. Mutual released 68 prints of their last Chaplin, "The Adventurer," in Greater New York, and the general impression is that the First National will have calls for at least an equal number. The First National has purchased "Alimony," a feature made on the coast by the Paralta people, but not under their trademark. When J. Warren Kerrigan was laid up with a broken leg, the Paralta people utilized the company for the making of "Alimony" pending his recovery. It is also reported the First National has purchased Herbert Brenon's pro- duction of "Empty Pockets," but this could not be verified. WAR TAX STORY in this issue on Pages 8-9. s atre stated he had about $850 worth of pennies and expects to have 100,000 by the middle of next week. Harry Miller, manager of the Rose, Alcazar and Boston theatres, declared the the- atres would raise prices from 10 cents to 15 cents, and thus avoid the penny famine. The houses will give the Gov- ernment \2 x /%% of the gross receipts. Peter Schaefer, of Jones, Linick & Schaefer, is said to have cornered a barrel of pennies. He refuses to give the exact amount of his accumulations against the famine. E. J. BOWES INTERESTED. E. J. Bowes, husband of Margaret Illington, who isinterested in the new Illington theatre, in course of con- struction on West 42d street, is under- stood to have promoted the proposed Capitol theatre and to have interested Messmore Kendall, the lawyer, who holds the property, in the venture. He is to be associated with the manage- ment of the theatre when completed. "HIDDEN HAND" NOV. 25. The Pathe serial "The Hidden Hand," with Doris Kenyon as the star, will have its first installment released Nov. 25. The pictufc has been in the making for several months. * STILL ANOTHER! Crawford Livingston, one of the owners of the Rialto, and who is understood to have subscribed $100.- 000 to the new Rivoli theatre, which is to be operated by the Rialto man- agement, is reported to have made the statement he contemplates the election of another high-class picture house in the vicinity of Times Square. CHICAGO'S MANY NEW HOUSES. Chicago, Oct. 31. Construction activities here tend to make good the boast of local picture interests that Chicago is due to be- come the cinema metropolis of the country, from the theatre point of view. While the records in the city hall show scores of new building projects, there are actually under construction or being finished properties valued at millions of dollars. This, in addition to the score or more big houses now in successful operation. Two of the new theatres opened last Saturday. They are the Central Park theatre (Balban & Katz) at Central Park and Twelfth streets, and Ascher Brothers' Peerless, at Grand and Oak- wood boulevards. A symphony orches- tra and mammoth pipe organ have been installed in the latter house. This firm has another big house under con- struction, to be called the Deft. To the north of the city still an- other big project is under way. It will be the new house of Lubliner & Trinz, to be called the Devon. The string of theatres owned and controlled by Her- man Schonstadt & Sons will be led by the Atlantis, on West Twenty-sixth street. It will seat 2,000 persons and financed by G. H. Gottschalk & Co. The building will cost $215,000 and is expected ready for operation by« Christmas. SchaefTer Brothers expect to open the Crystal, on West North avenue, next week, with a symphony orchestra. The Woodland Theatre Co. is erecting the Woodlawn theatre on Sixty-third street and Maryland avenue. Marx, Goodman & Co. soon expect to open the Broadway-Strand in Marshall square. FIRE WITHOUT INJURY. The Palace (pictures, 176th street and St. Nicholas avenue) and an ad- joining building were somewhat de- molished Monday afternoon by fire. It started in the rear of the house and ate its way to the adjoining build- ing before discovered. A policeman entered the house (filled at the time with mostly women and children) and asked them to quietly leave. The house will remain closed for repairs. The amount of the damage was not estimated. STRAND INCREASING CAPACITY. Mitchell L. Mark is having plans drawn for increasing the capacity of. tlie Strand by 1,200 more chairs. * This has been figured by tearing out the mez- zanine balcony and closing the side exits and 3till conform with the build- ing laws. The Strand is evidently preparing to hold its own against the new Rivoli, with its announced symphony concerts, by adding 12 more musicians.