Variety (March 1921)

ly, March 11, 1981 MOTION PICTURE DEPARTMENT—PAGES 32 TO 39 PICTURES IUR HORSEMEN'' STARTS OFF AT $15,000-WEEK GAIT 4- I HIE KID'RELEASED UNDER NEW SCHEME Special Hat $10,000 ice Sale at Lyric, SBTTuraawajrit Reported Firtt Two Days. g 'Tour Horsemen of the Jypse." produced by Rex In- had its premiere before an ence of notables at the Lyric ,y night and has started its at a $15,000 a week gait. Re- for the first two days of the I —Monday and Tuesday^— in excess of $4,500, and lesday afternoon an advance ale of $10,000 waa reported at the Wire. A few seats, some held at $10, rere sold for the opening perform- ince and the house was jammed. Phe same condition was reported to itve prevailed at the subsequent ttgular shows. Monday, it is said, [,600 persons were turned away, and tbout the same number on Tuesday. pie producers of the picture had taken about 50 tickets out of the nek because the seats did not per- Sit of a fair view of the screen, and, rhen the demand became so great, rould-be purchasers were given the iptlon of taking them and, if not atlsfled, returning for their money. ID of these, it is said, were sold at lie first four regular performances, be purchasers remaining in. The present showing, as at the oitial presentation of the picture it the Ritz, is staged under the lirectlon of Hugo Riesenfeld, who as clothed it with artistic musical ind vocal features. Among the first night audience, lade up largely of leaders of the Dm industry, authors and public ■en, was Fannie Hurst, author of iHumoresrque." She wrote a letter f thanks to Metro, declaring the induction the finest she ever had ritnessed and that it ga e her a brill equal to that she experienced lien she first saw Bernhardt. INGRAM, "HORSEMEN" PRODUCER, LEAVES Goes Into "Key" Cities Before General Distribution. PRODUCERS WANT THEATRES AND $1,000 LIMIT FOR STARS Unit System. IIRECT0RS LIMIT BALL »ly 700 Tickets to Be Distributed for Picture Makers' Ball. Only 700 tickets will be sent out >r the third annual ball of the llotion Picture Directors' Associa- rn, to be given In the Gold Room the Hotel Astor April 2. This announcement was made Wednes- day by Charles Miller, general Chairman of the event. The program for the evening will-foody elude a number of events, includ- performances by actors of both legitimate and screen. A large advance demand for res- ervations by producers, stars and •thers is reported. ERIE BUILDING PB0JECT. Jamestown, N. Y., March 9. The Columbia Amusement Co. of is, Pa., which controls tho Colum- 1* and Majestic theatres in that ty, has purchased the Herald Hding, State and Tenth streets. •t a price higher than any ever ~ Id for State street really. A new theatre to seat 2.500 Is Proposed for the site as soon as Cleared. Its policy has not been .nnourtced. Messrs. Potter and Newton play pictures in all their Bouses. They have two in Warren. **».. and another in Sharon, Pa. BBY VERNON'S $50,000 SUIT. Los Angeles, March 9. Bobby Vernon has started a suit nst C. H. Christie and Harry wards, asking for $60,000 dam- es, alleging the two assaulted him the offices of the Christie Co., ch 1. Vernon, whose right name is *ian de Jardins, is a film come- 6 feet 3 inches in height and «hs about 135 pounds. Christie oyer 6 feet and about 225 pounds. >,l ^n the police case was called tiial, the magistrate dismissed Without caJUng witnesses. This. f thought, will affect tho civil F't. The whole trouble is said to bo to Vernon's refusal to work un- n 's Contract provisions. Rex Ingram, the 20-year-old di- rector who produced Metro's sensa- tional "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," leaves for Los Angeles Saturday, after several weeks spent in New York getting the print of the big feature in shape for its New York presentation. He has not decided on the subject for his next picture, having three scripts under consideration at this time. He announced, however, that June Mathis, who made the remark- able adaptation of the Ibanez novel and wrote the continuity for it, will be associated with him in his next work. He also has engaged Ralph Barton, well-known New York artist and illustrator, as his artistic assistant. Barton, with whom In- gram formerly occupied a rtudio when the latter was an artist and sculptor, will go west with tho di- rector. Ingram, whose success as an in- dependent entity In the Metro or- ganization is believed to have in- spired its plan of the unit system, whereby each director will be a law unto himself, charged with full re- sponsibility for the selection of star, story and staff for each production, expressed himself as gratified with the reception his work had received in New York. "We worked hard and conscien- tiously on the 'Four Horsemen' and are pleased with the response New York has given it," he said. "I fear the press has been too kind in giving me the credit for it, however, because everyone who had anything to do with the picture is entitled to their share in its success. Miss Mathis, for her sterling con- tinuity, and the cameramen and the scene makers, the principals and the extra players all helped me. In this, as in all my work, J sought the ideas of everyone and absorbed a lot, you may take it from me. The co-operation was splendid. "That idea, I believe, is the secret of the success of any enterprise—to get the best out of the people around the central executive, so that all have an interest In it. Where a director tries to tell every- in a picture Just what to do and how to do It, instead of findirg out the individual's idea on a thing, he gets a mechanical picture of automatons obeying the strings. "Another thing, I believe many pictures are spoiled by too much continuity. My idea of a good con- tinuity is one which carries a story along in a straight line of sequence and does not burden the director with too much word description. The Tour Horsemen* continuity, I think, is a fine example of the former." Ingram has many other Ideas about picture- making, asido from that of mental co-operation and blending. One is that a director should be able to sketch his plans and characters. In his own case he does this drawing plans for his sets and making portraits of the characters as he wants them. "The benefit of this," he said "is that I can hand the sketches of the J only characters to the casting director • Mr and he only fftftfl to find the tj pes to fit them." Heretofore Ingram has done these sketches himself, but hence- forth Mr. Barton will make most of his drawing for him. Ingram declared Alice Terry, heroine of the "Four Horsemen;*' will be the only member of that cast to appear in his next production. "The Kid" was released for first run houses In "key" cities Monday under a new arrangement, a varia- tion designed by H. O. Schwalbe, Youna Director First of Metro j*""* 1 manager °' Plr "! N * tional ; of the plan used by the General Film Co. eight years ago. Instead of releasing the picture generally all over the country, about 200 prints were supplied to fran- chise holders in the principal cities. Seventy prints were used in New York and 40 In Chicago, while Bos- ton and Philadelphia took 20 each, and other large cities 10 apiece. These principal points will use the full quota of prints for one or two weeks, then split the total, send- ing a part of their supplies to a list of smaller towns, which make up the second division. For example, New York will spread out its 70 prints to first run houses for a week and then, as the first run houses are covered, will send all but 10 or 20 to Buffalo and other towns within the district, retaining the others for the second run houses in the metropolitan area. This plan of distribution was first introduced by the General Film Co., for the first Chaplin picture made by George Spoor (Essanay). Spoor tried to have the General take over a largo number of prints and make a simultaneous release from coast to coast, but the Patents Co. dis- tributing branch decided to take only 100 prints. Forty prints, a record at that time and one which stood until the present Chaplin film almost doubled it, were put out In New York for flidt run and were worked in this district for two weeks. Then SO prints were distributed for first run in the southern centers and when they had covered the first run needs were divided up among the subordi- nate divisions of local districts. The plan was adopted in order to avoid the cost of materials neces- sary to provide prints enough to cover the whole country at once. It was figured that first run In At- lanta, for instance, would be Just as valuable even if it did come a week or two after the New York first run. Mr. Schwalbe was Philadelphia manager for the General F'ilm Co. at the time. Combine's Control of Houses .Will Force Actors to Accept Term* or B$ Without Place to Show Pictures. —i •♦> FILM "HOCK SHOP" NEW FIRST AID IN L. A. Hellman, Banker, to Help Crippled Productions Finish. Los Angeles, March t. Despite denials that there is to be a concerted action on the part of producers in cutting salaries of players, such a plan is at present under discussion in Los Angeles among the producers, with the re- j port that Albert E. Smith of Vlta- ! graph is sitting at the head of tho Los Angeles, March 9. Los Angeles is to have an insti- tution that is to give financial first aid to crippled picture productions. In other words a film "hock shop" is to be opened here that is to have the financial support of one of the banking Hellmans. Louis Burston on his return here from New York is to have the direction of the in- stitution. Burston left last week after dis- posing of hi3 studio on Sunset boulevard to the Wondercraft Co., and will make arrangements in New York for the releasing of his lately completed Francis Ford serial. The possibility is tnat the finan- cial first aid will be administered by the Hellman-Burston combination somewhat along the same lines as the innovation that has lately been inaugurated in New York by Kessell and Bauman. THEY ARE AND THEY AREN'T 8ome Admit, Othora Deny, They Are CupicTs Victims. EDUCATORS 0. K. FILM. "Old Swimmin* Hole" Recommended for Literary Classes. The Curriculum Committee of the Visual Instruction Association of New York City, following a view of Charles Ray's picture, "The Old Swimmin' Hole," unanimously voted to recommend its use in American and English literature classes in the public schools. This is tantamount to adoption by the Department of Education, as the association is composed chiefly of principa' and teachers, and the committee is vested with authority to make selections. About 60 public schools of this city are now using projection machines. 9. the last Film Finsncisr Dies. Los Angeles. March A. F. Reitzel, president of San Gabriel Film Corp., died Saturday. He was at one time secretary and treasurer of tbe Western Crucible Steel Co. and later president of tbS , Minneapolis Woolen Mills. He was , :,4 years old, a native of LftCrOSS*, Wis., and is survived by a wife. JOE NEARLY GETS $2,000. Justice Valente, In the City Court Saturday, handed down a decision setting aside a $2,000 judgment awarded to Joseph F. Lee in his salary claim against the American- Cinema Corporation, on the belief the award was excessive and that the plaintiff was entitled to $500 Lee refused to accept that de- end S?»m»iel jgpV'.wMrty.bery. his attorney, is appealing. EDES0N AT $1,000 A WEEK Los Angeles, March 9. Universal has engaged Robert Edeson, at $1,000 a week for the role in "Foolish Wives" made vacant through the untimely death of Rudolph Christians. Edeson is now at work In the picture an.' his make- up matches identically that of the dead man. Los Angeles, March 9. The rumor grind here on who Is going to be married and who Isn't is one of the busiest little machines in the town. The crop that passed through the millstones as a result of one day's worl: brings the follow- ing result: Doris May, one of the younger stars, and Wallace MacUonald are to be married within the next two months. Leatrice Joy, who is now under contract at Goldwyn, and Jack Gil- bert, leading man and occasionally director, are also to be joined in wedlock In the near future. Larry Seamon has issued a denial of the report he was to Marry Lu- cille Carlisle within the next few days, but did not deny that there waa a possibility that a ceremony would occur some time or other. W. S. Hart says "No!" when asked if the reason f r his retirement from active production work was because he was contemplating matrimony. table in these discussions. Those on the inside are foreseeing the control of the theatre situation in this country, and they point out that things are to come to the same status as they are in the legitimate field of theatricals where the the- atre owners, through the two big syndicates, dictate to the producer as to terms, etc. The same condition is to prevail In the picture field and the producer is laying plans now to be able to meet the condition when it comes to pass. The actor's salary is one of the points the producer believes he is going to have a battle on. But ho also believes it is only a question of time when the actor's salary will be on the same basis as it is on the legitimate stage. "Why," they ask, "should an actor who is getting $400 on the itage de- mand $750 and $800 for a position In pictures?" Not only Is the $400 stage player going to come under that ruling, but the stars are also in for a cot with the possibility now discussed of a maximum salary of $1,000 a week to stars. This will mean there will be a howl from the stars and perhaps the formation of a number of In- dividual companies, but the pro- ducers say the centering of control of tho theatres will compel even those stars who now have their own producing organizations to cut on salaries to themselves and thus lower the cost of productions to ex- hibitors, for with the bigger houses practically In the hands, of a few, the star-producers will only have the houses off the principal thor- oughfares open to them and these houses will be unable to pay the rentals that will be asked for the pictures because of the lack of capacity, even though they man- aged to attract the business to the theatres. It seems the players Jn this sec- tion have an Inkling of what is in the wind and arc holding a number of Informal discussions regarding steps they will be compelled to take to combat tbe decision of the man- agers to cut their salaries. BILL DAVIDSON RETURNS. In New York After Trip to Palm Beach with Roland West. William B. Davidson, leading man for Theda Bara in the last four productions she made for Fox, and since then a free lance, has returned to New York from Palm Beach, where he played opposite Jewel Carmen In "The Rcssmore Case." Roland West's next release. Mr. West and Miss Carmen, his wife, are remaining in Florida for a brief vacation, following completion of the production. HOTEL ON GRAUMAN SITE Metropolitan Absndoned Theatre Project in Los Angeles. No Wedding Bells. William s. Hart Is exercised over a story published In a Los Angeles paper that he is engaged to be mar- n d 10 Jane tfovak and lias wired Paramount to ls*u« •• d< nlal of the i < port. LEVEY SUES UNIVERSAL. Harry Levey has started suit in the Supreme Court against the Uni- versal Film Co., asking for $6,000 due as commissions to him. Levey formerly was manager of Universal* industrial film depart- ment and he alleges the money due him Is accrued commissions on con- tracts wln<h he clsJfBS to have secured for the film .company. He is represented by Frederick B. Gold- i-miMi. COCHRANE U. CITY HEAD. Loft Angeles, March !». K. u. Cochrane is to remain lure ms general manager of Universal City, with Thalberaj going to <;»•»•- mar iy fOV <"arl Laemrnlc. Los Angeles, March t. Grauman's million dollar Metro- polltan theatre, on which the con- struction work ceased three weeks ago when the foundation was In, is to be completed, but as a hotel In- stead of an amusement place. Some difficulty in floating the bonds for the theatre wa- encount- ered and those promoting the pro- ject decided in favor of the hotel. Joseph Reichel, formerly manager of the Alexandria Hotel, now at the MouUjaeky ^Kansas City, .will he the manager. J. GORDON EDWARDS BACK. J, (Jordon Kdwards, director ol William Farnum for Fox, returned to New York Saturday from the coast, accompanied by Mrs. Ed- wards and members of his staff, John W. Boyle, his cameraman, re- mained In California, where he hai his home, so it is not likely Far- num will be starting to work Im- mediately. Boyle, who has bees with Mr. Kd wards ever since he took over Farnum t\vo years ago, first Joined bis staff when Mr. Ed- wards was directing Theda Bars and did the photographic work OB most of the latter'! big productions including "Cleopatra" and "Salome* / I