Variety (November 1922)

Friday, November 17, 1988 LECrr STAGE PRODUCER PICTURES ■.'■'•.•>r.. ^->-j^-..--o;_. ,^>7. ■r* BEING TRIED BY M'^CKER'S !^.. back Mason Brought on From New York to SUgc L Presentotions at Chicago's Picture House—Lasky '-Issues Orders to Famous Players Stars HOLIM)VER PICTURES PREVALENT IN PHULY - Chicago, Nov. 15. Jack Mason reached Chicago Ifondajr with the eyes of the large picture exhibitors throughout the country centered upon him. They )utd heard with the Mason engage- ment by McVlcker's that the Chi- cago Arm of Jones, Llnick & Schaeffer is trying the experiment of a legitimate stage producer put- ' ting on the presentations In con- . iiection with the McVicker's pic- ture program. There is more curiosity over this matter than can be apparent to any but exhibitors. It is said Jesse L. JjfKsky recommended Mr. Mason to E^ Aaron Jones. The engagement fol- , Jowed after McVicker's hadl>rought on a stager from a Cleveland pic- ture house to make the presenta- tions. Jm L. & S. paid him $300 weekly, but he remained only a week or so. Mason is receiving $500 weekly on an indefinite en- gagement. The Famous Players people ap- pear to be taking a personal inter- est in the rebuilt McVicker's, which bolds the loop's first run Para- mount privilege. Lasky has issued orders that any Famous Players ■tar traveling through Chicago, bound east or west, must stop off in this city, to make a personal ap- pearance at McVicker's, duly notify- ing the house in advance, and with- out remuneration. S. Barret McCormack*s engage- ment as produ(ftion manager at Mc- Vickers' theatre was short-lived. He resigned Nov. 6 and left for New Tork the next day. His contract called for a salary of $15,000 a year and a percentage of the profits; It is said. * McCormack first came into notice . in connection with the Circle, In- dianapolis, which he put on the.map by publicity and presentations. Ti»e work he did at Indianapolis came to the attention of Charles W. Olson, of the Lyric in that city, who was , instrumental in McCormack's being placed at the Rivoli. Toledo, in s. which Olson is interested with L. G. I: Sourbier. From Toledo, McCormack I moved to Los Angeles, where he I was engaged to put an elect picture k house catering to high brows on a E. paying basia. His next move was 1^ to the Allen, Cleveland. I When Aaron Jones set out to se- ^ cure a man for presentations for McVicker's, there was a great stir made of the event in the Ralph T. )^ Kettering press work for Jones, Unick ft Schaefer and it was ex- pected that something would be i put over. ^' Before the opening of the new I theatre* McCormack busied himself I for several weeks. The opening was I delayed, which may have Interfered E with his plans. The opening finally L came, and the stage feature was ^*'Autumn Leaves," an ordinary pre- ^;'mentation, and the Adolph ballet, which was a separate production. ' The second stage show offered last week was a Bohm dancing act, re- quiring 17 people, of which only two or three did any work worth speak- , ing of, and not more than half a dozen ever attempted anything. The rest merely adorned the stage or looked out of expensively construct- ed windows. McCormack's con- tribution was Carol Gardner, who sang "Old Black Joe" with a special set. It is rumored the dissatisfacr tion was expressed In terms that caused McCormack to resign and the firm was released from its con- tract. To make presentations in Chicago in opposition to the Balaban & Katz Chicago theatre is a task. The B. & K. folks have three big theatres in Chicago able to play the bigsest offerings, have their own scenic studio, costuming plant, as well as artists and producers, and Morris Silvers, of the Western Vaudeville Managers' Association, gives most of his time looking out for talent that Abe Balaban fancies. This week's presentations at Mc- Vicker's consists of vocal selections ~Trom 'Tagliaccl," by Mons. O, Mar- tin, a piano solo by Otto Muoncke, of the orchestra, and "Silhouette" by Victor Herbert, done by the Bolm ballet. EASTMAN READY WITH AMATEUR FEM LINE Perfects Camera and Projec- tion Machine in Miniature— Non-Theatrical Use ^ Jack Mason is among the front The trade learned this week that the Eastman company had per- fected a miniature film camera and projection machine and would mar- ket it either this fall or next spring. It ij designed for non-theatrical use and a complete line of narrow film both negative and positive will be put out for It, all film to be of the non-flammable kind. The big obstacle to exploiting amateur film apparatus up to this time has been the impossibility of making a fireproof film to go with it at a cost to put it within reach. The Eastman laboratory Is said to have solved this problem. In addition to marketing the ap- paratus for amateurs the Eastman plant will produce a complete library of picture subjects direct on the narrow strip and this will be empU)yed for circulation among owners of the projection owners. The method used before by ^e Pathe people hks been to take com- mercial film subjects and reduce them to a size suitable for the ama- teur propectora which they are selling. The Elastman product puts a probable end to the operations of a German product which was about to enter" this market and is the first serious attempt to put a miniature picture making outfit Into the hands of amateurs. It was reported at one time that the Pathe device was about to be pushed energetically, but nothing developed in that di- rection. Percy Q. Williams Is Interested in the Pathe company. Stanley, Though, Clinaina to Single Week Policy—Elec- tion Helped Last Week . MISS GRIFFITH CANCELS By Mutual Agreement, Vita's Con- tract Vitiated EAST SIDE MEN COMBME HOUSES Steiner, Bllnderman and Ro- sensweig Link Up Chain of Seven A nerw corporation of exhibitors on the Lower East Side In which Charles Steiner. who controls the new 14th Street theatre, and the Messrs. Bllnderman and Rosensweig are the principal factors, brings Into existence a new circuit of picture theatres in that section. The com- bination has the control of seven houses with a combined seating capacity of 6,000. The houses will be operated in a booking pool and It Is certain that they will be lined up with the A. B. C. movement. The theatres are New Delancy on Delancy street, 1,600 seats; the Florence on East Broad- way, 1,500 seats; the New 14th Street, 600 .seats; the Sunshine, East Houston street, 600 seats; the Casino, Second avenue, 600 seats; the Golden Rule, Rivington street, 600 seats, and the Avenue A on Avenue A. 600. The corporation is as yet un- named, the deal having been closed on Tuesday of this week. Charles Steiner will be its president, how- ever, when tbe organization is per- fected. rank of stagers, having been identi- fied with the leading musical comedy producers of New York an<l I^ondon. Loading picture exhibitors in New York this week w«re Inquiring an to the proHp^-^ts of AlcViclter'a experiment with Ma.so-. Marcus Loew was reported especially in- terested and is awaiting return.«» be- fore deciding to secure a legit stager for one of his Pacific coast picture houses. Philadelphia. Nov, 15. Business all along the line of the downtown film houses prospered last week and with good pictures and good weather breaks to help, size- able grosses were turned in. "Clarence," at the Stanley, proved a money-maker, and could proVably have played another week or two, but for the established custom of this house to limit features to a single week. The house has a regu- lar clientele, consisting largely of people who confine their film going to once a week, and choose this house because of Its special fea- tures and Its music, in addition to its dependable pictures. The Stan- ley company believes that longer runs, even for better pictures, would mean that some of the clientele would go elsewhere,«and perhaps get out of the regular weekly Stanley habit. "Blood and Sand" was in for two weeks and did big business, but this was the only exception to the rule during the past year. Valen- tino's "Young Rajah" is bo<^ked in for a single week only, startir No- vember 27. This week, with "The Man Who Saw Tomorrow," a picture that al- most all the critics attacked as weak "^nd ineffectual, the Stanley people are putting Hans Kindler, noted cellist, and said by them to be the highest priced artist ever booked in one of their houses. It Is expected that this combination will maintain the high gross of the Stan- ley. The Stanton did a nice week's business with "The Old Homestead," although it did not quite touch the marks of this first weeks of "Man> slaughter" and "Monte Crlsto." Ex- tensive advertising by the house and by Paramount helped boost this pic- ture Into the substantial hit class, although its run is being limited to two weeks with "Nero" coming for a similar period. This limited run for the Fox historical spectacle is believed to have been caused by the flops of recent spectacles, espe- cially "LoviBS of Pharoah" at- the Stanley, Meantime. "The Old Home- stead" Is expected to mop up in some of the smaller downtown houses and In the suburbs. The dailies were very kind to It. The Stanton is announced to house "Knighthood" early in De- cember, following "Nero." The cam- paign on this special is starting this week, and Is to be the biggest for any picture here in many months. No announcement has been made as yet as to the scale. The Stanton this year has had a 76-cent top. The booking of "Knighthood" at the Stanton has caused many to predict that "Robin Hood" will be seen in the same house after the new year, though others claim the Aldine, following the Metro tenancy there. There is still another—and quite strong—rumor that plans are being formulated to play this Fair- banks special at the Forrest, a legit house, and one of the Brianger chain. Last year the Forrest housed "Orphans of the Storm." beginning Jan. 1 for six or more weeks. The Aldine is atill doing well, though, at tho last moment, it was decided not to keep "The Prisoner of Zenda" in for a fourth week. A last-hour shift brought "Broadway Rose" in Monday, and it will play two weeks, to be followed by **The Five Dollar Baby." The wise ones are wondering whether this can stand more than a week, as hereto- fore Viola Dana pictures have been booked at the Regent, Capitol or small Stanley company houses and never for more than a week, often less. The Karlton, too, seems to have caught on nicely with its particular cla.ss patronage. The ability of this house to hold pictures more than a single week was questioned, but It has succeeded In doing so with a number of features, "Burning San<L*i" being the only really weak sister. "Skin Deep," which opened this week, is being watched closely, as it has no star of outstanding popularity here. Stanley—"Clarence" (Paramount). Passed $25,000 and prov^ed real money-maker, following \ rather weak seven days previous. Elec- tion helped the gross, although some of more central houses benefited even more. (Capacity, 4,000; scale, .35-50C, matinees; 57-75c, evening..) Aldine — "Prisoner of Zenda" (Mi'tro). Could have remained an- other week to business, but finally derided to Hwltoh, as house seern.s ju.-^t K«'tting on its feet. With help of bij; Kloction Hay businesH. ^ro.ss .iKi'Mi Tjassed $11,000. "Itro.idway liufv" in for two week?. Scale ha.s been dropped back to BO cents again after few weeks' attempt with 75 rent.«;. Believed to have Lcen em- ployed to bolHtfr up somo of th«> l»■.^s iinp-'iiiiif s|M( i;(ls which McTro js fo put iu this hoii.se this winter, ar«l not as indication that "The I'y Foncr" couldn't stiind this scale. ' ((.'a|»a«ify 1.500.) ' Stanton—"The Old Homestead" ( r.'iramoiint). Helped by big ad-1, Los Angeles, Nov. 16, Corvine Orifflth has quit Vita- graph, Last night an agreement was signed here releasing her from the contract with that organization. The parting was mutually agreed upon after a series of conferences. The contract under which Miss Grifllth was working would have ex- pired in March next year. For some time past she has been anxious to bring her attlliation with Vitagraph to a close, so that she would be in a position to undertake some inter- esting plans that she has in view. Miss GrWnth but recently arrived here to play in the Vitagraph pro- duction of "One Stolen Night." The release from her contract will can- cel the arrangement for her appear- ance in this picture, and Alice Cal- houn will replace her in the cast. THREE WOMEN STARS IN K. C. LAST WEEK Neither Did Exceptional Busi- ness—-"Knighthood" in > Second Week 2 "HOODS" IN DETROIT STKRED UP INTEREST "Knighthood" at Half of "Robin Hood's" Scale— "Cowboy and Lady" Flops • * ' • ' . . ' ' - . . Detroit, Nov. 16. Not In years has so much interest been aroused in film attractions as during the past week, when Fair- banks in "Robin Hood" and "Knighthood" fought for leadership both from a box offlce standpoint and publicity. The press agents of the Orpheum and the Adams, re- spectively, housing the named at- tractions, were fighting every day for top space and seemed deter- mined not to let each outdo the other. It was the intention of the Shad- ukiam Grotto, operating the Or- pheum. to charge $2 top for "Robin Hood," but when It was found "Knighthood" was booked for the Adams the same week it was de- cided to make it $1,50 top. John H. Kunsky, operating the Adams, didn't hesitate to make it clear In his ad- vertising that this same picture Is now being shown at the Criterion, New York, at $2 prices. Both pictures have done a whale of business. The Orpheum is selling on the reserved seat plan,^ but the demand for seats has been greater than the supply. With the Masons backing the engagement there is no reason why It should not stay five weeks, as planned, and show a good profit. As for "Knighthood." the opening crowd was the biggest that has ever attempted to get into a theatre. At one time the line was tour blocks long, four and six abreast and six policemen were nec- essary to handle the trafllc While the crowds were nowhere as big during the week, at least three per- formances daily have been capacity. The Adams Is opening at 10 a. ro. during the engagement of "Knight- hood." Adam»—"K n I g h t h o o d." Plve shows daily. (Prices, 60. mats.; 75, evenings.) Estimate receipts around $26,000. Madison—"Cowboy and Lady," Very poor attraction. Business off. Poor title for first-run house, and Mary Miles Mlnter no draw. Re- ceipts under $10,000. Fox-Washington — "O r a n d m a'a Boy." Big business all week. En- gagement concluded three weeks of this latest Harold Lloyd feature. Should have remained at least two more weeks. Broadway-8 trand—"Rags to Riches," Wesley Barry. Very good box office attraction. Manager Glelchman says business exceeded expectations. Picture well exploit- ed. Capitol—Gloria Swanson In "The Impossible Mrs. Bellew." Business Kansas City, Nov. 15, The three principal picture houses, Newman, Liberty and Royal, featuring female stars— Claire Windsor, "Rich Men's Wives"; Mae Murray, "Broadway Rose." and Marlon Davles, "Knight- hood," in the order named, gave the women fana a great choice of material to select from, but the fans were evidently hard to please, as none of the three enjoyed any extraordinary business. It was the second week for "Knighthood" and, though the New- man interests claimed a record for the house on the first week, the repeater failed to draw anything like the promoters claim it had done in other cities. It was shown here for 60-76, a tilt from the regular house prices of $5-60, which may have had something to do with the ordinary business. The Newman, with Ita big eight- event bill, business was only fair, the feature picture, "Rich Meh'a Wives," lacking the appeal needed to make it a great draw. The big houses in the residential districts are continuing their policy of giving big pictures at popular prices and there la no question but what it Is hurting downtown, aa the "folks" have become wise to the fact they can ae« the aame fllma as the big downtown houaea are using by waiting a little whilo and at the same time at a saving. Soma of the outside houses are alao get- ting a first run. For tho current week the Apollo la offerlnir « KInff Vidor production. "Duak to Dawn," for Ita flrat Kansas City showing, while aome of the othera are ahow- ing "Human Hearts," "Kindred of the Dust." "Nice People," "Blood and Sand." "The Storm," 'The Fast Mail" and othera, all of which wero recently featured at the leaders ia the business district. For the current week the Royal is relying strongly on a Ray film, "A Tailor Made Man." with th« regular 35-50 acale, which will probably get more people than "Knighthood." The Hardlnga are strongly clrsualng "Raga to Riches," using street ballyhoos and extra stuff for the Liberty, and the New- man will continue with ita bis ahowa and "East la West," Last week's estimates: Newman—"Rich Men's Wives". (Preferred). (Beats 1.980; scale, mats. S6^ nights BO-76). Claire Windsor, House Petera. Rosemary Theby. No draw expected. Elab- orate musical and dancing program also given. Business little better than preceding week, around $14,000. Liberty — "Broadway Rose" (Metro). (Seata 1,000; acale SB-60). Mae Murray. Returns about house average, around $6,000. Royal—"Knighthood". (Seata 8»0;' acale 60-76). Held over for aecond week, but no announcement made until laat Aiinote. Second week not so good, in spite of two holidays. Critics jl^roclalmed the picture beat coatume production ever aeen here, but fans evidently did not llko hike in prices and failed to respond. Business cloae to $7,000.- Twelfth Street—"Rose o* the Sea." (Seata LlOO; scale 10-26). Anita Stewart. Business about $2,000. Features at opposition vaudeville houses: "Don't Write Letters." Pantages: "Love Is an Awful Thing." Malnstreet; "The Trail of the Axe," GloDe. FRENCH FILM NOTES Paris, Nov. 6. A moving picture salon will be held in the Grand Palais, Paris, middle of November, under the aus- good. One of best pictures this star IL*^,*" ®^ the local society known as has ever appear#'d in. Friends of the Seve.ith Art. BEFUVD TO STOCKHOLDERS San Francisco, Nov, 16. Because of alleged failure to meet the requirements of the corporation permit, the Rellimeo Film Syndi- cate of whicM Dr. Orlando E. Miller of Los Angeles was the head, has been ordered by the state corpora- tion commissioner to return to stockholders upon demand all money paid for stock. i The Ministry of Agriculture has presented a bill in the French par- liament for the annual allowance of 600,000 francs from the receipts of the pari-mutuel organization controlled by the state, for the creation of films dealing wKh agri- cultural subjects and their exhibi- tion In rural districts to instruct farmers. vertlslnpT splurRe, this old favorite turned In nice week h groKH of about $17,000. Stay.s only two wetiks to make way for "Nero." (Cup.irity, I 1,700; scale, 35-50r, matinees; 00- 7f»f. evenings.) Karlton — 'Under Two FI.ikh" A picture to commemorate the centenary of Pasteur is being pre- pared by Jean Epstein, and will comprlHC two edition.s, one destined for the general public, developing the es.sential phases of I'asteur'e life, and a .special version for edu- cational purposes, in which the .srientllic feat ire.s of the physician will be exposed in chronological order. Gaston Havel is going ^ ^ the (IfniversftJ). Keeond w*'^k-H^-drop . Orient to ahoot views for a picturtL frrun lir.st, but KUctiou l>a.v < rowds' probably to be named "Tao." the aided groMH. and $y.000 wa,s rv.iv.hrd. Ilu.sineHH so f:ofid ff.'iturr Is l'ein« booked at Capitol, .'inotht-r down- town Stanley hou-se. (Caparity, 100; scale, 50c stra'ght ) action being laid in the Cambogc. The print ipals are Joe Hamm in, Tony Lfkain. Taul Hubert. Andre Deed, in a comic rolo, and Mmes. Mary Harold and Andree Brabant.