Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Media History Digital Library http://www.archive.org/details/filmdailyvolume556newy Scanned from the collection of Karl Thiede Coordinated by the Media History Digital Library www.mediahistoryproject.org Funded by an anonymous donation in memory of Carolyn Hauer 7/pBRADSTREET of FILMDOM j&rkoghized Authority Vol. V, No. 61 Tuesday, July 9, 1918 Price 5 Centi CHARGES AGAINST OCHS FILED BY EXHIBITORS AND PUBLISHERS Defendants in Libel Suit Assert League President Used Office for Own Ends Allegations that Lee A. Ochs used his position as president of the New York Motion Picture Exhibitors' League to further his own interests are made in an answer filed in the Supreme Court by Maurice L. Fleisch- man, and Charles A. Goldreyer, well known exhibitors and members of the league, and Sime Silverman and Jo- seph Lowe, as publishers of "Variety," in a suit for libel brought by Ochs against the persons named. The defendants deny information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of Ochs's allegations that he has a large circle of business and per- sonal .friends and enjoys a good repu- tation and the respect of his friends and that by reason of his standing as an operator of motion picture thea- tres in New York City and elsewhere and his motion picture affiliations, he has established a credit and reputation for fairness, honesty and integrity. Admit Circular Letter The answer then alleges as a special defense that Fleischman and Gold- reyer on the date of publication of the article in question were members in good standing of the New York Mo- tion Picture Exhibitors' League in Local No. 1 and operated the Majestic, Garden, University and 7th Avenue Theatres in New York and the New Theatre and Rockaway Beach and Empire Theatres at Arverne. They admit that they mailed to every mem- ber of the league the circular letter complained of by Ochs. The fact that the letter had been sent was brought to the attention of "Variety" and its publishers who published it as a mat- ter of news relying on the truth of the statements. The defendants allege that the state- ments in the alleged libelous article were true "in substance and in fact"; that for a long time prior to the pub- lication of the article the plaintiff was "-trsmg the League presidency for his own gain"; that there had been dis- satisfaction among exhibitors over his administration and that a number of men high in the councils of the or- ganization had time and again ex- pressed disapproval "of the undigni- fied manner in which the plaintiff con- ducted the office." It is alleged that among the grievances were that Ochs had endorsed seriils and productions and permitted his endorsements as coming from him as league president to be used in f u:\hering such serials ..nd productions. The answer alleges that Ochs had object to severe criticism in re- spect to what was known in the trade as the Mastbaum-Selznick controversy in which Ochs appeared as an ally of Selznick. It is alleged that a promi- nent exhibitor who had organized the first local in New York and other ex- hibitors were determined that unless things changed they would form an- other organization Services Are Cancelled The answer says that Goldreyer and Fleischman did complain that Ochs was using his position to further his personal interests and that the Para- mount. Metro, ard.Pathe exchanges cancelled their service at the Garden and LIniversity Theatres for the plain- tiff's Concourse Theatre and in some instances receivec less money than they had paid. It is alleged that Mr. Saunders, of the Metro, stated to Goldreyer and Fhuschman that while his dealings with them had been pleas- ant he felt obligated to favor Ochs be- cause he was nr :sident of the Ex- hibitors' League aid that Ochs himself stated to them that the different ex- changes owed it to him to favor him as president of the league. It is also alleged that the Mutual refused to favor Ochs as against Fleischman and Goldreyer as a result of which he was forced to accede to using "Charlie Ch; plin specials" on an even break with Fleischman and Goldreyer. Goldwyn Going West Producing Companies Expected To Move To Coast in August The Goldwyn producing department will start westward about August 15, according to the present plans of the executives. The entire staff of play- ers as well as the executives of the production end, will be at work on the coast by about the middle of Sep- tember. At present a number of Gold- wyn players are troubled over the fact that they are tied to New York by leases of various sorts and they will have to dispose of these before starting west. Defense is Continued Funkhouser Aims To Show Case Was Framed Against Him CHICAGO.— M a j o r Funkhouser, Chicago's suspended film censor and second deputy police, continuing his defense before the Civil Service Com- mission, emphatically denied that he had tapped wire.- leading to Chief Schuettler's home. He admitted, how- ever, shadowing Kate Adams, a reform and social worker, to find out where she was getting information on which she wrote her newspaper articles. Testimony indicating that forged re- ports were placed in the files in an effort to "get" the Major, was given. It was further rumored that Tony Landers, who disappeared last Wednesday night and was to have been a witness for the Major, was kidnapped by the police to prevent his testifying. Tony was at one time em- ployed by the Major as an investi- gator. Acting Chief Alcock indignantly de- nied the charge and had Landers re- leased at once. He was being held on a forgery charge, it is said. Another blow at the attack upon Funkhouser came when Jos. E. Wha- lin told the commissioners a report favored by the prosecution was made with a blue carbon paper not allowed to be used in the second deputy's of- fice. The report reflected seriously upon Joseph A. Thoney, now upon trial with Mai. M. L. C Funkhouser. Tuesday, July 9, 1918 II Ml mum aJ!^ DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DEXIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 EXPOSITION IS ABANDONED League Officials Blame Producers and Distributors for Withdrawal or Support Cuts'and Flashes George Hively has been added to the Triangle scenario department on the coast. H. C. Brookes has been made as- sistant to Albert Parker, Triangle director. Pathe will release the twelfth and last episode of, the official British war film, "Britain's Bulwarks," July 28. W. F. Mead, formerly with Fox, has been appointed manager of Univer- sal's branch in Seattle. Conrad Nagel, who played in the film version of "Little Women," has enlisted in the Navy. Hunt _ Stromberg, an ex-St. Louis advertising and newspaper man, has joined the Goldwyn publicity office. "Raffles," starring John Barrymore and made by the L. Lawrence Weber Photodramas Corp., has been sold to the Central Film Company of Chi- cago, one of the First National Ex- hibitors' Circuit Exchanges, by the Arrow Film Company. William J. Kelly has been en- gaped to play the lead in Olive Tell's first Metro picture under her new con- tract. It is called "Secret Strings," and is adapted from a short story by Kate Jordan. John Ince is directing. The Trans-Russian Film Corpora- tion has purchased the rights to "Sto- len Orders" for the following coun- tries: France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, China, Japan and the Phil- ippines. The same company also has sold Japenese right for "Mothers of Liberty" with Barbara Castleton to U. Ono of Tokio. Claiming that the National Associa- tion of the Motion Picture Industry is to blame for the withdrawal of its sup- port, the National League officials have definitely decided to abandon the Exposition scheduled for next week in Boston, and in its place will give a ball. Lee Ochs, president of the League, issued the following statement last night: "Abandoned at the last moment by the producers and distributors' branches of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, I have been compelled to call off the exposi- tion scheduled to be held in the City of Boston, July 13 to 20 at Mechanics Building. "With all arrangements completed and with everything understood be- tween the exhibitors holding the ex- position and the manufacturers and distributors who were to take part within a few days of the holding of the exposition the manufacturers and distributors almost unanimously re- fused to support the motion picture exposition plans in which the National Association had a fifty per cent, in- terest. "The exceptions among the manu- facturers and distributors are William A. Brady, the president of the Na- tional Association; World Film Corp.; William L. Sherry, and William L. Sherrill, president of the Frohman Amusement Co. "I desire to express my thanks to them for the support generously given but which under the conditions cannot be accepted and I also wish to extend the thanks of the League to National Carbon Co., Nicholas Power Co., and Precision Machine Co., who also supported the exposi- tion by signing contracts for space. "In lieu of the exposition and to make up in some part the loss sus- tained by the League by reason of the action of the National Associa- tion, a grand ball will be held at the Arena in the City of Boston on Fri- day night, July 19, at which many of the great stars of the motion picture world will be present. In behalf of the League I also desire to thank the trade papers for the space that they have generously donated to the League in furtherance of the aims of the ex- position. "The convention of the exhibitors will be held as scheduled and from present indications will be the largest convention ever held under the au- spices of the Motion Picture Exhibi- tors League of America." Producing Triangles Two new stories were put in pro- duction at the Triangle Culver City studios last week, "Shifting Sands," in which Gloria Swanson has the fea- tured role, supported by Joe King and Harvey Clark, and "The Ghost Flower," with Alma Rubens in the leading role. Several new players will probably be seen with Miss Rubens in "The Ghost Flower," while Francis McDonald, who played the Apache heavy with Olive Thomas in her latest vehicle, "Toton," will have much the same role with Rubens. The Government says your business is essential to the country— Now is the time to make it essential to your community. Lockwood Working in New York Harold Lockwood, the Metro star, arrived in New York from the coast on Saturday and will start work im- mediately on his summer series of pictures in the East. There will be four pictures made here by the star and the first of these will be "The Yellow Dove," from a "Saturday Eve- ning Post" story by George Gibbs. Not Informed Here Exporters said yesterday that the trade had not been informed of the ruling placing celluloid articles on the conservation list. The War Trade Board offices stated the order was issued from Washington and that here in New York, "they didn't know very much about it." Harold Edel, manager of the Strand, New York City, is using a back-stage orchestra in connection with "The Service Star," starring Madge Ken- nedy. Madame Petrova in her War Sav- ings Stamp campaign sold $600,000 worth while in Houston. VGCatiTeUYouWhei-eToKeachTtiem-PhoQfiVaflderi)ilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. EDWARD EARLE LAMBS CLUB 144 W. 44th Street New York City WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN •$ IS READ NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Pioductions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd., L. A. MILTON SILLS THE LAMBS ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH MARION SWAYNE STAR FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Lo» Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear each Tuesday. Tuesday, July 9, 1918 DAILY Beautiful Star, Excellent Cast and Direction Put This Over Effectively Kitty Gordon in <(TINSEL" World Pictures DIRECTOR Oscar Apf el AUTHOR Fred Jackson SCENARIO BY Wallace C. Clifton CAMERAMAN Lucien Tainguy AS A WHOLE Social problem play made effec= tive and convincing by direction and excep= tional cast. STORY Divorced wife returns to husband after her custody of daughter proves that first loves are best. DIRECTION Made dramatic moments register and developed characterizations quietly and effec= tively. PHOTOGRAPHY Clearly defined and effective in close-ups. LIGHTINGS Varied although lighted faces to ad- vantage. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Beautiful and fitted character; wore "some" gowns. SUPPORT Exceptionally well balanced EXTERIORS Satisfactory; not many INTERIORS Generally very good; some excellent. DETAIL Very good. Some exceptionally well= CHARACTER OF STORY. . . .Debutantes should see it LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,900 feet THIS deals with a divorced couple, showing the ef- fect of the separation upon the daughter about to make her debut in society, and it has been so well produced that I think it classes among the best plays dealing with this problem that I have seen in a long time. Most of Kitty's gowns were cut "V" in the back, but there was considerably less "C" in the front than she has registered in some of her recent pictures, which was very thoughtful of her in portraying the mother who wanted to protect her daughter from the same pitfalls into which she had fallen after divorcing her husband. Muriel's father, Bradley Barker, gets a letter from his wife, Kitty Gordon, from whom he has been sep- arated since Muriel was a child, asking custody of the daughter. Muriel has been led to believe that her mother is dead. Barker refuses the request and Kitty's lawyer brings her to his home, at which time Muriel first meets her mother. Muriel wishes to go with her mother and the request is granted by the father. Kitty takes Muriel to her social sphere where she is overwhelmed by a world that is new to her and is showered with the attentions of several of the men in Kitty's set. Frank Mayo is the quiet willun who tries to "make" Muriel and Kitty overhears him proposing a party in his apartment, where they can be alone. Muriel, being the sweet, young, innocent — and she cer- tainly looked the part — accepts, feigning illness to get away from her mother. In the meantime, Kitty's lawyer, who has warned her about Muriel's intimacy with Frank, knowing that it would come to no good end. has wired Muriel's father, and lie and Ralph Graves, Muriel's girlhood sweetheart, start out immediately in a racer to bring Muriel home. Muriel has kept her appointment with Frank, and Kitty, not trusting him, starts for his apartment. Here they pulled the old stunt of drawbridge detaining Kitty's car after Muriel's car had passed safely, but it was rather well handled and will not jar despite the fact that it was painfully convenient. Kitty arrives at Frank's apartment just as he is strug- gling with Muriel, and I w^vnt to thank Director Apfel for not letting this scene run to the point of tearing Muriel's gown or making it unnecessarily apparent what willun was trying to do. After denouncing Frank, Kitty and Muriel return home. Muriel has a cry in mother's lap and we have some very good titles here wherein Kitty proves herself a real mother despite her environment and associates. Father and Ralph arrive at this juncture, determined to bring Muriel back home, but father is won over by Kitty and we have the clutch of the two couples for a finish. Frank Mayo, as the roue, played with a quiet dignity that made his part seem real. Ralph Graves was a very likeable juvenile. Muriel Ostriche was beautiful and ap- pealing while the star certainly registers some great mo- ments throughout. Others in the cast were Tony Merle. George De Carl- ton and Marie Nau. Subordinate Meaningless Title With Gatchlines and Try To Get Them In The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I don't remember of ever having seen a film in which Kitty Gordon registers the combined beauty and sincerity of appeal that we get in this. Muriel Ostriche also screens beautifully and the other members of the cast acquit themselves admirably, Frank Mayo and Ralph Graves being especially good. The title is brought out in the story, but it is very poor from a selling standpoint because the mere word doesn't mean anything. I would subordinate it with catchlines like these: "The story of how a woman was brought back to her tirst love when she observed her daughter falling into the social quicksands that had estranged her from her husband," or, "Proving that money and gaiety do not produce happiness where there is not love." You might shoot some questions at them like this: "Have you ever contemplated a divorce? Kitty Gordon in 'Tinsel' may change your ideas." "When a couple obtains a divorce, who should right- fully be granted custody of the child if it is a daughter? See 'Tinsel'." This is in reality one of those "Enlighten Your Daugh- ter" types of plays, but it has been handled in such a wholesome manner without ever approaching the objectionable stage that I have a hunch it will drive home the thought more forcefully than any of the pic- tures dealing with the same theme in the sensational sense. You can safely recommend this to any audience, and I think it will be accepted as capital entertainment by the great majority. Certainly it will win many friends for Kitty Gordon and every member of the cast. I would play up the fact that there are some beauti- ful gowns displayed in this, as that will pull the women — and this is a woman's kind of a picture. Although this would have ordinarily been a rather serious theme, it has been lifted by delightful little touches throughout. I wouldn't play up the "problem" angle too strongly un- less it pulls business for you. XfcBRADSTREET of FILHDOH flfePKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 62 Wednesday, July 10, 1918 Price 5 Cents ESSENTIAL RULE GIVES RIGHT OF APPEAL TO FILM MEN GALLED Gases May Be Referred to President — Plan toXaunch Eastern Branch of M. P. W. S. A. The recent decision by Provost Marshal General Crowder which rec- ognized the motion picture industry as an "effective," gives those who have already been called by their local draft boards under the "work or fight" ruling (providing they were in a de- ferred classification) the right of an appeal to the President. The privi- lege of appeal is open to those con- sidered essential to the industry, such as producing directors, actors, cam- eramen, scenario writers, film editors and authors and the heads of labora- tory, scenic or property departments. This information was received after the question had been placed before several legal experts, who are thor- oughly familiar with the workings of the draft and the rights of the local and district boards in the matter and who have gone carefully into the matter of the General Crowder ruling. The local and district boards will give the necessary information to those who wish to appeal their cases. Grant Carpenter Here Grant Carpenter, the Los Angeles attorney, who as assistant secretary of the Motion Picture War Service Association, placed the case of the industry before General Crowder and obtained the ruling, arrived in New York on Monday. He will remain here for several days and in all proba- bility will attend the Convention of the Exhibitors' League at Boston next week and place before that body the purposes of the M. P. W. S. A. The coast membership of the Association has already raised more than $30,000 and Mr. Carpenter is preparing to launch an eastern branch in New York. A general meeting of the in- dustry will be called at which it is . expected all branches of the business * will be represented. One of the first steps that the As- sociation will take is to work hand in hand with the Government through the War Department and the Com- mittee on Public Information and all requests from the Government to the film industry will come through the Association from the U. S. officials. Fighting Tax Legislation Mr. Carpenter has undertaken to fight the income tax legislation in Washington on behalf of the indus- try and has already had several inter- views with the Ways and Means Com- mittee as well as the Finance Com- mittee of the Senate. After his work in New York he is to return to Wash- ington and spend some time there systematizing the activities of the War Service Association in connection with the work that it is to perform for the Government. The Association will not only be empowered by the Government to look after the manufacture of propa- ganda film, but will also have an ar- rangement for the distribution of the same and its issuance of material either in film or slide form to the exhibitors will be equivalent to a Government order to run the same. Mr. Carpenter is at the Astor and will remain there for the balance of this week arranging the preliminary steps for the meeting of the industry which is to be called in New York. Highest Rental Price CHICAGO.— What is said to be the highest price ever paid for a theatre outside the "loop" district was re- corded in the lease for the building at the southwest corner of Broadway and Lawrence Avenue, when Tom Chameles leased to Lawrence A. Smith a motion picture theatre for a term of fifteen years from August 1, 1918, at the annual rental of $25,000. Mr. Smith has an option for two five years' extensions at the same rental. C. E. Kells has taken charge of the General Film branch in Omaha as act- ing manager, succeeding John W. Hicks. Caruso's Lead Chosen Carolina White to Play Opposite Operatic Star The Famous Players-Lasky com- pany has selected Carolina White, the grand opera prima donna who last season appeared in light opera for a short time under the Joe Weber man- agement as leading lady for Enrico Caruso. Miss White, like the tenor star, has had no previous picture ex- perience. Incidentally Caruso after complet- ing his picture engagements, will take his first concert tour in the mid-west playing at Detroit and St. Louis and several other cities under the manage- ment of the Metropolitan Musical Bureau. A. E. A. Convention Arranging Details for Chi- cago Gathering in August CHICAGO. — All arrangements have been completed for the first conven- tion of the American Exhibitors' As- sociation, to be held here August 20- 25. Frank Rembusch was in town last week outlining plans for the forth- coming event and appointing his com- mittees. A unique letterhead has been printed and exhibitors far and wide are being urged to make every effort to attend. The local A. E. A. members are looking forward to the convention with considerable interest and everything points toward its suc- cess. Branch Managers Convene CHICAGO.— Over a hundred Uni- versal branch managers and salesmen are in the city attending a three-days' convention at the Hotel Sherman. Carl Laemmle and Joe Brandt ad- dressed the men on matters pertaining to salesmanship and several changes to be inaugurated in the Universal's fall campaign. Metro's contribution to the "Kaiser" pictures. "To Hell With the Kaiser," commenced a week's run at the Play- Day is to be featured with a noted aviator. William G. Underwood of the Spe- cialty Film Co. of Dallas, is in New York and stopping at the Claridge. He has taken the franchise for the Shortv Hamilton comedies for Texas. J. Eugene Pearce of the Pearce Films of New Orleans, arrives in town today and will be at the Knick- erbocker. A. Blaikie Dick, general manager for McClure Pictures, has disposed of the Mexican rights of "Seven Deadly Sins" to the Piedmont Pictures Corp. Through other deals made last week, foreign rights for the same film were sold to cover Brazil, Argentine, Para- guay, Bolivia, Peru and Uruguay. Arrow Film has sold "The Sunset Princess," starring Marjorie Daw, to Al Posen with offices at 729 Seventh Avenue, New York City, for New York City and Northern New Jersey, and the two Harry Rapf productions, "The Mad Lover" and "Today" • to the Foursquare Pictures, Inc., Joseph Mark Building, Detroit, for Michigan. James Sheldon, president of the Mutual, has completed another of his commuting trips between here and Chicago and arrived in New York yesterday. John Sunderland has replaced Rock- liffe Fellowes as the male lead in Edu- cational's new picture. The company left for Charleston, W. Va., on Satur- day for exteriors. L. J. Meyberg, of the W. H. Clif- ford productions, makers of the Shorty Hamilton comedies, left on the Century yesterday for Chicago to close several mid-west franchises for the comedy product. He will return late this week. S. J. Warshawsky, who has been with the Triangle publicity office for a long time, has been transferred to the Coast in compliance with the gen- eral change of publicity offices. L. R. Stewart has been left in New York to look after the business at this end of the line. D. W. Russell is reported as still being in a serious condition at Roose- velt Hospital. "On the Italian Battlefront" is be- ing booked heavily, according to an announcement made at the offices of the General Film, which gives as the reason the spectacular fighting now taking place on the Piave. William A. Johnston, editor Mo- tion Picture News, was a Chicago visitor last week, reorganizing the central west office of the News. Wil- liam J. McGrath, for the past year representing the trade paper, was sup- planted by Wm. Hite, formerly on the staff of the Herald and Examiner. Night school for promoters in the film field is not what it formerly was and the classes are growing smaller each night, consequently the Hotel Astor is not as crowded as of old. Last night there were present only Joe Lee, H. M. Horkhcimer. and one other. We miss our "Bill" Sherrill and Harry Reichenbach is the plaint of the survivors. Rolfe Ready to Start B. A. Rolfe states that he hopes to begin shooting on the ten-episode Houdini serial about July 15. He has the story completed by Arthur B. Reeve and Charles Logue, but up to the present has decided on neither di- rector nor studio for the making of the picture. The first of the eight annual super- specials that he intends making with Florence Reed as the star will be made as soon as the serial is com- pleted. After this is done the com- pany will go to the coast to produce the seven additional pictures. Incidentally, B. A. says that he has a new releasing plan that is "all his own." He has worked it out and is going to put it into effect with the serial. He will not divulge at pres- ent what his method of marketing his product is going to be. The exhibitors sure will be red hot boosters for the N. A. M. P. I. Expo- sition next fall. Star Series Policy Goldwyn Adopts Another Method of Selling Pictures In a statement issued under the sig- nature of Samuel Goldfish, Goldwyn announces that during its second year, beginning in September, pictures will be sold under the Star Series plan in place of the single contract heretofore in force. Goldwyn offers six Geraldine Farrar productions and a like number of Rex Beach and Pauline Frederick films, whereas Mabel Normand, Mae Marsh, Madge Kennedy and Tom Moore are listed for eight pictures each. Doorman is Robbed CHICAGO.— While Charles Doll, doorman employed by Ascher Broth- ers, at the Oakland Square, a motion picture theatre, was taking the day's receipts to a nearby bank Saturday evening, he was hit over the head with a blackjack and relieved of $365. The three robbers escaped down Oakwood boulevard. The holdup occurred at 10.20 o'clock in full view of hundreds of persons on the streets at the inter- section of Oakwood and Drexel boule- vards. Doll's injuries were slight. Retains Picture Policy Manager M. D. Gibson of the Mo- zart Theatre, Elmira, N. Y., has aban- doned dramatic stock companies, in favor of feature photoplays. His ex- perience with pictures has been so successful during the past few months that he has concluded to follow the same policy during the winter. Ulijsj DAILY Wednesday, July 10, 1918 EXPORT SITUATION IS CLEARING Celluloid Ruling May Be Rescinded — Blanket Licenses Again Expected While the export situation is seem- ingly very complicated, exporters may have every reason to hope that the tangle will be straightened out satis- factorily. The new ruling barring celluloid for export caused nothing short of con- sternation in the trade. On the face of it, business would have to cease and the export center return to Lon- don. Interpretation Requested At the Custom House yesterday, it was said that nothing had been heard of the celluloid ruling. Chief Inspec- tor Reynolds, when informed by WID'S DAILY of the order, got in touch with the War Trade Board where it was stated that, according to their belief, motion picture films were not intended to come under the scope of the order. The Board offi- cials immediately telegraphed Wash- ington for an interpretation of the order. However, it can be safely assumed that the films are exempted. Exporters yesterday expressed mys- tification as to the reason for such a ruling. They could not understand how a business such as the motion picture industry could be declared es- sential one day and then have a ruling which would harm an important part of it come along almost at the same time. It seems that there has been a misunderstanding some place in the issuance of the order that will no doubt be clarified by instructions from Washington. New Ruling Expected It is understood unofficially that a new ruling is forthcoming in a few days which will eliminate all delays in securing licenses. A few months ago, blanket licenses covering a cer- tain amount of film were given out freely. These were recently stopped, but now, under the expected new or- der, these permits will again be avail- able and subject only to censorship requirements. Exported film will leave this country as fast as cargo space can be secured. A committee of exporters headed by Paul H. Cromelin, of Inter-Ocean and David P. Howells, First National Exhibitors' foreign representative, was in Washington yesterday to discuss these questions with Government offi- cials. In the meantime, in New York, custom inspectors are censoring films as_ if nothing had happened and things will probably go on in the same way until definite information is obtained from Washington. From the Courts $20,000 Verdict Stands— Suit Concerning Belasco Theatre Supreme Court Justice Gavegan has signed an order refusing to set aside a verdict for $20,000 given by a jury before him in a suit of Elizabeth Ap- pleton, a film actress, against Israel Mendelson for injuries she sustained on last New Year's Eve when Mr. Mendelson's car ran her down at Broadway and '52nd Street. Justice Gavegan said in his opinion that the plaintiff's lameness prevents her from taking her accustomed parts as a pic- ture actress for which she received $50 a week and that "any ambition or expectation of great success in that field which she may have entertained has been rendered permanently im- possible of realization." One leg is shorter than the other, and in addition she lost two teeth and claims that her eyesight has been impaired, the court says. The court believes that the amount of the verdict is not ex- cessive in view of the pecuniary loss, the loss of her occupation, and the permanent injuries she has sustained. A jury before City Court Justice McAvoy returned a verdict for $2,200 against the Stuyvesant Theatre Co., owner of the Belasco Theatre, in a suit of Barnet Berger to recover $2,- 500. The complaint alleged that the defendant agreed to pay the plaintiff this sum if he would negotiate a mort- gage for $250,000 on the theatre for five years from 1917. He got the Bowery Savings Bank to take the mortgage but alleged that the defend- ant refused to pay him. Folks forget names. Link thejstar's name to some suc- cess that is remembered. Reads The Ten Dollar One THE BRUNSWICK CO. Owners and Managers of Theatres Duluth, Minn. Mr. Wid Gunning, 71 West 44th St., New York City. My dear Gunning: Well we still take all the trade papers and read the one we pay "ten" for. Am certainly sorry Duluth was not on your schedule in making your trip. Sure would have been glad to have enter- tained you, if only for a few hours, and soak in a little of that wonderful knowledge that you have gained from the contact with so many bright fellows in the exhibiting end. All kinds of success to you. Keep it up and you are going to win! I sure had a good laugh over your page in Johnston's paper. I kind of wondered how you were going to cover the ground, but you did it in your usual style. Again. ..Success! Cordially yours, Thomas Furniss In Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA.— Through a real estate deal, the Knickerbocker Theatre, 40th and Market Streets, has been sold, and is temporarily closed. Charles Segal, of the Apollo, has taken over the active management of the 56th Street Theatre, 56th and De- Lancey Streets. J. Berger, manager of the Kleine- Edison exchange of Philadelphia, has resigned in answer to the call to the colors. Benjamin Freed, shipper of the Fox Film Corp., has also left for camp. Bert Moran, formerly manager of the Kleine-Edison, has been appointed office manager of the new Parex ex- change, in Philadelphia. H. D. Reese, formerly of the Stan- ley Booking Co., has associated him- self as road salesman with World Film, Saul Schwartz, formerly with World, is now with Select, on the road. It has been reported that the Stan- ley Interests have closed for 29 first runs at the Palace; the Stanley 31; the Arcadia 52, and the Victoria 41. Wednesday, July 10, 1918 DAILY Captivating Star and Great Cast Make Old Hokum Register with a Bang Viola Dana in fight and her pa won't let her, so she puts on her broth - "OPPORTI TINJTXV" ers clothes and goes anyway. Hale Hamilton and Ed- urruR I U 1X1 1 I ward Abeles are at the fight and Hale tells Edward that Metro he will offer "opportunity" to whoever occupies the va- cant seat next to him. Of course, this is Viola, who DIRECTOR John H. Collins Comes to the fight in a get-up that makes you think of AUTHOR Edgar Franklin Toto, the clown. It is so very apparent that she is a SCENARIO BY. John H. Collins girl m hoy's clothes that you think the author has over- „.-,„„...... ' i^i,„ \~„niA stepped considerable in not having Hale and Edward CAMERAMAN John Arnold dis^yer that ne lg a gne untn thefe last ^ but after AS A WHOLE Old hokum made delightful enter= the thing gets going you know tnat tne auth0r doesn't tainment by direction and excellent cast. expect you to take this seriously at any stage, and you STORY Usual complications involving girl who don't worry about it, because it provides laughs aplenty. masquerades as man. Obvious, but certainly We have tne old hokum of Hale and Edward taking registers some truly funny situations. the "DOy" to their apartment, ordering the butler to DIRECTION Rather slow in getting started, but prepare "his" bath and sech, which, coupled with Miss kept it funny and injected several touches that Dana's cute tricks and some great titles, makes it go will register with a bang anywhere. over with a bang. "We also have a hotel "defective" in PHOTOGRAPHY Very good this who gets laughs because he does all the things that LIGHTINGS ....'.'.'.'.'.'. '. Artistic' with "a 'few exceptions a re-ular detective wouldn't do. rAMPDA wnoi^ vprv o-nnd During the bath incident and at several other times CAmtKA wukk . very goou we haye situationg that aimost become naughty, but STAR Captivating and has cute tricks; puts this they aiways cut just before anything happens, and they over great. never become offensive, because any audience is going to SUPPORT Very good indeed. Might be called all= take the whole thing in the spirit of fun. star. . Near the finish, Hale comes in the "boy's" room where EXTERIORS Satisfactory ne tiiSCOYers that she is a "loidy." In the meantime, Viola INTERIORS Generally artistic has sent for her regular clothes, which are smuggled in DETAIL Commendable by her maid. Edward Abeles has a wife who comes in CHARACTER OF STORY '. .' .' .Old hokum 'entertainingly Just *n tl™e *° discover Viola's hat in her hubby's apart- presented. Almost a Keystone at times, but ment and the plot thickens until Viola's pa who had most audiences will think it great stuff. been told by the defective that Viola had been mur- ^^., ^^ ^^^r^.,^^w^.^, . . . . ,. dered, arrives and clears the mystery. Hale captures LENGTH OF PRODUCTION. . .approximately 5,000 feet Viola for his>n and Edward and nis spouse kiss and make up. THIS thing doesn't really get to you at the start, Edward Abeles, who was Hale's Pal, was starred in but along about the beginning of the second reel, "Ready Money" and other early Paramount releases, and it begins to get very funny and keeps up the pace is well-known on Broadway. Hale Hamilton is another to the finish. From the second reel on I have a hunch Broadway favorite, and once did a Keystone for Mack that the average audience is going to excuse the obvious Sennett. His work in this establishes him as a real story and old hokum and fairly eat this up. As far as find for pictures. Frank Currier is great as Viola's father the title is concerned, the "Opportunity" is mostly Miss while Joseph Burke as the "nut" detective and Frank Dana's and, say boy. she certainly commands your at- Lyon as the butler made their roles stand out. Elsie tention and slips you some real chuckles all through this. MacLeod was Miss Dana's maid, and Sally Crute was The real fun starts when Viola wants to go to a prize Edward's wife. Play Up Star and Exceptional Cast; Make It Plain That This Is Comedy The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This has been produced purely for laughing purposes and as such, it certainly ought to register big with audi- ences anywhere. Miss Dana has established quite a fol- Lowing in many communities and her work in this will surely captivate the most hardened fan. I would also make some noise about the supporting cast in this as several of them have been starred individually on the stage or in pictures in the past, and their names should pull business. 1 don't think the title will pull any business, because it does not suggest that this is a comedy. Metro cer- tainly lost an opportunity when they pinned it on this for a title. To make up for the shortcomings of the title I would subordinate it with catchlines like these: "The laughable predicaments that befell a girl who dressed up like a man so she could attend a prize fight." "The embarrassing circumstances that confronted two men when they discovered that their adopted "pal" was a girl in boy's clothes." You might use some K. C. B. style of copy like this : VIOLA DANA didn't want to be a girl . . . BE- CAUSE GIRLS couldn't attend prize fights ... SO SHE appropriated brother's clothes . . . AND TWO well meaning men . . . TOOK HER to their apartment . . . AND TOLD the butler ... TO GIVE the "boy" a bath . . . AND EVERYTHING . . . AND THEN Viola knew . . . WHEN A feller needs a friend ... < BUT SHE wiggled out . . . WITHOUT RUINING her reputation ... OR ANYTHING . . . BUT SHE had her little difficulties . . . AND YOU'LL laugh at her predicament . . . WHEN YOU see her . . . IN "OP- PORTUNITY" . . . WE THANK YOU. Run this copy one line under another, a la Kenny Beaton. XfoBRADSTREET of FILMDOH Jjk&KOOHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 64 Friday, July 12, 1918 Price 5 Cents A Helpful Editorial MAINE THEATRES, Inc. Rockland, Maine, July 8, 1918 Mr. F. C. Gunning, Pres., WID'S DAILY, N. Y. City. Dear Sir: I have just read your edito- rial in the issue of Sunday, July 7th, and think you have hit the nail squarely on the head. It is just this kind of editorial talk that would do the exhibitors at large a world of good. I find that even our own managers are afraid to increase prices, but with expenses going up by leaps and bounds, it is the only method open for success- ful operation and now is the time cf a7l times to make the move. On or about Labor D?y we intend to so act in several of our thea'res. Yours very truly, Alfred S. Black. Aw aitingDevelopment Picture Delegation is Pre- senting Case in Washington The committee of motion picture men, including William A. Brady, P. A. Powers, Paul Cromelin and David P. Howells, now in Washington to use its influence in preventing drastic tax legislation, • such as that proposed by the Treasury Depart- ment, and to straighten out the ex- port rulings, is expected back today. Up to a late hour yesterday after- noon, Frederick H. Elliott, secretary of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, had been unable to get in touch with Mr. Brady to learn what had been accomplished. There will be an executive meeting of the National Association today at 1 o'clock in the Astor. "EAGLE'S EYE" FOR PROPAGANDA Government Takes Picture From Whartons For Fducational Purposes In Mexico The United States Government has taken "The Eagle's Eye" from the Wharton Releasing Company to use it in Mexico as propaganda. The pictnn- lias been handled thus far as a special attraction. It has been shown in the large theatres all over the country and alfcb in the picture houses. It has been used quite exten- sively in conjunction with lecture courses so as to give the utmost pub- licit}- to the harmful effects of German propaganda. The Mexican Govt rnment has made it possible to arrange showings throughout the republic. The effect 't is believed will be distinctly bene- ficial. British and American Govern- ments are promoting considerable of this kind because of the li vv financial interests of the two nations in Mexico. Tax Expert Engaged WASHINGTON.— The Motion Pic- ture War Service Association has re- tained Ewell D. Moore of San Fran- cisco to represent them here on all tax matters. Mr. Moore is the author of a book on income tax and one of the recognized authorities in this country on all taxation problems. Buys "A Perfect Lady" Goldwyn Gets Rose Stahl Play for Madge Kennedy Goldwyn Pictures Corporation has purchased from Channing Pollock and Rennold Wolf the motion picture rights to their stage success, "A Per- fect Lady," and it will be used as Madge Kennedy's first picture in the fall season. "A Perfect Lady" was one of Rose Stahl's biggest successes in recent years and enjoyed the advantages of a run in New York at the Harris Theatre and afterwards was played in the principal cities of the country. Miss Kennedy's role will differ greatly from any she has had since her entry into motion pictures a year ago. ^ Harold Bolster, of Goldwyn, has returned from the West where he has been explaining the new sales policies to the sales force and looking over the territories that are under his es- pecial supervision. Pettijohn Going to Boston C. C. Pettijohn and Sidney Cohen, of the Affiliated Distributors' Corpo- ration, are both to be present in Bos- ton next week at the convention. Pet- tijohn has been invited to address the convention. Harry Poppe Comes East Harry Poppe, P. A. for Harold Lockwood, has come East with the star and will remain here until four pictures are made. Lockwood started to work at the Bacon-Backer studio yesterday under the direction of Ed- win Carewe. The picture is the Metro feature based on the play, "Pals First." Ebony Film Corporation has estab- lished summer studio quarters in Fond du Lac, Wis. Walker Co. Starts Feature is Being Produced at the Thanhouser Studio The Lillian Walker Producing Company finally got underway at the Thanhouser plant at New Rochelle this week and is proceeding with the making of a feature based on Louis K. Anspacher's play, "The Embarrass- ment of Riches." The film version was made by Roy Somerville. Ed- ward Dillon is directing. Exploiting Serial Paul M. Bryan, of Gaumont Com- pany, leaves next week for the mid- dle west to show the first episode of the Gaumont serial, "The Hand of Vengeance." The show starring Sergeant Guy Empey and Rose Stahl has been closed, perhaps only for the summer, but it is reported that Empey has de- cided to stick to pictures in the fu- ture. , Charles Streimer, of the Green Fea- ture Film Co., left yesterday *ror Al- bany and Buffalo where he will visit the local exchanges. Friday, July 12, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-7.H West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DBNIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter • Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 .months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes "Lafayette, We Come," will be com- pleted Saturday. The second release of the Plaza Pictures will be "Angel Child," with Kathleen Clifford. Walter Abell, who appeared with Anita Stewart in "Mind the Paint, Girl," is playing with Marguerite Clark in "Out of a Clear Sky." Army photographers were on the scene yesterday to take pictures of the Mayor Mitchel funeral cortege on Fifth Avenue. Thomas D. Soriero, manager of the Park Theatre, Boston, and of the Strand, Lowell, is in New York for a few days. The first Douglass natural color pic- ture will arrive in New York in a few days. It is "Cupid Angling," and fea- tures Ruth Roland. The Cinema, Los Angeles, played it all last week. Crest Picture's new feature, "En L'Air," with Lieut. Bert Hall and Edith Day, will be started at Ithaca tomorrow where the aviation scenes will be taken. The Kozy Theatre, Paducah, Ky., under the management of Rodney Da- vis, has been re-open»d, following the completion of many improvements in the building. "Hearts of the World," which moved into the Colonial Theatre, Chi- cago, where Griffith's former cinema masterpiece, "Birth of a Nation," had such a remarkable run, bids fair to make a longer stay at this popular hO'ise than the "Birth" p'cturo. SECOND GOVERNMENT FEATURE "America's Answer" To Be Presented At The Cohan Theatre, July 29 The second of the U. S. Government feature films is almost ready for show- ing to the public. The Committee on Public Information through its Di- vision of Films under the direction of Charles Hart will exploit the picture. The Cohan Theatre has been secured in New York for the run of the fea- ture here and it will be shown for the first time July 29. The picture is entitled "America's Answer," and is practically a follow- up of "Pershing's Crusaders," and will show in a comprehensive manner the work that has been done by our Army in France, as well as the strides in preparation to carry the war through to a successful conclusion that have been made in this country. Fred Zwifel, formerly with "The Birth of a Nation," and Willard Coxey will handle the New York presenta- tion for the Division of Films, accord- ing to yesterday's announcement. Elliott Dexter and Theodore Rob- erts have been chosen to fill the prin- cipal roles in support of Ethel Clay- ton in her first Paramount picture, an adaptation of the play, "Leah Kleschna." The Associated Motion Picture Ad- vertisers, at their meeting yesterday, passed a vote of thanks to the "Mov- ing Picture World" for the section de- voted to that branch of the industry by the publication. Alice Joyce, working under direc- tion of Tom Terriss, and Harry Mo- rey and Betty Blythe, directed by Paul Scardon, will start work on new pic- tures at the Vitagraph Eastern stu- dio this week. The regular meeting of Film Ex- porters of America, Inc., scheduled for yesterday in the Yacht Room of the Astor was not held because of the fact that David P. Howells, tem- porary chairman of the body, had not returned from Washington. Jack Levy, .who for some time has been connected with the New York exchange of the Fox Film Corpora- tion, has been appointed manager of the Fox exchange in Philadelphia, to succeed George Dembow, who has volunteered for the army. Remember that a convin- cing salesman does not neces- sarily mean a' convincing picture. Sullivan Resigns Assistant General Manager of Mutual Leaves This Week Denis J. Sullivan, Assistant General Manager of the Mutual Film Corpo- ration, has tendered his resignation, to take effect July 13, and no successor has as yet been named for the posi- tion. Mr. Sullivan has been affiliated with Mutual for four years, having started in the Milwaukee office as salesman. Previous to that he was identified with the exploitation of serials and played a prominent part in the selling end of the "Million Dollar Mystery." He was, before his entrance into the pic- ture business, connected with the exe- cutive selling board of the American Tobacco Company. Light Entertainment Pathe's program for the remainder of July and for August will be com- posed of light entertainment. The bst is comprised for the most part of comedies, but there are also two dramas. The program includes "Annexing Bill," with Gladys Hulette and Creigh- ton Hale; "More Trouble," with Frank K^enan: "Cupid by Proxy," with Baby Marie Osborne; "The First Law," with Irene Castle and Antonio Mo- reno; "Waifs, "t with Gladys Hulette and Creighton Hale; "The Ghost of the- Rancho," with Bryant Washburn and Rhea Mitchell; "Winning Grand- ma." with Baby Marie Osborne, and "The Girl from Bohemia," with Irene Castle. The Vitagraph Blue Ribbon feature, scheduled for August 5, starring Harry Morey, supported by Betty Blythe, lias been titled "All Man." It was adapted from "Fiddler's Green," a "Saturday Evening Post" story. An O. Henry picture to be issued Au- gust 19 will be called "The Chang- ing Woman." Tsb-iiA DAILY Friday, July 12, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Paralta Plays, Inc., is Sued — Another Judgment Filed Against Clinical Film Co. The Paralta Plays, Inc., John E. DeWolfe, and Herman Katz, have been sued in the Supreme Court for $51,500 by Siegfried Peierls and Her- man H. Wolfe, doing business; (as Peierls, Buhler & Co., private bankers. The complaint alleges that the Paralta Plays, a California corporation, made a note on November 17 last payable in six months, for $50,000, and after it had been endorsed by the defend- ants, DeWolfe and Katz, it was given to the plaintiff for value. The com- plaint alleges that the note was pro- tested when it fell due. The defendants have filed no answer as yet, but that they intend to de- fend the suit was indicated by the filing of a notice of appearance in their behalf by their attorneys, Siegel, Corn & Siegel. In the suit brought by the United Motion Picture Theatres of America, Inc.. against the Chalmers Publishing Co., for libel because of an article published in the Moving Picture World, the defendant has filed a de- murrer to the complaint alleging that it does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. A second judgment in two days against the Clinical Film Co., has been filed in the Supreme Court by the private banking firm of M. J. Kraus & Co. The complaint was based on a note for $3,000 given by the defend- ant made by Moses Bijur, treasurer of the corporation, secured by 600 shares of the stock. The judgment is for $3,085. The former judgment was on a note of the same amount. The fact that differences between the Select Pictures Corporation against the Rialto Theatre Corpora- tion leading to litigation, have been settled was disclosed when City Court Justice Schmuck signed an order dis- continuing a suit brought by Select against the Rialto. Counsel for Select applied for the order because the par- ties have stipulated that the suit should be settled without costs to either party. The Aromac Corporation has started suit in the Supreme Court against the C. & R. Amusement Co., Inc., and Anna Levy for $3,000 dam- ages and for possession of the mov- ing picture theatre on the west side of Amsterdam Avenue, north of 155th Street. The complaint alleges that the plaintiff is entitled to possession of the theatre under a lease made Feb- ruary 22, 1915, and that contrary to the plaintiff's rights the defendants have taken possession. Condon in Draft Charles Condon, well known in the motion picture business, first through his connection with "Motography," which he joined at the time his sis- j ter, Mabel Condon, was New York | manager for that publication, and for | the past year advertising manager of "Photoplay," has been called in the draft and will report at one of the Na- tional Army camps about August first. Because of his pleasing personality and straightforward business methods, Mr. Condon has made many friends in the trade. Lenox Corp. Chartered Dover Concern Authorized to Conduct Business in New York ALBANY.— The Lenox Producing Corporation of Dover, Delaware, has been authorized by the Secretary of State to engage in a general theatri- cal and motion picture business in New York State. The concern is capi- talized at $60,000. J. J. McCarthy of New York, is designated as the rep- resentative of the company. Going to Wyoming Geraldine Farrar and her Goldwyn company are going to Cody, Wyo- ming, Sunday, where they will con- tinue making scenes on "The Hell Cat," by' Willard Mack. Norbert Lusk, of the New York publicity of- fice, will accompany the troupe and look after the news end while on loca- tions. Mr. Lusk expects to do some work on W. S. S. and other patriotic undertakings. St. James Theatre Closed The St. James Theatre, Boston, leased to the Loew interests, has been closed for the summer, although the lease did not expire until September. In the fall, the house will revert to the management of M. H. Galesian, its owner. Application for Theatre Permit An application is before the' Board of Standards and Appeals to erect a moving picture theatre on the west side of Broadway at 160th Street, which is partly a business and partly a residential district. The application, which comes under the Building Zone Resolution, is made by Herbert Krapp, architect, and will be heard at the meeting of the Boerd on July 30. At Delaware Water Gap Walters Heirs, who recently con- cluded his engagement with Metro, will support Gladys Leslie in her new Vitagraph production, "The Nymph of the Foot Hills." Production will start today, many of the scenes being taken at the Delaware Water Gap as summer exteriors are to be a feature of the production. The Unexcelled Film Laboratories and Studios of New York City has certified to the Secretary of State that all of its capital stock of $50,000 has been paid in. The Universal Film Exchange of New York, Inc., has changed its name to The Big U. Film Exchange. Bentley Studios, Inc., of Manhattan has increased its capital from $1,000 to $30,000, and the Napoleon Amuse- ment and Novelty Company increases its capital stock from $10,000 to $25,- 000. Counting "The She-Devil," now in production, Theda Bara has done 32 pictures for William Fox. Influx of Buyers Biggest Gathering in New York in Five Years — Sales Business Booming At this moment New York is liter- ally swamped with film buyers from all parts of the country who have been arriving during the last few days. The Astor, Claridge and Knicker- bocker are veritable film marts during the evenings. In checking up those in town last night it was discovered that Harvey Day of Pittsburgh, Kauf- mann of Providence, Burke of Den- ver, Rifkin of Boston and Klein, also of Boston, were among those present. The independent producers report that business is at the top wave in consequence of the large number of purchasers in town. The South American film trade is also well represented by a number of buyers from Argentina 'who arrived in town on Tuesday. Robertson-Cole Sales Robertson-Cole Company report the sale of the foreign rights for "Those Who Pay" in England, Ireland, Scot- land, Wales, Chile and the West In- dies. Also "The Eagle's Eye" for India, Canal Zone, Chile, Peru, Bo- livia and Equador. F. J. McWilliams, formerly on the road for Mutual, has become mana- ger of the Grand Theatre in Madison, Wis. Friday, July 12, 1918 tMA DAILY Beautiful Star and Artistic Atmosphere Make Old Story Entertaining Louise Glaum in "WEDLOCK" Paralta=Hodkinson DIRECTOR Wallace Worsley AUTHOR Denison Clift SUPERVISOR Robert Brunton SCENARIO BY « Denison Clift CAMERAMAN L. Guy Wilky AS A WHOLE Appealing star, artistic lightings and a capable cast make this entertaining. STORY Old idea has been given new twists and holds well throughout despite many convenient situations. DIRECTION Gave good atmosphere, developed characterizations and lifted ordinary situations by intelligent treatment. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good except for one rather harshly lighted exterior set. LIGHTINGS Pleasing; especially good on star CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Beautiful and appealing. Should win many new friends in sympathetic role. SUPPORT Well balanced and fitted for respective roles. EXTERIORS Good ; not many INTERIORS Artistic and fitted atmosphere DETAIL Good; inserts were particularly well done. CHARACTER OF STORY Considerable meller but nothing objectionable. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,769 feet IF there is any doubt in your minds as to whether a star who has made her reputation in vamp parts can put over a sympathetic role and make you be- lieve it. just give this picture a careful once-over. We get Miss Glaum in this as a young wife who gives her all for the man she loves, even sticking by him after he has divorced her and re-married, and say boys, Louise makes you believe it! She's so denied appealing in this that your folks are going to forget that she ever ruined a t'( v. hundred lives, more or less — on the screen — and I'm sure that a few more characterizations like this will I mild a tremendous following for this very appealing personality. The story doesn't contain much that's new — it's the characterizations and the way the production has been handled that puts this over as capital entertainment. Louise is an orphan telephone girl who is married to Jack Gilbert in secret and when Jack's high-fallutin' parents get wind of it they demand an annulment of the marriage, so that Jack can marry a girl in his own social sphere. Louise comes back to Jack's mother later to tell her that there is soon to be a child but the mother turns her away, explaining that they will provide lib- erally but that the annulment must stand. Louise's child dies and she is about to give up in despair when she meets Charlie Gunn, a young minister, and becomes a worker in his mission, helping to care for other orphan children. During this time she befriends an old prospector, who. later striking it rich, shares his wealth with her. In the meantime, Jack has become the victim of a mining fraud ami is sent to prison. He escapes and a haunted life when he is conveniently picked up ' v '."'-s;' after lw- has been thrown out of a saloon. The officers are on his trail and Louise induces him to himself up. saying ttmt she will try to clear his guilt. This she does, by finding the "poipers" which that Jack v;is innocent and. learning that his second wife had divorced him while he was in prison. Jack and Louise are happily re-united. Herschel Mayall who was the willun who implicated Jack in the crooked deal, was very good in the role while Leatriee Joy appeared as Jack's second wife. Others who appeared were Helen Dunbar. Joseph J. Howling. Beverly Randolph. Harry Archer. Ida Lewis. Clifford Alexander and Aggie Herring. Emphasize Sympathetic Characterization of Miss Glaum. They'll Like It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I think you can make quite a little noise about this, because while many of the situations are very familiar, the story has been given several good twists and the presence of Miss Glaum and a well balanced supporting cast make this class as a better than average offering. As a whole, this has been very artistically produced, and • the star is certainly beautiful and appealing and has been well-lighted throughout. I would lay quite a lot of stress upon the fact that Miss Glaum is seen in a sympathetic role in this and would use her photos freely in my lobby. You prob- ably have some stock photos which you use every time you have a Louise Glaum picture, but if these show Miss Glaum in "vamp" attire I wouldn't use them in advertising this picture. Try to get some straight poses of the star and play up the sympathetic role angle in your advertising. You might use catchlines like these: "Do you believe that a star who has made you hate her in previous productions can make you love her when she appears in a sympathetic role? See Louise Glaum in •Wedlock.' " "Could you continue to love your husband after he had divorced you and married another woman? See 'Wedlock.' " "How much would you do for the man you loved? See 'Wedlock.' " "If the man you once loved came back to you. a fugi- tive and a derelict, would you take him back again? See 'Wedlock.' " Tell them that Louise Glaum, who has ruined the lives of many men — on the screen — in her past produc- tions, has at last been given a production in which she is able to show the sweet and appealing side of her nature, her real self. 7/eBftADSTREET of FILMDOM xfeRECOCNIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 63 Thursday, July 11, 1918 Price 5 Centi NewTaxProposed Treasury Dept's. Figures Not Fav- ored by Ways and Means Committee WASHINGTON, D. C— The Ways and Means Committee is not expected to consider favorably the Treasury Department's recommendations for additional taxation on so-called luxu- ries, which were submitted by repre- sentative Claude Kitchin, July 9. A radical change was proposed in motion picture taxation, whereby the %c. and Yic. a foot tax on film would be abolished and replaced by a tax of 5 per cent, on the rentals received by the producer. It is also suggested that the theatre admission tax of 10 per cent, on all admissions, except those under 5c, be doubled, which would mean the well-nigh impossible burden of a 20 per cent, admission tax. New Selig Features Col. William N. Selig is reported to have three new feature productions which will be shown to the trade shortly. These pictures, as well as other Selig films, will be controlled in the World market by Bengar Pic- tures, Inc., according to a contract re- cently entered into by Sidney Garret, president of J. Frank Brockliss, Inc., Ben Blumenthal of Export and Import Film Company and Coi. Selig. Censors Appointed CHICAGO.— Calvin H. Hill, presi- dent of the village of Oak Park, ap- pointed Mrs. F. S. Shafer, 502 Lake Street, and Mrs. Elizabeth Huizenga, 610 South Elmwood Avenue, motion picture censors on Monday. The two women censors will receive $2 a day for their services. Starring Elinor Field Elinor Field has been selected by James M. Sheldon, president of Mu- tual, to star in Mutual-Strand Come- dies. Miss Field is seventeen years of age and a product of Los Angeles where she was attending high school when her picture possibilities were re- alized by the Mutual Corporation. Books Through Wid's GRAND OPERA CO. Herrin, 111. "WID'S DAILY," New York City. Gentlemen: And we are, as we told you in our letter of June 25th, de- pending on "WID'S" for every picture we book. John Marlow, Manager. Crowder In Film Provost Marshal General in Fea- ture Showing Workings of Draft WASHINGTON. — One of the propaganda pictures which the Gov- ernment is to make in the near future in connection with the Motion Picture War Service Association is to have Provost Marshal'General Crowder as its principal figure. The picture is to be based on the workings of the selec- tive service draft and the making of the National Army. It will show how the men are se- lected and their evolution from plain citizens to a fighting unit in the army of the United States on the fighting front in France. LAWRENCE GRANT SUES METRO Actor Claims That Contract Calling For Advertising Has Not Been ^Fulfilled Because the Metro Pictures Corpo- ration has not complied with the terms of his contract under which he is to be featured in connection with all the advertising and press notices of "To Hell With the Kaiser," Lawrence Grant, who takes a leading part in the photoplay, has filed suit in the Su- preme Court for an injunction re- straining the Metro from producing the play without complying with the contract to feature him. The plain- tiff, through his attorney, William Z. Gold, will also ask money damages for breach of the contract. While the only paper on file in the case as yet is a summons served on Charles K. Stern, the following state- ment was made concerning the suit to a representative of WID'S DAILY by Mr. Gold: "The suit arises from the fact that the Metro did not feature Lawrence Grant as the principal player of the picture with Olive Tell, as agreed in the contract, on every copy of the film sold, and on all advertising and press matter, since it was agreed that Mr. Grant's name was to take pre- cedence over the name of every other player. "This agreement also referred to all lobby display and advance adver- tising. The Metro did not live up to its agreement and I was about to apply for a temporary injunction restraining the production of the play on the opening night at the Broadway Thea- tre, but the advertising was then changed and Mr. Grant's name was featured. Later last week the adver- tising not only at the Broadway Theatre but for the. Chicago produc- tion omitted the name of Mr. Grant and we then determined to bring the suit. Because I did not desire to in- jure the Metro, I did not apply for a temporary injunction to which I believe I would have been entitled. The complaint will ask an injunction restraining the production without featuring Mr. Grant. "The defense of the Metro corpo- ration is that it has leased the pic- ture to the Broadway Theatre and that it is not responsible for the man- ner in which the play is advertised, but we contend that the defendant is responsible for seeing that the lessees of the film carry out its contract with us." Additional papers probably will be filed in the case soon. Thursday, July 11, 1918 Published Every Hay in the Tear at West 44th St.. New York. N. Y. By Wins FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DEXIG, Editor 1 : lit. red at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months. $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Yanderbilt 4551 — 2 Cuts and Flashes J. Hesscr Walravcn is in Baltimore in the interests of the Paralta Com- pany. Lieut. Earle Metcalf, former Lubin star, writes from France that he is well and happy. Distribution Manager Rork of the H:i worth Pictures Corporation, has started on a tour of the south on be- half of Hayakawa productions. Herman Rifkin, of the Eastern Fea- ture Film Company, Inc., will be in New York during the latter part of this week to buy feature productions. The Quality Film Service of Pitts- burgh has bought the Jester Comedies for Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. "Your Fighting Navy at Work and at Play," Educational's picture, has been completed and a print of it is now in New York. It took six months to complete. Mary Boland has just completed a picture for Bacon and Backer, accord- ing to Chamberlain Brown, who adds that Carl Hyson, of "Rock-a-Bye Baby" is to enter the screen game. Sergeant Raymond McKee, who starred in "The Unbeliever," is in town. He has been assigned to special picture work for the Govern- ment. Private Dick Hyde, who was one of tbe most popular boys in the film game around Toronto, and who en- listed in the Canadian Army three years ago, writes "Mickey" Lubin that he is well and is still hammering away at the Huns. FILM MEN & UNDERWORLD BLAMED Funkhouser Testifies That Picture Interests and Underworld Plotted to Oust Him I CAGO— Declaring that the mo- tion picture interests and the under- world are responsible for the attempt to oust him as Second Deputy, Major M. L. C. Funkhouser, suspended, and charged with inefficiency, disobedience of orders, neglect of duty and a few other things, took the stand again on Monday. The statement, made under oath, came as an outburst during a tilt be- tween attorneys before the civil ser- vice commission, over the admissa- bility of extended testimony concern- ing his conduct of the moving picture censorship. "Did you ever receive complaints concerning permits that you denied?" attorney Vincent Wyman asked the second deputy. "Plenty of them." the Major replied. "That's what started all this fight — the moving picture interests and the vice interests trying to get me out of office." Testimony concerning the permit denied "The Spirit of 76" was intro- duced and other pictures were to have been brought in but Charles Frazier, president of the commission, halted it. 'The question of censorship doesn't enter into this case except in a small way covered by charges of | violation of the ordinance," he said. I Funkhouser, later in the day, also j testified as to the charge of permit- 1 ting the selling of stock in a motion pic- i ture venture in the censor's room. The j Major replied: "An operator named I Walley came to me and asked for | permission to experiment with a pat- I ent he was working on for an hour or I two, one or two nights a week after working hours. That was the last I heard of it until this trial. They say I he was selling stock, but that's all 1 news to me." The matter of shadowing private ! citizens also came up again in regard | to a missing report. It is said this person is not connected with t^e vice world but is in reality an attorney connected with the publishing business and in the battle to eliminate one-man i censorship in Chicago. Big Bill Steiner, of Jester Comedies, contemplates "looping" the country again. It will be his fourth trip in three months. Louise Huff has started on her sec- ond World production. The script was originally called "The Song of the Heart." but the title has been changed to "The- Sea Waif." Many of the scenes of this production will be taken at Manasquam, N. J. The Arrow Film Corporation is pub- lishing the "Arrow Bulletin" with the statement that it is for the benefit of state right buyers. The bulletin gives a short talk on the various pictures the corporation controls and also the recent sales made. On the last page is a complete list of pictures, the name of the star and the advertising ma- terial. Irvin V. Willat. formerly chief cameraman with Tom Ince, and later one of the directors of the same or- ganization, is expected in the East this week. It is reported that he will be in Washington in some governmental capacity. A clean clean house profit. show+a —a clean Tom J. Geraghty has been engaged by Frank Powell to write the con- tinuity for a feature, starring House Peters. The story is a screen adap- tation of a novel of the border by Louis Dodge. The Powell-Geraghty story will be "shot" in and around San Antonio. The first release of Plaza Pictures recently announced by W. W. Hod- kinson Corporation, will be "Petti- coats and Politics," starring Anita King. Films Not Included It was officially announced yester- day at the Custom House that the rul- ing placing celluloid on the conserva- tion list do«s not include motion pic- ture films and that films intended for export are therefore unaffected by it. Officials have not yet heard of the order regarding licenses bat it is ex- pected that aniaouncement of it will be made shortly. DAILY Thursday, July 11, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Isadore Cohen Appointed Receiver of Art Dramas, Inc. — Other Legal Actions With the consent of the Art Dra- mas, Inc., City Court Justice Schmuck has appointed Isadore Cohen receiver of the property of the corporation to recover outstanding claims of $1,600 alleged to be due the corporation, which has no other assets. The ap- pointment of the' receiver was asked for in supplementary proceedings on a judgment for $103 obtained by the Lewis Publishing Co. George H. Wiley, vice-president of the corporation, who testified in the case, said that the corporation was formed two years ago and the stock of one hundred shares was divided be- tween him, Herbert Blache and either W. L. Sherrill or R. L. Giffin, but the stock has had no value. The business was formed as a program concern, to act as clearing house for film manufacturers, he said. Each manufacturer was to pay $300 for each picture put out and each exchange paid $500 for a release, New York contributing 14 per cent, and the re- mainder of the territory a percentage to make the total of $500. Mr. Wiley said that the U. S. Amusement Co. of Ft. Lee owes $638. Other releases were for the Apollo Pictures, Erbograph Co., and Van Dyke Film Corporation. The busi- ness developed slowly, Mr. Wiley said, and only 70 per cent, of the territory was sold. The books are kept at Wiley's present place of busi- ness, the Supreme Sales Co. The W. L. Sherrill Co. was in on only one feature. The corporation has a claim of $1,000 against Rotograph Co., which pictured the corporation's features. The Standard Film Co., of Chicago, owes $250 and the Standard Film of Kansas City owes $600. As to recov- ering the claim against the U. S. Amusement Co., Mr. Wiley said that J. M. Shear of that company can be found. "I understand that the Se- ligman banking interests are behind him and will come to the rescue if he is sued," said Mr. Wiley. A judgment for $3,082 has been filed in the Supreme Court in a suit of Maurice J. and Jack M. Kraus, trading as M. J. Kraus & Co., against Moses Bijur, treasurer of the Clinical Film Co., and Siegfried Elkan. The complaint alleges that on January 24 last the Clinical Film Co. made a note for $3,000 which it agreed to pay on February 25, and which was secured by 600 shares of its stock. The de- fendant endorsed the note but when it fell due it went to protest. The defendants did not defend the suit. Pliny P. Craft has filed suit in the Supreme Court against Alfred E. Thomson of 145 West 45th Street for an accounting of a film venture. The plaintiff alleges that prior to June, 1915, he was in close relations with the Honorary Commercial Commis- sion of China then making a tour of the United States, which was anxious to secure motion picture films show- ing complete pictures of various in- dustries and of other things of inter- est. The plaintiff had the concession of taking the official motion pictures for the commission and its tour, and after a number of pictures had been taken under the plaintiff's supervision, from which the plaintiff expected to derive large profit, the defendant sug- gested that they go into equal part- nership in the enterprise and they did so. The plaintiff says that after he had spent $4,000 with the consent of the defendant, they decided to suspend the project in 1916 because of the un- settled political conditions in China, but the defendant has refused to pay his share of the expense. Hugh D. Mcintosh Here The Honorable Hugh D. Mcintosh, member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, Australia, and owner of the largest theatrical enter- prises there is in New York. He ar- rived on Tuesday evening and is stop- ping at the Astor. Mr. Mcintosh is the managing direc- tor of Harry Rickard's Tivoli Thea- tre, Ltd., in Sydney and also a leading spirit in various other places in Syd- ney. He is here on government business, acting as special representative. He carries with him letters of introduction to President Wilson and Col. House at Washington and after his visit to the capital, he will go to France and England. In Sydney, he owns the "Sydney Times" and the "Daily Mir- ror," the "Referee," and the "Green- room." Notes From Indiana Women Operators Are Be- ing Considered in Evansville INDIANAPOLIS.— Women mo- tion pictun operators are considered as ;i possibility at Evansville, Ind. Five of sixteen Evansville operators have been called to the service and all the eleven remaining, except one, are within the draft age. Hobert Johnson, Indianapolis, has filed suit in circuit court against Rich- ard Bruner, asking the appointment of a receiver for the Washington Thea- tre, 518 Indiana Avenue. Johnson al- leges he and Bruner were partners and that Bruner refused to let him share in the profits. The Princess Theatre at Blooming- ton, Ind., will lie open only three nights a week — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — during the months of July and August. A small child was injured and sev- eral other persons had narrow escapes when a motion picture film which was being exhibited at the New Grand Theatre, Crothersville, Ind., caught fire and nearly caused a panic. The fire occurred during the presentation of "The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin." The boy injured was the grandson of George Terrell, manager of the thea- tre. The New Film Service Company's exchange at Indianapolis is preparing to move its present location at 129^4 West Washington Street to the Wim- mer building, Illinois and New York Streets. Metro and Paramount to Clash The Metro N. Y. exchange and the Famous Players-Lasky-Artcraft ex- change are to have a baseball battle next Saturday afternoon on the field nf the Lights clubhouse at Freeport, L. I., at 4 P.M. Joseph A. Golden has taken Leah Baird, Charles Hutchinson and other members of his company to New- foundland for the making of the sea episodes in the Leah Baird serial. Buyers' Lobby Installed An innovation in the new quarters of the house of J. Frank Brockliss, Inc., has been installed by President Sidney Garrett. A visiting buyers' lobby has been furnished completely, both as a rest and conference room, as well as a foreign film journal li- brary. Every motion picture publica- tion, whether published here or abroad, is kept on file for the refer- ence and edification of foreign buyers. Send Your Address Letters held at the office of WID'S DAILY, which will be forwarded on receipt of proper addresses, are ad- dressed to Helen Holmes, Madge Kirkly, David Powell, Francelia Bil- Hngton, Juliet Day, Grace DeCarl- ton and Ann Murdock. Previously advertised: Alan Forest, George Fisher and Lillian Hamilton. Prints of "Her Moment," the seven- part dramatic picture starring Anna Luther, have been sent to the Gen- eral Film exchanges for pre-release showings. Thursday, July 11, 1918 DAILY Japanese Star in Artistic Production of Rather Grim Tragedy Sessue Hayakawa in "THE CITY OF DIM FACES" Paramount DIRECTOR George H. Melford AUTHOR Frances Marion SCENARIO BY Frances Marion CAMERAMAN Paul P. Perry ART DIRECTOR Wilfred Buckland AS A WHOLE Artistically produced meller laid in Frisco's Chinatown; contains no comedy relief. STORY Son of American=Chinese marriage, falls in love with white girl but kills self rather than accept her offer of marriage. DIRECTION Gave excellent atmosphere and made this hold all the way. PHOTOGRAPHY Exceedingly fine LIGHTINGS Superb CAMERA WORK Intelligent throughout STAR Won both hatred and sympathy as Chinese=American. SUPPORT Very fine. Some excellent Chinese characters. EXTERIORS Authentic and well photographed INTERIORS Lavish and true to atmosphere DETAIL Very good CHARACTER OF STORY. .Handled American girl with Chinese lover proposition in a way that kept it from becoming offensive or stirring up race hatred. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,219 feet THIS is another instance where we get a wonder- fully artistic and intelligently handled production of a tli erne that is rather questionable as enter- tainment at this time. Certainly your patrons will have no fault to find with this picture from a production standpoint and the Chinese-American situation has been handled in a manner that will keep it from creating race hatred, but to my mind, the story is too heavy to be ac- cepted by present-day audiences as entertainment. "The Cheat", in which this talented star began to acquire an individual following, proved an unustial box- office attraction at that time and I think that this offer- ing compares very favorably with that production. Times and conditions have changed, however, and the way this will be received depends entirely upon whether your audiences will accept a heavy story with no comedy relief and feel that they have been entertained. Frankly, this is a tragedy— it cannot be called any- thing else. The story concerns a Chinese silk merchant in Frisco who weds a white woman in his employ, that he may have a son to carry on his business in later years, who. being born of a white mother, would "com- bine the physical charms of the white man with the intellect and cunning of the Oriental." When the son is born, the father orders the mother thrown in a dungeon under his shop, determining that the son shall never know that he is of white blood. The horrors of the dungeon drive the mother insane and she continually nurses a doll in the belief that it is her son. The grown son, played by Hayakawa. is sent East to college, where he falls in love with a white girl, Doris Pawn, whose father is a silk importer. Business with the Orientals brings the father and daughter to Frisco, where Hayakawa's intimacy with Doris is renewed. The father, knowing that this will assist him in his business, raises no objections to Hayakawa's attentions to his daughter. Larry Steers, a Westerner who is interested in Doris, is horrified at her intimacy with a Chinese, and to sep- arate the pair, takes her on frequent trips to Frisco's Chinatown, where he points out the filthiness of the race. Doris sees her mistake and tells Hayakawa that she will see him no more. Doris' father g'oes to New York, leaving his daughter in Frisco, and Hayakawa. for revenge, lures her to a secret chamber and after drugging her. makes her a prisoner and finally sells her to the keeper of the mar- riage market. Later, he learns that his mother is a white woman and rescues Doris, who forgives him and offers to marry him. He sees his mother, now an insane hag, for the first time, and realizing that his marriage would only be a repetition of what has gone before, kills himself rather than face her again. James Cruze, as Hayakawa's father, was exceptionally convincing as a Chinese willun, while Marin Sais was very good as his pitiful white wife. Others who ap- peared were Winter Hall, Togo Yama. James Wang and George King. Play Up Name of Star and Support and Soft Pedal the Sordid Theme The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This talented Japanese actor has a remarkable fol- lowing in many communities, usually appearing in heavy roles such as we have in this and were it not for the fact that present conditions should receive consideration in presenting this class of entertainment, I think most audiences would admire him in this. Although the ending is logical, it is certainly sad and although American audiences would rather see him die than become the husband of a white girl at the finish, the last scene, showing the star dead at the feet of his insane white mother will certainly put your gang in a gloomy state of mind after witnessing this. If you play the production, I would advise booking a good comedy in conjunction with it to lighten up the program. If your audiences appreciate artistic photography and superb settings, you can certainly go the limit on this angle in your advertising because this has been un- usually well produced. I wouldn't dwell on the story in my advertising be- cause I am sure that folks are not out looking for heavy entertainment these days. I would play up the name of the star, mentioning some of his recent successes, and would also give considerable prominence to Doris Pawn, who appears to very good advantage in this production. The title certainly does not create the impression that this is light entertainment, so you will have no alibis to offer if you go after your advertising on this basis. ZfcBRADSTREET of FILMDOM xfeRECOGHlZED Authority Vol. V, No. 65 Saturday, July 13, 1918 Price 5 Cents EXPORTERS RECEIVE NEW RULING TO GOVERN FOREIGN FILM TRADE War Trade Board Appoints Representatives To Handle Pictures in Foreign Countries Exporters in the trade yesterday re- ceived copies of the new set of rulings governing the foreign film trade which have been issued by the War Trade Board. It is believed that licenses which have been held up for six weeks pending the issuance of these regula- tions will now lie granted freely upon the exporters' compliance with these rules. The rulings just handed to the trade are far reaching in their effect and make clear just how the Government wants the trade to attend to its ship- ments and what must be done before such shipments can leave the country. List of Films The War Trade Board has issued a new form that calls for an enumerated list of the film consigned for export, the number of reels and footage. This comprises an application for a license. The form must then go to Washing- ton for approval. If the War Trade Board approves it the films are sub- jected to censorship as is done now. If the films are sanctioned, the War Trade Board is so informed and the license is granted immediately. The Government is evidently deter- mined that nothing shall leave this country that will be a comfort or an aid in any way to the enemy. To further this idea, the War Trade Board has appointed representatives^ in va- rious countries to receive shipments of film from America. An exporter thus sends his films to the War Trade Board man in that particular country. Practically a Pledge A form has been made that calls for what is practically a pledge which says that the films will not be shown by any exhibitor who is in any way connected with Germany or Germans. The shipment when it reaches its des- tination will be held up until the char- Z. acter of the consignees is determined. Exporters do not complain about this but they do think these regulations unnecessary when the pictures go to allied countries where German propa- ganda is insignificant. If the rules applied to neutrals only it would mean so much less time and labor. Raw stock has been practically banned for export. Exporters now feel sure that film pirating will be stopped to a very large degree. No unexposed film can leave the country except for titling purposes. With a five-reel feature, about 600 feet of raw stock are shipped to make the foreign titles and this is not enough for pi- rates to make a duplicate print of any picture. In this way, likewise, Ger- many cannot secure any raw stock for munition purposes. The committee of film men com- posed of William A. Brady, Paul H. Cromelin and David P. Howells dis- cussed export matters only in Wash- ington. They returned to the city yes- terday. Allotting Shipping Space A report was in circulation that the British Shipping Controller would con- sign 80 square feet of ship space for films per month. The committee through T. P. O'Connor, chief of the British censors arranged a meeting with Lord Reading who promised to help them. British ships are being used very extensively by American exporters and the eighty square feet allotment is far too small for their purposes. A general call to exporters was sent out yesterday after toon to attend a meeting of the export trade in the National Association's rooms on Mon- day at 2 o'clock to discuss the new rulings. In Time of Trouble George E. Clark, Castle Square Theatre Boston, Mass. "WID'S," New York City. Gentlemen: I found your review a very valuable help in time of trouble. Yours very truly, Geo. E, Clark. McRae Reported Out Universal's Pinch Hit General Manager is Coming East LOS ANGELES.— Henry McRae, the pinch hit general manager of Uni- versal City, who has practically been doing a marathon between the jobs of general and production manager, whenever the regular general manager has been let out or quit, is reported as having finally thrown up the sponge and walked out. He is on his way East now. At the Universal offices in New York it was stated yesterday that there was no authentic news regard- ing Mr. McRae and that as far as it was known at present "he was on a vacation." Whartons Return Home The Wharton Brothers, who have been in town for the biggest part of a week, leave today for Ithaca. They have completed all of the episodes of "The Eagle's Eye" and the studio has been leased to Carle E. Carlton, who will produce his feature "L'Air" there during the next six weeks. Harry Revier will direct. South Sea Feature Roxie Will Show Martin Johnson Film at the Rivoli Still following his policy of keeping out of a rut by presenting something unexpected in motion pictures, Mana- ger Rothapfel will offer the Martin Johnson South Sea Island films as the feature at the Rivoli Theatre com- mencing July 21. This will be Broad- way's first opportunity of seeing what is said to be a remarkable picture made by Mr. Johnson during a trip of some eighteen thousand miles, during which fifty-two thousand feet were photographed. Some of Mr. Johnson's film will be used for educational purposes, but much of it is said to be suitable for general presentation. Roxie has made a careful selection that is expected to supply an interesting feature subject. Saturday, July 13, 1918 TS&ljA DAILY afcBBADSTREET of FILMDOM woman M Published Everv Day in the Yenr at 71-7.", Wesl lltli St.. New York. X. Y. By \YID-S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DBNIG. Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, X. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes < harlcs R. Rogers, Select's Boston manager, was in town yesterday. Sam B. Hardy has signed with Ba- con and Backer through Chamberlain Brown. Pearl White started yesterday on her new serial, "The Lightning Rai- der" in the Astra studio. The Associated Motion Picture Ad- vertisers are soon to launch a cam- paign for members. The Portola theatre, San Francisco, used about fifty large bill boards re- cently to advertise Alice Brady in "The Ordeal of Rosetta." MOVE TO DELAY ELECTION BEATEN N. A. VI. P. I. Decides To Go Through With the Boston Election — Hrady Not a Candidate At an executive committee meeting of the X. A. M. P. I., held at the Hotel Astor yesterday, it was decided to hold the election of the Associa- tion in Boston on Friday of next week. A resolution was made and voted down to postpone the election in Bos- ton and hold it in New York at a later date, \nother resolution which was passed was that all of the manu- facturers present would send their stars to Boston for the Exhibitors' ue Ball next Friday night. A special train will leave here Fri- day afternoon to carry the stars to on. The members of the N. A. M. P. I. are to leave Xew York in time to be present at a banquet on Thursday night at which T. P. O'Connor, head of the British Government's Film Commission is to be ashed to be the guest of honor. William A. Brady, it is understood, stated at the meeting yesterday that he would not again be a candidate for the office of president of the N. A. M. P. I. and it was rather generally con- i i ded among those present that Wil- liam Fox is the most likely man to fill the office. This was stated rather pub- licly after the meeting. \' the Fox office neither Mr. Fox, Mr. Sheehan nor Mr. Zanft could be reached yesterday and there was no one else present to talk for the head of the firm. Alice Brady is on location at Baby- lon, Long Island. She is working on her picture to follow "The Death Dance." J. Searle Dawley is direct- ins. Universal Clambake Today The office and sales force of Univer- sal will hold a clam hake at College Point today. The entire staffs of the various Universal companies in New York will be on the scene. L. William O'Connor, formerly cameraman for J. Stuart Blackton, is now enrolled in the School of Mili- tary Cinematography, Signal Corps, Columbia University. Marion Davies is completing "The Burden of Proof" at the 48th Street studios under Tulius Steger's direc- tion. John Merkyle and L. Rogers I.yiton are in the cast. It will be her second Select. "Bill's Budget." a scries of stereop- ticon slides are being released through the General Film Company. These slides, which are hooked the same as film, consisl of a dozen jokes, mono- logues and 'epigrams. In a recent report, Sidney Garrett was erroneously mentioned as an in- corporator in the K. W. S. Distribut- ing Company. This company was in- corporated by Edwin E. Wolf and Mr. Garrett is not connected with the organization. Called a Swindle Buyer of Worthless Stock Is Awarded Judgment The Appellate Division of the Su- preme Court has decided that Joseph X. ( ohen, a young man who had $20,- 000 he didn't know what to do with, and wdio was induced to invest it in stock of the Globe Co-operative Film Co., which was to produce a South American hunting picture that would compare favorably with Paul Rainey's African picture, is entitled to a judg- ment against Martin C. Wright, a broker's clerk, who sold him the stock. The court, however, decided that Charles B. Toole, the broker in the transaction, who employed Wright, is entitled to a new trial as to the judgment against him because certain evidence in the case wdiich was proper as against Wright, was prejudicial as against Toole. Concerning the film ipany the court said: "The company was a mere paper corporation, it neither controlled nor had any option on the picture it ex- hibited to the plaintiff, and in fact the wh ile transaction was a very common, swindle." George J. Schade, owner of the Schade Theatre of Sandusky, Ohio, put over "The Venus Model," Gold- wyn production, for his theatre in good form with a swimming contest and a cup donated by Mable Xormand, the Mable Xormand Venus Model Cup. Don't forget your credentials when you go to Boston. Some folks weren't very welcome at Chicago last year. M. Ramirez-Torres, head of the trio department of Bathe, is on ay to the Coast to join Ferdi- nand Zecca, director-general of pro- ductions. He will be away several wi eks. DAILY Saturday, July 13, 1918 CHAPLIN ANSWERS ESSANAY IN SUIT OVER BROKEN CONTRACT Comedian Makes Counterclaim for $216,250 — Asserts His Reputation^WasJ Damaged The answer of Charlie Chaplin to the suit of the Essanay Film M fg. Co. to recover damages for breach of con- tract, has been filed in the Supreme Court by his attorney, Nathan Bur- kan. Chaplin not only denies thathe owes the plaintiff anything for leaving it, but makes a counter claim for $216,- 250 and accuses the Essanay of injur- ing his reputation and income by cer- tain alleged acts set forth in his an- swer. Chaplin alleges as the chief defence of the breach of contract allegation that the contract was made in Cali- fornia and was to be performed there, and that under the laws of that State the contract sued on, which was changed by an agreement between the parties, is not valid. He then alleges that photoplays made and originated by him were wide and favorably known as Chaplin comedies or Chap- lin photoplays, and in the agreement between the parties it was understood and agreed that the scenarios used under his name were to be devised by him and he was to be the chief actor. Agreement Outlined He says the chief merit of his pho- toplays consists of his skill in devising and arranging scenes so as to create amusement. He alleges that under the agreement between the parties for a year from January 1, 1915, he was to direct the making of films and each production was not to contain less than 1,000 feet. They were to be dis- tinctly designated as the "Chaplin Brand" or "Chaplin Comedy" and no films were to be released under that brand until they had been approved by him. He says that in pursuance of t he contract he originated and created scenarios for two-reel plays adapted to his style and talent. Chaplin says that one of these plays was called "Charlie Chaplin's Bur- lesque on Carmen," which he com- pleted December. 10, 1915. He alleges that the plaintiff in violation of his rights as author caused the play to be lengthened to a four-reel play and padded it by "interpolated scenes dis- carded by the defendant because they were repetitions of scenes previously used and also rejected because of in- feriority and unsuitability." He also says the plaintiff caused isolated scenes to be taken for this play in 3* which "one Turpin" who did not ap- pear in the original play, was a par- ticipant. Claims Picture Was Altered The plaintiff called the four-reel play a "Chaplin Comedy" and after it had been unlawfully altered the plaintiff advertised and sold it exten- sively throughout the United States. He alleges that the interpretation de- stroyed the merit of the production and made it uninteresting and injured the defendant because he appeared less frequently than the public ex- pected. In this way his reputation a> an author, producer and star was damaged. For his first couterclaim, Chaplin alleges that on the execution of the agreement he was to get $25,000 and for the production of two-reel come- dies under the contract of December i 13, 1915, he was to have a weekly salary of $1,250 during the making of the picture, a bonus of $10,000 on the completion, and 50 per cent, of the net earnings after the $25,000 and the cost of production had been deducted. Concerning Payments He alleges that he produced a two- reel comedy, "Police," and was en- gaged on it to January 22, 1916, and alleges that $16,250 of the sum due was not paid and that the plaintiff had a net income from the play of $200,000, of which he is entitled to $100,000. For a second counterclaim of $100,- 000 Chaplin alleges that the plaintiff put together isolated scenes to make it appear that the defendant had ap- peared in the action of a "patched-up" play which was called "Chase Me Charlie." He alleges that the plaintiff realized $100,000 from this play and that he was damaged $100,000 through the act of the plaintiff in making it appear he had produced it. Blackton Casting Film Coming Production is Backed By British-Canadian Mission ( 'ommodoi e J. Stuarl Blackton has established his New York offices since his reci nl return from ( alii where he completed a series of four spe< i. ils for Famous Players La^ky re- lease as Paramount subjects, and is i asting for his next production. This will be an elaborate film ver- sion of a popular recruiting play, and -Mi-, Hlackton will make the produc- tion under the auspices of the British- Recruiting Mission and with the co-operation of our Government, laptation has been made by Mr. Blackton and Anthony I'. Kelly, who is now completing the scenario. The forthcoming production, which will be launched under the auspices of the British-Canadian Recruiting Mission in the early Fall, bids fair to be the Commodore's most pretentious undertaking. Sydney A. Franklin is directing Norma Talmadge in her new picture, Eugene O'Brien and Ramsey Wallace arc in the support. Exteriors will be taken at Bear Mountain. Clothes don't make an usher. Notes From Detroit DETROIT.— "Hearts of the World" was suddenly transferred from the Washington Theatre, a picture house, to the Detroit Opera House, a legit. The change was agreeable to John H. Kunsky, lessee of the Washington, and also to the Dawn Masterplay company, controlling the picture in Michigan. The Washington played the picture continuously, the Opera House is playing two shows a day. The Blackstonc Theatre, Detroit, 30 Michigan Avenue, opened last week. From 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. are its hours. Seating capacity, 350. This is in the heart of the city. The Majestic Theatre is closed. Re- decorating. It is expected that it will re-open with a new policy, and a plan of "staging" every picture that is shown. The management of the Adams Theatre, Detroit, is planning to run the new. Kellerman picture, Theda Bara in "Salome," and the new Grif- fith picture, "The Great Love." in the future. Can't Get Passports William Wright of the Kalem Com- pany, said yesterday that for the pres- ent at least, there is nothing to the report that has been circulated con- cerning Kalevn sending a company of players to Europe. After making in- quiries. Mr. Wright found that it was virtually impossible to get passports and that any such project as had been contemplated, would have to be dropped, probably until after the war. Saturday, July 13, 1918 TsJi^A DAILY Production Lacking Artistry Handicaps Star Who Gets It Over Elsie Ferguson in "THE DANGER MARK" Artcraft •DIRECTOR Hugh Ford AUTHOR Robert W. Chambers SCENARIO BY Charles Maigne CAMERAMAN William Marshall AS A WHOLE Beautiful capable star handU capped by poor lighting and direction but manages to make few dramatic moments big enough to get this over. STORY Slender as to situations but provides good characterization of girl fighting liquor taint for star. DIRECTION Failed to make it artistic and burdened action with unnecessary flashes — really handicapped rather than helped general result.__ .~~* ■«— whm ihii.,.,1^..,.,. ., PHOTOGRAPHY Some good straight stuff but little artistry with many bits of bad lighting on star. LIGHTINGS Generally too uniform, frequently showed star to disadvantage. CAMERAWORK. . ,.,.,>.: Double exposures very good __-'- but composition and artistry lacking. STAR Held attention despite handicaps and made more dramatic moments quite effective EXTERIORS Acceptable INTERIORS Lacked distinction DETAIL Acceptable. Marriage certificate wrong CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet M the ISS FERGUSON is certainly handicapped in this. The story provides nothing except a characteri- zation for her. the action net work which carries theme being decidedly ordinary with the exception of one twist whereby she forces the willun to marry the wronged "gel" in stead Of herself. The chief weakness of this production is the faci that get the distinctive artistic atmosphere which we have come to expect in Class A productions such as - is supposed to be. Frequently the lighting is de- < Idedly ordinary and on ninny occasions, particularly in Miss Ferguson is shown to decided dis- ■ '■• 1 can be no question about Miss Fer- guson's beauty and she has been photographed many times id show thai beauty properly so that there can be no alibi for having given her the worst of it here. This starts rather slowly in explaining the situation of two children who are left a very Large estate with trdians appointed who are supposed to protect them im the dangers of great wealth and particularly from the taint of the taste for alcohol which had caused the ruination of many ancestors. Eventually we got around to the point where we found that Miss Ferguson was possessed of this taste for liquor and the rest of the film was devoted to her fight to overcome this. Mahlon Hamilton was the hero and he tried to help Elsie with her struggles. Crauford Kent was the willun who slipped her the wine and wanted to marry her and Gertrude McCoy was the sick- ly, sad, disappointed in love, wronged "gel" who had been given the worst of it by Kent. Miss Ferguson agreed to marry Kent and eloped with him to secure the license but when he came to the min- ister she produced Miss McCoy and forced him to marry 1 Miss McCoy for whom she had secured the license. It was noticeable however that the marriage certificate afterwards produced stated that both parties lived in New York : the marriage was supposed to be performed in the South — so far as I know it can't be done. The hero thinking that Elsie had eloped with Kent was naturally a bit peeved but he had an obliging acci- dent which kept him stalled on the road until he saw Miss McCoy and Miss Kent come by. so that then he quickly returned and did the clutch with the star. Others in the cast were Maud Turner Gordon, Edward Burns and W. T. Carlston. Star Will Carry This For You But Don't Promise Too Much The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Elsie Ferguson has been coming high rapidly by virtue of some excellent work in the films and it seems a pity that the opportunity provided her for a big characteri- zation in a Robert W. Chamber's story that she was not given proper support in the way of atmosphere and treat- ment which could have put this over as a real big film. This is not so bad but what you can get it over but you should play safe and be sure that your fans do not expect too much. Center entirely upon Miss Ferguson and the fact it is a Robert W. Chambers story of a beau- tiful girl cursed by m taste fm- liquor inherited along with the great fortune. This is far from being as good as some of the pre- vious Ferguson films have been and so be careful that you do not make any such rash promises because in doing so you would only kill the possibility of being able to do real business when you do have a Ferguson production that you can rave about. In some of the more important dramatic moments, Miss Ferguson does some very effective emotional work and so you can say that she has a very dramatic and rather difficult role to assume in portraying this un- fortunate victim of heredity. As an advertising angle you might use: "Would you feel grateful for a great fortune if you also inherited with it a ruinous love of alcohol. See Elsie Ferguson in Robert W. Chambers great success 'The Danger Mark' ". 7ROVM fOR WIP'S FAILY .•.•.v. in a si R5M17AIL Wcifc/i Your Step About Signing Contracts Many things are happening and many more will happen in the next three months which seriously affect next year's bookings. The exhibitor who ties up his house with contracts now is very prob- ably going to regret it soon. Watch your step ! LEONCE PERRET 1 EK LINCOLN DOLORES CASSINELLI IAFAYETTE-WECOME! (?ZRS\\MQ-\7) Under the auspices of THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT COMBINING the inspiration of Pershing's immor- tal words at the tomb of Lafayette, the supreme art and finesse of a Frenchman and the consum- mate skill of a pastmaster WITH a story of mystery and intrigue, flavored with a throbbing romance of love and war, por- trayed and enacted with genuine artistry by an ex- ceptional cast and a subtle, yet stupendous, patri- otic apoeal RESULTING in the Supreme Cinema Spectacle. 14 5 T &V/AT NEW YORK CITY Copyright 1918. Wid's Film and Film Folk, Inc. Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St., New York. N, Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second-class Matter. Terms (Postage free) United States, Outside of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00; Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Features Reviewed Margary Wilson and Wallace MacDonald in MARKED CARDS Triangle Virginia Pearson in HER PRICE Fox Wallace Reid in THE FIREFLY OF FRANCE Paramount Baby Marie Osborne in CUPID BY PROXY Diando=Pathe Constance Talmadge in . . A PAIR OF SILK STOCKINGS Select Peggy Pearce in A GOOD LOSER Triangle Edith Roberts in THE DECIDING KISS Bluebird=UniversaI William Desmond in HELL'S END Triangle Madge Kennedy in THE SERVICE STAR Goldwyn Mary Miles Minter in. THE GHOST OF ROSY TAYLOR Mutual Elsie Ferguson in THE DANGER MARK Artcraft Kitty Gordon in TINSEL World Roy Stewart in BY PROXY Triangle Louise Glaum in WEDLOCK Par a It a= Hod kin son Sessue Hayakawa in THE CITY OF DIM FACES Paramount Viola Dana in OPPORTUNITY Metro Why Keep on Kidding One Another? Boston ! Convention ! \( i Exposition ! Will it be politics, as in the past, or*will they de- cide to admit that no exhibitors' organization has ever really done anything except to provide an annual vacation for a lot of hard working (?) fil- lum folk and much publicity for certain limelight seeking exhibitor (?) politicians I ?) If they decide to be honest with themselves the chances are that the M. P. E. L. of A. will decide to forget it. If the fellows who want to use the title for what- ever prestige may be attached thereto (a la Ochs), decide that this glory (?) is worth fighting for then we will hear a lot about the spirited election, -there will be oodles of enthusiasm apparent, and many, many wonderful promises will be made as to what is going to happen in the coming year. If you boys who have attended conventions in the past will think back and remember, it will not take much effort to recall that each year (in the convention hall) the entire business has been re- formed beautifully by the few lime-light-seeking officers and bosses who have always run things while the real gang of film folk, exhibitors, ex- change men and producers have had one wonder- ful vacation chasing about whatever city hap- pened to hold the gathering. Now let's talk brass tacks ! There never has been any real strength in the M. P. E. L. of A. be- cause it has always been boss ridden and broke. It has never had a real representative membership. It seems to me that it has been conclusively proven that exhibitors' organizations conducted like the M. P. E. L. of A. are all wrong except as an annual meeting place at vacation time for the inspiration that comes from making new friends and hobnobbing with the old ones. Let's quit kid- ding one another and admit the facts. The exhibitors, to protect themselves, should have an organization, but it should be a business organization and it should actually have money to be in a position to do things. The United Theatres, Inc., was a great theory, but it doesn't look to me like it will or can work (Continued on Page 32) isii4:A >AILV Sunday, July 14, 1918 Mechanical "Movie" Poorly Directed Fails Utterly to Register Margery Wilson and Wallace MacDonald in "MARKED CARDS" Triangle DIRECTOR Henri D'Elba AUTHOR .Adela Rogers St. John SCENARIO BY Lanier Bartlett CAMERAMAN Elgin Leslie AS A WHOLE Very mechanical "movie" with slender plot never lifted by players. STORY An attempt at characterization study that flopped with melodramatic finish that failed to stir. DIRECTION Quite evidently amateurish with players doing what they thought effective; failed to give distinctive atmosphere. PHOTOGRAPHY Just ordinary LIGHTINGS A few good but generally too uniform with lighting on faces frequently bad CAMERA WORK Varied from fair to poor STARS Acceptable but failed to impress SUPPORT Fairly good types but did not get over EXTERIORS Acceptable only INTERIORS Rather good but not well handled as to composition and lighting. DETAIL Very convenient but acceptable CHARACTER OF STORY Just "movie" LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet THIS certainly lacked the spark of inspiration. It is a meheanical comparatively amateurish attempt to present a study of characterization with the murder mystery, court room trial finish that was de- cidedly suggestive of what used to be considered a good climax of a feature four years ago. Margery Wilson and Wallace MacDonald are well meaning youngsters who can do comparatively good work under careful, intelligent direction. It seemed as if they had no direction whatever in this because their work was certainly mechanical and decidedly "acting". The treatment of most of the situations and the hand- ling of various characters in the scenes indicated quite clearly that the director was not sure just what he was doing and consequently left most of the action to the judgment of the players. The day has gone when the real fans are willing to pay their good money and waste their time seeing ordi- nary players walk through a routine "movie" of the old, old type. This is certainly nothing else. We opened up with Miss Wilson presented as the daughter of a hod- carrier who had suddenly become wealthy. Wallace MacDonald was the son of society folk and he wanted to marry Margery despite the pro- tests of his mother. After frequent insults of the girl by the mother, any of which should have made the hero enough of a man to have walked out on his family and married the girl if he really loved her, we found Mac- Donald still drinking and gambling, like a sure enough blue- blood bum. Finally by a very strenuous effort in straining circum- stances. Miss Wilson was landed in a hotel where she eluded a chaperon from the girls' school and ran into the room of an unknown man, from the window of which she saw one gambler kill another while her hero with his head on the table was so drunk that he could not tell what had happened. Then we had a reel of court-room stuff in which so- ciety's son was about to be declared guilty of the murder when Margery rushed in with the announcement that she had seen the crime committed. As an explanation of why she had not spoken sooner, she announced from the stand that she had seen the murder while secretly in a man's room at the hotel. This scandal thought was certainly unnecessary and they finished with the clutch after our weak hero's acquital without ever clearing up the shero's shame. In the cast were Jack Curtis. Harvey Clark. Lillian Langdon, Joe Bennett, Lee Phelps and Rae Godfrey. Better Forget It. You Can't Build Your House With This Sort The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I cannot see any reason why you should play this. The story gets nowhere and never really interests, the play- ers are mechanical and amateurish and the atmosphere is anything but distinctive. You can't figure that the ordinary romance between hero and shero, which frequently got a poor film by, will serve you thusly in this, because the durn hero is such a weak kneed simp that the average fan is going to be mighty cold on him long before the finish. The title "Marked Cards" sounds fairly interesting but has very little to do with the story as screened. You certainly cannot afford to talk about this being the struggle of a hod-carrier's daughter, suddenly wealthy, to establish herself in society, because that is ancient junk. It seems to me that the advisable thing to do is to forget this and if you are in that unfortunate position that you must play these ordinary subjects because you are under contract. I certainly would put on the soft pedal as to any promises of merit in connection with this subject. If your fans are very good natured, they may let you swing this sort of thing by once every so often but it certainly will not win you any friends and if you are building for the future, you had better begin to duck these "movies". I do not believe that the names of the stars will pull you any business, so if you have to play this your only possible angle is to try to develop it as a murder mys- tery. My hunch would be, however, to play dead and let it ride. Sunday, July 14, 1918 ■ttlupt DAILY Sex Meller, Fairly Well Produced. Will Get By As Program Offering Virginia Pearson in "HER PRICE" Fox DIRECTOR Edmund Lawrence AUTHOR George Scarborough SCENARIO BY George Scarborough CAMERAMAN Frank Kugler AS A WHOLE Old material has been given a few new twists. Inconsistent but will get by as program offering. STORY "Price She Paid" theme with sex stuff fairly well hurdled. DIRECTION Gave rather good foreign atmosphere and made most of old situations. Not exceptional. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied but generally satisfactory LIGHTINGS Some very good; others acceptable CAMERA WORK Good. Dissolve of painting nicely handled. STAR Looked beautiful in scenes where she was well lighted. Registered some good moments. SUPPORT Satisfactory. Willun kept charac= terization within bounds. EXTERIORS Some beautiful shots. Foreign atmosphere good. INTERIORS Acceptable DETAIL Convenient in spots but generally O. K. CHARACTER OF STORY Not for children but hardly objectionable. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,644 feet SINCE the followers of Fox productions have come to expect considerable of the sex element in nearly all of that company's offerings I think this will pro- vide entertainment for the particular clientele who have been attracted by productions of this nature in the past. This is a "heavy" meller of the "Price She Paid" calibre and although it contains no comedy relief it has been fairly well produced with the "kept woman" proposition handled in a way that keeps it from becoming objec- tionable. The story opens with our friend, the artist's model with wholesome traits, who aspires to be an operatic- star and after debating as to whether a future career on the stage is worth the "price" she accepts the offer of willun to take her to Italy to study if she will be his mistress. Willun soon tires of her but she attains fame as a singer and later meets a man in Paris with whom she falls in love. He spurns her when he learns her past, and she returns to America, determined to wreck venge- ance on the man who caused her downfall. Going to his office, she learns that willun had died the year be- fore but learning that his brother had continued with the business on willun's capital, she plans to ruin him instead. It seems that every time a woman wants to wreck a man's career in the "movies", she reclines on a couch in a L. & B. H. sown and vamps him 'til he just nat- urally falls and that's the way they framed brother's ruin here. The brother loves Virginia in spite of the fact that she had brought about his financial ruin by tipping off a deal to a competitor, however, and after she told him what she had done and the reasons there- fore, he tells her that he loves her too much to give her up and suggests that they start life all over again to- gether. Curtain. Virginia Pearson appeared to good advantage in most of her scenes but was not evenly lighted and while she appeared beautiful in some shots she photographed to a decided disadvantage in others. The other two artist's models who appeared with Miss Pearson in some of the earlier scenes, overacted in their attempt to get over as the carefree professional model and the attempts of the director to inject a few comedy touches by having one of these models throw a g:ob of cold cream at the other in the dressing room, failed to register. Henri Leone, as the vocal teacher, made his part stand out. Edward Rosen was the willun and kept his characterization within bounds in a manner that made it effective. Victor Sutherland played the part of willun's brother whom Virginia ruined and later married and was rather pleasing in the role. Others who appeared were Paul Stanton, Mrs. Allen Walker and Charles II. Martin. MARSHALL A. NEEAN Pivec-fcoi* op* *Eebecca oP jSHinnybrook Farm* Stella Matte* • -\. *M ' Lira* 'Anwinlly of Clothesline Alley • *Hit-tHe~T*^il Hollid.€iy • just, completed — *— ' — tvo-w directing) JE\&ieTei'<%ti&o*\ ?A&<£? W3 /vof Mair^tietite Clam. in*HeaH oP tfieWild^ H atnb e l* of rov Paramount g)J^ DAILY Sunday, July 14, 1918 Will Entertain Those Who Like Sex Meller. Contains No Comedy Relief The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Virginia Pearson in "HER PRICE" Fox If the heavy type of sex meller is still pulling busi- ness for you I think this will get over with the average audience, especially those who have expressed their preference for this class of entertainment by patronizing your theatre in large numbers when you have played attractions of a similar nature in the past. The story is just a re-hash of situations we have had many, many times before and while this has been sufficiently well produced, it is nothing more than a program picture and doesn't warrant any rash promises or extra adver- tising. Miss Pearson has enough good moments in this to keep her in the good graces of her followers and I would play up her name and use her photos liberally. The title is somewhat of a give-away, as many of your regulars are going to connect it with "The Price She Paid" and really, that is the basic idea of this. You might bill this as the story of a girl who took the "short cut" to fame but found that success wasn't worth the sacrifice. You might use catchlines like these: "If you were to choose between international fame and a clear conscience, how would you decide? See Virginia Pearson in "Her Price." "Is fame worth striving for when it involves a wom- an's most sacred possession — her honor? See 'Her Price.' " "What is the cost of fame and professional success? Virginia Pearson paid 'Her Price' but it was a dear one." "DOROTHY D ALTON CHARLES %AY ENID BENNETT Starring in THOMAS H. INCE PRODUCTIONS for PARAMOUNT Sunday, July 14, 1918 Tjjutt DAILV Interesting Spy Mystery Story Helped Decidedly by Star and Miss Little Wallace Reid in "THE FIREFLY OF FRANCE" Paramount DIRECTOR Donald Crisp AUTHOR Marion Polk Angellotti SCENARIO BY Margaret Turnbull AS A WHOLE Interesting mystery lifted decidedly by personalities of star and girl. Doesn't really convince or grip but holds at= tention nicely. STORY Rather well worked out and possible war spy mixup that will keep them guessing unless they see it backwards. DIRECTION Gave very satisfactory atmos= phere but failed to make dramatic moments anything but straight meller. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good. Night battle scenes effective. LIGHTINGS Some fine, some fair CAMERA WORK Quite satisfactory STAR Pleasing hero, girls will think him "grand." SUPPORT Miss Little excellent; other types very good. EXTERIORS Very satisfactory INTERIORS Good DETAIL Good CHARACTER OF STORY Has some patriotic kicks in titles and action. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4fc5oo feet WALLY REID as an aviator who has made good, telling- his story of how he won the Cross of Honor, unfolds to us in this a very interesting spy mystery which holds the attention right up to the melodramatic finish despite the fact that it seldom hits any dramatic high spots. The tale as unfolded has to do with Mr. Reid starting to France to enlist as an aviator before this country entered the war and we get action in the very first reel that makes you sit up and take notice because we find, in a hotel infested with German spies, that Wally's trunk has been opened by a man who does a rather sen- sational getaway. Following this man into another room in the hotel, Wally is confronted by Miss Little who says that no man has entered her room. Later, on a boat headed for France, Wally finds Miss Little again and the man who seems to be following and watching her. When the British officials board the boat, Wally is questioned and his baggage opened with the result that a document stolen by a German spy in America is found. This was why his trunk had been opened in the hotel and we now find him under arrest but his explanation is finally accepted after wires are received vouching for his patriotism. Later. Wally very conveniently bumps into the shero again in a little French town and now the man who was following her warns him to clear out stating that the girl is a tool of the German Spy System and that he is a secret service man following her. AVally refuses to abandon the lady in distress. Her chauffeur is myster- iously murdered and he agrees to drive her ear with the result that he takes to a lonely chateau where they find, upon arrival, the secret service man and three others have gotten there before them and that the four men are really German spies seeking a document held by a French aviator who has disappeared. We have a free-for-all fight which results in Wally and Ann escaping to a secret room where they find the aviator who has the precious document and also a dupli- cate prepared so that it might fall into the hands of the Germans. Wally surrenders this duplicate and himself and is then forced by the Germans, since their passport calls for four officers, to ride in their car in the place of the man he has killed. When the car approaches the shell torn battlefield and the sentry stops them, Wally denounces the spies and a fight follows which is interrupted by an explosion of a shell which blows the car to pieces and lands Wally in a hospital where he is afterwards decorated for bra- very and told that the spies have met their just punish- ment. He has been led to believe that Miss Little was in love with the French aviator but now finds that she was a relative and so we get our accepted clutch finish. In flie cast were Charles Ogle. Raymond Hattan. Win- ter Hall, Ernest Joy. Clarence Goldert and William Elder. Georc^ Loane Tucke ^feManx Man* Dod^aMilliorf ^Cinderella Man'7 !Joan of Platoburc^ Wtfftt DAILY Sunday, July 14, 1918 Feature Star, Title and Leading Lady. Must Not Be Seen Backwards The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Wallace Reid in "THE FIREFLY OF FRANCE" Paramount Wally Reid has had some good productions in the last few months and I believe that will add to his following because he has had a chance to be the handsome, manly hero and puts it over very effectively. Since Ann Little played opposite him in his last suc- cess, "Believe Me Xantippe", I would feature particu- larly the fact that she also appears in this. The Firefly of France has a good swing to it for a title and you should be able certainly to do business with the war spy story centered about an aviator at this time. I would make a special feature of the fact that this is a mystery story and I am quite sure that if you will properly exploit the idea of not allowing anyone enter the house during the hour that the picture is on that you will find that this arouses more interest and brings more people out of curiosity than if you permitted it to run in the normal way. An ad which would get attention on this would be a cut of Wallace's handsome, smiling face up in one corner with this statement centered: "See how he won his cross in the 'FIREFLY OF FRANCE' ", placing this title of the film in big type across the bottom. Do not run wild on your promises in this and under- stand that there are only a few short flashes of battle action which is all night stuff, but you can safely prom- ise that it is an absorbing mystery story with consider- able patriotic punch Stories Wanted For HAROLD LOCKWOOD Send to Submit With Your Story a One-Page Synopsis FINIS FOX 230 West 38th Street New York HONORARY MEMBER M.P.D.A. Producer o(T^> "JeveY- Scandal" ~ East 4i^ Street New York City . ! Sunday, July 14, 1918 >AILY u Mechanical Handling of Old Material Misses Fire and Handicaps Star f*eggy Pearce in "A GOOD LOSER" Triangle DIRECTOR Dick Donaldson AUTHOR John W. Short SCENARIO BY George Elwood Jenks CAMERAMAN Gus Peterson AS A WHOLE Very ordinary meller that just slides along mechanically without ever getting anywhere or arousing interest. STORY An unconvincing series of "jest happened" incidents that barely hang together DIRECTION Just shot the scenes according to script and made no attempt to develop char- acterizations in a way that would provide a half-way reason for things happening as they did. PHOTOGRAPHY Very ordinary; never approached the artistic. LIGHTINGS Too uniform and failed to light star to advantage. CAMERA WORK Not effective STAR. . . , Handicapped by direction and poorly lighted. SUPPORT Arthur Millett pleasing; others satisfactory. INTERIORS Acceptable; nothing more EXTERIORS A few good shots but generally very ordinary. DETAIL * Painfully convenient CHARACTER OF STORY. . . .Inoffensive but never gets anywhere. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet THIS is just a re-hash of a series of convenient sit- uations that we have had time and time again from the same producer. The same stage coach comes down the same western street "set", the camera- man was in the same spot, the coach stops in front of the same saloon and the same gang of cowboy extras gather around to give the passengers the once-over. Arthur Millet, the cow-camp doctor, gets a message from a dying pal asking him to care for his only darter after his death and when Doc arrives and finds that the darter is much more of a lady than he figured, he up and marries her and takes her back to the western camp. At the camp, a man whom the doctor had befriended, happens to be Shero's old sweetheart and he, bein' a "good loser" and a true friend, says nothing to Doc about their previous romance. Then we have the willun who convinces Shero that her husband is neglecting her and he proposes that they elope. Shero's former sweetheart gets wind of the scheme and follows the pair and there is a shootin' scrape in which willun is snuffed off and Shero's former sweet- heart is fatally wounded. Shero takes him back to her home and here, jest to be different, the director had Shero ride the horse while the wounded un, supposed to be nearly dead from loss of blood, was made to walk along side of the horse with one arm draped over the saddle horn to keep him from falling over. This will certainly get laughs because it reminds you of the pic- ture post cards of a horse seated in a buggy with his master between the traces furnishing the motive power. Doc, missing his wife, suspects the stranger whom he had befriended and after picking up dead willun and returning, finds Shero bending over the stranger, who is dying, his last words being, "Whatever the cost, 'Doctor Jim' was worth it." Doc knows then that he had wrongly suspected the stranger and we finish withe the clutch. There was absolutely no attempt here to make the situations hold water. After we had been shown that Peggy cared enough for Arthur Millett t# marry him he had barely been in camp with his bride a day when willun Dick Rosson comes in the parlor during Doc's temporary absence and after playing his fiddle for a few minutes, grabs Peggy's hand and suggests that they elope. And Peggy, without batting an eye, agrees to meet him at an appointed place the next day. .Peggy Pearce, as the Shero, is easy to look at ana shows possibilities as a star, but she was so severely handicapped by the mechanical handling of events and the impossible story, in addition to being poorly lighted, that she is \itterly unable to show anything in this. Others who appeared were Pete Morrison. Graham Pette. and Lee Hill. 12 iMA DAILY Sunday, July 14, 1918 You're A Good Loser Any Way You Figure. Lost Patrons If You Play It And Rental If You Don't The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Triangle "A GOOD LOSER" Peggy Pearce in Certainly this is just "filum." After this has gone along: for about two reels your audience will commence to shift around in their seats and wonder whether to go out and inhale a little fresh air or stick it through on the chance that the other subjects on the program will offer a little diversion. I can just picture them making this. Very likely none of the cast has seen the script. The director' says : "Now Peggy, Dick puts down his fiddle and grabs your hand ; then — What? Hm-m-m. lemme see — ." Looks through script. "Yea, your husband has been neglecting you and you like Dick — Yea, you smile at him when' he grabs your hand. Alright — lights — camera." And thus do they go through the action, scene after scene, with- out rhyme or reason, resulting in a finished product about as animated and coherent as a pair of front steps. I think it would be niftick to duck this but if you feel that you must play it, you might use catchlines like these : "Are you a good loser? See Peggy Pearce in the Tri- angle Play by that title." "Lee Hill was lucky at poker but he proved himself a good loser in the game of life when the happiness of a pal depended upon his silence." "When Lee Hill discovered that a pal's wife was his former sweetheart he proved himself a 'square shooter' and a 'good loser' by keeping his secret to the end." Peggy Pearce is a former Keystone beauty and if you have a set of the Evans enlargements of the famous beauty squad, you might dig up the one of Peggy for your lobby display on this film. Double Your Chaplin Fun! Here's a chance to please your patrons by giving them twice the number of laughs as the usual Chaplin film. "Chase Me Charlie" will keep them roaring a full hour. A British version of Charlie Chaplin's funniest films. — Taken from the famous Essanay-Chaplin comedies. 5 parts. George Kleine System Dittributort • Sunday, July 14, 1918 ]ftfr«ftt DAILY 13 Old Idea That Fails to Get Over as More Than Just "Movie" Edith Roberts in "THE DECIDING KISS" Bluebird-Universal DIRECTOR Tod Browning AUTHOR Ethel M. Kelly SCENARIO BY Bernard McConville CAMERAMAN John Webster Brown AS A WHOLE Failed to register as anything but ordinary "movie". STORY Adopted waif returns from finishing school a beautiful loidy and wins affections of hero — Formula No. 32. DIRECTION Registered a few good moments but failed to lift this out of routine "movie" rut. PHOTOGRAPHY Just fair LIGHTINGS Varied from good to fair CAMERA WORK Acceptable STAR Acceptable in latter part of offering but failed to get over as child in opening of story. SUPPORT Satisfactory EXTERIORS Ordinary INTERIOR* Will get by DETAIL Passable; cotton "snow" on exterior set very fakey. CHARACTER OF STORY Not objectionable but never convincing. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION. . .Approximately 5,000 ft. THIS was one of those things where a poor girl is adopted by a wealthy New York society woman who is in love with a young man, with the result that when the girl who has been sent away to school returns as a beautiful young lady, the guardian's fiance becomes infatuated with her. Although Edith Roberts has a rather pleasing person- ality, her attempts to get over the cute tricks of a girl of twelve or less in the opening of the story utterly fail to convince. Probably feeling that audiences wouldn't accept her as a mere che-ild, they pulled the old gag of bringing a lot of toys for her when she came to her new home which will probably get laughs because one flash of Edith will convince anybody that she has quit playin' with dolls for quite some time. It was the attentions of hero that caused his fiance, through jealousy, to send shero away to school. Hal Cooley and Lottie Cruze were the friends of hero and Winifred Greenwood and they spent most of their time at Winifred's apartments. When shero returns from school a beautiful young lady, wearing long dresses and everything, Winifred notes that her grip on hero's affections is rapidly slip- ping and tells shero to change her gown as she is much too young to be wearing such clothes. At this point. Hal Cooley, who is also somewhat in- fatuated with shero's beauty, corners her in another room while the others are eating and forces her to kiss him. This is "The Deciding Kiss" which gives the film its title, it making Edith decide that Hal isn't a nice man to have given her that kind of a kiss, although I don't see how this has much connection with the story as Edith's isn't interested in Hal anyway. Hero comes to shero's rescue when she screams and although this clinches her love for -hero, she, feeling that she is in the way, returns to her old home. Hero traces her there but she doesn't reveal herself knowing that she is indebted to Winifred for having adopted and educated her and that her return would break up Wini- fred's romance with hero. Then we flash to Christmas dinner in Winifred's apart- ments with a title getting over that all are lonesome for their little girl. Shero arrives at the apartment and here the whole thing flops, as you want to see shero and hero reunited but instead she says she will always be their little girl. This rather unexpected finish was evidently pinned on after the original film was com- pleted as the synopsis and other publicity given it by Universal states that Winifred gives up her sweetheart to shero, knowing that they really love each other. Winifred Greenwood as the society woman who adopted Miss Roberts was rather good although, due to no fault of hers, her role was not convincing because after having registered her jealousy which contrasted her character with that of shero's, you didn't want to see her triumph at the finish. Thornton Church as the hero played with sincerity and was very likable in the role. Hal Cooley and Lottie Cruze were the unmarried friends of Miss Greenwood's. ~. I >:~_^2igS2^t£K5 iA.P.D.A. •Director Prohibition Is Here! Professional reformers will seek new fields. The exhibitor is going to have something to say about the making of the productions to be shown on J* his screen. _ Keep these few thoughts in mind when you are preparing a production £ s for the Affiiated Distributors Corporation and the Exhibitor Booking Corporations affiliated with it. We have taken a decided stand for clean pictures — because — it is the surest &/ Gentlemen: way to wipe OUt Censorship. /?/ Please send me Nothing but clean pictures for the next twelve months would put all censor / ■■'' &l°,YLl'^k^l^ht i i „..*. „£ u u .i • . ii- •«. « <■ *? ■' Aitiiiatea Flan on boards out of business, because the picture public will not stand for JV clean, wholesome idiotic and senseless rules and regulations which now in most instances / NAME... / THEATRE. CITY Ill Sunday, July 14, 1918 jM^ DAILY 21 Production Lacking Artistry Handicaps Star Who Gets It Over Elsie Ferguson in "THE DANGER MARK' Artcraft DIRECTOR Hugh Ford AUTHOR Robert W. Chambers SCENARIO BY Charles Maigne CAMERAMAN William Marshall AS A WHOLE Beautiful capable star handi capped by poor lighting and direction but manages to make few dramatic moments big enough to get this over. STORY Slender as to situations but pro= vides good characterization of girl fighting liquor taint for star. DIRECTION Failed to make it artistic and burdened action with unnecessary flashes — really handicapped rather than helped general result. PHOTOGRAPHY Some good straight stuff but little artistry with many bits of bad light= ing on star. LIGHTINGS .Generally too uniform, frequently showed star to disadvantage. CAMERA WORK Double exposures very good i but composition and artistry lacking. STAR Held attention despite handicaps and made more dramatic moments quite effective EXTERIORS Acceptable INTERIORS Lacked distinction DETAIL Acceptable. Marriage certificate wrong CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet MISS FERGUSON is certainly handicapped in this. The story provides nothing except a characteri- zation for her. the action net work which carries the theme being decidedly ordinary with the exception of one twist whereby she tones the willim to marry the wronged "gel" instead of herself. The chief weakness of this production is the fad thai we do not get the distinctive artistic atmosphere which we have come to expect in Class A productions such ;is this is supposed to be. Frequently the lighting is de- cidedly ordinary and on many occasions, particularly in some close-ups, Miss Ferguson is shown to decided dis- advantage. There can lie no question about Miss Fer- guson's beauty and she has been photographed many times to show that beauty properly so that there can be no alibi for having given her the worst of it here. This starts rather slowly in explaining the situation of two children who are left a very large estate with guardians appointed who are supposed to protect them from the dangers of great wealth and particularly from the taint of the taste for alcohol which had caused the ruination of many ancestors. Eventually we got around to the point where we found that Miss Ferguson was possessed of this taste for liquor and the rest of the film was devoted to her fight to overcome this. Mahlon Hamilton was the hero and he tried to help Elsie with her struggles. Crauford Kent was the willun who slipped her the wine and wanted to marry her and Gertrude McCoy was the sick- ly, sad, disappointed in love, wronged "gel" who had been given the worst of it by Kent. Miss Ferguson agreed to marry Kent and eloped with him to secure the license but when he came to the min- ister she produced Miss McCoy and forced him to marry Miss McCoy for whom she had secured the license. It was noticeable however that the marriage certificate afterwards produced stated that both parties lived in New York: the marriage was supposed to be performed in the South — so far as I know it can't be done. The hero thinking that Elsie had eloped with Kent was naturally a bit peeved but he had an obliging acci- dent which kept him stalled on the road until he saw Miss McCoy and Miss Kent come by, so that then he quickly returned and did the clutch with the star. Others in the cast were Maud Turner Gordon, Edward Burns and W. T. Carlston. Ma Mway* Product! in ?ix reels — produced fc^i ERT LE oiivT Vill he released by Universal Film Mfo Co. until Aucgii^t. Future plans* oP their release will be announced later — - ;mm>a. 22 TsblJfr DAILY Sunday, July 14, 1918 Star Will Carry This For You But Don't Promise Too Much The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Elsie Ferguson in "THE DANGER MARK" I Artcraft Elsie Ferguson has been coming high rapidly by virtue of some excellent work in the films and it seems a pity that the opportunity provided her for a big characteri- zation in a Robert W. Chamber's story that she was not given proper support in the way of atmosphere and treat- ment which could have put this over as a real big film. This is not so bad but what you can get it over but you should play safe and be sure that your fans do not expect too much. Center entirely upon Miss Ferguson and the fact it is a Robert W. Chambers story of a beau- tiful girl cursed by a taste for liquor inherited along with the great fortune. This is far from being as good as some of the pre- vious Ferguson films have been and so be careful that you do not make any such rash promises because in doing so you would only kill the possibility of being able to do real business when you do have a Ferguson production that you can rave about. In some of the more important dramatic moments, Miss Ferguson does some very effective emotional work and so you can say that she has a very dramatic and rather difficult role to assume in portraying this un- fortunate victim of heredity. As an advertising angle you might use: "Would you feel grateful for a great fortune if you also inherited with it a ruinous love of alcohol. See Elsie Ferguson in Robert W. Chambers great success 'The Danger Mark' ". Our Task " to Furnish the Folks at Home with Wholesome Amusement and Diversion These War Days WATCH TRIANGLE GO— »5 "OVER THE TOP With the Plays that Please and Profit Distributed by the Successjul Organization Established Upon a Foundation oj Efficient Business Principles TRIANGLE DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION 1457 Broadway New York Sunday, July 14, 1918 23 Beautiful Star, Excellent Cast and Direction Put This Over Effectively Kitty Gordon in "TINSEL" World Pictures DIRECTOR Oscar Apfel AUTHOR Fred Jackson SCENARIO BY Wallace C. Clifton CAMERAMAN Lucien Tainguy AS A WHOLE Social problem play made effec- tive and convincing by direction and excep- tional cast. STORY Divorced wife returns to husband after her custody of daughter proves that first loves are best. DIRECTION Made dramatic moments register and developed characterizations quietly and effec- tively. PHOTOGRAPHY Clearly defined and effective in close-ups. LIGHTINGS Varied although lighted faces to ad- vantage. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Beautiful and fitted character; wore "some' gowns. SUPPORT Exceptionally well balanced EXTERIORS Satisfactory; not many INTERIORS Generally very good; some excellent. DETAIL Very good. Some exceptionally well- worded titles. CHARACTER OF STORY Debutantes should see it LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,9<>o feet THIS deals with a divorced couple, showing the ef- fect of the separation upon the aaughter about to make her debut in society, and it has been so well produced that I think it classes among the best plays dealing with this problem that I have seen in a long time. Most of Kitty's gowns were cut "V" in the back, but there was considerably less "C" in the front than she has registered in some of her recent pictures, which was very thoughtful of her in portraying the mother who wanted to protect her daughter from the same pitfalls into which she had fallen after divorcing her husband. Muriel's father. Bradley Barker, gets a letter from his wife, Kitty Gordon, from whom he has been sep- arated since Muriel was a child, asking custody of the daughter. Muriel has been led to believe that her mother is dead. Barker refuses the request and Kitty's lawyer brings her to his home, at which time Muriel first meets her mother. Muriel wishes to go with her mother and the request is granted by the father. Kitty takes Muriel to her social sphere where she is overwhelmed by a world that is new to her and is showered with the attentions of several of the men in Kitty's set. Frank Mayo is the quiet willun who tries to "make" Muriel and Kitty overhears him proposing a party in his apartment, where they can be alone. Muriel, being the sweet, young, innocent — and she cer- tainly looked the part — accepts, feigning illness to get away from her mother. In the meantime, Kitty's lawyer, who has warned her about Muriel's intimacy with Frank, knowing that it would come to no good end. has wired Muriel's father, and he and Ralph Graves, Muriel's girlhood sweetheart, start out immediately in a racer to bring Muriel home. Muriel has kept her appointment with Frank, and Kitty, not trusting him, starts for his apartment. Here they pulled the old stunt of drawbridge detaining Kitty's car after Muriel's car had passed safely, but it was rather well handled and will not jar despite the fact that it was painfully convenient. Kitty arrives at Frank's apartment just as he is strug- gling with Muriel, and I want to thank Director Apfel for not letting this scene run to the point of tearing Muriel's gown or making it unnecessarily apparent what willun was trying to do. After denouncing Frank, Kitty and Muriel return home. Muriel has a cry in mother's lap and we have some very good titles here wherein Kitty proves herself a real mother despite her environment and associates. Father and Ralph arrive at this juncture, determined to bring Muriel back home, but father is won over by Kitty and we have the clutch of the two couples for a finish. Frank Mayo, as the roue, played with a quiet dignity that made his part seem real. Ralph Graves was a very likeable juvenile. Muriel Ostriche was beautiful and ap- pealing while the star certainly registers some great mo- ments throughout. Others in the cast were Tony Merle, George De Carl- ton and Marie Nau. llllllllllllllill(ll«IIII«MlllllllllllllllWI»lll|„ II II lllllllllllllfWIlLlilllBIKiMiHIIt'ifMlll *awi LOUISE GLAUM PRODUCTIONS CORPORATION A Current "Release "tOE-DLOCK. 9 9 24 Bfe& DAILY Sunday, July 14, 1918 Subordinate Meaningless Title With Catchlines and Try To Get Them In The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Kitty Gordon in "TINSEL" World Pictures I don't remember of ever having seen a film in which Kitty Gordon registers the combined beauty and sincerity of appeal that we get in this. Muriel Ostriche also screens beautifully and the other members of the cast acquit themselves admirably, Frank Mayo and Ralph Graves being especially good. The title is brought out in the story, but it is very poor from a selling standpoint because the mere word doesn't mean anything. I would subordinate it with catchlines like these: "The story of how a woman was brought back to her first love when she observed her daughter falling into the social quicksands that had estranged her from her husband," or, "Proving that money and gaiety do not produce happiness where there is not love." You might shoot some questions at them like this: "Have you ever contemplated a divorce? Kitty Gordon in 'Tinsel' may change your ideas." "When a couple obtains a divorce, who should right- fully be granted custody of the child if it is a daughter? See 'Tinsel'." This is in reality one of-those "Enlighten Your Daugh- ter" types of plays, but it has been handled in such a clean, wholesome manner without ever approaching the objectionable stage that I have a hunch it will drive home the thought more forcefully than any of the pic- tures dealing with the same theme in the sensational sense. You can safely recommend this to any audience, and I think it will be accepted as capital entertainment by the great majority. Certainly it will win many friends for Kitty Gordon and every member of the cast. I would play up the fact that there are some beauti- ful gowns displayed in this, as that will pull the women — and this is a woman's kind of a picture. Although this would have ordinarily been a rather serious theme, it has been lifted by delightful little touches throughout. I wouldn't play up the "problem" angle too strongly un- less it pulls business for you. CHRISTIE COMEDIES Please 100 per cent of the patrons of the BEST THEATRES EVERYWHERE ONE EACH WEEK THROUGH FOREMOST INDEPENDENT EXCHANGES 'liSpU^sthethitig; Editor and Supervising Director Sunday, July 14, 1918 DAILY 25 Slender Story Made Entertaining by Characterizations Roy Stewart in "BY PROXY" Triangle DIRECTOR .' Cliff Smith CAMERAMAN Steve Rounds AS A WHOLE Very slender story depending upon characterizations rather than action; contains enough good moments to slide it over satisfac- torily. STORY Improbable western comedy without any "shootinV Characterizations and some good titles make it pleasing as light entertainment. DIRECTION Kept the comedy element uppermost and gave acceptable western atmosphere. PHOTOGRAPHY .Satisfactory though not artistic. One shot registered as "night" was not tinted and showed strong shadows. LIGHTINGS Generally too uniform with no at- tempt for effects. CAMERA WORK Routine STAR Very pleasing in this and smiled as though he meant it. SUPPORT Maude Wayne pleasing; Perry and Chink great. Others true to type. EXTERIORS Kept to atmosphere INTERIORS Acceptable DETAIL Good CHARACTER OF STORY Pleasing and whole- some, playing for laughs all the way. None of the rough stuff we have come to expect in westerns. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet IP you play Triangles regularly and your audiences liked ' 'Little Red' Decides" they will no doubt be just as enthusiastic over this as it is much the same type of story. Although there isn't a kiddie in this, there are plenty of laughs, the comedy element having been kept uppermost all the way without any of the thrills, shootin' or wild stuff we usually get in westerns. Roy Stewart certainly registers his smile in this, but dog-gone it, he puts it across with such sincerity that you get to like him better every time he grins instead of feelin' that he is playing to the grandstand. Instead of bein' a bold bad-man in this, Roy is pre- sented as a rugged puncher with a biff heart and when he tries to arrange a wedding for Walter Perry and finds that he has brought the wrong girl, he up and marries her himself to keep peace in the camp. The "gel" is played by Maude Wayne, who is a school ma'am in a neighboring cow-town and when the trustees inform her that her services are no longer required, she figures that the last resort is for her to become a dance- hall girl, which is certainly a funny thing for an in- nocent school-ma'am to figure as the only way out. In the meantime, Walter Perry, a love-sick puncher who plays a "gittar," has seen the woman of his dreams and Roy. rather than see him wilt from loneliness, starts out for the "gel" after Walter has told him where she lives. Roy arrives just in time to intercept Mollie's initial try-out at the dance-hall and after comparing Roy's smiling face to wicked Bill Dyer's, who owns the dance- hall, she decides to accompany Roy, although she does not know what it is all about. In the meantime, back at the ranch, the Chinese cook, who has all the money in camp, has accepted the boys I. O. U's for their poker debts, their clothes being Sing's security. Sing can't see the percentage in them retain- ing the security so that night, while they are asleep he makes off with their clothes, and appropriating Wal- ter's horse, starts for the next town. There is some funny business when the boys awaken to discover their loss and start in pursuit clad in their western B. V| D's. They arrive at the next town just as Roy, the "gel" and a preacher are about to return, and then it develops that Mollie ain't the dame that Walter had seen, and he produces the picture of his lady-love to prove it. You see, Roy had stopped at the wrong house, but having become infatuated with Mollie in the meantime, he proposes and she accepts him. While in town, Roy had found a buyer for his cattle, so the Chink cook is paid off and all ends happily. Harry Yamamato, as the Chink cook, was very good and the scenes where he cleans up at poker after insist- ing that he "No Savvies" how to play, will bring a bunch of laughs. Walter Perry, ns usual, puts over his characterization in great shape as the cow-camp Romeo and Maude Wayne is quite acceptable as the "gel." Others who appeared were Wilbur Higbee and John Lince. The titles, as a whole, were very good and will bring many laughs. E.k.LINCOLN "Lafayette We Come" Leonoe Percets Patriotic Pr oduction .vV - m 26 ■til'M AILV Sunday, July 14, 1918 Tell Them This Is Departure From Routine Western and Emphasize Comedy The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Roy Stewart in "BY PROXY" Triangle Classed purely as entertainment, I think this will go over with most any audience. Roy Stewart's ever pres- ent smile in this should win him many friends because he smiles in a way that makes you want to enjoy it with him. Maude Wayne is one of the famous Keystone blondes who has forsaken slapstick for "drammer," and if you bought a set of the Keystone enlargements of the beauty squad you might dig up the one of Maude Wayne and use it for your lobby as Maude looks "quite some." Walter Perry's Irish map should pull the regular Trian- gle fans because Walter has been with the organization ever since it started and people have come to depend on him for a few chuckles every time he appears. He has a typical role in this. I would tell my patrons that this is purely a comedy and would use a cut of Roy with his smile in my ads. You might use catchlines like these: "What would you do if you had pledged your clothes to a Chink for collateral on a poker debt and the Chink decided to foreclose while you were asleep? See 'By Proxy'." "If you were going to marry a girl you had never met, would you make the arrangements yourself or leave this trifling detail to a friend?" " 'By Proxy' is a western picture without any shootin', but if laughs were ammunition, this Triangle play woulo wreck our house." 6 i By Your TVorks You Are Known" "Madam Who" "A Man's Man" "Patriotism" "Carmen of the Klondike' RECENT PRODUCTIONS "Turn of a Card" "Alimony" "The One Woman" "More Trouble" "The Bells" "Sierra of the Sixties" "All Wrong" THE BRUNTON STUDIOS ROBERT BRUNTON CO. Melrose A^e. Los Angeles. T HE ONLY STUDIO CONCENTRATING ON THE PRODUCTION OF FEATURE O THE EXCLUSION OF ALL OTHER DETA JREQ Productions made by contract. Perfect facilities for individual producing units with or without contractees supervision. Sunday, July 14, 1918 Bfcftfc ►AIL.V 27 Beautiful Star and Artistic Atmosphere Make Old Story Entertaining Louise Glaum in "WEDLOCK" ParaIta=Hodkinson DIRECTOR Wallace Worsley AUTHOR Denison Clift SUPERVISOR Robert Brunton SCENARIO BY Denison Clift CAMERAMAN L. Guy Wilky AS A WHOLE Appealing star, artistic lightings and a capable cast make this entertaining. STORY Old idea has been given new twists and holds well throughout despite many convenient situations. DIRECTION Gave good atmosphere, developed characterizations and lifted ordinary situations by intelligent treatment. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good except for one rather harshly lighted exterior set. LIGHTINGS Pleasing; especially good on star CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Beautiful and appealing. Should win many new friends in sympathetic role. SUPPORT Well balanced and fitted for respective roles. EXTERIORS Good; not many INTERIORS Artistic and fitted atmosphere DETAIL Good; inserts were particularly well done. CHARACTER OF STORY Considerable meller but nothing objectionable. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,769 feet IF there Is any doubt in your minds as to whether a star who has made her reputation in vamp parts can put over a sympathetic role and make you be- lieve it, just give this picture a careful once- over. We get Miss Glaum in this as a young wife who gives her all for the man she loves, even sticking by him after he has divorced her and re-married, and say boys, Louise makes you believe it! She's so denied appealing in this that your folks are going to forget that she ever ruined a few hundred lives, more or less — on the screen — and I'm sure that a few more characterizations like this will build a tremendous following for this very appealing personality. The story doesn't contain much that's new — it's the characterizations and the way the production has been handled that puts this over as capital entertainment. Louise is an orphan telephone girl who is married to Jack Gilbert in secret and when Jack's high-fallutin' parents get wind of it they demand an annulment of the marriage, so that Jack can marry a girl in his own social sphere. Louise comes back to Jack's mother later to tell her that there is soon to be a child but the mother turns her away, explaining that they will provide lib- erally but that the annulment must stand. Louise's child dies and she is about to give up in despair when she meets Charlie Gunn, a young minister, and becomes a worker in his mission, helping to care for other orphan children. During this time she befriends an old prospector, who, later striking it rich, shares his wealth with her. In the meantime. Jack has become the victim of a mining fraud and is sent to prison. He escapes and leads a haunted life when he is conveniently picked up by Louise after he has been thrown out of a saloon. The officers are on his trail and Louise induces him to give himself up. saying that she will try to clear his guilt. This she does, by finding the "poipers" which prove that Jack was innocent and, learning that his second wife had divorced him while he was in prison. Jack and Louise are happily re-united. Herschel Mayall who was the willun who implicated Jack in the crooked deal, was very good in the role while Leatrice Joy appeared as Jack's second wife. Others who appeared were Helen Dunbar. Joseph J. Dowling. Beverly Randolph. Harry Archer, Ida Lewis, Clifford Alexander and Aggie Herring. HOBAKT HENLEY M.P.D.A. Director o *PARENTAGE,ri Pii-ectin^f MABMAR5H^orG6ldw-)fti feif Current and ^ortticomin?1i,eleas'es': "^ Face in the Dark" 'All Woman" till Odd Peai-f "^Bfe Glorious AdVeatture" 28 jMi DAILY Sunday, July 14, 1918 Emphasize Sympathetic Characterization of Miss Glaum. They'll Like It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Louise Glaum in "WEDLOCK" Paralta=Hodkinson I think you can make quite a little noise about this, because while many of the situations are very familiar, the story has been given several good twists and the presence of Miss Glaum and a well balanced supporting cast make this class as a better than average offering. As a whole, this has been very artistically produced, and the star is certainly beautiful and appealing and has been well-lighted throughout. I would lay quite a lot of stress upon the fact that Miss Glaum is seen in a sympathetic role in this and woidd use her photos freely in my lobby. You prob- ably have some stock photos which you use every time you have a Louise Glaum picture, but if these show Miss Glaum in "vamp" attire I wouldn't use them in advertising this picture. Try to get some straight poses of the star and play up the sympathetic role angle in your advertising. You might use catchlines like these: "Do you believe that a star who has made you hate her in previous productions can make you love her when she appears in a sympathetic role? See Louise Glaum in 'Wedlock.' " "Could you continue to love your husband after he had divorced you and married another woman? See 'Wedlock.' " "How much would you do for the man you loved? See 'Wedlock.' " "If the man you once loved came back to you, a fugi- tive and a derelict, would you take him back again? See 'Wedlock.' " Tell them that Louise Glaum, who has ruined the lives of many men — on the screen — in her past produc- tions, has at last been given a production in which she is able to show the sweet and appealing side of her nature, her real self. cTWme. Petrova in "Tempered Steel >> A he fourth special vehicle of the dis- tinguished Polish Artiste. Published via The Exchanges of The First National Exhibitors' Circuit. PETROVA PICTURE COMPANY Frederick L. Collins, President NEW YORK Sunday, July 14, 1918 jM% DAILY Japanese Star in Artistic Production of Rather Grim Tragedy Sessue Hayakawa in "THE CITY OF DIM FACES" Paramount DIRECTOR George H. Melford AUTHOR Frances Marion SCENARIO BY Frances Marion CAMERAMAN Paul P. Perry ART DIRECTOR .Wilfred Buckland AS A WHOLE Artistically produced meller laid in Frisco's Chinatown; contains no comedy relief. STORY Son of American=Chinese marriage, falls in love with white girl but kills self rather than accept her offer of marriage. DIRECTION Gave excellent atmosphere and made this hold all the way. PHOTOGRAPHY Exceedingly fine LIGHTINGS Superb CAMERA WORK Intelligent throughout STAR Won both hatred and sympathy as Chinese=American. SUPPORT Very fine. Some excellent Chinese characters. EXTERIORS Authentic and well photographed INTERIORS Lavish and true to atmosphere DETAIL Very good CHARACTER OF STORY. .Handled American girl with Chinese lover proposition in a way that kept it from becoming offensive or stirring up race hatred. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,219 feet THIS is another instance where we get a wonder- fully artistic and intelligently handled production of a theme that is rather questionable as enter- tainment at this time. Certainly your patrons will have no fault to find with this picture from a production standpoint and the Chinese-American situation has been handled in a manner that will keep it from creating race hatred, but to my mind, the story is too heavy to be ac- cepted by present-day audiences as entertainment. "The Cheat", in which this tnlented star began to acquire an individual following, proved nn unusual box- office attraction at that time and I think that this offer- ing compares very favorably with that production. Times and conditions have changed, however, and the way this will be received depends entirely upon whether your audiences will accept a heavy story with no comedy relief and feel that they have been entertained. Frankly, this is a tragedy — it cannot be called any- thing else. The story concerns a Chinese silk merchant in Frisco who weds a white woman in his employ, that he may have a son to carry on his business in later years, who, being born of a white mother, would "com- bine the physical charms of the white man with the intellect and cunning of the Oriental." When the son is born, the father orders the mother thrown in a dungeon under his shop, determining that the son shall never know that he is of white blood. The horrors of the dungeon drive the mother insane and she continually nurses a doll in the belief that it is her son. The grown son, played by Hayakawa, is sent East to college, where he falls in love with a white girl, Doris Pawn, whose father is a silk importer. Business with the Orientals brings the father and daughter to Frisco, where Hayakawa's intimacy with Doris is renewed. The father, knowing that this will assist him in his business, raises no objections to Hayakawa's attentions to his daughter. Larry Steers, a Westerner who is interested in Doris, is horrified at her intimacy with a Chinese, and to sep- arate the pair, takes her on frequent trips to Frisco's Chinatown, where he points out the filthiness of the race. Doris sees her mistake and tells Hayakawa that she will see him no more. Doris' father goes to New York, leaving his daughter in Frisco, and Hayakawa, for revenge, lures her to a secret chamber and after drugging her, makes her a prisoner and finally sells her to the keeper of the mar- riage market. Later, he learns that his mother is a white woman and rescues Doris, who forgives him and offers to marry him. He sees his mother, now an insane hag. for the first time, and realizing that his marriage would only be a repetition of what has gone before, kills himself rather than face her again. James Cruze. as Hayakawa's father, was exceptionally convincing as a Chinese willun, while Marin Sais was very good as his pitiful white wife. Others who ap- peared were Winter Hall. Togo Yama. James Wang and George King. ARY Later*. Reieare * Social - ■ ,. _ 60 iMi DAILY Sunday, July 14, 1918 Play Up Name of Star and Supportand Soft Pedal the Sordid Theme The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Sessue Hayakawa in "THE CITY OF DIM FACES" Paramount This talented Japanese actor has a remarkable fol- lowing in many communities, usually appearing in heavy roles such as we have in this and were it not for the fact that present conditions should receive consideration in presenting this class of entertainment, I think most audiences would admire him in this. Although the ending is logical, it is certainly sad and although American audiences would rather see him die than become the husband of a white girl at the finish, the last scene, showing the star dead at the feet of his insane white mother will certainly put your gang in a gloomy state of mind after witnessing this. If you play the production, I would advise booking a good comedy in conjunction with it to lighten up the program. If your audiences appreciate artistic photography and superb settings, you can certainly go the limit on this angle in your advertising because this has been un- usually well produced. I wouldn't dwell on the story in my advertising be- cause I am sure that folks are not out looking for heavy entertainment these days. I would play up the name of the star, mentioning some of his recent successes, and would also give considerable prominence to Doris Pawn, who appears to very good advantage in this production. The title certainly does not create the impression that this is light entertainment, so you will have no alibis to offer if you go after your advertising on this basis. / Want A Real SECRETARY Important Address all letters Secretary Application WID'S DAILY 71-73 W. 44th St., N. Y. C "V/"OUNG man not subject to draft, or young -*- lady with good experience in film business. Courtesy, ability to take rapid, difficult dic- tation, executive ability, thoroughness and accuracy in following up and attending to de- tails are all absolutely essential. This is probably the best opportunity in the film business for the one who can really make good. Many little things and many big things to be done — but all must be approached with the same enthusiastic desire to get them right. Do not apply in person until given an ap- pointment. Write fully giving all details as to experience and ability and state salary expected to start. Future salary limited only by your abil- ity to make good. Don't write unless you know you can make good in a big way. WID GUNNING Sunday, July 14, 1918 iMA DAILY 31 Captivating Star and Great Cast Make Old Hokum Register with a Bang Viola Dana in fight and her pa won't let her, so she puts on her broth- "OPPHRTI T^VT'T\;',, ers cl°thes an(1 goes anyway. Hale Hamilton and Ed- UrrUIVl I^JINI 1 I ward Abeles are at tue hght and Hale tells Edward that Metro he will offer "opportunity" to whoever occupies the va- H r ... cant seat next to him. Of course, this is Viola, who DIRECTOR John H. Collins eomes to the fight in a get-up that makes you think of AUTHOR Edgar Franklin Toto, the clown. It is so very apparent that she is a SCENARIO BY John H. Collins girl in boy's clothes that you think the author has over- CAMERAMAN John Arnold stepped considerable in not having Hale and Edward ,.„_,_ „, , . , , . -. . ,, , discover that he is a she until the last reel, but after AS A WHOLE . .Old hokum made delightful enter- the thiug gets going you know that tne author doesn't tainment by direction and excellent cast. expect you to take this seriously at any stage, and you STORY Usual complications involving girl who don't worry about it, because it provides laughs aplenty. masquerades as man. Obvious, but certainly We have the oM hokum of Hale and Edward taking registers some truly funny situations. tne «boy» to their apartment, ordering the butler to DIRECTION Rather slow in getting started, but prepare "his" bath and sech, which, coupled with Miss kept it funny and injected several touches that Dana's cute tricks and some great titles, makes it go will register with a bang anywhere. over with a bang. We also have a hotel "defective" in PHOTOGRAPHY Very good this who gets laughs because he does all the things that LIGHTINGS. ...'.'.'.'.'. '. .Artistic with a few exceptions a reSular detective wouldn't do. CAMERA WORK Very good DurinS th.e batn ^id.ent1 and. at several oth^ tir?G! „_ . _, _ _.. .. . . ... , ... we have situations that almost become naughty, but STAI* Captivating and has cute tricks; puts this they aiways cut just before anything happens, and they over great. never become offensive, because any audience is going to SUPPORT Very good indeed. Might be called all= take the whole thing in the spirit of fun. cYTCDiADc^ <: *• ♦ Near the finish, Hale comes in the "boy's" room where EXTERIORS Satisfactory ne discovers that she is a "loidy." In the meantime, Viola INTERIORS Generally artistic has sent for her regular clothes, which are smuggled in DETAIL Commendable by her maid. Edward Abeles has a wife who comes in CHARACTER OF STORY . .' . . Old hokum 'entertainingly Just ,in timei° c^f cover Viola's hat in her hubby's apart- presented. Almost a Keystone at times, but ment and the plot thickens until Viola s pa who had most audiences will think it great stuff. been told by the defective that Viola had been mur- icvrTUAcnnAm.^TiAM • * i * * dered, arrives and clears the mystery. Hale captures LENGTH OF PRODUCTION . . .approximately 5,000 feet Viola for nig,n and Edwara and his spouse kiss and make up. THIS thing doesn't really get to you at the start, Edward Abeles, who was Hale's Pal, was starred in but along about the beginning of the second reel, "Ready Money" and other early Paramount releases, and it begins to get very funny and keeps up the pace js well-known on Broadway. Hale Hamilton is another to the finish. From the second reel on I have a hunch Broadway favorite, and once did a Keystone for Mack that the average audience is going to excuse the obvious Sennett. His work in this establishes him as a real story and old hokum and fairly eat this up. As far as nild for pictures. Frank Currier is great as Viola's father the title is concerned, the "Opportunity" is mostly Miss while Joseph Burke as the "nut" detective and Frank Dana's and, say boy, she certainly commands your at- Lyon as the butler made their roles stand out. Elsie tention and slips you some real chuckles all through this. MacLeod was Miss Dana's maid, and Sally Crute was The real fun starts when Viola wants to go to a prize Edward's wife. I Redin&M Barkeiv ] — directmfif 32 ttfcjpt DAILY Sunday, July 14, 1918 Play Up Star and Exceptional Cast; Make It Plain That This Is Comedy The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Viola Dana in "OPPORTUNITY" Metro This has been produced purely for laughing purposes and as such, it certainly ought to register big with audi- ences anywhere. Miss Dana has established quite a fol- lowing in many communities and her work in this will surely captivate the most hardened fan. I would also make some noise about the supporting cast in this as several of them have been starred individually on the stage or in pictures in the past, and their names should pull business. I don't think the title will pull any business, because it does not suggest that this is a comedy. Metro cer- tainly lost an opportunity when they pinned it on this for a title. To make up for the shortcomings of the title I would subordinate it with catchlines like these: "The laughable predicaments that befell a girl who dressed up like a man so she could attend a prize fight." "The embarrassing circumstances that confronted two men when they discovered that their adopted "pal" was a girl in boy's clothes." You might use some K. C. B. style of copy like this : VIOLA DANA didn't want to be a girl . . . BE- CAUSE GIRLS couldn't attend prize fights ... SO SHE appropriated brother's clothes . . . AND TWO well meaning men . . . TOOK HER to their apartment . . . AND TOLD the butler ... TO GIVE the "boy" a bath . . . AND EVERYTHING . . . AND THEN Viola knew . . . WHEN A feller needs a friend . . . BUT SHE wiggled out . . . WITHOUT RUINING her reputation ... OR ANYTHING . . . BUT SHE had her little difficulties . . . AND YOU'LL laugh at her predicament . . . WHEN YOU see her ... IN "OP- PORTUNITY" . . . WE THANK YOU. Run this copy one line under another, a la Kenny Beaton. Why Keep on Kidding One Another? (Continued from Page 1) out. Far from the proper number of days have been signed and the personnel of the management in many ways has been a handicap. Mr. Berst came in quite late. Mr. Ochs haa too many ene- mies and when he continued on the job these per- sisted in refusing to tie in money with United. I am convinced that United cannot be put over without an "angel," and resorting to that method would not be playing fair with those who have put up coin for stock. There are troublesome days coming. Every ex- hibitor owes it to himself to do a lot of very tall thinking. He should investigate the situation carefully and then DO SOMETHING! So far as I can see the affiliated plan looks square and capable of real fulfillment. I am going to go into all the details of their plans this week and will tell you what I think next week. But if you can't get to Boston, don't lose any sleep about it. We will probably have the usual bunk with possibly more politics than usual, but it really doesn't matter much what any exhibitors' organization of a non-business character does. What you should be concerned in is what will happen to the United and the Affiliated. So far as I can see the Affiliated has all the best of it. Will tell you all about both next week. Meanwhile, if you have a vacation coming to you, chase along to Boston. You'll find a lot of regular fellers there and everybody always has a good time. You might even grab a few good ideas from all the chatter that will be spilled. Anyway, watch the indicator ! Delivery Delays Owing to the unprecedented conditions con- fronting the railroads and the confusion naturally following, from time to time your copy of "WID'S DAILY" may be a day or several days late. It is impossible to avoid this. Uncle Sam is doing his best, but delays, especially in the deliv- eries of printed matter, are impossible to avoid at this time. Be patient. If the delays become too irksome let us know. "WID'S DAILY." One of the Worlds greatest manufacturers wants his employees to be 100^ American. f H Im rfl '4mm *K&& TV&° ,TiM> CA^1 v& 0& $&*- CO ^v^ .<« *^° ,#«>* .FN'- „»*»» p* ?rt°7 o**° JM»e a*, l9\B. 1,-0) 9*. **' fli* B* 40^ AO^1 et« $3^1 si° so 3* At**' V* CO' a6'' el& .tvd. o1^0. CO- ^o^ «nss 6»t it> 1* ^jet? P^-^ A'First National" Attraction Directed by William Nigh Scenario by ChasALogue He shows Amba/yddor Jamey \rVGarard:r MY FOUR YCAB/ IN GERMANY to h i-r 3 500 Employee/" Produced by Mark M. Dintenfa/v* and Harry M.Warmer Foreign Rights Hiller and Wilk , Londacre Bldd. New York % ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ * ♦ ♦,♦ ♦,♦ ♦,♦ ♦,♦ ♦,♦ ♦,♦ ♦„♦ ♦,♦♦,♦♦, J ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦>♦>♦>♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦* > ■♦♦♦ ♦♦ ♦♦♦♦<♦« V W ♦♦ ♦♦ ♦♦ ♦♦ ♦> ♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦>♦♦ ♦*♦ ♦♦ t«V#« V* ^%0^*^0**<*<^^*V0%*%0<0V0^^V*v^^^0<^^^^<^**^^^^*^%0V^^^^^^^^ Releasi?ig Arrangements of Part 2 and conclusion of "Tarzan Of The Apes" w/7/ fe announced shortly National Film Corporation of America during the forthcoming year WILL PRODUCE 26 Capitol Comedies with "SMILING BILL PARSONS" 6 De Luxe Specials starring dainty "BILLIE RHODES" TWO SUPER-DRAMAS National Film Corporation of America 1604 Broadway, New York STUDIOS— HOLLYWOOD, CAL. HARRY L. REICHENBACH General Representative U ♦♦♦♦♦•♦♦♦♦♦♦♦• ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦•♦*♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦>♦♦♦♦♦♦***♦>♦♦♦"#♦•♦♦•♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦'♦♦*♦**♦♦♦•♦♦♦♦••»♦♦♦•♦*'♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ■»♦•*♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦* ♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦*>♦'♦*♦* .«♦,♦♦>♦.♦♦.*♦♦♦.♦•,♦♦.♦♦.*♦>♦.♦♦,♦♦, ■»'♦ ♦'♦ ♦> ♦*♦ ♦'» * vv» »'♦♦'♦ »'♦ ♦'♦ ♦'♦ ♦' 7A>B&ADSTREET of FILMDOM Sunday, July 21, 1918. mm Vol. V, No. 73 7/fc>RKQGHIZED Authority • *l MDGttA tMA DAILY Sunday. July 21, 1918. Excess Footage Meller. Has Merit But is Badly in Need of Editing Anna Lnther in "HER MOMENT" Author's Photoplays — General Film DIRECTOR Frank Beal AUTHOR Samuel H. London AS A WHOLE Re=edited and cut to five reels, this would be acceptable offering. STORY Things certainly happened obligingly in latter part of offering, but characterizations make it fairly interesting except for long= drawn=out detail in first three reels. DIRECTION Provided excellent atmosphere and made characterizations convincing, but action suffered because of slow development of plot and much unnecessary detail. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good; at times exceptional. LIGHTINGS Varied from fine to fair CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Appealing in role that called for variety of expression. SUPPORT Very good. Some exceptional charac= terizations. EXTERIORS Foreign atmosphere effective and convincing. INTERIORS Some very good; generally satis= factory. DETAIL Much too much in first three reels and not enough when it was needed later. CHARACTER OF STORY Drags terribly through first few reels and is painfully convenient near finish, but objectionable details have been rather well handled. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 6,8oo feet THERE is much in this that is very good and much more that is decidedly ordinary, the production, as it stands, being about two reels too long. The story opens in the Balkans where Ann Luther and William Garwood are sweethearts, and al- though sonic very good atmosphere is provided through- out the first three reels, they take so much footage and unnecessary detail in planting the story and introducing the characters that you commence to get uneasy wait- ins' for something to happen. Hero goes to America where he becomes a mining engineer, and Shero, who is left behind, is sold by her greedy father to willnn Frank Brownlee at auction and is forced to be his slave and mistress' for two years ac- cording to the accepted customs of that country. The foreign detail here was exceptionally well handled and we had some remarkable types, but there was much too much of it with the result that the story was painfully slow in getting started. After Shero's term of slavery was up, she found that a volcanic eruption had destroyed her former home so willun takes her to America. It very obligingly hap- pened that they landed in the same small town where hero is engaged, and when the boys in the camp get hero soused they take him to her cabin, where he re- mains for the night. Shero recognizes hero but, shamed, does not disclose her identity and hero leaves for New York the next day without knowing that the girl who cared for him was his former sweetheart, which was certainly unconvincing in face of the circum- stances. In the meantime, a friend of shero's from the old country comes to America in answer to her plea for help and kills off willun, after which shero departs for New York in search of her sweetheart. She very conveniently bumps into him on the street, but being heavily veiled, purely for the purposes of the scenario, is not recog- nized and a cop. taking her for a street walker, arrests her before she can reveal her identity. Shero is taken to the reform court and hero, being interested in her case, also for the purpose of the scenario, goes to the station, where he is allowed to hear her testimony from behind a curtain. Hearing her name, he rushes into the room and we finish with the clutch. While in the early part of the offering we had much unnecessary detail that had little bearing on the story, after the action shifted to America they jumped from the Balkans to New York, thence to the west and back again with surprising rapidity and lack of explanation. From the fourth reel on you know how this was going to end and yet they kept stalling along and placing dif- ferent obstacles in the way of hero and shero meeting in a way that became boresome" instead of providing suspense. William Lowery gave a wonderful characterization as shero's father and Frank Brownlee was mean enough as the willnn. William Garwood was a pleasing hero, while others who appeared were: Alida Jones. Bert Hadley. J. L. Franck. Anne Schaefer. Leon Kent. Mur- doch McQuarrie, Walter Bytell. Eugene Owen and Scott Beall. Will Get By, But I Wouldn't Go Out of My Way to Get It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If this w>s re-edited and cut down to proper footage, it would be a more than average offering, but in its present form it misses tire badly. We have many effec- tive bits in this, including a volcanic eruption, done in miniature, which is as good as anything I have seen. but there is so much unnecessary detail in the beginning and so many painfully convenient happenings in the lat- ter part of the offering that it keeps this from being more than jusi an average program feature This can still be saved by editing, and T would cer- tainly insist upon tins being done before I ma.de any strenuous effort to get it or paid out extra money for it as a special. They start this out with some lengthy preachment titles that make you think you are going to see a "Why Girls Co Wrong" production, but on account of the for- eign atmosphere and the wandering story, this never impresses as that kind of a film. Anna Luther appears to rather good advantage, but as she hasn't appeared in enough productions recently to rreate a real following, I don't think that her presence is going to mean much from a box-office standpoint. You might bill this as "The story of a Balkan GM who suffered the tortures of hell, but finally found hap- piness and her sweetheart in America." The stills showing the foreign atmosphere are more likely to prove business chasers than business getters, so I would sidetrack these in my lobby display. If your audiences are not too critical, they will accept this in its present form, but certainly no one will rave about it or tell their friends to see it. Sunday, July 21, 1918. DAILY Routine Program Production. Won't Cause Any Serious Complaints June Caprice in "MISS INNOCENCE" Fox DIRECTOR Harry Millarde AUTHOR Frances Crowley SCENARIO BY Thomas Fallon CAMERAMAN Nat Leach AS A WHOLE Good production of sloppy story adequately acted will get by as "between= times" feature. STORY Girl who inherits mother's love of fast company and can't help being a salamander; good idea clumsily worked out. DIRECTION Good; got most of acting values PHOTOGRAPHY Verv good LIGHTINGS Generally satisfactory CAMERA WORK Some clever fade=ins for close=up purposes, particularly in opening scenes. STAR Obedient SUPPORT Marie Shotwell and Carlton Macey good EXTEIORS Well selected INTERIORS Atmospheric in convent scenes; others average. DETAIL Titling not inspired although sat= isfaetory; but much of picture's value lies in intelligent work of cutter. CHARACTER OF STORY Should have some appeal to women on moral grounds. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet THE principal innocence of this is innocence of drama. It isn't exactly a piece of virgin stupidity. however, for it has a certain hang-together char- acter after the fashion of the house-that- Jack-built; and that doubtless will let it by as a between -times feature in "pop" houses. In a way. it is a blessing that all of the plot was not thrown on the screen, for it is a darned complicated affair: and even if every explanatory subtitle did contain about 5 different ideas that would get over better with breathing spaces between, the agony that might have been prolonged over scenes of persecuted womanhood was considerably shortened thereby, and no one may kick ' The story runs into two generations for the purpose of explaining the "heroine's"- inherited taste for wine, slackers and song; and judging by all we saw, the mother must have had a much worse time of it than her eye-rolling daughter. You see, it was necessary to rake up the family past in this heart-rending manner in order to prove that June wasn't responsible for being wicked. As in all vehicles designed for the exploitation of an ingenue's cliarms. this follows the heroine from the time she is left as an infant waif on the convent piazza until her matrimonial end. She is badly situated at the beginning in other respects, for her father is serving a prison term for an undescribed or indescribable offense, and her mother is hitting the high spots with the man who really committed the crime for which the father was jugged. She also has an allowance of $10 per month, a subtle little touch that goes to show that the cost of living wasn't as serious 15 years ago as it is now. That fifteen years suffices to bring "Giggles" to motion picture womanhood and into the clutches of the willun who "fascinated" the mother and left her to die. At this juncture there intervenes some clumsy continuity that contrives to bring June into the house- hold of the handsome young man planted for her by the author as the son of the friend of her father ami through that connection the enemy of the willun who ruined her mother. The 15 years also suffices to close the father's prison term and bring him forth with threats to overthrow the willun. His evidence is mysterious, but it must be good, having had time like Scotch whiskey, in which to im- prove. In all events, the willun is scared to death of him. and in order to get something on him and on the father of June's fiancee, he gives a party for June and gets her pickled technically so that the scandal ensuing- will act like German gas and camouflage his dirty work. Anyway, a mysterious hand, holding a revolver, after- ward identified as belonging to June's father, shoots the willun dead. June's fiancee is tried for the murder and convicted, and then acquitted when June's father confesses. Another trial then takes place for the father and he is acquitted to the tune of wedding bells. It's all clear as mud. June behaves just as the director bade her. and so do most of the others. Marie Shotwell is very good as the mother and Carlton Macey is cred- itable as the father. Others concerned are Robert Walker. Frank Beamish, Carlton Macey and Mrs. Carl- ton. Current 'Release 'tOEVLOClC' tMA DAILY Sunday, July 21, 1918. Will Get By, But No One Will Enthu se Over It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor June Caprice in "MISS INNOCENCE" Fox You are not apt to do very big business with this be- cause the story isn't there. It is well produced, how- ever, and the cutting was done intelligently enough to cover a lot of the bad spots. In spite of the fact that "Miss Innocence" is the title, it will not be to your ad- vantage in the advertising to harp much on its virtue. Don't promise anything to an intelligent patronage save a new June Capi-ice picture adequately acted and well photographed. If you promise much more you'll be getting the crowd to your theatre under false pretenses. There is enough in the heroine's alibi of attributing her love to high life to her mother to let you claim a morale for the play, and to permit you to emphasize the fact that it is "the story of a pure and pretty girl pitted against the selfishness and sophistication of the world." But watever you do in the way of advertising, don't convey the idea that it's off color. In the first place, it's not that; and even if it was, the statement would act only as a boomerang on your business in the long run. Your biggest hope on the picture lies for you in the number of June Caprice fans you have in your clientele. If you have a number of them the day is saved for you; if you haven't — well, the success of it depends whether your gang is willing to take 'em as they come and feel satisfied with the week's percentage at your theatre. In short, it looks very much as though this is one of those hang-over pictures that has been on the shelf waiting to be unloaded at the fag-end of the season. EHSIIIISlBISiailEiaillSllIllIllIiaillSSIIIlllSlllll^ H S3 THE GREAT HOUSE OF IDODt WITH 52 BRANCHES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD Releasing Meritorious Money-Makers Through the Best States-Right Exchanges The Hand of Vengeance AN AMAZING PHOTO-SERIAL Ten Thrilling 2-Reel Episodes. Startling, Sensational — and Clean. Will Keep Theatres Filled Through Every Episode mNews( ) The Graphic fe) Every Tuesday The News-Reels of REAL News «Gaun)oi?t- The Only Independent News Service. Official War Pictures, and an Exclusive Corps of Trained News-Gatherers Everywhere 6aumont Co. FLUSHING, N. Y. B SI Sunday, July 21, 1918. •tft^b DAILY Routine Treatment of Very Ancient Story. Is Just a Movin' Pi'ture Carlyle Blackwell in "THE GOLDEN WALL" World Pictures DIRECTOR Dell Henderson AUTHOR Clara Beranger SCENARIO BY Clara Beranger CAMERAMAN Louis Ostland AS A WHOLE Very ancient material with good and bad spots. Most folks will have the finish doped out from the start. STORY Our old friend the "Incog Prince," who lands a bride by keeping his title secret. DIRECTION Not distinctive. Didn't work up any suspense with result that you knew what was going to happen all through this. PHOTOGRAPHY Just ordinary with result that a few good bits stood out in such contrast that it looked as though they didn't belong. LIGHTINGS Varied from good to ordinary CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Was pleasing, but story was so obvious that he really didn't get to you. SUPPORT Satisfactory; you wanted to see more of Johnny Hines; his small part stuck out. EXTERIORS Some beautiful; others ordinary INTERIORS Satisfactory DETAIL Convenient with several noticeable slips CHARACTER OF STORY Not objectionable but doesn't interest. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet MAYBE the folks who take them as they come and say nothing will accept this as entertainment, but it certainly is very, very old stuff and nothing has been done to make it distinctive or lift the ancient story. It's just "movie." As soon as the story opens and hero, as the Marquis Some-thing-or-other, has hocked the "jools" and started for America, your folks are going to slide back into a comfortable position and say, "Well, here we are again." Of course, hero keeps his title secret and gets a job managing shero's estate, and the rest of the story is so obvious that you can close your eyes at intervals of ten minutes and know just what has happened during the interim. To make a hero out of hero they had him rescue shero's dog from the river, and they sure had some time making the dog play that he was drowning. After hero brought him safely to shore, Bowser was just rarin' to go back into the water again. We had considerable business between hero and Madge Evans, who was shero's little sister, but it just made footage and had little to do with the plot. Shero was in the habit of taking horseback rides alone, and on one of these occasions she and hero, who had followed her, are locked in a tower. Shero accuses hero of framing this on purpose and slaps him on the wrist, and she does, after which hero conveniently finds a rope and goes to the ground for help, making a jump from the roof to a nearby tree, a la Doug, on the way down. During the time they are in the tower, heTO says that he would never consider marrying her unless she was as poor as he, or he as rich as she, so later, she asks to be left out of papa's will so she can marry hero. In the meantime, Johnny Hines has gone west to invest in the oil scheme, for which hero had furnished the money on a fifty-fifty basis and he returns, just when you expect him to. with scads of money, Hero's share of which makes him rich. Hero and shero are then united, and of course everything is rosy when she learns that he has a title and everything besides. Johnny Hines had little to do, but did that well, and you wanted to see more of him ; he lifted the finish of this decidedly. Evelyn Greely was an acceptable shero and others who appeared were Winifred Leighton. Jack Drumier. Florence Coventry. George McQuarrie, Louise de Rigne, Kate Lester and A. G. Corbell. TsltijA DAEL.Y Sunday, July 21, 1918. Will Get By If They're Not Particular. Let It Ride Easy The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Carlyle Blackwell in "THE GOLDEN WALL" World Pictures If this is coming along to you and on a one-a-week basis I suppose you can get it over without any se- rious complaints, but certainly no one is going to rave over it. I don't think the title means anything, "The Golden Wall" being referred to in the story as the riches which separate hero and shero. This film isn't terrible — it just doesn't get to you We have the same old situations that have been done to death in the past; there is no suspense because any- one is going to be three reels ahead of the story all the time. What entertainment that may be derived from the production will be simply the few little touches that we get now aud then. It's just a movin' pi'ture, and there are so many really good productions being made that I don't think folks will relish such obvious stuff as we get here being handed them. The days of the ordinary "movie" have passed. If you play this you might bill it as "The story of a titled Englishman who refused to marry a girl because she was rich." You might use catchlines like this: "Would you insist on ar heiress becoming poor be- fore you married her? See 'The Golden Wall'." "If you learned that your fiancee's father had robbed your estate would vou waive action on account of the girl? See 'The Golden Wall'." I would place most of my advertising on the names of Mr. Blackwell. Evelyn Greeley, Madge Evans and Johnny Hines. You can tell them that this is clean and wholesome, but I wouldn't make any promises further than that. Martin Johnson's Thrilling Pictorial Adventure "Among The Cannibal Isles of the South Pacific' Featured— This Week AT THE RIVOLI World's Finis/ Photo Play Housi Martin Johnson Film Co 516 Candler Building New York Sunday, July 21, 1918. isitjA DAILY Wild Serial Meller that Handicaps Star and Support Irene Castle in "THE FIRST LAW" Astra=Pathe DIRECTOR Lawrence McGill AUTHOR Gilson Willets SCENARIO BY Roy Sommerville CAMERAMAN .Not credited AS A WHOLE Wild serial meller involving the "poipers", lifted by star and Mr. Moreno STORY Wife forced to betray her husband because of appearance of former husband she thought dead. DIRECTION Not distinctive and allowed some bad slips. PHOTOGRAPHY Acceptable LIGHTINGS Didn't light star to advantage. Generally too uniform. CAMERA WORK Routine STAR Handicapped somewhat in this on account of poor lightings and wild story. SUPPORT Mr. Moreno and Miss Snow good but detective was theatrical and unconvincing EXTERIORS Acceptable INTERIORS Satisfactory DETAIL Some bad spots in story CHARACTER OF STORY. . . Wild, and showed struggle in Shero's boudoir but otherwise not objec= tionabla. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,700 feet 1SAT through an episode of "The House of Hate" before I saw this and I couldn't help but notice the general similarity between the two. This is a wTild meller produced in serial style, has a few bad spots and borders on the risque at times but it may get over with the gang that likes serials with all the wild stuff. Personally. I can't see it but they are still turning out photoplays on the installment plan so there must be a demand for this kind of stuff with a certain element. Pathe is undoubtedly the undisputed champion of the serial field and having made a success of these they seem to think that it is necessary to produce five reelers on the same general basis. Miss Castle appears in this as the daughter of a re- tired physician and they decide to take in a lodger to help out on the household expenses. Through an inci- dent at a bookstore. Hero Antonio Moreno learns that Shero is seeking a lodger and he, being interested in her, answers her ad in the paper. Being brought to- gether in the house, the couple fall in love but Shero, for some reason she will not explain to Hero, refuses to marry him. We get a lot of mysterious business, faces at the win- dow, notes shoved under the door, etc., which prove to be from Shero's former husband, whom she had thought dead. He is a crook and a detective who is on his trail comes to the house and accuses Shero of hiding him. The "dick" insidts Shero and Hero intervenes. Later, Shero's former husband comes in her bedroom through the window and after a tussle and a title making it very evident what he intends to do, Shero shoots him in self defense. The detective sees the shooting and demands that Shero marry Hero and be the go-between in a crooked deal which would throw Hero's contracts his way. Shero marries Hero, whom she loves, but is compelled to thus steal from him or be prosecuted for the murder. In the meantime, the "dick" has married Marguerite Snow, a chorus girl, and she. tiring of him and knowing that he is blackmailing Shero. squeals. It develops that Shero's former husband had not died, but had been nursed back to life by the detective, but in a dispute later, the detective kills him. Hero appears on the scene and the "dick" is prosecuted for the murder. With this blot on her past obliterated Shero is happy again and we finish with the usual clutch. The man who played the detective was very theatrical in appearance and actions, making his role laughable at times. We also had a bit during the wedding of the detective and Miss Snow, where a mysterious bum was s en to sneak up behind the cab and throw a shoe at the "dick". This was a Keystone character and if this business was intended for comedy it certainly should haATe been labeled "Joke." J. H. Gilmour was acceptable as the father who died in the errly part of the offering. -' eginaM O &»«& s«a ■ jM^P DAILY Sunday, July 21, 1918. You Can Safely Forget This Unless You Are Scheduled to Play It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Irene Castle in "THE FIRST LAW" Astra=Pathe This will probably get by as a program offering with the gang that isn't too particular but it certainly isn't going to bring any cheers nor does Miss Castle register in this as well as she has in some of her past offerings. I think that Miss Castle is quite a favorite with the "brows" on account of her reputation as a dancer and the women go to see her just to get ideas in feminine attire but she doesn't appear in many stunning crea- tions in this as her role in the early part of the offering requires her to dress very plainly. I would play up her name and also Antonio Moreno, however, if you do decide to play this, because there isn't much else to talk about in exploiting this produc- tion. You might use catchlines like this to stir up interest: "A story of tangled lives, proving that self preserva- tion is the first law of humanity." "The strange circumstances that compelled a woman to steal from her husband to keep him from learning the tortures of her past." You might shoot some questions in your ads like this : "Would you steal from your husband if you dearly loved him? See Irene Castle in 'The First Law' ". "Have you ever been the victim of blackmail? See Irene Castle in 'The First Law' ". I certainly would let this slip by if I was not obligated to play it. €J The only studio concentrating on the production of features to the ex- clusion of all other details. Produc- tions made by con- tract Perfect facil- ities for individual producing units with or without con- tractees supervision. The BRUNTON STUDIOS ROBERT BRUNTON COMPANY Melrose Avenue :: Los Angeles 'By Your Works You Are Known Recent Productions "Madam Who" "A Man's Man'''' "Patriotism'" 'Carmen of the Klondike' "Turn of a Card''' "Alimony" "The One Woman" "More Trouble" "The Bells" "Sierra of the Sixties" "All Wrong" Sunday, July 21, 1918. nft& Face in the Dai-k:' 'AUVomfctf-'rXe Odd Peaif nr^5fe Glorious A.dVenttii'eT' 12 TskJA DAILY Sunday, July 21, 19 1 8. May Appeal to the Sensation Lovers But Is Not For Family Consumption The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Catherine Calvert in "A ROMANCE OF THE UNDERWORLD" Frank Keeney Productions — Wm. Sherry Service As this is purely for the seusatiou lovers aud has been titled and exploited to appeal to the element who are attracted by the underworld type of play, you knoAv whether this is for your particular gang or not. Certainly it isn't for the theatre that is catering to a high class patronage in a respectable community. This will probably appeal to a certain element in certain sec- tions and if you are catering to that element your ad- vertising should be directed to the sensation lovers ex- clusively with all the glaring details played up. This is for your protection as well as to your profit. You will get the gang that wants the underworld stuff and will keep away the class of patronage who might raise a protest against being shown a picture of this type. This is the same general class of production as "Dope", "The Drug Terror" and similar productions that we had in abundance a few years ago and while I think that the novelty and appeal of this kind of stuff has worn off since the better class of productions being made today have brought the appeal of the motion pic- ture to the high class element, because of their enter- taining qualities rather than because it afforded recrea- tion within the means of the poorer classes, there may still be certain sections in which the sensational still holds favor. That is for you to decide and if you are catering to a high-class community patronage, I don't have to tell yon to pass this up entirely. — ^tinotinceS the Opeiim^Qf ht$ pta^^^ *Tturee Faces' Ita?*" Produced under mQi&q&tt^wGfo&a g'Hamy pcA Official Scxeen 5k*y for the BattrttiUbertf \m& Sunday, July 21, 1918. ajr^ DAILY 13 Sex Meller Intelligently Handled. Is Heavy But Interesting Alice Brady in "THE DEATH DANCE" Select DIRECTOR J. Searle Dawley AUTHOR Marie Eve SCENARIO BY Paul West CAMERAMAN H. Lyman Browning AS A WHOLE ........ Problem stuff made entertaining by intelligent direction and capable cast. STORY Has several complicated twists made convincing by clever handling of individual incidents. DIRECTION Made this hold all the way and gave clearly defined reasons for happening of events that made them coherent and plausible PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good LIGHTINGS Adequate; a few artistic bits CAMERA WORK Effective STAR Beautiful and made role convincing SUPPORT Very good although character of detective was somewhat overdrawn. EXTERIORS Some beautiful; provided authentic atmosphere. INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Many good touches; automobile accident very effectively handled. CHARACTER OF STORY For adults but intelligent handling has kept it from becoming objec= tionable. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,975 feet THIS offering, although it is rather heavy entertain- ment, certainly holds your attention all the way and Director Dawley has made the complicated twisting of events convincing and easy to follow by intelligent handling that provided a plausible reason for things happening as they did. The situations that might have become objectionable under less capable direction, have been handled in a way that keeps them from becoming risque and a very capable cast makes you willing to swallow the story, "bait, hook and sinker. Tins starts out as an eternal triangle affair and keeps -moving from the start, bringing in unexpected twists and new complications that work up to a finish that few folks are going to have doped out in advance. Just to show you how things happened in this, there was a dancer whose partner was his wife and being tired of her he had an affair with the wife of another man. she having led her husband to believe (hat she was wrapped up in her art so she could maintain a studio in which to pull off parties with the dancer without hubby getting next. Hubby gets wind of the affair and goes to the cafe where willun is dancing, determined to kill him. At the cafe, he meets Alice Brady, another dancer, with whom he becomes infatuated and learning that she is desirous of going abroad to study music, offers to take her to Italy if she will marry him. He has sufficient evidence against his wife to procure a divorce but defers action on account of his daughter. On his way to Alice's apartment prior to the proposed trip, he is killed in an auto smash. In the shifting of events that follow, Alice becomes the dancing partner of willun. who's wife had died, and the dead man's wife tries to "make" the junior partner of her husband's firm who has also become infatuated with Alice. Jealous of Alice, the wife tells willun of her affair with Hero, the junior partner, and he agrees to kill Alice in the "Death Dance", which is a feature of their act. making it appear accidental. Hero is present during the dance and seeing willun reach for his dagger, intercedes in time to save Alice. Willun kills himself and Hero and Alice are united. This sounds rather intrikut and Director Dawley de- serves much credit for the way he has made this' hold together without becoming incoherent at any time. The auto smash-up was exceptionally well staged and the planting of the "poipers" so wifey could find them was cleverly done. Helen Montrose, as the wife, wore a gown that bared considerable beside her past in several shots where she stooped over towards the camera but she played con- vincingly. H. E. Herbert, as the husband, made his role very effective. Robert Tain was a convincing willun and Mahlon Hamilton was an acceptable Hero. Charles Slattery, as the detective, played rather broadly which made you think of him more as an actor than a gum- shoe, but this hardly jimri the offering. Others who appeared were Rita Spear and Xadia Oary. 3M "■v&: -*&?.' '■jm E.k.LINCOLN "Lafayette We Corner' Leoo.ee PercetS Patriotic Production . 14 SJi^ DAILY Sunday. July 21, 1918. Boost Star Big. Title May Hurt Business, Production Will Make Good The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Alice Brady in "THE DEATH DANCE" Select This is "drammer" with a big "D" and contains very little comedy relief but it keeps you interested and al- though I think the G. P. would rather have comedy than the heavy stuff such as Ave get in this, the way this has been handled puts it under the head of "Amuse- ments" t<> my mind and I don't think anybody is going t<> be sorry they saw it. Despite the fact that the "Death Dance" title belongs to the offering. I think I would duck it on account of the present day demand for the lighter type of entertainment brought about by war conditions. I don't think the production will cause anybody to go home and shoot the cat after seeing it but the title may keep a good many folks from com- ing in. I have a hunch that they originally planned to have Alice stabbed in the finish of this and if I am right I want to thank whoever was responsible for changing things so we had a happy ending. It may be bromide, but most folks would rather have it that way, espe- cially now. If you think I am right about the title being wrong, you might use one of these: "The Dance of Destiny", "Circumstance". "Wives vs. Sweethearts", "Fate's Wager", "Because of the Child", or "Destiny Takes a Hand." Miss Brady certainly appears to advantage in this and although I think most folks would rather see her in a lighter type of offering for a change, her perform- ance in this should win her many new followers. « W. A. S. DOUGLAS, President LEON G. OSBORNE. V. P. and Treasurer DIANDO FILM CORPORATION GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA PRODUCERS OF MOTION PICTURES In Course of Production — Baby Osborne Features — Patbe — "Wolf Face" a Western Serial — Pathe — Baby Marie Osborne Betty Compson Ora Carewe Mildred Reardon Ceurge Larkin Horace Carpenter "The Pickaninny" ft Sunday, July 21, 1918. DAILY 13 Star and Treatment Lift This. Is Just Passable Program Offering Alma Rubens in "FALSE AMBITION" Triangle DIRECTOR Gilbert P. Hamilton AUTHOR E. Magnus Ingleton SCENARIO BY E. Magnus Ingleton CAMERAMAN Jack McKenzie AS A WHOLE Very improbable story with convenient happenings made fairly interesting by direction. STORY Doesn't get to you but players make it acceptable as program offering. DIRECTION. Gave good atmosphere and made most of convenient twists. PHOTOGRAPHY Good straight stuff with a few artistic bits. LIGHTINGS A few effective bits CAMERA WORK Good STAR Beautiful and convincing; made most o; opportunities offered. SUPPORT Satisfactory; Peggy Pearce effective contrast as good sister of star. EXTERIORS Pleasing INTERIORS Seer's chamber set good; other sets kept to atmosphere. DETAIL Convenient with one abrupt jump in story. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing objectionable LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet ALTHOUGH this is considerably better than some recent Triangle offerings, it is just a passable program offering made fairly entertaining by treatment and players. Things happened very oblig- ingly without any unusual twists in plot development. The' work of Miss Rubens did much to lift the offering and folks who have come to know this attractive young lady through her past efforts will no doubt accept this as entertainment on account of her presence. The story opens with our old friend the good and the bad sist§r. Peggy Pearce is the good little girl who stays at home with mother while Alma craves the bright lights. Alma cuts sister Peggy out of her beau. Edward Piel. and agrees to marry' him; then, on pretense of needing a hundred dollars to buy a tronsean obtains it from Piel and leaves for the city. Here, two years Later, we find her masquerading as a mystic seeress. installed in a Luxurious apartment with all the accepted Hindoo servants, incense burners and sech. As such, she meets Lee Hill, to whom she makes startling revelations. Learning that she has inherited part of a fortune she returns home to get her share. We had very little hallabaloo about her homecoming although we were given to believe that she had not been in touch with her mother and sister since leaving home. While Alma is home, the body of a young woman, identified as Lee Hill's sister, is washed ashore and Alma appropriates the dead woman's jewels and name and returns to the city. Here, under her assumed name, she meets Lee Phelps who becomes infatuated with her and neglects his own sweetheart. Ed Piel conveniently happens to be in the employ of the Phelps estate and exposes Alma. Peggy is sent for and identifies Alma as her sister and Lee Hill, after giving her a call down for her conduct, marries her. after which we ring down the asbestos. During the rather incoherent shifting of events, the romantic thread of the offering is lost in the shuffle. We presume that Peggy marries Edward Piel. although we get very little love business between the two. It is not made clear just who Alma is really in love with nor is there any (dearly defined reason why she has been hooked up with Lee Hill at the finish, the affection of the two not being brought out clearly at any time during the offering. The general atmosphere of the production was quite an improvement over recent Triangle plays, however, and Director Hamilton has developed his characteriza- tions nicely and made the most of what would have been a very mediocre offering with less intelligent treat- ment. To him and Miss Rubens belongs the credit for lifting this out of the rut. although it is no more than a passable program feature as it stands. Peggy Peai'ce was sweet and appealing as Alma's sister although, being a chemical blonde, contrasted with the dark features of Miss Rubens in a way that hardly made them acceptable as sisters. This fault, however, lies with the casting director and not Peggy. Others who appeared were Alberta Lee. Walt Whit- man. Iris Ashton. Alice Crawford, Myrtle Rishell. Lillian Langdon and Ward Caulfield. I wouldn't Make Any Fuss Over This. Play Up Name of Star The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If you are playing Triangles regularly, you can no doubt get this by without any serious protest although I wouldn't make' any undue noise about it because no one is going to congratulate you upon having secured the production for your theatre. It isn't bad; it just doesn't provide enough really interesting moments to -^put it over the line as a more than routine offering. I think the name of Miss Rubens is commencing to 'mean a little at the box office, in spite of some very ordinary productions she has been given recently, and I would use her photos prominently in the lobby and newspaper ads. -If you want to hit the mysterious angle in your ex- ploitation of this, you might rig your front up like a Hindoo fakir's crvstal-gazing chamber, with a couple of men in Hindoo costume sitting down on either side of the lobby and playing these squeeky instruments they use in lieu of music — or have them beating Tom Toms. Instead of a regular crystal ball, have a large round opal light bowl in the center of a stand covered with Oriental hangings and have a powerful blue or green light inside to cast a glow in your lobby. You might ask them: "Do you believe in fortunes? See Alma Rubens in 'False Ambitions' '-'•. You might bill this as the story of a girl who lived a dual life" and who. after meeting her ideal while prac- ticing mesmerism, impersonated another role to win his love." 16 sfe^ DAILV m Sunday, July 21, 1918. Take Out Ifour Pencil You Can Book These Pictui PRODUCTIONS EXTRAORDINARY SUBJECT STAR Cleopatra Theda Bara T_.es Miserables \S illiam Farnum NO. SUB The The A F( A S The The 1918 VERSION OF THE BIG SI Re-Edited. Re-Titled, Revised Better and Bigger Than Ever JECT STAR X NO. REE1 5 5 5 5 5 5 Clemenceau Case. STANDARD PICTURES NO. SUBJECT STAR REELS AVoman and the Law All-Star Cast 7 Rough and Ready William Farnum 7 The Forbidden Path Theda Bara 6 The Heart of a Lion William Farnum 7 Under the Yoke Theda Bara 6 Camille Theda Bara 7 Cheating the Public Ail-Star Cast 7 The Spy Dn stin Farnum 7 Du Barry Theda Bara 7 Troublemakers *. . .Jane and Katherine Lee. 7 The Conqueror William Farnum 8 A Daughter of the Gods .. Annette Kellermann 7 The Rose of Blood Theda Bara 7 The Blindness of Divorce. All-Star Cast 6 When a Man Sees Red... William Farnum 7 Ihe Honor System George Walsh, Meriam Cooper, Gladys Brock- Well 8 The Soul of Buddha Theda Bara 6 True Blue AVilliam Farnum 6 SUNSHINE COMEDIES NO. SUBJECT REELS A Tight Squeeze 2 Who's Your Father ? 2 Wild Women and Tame Lions 2 A Neighbor's Keyhole 2 A Waiter's Wasted Life 2 A Self-Made Lady 2 My Husband's Wife 2 Are Married Policemen Safe? ' 2 Hungry Lions In a Hospital 2 Son of a Gun 2 Shadows of Her Pest 2 Damaged No-Goods 2 His Smashing Career 2 A Milk-Fed Vamp 2 Roaring Lions and Wedding Bells 2 MUTT AND JEFF Bud Fisher's Animated Cartoons The Seventy-Five-Mile The Freight Investiga- Gun tion The Tale of a Pig The Leak Hospital Orderlies On Ice Helping McAdoo Life Savers A Fisherless Cartoon The Burglar Alarm The Superintendents The Extra Quick Luach Tonsorial Artists Hunting the I -Boat* Meeting Theda Bara Hotel De Mutt The Decoy Joining the Tanks Occultism An Ace and a Joker Back to the Balkans Landing a Spy Fox Film Corporation Sunday, July 14, 1918 iM% DAILY 17 md Pick the Winners! At Any Fox Exchange Now Fox Special Features NO. SUBJECT STAB KEELS The Pride of New York. .George Walsh 5 Miss Innocence June Caprice 5 The Debt of Honor Peggy Hyland 5 Conscience Gladys Brock-well 6 The Fallen Angel Jewel Carmen 5 Miss U. S. A June Caprice 5 The Yankee Way George Walsh 5 Peg of the Pirates IVggy Hyland 5 A Branded Soul Gladys Brockwell 5 A Boyal Romance Virginia Pearson 5 Every Girl's Dream June Caprice 6 The Scarlet Boad Gladys Brockwell 5 This Is the life George Walsh 5 The AVrath of Love Virginia Pearson 5 Bonnie Annie Laurie Peggy Hyland 5 The Moral Law Gladys Brockwell 5 Blue-Eyed Mary June Caprice 5 Some Boy George Walsh 5 Betrayed Miriam Cooper 5 Her One Mistake Gladys Brockwell 5 When False Tongues Speak Virginia Pearson 5 A Camouflage Kiss June Caprice 5 Jack Spurlock, Prodigal. . .George Walsh 5 The Innocent Sinner 3Jiriam Cooper 6 The Devil's Wheel Gladys Brockwell 5 Thou Shalt Not Steal Virginia Pearson 6 The Heart of Romance. . .June Caprice 5 The Kid Is Clever George Walsh 5 Durand of the Bad Lands. Dustin Farnum 5 The Soul of Satan Gladys Brockwell 5 Stolen Honor Virginia Pearson 5 l'atsy June Caprice 5 NO. SUBJECT STAR REELS The Book Agent George Walsh 5 Honor and Obey Gladys Brockwell 6 The Liar Virginia Pearson 5 six-Shooter Andy Tom Mix 5 The Bride of Fear Jewel Carmen 5 Doing Their Bit Jane and Katherine Lee. » A Daughter of France Virginia Pearson 5 A Small Town Girl Jime Caprice 5 Melting Millions George Walsh 5 Western Blood Tom Mix 5 Sister Against Sister Virginia Pearson 5 American Buds Jane and Katherine Lee. 7 A Child of the Wild. ...June Caprice 5 The Island of Desire George Walsh 5- North of 53 Dustin Farnum 5 Her Temptation Gladys Brockwell 5 Cupid's Roundup Tom Mix 5 The Kingdom of Love. .. .Jewel Carmen 5 The Bitter Truth Virginia Pearson 6 Two Little Imps Jane and Katherine Lee. 5 The Bird of Prey Gladys Brockwell 5 A Modern Cinderella June Caprice 5 High Finance George Walsh 5 The Silent Lie Miriam Cooper 5 The Scarlet Pimpernel Dustin Farnum 6 One Touch of Sin Gladys Brockwell » Her Price Virginia Pearson 5 Ace High Tom Mix 5 Confession Jewel Carmen 5 The Firebrand Virginia Pearson 5 We Should Worry Jane and Katherine Lee. 5 Unknown 274 June Caprice 6 Brave and Bold George Walsh 5 Fox Film Corporation 18 ttM DAILY Sunday, July 21, 1918. Players and Treatment Make Frail Plot Acceptable Entertainment Bessie Barriscale in "MAID O' THE STORM" Brunton=Paralta DIRECTOR Raymond B. West SCENARIO BY J. Grubb Alexander and Fred Myton CAMERAMAN Clyde DeVinna AS A WHOLE Rather sIow=moving story lifted by players and fairly good twist at finish. STORY Convenient and incoherent in spots but artistic production and players save it. DIRECTION Provided good atmosphere and developed characterizations rather than action. Allowed several slips in detail. Aeroplane fall was well handled. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing; some effective coast bits. LIGHTINGS Generally artistic but at times too harsh. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Very appealing personality; lifted production. SUPPORT Very good EXTERIORS Well chosen INTERIORS Artistic; some lavish settings DETAIL Several slips. American telephones in London bad. Main titles obscured by action backgrounds. CHARACTER OF STORY Is not big but will please LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,700 feet 'fTMIIS is a rather slender, slow-moving story that never hits any dramatic high spots, but barring a few minor slips, the characterizations and artistic atmosphere throughout make it fairly pleasing enter- tainment. Miss Barriscale is beautiful and appealing in tli^s and registers several effective touches and her work alone should make this acceptable tit the average audi- < nee. The opening shots show a baby being picked up on a raft by an old fisherman and she is raised as his child until she reaches maturity. An aviator. George Fisher, falls from his areoplarie near the village and Shero falls in love with him while he is convalescing at her home. He leaves for London when his injured leg is healed and Shero determines to go to London and study, that she may be able to approach Hero on his own social plane. She becomes a famous dancer through the in- fluence of Herschel Mayall, a producer, whom she has promised to marry if Hero does not ask to marry her after she has gained fame. Hero meets Shero at a banquet the night of her suc- cessful debut and they are introduced. Shero recog- nizes Hero as her aviator-lover but he registers no sur- prise upon seeing her. This is very unconvincing as her features have not changed since their first meeting and hero would certainly note the resemblance to the girl he had wooed so recently. At the banquet he announces his coming marriage to Lois Wilson and Shero swoons. Mayall calls upon Shero later and says. '"I win." but she tells him that she will not fulfill her agreement until Hero is married. After their meeting at the banquet Hero is frequently with Shero. unmindful of his ap- proaching marriage and still not recognizing her as the girl he met in the fishing village. It happens that Hero's fiancee has had a previous romance with another man. and learning of Hero's affair with Shero. she elopes with him. Being free. Hero goes to Shero's apartment to ask her to marry him but finds that she has left for Mayall's office to fulfill her agree- ment. Hero arrives at Mayall's office ahead of Shero and makes plain his intentions of marrying Shero. May- all proves a man of his word and quietly withdraws. Shero enters, and they finish with the clutch. The story was laid in London and yet we had un- mistakable American style telephones conspicuously in evidence in several scenes. Another inconsistency was the prominent display of the flags of the allied nations as a part of the table decorations at the banquet. Hero was not established as an army aviator and had this been a present-day story, surely he would have been in the service, being able-bodied and an adept at flying-. If this is intended as a pre-war story, as the production indicates, the allied flags and the spectacle at the banquet showing a figure holding the flags of America and England cer- tainly don't belong. Others in the cast were: J. J. Dowling. Mvra Davis. Nick Coedev. Hownrd Hickman. Jack Abrams. Ida Lewis. Helen Dunbar. Pietro Duzzi. Clifford Alexander and Nona Thomas. Concentrate on Miss Barriscale's Presence and Artistic Atmosphere The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Folks who enjoy seeing Miss Barriscale, and I think You might hit this angle in your ads: "Lovers have there are very many of such, will probably be enter- been brought together in strange ways in the past but tained by this offering because of her presence. The did you ever hear of a man meeting his ideal by fallin -lory is very slender and inconsistent in spots but it has been given a rather artistic production and should slide by satisfactorily with the average audience al- though it isn't big enough and doesn't hit enough dramatic high spots to warrant your making any undue fuss about it. 1 would concentrate most of my adver- tising upon the star, mentioning some of her recent of- ferings, and you might also mention the fact that Ray- mond B. West directed this, as he has been responsible for many real successes in the past. out of an aeroplane? That's the way Bessie Barriscale's romance started in 'Maid o' the Storm' ". "Do you think that a little waif with whom you fell in love could become so famous and beautiful in a year that you would fail to recognize her after you had wooed her for the second time in a different environment? SfV Bessie Barriscale in 'Maid 0' the Storm' ". "If you had agreed to marry a man in return for cer- tain favors, would you keep to your promise even though you loved another man? See Bessie Barriscale in 'Maid o' the Storm' ". Sunday, July 21, 1918. tMA DAILY 19 Ancient Material Made Delightful Entertainment By Handling May Allison in "A SUCCESSFUL ADVENTURE" Metro DIRECTOR Harry L. Franklyn AUTHOR Katherine Kavenaugh SCENARIO BY June Mathis CAMERAMAN Arthur Martinelli AS A WHOLE Familiar story with convenient twists made entertaining by treatment and players. STORY Shero brings uncle and father together by working in uncle's home as a maid under assumed name. DIRECTION Provided good comedy touches and excellent atmosphere although many inci= dents were obviously "planted". PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Varied from fine to fair. At times made faces appear very chalky. CAMERA WORK Good STAR Very pleasing personality with winning smile. SUPPORT Satisfactory; real wench will get many laughs. EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots INTERIORS Acceptable; ball room set very good DETAIL Convenient as to story but atmosphere good. CHARACTER OF STORY. Wholesome comedy- drama that will win any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet BOYS, this entertains! Many things "jest happened" and they dragged in our old friend the secret code to provide some "doity woik" for willun, but there is oodles of clean comedy, some sure-fire titles, a pleas- ing star and a nigger wench that will certainly grab off a lot of chuckles because she never tried to be "a act- ress", she was jest her own coal black self all the way through. The story is very familiar but has been made enter- taining by the players and treatment. It starts off with Shero, who lives with her father, a Southern gent'men of the old school who has not spoken to his brother for years on account o€ a rival love affair with Shero's mother when they were boys. Shero's mother had died but her uncle still held the grudge so when Shero sees an ad in the paper where uncle, whom she has never seen, is advertising for a cook, she makes a pretense to her father of visiting a friend and she and wench cook form a partnership and apply for the job. They are hired and uncle's son immmediately becomes interested in Shero, much to the disgust of his high-brow sweetheart. Shero wins the heart of uncle, who sees in her a resemblance to his former sweetheart and he tells her the story of the rival affair between him and his brother when they were hoys. We had a vision here which was admirably handled as to detail and provided' some cute kid stuff. Hero, who is uncle's son, gives a house party and Shero overhears him tell his father that he is to present his sweetheart at the function, which arouses her jealousy, but having masqueraded as a maid, she is un- able to make a play for Hero's attentions. Then we had Hero's fiancee calling up her friend and stating that her being at the party would enable her to find the "secret code" and willun friend agrees to be at the nearby country club to assist her in obtaining it. The guests all leave the house for a masque ball at the nearby clubhouse and a costume very conveniently left by she-willun to be returned to the costumers, en- ables Shero to attend. She is recognized at the ball by willun and willuness on account of the costume and they, taking advantage of the opportunity to search for the "poipers" leave the dance and enter the house. Hero and Shero enter in time to catch them in the act and Shero, having obtained the code ahead of them to pre- vent their getting it. is accused of the theft by the uncle, wrho has heard the rumpus. Shero is cleared, however, and uncle having been won over, wires for her father, stating that Shero is ill at his home. Father arrives, the old grudge is forgotten, and we finish with the chitch. These who apneared were: Harry Hilliard. Frank rs-rripr, Edward J. Connelly, Christine Mavo and Kate Blanck. JESSIE MmSCAlE DAILY ' ' ' ' ■ hi i a Sunday, July 21, 1918. Emphasize Wholesome Comedy, Your Folks Will Eat It Up The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor May Allison in "A SUCCESSFUL ADVENTURE" Metro This has been made so delightful by the treatment and players that I think most folks will excuse the con- venient happenings and ancient plot and thoroughly enjoy the offering. Miss Allison is very charming in this and we get some sure-fire titles that will get laughs anywhere. I wouldn't make any mention of the plot because it isn't going to sound interesting and I would play up the fact that this is a wholesome comedy-romance that will be enjoyed by young and old folks alike. You might bill this as "The story of a winsome little Miss who brought happiness to herself and her father by pretending to be a maid so she could heal an old grudge between her father and uncle." You might ask them : "How long could you hold a grudge? Forty years? See 'A Successful Adventure* ". "When you get angry do you stay angry or do you get over it? May Allison's father held a grudge against his brother for forty years but she discovered a unique remedy that healed old wounds. See 'A Successful Ad- venture' ". "Would you humiliate yourself by hiring out as a maid just to bring two separated souls together? See 'A Successful Adventure' ". G. M. Anderson In a new series of Western five reel super-productions PARTICULARS LATER WATCH THIS PAPER ..-.: u Sunday, July 21, 1918. DAILY 21 Play Up Star and Emphasize Comedy-Romance with Patriotic Trimmings Enid Bennett in "THE VAMP" I nee — Paramount DIRECTOR Jerome Storm SUPERVISED BY Thomas H. Ince AUTHOR C. Gardiner Sullivan ART DIRECTOR C. Harold Percival ART TITLES BY Irvin J. Martin CAMERAMAN John S. Stumar AS A WHOLE Rather slender material made de= lightful entertainment by star, direction and artistic treatment. STORY Light comedy=drama with German spy trimmings, lifted by characterizations and handling. DIRECTION Made characterizations convincing and effective and injected several good little touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Very fine LIGHTINGS . .Artistic; excellent on star CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Positively delightful in this SUPPORT Excellent; Douglas MacLean pleasing juvenile. EXTERIORS Very good. Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Showed careful attention to detail DETAIL Some delightful bits and wonderfully ar- tistic title backgrounds. CHARACTER OF STORY Pleasing comedy=drama with meller held down so that it never jars. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,721 feet ALTHOUGH this has a little German spy meller "eased in" on the finish, it is purely a comedy- drama. Miss Bennett is called a "vamp" because she really and truly isn't one, just bein' an innocent lit- tle girl who overheard some girls say that the only way to hook a man was to "vamp" him, so Enid tries it on her sweetheart — and it works, by cracky, so that later when willun Bob McKim tries to start some trouble Enid tries the same methods on him and gets a confession which enables the authorities to get the goods on the arch-spy who has been paying for Bob's dirty work with German money. We have a delightful romance between Miss Bennett and the young settlement worker she had "vamped" into marrying her and it is after he is called in to take charge of the community house at his uncle's mine that Enid has the run-in with willun Bob McKim. Willun Bob stirs up a strike among the miners and Enid again calls her "vamp" tactics into play to make willun spill the beans, proving that he is the tool of Melbourne MacDowell, a German spy, and getting him pinched in time to avert the strike. The German spy business is really a small part of the offering, it being taken up mostly with some delightful human touches getting over the devotion of the young couple. Hero's uucle, Charles K. French, has his doubts about Enid's sanctity when she comes to the mining town and frequently catches the two making mushy love to each other, which he, bein' a stern gink, figures is no way for a young married couple to act. Director Jerry Storm has given us some delightful touches throughout and the scenes where the newlyweds are celebrating their "second anniversay," in this case being the second week of their connubial career, will get real chuckles from any gang that likes wholesome entertainment. J. P. Lockney, as the "philosopher in overalls," has one of those happy-go-lucky roles that he puts over so effectively and he'll bring some laughs where he crawls out from under the bed at the finish to cor- roborate Enid's story, he having been a silent witness to her "vamping" a confession out of willun. They give us a few flashes of the flag and a portrait of our President that were obviously dragged in for a hand, but everybody seems to be doing this now, and the cash customers won't object in this case, as it is more rhan offset by the balance of the offering. Melbourne MacDowell made the most of a small part, he being carried through the story as a mysterious character, it not being established 'til the finish that he was a German spy. Charles K. French, as the severe uncle who finally came up smiling, made his role effective. Bob McKim proved his claim to being the "meanest man in the world" — in films, and Douglas MacLean was a very pleasing hero. "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" - "M'Liss" -'Amarilly of Clothesline Alley" Hearts of the Wild"-' 'Stella Maris ; - "Hit -the -Trail Hollidoy" Supervised and directed by lyiwjuji a. 7hi£, In preparation C5>f\w 'The Three Bears"- Artcraf-t Special -"Out of a Clear 5ky'-MThe Silver Kin Address: The Lambs Club, New City 22 Sunday, July 21, 1918. Delightful Star and Treatment Make This Pleasing Entertainment The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Enid Bennett in "TH E VAM P" Ince=Paramount Many of our young folks are going to consider this about the best Enid Bennett production they have ever seen. This beautiful star certainly shows to advantage in this and the whole production has been handled in a way that makes it delightful as light entertainment. While the title is intended as comedy, some of your folks, not being acquainted with Miss Bennett's work, may think it is a sure enough vampire play so I would make it plain in my advertising that this is a comedy drama with patriotic trimmings. The spy doin's is brought in as a matter of fact, the story, for the most part, being built around the romance of the young married couple. For your ads, you might use a cut of Miss Bennett with the caption: "Could this young lady 'vamp' you into marrying her? See Enid Bennett in 'The Vamp'." Or you might direct an ad to the girls like this: "Girls! Is your sweetheart indifferent? Do you find it difficult to keep him interested? Did you every try 'vamping' him? Enid Bennett landed a good-looking, young minister that way. See 'The Vamp'." I would bill this as "The story of an innocent little beauty who Avon a husband and routed a German spy plot by playing vampire." I would use the name and photos of the star liberally In my advertising and lobby display and would mention the rest of the cast as they have appeared in many productions and each has an individual following that should mean just that much more at the box office. Stories Wanted For HAROLD LOCKWOOD Submit With Your Story a One-Page Synopsis Send to FINIS FOX 230 West 38th Street New York Jtttiden* of Sc*ee±ic±a& is tiiat person -who is crocking to malce t3a.e cinema a*4 Secure la* ttaefttttt* e e* m ■*• Jj^ --*>*. Sunday, July 21, 1918. iM% DAILY 23 Slow Tempo Keeps This From Being Big, But Should Please Generally Bert Lytell in "NO MAN'S LAND" Metro DIRECTOR Will S. Davis AUTHOR Louis Joseph Vance ADAPTED BY. . .Bert Lytell and Albert Shelby Leving CAMERAMAN Robert Kurrle AS A WHOLE Has good moments and entire cast is pleasing, but moves too slowly; faster tempo could have made it big. STORY German spy stuff in this country; has some good twists and hurrah finish lifts it. DIRECTION Injected some good comedy bits, but made action drag terribly through most of of= fering. PHOTOGRAPHY Commendable LIGHTINGS Generally very effective CAMERA WORK Good; showed intelligence STAR Pleasing, clean=cut hero SUPPORT Generally very good; Miss Nilsson beau= tiful. EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Good DETAIL Acceptable; titles were well worded CHARACTER OF STORY Spy rneller with patri- otic finish. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet I THINK that most folks will accept this as a pleas- ing program offering. Bert Lytell could have se- lected a better story for his debut as a Metro star, but the girls are going to think he is "jest grand" in this and although the action is terribly slow when it should have been snappy, there are enough good bits in this to put it over successfully and the patriotic finish and some very good titles should leave a fairly good impres- sion of the production as a whole. This starts out with some delightful comedy, but after they get into the meller they let the action drag. Things happen and we set some rather srood twists, but they don't happen fast enough and that's what keeps this from being big. The story opens with a reception at shero's house. WILLIAM RUSSELL PRODUCTIONS, Inc. starring ■ . ■ • Hero is delayed on account of machine trouble and has to get under his car in his "soup" n' fish" with the result that he arrives at the party covered with grease. There is some great audience stuff here between shero and hero. Shero's mother is tryin' to marry her off to Charles Arling, who has money, but shero loves Bert. At a poker game in shero's house. Arling kills shero's cousin in a dispute and Eugene Pallette, the other man in the game, is "fixed" by Arling with the result that Bert is accused of the murder and sentenced for life. In the meantime, Arling marries shero, much against her will. Later, Pallette squeals and Bert is pardoned. Arl- ing and shero have disappeared, after which it is learned that he is a German spy, and as this disclosure would hamper his capture, Bert is not exonerated, but is in- structed by his lawyer to take a cruise to escape news- paper men until Arling is found. While on his yacht, Bert rescues a secret service agent who had stowed away on the spies' ship and was discov- ered and thrown overboard. The S. S. agent comman- deers Bert's yacht and they start out to rout the gang, who are directing their operations from an island called "No Man's Land," supposedly uninhabited. Here, after numerous adventures, they find Arling, who is appar- ently blind and shero. who has been led to believe that her spy-husband is a scientist. In reality he is directing spy operations by wireless from the lone island. Bert and the detective have found a cache of explosives in another cabin and the detective goes back to the main- land for help while Bert remains on the island, taking advantage of Arling's supposed blindness to masquerade as a new wireless operator that he had sent for. this information having been given him by shero. Arling plans to kill hero that night, but is outwitted. The spies' boat arrives and Bert, masquerading as one of them, puts one of their own time bombs aboard the ship. Bert gets back to shore, where his true identity is dis- covered just as the spy ship is blown up. In a running fight in which Arling is shot by one of his own band, Bert rescues shero and the detective arrives with a de- tachment of marines in time to bust up the party, after which we have the clutch finish. Anna Q. Nilsson was a pleasing shero and others who appeared were Mollie McConnell. Edward Alexander and Sidney Deane. g^^SBggsi^ * if t M.P.b.A. CV/EBENT RELEASE: Up Romance RoAb* BElEASEb -mROVdH MVTVAL EXCHANGES "Aftfcji^'.'t-'.-v ■•-.;" m mm 24 isbiJft DAILY Sunday, July 21, 1918. Play Up Star and Miss Nilsson and Emphasize Spy-Mystery Angle The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Bert Lytell in "NO MAN'S LAND" Metro This isn't the kind of a picture the title suggests, but it may get some business. It wasn't long ago that war stuff drove business away, but the tide has turned since America got into the scrap and the G. P. seems to be eating it up. However, the title, "No Man's Land," sug- gests actual war stuff on the other side, and this is purely a spy story, happening entirely in America, and contains no actual battle stuff. I would make this clear in my ads, because I think the spy-mystery meller will pull more business generally. Although Bert Lytell has not yet established himself as a star to the point of a box-office value on his name, he has created quite a following in various productions in which he has appeared and certainly shows enough promise as a comer to warrant your making quite a lit- tle noise about him. He appeared in "Empty Pockets," and if you played that production, I would mention the fact in my ads, so that your folks will connect him with his previous work. Anna Q. Nilsson also appears to excellent advantage in this, and she is a very good-looking "gel." Use her photos prominently. You could use some catchlines like this : "Did you know that we had a 'No Man's Land' on this side? That's the name of an un-charted island where Bert Lytell routed a gang of German spies off the Pacific Coast." Because of the fact that Bert is a good-looking feller, you might use a good cut of him in your ads with a caption : "This is Bert Lytell. He just came into promi- nence recently, but after you've seen him in 'No Man's Land,' you'll want to see him again." Tell them that this contains no battle stuff, being a film showing the workings of German spies on the Pa- cific Coast, enacted by a likeable cast and containing some delightful comedy touches. IT ii To The Buyer of Foreign Rights Offering the buyer ofjoreign rights, in addition to a catalogue of proven merit that intangible something so neces- sary to every successjul transaction — GOOD WILL. To buy through Robertson-Cole means that you are dealing with a house oj many years of Practical experience in the export field, whose financial standing is unquestioned and who maintain com- plete depart??ients for the projection, exploitation, sale, shipping, collect- ing, insurance, etc., of film — in fact a house whose duties barely com- mence when the sale is made — that 's Part of the SER VICE offered by Robertson-Cole Co. World Wide Film Distributors 1600 Broadway - Film Department - New York Sunday, July 21, 1918. jM^ DAILY 25 This Has Speed and Suspense. It Will Knock 'Em Out of Their Seats Alice Brady in "THE ORDEAL OF ROSETTA" Select DIRECTOR Emil Chautard AUTHOR Edmund Goudling SCENARIO BY Paul West CAMERAMAN Jacques Bizuel AS A WHOLE Beautiful star, swinging tempo, a well worked out story, wonderful suspense and a surprise finish that really surprises put this over with a bang. STORY They don't come often like this one; don't let your folks see it backwards and they'll never guess the finish. DIRECTION Kept you in suspense all the way. Developed action intelligently and provided classy atmosphere. Madje characterizations ring true. PHOTOGRAPHY Very good; some excellent bits, although duped flashes were unnecessary and jarred. LIGHTINGS Some very artistic; generally pleasing CAMERA WORK Effective STAR Beautiful and convincing SUPPORT Excellent EXTERIORS Some beautiful shots; foreign bits good. INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Many good touches and some good titles CHARACTER OF STORY Certainly holds you in suspense 'til the finish ; some rather risque bits are excused by dream finish. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,865 feet I DON'T remember of ever seeing Alice Brady in a picture in which she appeared to better advantage than in this and although the offering doesn't get away to a flying start, it keeps building, with the sus- pense getting more intrikut all the time until they spring the big surprise and I want to tell you that it knocks 'em out of their seats. In the dream — which you don't know is a dream if you see it at the beginning — there are some situations, drinking, etc., which would ordinarily be rather raw but I think the surprise finish will keep any one from being offended because then they know that it didn't really happen, Shero just dreamt it. Miss Brady is a young stenographer, an Italian girl, who lives with her father and she gets a job doing some private work for a young author at his country estate. As they work together, a love springs up between them, causing much jealousy on the part of a friend of hero's who is staying with his sister and who has set her cap for him. Hero proposes that they take a spin in his car and Shero tells Hero her life story, explaining her rather tragic career, in which she had lost track of her twin sister over in Italy during an earthquake shock, after which she and her father came to America. ■ Her unusual story finished, Hero says he will go on where she has left off and we get some sure-fire titles here wherein he describes his love for her as if he was telling a story. We see them kiss and then Hero gives directions to the chauffeur, after which a title says, "And now another story unfolds". From here on it's the dream of Shero, who. it develops at the finish, has fallen asleep, but I'll defy anyone to figger It out in advance, it's been so cleverly handled. This dream part of the offering, while tragic, isn't so wild that folks will suspect it's a dream. We get some wonderful characterizations here, wherein Miss Brady plays the part of her twin sister and the doubles in this are worked out in a way that will fool even the sharpshooters. After Shero has killed herself — in the dream — and Shero's sister has ruined Hero's sister for revenge. Hero comes in and shoots Shero's sister — Banff! and we set a close-up of auto tire blowins: out and they bring you to your senses with a jolt— Shero had fallen asleep in the car and had dreamt all this. It's so dern unexpected that yon can hear murmurs all over the house. We finish with Hero and Shero goin' for the preacher while the chnuffpnr fixes the car. The exceptional cast included Crauford Kent. Ormi Htwlpr. Hpnri Leone. Maud Turner Gordon, Ed. Burn. Hazel Washburn. 26 tM% DAILY Sunday, July 21, 1918. Go the Limit On This and Don't Let 'Em See It Backwards The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Alice Brady in "THE ORDEAL OF ROSETTA" Select Boys — if your gang don't rave about this, then either I'm wrong or they are. Play Miss Brady to the limit for she sure n gistt ts all through this and be very careful not to tip the story — that will spoil the whole thing. It is very important that your folks don't see this back- wards and I would use the suggestion I have made in the past of closing the doors during the last half hour of the offering. Advertise the fact that you are doing this and the reason therefor in your ads and lobby cards thusly : "In order that you may enjoy the full benefit of the splendid denouement and unexpected climax of this play, no one will be admitted during the last half Try to get in at — (starting hour of each performance, times) ." The effect of the finish of this will be greatly height- ened by a shot fired back of stage at the proper moment. This jolt will knock your patrons out of their seats, the picture being cut so effectively that the one shot will synchronize with the pistol shot iu the picture and the blowing of the auto tire. Tell your folks that this is one of the most gripping photoplays you have ever shown, mysterious, at times tragic and yet delightfully sprinkled with romance and comedy touches and a happy ending. You can go the limit in boosting this — but don't tell (hem the story andJ)OX'T LET THEM SEE IT BACK- WARDS. Sunday, July 21, 1918. TdijA DAILY 27 Artistic Production and Comedy Bits Make This Entertaining Monroe Salisbury in "WINNER TAKES ALL" B!uebird=Universal DIRECTOR Elmer C. Clifton AUTHOR Q. W. Ogden SCENARIO BY Verne Hardin Porter CAMERAMAN Virgil E. Miller AS A WHOLE Western melLr artistically pro- duced and relieved by several good comedy touches and a capable cast. Is entertaining. STORY Feud between cattHe barons and home- steader, contains some effective gun fights and a pleasing romantic thread. DIRECTION Provided artistic atmosphere and made individual bits stand out. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good; some beautiful outdoor stuff. LIGHTINGS Many effective bits CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Pleasing as jovial Scotch homesteader SUPPORT Very good; "Banjo Gibson" was great comedy character. EXTERIORS Some beautiful shots; fitted atmosphere. INTERIORS Good DETAIL Acceptable: a few jumps in story CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend and contains considerable comedv. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet T'.iIS has been product d : • nn cli'cctive, classy at- mosphere, with goorl l;ghti.ngs and some beautiful outdoor shots and should prove pleasing entertain- ment to the average audience. Monroe Salisbury has been given the role of a jovial Sco'tch homesteader, quick on the trigger and a regular Romeo on the side and the supporting cast acquit them- selves admirably, several comedy bits being scattered throughout the offering in an effective manner. The story centers about a feud between the cattle faction, who had appropriated the great free range be- fore the homesteaders started to settle, and Hero, whose claim adjoins their's. Sam De Grasse is a professional assassin who "snuffs off" undesirables on a contract basis and Alfred Allen, the big noise of the cattle faction, hires him to get rid of Hero. Willun goes to Hero's cabin to get in his dirty work and shoots a reporter who is standing in the door of the cabin, returning to Allen to collect, thinking he has killed Hero. While riding over his property Hero meets Helen Eddy, an eastern girl, and she shows him a curious piece of paper she has found, which he identifies as a "cemetexw chart", being a list of Willun Sam's proposed killings, among them being Hero's name. The cattle faction, thinking Hero has been done away with, hold a masquerade ball to celebrate the event, and Hero, determined to see Shero Helen again, dons his kilties and a mask and attends, where, on account of his ineffective disguise, he is soon discovered. He es- capes and is pursued by the gang, who fire upon his cabin. There is a very effectively staged gun fight here, in which Hero, single handed, routes the gang. In the meantime, Willun, who has been cheated out of his money on account of not killing Hero, kidnaps the cattle baron's daughter for revenge and Hero is blamed for the deed. Hero finds the daughter and restores her and willun is snuffed off in another shooting scrap that follows after which Hero and Shero ride away in the distance. There is a nut musician character in this who plays an accordian and he will get many laughs. We had some interiors in this that were made very effective because they opened out onto natural scenery with the mountains visible in the distance and if all pro- ducers realized how preferable this is to the backings we sometimes get, they would try to get more of it in their pictures. Monroe Salisbury was very pleasing in this as the jovial Scot and" he gets over some good comedy bits, helned by some well worded titles. Helen Eddy was an appealing Shero while Sam De r.,.-<5se did his usual finished work as the wicked willun. "Retty Schade was the young sister who was kidnapped. Jack Nelson was the nut musician and Alfred Allen was the leader of the cattle faction. 3U iMA DAILY Sunday, July 21, 1918. Play Up Star and Human Touches and Soft Pedal the Ancient Plot The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Alice Joyce in "TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER" Vitagraph I wouldn't mention the story in exploiting this because the mere mention of the mortgage is going to sound very familiar to your fans. I would play up the name of Alice Joyce, who has quite a following in many com- munities, and would promise them a delightfully human character study, depicting life in a small town. Yon might use a cut of Miss Joyce in your ads with the caption: "How much would you bid for this lady at auction? She offers herself to the highest biddder in this entertaining Vitagraph feature." You might shoot some teasers like these: "If you returned to your home town to find that vour sweet- heart was being auctioned off to the highest bidder, what would you do? See 'To the Highest Bidder.' '; "How much would you bid for the girl you loved if she offered herself at public auction?" If you are in a community where auctions are fre- quently held, you might arouse some interest by getting some regulation auction posters made. Have the words, "AUCTION — TODAY — ALICE JOYCE — TO THE HIGH- EST BIDDER." in large type that can be read at a dis- tance and have the rest of your message set in smaller type between the large headlines. Use s cut of Miss Joyce on the card, and post them around in the same manner that auctions are advertised. I would make it plain that this is light entertainment as I think that is what the sharpshooters are looking for these days. This has been rather artistically pro- duced and contains enough comedy touches to put it over successfully where folks are not too critical about the story. — ■ . — cTWme. Petrova In Her Fourth Special Vehicle "Tempered Steel" /i screen triumph in The Leading Photoplay Temples of the Country. Published via The Exchanges of The First National Exhibitors' Circuit. PETROVA PICTURE COMPANY Frederick L. Collins, President NEW YORK i ! Sunday, July 21, 1918. isit^A DAIL.V 31 Sure-Fire Comedy With Great Cast and Funny Complications Wallace Reid in "LESS THAN KIN" Paramount DIRECTOR Donald Crisp AUTHOR Alice Duer Miller SCENARIO BY Marion Fairfax CAMERAMAN Henry Kotani ART DIRECTOR Wilfred Buckland AS A WHOLE Pleasing cast, delightful comedy and amusing complications make this a sure- fire winner anywhere. STORY Amusing complications evolving around hero who impersonates dead man to dodge his own past. DIRECTION Provided good atmosphere and made it snappy all the way. PHOTOGRAPHY Artistic. Doubles well timed and dissolves excellent. LIGHTINGS Generally very fine CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Great SUPPORT Generally excellent EXTERIORS Very good but sub=station set could have been more convincing. INTERIORS Very good except bank interior looking: out on street which registered very "setty". DETAIL Manv good touches; some sure=fire titles CHARACTER OF STORY Comedy=drama for any audience; is sure=fire. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet THEY'VE given Wally a story that was evidently made- to- order for him in this and he sure puts it over with a bang. We had some great titles to help this alone and the many unexpected twists make it travel on high all the way. Wally is a young American in Honduras who is wanted for murder in New York, he having too strenu- ously broken up a wife-beating battle with the result that the husband was killed. The wife loved her hus- band even if he was ruff and testified against Wally with the result that he was sentenced for life, but the wprden h'd carelessly left the "cage" open so his good looking jail-bird could beat it. in Honduras he meets a man who is his exact double, also a New Yorker, and when this feller conveniently oies and leaves his identification papers, Wally, who longs for the bright lights, decides to go hack to New York and assume the dead man's place and station. The dead man's father, not having seen his son for twelve years, swallows Wally's story and after he meets an adopted cousin, Anna Little, he is just beginning to be glad he came when things start to happen. The dead man had been an absconder and had left many debts behind him which responsibility Wally has to shoulder but the final blow comes when the dead man's wife and kids, having seen Wally's picture in the papers, hunt him up and call him "Paw." Wally insists that he has never seen the woman before but when she produces the marriage license made out in the name of the dead man Wally is impersonating, he finds himself in a jam. This makes him decide to take a chance on his own past and he tells Anna that he is not the dead man but his double, Lewis Yickers. At this juncture a former cell-mate of Wally's turns up and identifies him as the escaped murderer. Wally finds himself between fires — if he is Vickers, the chair awaits him and if he is Lee, he has an awful looking wife and two ruff-neck kids on his hands. Wally is locked in a room while his rival for Anna, Raymond Hattan, stays on guard outside the door waiting for the sheriff to arrive. Wally escapes, and appropriating a car. beats it for the Canadian border. After he has gone a ways, he finds that Anna is in the tonneau, having hidden under some robes and they beat it to a convenient church and get married just as the sheriff and banker arrive. The banker has learned that the wife of the man Wally had murdered had retracted her evidence so Wally is free and we have the clutch. We had some very good detail bits throughout the offering but the sub-station set would have fooled any- body if they had dirtied it up a bit and smeared some posters over it. As it is. it's too clean and gets over as a "set". A little more attention to detail here would have gotten this by as a sure-enuf shot of a New York street corner. Of course, this was made in Los Angeles, where everything (pertaining to transportation) is on the level. The very capable cast included Jim Cruze, Gustav Seffertitz. Noah Beerv. James Neil. Charles Ogle. Jane Wolff. Guv Oliver. Calvert Carter and J. Herbert. Mae Murray P: in Fix reels' — produced b^l ERT LEONARD, MPDA- Watch for announcement of future affiliation August 1st. 32 jM^ DAILY Sunday, July 21, 1918. ■ Your Folks Will Rave About Wally in This. Boost It To the Limit The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Wallace Reid in "LESS THAN KIN" Paramount You can make a lot of noise about this and I think that most folks, especially the ladies who think Wally is "jest grand", will think that this is one of the best offerings they have ever seen him in. Miss Little has also built up quite an individual following in Wally's support and I would use her name prominently. I would make it plain that this is delightful, whole- some comedy-drama with unusual twists and complica- tions and would go the limit in boosting it. It sure is a genuine pleasure to sit through a production that has been handled the way this one has and you won't go wrong in making considerable fuss about it. You might use some catchlines like this to stir up interest: "What would you do if you were imperson- ating another man to dodge your own past and found that his record was worse than yours?" "Wally Reid had a criminal record and assumed the name and station of another man to dodge it. Then it developed that he has thus fallen heir to the other man's abondoned family. If he revealed his identity the chair awaited him — if he stood firm as the other man, he had an awful looking wiff and two ruff-neck kids on his hands. Then there was a very good looking young lady to be considered. See how Wally got out of predicament in 'Less Than Kin.' " You might ask them: "Have you got a double? Does it cause you embarrassment? Wally had a lot of bad debts and a dirty faced family wished on him when he assumed another man's name to dodge his own past." See "Less Than Kin." TRIANGLE AUGUST PROGRAM PAULINE STARKE GLORIA SW ANSON ALMA RUBENS ROY STEWART Better than a Full House Featured Players who are consistently growing in popularity Presented by Triangle in quality pictures, produced with the assurance of pleasing the public and paying YOU a profit. Exhibitors — Investigate Triangle's August Schedule It presents performers whom the critics have stamped with their approval "Players who Please in Plays that Profit" TRIANGLE DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION 457 BROADWAY NEW YORK ~r Now in its 1 5th week at the Tremont Temple — Boston. Broke the long run record in Cleveland, O. Already in its 3rd capacity week at Cincinnati. Has played innto numerable one and two week's capacity. The Long Run Feature Book it for at least twice as many consecutive days as you would a first class dramatic feature. Experience has demonstrated that the word of mouth advertising it wins, is its most effective publicity. It will bring new patrons to your theatre. Ambassador James W . Gerard's "MY FOUR YEARS IN GERMANY" Directed M, WILLIAM NIGH Produced by MARK M. DINTENFASS and HARRY M. WARNER Scenario by CHAS. A. LOGUE Foreign Rights: HILLER AND WILK Longacre Building New York Ambassador im^ GERARD ^* ♦>♦>♦.♦ ».♦♦.♦ ♦.♦♦.♦♦-♦♦.♦•.♦♦.♦♦-*♦>•>♦.♦♦>♦>♦>♦.♦♦.*♦-♦♦>•.♦♦> ♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦>♦♦♦*♦*♦« *♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ i V ♦ ♦ V> ♦ ♦ W ♦ ♦ V> ♦ ♦ i V ♦ ♦ W i "♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ V W ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ V> ♦ ♦ V> ♦ ♦ ♦ V ♦ ♦ ♦ V ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ i V V# «*» ♦ ♦ MY DEAR MR. EXHIBITOR:— You will be glad to know that the First National Exhibitors' Circuit will distribute the second part and conclusion of that wonderful adventure story, "Tarzan of the Apes/' being the "Romance of Tarzan." These two marvelous pictures of adventure must in time be played in every house and by every exhibitor who wants to give his patrons the best. I also want to take this opportunity of thanking the thousand exhibitors who have booked my Capitol Comedies in over 3,000 houses. If you have not seen these comedies you owe it to yourself to go to the nearest Goldwyn Exchange and see them. I will guarantee personally your first rentals that your patrons will like them. Do this now. I have picked a number of winners but I believe what I am about to tell you will interest you greatly and introduce what I think will be my biggest winner. We have proven our production, whether in long or short subjects, is 100 per cent, perfect and under the efficient management of Isadore Bernstein, you can count that the National Film Corporation on a pro- duction means 100 per cent, pictures. We will release about October First, the first of our De Luxe Features, starring dainty Billie Rhodes in comedy dramas and farces, the first of which will be that great stage success, "The Girl of My Dreams." This will show to great advantage, the sweet personality of this little star whom you all know, and 2,000 letters a month from all over the world is the test of her following. Three distributing organizations have offered contracts to distribute these features, but I want to prove her strength with the exhibitor and so ask you: Will you take a moment and sit down and write me what you think and if you would like to play this wonderful little star in this series of features, each one radiating sunshine and happiness. It is all up to you, Mr. Exhibitor, in the long run, and I want to get in touch with you, and keep in touch with you. Sincerely yours, ^TZ^^f /2~* NATIONAL FILM. CORP. OF AMERICA HOLLYWOOD. CAL. .Ill v Jlsr. I!»IS. »♦»»♦.»♦♦♦.**.♦♦>♦.♦♦>♦.»♦,♦♦.♦♦.»♦.♦♦.»♦.♦♦.»♦.♦•.♦♦.« »•»♦•♦♦♦♦♦♦•♦•*»»"•«♦♦'♦♦♦♦ ♦♦'!»♦•♦ ♦♦•♦*#♦♦*♦♦♦♦'♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦♦♦*'♦♦♦♦♦♦«♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦•♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦•♦♦•♦♦ ♦»♦♦♦•«♦♦»* ZfeBBADSTREET of FILMDOM x^recochized Authority Vol. V, No. 77 Thursday, July 25, 1918 Price 5 Cent* Want June Caprice Jesse Lasky, World Film and Frank A. Keeney Bidding for Little Star Little June Caprice, the former William Fox star, is causing an un- usual stir in the managerial market at present. Three producers are all clamoring for her services in pictures. They are, according to reports, Jesse L. Lasky, the World Film Co., and Frank Keeney. Late yesterday after- noon Harry Reichenbach admitted that the starhad been in touch with all three and that they had made her offers, but that as yet she had not ar- rived at a decision as to which prop- osition she would accept. At the Keeney office no official con- firmation could be obtained that an offer had been made to Miss Caprice, although rumor along Broadway had it that Keeney had the best chance of directing her affairs in the future. Eltinge State Rights Shipman to Market Four Films Produced by Balshofer Four state rights productions to be made by Julian Eltinge under the gen- eral direction of Fred J. Balshofer will be marketed by Ernest Shipman, who also has secured the selling rights to the Garson picture, "The Hushed Hour." After Chaplin Film Lively Bidding for Pre-release Showing of "Triple Trouble" The long delayed Essanay release of a Chaplin subject is to be made through the Kleine Service week af- ter next. Already the Strand and the Broadway theatres are bidding against each other for a pre-release run of the picture. The title of the film is "Triple Trouble," and it is in two reels, the Kleine people asking a ren- tal price of $50 a day. The first run of the print now in New York is slated for today for the managers of the bigger houses in New York. The Loew Circuit also has a bid in for the picture. Needed in Norway CREST PICTURE CORP. Times Building New York Mr. Wid Gunning, 71 W. 44th Street, New York City. My dear Wid: I am herewith enclosing you a check for $10 in payment of next year's subscription to WID'S for J. L. Nerlien, Ltd., Kristi- ania, Norway. Please continue to mail this direct to Kristiania. They inform me that your paper is of great value to them in the selection of productions for their territory and it enables them to keep in close touch with the American market. The censors there are unusually strict and consequent- ly they want to make careful se- lections before purchasing rights for their countries. Thanking you for giving this matter your immediate atten- tion, I am, Yours verly truly, CARLE E. CARLTON, President Crest Pictures Corporation. Kleine Film Ready "Behind the Lines in Italy," the Italian Picture, to Be Shown Soon The Italian Government's propa- ganda film, entitled "Behind the Lines in Italy," which was made by the Cines Company, will be ready for re- lease by the Kleine Company in about two weeks. The picture is in seven reels and the first print is to arrive Saturday for a private showing. The Kleine people intend taking a Broadway house for a special engage- ment of the picture. The film shows the tremendous amount of work that has been done behind the actual fighting lines in Italy, such as the making of muni- tions, the construction of battle- planes, giant guns and other war im- plements. The Kleine people intend carrying on a special advertising campaign for the film in the Italian language news- papers throughout the country. Earle Leaves World William P. S. Earle, who has been directing Louise Huff for World Film, severed his connection there last week after having finished the lat- est Huff production. NO CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC Business Concerns and Clubs Buy Up Cohan Theatre For Two Weeks of "America's Answer" The publicity and promotion de- partment of the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information has handled the first two weeks of the engagement of "America's Answer" at the Cohan theatre in a rather unusual manner. After the first performance of the picture given next Sunday night it will be impossible for the public to obtain seats for any of the evening performances of the picture for the first two weeks, for the house has been purchased outright by a number of big concerns, clubs and fraternal orders. In the list are R. H. Macy & Co., I the Knights of Columbus, the United Cigar Stores, John Wanamaker, James A. Hearn (2 nights), Frankljjn Si- mon Co., Retail Millinery Association of America, Mecca Temple, and the Rotary Club. The picture is to play at the Cohan for four weeks and a drive is being made at present to sell a number of nights during the remaining fortnight of the engagement. After the New York run the picture will be played at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, for the week commencing Aug. 26. This house has a large seating capacity and a flat price of 25 cents top will be made for the entire house. Thursday, July 25, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West -44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Cuts and Flashes Earl Williams is due to arrive in New York this week. "Her Moment" has been selected as the title for the Elaine Hammerstein special to be released by Pathe, Sept. 8. "Raffles" has been sold in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico to the Midwest Greater Features Com- pany of Denver, through Hiller and Wilk. David P. Howells, exporter, is mak- ing a business trip to Salt Lake City and expects to stop at Chicago on his return East. He will be back in about 10 days. Martin J. Quigley, editor and pub- lisher of "The' Exhibitors' Herald and Motography," who has been spending several days in New York following the Boston Convention, left for Chi- cago on the Century yesterday. Willard Coxey has been added to the publicity department of the Divi- sion of Films of the Committee on Public Information and will assist Howard Herrick in handling the trade and daily press publicity. Charles S. Hart, chairman of the Division of Films, left for Chicago last night to attend a meeting there relative to the promotion work for the War Exposition which is to be held in that city. The Film Players Club, Inc., will give a reception and package party at Geneva Hall, 143 West 44th Street, July 31. The packages will be sold at auction, the proceeds to go toward the building fund of the club. HODKINSON REPRESENTATIVES Four Men Are Named as Nucleus of High Priced Sales Organization Hodkinson Corporation has made its first appointment of the sales rep- resentatives for whom it advertised extensively in the trade papers a few weeks ago. Four men have been named to handle Hodkinson Service exclusively. The remaining fifteen to twenty men will be chosen either at the New York office or through the various administrative officers who have been selected to take charge of the various territories. These administrators are as fol- lows: P. N. Brinch, formerly assist- ant to W. W. Hodkinson, is to han- dle the territory from Omaha and Minneapolis West to the Coast, un- der the temporary title of division manager. He left Tuesday night for Cleveland. J. Stevenson, former gen- eral sales manager of Paramount, is to handle the southern territory from Xew Orleans to El Paso as division manager. C. E. Shurtlaff, general sales manager of Hodkinson, is to take temporarily the eastern territory from Chicago to Boston. W. A. Bach, assistant general sales manager of Hodkinson will cover New York in the absence of Mr. Shurtlaff. These executives will make appointments in various branch offices. Four sales representatives of the twenty to twenty-five needed have al- ready been appointed, through the New York office. Mr. Abeles, for- merly of Pathe, is to sell in the New York territory: Mr. Bradley is to take the Boston territory; Mr. Perry, a former exhibitor in Lowell, Mass., and for three years manager for Pathe in Detroit, will sell Hodkinson serv- ice in Detroit. Joe Levey left last night to handle the Omaha territory. It is expected that more appointments will be made soon. Now that the fans are spin- ning in your theatre, take a look at the coal bins in your cellar — That's prep- aredness. Two Grey Features Harry A. Sherman and T. Hayes Hun- ter Productions Now on the Market Two big productions of stories by Zane Grey were being offered in the New York market yesterday. Harry A. Sherman ha_s brought East a print of "The Light of Western Stars," in which Dustin Farnum is starred, and is offering it for bids. The T. Hayes Hunter production of "The Border Legion," with Blanche Bates and Ho- bart Bosworth as the stars, is being offered for the world with the price set at $150,000. Both productions are big ones and run to more than five reels. Those that have witnessed screenings of the two films state that they contain a lot of real thrills in the way of west- ern stuff. Up to the present there haven't been any ^rantic bids made for the rights of either, according to in- formation that could be obtained yes- terday. Export Projection Room Collector of Customs Reynolds an- nounced yesterday that the official projection room for film to be cen- sored before being accepted for ex- port will be located at 115 West 23rd Street, and that all pictures will be passed upon there, instead of in the projection rooms of the various com- panies. This new arrangement will be put into effect in about two weeks. Fire Department Helps C. Poster Mason, publicity manager of the First National Exhibitors' Cir- cuit, Denver, Colo., staged a novel ad- vertising stunt for the Selig made Pioneer Film, "The Still Alarm," when it was shown at the American theatre, Denver. The local fire department was persuaded to give an exhibition drill at the theatre, and in conse- quence the normal attendance was about doubled. Services Recognized CHICAGO. — In recognition of ser- vices rendered in the sale of War Sav- ings Stamps, Mme. Petrova was pre- sented with an engraved War Sav- ings Certificate of Service by Lloyd D. Waddell, chairman of Cook War Sav- ings Committee, before her departure to St. Louis last week. The title of the sixth Jester Com- edy, to be released August 1, has been changed from "His Day Out" to "Oh What a Day!" izbM^ DAILY Thursday, July 25, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Color Projection Go. Asks for Rehearing of Lysle's Application for an Injuction The Color Projection Co., which is exploiting the process of Edmund H. Lysle for color photography, has filed an application in the Supreme Court for a rehearing of the application by Lysle for an injunction restraining the Color Projection Co. from mak- ing his process known to others pend- ing his suit to enforce a contract. Lysle alleged that the defendants are trying to interest new capital in the enterprise, which after three years has still failed to make a commercial success of the process. James H. Wilkerson, of Chicago, for four years United States Attor- ney there, who is counsel for M. E. Franklin, John F. Cuneo and Robert M. Eastman of Chicago, who have in- vested more than $100,000 in the Lysle process, said in an affidavit that the stockholders at a meeting in his of- fice, Nov. IS last, charged that Lysle secretly had the contract for which he is suing entered on the books of the corporation giving him $200 a week salary instead of the $100 he has been receiving. Mr. Wilkerson said he ac- cused Lysle of receiving money un- der false pretenses from the stock- holders by reason of concealing the existence of the contract and that he could consider himself fortunate that he was not prosecuted for getting money under false pretenses. He said that Lysle then agreed to abandon the contract sued on and an agreement to that effect was made, but in spite of it, Lysle brought the present suit. Mr. Wilkerson said that Lysle got $875,000 of the defendant's stock for assigning the process, in addition to the $100 a week salary he has been getting for several years. them and Patrick A. Powers to re- cover on two notes for $22,900 and $2,100 made by the Warner Features, Inc., for money lent by the United States Printing & Lithograph Co. and for advertising lithographs sold by the plaintiff to the Warner Features. The Warners deny that the plaintiff accepted the notes as evidence of the indebtedness of the Warner Features with their consent and allege that on Nov. 26, 1913, they resigned as officers and directors of Warner Features and sold their stock at the request of the plaintiff, and in consideration of such sale the plaintiff expressly released them from all personal liability on the notes. They allege that all indebted- ness incurred while they were officers has been paid. The defendants contend further that the plaintiff sold the lithographs sued for with knowledge that the defend- ants were no longer liable and also with knowledge that the Warner Fea- tures was insolvent. Granted a Charter St. Louis Board of Trade Given Official Recognition ST. LOUIS.— The St. Louis Film Board of Trade was granted a char- ter by the State of Missouri the past week, and held its regular meeting at the Fox office recently, the officers being: E. Dustin, manager of Pathe, president; W. Sievers, manager of the Grand Central Film Exchange, vice- president; D. E. Boswell, manager of Yitagraph, secretary and treasurer. The following committees were ap- pointed: Grievance Committee, J. Weil, manager of the World; J. Bur- hourne, manager of Kleine-Edison; C. Werner, manager of Metro. Publicity and Public Information Committee, W. Sievers, manager of the Grand Central; E. J. Drucker, manager of General; F. Keller, manager of Mu- tual. Business Efficiency Committee, F. Lewis, manager of Hoddup-Towne; J. C. Ragland, manager of Select; F. J. Fegan, manager of Standard. J. R. Weinbrenner, well-known local attor- ney, is counsel for the organization. Hal S. Corbett has been sued in the Supreme Court by Leo Mayer for $485. The complaint served on Cor- bett in the Times building alleges that the defendant made a note to the plaintiff on Feb. 18 last for $735 and that only $235 has been paid. City Court Justice Schmuck has dis- missed the complaint in a suit of Ben- jamin Morea against the Heyday Amusement Co., owner of the Drury Lane theatre at 615 Eighth avenue, to recover $2,000 damages for assault and battery. The plaintiff alleged that he was beaten by an usher in the defend- ant's theatre without cause. The de- fendant alleged that the plaintiff re- fused to take a seat pointed out to him and insisted on standing in the aisle in violation of the fire laws. It is alleged that the plaintiff then struck .the usher and the latter used only such force as was necessary to de- fend himself. Sells Gaumont Service Arrow Film Co. has sold the Gau- mont Weekly service to the New Jer- sey Metro Film exchange for North- ern New Jersey, and has also signed a contract with the Specialty Film Co. of Dallas for $14,500 for the unfin- ished production "En L'Air," being made by the En L'air Cinema, Ltd., Inc., depicting the experiences of Lieutenant Bert Hall of the Lafayette Escadrille. The Special Film Co. has taken the picture for Texas, Louisi- ana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Film Market, Inc. Concern Is Capitalized in New York at $200,000 ALBANY.— The Film Market, Inc., having its principal office in New York City, was incorporated with the Secretary of State recently. The en- terprise is capitalized at $200,000 and is formed to produce and deal in motion picture and photoplay films of various kinds and also to manufacture machines and other devices used in producing films. The directors are Samuel N. Smith, Geraldine M. Priest, and Wilbur M. Bates, 1475 Broadway, New York City. The Universal Film Exchange of Wilmington, Delaware, has been granted a charter to conduct a gen- eral motion picture business in New York state. The concern is capital- ized at $2,000. Montgomery Succeeds Scates G. M. Montgomery, formerly of Metro's Detroit branch, has succeeded W. R. Scates as branch manager of General . Film's Chicago office, which is the second most important branch in the General system. Mr. Scates was with General in Boston, and has been Chicago manager for two years. Harry W. Warner and Albert War- ner have filed an answer in the Su- preme Court to a suit brought against Alice Brady started on a new pic- ture for Select }resterday at the Fort Lee Paragon studio. The name of the production has not been disclosed. The Poughkeepsie Photo-Play Cor- poration has reduced its capital stock from $150,000 to $100,000, and the Jef- ferson Film Corporation certifies that it has increased its capital from $25,- 000 to $50,000. More Service Stars General Film employes who have recently entered the service are James Boston, William Redmond, James B. Neff and John Pfeifer of the Cincinnati office: James R. Beale, booker, of the Cleveland exchange: Daniel O'Brien and W. L. Jennings of the Boston branch. Thursday, July 25, 1918 s!i^ DAILY Interesting Meller With Excellent Cast and Good Twists Nell Shipman and Alfred Whitman in Vitagraph "A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT" DIRECTOR David Smith AUTHOR Wallace Irwin SCENARIO BY F. R. Buckley CAMERAMAN Charles Feeling AS A WHOLE Intelligent direction, several good twists in story and a very capable cast, make this an interesting program offering. STORY Has a rather improbable but nevertheless interesting basic idea and is made entertaining by treatment and players. DIRECTION Developed characterizations and gave us good suspense. Allowed a few minor slips but they don't jar. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good LIGHTINGS Got some effective bits and lighted star to advantage. CAMERA WORK Intelligent STAR Beautif uF and convincing SUPPORT Very good; Whitman's work was great and Juan de la Cruze played with a reserve that was commendable. EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots INTERIORS. . . .Satisfactory. Mine interiors very good. DETAIL Interception of letters was not made quite clear and planting of agreement and locket was rather unnecessary and killed sus= pense somewhat. CHARACTER OF STORY Entertains and contains nothing objectionable. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,266 feet THIS turned out to be a much better story than the first reel indicated, and because of the way it has been handled and the well selected cast I think that most folks will consider it a very interesting of- fering. We had several good punches in the latter part of the production, and although they killed off the willun rather conveniently at the finish, the incident was very well handled and I don't think many will criticize it. They started this off with Hero Alfred Whitman leav- ing his fiancee to take a position as a mining foreman in the west, it being agreed that they will marry when he makes his fortune. In a feud between two rival mines, Hero is injured and while he is convalescing, Patricia Palmer falls in love with him and out of jealousy, inter- cepts the letters between Hero and Shero and writes Shero that Hero has been killed. During Hero's ab- sence, Juan de la Cruze has been courting Shero, and she. thinking Hero dead, consents to marry him. Not understanding why Shero has not written, Hero leaves for the east where he arrives just in time to see his sweetheart leave the church as the bride of de la Cruze. Shero sees him and swoons while Hero, de- spondent, returns to the mine. Previous to this it had conveniently happened that Hero had rescued de la Cruze from drowning, in return for which he had given Hero an agreement stating that he owed him his life and would be ever at his com- mand. Shero, very unhappy in the knowledge that the man she really loves is still alive, determines to find him, and leaving a note for her husband to that effect, starts for tiie west. She finds Hero at the mine and explains about the letter telling her that he was dead. Just as they embrace, de la Cruze. who has followed Shero, enters and pulls a gun on Hero. Hero reminds him of his agreement and he keeps to his word, asking that he may be allowed to paddle them across the river in the canoe, as a last favor. During the trip across, the canoe capsizes and willun is drowned. We have a very effective bit where Hero rescues Shero from the swirling rapids and we finish with a clutch. The business preceding willun's fall off the ferry was well done, but would have been more convincing if we had seen him actually fall into the water. Juan de la Cruze. as the semi-heavy, made his role effective by keeping the character within bounds. Oth- ers who appeared were Jake Abraham. Hattie Burkirk, Jack Wetherby and Al Garcia. This Will Stand a Little Boosting. Play Up With Catchlines The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This has been made interesting by the players and treatment and would satisfy generally as a pleasing program offering. Miss Shipman plays with a sincerity that makes you believe it and Alfred Whitman is very good as the Hero in a role that was a real test of dra- matic ability. You might stir up some interest in this by wording yours ads along the following lines: "Are you a man of your word? Would you risk death to make good on a promise? See -A Gentleman's Agree- ment'." "What would you do if you returned to your fiancee after a long absence and found that she had married another, thinking that you were dead? See 'A Gentle- ma n"s Agreement'." "If you loved a man but married another, thinking him dead, what would you do when you learned that he was still alive? See 'A Gentleman's Agreement'." "If a man had at one time saved your life, would you offer him yours in return if he demanded it? See 'A Gentleman's Agreement'." Yon might bill this as "The story of a man who had a principle and lived up to it — at the cost of his life. I would make some fuss about Miss Shipman in ad- vertising this for she certainly does some excellent work throughout the offering. 7jfeBftADSTREET of FILMDOM 7^rkochized Authority Vol. V, No. 72 Saturday, July 20, 1918 Price 5 Cents BRADY AGAIN HEADS NAT'L ASS'N OF PICTURE INDUSTRY Governing Body of Past Year is Retained — Exhibitor Question Deferred to Later Meeting BOSTON.— Despite the fact that William A. Brady was generally sup- posed to have definitely decided not to assume the presidency of the Na- tional Association of the Motion Pic- ture Industry for another year, he was unanimously elected without any opposition at the second annual meet- ing of that organization in the Cop- ley Plaza yesterday morning. Frederick H. Elliott was compli- mented on his work during the past twelve months and continued in the office of executive secretary, whereas the other officials were re-elected with few changes. Vice Presidents — Peter J. Schaefer, Adolph Zukor, P. A. Powers, William L. Sherrill, Paul H. Cromelin, W. C. Smith, E. M. Porter. Treasurer, J. E. Brulatour. Executive Committee — Walter W. Irwin, chairman; Peter J| Schaefer, Lee A. Ochs, A. S. Black, P. A. Pow- ers, William L. Sherrill, Arthur S. Friend, Samuel Goldfish, Paul Brunet, Paul H. Cromelin, J. E. Brulatour, Richard A. Rowland. With President Brady in the chair, the reports of the work accomplished by the various committees were read and approved and plans were dis- cussed for increasing the activities of the organization in effecting benefi- cial legislation and opposing that which is detrimental to the business. Exhibitors' League Question One of the chief questions under discussion was the action of the Mo- tion Picture Exhibitors' League in demanding a 50 per cent, representa- tion on the Board of Directors. The association members were generally of the opinion that the request should not be acted upon hastily and should be deferred until it had been carefully considered from every angle. A mo- tion to this effect was passed and it was decided that a meeting to con- sider the League matter should be called by the president, either next week or the week following. It is generally understood that the exhibitors are determined not to back down in their demands for a fuller representation and whatever compro- mise is brought about probably will be through concessions on the part of the producers. Copley Plaza Dinner The dinner at the Copley Plaza on Thursday night, to T. P. O'Connor, cinema censor for Great Britain, was largely attended, well conducted and fortunate in the tactful expression of good feeling on the part of the speak- ers. "Tay Pay," who has been a mem- ber of Parliament for forty years, spoke in a particularly happy vein of the attitude that both the Irish and Jews should have towards this coun- try which has done so much for them. His remarks on the Irish question were illuminating to many of the diners. Another speaker who met with marked favor was Charles C. Petti- john, who made an urgent appeal fo/r united action on the part of the en- tire industry, exhibitors as well as producers, in promoting the needs of the nation. Chicago is Pleased Election of Schaefer. Popu- lar in Western Film Circles CHICAGO. — Much satisfaction is expressed in local film circles over the election of Peter J. Schaefer to the presidency of the M. P. E. L. of A. It is predicted that past differences existing between the old and new league will now be forgotten and that next year at St. Louis the convention will be a joint one. Plans are pro- gressing toward a big meeting of the A. E. A. at Hotel Sherman, Sep- tember 3-7. Sees It Everywhere PAREX FILM CORPORA- TION Furnishing WM. L. SHERRY SERVICE Los Angeles, Cal. July 13, 1918. WID'S DAILY, 71 West 44th St. New York City. Gentlemen : — I see WID'S DAILY lying on the desks in all the principal theatres from Seattle to San Diego. They certainly go by WID'S out here, and it is get- ting to be a powerful little pa- per. Sincerely, William Alexander, District Manager. Goldwyn First Runs Contracts Closed for Showings in N. Y., Chicago and Phila. Goldwyn Pictures Corp. has closed a contract for New York, Chicago and Philadelphia which assures first run showings for the Goldwyn Star Se- ries in the representative houses of these cities, beginning Sept. 1 and con- tinuing for the next twelve months. The New York deal has been ar- ranged with S. L. Rothapfel of the Rialto and Rivoli and Harold Edel of the Strand and allows for one pic- ture a week from the Goldwyn stud- ies. This means a better representa- tion in this city than Samuel Gold- fish's organization has ever had in the i past, although first run Goldwyns at the Rialto or Strand have been a moderately frequent occurrence. In Philadelphia the same arrange- ment has been made for the Stanley theatres whereas the Chicago show- ing will be in the Asher Bros.-Lub- liner-Trinz-Schaefer houses, number- ing twenty-seven in all. Saturday, July 20, 1918 iMA DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at "1-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 BUYS "HEARTS" FOR ELEVEN STATES Sol Lesser Now Has Griffith Feature For Country West of Mississippi Guts and Flashes Herbert Howe, formerly of Vita- graph's publicity staff, now in the Tanks Corps, has come up from Get- tysburg for a few days. Robert Brotherton, former head of Selig's Chicago laboratories, will have charge of making the stills at Diando studios hereafter. Louis J. Gasnier, president of As- tra, is in Los Angeles taking a hand in the making of the last episodes of the new serial, "Hands Up!" Lynn S. Card, general manager of U. S. Exhibitor Booking Corp., has returned from a two-months' trip in- specting the exchanges that handle their products. "Trailers" calling for volunteers for farm work are being attached to films released by Gaumont, Pathe, Vi- tagraph, Universal, General, Metro, Goldwyn, Triangle, 'Mutual and World. William Dowlan is producing a new Triangle picture starring Pauline Starke. The present title is "Daugh- ter Angel." Roy Stewart is working on "Untamed," a story by Kenneth B. Clark. Marjorie Kay, who recently re- turned from France as a war nurse, has the promise of one of the big producers to co-star her in a picture depicting her experiences on the bat- tlefront and in the hospitals of France. Secretary of War Baker appeared on one scene of "When the Giant Wakes," Educational's feature that was taken the other day at Charles- ton, W. Va., and Governor John J. Cornwell, of West Virginia, appeared in another one with Boy Scouts. Sol Lesser, state right buyer of San Francisco and president of the State Right Distributors, Inc., has closed for additional states on "Hearts of the World." By this deal, Mr. Lesser acquires rights to the film for the en- tire county west of the Mississippi River. The new states he has control over are as follows: Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Texas, Ok- lahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. In the deal he completed in early June, Mr. Lesser purchased "Hearts" for California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Ore- gon, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico for $200,- 000. The price paid for the new territory has not been revealed as yet, but judging from the sum involved in tne previous sale, the amount certainly is considerable. It is believed that Mr. Lesser was influenced to buy the new territory because of the great success the picture is meeting in Pa- cific film houses. S. C. Rogers, representing W. H. Clune Production Co., of Los An- geles, is in New York in the inter- est of the picture, "The Eyes of the World," and also to look over pic- tures that may be suitable for Clune's Auditorium. Foreign Rights Sold Robertson-Cole Company report the sale of the foreign rights for "The Belgian," for Mexico, the West In- dies and part of South America, "The Great White Trail" for England, Ire- land, Scotland and Wales, Burma, Ceylon and Straits Settlements, and "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" for the British Isles, Ceylon, India and Burma. Drews Coming Back Making of Two-Reel Come- dies to Be Resumed Soon Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew are pre- paring to resume making comedies in association with A. J. Van Beuren and Dr. Harry Kelson, it is reported. Present plans call for twelve two- reel comedies a year, production to be started the latter part of August. Pic- ture work will not interfere with the appearance of the Drews in a stage comedv by Richard Walton Tully this fall. Pleased to meet you, President Schaefer — you've got the boys behind you. Supporting Harold Lockwood Two important additions to the cast supporting Harold Lockwood in "Pals First," which Metro will distribute un- der the banner of Screen Classics, Inc., were made this week with the engagement for the picture of Ruby de Remer and James Lackaye. Miss de Remer will play the leading fem- inine role while Mr. Lackaye will en- act the part of Dominie, Open Conference CHICAGO. — The controversy over the motion picture censorship meas- ure, introduced into Council by Alder- man Maypole, came to a head July 18 in Council chambers. There was an open session for the airing of the con- flicting views regarding the measure, held by corporations, film concerns and individuals interested in the bill. M. H. Hoffman Recovering M. H. Hoffman is recovering from a serious operation at Mt. Sinai Hos- pital and expects soon to be in shape to continue his picture activities. It is understood that he has bought the world rights to a six-reel feature, which will be sold on the state rights market, also the Greater New York and New Jersey rights to "The Grain of Dust," which will be distributed through the M. H. Hoffman Exchange. TM*i DAILY Saturday, July 20, 1918 Regular "Hate Fest" Funkhouser Trial Likely to Drag Along for Another Week CHICAGO.— The trial of Maj. M. L. C. Funkhouser, suspended film cen- sor and second deputy superintendent of police, has resolved itself into a regular "hate fest," tilts between the chairman of the civil service commis- sion and the attorneys for the defense having occurred almost daily. Charges that the defense was seek- ing to dodge the issue were made by Corporation Counsel Righeimer this week. One of the charges on which the suspended deputy is being tried alleges that he failed to obey orders issued by Chief of Police Schuettler, in September, 1917. A long argument followed as to the intent of the ordinance reorganizing the police department and defining the second deputy's duties. Dr. Graham Taylor, who was called to the stand by the defense, praised •Major Funkhouser's administration as second deputy, stating he had had oc- casion many times to consult the po- lice official. F. A. Block, one of Major Funk- houser's motion picture censors, whom it is charged, the second deputy per- mitted to solicit stock subscriptions 'for a motion picture device in work- ing hours, appeared and testified that 'the charge was false. He had made experiments in the censor rooms, he said, but it was after working hours. The major is bringing everything to bear to prove that he was efficient in the discharge of his duties. Friends are rushing to his support and the trial will probably drag along for an- other week. Rand Made Division Manager In order to consolidate its sales organization, General Film has cre- ated a new office by appointing W. S. Rand of Denver as division sales man- ager of the Pacific Coast territory, in- cluding Denver, the appointment to become effective at once. Mr. Rand is expected to apply his time to the co-ordination of General Film exchanges in his territory in or- der to bring about a more intensive sales campaign. He is one of the best known film salesman in the West, hav- ing opened the Coast offices for Mu- tual in 1912. He has been active in the business ever since. *The William N. Selig chimpanzee comedies will reach the foreign mar- kets through Ben gar Pictures, Inc., and not through J. Frank Brockliss, Inc., as previously stated^ The Selig pictures' foreign distribution will be handled entirely by Bengar Pictures. ^\>Aouqfit a Let's wo7*k for a United League in which business is foremost and politics buried, Goldvvyn in Canada J. J. and Jules Allen to Dis- tribute Films in Dominion Goldwyn Pictures Corporation has signed up with J. J. and Jules Allen to distribute Goldwyn Pictures in the Dominion of Canada. The Allen Brothers have, besides their distribut- ing organization^ many theatres in prosperous cities and towns. They will conduct exchanges in To- ronto, Montreal, St. John, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Vancouver, which will cover the territory thoroughly. Formerly the Aliens managed the Monarch Film Co. and the Famous Players Film Service, Ltd. AMONG THOSE PRESENT Among those who attended the Ex- hibitors' League Convention in Bos- ton were: Dan W. Chamberlain, Min- neapolis; W. H. Deeth, American the- atre, Minneapolis; Thomas Furniss, Rex theatre, Duluth; Joseph Mogler, St. Louis; H. T. Scully, New Haven; Jack Schwartz, New 14th St., Sun- shine and American theatres, New York; Fred M. Engley, Hayes theatre, Waterville, Maine; W. E. Spragg, Olympia theatre, New Haven. C. L. Martin, Princess theatre, Wa- terbury; Frank N. Barhydt, Troy; James J. Lyons, Lyons Park theatre, Morristown, N. J.; L. A. DeHoff, New and Garden theatres, Baltimore; C. H. Goodwin, Eureka theatre, Philadel- phia; Peter J. Schaefer, Chicago; Syd- ney S. Cohen, New York; Samuel Les- selbaum, Brooklyn; Charles O'Reilly, New York; A. J. Fecke, Boston; E. J. Doolittle, New York; J. M. Goodwin, Hollowell, Maine; C. L. Dooley, Pat- erson; Martin A. Heanue, Oak the- atre, Bridgeport; S. Hansen, Camden; George Charron, Boston; Sam. S. Ber- man, Brooklyn; Walter G. Hartford, Imperial theatre, Pawtucket; Louis L. Levine, Brooklyn. R. W. Drown, Sommerville, Mass.; Alfred S. Black, Rockland, Maine; H. R. Bassett, Boston; Ralph Camp, Boston; H. L. Levvy, Boston; J. Louis Rome, Broadway theatre, Baltimore; F. A. Hornig, Royal theatre, Balti- more; George Julian Houtain, Brook- lyn; E. O. Ramsdell, Maiden, Mass.; A. Bendslev, Waltham; Israel J. Hoff- man, Pastime theatre, Ansonia; M. W. Leighton, American theatre, Bridge- port; J. C. Lund, South End theatre, Bridgeport; Thomas Howard, New York; Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Farrington, Princess and Auditorium theatres, Brattleboro, Vt. J. H. Mahoney, Boston; William Berinstein, Colonial theatre, Albany; Henry Cole, Boston; Nathan Vine- grad, New York; Hyman Weisner, Re- gent theatre, New York; W. H. Lin- ton, Hippodrome, Utica; M. Silver- man, Happy Hour theatre, Schenec- tady; C. C. Charles, Albany; Fred P. Elliott, Clifton Square theatre, Al- bany; George Roberts, Hudson the- atre, Albany; M. Needle, Lyric thea- tre, New York; Harry G. Lihou, St. Louis; Gus Koenigswald, Brooklyn; J. C. Leighton, New Haven. A. Montague, Day Square Theatre, East Boston; P. F. Lyton, Imperial theatre, South Boston; C. H. Hitch- cock, Minneapolis; A. L. Fischer, Phil- adelphia; S. B. Blatt, Philadelphia; A. E. Brown, Overbrook theatre, Haverford; Al Somberby, Bowdoin Square theatre, Boston; J. E. Char- bonneau, Eagle theatre, Manchester; Mrs. Nellie Dolan, Lyric theatre, Do- ver; J. Lourie, Beacon theatre, Boston; T. S. Berry, Grand Square theatre, Manchester; Ira S. Pyle, Santa Rosa, Cal.; E. R. Gregory, Boston; A. H. Nace, Broad theatre, Quakertown, Pa.; Thomas A. Lavin, Melba theatre, St. Louis; Edward Pohlman, Mutoscope theatre, St. Louis. Louis V. Stephens, Juniata theatre, St. Louis; C. H. Bean, Pastime thea- tre, Franklin; J. Fred Lovett, Royal theatre, Providence; M. Silverman, Happy Hour theatre, Schenectady; W. H. Linton, Little Falls; J. Cellar, New York; C. C. Pyle, Chicago; C. F. Harin, New York; T. S. Berry, Gran- ite Square theatre, Manchester; E. J. Fisher, Orpheum theatre, Seattle: S. Grand, Boston; Wm. E. Dowling, Cen- tral Square theatre, East Boston; W. B. Sproule, Central Square theatre, East Boston; C. H. Goodwyn, Phila- delphia; Dr. S. S. Steinberg, Strand theatre, Philadelphia; Mrs. Morse Humphrey, Derry, N. H.; Mrs. Ellen Pierce, Lyric theatre, Manchester. Saturday, July 20, 1918 Sure-Fire Comedy With Great Cast and Funny Complications Wallace Reid in "LESS THAN KIN" Paramount DIRECTOR : Donald Crisp AUTHOR Alice Duer Miller SCENARIO BY. . . * Marion Fairfax CAMERAMAN Henry Kotani ART DIRECTOR Wilfred Buckland AS A WHOLE Pleasing cast, delightful comedy and amusing complications make this a sure- fire winner anywhere. STORY Amusing complications evolving around hero who impersonates dead man to dodge his own past. DIRECTION Provided good atmosphere and made it snappy all the way. PHOTOGRAPHY Artistic. Doubles well timed and dissolves excellent. LIGHTINGS Generally very fine CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Great SUPPORT . . . . . . . . . .*. . . . . . . . . . . . .Generally excellent EXTERIORS Very good but sub=station set could have been more convincing. INTERIORS Very good except bank interior looking: out on street which registered very "setty". DETAIL Manv good touches; some sure=fire titles CHARACTER OF STORY Comedy=drama for any audience; is sure=fire. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet THEY'VE given Wally a story that was evidently made-to-order for him in this and he sure puts it over with a bang. We had some great titles to help this along and the many unexpected twists make it travel on high all the way. Wally is a young American in Honduras who is wanted for murder in New York, he having too strenu- ously broker up a wife-beating battle with the result that the husband was killed. The wife loved her hus- band even if he was ruff and testified against Wally with the result that he was sentenced for life, but the warden had carelessly left the "cage" open so his good looking jail-bird could beat it. In Honduras he meets a man who is his exact double" also a Xew Yorker, and when this feller conveniently dies and leaves his identification papers, Wally, who longs for the bright lights, decides to go back to New York and assume the dead man's place and station. The dead man's father, not having seen his son for twelve years, swallows W ally's story and after he meets an adopted cousin. Anna Little, he is just beginning to be glad he came when things start to happen. The dead man had been an absconder and had left many debts behind him which responsibility Wally has to shoulder but the final blow comes when the dead man's wife and kids, having- seen Wally's picture in the papers, hunt him up and call him "Paw." Wally insists that he has never seen the woman before but when she produces the marriage license made out in the name of the dead man Wally is impersonating, he finds himself in a jam. This makes him decide to take a chance on his own past and he tells Anna that he. is not the dead man but his double. Lewis Tickers. At this juncture a former cell-mate of Wally's turns up and identifies him as the escaped murderer. Wally finds himself between fires — - if he is Tickers, the chair awaits him and if he is Lee, he has an awftrt looking wife and two ruff-neck kids on his hands. Wally is locked in a room while his rival for Anna. Raymond Hatton. stays- on guard outside the door waiting for the sheriff to arrive. Wally escapes, and appropriating a car, beats it for the Canadian border. After he has gone a ways, he finds that Anna is in the tonneau. having hidden under some robes and they beat it to a convenient church and get married just as the sheriff and banker arrive. The banker has learned that the wife of the man Wally had murdered had retracted her evidence so Wally is free and we have the clutch. We had some very good detail bits throughout the offering but the sub-station set would have fooled any- body if they had dirtied it up a bit and smeared some posters over it. As it is. it's too clean and gets over as a "set". A little more attention to detail here would have gotten this by as a sure-enuf shot of a New York street corner. Of course, this was made in Los Angeles, where everything (pertaining to transportation) is on the level. The very capable cast included Tim Cruze. Gustav Seffertitz. Noah Beerv. Tames Neil. Charles Ogle. Jane Wolff. Guv Oliver. Calvert Carter and J. Herbert. Your Folks Will Rave About Wally in This. Boost It To the Limit The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor You can make a lot of noise about this and I think that most folks, especially the ladies who think Wally is "jest grand", will think that this is one of the best offerings they have ever seen him in. Miss Little has also built up quite an individual following in Wally's support and I would use her name prominently. I would make it plain that this is delightful, whole- some comedy-drama with unusual twists and complica- tions and would go the limit in boosting it. It sure is a genuine pleasure to sit through a production that has been handled the way this one has and you won't go wrong in making considerable fuss about it. You might use some catchlines like this to stir up interest: "What would you do if you were imperson- ating another man to dodge your own past and found that his record was worse than yours?" "Wally Reid had a criminal record and assumed the name and station of another man to dodge it. Then it developed that he has thus fallen heir to the other man's abondoned family. If he revealed his identity the chair awaited him — if he stood firm as the other man, he had an awful looking wiff and two ruff-neck kids on his hands. Then there was a very good looking young lady to be considered. See how Wally got out of predicament in 'Loss Than Kin.' " You might ask them: "Have you got a double?! Does it cause you embarrassment? Wally had -*t| lot of bad debts and a dirty faced family wished on hinj when he assumed another man's name to dodge his own : past." See "Less Than Kin." 7/eBRADSTREET of FILMDOM 7/feRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 74 Monday, July 22, 1918 Price 5 Cents Best Bet of All HUNT'S THEATRE Wildwood, N. J. My dear Wid: Your Daily is immense. It's the best bet of all. Yours, W. C. Hunt, Manager. CENSORING PLAN NOT FAVORED Exporters Believe Confusion Must Result in Custom Department's Projection Room Henley is Shifted To Make Kex Beach Picture — Barker Directing F a r r a r Hobart Henley has been placed in charge of the direction of the Rex Beach feature, "Laughing Bill Hyde," ' upon which work will be started im- mediately at the Goldwyn studio, with an all-star cast. Reginald Barker will direct Geraldine Farrar. Originally Mr. Henley was to work with the operatic star. This is the fifth production made l>\ Mr. Henley £or Goldwyn, establish- ing, a new record. All of the Henley pictures in the past have been with Mae Marsh, and it is understood that at the completion of the Beach film, Mr. Henley will direct another Mae Marsh subject. One-Minute Patriotism MADISON, Wis.— For one minute at 6 o'clock each evening every mo- tion picture screen will flash old glory and orchestras strike up the national anthem-, while all citizens will stand at salute, if Governor Phillipp. acting upon a petition submitted to him, is- sues a proclamation calling for the above. A resolution for the petition was unanimously adopted by the city coun- cil last week. Epidemic Closes Theatres DUBUQUE, la.— Infantile paraly- sis, which broke out here last week, rlosed all the theatres. The board of health has the disease well in hand, but will not permit the theatres to operate until the epidemic has passed. A new proposal governing the cen- sorship of films tor export is not meeting much favor in the trade. The Lustorn Department plans to have a central projection room to which ex- porters will be compelled to send their films to be censored. The pic- es after approval will be packed in this projecting room and shipped fi orri that point. The idea, which is the outgrowth of six months' deliberation, is to elimi- n ite the use of so many inspectors and to do away, with the sending of an tor to the shipping room of each exporter. Bids have been asked for and received from the Public Projection Room in the Godfrey Building and also a projection room in 1600 Broadway. No award has as yet been made. Inspector Reynolds, who is the chief inspector, could not be reached yesterday, but his office said that a room with eight machines will be re- quired. A representative exporter said Sat- urday that the plan is absolutely un- necessary. First, he said, congestion will occur as a matter of course. The condition can well be imagined, when, under the plan, all exporters will send their films to one central point for examination. Delays will naturally ensue and shipments designed for one boat will miss that ship and be forced to wait for another one, which may mean a month or so. Exporters will be obliged to repack the films after re- ceiving them from the manufacturer and stand the additional expense of sending them to the central projec- tion room. Carpenter Returns to Washington Grant Carpenter, assistant secretary of the Motion Picture War Service As- sociation, left for Washington last night. He will remain there several days in the interest of the Associa- tion, appearing before the Finance Committee on the income tax ques- tion. Carmen with Keeney Youthful Fox Star Expected to Shift Allegiance August 1 Jewel Carmen is, according to lat- est reports, to leave the Fox camp and after August 1 she is to be a star in picture plays under the banner of Frank A. Keeney. That much was announced publicly by two of the Keeney executives on Saturday. Miss Carmen's initial production as a Keeney star has not been selected as yet, but it is stated that there are several stories under consideration and that one will be decided on this week. As to the contract that Miss Car- men had with William Fox, which it is said still has 18 months to run, the star is quoted as having stated that it was made while she was an "infant," at least in a legal sense, and that it cannot be held as binding at this time. Miss Carmen had a birth- day last week and turned 21 and hav- ing outgrown her swaddling clothes in the eyes of the law, has signed with Keeney. The Fox people, however, are not going to stand by and see a star slip away from them and there promises to be a decidedly interesting bit of litigation regarding the responsibility of the guardians as parties to a con- tract for an infant. Sees Chance for Unity Charles C. Pettijohn, upon his ar- rival here from Boston, spoke in glow- ing terms of Peter J. Schaefer's op- portunities as the newdy-elected presi- dent of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America. Mr. Pettijohn be- lieves in Mr. Schaefer's ability to make a success of his new position, and is enthusiastic about the chances of ob- taining some sort of unity under the new regime. He pointed to the need of the exhibitors doing all that is in their power to aid the Government in the present critical times. Monday, July 22, 1918- Tstt4i DAILY Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. By WIH'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("W1D") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes Harold Bolster, of the Goldwyn corporation, was in Detroit last week. Universal is under the impression that a number of exhibitors, judging by the title, have classed "The Brass Bullet" as a war serial. As a matter of fact it is a mystery serial with no war action. Tom Buckingham has signed a con- tract with Triangle to appear in leads. Gus Peterson leaves the company to attend the Cinematograph school at Columbia, in preparation for war ser- vice as photographer. Tom Terriss has started producing another Alice Joyce, Vitagraph, pic- ture, in which there are only four characters, played by Miss Joyce, Walter McGrail, Herbert Standing and May Hopkins. Mr. Terriss is making scenes at his own estate at Brightwaters. Daniel Frohman, of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, states that the published statements that a young film star actor named Charles Froh- man Stedman was a nephew of his brother, the late Charles Frohman, is incorrect, as Mr. Frohman had no nephew by that name. Laemmle is Dined Carl Laemmle was the guest of honor last Satnrdav night at a dinner given at Prince's, Arverne, L. T. The executives and sales force of the Big U. exchange in New York invited their chief and told him what a "regu- lar guv" he was. Incidentally, the New York Universal Fxrhange is no longer to lie known as the Universal Film exchange but as the Big U. ex- change and Saturday night's blowout was to celebrate the re-christening. From the Courts Burdick Still Determined to Recover Value of Fairmount Corporation Stock That Irving E. Burdick has not given up his attempts to recover $5,- 000 from the Fairmount Film Corpo- ration as the value of stock in the corporation which the latter refused to transfer to him, is indicated by an application he has made to Supreme Court Justice Ottinger for an order staying the film company from taking any proceedings in the case, pending the outcome of a hearing before the Court of Appeals at Albany, Septem- ber 30, in which the court will deter- mine whether he can appeal to that court from the decision of the Appel- late Division dismissing his com- plaint. Burdick said that if the defendant •s permitted to withdraw the $5,000 deposit 't was compelled to make to release its propertv from the attach- ment obtained bv Burdick. he will be unable to collect anything in case the Court of Apoeals decides in his favor because he is informed and believes that the defendant is "utterly insol- vent." Suoreme Court Justice McAvoy has dismissed a suit brought by the City of New York against the Gnome Mo- tion Picture Co. to recover a personal tax on an assessment of $3,000. Fred- prick Kalmbach. of 1068 Hall place, Bronx, treasurer of the corporation, said that the corporation had quit do- ing business at the time the assess- ment was made. Educational Chartered Charles A. Dean Named as Presi- dent of Distributing Company The Educational Distributing Com- pany has been chartered with Charles A. Dean president. The company is designed to handle the product of the F durational Films Corporation of America throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. Dean left last nieht for De- troit. He will visit Chicago and Cleveland and other Middle Western cities. He is looking for fifteen or twentv men who need not have film experience, but must be keen business men. Serial For Australia The Famous Players-Lasky Austra- lian Company has purchased the Wharton serial, "The Eagle's Eye." The deal was closed late last week, Chester Beecroft acting as agent. Tssy Goetz, of the Select exchange, has started on a two weeks' vacation in the mountains. Organization Stopped Efforts to Form Union in De- troit Checked by Exchange Men DETROIT.— An effort is being made in Detroit to organize the poster men, film examiners, inspectors and shipping clerks into a union as a part of the Detroit Federation of Labor. Agitators handed circulars to the employees as they passed out of the Film Building; but the exchange managers were quick to break up the plan. The operators' union claims that it had nothing to do with the movement. Dawn Masterplay Company, buyer of pictures, and controlling "Hearts of the World" for Michigan, has agreed to keep the Detroit Opera House open through the summer and fall. The opera house is to be torn down. "Hearts of the World" is the present attraction. Royal A. Baker and Lester Potter, Detroit's police-appointed motion pic- ture censors, are very active looking after the morals of the people. In the month of June they censored 516,000 feet of film, condemned 5 pictures, and slashed the others. John H. Kunsky is announcing Kel- lerman's "Queen of the Sea," and Theda Bara's "Salome," as coming at- tractions at the Adams Theatre. Shannon Fife Enlists Shannon Fife, one of the most pro- lific and successful scenario writers in the business, who started in the early days of Lubin and came close to mak- ing a record in the number of one and two-reel scripts bearing his name, has been accepted for the Army and will report to Captain Horton at Fort Travis this week. Mr. Fife has been anxious to enter the Army ever since the beginning of the war, but on three occasions when he attempted to enlist, did not quite meet the physical requirements. Living at his home in Dallas and writing scenarios to order, he has at- tained the necessary standard and is now prepared to say good-bye to a host of friends in the picture business, until the end of the war. Sales Reported The Arrow Film Co. has made the following sales: "The Grain of Dust" and 50 reels of the J. Warren Kerri- gan re-issues to the Specialty Film Co. of Dallas; "The Hand of Ven- geance" to the American Film Co. of Boston, and four Lockwood-AHison re-issues to Harvey B. Day of Pitts- burgh. idi4& DAILY Monday, July 22, 1918 We Can Tell YouWheteTo KeachTtiem-PhoneVaiidfiri)ilt4551 DIRECTORS GEORGE D. BAKER PRODUCING FEATURES METRO TOD BROWNING Directing BLUEBIRD FEATURES ALBERT CAPELLANI PRODUCER EDWIN CAREWE M. P. D. A. Now Managing and Directing HAKOLD LOCKWOOD GEORGE FITZMAURIGE M. P. D. A. PRODUCING PATHE FEATURES 1914 — Birth of a Nation 1916 — Intolerance 1918— Hearts of the World These are the only productions personally directed by D. VV. GRIFFITH ALLEN J. HOLUBAR M. P. D. A. Producing Universal Features WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY M. P. D. A., PRODUCING FEATURES IVAN GEORGE IRVING M. P. D. A. GENERAL PRODUCING DIRECTOR JOSEPH LEVERING DIRECTOR CHARLES MILLER M. P. D. A. Director of THE SERVICE STAR The Flame of the Yukon The Sawdust RingThe Ghosts of Yesterday ASHLEY MILLER Motion Picture Directors Ass'n. 234 West 55th St., N. Y. C. R. WILLIAM NEILL PRODUCER Paramount Release G. HAROLD PERCIVAL ART DIRECTOR Thos. H. Ince Productions PAUL SGARDON M. P. D. A. FEATURE DIRECTOR, VITAGRAPH DIRECTORS AUTHORS FREDDIE SGHAEFFER ART DIRECTOR R. A. WALSH PRODUCTIONS ANTHONY KELLY GEORGE A. SIEGMAN M. P. D. A. J. CLARKSON MILLER GOLDWYN Original Stories and Continuities CHARLES SWIGKARD Personally Directing Dustin Farnum in Harry A. Sherman Productions EVE UNSELL ORIGINALS ADAPTATIONS Many Successes for Prominent Companies 272 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. S. E. V. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. With D. W. GRIFFITH STUDIOS CAMERAMEN ROY H. KLAFFKI Cinematographer UNIVERSAL FEATURES WILLIAM D. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. Director Lasky-Paramount ROBERT T. THORNBY M. P. D A. Porducing Fox Features WID'S DAILY NOT5 sSS^ED PERRY N. VEKROFF M. P. D. A., FEATURE DIRECTOR 511 W. 143rd St. Audubon 1941 Your name should be before the man who can sign contracts. This directory will appear once each week on Monday, and on Tuesday there will be a similar directory of players. No matter how good your position is today it can be better tomorrow if you keep your name before the right people. BEN WILSON Directing and Starring UNIVERSAL CHESTER WITHEY DIRECTOR WALLACE WORSLEY DIRECTING LOUISE GLAUM IN PARALTA PLAYS JAMES YOUNG Motion Picture Directors Association AUTHORS ORIGINALS CONTINUITY JACK CUNNINGHAM Writing for Pathe Hollywood, California ADAPTATIONS EDITORIAL Manhattan Madness Wolff Lowry CHARLES T. DAZEY The Sea Master New York Luck GEORGE ELWOOD JENKS CONTINUITY AND SPECIALS Triangle Culver City MONTE M. KATTERJOHN Staff Author PARALTA PLAYS Monday, July 22, 1918 tMA DAILY Good Film Depicting Peoples and Places Never Before Photographed Martin E. Johnson's "AMONG THE CANNIBALS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC" Independent Release DIRECTOR Martin E. Johnson CAMERAMAN Martin E. Johnson, assisted by Mrs. Johnson. AS A WHOLE Intensely interesting and at times amusing him revealing odd peoples and places that have never before been photographed or explored by white men. STORY Events are presented in the same sequence in which they were explored and photographed, making this coherent and inter= esting all the way. DIRECTION AND PHOTOGRAPHY Showed intelli= gencc in composition of scenes, making this almost as interesting, and certainly less haz= ardous, than if your audiences had made the trip in person. Photography is remarkably clear and many shots have been beautifully tinted. LIGHTINGS Some remarkable sunsets and cloud effects. CAMERA WORK Effective and at times required some nerve. STARS Savages in their native attire — or lack of it. SUPPORT Their habits and manner of living EXTERIORS A revelation. Artificial floating islands intensely interesting and exceptionally well photographed. INTERIORS None DETAIL Nothing of interest has been over= looked. Animated maps at intervals explain locations and route traveled. CHARACTER OF STORY Nude native girls may get guffaws from the ruff=necks but intelligent -r.diences will think this unobjectionable and remarkablv interesting. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION May be presented in one=reeI units or as a complete feature. Roxie showed aboi't n>ooo feet. A YEAR ago we would have said that it couldn'1 be done but Roxie's unusual success recently in presenting a series of short subjects as a program or making a feature of a five reel educational subject, as in tin's instance, has proved that the public will really turn out to see a program of this nature and that many of them prefer 't to the routine production of a story enacted by professional players. I thoroughly < ojoyed this offering, which was pre- sented this week at the Rivoli for the first time any- where and the audible expressions of the gang of cash customers that sat around me was conclusive evidence that they were interested and entertained. At the Rivoli, Mr. Johnson lectured the pictures, which to my knowledge is the first time that this has been done in any of Roxie's houses, and he gave an entertaining and intelligent description of the subject. Because of Mr. Johnson's lecture, or description, in com nection with the Rivoli presentation, all of the sub- titles were deleted but I understand that a complete set of titles have been prepared to explain the film in lieu of a lecturer, as well as some animated cartoons made for Mr. Johnson by the Bray Studios. The beginning of the film shows Mr. Johnson and his wife, a beautiful little lady with a real screen person- ality, leaving San Francisco harbor. Mrs. Jack London is seen bidding them Ron Voyage at the pier, Mr. John- son having accompanied the late Jack London on his memorable cruise on the Snark several years ago. Very little footage has been given to this part of the offering, the remainder of the film showing the various tribes of cannibals in their native haunts. li was news to me. and I think it will be to most folks, to know that there are over one hundred million cannibals still existent, certain tribes of which — and we see them at first range in the film — are just as ferocious •mm! barbarous as they were centuries ago. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were actually captured by a band of the most dangerous of these and he and his plucky wife. determined to have something to fake back, if they ( vor gol back, stuck to the crank until the last minute and we get some almost unbelievable (dose-up shots of the wild-looking boys about to make Mr. and .Mrs. Johnson captives. Their escape is described in Mr. Johnson's lecture — and in the titles which will go out with the film when it is released on a regular basis. An interesting as well as amusing bit shows a canoe race between native boys. Some of these are only four years old ami they maneuver their primitive crafts like skilled adults. We are also shown the head-hunters and their collec- >f skulls, the marriage-market, a native burial, the native jazz-band and scores of weird dances and pecu- liar ceremonies. Although these primitive people ordinarily go about entirely nude. Mr. Johnson has provided crass skirts for the feminine members of his cast and sufficient cov- ering for the men. Some of the native girls are really beautiful and. contrary to the accepted belief, are bound by a stringent moral law. the violation of which means death. These interesting points are all intelligently explained. Given Intelligent, Specialized Exploitation, This Should Go Big This should certainly go big anywhere and if intel- ligently exploited ought to prove a money-maker and a pleasing diversion from the general trend of motion picture entertainment. Surely none of us would miss the opportunity of seeing the many interesting things we get here firsl hand and I am sure that I have never Been a film of this nature which came so near to creating the same sensation thai one would experience if he had made the trip personally. Mr. Johnson was far sighted enough to obtain some remarkable still pictures for advertising purposes and 1 presume thai he will furnish enlargements of these for lobby displays and other forms of advertising. Although this production is not likely to become tire- some on account of the interesting material which has The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor been selected from over fifty- thousand feet of film to make up the five reels, it would be advisable to break up the program with a good comedy or other short sub- jects to break up the monotony of too much of the same subject. Those who are particularly interested in entertain- ment of this nature, and there are thousands of them in every community if you make a concentrated effort to reach them, will certainly rave over these pictures. Nf\. doubt, this will prove boresome and over the heads of n certain element but the same may be said of almost any production. If you cater to a high-class gang. I would say to step out and grab this. You can rest as- sured that those who do like it will rave about it and 1 tell their friends to see it. This, being of a special na- ture, should be exploited in a special way. ZfeBRADSTREET of FILMDOM 7^rkoghized Authority Vol. V, No. 76 Wednesday, July 24, 1918 Price 5 Cents FOX ANNOUNCES NEW BRANDS Three Productions Extraordinary Also are Assured for the Coming Season The announcement of the William Fox program for the 1918-19 season, includes two new groups of pictures with six stars, a number of Produc- tions Extraordinary, including a Theo- dore Roosevelt picture, a pretentious war film made by R. A. Walsh, a pic- ture based on the life of General Pershing and a submarine fantasy. Victory Pictures and Excel Pic- tures are the new brands. Three Pro- ductions Extraordinary already as- sured are "The Prussian Cur," the Walsh German spy picture; "Why America Will Win," the Pershing subject and "Queen of the Sea," An- nette Kellerman's contribution. Other films of an unusual nature are Colonel Roosevelt's "Put the Flag on the Firing Line," and Theda Bara in "Salome." Standard Pictures starring Theda Bara, and William Farnum will number eight each, with ten presented by so-called all-star casts. There will be 26 Victory, 26 Excel, 26 Sunshine Comedies and 52 Mutt and Jeff sub- jects. Fox announces as his principal stars, besides those already mentioned, George Walsh, Gladys Brockwell, Tom Mix, Virginia Pearson, Peggy Hyland and Jewel Carmen, wh'ose services are also claimed by Frank A. Keeney. "Stolen Orders" Sale Rights to Brady Melodrama for the United Kingdom Walter Hoff Seeley of the Robin- son-Cole Company closed a contract with William A. Brady yesterday morning for the rights to the produc- tion of "Stolen Orders" for the entire United Kingdom with the exception -ei Australia and Canada. The price v?s $50,000. Wertheimer of London was the purchaser, the Robinson-Cole com- pany acting as his agents in the mat- ter. Always Interesting WILLIAM M. SEABURY Seabury, Massey & Lowe 120 Broadway New York City I beg to enclose my check to your order for $10. Every copy of Wid's Daily seems to contain interesting information. For this reason I have decided to subscribe to it for a year. With best wishes, I remain Yours very truly, (Signed) W. M. SEABURY. War Service Meeting Author's League of America to Assist in Propaganda Films for Next Loan Adolph Zukor's war service commit- tee got together yesterday. At the meeting were Walter W. Irwin, Mar- cus Loew, George K. Spoor and J. E. Brulatour. The Author's League of America was represented and prom- ised its support to the extent of fur- nishing gratis the scenarios for the siories which the committee is to have made by its stars for propaganda work for the next Liberty Loan campaign which is to start in September. As a result of the visit of Mr. Zukor and John C. Flinn to Washington last week the Government has asked them for between 30 and 40 stars for the Loan pictures. W. F. Rogers, sales manager for General Film, is back from a six- weeks' trip to the Coast on which he visited about twenty of General's of- fices. PARAMOUNT TYING EM UP Has 43 Weeks At The Coming Year— The sales department of the Para- mount-Artcraft has signed up the "big three" of New York for the biggest part of the coming year. The Rialto and Rivoli, with a gross of 104 weeks to offer, have given the Paramount- Artcraft contracts for 86 of those weeks which means that there are but 18 outside pictures that can get into these houses. The Strand by signing for 34 weeks for the coming year has added 8 ad- ditional weeks to last year's contract. That called for 26 weeks and out of the total 24 were played, two pictures being shelved by Edel. Marcus Loew has signed, thuj far, for 52 Paramount-Artcraft pictures for the coming year. It is said that this is but the first batch of what he is go- :ng to take, the sales department be- lieving that at least two additional star series will be added to this before the year actually gets under way. Rialto and Rivoli For -Strand Signs For 34 The Strand by signing for only 34 pictures leaves 18 weeks open, of which the Goldwyn will fill in a cer- tain number, it being positive that the Farrar productions will be shown there. Then, as a member of the First National, Edel will have to play sev- eral productions that will be marketed through that organization. First Caruso Chosen "My Cousin," by Margaret Turn- bull— Star to Work in East "My Cousin," written by Margaret Turnbull, has been selected as the first picture for Enrico Caruso. The picture will be made at the Famous Players New York studio under the direction of Edward Jose, with Caro- lina White as the leading woman. Wednesday, July 24, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DEN1G, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; ti months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $L'0.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes Pete Schmid, of the Famous Play- ers-Lasky publicity forces, is on the vacation list for the next fortnight. •Enid Bennett, the Tom Incc star, is working on "Coals of Fire," which will be released in September. The first Urban "Exhibitor-Special," starring Gaby Deslys, is being adver- tised extensively in the English trade papers. Gerald Bacon, of Sanger and Jor- dan, is making his headquarters at the Bacon-Backer studio, at 230 West 38th street, where he is directing oper- ations. Al. Lichtman, of the Paramount- Artcraft, is in Chicago closing a num- ber of contracts for the coming year's output. Stuart Lake, formerly publicity man with several companies, has enlisted in the army and leaves this morning for Camp Humphrey.- A. N. Webster will succeed George E. Leonard as the Kansas City Trian- gle manager, while E. C. Blakeman will take Air. Webster's place at Omaha. Alia Nazirnova and Emmy Wehlen are at Long Beach, working on two new Metro productions. Nazimova ;; starring in "L'Occident," and Miss Wehlen in "His Martyred Wife." Amy N. Sacker lias been engaged by Triangle as art director of the Culver City Triangle studio. Miss Sacker is the head of the N. Sacker School of Design and Interior Decor- ating, of Boston. SPECIAL DRIVE FOR "MANXMAN" J. L. Kempner Conducting "Direct To Exhibitor Movement" With Co-operation of Goldwyn The most recent organization to fol- low in line with the new method of sales exploitation, as advanced by S. S. Hutchinson in his arrangement with Pathe for the distribution of the American Company's products, W. W. Hodkinson, and other leading film men, is the Manxman Company, which has arranged for a "direct to the exhibitor" handling of Hall Caine's "The Manxman," in co-oper- ation with the Goldwyn exchanges. J. L. Kempner, for some two years connected with the Rita Jolivet com- pany, has severed that connection to becdme general manager of "The Manxman" exploitation, and, with Paul Cromelin, has planned a cam- paign which will cover the entire country and enlist the interests of British American and Canadian Amer- ican societies. The first representative to leave New York is Leon Schlesinger, re- membered for his successful handling o1" "Enlighten Thy Daughter," who started last night for Buffalo, intend- ing to work through to Chicago and then cover the Middle West. It is probable that by next fall three or four men will be on the road to assist Mr. Schlesinger. The possibility of interesting Brit- ish American and Canadian American societies in this picture is considered to be particularly good at this time, as it deals with the life of the British people and bears the stamp of offi- cial authority. The campaign will be made along the lines of cementing the cordial feel- ing between this country and Eng- land by giving Americans a better un- derstanding of English traits. News- papers will be used as far as possible in promoting the interests of the pic- ture. The .campaign is in full co-oper- ation with the Goldwyn exchanges which are distributing the picture." L. J. Mcyberg, of the W. H. Clif- ford Productions, is due back in New York next Monday. Charles L. Stevens of the Super- Features, Ltd., Toronto, returned home on Monday. He will be back in New York in six weeks. Annette Weissberg, who has been handling "Stolen Orders" for W. A. Brady, is to leave next week. Henry Siegel, manager of the N. Y. Select Exchange, leaves this week for a fortnight's vacation. Harry Bauxbaum, special represen- tative of the Paramount-Artcraft, has returned to New York and will make his headquarters at the N. Y. exchange for the next month. Invitations have been issued for the "Mitt Me" luncheon of the General Division of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, sched- uled for the Astor. July 31, at 12:30. Those who wish to attend should no- tify Frederick H. Elliott. Denis J. Sullivan, former assistant general manager of Mutual, is in town. His plans for the future arc be- ing kept under cover. Enlargements are being made at the Vitagraph Hollywood studio in prepa- ration for increased winter produc- tion. Clark Comes East Executive of Producers Affil- iated Here for Discussion W. J. Clark, secretary and treasurer of the Producers' Affiliated, Inc., ar- rives in New York today. He is the president of the Commission Form of Government of Grand Rapids, but be- lieves that the town will be able to run itself for a few days while he is in New York looking after the affairs of the Affiliated. Incidentally, this conference of the Affiliated executives, will practically settle the release date of the first pic- ture that the members of the associa- tion are to be offered. Exhibitor Drops Dead H. B. Logan, who has been in busi- ness for the past twenty-five years and who operated the Opera House at Macon, Mo., dropped dead in his home at Macon last week. Mr. Logan had prepared to take a trip to Colorado. He was one of the most popular exhibitors in his territory. The First Woman Operator Jack Cohn of the Universal Weekly boasts that he has the first woman nroi^ction machine operator in New York. She is Nellie Brogan and is working in the U. Weekly projection room at the Mecca Building. Sessue Havakawa is preparing to make his third production for Ha- worth Pictures Corp. DAILY Defending Funkhouser Catholic Alumnae Protests Against Amend ed Maypole Bill CHICAGO. — Th e International Federation of Catholic Alumnae, in an open letter to the city council, objects to the proposed amended Maypole censorship measure. The letter, made public yesterday by Mrs. Danl. V. Gallery third vice-president of the Federation, describes Major M. L. C. Funkhouser, Chicago's suspended cen- sor czar, as having been made the "scapegoat" before the civil service commission. The letter reads in part: "The office of censor was created by the city council and eleven censors put under him, the whole making a board of censors. Some time later the whole board was put under the department of police. If there has been one man censorship in Chicago it has not been Major Funkhouser. "An able, conscientious official has tried to do his duty, harassed con- tinually and now at a critical moment he is suspended. A goat is not an enviable animal. But a suspended goat is a little more helpless. We were startled at the manner of his suspension, but we await the issue of the case with patience." "We object to the proposed ordi- nance because, first of all it demands an impossibility of the censorship board in ordering them all to see the films. We object to it also because it takes away the power of veto from the chief censor and makes him a mere figurehead. We object to the 'pink permit' system, which has been resonsible for many of the vicious shows in the past. "The censorship mess dishonors Chicago. Our city has been called "the pulse of America.' Now more than ever that pulse should be strong and steady. We trust to you to give us a censorship worthy of our great American city of Chicago." Council has the letter along with a number of others received since the start of the Funkhouser trial and pro- poses to await the outcome of the report of the committee of eighteen, to be appointed by the judiciary com- mittee. Opposition May Develop The Film Exporters of America will meet in the Hotel Astor tomorrow at 12.15 o'clock. It is expected that She meeting- will hold much of inter- est to the trade, in view of the recent Government rulings, the resulting confusion and the chances of there h^ing a contest over the more objec- Conable of these regulations. Wednesday, July 24, 1918 Paramount-Artcraft's national ad- vertising campaign seems to have be- come confused with a national adver- tising campaign in Paramount-Art- craft pictures. Large Attendance Expected CHICAGO.— Frank Rembusch is busily engaged making final arrange- ments for the A. E. A. convention to be held here in September. Already several delegations have signified their intention of being present, Okla- homa stating they will send seventy exhibitors. Dr. Samuel Atkinson, an exhibitor of Evanston, 111., has been appointed chairman of a committee to arrange for speakers. - Owing to the illness of Jake Wells, it is feared he will not be able to attend. A big delegation is expected from the South. Universal's Own Industrial The Universal Film Company is making an industrial of its own plant. It is to be one of those "How the 'Movies' Are Made" pictures and is to show all of the inside workings of the production of a feature picture. Well, if not all of the inside workings, almost all of them at that. The pic- ture has now developed to the stage where it reveals the operation of the sales force of the big exchange which handles the production after it is turned out of the studio. Coolidge W. Streeter. formerly with the Bray-Paramount Pictograph, is now with the Baumer Films, Inc. Changes in St. Louis National Film Publicity Corp. To Make One-Reel Comedies ST. LOUIS.— E. C. Pipe of Detroit has assumed the management of the New Delmar theatre in this city, for- merly owned and operated by B. Stromberg. J. D. Vaughn, formerly booker for Mutual at Omaha, has succeeded J. C. Burhourne here as manager of Kleine-Edison. Mr. Bourhourne has been transferred to Dallas, Texas. The National Film Publicity Cor- poration of St. Louis, specializing in motion picture advertising, intends making one-reel comedies in the near future, and they are organizing a com- pany for that purpose. This concern has branch offices in Kansas City, Mo., and Cleveland, Ohio. Frank Lowry, who operates the Princess theatre, at Salem, Ii!., is planning to build a new theatre in West Frankfort, 111., seating 900 peo- ple. The churches in the vicinity of the New Pestalozzi theatre, censored the Keystone comedy, "His Diving Beauty," featuring Fatty Arbuckle and Mabel Normand — reason: Mabel's one-piece bathing suit. Ted Morse, who opened the first Select office in St. Louis for A. H. Blanke of Des Moines, has been ap- pointed road man for Fox in this territory. P. L. Ryan, general manager of the Standard Film Corporation, has en- listed in the U. S. Signal Corps, and is stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He has been appointed Ser- geant-Major, Company F, 8th Bat- talion. The U. S. Exhibitors' Booking Cor- poration's release, "The Belgian," billed for the Strand theatre, stood them up the first part of last week and the Columbia theatre, which had been closed, was opened the balance of the week to take care of the overflow crowds. Hart in "The Hell Hound of Alaska" played out the balance of the week at the Strand and did capacity business. The Park, Kings, Shenandoah and Grand Opera House theatres, of the Cella & Tate circuit here, are closed for the summer. The Park theatre opened a few weeks with light opera, but closed owing to lack of patronage. Fox's new theatre, the Victoria, Grand and Washington Avenues, will open the early part of September with Theda Bara in "Salome." The man- agement is illuminating the neighbor- hood adjacent to this theatre, which is just about half a block from the New Grand Central theatre, oper- ated by W. Sievers of the First Na- tional. Wednesday, July 24, 1918 DAILY Captivating Star and Good Twists Make This Delightful Comedy Gladys Hulette and Creighton Hale in "WAIFS" Astra=Pathe DIRECTOR Albert Parker AUTHOR Grace Startwell Mason SCENARIO BY Frank Leon Smith CAMERAMAN A. Ortlieb AS A WHOLE Pleasing little romance, well played STORY New twists and delightful star make old idea entertaining; contains plenty of com= edy and well=worked=out suspense. DIRECTION Injected pleasing comedy touches and handled mysterious crook character in= telligentlv. Developed suspense. PHOTOGRAPHY*. Good straight stuff; not exceptional. LIGHTINGS Rather good on star and registered some effective bits but too uniform at times. CAMERA WORK Good angles STAR Beautiful and captivating SUPPORT Very good; Creighton Hale pleasing hero and Walter Heirs will get laughs. EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Acceptable DETAIL Some pleasing touches although titles could have been worded much better. CHARACTER OF STORY. ..Delightful comedy romance. Clean and entertaining. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,600 feet YOU fellers who have been yelling for clean, enter- taining lihns without any murder and wild stuff will certainly be delighted with this and so will your audiences. We have an old idea here that lias been worked out with new twists, contains some delightful comedy bits, a touch of mystery and a well balanced cast that lints it over witli a bang. .Many of your folks will have the finish of fh's doped out in advance but Ave get enough individual incidents all along to make the offering entertaining. This starts off with two partners, one of them the father of Shero and the other having a nephew whom Shero has never seen. They have planned to have their charges marry anil Shero, not liking the idea, runs away to Xew York. Hero's father has had her shadowed by a detective who reports her whereabouts and father and the uncle plan on a scheme to buy off the landlady and have the nephew stop at the same house and thereby develop the romance a la desert island style. For the purposes of the scenario, they established Shero as the only lodger, which was inconsistent but won't worry you. Up to this time we have not seen the nephew and they give us a good twist in introducing Creighton Hale as a young reporter and when he conveniently happens by the house in time to save Shero from a mysterious crook who has been hanging around, you are going to figure that Hale is the nephew. Hero Creighton Hale, learning that Shero is alone in the house, stays to protect her and when Walter Heirs, the real nephew, comes around as per his uncle's in- structions. Hero kicks him out. While Hero goes out to phone, the mysterious crook enters the house undis- covered. Hero returns and stays at the house all night, sleeping in the hallway. In the meantime the detective has seen Shero and Hero eating together and reports to the uncle and father that the scheme is working great, not knowing that Hero is not the nephew. The next morning. Shero finds a basket of food on the step with a note which gets over that Hero's visit has been framed and she tells him she never wants to see him again, lie starts to leave when the crook, who has been in the house all night, leaps on him and we have a good scrap. Shero runs for help and finds Walter Heirs, who has slept on the front steps all night and he bein' a boob guy, knocks Hero cold and lets the crook escape. Walter has phoned his uncle, who arrives on the scene with Shero's father. Explanations follow and Walter gets the air and then. God bless 'em. instead of giving us the clutch, we had Shero askin' Hero to be at her house for dinner the following evening. During the scrap. Shero has rescued "the poipers" for which crook had come to the house and which Hero had been trying for five years to obtain. Walter Heirs was funny as the fat boob nephew, flreiffhfon Hale was a thoroughly likable Hero, while J. H. Gilmore was satisfactory as Shero's father. The crook made his part convincing by keeping the ehai'acter within bounds. Play Up as Clean, Wholesome Comedy-Drama, They'll Like It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This is delightful, wholesome comedy drama and I think that most folks are going to rave over it and tell their friends to see it. They've developed a certain amount of suspense and a mystery character here with- out letting the production become too melodramatic at any time and Miss Hulette is certainly beautiful and captivating throughout. I would play up the comedy-romance idea for all it's worth wc gel all too little of it in the average program production. I would make considerable fuss about Miss Hulette and Creighton Hale, a very likable pair that work well together and would use their photos prom- inently in my ads and lobby display. Vim might use eatchlinos like this: "What would you do if you fell in love with a fellow whom you met accidentally and then learned that the meeting had been framed by your father and his uncle? See Gladys Hulette in 'Waifs' ". I don't think the title "Waifs" is going to create any furore and I would try and dig up a better one. "Waifs" has been used before and doesn't mean anything. YTou might call this "A Happy Mistake", "An Accidental Romance", "A Boomerang Frame-up", "Framers Framed" or "When Cupid Stacks the Cards", any of which should mean more at the box-office than the title Pathe has wished on the production. In using another -_ title, it is not necessary to provide a new one for the film. You can word all your advertising thusly: " 'AN ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE' adapted from 'Waifs' ", or, " 'Waifs' or 'AN ACCIDENTAL ROMANCE' ". Make the new title prominent and carry the regular title in smaller type. ZfcBRADSTREET of FILMDOM DAIbYi x^recochized Authority Vol. V, No. 81 Monday, July 29, 1918 Price 5 Cents PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTING CORP. TO OFFER TWELVE A YEAR Frank Hall Ready To Supply Features At Fixed Rentals of $10— $20— $30 Frank Hall announces the forma- tion of the Producers' Distributing- Corporation and states that plans have been completed whereby it will com- mence operations at once, supplying twelve feature pictures a year at fixed rentals of $10. $20, and $30. These pictures will be made by directors of recognized standing. It is believed that one of the first films to be issued by the Producers' Distributing Corp. will be the Edgar Lewis-James Vincent production, "The Troop Train," now being made. Mr. Hall lays stress upon the point that exhibitors will not be asked to buy stock in the corporation, nor will they be forced to accept pictures that do not rise above the ordinary pro- gram ■ quality. A feature of the policy of the new organization is the promise to furnish exhibitors who contract for a year's output of twelve productions, with big subjects of real box office value at the 10-20-30 rental prices, depending upon the age of the subject. The plan, as devised by Mr. Hall, protects contract holders from having to accept features that do not come up to their expecta- tions and against high-handed methods on the part of distributors, by a can- cellation clause which enables them to cancel their contract upon "two pic- tures notice." Tn addition to his theatrical inter- ests, Mr. Hall has been successful in marketing a number of large produc- tions during the pas; year and believes that he has worked out a plan whereby high-class feature- rffay be made at a reasonable figure and rented to ex- hibitors at a price which will assure a satisfactory return. Arrangements have already been made for six of the pictures scheduled tor the first year. Morrow With Hodkinson Hoyt G. Morrow, who opened the Dallas office of the First National Ex- hibitors' Circuit, will be a sales rep- resentative for the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, in charge of the territory covered by the Dallas office of the General Film Company. Mr. Hoyt was formerly manager for the Montgomery Circuit of Theatres, after which he acted in a managerial capacity with the General Film Com- pany in Jacksonville and New Orleans. In 1916 he assumed charge of Art- craft's Dallas exchange, remaining with that organization until 1917, when he opened the First National's Dallas office. Luttrell Re-elected G. M. Luttrell of Jacksonville, 111., has been re-elected president of the Southern Illinois branch of the Mo- tion Picture Exhibitors' League of America. This is his fifth year in office. Mr. Luttrell has done much for exhibitor organization in Illinois. Giant Amusement Corp. ALBANY. — The Giant Amusement Corporation, having its principal office at Mineola, N. Y., was chartered by the Secretary of State Friday. The purposes for which the corporation is formed are to manage theatres and to develop, exchange and exhibit motion picture films of all kinds. It is capi- talized at $8,000 and the following are the principal stockholders: Victor Levy, Abraham Titten, and Samuel Strausberg, 334 Ellery St., Brooklyn, N. Y. The Commonwealth Comedy Com- pany of the Bronx has increased its capital stock from -510,000 to $60,000. Mary MacLaren Starts Work LOS ANGELES.— Mary MacLaren has started work or her first Univer- sal picture under her new contract with that company. The feature is to be called "Vanity Pool" and is adapt- ed from a story by Nalbro Bartley, which appeared in Young's. Ida May Park is directing. In Breathless Demand Los Angeles, Cal., July 20, 1918. Mr. Wid Gunning, Wid's Daily, New York. My dear Wid: Your Daily is in breathless de- mand. So far I have failed to see one of them in the waste- basket. Long may it wave! Yours sincerely, ERNEST SHIPMAN. Considered by 1st Nat'l Sherman Hopes to Place Zane Grey Pictures on Circuit Harry Sherman is responsible for the news that the First National Ex- hibitors' Circuit may take over his production of "The Light of Western Stars." This is the picture in which Dustin Farnum is starred and is the first of a series of stories by Zane Grey which he is going to film. Sherman stated that he screened the picture for the First National execu- tives on Friday and that he is now awaiting their decision. The deal, if consummated, will be an outright sale according to the producer. In the event that the First National does not take the picture Sherman is prepared to release it as a state rights proposi- tion. The T. Hayes Hunter production. "The Border Legion," in which Blanche Bates and Hobart Bosworth are starred, is being shown at the Strand this week. This is also a Zane Grey story and Hunter thus far has managed to get the jump on the Sher- man production by being first before the public. Bailey Appointed A. S. Bailey, formerly Goldwyn manager at Denver, has been ap- pointed manager of the General Film Company's Omaha exchange. Mr. Bailey succeeds F. R. Martin, acting manager of the branch, who resigned to enter the National Army. Monday, July 29, 1918 ————■nil n jM^ DAILY Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK. Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months. $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Cuts and Fishes Sidney B. Lusk, of Washington, has bought rights to the new Gaumont serial, "The Hand of Vengeance." A contract for supplying the U. S. S. "Dorothea" with fifty reels every two weeks has been awarded by the Gov- ernment to General Film Co. May Allison has begun work on the new Metro feature, "The Testing of Mildred Vane," by Charles Dazey. Darrel Foster is to be her leading- man and Wilfred Lucas the director. Ike Von Ronkle, for a number of years manager of the Universal and Bluebird exchanges, has accepted the managership of the Goldwyn Chicago exchange, succeeding Harry Bailey. Doris Kenyon is spending two weeks in Halifax, N. B., resting, prior to beginning the third of her De Luxe features for the Sherry Service. Her latest picture, "The Inn of the Blue Moon," is to be released, Aug. 11. Pathe will give a trade showing of the first episodes of the new serial, "Hands Up," at the New York thea- tre roof, Friday, at 2 o'clock. This serial stars Ruth Roland and is di- rected by James W. Home, from a scenario by Gilson Willets. Rita Jolivet is contemplating a trip abroad to assist in the presentation of her feature, "Lest We Forget," in allied and neutral countries. World's rights to the picture, exclusive of the United States and Canada, are owned by J. Frank Brockliss, Inc. "The Great Love" at Strand "The Great Love," the initial Grif- fith-Artcraft picture, will have its first public showing, August 11, when a week's engagement starts at the Strand. Big Plans For Regent Charles H. Miles to Open Detroit House in September DETROIT.— Th< Regent theatre, Detroit, situated more than two miles from the heart of the city, will open in September with first-run pictures. Charles H. Miles, who is successfully operating the orpheum (vaudeville) theatre, is the lessee. Mr. Miles plans to have a 50-piece orchestra, and has engaged Henry Santrey, a singer whose popularit}' in Detroit is un- questioned. Everything will be of the finest. The scale of prices is not de- cided; but the policy will be one show in the afternoon and two at night. Frank Farrington, builder and con- troller of the new Colonial theatre, which has still to register its first success, has leased the house to the Cohen Brothers and Herman Warren. Messrs. Cohen and Warren now con- trol the third largest chain of the- atres in Detroit. Detroit stands high in the number of its first-run theatres. With the opening of the fall season Detroit will in all probability be supporting eight first-run houses. This means interesting business for the exchanges, and lively bidding for pictures not under contract. Tuesday, July 24. saw many of Michigan's film men march away to Camp Custer for military training. The Dawn Masterplay Company controls the distribution of the Ford Weekly in Michigan. Theda Bara in "Cleopatra" has been re-booked for the Washington theatre. The picture broke house record last winter. Majestic theatre, now closed for re- decorating, will open in August. Manager McGee promises some inno- vations in picture presentation. Sidney M. Golden has just pro- duced "Souls Unmasked." a six-reel picture, in Detroit. He has gone to New York to sell the negative, and plans to return to Detroit to produce his second picture. Mr. Golden says that Detroit is soon to be a produc- ing center. Harry I. Garson, personal manager for Clara Kimball Young, exploiter of Blanche Sweet, and business manager for the Broadway-Strand theatre, De- troit, comes from California to spend a week in his native city. Receiver is Discharged Imperial Exchange Suit Against General Film and Others Settled Supreme Court Justice Mullan has signed an order discharging Joseph R. Truesdale as receiver of the Im- perial Film Exchange, Inc., and can- celling the bond he gave when he was appointed. The application for the discharge of the receiver was made by himself, because he said his work had been completed. The re- ceiver reported that a settlement had been made of the suit brought by the Imperial Film Exchange in 1912 against the General Film Co. and oth- ers for damages. In this suit the plaintiff alleged that the General Film, Vitagraph, Pathe Freres, Edison, Bi- ograph, Selig, George Kleine, Es- sanay and Lubin companies had vio- lated the Sherman anti-trust law, as result of which the Imperial Ex- change had sustained heavy damages. The defendants at the same time were suing the Imperial for $12,568 alleged to be due. Receiver Truesdale reported that as a result of the negotiations with the attorneys for the defendants for a settlement he received from them $60,937. Of this amount he paid out $55,337 in legal expenses and in divi- dends to the three Imperial stock- hold, William and Otto Steiner and William Devery. The balance less the fees of the receiver will go to these stockholders. Metro Convention Closes After two days of discussion and conviviality, Metro exchange men who came to New York for the two days' annual convention, which opened on Friday and officially closed with a din- ner at the Astor, Saturday night, left for their homes yesterday well stocked with new ideas about the promotion of the Metro product. R. A. Row- land, Joseph Engle, W. E. Atkinson and Arthur James were the principal spokesmen. Present at the convention were: H. W. Kahn, Albany; E. J. Hayes, Buf- falo; Chas. Kesnick, Atlanta; C. E. Smith. Chicago; E. R. Custer, Cincin- nati; H. Almy, Cleveland; W. Skir- boll. Des Moines; S. W. Hatch, De- troit; J. Grauman, Milwaukee; A. Fisher, Minneapolis; Jos. Klein, N. V.; Herman Jans, N. J.; J. Davis, Pittsburgh; Harry Lustig, West Coast district manager; S. M. Flax, Wash- ington; C. Werner, St. Louis; Lee D. Balsly, Kansas City; W. H. Bach- meyer, Middle West district manager, and S. Shirley, Western district mana- ger. Jsjij^ DAILY Monday, July 29, 1918 We Can TellYouVhei^To^eachTtiem-PhoneVaQderi)ilt4551 DIRECTORS 1 DIRECTORS AUTHORS GEORGE D. BAKER PRODUCING FEATURES METRO PAUL SCARDON M. P. D. A. FEATURE DIRECTOR, VITAGRAPH ANTHONY KELLY HERBERT BLAGHE DIRECTING FOR METRO FREDDIE SGHAEFFER ART DIRECTOR R. A. WALSH PRODUCTIONS J. CLARKSON MILLER GOLDWYN Original Stories and Continuities TOD BROWNING Directing BLUEBIRD FEATURES GEORGE A. SIEGMAN M. P. D. A. EVE UNSELL ORIGINALS ADAPTATIONS Many Successes for Prominent Companies ALBERT GAPELLANI PRODUCER CHARLES SWIGKARD Personally Directing Dustin Farnum in Harry A. Sherman Productions CAMERAMEN EDWIN CAREWE M. P. D. A. Now Managing and Directing HAROLD LOGKWOOD ROY H. KLAFFKI Cinematographer UNIVERSAL FEATURES S. E. V. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. With D. W. GRIFFITH STUDIOS GEORGE FITZMAURICE M. P. D. A. PRODUCING PATHE FEATURES WILLIAM D. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. Director Lasky-Paramount WID'SOiyNO^srMED 1914 — Birth of a Nation 1916 — Intolerance ROBERT T. THORNBY M. P. D A. Porducin* Fov Features 1918— Hearts of the World These are the only productions personally- directed by D. W. GRIFFITH Your name should be before the man who can sign contracts. This directory will appear once each week on Monday, and on Tuesday there will be a similar directory of players. No matter how good your position is today it can be better tomorrow if you keep your name before the right people. ALLEN J. HOLUBAR M. P. D. A. Producing Universal Features PERRY N. VEKROFF M. P. D. A., FEATURE DIRECTOR 511 W. 143rd St. Audubon 1941 WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY M. P. D. A., PRODUCING FEATURES IVAN BEN WILSON Directing and Starring UNIVERSAL GEORGE IRVING M. P. D. A. GENERAL PRODUCING DIRECTOR CHESTER WITHEY DIRECTOR JOSEPH LEVERING DIRECTOR WALLACE WORSLEY DIRECTING LOUISE GLAUM IN PARALTA PLAYS JAMES YOUNG Motion Picture Directors Association CHARLES MILLER M. P. D. A. Director of THE SERVICE STAR The Flame of the Yukon The Sawdust RingThe Ghosts of Yesterday AUTHORS ASHLEY MILLER Motion Picture Directors Ass'n. 234 West 55th St., N. Y. C. Manhattan Madness Wolff Lowry CHARLES T. DAZEY The Sea Master New York Luck R. WILLIAM NEILL PRODUCER Paramount Release GEORGE ELWOOD JENKS CONTINUITY AND SPECIALS Triangle Culver City G. HAROLD PERCIVAL ART DIRECTOR Thos. H. Ince Productions MONTE M. KATTERJOHN Now writing Exclusively for Paramount- Artcraft Productions Jesse L. Lasky Studios Monday, July 29, 1918 sM^ DAILY Not Doug's Best But Artistry And Star's Pep Put It Over Douglas Fairbanks in "BOUND IN MOROCCO" Artcraft DIRECTOR Allan Dwan AUTHOR Allan Dwan CAMERAMAN Hugh McClung AS A WHOLE Not Doug's best but has stunts, thrills and several real laughs and has been given an exceptionally artistic production. STORY They dare you to find one DIRECTION Gave wonderfully artistic atmosphere, injected several funny bits and kept things moving. PHOTOGRAPHY Superb LIGHTINGS Artistic throughout; some great effects. CAMERA WORK Very fine STAR , I'll say he is SUPPORT Very good EXTERIORS Ooodles of wonderful sets that looked like the real thing and some great desert stuff. INTERIORS Very fine; harem set exceptional DETAIL Very good; some sure=fire titles CHARACTER OF STORY A plotless potpourri but it gets laughs. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet DOUG certainly proves himself a real star in this because there isn't another feller in pictures who could put over a story that is absolutely devoid of a plot, as this one is, and not only "get away with it" but make you like it. Had I viewed this "cold turkey" in a projection room. I might not have handed it much but I saw it at the Rivoli where I was surrounded by a gang that all paid sixty cents to yet in. and they ate it up. They kid this at the beginning with a title that tells you not to wink while the picture is on and to maintain absolute silence during the showing less you miss the plot. I must have winked, because I couldn't find said party. But Doug was there and after the thing started moving, which was in the next scene. I didn't care and I think the average gang is going to feel the same way about it. They plunge right into the middle of this at the be- ginning by showing Doug chained to a wall in a prison in Morocco with a lighted bomb burning at his feet, and then they take you back to the beginning and show how Doug got there. They give us some great desert stuff in the beginning of this where Doug is pursued by a gang of Hiudoos and they stir up so much sand that it all but gets in your eyes while you're watching it. Doug gets away from the gang after a series of stunts and wild driving and arrives in Morocco where he finds Shero and her mother prisoners. Frank Campeau is the wicked willun who owns a harem and he has fallen for Shero, Pauline Curley, who is an American girl and is to make her the favored one. Doug dresses up a la Fatima and goes in her stead and then we have some wild chases all around the place in which Doug throws willun and Jay Dwiggins, an am- bassador, into the pool in the center of the harem. They give us a real thrill where Doug swings across the set on a rope and grabs Shero, who is on the op- posite ledge, between his legs, scissor fashion, and swings back to safety. Then we had some thrilling chases over the roofs of buildings which gave Doug an opportunity to pull some of his athletic stunts in a way that only he can do 'em. This ends up with Doug get- ting Shero and her mother safe in his car and they speed away across the desert. They give us a finish that is at least new, although the audience at the Rivoli didn't seem to get it. Instead of the usual clutch we had a title which said "One Hundred Years Later" and faded out on a flash of a cemetery showing two big tombstones and a lot of smaller ones around it, closing with a title saying "That'll be about all." I woidd venture to say that this production cost more to make than anything Doug has done yet and the ar- tistic treatment does much to make up for the utter lack of plot. Others in the cast were Edythe Chapman, Tully Mar- shall. Fred Burns and Albert McQuarrie. Concentrate on Doug And Forget Plot They'll Accept It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Of course they can't all be knock-outs and I don't think this compares with some of Doug's previous work because we haven't been given any reason for things happening as they do but there's plenty of Doug, which means that this has got thrills, speed and laughs galore: it has been unusually well produced as to atmosphere and settings and for these reasons it's going to please the large percentage who don't care whai happens as long as it provides laughs and keeps moving — ami this one DOES MOVE. The thing to do is step out and make a lot of noise about this being Doug's latest production. You can promise s] d. laughs and thrills and above all, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS. You know from past experi- ence that all you need to do on a Fairbanks picture is to let 'em know you've got it and when you play it — Doug's reputation for "delivering" will do the rest. ^ You might use catchlines like this: "You've seen Doug in many predicaments and he al- ways comes through smiling. See what happens when he's turned loose in a harem in 'Bound in Morocco', his latest production." 7^BRADSTREET of FILMDOM flkPECOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 82 Tuesday, July 30, 1918 Price 5 Cents Twin Cities Like It MYLES NELSON The Daily News Minneapolis, Minn. Wids Daily, New York. Dear Sirs: Your daily is very helpful and interesting and we find frequent use for it in our film page. It is well spoken of in the Twin Cit- ies. Yours very truly, MYLES NELSON. Donovan Returns South Frank P. Donovan, director for the Diamond Film Co. of New Orleans, left for that city Saturday, after 10 days in New York. He has arranged for the General to release a series of six one-reel comedies, which he will start immediately on his arrival in New Orleans. On their completion he will return to New York and open offices. He has also closed with Ches- ter Beecroft to handle the entire Dia- mond brand output for the world, out- side of the U. S. and Canada. Change to Picture House CHICAGO.— Messrs. Balaban & Katz have taken over the property at the corner of Broadway and Law- rence street, in process of construc- tion for a legitimate theatre and have had the plans altered for a motion pic- ture theatre. The new house, which these pro- gressing film men have named the Ri- viera, when completed will seat 2,600 persons. It will be decorated in keep- ing with the Louis XIV period, and will contain all modern appliances and lighting effects. An orchestra of for- ty pieces will furnish music for pic- - tures and augment this entertainment with dancing and singing specialties. GOVERNMENT ASKS INDUSTRY FOR A CLOSER CO-OPERATION Brady Appoints Committee of Film Men At Request of Creel — Meeting Called by Byoir "To Hell With the Kaiser," com- pleted a run at the Bronx theatre last week to the biggest business a pic- ture ever did at that house. In order to effect a closer method of co-operation with the motion pic- ture industry in the matter of films exported from the country, William A. Brady, president of the National Association of the Motion Picture In- dustry, has appointed a committee of four to work in conjunction with .George Creel's Committee on Public Information. The committee consists of Gabriel Hess, of Goldwyn, chair- man; L. R. Thomas,- North American Motion Picture Co.; Paul H. Crome- lin, president of the Interocean For- warding Co., and William A. Brad}', ex-officio member. The appointment of the committee was the result of a meeting called for yesterday by Carl Byoir, associate chairman of the Committee on Public Information through the National As- sociation. The press was not admit- ted to enter the meeting room as the gathering was held behind closed doors. "Certain Matters" Coming Up Marcus A. Beeman, assistant direc- tor of the Division of Films, spoke for the Committee on Public Informa- tion. He said that "certain matters" will come up which will call for the assistance of the motion picture in- dustry. The committee appointed is 1 designed to represent the industry. The attitude of the Public Informa- tion Committee is that it is easier to gather four men on a committee than to issue a general call to the entire business. When asked what "certain affairs" he referred to, Air. Beeman was re- ticent. He said that they had to do with matters high up in the counsels of foreign governments and that dis- cussion of them would only be a means of aiding the enemy. Modification of Ruling What did come to light, however, was a modification of the ruling con- trolling the shipping space on Brit- ish vessels for films to 200 cubic feet. Mr. Brady received a letter from Richard Crawford, secretary of the British Embassy, in which it was stat- ed that the amount of shipping space on British bottoms had been in- creased to 500 cubic feet per month. Those in Attendance Charles S. Hart, chairman Division of Films, Committee on Public In- formation, and Marcus A. Beeman, assistant director of the Division of Film, in addition to Carl Bvoir were the representatives ot the Govern- ment present. The following connected with the producing and distributing end of the business sat around the council table: Chester Beecroft, Famous Players- Lasky Corp.; N. H. Friend, Bray stu- dios; William A. Brady; Abe Carlos, general representative for William Fox; R. Mitchell, of the Fox advertis- ing and publicity department; M. Sil- verstone, legal department; Interna- tional Film Service; Carl Hamburger,, president Piedmont Pictures Corp.; H R. Habicht, secretary and treasur- er Piedmont Pictures Corp.; Gabriel Hess, Goldwyn; Adolph Werkmeister, manager export department, Pathe; W. F. Rogers, sales manager, General Film, and William Wright, secretary and treasurer Kalem Company. The independent exporters included the following: Millard Johnson, Aus- tralasian Films, Ltd.; Horace T. Clarke, representing David P. How- ells: J. M. Aragon, Gillespie Brothers & Co., Reginald Warde; Jacob Wilk, Hiller and Wilk; C. E. Sawyer, Car- ribean Film Co.; L. Auerbach, Export & Import Film Co.; L. R. Thomas, North American Motion Picture Co.; Paul H. Cromelin, president Inter- ocean: E. H. Kaufman, Interocean; M. Moran, Interocean Forwarding, and J. Oppenheimer of Robertson- Cole Co. Tuesday, July 30, 1918 iMi DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44 tii St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DEXIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- fside of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 "America's Answer" Shown Although the formal public opening of the second of the Government's war features was not given until last night there was what might be termed a private showing on Sunday night at the Geo. M. Cohan theatre. The pic- ture is presented by the Division ot Films of the Committee on Public In- formation, and S. L. Rothapfel staged the presentation and conducted the orchestra for the performance. The Sunday night performance was under the auspices of the Merchants' Asso- ciation of New York and, according to a speech delivered by the presiding member of that organization, the showings throughout the country are to be made with the co-operation of the various branches of the Associa- tion. The picture is a seven-reel produc- tion, wonderfully well assembled, and was given in two parts, preceded by a brief tableau that brought a hearty round of applause from the audience. Defense to Close Case End of Testimony in Funk- houser Trial Expected Today CHICAGO.— Futile efforts were made at the trial of Major Funk- houser, suspended second deputy, to try to get into the records of the case testimony proving the existence of a "pipe line" from the office of Acting Chief of Police Alcock to the head- quarters of certain motion picture in- terests and the dens of the vice inter- ests, at the hearing last Friday and Saturday. An attempt to introduce evidence at Friday's session through the testi- mony of Frank Schoeffel, department inspector in Funkhouser's office, to. show the existence of a "pipe line" was frustrated by President Charles E. Frazier of the Civil Service Cdtn- mission. Miss Harriet Vittum, social worker and director ' of the Woman's City club, after many objections on the part of Attorney Righeimer, was al- lowed to testify that the Major was "efficient, helpful and reliable." The defense expects to close its case today. Day and night sessions have been the rule of late. Kashin's Camouflaged Lobby You've got to hand it to that boy Kashin at the Broadway. He has gone and done it again and this time has put it over with a wallop. His lobby the Mary MacLaren picture "Bread" this week is a pippin. It is a mighty clever piece of work and changes the whole front of the Broad- way. He has built a "set" which cov- er- the entire front of the house and makes it look mighty cool and invit- ing. Twentieth Anniversary CHICAGO.— August 1 marks the twentieth anniversary of the partner- ship of Aaron Jones and Adolph Li- nick. The corporate name of the firm was the Midland Machine Co. Later Peter J. Schaefer joined the partners and the theatrical firm of Jones, Linick & Schaefer was formed. Sherry Speeds It Up William L. Sherry was arrested on Saturday and hauled before the magis- trate in the West New Brighton court on a charge of speeding. He was giv- ing a fishing party to members of his staff and was apparently too eager to set to the scene of action. Among those on the part)- were Norman J. Sennott, general manager; Daniel L. Savage, general sales manager; A. C. Novotny, auditor; John S. Clark, man- ager of the New York branch office; Frank A. Laplan, James Calvin Mey- ers, counsel and Fred Langtree. M. J. Sullivan Leaves Mutual M. J. Sullivan, New York branch manager for Mutual, tendered his res- ignation yesterday effective August 3. Mr. Sullivan has been with Mutual for a number of years. He started as personal representa- tive for John R. Freuler. Later he was made general supervisor of all exchanges. About the first of the present year he came on to New York from Chicago as manager for the New York district. Mr. Sullivan, before connecting with Mutual, was on the sales force of the National Biscuit Company. Anna Case will start work on her first picture for the International Film Service, Aug. 12. ^\Z/20a<^At a [ Don't wait for folks to discover t/tat you've got a good show — Boost it Big. Notes From Indiana INDIANAPOLIS.— The Gem the- atre, a motion picture house, at Co- lumbus, Ind., was sold last week to Merrill Moore and Raymond C. Schull, of Kokomo, Ind. The latter has been a motion picture operator for a number of years. The Woodlawn theatre, at Evans- ville, Ind., was damaged slightly last week as a result of a fire in the oper- ating booth. Quick work on the part of a girl ticket seller probably pre- vented a panic. E. N. Tillman, of Ligonier, has sold the White Light theatre there to Bert L. Inks, of that city. Fire broke out in the operator's booth at the Alhambra theatre, Indi- anapolis, recently, but was extinguish- ed by firemen before any serious dam- age resulted. S. Barrett McCormick, managing di- rector of the Circle theatre, enter- tained about 2,000 newsboys Satur- day with the presentation of "The Sign Invisible," which he has booked for the first half of this week. Charlie Fang Comedies General Film announces that it is to distribute a series of one-reel Charlie Fang productions. These are comedies with a white cast, but a Chinese star, and are devoid of any of the slap-stick stuff, to be expected with that combination. Charlie is an appealing young Chinaman with a propensity for "putting his foot in it." Making Strong Fight Advocates of Sunday moving pic- tures in Trenton are making a strong fight for permission to keep the houses open on the Sabbath. A pe- tition has been signed by the leading citizens of the city. Ve CatiTellYouWlieireTo^eachTtieiii-PhoneVafldfiri)ilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. EDWARD EARLE LAMBS CLUB 144 W. 44th Street New York City WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN 0 UAILY NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Productions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd., L. A. MILTON SILLS THE LAMBS ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH MARION SWAYNE STAR FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear each Tuesday. Tuesday, July 30, 1918 tM& DAILY Star and Treatment Make Small-Town Comedy-Drama Entertaining Charles Ray in "A NINE O'CLOCK TOWN'' Ince=Paramount DIRECTOR Victor L. Shertzinger SUPERVISED BY Thos. H. Ince AUTHOR Victor L. Shertzinger CAMERAMAN Chester Lyons ART DIRECTOR Q. Harold Percival ART TITLES AND EFFECTS BY Irvin J. Martin AS A WHOLE Small town comedy=drama made pleasing by characterizations and treatment. STORY Young feller with city ideas puts the jazz into his father's business and brings home the bacon. DIRECTION Made little incidents register, developed characterizations and injected many good touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Very good with exception of one shot badly out of focus. LIGHTINGS Generally pleasing CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Great and wore clothes that fit the character without burlesquing it. SUPPORT Jane Novak very pleasing and others very good. Spike Rankin got laughs. EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Some great touches CHARACTER OF STORY. .Will appeal to any audience LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet CHARLIE'S role in this is a happy medium between the small town simp and the straight parts we have seen him in and he puts it over in a way that makes you believe it. Vic Shertzinger. who directed the production, is also credited with the story and he has provided material that fits Charlie's personality to a "T". This opens up with a shot of the "Nine O'Clock Town", which few people, if any. will detect as being anything but an actual lone- shot of a real location but which is in reality an extremely clever pastel drawing by Irvin Martin. It certainly has been well done. Charlie's father had recently remodeled his store as a result of Charlie's constant urging and things we.ren't _"in- as well as they predicted. Charlie goes to the city where he gets a job in Gimbel's 1 they gave this firm considerable free advertising! and comes back in a month with scads of New York ideas and induces his father to let him run the store for six months, unhindered and according to his own ideas. Charlie puts on a series of sales and has the town band at the store every day in addition to having a swell-looking model demon- strate corsets, and business booms — although Charlie's prices are so low that the store is losing money. In order to have a willun in this they had a burlesque show come to town and one of the dames with' the outfit, who had stolen Charlie's watch in the city, tells him she will give it back if he will come to her hotel and then they work the old badger game on Chas. with the boss of the show, posing as her husband, demanding five "thou" to keep his mouth shut. Charlie is scared and puts on a sale to raise the money, telling his sweetheart, who works in the store, about the jam he got into. When willun comes in the store to collect. Dorcas Mathews, the model, recognizes him as her husband and the plot is foiled. Previous to this. Melbourne MacDowell. a mysterious character who has repeatedly tried to see Charlie without success, final- ly gains admittance and nearly knocks Charlie cold by offering him fifty "thou" for the business, he having noticed the tremendous crowds they were drawing. We have some great business where Charlie, who can hardly believe the offer is real, tells MacDowell that he "will think it over". The next day Charlie's dad, who is overwhelmed with the firm's losses, comes in just as Charlie is closing a deal with MacDowell for seventy- five "thou" and his services as manager and Shero. Jane Novak, and Spike Rankin keep him outside until Charlie has closed the deal and we finish with the clutch. They give us a great little touch where Charlie takes the tape measure from Shero's neck and measures her ring finger, tearing the tape off at the mark and putting the piece in his pocket. Charles' sartorial make-up when he arrived from New York was great because he didn't overdo it. Otto Hoffman was very good as Charlie's father: Ger- trude Claire was his doting mother and Catherine Young was the dame who stole Charlie's watch while Caroline ( Spike) Rankin got several laughs as the skinney sales- ladv in the store. Play Up Star and Previous Successes; Should Please Any Audience The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Charlie Kay has earned quite some following in these small town characterizations which he puts over so effec- tively and folks who have enjoyed his former work along this line will be just as enthusiastic over this. These characters can be over-done very easily but Charlie has a way of making his roles convincing and human. There is a chain-. > here to co-operate with your music stores iii putting this over as there is a direct allusion in the titles to Charlie Ray being a "Twelve O'Clock Feller in a Nine o'clock Town". You could get them to make a special display of the song, connecting it with the attraction at your theatre by photos of Charlie Ray in their windows. You might bill this as "The story of a 'Twelve O'Clock Feller' who put the jazz in a 'Nine O'Clock Town' ". I would emphasize the human small-town element and the comedy touches and mention Charlie Ray's past successes. You might ask them: "Have you ever lived in a small town? Did you ever try to inject a little pep into it? See what Charles Ray did to a 'Nine O'Clock Town' when he came home with some New York Ideas." 7jfeBftADSTREET of FILMDOM 7/feRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 83 Wednesday, Ju"y 31, 1918 Price 5 Cents FLORENCE REED IN WAR FILM To Be Starred By Jack Stahl In a Picturization of Rev. Dr. Dwight Hillis' Book on German Atrocities Bearing the endorsement of Presi- dent Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt and the Rev. Dr. Dwight Hillis, the next feature in which Florence Reed is to be starred by Jack Stahl is to be made part of the propaganda for the next Liberty Loan drive which starts in September. The picture is founded on the writings of the Rev. Dr. Hillis revealing a number of German atroci- ties in Belgium. Mr. Stahl received the permission of the author to picturize his writings and then went after the Government officials to obtain their endorsement. Stahl will personally direct the pic- ture and will start work on it in about a week. Following the propaganda picture, Miss Reed will do five additional fea- tures for Stahl this year. He has her under contract for a series of at least five features in which she is to be starred or co-starred with a male star. Bushman-Bayne Metro Actor, Just Di- vorced, Marries Co-Star Francis X. Bushman, divorced in the Baltimore courts last Friday, was married on Monday to Beverly Bayne, his co-star in Metro pictures. Mr. and Mrs. Bushman have gone to the actor's estate in Maryland for a brief honey- moon. Mr. Bushman and Miss Bayne have been associated in picture work for about six years. Fuel Committee At a meeting of the National Asso- ciation of the Motion Picture Indus- try, yesterday, William A. Brady ap- pointed a committee to co-operate with Federal Fuel Administrator, Dr. Garfield. The committee, comprising S. L. Rothapfel, P. A. Powers, Mar- cus Loew, Harold Edel, J. H. Hall- berg and B. S. Moss, will meet to- morrow noon. Government's Rule Causes Flurry The recent ruling made by the Gov- ernment rescinding the tax on films for exportation has caused more or less of a flurry in the exporting field. In most cases where exporters have bought films from manufacturers or brokers in recent months and held them for shipment there having been no sailings lately, the exporters are trying to have the brokers or the manufacturers return the amount paid to cover the tax, but have been unable to obtain a rebate. Several of the exporters are threat- ening legal proceedings in the event that a refund is no* made to them. "Victory Screen Pledge" In recognition o the service done by exhibitors in showing Government war pictures, the Division of Films has prepared an official diploma to be known as a "Victory Screen Pledge," which will be awarded to managers who run the official war films, begin- ning with "Pershing's Crusaders." Double Admission Tax WASHINGTON— The Ways and Means Committee, in pre- paring the new war revenue bill yesterday, decided to double the admission tax and also to place a tax of one cent on admissions to amusement places where the minimum charge . does not ex- ceed seven cents. This means that when the bill becomes a law, theatre tickets will be taxed twenty per cent., instead of ten per cent., as at present, and that five-cent houses will no longer be exempt from admission taxation. Terry Ramsaye ^s expected to call upon Frederick H. Elliott to address the Mitt Me luncheon on the advisa- bility of making fifteen cent coins the standard admission price to future and futuristic expositions. Controls King Bee Spitzer Closes Deal For Billy West Comedies Nat Spitzer has closed a deal where- by he takes over the control of the King Bee Producing Company which has been making the Billy West comedies. The deal was closed yester- day and the West company is to start work again in a few weeks. The first comedy release under the new condi- tions will be made about September 1. Berst Called to Colors? The fact that the Republic of France lias entered an arrangement with the United States regarding the calling of the citizens of the former to the colors, it is believed, will affect the status of J. A. Berst, now handling the distribution of the Division of Films for the Committee on Public Informa- tion. At the offices of the Division of Films it was stated yesterday that it was understood that Mr. Berst had been called, but that they did not know what steps he would take to remain in the service of the Committee on Public Information, it being stated that his work was more important there than in the ranks. Petrova Returns Olga Petrova and her personal rep- resentative, Beulah Livingston, re- turned yesterday from the W. S. S. trip that covered a large part of the country. Wednesday, July 31, 1918 tM^ DAILY Published Every Pay in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DBNIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Emil Shauer, assistant treasurer of the Paramount, left this week for a fortnight's vacation. George A. Smith, formerly assist- ant to Berst at Path", who is with the 81st Army Division, is expecting to go overseas this week. J. Stuart Blackton has sold his es- tate at Oyster Bay to F. D. M. Stra- chan, a Georgia lumber dealer. It is said that $300,000 was paid for the property. Cuts and Flashes E. K. Lincoln has returned to New York after a short vacation at his home in the Berkshires. C. O. Baumann, of Kessel and Bau- mann, leaves today for a month's va- cation in the mountains. William Seivers, of the First Na- tional Exchange, St. Louis, has taken "Topics of the Day" for distribution in the St. Louis territory. A. H. Sawyer, connected with the Ralph Ince attractions, returned to New York Monday after a vacation at Atlantic City. Bert Lytell's next Metro will be "Faith," by Richard Washburn Child. E. Mason Hopper is handling the megaphone. Thomas H. Ince has bought "The Indian Drum," written by William MacHarg and Edwin Balmer. The story ran in "The Metropolitan Maga- zine" last December in serial form. Ivan Abramson has completed "Ashes of Love" with James K. Hackett and Mable Julienne Scott for the Graphic Film Co. This picture will be released in September. Helene Chadwick has gone to Cali- fornia where she will be starred in a five-reel picture for Pathe. It will be made at the Universal studio in Universal City where Pathe has rented some of the floor space. Harry G. Kosch, legal adviser to the Film Exporters of America, Inc., went j Washington yesterday to take up ••h Government officials the question he half-cent f mtage tax as it ap- 'o indirect export . G. A. Metzger, formerly manager of the Universal Exchange has been placed at the head of the Jewel Ex- change in New York for the Univer- sal. H. Huber, formerly of the local sales staff, has been appointed as his assistant. Clark Title Changed The Famous Players-Lasky Com- pany has changed the title of the com- ing Marguerite Clark production. The title originallv was "The Three Bears." under which the play was pre- sented. The exhibitors, who have not favored any more fairy tales with Miss Clark in them, decided from the title that this was another story of that ilk and started protesting. The new title is "Three Men and a Girl." "Maciste" As a Serial Harry Raver has made an arrange- ment for the distribution of the fa- mous Italian feature, "Maciste" in England as a ten-episode serial of two reels each. There are approximately 20,000 feet of film in the original pic- ture and this footage has been ar- ranged in serial form for English con- sumption. The film is now on its way to England. George Davis Coming George Davis, connected with the Alcazar theatre, San Francisco, and associated with Sol Lesser in his sec- ond deal on "Hearts of the World," is expected in New York today or to- morrow. He will make his headquar- ters in the office of the States Right Distributors, Inc. Longacre Building. From Film to Fish H. Winnisk and Joseph Simmons, of the W. H. Productions, are two of the principal factors in a new promo- tion which is to tie up the fish indus- try on the northern New England coast. The company is a_ $5,000,000 concern and aims to practically con- trol all of the sea food catches made along the Maine coast. Already they have purchased the bigger part of the Maine coast fishing fleet and will operate it themselves. Qu&e Beware of the program with one star and halj a dozen dead ones. Lewis Working Alone Is Not Associated With Any Other Director in Making "Troop Train" Things will get twisted in a print shop. Word was received in the office the other day that Frank Hall hoped to get a distribution plan launched and expected to be able to secure the new special production, "The Troop Train," which Edgar Lewis is making. It was also reported that Mr. Hall hoped to secure some special features that James Vincent was to release. In getting this information over the phone, the editorial department got the dope twisted and the result was an announcement that Mr. Lewis and Mr. Vincent were going to work to- gether. Of course I knew better. I know Edgar Lewis has worked alone for some time and intends to continue so. As Edgar says, "I am producing this picture as I have all others since 'The Barrier,' that is, for myself, by my- self and financed by myself." Edgar says that as yet he has made no decision as to how "The Troop Train," a story from "The Saturday Evening Post," will be released. He is chiefly concerned now in making it a real special. WID GUNNING. Netter in Navy Leon D. Netter, associate of Sol Lesser in the Masterpiece Film At- tractions of Cleveland, has enlisted in the Navy, and starts for San Fran- cisco on August 5 to take up his du- ties in that branch of the service. Al- though he was in class 3 of the draft, and secure from that method of enter- ing the service, Mr. Netter's patriot- ism forced his joining the colors. Masterpiece Attractions will continue operations in the Kentucky and Ohio territories under the management of George P. Jacobs, at present in charge of the Cincinnati office, pend- ing the return of Seaman Netter. =sM?i AILV Wednesday, July 31, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Gail Kane Settles Differences with the Mutual Company and Signs New Contract Gail Kane's differences with the Mutual Film Co., which led her to sue the film company for $33,500 damages for breach of contract and in which the film company replied that Miss Kane had refused to obey orders, have been entirely adjusted and settled as the result of the signing by Supreme Court Justice Finch of an order grant- ing her application to dismiss her suit. Max D. Steuer, attorney for Miss Kane, opposed the dismissal of the suit on the ground that Miss Kane came to him through an introduction by Al H. Woods, and at her request he took the case on a contingent fee of one-third of what she received. He said that he believed there was rea- sonable ground for her to win her suit for $1500 a week salary due her under the contract, but that in June she wrote him that she had decided to discontinue the suit and sign a new contract with Mutual for the present year. She said further: "Conditions in the film world are very uncertain. I have been off the screen for so long and the Mutual has been much better since the reor- ganization." The lawyer said he understood Miss Kane is to get $52,000 under her pres- ent contract and 50 per cent, of the proceeds of each picture. He be- lieves he should have $11,666 for his services, but said that because of his friendship for Miss Kane he agreed to take $,5000. The Mutual offered to pay $2,500. Under the ruling by Justice Finch, Miss Kane's lawyer' must sue her for what he thinks his services were worth. Supreme Court Justice McAvoy has denied an application by the Sterling Film Co. for permission to file a de- murrer to the complaint of Charles Cogut, brought to recover damages for breach of contract, in which the Sterling contends that no cause of action has been stated. The plaintiff objected to the filing of the demurrer on the ground that it was too late, ■ but contended that if permission was given the defendant should be com- pelled to file a bond on the ground that it is an Ohio corporation and its only property in this state consisted iof 34 cans of films. A receiver for the property of Nat C. Goodwin in supplementary proceed- ings has been appointed by City Court Justice Schmuck because Goodwin failed to pay a judgment for $1,689 obtained against him by Isaac L. Sil- berberg on notes given for the pur- chase of land adjoining his ranch in California. The receiver, Charles D. Donohoe, will collect the judgment for $15,374 obtained by Goodwin against the Mirror Films, and also his salary from the play, "Why Marry," in which he starts his second season this week. The receiver will keep on collecting until the judgment is paid. Bennett-Perret Suit The complaint in the suit of Rich- ard Bennett against Leonce Perret has been filed in the Supreme Court, showing the ground on which the suit is brought. The complaint alleges that on May 7 last Perret agreed to pay Bennett 10 per cent, of the re- ceipts from the picture "Lafayette, We Come," in consideration of Ben- nett supplying the synopsis and out- line of the picture. Bennett says he has performed his share of the con- tract, but Perret has refused to pay him anything. He estimates that the picture will clear $100,000 and asks $10,000 as his share. Bennett also asks $1,8.00 additional on the ground that the defendant en- gaged him to stage and produce the picture at $200 a week beginning June 10, but has refused to pay him for a period of nine weeks, which he claims he would have been occuped in the work. The defendant has filed an answer in which he denies all the allegations except that he has refused to pay the sums demanded. First Gold Star The Film Players Club, Inc., will put its first gold star in its service flag for Private Victor Daniels, a player of character parts, membership number 493, who was killed in action. Sergeant Claude Pons, of the 340th Field Artillery, formerly character man with Fox, is in a base hospital suffering from shell shock and gas. The organization now has 67 stars in its service flag, since Robert Allen has been accepted into the Naval Re- serves. William H. Clifford has completed "A Prisoner of War," the fifth of the Shorty Hamilton five-reelers, and Ernest Shipman reports sales in most of the territory. Beehive in Trouble St. Louis Exchange Temporarily Stops Distribution of Billie West ST. LOUIS.— The Beehive Film Exchange, 3628 Olive Street, handling Billy West Comedies, has been held up temporarily by the action of L. Cohen on his arrival here from the east, who represents the Eastern in- terests of the Billy West Comedies. Up to a late hour Saturday night no definite information had been given the trade as to the exact reasons for this sudden action. However, it is under- stood here that the differences will be adjusted soon and the exchange will again resume the bookings of the Billy West Comedies. Exception was taken here to an ex- pression on the part of some exhibi- tors at the recent convention in Bos- ton of the Motion Picture Exhibitors League of America, wherein it was in- timated that certain exhibitors would pay the minimum prices on features in the future. The legality of such an action on the part of any coterie of exhibitors in any territory is ques- tioned by the St. Louis Film Board of Trade. The question of the matter of hand- ling express shipments at present by the express companies is a subject under discussion here, and some meas- ure of redress is being sought by the exchange managers. A general com- plaint will be registered in the near future with the Interstate Commerce Commission with a view of getting some relief. One exchange here missed 40 odd shipments in one day, due to the action of the express com- panies in not forwarding shipments; said shipments having been delivered on time to the express companies and receipted for. Shortage of labor on account of the war is given as an ex- cuse by the express companies for the poor service. "Hypocrites" is going strong in New England. It played an entire week at Boston theatre in Boston and beginning July 28, started a seven- days' run at Fay's theatre, Providence. BINDERS! for "WID'S DAILY" will cost $1. 75 each hereafter Wednesday, July 31, 1918 jM^ DAILY American Activities in France : Interesting— Comprehensive Second Official War Film "AMERICA'S ANSWER" Bureau of Public Information (Division of Films) DIRECTOR Not credited CAMERAMAN Members of Photographic Division, U. S. S. C. AS A WHOLE Most interesting and informative material yet received from abroad; well photo= graphed and intelligently titled. STORY. . Of vital interest to every American; shows how war money is being spent and drives home magnitude of America's part in the conflict. DIRECTION Showed intelligence in composition of scenes and tied incidents together in inter= esting sequence. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine; many duped flashes were in evidence in battle stuff but this was unavoidable on account of nega= tives being lost in shipping. LIGHTINGS Some effective moonlight shots on water. CAMERA WORK Very good STARS Our fighting men and the large forces behind the lines that make their ad= vances possible. EXTERIORS Tree felling scenes particularly beautiful and others photographed advant= ageously. INTERIORS Interiors of locomotive plant and salvage departments well photographed. DETAIL Well=worded titles explain everything clearly. CHARACTER OF PRODUCTION Will wake up Americans to what is actually being done "Over There" by our forces. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION. . . Ran sixty=five minutes — about seven reels. THIS is without a doubt the most interesting and in- formative material we have yet had from "Over There" since America's entrance in the great war. It is not only forceful as propaganda but it is interest- ing and will open the eyes of the stay-at-homes to the remarkable work that has already been accomplished by the American forces, who are now in France over a million and a quarter strong. Everybody knows that billions have been spent in war activities on the other side but on account of the necessity of censoring' Avar news, we have not had, prior to this film, a real comprehensive idea of how this money has been used. "America's Answer" shows accomplishments by our men and our money in France that are overwhelming in their magnitude. The film is presented in two parts, the first forty-five minutes of which is taken up entirely with activities behind the lines. The second shows some actual battle stuff, trench life, aeroplane maneuvers, etc. The film opens with some very good explanatory titles, followed by flashes of President Wilson and General Pershing, described as our representatives "Over Here" and "Over There". We are shown a seaport and a modern pier over three miles long, built entirely by American labor and with American materials; a triumph in engineering which must be seen to be appreciated. An American transport is shown landing with thou- sands of "Sammies" and then we are given some very effective scenes showing American huskies from Oregon and Washington felling big trees in France for lumber to be used in various war buildings, bridges, etc. A modern refrigerating plant covering several blocks, built by our engineers and with our materials is also shown in detail as well as a mammoth locomotive plant where skilled American mechanics are giving their valu- able services for a soldier's pay and turning out modern engines with surprising speed, to be used in transport- ing war materials to the front. We get intimate glimpses into the work of the Red Cross. Y. M. C. A. and the Salvation Army, disclosing interesting features of their work that are not generally known. The battle stuff is unusually interesting in spite of the quantity of this material we have had in weeklies because in this film we see OUR boys going over the top and carrying on successful raids to the enemy trenches. We are given some remarkable aeroplane stuff in this, one particularly effective bit having been taken with the camera pointed down from the time the machine leaves the ground until it reaches a high alti- tude, giving you the effect of being in the plane. Has Wonderful Advertising Possibilities. Book It and Boost It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I presume that this film will be made available to all exhibitors and you should certainly make an effort to get it and boost it. It will do a tremendous amount of good toward winning the war and it's unusually interesting because it gives you a better and more comprehensive idea of America's part in the war than anything we have had heretofore. They used some good effects in pre- senting this at the George M. Cohan theatre in New York: particularly the "Br-r-r" of an aeroplane motor, iren that warns of gas attacks and shot effects for the machine gun stuff. Th ill cued by titles or action so you know where to bring them in. There are many strong advertising points to be brought out in advertising this production, the chief of tli<".u being that this film shows in a comprehensive, Lncing way just how the billions have been spent; how waste is curtailed and how every dollar is made to count for something that is actually essential to the win- ning of the war. Another point that you should not overlook is the fact that we get many intimate glimpses of the "Sam- mies" in France and that it is not aj, all unlikely that some one in every community will be able to pick out someone they know. This is exclusively an American war picture; showing thousands of young Americans in khaki, from both the draft and regular army, as well as the naval forces and aviation units. Bring this out in your advertising. You'll be doing a patriotic service if you get this prior to the next Liberty Loan because if there is anybody in this country who didn't kick through on the previous loan drives, they're going to dig deep when this film opi us their eyes to what has been done and what is being done. 7>feB&ADSTREET of FILMDOM .DAIbYi flkPKOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 86 Saturday, August 3, 1918 Price 5 Cents Sidney S. Cohen, president of the Exhibitors' League, sent a letter en- dorsing any action of the meeting and pledging the support of the New York State exhibitors. William A. Brady seized the oppor- tunity of starting a fund for a fitting memorial to the memory of John Pur- roy Mitchel. The following contri- butions were made: William Fox, $250; Goldwyn, $250; J. E. Brulatour, $100; F. J. Tichenor, $100; Wm. A. Brady, $100; William Brandt, $10; Associated Motion Picture Advertis- ers, $50; C. L. O'Reilly, $30. TO SPREAD RED CROSS WAR WORK N. A. M. P. 1. Committee Will Co-operate With Joseph Johnson — Resolution of Good Faith Passed The confidence that the various Government branches have placed in the motion picture industry was again shown yesterday at a general meeting of all divisions of the business in the National Association rooms at which a unanimous voice was raised in passing a resolution of support to the American Red Cross. Joseph Johnson, national director of publicity for the Red Cross and head of its Bureau of Films, came on specially from Washington to ask the industry what way would be best for the Red Cross to spread its doc- trine to the people of America through the screen. He was accom- panied by W. E. Waddell, active di- rector of the Bureau of Films of the Red Cross, and Harry Dull, salesman and distributor of Red Cross pictures. Mr. Johnson gave a vivid account of Red Cross activities, of its care for the wounded, and destitute in the war- ridden lands. He explained that un- til now, Red Cross chapters showed films on request, but that the distri- bution of their pictures was limited. Mr. Johnson, by his own words, wanted to be instructed as to what must be done to show the people what their money is doing for humanity. French, English, and Italian bureaus are shipping Red Cross film to this country weekly. William Fox seemed to dominate the discussion; he certainly remained the center of all eyes. Considerable ar- gument was caused by the stand of the news weekly men who are show- ing Red Cross films at present. The conflict of varied interests was settled by the appointment of a com- mittee by William A. Brady to con- fer with Mr. Johnson on the subject. The committee consists of William Fox, chairman; F. J. Tichenor, vice- president and general manager of General Film; Pell Mitchell, editor of Gaumont Weekly; Arthur Friend, Par- amount; William Brandt, well-known Brooklyn exhibitor; James Hoff, Mov- ing Picture World, and J. E. Brula- tour, Eastman-Kodak interests. Through Hodkinson First of Lillian Walker Films to Be Released September 23 It became known yesterday that the releasing channel selected for the Lil- lian Walker pictures is the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, which, it is understood, is negotiating with sev- eral other producing companies for the handling of their product. A liberal advertising campaign is now being prepared for the eight Lil- lian Walker "happy pictures," as they are termed, starting with "The Em- barrassment of Riches," to be re- leased Sept. 23. The other stars to be handled by the Hodkinson con- cern have not been announced, but it is probable there will be at least two or three who are known to be strong box office attractions* Rivoli to Play General Film The Rivoli is to show three General Film releases next week, comprising five reels in all. These pictures are "The Historic Fourth of July in Paris," a single reel Red Cross fea- ture; "Springtime a la Carte," a two reel O. Henry picture, and "Winning of the Mocking Bird," a two-reel Wolfville product. The Lincoln Square theatre, Detroit, will open Labor Day. Copies for Salesmen GEORGE M. A. FECKE World Film Corporation 78-90 Broadway Boston, Mass. Wid's Daily, New York. Gentlemen: Will you kindly send me three copies of your Sunday, July 28th, issue? I think it is great. I want several of my salesmen to carry a copy of it in their travels through the New England ter- ritory. Very truly yours, GEO. M. A. FECKE. Article Libelous World Must Prove Charges Against United Picture Theatres In the suit of the United Picture Theatres of America, Inc., against the Chalmers Publishing Co. for damages because of criticism of the plaintiff, Supreme Court Justice McAvoy has overruled the contention by the de- fendant that the complaint does not state a cause of action and has de- cided that it does. He gives the de- fendant permission to answer the complaint. The court said: "One cannot read the article on which this cause for libel is found without the impression being created that the plaintiff is charged with a fraudulent scheme to deprive innocent subscrib- ers to its stock of their subscription deposits and that its representations with respect to the character of the project were and are wholly false." .... Fox Books "Triple Trouble" Charles Lavine, representing the Fox circuit, has booked 60 days of the Kleine release, "Triple Trouble." a two-reel Chaplin feature. This pic- ture is to be shown on the entire Fox Circuit, 1-5 prints being used during the week of August 19. "The Forbidden Box," with Mildred Harris and Lew Cody, arrived at Uni- versale office yesterday from the Coast. Saturday, August 3, 1918 iMA DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; *5 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, ?L'0.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID a DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes William Reinhardt, cameraman, ar- rived from the Coast this week and is in New York. E. H. Kauffman, who has charge of the carbon and accessory department of the Interocean Film Co. has sold 100,000 Speer carbons in Australia. William Farnum has finished "The Rainbow Trail," which is being cut and titled at Hollywood and will be shipped in a few days to New York. The first picture released under the Victory brand of Fox Films will be "Kultur," starring Gladys Brockwell, instead of "The Strange Woman," as first announced. Joe Farnham, the "harpoon marks- man," is cutting and editing the Leah Baird serial, "The Messenger of Death," for the Western Photoplays Co. Harry Reichenbach states that the release of "The Romance of Tarzan," the sequel to "Tarzan of the Apes," is set for October 1. The picture goes through the First National. Willard Cooley, a member of the Marion Davies company, producing "The Burden of Proof," has been called in the draft and leaves for Camp Upton next week. Private Joe Reddy, who formerly conducted the Telegraph's motion pic- ture section, is in town. He attended the Associated Motion Picture Adver- tisers' luncheon on Thursday at Rec- tor's and was so impressed by "Italy's Flaming Front" that h'e secured per- mission from the First National to show part of it at an entertainment held in New Brunswick last night by his company. CO-OPERATION CALLED COMPLETE Byoir Enthusiastic Over Spirit of Com- mittee to Work With Government A case of one hundred per cent, co- operation was the way in which Carl Byoir, associate chairman of the Di- vision of Film of the Committee on Public Information characterized the meeting held yesterday in the National Association rooms, of the committee which will work in harmony with the Division of Films in its foreign pic- ture service. The gathering was the second one this week of the body appointed on Monday by William A. Brady. The full committee is as follows: William Fox, chairman; Paul Cromelin, Ga- briel Hess, L. R. Thomas and W. A. Brady, ex-officio. member. Carl Byoir presided at the meeting and with him was Marcus A. Beeman, assistant di- rector. Ricord Gradwell, president of World Film and Winfield Sheehan of the Fox organization, also attended the meeting. The committee is still in process of organization. After the meeting, Mr. Byoir said the matters discussed were relative to the spreading of American ideals in foreign lands and that the work of the Division of Films was to cultivate public opinion abroad to the purposes of America in the war. He said the committee representing the industry was absolutely whole-hearted in its desire to help. The members expressed the wish, to help the Government even if the cir- culation of American films in foreign lands meant a loss to them person- ally. Mr. Byoir said that the film men did not look on what would surely mean financial sacrifice in the light of its being a sacrifice at all, but instead seemed to think that their actions were a matter of course to aid the country during the w_r in any way possible. Malice Is Claimed John E. Finney Explains Re- port Concerning Macauley Co. Claiming that a rather sensational story which appeared in the morning World yesterday to the effect that President Wilson had ordered the withdrawal of a letter endorsing the C. R. Macauley Photoplays, Inc., was due to malice on the part of the World because of a suit still pending between that publication and Mac- auley, a cartoonist formerly in its employ; John E. Finney, of John E. Finney & Co., financial backers of the undertaking, explained the situation from the company's viewpoint. The letter, Mr. Finney asserted, had been eliminated from the literature sent to prospective stock purchasers, as requested, and the message from the President was inspired by tele- grams sent to a number of Washing- ton officials intimating that the letter was still l^eing used to promote stock selling, also that Liberty Bonds were being accepted in payment for stock and placed for sale on the market. Mr. Finney declares that no Lib- erty Bonds have been offered for sale at anv time, that the company now has cash assets of $200,000 and is prepared to start producing "Human ity," a visualization of the doctrines of the League to Enforce Peace as soon as a director and company have been chosen. Mr. Macauley is now in Los An- geles considering studio possibilities and expects to be ready to start work within a couple of weeks Double Theatre Tax Ways and Means Committee Has New Schedule for Proprietors WASHINGTON.— Following i t s decision to double the theatre admis- sion tax, the Ways and Means Com- mittee proposes doubling the proprie- tor's tax on all theatres, museums and concert halls. The new scale calls for annual payments of $50 for any house seating less than 250; 250 to 500, $100; 500 to 800, $150; over 800, $200. Will Not Make Propaganda Film John F. Stahl informs us that the question of making a picture based on Dr. Hillis' book regarding German atrocities was considered by him, but he will not be interested in the mak- ing of any propaganda film, at least not for the present. Mr. Stahl said that he was quite sure that Florence Reed did not intend to appear in a propaganda film because he thought she should always be starred instead of "appearing in" a propaganda sub- ject. Robertson-Cole Company of 1600 Broadway, foreign film distributors, have just closed a deal with the North American Motion Picture Corporation of Buenos Ayres and New York, whereb)' the latter company will dis- tribute Robertson-Cole productions in Argentine, Paraguay and Uruguay. isM:A DAILY Saturday, August 3, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Katz and De Wolfe File Answer in Suit To Recover On Note — Other Litigation Herman Katz and John E. De Wolfe have filed an answer in the Supreme Court to a suit brought against them and the Paralta Plays, Inc., by the banking firm of Peierls, Buhler & Co. to recover on a note for $50,000 made by the corporation on Nov. 17 last and endorsed by Katz and De Wolfe. The defendants admit that the note was made as alleged, but say that $4,- 768 has been paid on it. They allege that the note was delivered to George Newgas on condition that it would be returned to the defendants unless he delivered $50,000 in cash to them on that date. For this reason they con- tend that the note belongs to them and not to the plaintiffs, and that the plaintiffs have come into possession of the note wrongfully. The defendants say further that Newgas, the Interocean Film Corpo- ration and Paul H. Cromelin were their agents and that the note was delivered to them as evidence that the sum was to be lent to the defendants. They say it was mutually understood that the Interocean would reimburse itself for the loan to the defendants from the proceeds to a contract signed on the date mentioned for the defend- ant's films, and that the defendants would not be held personally liable on the note. They say that the Inter- ocean has not used diligence in adver- tising the films and that if they had done so they would have collected the amount of the note. Supreme Court Justice McAvoy has denied an application by the Export & Import Film Co. and Benjamin Blumenthal to compel Illiodor to file additional security for costs in his suit for damages because without his au- thority the defendants used his pic- ture in the film "Tyranny of the Ro- manoffs With Illiodor," and have been competing unfairly with the film, "Fall of the Romanoffs," in which the plain- tiff appeared. The defendants say that the case will be tried in October and that if they win they will not be able to recover the money paid out to defend the suit. They asked a bond for $750, but the court held that the present bond on file is sufficient. A $12,000 organ has been purchased by the new William Fox Liberty the- atre in St. Louis, which is to be opened late in September. The thea- tre was formerly the Victoria, located at Grand and Delmar Avenues. Fewer Dramatic Pictures The production of motion pictures of a dramatic character continues to fall off, according to data based on the review of pictures by the National Board of Review in the course of the first six months of 1918. The num- ber of subjects reviewed in that pe- rior was 1,010 and the number of reels 3,171 J-^. This means that the average length of pictures was 3.14 reels. In the corresponding period in 1916 the production, according to the same source of information, was 2,216 subjects and 4,850 reels, the average length of subject being 2.19 reels. In the corresponding period of 1917 the subjects numbered 1,525 and the reels •4,066^-4, the average length of each subject being 2.66 reels. A chart showing the production by subject and reels covering the period for the three years would indicate that the general trend of production by month this year is parallel to that of 1916, while that of 1917 was irregular, re- flecting the nervous condition of pro- duction while the government was considering the question of taxation of motion picture production and exhi- bition. That there may be a defici- ency this year is perhaps indicated by the fact that old pictures are being reissued in larger numbers than usual, judging from current reports. Two-Reel Comedies Vitagraph announces that beginning September 16, it will release in the place of its one-reel Big V Comedies, two-reel feature comedies of the same name. These are to be produced by two companies, one headed by Larry Semon, the other by Montgomery and Rock. They will alternate on the program. The announcement adds that Vitagraph intends making a big feature of these comedies and has turned over a large part of the west- ern studio to them. The change is prompted by the alteration the war has caused in the taste of the public. !|BINDERS! flfor "W7D'S DAILY" will cost $1. 75 each hereafter Kunsky Ties Up Stars Independent Managers in De- troit Must Take What Is Left DETROIT.— The John H. Kunsky corporation, controlling ten of the leading photoplay theatres in Detroit, has signed up for the following stars for the coming year: Norma Tal- madge, 8; Douglas Fairbanks, 8; Will- iam Farnum, 8; Charles Chaplin, 6; Constance Talmadge, 8; Marguerite Clark, 8; Elsie Ferguson, 8; Charles Ray, 8; Dorothy Dalton, 8; Wallace Reid, 8; Theda Bara, 8; Anita Stew- art, 4; Roscoe Arbuckle, 10; Harold Lockwood, 8; J. Warren Kerrigan, 2; Dorothy Gish, 4; Bryant Washburn, 8; Alice Brady, 4. In addition to these pictures which will be divided between the Madison, Washington and Adams theatres, there are two Artcraft specials, "Pri- vate Peat" and "Silver King"; the Annette Kellerman picture, Theda Bara's "Salome"; and all the First National Exhibitors' stuff, tied up for Kunsky presentation. John H. Kunsky and George W. Trendle, general manager for the cor- poration, are well satisfied with the business outlook for the future. "If the First National gets Mary Pickford," said Mr. Trendle, "our line-up of stars is complete." Charles W. Perry, former Pathe manager in Detroit, has returned to this city as representative for the W. W. Hodkinson corporation. "Hearts of the World" goes into its seventh week at the Detroit Opera House. Business is said to be good, in spite of the excessively hot weather. The Adams theatre and the Wash- ington theatre, are both playing Theda Bara pictures for a full week. The Washington has a return en- gagement of Theda Bara in "Cleo- patra." This picture played to big business last winter. The Adams has the vampire in "Under the Yoke." George Montgomery, formerly man- ager of Metro, Detroit, is now man- ager for the General Film Company, Chicago. Harry Abbott has opened a Detroit office for the Educational Distributing Corporation. He will sell travel pic- tures, nature pictures and animated cartoons. Harry R. Guest, publicity manager for John H. Kunsky, Detroit, is on a vacation. Saturday, August 3, 1918 tMA DAILY Meller Discounts It Some, But Comedy Element Puts It Over Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne in "A PAIR OF CUPIDS" Metro DIRECTOR Charles J. Brabin AUTHOR Luther A. Reed SCENARIO BY R. J. Bergquist CAMERAMAN Luther A. Reed AS A WHOLE Entertaining comedy=drama slows up at finish but baby stuff in first few reels is a riot. STORY Hero's uncle brings Hero and Shero to= gether by leaving borrowed baby at the door of each, with resultant complications. DIRECTION Gave good twists and injected funny business with babies although slowed down a bit in last reel. PHOTOGRAPHY Classy throughout LIGHTINGS Many artistic bits CAMERA WORK Generally very good STARS Triumphed in this SUPPORT Very good; old couple great EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots INTERIORS Artistic DETAIL Many good touches CHARACTER OF STORY For any audience; mar= ried folks in particular. Some rough stuff in saloon, but should not offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,794 feet I UNDERSTAND that this is the last Bushman-Bayne picture for Metro under their present contract, and if such is the case, they certainly "left 'em smiling when they said good-bye." Not that this was such a tremendous story or an unu- sual idea but it provided business that brought laughs and if I'm not mistaken most folks will rave about it to their friends. We had Bushman and Bayne in this as a pair who were too much engrossed in social obligations and sech to consider marriage, so Bushman's uncle thinks up a scheme to bring the two together on a connubial basis. Uncle negotiates with the scrub-woman in his office building for the lean of her twin babies, giving a bond for twenty "thou" to guarantee their safe return in a month. One of the babies is left on Hero's doorstep and the other on Shero's and then the fun commences. Each finds a note, supposedly from the mother of the child and giving implicit instructions on the care of the baby. Of course, neither knows that the other has been simi- larly blessed and they try to keep their new charges secret. We have some business with Hero washing baby that should create a riot anywhere and, of course, the way he holds the child will register with the women. The action gets very Keystoney where Hero pushes the but- ler into the bath tub. but it's funny and doesn't appear forced. It happens that both Hero and Shero take their babies out for an airing the same morning, they meet and explanations follow, resulting in the two getting a new view on matrimony through the influence of the babies. Then they bring on the meller. The father of the kiddies explains to a couple of bad eggs about the twenty "thou" that is his if the babies are not returned and we have them planning to kidnap the twins and collect from uncle. The maid being in the park with Shero's baby makes this easy for one of the crooks while the other over- powers Hero's butler and makes off with Hero's baby. In the meantime, Hero and Shero have gone to uncle's house to announce their engagement. Simultaneously, the babies' parents arrive for their twins and the maid and butler come in and spill the sad news. Hero smells a rat and follows the father to the hang- out where the crooks are waiting with the twins and he sacks the gang single-handed. Shero, uncle and the mother of the twins arrive on the scene and after some funny business with Bridget preparing to wallup her husband, we finish with the clutch. The meller in the latter part of the offering rather discounted the innocent fun in the beginning, but I don't think this will be criticised. Any Gang Will Enjoy This. Make Some Noise About It The Box Office Analvsis for the Exhibitor This will not only make a great hit with Bushman- Bayne followers, but should gain this pair many new admirers. I don't remember of ever seeing them in a production in which they registered to better advantage than in this and Director Brabin has given us many touches that combine with the stars to put this over as delightful entertainment. If you think your gang is interested in the private life of screen folks, you might say something about the fact that these two have just recently married. You might use catehlines like these to create interest in the offering: "Did you ever see a man try to take care of a baby? See 'A Pair of Cupids'." "Have you a bachelor friend that you would like to see married? See Bushman and Bayne in 'A Pair of Cupids' and you will learn how to bring it about." "If you were the mother of a pair of twins would you loan them out for a month to make a young couple happy? See 'A Pair of Cupids'." Anyone who doesn't get a bunch of laughs out of this offering is too far gone to worry about so I would play up the fact that this screamingly funny comedy centered about a pair of borrowed babies. That ought to sound interesting. 7/pBRADSTREET of FILMDOM j&rkochized Authority Vol. V, No. Monday, August 5, 1918 Price 5 Cents Forms Midwest Co. George H. Davis to Start "Hearts of the World" Office in Chicago Sol Lesser is carefully laying his plans for the distribution of "Hearts of the World" in the territory he con- trols. A new company has been or- ganized, known as the Midwest Hearts of the World Co., with offices at Chi- cago, which will be the distributing centre for the eleven states he recently acquired lit his second deal. George H. Davis, who is associated with Mr. Lesser in this second deal, will leave New York for Chicago on Tuesday to establish the new offices. O H. Martin, who was originally em- ployed as contract manager in the ex- treme west, has been transferred to Chicago where he will assume duties in that capacity. Fred McClellan will come east to Chicago from San Fran- cisco to act as road company organ- izer. The first eleven states purchased in the far west will be handled by Mr. Lesser's offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles, M. R. Rosenberg of Seattle handling the bookings for Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Mon- tana. Poor Express Service CHICAGO. — Since the merging of the various express companies operat- ing out of here into one company, exhibitors in nearby towns have been hard hit due to the desultory manner in which films are being handled. The film exchanges in the past en- joyed a special service from their booking quarters to trains during cer- tain hours of the day, but since the consolidation of the carriers into the American Railway Express Company, this has been withdrawn and now the expressmen pick up the cans only on their regular routes. Many a show has failed to reach an outlying thea- tre as a result and unless the service is speeded up branch managers assert _£* they will cut out all express shipments and handle films through their own co-operative service. The annual mid-summer outing of the Pathe club is scheduled for Au- gust 25. Unbiased Criticisms WM. J VOSS Star Theatre 928 Tench Street Modesto, Cal. WID'S, 71 West 44th St., New York. Gentlemen: Enclosed is check for ten dol- lars to cover year's subscription to your publication. I hope to be among your steady custom- ers as long as you continue your present unbiased criticisms and as long as I am in this vale of tears. Yours very truly, Wm. J. Voss. "Harmony" in Slogan Open Letter From Rembusch To Schaefer Is Exposed CHICAGO. — "Harmony" is to be the slogan of the A. E. A. forces in the forthcoming convention to be held here Sept. 3-7, and Frank Rembusch, it is said, is preparing an open letter to President Schaefer and the M. P. E. L. of A. setting forth the Associa- tion's desires along this line. At the headquarters of the A. E. A. in the Sherman Hotel preparations are being made for a big time and many exhibi- tors from far and near have signified their intention of being present. Lockwood Moving Studio Harold Lockwood and his company that has been working at the Ba- con-Backer studios at 38th Street un- der the direction of Edwin Carewe, will move to the Park Avenue studio that was formerly used by the Pathe Company. Lockwood has been east for about three weeks now and has been doing all his work up to this time at the Bacon-Backer plant. Universal's travesty upon its own feature, "The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin," entitled "The Geeser of Ber- lin," is making quite a hit with Chi- cagoans at the Casino theatre on Madison Street. Acting For Exporters Harry G. Kosch Ready to Conduct Fight for Rebates Harry G. Kosch is making an ef- fort to line up the exporters to make a combined effort to have the Gov- ernment rebate to them the amount that they have paid as footage tax on foreign shipments. The exporters, as an organization, have voted a small amount to carry on the fight, but as this is insufficient, Mr. Kosch is will- ing to be retained by the individual exporters to carry on the fight on the basis of 5 per cent, of the money re- covered. In cases where the amounts paid to manufacturers of films in the pur- chase for export included the Govern- ment tax, and where the manufactur- ers have not already made a return to the Government, the exporters' attor- ney will endeavor to obtain rebates direct. "Tarzan" Film Rights Robertson-Cole Buys Two Productions for Great Britain Robertson-Cole has bought the for- eign rights for the United Kingdom of Great Britain, with the exception of Canada and Australia, to "Tarzan of the Apes," and its sequel, "The Ro- mance of Tarzan," from the National Film Corporation of America. The consideration involved is $75,000. Hodkinson Representative Robert Worth, who has been in charge of the short.-reel department of the St. Louis office of Paramount, has been made special representative of the Hodkinson Corporation in St. Louis, and will handle the special de- partment of the Paraltas. Mr. Worth was road man for Pathe out of the St.. Louis office for several years. Exposition Conference At a recent meeting of the directors of the Motion Picture Exposition Company, it was decided to call a con- ference of the representatives of all of the companies which have con- tracted for space at the exposition scheduled for Grand Central Palace, October 5-13. Monday, August 5, 1918 isbijA DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00 ; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to 'WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Southern Exhibitor Here R. D. Craver, of Charlotte, N. C, arrived in New York Friday night. Mr. Craver owns a chain of ten thea- tres throughout the South and is one of the national directors of the Affi- liated Distributors' Corporation in the southeastern states. He says that the initial stock of the Affiliated unit in his district has been over-subscribed in the state of North Carolina alone. Trouble With Operators Exhibitors throughout Ohio are ex- periencing considerable trouble from operators since the industry has been classed as being essential by Washing- ton. Operators are telling theatre owners that they are safe until the end of the war and are trying to force upon the exhibitors unfair contracts for their services. The report also states that they are raising the wages for their work. Veterans in Film A film that for the first time shows the American veterans of the Marne battle has been brought to this coun- try by the American Red Cross, and after its premiere showing at the Ri- voli theatre will be distributed in the United States by the General Film Company. The > production is the work of the Bureau of Pictures of the American Red Cross. The principal scenes are from the International Fourth of July celebra- tion in Paris in which the United States soldiers marched. It affords the first glimpse of the new Avenue du President Wilson. S. L. Rothapfel edited the picture which soon will be shown in all the principal cities of the United States. The Arrow Film Co. has sold "The Finger of Justice" for New York state, exclusive of Now York City, to the Princess Film Corp. of Malone, 31. Y. ASSOCIATION & GOLDWYN DIFFER Removal of Branch Manager is Requested— Hampton Del Ruth Starting His Own Company BY SAM H. COMLY LOS ANGELES.— The following 1 1 legram to Samuel Goldfish, president of the Goldwyn Distributing Corpo- ration, is self-explanatory: "Following resolution unanimously passed at our meeting July 24: Where- as several complaints have been made to the grievance committee of this as- sociation regarding business relations between local exhibitors and Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, and whereas the aforementioned grievance com- mittee has unsuccessfully made re- peated attemps to arbitrate and adjust matters with the local branch mana- ger; therefore be it resolved that this association ask for the immediate re- moval of your present branch mana- ger, also equitable adjustments of the various differences now existing be- tween Goldwyn Distributing Corpora- tion and local exhibitors. Signed: Theatre Owners Associa- tion of Los Angeles. Per Glenn Harper, Secretary. Hampton Del Ruth, whose resigna- tion from the Mack Sennett Company caused quite a lot of talk along the local rialto, has decided that he will have his own company, which in the opinion of all those who know him and his work, is a decidedly wise move. There is no name that stands higher in the annals of screen story craft than that of Mr. Del Ruth. Saw Bill Russell the other night, just after he had completed "Hobbs In a Hurry." which he says is better than "Up Romance Road." If it is, Pa the, Bill's new releasing medium, will certainlv have a winner. G. Harold Percival, who does all the art direction for the Enid Ben- nett, Charles Ray and Dorothy Dalton productions, is winning new fame by his work in the recent productions of Thomas H. Ince's Paramount fea- tures. Robert Brunton, head of the Brun- ton Studios, is not very busy, he is only rushed to death overlooking the productions of the following start: Bessie Barriscale, Louise Glaum, Ma- rie Dressier, Sessue Hayakawa, Mad- ame Yorska, and Frank Keenan with still more to come, all of which is substantial evidence that the Brunton plan of producing features by contract is efficient as well as successful. To Protest Decision Funkhouser Supporters Will Make Effort To Re-install Censor CHICAGO.— A storm of protest greeted the news of Major M. L. C. Punkhouscr's discharge on Thursday. Reform and church organizations rose in arms at what they termed the "rail- roading" of charges against the for- mer Second Deputy when the Civil Service Commission reached a decis- ion less than forty-eight hours after the close of the hearing on Tuesday. Court fights are being planned to over-rule the Commission's decision. "Some of the testimony offered by the prosecution was perjured," said Alderman John H. Lyle, attorney for the defense, "and the Commission did all it could to prevent us from com- bating this. We shall go into court at the earliest possible moment." Major Funkhouser made no predic- tions when advised of the Commis- sion's decision: "I was a bit surprised by the suddenness of the decision," he said, "but the verdict was not the least surprising." Shelby Singleton of the Citizens Association in a statement issued yes- terday, said: "I consider the ousting of Mai. Funkhouser and his two. aids a distinct misfortune for Chicago. To my knowledge Maj. Funkhouser and his investigators have been a thorn in the side of gambling and vice inter- ests ever since the office was created. I know the major has been thor- oughly effective and active in deal- ing with vice." ' The decision of the Civil Service Commission reads in part: . . . "The Commission heard the evidence offered and having consid- ered all the evidence adduced herein, we find therefrom that the said M. L. C. Funkhouser is guilty as charged in the within and foregoing charges. "We, therefore, order that the said M. L. C. Funkhouser be discharged from the office or position of second deputy superintendent of police, de- partment of police, and from the ser- vices of the City of Chicago." President of the Civil Service Com- mission, Charles E. Frazier, Jos. P. Geary and Alexander J. Johnson, con- curred in the findings. "We heard the case and this is the result of our best judgment." was all Mr. Frazier would saw Marie Dressler's two-reel comedy, The Band Box and Star theatres. "The Scrub Lady," _ is ready for re- Chicago, are enjoying good business lease and will be issued September with the Francis Ford feature. "Ber- second. Hn via. America." tM% DAILY Monday, August 5, 1918 VeCanTellYouVliei^To^eachTliem--PlioneVaoderi)ilt4551 DIRECTORS DIRECTORS AUTHOKS GEORGE D. BAKER PRODUCING FEATURES METRO PAUL SCARDON M. P. D. A. FEATURE DIRECTOR, VITAGRAPH ANTHONY KELLY J. CLARKSON MILLER GOLCH'YX Original Stories and Continuities HERBERT BLAGHE DIRECTING FOR METRO FREDDIE SGHAEFFER ART DIRECTOR R. A. WALSH PRODUCTIONS TOD BROWNING Directing BLUEBIRD FEATURES EVE UNSELL ORIGINALS ADAPTATIONS Many Successes for Prominent Companies 272 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. GEORGE A. SIEGMAN M. P. D. A. ALBERT GAPELLANI CHARLES SWICKARD Personally Directing Dustin Farnum in Harry A. Sherman Productions CAMERAMEN PRODUCER KING D. GRAY EDWIN CAREWE M. P. D. A. SPECIAL CAMERA EFFECTS S. E. V. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. With D. W. GRIFFITH STUDIOS MARY MacLAREN FEATURES "Now Managing and Directing" HAROLD LOCKWOOD ROY H. KLAFFKI Cinematographer UNIVERSAL FEATURES GEORGE FITZMAURIGE WILLIAM D. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. Director Lasky-Paramount M. P. D. A. PRODUCING PATHE FEATURES WIO'SOttyNO^S^MED 1914 — fiirth of a Nation 1916 — Intolerance 1918 Hearts of the World ROBERT T. THORNBY M. P. D. A. Porducing Fox Features'*5^ These are the only productions personally- directed by D. W. GRIFFITH Your name should be before the man who can sign contracts. This directory will appear once each week on Monday, and on Tuesday there will be a similar directory of players. No matter how good your position is today it can be better tomorrow if you keep your name before the right people. ALLEN J. HOLUBAR M. P. D. A. Producing Universal Features PERRY N. VEKROFF M. P. D. A., FEATURE DIRECTOR 511 W. 143rd St. Audubon 1941 WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY M. P. D. A., PRODUCING FEATURES IVAN BEN WILSON Directing and Starring UNIVERSAL GEORGE IRVING M. P. D. A. GENERAL PRODUCING DIRECTOR CHESTER WITHEY DIRECTOR JOSEPH LEVERING DIRECTOR WALLACE WORSLEY DIRECTING LOUISE GLAUM IN PARALTA PLAYS JAMES YOUNG Motion Picture Directors Association CHARLES MILLER M. P. D. A. Director of THE SERVICE STAR The Flame of the Yukon 1 The Sawdust RingThe Ghosts of Yesterday AUTHORS ASHLEY MILLER Motion Picture Directors Ass'n. 234 West 55th St., N. Y. C. Manhattan Madness Wolff Lowry CHARLES T. DAZEY The Sea Master New York Luck Li* R. WILLIAM NEILL PRODUCER Paramount Release GEORGE ELWOOD JENKS CONTINUITY AND SPECIALS Triangle Culver City G. HAROLD PERGIVAL ART DIRECTOR Thos. H. Ince Productions MONTE M. KATTERJOHN Now writing Exclusively for Paramount-Artcraft Productions Jesse E. Easky Studios Monday, August 5, 1918 DAILY Truly Funny and Decidedly Classy: Should Go Big Anywhere Madge Kennedy in "FRIEND HUSBAND" Goldwyn DIRECTOR Clarence C. Badger AUTHOR Lois Zellner SCENARIO BY Edfrid Bingham CAMERAMAN Ned Van Buren ART DIRECTOR Hugo Ballin AS A WHOLE Delightful comedy=drama pro= duced in decidedly classy atmosphere; will go big anywhere. STORY The old stuff of shero marrying for convenience but has been given intelligent twists and holds all the way. DIRECTION Provided distinctive atmosphere; gave intelligent twists to old situations and showed a keen sense of comedy values. In= jected many sure=fire touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Decidedly classy LIGHTINGS Generally very artistic although too harsh at times, making faces appear chalky CAMERA WORK . Very good STAR Screens well and very pleasing to watch SUPPORT Very good; Rockcliffe Fellowes was excellent type as "Friend Husband." EXTERIORS Classy and well selected throughout INTERIORS Very good; island hide=out excellent DETAIL Many good touches and some great titles. CHARACTER OF STORY Sure=fire comedy for any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,925 feet INTELLIGENT direction, a capable cast and a de- cidedly classy atmosphere throughout combine to make this a delightful comedy-drama that will reg- ister big with any audience. Director Badger's Mack Sennett training is in evidence throughout the offering although at no time has he resorted to what is com- monly termed as "hokum" to make his comedy touches register. He certainly deserves much credit for some sure-fire incidental touches in this. This is one of those "marriage-for-a-purpose" things where the Shero has to find a husband in order to be in on her uncle's will. Shero is not matrimonially in- clined and plans on finding a husband who will marry her purely as a business proposition, for a momentary consideration, it being provided in the agreement that she is nut to be bothered with him after the ceremony. We have a good twist where Madge has advertised for a husband and Georgy Bunny, her friend and ad- visor, has advertised for a business partner, with the result that Madge thinks Rockcliffe Fellowes, the new partner, has answered her ad. Of course Fellowes doesn't get the connection but he likes Madge and be- comes a willing martyr. At the wedding they give us a title that will get a yell anywhere. Madge corners Fellowes before the ceremony and hands him a check, saying, "I may not see you after the wedding, so here's your money now." After the wedding, the couple start out in the car for the train, Shero figuring on leaving her new hubby at the station to shift for himself. The car is stalled, forcing them to return to Bunny's house on a borrowed horse. By this time. Hero has decided to assert his power as a lawful husband and he climbs into Shero's apartment through a window. She puts him out and he is forced to sleep on the balcany where he is discov- ered by Bunny the next morning. Bunny tells Hero about his palatial hide-out on the island and suggests a plan whereby he can bring Shero to terms. Hero changes places with Shero's chauffeur and gets her to the boat landing where he forces her to accompany him to the island. Shero is firm, however, so Hero leaves her. telling her that he will not return until she calls for him. That night, a gang of crooks, who have been using the unfrequented cabin for their hangout, come in and shero figures that it is a frame-up to enable Fellowes to pose as a hero. We get some great touches here where the gang1 can't figure why Madge takes their actions so matter-of-fact. Just as the crooks have started to get rough with Shero. Hero enters and we have a great fight, with Hero getting wounded just as help arrives from the mainland. Despite the four-to-one odds. Director Badger made this fight fairly convincing. After the battle, we fade out on Shero nursing Hero's wound with everything looking very satisfactory for both. Others in the cast were: Paul Everton, William Davidson and Jean Armour. Has Great Advertising Possibilities: Boost It Big The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Now that you've got it. make up your mind that you're going to step out of the regular advertising rou- tine and let the folks know that this is something dif- ferent. I'm certain that this delightful offering is go- ing to go big anywhere but you must remember that you've got to let your gang know you're playing it. "Friend Husband'' sounds good but you must make it plain that this is a brand new Goldwyn offering with Madge Kennedy because Mack Sennett used the same title not long ago, which may lead folks to believe that they've seen this before. For liei' brief career on the screen. I think Miss Ken- nedy has built up quite a following and that, combined with thi' fact that this is something you can safely make considerable noise about, should enable you to do some real business. The good ones don't come any too often. You might use some eatchlines like these to stir up interest : "Would you marry a girl if she made it plain that she didn't want to be bothered with you after the cere- mony? See Madge Kennedy in 'Friend Husband'." "Would you make your husband sleep out on the porch on your wedding night? See Madge Kennedy in 'Friend Husband'." "Could a man make you love him if you didn't want to? See 'Friend Husband'." You might attract some attention to your lobby by having a facsimile of a letter, about the size of a one sheet, prominently spotted, with the following text in feminine handwriting. "Friend Husband: I may not^j see you after the wedding so here's your money now. Dorothy." Have a check, in the same proportions, attached to letter with a large clip, made out to Don Morton for ten thousand and signed by Dorothy Dean. A reproduction of this would be good stuff for your newspaper ads. 7/ars in Germany," which he says enjoyed phenomenal success. Marines in Picture Commodore J. Stuart Blackton, co- operating with tin British Recruiting Mission in filming the propaganda pic- ture. "The Common Cause," has been allowed to use 250 marines in making scenes in the Brooklyn Navy Yard yesterday, today and tomorrow. A set representing a French village is the barkqround. Kerrigan's First "Prisoners of the Pines" Made Under Supervision of Flampton The first J. Warren Kerrigan pic- ture to be made under the personal supervision of Jesse D. Hampton will carry the title of "Prisoners of the Pines." As the title indicates, it is a story of the great wooded Northwest country, with Kerrigan appearing, first as a young French Canadian trapper and later, as a lumber jack. "Prisoners of the Pines" was writ- ten by Kenneth B. Clarke, and origin- ally appeared in magazine form. The picture was directed by Ernest Warde, with Lois Wilson in the chief feminine role and Walter Perry, a western character player of prominence, con- tributing most of the comedy. This film, like all of the Jesse D. Hampton productions, will be released by the W. W. Hodkinson corporation. V. B. K. Corp. Chartered ALBANY.— The V. B. K. Film Corporation, with its principal office in Alanhattan, has been chartered by the Secretary of State. The enter- prise is capitalized at $100,000 and has been organized to own and lease the- atres and studios, produce and distrib- ute motion pictures and motion pic- ture films of every description. The incorporators are: Harry J. Kelton, Amedee J. Van Beuren, and Clayton J. Heermance, 400 Riverside Drive, Manhattan. World's War Picture The World has completed a semi- war picture entitled "The Road to France." In the making of the pic- ture the company had the co-opera- tion of Commissioner Hurley or the U. S. Shipping Board and the scenes are principally in a ship building plant on the Jersey Coast. Carlyle Black- well is starred in the feature which was directed by Dell Henderson. Although the picture is considered a most unusual one by the World peo- ple they are not going to make a special of it. but will release it as. a program offering on Sept. 9. Tuesday, August 6, 1918 Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DEXIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Cuts and Flashes Henry Seigel of the Select returned to the New York exchange yesterday. George Kahn of the Universal has left for parts unknown and will re- main away for two weeks. Adele Elsowitz, secretary to Paul Gulick, is to leave the Universal and marry on Aug. 25. The title of Alia Nazimova's latest picture, now completed, has been changed from "L'Occident" to "Eve for Eye." ACTION STARTED IN STOCK CASE Lincoln Classics, Inc., Must Show Why Permit To Sell Should Not Be Revoked George H. Christophers will repre- sent W. W. Hodkinson in the Buf- falo territory. Hale Hamilton leaves for Saratoga today to take some race track scenes for his picture "Five Thousand an Hour." These scenes are the first in which Hale appears as a Metro star. The Famous Players-Lasky sales force scored a three to one victory over the exhibitors in a ball game played at Freeport on Saturday. The score was 21 to 7. Louis Sherwin, dramatic critic of the Globe, has made a personal ap- pearance in films. For some time past he has been interested in scenario work and is nominally on the contin- uity staff of Famous Players; but as far as may be ascertained, this is his debut as an actor. His bit was done last Friday evening for the new Alice Brady picture and incidentally the first directing venture of Charles Maigne. The set upon which he worked was a cabaret affair and Louis is said to have represented one of the town bloods on a spree. CHICAGO.— Action has been start- ed by State's Attorney Hoyne against Frederick Bennion, former fiscal agent for the Lincoln Pictures Clas- sics, Inc., a film concern chartered under the laws of Delaware and said to be a $1,000,000 corporation. Officials of the picture company placed the matter in the State's At- torney's hands following a meeting last week in the offices of Attorney C J. Trainor, at which it was dis- closed that the stock sales proceeds held in escrow in the LTnion Trust Company, under an agreement with the secretary of state, were short about $9,000. Bennion, it is said, has not been seen for some time and his well equipped offices at 208 South La Salle street stand, closed and unoccupied. Assist- ant Attorney General Pruitt has had Bennion and his salesmen under sur- veilance for some time in connection with "The Birth of a Race" film stock sales. The Secretary of State has issued a rule to show cause why the Lincoln Classics company's permit to sell stock under the "blue sky" law shall not be revoked. Attorney Trainor in a statement is- sued last Friday said: "Fortunately for ourselves and the stockholders of our concern we got hold of the situa- tion in time to prevent the corpora- tion and investors from losing any money. We have obtained an injunc- tion preventing- Bennion and Henry Belmar, former president, from inter- fering with the operations of the company. We have the 35.000 shares of promotional stock which were to have gone to Belmar in our posses- sion and even should we lose the $9- 000 that was withdrawn from the bank we are in better financial shape than we were before. The stockholders will lose nothing and we are going to see this company through to a suc- cessful conclusion." "Bennion." said Mr. Trainor. "is the cause of the misunderstandine- with the secretary of state's office. We agreed that not only were the funds from stock sales to be expended in making the film only with the author- ization of the state officials, but also that our selling literature should have the O. K. of the blue sky au- thorities. Bennion. in violation of this agreement, circulated pamphlets as well as tried to take over the whole corporation." Some of the literature, it is said, states that the Secretary of State has granted the corporation a license to sell stock. These pamphlets were cir- culated by Bennion, it is claimed, in violation of the state la—, as they should have clearly stated the Sec- retary does not recommend the pur- chase of this or any other stock. Another circular places the prob- able annual profits of the finished films at $5,000,000. Bennion is now the defendant in a suit in the civil courts, brought by the corporation which engaged him to sell Lincoln Classics stock at $10 per share. Dean Finishes Trip Charles A. Dean, the president of the Educational Distributing Corpora- tion, designed to handle the product of the Educational Corporation, has returned to New York after an eleven-day trip through the Middle West. Mr. Dean has organized ex- ^ changes in Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland. E. W. Hammons, vice-president and general manager of Edu^tional Films, also returned to New York af- ter his supervision of "When the Giant Wakes" at Charleston, W. Va. Mr. Hammons expects to take a five- day pleasure trip starting to-morrow. Getting Acquainted in Brewery Col. Jacob Ruppert has sent out a letter to all of the film men that he would like to meet them at the brew- ery, today, at 2.30 to talk over matters pertaining to film distribu- tion. Here's a chance that you shouldn't overlook, boys, 'cause they do say that those brewery meetings are great stuff. Boston American Co. to Continue The American Feature Picture Co. of Boston desires the trade to know that that company is to continue in business despite the fact that Louis B. Mayer has relinquished the general managership of the concern. Mr. Mayer stepped out of the organization to devote his time to his interests in the Gordon string of theatres and the Anita Stewart productions. J. J. Rotchford, assistant general manager of the Select Pictures Cor- poration, is on the second week of his fortnight vacation. William M. Ritchey leaves the American Film Co. as scenario editor to go with the Famous Players-Lasky. VeCanTellYouVheireTo^eachTtiem^PhooeVadfiri)ilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. EDWARD EARLE LAMBS CLUB 144 W. 44th Street New York City WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN 0 DAILY NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE RUTH ROLAND Asrra-Pathe STARRING IX "HANDS UP' WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Productions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd.. L. A. MILTON SILLS THE LAMBS ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH MARION SWAYNE STAR FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Lot Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear each Tuesday. Tuesday, August 6, 1918 DAILY Rather Complicated Meller Made Interesting by Star and Direction Edna Goodrich in "HER HUSBAND'S HONOR" Mutual DIRECTOR Burton King AUTHOR Maibelle Heikes Justice SCENARIO BY J. Clarkson Miller CAMERAMAN Sol Polito AS A WHOLE Rather complicated affair in= volving the "poipers", made interesting by star and direction. STORY Wife permits intimacy of another man to save husband from ruin, with resultant complications. DIRECTION Generally very good, kept action convincing and made individual incidents ef- fective. PHOTOGRAPHY. .. .Varied but generally satisfactory LIGHTINGS Effective at times but generally too uniform. Some lightings too harsh on faces. CAMERA WORK Good STAR Beautiful and made role convincing SUPPORT Powell good; others balanced nicely EXTERIORS Some very good; others just fair INTERIORS Generally pleasing DETAIL Manv effective bits CHARACTER OF STORY Contains very little comedy relief but should entertain. Nothing to offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet AS a whole, this was rather well developed; there was considerable suspense throughout, the char- acterizations were well handled and the situations made convincing by intelligent direction. We only had one comedy bit in the offering, showing a spooney cou- ple eating ice-cream on the steps at a party, but it was very well handled and will get laughs. Our old and trusted friend, "the poipers", figured very prominently in this, in fact the entire offering centers around them. In this case they were some papers that Frank Powell had signed and which meant a jail sentence unless he could raise half a million be- tore a certain time. Powell's butterfly wife, played by -Miss Goodrich, is not interested in his business affairs until the green- eyed monster comes in and then Powell is forced to tell her of his financial difficulties in order to explain an affair with his employer's wife. This woman. Barbara Allen, is very much infatuated with Powell and has promised to get the voucher involving him. from her husband's safe, expecting his love in return. Powell refuses. A deal pending with some Jap financiers will enable Powell and his partner to clear their indebtedness and they submit their estimates and plans. T'saki. the Jap agent, is honored at a dance at Davenport's home and as her husband's honor depends upon the deal going through, Edna uses her wiles upon T'saki at the social function. She makes a proposition to him to deliver the plans for a price lower than Davenport's and arranges to meet him at a vacant summer home next door. In the meantime, Barbara Allen. Davenport's wife, has secured the voucher from the safe and is to deliver it to Powell. In the deserted house. Usaki meets Edna, and after the money and plans have changed hands he locks the door and starts to get ruff. Edna and T'saki have been seen going to the house and Powell. Davenport and his wife arrive to find only the Jap present. Edna having made her escape through a window. When they return to the house, they find her there, which makes it evident that they were mistaken about seeing her in company with T'saki. While this is trans- piring. Davenport, finding the voucher gone, shoots himself. Later. Edna explains to her husband and it develops that Barbara, having changed her views since her huband's death, has destroyed the voucher, making Powell free and happy with Edna, who has also become a true wife through the experience. The two sets of "poipers", the plans and the voucher, which figure all through this, make the plot rather com- plicated, but the matter is sufficiently cleared at the end so the story is not confusing as a whole. Those in the cast were: Mrs. Russell, Robert Keet- ing and Thomas Tommammato. Is Not Big But Should Be Accepted Generally As Satisfactory Program Offering The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This is strictly a "drammer", although it has been rather well handled and is not what might be termed "heavy". The suicide at the finish has been done in a way that doesn't jar or register as depressing. The offering is interesting, although it has rather compli- cated twists, and should be accepted generally as a satisfactory program release. Miss Goodrich appeal's to excellent advantage in this ami as her name should mean something at the box- office, I would concentrate on her presence in my ads and lobby. You might stir up a little interest by catchlines like these : "How far would you go to prove to your husband that you were worthy of his love ami esteem? See Edna Goodrich in Tier Husband's Honor'." "It you had a butterfly wife to whom you had kept your financial difficulties secret, would you turn to her lor help in your time of need? See 'Her Husband's I lonor'." Yon might bill this as "The story of a social butterfly who proved her real worth and gained her husband's respect when financial ruin confronted him." XfcBRADSTREET of FILMDOM ZfeRECOOUZED Authority Vol. V, No. 91 Thursday, August 8, 1918 Price 5 Cents Helping A Busy Man THE GRAND THEATRE Joe Lucas, Manager Centralia, Wash. July 31, 1918. Wid's Daily, New York City. Gentlemen: — I have three houses running and you realize I am a busy hu- man booking attractions of merit for three houses, changing pro- grams three times weekly in each house. Before receiving your weekly I spent at least one hour daily reading comments, etc., from other publications — now fifteen minutes is all the time required by me to pick my programs. Keep up the good work, and continue publishing a sheet for the EXHIBITOR— we certainly need it. Pan the releases that need it and boost those that merit it. Yours very truly, JOE LUCAS. Farrar Recovers Actress Hurt in Making Scene for "The Hell Cat" Geraldine Farrar, reported seriously injured while making a scene for Goldwyn's "The Hell Cat" at Cody, Wyo., Friday, has recovered after a twenty-four hour lay-off and is now continuing in the production of the picture, according to word received at the Goldwyn office yesterday after- noon. The accident happened while Miss Farrar was making a scene with Thomas Santschi, in which there was a struggle and Santschi, miscalculat- in the distance separating them, struck the actress a blow which knocked her unconscious, blood flowing from a wound in her scalp. Miss Farrar was taken to a ranch house near Cody for treatment, a sur- geon having been called. Lou Tel- legen, the star's husband, is with her. NEW EXPORT PERMIT ISSUED Form X 24 Governs Shipments To Allies — Steady Flow of Licenses Is Expected Exporters will receive a new type of permit from the War Trade Board to-day, called Form X 24 governing shipments of film to Great Britain, France and Italy. It is a modifica- tion of Form X 20 which caused somewhat of an upheaval in the trade a short time ago. The new form car- ries out the recent revisions sanction- ed by the Board whereby Allied ship- ments go direct to the consignee and not to the Board's representative. It also provides a guarantee not to re- export films from those Allied coun- tries. There is every reason to believe that the rulings placed on the trade by the War Trade Board will be mod- ified to such an extent as to bring con- ditions almost back to normal. One well-known exporter forecast a steady flow of licenses on request and said that the congestion he had seen in Washington was the cause of any delay in their issuance. He also said that exporters may expect all types of permits on a single sheet so that no part can be lost and thus re- sult in irksome waiting. Battle in the Air ITHACA, N. Y.— There was a bat- tle in the air here yesterday during the making of the Carle E. Carlton feature "L' Air," which Harsy Re- vier is directing. Two machines were flying for the greater part of the af- ternoon and the mock battle was vis- ible from the town. "The Savage Woman," Clara Kim- ball Young's latest Select, has been cut from six to five reels. It will have its first showing in the Loew houses on Monday and Tuesday. G. J. Trask, eastern traveling rep- resentative for the Arrow Film Co.. is in New York, but expects to leave immediatelv for Washington, D. C, Cincinnati and Chicago. Luthardt Appointed Fills Vacancy Made by Removal of Funkhouser CHICAGO. — By a special order, William H. Luthardt, secretary to Acting Chief of Police Alcock, has been appointed to fill the vacancy cre- ated by the action of the Civil Service Commission, which recently dis- charged Maj. M. L. C. Funkhouser. The appointment was made with the consent of the Civil Service Commis- sion. In the new position Luthardt will receive $5,000 a year. The ap- pointment is for sixty days and may be renewed. Daniels Is Expected Secretary of Navy Invited to Address A. E. A. Convention CHICAGO. — Josephus Daniels, Sec- retary of the Navy, has been invited to address the exhibitors at the sec- ond annual convention of the A. E. A., September 3. Among the other no- tables who are expected to be pres- ent are Adolph Zukor, William Fox, S. L. Rothapfel, William A. Brady and P. A. Powers. Ernest Horstmann, of Boston, new- ly elected secretary of the M. P. E. L., has wired Louis Frank, secretary of convention, his intention of being present. Peter J. Schaefer, the presi- dent of the old league, will also at- tend the convention's sessions. Through an arrangement with Chief Yoeman R. J. Mason, of the Great Lakes Navy Training station, the Ma- nn" Band will furnish music for the- ball and the proceeds of the affair will go to the Navy Relief Society. "The Historic Fourth of July in Paris." the first American Red Cross film being distributed through Gen- eral Film exchanges, scored an em- nhatic hit at the Rivoli and is being booked in many large theatres throughout the countrv. Thursday, August 8, 1918 bM^ DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West -lltli St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DEXIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY. 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Guts and Flashes Will T. Gentz has resigned from the Fox publicity department to join the editorial staff of the Dramatic Mirror. Robert Browning has been engaged by Metro as assistant director to Al- bert Capellani. Chester Beecroft left yesterday af- ternoon for Washington, D. C, and will remain until Friday. George W. Beynon, the man who fits music to films, has returned from Highland Lake, Connecticut, where he has been spending a month's vacation. Emily Stevens will soon start on a 250-foot picture for the Government, to be used in the Fourth Liberty Loan drive. June Mathis is writing the script. The Fuel Committee of the N. A. M. P. I which was formed for the express purpose of aiding Dr. Gar- field. Federal Fuel Administrator, on the coal conservation problem, will meet to-day. Elinor Fair has joined the Triangle Company. This is the young actress who played under the direction pi Oscar Apfel in a William Farnum pic- ture and later in a Warren Kerrigan feature. The Arrow Film Co. has sold "The Sunset Princess," "Her Aviator" and ""Fools of Fate" to W. M. Sipe, gen- eral manager of the Sipe Film Co. of Atlanta, Ga., for North and South Carolina. Georgia, Alabama, Tennes- see and Florida. Isadore Fibelman of the Circle the- : atre, Indianapolis, was in town yes- terday for a conference with Marcus Loew. , Helen Hoerle, editor of the scena- rio department of Paralta, has ten- dered her resignation and will termi- nate her association there on Satur- day. "Eyes of the Soul" is the name of a story soon to be filmed by Fox. The nature of the plot as well as the mem- bers of the cast, are being kept se- cret. Richard Stanton is reading the script. Grant Carpenter, of the Motion Picture War Service Association, was in town yesterday having come on from Washington for a conference with Charles S. Hart of the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information. Defies Competition SEATTLE.— "The Finger of Jus- tice" is still turning 'em away from the Rex theatre, Seattle, at the end of the second week, and John Hamrick has offered to pay double rental and advertising in order to keep it a third week, if a new print that has been wired for does not arrive. This picture has had the strongest competition of any film shown in Seat- tle since Christmas. Griffith's "Hearts of the World" has been running at the Orpheum during the entire two weeks, and during the first week the Seattle Girl's Victory Carnival, a big, thor- oughly advertised patriotic entertain- ment, conducted by the society girls of the city, was constantly drawing the crowds away from the downtown section. The other big downtown houses put on Paramount and Art- craft and special- productions, but they did not draw the people away from the Rex. Viola Dana's Next "Oh Annice!" by Alexine Heyland, now running in Woman's Home Com- nanion, has been selected for Viola Dana's coming picture. The scenario for this picture was written by June Mathis. Cut the quantity of your show if you have to; but hold fast to the quality. Mae Murray First To Mae Murray goes the honor, according to report, of being the first star to complete a propaganda pic- ture for the fourth Liberty Loan, as requested by the Government. Miss Murray has finished "The Taming of Kaiser Bill," and the film has been shipped to Adolph Zukor's office in New York. Want Propaganda Script The American Film Co. is trying to get a script that will have propa- ganda appeal. Up to the present time none has been found that will make such a picture. Heat Closes Offices The heat wave closed down two of the biggest film offices yesterday af- ternoon. Both the Paramount and the Universal home offices informed their employees that the offices would be closed at 3 P. M. Para- mount issued a bulletin in the morn- ing stating that "because of an at- tack by General Humidity" the office would shut down for the afternoon. War Film at Broadway Universal announces that starting Sunday, its seven-reel war picture, "Crashing Through to Berlin," will displace "Bread" at the Broadway the- atre. This picture, which constitutes a history of the war, according to its makers, has been under preparation for some time. It is claimed to pre- sent the causes and course of the war authentically from the murder of the Austrian Archduke to the present time, and ends with the delivery of thousands of aeroplanes. The Creel Committee has been consulted on several of the scenes, and certain ones have been eliminated as a result. Whartons in New York Theo. Wharton returned to New York from Ithaca yesterday and ioined his brother Leopold here. The Whartons intend to keep their studio running all winter because of the fact that they do not have to rely Frank Barzage has finished direct- on getting fuel to supply their light ing "The Ghost Flower," starring Al- and heat, the same coming from a ma Rubens. water power plant. isii^i DAILY Thursday, August 8, 1918 STOCKHOLDERS ARE NOT NAMED Decision of Supreme Court Practically iinds Kriterioa Film Company's Suit Supreme Court Justice McAvoy has handed down a decision in a suit in behalf of the creditors of the Krite- rion Film Co. against the stockholders which practically puts an end to the suit in which a judgment for $38,604 was asked. The suit was brought in the name of Morris Tolsky in behalf of himself and other creditors of the film company, and named as defend- ants Charles E. Whitman, John Auchincloss, Burr E. Clements and William R. Allen. The plaintiff asked Justice McAvoy for permission to name 35 other stockholders as defend- ants because the law requires that in such a suit all persons be named who have not paid for their stock fully, but Justice McAvoy denied the application because the plaintiff waited too long to make it. The complaint filed by M. & S. Mey- ers alleged that the Kriterion and Mica Film Companies were New 'York corporations, the former having $1,- 100,000 stock, of which 10,000 shares were common and 4,000 shares pre- ferred stock, and the Mica had $300,- 000 capital, of which 2,000 shares were common and 1,000 preferred. The plaintiff alleged that the de- fendants named fraudulently con- spired to organize the Mica company for the sole purpose of manipulating it to enable them to procure the sur- render to them of all the stock of the Kriterion company, without payment of any consideration and for the pur- pose of transferring the Kriterion stock to themselves in exchange for the assets of the Mica company, known to them to be worthless. The two companies were formed in 1914 three davs apart and at a meeting of allesred dummv directors of Kriterion on Nov. 30, 1914 Auchincloss offered to transfer the Mica assets for the Kriterion stock and the directors ac- cented the offer, "with deliberate dis- regard for the actual value of the Mica assets." Tt is alleged that Anrhincloss got 7,000 shares of the Kriterion common stock and the other defendants received 1.000 shares each. Tt is alleged that the defend- ants paid nothing for their stock. The complaint alleges that on ■March 31, 1915. the Kriterion owed Aubrey M. Kennedy $9,500 on an un- paid check and that on June 3 of that year the concern went into bank- ruptcy. The assets were insufficient to pay the creditors anything and Kennedy assigned his claim to the plaintiff who brought the present suit to compel the stockholders to pay for their stock and to use the proceeds for the debts, which included the fol- lowing: Aubrey M. Kennedy, checks for $736 and $368; Alhambra Motion Picture Co., $7,391 for goods and merchandise; Alhambra Film Mfg. Co., $11,667 for merchandise; C. K. Film Co., $3,420 for merchandise, and $4,780 to Kriterion Star Film Mfg. Co. Finishing Select Features Select announces that it is now put- ting the finishing touches on several of its features and will have them ready for release soon. There is to be a trade showinsr of Clara Kimball Young's latest production "The Sav- age Woman" to-dav at 2.30 in Select's projection room; "Her Only Way" has been practically completed and was seen in the projection room Tues- day; "Sauce for the Goose" will go ;nto printing immediatelv; Marion Davies' picture, "The Burden of Proof," will be ready soon and Alice Brady's new picture, as yet untitled, will follow "The Death Dance," which :s r>r?ctically ready for printing. Aims of Film Market Robert W. Priest Explains Scope of New Concern A statement issued from the offices of The Film Market, inc., the forma- tion of which has been reported in Wid's Daily, explains the purposes of Robert W. Priest in launching the enterprise. The statement reads: "This corporation is designed to furnish a reliable and financially re- sponsible channel through which in- dependent producers may market their productions to the best advan- tage with every assurance that they will be efficiently exploited: and, on the other hand, a medium for the pur- chase of pictures by buyers for all territories throughout the world, put- ting them in touch with all available features that are to be had, thereby bringing independent producers and American and foreign buyers in con- tact under conditions of the fullest advantage to both. "For four years Mr. Priest has made a special study of the produc- tion and sale of features and their exploitation, and possesses experience and information of practical value in this connection. This information in- cludes every statistic that can pos- sibly have any bearing on the prob- able earning power of a picture in any specific territory throughout the world, and facts and figures in rela- tion to the production, sale and ex- ploitation of big specials in the past, which have never before been col- lated." Some producers are advertising to help you — others to get you. Sliter Succeeds Sullivan Fred G. Sliter, branch manager for Mutual at Albany, has been appointed successor to M. J. Sullivan, who until recently has been New York branch manager. Mr. Sliter has been with Mutual since 1915. He was first a salesman attached to the Albpny of- fice and became manager in 1916. Be- fore that, he erected the New Broad- way theatre in Schenectady, N. Y. He started his new duties on Monday. Mutual also announces that Jerome Safron, branch manager at Philadel- phia, has been appointed to take Mr. Sliter's place in Albany. Lila Lee's First Finished The initial Famous Players-Lasky Lila Lee starring picture has been completed and will be released, Sept 8. The picture when shown in Los Angeles will have the added attraction of the star, who will make a personal appearance. Gus Edwards and Will D. Cobb have written a special song poem for Miss Lee for the occasion. Thursday, August 8, 1918 DAILY Pleasing Personalities In Delightful Romance That Registers Gladys Leslie in "WILD PRIMROSE" Vitagraph thai makes you willing to accept the convenient twists and tin very pleasing performance of Miss Leslie and Richard Barthelmess makes The offering delightfully interesting to watch all the way. DIRECTOR Frederic Thomson AUTHOR Joseph Franklyn Poland SCENARIO BY A. Van Buren Powell CAMERAMAN Jules Cronjeger AS A WHOLE Things happen rather conveniently but players and treatment make it entertain= ing. STORY Pleasing little "pretend you're some= one else" romance with meller trimmings. DIRECTION Developed characterizations and made action convincing by intelligent handling PHOTOGRAPHY Generally satisfactory although verv hazy at times and night stuff was too dark. Dissolve was neatly done. LIGHTINGS Varied from fine to fair; harsh on faces at times and some sets not lighted to advantage. CAMERA WORK Good STAR Beautiful and appealing; gave a con= vincing portrayal. SUPPORT Richard Barthelmess very likeable hero and others balanced nicely. EXTERIORS Satisfactory INTERIORS Generally very pleasing although excessive furniture in some sets gave them crowded appearance. DETAIL Convenient but registered many effective bits. CHARACTER OF STORY For any audience; nothing objectionable. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,308 feet I THINK this will register with most audiences as very pleasing entertainment. Things happen rather obligingly but Director Thomson has developed his characterizations in a way We have Miss Leslie in this as ;i young girl who had never seen her father, having been reared and educated by a friend of her mother whom she calls Uncle Ned. Shero had been told of how her father had deserted her mother when she was a child, so that when he sends- for her. she determines to appear as unrefined and wild as possible so that her father will tire of her and allow her to return to her uncle again. Her wild ways have the desired effect but when she meets Richard, her father's stepson, she quickly de- velops a love for him. as he is the only member of the household who treats her with respect. Previous to Shero's arrival. Richard, in one of his drunken orgies, has married a wicked wamp, to whom he is continually obliged to kick through in order to keep the news from his family. In the meantime, Shero's father has grown to love her and he promises her a real coming-out party, at which function she astounds everyone by throwing off the hick make-up and appearing as her own beautiful self. Before Hero has seen her. however, his vampire wife has come to the house for money and Hero is forced to confess his shame to the entire family. It has also developed that the father's financial difficulties have come to a crisis, spelling inevitable ruin. At this junc- ture, the father's secretary recognizes the vamp as his wife who had deserted him and Uncle Ned conveniently comes in with the information that Shero has oil stock worth millions. Shero forgives Hero and everything ends very satisfactorily. Mr. Barthelmess deserves much credit for putting over SMi irresponsible son role in a manner that won sympathy and made you want to see him triumph at the finish. He was convincing and sincere and his performance in this should win him many new admirers. Those in the cast were: Eulalie Jensen. Claude Gill- Ingwater. Ann Warrenton. Charles Kent. Arthur Lewis and Bigelow Cooper. You Can Safely Recommend This. Play Up Star and Leading Man The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Vim can safely promise your folks that this is delight- ful entertainment and I think that most audiences are go- ing to class it as a better than average program offering. I would make quite a little fuss about Miss Leslie as she is very pleasing in this, and I would also give some mention to Richard Barthelmess, who is going to find himself in possession of many new followers when this film has gained circulation. The "Wild Primrose" title doesn't register as very startling with me and it might be well to supplement it with such lines as: "The story of a girl who found out who her real friends were by making herself appear unattractive and uneducated." or "The test of true love." You might stir up interest by asking your folks: "Could you forgive the man you loved if you learned that he already had a wife of whom he had told you nothing? Sec Gladys Leslie in 'Wild Primrose'." "Do yon know who your real friends are? Do you think they would treat yon the same if you were un- attractive and uneducated? See Gladys Leslie in 'Wild1 Primrose'." ZfeBRADSTREET of FILMDOM 7/kRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 92 Friday, August 9, 1918 FUEL GOVERNMENT BY STATES Conservation Committee Decides on Plan For Concerted Action Among Exhibitors The Fuel Conservation Committee of the N. A. M. P. I. met in the Claridgc yesterday to further the or- ganization of that body. Marcus Loew, the chairman, B. S. Moss, Fred- erick H. Elliott, representing Will- iam Brady, president of the N. A. M. P. I., and Paul Gulick, representing P. A. Powers, attended the gathering. When the committee was formed W. A. Brady telegraphed Dr. Harry A. Garfield, Federal Fuel Administra- tor, of the formation of the commit- tee and its desire to aid the Govern- ment. A telegram from Dr. Garfield in reply to Mr. Brady, received yes- terday, read as follows: "Please accept acknowledgement of your telegram of August 2, and par- don our failure to reply earlier. Ac- cept with thanks your proffer." The country, according to the com- mittee's idea, will be divided as are the states. Each state will have a chairman who will organize his state committee. These individual bodies will keep in close touch with the Na- tional Committee as the Association committee will be termed, and in this way the Government can be aided by the close co-operation between dif- ferent portions of the country. The appointment of state chairmen will probably be made in a week. Change in Supervisors Paramoun.t-Artcraft has instituted a change in the selling arrangements about New York. The offices of two of the supervisors have been abolished and Harrv Danto, who has been su- pervisor for the Brookhrn territory, has had Manhattan and Long Island added to his district. J. A. Conlin has been appointed supervisor for New Jersey and New York states. Albert Shelby Levino, scenario writ- er for the Metro, arrived from the Coast vesterday morning. He will re- main here, as assistant to Maxwell Karger. until the entire Metro pro- ducing force starts for the coast. Likes New Arrangement MYRTLE THEATRE J. E. Stocker, Mgr. Detroit, Mich. WID: I like the new arrangement very much. Here is hoping you have the best of health and that you can keep on with the good work. Sincerely yours, J. E. Stocker. Price 5 Cents Contract Extended Rawlinson to Be Male Lead in Series of Films Commodore J. Stuart Blackton has extended his contract with Herbert Rawlinson, whom he first signed to play the featured male lead in "The Common Cause" and now plans to feature him in several other Blackton pictures. Commodore Blackton already has in hand the story and scenario for the second in this new independent series of special productions, has accepted and purchased another story which will probably be the basis of the third and has options on two popular plays and novels from which he will prob- ably select the fourth subject of the series. RITA JOLIVET WITH METRO Will Be Starred In A Propaganda Special Feature To Be Directed By Charles Miller it was announced yesterday that the Metro Company had taken Rita Jolivet under contract for a spectac- ular special feature of a propaganda nature. Miss Jolivet is to start work next week at the Metro studios on the picture. Maxwell Karger, general supervis- ing director of the company, also stated that he had made a special ar- rangement with Charles Miller to di- rect Miss Jolivet's picture. Mr. Mil- ler has just completed his contract under which he directed a series of Goldwyn pictures. The nature of the story in which Miss Jolivet is to appear is not as yet divulged by the Metro people, suffice it to say that it is a great big American theme. Talmadge at Rialto "Her Only Way," Norma Tal- madge's latest picture for Select, will be shown at the Rialto theatre during the week of August 18. It will also play at Loew's, August 18. Gaumont Makes Sales Both Lesser and Lust Get "Hand of Vengeance" Territory Two representatives of the State Rights Distributors, Inc., have bought the Gaumont serial, "The Hand of Vengeance," consisting of ten two- reel episodes, for their respective ter- ritories. Sol L. Lesser has bought the rights to "The Hand of Vengeance" for Cal- ifornia, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii, and Sidney B. Lust of the Superfilm Attractions, Washington, D. C., has bought it for Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. To Discuss Exposition All those who have taken space in the Grand Central Palace for the Mo- tion Picture Exposition" have been re- suested to attend a meeting in the Na- tion Association rooms on Monday at 12 o'clock to complete final arrange- ments for the show on October 5-13. Friday, August 9, 1918 tM>§ DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes Gladys Leslie has returned from Milford, Pa., where scenes were made for "The Nymph of the Foothills." Brother to Direct Emily Stevens Robert Stevens has been engaged as assistant director to Albert Capel- lani to direct his sister, Emily Stevens, in her new Metro feature, starting next week, " 'Ception Shoels," taken from a play by the same title. This is to be followed by "Red Lantern," which she will do on the Coast. Buys Latin-American Rights Miles and Manheimer announce that they have bought "Moral Suicide" from Graphic Film Corporation for Latin America, which includes Mex- ico, Central America and the West In- dies. They announce that "Tarzan of the Apes" booked heavily in Mexico. Morris I. Wohl of the Cosmo the- atre, Gary, Indiana, is in New York, stopping at the Hotel Wallick. Beginning with the first release un- der the new hooking plan. Vitagraph will inaugurate a billboard campaign uninterruptedly for a year. Exporters Fail to Meet The Film Exporters of America, Inc., were scheduled for a meeting yesterday in the Astor, but owing to the absence of the oresident, David P. Howells, who is in Los Angeles on a business trip, the gathering was not held. The film men will probably meet when Mr. Howells returns, which will be in about ten days. Donald Gallagher, who played the leading juvenile role with Nazimova i in "Eye for Eye," has enlisted in the Aviation Corps. ( The American Red Cross Film, "The Glorious Fourth of July in Paris," has been booked for the entire Poli Circuit. Arthur S. Kane, general manager of Select, who was out in Chicago for a week, returned to New York yes- terday. Reggie Lyons, cameraman with Vi- tagraph on the Coast, is coming East to enter the Cinematograph School at Columbia University, preparatory to entering the Signal Corps. S. J. Rollo Promoted S. J. Rollo, who has been connected with the sales department of the Mu- tual for the last year, has been ap- pointed assistant sales manager by A. S. Kirkpatrick, Mutual's new as- sistant general manager. Mr. Rollo entered the Mutual or- ganization from Montgomery Ward & Company, the big Chicago mail or- der house, after an apprenticeship in salesmanship with the National Bis- cut Company. Some months ago he was placed in charge of the employees' department of the Mutual and was promoted from that post to the posi- tion of assistant sales manager. C. E. Shurtloff. general sales man- ager for W. W. Hodkinson Corpora- tion, is visiting Philadelphia and Washington, in order to place men in the company's branches in those cities. S:>m O. Siegal. president of the In- terstate Film Company, announces that bookings for the two-reel war film. "The Last Raid of Zeppelin T.?l." have passed the 10,000 mark. The mrture is released through Gen- eral Film Company. After two false starts they're off again on the Exposition chatter. From the Courts Referee Is Appointed in Amusement Co. Case Supreme Court Justice Guy has ap- pointed a referee to hear an applica- tion by the X Amusement Company through its president, Louie Soviner, owner of the Beauty theatre, for an order directing Solomon C. Sugar- man, a lawyer, to turn over to the Amusement company $2 000 he holds belonging to the corporation. The application alleges that the corpora- tion got title to the Beauty theatre by assignment of the property by the Arch Amusement Company and that a suit was brought against both the corporations to set aside the assign- ment of the property by Benjamin F. Canaday on the ground that the trans- fer was made to prevent him from col- lecting a judgment he had obtained. The plaintiff retained Sugarman to defend the suit and it was dismissed, but the Appellate Division set aside the order and directed a new trial. Soviner says that Sugarman then ad- vised settlement and thought it could be done for $2,000, which Soviner borrowed and gave the lawyer. He also alleges that he paid $800 fees to the lawyer and that the latter told him the settlement had been made, but he has just learned from Can- aday's attorney that there has been no settlement. Soviner says he has a new attorney who has arranged a settle- ment and he wants the $2,000 to make the first payment. Sugarman denied that he said the case has been settled. He says that Canaday refused to accept $2,000 and demanded $3,250. Sugarman says he has received no fees from the plain- tiff, and thinks he is entitled to $1,500 which he wants to retain out of the $2,000. He says he represented Sovi- ner when he was prosecuted for ad- mitting minors to the Beauty theatre and also was his counsel in Special Sessions when he was convicted and sentenced to 60 days in the work- house. He also represented the cor- poration when the Commissioner of Licenses held a hearing and decided to revoke the license of the theatre on March 15 last because of the con- victions for admitting minors, he says. Supreme Court Justice Guy has dis- missed a suit by the Citv of New York against the General Film Publicity and Sales Co. to recover a personal tax on an assessment for' $500. Ed- wnrd Eisner, one of the incorporators, said that the concern never began business and that the directors never met. iMb DAILY Friday, August 9, 1918 VITAGRAPH PLANS FOR YEAR Smith and Irwin Announce New Booking Policy and Releasing Schedule — Rotating Star System Albert E. Smith, president of the Vitagraph Distributing organization, in a joint special announcement with Walter W. Irwin, general manager, has made public the new booking plan of the company for the year from September 30, 1918, to September 22, 1919. A complete outline of the com- pany's producing policy is given by Mr. Smith whereas Mr. Irwin states definitely the new method under which the Blue Ribbon features will be released. According to the statements, Earle Williams and Alice Joyce will each be presented in eight productions during the coming year. Bessie Love, the company's newest star, Harry T. Morey, Corrine Griffith and Gladys Leslie will be featured in nine produc- tions each. Under the new booking plan each of the stars will appear at intervals of six weeks. Vitagraph, according to its an- nouncement regarding its Blue Rib- bon features, provides an exhibitor with a guarantee of three definitely fixed units for his program for each week in the year and by booking on a yearly basis an exhibitor is in a posi- tion to make up his program as far ahead as he desires. The new Vitagraph plan, as an- nounced by Mr. Irwin, is found to be a liberal one, because it permits an exhibitor to book on any basis which best suits his business. It provides not only for a "rotating star system," which is on a fifty-two week basis, but makes it possible to book a sin- gle star's productions or any combina- tion of stars. There is also the sin- gle-feature plan for the exhibitor who desires it. Under the "star series plan," the exhibitor can book a full series of eight or nine pictures to be made by any one of the six stars, during the coming year or he can, in an emer- gency, book any one of the individual pictures made by a given star during the year. If the exhibitor has a peculiar ter- ritory, or is now tied up with conflict- ing contracts, he may book any two series of pictures made by two of the stars, or any combination of the six component series comprising fifty-two pictures in all, which will be released "nder this new nros:ram during the Gftv-two weeks, dating from Septem- ber 30, 1918. It's not so much the size of a house as the mental size oj the man who runs it. Showing of "Lafayette We Come!" The first screening of "Lafayette We Come!" Leonce Perret's patriotic film, was made for the benefit of executives of the Perret Producing Company. Those who attended the screening were Leonce Perret, E. K. Lincoln, Dolores Cassinelli, Camera- man Alfred Ortliev, Technical Direc- tor John Burke, Adolphe Oss, Geor- gette Duchesne, Madame Perret and Allan Rock, and the directors of the Leonce Perret Producing Company. Mr. Perret's sales organization is bus- ily engaged negotiating for the dis- position and release of the film to be preceded by a showing on Broadway. Bee-Hive Handles Weekly The Greiver Distributing Corp. has selected the Bee-Hive exchange to handle the Ford Weekly in Greater New York, Long Island, Northern New Jersey and New York State. MOVE TO SELL FILM PLANT American Laboratories on 90th Street Said To Be Insolvent— Suit Filed On the ground that the American Film Laboratories, Inc., of 69 West 90th street, is insolvent and has failed to pay interest on its $50,000 of bonds for two years, and because its plant is in possession of the landlord of 69 West 90th street, a suit has been filed in the Supreme Court for the sale of the plant in foreclosure to pay the debts of the corporation, and for the appointment of a receiver of the business pending the foreclosure. The suit is brought by John F. Blanchard, trustee of the bond issue, who states that the corporation es- tablished commercial laboratories to make positive and negative prints of films, and took a lease on the West 90th street property for ten years from 1915. The corporation issued bonds of $50,000 to pay for the installation of the plant, and put the plant in a deed of trust with Blanchard as trustee. The bonds which fall due in 1920 had been issued to the extent of $38,000 on Aug. 1, 1916, when the first default in the payment of semi-annual inter- est of $1,330 took place, and thereafter the corporation failed to make pay- ments of $1,750 semi-annually on the $50,000. The complaint alleges that the corporation permitted the plant to be neglected and to become dilapi- dated, and that 69 West 90th Street Corporation, which is the landlord, is in possession of the property, but has not obtained legal title to same. Stone Completes Another Fred Stone, who has become a reg- ular film star, has finished his sec- ond Artcraft picture, "Johnny Get Your Gun." He will shortly start on his third film which it is promised will prove an absolute novelty. Frances Marion, who has been responsible for many of the Mary Pickford scenarios, wrote the script. Stone's first picture, "Under the Top," will be released the middle of September. Affiliated Issues Booklet "The Exhibitor Dominant" is the title of a sixteen-page booklet just is- sued by the Affiliated Distributors' Corporation, which is being mailed this week to the members of the va- rious Affiliated units throughout the country. The book explains in detail the platform of exhibitor controlled co- operative booking, as worked out by the Affiliated plan, and contains an interesting chart of the benefits de- rived by both exhibitor and pro- ducer from this method of film dis- tribution. The question of the savings effected by exhibitors through grouping their booking power is treated by specific illustrations in a manner that will prove of interest to those who have been following the tendency toward direct distribution. Friday, August 9, 1918 DAILY Clever Kiddie Gets Real Opportunity To Register Cute Tricks Gloria Joy in "NO CHILDREN WANTED" Horkheimer=Gerteral Film DIRECTOR Sherwood MacDonald SCENARIO BY Will Ritchey CAMERAMAN George Rizard AS A WHOLE Incidental business and very clever kiddie makes this entertaining. STORY Certainly had some very far=fetched coincidences but provided cute business for kiddie that puts this over. DIRECTION Deserves much credit for intelligent handling of kiddie star; provided many ex= cellent bits although failed to make some points in story hold water and frequently let players "act". PHOTOGRAPHY Just good straight stuff although doubles were very well done. LIGHTINGS Very uneven with no attempt for effects although night stuff was rather good. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Watch her; she's some little actress SUPPORT Acceptable; trained goose carried away first honors and little boy will get laughs EXTERIORS Some good, generally satisfactory INTERIORS Fitted atmosphere although some looked rather "setty". DETAIL Gloria's hands and arms weren't made up which showed bad contrast in close=ups. CHARACTER OF STORY Pleasing light enter= tainment for any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet SOMEBODY showed very good judgment or was just naturally lucky when they picked out this little lady for a screen possibility, for she certainly reg- isters and can really act. Of course, the success of a child star depends entirely upon the story and direction they give her and while this story certainly had a lot of remarkable coincidences in it. it provided enough incidental business for little Gloria to get it over as very pleasing entertainment, taken as a whole. Also. I want to compliment Director MacDonald for giving us many cute touches throughout the film which will register anywhere and many of Them will get real yells. The plot had to do with a couple who thought more of social prestige than they did of their child, with the result that when hubby becomes fairly wealthy through the success of some of his writings they move to a fashionable apartment, sending little Gloria away to a school because children were not admitted in this par- ticular high-brow domicile. We had an editor in this whom author Bob Grey had slandered in one of his books with the result that editor got all peeved and planned to get even. Bob later finances a scheme for willun Neil Hardin, not knowing that the scheme is to smuggle munitions across the Mexican border. Neil is caught and the editor gets in his dirty work by letting willun free if he will sign a statement to the effect that Bob has financed his crooked deal. In the meantime we have had considerable business with the kiddie at the school where she is abused to the point of running away. En route to the city she annexes a little boy and a goose and after they have become lost and sleep in a haystack all night, the par- ents of the boy overtake the pair and Gloria is picked ni» by a farmer and taken to the police station, where she is restored to her parents. The loss of Bob's money and threatened exposure has forced him and his wife to return to their former cottage and Oloria. overhearing her parents' plight, determines to find the editor and appeal to him. which is going some for a four-year-old child. It happens that while she is appealing to a policeman for help she is snapped by an ambitious newspaper photographer, with the re- sult that the photo finally gets to the hands of the editor. His heart is softened bv the appeal of the child and he orders the story killed just as Bob comes in deter- mined to kill him. They had a trained goose in this that was certainly some actor. We also had a very good character bit by the old farmer who picked up Gloria, his being deaf causing many misunderstandings. The little boy whom Oloria picked up will get many laughs because he was natural. Others in the cast were: Edward Jobson, Ruth Lack- aye. Ethel Ritchie and Eddie Saunders. Little Gloria Will Stand Considerable Boosting. Any Gang Will Enjoy It The Box Office Analy This has been made pleasing by the star and direc- tion in spite of the convenient happenings in the story and should be a safe bet anywhere as an entertaining program offering. Of course. Gloria Joy isn't known, this being her second picture, so you'll have to get out and make a little noise about her if you want to cash in. If her future offerings are as good as this one, you can afford to spend a little money in boosting her at the start, because her charming personality and cute tricks will appeal to most folks as being enjoyable entertain- ment and they will commence to look forward to future pictures in which she appears. You might bill this as "The story of a child who sis for the Exhibitor wasn't wanted but who proved her real worth by saving her father from ruin." You might ask them : "Are children welcome in your home? Do you treat your children with love and re- spect or do you make them feel that they are not Avanted? See Gloria in 'No Children Wanted'." This is a peculiar title in the sense that it may be construed to mean that you are not catering to children patronage on the particular production you are showing, unless you \ise care in arranging and wording your lobby cards to make it plain that this is the title of the film. Make a special appeal to the children on this picture, by all means, as it contains oodles Of clean comedy that they will enjoy. 7>feB&ADSTREET of FILMDOM xfeRECOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 93 Saturday, August 10, 1918 Price 5 Cents Reliable! J. S. DICKERSON Watkins Opera Hcuse Watkins, N. Y. Wid's Daily, New York City. Dear Sirs — Enclosed find check renewing subscription to Wid's. I still find it reliable on all mat- ters concerning feature films. Yours truly, (Sig.) J. S. DICKERSON. Watkins Opera House. DUSTIN FARNUM UNITED STAR One-a-Week Policy Decided On By Go-operative Organization — Kitty Gordon May Be On Program Symphony Is Closed Aubrey Kennedy's Theatre Dis- continues "Because of Hot Weather" The Symphony theatre, at 95th street and Broadway, has been closed. Various reasons are given for the move, the official announcement being that the "hot weather" was the cause. The closing of the Symphony did not come as a surprise to the trade, for it has long been understood that pa- tronage was slim. After numerous postponements, some of them due to a legal dispute with William Fox, the Symphony was opened June 14 under the manage- ment of Aubrey M. Kennedy. Ar- chitecturally it is one of the most at- tractive picture houses in New York. Special attention has been paid to the musical program. Tax on Rentals WASHINGTON.— The Ways and Means Committee will recommend to Congress, in connection with the new war revenue bill, that the tax on films be changed so that instead of one- quarter of a cent a foot being levied on undeveloped film and one-half of a cent on developed film, there shall be a fixed tax of 5 per cent, on the rental price received by the producer. This recommendation, doing away with the footage tax entirely, was generally expected in the trade. United Picture Theatres, Inc., has selected the latest of the Harry Sher- man productions, Dustin Farnum in a picturization of Zane Grey's novel, "The Light of Western Stars," to in- augurate its policy of one feature a week to be released to the theatres included in the co-operative chain. It is also announced that United has contracted with Mr. Sherman for six more Farnum features, the stories to l>e passed upon by United before the work of production is begun. Two of these stories have already been ac- cepted, the second in the series to be "The Wolf Breed," by Jackson Greg- ory, and the third, "The Man in the Open," by Roger Pecock. According to the present plan, which is important to the trade in bringing the United forward as a fac- tor in the one-a-week market, ne- gotiations are underway for the prod- uct of six or eight stars, one of whom, it is believed, may be Kitty Gordon, who has incorporated the Kitty Gor- don Pictures company "to provide the luxurious charm and the regal grace of Kitty Gordon with worthy pictorial settings." The company is to manufcture six features a year, the stories to be fur- nished by Wilson Misner. Business affairs are in charge of Sydney L. Cohan and Mahlon Hamilton is to be Miss Gordon's leading man. "MOTION PICTURE WEEK" PROPOSED Exposition and Banquet To Coincide With Critical Period of Liberty Loan Campaign Frederick H. Elliott, secretary of the National Association of the Mo- tion Picture Industry, has a plan in mind that should prove to be a tri- umph for the industry if carried out. As announced in Wid's Daily, all those who have taken space for the show in the fall have been requested to attend a meeting on Monday in the Association's rooms. Plans there will be made to decide definitely on hold- ing the show and to make any later withdrawal impossible. Mr. Elliott has informally discussed the banquet with the Banquet Committee, com- posed of William A. Brady, W. W. Irwin and himself, representing the Association, and Arthur James, John C. Flinn and Paul Gulick of the As- sociated Motion Picture Advertisers, on the advisability of holding the din- ner during Exposition week, October 5-13. Invitations will be extended to the President, the Cabinet officers, Her- bert Hoover. Dr. Garfield and other Federal officials. The dinner will be held during the most important week of the Fourth Liberty Loan Drive and the week itself will probably be known as National Motion Picture Week. Mr. Elliott thinks the idea is a tremendous one and one of vast import to the industry. The Banquet Committee will meet on Tuesday after the attitude of the Exposition space holders has been gauged on Monday. The scheme will no doubt be consummated. Yesterday, at noon, the directors of the General Division of the N. A. M. P. I. met to discuss the membership drive recently emphasized at the "Mitt Me" luncheon. Fred Beecroft was appointed a committee of one to draw up the names of possible mem- bers from the various companies in the field. An important meeting for Wednes- day is one with George W. Perkins connected with the Y. M. C. A. or- ganization. Mr. Perkins has enlisted the aid of the motion picture indus- trv in its forthcoming campaign which is designed to raise $100,000,000 for war work. Saturday, August 10, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS i a ling Shero and the exceptional cast included: Chris- tine Mayo, Lottie Briscoe. Pauline Welsh, Maggie West- ern, Nellie Parker- Spaulding, Sidney Bracy. Kempton Greene and Morgan Jones in addition to those already mentioned. Should Go Over Big and Will Stand Boosting But You Must Advertise The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Vini can certainly go alter this strong. The produc- tion is distinctive and classy throughout, the cast is exceptional ami the entire offering has been handled intelligently with many pleasing little comedy touches injected throughout to relieve the more tense moments. Not having read the book, which I understand has had considerable circulation, I'll admit that I expected to see a . omedy and I think most folks will get the same angle from the title. On account of the situations we have in this, which amuse as much as they thrill on account of the idea of the principals getting into the mess, one by one, until nearly all are involved, this can hardly be classed as an intensely dramatic subject, although we have several tense dramatic moments throughout the offering and the ending is anything but light. However, on account of the book, the title should make for some business and while Metro has given the entire cast equal billing. I would place emphasis on the presence of Miss Barrymore, because she certainly puts over a very pleasing and convincing performance in this offering ami should gain quite some following through this film alone. It would be a good idea to co-operate with your book- si mes in advertising this because the fact that this was a successful hovel carries considerable weight even though many of your patrons may not have read it. You might bill this as "The story of a girl who lost her wealth and social standing by innocently falling into a trap laid for her by scheming friends." 7>feBBADSTREET of FILMDOM DAIkYJ 7&rkochized Authority Vol. V. No. 95 Monday, August 12, 1918 Price 5 Cents P-A DRIVE STARTS SEPTEMBER 1st Under Guise of " National Paramount and Artcraf t Week" Effort Is Being Made To Tie Up Houses The third: "Royal, Regent theatres, Kansas City, Mo.; Orpheum, Leaven- worth, Kan., and St. Joseph, Mo.; Pal- ace at Tulsa. Okla.: Glory B. at Mi- ami, Okla.; Pastime, Ottowa, Kan.; Star. Nevada, Mo., all 100 per cent. week of Sept 1. Following theatres are giving us extra days that week: Majestic, Enid, Okla.; Orpheum, At- chison. Kan.; Palace, Wichita, Kan.; Columbia, Junction City. Kan.; Se- dalia theatre, Sedalia. Mo." The last report indicates "Thirteen and eight-tenths booked solid week of Sept. 1." It is evident that the Paramount- Artcraft executives are out to get all they can while the getting is still good, for in a talk to the sales force Walter E. Greene says in part: "But even with the best product we cannot retain our paramount position in this business unless we supplement these wonderful productions by 100 per cent, distribution." The Paramount-Artcraft exchanges throughout the country have been ad- vised that the first week in September is to be known as the "National Par- amount and Artcraft Week" and that -very exchange should immediately take steps to book its territory 100 per cent, solid for the week. This means an effort to fill every theatre in the territory with Paramount-Art- craft pictures to the exclusion of all other films. The idea may have originated from the successful campaign which Lou Rogers of the New York exchange waged a few weeks ago, at which time the New York territory was booked solid for the week in about 60 per cent, of the houses. In the present campaign the men are advised that they should adopt the New York method of filling in the greater part of the week preceding the first week in September and book as nearly solid as possible the two weeks following the national drive. In connection with the business drive the Paramount-Artcraft public- ity organization has contracted for advertising space in forty daily pub- lications in as many cities, the ads to run either Sunday or Monday of the week that the drive lasts. The executives are trying to stir up their sales forces by quoting the pos- sibilities on the strength of the re- ports from four cities. They are Seat- tle, Wash.; Portland, Me.; Kansas, Mo., and Washington, D. C. The re- ports for those cities, in order named, are as follows: "Booked solid week, two. possibly three houses, Seattle. One each, Tacoma and Spokane. Split week, Everett and Belingham. These towns represent 50 per cent, of the revenue in this territory. Some- what early for bookings in the smaller 'owns." For the second: "Twenty-five per cent, of houses in this territory booked solid for Paramount and Art- B. Greiver, of Chicago, 111., and Wal craft week. Think we will get four Ur M. Weis. and Henry L. Ketcham out of the five houses in Portland." of New York City. Two Incorporations ALBANY.— The Tricolor Film Manufacturing Company having its principal office in New York City was incorporated with the Secretary of State Friday. The enterprise has a capital of $100,000 and is formed to manufacture, produce and dispose of all kinds of motion picture films and film products and to maintain thea- tres for the presentation of screen productions. The directors are: Ed- ward S. Schwartz, Victor Kremer, Paul Benedek, and Alfred Solomon, all of New York City. The Greiver Distributing Corpora- tion of New York City was also char- tered by the State. Its purposes are to produce and deal in motion pic- ture and photoplay productions, and carry on a general theatrical business. The concern has a capital stock of .$10,000 and these directors: Simeon Only Highest Praise J. LOURIE Beacon Theatre Boston, Mass. Wid's Daily, New York City. Gentlemen: As for WID'S DAILY, I can only use words of highest praise about it. Sincerely yours, J. LOURIE. Starting New Series Wright of Educational to Make Film in Which Carranza Appears The Educational Films Corporation promises to be the scene of great ac- tivity this fall and winter. The four nature directors of the company are al! busy. George D. Wright, who filmed the "Mexico To-day" series, writes from Mexico City that a four- reel religious feature is playing to capacity houses. He intends starting a new series soon in which President Carranza will appear. E. M. Newman, who is behind the lines in France, is expected back next month, as is Robert C. Bruce, who is now in Washington and Oregon. Dwight L. Elmendorf is in New York at the present time assembling his pictures of Europe taken before the war. The International Film Service is releasing a new series of cartoons by "Tad" Powers, called the "Silk Hat Harry" series, through Educational. Charles A. Dean, president of the Ed- ucational Distributing Company, in- tends taking another trip shortly prob- ably through the Middle West and South, to arrange for the opening of more exchanges. In New York, of- fices will be taken which will be known as the executive headquarters of the distributing- company. Monday, August 12, 1918 nM% DAILY Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS mosphere and made characterizations convinc- ing. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine although stock flashes of winter stuff didn't match up. LIGHTINGS Generally artistic CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Pleasing hero although beard in opening scenes rather fakey. SUPPORT Great types throughout; Miss Little ap= pealing; Jim Cruze excellent and Hatton put over great comedy character. EXTERIORS. .. .Gave wonderful atmosphere although exterior winter set looked fakey and stock flashes marred general effect. INTERIORS Fitting. We didn't have many DETAIL Many effective bits CHARACTER OF STORY For any audience LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,700 feet WHEN I saw this I couldn't help but connect it with "Sudden Jim." which Triangle put out about a year ago with Charlie Ray. The same author is responsible for this and it is very much the same kind of a story, centering about a young man who battles ;i gang of plotters in a logging camp, becomes its manager and wins the "gel." The story is elementary, the outcome being readily ap- parent before the first reel is over, but the splendid characterizations and the impressive natural scenic back- grounds make it a very Interesting and entertaining subject. We pick Wally Reid up in this as a bum who is trans- ported, while soused, with a gang of derelicts in a similar condition, to a large logging camp and put to work. The rest of the gang manages to escape, but Wally having met Anna Little, the daughter of the superintendent, decides to stick. He loses her respect when he takes a beating from Jim Cruze. the foreman, but later gains her admira- tion when he beats him to a pulp after willun Cruze had supplied whiskey to the loggers in an effort to stall the operations of the camp, as a part of a conspiracy in which he and Anna's father had a hand. The fine work of Wally attracts the attention of Theodore Roberts, president of the company, and he is promoted. Cruze and the crooked superintendent plan to blow up the dam which makes it possible to float the logs down and Wally thwarts their plans after a spec- tacular battle in which he opens the flood gates and lets the water in, speeding the logs down to the mill. A friend of Wally's, who had posed as a logger, proves to be a federal agent, the workings of Cruze and the superintendent having been part of a German propa- ganda scheme on which he was obtaining evidence, and the willuns are brought to justice. Of course, Wally wins Shero and all ends very nice, with Wally being given a share in the company and a check for ten "thou." We had a comedy character in this, played by Ray- mand Hatton. which should get many laughs. He runs the camp "pustoffis" and is continually keeping himself informed by sitting on the roof with a telescope. Jim Cruze was a convincing willun and grew a real beard for the part while Anna Little was a very appeal- ing Shero. Others who appeared were Noah Beery, Charles West, Charles Ogle, Nena Byron and Gustav Seyit'ertitz. Play Up Wally and Miss Little and Fact that this is Post Story The Box Office Anlaysis for the Exhibitor Although this isn't anything startling as to story and plot development, it has been well produced in an im- pressive atmosphere, wo have some good fights and some pleasing little comedy touches, and I think that Wally Reid tans are going to like it immensely. The fact that this is from Clarence Buddington Kelland's story in "The Saturday Evening Post" may mean a little at the box office and if I had played "Sudden Jim" I would mention the fact that this is much the same kind of a story by the same author, because I think "Sudden Jim" pleased generally. I would certainly give Miss Little some prominence in my publicity on this because this appealing little lady has appeared with Wally in several recent productions and has quite an individual following. Most folks enjoy seeing impressive big woods scen- ery, especially when it is the background for an enter- taining story and it would be well to make a little noise about this feature of the production. You might use this angle in your ads: "Do you think that the right girl can make a man out of a' drunken derelict? See Wallace Reid and Anna Little in 'The Source'." I wouldn't tell them that this is big, it doesn't impress just that way. It will please the large majority, how- ever, and Wally's followers will like him in it and think he's "jest grand." 7/pBHADSTREET of FILMDOM j&rkochized Authority Vol. V, No. 96 Tuesday, August 13, 1918 Price 5 Cents NEILAN LEAVES PARAMOUNT TO PRODUCE INDEPENDENTLY One of Few Big Sure Fire Directors Decides To Concentrate on Quality Big Stars in Films One of the most important an- nouncements of many weeks, because of its conclusive proof of the tendency of film production, is the announce- ment that Marshall A. Neilan, one of the very few sure-fire quality direc- tors in the industry, is severing his present relation with Paramount-Art- craft to become an independent pro- ducer. Mr. Neilan, who is known to his thousands of friends as "Mickey," is just a boy, but he is an old man in the film business and has served a most thorough apprenticeship through many years in many studios. "Mickey" has grown up in the producing work and knows the job of every man on the lot. Mr. Neilan has made .some of the best Paramount-Artcraft productions in the past two years and was par- ticularly successful with Mary Pick- ford. Everyone remembers particu- larly "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" and "Stella Maris." "Mickey" has recently directed George Cohan, Elsie Ferguson and Marguerite Clark. He is completing today his last regular Paramount- Artcraft feature, "Three Men and a Woman," starring Marguerite Clark. The important significance of Mr. Neilan's move is the indication of the desire of big, capable directors to work with their own organization as an independent unit. Mr. Neilan has engaged two of the best camera and technical men in the industry and has made arrangements for excellent studio facilities, both in the East and on the Coast. No arrangements or affiliations have been made by Mr. Neilan which would control his output and he states that he is in no immediate hurry to do so despite a number of offers. Among the offers submitted to Mr. Neilan is one to release through Paramount-Artcraft which testifies to the appreciaion of that company of his value as a producer. Mr. Neilan expects to use the big- gest stars he can contract with in his productions and will strive for quality and sound box office value above all else in each individual production. Norma Talmadge's Chinese Story Norma Talmadge will start on a new production this week. The story is an original written by George Scar- borough and is laid in the East with China as the locale of the principal scenes. The working title is "The East and The West." The Best Bet RIALTO THEATRE Columbia, S. C. Aug. 8th, 1918 WID'S DAILY, 71-73 W. 44th Street, New York City. Gentlemen : — I am receiving WID'S DAILY and believe me I am tickled to death with it — it is the best bet that I have seen yet. I wouldn't be without it now for anything in the world. Yours very truly, L. T. Lester, Jr., Manager and Proprietor. DECIDE ON HOLDING EXPOSITION Space Contractors Will Have Show in the Fall — National Publicity Campaign to Be Started It was decided definitely yesterday at a meeting of those who have con- tracted for space at the Exposition in the fall, that the show will be held as planned. The meeting was called by the di- rectors of the Exposition Company to ascertain the attitude of the compa- nies that had paid for space and was presided over by William L. Sherrill, who is one of the directors. The representatives of the space- holders who were present signified their intention of taking more space and of urging those who have not al- ready done so to secure representa- tion. Frederick H. Elliott, who is general manager of the Exposition, intends launching a national publicity and advertising campaign and will complete final details for the show. The general opinion seemed to be that the Exposition should make clear to the general public what the motion picture has done for America and the Allies in furthering war work. There will be exhibits of the manner in which pictures have been taken from battleplanes and on the battlefields. Mr. Elliott's pet scheme has now gone through the first stage. Today the Banquet Committee will meet to decide on the date of holding the ban- quet. Mr. Elliott hopes to have it during Exposition week. It developed yesterday that twenty companies had contracted for space that amounted to $24,000. The list is as follows: Vitagraph Co. of America; Pathe Exchange, Inc.; Fox Film Corp.; Uni- versal Film Mfg. Co.; Triangle Dis- tributing Corp.; World Film Corp.; Precision Machine Co.; Nicholas Power Co.; National Carbon Co.; Edi- son Lamp Works; General Electric Co.; National Lamp Works; Argus Lamp & Appliance Co.; American Coin Register Co.; Westinghouse Electric Co.; William A. Brady Pic- ture Plays, Inc.; Famous Players Corp.; Frohman Amusement Corp.; Goldwyn Pictures Corp.; Select Pic- tures Corp. "Four Years" Big in Kentucky The First National offices have re- ceived word from Lee L. Goldberg, of the Big Feature Rights Corporation, that "My Four Years in Germany" is playing to big business throughout Kentucky and Tennessee and that the film has proven to be one of the most popular ever shown there. Tuesday, August 13, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York. N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDB DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- Bide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Cuts and Flashes J. Gordon Edwards has finished shooting scenes on the latest Theda Bara production, "The She Devil." Lee Kugel, publicity manager at the World Film Corp., has left on a two- works' vacation, which he will spend at Lake Placid. CIRCUIT IN EASTERN CANADA Canadian Exhibitor is Enthusiastic About New Combine of Theatres John Hazza, founder of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit of West- ern Canada, who recently visited New York, talked enthusiastically of the success of the Western Circuit and prophesied that within six months a similar organization will exist in Eastern Canada, centered about To- ronto and Ottawa. He said that if the larger towns in Ontario, such as London, Hamilton, Brantford. Kitchener and Windsor were to link up in a circuit with about four theatres in Toronto, itself, a nu- cleus would be formed which could join with the First National franchise holder in Ottawa to form the Eastern section of the National Circuit. Mr. Hazza believes that under these con- ditions, amalgamation between the two units would be comparatively easy and be a distinct benefit to Ca- nadian exhibitors. An organization such as that pro- posed would not menace the exchange system in Canada. It would, how- ever, mean a saving in booking and shipping expense and the general sell- ing cost. Pictures might be booked at a central point and routed through the entire Canadian territory without loss of time. "How Charlie Captured the Kaiser," an animated cartoon, by Pat Sullivan, will be released as a Universal special shortly. "The Telephone Girl." a musical dy presented some twenty-odd years ago, will be made the basis of a picture to be produced by Louis Bur- stein. "The Telephone Girl" was first presented by George Lederer. "Sporting Life," the Drury Lane melodrama produced by Maurice Tourneur and handled by Hiller & Wilk, will be released early in Septem ber. Bookings are now being ar ranged. Burroughs and National Agree The National Film Corporation has finally reached an agreement with Ed- gar Rice Burroughs, author of "Tar- zan of the Apes," whereby the use of the title to the sequel, "The Romance of Tarzan," has been mutually agreed upon. A considerable financial con- sideration is understood to have been a deciding factor. Mr. Burroughs has also arranged for part of the royalties on the picture. Paramount-Artcraft employees who have recently entered the service are C. L. Matson, Kansas City; Jimmie Dean and John A. Daley, Detroit; Ed McErlane, Ernest Hill, Ray Hult- gren, Minneapolis, and E. J. Sedin, Omaha. Walraven Quits Paralta J. Hesser Walraven has tendered his resignation as office manager and director of advertising and publicity for the Paralta company. He will leave tomorrow and start immediately for the Coast. He has been engaged as director of theatres for a circuit of 14 picture theatres and will_ make his headquarters at the Rialto in San Francisco. Symphony Will Re-open Aubrey M. Kennedy states that the Symphony theatre will be re-opened by him this fall. He will, however, have a new partner in the enterprise. Manager M. Kashin of the Broad- way theatre has installed another novel lobby display for the showing of Universal's "Crashing Through to Berlin." The outside of the theatre just above the entrance is decorated by sketches of famous figures in the world war. Inside, the tricolors of France, and flags of the other Allies, as well as a predominant display of the Stars and Stripes are conspicuous. There are also additional sketches of military and diplomatic heroes here. Transforming casuals into regulars is the job of a good showman. Through U. B. O. General Film Closes Big Deal For Red Cross Picture The Red Cross feature, "The His- toric Fourth of July in Paris," which has just closed a pre-release run at the Rivoli. is to be distributed by the United Booking Office in co-operation with the General Film Company. E. F. Albee and John Murdock of the U. B. O. made the arrangements with J. A. Hamell, branch manager for General, by which the one-reel patri- otic film will have about 2,000 days of exhibition at the leading vaudeville and picture houses throughout the country. This is one of the most ex- tensive bookings of a single reel sub- ject ever made in one transaction. Opposed to "Bicycling" ST. LOUIS.— The St. Louis Moving Picture Operators' Union, as a unit, has placed itself on record as being strenuously opposed to the evil known as "bicycling." The question of the legal rights under the law for an operator to per- mit film to leave his booth at the dic- tation of any theatre manager is a subject that is being discussed pro and con, and there has been some talk of making a remed}' whereby the opera- tor cannot legitimately allow film to leave his booth unless the theatre manager has the sanction of the ex- change that distributed the film. Farrar Returns This Week Geraldine Farrar and her company, now located at the Valley Ranch, oth- erwise known as the "Lazy J. D. Brand," at Valley, Wyoming, pictur- ing "The Hell Cat," are expected to return to New York about Thursday. It may be a day or two later because of the fact that Miss Farrar was in- jured last week. DAILY Tuesday, August 13, 1918 Ve Can Tell YouWtee To KeachThem-PhoneVaflderi)ilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. EDWARD EARLE LAMBS CLUB 144 W. 44th Street New York City WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN WIDS DAILY IS READ NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE RUTH ROLAND Astra- Pathe STARRING IN "HANDS UP" WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Productions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd., L. A. MILTON SILLS THE LAMBS ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH MARION SWAYNE STAR FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear each Tuesday. Tuesday, August 13, 1918 tM% DAILY Typical Hart Story Has Considerable Kick and Impressive Scenery William S. Hart in "RIDDLE GAWNE" Hart=Ince — Artcraft DIRECTOR William S. Hart SUPERVISED BY .Thos. H. Ince AUTHOR Charles Alden Seltzer SCENARIO BY Charles Alden Seltzer CAMERAMAN Joe August ART DIRECTOR G. Harold Percival AS A WHOLE Typical Hart play with old situa= tions given new twists; carries a wallop and is relieved by pleasing human touches. STORY Elementary plot made convincing by star and characterizations. Has considerable kick and well developed suspense. DIRECTION Developed characterizations in a way that made them seem real and worked up great suspense by intelligent action tempo and hand= ling. Provided many pleasing human touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Splendid LIGHTINGS Superb; many exceptional bits CAMERA WORK Very effective STAR Forceful and sincere; made every action convince. SUPPORT Excellent. Miss MacDonald appealing and Lon Chaney quite some asset. EXTERIORS Bill always picks out good ones but these were the best yet. INTERIORS Very good; gave convincing atmos= phere and always impressed as the real thing. DETAIL Some very pleasing human touches CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend; very little dance=hall atmosphere and kids will eat it up. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,757 feet WELL, Bill is as quick on the trigger as ever and puts this over with a wallop. This has all the typical Hart elements with Bill standing off a whole gang and nonchalantly turning his back on a guy that's achin' to bore him in a way that only Bill can do it and make you willing to believe it. This time we have Bill in another one of his revenge- ful roles, his faith in humanity in general and women in particular crushed because a feller, whom he had never seen but is determined to get, had killed his brother and ran away with the wife, leaving the little child in Bill's enrc With the child nearing womanhood, we have Bill still in the dark as to the identity of the murderer, when the finer emotions within him are stirred by the arrival of Shero Katherine MacDonald, the daughter of one of willun Lon Chaney's men. Bill, not having any regard for Chaney, escorts Shero from the stage and shoots one of willun's men when they attempt to interfere. Then we have willun, who controls the town and its sheriff, sending the latter to "get" Bill, with the result that Bill brings the sheriff to willun's doorstep and leaves him with his com- pliments. One of willun's gang wings Bill as he is riding away and we have Gretchen Lederer, a dance-hall girl, talk- ing to Bill while he is still unconscious in the cabin, which, just as Gretchen intended, is overheard by Shero, with the result that Shero becomes jealous and returns to willun. When Bill comes to, he walks in on the sheriff and gives him until twelve to leave town. As Bill is return- ing to take possession, he finds willun and Shero in the sheriff's office and we have some great suspense where he lays a gun on the table and challenges willun to shoot at the stroke of twelve. Just as the clock strikes, Shero prevents the shooting and as willun has proved himself a coward, denounces him when they get outside. In the final blow-off, Bill orders the town burned down and one of willun's men, whom Bill has be- friended, tells him of Shero's danger. Bill rides to the rescue and is shot from ambush. After coming upon his victim and disarming him, willun tells Bill that he shot his brother and Bill, in a superhuman feat of strength, overpowers willun and they give us the old stand-by, the fight on the cliff, with willun being pitched to his death below. Bill has previously learned from Shero's father that she really loves him and we finish with the clutch of the three — Shero, Bill and his young niece, broken up with effective flashes of Bill's horse limping down the hillside to join them. The only slightly jarring notes in the production were Bill's fall into the tub, which looked rather planted, and the death flop of Bill's brother in the vision of the shooting incident, which was rather stagey. The touches with the horses and cattle "spooning" will go over with a bang anywhere. The outdoor shots and general atmosphere was superb and the cast excellent. Miss MacDonald is a very pleas- ing Shero. Lon Chaney was an effective willun and the man who played "Nigger" made a small part stand out. Others who appeared were Gertrude Short, Leon Kent, Milton Ross and E. B. Tilton. Tell 'em This Is Bill's Latest and Oil Up the Ticket Machine The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I don't have to tell you fellows how to put over a Bill Hart film except to tell you that this one is fully up to Bill's pasl standard and contains all the elements that lias made him one of the "Big Four" in the entire Industry as to audience appeal and established box office drawing power. One thing that you cannot play up too strongly in advertising uew Harl productions is the fact that this is Bill Hart's LATEST PRODUCTION. Some first-run houses use ;i good lino, "First time on any screen," which they give prominence in all their billing. If you are not playing your stuff "right out of the can." but still have the first run in your city, you should empha- size the fact that this is Bill Hart's latest production. SHOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN (your city). The misleading effect of old Hart subjects being released under new titles makes this angle very important if you are to derive the fullest benefit from a first run rental. The situations in this offering, while they have been given new twists in the production itself, will sound familiar in a printed description, so I would concentrate on the fact that this is new. which is all that any gang wants to know about a Bill Hart film, and you might give a little prominence to Bill's leading lady and the fact that he has taken on a new willun in the person of Lon Chaney, who has dished enough dirt on the sereen in the past to make him remembered by many. ZfeBRADSTREET of FILMDOM zfeRECOOMIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 97 Wednesday, August 14, 1918 Price 5 Cents Back from Alaska Dawley Concludes Honeymoon — Won't Return to Famous Players J. Searle Dawley, former director for Marguerite Clark and for the past three years head of the M.'P. D. A., returned to town this week after an absence of three months, the greater part of which was spent on a trip to Alaska. Mr. Dawley stated yesterday that he would not return to the Famous Play- ers-Lasky organization, nor would he consider any hasty proposition. He intimated, in fact, that he may not return to the directing field at all, because of the attention demanded by several of his outside interests. It is considered possible, however, that Mr. Dawley may be instrumental in forming his own producing organi- zation which would mean handling a proposition to develop a star of the Marguerite Clark type. He has al- ready turned down several offers that were made him to direct various stars and the F. P.-L. were also desirous that he return with them to direct Elsie Ferguson. Bushman and Bayne Returning Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne will return to town late this week and on Monday will start on their first picture production as man and wife. The feature will be started at the Metro studio. The working title for the feature is "Little Miss Money-Bags," by Elaine Sterne. Charles A. Brabin will direct and the screen version was made by Albert Shelby Levino. Village Board Upheld CHICAGO.— Oak Park still refuses to allow motion pictures on Sunday. F. A. Pringle, the village attorney, at a meeting of the residents, submitted an opinion holding that the village board's order prohibiting Sunday pic- ture shows was valid. The theatre owners of the. village contend that the young people go to the "loop" theatres in Chicago and to other nearby towns on Sundays because they can't see pictures at their own theatre's. Uncle Sam Wants You Uncle Sam is looking for sce- nario writers and is willing to pay $1,600 a year for their ser- vices. Practical tests are to be held September 18, and the writ- ers selected are to prepare and edit motion picture scenarios dealing with agriculture, home economics and other subjects covered by the department of agriculture. Willard Patterson, manager of the Criterion theatre of Atlanta, is in New York for a few days. He has con- tracted for all Select pictures. Close For Specials Mayer and Gordon Get Big U Features for New England Louis B. Mayer of Boston arrived in town yesterday and closed a contract with the Universal whereby the Mayer and Gordon faction will have the dis- tribution in New England of all of the big special productions and the Jewel features exclusively in that sec- tion of the country. Heretofore the Universal was inter- ested in an exchange in Boston which handled its product for New England. The Metro was also part of this or- ganization. Under the present agree- ment this exchange will handle only the Bluebird and smaller Universal output. BRANCH MANAGERS ARE TOGETHER Goldwyn's Defense of Los Angeles Ex- change Man Wins Enthusiastic Support As evidence of appreciation of its stand in declining, at the demand of the Los Angeles Exhibitors' Associa- tion, to remove its branch manager in that city, Goldwyn Distributing Cor- poration has received the following letter, addressed to F. B. Warren, a vice-president of the company: "We, the undersigned, branch managers of the city of Los Angeles, desire to express our approval and ap- preciation of the stand which your corporation took in connection with the request of the Theatre Owners' Association of this city asking for the removal of the manager of your exchange. Had you conceded to their demands the result would have injured the relationship between exhibitors and the exchange managers of all branches of this city, giving them the impression that any time they had an imaginary grievance they could ask for the removal of that particular manager. "Assuring you again that your de- cisive reply is mosl gratifying, we are, "Very truly yours. (Signed) T. E. Hancock, World Film Corp.: D. Bershpn, Universal Film Exchanges. Inc.; A. R. Patten. Mutual Film Corp.: F. R. Durand, General Film Co.; E. D. Tate, Pathe Exchange, Inc.; E. G. Wakefield, Geo. Kleine System; J. S. Marley, Triangle Distributing Corp.; W. H. Hepburn, Vitagraph Co.; M. A. Walsh, Fox Film Corp.; H. G. Ballany, Famous Players-Lasky Corp.; Louis Hyman, All-Star Features Distrib. Corp.; A. B. Lamb, Metro Pictures Corp." A copy of a letter written to Gold- wyn's Los Angeles manager by W. B. Walker, owner of the Liberty theatre at Needles, Cal., has been sent to Mr. Warren by Mr. Walker. It reads: "I have found out through other sources about the trouble between you and a certain exhibitor in your terrig tory regarding contracts with him and that they have tried to depose you as manager of that branch. I trulyr admire your stand in this case and also admire the stand of the home office. Let me in the name of the Liberty Amusement Association con- gratulate you on the stand you took in this case and also for standing up for the rights of your company, of which I am a great admirer. Please give me particulars regarding the new year policy or have a representative cal! on me. as I want all the pictures put out by Goldwyn." Wednesday, August 14, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DBNIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Notes from Indiana I XDIANAPOLIS.— Attendance at the majority of the motion picture theatres in Indianapolis during the last week was far below normal as a result of a terrific hot wave which settled over the city. The mercury hovered around the 100 mark nearly all week. A Chicago syndicate has leased the Majestic theatre at Fort Wayne, Ind., and is contemplating extensive im- provements in the place. Guts and Flashes The First National Exhibitors' Cir- cuit will release "Italy's Flaming Front" beginning August 26. Edward Reuber, of Ligonier, has bought John Bourcas's motion picture theatre at Warsaw, Ind. The con- sideration was not made known. The Lyric theatre at Lafayette, Ind., has been sold to H. H. Bornback, of Monticello, Ind. J. W. Boes, the for- mer owner, will engage in some other business. "The Dare-Devil," with Gail Kane, went into production on Saturday. It will be released through Mutual. George R. Grant, First National of- fice manager, has returned from a busi- ness trip to Minneapolis and Mil- waukee. Commodore J. Stuart Blackton has engaged Manuel Klein to compose and arrange the musical setting for his propaganda picture, "The Common Cause," now in production. May Allison's new picture, "The Testing of Mildred Vane," by Charles D. Dazey, will be completed this week. This picture was directed by Wilfred Lucas. F. H. Gruenberg, of Chicago, presi- dent of the Terre Haute Theatre Com- pany, which is erecting a new theatre at Eighth street and Wabash avenue in Terre Haute, entertained stock- holders of the company at a luncheon at the Hotel Deming last week. Because he can not obtain a motion picture machine operator, Ralph Schlessner, proprietor of a motion pic- ture theatre at Elkhart, has closed the place indefinitely. Directors seem to be taking kindly to the 1918 fashion of using their own brains to back their own companies. James V. Bryson, who owns and has been exploiting "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," in the mid- western territory, arrived in New York yesterday. He is staying at the Hotel Markwell. Anthony P. Kelly, one of the most tonsistently successful photo play- wrights, made his metropolitan debut as a writer for the stage last night, when "Three Faces East" opened at the Cohan and Harris theatre with Emmett Corrigan and Violet Heming in the cast. Big Middle West Theatre ROCKFORD, ILL.— The new Mid- land theatre, the sixteenth house of the chain belonging to the Ascher Brothers, of Chicago, has been opened. It presents one of the most attractive motion picture palaces in the Middle West, if not in the coun- try. The Midland has a seating ca- pacity of 2,000, is beautifully deco- rated, the color scheme being rose, blue and cream and is lighted by indi- rect rays, or inverted lighting system. Co-operative Exchange PHILADELPHIA.— About fifty exhibitors have organized a co-oper- ative exchange to be known as the Superior Film Exchange and will be- gin the distribution of pictures about September first. No announcement has been made of the subjects secured, but they are to be state right features. F-I-L-M Club Meeting CHICAGO.— The F-I-L-M Club held a meeting August 13 at the Col- lege Inn and discussed matters of im- portance in local film circles as well as of national nature. The exchange executives, who compose the club, have arranged to take care of their share of the work connected with the coming Liberty Loan drive. At a meeting of the committee in charge of the banquet to be given by the National Association and the As- sociation of Advertisers, held yester- day, no definite date was decided upon and another meeting of the committee has been called for Friday. Don't be bullied into paying more than you can afford. Jewel Takes "Crashing Through" By an inner office deal, "Crashing Through to Berlin," the Universal feature which is the current attraction at the Broadway, will be taken over by the Jewel Productions and mar- keted through that organization. Karger's Lucky Thirteenth Maxwell Karger. general supervis- ing director of Metro productions, maintains that the thirteenth is his lucky day. Yesterday being the 13th he was fortunate in having the future motion picture queen arrive at his home. Three years ago, on February 13th, a son was added to the Karger family. sM^ DAILY Wednesday, August 14, 1918 From the Court Suit Over Office Work— Judg- ment Against Kennedy Theatres A suit against the United Motion Picture Theatres of America to fore- close a lien on the pictures of the defendant on the fifth floor of 1600 Broadway and asking for the sale of the fixtures in payment of the claim due the plaintiff, has been filed in the Supreme Court by the Mount & Rob- ertson Co. The plaintiff, by Chester H. Lane, as attorney, alleges that the defendant leased the premises to May 1 next and that in February last the plaintiff agreed to do carpenter work in the defendant's office and to con- struct partitions, etc., at a cost of $2,- 941, one-half of which was to be "paid in cash. The plaintiff alleges that only $1,300 has been paid and sues for the balance of $1,641 with interest since March 21 last. A judgment for $1,980 has been en- tered in the City Court against the Kennedy ^Theatres, Inc., in a suit of the Van Beuren & New York Bill Posting Co. The papers were served on Charles L. Cole, treasurer of the defendant on July 16, at 2531 Broad- way, and the defendant did not an- swer the suit. The complaint alleged that the defendant on June 14 last made a contract for billboard adver- tising for the Symphony Theatre un- der which the plaintiff was to use 61 special and 14 regular locations, for a month, and the defendant was to pay $2,235. The plaintiff alleges that services worth $1,960 were rendered to July 19 last and the defendant re- fused to pay. Supreme Court Justice Guy has dis- missed a suit by the City of New York against Charles Kraemer to recover a personal tax on an assessment of $10,000. The defendant testified that he had a half interest in a moving picture theatre, and that his only property consisted of $100 in the bank and $300 household effects. Weber Completes Organization CHICAGO.— Rex Weber, the direc- tor, announces that he has completed the organization of his new motion picture company — the Rex Weber En- terprises. Offices will be opened in both New York and Chicago. The home office will be located in Chicago. ., It is Mr. Weber's intention to pro- duce one and two-reel comedies, to supply an insistent need in the indus- try today. Announcement will be made, it is said, of the first Weber production before the end of the month. New Educational Exchanges . I he three new exchanges organized to handle the product of the Educa- tional Films Corp., by Charles A. Dean of the distributing company on Ins recent trip are located in Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. The Chicago branch is the Bee-Hive exchange at 220 South State Street with R. C. Cropper manager. It will handle Illi- nois, southern Wisconsin and northern Indiana. Harry Abbott is in charge of the Detroit office, which is at 63 East Elizabeth Street and the Cleve- land branch is in charge of the Argus Company with Robert McLaughlin at the head. Carpenter Returns to Coast WASHINGTON.— Grant Carpenter who has been here representing the interests of the Motion Picture War Service Association, left for Los An- geles yesterday. During his stay here he was instrumental in obtaining a ruling from Provost Marshal General Crowder declaring the picture indus- try an essential and has done yeoman service regarding the income tax leg- islation that is about to be enacted. Send Your Address Letters addressed to Ann Murdock, Grace de Carlton and David Powell are being held at the office of WID'S DAILY and will be forwarded on re- ceipt of correct addresses. Selling Hayakawas Haworth Disposes of Austra- lian Rights to Williamson, Ltd. I he Haworth Pictures Corporation 'I'1 th< Australian rights to its series of eight Sessue Havakawa pic- tures to J. C. Williamson, Ltd. The rights for the British Isles have been disposed of to Walker of London. Sam. E. Rork, general representative of the Haworth Company, says that the figures for the latter sale aggre- gate the highest price paid for a five- reel picture in England. Essanay Carnival CHICAGO. — Under the direction of Mrs. George K. Spoor, a military car- nival was staged at the Essanay studio and grounds on Argyle Street, Mon- day and Tuesday. The big lot was transformed into a miniature Coney Island and pictures were taken of those attending, including the 380 Unit, Illinois Volunteer Training Corps, for whose benefit the affair was given. The motion pictures taken will be shown in the Essanay projection room on Saturday night. Clowns, dancing girls, Mexican knife throwers, snake charmers and a "hu- man fly" were among the attractions. Universal announces the release of 'The Talk of the Town," with Dorothy Phillips, in September. This film, which was adapted from the book, "Discipline and Genevra," is done in six reels. Pathe's first big feature for the sea- son of 1918-19 will be "Her Man," re- leased Sept. 8. This picture is an adaptation of "The Battle Cry," a novel by Charles Neville Buck. It was produced by the Advanced Mo- tion Picture Corporation with Elaine Hammerstein as the star, and was di- rected by Ralph Ince. Any Price Is Fair FLORENCE THEATRE Pasadena, Cal. Wid Gunning, 71-73 West 44th St. New York Citv. August 3, 1918 Dear Sir : Have irregularly seen copies of the incomparable WID'S. I don't know its price, so send you check payable to yourself, leaving amount blank. Anyone, as fair as yourself, will surely not charge an unfair price, and besides — most any price would be fair for the results you give. Please start subscription QUICK. Yours truly, D. H. Schuhmann. Kindly send receipt showing amount of check used. Wednesday, August 14, 1918 DAILY Familiar Theme Made Interesting By New Twists. Is Classy Dorothy Dalton in "GREEN EYES" I nee — Paramount DIRECTOR R. William Neill SUPERVISED BY Thos. H. Ince ART DIRECTOR G. Harold Percival AUTHOR John Lynch SCENARIO BY R. Cecil Smith CAMERAMAN John S. Stumar AS A WHOLE Old situations with several new twists made interesting by cast, direction and artistic atmosphere. STORY Wife continually in innocent predica= ments which cause jealousy of husband, with additional complications. DIRECTION Provided impressive atmosphere throughout, made characters human and de= veloped several excellent bits of suspense. PHOTOGRAPHY. . . .Generally very fine although some shots appear grainy which slightly marred general effect. LIGHTINGS Generally superb although allowed some uniform bits and occasionally chalky on CAMERA WORK Intelligent STAR Looked quite some and wore nifty clothes SUPPORT Excellent throughout EXTERIORS Beautiful and fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Big, well=appointed sets that looked real; some were exceptionally well lighted. DETAIL Very good; animated titles effective CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,000 feet IT IS a genuine pleasure to view a film like this, where money has been spent for big sets that regis- tered and trouble taken to secure beautiful locations that kept to atmosphere and put the entire production over as classy and convincing. The basic idea of the story is familiar but Director Roy Neill has given us several excellent bits of suspense and provided new twists that kept you in doubt, not so much as to what they were going to do next, as to how they were going to do it, with the result that this was interesting to watch all the way. We opened up with Hero Jack Holt arriving at his Southern estate with his new Northern wife, Dorothy Dalton. A reception had been planned for their arrival and when willun Bob McKim tells Hero-hubby that he has met Mrs. Hero before, the plot begins to thicken and hubby gets jealous. They staged a fox hunt which was very well done and which enabled willun and Dorothy to become detached from the bunch, where they are later seen by Hero. Dorothy succeeds in convincing hubby that the meeting was accidental and he promises never to suspect her again. Then Hero's brother arrives and his innocent atten- tions to Shero Dorothy start another rumpus in the eyes of his fiancee. Doris Lee. At a reception later willun Bob, who is bunnetl. makes a crack about Shero which is resented by the brother, with the result that Bob is dragged outside and given a beating, being left dazed under a pergola. A nigger who has it in for willun, finds him and finishes the job by strangling him and when the dead body is discovered. Hero's brother thinks he is the murderer. In a frenzy, he rushes to Shero's room where he is discovered by Hero. Hero says, "Don't tell him," referring to the murder, and of course, Hero thinks he is referring to an affair between them. While Hero goes for a gun, the nigger confesses to the murder, and Hero becomes aware of the fact that he has wrongly accused his wife and brother. In the meantime, Doris has discovered her mistake and we finish with the clutch. We had considerable suspense in the scenes where Hero discovers his brother in Shero's room, the action being effectively timed and very well handled. Miss Dalton was sure easy to observe in this although she seemed to take some incidents rather quietly. Jack Holt was excellent as the jealous husband; Emery Johnson is a handsome young fellow who did good work as the brother; Clyde Benson was satisfactory as the nigger; Bob McKim was. as usual, the finished willun (they did finish him in this) and Doris Lee is certainly a cute little trick and will win any audience. Opportunity Here for Trick Advertising Which Should Start Something The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This should be a safe bet anywhere and warrants going after with a little added pep in your advertising. The story may ^oera a little familiar to some, as the bask- idea has served many times before, but this is more than offset by a distinctive production, unstinted at any stage, a pleasing star and well-balanced cast as well as several dramatic incidents that really grip. The "Green Eyes" title has been used several times before, Indirectly, but I think the jealousy thing still carries some punch and this particular title suggests many stunts in advertising. You might slather your city with a teaser campaign about a week ahead of your showing, using nothing hut the title "Green Eyes" and a cut of a pair of eyes printed in green ink. You could use this in your newspapers, as throw-aways, door- knob hangers and even on your billboards. An effective lobby poster could be made by having two large green eyes painted in the center, using two opal glass inverted light bowls for the eyeballs, in- serted from the back of the card, with the pupils painted on them. Have them illuminated from behind with the most powerful green lamps you can get. Dim your other lobby lights so your lobby is almost entirely illu- minated by the eyes in the card. If you can get s mechanical effect which will make the eyeballs roll slowly from side to side, so much the better. Put the buck up to your operator. These boys understand me- chanics and electricity and most of them like to fool with ideas like this. Z^BRADSTREET of FILMDOM JifeRECOGNIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 98 Thursday, August 15, 1918 Price 5 Cents BERST LEAVES GOVERNMENT POST Writ of Seizure President of United of Distribution For Charles S. Hart, director of the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information, has received a letter from J. A. Berst, manager of distribution, announcing his resigna- tion. Mr. Berst states as his reason, the urgent demands of the United Picture Theatres, of which he is presi- dent. In commenting upon the resignation of the manager of distribution, Mr. Hart states that Mr. Berst's withdrawal is received with distinct regret by the Division of Films. His successor will be announced soon. Following is the letter received by Mr. Hart: 'August 12, 1918 "My dear Mr. Hart: "The board of directors of the United Picture Theatres of America, of which I am president, have com- plained several times to me that I was not devoting sufficient time to the interests of the company, and that it was becoming more and more nec- essary that I abandon my duties at the Committee on Public Information. "As the business of the United Company is becoming more important every day, I feel obligated to devote to it all my time in the future, and I desire to be relieved from any duties in the department. "I wish to assure you that it is with very great regret that I will dis- continue my association with Mr. Creel and with you, as it has been a great honor to work with you both in the interests of the United States Government. "Believe me, "Yours sincerely, (Signed) "J. A. Berst." Resigns as Manager Division of Films Want Coast Studio Leonce Perret and Mrs. Perret are r- to go to the Coast to take over a studio near Hollywood in which the next of Mr. Perret's productions will be made. E. K. Lincoln and Dolores Cassinelli, co-starred in "Lafayette, We Come!" have been engaged for the proposed feature, the title of which has not been selected. Of Great Value WID'S DAILY, New York City. Gentlemen: I find that there are many ar- ticles of great value in WID'S. Edith Storey. Royal Cinema Corp. Charges Mak- ing Duplicate Prints* of Picture The Royal Cinema Corporation has filed a complaint in the United States District Court against Fred Beck, Charles H. Steiner and others, charg- ing them with making and distributing duplicate negatives of "Mothers of Liberty," a picture owned by the plain- tiff. Action is brought under section 25 of the Copyright Law. The alleged duplicate prints were seized upon the issuance of a writ of seizure by Judge Knox. Harry Kosch, attorney for the plaintiff, stated that any repetition of the offence by any one will be vigorously prosecuted. FILM MARKET GETS "SUSPICION" Contract Closed For First State Rights Offering — Robertson-Cole Control European Territory The Film Market, Inc., closed con- tracts yesterday with I. Gainsborg of 729 Seventh Avenue, and the Hoffman Foursquare office in Boston for state rights to their six-reel feature, "Sus- picion." Gainsborg has the New York state rights while the Boston concern has taken all of New England. Robertson-Cole has secured the en- tire European rights to the picture and will place it abroad. This production is the first feature that the newly formed Film Market has placed on sale. The identity of the producer is being kept under cover as he is scheduled to do an additional five features for the Film Market to handle. Grace Davidson is starred in "Suspicion," the play being a mixture of war, spies, intrigue, and the eternal triangle. The Film Market, Inc., in which Robert Priest is the guiding spirit, has taken offices in the Times Building on the fourth floor. T. Hayes Hunter, working with the "Once to Every Man" company at the Flushing studios for The Frohman Amusement Co., expects to be finished in about two weeks. All the exterior scenes have been taken. Sues Film Developing Corp. Arnold DeBiere has filed suit in the Supreme Court against the Film De- veloping Corporation to recover $2,- 665. The complaint alleges that on April 12 last the defendant engaged the plaintiff as general manager at $75 a week and that he rendered services until August 2, for which he demand? $1,200. He also claims that between February 23 and May 11 he lent the defendant $1,465 which he agreed to repay but failed to do so. Concerning "Shoulder Arms" CHICAGO.— Watterson R. Roth- acker has received word from John Jasper, Charlie Chaplin's manager, that the first negative for "Shoulder Arms" will be shipped to Chicago for printing in about three weeks. "Shoul- der Arms" will be in five reels. Takes Pine Grove Theatre CHICAGO.— J. W. Weil, managing director of the Castle theatre, 6 south State Street, and the Lake Shore, at Broadway and Belmont, has taken over the Pine Grove theatre, Sheridan Road and Pine Grove Avenue. The Pine Grove was formerly one of the Alfred Hamburger chain of theatres. Thursday, August 15, 1918 a!i^ DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- Bide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 In Memory of Mitchel The National Association intends raising quite a large sum to contribute to a suitable memorial to be erected to John Purroy Mitchel. About $1,000 has already been collected. William A. Brady and Marcus Loew are on the Finance Committee of the Mitchel Memorial Fund which includes such notables as J. P. Morgan, Seward Prosser, Jacob Schiff and Clarence Mackay. Serial For Newspapers As one of the helps to exhibitors booking the patriotic picture, "Why America Will Win," the Fox Film Corporation has sent out this week, through a big newspaper syndicate, a 32,000-word serial story on the life of General John J. Pershing, upon whose career "Why America Will Win" is based. The serial will appear in 500 of the most prominent newspapers in the country. Aiding Liberty Loan Metro has offered its stars for the furtherance of the Fourth Liberty loan. Edith Storey, Emily Stevens, Nazimova, Harold Lockwood and two others will make pictures for Secre- tary McAdoo. Edith Storey's contribution to the next Liberty Loan has already been started. The cast has been selected, and includes Guy Coombs, Joseph Kil- gour and Frank Currier. The story the title of which has not as yet been picked, is by Col. Brady. Sells Comedies For Africa The African Film Trust has pur- chased from the Film Market, Inc., a series of twenty-two of the Jaxon Comedies and a five-reel feature en- titled "Her Moment," with Anna Luther starred. This is the first of a number of feature productions which the Film Market offered the South African organizaion. INDUSTRY WILL AID THE Y. M. C. A. Assistance Pledged at Meeting With G. W. Perkins— To Entertain Boys in France With Pictures of Home Life The motion picture industry will aid the Y. M. C. A. in its forthcoming drive for $100,000,000. This decision was unanimously agreed upon yester- day at a meeting held in the National Association rooms between George W. Perkins, chairman of the Cam- paign Committee of the Y. M. C. A. in its new drive which will be launched shortly and well-known film men, who gathered in order to see how they could aid this branch of war work. Walter W. Irwin, general manager of Vitagraph, presided until the arri- val of William A. Brady. Mr. Irwin introduced Mr. Perkins to the assem- blage. Mr. Perkins spoke of the war work of the Y. M. C. A. and the nec- cessity of keeping up the morale of the troops abroad. He characterized the conflict as a nerve-sapping one and said that the soldiers in France must be entertained by good, whole- some pictures of home life with noth- ing in them that would tend to under- mine their minds. The immediate problem on hand is the method which ought to be used to help the Y. M. C. A. secure its hundred millions. It was practically decided upon to adopt the same plan that will be used in the coming Lib- erty Loan drive. Theatre owners throughout the country will be sup- plied with trailers not more than three hundred feet in length to show in their houses. The film will be taken almost exclusively in France and then pre- pared for showings on this side. It was argued that the public is eager to see pictures of the boys in France and that home-made films were not so great a drawing power to the public. Walter W. Irwin was appointed chairman of a committee, whose mem- bers were not announced, to aid Mr. Perkins. The Y. M. C. A. was asked to supply immediately from twelve to twenty-four pictures to be distributed. The distributing companies are to do this free of charge and in many cases to pay the expressage for the films. Mr. Perkins was accompanied by Bruce Barton, director of publicity for the Y. M. C. A. and William A. John- ston, editor of the Motion Picture News who is managing the advertis- ing work for the drive in the Eastern States. Others attending the meeting were as follows: Thomas G. Wiley, Wil- liam L. Sherrill, Walter W. Irwin, W. E. Atkinson, J. E. Brulatour, George A. Blair, Richard Brady, Fred Bee- croft, Edward Earl, Will C. Smith, William A. Brady, Paul H. Cromelin, Ralph Kohn, F. H. Elliott and W. R. Rothacker. Empey Must Answer Suit of Lee Keedick Is Held to Be Valid Sergt. Arthur Guy Empey, who has lost his captain's commission in the U. S. Army after he had it almost in his grasp, met with another reverse when Supreme Court Justice Don- nelly decided that he must answer the suit of Lee Keedick, former manager of his lecture tour, to recover $88,589 damages for breach of contract. Kee- dick contends that because Empey quit the tour in the middle of his en- gagement the management lost $60,- 000 and is subject to claims for $22,- 500 additional by persons with whom lecture dates had been arranged. Counsel for Empey filed a demurrer to Keedick's complaint, alleging that the contract was not enforcable be- cause it was too one-sided, being all in favor of Keedick. The defendant contended that while Keedick under the contract could compel him to ap- pear for all the lectures arranged for he couldn't compel Keedick to give him any dates. The court held that the complaint states two good causes of action, and gives Empey permission to file an answer to the suit, if he has any defense. Seabury, Massey & Lowe appear for him. Not For Revenue General Film Company reports fur- ther bookings of the Red Cross film, "The Historic Fourth of July in Paris," extending far into September. Regarding the handling of its pro- duct, Joseph Johnson, director of pub- licity of the American Red Cross, states: "The re-organized Motion Picture Bureau of the Red Cross desires it understood that it is acting under the advice of the National Association of Motion Picture Industry as to dis- tributing its materials. It is further anxious for everyone to know that its film operations are not designed for revenue in any sense of the word. Any money that is received is to cover the expense of production." Olin Howland, brother of Jobyna Howland, who gained fame first as one of the dancing set about New York and who last year was one of the prin- cipal comedy characters in "Leave It To Jane," has been signed to play in a series of sixteen of the Flagg comedies. lai-M iAILY Thursday, August 15, 1918 Metro also had in mind the Edith Cavell incident for a subject about which to build a feature picture with Rita Jolivet as the star. The scenario was being worked on when the com- pany was informed of the fact that Brenon was making a picture abroad on the same subject. Maxwell Karger, director general of productions for the Metro, stated yesterday that his company had im- mediately after hearing about the Brenon film, called off the picture for Miss Jolivet's use and started on an- other elaborate feature story for her. Cochrane Has Returned R. H. Cochrane returned to the Universal offices yesterday after an absence of six weeks following the furore attending the attempted show- ing of "The Yanks Are Coming." Mr. Cochrane refused to make any state- ment yesterday regarding the status of the "Yanks" case except to say that he would have some very import- ant news regarding the picture in a very short time. Reopen Newark House Moe Kridel and Herman F. Gans have reopened the former Marcus Loew house on Springfield Avenue, Newark. They took over the Loew lease which has eight years to run and after remodeling the interior and re- naming the theatre the Savoy threw open the doors on Saturday. The house plays' a picture policy exclu- sively. Fuel Committee To Meet The Fuel Conservation Committee of the N. A. M. P. I. will meet to- day in the Claridge to discuss devel- opments in their plan to aid Dr. Gar- field in the coal conservation prob- lem. Mike Donlin, of baseball fame, who has been appearing in numerous pic- ture productions, has foresworn the silent drama and will be one of the crooks in "Turn To the Right" next season. BRENON MAKING CAVELL FEATURE Utilizing Case of English Nurse Murdered by Germans for Feature Picture Theme LONDON.— Herbert Brenon, the well-known picture director, who came from the States to direct a series of English propaganda films has nearly finished a strong feature picture based on the Edith Cavell incident. Miss Cavell was the English Red Cross nurse who was murdered before a fir- ing squad by the Huns. The picture is to be shown soon. It's the difference in service and management that makes the same film command fifty cents in one theatre and a nickel in another. Election Industrial Secretary of State to Use Film as a Vote Getter Secretary of N. Y. State Francis M. Hugo has made an arrangement with the Universal Industrial Department for a special feature to be used in the coming state elections. Harry Levey of the Universal has personal charge of the production which is already started. The title of the film is to be "My Four Years in Albany" and it will show the work that Mr. Hugo and his department have accomplished in the "Safety First" campaign, the regulat- ing of traffic and the automobile li- cense bureau. To Decide Banquet Question Today Although nothing has definitely been decided upon, it is understood that the joint banquet of the National Associa- tion and the Associated Motion Pic- ture Advertisers will be held during Exposition Week as Frederick H. Elliott hoped to have it. The adver- tisers' committee will refer the ques- tion to the association which meets today and the answer will be given to the National Association on Fri- day when the dual committee meets again. BINDERS! for "WID'S DAILY" will cost $1. 75 each hereafter Hart to Tour Liberty Loan Services Re- quested in Important Districts LOS ANGELES.— William S. Hart has been requested to tour three of the most important districts in the United States in the drive for the Fourth Liberty Loan. The first re- quest comes from Joseph Hartigan, chairman of the Liberty Loan Com- mittee in New York City, the most vital territory in America, who has asked Hart, through the Loan Com- mittee, to cover this district. The second comes from Philip Dal- ton, chairman of the Boston district, and the_ third from Harry Hodge of the Philadelphia district, both of whom have asked Hart to tour their territories. Bill will commence his trip in early October. He will be remembered as being one of the "Big Four" who covered the country during the last loan. Hart at that time can- vassed the West and succeeded in col- lecting over $2,000,000. His value to the Government is amply evidenced from the fact that three of the most important districts requested his ser- vices. To Represent Hodkinson J. Shannon and F. Howking have been appointed Hodkinson sales rep- resentatives in Kansas City and Cin- cinnati respectively. They will op- erate in conjunction with the General Film branches in those cities. First Billie Rhodes Film "The Girl of My Dreams," adapted to the screen by Milton Sinaberg and Louis William Chaudet from Wilbur Nesbit's stage success of the same name, will be the first of the De Luxe Billie Rhodes productions. Work has just been started at the National stu- dios with Louis Chaudet directing. Attractive Bulletin The largest and most attractive number of the Exhibitors Bulletin pub- lished by the Fox Film Corporation has just been issued for August. This number, which is printed in blue ink, has fifty-two pages, illustrated by drawings and, photographs of Fox stars. Carle E. Carlton's company, which is in Ithaca filming aviation scenes of "En L'Air," with Edith Day and Lieut. Bert Hall, intends returning to New York a week from Saturday. M. H. Hoffman, who has been ill for the past two months, has gone to Avon-By-The-Sea, N. J., to recuperate. Thursday, August 15, 1918 jM% DAILY Effective Handling and Some Sure-Fire Comedy Bits Put This Over Edith Roberts in "THE LOVE SWINDLE" Bluebird — Universal DIRECTOR Jack Dillon AUTHOR Rex Taylor SCENARIO BY Fred Myton CAMERAMAN Charles J. Kingsbury AS A WHOLE Rather obvious but nevertheless entertaining comedy=drama lifted by many good comedy touches that register. STORY Shero impersonates role of fictitious sister in order to win hero on his own social plane. DIRECTION Developed individual incidents effec= tively and made this pleasing entertainment by handling of players and timing of action. In= jected sure=fire comedy touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Obtained some effective bits but va= ried from fine to fair; generally too uniform. CAMERA WORK Got some good angles although composition bad on some sets. STAR Will impress favorably although let clothes and hairdress provide contrast in double char= acterization without changing expression and mannerisms. SUPPORT Leo White rather Keystoney but Reggie Morris made small part stand out. Some great types. EXTERIORS Generally very good INTERIORS Some good, others looked "setty" DETAIL Many sure=fire comedy touches but arti= ficial cloud effects rather fakey. CHARACTER OF STORY Is clean and will please generally. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,800 feet THE way this has been handled classes it as very pleasing light comedy that will go over most any- where as delightful entertainment. Director Jack Dillon has used some great types and has developed his characterizations effectively, making this interesting to watch all the way. You know how it's going to end, but little unexpected things happen all through the offering and we have many incidental comedy bits that will get a rise out of any gang. Shero meets Hero when she stops at a vacant house during a rain storm, he having heard cries and come to the rescue just as she was being treated ruff by a gang of tough eggs who were in the house. Liking Hero much better than Leo White, the guy her guardian had picked out for her, and learning that Hero is an auto salesman, she becomes interested in cars and has him demonstrate several of his machines in order to be with him. On one of these trips they stop at a country club and bad penny Leo horns in, with the result that Shero blows her fuse with Hero when she accepts one of Leo's cigarettes very matter-of-fact and takes on a few cocktails. Aware that she has pulled a "boner" and still deter- mined to win Hero, we have her framing him to call on her twin sister at a given address, she changing her clothes and appearance and beating it on ahead to be there and pose as the sister when he arrives. Hero falls for the "sister," whose modesty is more to his liking. In the meantime, Reggie Morris, a boarder, gets interested in Shero and when she refuses to be nice to him, plans revenge by stealing a fiddle from a nut musician and planting the evidence in Shero's room with the result that she is pinched when she returns to the boarding house for her things after she has married Hero. Reggie gets cold feet and returns the fiddle and the police are notified just as Hero arrives at the station. When Leo and Shero's guardian show up at the station Hero learns Shero's real identity but he loves her anyway and they finish with the clutch. We had considerable rain stuff in the early part of the offering that was quite effective although the inserted cloud effects looked rather "fakey." They gave us some sure-fire comedy bits all through the offering, the scene where Shero slid under the table to avoid being seen by her guardian being especially good. The bit where the nut musician holds his fiddle up to the telephone and says: "See, here eet eez," to the police, will get laughs although the idea has whis- kers. Reggie Morris, as the pool-shark-crook, made a small part stick out and won many laughs and Manuel Turner was a pleasing Hero. Leo White was rather Keystoney in make-up and actions but will get over; Clarissa Sel- wyne was satisfactory as Shero's guardian and the other characters were well selected. Will Entertain and Title Offers Scope For Trick Advertising The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This is a safe bet with most any audience. The pro- duction is adequate, though not particularly classy or distinctive, and the characterizations, the individual comedy bits, some good titles and several clever touches serve to put this over the line as pleasing entertainment. marry her, by resorting to a SWINDLE." Play up the three words which rhyme in large type and carry the rest of the copy much smaller so that the three words will hit the eye first. This should attract atten- tion. I believe "The Love Swindle" is a good title and al- though Miss Roberts is not sufficiently established to make her name of any value at the box-office, she will leave a favorable impression in this offering which should help to create a following for her future produc- tions. You might use this kind of copy for your ads and window cards: "At their first meeting, love began to KINDLE — But when he saw her high-brow ways, his faith started to DWINDLE Until she made him Or you might use catchlines like these: "GIRLS! If you can't win a man by being your real self, why don't you try impersonating the kind of a girl that he has expressed his preference for? See how Edith Roberts wins a husband in 'The Love Swindle'." "Anything's fair in love and war, that's why it's all right to swindle a fellow into marrying you if you ean get away with it. See Edith Roberts in 'The Love Swindle'." ZfeBRADSTREET of FILHDOM 7/fcRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 99 Friday, August 16, 1918 Price 5 Cents TO USE GIANT SCREEN OF WATER Novelty on Mammoth Scale is Devised For Government War Exposition in Chicago CHICAGO.— A screen of water 100 feet high and 500 feet long will be used on which to project motion pic- tures at the opening of the U. S. Government's War Exposition to be held in Grant Park, September 2. The idea was conceived and worked out by John F. Cullerton, manager of fire properties, when he was called upon by Fire Chief O'Connor to perfect a screen of steam at the request of the exposition authorities. After several tests steam was found to be imprac- ticable and Cullerton devised the water screen. Sixty streams of water will pour forth from the fire tug "Greame Stew- art," to form the screen upon which will be projected the Stars and Stripes in colors as a jacky band from the Great Lakes plays the national an- them. Following the display of the na- tional colors motion pictures will show the construction of ships, the launch- ing of same and various other war activities. A projection machine will be stationed 250 feet from the water screen, on a platform built in the lake, while the tug boat will be anchored off the breakwater of Grant Park. The audience will sit on the shore. Experiments were made one night recently by Mr. Cullerton with thirty leads of hose and as many nozzles. The tug steamed out into the lake with the full crew, a projection ma- chine and the fire hose and the thing was found to work perfectly. The exposition is being planned on an immense scale and has been termed "a second World's Fair" — a world's fair of war. Twenty carloads of ex- hibits from the allied governments will be used. It is designed to deepen the feeling of the people of the Cen- tral West concerning the war. C. A. Nathan, formerly with the Fa- mous Players-Lasky sales organiza- tion handling part of the Brooklyn territory, has returned to the Jewel production sales force. He will han- dle the entire island of Manhattan. Going To Capital Fuel Committee Will Confer With Garfield in Washington As a result of a meeting of the Fuel Conservation Committee in the Clar- idge yesterday, it was decided that the committee as a body should go to Washington to confer with Dr. Harry A. Garfield, the Federal Fuel Administrator and other officials of his department. Marcus Loew, chair- man, B. S. Moss, S. L. Rothapfel, P. A. Powers, J. H. Hallberg and Harold Edel are those who will go. William A. Brady is also going to Washington and will meet the committee members in a preliminary conference on Tues- day in the capital. The announcement of the state chairman to serve the main commit- tee here in New York was not made yesterday as w;s expected. Mr. Loew is still working over the list and with the exception of a few states the appointments are complete. The names may be forthcoming within a few days. Costs More Than Rental CHICAGO.— "Diana the Huntress," a film exhibited at the World thea- tre, 61 West Randolph Street, cost the proprietor $100 fine on Monday before Judge Fry in Municipal Court, when a woman member of the mo- tion picture censor board examined the advertising out in front. A lobby pic- ture of the Grecian goddess drinking from a fountain first caught her eye, and after viewing the picture, which, it is said, had been ordered cut by the board, she made a report. The theatre was also charged with running a film entitled "Caught in a Cabaret" without a permit. The manager of the Howard theatre, 1631 Howard Avenue, was fined $50 for putting on the film "A Neighbor's Keyhole," without the proper permit and for allowing ( hildren to view the picture. New Censorship Rule Exporter or Representative Must Be Present at Packing of Film The latest' rule affecting exporters, in regard to the censorship of their film, was made public yesterday by Percy Reynolds, Chief Inspector of Customs. The exporter, or his rep- resentative, must hereafter be present at the packing of his film, after screen- ing, in the central projection room at 115 East 23rd Street, to which all film is sent for censoring. It was stated that the new ruling was made as much for the protection of the exporter as for that of the Government, and it was pointed out that it would be an aid to all parties concerned if the exporter, or his rep- resentative, was present to see that all matters relating to his film were satisfactory. Several exporters were under the impression that the new rule also pro- vided for the presence of the exporter at the screening of the film, but it was stated that this was purely optional on the part of the exporter. His presence at the screening of his films is not required. Rapf's Feature Finished "The Sins of the Children," adapted from the novel by Cosmo Hamilton, has been completed in film form by Harry Rapf. The picture was turned out of the cutting room this week. It will be ready for release in about another week, when Rapf will make an announcement as to the distribu- ting connection. Loew Takes Kenyon Feature Marcus Loew has booked his first Sherry picture for the circuit of thea- tres which he controls. The picture is "The Street of Seven Stars," in which Doris Kenyon is starred. The contract calls for 55 days of the Loew time beginning on August 26. Sales Force Meeting There was a special meeting of the sales force of the Famous Players- Lasky New York exchange called for yesterday afternoon. All of the men in the territory surrounding New York City, as well as the supervisors, were summoned to the meeting. Friday, August 16, 1918 — laii^ DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Tprms (Postage free) United States, Out- Bide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Guts and Flashes "Our Boys at Camp Dix," a picture of life in Army cantonments, is meet- ing: with favor. George K. Spoor's much discussed feature, "Young America," has been completed in so far as taking scenes is concerned. The film is now being assembled. The one-reel Red Cross feature, "The Historic Fourth of July in France," will be shown at the Palace next week. This is said to be the first one-reel subject ever shown at that theatre with the exception of the news pictorials. George H. Davis announces that Sol L. Lesser's new office in Chicago, for the distribution of "Hearts of the World," has been established at 1205 City Hall Square Bldg., and will be known as the "Midwest Hearts of the World Company." Mary MacLaren is working on_ a film version of the story "Vanity Pool," which appeared as a novelette in Young's Magazine." Anna Nils- son, Thomas Holding _ and Virginia Chester will be seen in support of Miss MacLaren. The firm of Lorraine and Bidewell of Antafagasta, Chile, is represented in New York at present by the Lor- raine part of the combination. Mr. Lorraine arrived here on Wednesday ^ind will remain for several weeks looking over the market. General Film is aiding the National War Savings Committee in the work the committee is doing by means of its exchanges throughout the country. Fifty animated cartoon trailers, en- titled "Thriftette Trailers," will be added to the most popular of the Gen- eral releases in its twenty-eight branches. WHO'LL GET "BORDER LEGION Both Metro and Select Have Bids In For Feature— Hunter To Decide This Week The question as to which of the re- leasing organizations will handle the T. Hayes Hunter feature, "The Bor- der Legion," in which Blanche Bates is starred, is one that is still un- settled. Both Metro and Select have bids in for the picture, which was rather favorably received during its engagement at the Strand. Select handled the Strand engage- ment, but whether or not this concern will continue to handle the film has not been determined. The Metro of- fer, it is understood, was made after the Strand run. Another feature that Select is nego- tiating for is the French made picture starring Gaby Deslys, which was brought to this country several weeks ago. This deal is also to be closed this week. Lesser Has War Relief Film Sol L. Lesser, who acquired the rights to the Actors' War Fund Asso- ciation's single-reel, "How Stars Twinkle Away From Studios," has ar- ranged for distribution to date in the following territories: Supreme Fea- ture Film Co., in Minneapolis; Louis B. Mayer, in Boston; Masterpiece Film Attractions, in Cleveland; M. R. Ro- senberg, in Seattle; Dawn Masterplay Co., in Detroit, and H. F. Grelle, in Pittsburgh. This single reel features a number of stars in close-ups, among whom are Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Mildred Harris, and Clara Kimball Young. Ten per cent, of the receipts in each territory will be donated to the Association to pro- vide for wounded soldiers upon their return from France. Filming Air Activities Government Lifts Ban That Re- stricted News Weekly Cameramen An important government decision relative to film news was that by which the ban was lifted, this week, from the taking of photographs of airplane operations. It affects the whole field of news pictures, including newspaper photography as well as motion pic- turedom. The notice was issued by Captain Lawrence Rubel, of the Com- mittee on Public Information. The decision permits film men to take pic- tures, under official supervision of course, of airplane construction as well as the actual flying. Lockwood's Two Directors Harold Lockwood, who is now working at the old Pathe studio on upper Park Avenue, has added another director to his staff, in the person of Henry Otto, who will alternate with Edwin Carewe in the making of Lock- wood features. Otto during a previ- ous association with Lockwood di- rected "Mister 44" and "The River of Romance," which proved to be among the very best sellers of his entire series. Work was started yesterday at the studio on the Liberty Loan story which was written by Lockwood and Carewe for the Government. J. Allen, of the Famous Players ex- change of Toronto, Canada, arrived in town yesterday. 9\%4oaqfit a 7/ you know it's good— don't say "7 might have had it" -Go Get It. Free Fight For Picture William L. Sherrill is trying to con- clude an arrangement with the K. of C. or some other war charity whereby he will stage a series of fights in Madison Square Garden, the charity to receive the entire receipts. In the picture now being produced by Sher- rill, under the direction of T. Hayes Hunter, entitled, "Once To Every- man," there is a prize fight scene in which Jack Sherrill is to play the part of one of the ring contestants. Sherrill, Sr., proposes that three of four corking good preliminaries be added to the picture bout and that the receipts for all be given over to the K. of C. War Fund drive now go- ing on. The picture is to be finished in about two weeks. Charles A. Dean, president of the Educational Distributing Company, has left for St. Louis to start a trip through the Middle West. Mr. Dean intends making arrangements to open more exchanges to handle the Educa- tional product. •uttft DAILY Friday, August 16, 1918 Named As Editor Ellis to Look After Scena- rios For Division of Films Carlyle Ellis has been appointed scenario editor of the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information. Mr. Ellis formerly was scenario editor of the Industrial De- partment of the Universal Film Com- pany. He was for two years Coast representative for Triangle and east ern scenario editor. Mr. Ellis was largely responsible for the editing and photographing of "The Yanks Are Coming." He is a close friend of George Creel and at one time was as- sociate editor of Everybody's when Mr. Creel was a contributing editor. Red Cross Appreciative That the American Red Cross fully appreciated the splendid aid which has been rendered to it by the motion pic- ture industry is shown in a letter which has just been received by Presi- dent William A. Brady of the National Association of the Motion Picture In- dustry from Henry P. Davison, chair- man of the War Council of the Ameri- can Red Cross. The letter is as follows: "My dear Mr. Brady: "I have seen the resolutions passed by the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry on the occa- sion of its conference with Mr. John- son, director of publicity of the Red Cross. "I wish to thank you for this addi- tional proof of your sympathy with and faith in the Red Cross. A tre- mendous responsibility has been placed upon us, and to us it is of the utmost importance that you aid us in making a proper accounting to the people of America, who have given to the Red Cross without stint. "It is our hope, at the same time, to lay no burdens upon the motion pic- ture industry, but rather to lighten them by furnishing film which it will be glad to exhibit. "Please convey to your Association our deep appreciation of its pledge of support and assistance. "Yours very truly, (Signed) "H. P. Davison, "Chairman of the War Council." Making "Pink Pajamas" Wilfred Lucas and Bess Meredyth are co-directing at the National Film Corporation's Hollywood studios on the latest Bill Parsons' vehicle, "A Pair of Pink Pajamas," and Mary Mc- Iyor will again be seen as the come- dian's leading woman. E. R. Kauffman, of the Interocean Film Co., left for a week's vacation at Atlantic City yesterday. Biggest $10 Worth Aug. 13, 1918. \\ id's Daily, 71 West 44th Street, New York. Gentlemen : — We enclose our check in payment of invoice attached. In reference to your pub- lication. It really gives us the news when it is news — plus a comprehensive and in- valuable review of pictures from a box office standpoint. During the short time we have been on your list, we feel as though the informa- tion secured has many times paid for our subscription. It is the biggest ten dollars worth we ever bought, and, as you know, the exhibitors nowadays are getting very little for nothing. Remind us, please, when our sub- scription expires for you may be assured right now that you have a "regular". Continue telling the truth about conditions in the pic- ture business. If you do so, it won't be very long' until you have every worth-while exhibitor on your paid list. We wish you every suc- cess and feel confident that you will soon dominate the field. As a matter of fact you are already doing this so far as we are concerned. Very truly yours, CAMDEN THEATRE. F. C. Smoot, Manager. Reichenbachs Do Their Bit Joseph Reichenbach, brother of Harry L. Reichenbach, arrived in France last week with his regiment. Reichenbach was manager of the El- dee Film Corporation before enlisting. He is with the Fifty-first Pioneer In- fantry and is a top sergeant. Walter and Howard Reichenbach, two other brothers, are soon to leave for camp and Harry goes within the next few weeks in a Government civilian ca- pacity. There are seventeen of Reich- enbach's immediate family relations now in service. In Detroit Theatres Heat and Street Car Riots Com- bine To Lessen Patronage DETROIT.— "Queen of the Sea" opens at the Adams theatre, Detroit Sunday, August 25. Majestic theatre, Detroit, is sched- uled to re-open August 25. "Hearts of the World" is now in its eighth week at the Detroit Opera House. August is the month of vacations among Detroit theatre managers and film men. Extreme heat and street car riots caused by a one-cent raise in fare, have taken the pep out of business in Detroit this week. Triangle Film Company will move into the Film Building. Almost every film exchange in Detroit will be housed in the Film Building before fall. Orchestras are going to be the big feature of many of the leading play- houses in Detroit this year. With the Regent, the Madison, and the Majes- tic competing for musical honors, De- troit's music lovers are going to be given some real treats. The Kunsky organization an- nounces that commencing September 1, a separate house organ will be is- sued for each of its theatres. This plan will replace the popular eight- page Weekly Film News, with 28 pages of photoplay publicity. Thea- tregoers who collect every Kunsky Film News each week, will have a weekly^ photoplay magazine of 28 pages, illustrated, carefully edited, and filled with original and special fea- tures. Harry R. Guest, publicity rep- resentative for the Kunsky corpora- tion, will have charge of the work. He is making extensive plans and runs into town every few days, even while on his vacation, to put some- thing new into action ready for the big task he will undertake the first of the month. Uses Big Company Tom Terriss and Alice Joyce have returned from Saugerties, N. Y., where scenes were made for a coming O. Henry feature. A river boat was chartered and many extras were taken from New York for use in a dramatic part of Mr. Terriss' latest production. The director and his company will leave soon for the Maine coast where exteriors for a dramatic sea story will be made. Friday, August 16, 1918 rt«M DAILY Clever Star In Gomedy-Mix-Up Registers With A Bang. Get It John Barrymore in "ON THE QUIET" Paramount DIRECTOR Chester Withey AUTHOR Augustus Thomas SCENARIO BY Charles Whittaker CAMERAMAN William Marshall AS A WHOLE Decidedly funny farce with great cast, hits on high all the way. STORY A ludicrous conglomeration of ingen= eously concocted predicaments provides laughs galore and never lets up for a minute. DIRECTION Got the most out of every incident, obtained scores of sure=fire touches and made action snappy. PHOTOGRAPHY Very good; under=sea effect wonderful. LIGHTINGS Generally very good CAMERA WORK Effective STAR A positive riot; has an inimitable style all his own that makes every move funny. SUPPORT Excellent.. Miss Meredith pleasing and Belcher great type. EXTERIORS Well selected INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Many sure=fire touches. Newspaper insert didn't get over as real thing. CHARACTER OF STORY A sure cure for the blues. Shows star as souse but is certainly funny. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet IF YOUR folks don't think this is one of the funniest, most entertaining offerings they've seen in a long, long time, there's something radically wrong with them, and if you don't mop up big when you show it, you ought to go over in a corner and have a long talk with yourself. The situations alone in this make it funny and when you add to this a star that is a positive riot in all of his scenes and a director who didn't muff a single opportunity, the result is one of the very best comedy-dramas we have had recently. We get John Barrymore in this as a wild son whose frequent souse parties stand in the way of his marriage to Shero Lois Meredith. They finally get married "on the quiet" and the rest of the offering is taken up with their efforts to keep their marriage a secret. A race- track tout to whom Jack has promised fifty dollars in one of his wild moments, causes him no end of worry, he having acted as best man at the secret marriage in addition to being in possession of certain facts which Jack doesn't want to get to Shero. While Jack is completing his college education, a duke, who is married to Shero's sister, frames with Jack for the use of his apartment that he may entertain a couple of chorus girls as a means of making his wife jealous and determining whether or not she really loves him. With the dames in the apartment, Shero arrives, having been followed by the tout, demanding more hush money. With Shero in one room and the dames in the other, demanding to be shown the "dook" they were going to meet, the tout comes in and Jack, to get rid of him. introduces him to the dames as the duke. Just to make it more interesting. Shero's brother and sister come in and in the turmoil that follows, Jack jumps out the window, landing in an auto below. Shero runs out of the apartment house, Jack puts her in the machine and they beat it for his father's launch. Pur- sued by the rest of the bunch and finding the launch gone, they finally come on to a life-saving station, don diving suits and jump in the ocean. Meanwhile the tout explains to the bunch on the pier that they are married and we fade out on one of the most effective trick shots I have ever witnessed, showing Hero and Shero in the clutch on the ocean bottom with fish swim- ming1 around them. We get scores of incidental comedy bits all through the offering that will keep any gang doubled up with laughter. These have been brought in in a way that makes them appear natural and they get over with a bang. The star does not wear his moustache in this, hence, to those who did not see him in "Raffles" this will re- veal a new John Barrymore. and a funnier one. He certainly makes every action register. Lois Meredith was pleasing as the Shero; Frank Belcher made his role effective as the tout and others who appeared were: Frank Losee. J. W. Johnston, AI Hickman. Helen Greene. Cyril Chadwick. Nan Christy, Dell Boone. Dan Mason. Frank Hilton, Otto Okuga and Louise Lee. Sure Fire Stuff, Should Clean Up Big But You Must Advertise The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If you don't do a whale of a business on this, there's surely a screw loose somewhere. Under his preA'ious Paramount contract, some time ago, they gave this very clever comedian some stories that placed him at a decided disadvantage, but he certainly comes back with a wallop in this one and I am sure that everyone who sees this, if they like to laugh, will want to sit through it for the second time and will slip the news around to their friends. The thing to do is to go out and boost this to the limit ; tell your folks it's the greatest comedy John Barrymore has ever appeared in and promise them more laughs than they have had dished out to them all in one package for a long time. You can't go too strong on promises in presenting this offering but you must advertise and if you don't suc- ceed in making a clean-up, knowing that the production will deliver, the fault lies with you and your methods. You might bill this as "The story of a young man who had a hard time getting married, but a harder time keeping the marriage secret when we wedded 'on the quiet'." Or you might rail it "An extremely funny story cen- tering around the predicaments of a wild youth, a pretty girl, irate brother who tried to prevent their marriage and a blackmailer who made things hot for everybody concerned." _. . Now that you've got it. get out and boost it. Use different methods, change your tactics— GET THEM IN. The rest will take care of itself. jfeBftADSTREET of FILMDOM mm 7/feRKOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 102 Monday, August 19, 1918 Price 5 Cents TWO GRIFFITHS ARE OPPOSITION "Hearts of the World" and "The Great Love" Fight It Out All Along the Line BUFFALO. — Last week witnessed a peculiar condition here with the opening of D. W. Griffith's "Hearts of the- World" at the Majestic with a $1.50 top scale and the same producer's feature, "The Great Love," playing Shea's Hippodrome at 25 cents top. The result is that "Hearts of the World" opened slow, getting some- thing under $500 and since has been building, the gross on the week having been in the neighborhood of $8,000. However, at the Hippodrome the fea- ture on a rental has been doing a corking business and there is no doubt but that it hurt the patronage of the "Hearts" picture on the opening. The joker in the situation is that the Artcraft people are partners to the extent of 50 per cent, in the trav- eling "Hearts" show in this territory and all that they are getting from Shea's is a rental for the "Love" pic- ture. Shea's while doing a tremendous business the opening day of "The Great Love" failed to touch the rec- ord that the house made with "Intol- erance," which played to 30,000 people on the opening day. A somewhat similar condition ex- isted in New York last week with "The Great Love" booked at the Strand and "Hearts of the World" still continuing at the 44th Street thea- tre. Of course, the latter attraction has been playing here for sev'eral months, but the management states that the Strand engagement shot their business to pieces. The reports from the Strand are to the effect that the house broke the Sunday record with the picture on the first day of the run but that business dropped during the week. The wallop, however, is coming from the men that bought state rights on "Hearts of the World" from the Artcraft and will have to go up against opposition all over the coun- try from "The Great Love" picture. Several of these have already made a protest that the deal that they are receiving is in a great measure unfair. The booking representatives of one concern going so far as to state that had his principal not been practically assured of a certain amount of protec- tion he would not have bought the picture. State rights men cite the instance of I "The Birth of a Nation" where the | state rights buyers had practically two ! years' protection before there was an- I other Griffith picture released. Their I principal trouble, however, lies in the j fact that the managers of the legiti- mate theatres and the booking offices which route the attractions are yelling 1 and cutting down on the terms. The strong point is that both of the pictures have practically the same cast ) of principals, but that "The Great Love" has the added attraction of more than a score of the British no- bility appearing it it. Among these are Dowager Queen Alexandra. The regular exhibitor around the country is taking advantage of this fact and wherever the chance offers is booking "The Great Love" against the date that "Hearts" is booked in N gitimate house. Albert L. Grej (D. W.'s brother), led in the exploitation of "1 lean - of the World," has is- sued a statement decrying the fact that the Artcraft. or some of those who are playing the picture, have her- alded it as "Mr. Griffith's greatest pro- duction." He states that D. W. does nol think that it compares in any way with either "The Birth of a Nation" or "Hearts of the World." D'Arcy Gets $5,000 Hugh A. D'Arcy, former publicity man and author of "The Face on the Barroom Floor," now 75 years of age, has been awarded a judgment for $5,- 000 in a suit he brought against Oscar B. Brush. The plaintiff sued for per- sonal injuries received when he was knocked down by Brush's auto at Broadway and 61st Street while on his way to the Greenroom Club. The case came before a sheriff's jury be- cause the defendant did not answer the suit. t Uniting Field Force Mutual Corporation Appoints Supervising Heads of Exchanges Mutual Corporation is organiging a systematic country-wide system of su- pervising heads of exchanges so as to co-ordinate effort on the part of district branch managers and to keep its field force in- close touch with the executive headquarters. The new policy has been introduced by A. S. Kirkpatrick, the new assist- ant general manager who succeeded Denis J. Sullivan. Two appointments have thus far been made. Joe Mer- rick, who until now has been Los An- gles branch manager, becomes Coast supervisor of Mutual exchanges, with offices, as heretofore, in Los Angeles, In the South S. T. Stevens, formerly supervisor in an unofficial manner, becomes general supervisor with cen- tral offices in New Orleans. These are the first appointments to be announced, but similar ones will be made covering other sections of the country. All these supervisors will lie in immediate touch with S. J. Rollo, recently made assistant sales manager in Chicago. Judgment for $2,495 A judgment for $2,495 has been en- tered in the Supreme Court against Will H. Stevens, film actor, under the name of Willard H. Stevens, in a suit brought by his wife, Mary J. Stevens. Mrs. Stevens sued for a separation in 1915 and the court awarded her $20 a week alimony and $100 counsel fee. The amount of the judgment repre- sents the sum unpaid to date. Stevens appeared last in "The Beast of Ber- lin," his wife says. Theatres Are Excepted CHICAGO.— The question of all- night cabarets and other places of amusement came up before council last week and it was voted that "dry" cabarets hereafter must close at 1 o'clock. The regulation affects all places of amusement alike, the only exception being the all-night motion picture theatres. These are allowed o remain open. Monday, August 19, 1918 TsbijA DAILY ■''■urn iiiimirmi KvfT> Published n- By in rh«- Yf:ir itt, N.-m York, N. I. FILM FOLK, Inc. [>n< 3 \V*m mi, St. WID'S IT I.MS & F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDR DEXIfi. Editor Entered at Xe^vYork Post Office as Second- cl.-iss Matter T'S DAILY', Tl-T.S West 44th St., New York, N. Y. TVlpnhonp? Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 PREPARING ENTERTAINMENT DRIVE Training Gamps Commission Asks Exhibitors to Give Ten Per Gent, of Receipts One Day a Month Robertson-Cole Take Rights Walter Hoff Sealey of the Robert- son-Cole Company closed contracts last week whereby his organization will take over the foreign rights on all the J. Warren Kerrigan produc- tions made by Jesse Durham Hamp- ton. John H. Blackwood, represent- ing Mr. Hampton, closed the produc- ers' end of the deal. The first pictures which will be turned over to the Robertson-Cole people are "The Dollar Bid" and "A Burglar for a Night." The third pro- duction is "Prisoners of the Pines" the first print of which arrived Satur- day. Mr. Blackwood intends to re- turn to the Coast some time this week. Advertisers Want to Know The Associated Motion Picture Ad- vertisers' Association has instructed its secretary, Allan Rock to familiar- ize himself with whatever has trans- pired thus far in the investigation now being made as to whether or not the industry is to be classed as essential. Mr. Rock wrote to Judge Parker Saturday in order to determine what has been done as to the classification of employes of the motion picture industry, and other rulings relating to the subject. The A. M. P. A. is taking this step preparatory to further action on its part. It feels that inasmuch as its members are composed of employes of the industry they are the logical ones to be heard in relation to whether or not they are to be classed as essen- tial. Cassinelli a Lieutenant Dolores Cassinelli, who starred in "Lafayette, We Come," has been made a First Lieutenant in the United States Army, 3rd Battalion. 152d De- pot Brigade. Major J. B. Brandreith made the appointment for the services Lieut. Cassinelli rendered in behalf of the Red Cross and those she is about to render. The new lieutenant is soon to stage a concert at Upton. In an effort to assure entertainment for the boys behind the lines in war- stricken France and for the boys that are now in the camps over here, the Entertainment Division, has commis- mission on Training Camp Activities of the War Department is starting a drive to secure funds for that purpose. The idea underlying it is that all ex- hibitors throughout the country will be asked to contribute ten per cent, of their receipts one day a month for the purpose of buying and presenting "smileage" books to the boys that are at the front and who come from the town in which the exhibitor makes the donation. Each of the books so obtained will be stamped with the name of the con- tributor and with the name of his theatre, and thus, as near as the En- tertainment Division can figure it out, the donations received from a town like Meadeville, Pa., or Circleviile, O., will be turned over to the boys who went to the front with the company from that town. The' same will apply to the big cities where the National Guard and the National Army men will receive the books that are ob- tained from the contributions in their home town. Harold Braddock, Director of the ntertainment Division, has commis- sioned J. L. Meyberg to take the mat- ter in hand and obtain the co-opera- tion of all of the exhibitor bodies and similar organizations in the industry and secure an expression of their will- ingness to assist in the movement. Thus far, Mr. Meyberg, who is at the Astor, has obtained the assurance of S. L. Rothapfel that he will pledge one-tenth of the receipts one day a month for both the Rialto and Rivoli theatres, and from Marcus Loew that he will do likewise. Tn addition. Mr. Loew wishes to donate 5.000.000 tickets to his various theatres to the department and let it sell them and take the entire receipts for the cause. At ten cents a ticket this would mean that Mr. Loew is offering a half mil- lion dollars to the project. Of the managers approached by Mr. Meyberg during the last week the Strand management was the only one I that declined, statin"; that it was not in a position to lend assistance to the project and refusing to allot one of its da-es as "Smileaire Book Day." The Entertainment Division proposes a nation-wide advertising campaign in the dailv papers for which space has been donated, and this will be used on "Smileage Book Day" each month advising the public which houses to attend so that the boys at the front will obtain part of what they spend. The natural inference is that if a house is not mentioned in the list the public will be aware of the fact that the management is "slacking" to a certain extent. After obtaining the co-operation of the New York exhibitor organizations Mr. Meyberg will start west and be in Chicago for the convention there of the A. E. A. and place the matter before them. Companies Formed Thelma Bradshaw Corp. is Chartered in New York State ALBANY.— The Thelma Bradshaw Motion Picture Corporation, with its principal office in New York City, has been incorporated with the Secretary of State. The enterprise is capital- izi d at $50,000 and has been formed to manufacture, produce and exhibit motion picture film of various kinds and engage in a general motion pic- ture business. The directors are: Thelma Brad- shaw. Benjamin N. Rosenbaum, of Elizabeth, N. J., and Joseph Hvozdik, Jersey City, N. J. The R. G. Matzene Pictures, Inc., of Manhattan, has also been granted a charter by the state for the purpose of producing and making motion pic- ture and photoplay films and project- ing and other machines used in the motion picture business. Its capital stock is $20,000, and has these incor- porators: Alexander G. Scheer and Hannah L. Geller, New York City, and C. A. Weeks of Yonkers, N. Y. Foursquare Closes Offices CHICAGO. — The Foursquare Ex- change has given up its offices in the College building and hereafter all Hoffman, Foursquare and Backer pic- tures will be handled in the middle west by the Celebrated Players Film Corporation. "Upstairs and Down" CHICAGO.— The Rialto de Luxe Picture Corporation is filming scenes for the screen version of Oliver Mo- rosco's stage success, "Upstairs and Down," at the Essanay studios. Grace Valentine is the featured star and the picture is to be in eight reels. "Smashing Through to Berlin" has been held over for at least one more and possibly two more weeks at the Broadway theatre. We Can Tell YouWhere To KeachThem-PtioiieVaiiderf)ilt4551 DIRECTORS DIRECTORS ATHOKS GEORGE D. BAKER PRODUCING FEATURES METRO FREDDIE SCHAEFFER ART DIRECTOR R. A. WALSH PRODUCTIONS ANTHONY KELLY J. CLARKSON MILLER GOLDWYN Original Stories and Continuities HERBERT BLAGHE DIRECTING FOR METRO GEORGE A. SIEGMAN M. P. D. A. EVE UNSELL ORIGINALS ADAPTATIONS Many Successes for Prominent Companies 272 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. TOD BROWNING Directing BLUEBIRD FEATURES CHARLES SWICKARD Personally Directing Dustjn Farnum in Harry A. Sherman Productions ALBERT CAPELLANI PRODUCER S. E. V. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. With D. W. GRIFFITH STUDIOS CAMERAMEN KING D. GRAY SPECIAL CAMERA EFFECTS EDWIN CAREWE WILLIAM D. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. Director Lasky-Paramount MARY MacLAREN FEATURES Now Managing and Directing H VK JLD LOGKWOOD ROY H. KLAFFKI GEORGE FITZMAURICE ROBERT T. THORNBY M. P. D A. Porducing Fox Features UNIVERSAL FEATURES M. P. D. A. PKODUCING PATHE FEATURES wiirc null y njs stn 1914 — Birth of a Nation 1916 — Intolerance PERRY N. VEKROFF M. P. D. A., FEATURE DIRECTOR 511 W. 143rd St. Audubon 1941 VllU 0 UnlLI NOT SKIMMED These are the only productions personally directed by I). W. GRIFFITH Your name should be before the man who can sign contracts. This directory will appear once each week on Monday, and on Tuesday there will be a similar directory of players. No matter how good your position is today it can be better tomorrow if you keep your name before the right people. ALLEN J. HOLUBAR M. P. D. A. Producing Universal Features LOIS WEBER HONORARY MEMBER M.P.D.A. WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY M. P. D. A., PRODUCING FEATURES IVAN BEN WILSON Directing and Starring UNIVERSAL CHESTER WITHEY DIRECTOR GEORGE IRVING M. P. D. A. GENERAL PRODUCING DIRECTOR WALLACE WORSLEY DIRECTING LOUISE GLAUM IN PARALTA PLAYS CHARLES miller M. P. D. A. Director of THE SERVICE STAR The Flame of the Yukon The Sawdust RingThe Ghosts of Yesterday JAMES YOUNG Motion Picture Directors Association ASHLEY MILLER Motion Picture Directors Ass'n. 234 West 55th St., N. Y. C. AUTHORS R. WILLIAM NEILL PRODUCER Paramount Release Manhattan Madness Wolff Lowry CHARLES T. DAZEY The Sea Master New York Luck G. HAROLD PERGIVAL ART DIRECTOR Thos. H. Ince Productions GEORGE ELWOOD JENKS CONTINUITY AND SPECIALS Triangle Culver City PAUL SGARDON M. P. D. A. FEATURE DIRECTOR, VITAGRAPH MONTE M. KATTERJOHN Now writing- Exclusively for Paramount-Artcraft Productions Jesse Li. Lasky Studios Monday, August 19, 1918 DAILY Pleasing Players in Unique Story With Unusual Twists Anna Q. Nilsson and Franklyn Farnum in "IN JUDGMENT OF" Metro DIRECTOR Will S. Davis AUTHOR George D. Baker SCENARIO BY George D. Baker CAMERAMAN W. C. Thompson AS A WHOLE Rather unique story foundation made interesting by treatment and pleasing cast. STORY Has odd twists and keeps you guessing DIRECTION Maintained excellent suspense and developed situations effectively. Provided many good touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied from fine to fair LIGHTINGS Some good; others too uniform. Rather harsh on faces at times. CAMERA WORK Very good; obtained effective angles. STARS She beautiful and has some eyes; he has had his hair trimmed and is very satisfactory in serious role. SUPPORT Herbert Standing excellent; others fit= ted in nicely. EXTERIORS. .. .Some beautiful shots; generally very good. INTERIORS Adequate DETAIL Very good; handling of check incident was very well done. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet WE HAVE some great twists in this and Director Davis has developed his story in a way that keeps you guessing as to just how the thing is going to turn out with the result that this is interest- all the way and registers as real entertainment. At the start of this they establish, by a series of minor incidents, the peculiar ability of Shero Anna Nilsson tn guess what anyone is thinking about. Then they bring on Hero Franklyn Farnum, who meets Shero accidentally and he becomes at once interested when she tells him his name by her peculiar mind-reading faculty. As the romance ripens, she, guessing that he wants to propose, accepts him before he asks her, but he refuses because although money and education has been mysteriously provided for him, he has never been able to determine its source, or learn who his parents were. It develops that Herbert Standing:, a staunch friend of Shero's father, is Hero's father, although to disclose the fact would ruin him politically as he had since mar- ried, and his wife knew nothing of his son or previous marriage. Not being able to provide for his son in his will. Standing deposits fifty "thou" in the bank to Hero's credit, which transaction is observed by willun. When willim later attempts to blackmail Standing, a struggle ensues, in which willun is killed and circumstantial evi- dence causes Hero's an-est for the murder. Then we have the old situation of Standing being the judge on the case when his son's -trial is called. During the trial. Shero's peculiar influence causes the father to confess after the jury has convicted the son. This is made effective by frequent close-ups and visions of Shero's eyes, which haunt the father wherever he looks. When the facts are brought to light through the father's confession, an alibi is established and Stand- ing is acquitted after which we have the usual clutch of Hero and Shero. Although Franklyn Farnum registers his ear to ear grin on several occasions in this, his part calls for more serious acting than we have seen him do for some time and he gets away with it commendably. I want to thank him particularly for having finally had his hair trimmed. If the influence of a change in bosses brought this about, they are to be congratulated. Miss Nilsson was very pleasing all through the offer- ing and is sure easy to observe although she was not particularly well lighted in some of her scenes and faulty make-up around her neck and shoulders in some of her close-ups registered to me what looked very much like freckles. Herbert Standing was excellent as Hero's father, Frank Brownlee made a crook bit effective and others who appeared were: Lydia Knott. Harry S. Northrup, Edward Alexander. Spottiswoode Aitkin and Katherine Griffith. Has Good Advertising Possibilities and Will Please Generally The Box Office Analvsis for the Exhibitor Any gang is going to like this. It's interesting, keeps you guessing, has ;i pleasing cast and has been intelli- gently handled. I doubt very much if the name of Miss Nilsson lias a real bos office value beyond that of the average program star, although we have had some very pleasing work from lor recently and unless the Univer- sal productions in which Franklyn Farnum has appeared during the past year or more have been played in your community, you may find that he is a comparative stranger to your fans this being his first Metro produc- tion. I would hill this as "The story of a miracle wrought by a wonderful pair of eyes and a winning smile," which sounds interesting and could be tied up in your lobby display and newspaper ads with two oval cuts, one of Miss Nilsson's eyes and the other of Frank Parnum's smile. Yen might create interest with catchlines like these: "Do you believe it is possible to read one's mind? See Tn Judgment Of." "How wovdd you like to have a wife who could un- erringly tell you what you were thinking of? In Tn Judgment Of,' the heroine was possessed of such a remarkable mind that she accepted the hero before he proposed to her. knowing that he was about to do so." Because this offering has twists which will greatly lessen the entertainment value of the production if seen backwards, I would make an effort to establish the starting times in the minds of my patrons and urge the importance of being seated at the beginning of the performance. 7/eBftADSTREET of FILMDOH 7/fcRKOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 103 Tuesday, August 20, 1918 Price 5 Cents War Taxes Refunded CENSORS RAISE ANOTHER QUESTION Australasian Films, Ltd., Receives Money From Manufacturers Australasian Films, Ltd., has re- ceived refunds of war taxes from sev- eral manufacturers. This money, known as the half-cent tax, was in reality a three-quarter-cent tax, one- half cent for positives and one-quarter for all raw stock. Millard Johnson, president of the company, in discussing this latest de- velopment in the export situation, deemed it unwise for the present to disclose the names of the manufactur- ers who had refunded the taxes, but maintained that the case was impor- tant as an indication of the sentiment prevailing. Exporters have been confused on the subject of the war tax for some time and should be pleased to learn that manufacturers have come over to their point of view. Their doubt was due partly to the fact that a de- cision had been made by one in au- thority to the effect that the exporter must pay the tax. It is expected that other manufacturers will follow in the footsteps of those who repaid the taxes originally paid by Australasian Films. To Produce on Coast Lillian Walker productions Will Be Made at Brunton Plant Lester Park and his associates in the Lillian Walker Pictures Corpora- tion have made a definite arrangement with the management of the Brunton studios at Los Angeles whereby they will make all of their future produc- tions at that plant. The first of the Lillian Walker pictures has been fin- ished and will be ready for showing next week. According to Mr. Park the com- pany and the star, with Edward Dillon the director, will leave for the Coast, September 1, and the first of the pic- tures to be made there will be started September 15. The executive offices will also be moved to the Coast and E. Lanning Masters will remain in New York as representative of the company. Chicago Officials Want To View Films Already Passed by Committee on Public Information CHICAGO.— City officials have clashed with the Committee on Pub- lic Information again over the ques- tion of censoring official war films. Creel's committee contends that the war pictures have been sufficiently censored before they are offered for distribution in Chicago. The second deputy superintendent of police's of- fice, which passes on all films exhib- ited in the city, maintains that under the ordinance all films must pass the censor board and asks the committee to be more "explicit" as to why they object to having the pictures O.K.'d by the local board. In an opinion written by Corporation Counsel Ettel- son, he advises the city to have all films re-censored until more definite instructions are received from Wash- ington. In a letter from Charles C. Hart, director of the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information, he brings the matter to the attention of Acting Chief of Police Alcock as follows: "Inasmuch as the films are censored in France and also in Washington by the Federal board of censors and also by members of the War college, there does not seem to be any reason why they should be recensored by other boards. We would appreciate an ex- pression from you in regard to this matter before going any further." Attorney Ettels-n's reply to the Chief of Police says: "By the terms of the city ordinance no motion pic- ture can be exhibited in the city with- out having first been censored. Of course, we recognize that in matters pertaining to the conduct of the war the authority of the United States government is superior to the city government and it is our opinion the government has the power, if it de- sires, to exercise the same, upon films used as an aid in the prosecution of the war." Mr. Ettelson. though, questions whether Mr. Hart is authorized to speak for the U. S. Government on this subject and ca1ls attention to the fact that the pictures known as the "official war review" have been sub- mitted for censorship here by a pri- vate motion picture concern. "In these circumstances," the attor- ney states, "it seems you have no choice but to require such pictures to be censored under the ordinance." Removing Obstacles Rembusch and Schaefer Confer on Uniting Exhibitors' Organizations CHICAGO.— Frank J. Rembusch, secretary of the American Exhibitors' Association, and Peter J. Schaefer, newly elected president of the M. P. E. L. of A., held a long conference last week relative to an amalgama- tion of the two bodies at the coming convention of the A. E. A., to be held in Chicago, Sept. 3-7. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Schaefer stated that he would make every effort to bring the two exhibitors' bodie3 together. The only thing that stands in the way of a reunion as far as he could see was the constitution of the old league. This he said could easily be remedied. Plans for the A. E. A. convention are progressing rapidly and a record attendance is expected. It is hoped to have President Wilson, who ex- pects to be in Chicago on Labor Day, address the members of the Associa- tion on the opening day. Frank Rembusch and Louis Frank left Chicago Sunday for New York city to arrange for the presence of several independent stars and to con- fer with heads of the producing con- cerns about having their players at- tend. "Shorty" Hamilton Territory Crandall and Morgan of the Exhib- itor's Film Corp. at Washington, D. C, have bought the state rights to the "Shorty" Hamilton feature made bv the W. H. Clifford Company for Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Tuesday, August 20, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- Bide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes Lloyd Whiteside, formerly of the Evening Telegram, has become a member of the Universal publicity staff. Harry Angel, salesman in Michigan for the World Film Corp., has pur- chased the Lincoln theatre at Owossa, Mich. This is the second theatre that Mr. Angel has bought in his territory. S. E. Snyder, formerly publicity man for Balboa and other companies, is now acting in the same capacity for Corona Cinema Company in Los An- geles. Charles C. Johnson has been en- gaged as New York branch manager of United Picture Theatres. For two and a half years Mr. Johnson was with Pathe exchange acting as circuit sales- man and assistant manager. Prior to that he was with World Film. "The Hun Within" The Famous Players-Lasky Corpo- ration has just announced a big war special film entitled "The Hun With- in," for September release. Dorothy Gish, George Fawcett, Charles Ge- rard, Douglas MacLean, Bert Sutch, Lillian Clarke and other popular film players appear in the cast, the picture having been directed by Chet Withey. The story has to do with the work of German propagandists in this country and is said to offer a startling climax. "The Hun Within" is the first of the Paramount-Artcraft specials to be re- leased during the coming year, start- ing September 1. Fuel Committee in Washington The Fuel Conservation Committee of the N. A. M. P. I. left for Wash- ington yesterday on the Congressional Limited. President Brady is already there. WORLD FILM VS. BERT LEVY Dispute Over Unreturned Negative is Brought to Court — Selznick on the Stand Interesting testimony concerning the disappearance of certain films is disclosed in the City Court in the ap- peal by the World Film Corporation from four judgments entered for Bert Levy, cartoonist, and Sidney Olcott, film director, for $1,574 each in suits against the World company. The plaintiffs sued on the ground that the World had failed to return the negatives of "Great Americans," "New York and Her People," "Fa- mous Rulers" and "Famous Men," for which the plaintiffs asked $2,000 each, but which a jury decided were worth $1,500 each. The plaintiffs alleged that the negatives were 950 feet long and were delivered to the defendant corporation November 30, 1914, under an agreement that the World would make positive films and return the negatives. The plaintiffs said they were unable to get the negatives back. The answer of the World was that the plaintiffs were notified that the negative-" were held awaiting their call for the*. , but that they failed to call. In the trial of the suit before Jus- tice Smith, Mr. Levy testified that he acquired a reputation as a headliner in vaudeville as an illustrator and en- tertainer and that he and Olcott de- vised a process for making unique car- toons for film purposes. The pictures were drawn with a penpoint on a dark- ened glass and thrown upon a sheet from which they were photographed in a special way, by means of lenses. He said he demanded the films from Briton N. Busch, treasurer of the de- fendant, at various times in 1915 and 1916, and that while Busch told him at one time that he thought he had lo- cated the negatives, they were never returned. Mr. Olcott testified that the World took the films to distribute them and that they were not a success because of the "sorry exploitation." Lewis J. Selznick, who was presi- dent of the World at the time the transactions occurred, testified that the company didn't take in enough from the films to pay for the printing, and that he found he couldn't sell them. When asked if the value of a picture wasn't determined by the monetary return, Mr. Selznick said: "Not exactly. You may get a whole lot of money for a picture thatis no good, but you won't go far with it. As a general proposition in order to get money out of a picture it has to be a good picture." "Isn't the picture more valuable the more money it brings in?" asked counsel. "No, because I have had pictures that took in a great deal of money and I had to give back the money to keep my house." Mr. Selznick admitted that Levy had complained to him that he heard the plaintiffs' films were given away by distributing agencies to boost the sale of the "Alias Jimmy Valentine" film, but the distributors wouldn't ad- mit it. He said he gave money to the plaintiffs when the complaint was made to keep them friendly. When asked if the moving picture world hadn't refused to take up Levy, Mr. Selznick said: "Unfortunately, with all due respect to Mr. Levy as an artist, and as a friend of mine, the moving picture world didn't take him up." When questioned as to the probable value in the future of a film made at the present time Mr. Selznick said: "There is no way of gauging the future. In ten years Levy's pictures may be more valuable than Mary Pick- ford's." Mr. Busch testified that "Great American" cost $920 and took in only $920; that "New York and Her People" took in $637 and cost $905; that "Famous Rulers" took in $446 and cost $907 and that "Famous Men" brought in only $377 and cost $876 to print. Eltonhead With Association T. O. Eltonhead, who has been with the Exhibitor's Trade Review since its inception, in the capacity of special writer, is now with the National As- sociation of the Motion Picture In- dustry. He has been engaged by Frederick H. Elliott to handle the publicity for the National Association and in particular the advertising and national publicity campaign for the Exposition during the week of October 5-13. The National Association has taken additional office space in the Times Building to handle its increased activities. Dr. Haiselsen Sued CHICAGO.— Dr. Harry J. Haisel- sen, 741 Diversey Parkway, who pro- duced the sensational feature film, "The Black Stork," and was widely mentioned for his refusal to operate to save a defective child, has been sued for $35,496 by the Hennepin Film Company. According to the bill Dr. Haiselsen sold the full rights to the "eugenic picture," in which he starred, and then sold similar rights to another concern. VeCanTellYouVliefeToTteachTtiem-PhooeVatiderf)ilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. EDWARD EARLE LAMBS CLUB 144 W. 44th Street New York City WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN 'S IS READ NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE RUTH ROLAND Astra-Pathe STABBING IN "HANDS UP" WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Productions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd., L. A. MILTON SILLS THE LAMBS ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH MARION SWAYNE STAR FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Lot Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear each Tuesday. Tuesday, August 20, 1918 ■Mi DAILY Effective Handling of Surprise Finish Gives This a Real Kick Norma Talmadge in "HER ONLY WAY" Jos. M. Schenck — Select DIRECTOR Sidney Franklin AUTHOR George Scarborough SCENARIO BY Mary Murillo CAMERAMAN Moses Wineart AS A WHOLE Cleverly worked=out story to per= mit a dream finish which will go over with a bang because it comes as a real surprise. STORY Starts out with usual false husband com= plications working up to tragic climax which knocks you out of your seat when it proves to be a dream. DIRECTION Certainly handled dream finish in great style, developed suspense effectively and obtained many pleasing touches although per= mitted bad lighting on star in many scenes. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Good on sets and obtained many ef= fective bits but decidedly faulty on star in many instances. CAMERA WORK Very good as to angles and com= position. STAR Beautiful and made dramatic moments con= vince but frequently handicapped by faulty lighting. SUPPORT Eugene O'Brien very good; Wallace held character nicely within bounds and others satisfactory. EXTERIORS . . . Generally pleasing INTERIORS Very good; sets were lavish and in good taste. DETAIL Many good touches; inconsistent bits are excused by dream finish. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,900 feet I'LL defy anybody to dope this out before they spring the surprise near the finish which proves it to have been Shero's dream and yet when they do pull the dream climax, you instantly remember of Shero having fallen asleep on the couch in the early part of the pic- ture. It has certainly been clevery handled and the effect on any audience is going to be sure-fire if they see it at the beginning. They opened this up with Miss Talmadge and Hero Gene O'Brien stalled in Hero's Ford with willun-rival happening along in his reg'lar car and taking Shero in with him while Gene guided the Ford which was towed behind. Later, Shero learns from her guardian that she is penniless. Both men have proposed, but as Hero cannot provide the luxuries she has been accustomed to she tells the rival, Ramsey Wallace, that she will give him her answer at eight that evening, after which she flops on the couch and has a cry. Then we see Shero being wedded to willun, the plot getting more intrikut when we are shown an affair be- tween him and Jobyna Howland, a wampire, on the night of the wedding, which is observed by Shero. In a brief space of time after the marriage we have the situation of willun-hubby leaving the program for the open market and there is a scene when Shero catches liini sneaking out of the house with a bag. The husband forces divorce proceedings, having framed Hero Gene into a compromising position with his wife, which is confirmed by his chauffeur at the divorce court. The decree is granted and with the lawyer, the willun and the wampire gloating over their success in willun's home, we have Shero coming in with a gun and shooting her willun husband and herself. Hero Gene rushes in and as he is kissing Shero's lifeless face we fade to a close-up of a clock striking eight; then to a finger press- ing the doorbell, and then — biff! to Norma on the couch, coming out of it. They sure did pull this surprise effec- tively. The action is so tense and dramatic just pro- ceeding this trick twist that the way they bring it on is going to knock the average audience right out of their seats. They finish this up with willun coming in to ask for his answer and Shero is so dumbfounded that when Gene comes in a minute later, she introduces him to willun as her future husband. Then they finished with willun's car being stalled at a later date, and Hero and Shero passing him up on the road. They worked in some very good titles here. Miss Talmadge was lighted to a decided disadvantage in many of her scenes which discounted her striking natural beauty somewhat but the offering, as a whole, was artistically produced. Director Sid Franklin gave us many good little touches although the opening busi- ness at the well didn't seem to fit in with Miss Tal- madge's personality. Eugene O'Brien was a thoroughly likable Hero, Ram- sey Wallace made his role convincing as the willun- husband and Jobyna Howland was a satisfactory wam- pire. although she was not particularly striking and much too tall to play opposite Wallace. E. A. Warren was acceptable as Shero's guardian. Will Go Over With a Bang But It's Fatal to See It Backwards The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor DON'T LET 'EM SEE IT BACKWARDS! I have preached this thing many times in the past and I hope yon fellows see the importance of having folks see fea- tures from the beginning but if there was ever an in- stance when it will jazz up the whole parade to let them see the lasl first, it's on this one. The surprise finish in this picture 1ms been so effectively handled that not one in a thousand is going to dope it out in advance, with the result that they are going to rave about this picture to their trends as having handed them a jolt. You'll find that you will create additional curiosity by advertising that your doors will be closed during the last half hour or more of each performance. A waiting line never hurts if there is a sound reason for it and the fact that you are adhering to this policy is going to create the impression that this must be some- thing unusual or you wouldn't resort to such a pro- cedure. If you've played Norma Talmadge's recent pictures and haven't built up a tremendous following for her, then surely there is something radically wrong with your methods, because she is one of our very biggest drawing cards in most communities and is gaining in popularity with every production. I wouldn't make any hint about this having a sur- prise twist, because if folks suspect the dream finish the real kick of the picture is lost. And don't overlook the importance of getting your gang in at the beginning. That's the only logical way to see any picture but the success of this, from an entertainment standpoint, de- pends upon it. ZfeBRADSTREET of FILMDOM .DAIbYJ 7/fcRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 104 Wednesday, August 21, 1918 Price 5 Cents TAKES OLD UNIVERSAL RANCH Famous Players-Lasky Corp. Acquires 1000 Acre Site For Permanent Sets The Famous Players-Lasky Corpo- ration have secured the Old Univer- sal Ranch, a 1,000-acre tract within five minutes of Hollywood at a cost said to be $1,000,000. The site will be used for permanent sets and the first picture to be made there will be a revival of "The Squawman," which Cecil B. BeMille is to direct. It was originally announced that William Faversham would appear in the picture, but the more recent an- nouncements are to the effect that Elliott Dexter and Anna Little are to play the leads. "The Squawman" was originally done with Dustin Farnum playing the title role. It will be interesting to compare the new production with the earlier offering and note the advance- ment in the art of photoplay construc- tion. Directing Lila Lee G. Butler Clonbough Will Han- dle Young Star's Second Picture G. Butler Clonbough is to be the new director for the much heralded Famous-Players-Lasky star, Lila Lee. G. Butler Clonbough is none other than our old friend Gustav von Seyf- fertitz, who at one time was with Belasco and later with the Charles Frohman staff staging productions. Previous to that he was at the Irving Place theatre where he directed pro- ductions in German. Miss Lee's sec- ond offering will be called "Such a Little Pirate." Brings War Film E. M. Newman of Educational Back from Europe With Material E. M. Newman, nature director for Educational Films Corporation, has returned from Europe with some ex- traordinary film. He is now on his way to Washington to place his ma- terial before the Committee on Pub- lic Information before giving out anv details. Mr. Newman, although unable to give any specific information as to his film, made a general statement. He has been with the American troops from their transports to the front. He was with them in Alsace, on the Piave and the Asiae-o Plateau. He witnessed the shelling of Paris and the raids on London. Mr. Newman's material includes all the work of the American forces, from the building of miles of railroads to the enormous bakeries. He still suf- fers from the effect of a gas attack, which laid him up for several weeks, and robbed him of his voice. Exchanges Secured The Greiver Distributing Corpora- tion, which is handling the national distribution of the Ford Weekly, re- ports that the following exchanges have signed for their respective ter- ritories: Beehive exchange, New York City, for New York State and Northern New Jersey; R. D. Marson Attraction Co., Boston, Mass., for New England States; Masterpiece Film Attractions, Philadelphia, for Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware; Super Film Attractions, Washington, D. C, for Maryland, District of Co- lumbia, Virginia, North Carolina and Delaware except Wilmington; Qual- ity Film Corporation, Pittsburgh, for Western Pennsylvania and West Vir- ginia. Buys Hobart Play Thomas H. Ince has bought the pic- ture rights to "What Is Your Hus- band Doing?" by George V. Hobart from Hobart-Jordan Corp., Inc., for one of his stars, presumably Charles Ray. FOX-UNION BATTLE MAY SPREAD I. A. T. S. E. States That Local Operators' Unions Throughout Country May *Take Up Fight The William Fox production of "Salome," the showing of which was cancelled at the Casino theatre be- cause, it is understood, of the misun- derstanding between the I. A. T. S. E. and the Musicians' Union, may be the cause of a countrywide fight on the William Fox film productions, in the houses of the local exhibitors as well as in the legitimate theatres where the road attraction of the Fox of- fice was to play. One of the officials of the I. A. T. S. E. intimated yesterday that there was a possibility that the va- rious locals of the Moving Picture Machine Operators' Protective Union throughout the country would take up the battle. This would mean_ that those contracting for the Fox picture would find it difficult to have their operators (if they were Union men) run the films. The developments yesterday, how- ever, seemed to indicate that the Fox executives would try to come to an amicable understanding with the I. A. T. S. E. One of the Fox executives a^ked that the business representa- tive of the New York local call on him. At the conference the question of obtaining Union men for the Fox road shows was up and the local rep- resentative informed the Fox people that the matter would have to be sub- mitted to the national body of the I. A. T. S. E. for their consideration. At present the road shows are be- ing held off until there is a definite understanding between the two bod- ies. Theatrical bookers intimated that they would have to reconsider the routings of the Fox picture in the event that there was a fight between Fox and the union organizations, for they did not want to take any chances on their regular road productions. Wednesday, August 21, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- Bide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes World Film will issue its last Ethel Clayton subject, entitled, "A Soul Without Windows," Sept. 30. Andrew C. Snyder, formerly gen- eral manager of the Dra-Ko Film Co., is in charge of the Greiver Distribut- ing Corporation's New York office. C. L. Yearsley, advertising man- ager for the First National Exhibit- ors' Circuit, is on the sick list. He suffered an acute attack of ptomaine poisoning last week. Kitty Gordon is expecting to leave for the Coast in a few days to start work there on productions to be re- leads by United Picture Theatres, Inc. Jesse J. Goldberg has completed ar- rangements with the Interocean Film Co. whereby "The House of Mir- rors," reissued as "My Husband's Friend," is sold for France and Switzerland. T. A. Leibler, Jr., head of the pub- licity department at the United Pic- ture Theatres, Inc., has been called in the draft and will leave Saturday for Camp Greenleaf, Ga. His suc- cessor has not been appointed. The native Indian dramas sched- uled for early release by^ the Educa- tional Films Corporation include "An Indian Love Story," "A Raid on an Indian Village," "Tribal Ceremonies" and "War Dances." The First National Exhibitors' Cir- cuit has prepared an elaborate press sheet for the exploitation of "Italy's Flaming Front." There are advance stories for the dailies as well as a special publicity campaign for put- ting over the picture in individual towns, as well as a series of cuts which are available to the exhibitor. TWO PLANS OF CAMPAIGN N. A. M. P. I. Fue/ Committee Confers With National Administrators in Washington WASHINGTON.— At a meeting of the Fuel Conservation Committee of the N. A. M. P. I. and the Fuel Ad- ministration in Washington, yester- day, plans were formulated for an educational campaign along two gen- eral lines. In the first place, there will be an effort to make the public realize the necessity of avoiding any waste of electricity, in order to conserve fuel, and in the second place the mission- ary work will be carried on in com- munities where there is an actual shortage that people may be instruct- ed in making the most of what the.y have. President William A. Brady will ap- point an additional committee oc five to work out the details of the plan, the committee to meet Thursday. To Meet Parker Conference With Priorities Commission Set for Friday WASHINGTON.— Wm. A. Brady, Frederick H. Elliott, Will Smith, E. S. Porter, J. H. Hallberg and A. J. Mitchell will confer with Judge E. 6. Parker of the Priorities Commission here on Friday. The data needed to show the financial status of the indus- try will be available by that time. Third Kenyon Picked Doris Kenyon's third production at the head of her own company, De Luxe Pictures, Inc., will be "Wild Honey," picturized by Louis Joseph Vance from the original story by Vingie E. Roe, which appeared early this sum- mer in Pictorial Review. Blackton Using Old Studio Commodore J. Stuart Blackton is again occupying his Brooklyn studio, which he leased to William Fox when he went to the Coast last year. At present the plant is being used for the production of "The Common Cause," and later will be used for other Blackton productions. Jimmie Cruze's First Jimmie Cruze is hard at work on his first picture as a director. He is staging the production of "Someone and Somebody," in which Wallace Reid is to star. In the picture that is to follow this Donald Crisp will direct Reid. Joseph Hopp Appointed CHICAGO.— Joseph Hopp, well- known in film circles as an exhibitor and recently vice-president of the Exhibitors' League, has been appoint- ed by the American Film Company as its representative in the Chicago Pathe exchange, to look after the dis- tribution of the Minter, Hayakawa and William Russell features. Fox Film Corp. has uprchased the rights to Fred Jackson's story, "A Stitch in Time." Directors Are Called Rembusch and Frank Here for Affiliated Conference Following the arrival of Frank J. Rembusch and Louis Frank of Chi- cago in New York yesterday, Charles C. Pettijohn called a directors' meet- ing of the Affiliated Distributors' Corp. for to-day. Important develop- ments in regard to the Affiliated are expected to result from the meeting and Mr. Pettijohn probably will make an announcement before the end of the week. Mr. Rembusch and Mr. Frank will be in town until Friday. Sell Year of Metro Export and Import Co. Close Twelve-Month Contract for Brazil Ben Blumenthal, president of the Export and Import Film Company, announces that his company has just closed a contract for the entire Metro output for the next year for Brazil. With the signing of this contract, the company has disposed of the Metro productions for the entire world with the exception of the Central Powers. Arrow Film Sales John R. Van Arnum of Syracuse, N. Y., has purchased "The Perfect Model," a re-issue of "Inspiration," and four Kerrigan re-issues for north- ern New York from the Arrow Film Corp., which also has disposed of "My Husband's Friend" to the South West- ern Film Corp. of Dallas, for Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. "Fools of Fate" and four of the Lockwood re- issues have been sold to the Day Film Corp., of Pittsburgh, for western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Finishes Patriotic Film Harold Lockwood has completed a patriotic picture for the Fourth Lib- erty Loan. This feature, which was directed by Edwin Carewe, is to be handled by the Treasury Department by courtesy of Metro Pictures. •&& DAILY Wednesday, August 21, 1918 From the Courts Bugs Baer Files Answer in N. Y. Slide Company's Suit Arthur (Bugs) Baer yesterday filed in the Supreme Court his answer to the action for breach of contract brought against him by the Greater New York Slide Company, Inc. Baer ad,mits he contracted on Feb- ruary 9, 1918, to supply to the Slide company fifty sayings or epigrams weekly which were to be exhibited under the caption: "Sayings of a Silly Sage, by Bugs Baer." He says the Slide company agreed that none ex- cept epigrams originating with him should be exhibited under this head. On March 3, 1918, he asserts, the Slide company exhibited an epigram that he did not originate or submit. For this reason, he says, the company broke the contract and released him. Herman Katz and John E. De Wolf yesterday filed a Supreme Court de- murrer to the action brought against them and the Paralta Plays, Inc., to recover $50,000 on a promissory note. The action was brought by Peierlo, Buhler & Co., bankers. The note was made by the Paralta Plays, Inc., and indorsed by Katz and Wolf. They demur upon the ground the plaintiff company has improperly joined, two causes of action in th^e same complaint. In one cause of ac- tion the bankers allege the defendant company made fraudulent representa- tions concerning the financial status of Katz and Wolf. In the other cause of action the complaint de- mands the full face value of the note from the defendants. There's a lot of dif- ference between system and running in a rut. A judgment for $410.67 against the Eldee Film Distributors, Inc., has been entered in the Supreme Court by the Gotham National bank. The bank sued on a series of checks en- dorsed by the defendant to the bank which were not paid. The papers were served on Walter Diller, presi- dent of the defendant, at Mt. Vernon, but the suit was not defended. Ben Blumenthal, president of the Export and Import Film Company, has brought two personal suits against the Interocean Film Company of 220 West 42nd Street, of which Paul Cromelin is president, one for settlement of an acknowledged in- debtedness of $3,000 and one for an accounting of money due under va- rious agreements. William Fox has decided to open the new William Fox Liberty thea- tre in St. Louis in September with "Why America Will Win." Candidate Uses Screen CHICAGO.— William Hale Thomp- son, republican candidate for U. S. Senator, is using a novel method of putting his name before the voters of Chicago and vicinity, which is meeting with unusual success. Wherever Mr. Thompson's aids are engaged in mak- ing political speeches, an operator projects upon an improvised screen on a nearby building, motion pictures of Chicago's mayor addressing a large crowd. Snatches of his campaign ad- dress are used as subtitles and the pictures end with a close-up of Mr. Thompson's arms outstretched, de- claring "I am pro-American, every inch of me." Small, portable projection machines are used, which give a remarkably distinct picture. The originality of the idea strikes the crowd at once and thousands gather at every corner where the pictures are shown. As one politician put it, after watch- ing a cheering mob on North Clark street last Firday, "The man who beats Thompson is going to need a lot of votes." Making Eleven Pictures Fox Film Corp. is at present mak- ing eleven productions in the east and the west. William Farnum is work- ing on "The Man of Power," which was written and is being directed by Frank Lloyd with Louise Lovely and Leatric Joy in the cast. Peggy Hy- land is appearing in "Marriages Are Made," and Virginia Pearson has just finished "The Queen of Hearts," which will be the first picture released under the Excel Pictures brand. BINDERS! for "WID'S DAILY" will cost $1. 75 each hereafter Notes from Ohio DAYTON.— Albert Kinzeler, man- ager of the Elite theatre, this, city is to do the booking for the Wyoming theatre also when his brother Gus, who at present manages that house, joins the army. The Apollo theatre is for the first time using a serial. The film to change the policy is Pathe's "Hands Up." Elmer Redelle, manager of the Sherman theatre at Chillicothe, is busy booking films for the Sherman, which is to open soon. He has booked "To Hell With the Kaiser." "The Geezer of Berlin," Universal's latest comedy, a travesty on "The Kaiser," is to play a return engage- ment at the Dayton theatre where it played several weeks ago. Work on the Auditorium theatre, which was destroyed recently, has al- ready begun and the owners, the Rauh estate, claim that the theatre will be open by Christmas. Julius Leopold has re-opened the Midget theatre at Dayton. Leopold also controls the Mecca theatre, an- other film house about two squares from the Midget, which he has oper- ated through the winter and summer months. Managing Director Mark Gates of the Dayton theatre, announces that "Cleopatra," "Les Miserables," "Tar- zan of the Apes," and many more big specials, have been booked for an early showing at the Dayton. The Majestic theatre is still closed and according to reliable information will never again be a film house. This is the house formerly managed by W. H. Rudolph, who is now publicity man for Clara Kimball Young. Reichenbach Resigns Harry Reichenbach, New York rep- resentative and general manager of the National Film Corporation of America, has severed his connections with that company. He intends leav- ing shortly for Europe where he is going on Government work, although in a civilian capacity. The National Film Corporation, of which "Smiling" Bill Parsons is the head, is the producer of "Tarzan of the Apes" and its sequel, "The Ro- mance of Tarzan," as well as the Parsons comedies and a forthcoming series of features with Billie Rhodes. Mr. Reichenbach has been with the company for about a year. Wednesday, August 21, 1918 ife& DAILY Wonderfully Well-Produced Feud Story Convinces and Really Grips Elaine Hammerstein in "HER MAN" Advanced M. P. Corp. — Pathe, Dist'rs DIRECTOR Ralph W. Ince AUTHOR Charles Neville Buck SCENARIO BY John E. Ince CAMERAMAN William Black AS A WHOLE Wonderfully realistic feud story, staged amid impressive scenic backgrounds; builds slowly and consistently to a climax that really grips. STORY Made intensely interesting all the way by convincing characterizations, flawless de= tail and effective lightings. DIRECTION Excellent handling of situations, intelligent building of characterizations and many effective touches throughout make this really grip. PHOTOGRAPHY Superb throughout LIGHTINGS Truly exceptional and effective. Shadow effects and night shots wonderful. CAMERA WORK Very fine; obtained effective angles and very good composition. STAR Very appealing in this and made dramatic moments convincing. SUPPORT Excellent characterizations through- out; made parts seem real; Lawson Butt splendid. EXTERIORS Impressive and convincing; kept to atmosphere and were exceptionally well photographed. INTERIORS Very good; looked substantial and showed minute attention to detail. DETAIL Not a flaw; many excellent touches. Hanging incident may be objectionable, but can be cut. CHARACTER OF STORY Feud stuff with many shooting incidents but has been well handled and should not offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,000 feet WHEN they can take the old Kentucky feud stuff for a central theme around which to build a six-reel story that really gets under your shirt and holds your attention all the way, I give them credit for having accomplished something unusual. We've had these "shoot-' em-up" fend and moonshine plots so many times that I didn't think they could film one which still retained a kick, but this one's got that — and it really grips. The story concerns a girl who leaves a home of re- finement and luxury in the North to go down to Ken- tucky and start a school for the illiterate mountaineers whose favorite out-door sport is picking off a member of a rival clan now and then from behind a clump of trees. The squareness of "Bad Anse". the leader of the Havey faction, gains Shero's admiration, although she denounces him for his brutal killings, not understanding the hatred of centuries that has prompted them. Her influence finally induces him to permit the courts to decide the fate of the man who has killed Jeb's father, with the result that the murderer is convicted and hanged. This action, and the dying confession of the leader of the rival clan, subdues the feud to an extent, but the friends of the murderer still hold a grudge and plan to kill Anse. In the meantime, Shero has confessed her love and when she and Hero "Bad Anse" are alone in the cabin, a noise warns them of the approach of the gang, arriving to carry out their threat. Anse leaves in the darkness and gives battle, while Shero- awaits in the cabin for the outcome. Hero is wounded and drags himself to the cabin. The call of the clan comes to Shero and she continues the fight, succeeding in killing or wounding all but one of the gang in a thrilling gun duel. Anse regains consciousness long enough to dispose of the leader just as he is leveling his gun at Shero. When, later that night, it is thought that Anse cannot recover, Shero asks to be married to him. The next morning, after an all-night vigil, he passes the crisis and the lovers clutch. The way this has been handled is truly exceptional. The intelligent development of the story by a slow, consistent tempo that gradually builds to a gripping, forceful climax; the splendid characterizations through- out, the impressive scenic backgrounds and wonderful lightings and the effeetrve handling of individual inci- dents makes this an offering that impresses forcibly. The exceptional cast included W. Lawson Butt, George Anderson, Carleton Macy, Erville Alderson, George Cooper. Violet Palmer. Josephine Morse and Cecil Chichester. The Large Majority Will Find It Real, Forceful Entertainment The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This, at the start-off, has the disadvantage of being a feud story. A disadvantage ,from a box-office standpoint, because we have had so many films built around this theme that were very mediocre that most folks are not going to believe that at last a producer has succeeded in whipping this much used material into a really grip- pins film. I don't believe that the mere fact that this contains considerable shooting will keep people from wanting to see it. Bill Hart has built a tremendous following with the gun stuff and Bill once did a success- ful feud picture, if you remember, "The Apostle of Vengeance." I believe this is going to make a tremend- ous hit with the folks who like exciting gun-stuff, with an interesting love- romance playing a conspicuous part in the story. On the other hand you'll find some folks, particularly the finnicky old women, who'll think some of the killings in this are awful. I would concentrate in my advertising upon the exceptional cast the im- pressive scenic backgrounds and the wonderful light- ings, giving considerable prominence to Miss Hammer- stein and the fact that she appeared in "The Co- Respondent". You can promise them convincing, grip- ping entertainment and I think the production will im- press in such a way that those who do like this kind of stuff will talk it up to their friends. The Kentucky feuds are still a mystery to many be- cause we have not had productions in the past which really explained why these conditions existed, and still exist, in certain sections of Kentucky and vicinity. This production succeeds in explaining the reason for this existing rival hatred more clearly than any offering I can recall. 7/^BRADSTREET of FILMDOM m\m 7/feRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 105 Thursday, August 22, 1918 Price 5 Cents ARLINE PRETTY IN NEW SERIES Levy After Features Star Returns to Screen Under Management of E. Lanning Masters — Backed by Exhibitors' Organization Arline Pretty, formerly with Vita- graph and Artcraft, is to be present- ed in a series of eight special pic- tures, in which she is to be featured alone, according to announcement by E. Lanning Masters, under whose management Miss Pretty will appear. ' Fully recovered from illness, which caused her retirement from the screen for the past year, Miss Pretty will leave next week for the Coast to be- gin the first of the series to be sub- mitted for release on the co-opera- tive plan. The pictures, it is stated, will be made by one of the foremost producers in the industry. Announce- ment of producing affiliation will be forthcoming in a few days. The cast, direction and stories for Miss Pretty's first three productions have already been approved. She will be supported by a leading man of prominent stage and screen achieve- ments, and will be directed by one of the best known directors of women in the moving picture field. The first story to be filmed by this new pro- ducing unit, it is understood, is one for which a great deal of rivalry has existed between prominent companies, $10,000 having been offered for it, it is said, by the largest of three organi- zations shortly before it was acquired for Miss Pretty. It is a drama of modern life. The foreign rights for the productions have already been contracted for by Sidney Garrett, pres- ident of the J. Frank Brockliss Co.. Miss Pretty will make a number of personal appearances throughout the country co-incident with the release of the first picture of the new series. Arrangements for such a tour are al- ready being made by the executives of the exhibitors' booking organiza- tion interested in the distribution of the pictures. Following the completion of the se- ries, two pictures of special magni- tude will be produced with Miss Pretty in the stellar role. Farrar Company Back Goldwyn Players Complete Mak- ing of Scenes at Cody, Wyoming Geraldine Farrar and other mem- bers of the company, including Thomas Santschi and Harry Lee, pro- ducing "The Hell Cat" for Goldwyn, returned from Cody, Wyoming, yes- terday, where they have been for sev- eral weeks making exteriors. Miss Farrar appeared none the worse for her recent accident. This is Mr. Santschi's first visit to New York in twelve years. Head of Feature Rights Corp. Mak- ing Headquarters at First National Col. Fred Levy, head of the Big Feature Rights Corporation, the Keith and Mary Anderson vaudeville theatres, the Strand and one of the owners of the Levy Brothers depart- ment store in Louisville, arrived in town this week and has been looking <->ver the feature market for material for his distributing organization. Mr. Levy is also the franchise holder for the First National in the states of Tennessee and Kentucky and is mak- ing his headquarters at the home of- fice of that organization while here. During the week he has closed a contract with Dr. Shallenberger, of the Arrow, for seven features for the southern territory. SULLIVAN TO RUN DISTRIBUTION Former Mutual Executive Appointed To Succeed Berst in Division of Films Denis J. Sullivan, recently assist- ant general manager of the Mutual Film Corporation, has been appoint- ed by Chas. S. Hart, Director of the Division of Films, Committee on Public Information, to the position of Manager of Domestic Distributions, to succeed J. A. Berst. As assistant general manager of the Mutual, Mr. Sullivan was in close touch with the distribution for that concern, and he introduced many in- novations in the way of business methods that were subsequently adopted by other corporations. Mr. Sullivan had come in contact with buyers during a connection extend- ing over a period of fifteen years with the American Tobacco Company, and I he quickly discovered that the same persistent methods that had won suc- cess for his work with that corpora- tion could be successfully applied to the film industry. He came into the trade at a time when many customers had become disgruntled by reason of an over-zeal- ous salesmanship that was not always careful of its facts and prone at times to forget its promises, and he aimed to establish sound relations with buv- ers. In an interview, following his ap- pointment, Mr. Sullivan said: "I think the human element in the film busi- ness is the biggest thing in it. It avails nothing to have a good prod- uct unless you have sincere men han- dling it. This is truer of the film than of any other line of merchandise. I have come to appreciate, too, the pe- culiar requirements of service in the film trade. Every man in it must have some of the peculiar require- ments of showmanship, some of the deftness of a press agent, some of the substantial brass-tack character- istics of a certified accountant and a whole lot of sand. "I feel highly honored that I have been called into the Government's service by Director Chas. S. Hart. It will be my purpose, throughout all activities, to work in close harmony with the exhibitors of the country, to the end that the greatest possible showing under the most advantage- ous conditions may be accorded the exceptional productions which are now being put out under the title of United States Official War Films." Thursday, August 22, 1918 tMA DAILY Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYXDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- Bide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes Carey Wilson, formerly with the First National New York exchange in the capacity of office manager, is no longer associated with the com- pany. Norma Talmadge interrupted the making of her big Chinese feature this week to do a Liberty Loan Trailer for the government. The next Bushman-Bayne vehicle, "Little Miss Money-Bags," was placed in production yesterday at the Bio- graph Studio in the Bronx. Abe and Julius Stern, heads of the L K O and Century Comedy compa- nies, have moved from the fourth to the eighth floor in the Mecca Build- ing, taking over the Balboa offices. Official announcement from the United Picture Theatres substantiates the report already printed, that Kitty Gordon pictures will be released through United. E. M. Saunders, Metro representa- tive in the New England territory has just returned to New York. He re- ports that the Screen Classics Kaiser picture did splendid business in Bos- ton and New England. Rene Guissart, who has won an en- viable reputation as a cameraman with Eclair, Triangle, Fox, Goldwyn, World and other companies, is now associated with Maurice Tourneur in the production of "Woman." Following the suggestion of F. N. Sandford, Arrow Film Corporation, has selected "The Perfect Model" as the title under which the picture known as "Inspiration" will be reis- sued. The film has been re-edited and supplied with new sub-titles. FILM DIVISION HAS HOUSE ORGAN Government Body to Publish Paper Every Two Weeks— Regular Rereases of War Films Planned The Division of Films of the Com- mittee on Public Information has pre- pared a paper to be issued every two weeks, which will be known as the "Official Film News," and which will serve as a house organ much like the publications the various produc- ing companies furnish to the exhib- itors. The purposes of the new paper as set forth in the first issue, are "to as- sist magazine and newspaper pub- lishers, motion picture exhibitors, commercial and industrial enterprises, picture post-card printers, and others to secure official and authentic war films, pictures, advertising and news of the Division of Films." W. J. Maclnnes is the editor-in- chief of the "Official Film News," which in its initial issue was twelve pages. It resembles very closely the ordinary newspaper, except that it is slightly smaller in proportions. Its pages are relieved by cuts of troops in various war activities. In the leading article, announce- ment is made of the intention of the Division of Films to release a war feature at regular intervals of from six weeks to two months with the possibility of decreasing the interven- ing periods. The Foreign Depart- ment of the Division of Films is mak- ing arrangements whereby official films of the Allies will be shown in this country under the supervision of the Division. Selling Out the House The unusual method of disposing of the entire house to societies and large concerns, which proved success- ful during the engagement of "Amer- ica's Answer," the U. S. Official War Film at the George M. Cohan theatre, New York, has been duplicated for the showing of this patriotic picture at the Forrest theatie in Philadelphia and the Majestic theatre in Boston. The season at these houses opened August 12, after an intensive cam- paign by special representatives of the Division of Films. Committee on Pub- lic Information, under the direction of Ryerson Ritchie, Chief of the Com- munity Section. "Wives of Men" at Casino The Pioneer production, "Wives of Men," in which Florence Reed is starred, is to take up the time at the Casino which was vacated by the failure of the Fox picture, "Salome," to open there. The production will open at the house next Sunday night. Canada Wants Film Would Use Liberty Loan Pictures to Further Victory Campaign The pictures being made by forty- two stars for use in the coming Lib- erty Loan drive are destined to serve a double purpose. After they have been presented throughout the United States, they will be shipped to Canada for use there, if the request of the Canadian Victory Loan committee is granted, as it no doubt will be. The Victory Loan campaign comes immediately after the Liberty Loan and the film may be sent to Canada without any curtailment of its use- fulness in this country. Loughborough Back in Line Advices from France received yes- terday bear the tidings that Lieut. James Loughborough, formerly of the Metro publicity department, who was commissioned at Plattsburg and gassed about two months ago while in action in France, has completely recovered. Lieut. Loughborough is back in active service again and is now attached to the Intelligence Corps of the Expeditionary Force. L. I. Territory Opening Up Reports gathered from a number of the independent exchanges indicate it the salesmen are surprised at the manner in which Long Island exhib- itors are booking independent prod- ucts. Heretofore this territorv has been regarded as a particularly strong field for Paramount-Artcraft. To Make Science Pictures Essanay will issue a series of do- mestic science pictures in the inter- est of food conservation for the United States government, beginning August 16. One each week will be is- sued thereafter, to be. attached to the Broncho Billy films, released through General Film. Claim Violation of Espionage Act Judge Evans in the West Brighton Court will try a case of alleged viola- tion of the Espionage Act to-day. While Gail Kane and Norman Trevor were doing exteriors last week on Staten Island, Henry Sedley, a mem- ber of the company, is said to have overheard seditious remarks uttered by Louis Hugot and his wife, hotel proprietors. rtjgj DAILY Thursday, August 22, 1918 GOOD FAITH IS GUARANTEED Producers Deny Using Canada As a Means of Shipping Film Abroad Emphatic denials of a report that certain producers and distributors were evading the regulations of the War Trade Board relative to foreign shipments, by sending film abroad via Canada, have been received by the Na- tional Association of the Motion Pic- ture Industry in reply to letters sent to practically all of the picture con- cerns in this country. Thus far twenty-four replies have been received and in each there is an assurance that neither the company nor any individual connected with it will in any way infringe upon the War Trade Board rules. The letters on file at the N. A. M. P. I. office are from Ivan Film Pro- ductions, Inc., Frohman Amusement Corp., Norma Talmadge Picture Corp., Cosmofotofilm Co., Bray Stu- dios, Inc., Kalem Co., Wharton Re- leasing Corp., Vitagraph Corp., Rot- hacker Film Mfg. Co., Baumer Films, Inc., Pathe Exchange, Inc., Metro Corp., Reginald Warde, Inc., Inter- ocean Forwarding @o., Thanhouser Film Corp., Universal Film Mfg* Co., First National Exhibitors' Circuit, World Pictures Corp., Interocean Film Corp., International Film Ser- vice Co., Goldwyn Distributing Corp., Eclipse Film Laboratories, Gaumont Co., Crystal Film Co. Stebbins Quits Academy Jack Stebbins, who has been man- aging the Academy of Music for William Fox for several years, re- signed last Saturday and is now the managing director of the new Bre- voort theatre, in Brooklyn, Stebbins took charge of the Brooklyn house on Monday of this week. Kleine's Biggest Day Tuesday was reported as the big- gest day in six months in the New York exchange of the George Kleine System. On that day $3,000 in con- tracts for the new Chaplin "Triple Trouble" were signed in addition to a volume of other business. The William Fox circuit started to play the "Triple Trouble" picture on Mon- day and launched a special advertising campaign, featuring it solely in their ads. S. R. Banks, formerly of the com- plaint department of the Paramount- Artcraft, has been placed with the sales force and assigned to a section of the Brooklyn territory. Arrow Classifies Features Arrow Film has adopted the fol- lowing system of classification of its features: AA-f- to be played on -°r- centage, A-)- $100 a day or over, A $100 a day, B+ $75 a day or over, but less than $100, B $75 a day, C-f- $50 a day or over, but less than $75, C $50 a day, D+ $35 a day or over, but less than $50, D $35 a day, E-f- between $25 and $35 a day, E $25 a day, F-f- between $15 and $25 a day, F $15 a day and G less than $15 a day. "Tarzan" Print Stolen The New York exchange of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit has reported the theft of one of its prints of "Tarzan of the Apes." The theft was committed through the use of a forged order which was presented to the manager of the Park theatre at 169th Street and Park Avenue one day last week. No trace of the print has been had since. Logue Gets Big Salary Charles Logue has signed a contract with the Goldwyn Company for five years as scenario writer according to report, and he will get a salary start- ing at $15,000 and advancing to $40,- 000 the fourth year. Mr. Logue first made a name for himself by his work on "My Fours Years in Germany." This was not his first picture, but it was the one for which he received the most credit. Then came the Gold- wyn productions of "The Service Star," "Just for To-night" and "The Kingdom of Youth." We're wondering if Mr. Zukor will be able to explain the P.- A. contract in the four-minute time limit at the A. E. A. convention. Adds To Sales Force Hodkinson Appoints Three Represen- tatives—Additional Sales Announced W . W. Hodkinson Corporation has made three additions to its growing sales force. William J. Hanley has been appointed representative in VYilkesbarre; Edward Briggs will han- dle the Buffalo territory, and H. O. Bartelli will represent the company in Denver. As part of the sales campaign Hod- kinson is waging, C. E. Shurtlaff, gen- eral sales manager, has left for Buf- falo to meet Mr. Briggs, and to motor with him, to Albany, covering all the cities on the way. In connection with its program, Hodkinson announces that five more Loew houses have contracted for its service. This makes twelve Loew the- atres taking the company's product. Hodkinson has also signed up its first run accounts in Denver and Kan- sas City. _ The Strand theatre is tak- ing Hodkins(on service in Denver and the Doric in Kansas City. Metro Films Finished Olive Tell and Emmy Wehlen Fea- tures Completed — Lockwood's Titled Metro announces the completion of two features and the titling of an- other. Olive Tell has finished work on "Secret Strings," her first Metro picture as a star. This feature was directed by John Ince. William J. Kelly played the leading male part. Emmy Wehlen has completed "His Bonded Wife," directed by Charles J. Brahin. Creighton Hale plays oppo- site her in this. Harold Lockwood's patriotic film, which he is doing for the Treasury Department, is to be called "Liberty Loan Jimmy." The Emily Stevens feature, "Kildare of Storm," has also been completed. The Metro release schedule for Sep- tember includes Edith Storey in "The Silent Woman," Sept. 2; Ethel Barry- more in "Our Mrs. McChesney," Sept. 9; Emily Stevens in "Kildare of Storm," Sept. 16; May Allison in "The Return of Mary," Sept. 23, and Bert Lytell in "Unexpected Places," Sept. 30. Brooks With Government W. H. Brooks, who has been the head of the financial department of the Paralta, has tendered his resigna- tion to go into Government service. Mr. Brooks will be attached to the staff of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Col. Roper and will be a district supervisor of Income and Ex- cess Profits taxes. Thursday, August 22, 1918 T&-M DAILY Characterizations and Individual Incidents Make This Entertaining Ethel Barrymore in "OUR MRS. McCHESNEY" Metro DIRECTOR Ralph Ince AUTHOR Edna Ferber SCENARIO Not credited; stage play by George V. Hobart. CAMERAMAN William Black AS A WHOLE Well produced version of stage play, is interesting all the way and titles will bring many laughs. STORY Human theme that will get to many; de- pends on characterizations and individual in= cidents rather than action, but entertains. DIRECTION. . . .Gave very good atmosphere and made characters seem real. Made individual inci= dents register. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good LIGHTINGS Very good CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Very fine in role that fitted her SUPPORT Well balanced throughout EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; not many INTERIORS Very good; hotel set very well done DETAIL Convincing CHARACTER OF STORY Clean entertainment for any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet NOT having seen the stage play from which this was taken. 1 am not able to compare it with the screen version, but it seems as though the origi- nal play had been followed very closely. We have very few exteriors and Hie stage method of bringing all of the characters together in one set was noticeable all through this, although it in no way detracts from the entertaining qualities of the screen version. The titles were very good throughout and I imagine that most of them were from original lines in the play. The story centers around a successful lady drummer, Mrs. McChesney, who has a son nearing manhood. The head of the firm, learning that she has tendered her resignation, overtakes her on her last trip in an effort to retain her valuable services and arrives at the hotel in a neighboring town just after her young son had told her of his marriage to a chorus girl whom he had recently met. While the young manager of her firm is pleading with her to remain, the rival manager puts in an appearance and his obnoxious manner, as well as hero's proven regard for her son, makes her decide to remain. Realizing that her son. as well as his young wife, are merely children, she arranges for the girl to go to a boarding school and hero provides a position for the son. Later, it is found that the firm is nearing bank- ruptcy and Mrs. McChesney comes to the rescue with an idea for a novelty skirt which proves a sensation and saves the firm. We have a quiet romance all through the offering between the head of the firm and Mrs. Mc- Chesney. which gradually ripens into love and she ac- cepts him when he proposes after her idea has saved the firm from ruin. The main thread of the story is very slender, depend- ing- upon characterizations and individual incidents rather than action. These have been worked in nicely, however, and we have some very good titles throughout which will get many laughs. Just to give the son's wife, played by Lucile Lee Stewart, more to do. they had the professional model get sick just before the showing of the novelty skirt at the fashion show, and Lucile came to the rescue by wearing the skirt and being a sensation at the show. Then we had a semi-willun, the head of the rival firm, who tried to purchase the idea before the firm could learn of its success. Before the deal is closed, the son comes in with the news of its success. Huntley Gordon was a very pleasing hero, Wilfred Lytell gave a very satisfactory performance as the son, John Daly Murphy was a very good type as the shrewd semi-willun, William H. St. James and Walter Percival got the most out of their respective roles, Ricca Allen had a good bit as a spinster buyer and others in the cast were George Trimble, Sammy Cooper and Fred Walter. Famous Star In Screen Version of Stage Play Should Pull Business The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor It seems like quite some time since we've seen Ethel Barrymore on the screen but she enjoyed quite a fol- lowing when we used to see her at more frequent inter- vals and the fact that this is a screen version of a play in which she appeared on Broadway should mean some- thing at the box office. Many stage plays have been flivs on the screen and although I have not seen the stage version of this, it is thoroughly entertaining and pleasing as a picture and I am sure that any audience will enjoy it. If your folks have seen the play, either with its origi- nal company or in stock, I would concentrate upon this angle in my advertising. If they haven't seen it, how- ever, and it is much more likely that most of them have not, you might create interest with catchlines like these: "Do you think women make more successful drum- mers than men? See Ethel Barrymore in 'Our Mrs. McChesney'." "Have you ever tried to think up an idea that would nfake you a fortune? Do you know that the simplest ideas often bring the biggest returns? See how Ethel Barrymore saves her firm from ruin with a simple idea in 'Our Mrs. McChesney'." Or you might address an ad to mothers, like this: "MOTHERS. Would you believe in your son when circumstances proved he had erred? Would you send him to a reform school or would you stick by him and help him to overcome his faults? See 'Our Mrs. Mc- Chesney'." • 7jfcBRADSTREET o/FILMDOM Sunday, August 25, 1918 DAlbY^ Vol. V, No. 108 ZfoRECOCHIZED Authority Price 25 Cents ..•.••;**.•. •.•>A.--.' 'd 0 II HMIKML ." H E V YORK In A Series of Eight Happy Pictures "/w,.J^ J.AJULS *£3tfMJUiGU.%M CtjLa>/ju. 'amy J. * j. Directed By Xd^wapo Dillon PlCTURIZeD BYRoY»SoMM£RVlLL,e A Star Who reflects all the sunshine of life— who is the spirit of love, youth and happiness, with a smile that is contagious, with eyes that dance, with dimples that bewitch. A Story That gives the star full play for all of her wonderful charm— that is sweet and wholesome, yet forceful and fascinating— that is overrunning with the joy of living and of loving. Who could ask for a combination of greater appeal? J2j:z,z:t±s£:z> £$£:j=*t£s2*i&&e, ss^-tji&iitjie W^to "hODKINSON corporation- aiWalfc _/f II LETTED. PAO.K. $SSSSf i lidr^^ SSSffi? f Copyright 1918. Wid's Film and Film Folk. Inc. Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St., N«w York. N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second-class Matter. Terms (Postage free) United States, Outside of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00; Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Features Reviewed William Desmond in WILD LIFE Page 3 Triangle Pauline Starke in DAUGHTER ANGELE Page 5 Triangle Elsie Ferguson in HEART OF THE WILDS Page 7 Artcraft Billie Burke in THE PURSUIT OF POLLY Page 9 Paramount Colleen Moore and Thomas Jefferson in A HOOSIER ROMANCE Page 11 Selig — Mutual Tom Sanschi in THE STILL ALARM Page 13 Selig — Pioneer F. F. Corp'n — State Rights Kitty Gordon in < MERELY PLAYERS Page 15 World Constance Talmadge in SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE Page 18 Selznick — Select Horst von der Goltz in THE PRUSSIAN CUR Page 19 Fox Special Norma Talmadge in HER ONLY WAY Page 21 Jos. M. Schenck — Select Anna Q. Nilsson and Franklyn Farnum in IN JUDGMENT OF Page 23 Metro Elaine Hammerstein in .... HER MAN Page 25 Advanced M. P. Corp. — Pathe, Dist'rs Ethel Barrymore in OUR MRS. McCHESNEY Page 27 Metro Corrinne Griffith in THE CLUTCH OF CIRCUMSTANCE Page 29 Vitagraph Tom Mix in FAME AND FORTUNE Page 31 Victory — Fox Real Business Session in Chicago If you're a regular guy and really take an in- terest in this here lillnm business, it is up to you to make your plans to get to Chicago for the busi- ness conference to be held there the first week in September. This is not like the old hokum politics conven- tion exposition affairs, but has been planned en- tirely from the angle of getting concrete results by bringing important men of the industry to- gether for a sure enough heart to heart talk. Special invitations have been sent to many prominent people interested in producing, dis- tributing and exhibition, and these men are to be called upon to have their say about the why and wherefore of conditions as they exist and condi- tions as they should be. We all know that most every exhibitor meeting that has ever been held has been about ninety- nine per cent, politics and one per cent, working. get-something-done business. It is pretty generally understood that the A. E. A. is perfectly willing to affiliate with the old league, so that the question of exhibitor politics is decidedly a minor one so far as this convention in Chicago is concerned. Instead of spending the first three days of the meeting with politics, a definite plan has been laid out whereby big exhibitors, big producers and big- distributors, as well as the little fellows, if they desire, are going to be given an opportunity to say what they have to say as long as they keep to the question. There is to be no exposition and I earnestly urge every individual who has any regard for the future of his own affairs and those of the industry, to be AILV Sunday, August 25, 1918 in Chicago during this week, of September 2nd to 8th. Don't figure that this is none of your business, because, believe me, it is, and certainly if you want to get something done, and you all agree that things need to be done, this is the time and place to start it. I will be at the Congress Annex and hope to see every one of you fellows in Chicago, willing to get up and talk out in meeting, because this is the first genuine opportunity for a national gathering where everyone can say what they have to say with the fellow they want to say it to on hand to listen. Don't tell me you can't afford to be there be- cause of business finances or anything else, be- cause I tell you that your finances and business depend upon your getting certain things done and the best way to start towards getting things done is just such a meeting as this, where some reason- able reforms can be given the proper momentum. I will expect to see you— and you — and you. Make reservation now because sleepers are hard to get at the last minute. ALLEN DWAN NOW SUPERVISING AND DIRECTING THE SCREEN PRESENTATION OP "ARIZONA" By AUGUSTUS THOMAS Sunday, August 25, 1918 iM*k A1LY Routine Western Meller Given Ordinary Production. Is Just "Movie" William Desmond in "WILD LIFE" Triangle DIRECTOR Henry Otto AUTHOR M. V. Dearing SCENARIO BY Chas. J. Wilson, Jr. CAMERAMAN Steve Norton AS A WHOLE Bill's pleasing personality lost in very ordinary western meller that has nothing to recommend it. STORY Mechanical dovetailing of old situa- tions fails to get anywhere and never stirs up interest. DIRECTION Obtained one good shot of coach go= ing over cliff but failed to make other action interesting. Let things happen very conve= niently. PHOTOGRAPHY. .Just good, straight stuff; not artistic LIGHTINGS. . . .Generally too uniform; a few good bits CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Pleasing Hero utterly handicapped by story and mechanical direction. SUPPORT Satisfactory EXTERIORS No attempt to pick new western locations. INTERIORS The same old stand=bys DETAIL Convenient CHARACTER OF STORY Routine western LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet IT SURE is hard on poor old Bill Desmond to have to depend on this kind of stuff to keep his following, let alone build it. Bill has a very pleasing person- ality and I'm sure he makes a hit with the fair sex everywhere but he can't overcome the handicap of such ordinary material as we get here. This isn't terrible, it's just very, very ordinary. It's not any worse than the stuff they have been giving Bill for the past few months, but that's bad enough and I'll bet that Bill is commencing to realize it as much as anyone. You can't get a jolt out of the present-day entertain- ment shoppers with just passable stuff and certainly that is all this ever amounts to. Bill appears in this as the bad, bad man of a bad western town and when Josie Sedgwick is sent to the town by an employment agency, thinking she is to ob- tain a position as a waitress, she finds she has been tricked and is forced to become a dance-hall girl. Bill falls for her and thinking she is like all the rest, kisses her, in return for which she slaps him on the face. And this is the blow that causes Bad Bill's reform. Ed Brady is the willun who attempts to get fresh with Josie which causes a battle when Hero Bill interferes. Then they plant an incident where Bill drops his hand- kerchief, which had his initial on it for the purposes of the scenario, so that later when willun kills a man, he plants Bill's handkerchief on the scene of the hold-up and Bill is accused. Bill escapes arrest and starts to make his get-away when he comes upon the overturned stage coach and finds willun's dying pal, whom Bill had once befriended, with the result that the pal confesses that willun did the doity woik and Bill is vindicated. And they finish as per usual with Bill and Josie in the clutch, having adopted the baby of the dead victim of willun's stagecoach hold-up to start out in life with. The scene showing the stage-coach rolling over the precipice after the horses had broken loose following the hold-up, was very well done and offers the only real thrill in the production. It looks very much as if this had "jest happened" because there was a driver on the seat when it went over and he jumped just in time to escape serious injury. Anyway the thrill registered and will no doubt get a gasp from most audiences. In one place they had Bill lose his hat when he was making his get-away, so he could ride back and pick it up from the saddle but this thing has been done so many times and was so obviously planted the way we got it here that it fails to get over as anything but a "playing to the gallery" stunt. Others in the cast were: Dot Hagar, Orral Humphries, Graham Pette, Eddie Peters and Bill Patton. WID'S YEAR BOOK— Out Next Month— Get Ad Copy in Early. tMA DAILY Sunday, August 25, 1918 Has Nothing to Recommend It But Will Probably Get Over The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor William Desmond in "WILD LIFE" Triangle i If Bill's recent pictures haven't made your gang commence to lose interest in Bill, maybe bis name will slide tliis over satisfactorily. There isn't much else to recommend it unless you want to use the one thrill in the production for a come-on and see if you can get your gang interested that way. It's just a routine west- ern such as we have been getting from Triangle recently, slides along in the same old rut and fails to give us any- thing new or startling but I suppose the average gang will accept it and say nothing although certainly none of them are going to rave over it or give it more than a passing thought after they have seen it. The "Wild Life" title sounds like one of those things Hint were cooked up by some bright mind in the studio who thinks that the whole world wants blood and thun- der meller as a steady diet and won't come into a theatre unless the title suggests that kind of entertainment. About your only chance of getting any money on this is !<> play up what may remain of the box office value of Bill Desmond's name and simply tell them that this is a western meller with Bill Desmond, the society hero, playing the role of a bold, bad man. If you can duck this consistently. I would do so, because while it may not cause any complaints, it cer- tainly isn't the kind of stuff that builds up house pres- tige and keeps the theatre- going gang interested in mo- tion picture entertainment. F' ■.«**>. '■•••< #3*T? • 'v\ »p .?: ■»}'.V$ > *'•&' *!M •*>> . •' &M Cannot Keep Him Out of ^^Tlieatre- Houdini ROLFE PRODUCTIONS, Inc. HARRY GROSSMAN, Genl. Mngr. Temporary Office : 729 Seventh Ave., New York Sunday, August 25, 1918 jM^ DAILY Routine "Movie" Romance with German Spy Trimmings. Lacks Punch Pauline Starke in "DAUGHTER ANGELE" Triangle DIRECTOR William Dowlan AUTHOR W. H. Sterns SCENARIO BY George Elwood Jenks CAMERAMAN Elgin Lessly AS A WHOLE Very ordinary material that never grips or creates suspense. Things happen obligingly all the way. STORY Everybody's doing it. Routine "movie" romance with German spy trimmings. DIRECTION Let action and happenings become very mechanical and failed to make this more than routine two=a=week program movie. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied but generally satisfactory LIGHTINGS Acceptable though not artistic CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Has appeal but was hardly suited to role and was given little opportunity to register. SUPPORT Walt Whitman good but most of cast impressed as "actors." EXTERIORS. .. .Satisfactory; coast shots rather good INTERIORS Acceptable DETAIL Convenient CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing objectionable LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet iir~~WH> went tlic fillnm. tra la. Poor Pauline." This ^r is one of those obliging scenarios that lets every- ^^ thing happen at just the right time, the play- ers do just what you think they are going to do and everything dove-tails in so perfectly thai any audience is going to go out deciding that they haven'1 seen much because they doped out the finish in advance and there ain't no fun guessing at plots when you can guess 'em right every time; it takes the novelty out of the enter- tainment. Pauline appears in this as the grand- daughter of Walt Whitman, who had turned her mother out many years before and had since wished that she would come back to him but had lost track of her. When Pauline and her mother return to Walt's house, the house- keeper, who has designs on Walt's money, turns them away, saying that such were Whitman's instructions. It very conveniently happened that Walt had con- sented to adopt a French refugee which enabled Pau- line to pose as the refugee and install herself in Walt's home. The housekeeper tries to make things uncom- fortable for Pauline but not succeeding in this she frames her son to win Pauline's love. Hero then gains admission to the household by an influential letter from Washington, according to a title and. of course, he falls for Pauline and vice versa. Housekeeper's willun son happens to be the German spy Hero is after, but before he can nab him. willun succeeds in making the villagers believe that Hero is the spy and so they dress up in Klu Klux outfits and come to nab Hero. Hero doesn't happen to be in the house and Shero goes to the cave where he is getting a line on spy opera- lions and warns him. He returns to where the sang have Walt under a tree and establishes his real identity after which willun spy and his associate are captured and Hero and Shero finish with the clutch. Shero's mother is re-united with her father and all ends satisfactorily. Just to make it more intrikut they married Pauline to willun (with a sub-title) so he could claim right to Walt's fortune, but the marriage evidently didn't take; anyway, it was never referred to again. Gene Burr was the wicked willun-spy and looked suf- liciently wicked, although he frequently "acted." Philo McCullough was a satisfactory Hero: Lulu Warrenton made you despise her in the role of the conniving house- keeper, while Walt Whitman as Shero's grandfather, was easily the best actor in the cast. Others who ap- peared were: Myrtle Rishell. Miles McCarthy. Mrs. Mackley and Harold Holland. Charles H®y WID'S YEAR BOOK — Carrying definite and authentic information. DAILY Sunday, August 25, 1918 Will Get By as Routine Program Offering But Is Very Ordinary The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Pauline Starke in "DAUGHTER ANGELE" Triangle If your gang has been accepting Triangles regularly you can no doubt slide this over without serious protest, although I am sure that no one is going to enthuse over it. I would just slip it over quietly without any rash promises as to its merits and wouldn't lay too much stress on Miss Starke in this on the strength of her past performances because this little lady hasn't been given a role in the offering which enables her to really put over anything. This is certainly a quince title, so far as pulling power is concerned, if ever one was wished on a production, so if you feel that you have to play this you might subordinate the title with lines like these: "Wherein Pauline hunts the Huns and wins a hus- band," or "The story of an American girl who cleared her sweetheart of a false charge and routed a gang of German spies." You might create interest in your ads by having cuts made of Gene Burr and Philo McCullough, arranged side by side with copy like this underneath: "Both of these men were accused of being German spies. One of them proved to be a U. S. Secret Agent. Who's guilty? Pauline Starke decides in the Triangle play. 'Daughter Angele'." One Thousand Dollars ($ 1 000.00) Per Week UNDER ANY OTHER PLAN Evelyn Nesbit and her son Russell Thaw in "HER MISTAKE" Now Booking Under Producers' Distributing Corporation Franchise at $10.00 $20.00 $30.00 Per Day Sign Your Contract Now PPODUCERS' DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION FRANK G. HALL. President 126-130 West 46th Street, New York Sunday, August 25, 1918 tMA DAILY Very Striking Exteriors and Personalities Lift Rather Weak Story Elsie Ferguson in "HEART OF THE WILDS" Artcraft DIRECTOR Marshall Neilan AUTHOR Edgar Selwyn SCENARIO BY Charles Maigne CAMERAMAN Walter Stradling AS A WHOLE Exceptionally artistic and distinc- tive exteriors and lightings together with per= sonalities of players lifted very ordinary plot. STORY Held attention nicely until finish, but died at end. DIRECTION Made atmosphere decidedly distinc= tive and gave strength to dramatic action ex- cept in final sequence, which registered very poorlv. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally good. Many wonder= fully artistic and effective exterior silhouettes and cloud effects. LIGHTINGS Some exceptionally effective — gener= ally pleasing. CAMERA WORK. . . .Composition and angles very good STAR Made characterization appealing and con= vincing. SUPPORT Quite pleasing EXTERIORS Gave wonderful atmosphere to pro= duction — some very exceptional shots. INTERIORS Good DETAIL Satisfactory, except behavior of police in final sequence. CHARACTER OF STORY. .Has done service for many years. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,600 feet CONSIDERING the fact that this was a very ordi- nary plot, the basic idea of which has served for many a production on the screen, it is entirely to the credit of Director Neilan that he has been able to make this seem a worthy special offering because of the atmosphere registered in the first few reels. Unfortunately, in the final sequence, when the cli- max of the plot was reached, we found a twist which did not entirely clear the shero and her brother from the fact that brother had murdered a man, and this se- quence was really ruined by the fact that four mounted policemen were supposed to have pursued the murderer to his home, and yet these four sit downstairs very "THE PURSUIT OF POLLY" With BILLIE BURKE Paramount Comedy -Released Aug. 19th nonchalant and unconcerned while the murderer, his sister, and the man who was attacking his sister, .played quite a long scene upstairs. When the murderer finally came downstairs, one of the mounted policemen reached for his gun, but found that his holster was buckled. The chances are that most any kid will see that this was all wrong and will complain over the careless man- ner in which the policemen gave up the chase upon arriving at the house in order to allow the characters upstairs to finish their dramatic scene. This is the old story written by Edgar Selwyn and made into a picture some years ago for the All-Star Company, under the title of "Pierre of the Plains." The plot is a very simple one and can be briefly told. An Indian who is sort of a guide for the mounted police, insulted the daughter of a boot-legging trader. Daugh- ter is the shero, played by Miss Ferguson. Her brother played by Matt Moore, was sort of a comedy character and also used as the necessary pivot about which to cen- ter the plot. Tom Meighan was the mounted policeman, very much interested in Miss Ferguson. Miss Ferguson's brother went after the Indian in order to get back some whiskey his father had sold the Indian in an unguarded moment, and when the Indian said something about his sister, brother promptly shot him. The rest of the film was devoted to the mounted police trailing the fugitive murderer, with Mr. Meighan stop- ping to see Miss Ferguson, with the result that father and a friend of his drugged Tommy, making it impos- sible for him to deliver some orders. Miss FergusoiJ delivered the orders in Tommy's uniform, in order to save his honor, and then learned that the orders were sending men to guard all passes to arrest her brother. About this time Tommy recovered and threatened to go get her brother himself, with the result that Miss Ferguson shot him to keep him from leaving the house. As she was preparing to bind up his wound, the willun returned and attacked her and then brother came back to the house to give himself up. with four policemen on his trail, these being the officers who so leisurely wor- ried about wounded Tommy instead of going upstairs to get the murderer. Then came the twist whereby shero and her brother made the willun give himself up as the murderer of the Indian, under penalty of being killed himself unless he did so. Others in the cast were: E. L. Fernandez and Sidney D'Albrook. "ON THE QUIET" Featuring JOHN BARRYMORE Paramount- Farce- Released Sept. 1st "THE HUN WITHIN" Directed By Chet Withey DOROTHY GISH and GEORGE FAWCETT Artcraft- Paramount Special Released Sept. 8th DAILY Sunday, August 25, 1918 Play Up Atmosphere and Star. Go Easy on Plot The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Elsie Ferguson in "HEART OF THE WILDS" Artcraft I believe that you can figure this a pretty s;ife bet, particularly if you will emphasize the fact that this was mad i' in Yellowstone Park, with some of the most unu- sual exteriors ever screened, giving a genuine rough Western atmosphere to the story. You can play up Miss Ferguson because I believe she has made a very good impression in her previous pro- ductions and I would mention particularly the fact that Tommy Meighan and Matt Moore appear in support because both are favorites. It seems to me to be advisable to mention the fact that Marshall Neilan directed this, referring to some of his successful productions with Mary Pickford, such as "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" and "Stella Maris," be- cause most everyone will give full credit for the atmos- phere registered by the director. You might head an ad: COULD YOU ARREST HER BROTHER? in rather large type with the photograph of Miss Ferguson centered below, and photograph of Mr. Moore smiling and Mr. Meighan stern, planted be- low that of Miss Ferguson so that the three pictures form a triangle. Under Mr. Moore's picture you can put the words HER BROTHER, and HE KILLED AN INDIAN, and under the photo of Mr. Meighan, the words HER SWEETHEART OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED POLICE. You can't go too strong in raving about some of the loca- tions in this, because they are quite exceptional and I believe that most fans are very appreciative of unusual and particularly distinctive exteriors, especially when they are photographed to advantage as they are in this. Be careful about your promises as to the story, because it flops towards the end. Mme. PETROVA The in the most powerful film drama she has ever presented — Panther Woman The scenario is based on the well-known novel "PATIENCE SPARHAWK," by the famous novelist GERTRUDE ATHERTON. A great star— a great story,. Book "The Panther Woman"— and make money! Soon to be released through First National Exhibitors' Circuit PETROVA PICTURE COMPANY Frederick L. Collins, President WID'S 1918 YEAR BOOK out in September— Order Extra Copies Early. Sunday, August 25, 1918 AILV Elementary Farce Never Impresses Forcibly But They'll Accept It Billie Burke in "IN PURSUIT OF POLLY" Paramount DIRECTOR Chet Whithey AUTHORS Izola Forrester and Mann Page SCENARIO BY Eve Unsell CAMERAMAN William Marshall AS A WHOLE. . . .One of these mistaken identity things with German spy trimmings; never impresses forcibly and much of comedy forced but may please. STORY Elementary but serves as skeleton for in= dividual hokum touches. DIRECTION. . . .Gave several good touches but allowed comedy to become forced at times and failed to keep this from being obvious all the way. Fre= quently let actions become mechanical. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally satisfactory LIGHTINGS Decidedly varied; some good bits but generally too uniform. CAMERA WORK Acceptable STAR Has done much better work than we get in this. SUPPORT Generally very good EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; some beautiful shots. INTERIORS Very good although at times poorly lighted. DETAIL Unconvincing with several minor slips CHARACTER OF STORY Harmless farce LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,700 feet THIS will probably get over with folks who are not particular about things being consistent so long as something is happening on the screen and the individual hokum touches and presence of Miss Burke may slide it by satisfactorily, but it certainly isn't any- thing to rave about. Of course, this is a farce, which excuses many of the convenient happenings, but fre- quently the comedy overreached with the result that the action never impressed forcibly. The story starts out with Shero, who had unwittingly accepted three different suitors, devising a scheme whereby she could dodge the attentions of the other two. This being impossible, she proposes the plan of starting out in her car for a certain point, the three suitors to pursue her, consenting to marry the one who reaches her lirst. Deciding, however, that she does not really want to marry any one of them, she frames with her maid to take her place at a turn in the road. Two of the suitors are compelled to pull out of the race on account of car trouble and when the remaining suitor has succeeded in pursuing Shero's car back to her home, he discovers that he has been chasing the maid. In the meantime. Shero has met Hero Tom Meighan, a federal agent, and he takes her to his hotel. A German spy is stopping at the hotel and he having received a code message telling him that a female spy would come there to confer with him, mistakes Shero. for the she- spy when she crawls into his room through a window to elude the suitors, who have succeeded in tracing her. This arouses the suspicions of Hero and when willun- spy gets Shero to his secret wireless station, Hero fol- lows and arrests them. The suitors and Shero's father arrive in time to clear Shero and as Hero has been the first to "capture" her, according to the terms of her agreement, she consents to marry him and the other suitors are stung. In several close-up shots they featured the dealer's license very prominently on the car that Billie was driving. Also, in the opening reel, a close-up of a bunch of roses registered very plainly as artificial. They introduced the real female spy early in the action and we expected to see her rounded up with the other spies at the finish but the character was dropped abruptly and we never saw her again. We had some rather good business on an elevator in a hotel but much of the comedy became obviously forced and the players frequently "acted." Others in the cast were: Frank Losee, A. J. Herbert. William Davidson, Benjamin Beely and Alfred Hickman. I WID'S YEAR BOOK will be used by producers for data and reference. a!^ 10 \§tf^\ PAILV Sunday. August 25. 191* Star's Name Should Pull Business and Production Should Satisfy The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Billie Burke in in this is not up to the standard Ave have come to expect from her but she will no doubt impress favorably. "TTV PTTR^TTTT ClT* POT T V * would simply tell them that this is a farce, pure 11^ rurvouil WJ. L vjl^i^ L ;ni(1 sim])le constructed merely for laughing purposes Paramount and would say verv little ab°llt the story or the indi- vidual merits of the production. The spy meller part of the offering fails to impress or enthuse but might This hardly warrants making any fuss about although be a good angle for your advertising. most audiences will probably accept it as a satisfactory _ . , , ,.,,, ... . ,,. ,., „ program offering. No doubt the name of Billie Burke You mi§nt create a llttle jnterest Wlth catchlmes like means considerable and Thomas Meighan is also quite these: well known from previous productions in which he has "I>id you ever call on your best girl and find that your appeared. hated rival had preceded you and seemed to be doing nicely? See Billie Burke in 'The Pursuit of Polly'." This isn't by any means bad and I doubt if anyone "What would you do if you had outdistanced two ri- will register any complaints about it not being as good vals for the hand of a uirl and then found that an out- as they expected but it just doesn't impress as more sider had horned in and obtained her consent to mar- than an ordinary routine offering. Miss Burke's work riage? See Billie Burke in 'In the Pursuit of Polly'." **♦♦**%#*♦**♦♦*♦♦*♦**»**♦<■***♦♦♦♦* *♦.*♦♦♦♦#♦♦-*♦>♦.♦♦.♦♦>♦.♦♦>♦>♦*♦♦>♦.♦♦>♦>♦>♦>♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ #WWWW***#***#*#** W♦♦^♦W♦♦WW♦♦♦♦♦♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>MMMMM♦>MMM• ,*♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦%♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦♦♦W♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦*♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦'♦ *•♦♦'♦♦*♦♦*♦»>♦'♦♦'«*'»♦*♦«*«♦*♦♦*♦*"♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦♦♦*♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦*♦*♦*♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦♦♦■ Timely Suggestions To Producers: ■■■^■■bibkmw^wbi m^Mi^Hnuni^KiMHHMaaBHH^DBranBna mini «>» ■■ ■!■ turn n M^^m—— P— — »» Never, in the history* of the industry, has. a substantial, efficient organization been so nec- essary to the successful marketing of productions in foreign territory. War time conditions make exacting service a paramount necessity. Our facilities for the sale, exploitation, routing, shipping, collecting, insuring, etc., of film are the result of years of experience in foreign fields. We would be glad of the opportunity to show you how the house of ROBERTSON-COLE can better serve you. The scope of our sales organization is bro id enough to meet the requirements of the most extensive producers who have to get big round sums for their pictures; and at the same time is so constituted that it can give the same painstaking, result-getting attention to the less pre- tentious pictures. WITNESS RECENT SALES: "Tarzan of the Apes" Wm. A. Brady's "Stolen Orders" "The Romance of Tarzan" "Passing of the Third Floor Back" "Those Who Pay" ENGLISH RIGHTS THAT YIELDED $150,000 and— "The Accidental Honeymoon" "Souls Redeemed" "The Master Crook" "The Eleventh Commandment" "The Public Defender" "Her man" and a score of others that brought through our agency most satisfactory returns ROBERTSON-COLE CO. World Wide Film Distributors 1600 Broadway New York City >♦-♦♦'♦*'♦*'♦♦'♦♦'♦*'♦♦♦♦♦**♦ «*****# -#*#ww Sunday, August 25, 1918 flM DAILY 11 Human Touches, Comedy Bits and Well Chosen CastMake This Register Colleen Moore and Thomas Jefferson in "A HOOSIER ROMANCE" Selig — Mutual DIRECTOR Colin Campbell AUTHOR James Whitcomb Riley SCENARIO BY Colin Campbell CAMERAMAN Harry Neuman AS A WHOLE Pleasing little romance, depending upon characterizations rather than action. STORY Adheres closely to the poem from which it was taken, all of the sub=titles being quoted. DIRECTION Made a s!ow=moving story interest= ing by pleasing little touches and delightful atmosphere. Let comedy element predominate, becoming very Keystoney at times, but doesn't jar. Frequently played characters too far from camera. PHOTOGRAPHY ... .Generally very fine; some excep= tional shots. LIGHTINGS Varied from fine to fair; at times too uniform although obtained many effective bits. CAMERA WORK Generally very good STARS She very pleasing; he gave excellent char= acterization. SUPPORT Excellent types throughout. Some great kids and Hayes will get many real yells. Harry McCoy surprisingly good as straight juvenile. EXTERIORS Gave convincing atmosphere; many beautiful shots. Night exterior set excellent. INTERIORS Very good; kept to atmosphere DETAIL Manv pleasing touches CHARACTER OF STORY Clean entertainment for young and old. LENGTH* OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet I DOUBT if this will pull 'em in but I am just as sure that it will please any gang after yon get 'em in. It isn't big — it's just a pleasing comedy-drama, depending upon characterizations rather than action all the way. with many little touches that will get chuckles and some rather broad comedy bits that will get yells. This poem of James Whitcomb Riley's is about the last thing I would have thought of for five-reel picture material, but Director Colin Campbell has kept it from dragging by providing interesting atmosphere, many pleasing little touches and some sure-fire comedy bits which makes (his leave a very satisfying impression al the finish. The basic idea of the poem has been done countless times in films but this appears different because Direc- tor Campbell has kept to the atmosphere and characters of the poem all the way, using the original lines ms sub-titles. Ordinarily, this doesn't work out satisfac- torily, but it has in this. The romance between Hero and Shero is shattered be- en use Shero's guardian wants her to marry a wealthy widower in the village. Hero goes away, hoping to return with sufficient wealth to win over the guardian befm-e the marriage with the widower comes about and arrives back in the village on the announced day of the wedding. He sees Shero on her way to church with the guardian and groom-to-be but is not permitted to even speak to Shero. The kindly old judge, who is to perform the cere- mony that night, sees Hero and frames a scheme to prevent the marriage. On the night of the wedding, the groom-to-be arrives late and the secret plans having been rehearsed, Shero grabs the license just before the ceremony and runs outside in the rain, untying a horse that is hitched outside and sending it down the road in the darkness. The guardian and widower, thinking that Shero is on the horse, start in pursuit and while they are on their wild-goose chase, Shero comes into J he house again, the license is altered by the judge and Hero and Shero are married. It seemed rather funny to see Harry McCoy and "( Hd Rubberface" Frank Hayes, both ex-Keystoners, appearing in this kind of a film but they got away with their roles nicely. Harry was a pleasing Hero and Frank Hayes, although he didn't attempt to conceal his identity at any stage, "mugged" at the right times and will get many real yells. Thomas Jefferson was a con- vincing old grouch guardian. Miss Moore was very pleas- ing as the Shero and Edward Jobsou gave a thoroughly lovable characterization as the old judge while Eugenie Besserer appeared as his wife. We had some well- selected village types throughout and some cute kids who will get laughs. The scenes where Jefferson and Hayes are out in the soaking rain are a riot and the flood stuff was exceptionally well done. Original Scenario? and AdaptatiOa? TRIARS CLU8, NEW YORK CITY 12 *M* DAILY Sunda^AugustaSjlQlS Will Please But Needs Specialized Exploitation To Get Them In The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Colleen Moore and Thomas Jefferson in "A HOOSIER ROMANCE" which we have had in the past has been draggy and uninteresting. Selig — Mutual Regardless of the fact that I possibly see more pic- tures than any other individual, I am still a "fan" in the sense that I look forward to reviewing some subjects with anticipation and pleasure and there are many others which I go to see purely as a matter of duty and business. I'll admit that I didn't expect to be enter- tained by "A Hoosier Romance" — it didn't sound inter- esting. Therefore, I thoroughly enjoyed it when I found it to be very much better than I expected. It was pleasing to watch all the way. That's what you are up against in presenting this him. I am almost certain that the title and the "Olde Tynie" stills will chase away more business than they will pull in. because most stuff of the same nature The cast in this is very good throughout, but I don't think the names are worth a nickel to you from a box office standpoint. The thing to do, then, is to give them your personal guarantee that they are going to enjoy this film and play strong on all the other angles presented. Old folks are going to enjoy this immensely ; make a special effort to get them in on this. Play up the fact that this was directed by Colin Campbell, who made "The Spoilers," "The Ne'er-Do-Well," and many other successes. Emphasize the wholesome comedy element and the delightful human touches throughout. You might also create some curiosity by asking them how they would like to see "Old Rubberface" Frank Hayes, known wherever a Keystone comedy has been shown, doing a serio-comic character in a picturization of Riley's famous poem. There's a wealth of heart appeal as little May Giraci a Spanish orphan strives with sweet childish diplomacy, unselfish- ly to 'overcome the misunderstandings that threaten to wreck the happiness of her two fond friends. / .\ Roy Stewart and Ethel Flemming in "Untamed" A clean, stirring play of American life, with love, emotion, wistfulness and beauty. In this romance of Southern California, Stewart and his director Cliff Smith have given the Triangle program a play with a western locale, that you can go after with vMyour advertising facilities. A play for those who do and for those who don't like ' westerns." Triangle Distributing Corporation New York Sunday, August 25. 1918 AILV 13 Exciting, Well Played Fire Meller; Rather Poorly Assembled Tom Santschi in "THE STILL ALARM" Selig-Pioneer F. F. Corp'n — State Rights DIRECTOR Colin Campbell AUTHOR Joseph Arthur SCENARIO BY Colin Campbell CAMERAMAN Harry Neumann AS A WHOLE Screen version of famous stage meller has good and bad spots but will satisfy generally. STORY Usual meller incidents with most of spec- tacular action centered around various fires in production. DIRECTION Individual scenes well done but pro- duction poorly edited and lacks finish. PHOTOGRAPHY Just good straight stuff; general effect was marred considerably by many stock flashes and duped scenes of fire stuff. LIGHTINGS Adequate with a few effective bits, but generally too uniform. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Virile, appealing hero; made role convinc- ing and real. SUPPORT Bessie Eyton pleasing; Frank Clark gave excellent characterization; others bal- anced nicely. EXTERIORS Satisfactory except Los Angeles scenes didn't match with N. Y. stock flashes of fire stuff. INTERIORS Acceptable; real interiors marred by lighting. DETAIL Several bad spots in editing and lack of opening titles jarred. Gruesome close-up of dead fire-victims should be cut. CHARACTER OF STORY For any audience LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,ooo feet I CAN'T quite figure what has happened to this pro- duction as it was shown in New York this week, but it is very evident that it has been tampered with and whoever is responsible for its present condition should be spanked. Without any of the preliminary titles that usually accompany feature productions, they start this out with a very poorly done main title, wherein an attempt at a fire effect has all but obscured the caption, which is all that we get. From here we jump right in to the first subtitle with no clew as to who directed the production or the identity of many prominent members of the cast. This is going to create the impression with many that something is missing; it looks decidedly unfinished. The story opens with a prelude that we didn't get in the play, explaining the poisoning of the man which later implicates Shero's father, as well as the mysterious disappearance of Shero's sister. The main action starts when Shero meets Hero Tom Santchi, a fireman, after he has made a daring rescue in her father's factory. They become friends and the romance starts. Willun turns up and through a paper implicating Shero's father, obtains consent to marry her and installs himself in Shero's home. The old drunkard-druggist who had once worked for Shero's father and who possesses the neces- sary evidence to free him from the false poisoning charge, happens to meet hero, which leads up to the clearing of the father and arrest of willun. the real mur- derer. It happens that the old man had kidnapped Shero's sister, whom he had raised as his daughter and the family are happily united after a spectacular fight between willun and Hero, following willun's cutting the fire alarm wires so the department could not be warned and setting fire to the house. "The Still Alarm." given over the phone, brings out the entire department and the old druggist is rescued from the room where willun had left him. They finished with a fireman's wedding, showing Hero and Shero coming down the street at night on the engine. These scenes were quite effective. The use of many duped ashes of news weekly fire stuff throughout the offering jarred considerably and in two instances even the staged runs were duped. Just to show you that they didn't care how this was put together, we had the same run twice in the offering, one of them being a dupe made from the other. Those credited in the cast were Tom Santchi, Bessie Eyton, Eugenie Besserer and Fritzi Brunette. The man who played the willun was good although he didn't change his appearance for the time lapse. Shero's father played effectively and William Scott made a small bit stand out. I think it was Frank Clark who played "Doc" Wilbur and certainly his work should have been credited. He gave an excellent characterization. No raise in Advertising rate for WID'S YEAR BOOK. Send Copy Early. 14 afcHM DAILY Sunday, August 25; 1918 Screen Version of Great Stage Meller Should Pull Business The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Tom Santschi in "THE STILL ALARM" Selig=Pioneer F. F. Corp'n — State Rights Being :i film version <>f one of our most famous stage mellers. this will undoubtedly pull considerable business, especially in the smaller towns. The names of Tom Santschi and Bessie Eyton should mean something at the box office, especially that of Santschi. who has appeared in many Seli^ productions, notably, "The Spoilers." and "The Garden af Allah." He gives a very convincing and likable performance in this and we also have him in a fight, although it is not sufficiently thrilling to warrant mentioning in your ads. We hare several well-handled incidents in this which make ir apparent that a real director was on the job. but the slip-shod manner in which the print I saw had been assembled, made it very apparent that someone had been tampering with it after it left the studio. I wouldn't accuse Selig of knowingly letting it go out in this condition. In advertising this I would concentrate on the fa:ct that this is a film version of one of our greatest stage melodramas. In the smaller towns especially, where a fire run is an event rather than a common occurrence, there is a certain fascination in fires and fire department runs as well as the daily life -of a fireman that is in- tensely interesting to most folks. As this production is centered about the exploits of a New York fireman and shows several thrilling fire runs, it should have quite an appeal in certain com- munities. You might steal the idea that S. Barrett McCormick used on "Blue Jeans" by using catchlines like this: "Who played the role of the fireman hero when "The Still Alarm' was a great stage success? Ask Dad — He Knows." Georc^ Loane Tucke /- director cjr ^feManx Man" l^d<$< a Million" ^Cinderella Man' !foan of Plattstur^f I Li 1,1.; Ii:, I ' ' ir-""- DXO mm? Sunday, August 25, 1918 DAILY 15. Star, Cast and Intelligent Direction Make This Entertaining Kittv Gordon in "MERELY PLAYERS" World DIRECTOR Oscar Apfel AUTHOR L. Case Russell SCENARIO BY Wallace C. Clifton CAMERMAN Lucien Tainguy AS A WHOLE Rather unusual story with trick finish. Is convenient but star and direction make it interesting. STORY Has many " just happened" incidents but is entertaining and has considerable kick at finish. DIRECTION Made action interesting and made individual scenes effective by intelligent use of c!ose=ups. Injected several good comedy bits and developed suspense effectively. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied from fine to fair; duped flashes of fire scenes inexcusable and marred general effect. LIGHTINGS Some good but generally too uniform. Frequently harsh on faces. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory; good angles helped action. STAR Extremely pleasing to watch. Wore beautiful gowns and photographed very beau= tiful in close-ups. SUPPORT Very good. Johnny Hines will grab laughs. EXTERIORS Good; not many INTERIORS Private theatre set very good; generally satisfactory. DETAIL Many good touches. Some incidents were left unexplained. CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet FOR Kitty's sake, when she starts making- her own productions. 1 hope she succeeds in obtaining a director of the ability of Oscar Apfel. I cannot recall an instance where the influence of a director has had so much to do with the bringing out of a star's personality as has been demonstrated in the last few pictures we have had from this combination. They had an idea for this that was at least different, although at times very hard to swallow, but the pres- ence of Kitty and a capable cast slides it over as very satisfactory entertainment. We had Kitty as an actress who gave private theat- ricals in her home and she makes it possible tor .Muriel Ostriche, a poor girl with stage aspirations, to obtain a part in a new piece. Irving Cummings, a fearless critic, is induced to review one of Kitty's private performances and when she asks him for his candid opinion lie tells her that she is impossible as an actress. She thanks him for his frankness but promises that she will some day make him change his views. Kitty's personality grows on Hero Irving and he is a frequent caller which arouses the jealousy of Pinna Nesbit, who is also strong for Hero and whose husband. George McQuarrie, has a case on Kitty. Later, Hero reviews Muriel's stage debut and pans her work unmercifully, which goes to the poor acterine's head and causes her to attempt suicide. Kitty comes to the rescue and learning that Irving's review was responsible, denounces him. Later. Pinna calls and accuses Kitty of alienating her husband's affections and Kitty 'promises to show the husband's true character at the cost of her own vanity, if Pinna will be in hiding in her apartment that night. Pinna, having a deeper purpose in mind, phones living to be present also, which conversation is over- heard by Kitty. When McQuarrie arrives. Kitty unsuspectingly leads him. through a back hallway, to the stage of her private theatre and a very dramatic scene takes place when Irving arrives and the four find themselves on the stage The curtain arises, showing an audience to the be- wildered trio and Irving is forced to admit that Kitty is a real actress. Irving, McQuarrie and his wife di'l not know, of course, that this was a clever frame-up of Kitty's to disclose the character of McQuarrie and at the same time gain her point with Irving. We had an incidental love-romance between Johnny Hines and Muriel Ostriche which provided excellent comedy relief, although these characters were disposed of without explanation after a title told us that Johnny had been injured. The business with the extension telephone which en- abled Kitty to overhear Pinna's conversation, was ex- ceptionally well handled. Irving Cummings was very pleasing as the hero- critic, George McQuarrie was good as the semi-heavy. Pinna Nesbit was an acceptable wampire and minor roles were capably filled by Florence Coventry and Dore Davidson. Play Up Star and Support. Should Be A Safe Bet Anywhere The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor You can make considerable fuss about Kitty Cordon in this and if you have played her recent productions. no doubt her very much improved work in the pictures made under Mr. Apfel's direction has begun to exert an influence in your community with the result that Kitty's name is commencing to take on a new hold at 'the box-office. As this has a surprise finish, it is very important that your folks don't see it backwards and I would make a concentrated effort to advertise the starting times of my performances and emphasize the importance of see- ing this production at the beginning in order to thor- oughly enjoy the unexpected climax. You might create a little interest by hitting them along this angle in your ads: "Do you think that frank criticism is beneficial or would you rather not have your failings pointed out to you? See Kitty Cordon in 'Merely Players'." "Have you ever had a desire to go on the stage? Have you considered the trials and disappointments that are a part of nearly every star's success? See Kitty Cordon in 'Merely Players'." The ladies will be interested in knowing that Miss Cordon wears many beautiful gowns in this and I would also mention the names of Johnny Hines. Muriel Ostriche and Irving Cummings in my advertising as each have quite an individual following in many com- munities. 16 ttM^fcuTT Sunday, August 25, 1918 — —m You Can Now S actually, without exaggeration Italus Flaming Front *The First Films of* Whole Battle* w shows- Mountain fighting: Bombarding enemy's trenches with big guns in preparation for infantry charge. Italian "75" hit by Aus- trian shell — smithereens! Italian artillery's hot reply — you never saw prettier work. Close-ups of dozen of different types of big guns, from 40 centimeters to trench "bombards" in action. Men crouching low in trenches, bullets spatting on sand-bags overhead. They go over the top, advancing in short sprints, taking advantage of every bit of cover. The final rush, hand-to-hand bayonet fighting, victory! bringing back hordes of prisoners. Italian grand battle fleet in bombardment of Austrian strong- hold near Trieste. From dreadnoughts to submarine chasers hurling tons of shell at enemy. Close-ups and panoramic views of entire action. Italian monitors and floating gun carriages, each mounting one great gun, in action. First complete air fight ever photographed. Austrian bombing plane attacks fleet. Six Italian sea planes give chase (two carrying enlisted cameraman). Austrian drops bombs at fleet, their explo- sions hurl huge pillars of water and spray skyward, a submarine chaser hit, you see the explosion and the craft capsize from quarter mile distance — Italian planes close in, Austrian in desperation does dare devil tail dive to sea and saves his life, but is captured by Italian torpedo boat These latest official Italian Got the "First National" after the Sunday, August 25. 1918 (ftl* ^L *>*< ll-Y 17 i a Great Battle ! In general: — Fighting above the clouds. Italy's spider men on skis, the won- derful aerial cable communications, unbelievable feats of patience and hardihood, bridging mountain torrents and dragging great guns by hand to lofty positions where tractors, even mules, are unable to go. The eyes of the night. A night bombardmment of Austrian positions, showing effect of shrapnel fire on barbwire entanglements. Giant searchlights in operation, one of war's marvels. Many other thrilling and interesting scenes not described here because of lack of space. / have seen these films and can per- sonally vouch for the truth of these statements. 4$>i your own judgment on this because you should be able to tell what you can afford to do with this from your experience with the more recenl Talmadge productions in which we have had a touch of the same trouble. If your fans were willing to accept these forced attempts at registering fun. then they may be willing to stand for another one. There is. of course, one big asset to consider, and that is the fact that Constance Talmadge has undoubtedly a very sood following at this time. Since this film gives us plenty of closeups of Miss Talmadge. many of your fans may feel that they are setting their money's worth, simply because they have had ample opportunity to watch the little lady in action, even though they did not consider the situations worth a good hearty ha. ha. If you are trying t<> keep faith with your folks, my sus's'esfi°" would be that you pull an ad once in a while. which would sort of startle them. For instance, on a picture like this, I would frankly advertise it. Constance Talmadse in a lot of nonsense about how to keep a hus- band, failed "Sauce for the Goose." I think you will set just as many people into your show-shop by using such tactics and certainly no one can come out and fuss with you about keeping faith with them if you have advertised it <>n such a basis. You might head an ad: Can You Keep a Husband? with a line in smaller type underneath, see the wild things that Constance Talmadge does in "Sauce for the Goose," in order to keep a scheming vamp from steal- ins hers. Whatever you do. don't commit yourself by savins that this is funny — It isn't. Sunday, August 25, 1918 iji^ DAILY 19 Another Give-the-Kaiser-Hell Subject With Much News Weekly Gut In Horst Von der Goltz in "THE PRUSSIAN CUR" Fox Special DIRECTOR R. A. Walsh AUTHOR R. A. Walsh CAMERAMAN Roy Overbaugh AS A WHOLE. . . .Review of war and German spy and atrocity activities with East Side tough story incident referred to occasionally. Generally rather ordinarily done and lacked artistic touch and dignity of presentation. STORY What little there was, badly lost among news weekly cut-ins and scenes representing activities of Kaiser and his gang of high= binders. DIRECTION Gave general effect of very ordinary work with little to mark this as special except patriotic appeal through subject and news weekly scenes. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally poor — frequently bad, occasionally good. LIGHTINGS Generally ordinary; practically no artistic effects. CAMERA WORK. . . .Just acceptable routine stuff with many pieces of poorly duped film inserted. STAR German spy who looks the part SUPPORT Ordinary, with possibility of some re- sentment for impersonation of President. EXTERIORS Ordinary INTERIORS A few big sets, generally ordinary DETAIL Entirely too much of German spy ac- tivities with nothing to register counter action by American Secret Service except one title. CHARACTER OF STORY Based entirely on ap- peal for patriotic applause. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 7,000 feet (8 parts) THERE] is certainly no question about the fact that pictures appealing to the patriotism of the coun- try and showing the dastardly activities of the Germans will jret money at this time, but I feel that it is somewhat unfair for the producer to present a special subject with about two-thirds news weekly cut-ins and titles, and one-third story, particularly if that one-third fails to register anything of real importance or shows in any way an artistic touch or a sense of realization of the importance of the themes being handled. I have a feeling thai there is a possibility of eventu- ally antagonizing the very people who have been aroused by these patriotic-give-the-Kaiser-hell subjects, by flood- ing the market with films which are not on their own account truly worthy. This production reviews in considerable detail, the preparation of the Germans, the plans of the Kaiser, the work of spreading propaganda in this country, and the [Raiser's dismay after America entered the war. but There is a lack of dignity about the staging of the offer- ing which cheapens it quite noticeably. The only thread of a story is a couple of thousand feet, possibly twenty-five hundred, which is sandwiched into the eight reels, showing something of the activities of Yon der Goltz as a German spy in this country. Even this character is cut in with many strips of news weekly showing various fires, the inference being that he has caused these explosions and other disasters. The average fan today can tell in a flash when a news-weekly strip of film is cut into a dramatic offering. Certainly suf-h a cut-in destroys the effectiveness so far as any hope of creating an impression of reality is concerned. There was no genuine heart interest, the nearest to any being the introduction of two sisters, one of whom married the spy and lived with him until she died from exhaustion, after which he attacked the sister with »he result that the brother of the girls killed him after a chase. We had the usual Walsh rough-house fight in a Bow- ery room, it being handled this time by a lot of soldiers attacking some hirelings of a spy who were planning a series of destructive crimes. There was an incident which was rather poorly done, showing the arrest of a German spy in a Western town, with the title that half of the population were German, with the result that they attempted to free him from the jail. A half dozen horsemen, dressed like the Kin Klux Clan rode to the rescue of the officers, but all of this incident was very poorly staged. The Kaiser raved through many feet of film, and considerable foot- age was devoted to Yon Bernstorff. with quite a numbei of scenes shown where President Wilson was repre- sented by an actor. "Rebecca of 5unnybrcok Farm"-HM'Liss" -"Amarilly of Clothesline Alley" "Hearts of the Wild"- "Stella Maris [ - "Hit -the -Trail Hollictay" Supervised and directed by IYIoaJuJP a. 7lu£. ca>w_. In preparation 'The Three Bears"- Artcraf-t Special -"Out o. a Clear Sky'-'The Silver Kin1NE FAkfcAJ* 22 Sunday, August 25, 1918 Will Go Over With a Bang But It's Fatal to See It Backwards The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Norma Talmadge in -HER ONLY WAY" Jos. M. Schenck — Select DON'T LET 'EM SEE IT BACKWARDS! I have preached this thing many times in the past and I hope you fellows see the importance of having folks see fea- tures from the beginning but if there was ever an in- stance when it will jazz up the whole parade to let them see the last first, it's on this one. The surprise finish in this picture has been so effectively handled that not one in a thousand is going to dope it out in advance, with the result that they are going to rave about this picture to their frends as having handed them a jolt. You'll find that you will create additional curiosity by advertising that your doors will be closed during the last half hour or more of each performance. A waiting line never hurts if there is a sound reason for it and the fact that you are adhering to this policy is going to create the impression that this must be some- thing unusual or you wouldn't resort to such a pro- cedure. If you've played Norma Talmadge's recent pictures and haven't built up a tremendous following for her, then surely there is something radically wrong with your methods, because she is one of our very biggest drawing cards in most communities and is gaining in popularity with every production. I wouldn't make any hint about this having a sur- prise twist, because if folks suspect the dream finish the real kick of the picture is lost. And don't overlook the importance of getting your gang in at the beginning. That's the only logical way to see any picture but the success of this, from an entertainment standpoint, de- pends upon it. MR.EXHIBITOR BOOK NOW FOR THE 4th Liberty Loan and Help UNCLE SAM Capt. Rob't Warwick Says— "Because a man can't be over here with us in this great chance to help humanity and liberty, does not mean that he is denied the privilege of playing his part. The Fourth Liberty Loan gives him that chance, and also the chance to be really WITH us in spirit and helpful aid. "Personally I am glad to have been able to give up what wealth, luxury and ease my position assured me, in order, that as a soldier of democracy, I might lend my help to the greatest struggle in the history of ages. It is worth all I may have given, and all that I may have denied myself." GIVE THIS MESSAGE DIRECT TO YOUR PAT- RONS, THROUGH YOUR SCREEN-BOOK NOW "The Accidental Honeymoon" Featuring Capt. Rob't Warwick and Elaine Hammerstein Directed by Leonce Perret A Wonderful Picture and a Great Opportunity for Every Exhibitor to Do His Bit HARRY RAPF PRODUCTIONS 1564 BROADWAY WID'S 1918 YEAR BOOK will be of year round value to Producers. Sunday, August 25, 1918 DAILY 23 Pleasing Players in Unique Story With Unusual Twists Anna Q. Nilsson and Franklyn Farnum in "IN JUDGMENT OF" Metro DIRECTOR Will S. Davis AUTHOR George D. Baker SCENARIO BY George D. Baker CAMERAMAN W. C. Thompson AS A WHOLE Rather unique story foundation made interesting by treatment and pleasing cast. STORY Has odd twists and keeps you guessing DIRECTION Maintained excellent suspense and developed situations effectively. Provided many good touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied from fine to fair LIGHTINGS Some good; others too uniform. Rather harsh on faces at times. CAMERA WORK Very good; obtained effective angles. STARS She beautiful and has some eyes; he has had his hair trimmed and is very satisfactory in serious role. SUPPORT Herbert Standing excellent; others fit= ted in nicely. EXTERIORS. .. .Some beautiful shots; generally very good. INTERIORS Adequate DETAIL Very good; handling of check incident was very well done. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet WE HAVE some great twists in this and Director Davis has developed his story in a way that keeps you guessing as to just how the thing is going to turn out with the result that this is interest- all the way and registers as real entertainment. At the start of this they establish, by a series of minor incidents, the peculiar ability of Shero Anna Nilsson to guess what anyone is thinking about. Then 1111 they bring on Hero Franklyn Farnum, who meets Shero accidentally and he becomes at once interested" when she tells him his name by her peculiar mind-reading faculty. As the romance ripens, she. guessing that he wants to propose, accepts him before he asks her, but lie refuses because although money and education lias been mysteriously provided for him, he lias never been able to determine its source, or learn who his parents were. It develops that Herbert Standing, a staunch friend of Shero's father, is Hero's father, although to disclose the fact would ruin him politically as he had since mar- ried, and his wife knew nothing of his son or previous marriage. Not being able to provide for his son in his will. Standing deposits fifty "thou" in the bank to Hero's credit, which transaction is observed by willun. When willun later attempts to blackmail Standing, a struggle ensues, in which willun is killed and circumstantial evi- dence causes Hero's arrest for the murder. Then we haA*e the old situation of Standing being the judge on the case when his son's trial is called. During the trial, Shero's peculiar influence causes the father to confess after the jury has convicted the son. This is made effective by frequent close-ups and visions of Shero's eyes, which haunt the father wherever he looks. When the facts are brought to light through the father's confession, an alibi is established and Stand- ing is acquitted after which we have the usual clutch of Hero and Shero. Although Franklyn Farnum registers his ear to ear grin on several occasions in this, his part calls for more serious acting than we have seen him do for some time and he gets away with it commendably. I want to thank him particularly for having finally had his hair trimmtd. If the influence of a change in bosses brought this about, they are to be congratulated. Miss Nilsson was very pleasing all through the offer- ing and is sure easy to observe although she was not particularly well lighted in some of her scenes and faulty make-up around her neck and shoulders in some of her close-ups registered to me what looked very much like freckles. Herbert Standing was excellent as Hero's father, Frank Brownlee made a crook bit effective and others who appeared were: Lydia Knott, Harry S. Northrup, Edward Alexander. Spottiswoode Aitkin and Katherine Griffith. vmmm miuip/ PRODUCTION/* 5 V ^~ j Allan Hoktat ^pf Lbotty Phillips | WID'S YEAR BOOK — A ready reference guide for wide awake exhibitors 24 isiijA •AIL.Y Sunday, August 25, 1918 Has Good Advertising Possibilities and Will Please Generally The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Anna Q. Nilsson and Franklyn Farnum in "IN JUDGMENT OF" Metro Any gang is going to like this. It's interesting, keeps you guessing, has a pleasing cast and has been intelli- gently handled. I doubt very much if the name of Miss Nilsson has a real box office value beyond that of the average program star, although we have had some very pleasing work from her recently and unless the Univer- sal productions in which Franklyn Farnum has appeared during the past year or more have been played in your community, you may find that he is a comparative stranger to your fans, this being his first Metro produc- tion. I would bill this as "The story of a miracle wrought by a wonderful pair of eyes and a winning smile," which sounds interesting and could be tied up in your lobby display and newspaper ads with two oval cuts, one of Miss Nilsson's eyes and the other of Frank Farnum's smile. You might create interest with catchlines like these: "Do you believe it is possible to read one's mind? See 'In Judgment Of." "How would you like to have a wife who could un- erringly tell you what you were thinking of? In Tn Judgment Of,' the heroine was possessed of such a remarkable mind that she accepted the hero before he proposed to her, knowing that he was about to do so." Because this offering has twists which will greatly lessen the entertainment value of the production if seen backwards, I would make an effort to establish the starting times in the minds of my patrons and urge the importance of being seated at the beginning of the performance. •jiMiinnuiiMHutniininitiHiMHiiuiMiMiinMiuMiMUiiuHiniMHinMuifiiitiiiiuiiiuutiiiiiiMMUHuiinttiiiUHiuHiiiiiintnnuiHiuiiii S 44 Its a Goldwyrv Picture" rie ral dine VJ ^ "Parrar -JL in THE TURN c/ffieWHXEh I y J3yt&x Charwate Directed by Reginald Barker What one woman 1 did to save the man she loved. i Iwleased everywhere Sept 2^' GOLDWYN PICTURES CORPORATION Samuel Goldfish: fr.<,rf««l Edgar Selwyn. Vk-o pnsidmt 16 East 4-2™/ Street New York City iniiiiimiiimniHmuniim(ii»ifiiHiiiiiiiiiiniiiiii|uil WID'S YEAR BOOK — An exceptional opportunity for the live advertiser. Sunday, August 25, 1918 DAILY 25 Wonderfully Well-Produced Feud Story Convinces and Really Grips Elaine Hammerstein in "HER MAN" Advanced M. P. Corp. — Pathe, Dist'rs 'DIRECTOR Ralph W. Ince AUTHOR Charles Neville Buck SCENARIO BY John E. Ince CAMERAMAN William Black AS A WHOLE Wonderfully realistic feud story, staged amid impressive scenic backgrounds; builds slowly and consistently to a climax that really grips. STORY Made intensely interesting all the way by convincing characterizations, flawless de= tail and effective lightings. DIRECTION Excellent handling of situations, intelligent building of characterizations and many effective touches throughout make this really grip. PHOTOGRAPHY Superb throughout LIGHTINGS Truly exceptional and effective. Shadow effects and night shots wonderful. CAMERA WORK Very fine; obtained effective angles and very good composition. STAR Very appealing in this and made dramatic moments convincing. SUPPORT Excellent characterizations through= out; made parts seem real; Lawson Butt splendid. EXTERIORS Impressive and convincing; kept to atmosphere and were exceptionally well photographed. INTERIORS Very good; looked substantial and showed minute attention to detail. DETAIL Not a flaw; many excellent touches. Hanging incident may be objectionable, but can be cut. CHARACTER OF STORY Feud stuff with many shooting incidents but has been well handled and should not offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,ooo feet WHEN they can take the old Kentucky fend stuff for a central theme around which to build a six-reel story that really sets under your shirt and holds your attention all the way, I give them credit for having accomplished something unusual. We've had these "shoot-'em-up" feud and moonshine plots SO many times that I didn't think they could film one which si ill retained a kick, but this one's got that — and it really grips. The story concerns a girl who leaves a home of re- finement and luxury in the North to go down to Ken- tucky and start a school for the illiterate mountaineers whose favorite out- door sport is picking off a member of a rival clan now and then from behind a clump of trees. The squareness of "Bad Anse". the leader of the Ilavey faction, gains Shero's admiration, although she denounces him for his brutal killings, not understanding the hatred of centuries that has prompted them. Her influence finally induces him to permit the courts to decide the fate of the man who has killed Jeb's father, with the result that the murderer is convicted and hanged. This action, and the dying confession of the leader of the rival clan, subdues the feud to an oxtent, but the friends of the murderer still hold a grudge and plan to kill Anse. In the meantime. Shero has confessed her love and when she and Hero "Bad Anse" are alone in the cabin, a noise warns them of the approach of the gang, arriving to carry out their threat. Anse leaves in the darkness and gives battle, while Shero awaits in the cabin for the outcome. Hero is wounded and drags himself to the cabin. The call of the clan comes to Shero and she continues the fight, succeeding in killing or wounding all but one of the gang in a thrilling gun duel. Anse regains consciousness long enough to dispose of the leader just as he is leveling his gun at Shero. When, later that night, it is thought that Anse cannot recover. Shero asks to be married to him. The next morning, after an all-night vigil, he passes the crisis and the lovers clutch. The way this has been handled is truly exceptional. The intelligent development of the story by a slow, consistent tempo that gradually builds to a gripping, forceful climax: the splendid characterizations through- out, the impressive scenic backgrounds and wonderful lightings and the effective handling of individual inci- dents makes this an offering that impresses forcibly. The exceptional cast included W. Lawson Butt. George Anderson. Carleton Macy. Erville Alderson. George Cooper. Violet Palmer. Josephine Morse and Cecil Chichester. WILLIAM RUSSELL PRODUCTIONS, Inc. starring M.RCb.A. CURRENT RELEASE: Up Romance RoAb* RELEASED TUROVASH MVTVAL EXCHANGES ■ ik'&'WID'S YEAR BOOK will be used every day throughout the coming year. 26 ■$M DAILY Sunday, August 25, 1918 The Large Majority Will Find It Real, Forceful Entertainment The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Elaine Hammerstein in "HER MAN" Advanced M. P. Corp. — Pathe. Dist'rs This, at the start-off, has the disadvantage of being a feud story. A disadvantage .from a box-office standpoint, because we have had so many films built around this theme that were very mediocre that most folks are not going to believe that at last a producer has succeeded in whipping this much used material into a really grip- ping film. I don't believe that the mere fact that this contains considerable shooting will keep people from wanting to see it. Bill Hart has built a tremendous following with the gun stuff and Bill once did a success- ful feud picture, if you remember, "The Apostle of Vengeance. " I believe this is going to make a tremend- ous hit with the folks who like exciting gun-stuff, with an interesting love-romance playing a conspicuous part in the story. On the other hand you'll find some folks, particularly the finnicky old women, who'll think some of the killings in this are awful. I would concentrate in my advertising upon the exceptional cast the im-» pressive scenic backgrounds and the wonderful light- ings, giving considerable prominence to Miss Hammer- stein and the fact that she appeared in "The Co- Respondent". You can promise them convincing, grip- ping entertainment and I think the production will im- press in such a way that those who do like this kind of stuff will talk it up to their friends. The Kentucky feuds are still a mystery to many be- cause we have not had productions in the past which really explained why these conditions existed, and still exist, in certain sections of Kentucky and vicinity. This production succeeds in explaining the reason for this existing rival hatred more clearly than any offering I can recall. ♦♦♦♦>%♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦« I ♦V PATHE We are perfectly willing to let you be the judge as to the merits of RUTH ROLAND in the sensational Pathe Western serial HANDS UP as an attraction for your house. Everything has been done that money and brains and skill can do to make this a phenomenal suc- cess. Ask your Pathe exchange to screen the first episodes for you. Consider them carefully. Note the acting, the action, the sets, the production, the direction and the story. And then take out your fountain pen and write on the dotted line! :.: Produced by Astra Directed by Jas. W. Home Written by Gilson Willets Sunday, August 25, 1918 DAILY 27 Characterizations and Individual Incidents Make This Entertaining Ethel Barrymore in "OUR MRS. McCHESNEY" Metro DIRECTOR Ralph Ince AUTHOR Edna Ferber SCENARIO Not credited; stage play by George V. Hobart. CAMERAMAN William Black AS A WHOLE Well produced version of stage play, is interesting all the way and titles will bring many laughs. STORY. . . ... .Human theme that will get to many; de- pends on characterizations and individual in- cidents rather than action, but entertains. DIRECTION. . . .Gave very good atmosphere and made characters seem real. Made individual inci= dents register. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good LIGHTINGS Very good CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Very fine in role that fitted her SUPPORT Well balanced throughout EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; not many INTERIORS Very good; hotel set very well done DETAIL Convincing CHARACTER OF STORY Clean entertainment for any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet NOT having seen the stage play from which this was taken, I am not able to compare it with the screen version, but it seems as though the origi- nal play had been followed very closely. We have very few exteriors and the stage method of bringing all of the characters together in one set was noticeable all through this, although it in no way detracts from the entertaining qualities of the screen version. The titles were very good throughout and I imagine that most of them were from original lines in the play. The story centers around a successful lady drummer, Mrs. McChesney, who has a son nearing manhood. The head of the firm, learning that she has tendered her resignation, overtakes her on her last trip in an effort to retain her valuable services and arrives at the hotel in a neighboring town just after her young son had told her of his marriage to a chorus girl whom he had recently met. While the young manager of her firm is pleading with her to remain, the rival manager puts in an appearance and his obnoxious manner, as well as hero's proven regard for her son, makes her decide to remain. Realizing that her son. as well as his young wife, are merely children, she arranges for the girl to go to a boarding school and hero provides a position for the son. Later, it is found that the firm is nearing bank- ruptcy and Mrs. McChesney comes to the rescue with an idea for a novelty skirt which proves a sensation and saves the firm. We have a quiet romance all through the offering between the head of the firm and Mrs. Mc- Chesney, which gradually ripens into love and she ac- cepts him when he proposes after her idea has saved the firm from ruin. The main thread of the story is very slender, depend- ing upon characterizations and individual incidents rather than action. These have been worked in nicely, however, and we have some very good titles throughout which will get many laughs. Just to give the son's wife, played by Lucile Lee Stewart, more to do, they had the professional model get sick just before the showing of the novelty skirt at the fashion show, and Lucile came to the rescue by wearing the skirt and being a sensation at the show. Then we had a semi-willun, the head of the rival firm, who tried to purchase the idea before the firm could learn of its success. Before the deal is closed, the son comes in with the news of its success. Huntley Gordon was a very pleasing hero. Wilfred Lytell gave a very satisfactory performance as the son, John Daly Murphy was a very good type as the shrewd semi-willun, William H. St. James and Walter Percival got the most out of their respective roles, Ricca Allen had a good bit as a spinster buyer and others in the cast were George Trimble, Sammy Cooper and Fred Walter. WID'S YEAR BOOK — A valuable advertising medium for stars and directors. 28 isiijA DAILY Sunday, August 25. 1918 Famous Star In Screen Version of Stage Play Should Pull Business The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Ethel Barrymore in "OUR MRS. McCHESNEY" Metro It seems like quite some time since we've seen Ethel Barrymore on the screen but she enjoyed quite a fol- lowing when we used to see her at more frequent inter- vals and the fact that this is a screen version of a play in which she appeared on Broadway should mean some- thing at the box office. Many stage plays have been flivs on the screen and although I have not seen the stage version of this, it is thoroughly entertaining and pleasing as a picture and I am sure that any audience will enjoy it. If your folks have seen the play, either with its origi- nal company or in stock, I would concentrate upon this angle in my advertising. If they haven't seen it, how- ever, and it is much more likely that most of them have not, you might create interest with catchlines like these: "Do you think women make more successful drum- mers than men? See Ethel Barrymore in 'Our Mrs. McChesney'." "Have you ever tried to think up an idea that would nfake you a fortune? Do you know that the simplest ideas often bring the biggest returns? See how Ethel Barrymore saves her firm from ruin with a simple idea in 'Our Mrs. McChesney'." (>v you might address an ad to mothers, like this: "MOTHERS. Would you believe in your son when i-MT-nrnst-'no^s proved he had erred? Would you send him to a reform school or would you stick by him and • • i •»*> (i overcome his faults? See 'Our Mrs. Mc- Chesney'." •: £ AMERICAN FILM CO., Inc. Presents MARY MILES MINTER a THE EYES OF JULIA DEEP*' By KATE L. McLAURIN Directed By LLOYD IN GRAHAM First of the Mary Miles Minter productions to be released An exceptional story of department store life, giving Mary under the American Film Company's new plan of selling *Iiles Minter an opportunity to display her ability as an , ., . , . . ingenue in the. role of an humble department store clerk. direct to exhibitors through American representatives in Romance, comedy, pathos are woven into this story in an Pathe exchanges. interesting manner. Distributed By Pathe Communicate at once with the American Film Company's representative in your nearest Pathe exchange for bookings. -■':'l- .0£gOi3KE3fc!il&aUIUHVBaSI C1AMJES' •Dtfector Q AV.P.D.A.. JVow directing yfSr Goldwyi 'n^ Sunday, August 25, 1918 1 DAILY 29 Effective Contrasting of Characters Makes Old Material Hold Corinne Griffith in "THE CLUTCH OF CIRCUMSTANCE" Vitagraph DIRECTOR Henry=Houry AUTHOR Leighton Graves Osmun SCENARIO BY Edward J. Montagne CAMERAMAN Arthur Ross AS A WHOLE. . . .Old centra! theme given new twists, is made entertaining by intelligent handling and well=developed suspense. STORY Old situation of wife becoming actress to save invalid husband, kept you guessing be= cause of introduction of prominent character whom you couldn't dope out 'til finish. DIRECTION Handled situations effectively and developed characterizations in a way that cre= ated suspense. Injected many distinctive touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Varied but generally satisfactory CAMERA WORK. . . Very good; pan shot of billboard was effective. STAR Screened well and emoted satisfactorily SUPPORT Very good EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Satisfactory; theatre interiors were well handled. DETAIL Many effective bits, although child inci= dent was left unexplained. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing objectionable LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,127 feet JUST about the time you think this is going to be the old stuff you've seen many times before, they pull a twister and the thing begins to get interest- ing with the final effect registering as very satisfactory entertainment. They open this up with Shero trying to bear up with a husband who is all business and gives her very little attention. The husband is seriously injured in a run-away, which Leaves him demented and we have Shero going to the city to obtain work, leaving the husband in his mother's care. After working in a sweatshop until she can no longer bear up under the strain, she meets a famous producer through a chance acquaintance and he, be- coming very much interested in her. offers to star her in a new production and through his influence and teach- ing, she becomes a successful Broadway favorite. Thus far, the producer has not suggested anything out of the way, but on the night of her successful debut, he suggests that she owes him something for the oppor- tunity he has given her and she spurns him, leaving the show. Upon arriving in her apartments, however, she finds a letter from her mother-in-law. stating that an operation is necessary to save her husband and she re- turns to the producer and consents to his wishes, it being the only means of securing the funds to save her husband. He gives her the money and leaves the city, without demanding "the price." After several months she re- ceives word that her husband has recovered. The pro- ducer returns and tells her that he really loves her but that she may return to her husband on the condi- tion that she will come back to him if he does not wel- come her home. Gossip in the village has gotten in its work and Shero's husband refuses to believe her story, so she returns to the producer and promises to marry him as soon as her divorce is granted. The characterization of David Herblin, as the pro- ducer, gave this an odd twist that kept you guessing. Most folks will have him figured as a willun until the twist comes in. establishing him as a square-shooter. The run-away was effectively handled and the con- trast in the characters of Shero's husband and the pro- ducer was well developed. In the opening of the story they showed Shero knit- ting baby clothes which led you to believe that a child was expected but the incident was dropped here with- out explanation. The idea of the husband, who had been insane until the operation, recalling the accident the first thing upon regaining his normal mind, was an effective touch. Many other minor incidents were well handled. Others in the cast were: Robert Gaillard, Florence Deshon. Denton Vane and Esta Banks. uSttuLe**t of Seseetvcaeaft is -that person *who is ^oxkiijg to aoaalce th.e cxxxeraa a*4 sec-twee £o± tlae ftUt** e m *a ** WID'S YEAR BOOK will be read from Coast to Coast— From Cover to Cover. 30 DAILY Sunday, August 25, 1918 Has Rather Good Twists and Should Satisfy Generally The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Corinne Griffith in 'THE CLUTCH OF CIRCUMSTANCE " Vitagraph I think most folks will accept this as a very satis- factory program offering. It has been given twists which make it interesting all the way and the individual touches and back stage atmosphere help relieve the more dramatic moments which would ordinarily class this as heavy drammer. The back stage stuff has been done to death in pic- tures but it still seems to hold a fascination for most folks and we get some very good "behind the scenes" atmosphere in this which is interesting. You might use catchlines like these to stir up in- terest : "If your husband did not believe in you, would you divorce him, even though he needed your loving care? See Corinne Griffith in 'The Clutch of Circumstance'." "Have you ever had a desire to go upon the stage? See 'The Clutch of Circumstance'." "Have you ever been the innocent victim of scandal? Did you try to disprove the accusations or did you de- cide to let them talk? See 'The Clutch of Circum- stance'." If the name of Miss Griffith means anything in your community, you can make quite a little fuss about her in this, as her work is very pleasing. You might bill this as "The interesting story of a girl who became the victim of circumstance, but who finally found happiness with the man she had been warned against." '""i •J The only studio concentrating on the production of features to the ex- clusion of all other details. Produc- tions made by con- tract Perfect facil- ities for individual producing units with or without con- tract ees supervision. The BRUNTON STUDIOS ROBERT BRUNTON COMPANY Melrose Avenue : : Los Angeles "By Your Works You Are Known" Rfxent Productions "Madam Who''' "A Man's Man" " Patriotism"' "Carmen of the Klondike" ''''Turn of a Card" "Alimony" "The One Woman" "More Trouble"' "The Bells" S" Sierra of the Sixties" "All Wrong" z ::■ EJ&NGOLN will next: fee S'e^t-k in "Uifayfette-^ Come" v*itV Poiores Oas'srinelli — directed by Leon.ce Peirretr WID'S YEAR BOOK— A thumb nail index of what's going on in filmland. Sunday, August 25, 1918 tM^ ►AILV 31 Sure-Fire Western Meller with Speedy Action and Real Thrills Tom Mix in "FAME AND FORTUNE" Victory — Fox DIRECTOR Lynn Reynolds AUTHOR Charles Alden Seltzer SCENARIO BY Bennett Cole CAMERAMAN J. D. Jennings AS A WHOLE Sure=fire western thriller with real dare=devil hero. Has pep and speed from start to finish. STORY Usual western situations given new twists and made convincing by excellent staging of thrills and very good atmosphere. DIRECTION Provided excellent atmosphere, kept action snappy and filmed dare=devil incidents in such a way that you knew they were real. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine LIGHTINGS Very good; some very effective night shots. CAMERA WORK Excellent; kept fast action cen= tered effectively. STAR You can't stop him; works hard and really does marvelous stunts. Will have audiences cheering in this. SUPPORT Miss Connors beautiful Shero and bad= man types well selected. EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots; western street exteriors looked permanent and were very ef= fective. INTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; bank set excep= tionally good. DETAIL Very good CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing objectionable; kids will like it. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,200 feet THAT boy Tom Mix sure don't care what happens. He gave us some sure-enough reckless stunts in this and they're going to keep any audience on edge because they've been filmed in a way that leaves no doubt in your minds but what he really pulled the stunts without any camera tricks or soft stuff to land on. Tom appears in this as the son of a banker in a wesfom camp, who returns to the town after an absence of years to find that his father had died and that the town willun had taken over the bank by a forged will that made him technically the owner. Hero learns that a friend of his father's, who could identify him as the rightful heir, lives nearby, and on his way to find him is wounded by willun's gang. He reaches the cabin and is taken care of by Shero Kathleen Connors. As soon as Hero has recovered from the wound, he leaves, telling her that he will return as soon as he "gets" willun. He goes to a rival camp for reinforcements and has a battle with the leader of the rival gang when he butts into his private affairs, saves the girl whom willun No. 2 was beating and takes her back to the cabin for protection. While this is transpiring, willun No. 1 abducts Shero and takes her back to the camp. Hero arrives on the scene and there is a struggle in which Hero conquers after a series of thrilling stunts in which the rival gang comes to the rescue and willun is killed in a fall off the balcony with Hero after which we have the clutch. They had Tom take an awful beating before finally get- ting the edge on willun. which was certainly out of the beaten path for "movie" meller heroes. They sure did pull some bang-up thrills in this and Director Lynn Reynolds has made them register. We had some great feats of wild riding which were excep- tionally effective and the struggle on the balcony in which willun and Hero fall over the railing to the ground was the best I have ever seen. This stunt has been worked many times by shooting the scene in two photographic sets, which eliminates the danger, but the way they gave it to us here they really took the fall together, and it was quite some drop. Tom's leap through a window and somersault to the back of his horse was a daring piece of work and we had many others all through this which will get any audience because they were not faked. The scenic backgrounds made it evident that Lynn Reynolds was on the job, because he has always been a shark at picking bear-cat locations. The street sets were convincing because they never looked "setty" and the night shots were very effective. Miss Connors was a beautiful and entirely pleasing Shero; George Nicholls was a sufficiently mean willun and others who appeared were: C. McHugh, Annette DeFoe, Val Paul. E. N. Wallach and Clarence Burton. The part of Ben Davis was credited on the press sheets to Jack Dill but another very good actor played the role in the film. Jack was shown in one short flash as a village character. * HOBART HENLEY M.P.D.A. ■PAREHTAgB" Divectin<5f MAE MARSH *or Goldw-)4i ^_ Current and ^oi,tlicomin<^i,eleas'es': "^s£ Face in the Dark" 'AUWomarir-,r^Ocld Pearl" ""^& Glorious' Adventure" tM% DAILY Sunday, August 25, 1918 Go the Limit. Lovers of Westerns Will Eat It Up. Star is a Demon The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Tom Mix in FAME AND FORTUNE" Victory — Fox If your gang Likes westerns, STEP OUT AND GRAB THIS. As a sure-fire "shoot-'em-up" thriller that really has pep and speed, I can't remember when I've ever seen a picture that quite compared to some of the stunts we get in this. Any gang that likes speed and action is going to figure that this provides an ample quantity and it has been put over in a way that makes it really grip because they haven't left anything to your imagi- nation— you really see Tom pull these stunts and your audiences are going to know he couldn't have faked them. You can safely step out and make a lot of noise about this being one of the fastest western thrillers ever filmed and I want to thank Fox for having provided a press book on the production that really gives you some ideas to work on and provides oodles of cuts that should make business pulling ads. There is very little saloon atmosphere in the offering and no dance hall stuff and as kfcds will simply eat this thrill stuff up I would make a play for matinee and Saturday business when you play this. Understand, this is not the kind of a picture to offer at a special kiddies' performance, but all kids, especially the boys, will thor- oughly enjoy it and you should be able to swell your matinee business by making a play for the younger element. No Trouble with "Triple Trouble Here's the answer in a telegram from Sheehan and Lurie, Rialto Theatre, San Francisco, Cal. : — George Kleine, 63 East Adams St., Chicago, 111. Charlie Chaplin in "TRIPLE TROUBLE" played to capacity from ten thirty in the morning until eleven at night, opening day, Sunday, establishing a new record for us. Crowds trying to get in continue to increase steadily each day. Picture pleasing our audiences. Have decided to retain picture second week. Sheehan and Lurie. BE YOUR OWN JUDGE! LOOK AT THE PICTURE »» a I (in)i George Kleine Exchange Second U. S. Government Official War Picture AMERICA'S ANSWER The New York Press Registers Another Great Success THE TIMES: "Stirs war spirit. Every scene of the film brought forth cheers." THE TRIBUNE: "Mr. Creel and the Committee on Public Information deserve due credit for a first- class piece of work." THE AMERICAN: "A representative picture, in which the fathers, mothers, families and friends of American soldiers may rejoice." THE SUN: "An inspiration to every American." THE HERALD: "Kept a large audience applauding, for it was compelling in its story." THE MORNING TELEGRAPH: "There is a thrill in every foot of the film." THE EVENING GLOBE: "AMERICA'S ANSWER tells powerfully in pictures what words could only feebly portray." THE EVENING SUN: "Impressively introduced, and artistic in its conception." THE EVENING POST: "Every American should see AMERICA'S ANSWER." THE EVENING JOURNAL: "The large audience cheered and applauded for two hours. Every American should see the picture." THE EVENING MAIL: "Has more thrills per foot than any photoplay ever flashed upon the screen." THE EVENING WORLD: "Is a film with a mis- sion, and is fulfilling it well." THE EVENING TELEGRAM: "AMERICA'S AN- SWER sheuld be seen. It is a duty every American owes to himself." Presented by Committee on Public Information GEORGE CREEL, Chairman DIVISION OF FILMS Chas. S. Hart, Director Official War Review The Latest Motion Pictures from the Governments of the United States, France, Great Britain and Italy One reel each week, and always up to date The Greatest Drama the World Ever Saw is that now being enacted on the fighting lines in France and Italy. The Official War Review presents to your audiences that drama, written in a universal language and vital with a uni- versal interest. It is a great continued story, a real serial with suspense, thrills and romance. Each weekly chapter leaves your audiences anxious for more. The showing of it gives tone and quality to your whole program! Issued by Committee, on Public Information GEORGE CREEL, Chairman DIVISION OF FILMS Chas. S. Hart, Director Distributed bv TATHE J. Warren Kerrigan in "Prisoners of the Pines" i\ new photoplay of the virile Northwest produced under the personal supervis- ion of Jesse D. Hampton. £>ook this newest Kerrigan production acknowledged to be the supreme effort of this popular and successful screen star. Released September 16th, by the W. W. HODKINSON CORP. 527 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK CITY 7jfeBftADSTREET of FILMDOM \>k\m 7/feRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 107 Saturday, August 24, 1918 Price 5 Cents Saving a Life Moore's Theatre Corp. Washington, D. C. August 21, 1918. Wid's Daily, Gentlemen: We have been receiving cop- ies daily and same are read with interest and profit by all con- cerned. We also might add that several recent articles, cov- ering general market conditions and carrying many seeds of wisdom for the exhibitor, should be framed and placed in every theatre office. If borne in mind and lived up to they might save the manager's life some day, also his house. Thanking you for courtesies extended and awaiting your pleasure always, beg to remain, Yours very truly, Moore's Theatre Corp., E. G. Evans, Gen'l. Mgr. Advertisers Will Aid Film Men Promise Assistance in Mak- ing Chicago Convention a Success A number of well-known film men attended the weekly luncheon of the Associated Motion Picture Advertis- ers at Rector's Thursday. Arthur James, of Metro, presided at the gath- ering. Frank Rembusch, Louis Frank and Sam Trigger, all of whom are inter- ested in the convention of the Amer- ican Exhibitor's Association in Chi- cago in September, attended the luncheon and asked the advertising men's aid in carrying the convention through to a success. Mr. James as- sured them of the Association's aid. The usual weekly address was made by Major James Belton of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and author of "Hunting the Hun." Ma- jor Belton cited some of his war ex- periences. John P. Wade, who cre- ated the role of Captain Boy-Ed., the German spy, in "The Eagle's Eye," was also among the guests. NEED FOR SPEEDING UP LICENSES Film Concerns in Porto Rico Request Increased Powers for Agent at San Juan The leading film concerns in Porto Rico have* written a letter to Vance McCormack, head of the War Trade Board protesting against the present regulations governing re-exportation of films from Porto Rico and urging upon the Board to restore the old method so that they can remain in business. Porto Rican conditions are peculiar. The average run for a feature there is ninety days, and there are only 65 the- atres. The films are then re-shipped to Cuba and San Domingo. Venezuela is also on this circuit. When the films are sent from New York, there is no censorship placed on them. However, the usual pro- cedure of listing the kinds of films and the securing of licenses from the War Trade Board in Washington must be gone through. Upon leaving Porto Rican shores, the films are cen- sored. The difficulty lies in the fact that the licenses must be secured from Washington, and owing to the irregu- lar sailings, it happens that the film men in Porto Rico must often wait a month before their letter with the request for licenses leaves San Juan. When the mail does arrive here, there is a long wait before the license is finally granted, and again there is the hazardous guess of trying to make a boat for the return mail. This length of time is enough to disrupt business, the letter to Mr. Mc- Cormack goes on to say. Contracts cannot be lived up to, and disorgani- zation must naturally follow. The Porto Rican dealers ask of the War Trade Board that the special agent at San Juan, Hayden L. Moore, be permitted to grant the licenses at the point of debarkation. In this way, they feel that their troubles will be greatly relieved. The protest is signed by the follow- ing companies: Caribbean Film Co., handling Paramount-Artcraft fea- tures; Medal Film Co., Metro, Trian- gle and Essanay; Crosas & Co., World Films; San Juan Film Exchanges, Pathe; M. Roman, Goldwyn; Univer- sal branch office; Mundial Film Co., and Yaguez Film Co. Furthering Plans Meetings of Liberty Loan and Fuel Committees Scheduled Co-operation and aid from the in- dustry will again be asked this com- ing week in helping to push through Government work. On Monday, at three o'clock, the Distributors' Branch of the N. A. M. P. I. will hold a meeting with Al Lichtman, Para- mount's general sales manager, who is handling the loan films of the screen stars for the Treasury Depart- ment. The distributing channels for these short pictures have already been an- nounced in WID'S DAILY. It is the purpose of this gathering to explain to the representatives of the releas- ing companies what plans have been made and to ask their fullest sup- port. Carrying out the functions of the Fuel Conservation Committee, a meet- ing has been arranged for Wednes- day at three o'clock between T. B. Noyes, conservation director, and E. R. Sartwell, director of publicity of the U. S. Fuel Administration at. which co-operative plans relative to the coal problem will be discussed. This is to be a general meeting. While in Washington, earlier in the week, the committee resolved upon two plans: One, is to conserve fuel within the industry 'itself land the other to spread throughout the land an educational campaign so that the public can learn to be saving. Rembusch and Frank Return Frank Rembusch and Louis Frank, who have been in New York for sev- eral days attending a directors' meet- ing of the Affiliated Distributors' Cor- poration, left last night for Chicago. Before leaving they had received as- surances from practically everyone of note in New York film circles that they would be on hand in Chicago for the A. E. A. convention. Saturday, August 24, 1918 iM* DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- Bide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes E. H. Kaufman, of Interocean, re- turned yesterday morning from a va- cation at Atlantic City. L. J. Woolridge, who was formerly with the Peter Pan Film Co., has joined the Educational Film Co. forces as sales manager. Norbert Lusk, of the Goldwyn pub- licity staff, has returned from a semi- vacation spent doing publicity work for the Farrar company at Cody, Wyo. What Mr. Lusk says of Cody is hardly printable. Charles E. Stark, general manager of the Spoor-Thompson Laboratory in Chicago is due in New York dur- ing the next few days to make a spe- cial offer to producers on laboratory work. C. D. Danford has been appointed branch manager of General Film Company's Atlanta office. He was formerly an exhibitor in Atlanta, and more recently was associated with Paramount-Artcraft in the Atlanta of- fice of that corporation. Clyde Slater, general manager of the Sanborn Laboratories at Culver City, left last night for the Coast af- ter a stay here of a week. During this time he closed contracts with the Goldwyn and the Douglas Fairbanks companies to do the laboratory work for all productions made on the Coast. Jacob Fabian, of the First National Exchange of New Jersey, has pur- chased the U. S. Temple in Union Hill, N. J., and will open it August 31, after extensive alterations have been completed and a new organ in- stalled. The total expenditure will run between $30,00 and $40,000. Harry P. Diggs will handle the publicity for the theatre. Shift Scenario Heads Geraghty and Kenyon Now With Metro on the Coast Metro is reorganizing its West Coast scenario department. Tom Geraghty and Alfred Kenyon have been engaged to date. These men will work in conjunction with George Baker, Coast supervising director who writes scenarios and adapts plays himself. Geraghty's first work is the scenario for "Kate of Kentucky," the new May Allison vehicle which is being directed by Robert Thornby, the latest acqui- sition to the directorial staff. Ken- yon is the brother of Charles Ken- yon, author of "Kindling." Bert Lytell has gone to Tropico, Mexico, for exteriors for his new play, the working title of which is "Making Good." Baker has gone to direct this part of the feature, but the production itself is in the hands of Charles Swick- ard. Add Red Gross ?Film "Crashing Through to Berlin" Am- plified with Scenes Taken in France Through the courtesy of the Uni- versal Film Manufacturing Company, scenes depicting Red Cross activities in France have been incorporated in that concern's "Crashing Through to Berlin." Joseph Johnson, publicity chief for the Red Cross, asked the National As- sociation to arrange for this. Will- iam A. Brady, president of the N. A. M. P. I., was instrumental in bringing 'out the insertion. In "Crashing Through to Berlin," the arrival of General Pershing's staff in France in the summer of 1917 is seen. There elapses a period of nine months during which Pershing was laying the ground work for his forces. During that time, the Red Crocs was active in building up the weakened morale of the French public. The Red Cross has complete pictorial his- tory of that work and it is this film that is being inserted in the Universal special. Perret Buys Site Leonce Perret has commenced work on the second of a series of patriotic propaganda films. The title for this picture has not been decided upon as yet. The Perret Productions have taken over the property of Capt. Fred- erick Russel near Great Neck, Long Island, comprising nearly 200 acres. The Russel Harbor mansion has also been acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Per- ret, and the staff will live there while production continues. State Charters Granted New Enterprises Authorized to Conduct Business in New York ALBANY.— The Jelenk Theatre Company of Schenectady, N. Y., has been incorporated with the Secretary of State. The corporation is capital- ized at $10,000 and is formed to oper- ate theatres for the presentation of motion pictures and theatrical produc- tions of various kinds. Directors: Theodore Jelenk and Paul Albert of Schenectady, and Nathan Sobelman of Wilmington, Delaware. Other amusement enterprises grant- ed charters by the State are: Perret Productions, Manhattan. To engage in a general motion picture business, also to present vaudeville attractions in conjunction therewith. Capital, $1,500. Directors: Leonce Perret, H. Louis Jacobson, and Joel Kronman, 74 Broadway, New York City. John F. Walsh Amusement Com- pany, Manhattan. Motion pictures, photoplays, and theatrical attractions. Capital, $25,000. Directors: Alexan- der Werner, Harry E. Diamond, and Meyer Klein, 817 West End Avenue; Manhattan. The Mayflower Photoplay Corpo- ration, incorporated under the laws of the State of Massachusetts, has been authorized by Secretary of State Francis M. Hugo to engage in a gen- eral motion picture business in New York state. The enterprise has a cap- ital of $50,000 and Isaac Wolper of 1465 Broadway, New York City, has b|een designated upon whom sum- mons may be served as the represen- tative of the corporation. The Artfilm Studios, Inc., of Ohio, having a capital stock of $100,000, has been granted a charter to conduct the business of producing and dealing in motion picture slides for advertising, educational and other purposes. Or- lando M. Barnes, 115 Broadway, New York City, will represent the corpo- ration in this state. Closed for Alterations ALBANY.— The Colonial theatre on Central avenue, one of the largest houses in the Capital City devoted solely to screen productions, will be closed the next two weeks for the purpose of making extensive altera- tions and improvements. This is the first time the Colonial has been closed since it came under the control of the present owners, and Manager Walter M. Powers announces that the theatre will reopen September 1 and will con- tinue presenting the same high class film productions which have estab- lished the house as one of the fore- most motion picture theatres in the city. Allege False Claims jM^ DAILY Saturday, August 24, 1918 Assets of Katz and de Wolf Are Said to Be Non-Existent Messrs. Olcott, Bonynge, McManus and Ernst, attorneys for Peirls, Buh- ler & Co., have filed in the County Clerk's office an amended complaint in their action against Paralta Plays, Inc., Herman Katz and John E. de Wolf, defendants. The plaintiffs, through their attorneys, allege in the amended complaint, which is based on information and belief, among other things, the following: That on the 17th day of November, 1917, Paralta Plays, Inc., made its promissory note promising to pay to its order the sum of $50,000 and inter- est six months after said date, and thereafter endorsed the note; that the defendants, Katz and de Wolf, en- dorsed the note for the purpose of giving it credit and with intent to be- come liable as endorsers thereon; that at the time of the making of the note Katz and de Wolf issued signed statements and caused them to be de- livered to the plaintiffs represent- ing their respective financial condi- tions as the net worth of Herman Katz on November 10th, 1917, as $701,- 564.57, and that of de Wolf as of May 1, 1917, as $679,979; that before the maturity of the note the plaintiffs on the credit of said endorsement and in reliance on the representations as to the financial worth of Katz and de Wolf gave value for the note and are now its owners and holders. The amended complaint further al- leges that the financial statements of Messrs. Katz and de Wolf referred to therein were false and untrue and made with the purpose and intent of cheating and defrauding the plaintiffs or whoever would become the pur- chasers of the note. It further alleges that Messrs. Katz and de Wolf did not have the assets claimed by them in their respective statements; that instead of the de- fendant Katz owning real estate of the value of $353,000, as represented in his statement, he owned no real estate whatsoever; that the defendant de Wolf instead of owning unencum- bered real estate of the value of$510,- 000, as represented by him in his written statement, owned no real es- tate whatsoever. The amended com- plaint contains other allegations re- lating to the falsity of the representa- tions of Messrs. Katz and de Wolf._ After alleging that they did not dis- cover the fraud of the defendants Katz and de Wolf until after the ser- vice of the original complaint in the action, the plaintiffs demand judg- ment against the defendants for $51,- 500 with interest and costs. MEET THEM AT CHICAGO The committee in charge of the A. E. A. convention in Chicago, Sept. 3-7, has extended invitations to the leaders in all branches of the indus- try. Among those invited to contrib- ute to the program are: Governor Louden, Illinois; William A. Brady, Adolph Zukor, William Fox, Arthur Friend, S. L. Rothapfel, P. A. Powers, Carl Laemmle, James Sheldon, Harry Rapf, Richard Row- land, William Sherrill, R. H. Coch- rane, Harry Schwalbe, J. D. Williams, Walter W. Irwin, A. E. Smith, L. J. Selznick, W. W. Hodkinson, Samuel Goldfish; Al. Lichtman, Percy Waters; S. A. Lynch, Winfield Sheehan, J. E. MacBride. Fred Besberg, Cleveland; A. A. Blank, Des Moines; Frank New- man, Kansas City; S. H. Hulsey of the Hulsey Enterprises, Dallas; Ralph Rufner, Butte, Mont.; Jensen and von Herberg, Seattle; Frank Bailey, Butte, Mont.; Eugene Roth, California the- atre, San Francisco; Jack Fathington, San Francisco; T. L. Tally, Los An- geles; Sid. Grauman, Grauman the- atres, Los Angeles; Emil Kehrman, Fresno, Calif.; Alva Talbot, America theatre, Denver; Chas. Branham, Reu- ben and Finkelstine, Minneapolis; Thos. Saxe, Milwaukee; Henry Trenz, Milwaukee; Harold Franklin, Buffalo; E. Wineberg, Buffalo; A. Lipson, Cincinnati; Barret McCormick, Indi- anapolis; Sidney Cohen, John Mann- heimer, New York City. Doc. Clemmer, Geo. Cohen. Spo- kane; J. H. Kunsky of the Kunsky Enterprises; Mr. McGee, Detroit; Ed- die Zorn,, Toledo; Max Stern, Colum- bus; Mr. McClaren, Jackson, Mich.; Harold Edel, Strand theatre, N. Y.; B. S. Moss of the Moss Theatrical Enterprises, New York; M. Kashin, New York City; Harris Davis, Pitts- burgh; William Sievers, Grand Cen- tral Palace; William Swanson, Salt Lake City; Harry Noland, Denver; Tom Moore, Washington, D. C; J. H. Hallberg, N. Y. C; Nathan Gordon, Gordon Enterprises, Boston; Col. Kin- caid, Boston; Samuel Atkinson, Evan- ston, 111.; King Perry, Detroit; Thos. Beatty, Chicago; Dr. AugustZilligen, Jr., Chicago; Jake Wells, Richmond, Va.; Guy Wonders, Baltimore. Samuel Trigger, N. Y. C; Fred J. Herrington, Pittsburgh; Samuel Bul- lock, Cleveland; I. W. Mosher, Buf- falo; Henry B. Varner, Lexington, N. C. : Wm. Fait, Utica; Harry Cran- dall, Washington, D. C; Percy Wells, Wilmington, N. C; M. A. Choynski, Chicago; A. B. Momand, Shawnee, Okla.; R. D. Craver, Charlotte, N. C; W. A. Steffie, Minneapolis; H. Scho- enstadt. Chicago; W. H. Linton, Lit- tle Falls, N. Y.; A. P. Tugwell, Los Angeles; Dee Robinson, Peoria, 111.; Hough O'Donnell, Washington, Ind.; Chesley Toney, Richmond: A. J. Km-, Chicago; Al. Butterfield, De- troit; R. B. Hincs, Roanoke, Va.; W. H. Wiley, Mulberry, Kan.; Glenn Harper, Los Angeles; Peter Jeup, De- troit; C. R. Andrews, Muncie, Ind.; J. E. Sherwood, Madison, Wis.; S. A. Moran, Ann Arbor, Mich. Henry J. Lustig, Cleveland; Henry Bernstein, Richmond; Louis Dittmar, Louisville; George Bleisch, Owens- boro, Ky.; S. S. Harris, Little Rock; D. D. Cooley, Tampa, Fla. ; Herman J. Brown, Boise, Ida.; Byron Parks, Salt Lake City; John Weinig, Cincin- nati; George Warner, Columbia, S. C.; Harry Hyman, Chicago; W. J. Mulli- gan, Hegewisch, 111.; Max Hyman, Chicago; J. Cooper. Chicago; Harry J. Corbett, Chicago: H. A. Gundling, Chicago^ A. Treulich, Chicago; H. M. Ortenstein, Chicago. From the Courts B a r r e Must Pay Alimony — Chalmers Publishing Co. Appeals Supreme Court Justice Donnelly de- cided yesterday that Raoul Barre, who puts the animation in the "Mutt & Jeff" motion pictures, must pay his wife, Antoinette Barre, of No. 1611 University Avenue, Bronx, $30 a week alimony. She is suing for separation alleging abandonment. In her application she stated that her husband receives about $25,000 a year from his interest in the Barre- Bowers Studios Company which, in turn, receives $40,000 a year to ani- mate and distribute the Bud Fisher cartoons. The Chalmers Publishing Company yesterday filed in the Supreme Court a notice of appeal from the decision of Justice McAvoy granting the mo- tion of the United Picture Theatres of America, Inc., for judgment on the pleadings in its suit for $250,000 dam- ages. The United Picture Theatres charged the defendant company, which publishes The Moving Picture World with libeling the corporation. Justice McAvoy, in his opinion, granting the plaintiff judgment on the pleadings, said: "One cannot read the article upon which this cause for libel is founded without the impression be- ing created that the plaintiff it charged with a fraud and scheme to deprive innocent subscribers to its stock of their subscription deposits and that its representations with re- spect to the character of the project were and are wholly false." Marie Ginoris, long associated with Pathe as film editor, now occupies a similar position with the Division of Films of the Committee on Public In- formation. Saturday, August 24, 1918 TdijA DAILY Sure-Fire Western Meller with Speedy Action and Real Thrills Tom Mix in "FAME AND FORTUNE" Victory — Fox DIRECTOR Lynn Reynolds AUTHOR Charles Alden Seltzer SCENARIO BY Bennett Cole CAMERAMAN J. D. Jennings AS A WHOLE Sure=fire western thriller with real dare=devil hero. Has pep and speed from start to finish. STORY Usual western situations given new twists and made convincing by excellent staging of thrills and very good atmosphere. DIRECTION Provided excellent atmosphere, kept action snappy and filmed dare=devil incidents in such a way that you knew they were real. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine LIGHTINGS Very good; some very effective night shots. CAMERA WORK Excellent; kept fast action cen= tered effectively. STAR You can't stop him; works hard and really does marvelous stunts. Will have audiences cheering in this. SUPPORT Miss Connors beautiful Shero and bad- man types well selected. EXTERIORS. . . .Many beautiful shots; western street exteriors looked permanent and were very ef- fective. INTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; bank set excep- tionally good. DETAIL Very good CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing objectionable; kids will like it. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 7,000 feet THAT boy Tom Mix sure don't care what happens. He gave us some sure- enough reckless stunts in this and they're going to keep any audience on edge because they've been filmed in a way that leaves no doubt in your minds but what he really pulled the stunts without any camera tricks or soft stuff to land on. Tom appears in this as the son of a banker in a western camp, who returns to the town after an absence of years to find that his father had died and that the town willun had taken over the bank by a forged will that made him technically the owner. Hero learns that a friend of his father's, who could identify him as the rightful heir, lives nearby, and on his way to find him is wounded by willun's gang. He reaches the cabin and is taken care of by Shero Kathleen Connors. As soon as Hero has recovered from the wound, he leaves, telling her that he will return as soon as he "gets" willun. He goes to a rival camp for reinforcements and has a battle with the leader of the rival gang when he butts into his private affairs, saves the girl whom willun No. 2 was beating and takes her back to the cabin for protection. While this is transpiring, willun No. 1 abducts Shero and takes her back to the camp. Hero arrives on the scene and there is a struggle in which Hero conquers after a series of thrilling stunts in which the rival gang comes to the rescue and willun is killed in a fall off the balcony with Hero after which we have the clutch. They had Tom take an awful beating before finally get- ting the edge on willun, which was certainly out of the beaten path for "movie" meller heroes. They sure did pull some bang up thrills in this and Director Lynn Reynolds has made them register. We had some great feats of wild riding which were excep- tionally effective and the struggle on the balcony in which willun and Hero fall over the railing to the ground was the best I have ever seen. This stunt has been worked many times by shooting the scene in two photographic sets, which eliminates the danger, but the way they gave it to us here they really took the fall together, and it was quite some drop. Tom's leap through a window and somersault to the back of his horse was a daring piece of work and we had many others all through this which will get any audience because they were not faked. The scenic backgrounds made it evident that Lynn Reynolds was on the job, because he has always been a shark at picking bear- cat locations. The street sets were convincing because they never looked "setty" and the night shots were very effective. Miss Connors was a beautiful and entirely pleasing Shero ; George Nicholls was a sufficiently mean willun and others who appeared were: C. McHugh, Annette DeFoe, Val Paul, E. N. Wallach and Clarence Burton. The part of Ben Davis was credited on the press sheets to Jack Dill but another very good actor played the role in the film. Jack was only shown hi one short flash as a village character. Go the Limit. Lovers of Westerns Will Eat It Up. Star is a Demon The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If your gang likes westerns, STEP OUT AND GRAB THIS. As a sure-fire "shoot-'em-up" thriller that really has pep and speed, I can't remember when I've ever seen a picture that quite compared to some of the stunts we get in this. Any gang that likes speed and action is going to figure that this provides an ample quantity and it has been put over in a way that makes it really grip because they haven't left anything to your imagi- nation— you really see Tom pull these stunts and your audiences are going to know he couldn't have faked them. You can safely step out and make a lot of noise about this being one of the fastest western thrillers ever filmed and I want to thank Fox for having provided a press book on the production that really gives you some ideas to work on and provides oodles of cuts that should make business pulling ads. There is very little saloon atmosphere in the offering and no dance hall stuff and as kids will simply eat this thrill stuff up I would make a play for matinee and Saturday business on the offering. Understand, this is not the kind of a picture to offer at a special kiddies' performance, but all kids, especially the boys, will thor- oughly enjoy it and you should be able to swell your matinee business by making a play for the younger element. 2feBftADSTREET of FILMDOM 7&rkoghized Authority Vol. V, No. 106 Friday, August 23, 1918 Price 5 Cents FILM THIEVES ROUNDED UP District Attorney's Staff With Government Detec- tives and Burns Men Descend on 45th St, Offices W. C. Thompson, of the Royal Cinema Co., 145 West 45th street, was indicted and arraigned before Judge Malone in Special Sessions yes- terday. He was held in $5,000 bail on a charge of being a receiver of stolen goods. Thompson was arrest- ed on Wednesday afternoon in a raid that was made on his office by De- tectives Kniff and Rosseau of the Dis- trict Attorney's staff. In the raid stolen prints of "The Whip," Douglas Fairbanks in "Down to Earth," W. S. Hart in "The Silent Man," Elsie Ferguson in "Barbary Sheep," "The Zeppelin's Last Raid" and a number of old Chaplins were recovered. The raid was the result of an in- vestigation that has been going on since last April. One of the em- ployees of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation overheard a conversation in Spanish in the subway regarding the Paramount serial "Who Is No. 1," which had been stolen. The Famous Players-Lasky engaged the Burns Agency to assist them in running down the thieves. Eventually the F. P.-L. managed to have one of their Spanish title writers engaged by Thompson and placed in his office. Through him it was learned that Thompson was acting as a fence and receiving films from a band that was operating all over the country. The films were in turn, after having been retitled in Spanish, turned over to an- other band who made a practice of smuggling them out of this country into Mexico. In Mexico the pictures were turned over to a company that is on the War Trade Board's Enemy Alien list. Assistant District Attorney Alfred J. Talley stated yesterday that Thompson had been grilled by him for four hours on Wednesday and that his final statement was an ad- mission of the fact that he was con- ducting a business in stolen film. Mr. Talley further stated that as a result of Thompson's admission there would be a clean-up of the entire gang that had been operating with him. The thefts thus far, he stated, amounted to more than $100,000. In the raid on Wednesday several Buys "Her Mistake'' Frank Hall Selects Evelyn Nes- bit Picture for First Release Frank Hall has launched his new fixed-price releasing plan, in which he promises twelve big special pro- ductions this coming season at ten, twenty and thirty dollars per day, with the new Evelyn Nesbit produc- tion "Her Mistake." Under the name of Producers' Dis- others were taken into custody and tributing Corporation the new Hall the detectives of the Custom House I company is now "fully organized and Intelligence Department also made several arrests. The men that were taken by the Government officials were examined yesterday in the Cus- toms House. The films that were recovered were identified by Harold M. Pitman of the F. P.-L. legal department and Frank Meier, the technical director of the company. a large sales force under the supervi- sion of Lynn S. Card is operating from the third floor of the Leavitt Building. David P. Howells, president of the Film Exporters of America, Inc., who has been on a business trip through the west, is expected back Monday morning. WATCHING CLEVELAND SITUATION Officials Intimate That the Closing of Houses May Result In a Reclassification of Operators WASHINGTON, D. C— There is a strong sentiment here regarding the situation in Cleveland where the strike of the moving picture machine operators has forced the closing of houses that were showing Govern- ment propaganda film, which may re- sult in the reclassification of the op- erators among the non-essentials. It is also rumored that the Government officials may also go further and name a number of others who are connected with the theatres and listed among the essentials. CLEVELAND, O.— Henry Lustig, president of the Cleveland Theatre Owners' Association, was informed by wire from Washington yesterday that the Federal authorities had taken notice of the situation here and that A. L. Faulkner, of Cleveland, had been appointed commissioner by the Government to act as arbitrator when the meeting of the managers and operators takes place on Saturday. The State and Victor exchanges of Detroit, Mich., owned by Samuel Lud- wig, have been merged. Edith Cavell Story Shooting of Nurse Basis of Film Made by Plunkett and Carroll Joseph L. Plunkett and Frank L. Carroll issued an announcement yes- terday that they had completed the filming of a feature based on the shooting of Edith Cavell, the British Red Cross nurse, by the Germans^ It is entitled "The Woman the Ger- mans Shot," and will be ready for re- lease, Sept. 16. Several weeks ago there was an announcement that Metro was to do a picture on the same subject, but called the project off because of ad- vices from abroad that Herbert Brenon was making a picture with the murder of Miss Cavell as the subject. Anthony P. Kelly wrote the script for the Plunkett-Carroll production and John Adolphi directed the pic- turization. Friday, August 23, 1918 Jsit4^xS7 Published Every Day in th« Y«ar at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address, all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes James Sheldon, president of Mu- tual, who has been in New York, re- turned to Chicago yesterday. The Frohman Amusement Corp is making the final exteriors for "Once to Every Man" at Sparkhill, N. J. Carle E. Carlton, president of Crest Film Company, returned yesterday from Ithaca. "En L'Air," Crest's pic- ture, is now completed. The Pathe Club, consisting of all male employees of Pathe's home of- fice, is going on an outing up the Hudson, Sunday. After completing circulation in the leading theatres in this country, mil- lions of feet of Ford Education Weekly have been donated to the Committee on Public Information for propaganda work in foreign countries. The Consolidated Amusement Com- pany has booked the Kleine release, "Triple Trouble," a two-reel Chaplin comedy, for its ten theatres. The contract means ten days of Consoli- dated time, starting next week. Joseph Merrick has been appointed coast supervisor by Mutual, with di- rect supervision over Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. Mr. Merrick was rormerly branch manager for Mutual at Los Angeles and Seattle. What is said to be one of the most extended bookings ever made for the first run of a picture in Newark, was closed yesterday when W. R. Wilker- son, New Jersey representative for Jewel Productions, booked "For Husbands Only" for eighteen days with Moe Kriedel, manager of the Goodwin and Savoy theatres. DISTRIBUTION FOR LOAN FILMS Twelve National Releasing Companies Will Handle Pictures— Exhibitors to Get Forty-Two Subjects Free Frank R. Wilson, national director of publicity of the Treasury Depart- ment, came on from Washington yes- terday to hold a conference with Adolph Zukor, president of Famous Players-Lasky, and head of the N. A. Al. P. I. committee, which has the Government features of stars for the Fourth Liberty Loan in charge. At that conference final arrangements i^ere made for the distribution chan- nels through which these short pic- tures will reach the public. Forty-two stars have offered them- selves to the Government and to date the films of Mae Murray and Bill Hart have reached the Famous Play- ers office. Hart's picture arrived yes- terday. John C. Flinn is secretary oi the committee and l.as care of all the details. Al Lichtman, general sales man- ager, will have the distribution in charge. The Government will have made three thousand prints of each star's picture. Twelve national dis- tributing companies will handle the films. They are Metro, Mutual, Pathe, Select, Triangle, Universal, World, Famous Players-Lasky, Fox, General, Goldwyn and Greater Vitagraph. The country has been divided among them. The exhibitors are to receive the Loan pictures free of charge and as there are forty-two of them, there will be a different one shown every night dur- ing- the drive. Completing Triangles Triangle has finished "The Secret Code" with Gloria Swanson and J. Barnef Sherry as the stars, directed by Albert Parker, and "Mystic Faces," starring Jack Abbe, under the direc- tion of E. Mason Hopper. Harry Pollard, Triangle's newest director, has started work on "The Reckoning Days," by Robert Hill, starring Belle Bennet: Cliff Smith is working with William Desmond on "The Pretender," by Alvin J. Neitz; Lawrence Windom is doing his first Triangle, "The Gray Parasol," with Wellington Cross; Thomas Heffron is making "Tony America," with Fran- cis McDonald, and Christy Cabanne has Taylor Holmes at work on "A Regular Fellow," by Dr. Daniel Car- son Goodman. The company has gone to San Diego on location. Milton Stern, assistant branch manager of the Goldwyn Distributing Company, has been drafted, and leaves in a short time to join his com- pany at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Notes From Chicago "The Vigilantes" to Be Shown — Twentieth Century Opened CHICAGO.— The Baer State Film Co.'s production, "The Vigilantes," a photoplay in seven reels, dealing with the lawless days of California during the '49 gold rush, is scheduled to ap- pear at the Playhouse, Sept. 1. The feature has been awaiting a showing for some time. The board of cen- sors, it is said, sliced several scenes from the production. Private R. D. Pinkerton of the Lon- don Scottish regiment, who has seen service in the first line trenches in France, made a personal appearance at Ascher's Kenwood theatre, Chi- cago, Tuesday night. Private Pinker- ton carries authority from his govern- ment to appear before American audi- ences and will make the circuit of the Ascher houses. "The Ladies of Hell," a successful war story, is from Mr. Pinkerton's pen. Joe Brandt, general sales manager of Universal, arrived in Chicago last Saturday to confer with I. L. Leser- man, manager of the local exchange. Mr. Brandt will announce while in the city some new features which the Universal Company will release dur- ing the coming year. H. V. Buelow, general manager of the Tractors and Accessory Exposi- tion, which is to be given on Munici- pal Pier, Sept. 14 to 21, is arranging with several manufacturers to pre- sent motion pictures daily, showing what tractors are doing toward win- ning- the war. Harry Ortenstein opened the Twen- tieth Century theatre, at Prairie ave- nue and 47th street, Saturday night, playing to packed houses. The the- atre has been beautifully decorated throughout, newly carpeted and a new ventilating system installed, similar to the one in use at the Vista theatre, also under Mr. Ortenstein's manage- ment. This system was passed by the Chicago Board of Health and pro- nounced one of the best in the city. The opening bill was the Mutual fea- ture "Her Husband's Honor," with Edna Goodrich. The New Park is also under the same management as the Twentieth Century. AILY Friday, August 23, 1918 m FILM NOTABLES GOING TO CHICAGO Prominent Executives Attend — Rembusch and Frank Rembusch and Louis Frank have done some effective advance work in behalf of the American Exhibitors' Association Convention, slated for Chicago, September 2-3-4- 5-6. By their efforts, the presence of quite a number of notables in the film world, both stars and executives are assured at the meeting during the first week in September. Mr. Rembusch is at the helm owing to the illness of Jake Wells. Rem- busch came to New York primarily to attend an important directors' meet- ing of the Affiliated Distributors' Cor- poration in which he is interested. Yesterday, however, was devoted to a number of visits to the various film executives. As a result of his efforts, Mr. Rembusch has announced that the following will attend the convention: J. D. Williams, Samuel L. Rothapfel, W. A. Brady, Lewis J. Selznick, W. W. Irwin, Charles S. Hart, chairman, Di- vision of Films, Committee on Public Information, and Robert Leibler. There are some additional men who will attend the confab and if the num- bers warrant it, the party will leave on a special car. The screen stars who will grace the convention hall are as follows: Marguerite Courtot, Kitty Gordon, Mary Miles Minter, Violet Mersereau, Dolores Cassinelli, Pearl White and Arline Pretty. On Friday, September 6, a benefit ball will be given, the proceeds going to the fund at the Great Lakes Naval Training Camp. The proposed amalgamation of the 'i A. E. A. and M. P. E. L. of A. will be a feature of the convention, it is expected, and the war tax will be also fully discussed. C. C. Pettijohn, coun- sel of the Affiliated, will talk on the dual league combination. and Stars Promise To Frank Turn The Trick First Picture Chosen Affiliated Directors Decide on Their Initial Release A committee of six directors of the A ffi 1 i a t e d Distributors yesterday decided on the first release to be dis- tributed on the Affiliated's co-opera- tive plan. The committee was com- posed of Sidney L. Cohen and John Mannheimer of New York; Alfred Hayman of Buffalo; Frank Rembusch of Indianapolis; H. B. Varner of North Carolina, and Louis Frank of Chicago. The twenty national directors were immediately notified by telegraph of the committee's selection. The title of the picture is temporarily being held in secret. Doug Does Another By special arrangement with the treasury department, Douglas Fair- banks is to make a propaganda film, the proceeds of which will be given to the American Red Cross. This same film will also contain a Fourth Liberty Loan message. A small ren- tal will be asked the exhibitors for the use of this Fairbanks' propaganda pic- ture, _ suggested by an official in Washington, and to be handled inde- pendently of all other Liberty Loan trailers. The Fairbanks' picture will be almost a thousand feet in length. Specials Scheduled Release Dates Chosen for Para- mount-Artcraf t Productions Although there has been no defi- nite announcement from the Para- mount-Artcraft people, it is under- stood that the first four of their spe- cial releases have already been set- tled on. The tentative dates for their release are "The Hun Within," with a D. W. Griffith cast, on Sept. 8; "Private Peat," with Private Peat starred, Oct. 13; "False Faces," the first big Ince personal production since "Civilization," Nov. 3, and "The Silver King," which is to be released Feb. 9. The schedule of prices that is in force for these pictures makes them cost thirty-three and one-third per cent, more than the Pickford releases. In all there are to be at least nine special productions during the coming year,_ but there is a possibility that the list may be added to so that there will be an average of at least one a month. Billie Rhodes Sues Billie Rhodes, now of the National Film Corporation, has filed suit against the Christie Film Corporation alleging her contract with that con- cern called for more money than she received. The difference between the amount Miss Rhodes was paid and the amount her attorney says she should have received is $980. John J. Craig, the attorney representing the Na- tional star, in addition to filing suit crease in compensation. CHAPLIN FILM SUBJECT TO VOTE Directors to Decide Whether "Shoulder Arms" Should Be In Five Reels or Two Parts Grant Files Amended Complaint Lawrence Grant, writer, lecturer and actor, yesterday filed in the Su- preme Court an amended complaint in his action to recover $51,008 from the Metro Picture Corporation. He wants $1,008 for alleged services performed in posing as the Kaiser in the motion picture play "To Hell With the Kaiser," and $50,000 dam- ages for alleged failure of the Metro Picture Corporation to feature him in the advertising in accordance with his contract with ;>.c company. The First National Exhibitors' Cir- cuit is taking a vote from its various exchange directors on the advisability of making the coming Chaplin "Shoulder Arms" either a straight five-reel production or a two-part pro- duction of three reels each, with the majority at present seemingly being in favor of the five reels, or more, in one part. Those that favor the lat- ter proposition are citing the tremen- dous drawing powers of the Chaplin- Dressier feature "Tillie's Punctured Romance." The latest advices from the Coast are to the effect that Chaplin is per- sonally cutting "Shoulder Arms" and that he cannot see his way clear to condensing it into a three-reel pro- duction. The First National people believe that the production, no matter what the decision is regarding its length, will be in readiness for release late in September. Both J. D. Williams and Harry O. Schwalbe are out of town at present and will remain at Plattsburg for another week. They are to hold a conference on several important phases of the future conduct of the First National organization and on their return the Chaplin matter will be definitely settled. At the request of Leonce Perret, the Lafayette League is co-operating with the National Defence Society and the Lafayette Day National Committee to- ward insuring the success of the cele- bration of Lafayette Day, Septem- ber 6. Friday, August 23, 1918 nM3 DAILY Effective Contrasting of Characters Makes Old Material Hold Corinne Griffith in "THE CLUTCH OF CIRCUMSTANCE" Vitagraph DIRECTOR Henry=Houry AUTHOR Leighton Graves Osmun SCENARIO BY Edward J. Montague CAMERAMAN Arthur Ross AS A WHOLE. . . .Old central theme given new twists, is made entertaining by intelligent handling and well=developed suspense. STORY Old situation of wife becoming actress to save invalid husband, kept you guessing be= cause of introduction of prominent character whom you couldn't dope out 'til finish. DIRECTION Handled situations effectively and developed characterizations in a way that cre= ated suspense. Injected many distinctive touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Varied but generally satisfactory CAMERA WORK. . . .Very good; pan shot of billboard was effective. STAR Screened well and emoted satisfactorily SUPPORT Very good EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Satisfactory; theatre interiors were well handled. DETAIL Many effective bits, although child inci= dent was left unexplained. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing objectionable LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,127 feet JUST about the time you think this is going to be the old stuff you've seen many times before, they pull a twister and the thing begins to get interest- ing with the final effect registering as very satisfactory entertainment. Th^y open this up with Shero trying to bear up with a husband who is all business and gives her very little attention. The husband is seriously injured in a run-away, which leaves him demented and we have Shero going to the city to obtain work, leaving the husband in his mother's care. After working in a sweatshop until she can no longer bear up under the strain, she meets a famous producer through a chance acquaintance and he, be- coming very much interested in her, offers to star her in a new production and through his influence and teach - ing. she becomes a successful Broadway favorite. Thus far, the producer has not suggested anything out of the way, but on the night of her successful debut, he suggests that she owes him something for the oppor- tunity he has given her and she spurns him, leaving the show. Upon arriving in her apartments, however, she lino's a letter from her mother-in-law. stating that an operation is necessary to save her husband and she re- turns to the producer and consents to his wishes, it being the only means of securing the funds to save her husband. He gives her the money and leaves the city, without demanding "the price." After several months she re- ceives word that her husband has recovered. The pro- ducer returns and tells her that he really loves her but that she may return to her husband on the condi- tion that she will come bnck to him if he does not wel- come her home. Gossip in the village has gotten in its work and Shero's husband refuses to believe her story, so she returns to the producer and promises to marry him as soon as her divorce is granted. The characterization of David Herblin, as the pro- ducer, gave this an odd twist that kept you guessing. Most folks will have him figured as a willun until the twist comes in, establishing him as a square-shooter. The run-away was effectively handled and the con- trast in the characters of Shero's husband and the pro- ducer was well developed. In the opening of the story they showed Shero knit- ting baby clothes which led you to believe that a child was expected but the incident was here dropped with- out explanation. The idea of the husband, who had been insane until the operation, recalling the accident the first thing upon regaining his normal mind, was an effective touch. Many other minor incidents were well handled. Others in the cast were: Robert Gaillard, Florence Deshon, Denton Vane and Esta Banks. Has Rather Good Twists and Should Satisfy Generally The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I think most folks will accept this as a very satis- factory program offering. It has been given twists which make it interesting all the way and. the individual touches and back stage atmosphere help relieve the more dramatic moments which would ordinarily class this as heavy drammer. The back stage stuff has been done to death in pic- tures but it still seems to hold a fascination for most folks and we get some very good "behind the scenes" atmosphere in this which is interesting. You might use catchlines like these to stir up in- terest : "If your husband did not believe in you, would you divorce him, even though he needed your loving care? See Corinne Griffith in 'The Clutch of Circumstance'." "Have you ever had a desire to go upon the stage? See 'The Clutch of Circumstance'." "Have you ever been the innocent victim of scandal? Did you try to disprove the accusations or did you de- cide to let them talk? See 'The Clutch of Circum- stance'." If the name of Miss Griffith means anything in your community, you can make quite a little fuss about her in this, as her work is very pleasing. You might bill this as "The interesting story of a girl who became the victim of circumstance, but who finally found happiness with the man she had been warned against." 7/pBRADSTREET of FILWDOM 7/feRECOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 109 Monday, August 26, 1918 Price 5 Ccnti ENTIRE INDUSTRY IS DECLARED ESSENTIAL Priorities Committee Reaches Decision After Conference with Picture Men — Limitations Imposed To Conserve Film and Metal— No New Theatres WASHINGTON.— The motion pic- ture industry in its entirety has been declared essential by the Priorities Committee of the War Industries Board. Bernard M. Baruch, chair- man of the board, has just made this important announcement. The declaration of the motion pic- ture industry as essential came about as a result of a conference between the Priorities Committee of the Board headed by Judge Edwin B. Parker and a committee from the Na- tional Association of the Motion Pic- ture Industry headed by President William A. Brady, and consisting of the following officials and members of the association: W. C. Smith, the Nicholas Power Company; E. M. Porter, the Precision Machine Com- pany; D. H. Haight, Eastman Kodak Company; A. J. Mitchell, National Carbon Company; Albert Lowe, Par- agon Films, Inc., and Frederick H. Elliott, executive secretary of the As- sociation. The War Industries Board was rep- resented at the conference by Judge Edwin B. Parker, chairman of the Priorities Commission of the Board; Herbert Bayard Swope, associate chairman of the Board; H. G. Phil- lips, secretary of the Board, and sev- eral heads of the various conservation divisions of the Board. Limitations Imposed In the ruling declaring the industry essential the following limitations were placed upon it: 1. Each member of the industry will pledge himself to discontinue all non-essential production and elimi- nate all wasteful methods. # Old film must be scraped and reclaimed and returned to the manufacturer for use in the manufacture of new films. Only wholesome pictures are to be produced. To save chemicals used in the production of explosives only one negative of a single picture will be made unless the picture is for export when two will be permitted. 2. Permits for the erection of new theatre buildings and equipment for new theatres will be denied during the war. Where localities are over theatred no new theatre will be per- mitted to replace those retiring from business. 3. Manufacturers will encourage the repair of existing machines (projec- tion machines) rather than the pur- chase of new. Manufacture of new iron and tin containers for film will be discontinued and substitutes used to conserve the metals. When these regulations and others to be announced later are complied with the members of the industry will be granted the priorities neces- sary to enable them to operate. In presenting the reasons as to why the industry should be declared essential, President Brady made an exceedingly strong and convincing speech. He reviewed the war service of the industry from the time he was requested to organize it on a war basis by President Wilson down to the present, calling atten- tion to the twenty-eight-page brief that had previously been filed with Provost Marshal General Crowder setting forth in detail the accomplish- ments of the motion picture and the National Association as a direct aid of the Government and its associated activities such as the Red Cross in the winning of the war. Screen's Value Unquestioned Judge Parker, in replying to Mr. Brady's speech, said that the war work of the motion picture industry did not need to be gone into as every prominent official in Washington was familiar with that work and the great good that it had accomplished. He stated that there was no question of the value of the motion picture and the screen of America to the Gov- ernment. The Association committee also called the attention of Judge Parker to the work it had accomplished over nine months ago in eliminating the tin film cans from film shipments when such shipments were made in sheet iron carrying cases and /the manner in which it had succeeded in bringing about the necessary changes in the railroad and express regula- tions that would make this elimina- tion possible. Judge Parker then pointed out the absolute necessity for the rigid con- servation of metals of all kinds, but more especially iron, steel and tin. Several plans were discussed for the conservation of these metals in the industry and it was pointed out that the greatest use was in the manufac- ture of projection machines and parts. Using Old Machines The Priorities Committee inquired into the feasibility of inaugurating a campaign of education among the users of the machines, setting forth the necessity for care against acci- dent and breakage and urging that old machines be repaired rather than new ones purchased. The Association Committee assured them that this would be done. Plans were then made for the con- servation of film in every way, shape and manner. In the past it has been the custom of some directors to shoot thirty and forty thousand feet of neg- ative in order to obtain a five-reel picture. Directors have also used from one to five cameras in shooting the same scene. Under the rulings of the Board this will no longer be per- mitted. The necessity for the conservation of film is the fact that the same chem- icals are used in the manufacture of the base celluloid as are required in many forms of explosives and these chemicals naturally must be greatly conserved. Plans were also entered into whereby all waste film must be returned to the manufacturer for use in making new film and all old pic- tures when they have outworn their usefulness must be scraped and re- turned to the manufacturer. Monday, August 26, 1918 iMi DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes Charles Verhalen, formerly of the Exhibitors' Herald, has joined the publicity staff of Mutual. Another branch office of United Picture Theatres of America was opened last week in Cleveland, O. C. A. Meade is to be in charge. Work has been started on "Wolf Breed," from the story by Jackson Gregory, which is to be the second of the Dustin Farnum features released through United Picture Theatres. Hal Hixon, eccentric dancer will soon appear in a picture dealing with the life of an English vaudeville artist. It is officially stated now that the Dallas office of General Film Com- pany is doing business in its new lo- cation, 1924 Main street, after several weeks of arranging a transfer. Chamberlain Brown announces that George Kinnear, author of "The Fly- ing Banner," which has been cast and will go into production in Novem- ber, has been engaged to do a six- reel propaganda picture. Metro has another war picture in preparation. It is called "Wilson and the Kaiser," and will parallel the live_s of the two men, showing, of course, the supremacy of democratic doc- trines. The picture probably will be in seven reels. Arrangements have been made to show a motion picture entitled "Strengthen America," in the Senate Chamber as part of the prohibition campaign in Congress. The film will be shown to members of Congress when the prohibition amendment comes up for action. AFFILIATED BUYS PERRET FILM Go-operative Organization Announces First of Its Features— Release As Yet Unsettled Charles C. Pettijohn, counsel for the Affiliated Distributors' Corpora- tion, announced on Saturday that his organization has purchased the Leonce Perret propaganda feature, "Lafayette, We Come." This is the first picture to be bought by the co- operative organization of exhibitors. _ As stated in Wid's Daily, the na- tional directors have already been in- formed of the arrangement. They have been asked to render opinions on settling the release date for the picture and as soon as replies have been received a definite date for dis- tribution will be named. Mr. Perret, in choosing the Affili- ated Distributors' to market his pic- ture, was influenced by the knowledge he had gained of the co-operative plan as it exists in France. He is willing to receive financial returns according to the excess in the various quotas, rather than sell his picture outright on a cash basis. Notes From St. Louis Standard Film Closes Deals — Changes of Policy at Theatres ST. LOUIS.— The Standard Film Corp. has made arrangements with the Yale Photoplay Co. at Kansas City to handle "The Whip," "Joan the Woman," "Who Is Your Neighbor," "The Italian Battlefront." "The Zep- pelin's Last Raid," "Those Who Pay," "The Belgian," and "The Land of the Rising Sun," for the eastern half of Missouri, and has also made connections with Frank Zambreno of Chicago to handle "Babbling Tongues," "I Believe," "The Woman Who Dared," "The Libertine," and "The Girl Who Did Not Care," for southern Illinois. The Park theatre, operated by the Cella & Tate Enterprises, will go to pictures, three changes a week, and the King's theatre, also owned by these people, which has always been an exclusive picture house, has changed its policy and will run vaude- ville. The Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of St. Louis will give a moon- light excursion on the steamer St. Paul, to-day, to celebrate St. Louis securing the 1919 Motion Picture Ex- position and Convention. Arthur Hoerl, formerly of Metro, has been heard from. He is in the trenches, after only three months of service. New Company's First Screencr ft Pictures, Inc., Starts Producirg at Thanhouser Studio Screencraft Pictures, Inc., the newly formed producing company with offices in the Longacre Building, has completed its sets, and picked its cast for its premier effort, which is being produced at the Thanhouser studio in New Rochelle. The subject for Screencraft's first picture is a play by Edith Bernard Delano, which appeared in Harper's Magazine. The title has not as yet been decided upon. Mary Boland and Lucy Cotton are to star in this pic- ture. Frank Reicher is the director. M. Fleckles is president of the new company and A. Weinberg is secre- tary and treasurer. Rights to Johnson Feature Arrangements have just been com- pleted whereby the Robertson-Cole Company have taken over the worlds rights, including Canada and the the United States, to Martin John- son's pictorial feature, "Among the Cannibal Isles of the South Pacific." In all over fifty thousand feet of film are involved in the transaction. It is planned to put this feature in the legitimate houses as a regular road show for the first season after which it will be released to the smaller houses. Several single reels will probably shortly be released as scenics. Mr. Johnson is now plan- ning a second expedition to the South Seas. Frohman, Inc., Suing Charles Frohman, Inc., will apply to-day to the Supreme Court for an order permitting the corporation to inspect the books of the Popular Plays and Players, Inc., Frohman is suing the latter corporation and the Metro Pictures Corporation for an accounting of the proceeds from the photoplay "Barbara Fritchie." Rights to "Mickey" W. H. Productions has sold the Australian rights to "Mickey" and has disposed of the Canadian, English and Spanish rights through the Western Import Co. at a price that is said to be the highest ever paid for a film in these territories. Negotiations are underway at present for a New York presentation of the feature at a Broad- way theatre. We Can Tell YouWhereTo KeachThem^PhoneVaiideri)ilt4551 DIRECTORS GEORGE D. BAKER PRODUCING FEATURES METRO HERBERT BLAGHE DIRECTING FOR METRO TOD BROWNING Directing BLUEBIRD FEATURES ALBERT GAPELLANI PRODUCER EDWIN CAREWE M. P. D. A. Now Managing and Directing HAROLD LOGKWOOD GEORGE FITZMAURICE M. P. D. A. PRODUCING PATHE FEATURES 1914 -Birth of a Nation 1916 — Intolerance 1918 — Hearts of the World These are the only productions personally directed by D. W. GRIFFITH ALLEN J. HOLUBAR M. P. D. A. Producing Universal Features WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY M. P. D. A., PRODUCING FEATURES IVAN GEORGE IRVING M. P. D. A. GENERAL PRODUCING DIRECTOR CHARLES MILLER M. P. D. A. Director of THE SERVICE STAR The Flame of the Yukon The Sawdust RingThe Ghosts of Yesterday ASHLEY MILLER Motion Picture Directors Ass'n. 234 West 55th St., N. Y. C. R. WILLIAM NEILL PRODUCER Paramount Release G. HAROLD PERGIVAL ART DIRECTOR Thos. H. Ince Productions PAUL SCARDON M. P. D. A. FEATURE DIRECTOR, VITAGRAPH DIRECTORS FREDDIE SGHAEFFER ART DIRECTOR R. A. WALSH PRODUCTIONS GEORGE A. SIEGMAN M. P. D. A. CHARLES SWIGKARD Personally Directing Dustin Farnum in Harry A. Sherman Productions S. E. V. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. With D. W. GRIFFITH STUDIOS WILLIAM D. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. Director Lasky-Paramount ROBERT T. THORNBY M. P. D. A. Producing Fox Features PERRY N. VEKROFF M. P. D. A., FEATURE DIRECTOR 511 W. 143rd St. Audubon 1941 LOIS WEBER HONORARY MEMBER M.P.D.A. BEN WILSON Directing and Starring UNIVERSAL CHESTER WITHEY DIRECTOR WALLACE WORSLEY DIRECTING LOUISE GLAUM IN PARALTA PLAYS JAMES YOUNG Motion Picture Directors Association AUTHORS Manhattan Madness Wolff Lowry CHARLES T. DAZEY The Sea Master New York Luck GEORGE ELWOOD JENKS CONTINUITY AND SPECIALS Triangle Culver City MONTE M. KATTERJOHN Now writing: Exclusively for Paramount-Artcraft Productions Jesse L. Easky Studios ATHOKS ANTHONY KELLY J. CLARKSON MILLER GOEDWYN Original Stories and Continuities EVE UNSELL ORIGINALS ADAPTATIONS Many Successes for Prominent Companies 272 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. CAMERAMEN KING D. GRAY SPECIAL CAMERA EFFECTS MARY MacLAREN FEATURES ROY H. KLAFFKI Cinematosrrapher UNIVERSAL FEATURES WSIM^SSeD Your name should be before the man who can sign contracts. This directory will appear once each week on Monday, and on Tuesday there will be a similar directory of players. No matter how good your position is today it can be better tomorrow if you keep your name before the right people. Monday, August 26, 1918 ■^ijA DAILY Elementary Crook Plot Lifted By Players and Treatment Ethel Clayton in "THE GIRL WHO GAME BACK" Paramount DIRECTOR Robert Vignola AUTHOR C. M. S. McCIellan SCENARIO BY Beulah Marie Dix CAMERAMAN Charles Shoenbaum ART DIRECTOR Wilfred Buckland AS A WHOLE Old material made rather interest- ing by players and treatment. STORY The old stuff of she=male crook being taken in and reformed by the man she came to burgle. DIRECTION Developed characterizations rather effectively and provided pleasing atmosphere. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good. Night shots effective. LIGHTINGS Some effective bits but made no at= tempt to light star effectively and generally too uniform throughout. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Had rather good moments but handicapped by too contrasty lightings and make-up showed strongly in close-ups. SUPPORT All very good with Theodore Roberts and Elliott Dexter standing out as usual. EXTERIORS. . . .Very good; street sets especially well done. INTERIORS Very satisfactory DETAIL Well handled CHARACTER OF STORY Rather well done crook stuff; nothing to offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet WE HAVE in this the same situations that have been done time and again; hence with the ex- ception of some rather well-handled individual scenes and the excellent playing throughout there is nothing to really stamp this as unusual although most audiences will consider it good entertainment on account of the general atmosphere and well-developed charac- terizations. The story has to do with our old friend, "the poils," with the much-used situation of she- male crook being caught in the act of cracking Hero's safe and being given a chance to reform. It happened that Hero had previously rescued Shero- crook from drowning, which incident had brought about a change for the better in Shero's character although she had never been able to locate her rescuer nor was she aware that it was his house she was in the act of robbing. We had a willun who was the wayward brother of Hero's fiancee and whose company Shero had tolerated for the purpose of obtaining information regarding the location of the pearls. On the night of the robbery, willun enters while Hero is reforming Shero and threat- ens to start a scandal unless Hero will kick through with some money. Hero dares him to go ahead and while he is escorting Shero to the door, willun cops the pearls and beats it. Shero is accused of the theft although Hero believes her innocent and willun is finally forced to confess to the robbery when Hero gets the goods on him. Shero mysteriously leaves and finds employment on a farm and later when a member of the crook gang passes out he summons Hero and tells him where he can find Shero. He finds her and they finish with the clutch. I don't have to tell you that this is very elementary material that has been done countless times in the past, but it has been made fairly interesting by treatment and players and will be accepted generally. Miss Clayton screens beautifully when well lighted but was handicapped considerably in this by lightings that were generally too harsh throughout and her lips were made up much too heavy so that they focused your attention. Theodore Roberts gave his usual finished performance as Shero's crook father; Elliott Dexter was a convincing and pleasing Hero and Charles West was a sufficiently detestable willun. Others who appeared were James Neill, Marcia Manon, Jack Brammall, Jane Wolff, John McKinnon and Pansy Perry. Cannot Be Depended Upon To Pull Business But Should Satisfy The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This should satisfy generally as an acceptable pro- gram offering although it is not big and doesn't justify any extra advertising or special exploitation. I doubt if Miss Clayton's following is sufficiently strong to en- able you to depend upon her name alone to pull more than ordinary business on this and unless you have played recent World pictures in which she has appeared you are very apt to find that she is almost a total stranger to most of your patrons, this being her first production for Paramount. I would give prominent mention to the presence of Theodore Roberts and Elliott Dexter in this offering as they are doubtless much better known to regular Para- mount patrons than the star. I think that the crook stuff has a popular appeal generally and I would play up that angle in my ads and lobby. You might hit them along this line: "Do you believe in helping the under dog? See Ethel Clayton, Elliott Dexter and Theodore Roberts in 'The Girl Who Came Back'." "Do you believe in your ability to judge a character to such an extent that you would believe in a female- crook who had promised to reform when everything seemed to indicate that she had broken her pact with you? See 'The Girl Who Came Back'." 7^BRADSTREET of FILMDOM 7/kRKOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 110 Tuesday, August 27, 1918 Price 5 Cent! GETTING TOGETHER ON ELECTIONS Exhibitors' Executive Committees of Manhattan, Bronx and Brooklyn Meet Tomorrow — Will Sound Out Candidates The executive committees of the Manhattan, Bronx and Brooklyn lo- cals of the New York State Exhibit- ors' League have been called to a spe- cial meeting to take place in the of- fices of the United Theatres, Inc., to- morrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. Syd- ney L. Cohen, head of the New York State body, issued the call. The principal purpose of the meet- ing is to have the exhibitors of the state get together on concerted ac- tion in the coming election campaign. There are several possible candidates who are to be closely questioned on their stand as to Sunday picture per- formances in this state before the Ex- hibitors' League gives them its sup- port. The exhibitors feel that a local op- tion bill will have to be introduced and passed in the State legislature this year to insure the future of the exhibiting end of the industry. They state that local option is their only chance of remaining open on Sunday, for if such a measure is not placed on the books of the state, there will eventually be a decision in a test case in one of the anti-Sunday towns that may affect the entire state. One of the exhibitors points to the recent test that was made at Patch- ogue, L. I., where the exhibitor was defeated in his effort to open on Sun- day and states that if three or four decisions of this sort get on the sta- tute books, the exhibitor will be pretty generally up against it. There will also be a conference re- garding the E. L. members to at- tend the Chicago Convention of the A. E. A. next week. Anita Stewart Starts Vitagraph Plant Scene of Film- ing First the Mayer Feature At the Vitagraph plant down at Sheepshead Bay, Anita Stewart started work yesterday on the first of the series of pictures that she is to do , for the First National Exhibitors' Cir- i cuit under the managerial direction of 1 Louis B. Mayer of Boston. George i Loane Tucker will direct Miss Stew- art and the initial picture will be a film version of "Virtuous Wives," by Owen Johnson, which has been run- ning as a serial in the Cosmopolitan for almost a year. In bound form the story has been one of the best sellers of the early part of this year. Caruso Working on Second Enrico Caruso, the lately married tenor of the Metropolitan, started on his second picture production at the Famous Players-Lasky studios in New York yesterday. The details re- garding the production are not as yet available. Pete Schmid insists that he did not prevail on Caruso to get mar- ried so that he would have a yarn for the papers. Horace Judge With United Horace Judge, widely known among legitimate producers and managers through his conntction with the Charles Dillingham attractions and more recently of the Klaw & Erlan- ger and George C. Tyler staff, has re- signed as business manager for George Arliss to become general press representative of United Pictures, Inc. Horsley Due in New York David Horsley is on his way to New York, coming from the Coast. He is due to arrive here to-morow. Horsley has been rather quiet during the last two years and this is his first trip east in about 12 months. Goes to First National R. L. Hoadley is now connected with the accessory department of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit. Mr. Hoadleywas with Mutual for two years, first in Chicago and then in Glendale, Long Island, as business manager of the studio there in which Edna Goodrich features were pro- duced. Before that, he was on the sales force of Universal for two years. Live Ones Take It Brunswick Amusement Co. 110 West Superior Street Duluth, Minn. August 21, 1918. Wid's Daily. Dear Sir: At this writing, I don't know of an exhibitor who is counted among the live ones who does not take the paper. Very truly yours, THOMAS FURNISS. Goldwyn Distribution Deal Closed for Marketing "For the Freedom of the East" Goldwyn has arranged to handle the Betzwood Film Corporation's pro- duction, "For the Freedom of the East," in which Lady Tsen Mei is the star. In the cast are Lai Mon Kim, Herbert H. Pattee, Robert Elliott, Benjamin Hendrick, Jr., and Neil Moran. Prints will be shipped to Goldwyn exchanges within a few days. The release date will be set for some time in October. The subject happens to be particu- larly timely, as it deals with the ac- tivities of American, Japanese and Chinese troops in the Far East. In addition to a romantic story and the playing of the Japanese star, the pic- ture will depend upon scenes of value in spreading American propaganda. "For the Freedom of the World," an earlier feature made at the Betzwood plant, proved to be a successful money-maker. Through Criterion Service R. M. Simril, who recently founded the Criterion Film Service at 6$l/2 Walton Street, Atlanta, Ga., and is now acting as general manager, has secured a number of attractions. The present line-up for Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida, includes the Houdini se- rial, 12 two-reel western re-issues with Anna Little and Jack Richard- son and 4 Allison-Lockwood five- reelers. Tuesday, August 27, 1918 ttfrft DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor TBntered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 3 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. A.ddress all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes David P. Howells is back in his of- fice after a trip through the West. Hiller and Wilk, Inc., have sold "My Four Years in Germany" for Ar- gentine, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile. J. H. McCloskey has been made as- sistant to Frank Borzage, who is di- recting Olive Thomas in Triangle pictures, with Jack McKenzie han- dling: the camera. Harry Strickland, formerly road man for the General Film, has been appointed acting manager of the Gen- eral Film in St. Louis to succeed E. Drucker, who enlisted in the army. Carlyle Blackwell and Evelyn Greeley have started on a new pro- duction at the Fort Lee-World stu- dio called "Allies," under the direc- tion of Del Henderson. F. J. Fegan has been appointed to handle the releases of the Educational Distributing Corporation through the Standard Film Corporation's St. Louis office, for Southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, Eastern half of Missouri and Western Kentucky. John H. Taylor, the London repre- sentative for Interocean Film Co., is in New. York for three or four weeks becoming familiar with the trade in this country. He expects to make ar- rangements for the release of big English made pictures. Charles Mover, of the Famous' Players-Lasky publicity department, has returned t e office after a so- called vacati i was gone exactly four days. ''pes, however, to convince th I cives that he should have a reis >••' .he vacation thing. ..obi Cutting Down Waste Carl Laemmle Issues Orders to Universal Directors The Government ruling recently is- sued, declaring the motion picture in- dustry essential, but requesting all branches of the field to be swept clean oi wasteful, inefficient methods, has received a prompt response from the Universal Company. Carl Laemmle, president of Univer- sal, has issued general orders putting the company, in effect, on the operat- ing basis of a railroad. He lays stress on the necessity of getting up a high speed schedule and doing away with neglect and inefficiency. It was further announced at the home office of the company that Mr. Laemmle had wired the executives of the western studio to the effect that henceforth a new policy is to rule as far as the amount of footage to be allotted a picture is concerned. The scenario will henceforth contain in- structions to the director as to just how many feet to allow such and such a scene. The home office, it is expected, will decide on the number of feet permitted under the new policy. Takes Over More Space Carle E. Carlton, managing director of the En L'Air Cinema, Ltd., an- nounces that the company has taken over additional space on the 12th floor of the Times Building, for the exploitation of "Fighting the Hun in the Air," adapted from Lieut. Bert Hall's "En L'Air," which has just been completed and is now being cut. Space has also been taken in the Can- dler Building for the shipping and publicity department. Mr. Carleton is planning another picture now that his aerial feature with Bert Hall and Edith Day has been completed. The meeting of the Distributor's Branch of the N. A. M. P. I. sched- uled for yesterday to discuss the Lib- erty Loan film distribution was post- poned. The" way to meet competi- tion is to think a little faster than your competitor. Studios Kept Busy Vitagraph Stars Working on Features for Fall and Winter Vitagraph announces that produc- tions to be released during the fall and winter on the Blue Ribbon pro- gram are now underway at both the eastern and western studios of the company. Each of the featured stars is engaged on a five-reel subject, some of which are nearly completed. Earl Williams is at the western studio working on "My Country First," a five-reeler by Bess Mere- dyth, and being produced under James Young's direction. Bessie Love, who will also work at the western studio for an indefi- nite period, has started on "Sue," her first Blue Ribbon feature, which is scheduled for release in November. This picture, originally adapted from Bret Harte's "The Judgment of Zo- linas Plains," will be directed by David Smith, who directed Nell Ship- man and Alfred Whitman in "Baree, the Son of Kazan." Alice Joyce will start start work this week, at the eastern studio, on a play adapted from James Coop- er's romance, "Cap'n Abe, Store- keeper." Tom Terriss is directing Miss Joyce in this, and upon its comple- tion, the pair will start on "The Noto- rious Miss Plummer, by Marc Ed- mund Jones. Harry T. Morey, supported by Betty Blythe and Joan Paige, is now °n'gaged on "Hoarded Assets," which ran in Scribner's. Paul Scardon, who recently completed "The King of n-'amonds," also with Morey as star, will direct this. Another story .al- ready selected for Mr. Morey bears the tentative title of "Dan La Roche." This is by Lawrence McCloskey. Corinne Griffith, under Henry- Houry's direction, begins production this week on "Miss Ambition," by Rex Taylor, and will follow this, in all probability, with an adaptation of H. W, J. Dan's play, "Diamond Deans." She will be supported in her new pbav by Florence Deshon, Denton Vane and others who were with her in "Love Watches" and "The Clutch of Circumstance." Gladys Leslie's next will prob- ably be called "The Jam Girl." It is kv Frances Sterret. Miss Leslie com- pleted "A Nymph of the Foothills" some, time aeo. . Frederic Thomson, —ho made "Wild Primrose" for Miss T ^slie, will direct her in her latest. The Educ; '" has been at G exteriors for Wakes" is now - scenes in and ab* com nan v which i. ,W. Va., d^ing n the Giant v York taking- city. sfe^ DAILY Tuesday, August 27, 1918 We Can Tell YouWhereTo Kea.chTtiem^PhoneVainderi)ilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN ID'S D IS READ NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE RUTH ROLAND Astra-Pathe STARRING IN "HANDS UP' WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Productions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd.. L. A. MILTON SILLS THE LAMBS ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear each Tuesda Tuesday, August 27, 1918 DAILY Weil-Done Spy Film Puts Over Patriotic Punches Effectively Dorothy Gish, George Fawcett and Douglas MacLean in "THE HUN WITHIN" * Paramount=Artcraft Special DIRECTOR Chet Withey AUTHOR Granville Warwick SCENARIO BY Granville Warwick CAMERAMAN David Abel AS A WHOLE Personalities of players, effective lightings and capable direction make spy=meller entertaining. STORY German spy stuff in this country and Ger= many, champions the true Americanized Ger= man and instills patriotism effectively. DIRECTION Provided excellent atmosphere and made characterizations convincing although allowed cellar incident to register as rather ordinary meller. Gave several very effective touches and great suspense during bomb inci= dent. PHOTOGRAPHY Very fine generally, although subdued at times. LIGHTINGS. . . .Generally superb. Many effective bits CAMERA WORK Very good STARS Fawcett immense; Miss Gish very pleas= ing and MacLean wins his audience. SUPPORT Excellent types throughout EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; many beautiful shots. INTERIORS. .Very good; interior of transport effective DETAIL Cablegram insert careless and lettering on door very crude. CHARACTER OF STORY Effective propaganda that entertains. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,800 feet THIS was produced by Chet Withey in the Griffith studios and presents many of the same players that appeared in "Hearts of the World." As a whole, it has been very well produced with some incidents unusually effective and it puts over a patriotic punch without losing sight of the story or entertainment quali- ties as has been the case with so many of the recent German spy films which have flooded the market. After a title explaining that German-Americans are more despised by Germans than Americans are and another title asking the question, "Are all German- Americans loyal?" they start this off with a romance between Miss Gish and her two suitors, one a German- American and the other an American. The time is es- tablished as before the war and Charlie Gerrard, the G-A. goes to Germany to complete a course in chemistry. On his return, after the outbreak of the war, he is in- fluenced by Eric Von Stroheim, a spy, and becomes a member of the spy ring in this country. In the mean- time Hero Doug MacLean has become a member of the U. S. Intelligence Bureau. When the IT. S. entry into the war is announced, wil- lun Charlie's father swears allegiance to the United States and denounces his son for sympathizing with the Kaiser. Having a plan on foot to blow up the first American transport. Von Stroheim and willun Chas. try to dispose of Hero, who has been getting a line on their activities. He is captured but escapes in a very effec- tively handled leap from an auto. In the meantime Shero Dorothy has overheard the spy plans between willun and Von Stroheim in her home' and is overpow- ered when her presence is discovered and taken to their secret hangout. Hero sees her being taken into the house and after a series of rather ordinary meller inci- dents in which he outwits the gang, he rescues Shero and they return to the house to warn the transport. We get some excellent suspense where Robert Ander- son, a German spy in the guise of a U. S. sailor, at- temps to jump overboard after he has planted the bomb on the transport. He is brought to the officers' quarters and questioned but refuses to disclose anything. This action is broken up by flashes of a clock, nearing the fatal hour. In the meantime Hero and Shero have suc- ceeded in getting a wireless warning to the transport and Anderson, realizing that the nearing explosion would also spell his own doom, confesses and the bomb is located and thrown far into the ocean just as it explodes. They have given us a logical twist here to show that the frustrating of one spy plot doesn't insure future safety by showing Von Stroheim and his female accom- plice, still at large, leaving on "another secret mission" instead of having them captured. In the meantime wil- lun Charlie's loyal father has turned Charlie and an- other spy over to the authorities and Hero and Shero finish with the clutch. We had some very effective individual bits and punchy patriotic titles which will get over big because they were intelligently worded and never impressed as being forced in for a hand. Others in the excellent cast were: Bert Sutch, Max Davidson, Lillian Clark, Adolph Lestina, and Kate Ton- cray. Play Up German-American Angle and Feature Excellent Cast The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Although I can see no reason why this should be classed as a special, if that means that the production will command special rental prices, it will be considered very good entertainment by most any audience and because of the pleasing romantic thread and logically developed spy incidents it really instills patriotism, which very many of our hastily-constructed-for-a-com- mercial- purpose propaganda productions have failed mis- erably to do. As I have said before, there is a vast difference between an audience applauding our flag in a film solely because of their allegiance to that flag and really being worked into the spirit of the cause by the action in the film itself. This film entertains as well as enthuses and the patri- otic punches are logically brought in in a way that makes every true American want to applaud without feeling that the producer has merely taken advantage of the spirit of the times and dragged in patriotic titles for applause which the production itself does not merit. Although the fact that we have here practically the same cast, with a few exceptions, that appeared in "Hearts of the World," may be of value in advertising this. I would be very careful NOT to create the impres- sion that this is a Griffith film because this will only re- act against you and destroy the confidence of your pat- rons who will thus be led to expect too much. The opening title, "Are all German- Americans loyal?" should be a good line to use in advertising this, as it presents an angle that has not been generally dealt with in other propaganda films and should create a desire on the part of Americans as well as German- Americans to see the production. ZfeBRADSTREET of FILMDOM 7/pRECOCMIZED Authority Vol. V, No. Ill Wednesday, August 28, 1918 Price 5 Cents HUTCHINSON NAMES SALES FORCE American Representatives To Operate In Pathe Exchanges Complete with One Exception President Samuel S. Hutchinson of the American Film Company has, with one exception, completed his sales organization which will act in co-operation with Pathe exchanges. The representatives to be stationed in twenty-three of the twenty-fOur Pathe exchanges have been named and the list will be completed when a suit- able man has been found for the New Orleans branch. Mr. Hutchinson expresses himself as being much pleased with the new arrangement which already has brought many bookings for the Am- erican product. Pictures are being shown to exhibitors at least sixty days in advance of their first public pre- sentation, an arangement that allows ample time for an exhibitor to decide whether or not he wants a produc- tion. Mr. Hutchinson's personal repre- sentatives in the various exchanges are as follows: Mark Nathan, New York City; N. E. Mallouf, New York City; F. J. Leonard, Buffalo, N. Y.; Paul B. El- liott, Indianapolis, Ind. ; L. D. Brown, Dallas, Tex.; Geo. L. Stiles, Milwau- kee, Wis.; J. Russell Brett, Detroit, Mich.; L. D. Lyons, Newark, N. J.; W. A. Hoffman, Cleveland, Ohio; Da- vid G. Rodgers, Minneapolis, Minn.; C. J. Crowley, Los Angeles, Cal.; Frank O'Neill, St. Louis, Mo.; Dick Roach, Cincinnati, Ohio; Fred P. Sulzbach, Philadelphia, Pa.; E. E. Reynolds, Kansas City, Mo.; W. Rhea Johnson, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Louis H. Bell, Washington, D. C; Walter Coughlin, Spokane, Wash.; Jos. Hopp, Chicago, 111.; A. M. Bowles, San Fran- cisco, Cal.; Sam Brunk, Oklahoma City, Okla. ; Morris Fox, Omaha, Neb.; Earl P. Briggs, Denver, Colo. Don't Want Chaplin Metropolitan Directors Say "No" — Broadway Theatre a Probability The directorate board of the Metro- politan Opera House refused to con- sider the possibility of having Charlie Chaplin play that house for four weeks in his newest film comedy "Shoulder Arms." William Brandt, the Brooklyn exhibitor who made the offer of 15,000 to the First National Exhibitors' Circuit, approached the Metropolitan directors, who turned him down. Since then, Brandt has made a ten- tative arrangement with Kashin at the Broadway and in the event that the First National finally decides to ac- cept his offer (he has a $1,000 certi- fied check posted to bind the bargain) the picture will undoubtedly play that house. The First National officials have not settled on the length of the produc- tion, although Brandt was advised yesterday that it would be in two parts of three reels each. Miller to Direct Metro Feature Charles Miller has been selected by Metro to direct the propaganda feature "Wilson or the Kaiser." The scenario for the picture is now being completed. Charles Miller is the man who directed "The Flame of the Yu- kon" and many other big features and was originally to handle for Metro the Rita Jolivet picture based on the Edith Cavell story. The calling off of that production was the cause of the switch to the new propaganda picture. Cohen Didn't Issue Call We are advised that Sydney S. Cohen, head of the New York local of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, did not issue the call for a meeting of exhibitors at the United Picture Theatres' office this af- ternoon. Buys for Australia Millard Johnson has bought for the Australasian Films, Ltd., the rights to "Mickel" and "Carmen of the Klon- dike'" for Australia and New Zeal- and. The pictures were purchased from the W. H. Productions Co. KEENEY READY TO RESUME Jewel Carmen and Catherine Calvert Are Both Scheduled for Eight Productions a Year Frank A. Keeney, head of the Frank A. Keeney Pictures Corporation, an- nounces that he will resume produc- tion in a fortnight or so, featuring Jewel Carmen. Although there is a dispute between Mr. Keeney and William Fox as to the right to Miss Carmen's services, Mr. Keeney is go- ing ahead with her, maintaining that the long-term contract she signed with him last July, immediately after her twenty-first birthday, is legally valid as against any contract she may have signed with Mr. Fox before ma- turity. Miss Carmen is under contract to produce at least eight pictures a year for Mr. Keeney. Bennet Musson is now engaged in making selections for her from scenarios that are being sub- mitted. She will he directed by Sid- ney Olcott. About the middle of September Mr. Keeney will resume pictures starring Catherine Calvert, who will also do eight productions a year. Another an- nouncement is that within a few days Mr. Keeney will take over the stu- dios built for him by the Manhattan Studios, Inc. They are located at 308- 10-12 E. 48th street, where the build- ing of the Lee Lash studios formerly stood, and adjoin the Norma Tal- madge studios. Within a month Mr. Keeney will open new theatres of his own at King- ston, N. Y., and Williamsport, Pa., the former to cost upwards of $100,000 and the latter about $200,00. They will display Keeney pictures and other high-class productions. All Keeney products are handled by the William L. Sherry Service. H. H. Hum, manager of the Seat- tle Triangle office, has resigned to en- ter_ the non-commissioned officers' training camp. Wednesday, August 28, 1918 tMA DAILY Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: "Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Guts and Flashes Private Arthur Guy Empey has re- ported at Fort Slocum for duty in the Tank Corps. H. L. Orear, General Film branch manager at Cincinnati, and H. E. El- der, branch manager at Washington, are visiting the New York office of the company. Hal Hodes, assistant sales manager of Jewel Productions, is leaving Thursday night to visit about a dozen of the principal cities of the West in connection with Jewel's latest produc- tion. "Crashing Through to Berlin." H. Tipton Steck, writing for Univer- sal, has just completed a special fea- ture, "The Wrong Side of Paradise," tor Mary MacLaren. He is at work on a special seven-reel feature to be produced by Rupert Julian. Gladys Brockwell has started on "Love's Pilgrimage," written by J. Grubb Alexander and Bennett Cole, under the direction of Edward J. Le Saint at Hollywood, Calif. In the cast are William Scott, Wedgewood Nowell and Edwin Wallack. Virginia Pearson has started on "Buchanan's Wife" from a novel by Justus Miles Forman, who lost his life on the Lusitiania. This was one of the last books that Mr. Forman wrote. Edmund Lawrence is directing the production at the Fort Lee-Fox stu- dio. "The Story of the Biggest Game Ever Played," written by Willard Mack, is the title of Goldwyn's con- tribution to the Fourth Liberty Loan. Five stars will appear in this subject, namely Pauline Frederick, Mabel Normand, Madge Kennedy, Mae Marsh and Tom Moore. Hugo Ballin is the director. Tourneur Buys Play Rights to Jacques Futrelle's "My Lady's Garter" Purchased by Director Maurice Tourneur Productions an- nounce the purchase of the photoplay rights to the late Jacques Futrelle's novel, "My Lady's Garter," which en- joyed considerable popularity when it was brought out several seasons ago. The story has many unusual twists in construction and should give Mr, Tourneur an opportunity to work out surprises and novel effects. The di- rictor promises an unusual cast in this production, which will be distrib- uted in the open market, through Hil- ler & Wilk, Inc. A large price is said to have been paid for the rights to the novel. Hamilton's Support Picked Metro announces the selection of the supporting cast for Hale Hamil- ton's "Five Thousand an Hour," his first as a Metro star. The picture is being directed by Ralph W. Ince, as- sisted by William W. Cohill, and the cast includes Lucille Lee Stewart, Robert Middlemass, Florence Short, Robert Whittier, Warren Cook, Will- iam Fredericks, Gilbert Douglas and Jack Bulger. Fuel Meeting To-day There will be a general meeting of the industry today in the N. A. M. P. I. rooms at eleven o'clock to con- fer with T. B. Noyes and E. R. Sart- well of the Federal Fuel Administra- tion on matters pertaining to the con- servation of fuel. Hodkinson Appoints W. W. Hodkinson Corporation has added another name to its sales per- sonnel in the person of Edward A. Crane, who will represent the com- pany in Washington, D. C, and the adjoining territory. Mr. Crane was formerly sales manager for the Moon Merchandising Agency. He will start work at his new post, Septem- ber 2. Theatres Well Organized In response of a brief recently sent to the state chairmen of the National Association's war council, Charles H. Williams, chairman for Rhode Island, has replied that the theatres of Rhode Island are organized to carry on war work in a systematic manner. All exhibitors of the state are so organized that they can be reached by telephone or telegraph within an hour. The theatres have shown all the Government features so far and have aided to a considerable extent such war charities as the Red Cross and the Kniffhts of Columbus. Notes From Indiana Theatres Being Erected and Redecorated for Coming Season The Gathem Films, Inc., a Dela- ware corporation, has filed papers with the secretary of state at Indian- apolis to do business in Indiana, $20,- 000 of its capital stock being repre- sented in Hoosierdom. Benjamin D. Emanuel, of Indianapolis, is named as agent. A new motion picture theatre is to be erected at Kokomo Ind., for Merle Moore and Ira Reed, of that place. The new theatre, which will open about September IS, will have a power house of its own. The American theatre at EvansvilL, recently bought by the Strand Amuse- ment Company, of that place, was opened last week. The house has been thoroughly remodeled and re- decorated. Norma Talmadge in "De Luxe Annie" was the opening feature. The Starette theatre, Newcastle, Ind., is closed while the interior and exterior are being redecorated. A new motion picture theatre is be- ing erected on East Main street at Washington, Ind. R. E. Devoe is the manager of the new house. The Lyric theatre at Lafayette, Ind., began operations last week under its new management, the Hornbeck Amusement Company, which owns several theatres in Indiana. The Same as France It is announced from Washington, through the Division of Films, Com- mittee on Public Information, that the ruling that American films cannot be sent direct to foreign consignees, but must be forwarded through the American consul, is identical with rules put into effect by the French Government. French cinema journals accept this ruling as necessary under war con- ditions, recognizing the danger of films being utilized for dangerous propaganda^ as well as the great good they have accomplished. They also praise the letters of Secretary Mc- Adoo, Herbert Hoover, George Creel and Mr. Garfield and others who have written of the importance of motion pictures in wartime, and declare that their conclusions in regard to the helpfulness of motion pictures in the United States is applicable to every countrv at war. Victor Lamy, who has been with the Piedmont Corporation, has re- signed to associate himself with Will- iam Fox. He will take charge of the foreign department for the Fox pro- ductions. a^a DAILY Wednesday, August 28, 1918 From the Courts Action Brought by Colonial Co. Dis- missed— Flinton Answers Star Service Howard C. Griffith and John D. Dunlop yesterday had the Supreme Court dismiss the action brought against them by the Colonial Motion Picture Company in 1914. The com- pany sued for $200,000 for libel upon charges made by Griffith and Dunlop that the corporation had designs on its stockholders' assets. Dunlop and Griffith demurred to the complaint, asserting that it did not state a cause of action. As the case was never brought to trial, the de- fendants had it dismissed, with costs, for failure to prosecute. Justice Ford signed the order. Albert D. Flinton yesterday filed an answer in the Supreme Court denying the charges of the Star Feature Film Service, Inc. The service sued him for an accounting, the return of three film plays, and about $10,000 of his profits. The complaint alleged that the ser- vice, which controlled the distribution of the Jesse L. Lasky films in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri, sold to Flinton its rights in "The Squaw Man," "Brewster's Millions" and "The Master Mind." The complaint avers that Flinton failed to account for the one-half of the $20,000 estimated profits, due the Service, in accordance with the contract. The Nanuet Amusement Corpora- tion yesterday filed notice of appeal in the Supreme Court from an order setting aside the service of the sum- mons and complaint on the First Na- tional Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., of the Northwest. The plaintiff demanded $13,500 for alleged breach of contract for defendant's distribution and ex- ploitation of Evelyn Nesbit in "Re- demption." The Nanuet company served the pa- pers on Carl Laemmle, of 1600 Broad- way, as director of the Circuit. The service was held invalid, because the defendant company declared Laemmle was not a director, officer or agent, and was not authorized to accept the service. Reasons For Saving Light and Coal For every ton of steel that is manufactured in this country it requires five tons of coal. Every eighty pounds of coal saved will be sufficient to man- ufacture a three-inch shell. It requires one ton of coal to manufacture every two tons of dead weight shipping. It requires 3,000,000 tons of coal to keep an army of 125,000 men in France for one year. The French Army fired 6,000,- 000 shells during the battle of Verdun which required 9,000.000 tons of coal to manufacture. Helping Picture Houses CHICAGO. — The boost in prices of theatre tickets at the legitimate houses, from $2.50 to $3 per seat for Saturday night and a general increase all around, is looked upon by the pro- prietors of the motion picture houses of the "loop" as meaning more busi- ness for them. With seats at $3.30 each, stage shows are no longer the poor man's amusement. The La Salle, Grand Opera House, Colonial, Illinois, Power and Blackstone theatres have announced the $3 scale, while the Majestic and Palace vaudeville houses have raised the 75 cent seats to $1. Somerville's War Feature Roy Somerville has turned pro- ducer. He has also been director for a brief period. The result, which is soon to be seen, is a seven-reel war feature. Harry Revier who returned from Ithaca last week where he com- pleted a seven-reeler in 22 days, has take* over the direction of the Som- erville picture and the interior scenes needed to complete it will be made at the Victor studio. Film Man in Each Center An important feature in the ar- rangements for the distribution of Liberty Loan pictures is the decision to place a film man in each distribu- tion center and make him directly re- sponsible to the Liberty Loan com- mittee for this part of the work. He will act in co-operation with the Fed- eral Reserve Board in his district. All bookings must be made through the committee's representative, and the ex- hibitors of the country are urged by the committee to watch closely all fu- ture announcements concerning the personnel of its assistants in the vari- ous distribution centers. It is expected that a complete list of appointments will be ready within the next few days, or as rapidly as they can be worked out by Al. Lichtman. Sign Painters Rampant Wave of Sensationalism Sweeps Over Loop District CHICAGO.- — The motion picture theatre sign painters are rampant again. For a time following the sus- pension of Major Funkhouser, a watchful eye was kept upon the lurid posters by the second deputy super- intendent of police's office, but a can- vas of the "loop" district the past week disclosed many flagrant abuses of the law. One sign before a Madison street house, which could be seen for quite a distance read: "Lured for Bread." The illustration showed a young girl being tempted by something less sub- stantial than bread. A few doors be- yond this is another theatre showing the same film with a picture of a golden haired maiden hatless and rag- ged, gazing in at a lurid scene of carousal. The picture measured ten feet square. A picture opposite indi- cated the girl's downfall and stated beneath "The tragedy of her life — yet she was laughing." The Bandbox theatre, on Madison street, in a blaze of electric lights, had these signs displayed: "Will a Girl Go Wrong for Bread?" "See Traps of the Underworld Exposed," "The Lure of the Country Girl to a Wine Room" and "Exposure of the Fast Life of the Bohemian Set." "The Yellow Ticket," playing a re- turn date at 70 West Madison street, had the old "For Adults Only" sign displayed with the additional caption of "A girl of the streets and the un- derworld." Agents of the morals division of the federal government, it is said, will take action against the motion picture theatres this week if the city authori- ties do not do so. New Comedy Series General Film announces that it is going to release a series of single-reel comedies entitled "Rainbow Come- dies," made by the U. S. Motion Pic- ture Company of Wilkesbarre, Pa. "Nearly a Slacker" is the first of these pictures and will be released Septem- ber 15. Bruce Coming East Robert C. Bruce, nature director for the Educational Films Corp., will come east shortly with a brand new series of scenics taken in the north- west. He will be the second of the Educational directors to arrive at the home office with new film. Educa- tional reports that the bookings for Bruce scenics have practically dou- bled at the San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles offices within the past four months. Abandon Orchestras MILWAUKEE.— A general sus- pension of all orchestras in motion picture theatres here has been order- ed. This is being done as a war meas- ure to release every available man for war work. The theatre managers came to a decision last week and will hereafter retain but one man in each house to furnish music. Wednesday, August 28, 1918 Jjjlj^ DAILY Realistic Exteriors and Artistic Lightings Lift This Fannie Ward in "A JAPANESE NIGHTINGALE" Astra=Pathe DIRECTOR George Fitzmaurice AUTHOR William Young SCENARIO BY. .Ouida Bergere and Julius J. Furthman CAMERAMAN Arthur Miller AS A WHOLE Elementary plot made acceptable entertainment by wonderfully realistic Jap- anese atmosphere, effective lightings and sup= porting cast of capable Japanese players. STORY Romance of American and Japanese who marry; race prejudice may make it ques= tionable in some localities. DIRECTION Gave remarkable beautiful and convincing Japanese atmosphere which pre= dominated over action and lifted rather obvi= ous and convenient plot. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally superb LIGHTINGS Many very effective bits; gen= erally artistic. CAMERA WORK Composition excellent and angles effective. STAR Never convinced as Japanese maid but is fascinating to watch and will please her followers in this. SUPPORT "Babe" Lawrence very pleasing and handsome hero and Japanese supporting cast excellent. EXTERIORS Beautiful and gave excellent atmosphere. Boat exterior set well handled. INTERIORS Temnle looked rather "setty" but was effectively lighted and other Jap sets very good. DETAIL Some excellent bits CHARACTER OF STORY Idea of JaD and AmerU can marrying may not set well with some audiences but otherwise inoffensive. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet THIS didn't get to you at first because they started out with some scones in one of these Japanese holy temple sets with a lot of sliding panels, sec- ret passages, etc.. all of which led you to beliele that they were going to slip us one of these wild serial mellers. When we began to get into the beautiful Jap- anese exteriors, however, they were so impressive and convincing, incidents didn't really get under your shirt at any stage and most folks will have the finish doped out in advance. Miss Ward was presented as a Japanese maid who was being framed by her stepmother into a marriage with a rich Jap baron whom she detested. Hero "Babe" Lawrence, a young college chap from America, arrives in Japan, and accidentally meets Fannie at a tea house where she had fled to escape her marriage with the Jap. A willun marriage broker, who sees the budding ro- mance, seeks to offer his services to bring the two to- gether but Hero turns him down and when the irate broker, in revenge, warns the baron, Hero Babe takes Fannie to the office of the American consul where they are married before anyone can interfere. Their plans failed, the baron and willun obtain the marriage records that night in a scuffle in which the consul is killed so that when Shero's brother returns from America he is led to believe that his sister is Hero's mistress and threatens to kill him. Before he can carry out his intentions, however, the baron has gyped the willun-broker. which leads him to confess and produce the stolen license, after which all ends happily. We had several well-handled incidents, the scene where willun substituted the real marriage license for the fake being very effectively put over. We had some weird, effective lightings in the temple which helped to offset its rather "setty" appearance and the lightings generally were very artistic The Jap- anese exteriors, which I presume were taken in the famous Japanese Gardens in Pasadena were very beau- tiful and artistically photographed and really kept the offering from registering as very ordinary. As Miss Ward made very little attempt by penciling of eyebrows or the arrangement of her coiffure to make her Japanese characterization convincing, I expected this to end with her being established as an American girl reared by Japanese. To my mind, this would have been a much better ending- as it would have excused her un-.Jap appearance and the idea would be more read- ily accepted by audiences who may resent the idea of Japanese- American intermarriage. She has cute tricks, however, and her followers will like her work immensely. W. E. "Babe" Lawrence was a very pleasing hero and the Japanese actors, none of whom were credited, all gave convincing performances with the role of Shero's brother standing out strongly. Will Please Generally and Jap Lobby Should Create Business The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I think yon can plug the name of Miss Ward; empha- size the effective Japanese atmosphere, beautiful exter- iors and artistic lightings and put this over as very satisfactory entertainment with most audiences. There are certain localities. I have the west coast in mind especially, where the Japanese-American intermarriage idea isn't going to set well with the large per cent., but I think that most communities in the middle west and in the oast will pass this over without objection. Because we haven't had many Japanese plays recent- ly, the Jap-lantern lobby decoration, which is always effective, should be a good hunch to use on this and will enable yon to change Hie appearance of your theatre sufficiently at a very small expense. This should attract attention and stamp the attraction as something dif- ferent. The story is very elementary but the beautiful exter- iors and lightings will be thoroughly appreciated by most audiences with the general impression left by the offering being a pleasing one. You might enlarge on the lobby idea by having girls dressed in Japanese kimonas for ushers, or real Nip- ponese maids, if there are any in your city. Carry out the general breezy atmosphere ami make it plain that this isn't what might be classed as heavy entertain- ment. Cherry blossom perfume, wafted through your house by placing saturated sponges in front of your fans and turning them on as the picture opens, will create an in- expensive atmospheric effect which will start folks talk- ing about your house. Vol. V, No. 112 ZfcBRADSTREET of FILK4DOM zfoRECOCHlZED Authority Thursday, August 29, 1918 Price 5 Cents GOVERNMENT RAILROAD CONTROL IS SUBJECT OF HORSLEY FILM Labor Propaganda Picture Has The Backing of Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen— First of Series David Horsley has arrived in New York and is full of his latest venture, that of exploiting a series of labor propaganda films of which he is to be the producer. In the initial picture of the series he has the backing of the Brotherhood of Railway Train- men, with a membership of more than 3,000,000, and the story is to be an appeal on their part for a continu- ance of the railroad systems of the country under Government ownership and control after the war. Mr. Horsley will remain in New York for another day or so and then go to Philadelphia to attend a large gathering there this week of the Brotherhood, after which he will go to Washington with a representative of that body for a conference with Director of Railroads McAdoo. Then he will return to New York, remain- ing here until he starts for the Coast to begin work on the first picture which will be in about three weeks. G. S. Williams of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen is accompany- ing Mr. Horsley. The story, which is to be written by Upton Sinclair, will be founded on a scenario laid out by Mr. Williams, who has spent many years railroading. W. G. Lee, presi- dent of the Brotherhood, has given the project his entire support and en- dorsement. Mr. Williams stated yesterday that the railroad men are for the first time in history getting an even break under Government ownership and that they are united in asking for a continuance of the present conditions. The pur- pose of the film will be to set their story before the public and ask the country at large to assist in demand- ing that the Government continue to run the roads after the war. According to Mr. Horsley, the rail- road feature will be the first of a series by Upton Sinclair and will be fol- lowed immediately by that author's story, "King Coal," which caused a stir several years ago. Mr. Horsley has, incidentally, ob- tained a patent right on a new man- ner of titling pictures. The titles are to be synchronized with the action through being projected on the screen directly under the action. This was originally done with the Horsley "Mutt and Jeff" pictures which were produced several years ago. Since that time he has perfected the patent and it will be used in his railroad fea- ture. The only subtitles employed will be those denoting a lapse of time. The first production will be made by a company organized under the title of the Motive Motion Picture Company, of which G. S. Williams is president; L. M. Hopkins, vice-presi- dent; B. M. Lyon, secretary; James Duffy, treasurer, and David Horsley, director and chairman of the executive committee. All, with the exception of Mr. Horsley, are officers of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, Needles, Cal. Lodge No. 430. As yet Mr. Horsley has not made a releasing arrangement for the pro- posed series of pictures. Anderson Features Western Productions to Go Through W. L. Sherry Service G. M. Anderson, known for his Broncho Billy characterizations, has signed a contract with William L. Sherry whereby the new G. M. An- derson features which the actor has been making on the Coast, will be released through the William L. Sherry Service. The first five-reel picture, "Red Blood and Yellow," is scheduled for September 22. This will be followed by "Shooting Mad," October 6, and "Son-of-a-Gun," October 20, also five- reel productions. Mr. Sherry and Mr. Anderson both wish it to be distinctly understood that neither the pictures mentioned nor those to follow are re-issues. They are all western plays done in a mod- ern style and said to be more pre- tentious than any of the earlier works of the former Essanay actor. Going Abroad Rita Jolivet, star of the Screen Clas- sics feature, "Lest We Forget," is go- ing to visit the French, Belgian and Italian fronts to entertain the soldiers of the Allied Armies. COL. SELIG TO PRODUCE SERIES Chicago Magnate Interested In Arline Pretty Features — Another Star To Be Named Soon Following the announcement last week that Arline Pretty is to return to the screen in a series of eight special photoplays, it became known yester- day, that six of this number are to be produced as part of a series of twelve by Colonel William N. Selig, in association with E. Lanning Mas- ters and Sidney Garrett, president of J. Frank Brockliss Company. The name of the young woman to be presented in the remaining six of the series of twelve is to be announced within the next few days. This star is said to be one of the best-known of the younger players _ who have come to the front within the last year. She will be under the direct management of Sidney Garrett, who will collaborate with Colonel Selig in the presentation of her pictures. The twelve pictures are to be known as the Selig Star Series and will mark renewed activity on the part of this producer. Possessed of a large studio in Los Angeles, with another big plant in Chicago, and having assembled an impressive library of stories, Colonel Selig is in a position to do big things during the next year. Producing activities will start within the next ten days and the first of Miss Pretty's pictures will be ready for release by the first of November. Thursday, August 29, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes H. E. Herbert has been engaged by Metro to play opposite Ethel Barry- more in "Lady Frederick." "Crashing Through to Berlin" is to be shown at the Auditorium in Chi- cago for a week, starting Sunday. J. V. Bryson, the Minneapolis ex- change man, who has been in the city for the last few weeks, has started home. Dwight L. Perrin of Goldwyn has gone to Worcester, Mass., for the rest of the week. While there he will ex- ploit "The Turn of the Wheel" at one or more of the local theatres. Lewis S. Stone, who appeared in "Inside the Lines," the World picture, is now playing in "Where Poppies Bloom," Marjorie Rambeau's play that has started a run on Broadwav. D. W. Griffith's next picture to fol- low "The Great Love" will be "A Ro- mance of Happy Valley." Work on this production has already been started. The story is said to be a de- parture from the usual run of stories. Pathe will release the first of the Extra Selected Star Photoplays, "A Japanese Nightingale," with Fannie Ward as the star, Sept. 22. This pic- ture was produced by the Astra Com- pany under the direction of George Fitzmaurice. Lynn S. Card, general manager for the Producers and Distributors Corp., starts today on a trip through the cen- tral states in connection with the new booking policy of his company. He will plan his trip so that he will be in Chicago at the time of the conven- tion. THEATRES TO USE LESS CURRENT Conference Decides on Measure to Conserve Fuel — Standardization to Save 2,000 Tons of Coal Weekly The outstanding feature of the meeting yesterday between E. R. Sart- well, national director for the United States Fuel Administration and the industry in the National Association's rooms was the report of J. H. Hall- berg, technical adviser of the N. A. M. P. I. Fuel Committee which em- phasized the fact that the theatres of the country will be allotted a stand- ardized amount of electric current with which to project motion pictures and to illuminate the exteriors and interiors of their houses. Mr. Hallberg, who is connected with the United Theatre Equipment Corporation, is well acquainted with the practical problems of running a theatre. He outlined the work of his committee in helping the Fuel Administration and said that the cur- tailment of current and the natural saving of coal would result in the saving of over 2.000 tons of coal a week, or over 100,000 tons for the year. Sartwell Represents Government In the absence of T. B. Noyes, state fuel administrator, E. R. Sartwell rep- resented the Government department. What the saving of the 100,000 tons of coal means to the country can best be expressed by the figures Mr. Sart- well gave to the film men when he presented his problem before them. War industries are the reason for a demand of 100,000,000 tons of coal more than this country has ever needed. Of this, 60.000,000 tons have been supplied and it remains to de- vise some method of securing the de- ficit. Mr. Sartwell explained that the transportation difficulties were such that even were it possible to mine more coal, it could not be moved. Domestic use of coal is 120,000,000 and it is believed that by an intensive campaign the public can be made to realize how absolutely vital coal is to the winning of the war and make the necessary saving. William A. Brady who presided at the meeting suggested the use of trail- ers on features as the best method of reaching the public. The campaign of the Fuel Administration will start im- mediately after the Liberty Loan is completed. To keep in close touch with the Fuel Administration, Harry M. Cran- dall of Washington, D. C, has been appointed by Mr. Brady to act for the N. A. M. P. I. A three-fold com- mittee has the entire work in charge. One of these from the National As- sociation, the second from the Fuel Administration and the third from the National Committee on Gas and Elec- tric Service, a branch of the Commit- tee on National Defense which was represented at yesterday's meeting by C. L. Law. To Supply Producers From the producing end, this co- operative work with the fuel officials, is very significant in that, in conjunc- tion with the essential ruling of recent date, there will be no curtailment of production as was the case in Fort Lee last year. The industry will be supplied with the necessities to carry on its work without any fear of in- terruption. The meeting was well attended by prominent film men among whom were the following: William Brandt, W. W. Irwin, Sydney S. Cohen, Louis F. Blumenthal, Lewis Innerarity, F. N. Rothenberg, Joe Brandt, Ricord Gradwell, Sol Berman, Fred Beecroft, Frederick H. Elliott, Marcus Loew, Paul Cromelin, Ralph Kohn, J. E. Brulatour, Gabriel Hess and Leopold Wharton. To Announce United Star Everyone is smiling around the United offices. No one will speak, but it is understood that with the excep- tion of a few minor details, arrange- ments for the announcement of the third United star have been made. The official mention will be forthcom- ing in a few days. "Prince Cosimo" Caruso's Second The title of the second of the Caruso productions which is now being made is "Prince Cosimo," written by Mar- garet Turnbull. Edward Jose is di- recting it and the tenor will have a new leading lady for this production. The entire cast has not yet been se- lected. Loan Films Finished Vitagraph has completed four of its seven, 300-foot subjects, which it is making for the Liberty Loan. The three additional features are in the making and may be completed any day. Harry T. Morey has completed his contribution to the Loan, "The Grouch." "A Live Purchase" is Co- rinne Griffith's patriotic contribution. "The Choice" has been completed by Alice Joyce. Earle Williams, Wil- liam Duncan and Bessie Love are making the other three at the West Coast studio. ttfejgj DAILY Thursday, August 29, 1918 New Yorkers Going Chicago Convention to Draw Big Delegation From Here The New York representation at the Chicago Convention of the A. E. A. is going to be a mighty big one and yesterday arrangements were being made for one or two special cars on the Century Limited, leaving New York on Saturday. Sydney S. Cohen stated that New York was going to outdo itself at Chicago. C. C. Pettijohn said that the A. E. A. figured on drawing the biggest convention crowd in the history of the industry. He stated that he be- lieved that the Government officials in charge of the railroad would make special arrangements for them. On September 6, the anniversary of the birth of Lafayette, there is to be a special showing in Chicago of the picture, "Lafayette, We Come," which is to be the initial release of the Affili- ated Distributors Corp. The Ameri- can Defense Society is co-operating with the exhibitors in the presentation and it is to be part of the regular holiday program. Metros For October Metro announces the release dates of four features in October. Olive Tell in "Secret Strings," by Elizabeth Jordan will be released October 7. John Ince directed this picture, in which Lou Tellegen played when it was produced on the stage. "His Bonded Wife," with Emmy Wehlen, will be released October 14. This was written by Lois Zellner, and directed by Charles J. Brabin. "Five Thousand an Hour," adapted from the story by George Randolph Chester and featuring Hale Hamilton, directed by Ralph Ince, will be re- leased October 21. May Allison's latest, "The Testing of Mildred Vane," by Charles T. Da- zey, Wilfred Lucas, director, will be released October 28. Theatre Feeds 67,000 Soldiers From out of the edge of the great southwestern desert comes the story of how a little 620-seat airdome at Needles, Cal., has been the direct means of provid- ing food and drink for 67,000 troops of the army of Uncle Sam during the past few months. The theatre is called the Needles Liberty Theatre and is managed by G. S. Williams, who is lo- cated in the town as one of the executives of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen. The theatre was operated by a group of aliens and for a time they managed to keep their pro- German tendencies under cover, but finally they were disclosed in their true light and forced to "leave the town." G. S. Wil- liams then organized a small company to take over the thea- tre and has since operated it for the local Red Cross. The town has only 4,500 in- habitants and the house seats only 620, but the program adver- tising on the season alone nets $1,600. There is but one salary paid and that is for the projec- tion operator who receives the union scale. After buying new seats, a piano and two projectors for the house and providing meals for 67,000 troops that have passed through the town, the treasury still holds $1,900, of which the committee is justly proud. Picture Causes Riot ST. LOUIS.— "The Bar Sinister," booked for the star theatre, Jefferson and Laclede avenues, St. .Louis, was the cause of a riot here last week. The picture has been played before in colored houses without any com- ment. The manager of the Star the- atre attributes the trouble, and the fact that he had to call in the police, to a few disturbers who incited the colored people and stirred up com- ment on the picture. George J. Ekre, former General General Film branch manager at Port- land, Ore., has been put in charge of the Los Angeles branch of the same company. Kitty Gordon Goes West Kitty Gordon, the United star, leaves for Chicago today on her way to Los Angeles where she will produce her first picture. Miss Gordon will stop over at Chicago until next week when the A. E. A. convention will be held to represent the United Picture Theatres there. She will be accompanied by E. J. O'Donnell. Rights to "Intolerance" Robertson-Cole announce the sale of the rights to "Intolerance" for Hol- land and Egypt. The consideration involved is $6,000 for the former and $2,000 for the latter country. This concern has also sold the rights for "The Daughter of the Gods" in Egypt and the Balkans. According to Joseph F. Lee the first of the Anita Stewart productions is not to be made at the Vitagraph studios but at another studio on Long Island. Fighting It Out Dunham of Seattle Takes Stand Against Paramount-Artcraft SEATTLE.— The Seattle Para- mount-Artcraft office and R. K. Dun- ham of the Rex theatre of Mount Ver- non and the Grand of Burlington, Washington, have been having a bat- tle royal during the month of August. When Mr. Dunham refused to book Paramount-Artcraft releases the lo- cal exchange manager had 24 sheets put up in his town advising the peo- ple to go to the neighboring towns where Artcraft and Paramount pic- tures were shown. Mr. Dunham an- swered this with a strong announce- ment in the Mount Vernon Herald of August 8. When he began showing the reissues of Douglas Fairbanks fea- tures the Paramount-Artcraft people placed a Fairbanks ad in the Herald. Serious exception was taken by several Seattle film men interested in the re- issues to the statement that they were rehashed and retitled, and the state- ment has been retracted. The big new Rialto theatre in Ta- coma is to be opened August 31 with "Hearts of the World." The Rialto will be operated by a company head- ed by H. T. Moore, who owns and operates the Colonial. "The Finger of Justice" was held over at the Rex theatre, Seattle, for four weeks, giving it the record run for a popular priced motion picture in this city. No other regular priced show has been held for more than two weeks at a Seattle motion picture the- atre. John Hamrick, manager of the Rex and the Little theatres in Seattle, ha3 opened his new Gem, a small house on lower Second avenue. Ackerman and Harris of San Fran- cisco, who operate the Hippodrome Circuit in the leading cities of the Pacific Coast, have leased the Royal theatre, Vancouver. It was opened August 26 with Hippodrome vaude- ville acts and motion pictures, the picture part of the program consist- ing of Metro, Triangle, and World re- leases. Irving Ackerman, of the firm of Ackerman and Harris, paid a visit to Seattle and Tacoma last week, dur- ing which he announced that he had signed a contract to put his shows on at the Orpheus theatre at Camp Lewis. Leopold Wharton, of Wharton Brothers, Inc., is in New York from Ithaca. Thursday, August 29, 1918 tMA DAILY Pleasing Characterization and Treatment Makes This Great Monroe Salisbury in "THAT DEVIL BATEESE" Bluebird — Universal DIRECTOR William Wolbert AUTHOR Bess Meredyth SCENARIO BY Bernard=McConvilIe CAMERAMAN Charles Seeling AS A WHOLE Wonderful characterization of star and exceedingly impressive out=in=the=open settings make this a real winner. STORY Has good twists but really centers around exceptional characterization of star who puts this over with an earnest appeal that registers. DIRECTION Gave us a production without a jarr= ing note. Provided truly exceptional and con= vincing atmosphere and handled mystery touches effectively. PHOTOGRAPHY Superb throughout. Stereoscopic effect on exteriors made them look like paint= ings. LIGHTINGS Very artistic, with beautiful soft shadings. CAMERA WORK Composition excellent STAR This production should put him over as one of our biggest stars. He wins you from the start and has you with him all the way. SUPPORT All very satisfactory with Chaney standing out as the usual effective heavy. EXTERIORS Certainly wonderfully impressive INTERIORS Very good; fitted atmosphere DETAIL Not a jarring note CHARACTER OF STORY For any audience LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet STEP out and get this Bluebird ! I don't remember when I've seen a production where one characterization stood out and won such appeal as Monroe Salisbury's exceptional work in this wonderfully well-staged production of the Canadian woods. This virile, pleasing hero's smile just wins you over from the very start and you get to like him more and more as the story unfolds. His work in this is going to be long remembered and I have a hunch that this particular production is going to be the decisive boost which will put Mr. Salisbury over the top as one of our most popular male stars. We get Mr. Salisbury in this as a French- Canadian who is a "devil" when he's riled but whose smile and lovable personality just gets right under your skin in his more pleasant moods. And boy, how he does eat this character up. Hero "Bateese" falls in love with Shero Ada Gleason, who comes to the Canadian woods to teach school but as a broken romance with a man whom she still loved had caused her to come to this far-away place, she shows very little interest in Hero, although she feels obli- gated in a way when he saves her from the clutches of willun Lon Chaney when he tries to kiss her. Hero finally forces Shero to marry him although he demands no marital rights, simply keeping her captive in his cabin and living apart from her. Later, when Shero's former sweetheart arrives with her father, Hero sees their apparent love for each other and determines to end his life. He leaves and in the meantime willun comes to the cabin with his demented sister, who hap- pens to be the girl that Shero's sweetheart had ruined and deserted. A pathetic figure, still clad in the wedding dress that she was wearing when her false lover had deserted her, she recognizes him and faints in his arms. The facts disclosed, Shero realizes for the first time that she really loves Hero, and runs out of the cabin calling his name. Hero had attempted to take his life by allowing his canoe to be carried over the falls and she finds him on the bank below, exhausted, but still alive. Later we flash to the couple a year later with a baby, truly happy in each others love. The superb natural scenic backgrounds in the offering are remarkably beautiful throughout and the flash of the canoe going over the falls was very effectively staged. The character of the ghost girl in this, who later proved to be the deserted wife of the wicked wun and sister of willun, gave us an effective mystery twist which was very well handled. We had some very well-worded dialect titles all through the offering, which added more realism to the excellent character of "Bateese." Ada Gleason was an acceptable Shero; Andrew Rob- son was a convincing and characteristic priest; Lon Chaney did a very effective bit of character work as the willun while Lamar Johnstone was satisfactory as the false lover. Star's Personality Should Put This Over With a Bang. Step On It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor You are certainly justified in stepping out and making a lot of noise about this one. It is considerably better than many so-called "specials" we have had recently and I have a hunch that Monroe Salisbury's following is going to leap like a skyrocket when this offering gains circulation. Our real box office bets of the present can all look back upon the one production that touched off the fuse and caused their popularity to leap overnight. I'm pick- ing this one to do the same for Monroe Salisbury and I'll bet I'm not far off. Certainly, if those who see this fdon't rave considerable about this star's wonderful characterization and the general pleasing impression left by the entire production, you've got a hard gang to provide entertainment for. I would plug the name of the star good and strong on this and use his photos liberally in my ads and lobby, not forgetting to mention the beautiful scenic backgrounds that make this a truly artistic offering that is going to register with any audience. The title is all right if you couple it with a descrip- tion of the character played by Mr. Salisbury as "A lovable French- Canadian logger with a heart as big as all out-doors, but whom his associates called 'That Devil, Bateese'," because they never really understood him. Then came the girl, understanding and — happi- ness." 7&BBADSTREET of FILMDOM 7/fcRKOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 113 Friday, August 30, 1918 Price 5 Cents PRODUCING IN EAST TO CONTINUE Essential Ruling Causes Manufacturers To Reconsider General Migration To the Coast Several of the bigger producing concerns in and about New York , who suffered rather severely last winter because of the coal shortage and who, fearing that during the coming cold season they would be without either light and heat, made plans to go to the Pacific Coast, stated through their representatives yesterday that they were re-considering and would un- doubtedly remain in the east now be- cause of the ruling handed down in Washington which declared the mo- tion picture industry 100 per cent, es- sential. It was the plan of the Metro to discontinue its entire producing in the east and give up the studio that it had in New York. Yesterday, one of the officials stated that he did not believe that the studio would be aban- doned and that it was almost certain that one or more companies would work there during the coming winter. Famous Players-Lasky, who in- tended closing their Fort Lee studios and retaining only the 56th Street plant for work in the east, is also re- considering its original intention. One of the largest studios around New York which has been making a special bid for the independent pro- ducer business, offering to take over the production of a picture at a flat sum, providing that the producer fur- nished story anJ star, was offering the producer a guarantee through a Coast connection. This company stated that it would operate both on tlie Coast and in New York under the new ruling. Several of the smaller independents, who were looking at both the Coast and Florida, will do their producing in New York entirely. TO HOLD EXPO IN THE GARDEN Taking of Palace by Government Reason for Change — Almost $30,000 in Space Already Contracted For The necessary arrangements were made yesterday to hold the Exposi- tion during the week of October 5-13 in Madison Square Garden. The change in the original plans was due to the fact that the Government has taken the Grand Central Palace for a base military hospital. The success of the Exposition seems assured for almost $30,000 in space has already been contracted for and six additional inquiries have been received this week. The show will be called the War Service Exposition of the Motion Pic- ture Industry because of the fact that Governmental bodies will be strongly represented. The Committee on Pub- lic Information will be the largest space holder, and it is thought that that body will occupy the entire east wing of the Garden. Two car-loads of war exhibits that are now on show at the Government exhibition at Chi- cago will be in New York in time for the Exposition. Negotiations are un- derway for space with the Food and Fuel Administrations, the War and Navy Departments and the Aircraft Board. George Creel has expressed his ap- proval of the event. Last week he asked William A. Brady in Washing- ton when it would be held and voiced his entire satisfaction with the under- taking'. Although the change from the Pal- ace to the Garden was unavoidable, space holders are assured that the space and positions they have con- tracted for in the Palace will as nearly as possible be given to them in the Garden. Following- her motion picture debut for Paramount in "The Cruise of the Make-Believe," Lila Lee will be seen in "Such a Little Pirate." Alice Brady Waiting Contract With Select Expires Oct 1 — Not Renewed as Yet There is a possibility that Alice Brady may not appear in films at all next season. If she does appear it seems certain that there will be a curtailment of the number of pictures that she will make, as compared with those made during the last year un- der her contract with the Select. That contract called for ten productions. William A. Brady, her father, is re- sponsible for the above statement which was made as a denial of the rumor that Miss Brady was to leave the Select and go under his manage- ment in a series of productions, among which were numbered "Way Down East," "The Man Who Came Back" and a screen version of the new play "Forever After." The lat- ter, incidentally, may be the cause of Miss Brady's cutting down the num- ber of her screen product:ons during the coming year. "Forever After" was tried out in Washington where it was a pro- nounced hit and according to her father, Alice Brady is the greatest stage find since Maude Adams. He expects the play to run at least a year in New York, and predicts a personal triumph of large proportions for lis daughter. Miss Brady's contract with Select will expire October 1, and as yet there have been no negotiations for a renewal. Miss Brady will not talk terms until her play has opened in New York and then it is believed she will be in a position to make only a few pictures during the run of the stage production. Mid-West Manager CHICAGO.— Frank J. Flaherty, late manager of the Hoffman Four-square exchange, has been appointed man- ager of the mid-west district of the Producers' Distributing Corporation. The company has established an of- fice in the Consumers' Building, which houses most of the large exchanges, and it is said from this point the va- rious branch managers throughout the West will receive their orders. The "10-20-30" scheme has_ been very fa- vorablv received in Chicago. Friday, August 30, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes At a meeting of New York exhibit- or.- in Wurlitzer Hall, yesterday af- ternoon, it was decided to establish the headquarters of the Manhattan Local at /29 Seventh Avenue. The formal opening of the headquarters, September 15, will be marked by an entertainment. To distinguish their two Chicago theatres from several moving picture houses bearing similar names — Gar- rick and Princess — the Shuberts an- nounce that hereafter the Garrick the- atre will be know" as the Shubert- Garrick and the Princess as the Shu- ln rt-Princess. Joseph Hopp has been placed in charge of all moving pictures to be used at the U. S. Government's war exposition to be held in Grant Park, Sept. 2-15. One hundred thousand tickets have been sold for the big lake front show, by 2,600 post office em- ployes. It is expected 25,000 out-of- town visitors will attend the exposi- tion daily. Employees of Rothacker Film Man- ufacturing Company's plant cleaned up a tidy sum last Fridav night, when they entertained over three hundred people at a Bunco party. The affair was held under the auspices of the Illinois State Council of Defense and the money was donated to the Red Cross. Increases Capital Stock ALBANY. — The Providence Thea- tre Company of Manhattan has certi- fied to the Secretary of State that it lvs increased its capital stock from $10,000 to $1,000,000. The company was incorporated August 28, 1910, and was formed to engage in a general theatrical and amusement business. Noble Completes Film Director Shoots Final Scenes of "Birth of a Race" Jack Noble returned to New York this week with the final scenes of "The Birth of a Race," which he has just completed. The last shots of the picture were taken with the co-opera- tion of the War Department which turned over Camp Dix to the director, placing 15,000 troops at his disposal. The picture is now being cut under the supervision of Noble, who expects to have it in fairly good shape by the middle of next week. After the picture is on the market the director expects to enter service, having at one time held a commission in the regular army. "Finger of Justice" Cleaning Up Reports received by Dr. Shallen- berger of Arrow Films, from sections of the west where the rights to "The Finger of Justice" have been dis- posed of, indicate that the picture is a veritable riot. In Seattle, booked for one week, it broke the house rec- ord and remained for four weeks. In Minneapolis, at the Shubcrt, the pro- duction broke the house record and in Cleveland where it opened on Mon- day, the indications are that it will be equally popular. The battle to have the picture passed for New York .is in progress, with hopes of success. "Geezer" for Australia Following up "My Four Years in Germany," "Pershing's Crusaders" and "The Beast of Berlin," Australasian Films, Ltd., has bought "The Geezer of Berlin" for Australia and New Zealand from Jewel. Millard John- son, president of the company, ex- pects this latest acauisition to go big as a sequel to the Kaiser picture. Beware of Hun Films WASHINGTON.— The Military In- telligence Service has issued a warn- ing to exhibitors to beware of Ger- man made films which are being cir- culated in this country in furtherance of German propaganda. Such pic- tures, it is stated, were made solely for the glorification of Germany and any use of them violates the Trading With the Enemy Act. Randolf C. Lewis, who handled the publicity on several of the Fox sup^r- features and afterwards was on the Goldwyn scenario staff, will have charge of the Pathe publication in the future. The executives of the Affiliated Dis- tributers and Perret Productions are planning to leave in a body Monday to stte'-rl the convention in Chicago. o--vives him. Granted Charters T r i b u - e Productions and Foreign Kights Distributing Are Incorporated The Tribune Productions of Man- hattan was granted a charter by Sec- retary of State Hugo vest rday. The corporation is capitalized at $40,000 Its purposes are to produce and man- uiacture motion picture films and op- erate theatres and amusement enter- prises of all kinds; also to maintain a motion picture exchange. The in- corporators are: Madeline Wolf, Sadye Blumenfeld and Marion Yock- ers, 438 West 37th Street, New York City. The Foreign Rights Distributing Corporation of Manhattan has also been chartered by the state. It has a capital stock of $10,000 and will manu- facture and generally trade in motion picture films of every description. The corporation also proposes to conduct theatres for theatrical and motion pic- ture offerings. The directors are: Sid- ney Charles Garrett, Thomas F Mc- Mahon and Bailey C. Elliott, 1400 Broadway, New York City. Teaching National Anthem The National Association has been asked by George W. Loft, executive chairman of the Mayor's Committee on National Defense, for co-operation with that body in teaching the great masses of New York City the words of "The Star Spangled Banner." September 14 has been designated the day on which the national anthem will be sung in the picture theatres of the city. Slides of the flag will be made for projection on the screen and in the white stripes the words of the song will be written. Frederick H. Elliott, executive secretary, will get in touch with the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bronx locals of the Ex- hibitors' League to facilitate the movement. The Mayor's Committee has selected six hundred singers who will make their appearances in the theatres on the fourteenth and guide the audiences through the song. William H. Fullwood Dies BOSTON.— William H. Fullwood, acting as special representative for "America's Answer" in Boston, died at St. Francis' Hospital, Wednesday morning. Mr. Fullwood was a well- known theatrical publicity man. He began his career as a reporter on the Pittsburgh Leader, where his father, Captain Wm. Fullwood, was dramatic critic for many years. Mr. Fullwood subsequently came to New York, where he became identified with va- rious theatrical enterprises as business manager. He was with Wagenhals & Kemper for ten years. He was one of the original members of the Friars' Club. A sister, living in Pittsburgh, ■M& DAILY Friday, August 30, 1918 ■ REVENUE BILL AS PROPOSED Sections of Vital Interest to Exhibitors Made Public — War Purchase Stamp Act WASHINGTON.— The first draft of the new $8,000,000,000 War Rev- enue Bill as drawn up by Claude Kitchin, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was made pub- lic yesterday. The proposed bill is in its elementary form and undoubted- ly will undergo many changes when it reaches the Senate. Of particular importance to the mo- tion picture industry are the changes in admission taxes. It was generally understood that the new law would provide for a twenty per cent, tax on admissions. However, from the text of the bill it is seen that the tax is based on units of ten cents and that for every such unit and fraction there- of there will be a tax of two cents. The scale is therefore a graduated one. If the admission price is ten cents, the tax is two cents and if it is fif- teen, the war tax is four cents and for twenty cents, the tax remains four cents. Another new feature is the tax on admissions of seven cents or less. Whereas, five cent admissions were tax free previously, they are now sub- ject to a one-cent le»-y- This is pro- vided for in Section 1 of Title 8 on Admissions and Dues. "A tax of 2 cents for each 10 cents or frac- tion thereof of the amount paid for admis- sion to any place after such date, including admission by season ticket or subscription, to be paid by the person paying for such admis- sion: Provided, That in cases where the charge for admission is 7 cents or less, and in the case of children under twelve years of age where an admission charge for such chil- dren is made, the tax shall be 1 cent." Section 4 provides for a fifty per cent, tax on all increased admissions to theatres when owners make such increases. The text follows: "A tax equivalent to 50 per centum of the amount for which the proprietors, managers or employees of any opera house, theatre or other place of amusement sell or dispose of tickets or cards of admission in excess of the regular or established price or charge therefor, such tax to be returned and paid in the man- ner provided in section 904 by the person selling such tickets." Section 900, under Title 9, which is devoted to Excise Taxes, is of vital import to the producers directly. That division reads as follows: "SEC. 900. That there shall be levied, as- sessed, collected, and paid, in lieu of the taxes imposed by section 600 of the Revenue Act of 1917, upon the following articles sold or leased by the manufacturer, producer, or importer, a tax equivalent to the following percentages of the price for which so sold or leased — "(5) Positive moving-picture films contain- ing a picture ready for projection, 10 per centum. "(9) Cameras, 10 per centum; "(10) Photographic films and plates, other than moving picture films, 10 per centum; "(18) Photographs, productions, or reproduc- tions, 10 per centum." This means that the manufacturer must pay a ten per cent, tax on films which he sells or leases. However, at the end of that article, it would seem that provision has been made to pass on the tax when the sale is a retail one and in the case of the picture in- dustry, the retailers are of course the exhibitors. "If any manufacturer, producer, or importer of any kind of the articles enumerated in this section customarily sells such articles both at wholesale and retail, the tax in the case of any article sold by him at retail shall be computed on the price for which like articles are sold by him at wholesale." The first paragraph of Section 901 establishes an equitable price for such commodities as may be sold in the above mentioned article. It is as fol- lows: "SEC. 901 That if any person manufactures, produces or imports any article enumerated in section 900 and, whether through any agree- ment, arrangement, or understanding, or other- wise, sells or leases such article at less than the fair market price obtainable therefor, either (a) in such manner as directly or in- directly to benefit such person or any person directly or indirectly interested in the busi- ness of such person or (b) with intent to cause such benefit the amount for which such article is sold or leased shall be taken to be the amount which would have been received from the sale or lease of such article if sold or leased at the fair market price." Under the caption of special taxes, section 1000, of Title ten, places a tax on the seating capacity of theatres and places of amusement such as has been in force in the Allied countries for some time past. The section which means much to the exhibitor is: "(5) Proprietors of theatres, museums, and concert halls, where a charge for admission is made, having a seating capacity of not more than .two hundred and fifty," shall pay $50; having a seating capacity of more than two hundred and fifty and not exceeding five hundred, shall pay $100; having a seating capacity exceeding five hundred and not ex- ceeding eight hundred, shall pay $150; having a seating capacity of more than eight hun- dred, shall pay $200." The draft of the Revenue Bill re- calls an address made in the National Association rooms on Wednesday af- ter the meeting with E. R. Sartwell, of the Fuel Administration, by C. A. Mariani of Twin Falls, Idaho, who spoke to the film men present of a hill which has been introduced in Congress and which has for its pur- pose the elimination of the objection- able features of the Revenue Bill as apolied to the motion picture industry. Mr. Mariani is the originator of the bill called the War Purchase Stamp Act, which was introduced in the House by Congressman Smith of Idaho and in the Senate by Senator Borah. The bill would levy a one- cent tax on every individual purchase made by anyone in the United States. It is thought that this method of taxation would bring about $1,200,000,- 000 to the Treasury and this, with the receipts from wholesale purchases coupled with the $4,000,000,000 accrued from the income and excess profits taxes, would make the required $8,- 000,000,000. In this way the tax on amusements would not be necessary. Mr. Mariani said that he has al- ready talked to Commissioner of In- ternal Revenue Daniel C. Roper about it who said it was sound. Over one hundred congressmen have been ap- proached by Mariani, who says their attitude toward the bill was a favor- able one. Mr. Mariani expressed the opinion that the bill which will be re- introduced again shortly would pass and in that event, the proposed taxa- tion on pictures and theatres would not be necessary. From the Courts Kitty Gordon Sues Broker — Ben- jamin Blumenthal Files Summons Kitty Gordon yesterday filed an ac- tion in the Supreme Court to recover $0,868.75 from Maximilian S. Rhein- berg. She alleges that she is a member oi the theatrical profession and igno- rant oi the customs of the New York Stock Exchange and of stock bro- kers. In November, 1916, she asserts, the defendant represented to her he was a partner in the stock brokerage firm of Halle & Steiglitz. This, she says, was false. Relying on his statements, she says, she gave Rheinberg $5,567, between November 17, 1916, and December 21, 1916, to invest in securities. She says he promised to indemnify her for any losses. The money she advanced, Miss Gordon charges, was used by Rheinberg to open a speculative ac- count. This resulted in a total loss to her of $6,868.75. Benjamin Blumenthal yesterday filed in the Supreme Court a summons in an action for an accounting against the Interocean Film Corporation and the Importers Film Company. The complaint has not yet been placed on record. William H. Griffin, an attorney, is suing the Submarine Film Corpora- ls 081 for professional serv- ices. The defendant yesterday ob- tained an order from the Supreme Court directing the plaintiff to file a bill of particulars. Getting Exchanges Together ST. LOUIS.— There is talk of the St. Louis Film Board of Trade af- filiating with the exchanges in Kan- sas City, Memphis, Dallas and Omaha, in order that a closer union and better co-operation may exist. Friday, August 30, 1918 •M& DAILY Pleasing Star in Glassy Mystery Stuff Which Has Unusual Twists Bessie Barriscale in "THE WHITE LIE" ParaIta=Hodkinson MANAGER OF PRODUCTIONS Robert Brunton DIRECTOR Howard Hickman AUTHOR William Parker SCENARIO BY Julian Lewis Lamothe CAMERAMAN : Clyde De Vinna AS A WHOLE Very well handled mystery stuff; is classy and interesting. STORY Unique plot development makes you think it's going to be naughty but it isn't. DIRECTION Kept this distinctive and classy all the way and developed mystery=suspense effectively. PHOTOGRAPHY Clearly defined and artistic all the way. LIGHTINGS Very fine CAMERA WORK Intelligent STAR Beautiful and appealing and made dramatic moments convince. SUPPORT Very good EXTERIORS Pleasing INTERIORS Looked substantial and real with good detail touches. DETAIL Very good CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet IT LOOKS as though the Los Angeles '•Only Their Husbands" Club was due to lose a member to the M. P. D. A. 'cause dog-goned if "Mr. Bessie Barris- cale" doesn't put this one over like he had been direct- ing all his life. This, Mr. Hickman's first effort along directorial lines, definitely establishes him as one of our really capable creators and of course he knows that he has u good star to test his ability with. AVe had a unique story idea in this : one of those tilings that fooled you all the way and slipped in an unexpected twist every now and then just about the time you figured you knew what Mas going to pop up next with the whole thing a mystery until Miss Barris- cale's confession at the finish which cleared matters. Miss Barriscale was presented as the wife of Edward Coxen and they start this off by having Edward puzzled about the remote resemblance of their little child to either one of them. Then we had the hero-hubby leav- ing on a business trip to Frisco with Charlie Gunn, an architect, calling on Bessie and demanding to see HIS baby. In the meantime, Hero-hubby finds the hotels crowded in Frisco and is conveniently given Charlie's room where he gets a slap in the face by finding a pic- ture of his wife and baby on the dresser. When hero hubby returns and puts a detekutive on the trail to find out what, about it they give us another jolt by having the "Dick" find Charlie's picture in the rogue's gallery. Later, when Charlie goes to his room in the hotel, he is recognized by an old pal who wants Charlie to go with him on another "job". Charlie re- fuses, but when the gang operates that night, they are caught and the crook, thinking Charlie has squealed, kills him. In the meantime, Bessie is brought to his apartment by a note, the detective and hubby being planted in the next room when she arrives. Seeing the body, and suspecting her husband of being the mur- derer, she hides it. The detective comes in and she is forced to confess, revealing the fact that she caught Charlie in the act of robbing her house during her hus- band's absence on an extended business trip a short lime after their marriage, and had left Charlie go free and adopted his baby. Knowing her husband's fond- ness for children, she had led him to believe that the child was their own. Hubby, in the next room, hears the confession and all ends happily. Edward ('oxen and Charles Gunn handled their roles effectively; Little Mary Jane Irving was cute as the little daughter, although they gave her very little to do while others in the cast were: James Marley and Aggie Herring. A Safe Bet As Entertainment For Any Kind of a House The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I am sure that any audience will consider this very good entertainment. The unusual twists and plot de- velopment will keep any gang guessing as to how this is going to finish and the general classy atmosphere and superb lightings throughout stamp it as distinctive. I believe that Miss Barriscale has a following that means something at the box-office and her friends will thor- oughly enjoy watching her through the bewildering complications in this production. You might arouse interest with catchlines like these: "If a co-incidence brought you to the room of another man in another town and you found on his dresser a picture of YOUR wife and baby, what would you think? See Bessie Barriscale in 'The White Lie'." "If your wife had secretly adopted a baby and had led you to believe it was your own, what would you do when the real father came to claim it? See Bessie Bar- riscale in 'The White Lie'." You might work the title into a very effective ad on this by using liberal space with merely Bessie Barriscale in "The White Lie" together with the name of your theatre and date of showing bunched up in neat type in the center of the ad, having the white space predom- inate over the type in the proportion of about one hun- dred to one. ZfcBRADSTREET of FILHDOM JifeRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 114 Saturday, August 31, 1918 Price 5 Cents UNIVERSAL GETS BRITISH FILMS Closes Contract With Capt. G. M. Baynes of Kineto Co., For Distribution of Official British War Pictures Carl Laemmle closed a contract yesterday with Capt. G. M. Baynes of the Kineto Company of America for the distributing rights to the offi- cial British War film entitled "Fight- ing for Freedom." The Universal will take over the picture and release it, beginning about Oct. 1. In addition to the "Fighting for Freedom" picture which the Universal has, there is another British picture floating about the market without any definite purpose at present. This is the film which Dr. Girdwood brought to this country several months ago, but he seemingly has been unable to come to terms with any of the re- leasing organizations. This seems to be the psychological moment for the release of a British film with the English and the Cana- dians doing such splendid w6rk at the front. There have been several of- fers, but the present American agent, Dr. Shallenberger, has been unable to get Dr. Girdwood to accept any of the propositions. Favors Uncensored Films CHICAGO.— Calvin H. Hill, presi- dent of the village board of Oak Park, voted in favor of uncensored moving pictures last Monday night. The new ruling is the result of a meeting held last week at which vigorous protest was made against the new ordinance adopted by the board providing for two moving picture censors. Mr. Hill stated the Oak Park theatres will have to remain closed on Sunday and the managers will censor their own pic- tures until Chicago adopts a new ordi- nance, which will be used as a guide in passing on films. May Succeed Funkhouser CHICAGO.— Captain Stephen B. Wood of the Central police station, it is rumored, will be appointed to suc- ceed Major M. L. C. Funkhouser as second deputy superintendent of po- lice and motion picture censor for Chicago. Bush is Back W. Stephen to Direct Pub- licity for First National W. Stephen Bush, who has been missing from the lime light in film circles for about a year, has again stepped into the pictures with the an- nouncement that he is to be the di- rector of publicity of the First Na- tional Exhibitors' Circuit, succeeding Charles Barrell, w^io has resigned to become associated with the Century Magazine. When last heard from Mr. Bush was editor of the Exhibitors' Trade Review and in that capacity made several trips across the country ad- dressing exhibitors on behalf of that publication. He will take up his du- ties at the First Natonal offices in New York on Tuesday of next week. Stoermer Enterprises General Sales Manager of Standard Corporation Launches New Concern It is reported that General Sales Manager William Stoermer has re- signed all associations with the Amer- ican Standard Motion Picture Corpo- ration, likewise W. K. Bielenberg. The American Standard Motion Picture Corporation offices have been moved to Chicago.where business w'il be conducted in the future. Mr. Stoermer remains in New York City with offices at 130 West 46th street, and will devote himself to the affairs of the William Stoermer Enter- prises of which he is president. He has several big productions on hand and will announce his plans in detail shortly. Harry M. Rubey Arrives Harry M. Rubey, president of the National Film Corp., is due in New York from the Coast this morning. He has been called east by the Gov- ernment and placed practically in charge of the Army's remount work. HEAVY INSURANCE FOR STARS Anita Stewart Signs For $500,000 Worth- Bushman and Bayne Carrying $1,000,000 M. C. O'Neill, special representa- tive of the New York Life Insurance Company, closed a contract yesterday with Anita Stewart whereby the star is to carry $500,0(0 worth of life in- surance. Mr. O Neill also signed Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne for a million-dollar policy In Miss Stewart's case a precedent has been set by the New York Life which has accepted $100,000 of the policy. Usually the limit is $50,000 and although there is an advanced rate for the theatrical profession, Miss Stewart's policy was issued at No Paper on Monday Owing to the legal holiday, Labor Day, September 2, WID'S DAILY will not be issued on that date. the usual premium. In addition, the Mutual took $100,000 and the John Hancock $50,000. The balance of the amount will be placed with a number of smaller companies. Miss Stewart is now working under the Louis B. Mayer contract and is on the first of her pictures, "Virtuous Wives," being directed by George Loane Tucker. This production is to be followed by the picturization of "In Old Kentucky," some of the early scenes of which will be made at the Lexington track during the meet there next month. Laemmle Going to Coast Carl Laemmle, president of the Uni- versal, returned to New York yester- day from Saratoga. He will remain here about ten days and then start for the Coast. Saturday, August 31, 1918 Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DBNIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Guts and Flashes The new Leah •Baird serial being produced by the Western Photoplays, Inc., has been named "Wolves of Kultur." Clara Kimball Young starts for the Coast tomorrow to begin work on her next Select picture, "The Road Through the Dark." Contrary to previous reports, E. K. Lincoln, featured in "Lafayette, We Come," will not appear in the second Perret production. The tentative title of the produc- tion being made by Norma Talmadge from a scenario by George Scarbo- rough is "A Tale of a Forbidden City." Tom Mix has completed a picture at Prescott, Arizona, under the direc- tion of Lynn F. Reynolds. The story was written by Charles Alden Selt- The Fox New York exchange is be- ing enlarged to provide additional room for the booking of Standard Pictures. The booking of this brand will be under the supervision of Louis Rosenbauh. Geraldine Farrar has received a spe- cial invitation from the Treasury De- partment to make a Liberty Loan pic- ture. This will be the second Gold- wyn picture, the first presenting all the other Goldwyn stars in one film. Sylvia Breamer who is featured with Herbert Rawlinson in J. Stuart Blackton's superfeature, "The Com- mon Cause," scheduled f or_ Vita'graph distribution, has been sitting this week for Haskell Coffin, the artist, who is painting her portrait for the cover page of a popular magazine. REED IS THIRD UNITED STAR _ _«Actress ToaAppear in Pictures of Tribune Productions, Inc~ — WorkJWill Start Shortly Under John Stahl's Direction Offical announcement was made yesterday naming Florence Reed as the third star of the United Picture Theatres of America. This statement follows the engagement of Dustin Farnum and Kitty Gordon. Miss Reed has been engaged by the newly formed Tribune Productions, Inc., the incorporation of which com- pany was reported in WID'S DAILY yesterday. That concern has Miss Reed under a three years' contract and an option on her services when her present contract expires. John M. Stahl will direct the star in her productions. Six will be mada during 1919 and six the following jrear. All these productions will be released through the United Picture Theatres. Mr. Stahl said yesterday that actual production will commence in a short time. No inkling was given as to the nature of the first story or as to where the first of the series will be made. At the United offices, it was said that a fourth star has been secured by them and that the name of that luminary will be forthcoming short- ly. At the last counting, which was in July, there were 480 theatres in the co-operative plan that the United of- fers. Now that three stars have been secured, the number is expected to increase materially. Lee Ochs, vice-president of the United, leaves today for a trip which includes Pittsburgh, Cleveland and finally Chicago in time for the A, E. A. convention. He may extend his trip so as to include the coast cities and when he returns the open- ing of more exchanges to handle the United product may be announced. Universal's Industrial department has received letters from the gover- nors of many states promising sup- port in the movement to fight the fire peril, particularly as having to do with the war, and incendiarism. The industrial department is prepar- ing special pictures in the hope of educating the public on the subject of fire prevention. John S. Bowen, travelling auditor for General Film Company, has re- signed to enter the National Army. Mr. Bowen has been with General Film Company for four or five years, and was a bookkeeper at the Phila- delphia exchange until he was pro- moted to the auditing department at the head office. The company of Educational play- ers making the big coal feature, "When the Giant Wakes," is taking the interiors in the Esteej studio at 361 West 125th street. William Parke is in charge of operations. The picture will be released simulta- neously with the Fuel Administra- tion's coal drive in November. Fox is using at least one ingenious method to advertise his propaganda picture, "The Prussian Cur." An au- tomobile is touring the Times Square section daily with a revolving slide that faces three ways. Part of the movable device is devoted to exploit- ing the sales of War Savings Stamps and the rest to an advertisement of "The Prussian Cur," telling the on- looker that he can see this production at the leading theatre in his district. Ince Starts Studio Thomas H. Ince last week turned the first shovelful of earth for his new studio to be erected at Culver City, near Hollywood, California. The studio will be a unique structure built in colonial style. A great co- lonial mansion containing the execu- tive offices will hide from the passers by on th«e street all the stages, work shops, etc. The plant is expected to be finished November 15. Returns to United ST. LOUIS. — Floyd Lewis, former manager of Triangle in St. Louis, and also formerly of the United Theatres Company, and later of the Hoddup- Towne Photoplay Company, has sev- ered his connections with the latter company, and will again assume charge of the United Theatres office in St. Louis. It is understood that he will have his office in the Empress Theatre Building. Sliter Marries • Fred Sliter, the manager of the New York Mutual exchange, went off and got married Thursday night. Moreover, he went all the way to Albany, where he managed Mutual af- fairs, before coming to New York to do it. Sliter could not be reached at the Mutual office yesterday after- noon to ascertain who the bride was. John W. Smith, traveler and archae- ologist, has allowed Pathe to use his collection and photographs in the making of the serial, "Hands Up," snowing the customs and habits of the Inca Indians. nfe^gt DAILY Saturday, August 31, 1918 From The Courts Selznick Wants More for Studio Properties — Edison Brings Suit Lewis J. Selznick yesterday sued Thomas A. Person and Herman H. Bruenner in the Supreme Court. He alleges the two defendants failed to pay money due for their lease of the Biograph Studio, at 807 East 175th street. Selznick avers that Person and Bruenner leased the motion, picture properties in this studio which be- longed to the Clara Kimball Young Film Corporation of which he is pres- ident. The lease was executed last October and rented the property for at least eight weeks, or as much longer as the defendants operated the studio, for a minimum of $600 per month. If the defendants leased the property for more than $600 a month, Selznick says, the excess was to be paid to the corporation. The corporation has since assigned all its interest in the lease to Selznick personally. He alleges the minimum due under the lease is $5,400, of which the defendants have paid on account $3,150, leaving a balance due of at least $2,250. Selznick asserts the de- fendants leased the property for more than $600 per month and he demands an accounting of the excess. Thomas A. Edison, Inc., yesterday sued the Lincoln Parker Film Co., a Worcester, Mass., corporation, for $20,000. In a Supreme Court com- plaint the Edison corporation alleges the defendant company made a note for $20,000 on April 1 last ,due in one month, but failed to pay it. The Submarine Film Corporation yesterday took judgment by default for $26,500 against Williamson Broth- ers, Inc., in the Supreme Court. The Submarine Film Corporation advanced $35,901.63 to the defendant corporation between September 15, 1917, and June 6, 1918. The amount of judgment is the balance due on the loan. "Hobbs in a Hurry" The first of the William Russell productions to be marketed through sales representatives of the American Film Company and sold direct to ex- hibitors, is now ready for exhibition at the various Pathe exchanges. It bears the title "Hobbs in a Hurry." The story has to do with the sale of a mine in Arizona and much of the action takes place aboard a private car of a New York millionaire, at- tached to the rear of a limited train West bound from New York. The company supporting Russell is composed of well-known players. Winifred Westover enacts the leading feminine role and Hayward Mack is seen in a dual role. How They See It in Canada O-ROW-NAY-CIRCUIT Trail, B. C. August 21, 1918. F. C. ("Wid") Gunning, Wid's Daily, 71 West 44th Street, New York City. Dear Sir: — As general manager of the O-Row-Nay-Circuit of five theatres in interior British Columbia, Canada, I wish to heartily thank you for the "guts" exhibited in your article, Vol. 5, No. 80, July 28th, 1918, entitled, "Who's Your Boss?" You should be "wined and dined" by every independent exhibitor on this continent. Why any sane man fails to realize, that, by giving over his entire program to any one organization, he ruins the competition of his own market, is more than I can understand. His market must be controlled by virtue of the attraction, and not by virtue of the quantity given, before the picture industry can honestly come into its own. Why! If the aspiring octopus of the present situation should approach me with free service for a whole year, I should consider it absolutely suicidal to accept it. «- If the exhibitors of United States and Canada continue failing to see these signs of the times, and the pit being prepared for them, they will deserve no mourners on the day of their funerals. . Book your pictures on the merits of the production and not on the star, whose name the public may possibly have long ago become weary of seeing and reading about. Teach your clientele that you and you only have silently taken a contract to provide them with high-class entertainment in a respect- ful and dignified manner, that their comforts and whims concern you. Look after their children, inaugurate a "Love me, love my dog" policy, and in short, make a name for your theatre, and you will never need worry who the star is going to be. The fact that the picture is at your house should be, and will become sufficient. If the brow-beaten exhibitor knew that William Russell produc- tions are drawing larger houses in some sections than Fairbanks, perhaps he could see a spark of light ahead. For a long time our industry only possessed a comparatively few successful silent drama stars. Then the photoplay was scoffed at by capital, artis"ts and public alike, as being mediocre. Today we are the fifth largest industry in the world, involving billions, and magnificent theatres have risen up to the extent that there is more to be gotten from the public than on the legitimate stage, and where there is money to be made, there will always be talented artists with capital to develop and handle them. Some exhibitors worry for fear that the film man will build against them and, I ask, does it help the situation any to keep paying them unreasonable profits, with which to accomplish this very thing? Don't worry about one combine getting all the stars. Let them have all the high paid artists they will take. The faster they get them the quicker the industry will adjust itself, and common sense prevail. Don't lose sight of the fact that they need our box office power more than we need them. The picture industry has got to come to a true commercial level, as sure as water flows to sea, and it will be then that showmanship will rule, and not "money-mad" trusts. Mr. Gunning, you hit the nail on the head. "Be your own Boss," or in other words, become a showman. For three weeks your article has sunk deeper and deeper into my approval and concern, until this morning I could not resist a personal letter to you, which at first, I intended should be confined to a few words, but I was absolutely unable to be brief. N. M. TRAFTON. Saturday, August 31, 1918 SJj^t DAILY Tense War Incidents and Kiddies Make This Register Cecil B. DeMHle's "TILL I GOME BACK TO YOU" Artcraft DIRECTOR Cecil B. DeMille AUTHOR Jeanie MacPherson CAMERAMAN Alvin Wyckoff SCENARIO BY Jeanie MacPherson AS A WHOLE Good suspense battle drama with many kiddies providing comedy relief and sympathy. STORY Rather illogical incident of danger to children stopping tremendous battle but has popular appeal and surely provides sympathy and suspense. DIRECTION Gave excellent atmosphere and made individual scenes effective with cute handling of kiddie stuff. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good LIGHTINGS Many quite effective but varied quite considerably. CAMERA WORK Some splendid, some ordinary STARS Georgie Stone stole film from Washburn and Miss Vidor. SUPPORT Good types well handled EXTERIORS Registered good war atmosphere INTERIORS Good DETAIL Made old suspense hokum register by creation of good atmosphere. CHARACTER OF STORY Questionable as to in= fluence on soldiers but certainly has popular appeal. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,500 feet KIDS and war are about as near to a sure fire com- bination as it would be possible to step on at this time. The central situation in this pulls to a point where an American officer stops the destruction of a great German liquid fire supply and also stops a big American attack to save a score of Belgian kiddies, which is certainly not good war-time discipline. But just the same the thing has popular appeal and if the army folks consider the court martial which was started as sufficient alibi on the discipline question, then cer- tainly you need not worry because the incident does give us effective suspense of the old time sort where we watched the plot to see how soon the powder would explode, blowing the central figures of the story to bits. Since in this instance it seemed possible that the children might be sacrificed, because sometimes those things must be done, anyway, a real suspense was cre- ated, and I have a hunch that most of the women in your audiences will be sitting out on the edge of their chairs trying to figure whether or not the youngsters are going to be destroyed. The story centers around the expedition of Bryant Washburn as an American of- ficer seeking information in back of the German lines, where he meets his charming shero. The Americans have tunnelled under the German positions in order to destroy a supply of liquid fire and the hour has been set for the explosion when a score of Belgian kiddies escape, with Georgie Stone as their leader, and march into the house where Washburn is, putting it up to him to rescue them from the Germans. The kiddies are all hurried into the tunnel, a branch of which leads to the house, the intention being to get them to the American lines before the explosion happens. Hero is interrupted by an officer, and the kiddies get into the wrong end of the tunnel, which plants them in with the tremendous charge of explosives, just before the time for the ex- plosion. It is in this section of the film they create suspense with frequent flashes of the face of a wrist watch, and at the last minute Mr. Washburn cuts the cable and fights off a party of Germans with the assistance of little Georgie Stone while the kids hurry through the tunnel to safety. When Washburn is court-martialled for stopping the big American attack little Georgie brings King Albert of Belgium to the rescue, the title of the story coming from the fact that King Albert had said that he expected Georgie to take care of the Belgians "Till I Come Back To You." Although the entire action in this is centered around the one incident this has been nicely developed, with very good atmosphere touches from start to finish, so that I believe it will prove a very satisfactory pro- duction. Others in the cast were G. Butler Glonbough, Winter Hall, Julia Faye, Lillian Leighton, Clarence Geldart, Mary Giracci, C. Renfeld, W. J. Irving and F. Butterworth. They'll Like It. Feature Players and Director's Recent Films Box Office Analysis Although no one is starred in this, it would seem to me to be decidedly advisable for you to mention the fact that Bryant Washburn, little Georgie Stone and Florence Vidor have the principal parts. Mr. Washburn does an excellent hero and many will be glad to see their friend of "Skinner's Dress Suit" as a soldier. Georgie Stone has been one of our most talented screen kiddies and he certainly walks away with most of the scenes in this. Miss Vidor is very pretty at times, and at other times has been poorly lighted, so that it might be advisable not to lay too much stress upon her pres- ence. I would make it very clear that the title of this is taken from a speech of King Albert's, "Till I Come Back to You," and I would play up the thought — for the Exhibitor "SHOULD AN AMERICAN SOLDIER STOP A TRE- MENDOUS AMERICAN ATTACK TO SAVE A SCORE OF BELGIAN CHILDREN? WHAT DO YOU THINK? See "Till I Come Back To You." If you can get them in without in any way hinting at the actual plot, it will be better, and it seems to me that if you promise a tense dramatic incident of the great war with Bryant Wash- burn, Florence Vidor and Georgie Stone as the principal characters, directed by the producer of "Joan, The Woman", "Old Wives For New" and "We Can't Have Everything," that you'll do business. Keep the fact clear in your mind that while your fans may not know the name De Mille yet, they will cer- tainly remember such films as the three mentioned above. Z^B&ADSTREET o/FILMDOM QrKJSft Sunday, September 1. 1918 Authority •V. «2'.: Py ^ -^#1 ■.;:fe:-.:. ^ \ III 0 II masL Price 25 Cents %4 •iv» .;\xeAIL.Y Sunday, September 1, 1918 Players and Treatment of Dramatic Moments Lift This Above Bad Spots Florence Reed in "WIVES OF MEN" Pioneer Feature Film Co. DIRECTOR . .John Stahl AUTHOR John Stahl CAMERA MAN Harris Fishback AS A WHOLE Players and treatment of indi= vidual scenes make this impressive, but story illogical at times and very draggy in spots. STORY Provided good situations, but went through illogical round-about process to reach them. DIRECTION Made dramatic moments register but permitted considerable faulty lighting. PHOTOGRAPHY Some splendid, some very ordinary. « LIGHTING Much of it faulty, particularly on Miss Reed. CAMERA WORK Varied decidedly STAR Impressive because of sincerity in dra= matic moments, but was not photographed to advantage. SUPPORT Mills excellent, Miss Grace Davidson and Charlie Jackson very good; others ac- ceptable. EXTERIORS Night snow scenes very good INTERIORS Some very good; some poor DETAIL Construction illogical with action, contrary to story truths. CHARACTER OF STORY Questionable spots handled so as not to offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 8,ooo feet MISS REED'S sincerity and dramatic power, and the splendid work of Frank Mills, Miss Davidson and Charlie Jackson, all of course under the guidance of Director Stahl, carried this production over into the class of worth while productions. Unfort- unately the story construction is decidedly unwieldy, with entirely too' much footage used in spots where it tends to drag decidedly, and because of a desire to get a trick ending which is a surprise, the earlier scenes have not been played in accordance with the charac- terization as indicated by the final ending. The first illogical spot is where we are asked to be- lieve that Miss Reed and Mr. Mills have lived as man and wife twelve years with a wall between, because on their wedding day she discovered a photograph with the inscription on the back "to my husband." Certainly any human knows that these two would have fought and separated or agreed to forget the other woman long before twelve years had passed. Then we found Miss Reed flirting with another man. with husband returning because of an annonymous note, to be welcomed in the dark by his wife who called him by the name of the other man. A twelve year old boy staggered into the room and busted up their battle, and then we had a very long sequence where Miss Reed discovered that this boy's mother was the woman of the photograph and by means of using a diary, visualized back, to many scenes which the dead woman could not possibly have known about, and the story was patched up to the point of the original opening scene where Mr. Mills and Miss Reed were married. In this entire sequence of vision stuff, there was easily twice as much footage used as was needed with the result that the story dragged terribly. For the final twist, Miss Reed told her husband that it was she who had written the anonymous note, that she knew who he was when she kissed him and called him by another name, because she had done it to make him jealous. That served as a surprise all right in the film, but certainly Miss Reed's actions in the scene where she greeted her husband does not tally with her statement at the end of the film that she knew this to be her husband. She registered surprise and anger to an unnecessary degree in these scenes when her hus- band was not watching her. This should have been handled more carefully in the direction because as it stands, the trick finish gives such an abrupt explanation that the audience might resent the twist and consider it patch work. In the cast were: Matilda Brundage and Bessie Eng- lish. Is Too Long and Illogical, But Has Decided B. O. Values The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Although I consider this entirely too long in footage, because the production does not justify it being pre- sented as a two hour bit of entertainment, there is cer- tainly sufficient merit to the individual dramatic mo- ments in this, to carry it as a very good sex problem film. Unfortunately, the hero is made to appear as rather a mutt, because he is having an affair with a chorus girl right up to the night he was being married, but you can figure that your fans will be interested in the better scenes and will consider this a good film. If this were presented in approximately 5,500 feet instead of 8,000 feet it would surely have an enhanced value of 50% to the exhibitor, because there is at least that much footage than can be taken from the produc- tion to advantage, and as you all know, a short six reels is much better for the box office than a full eight. The title has a box office ring to it if your people are not worn out with sex stuff, and certainly Florence Reed is a big enough figure in theatricals, as a result of her recent successful appearances in "The "Wanderer" and "Chu Chin Chow" to justify your playing her up very heavily. I am very anxious to see a production where Miss Reed will be photographed to perfect advantage, and given a full opportunity to register in big dramatic moments. I think she will prove one of our dramatic favorites. Sunday, September 1, 1918 istiM DAILY Ancient Material Given Ordinary Production. Will Get By Claire Anderson in "THE MASK" Triangle DIRECTOR Thomas N. Heffron AUTHOR E. Magnus Ingleton SCENARIO BY E. Magnus Ingleton CAMERAMAN C. H. Wales AS A WHOLE Nothing unusual but will get by as routine program offering. STORY Ancient formula of Shero getting in= heritance and jilting poor lover, returning to him after she awakens to fact that high=brow gang is after her money. DIRECTION Failed to make this distinctive or make it more than routine program "movie" and allowed bad grouping of "extras" in re= ception scenes. PHOTOGRAPHY Good straight stuff; nothing unusual. LIGHTINGS Frequently too uniform but generally satisfactory. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Is pretty and has considerable appeal when given an opportunity to register. SUPPORT Jack Gilbert lifted this decidedly; others were satisfactory except some awful extras in misfit evening clothes at reception EXTERIORS Acceptable, not distinctive INTERIORS Satisfactory DETAIL Painfully obvious and convenient CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet THIS will probably get by with the gang that ac- cepts program stuff regularly but there is nothing about to class it as unusual or distinctive and I can see no reason why you should make any attempt to reach out and get it if if it isn't coming your way on a regular program basis. They start this off with a wild party in Jack (Gilbert's apartment and when Jack's uncle, whom he has never seen, comes in, Jack mistakes him for a neighbor next door and gives him the air with the result that uncle cuts Jack out of his will. At the reading of the will some time later, Jack finds that unc has left him a mere fifty dollars while he has left the balance of his fortune, a million dollars, to Claire Anderson, the daughter of his bosom friend, a title explaining that he did it because she bore the same maiden name as his mother. Claire's sister, Rae Godfrey, who is present at the reading of the will, becomes interested in Jack and asks him to call. A romance develops but Claire's un- expected fortune has turned her head and she not only turns down her own sweetheart, but forbids Rae to see Jack. Claire wishes Rae onto a titled gink but Rae is still determined to marry Jack and enjoys his company secretly. Rae is lured to the titled Gink's apartment where he starts to get fresh and she is saved by the timely ap- pearance of Jack. Claire arrives on the scene and realizing the true character of willun and the high- brow gang in general, goes back to her former sweet- heart and we finish with the clutch of the two couples. Claire Anderson is very pretty when well lighted and made the most of the scant opportunity offered in this while the pleasing work of Jack Gilbert lifted the pro- duction decidedly. They had some awkward extras in the reception set that certainly failed to register as the society ginks they were supposed to represent and one guy in par- ticular who hogged the foreground, wore a misfit soup- 'n-fish outfit that was badly wrinkled. The remainder of the cast was satisfactory and in- cluded : Grace Marvin, Bliss Chevalier, Lillian West, Ed Hearn, Juan De La Cruz, Harry Holden and Marie Van Tassel. i*\.P.E>.A. •Director c& ^e&^ioatT ^Honeymoon" /Sow directing J^Sr Goldwyh^ isiijA DAILY Sunday, September 1, 1918 Concentrate on Beauty of Star and Presence of Jack Gilbert The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Claire Anderson in "THE MASK" Triangle your community. Jack appeared in Pathe's "More Trouble" and your folks will remember him from this if they have seen it. This is described on the Triangle press sheets as a "rollicking comedy drama" which is rather an exag- gerated description as it never impressed me as being funny. It will yet by as a routine program offering, however, being neither really good or truly bad. The basic story idea is very, very ancient, so I would refrain from giving them any hint as to the story in my advertising. 1 would lay some emphasis on the work of Jack Gilbert in this, mentioning some of the recent produc- Olaire Anderson is a good-looking gel and as there happens to be some very good bathing pictures available of her, taken when she was with the Keystone, I would try and get some of these and use them liberally in my lobby. Your exchange should have them or can tell you where they may be secured. It is never made quite clear just how "The Mask" title figures in this, unless it is meant to describe the false standards of high-brow society. You might sup- plement it with. "The Story of a Girl Who Lost Her Head When She Became Suddenly Wealthy, but Who tions in which he has appeared, if they have played in Finally Learned That Old Loves Are Best." CJ The only studio concentrating on the production of features to the ex- clusion of a// other details. Produc- tions made by con- tract- Perfect facil- ities for individual producing units with or without con- tractees supervision. The BRUNTON STUDIOS R0BP:RT BRUNTON COMPANY Melrose Avenue :: Los Angeles "By Your Works You Are Known' Recent Productions "Madam Win/' "J Mint's Man" " Patriotism1* "Carmen of the Klondike'* "Turn of a Card'' "A Union v" "The One Woman" "Mori' Trouble'* "The Belh" "Sierra of the Sixties" "All Wrong" ^StttcUtfLt of 9C£Ce±lC£&£t is -that person -vfcho is crocking to sn&Ue tlxe cinema a** Secure Ho* tlae fatt** e o* e*s ** m,\mmi Sunday, September 1, 1918 iM^ DAILY Theme Is Rather Questionable, But Happy Finish Lifts It. Virginia Pearson in "THE LIAR" Fox DIRECTOR Edmund Lawrence AUTHOR Katherine Kavenaugh SCENARIO BY Adelene Lietzback CAMERAMAN Frank Kugler AS A WHOLE Has a rather objectionable twist but characterizations lift it and trick finish excuses rather depressing incidents leading up to climax. STORY Shero is led to believe that she is of negro blood and lives in fear that her baby will be born black. Will cause some folks to holler. DIRECTION Kept this fairly interesting and developed climax and surprise twist at finish effectively although flat photography kept pro= duction from being artistic. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very grainy and lacked sharp definition. LIGHTINGS Varied from good to ordinary; generally too uniform. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Very beautiful and made dramatic moments effective. SUPPORT Edward Roseman was effective wilCun and Miss Held rather pleasing. Others satisfactory although made=up nigger mam= mie jarred some. EXTERIORS Porto Rican atmosphere very good srnd locations generally satisfactory. INTERIORS Acceptable; not particularly artistic DETAIL Satisfactory CHARACTER OF STORY Certainly not pleasant. Some folks will object strenuously. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet THERE has always been a doubt in my mind about the advisability of offering plays of this type to mixed audiences. Certainly such stories are not necessary and as this has to do with a young married woman who is led to believe that she is of negro blood shortly before she is to bear a child, it appears to me that there is a chance of this thought bearing on the minds of women in a similar conditiouAvho may happen to sec it. Such things have been known to happen with women of a nervous nature and the thought is so forcibly brought out in this. by titles and with a scene showing the mother-to-be seeing a vision of her white baby dissolve into thai of a negro, that it appears to me to be pretty questionable as entertainment. Miss Pearson appears as the daughter of a stern rubber plantation owner in the West Indies, who dies and leaves his affairs to his secretary, who later forces his attentions upon Shero Virginia. Later, Virginia meets Hero Victor Sutherland in the north and marries him. Willun has forced his atten- tions in the meantime without avail but when Hero and Shero come back to the estate to live, willun tells Shero that he has positive proof that she is of negro blood and alarms her with the idea that her child is very apt to be born black. He offers to say nothing, however, if she will leave her husband and marry him. When she demands the proof of his ass< rtion he shows her her birth records and her father's marriage certi- ficate, which he has altered, and causi a nigg< r ser- vant who had been in the employ of the father to testify to the truth of his statements. The fact that Shero had known that the father had paid exhorbitant sums to the negro before his death, confirms her fear that willun's assertion may be true. Hero-hubby comes in while willun is threatening Shero and when he repeats his assertion to Hero a struggle ensues. Shero leaving the room. A shot is heard and they rush in to find Shero on the floor, ap- parently dead. Willun. horrified with the thought that his lies had caused Shero's suicide, confesses. Shero then gets up, the shooting having been a, ruse to make willun confess. and they turn what looked like a very morbid ending into a happy finish rather effectively, which lifts the production to a great extent. Hero landed a punch on willun's jaw in the battle scene which sure looked real. There was an incidental love affair in the offering between Miss Held and a Arery pleasing young fellow who wasn't credited, which helped to relieve the r.i objectionable theme of this. Others who appeared wrere: Alexander Franck, Al- bert Roccardi, Edward Roseman. Le^ne Held Carera (daughter of the late Anna Held) and Matilda Brundage. Murray Product! in six reels' — produced tgi IT LB Watch for announcement of future affiliation HlvT %MPDA. tMA DAILY Sunday, September 1, 1918 Some May Like It; Others Will Consider Theme Objectionable The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Virginia Pearson in "THE LIAR" Fox Unless you feel the way I do about pictures of this nature, you should be able to slide this over satisfac- torily. It has been acceptably done from a production standpoint, although the photography considerably dis- counted the offering on the print I saw and the presence of Miss Pearson, who is very beautiful in this, although not particularly well lighted, should make this an ac- ceptable program offering barring the objectionable story angle as described. We havf^sort of come to expect this type of stories from Fox. and as this is no more objectionable than a great many others he has given us during the past few months. I presume that it will pass muster with audi- ences who have been following Fox productions reg- ularly. If I didn't have this coming on a regular contract basis. I certainly wouldn't make any special effort to get it nor would I make any rash promises about its merits if I did decide to play it. My advice, on a pro- duction of this nature, is to let it ride easy without making any rash promises and then you won't have any alibis to make if some folks pan you for playing it — and I feel that many audiences will strongly resent the subject dealt with in this offering. Mme. Presents The PETROVA Panther Woman a powerfully -dramatic screen rendition of GERTRUDE ATHERTON'S big novel "PATIENCE SPARHAWK." A gripping role superbly acted. Book "THE PANTHER WOMAN" and fill your house! Soon to be released through First National Exhibitors' Circuit PETROVA PICTURE COMPANY Frederick L. Collins, President Sunday, September 1, 1918 DAILY Thought Film Handled So Deftly That It Will Puzzle Majority Harry Mestaver in "HIGH TIDE" Triangle DIRECTOR Giibert P. Hamilton AUTHOR B. D. Carber SCENARIO BY Catherine Carr CAMERAMAN Gilbert Warrenton AS A WHOLE Could have been a special if handled more boldly but has been so deftly done that most folks won't get it. STORY "Damaged Goods" theme that loses its punch because basic thought is held down in attempt to hurdle objectionable incidents. DIRECTION Made this move very slowly but kept it rather classy and got most out of story material by rather effective characterizations. Kept actions natural and gave logical reason for happening of events. PHOTOGRAPHY... ...Good straight stuff. Rather good coast bits. LIGHTINGS Generally pleasing although rather uniform with little attempt for effects. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Works quietly and wins his audience SUPPORT Satisfactory; well selected as to type and musician was very good character. EXTERIORS Generally pleasing INTERIORS Not unusual but adequate DETAIL Individual incidents effectively handled CHARACTER OF STORY Will puzzle many but should leave deep impression with those that understand it. Is for matured minds. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet IF IT were not for the fact that vice-propaganda pic- tures on the "Damaged Goods" order are question- able as entertainment at this time owing to war conditions and the present demand for light, happy 11 1ms, this offering, had it been handled in a bolder manner, with a swifter tempo and less attempt to hurdle the real issue set forth in the film as we get it, could have been made a real money maker with the aid of a specialized, sensational advertising campaign. As the production stands, however, the punch is lost because the theme 1ms been handled so deftly that the average audience is not going; to be sure of what the producer was aiming at. Exploited as a routine program offering without anything to prepare them for the na- ture of the story, it is going to impress most folks as a dry, uninteresting offering while if given the sensa- tional publicity that accompanied "Damaged Goods" it is going to fall far below the expectations of the ele- ment that is attracted by plays dealing with this subject. The story has to do with a young author whose com- panion is an actress whom we are led to believe is his mistress, but who does not appeal to the author in the sense of a soul-mate. A young innocent who is inspired by his writings goes to the city where she arranges to meet him, she having visualized him as her ideal, and we find the two falling in love. The actress becomes jealous and resorts to her vamp methods to win her lover away from young in- nocent, although she does not resort to drastic methods and quietly withdraws when she finds her hold on Hero slipping. Frequently during the offering, we see Hero coughing and considerably worried over a physical condition that is apparently understood by the actress. This is estab- lished as a disease brought about by dissipation when we see hero consulting a doctor who advises him not to marry, telling him that his condition would in- oculate the offspring of such a marriage. He returns to the actress, whom he has not visited since meeting Shero, and tells her of the doctor's verdict and that he, considering his duty to humanity greater than the satisfying of his personal desires, will end bis affair with Shero. The actress then tells him that she too is a derelict, and that she is willing that they face the future together as man and wife. From here we cut to Shero finding happiness back with her girlhood sweetheart and fade out on Hero and the actress de- parting for the west where there is still a ray of hope for their future physical restoration. While this has been too deftly handled to be under- stood by the average audience. Director Hamilton is to be complimented on the effective way he has molded his characterizations and handled the individual inci- dents. While Harry Mestayer's role stood out as the dom- inating feature of the production, the others fitted m nicely as to type and kept this convincing and plausible all the way. Those in the cast were: Yvonne Pavis. Jean Calhoun. Frederick Vroom, Graham Pette, Julia Jackson. Leo Pierson and Jack Rollins. EJ&JNOQLN will next: to© S'eer* itv "Way'ette-TJfe Come if aMft DAILY Sunday, September 1, 1918 They Won't Get It Unless You Play Up "Damaged Goods" Angle The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Harry Mestayer in "HIGH TIDE" Triangle My advice in exploiting this production, if you play it. is to start out with an intelligent campaign which will prepare your audiences for the kind of a production they are going to see. Without this, a very large per cent, of your audiences are going to go out after seeing this with a very much puzzled opinion :is to just what it is all about. Wii'»n J came down on the elevator from the New York Roof, wh.. re I saw ih'.s. I overheard re- marks which continued my belief that this was over the heads of the average fan. The general impression seemed to be rather blurred. It is evident that some radical changes were made in this offering either during course of production or af- ter it was finished, as the synopsis published in some of the trade papers describe a scene where Mestayer is taken to a hospital and shown some crippled babies whose parents had been unfit to bear children. The synopsis also has Hero and the actress being drowned at the finish. Neither of these situations appear in the film as released and the Triangle press sheets give no intimation as to the true nature of the story. The entire production leaves very much to your imanigation and will not be generally grasped. I wouldn't attempt to exploit this in a sensational maniier because it hasn't been produced in a sensational way, but I would describe the nature of the offering in my ads with lines like these: "A thought film bringing out the fact that the great- est law is one's duty to mankind." Or this one. which is from the film: "Man's life was made, not for man's creed, but for man's actions." Or you might go into the subject deeper than this by asking iham: "Should a woman deman 1 a health certi- ficate from tbe man she is to marry? Do you knoAV that many an unhappy married life has resulted from a Wid's 1918 Year Book Third Anniversary Number OUT THIS MONTH First Advertising Forms Close September Tenth A Thumb Nafl Index Of What's What And Who's Who In Film Land Containing Authentic Data Of Inestimable Value To Every One In The Industry Will Be In The Hands Far Daily Reference Of Practically Every Producer Arid Exhibitor. A Wonderful Opportunity For The Wide Awake Advertiser — No Advance In Rates. Sunday, September 1, 1918 AlLY Slow-Moving Sob Stuff Contains Too Much Grief For These Times Viola Dana in "FLOWER OF THE DUSK" Metro DIRECTOR John H. Collins AUTHOR Myrtle Reed ADAPTED BY John H. Collins CAMERAMAN John Arnold AS A WHOLE Extremely pathetic story, well handled but contains too much grief for present day consumption. STORY Daughter undergoes hardships to make blind father think that things are brighter than they really are, enabling him to die hap= pily. Opens with a tombstone and ends with a death. DIRECTION Made characterizations convincing and handled individual incidents effectively but failed to inject lighter touches to relieve sad theme. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied but generally satisfactory LIGHTINGS Some effective; others too uniform and made faces appear chalky. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Wonderfully appealing personality SUPPORT Very good EXTERIORS Satisfactory; not many DETAIL Many good touches but hands holding inserts photographed black. CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive but very "weepy." LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet VIOLA DANA has shown us that she is delightful in comedy roles and I can't understand why they have given her a story like this, especially at this time. Miss Dana is wonderfully appealing in the role of the little cripple and the entire cast gives a convinc- ing performance in this but I am certain that present- day audiences would rather not see this kind of a film. It's sob stuff all the way and has not been relieved by lighter touches which might have tended to lift the general depressing theme. At any other time, this might be accepted for a change, but I think that present conditions demand light entertainment and this isn't. They open this up with the blind father beside the tombstone of his dead wife, who had taken her life shortly after their marriage for some unknown reason. A vision explains their love affair, it being established that the dead wife had won her husband's love away from her sister, who is keeping house for the blind father and the twenty- year old daughter, Viola Dana, when the story opens. The father believes that he is wealthy and we have some pathetic scenes where he writes out checks to provide luxuries for the home and his daughter. The daughter and aunt, to carry out the deception, have sold everything in the house of value, including their personal belongings, and are constantly doing embroid- ery work to meet the house expenses and provide the things which the father thinks his checks are paying for. The day comes when a girl friend of Viola's, whose fiance is a famous surgeon, brings him to the house and he is confident that he can restore Viola's crippled limbs to normal by an operation, as well as restore the father's eyesight. The aunt, who has long waited to avenge her stolen love, sees her opportunity at hand and on Viola's twTenty-first birthday, gives her a sealed letter which was written by her mother before her death. This letter explains a love affair with another man, who had since died, as being the reason for her taking her life. When the father demands to have the letter read to him, Viola, sobbing, makes up lines of her own, which lead the father to believe that his wife had died loving him. Fearing that her father will learn the truth when his eyesight is restored, Viola requests the aunt to substitute a blank paper for the letter but instead the scheming aunt substitutes another letter addressed to the dead lover, which had never been delivered. Unable to wait until the next day. when the bandages are to be removed, the father takes them off and reads the last lines of the letter. "Yours until eternity — Constance", and passes away just as Viola, in her mother's wedding dress, makes his last moment's happy. They finish with Viola and her sweetheart in the clutch, but since this love affair was only incidental to the offering, it isn't sufficient to relieve the sad theme. The cast included: Howard Hall, Margaret Wade, Jack McGowan, Elinor Heckman, Augustus Phillips and Guv Combs. Charles D^ 10 T&4& DAILY Sunday, September 1, 1918 Play Up Miss Dana and Go Very Piano on the Sad Theme The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Viola Dana in "FLOWER OF THE DUSK" Metro Because of the presence of Miss Dana and the fact that this has been rather well produced, it will probably slide by satisfactorily and may please a few who like the sob stuff but I am certain that most folks, although they will be satisfied with the production, will wish that they hadn't seen it on account of the gloomy impression it leaves and I am still more certain that very few would come in to see this at all if they knew in advance just what kind of a picture they were going to see. Although this brings out Miss Dana's histrionic ability conclusively, I have a feeling that those who have come to know her through her lighter efforts will be disap- ponted in her role in this. They'd rather take her word for the fact that she can make 'em cry if she wishes and have her continue to appear in roles that make them happy and help them to forget the real tragedy of these war times, which is now being brought to the very doors of homes throughout the country. Contrast this with Miss Dana's work in "Opportun- ity". This bit of foolishness didn't give Miss Dana a chance to "emote" but "Opportunity" will be playing return dates when this film is lying on the shelves and forgotten. I think Miss Dana is going to be one of our biggest stars in the near future but I hope they don't give her any more sob stuff like this for the duration of the war. She has shown us that she can do light comedy-dramas and put them over with a bang — and audiences would rather have them. "Rebecca of 5unnybrcok Farm" - "M'Liss" - "Amarilly of Clothesline Alley " "Hearts of the Wild"- "Stella Maris '] - "Hit -the -Trail HollidoyH Supervised and directed by ^TyiwJuJi a. nut, COVK-, In preparation 'The Three Bears'1- Artcraf-fc Special -"Out of a D ear 5ky"-MThe Silver Kin< Address: The Lambs Club, New York City Sunday, September 1, 1918 neiif^ DAILY 11 Old Material Made Interesting by EJffective Mystery Twists Harry Morey and Betty Blythe in "THE GREEN GOD" Vitagraph DIRECTOR Paul Scardon AUTHOR Frederick Arnold Rummer SCENARIO BY Garfield Thompson CAMERAMAN Robt. A. Stuart AS A WHOLE Improbable story made interest= mg by personality of players and effectively handled mystery=suspense. STORY Much trouble caused by our old friend the Buddhi idol, but furnishes skeleton for rather good mystery twists. DIRECTION "Made improbable Buddha stuff interesting and developed suspense effectively with excellent handling of mystery twists. PHOTOGRAPHY Satisfactory; not unusual LIGHTINGS Frequently too contrastv CAMERA WORK Acceptable STARS H~ dominant personality; she pleasing SUPPORT S-tipfactory ; Majeroni's impersona= tion of Chink in vision was good bit of char= actcr work. EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Effective CHARACTER OF STORY Murder=mystery but should not offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,400 feet IF YOUR folks are willing- to swallow the idea of a gink being such a nut on antiques that he is willing to give his only daughter and fifty "thou" for a miniature statue of Buddha that once occupied a Think temple, they will consider this very interesting entertainment on account of the effectively-handled mystery twists which Director Paul Scardon has worked around this old stand-by of the studio Remington athe- letes. As the story goes, Shero's father is a nut on antiques •Mid lias made a trip to China to obtain a green idol of Buddha, without success. Determined t<> possess it. he offers willun his daughter's hand in marriage if he will obtain it for him. Willun returns with the idol and de- mands fifty "thou" in addition to the daughter, which the father turns down, making the threat that willun will never leave the house alive with the green god. Previous ro willun's arrival. Hero Harry Morey. an artist, has come to the house for shelter in a rain-storm and he. as well as willun. remain there for the night. The next morning, willun is found dead in his room and the idol missing. We get some excellent mystery- suspense here as Morey has seen Shero enter and depart from willun's room on the night previous and her hand- kerchief is found in the room near the body. The cause of willun's death is a complete mystery, however, as the revolver found on the floor has not been fired and the doors and windows were all bolted from the inside when the detectives entered. We had a rather obliging co-incidence which caused Morey to pick up a cake of soap from willun's dresser and put in his bag. which is later stolen by the Chink servant, a title telling us that his peculiar instinct has told him that the idol was concealed in the cake. Anonymous notes are sent to Morey and the detec- tive .which lead them sirnidtaneously to a Chinese den, where they are waylaid. They escape, becoming sep- arated and when Morey returns to Shero's house, he is arrested, while Shero. who has started for Morey's room, is met by the detective and taken info custody. At the inquest the mystery is cleared by the Chink ser- vant's confession, it being established that willun had been killed by a projecting ornament on the ceiling when he arose hurriedly upon seeing the Chink's face at his window. The mystery element was very effectively developed throughout, keeping the suspense maintained until the finish. Discounting the unconvincing and much used Buddha idea. Director Paul Scardon has given us in this a thoroughly absorbing offering. Others in the cast were: Arthur Donp^lson Ooorge Margeroni, Bernard Seigel, Robert 0>*llard and Joseph Burke. HOWARD HK^^Usr mm MSRJSCAEE - US} elcaSeS 12 DAILY Sunday, September 1, 1918 Concentrate on Mystery-Suspense Angle. They'll Accept It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Harry Morey and Betty BIythe in "THE GREEN GOD" Vitagraph We've had several of these mystery offerings from Vitagraph in the past, done by Director Paul Scardon with the same principals presented in this, so if you have played these previous productions, you should know just how strong to go in advertising this production, which compares favorably with the previous work of this combination. I believe that Harry Morey is very well liked and has quite a following in most communities as his work' is always convincing and sincere and wo have had him in many very good productions recently. I am afraid that the over-worked Buddha idea isn't going to stir up much interest so I would lay off of this angle and play up the mystery-suspense idea strongly. You might frame up an ad like this: In big display lines use the caption, "WHO KILLED ROBERT ASHTON?" Then under this, in somewhat smaller type: "He had been threatened and was found dead in his room, yet the revolver found on the scene of the crime had not been fired, nor was there a bullet wound in his body. "A lady's handkerchief was found in the room and there were blood-stained finger prints on the outer win- dow casing. Yet the door and every window was found securely locked and bolted ON THE INSIDE when the police inspector entered. "See this absorbing mystery untangled in 'The Green God', starring Harry Morey and Betty BIythe'." »■>♦♦♦»>♦♦-»...».»».♦♦•.♦.♦•♦♦#».«.♦•♦♦♦.•»«•♦.•.♦♦»>•.»»»♦»»>♦»«♦«»♦•♦♦>-»»♦♦♦♦» •»»-»♦♦*♦♦»»♦♦♦♦«♦♦♦♦♦»♦«»♦»•»♦♦»»♦♦♦*♦♦♦*♦♦♦♦ ♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦*♦* "The Pacific Coast is the^Logical Place to make Release Prints*' The Sanborn Laboratories, Inc. is the logical place on the Coast to do your release print work. We control exclusive rights on the Handscheigh Color Process. Super excellency is the reason for our making release prints for Douglas Fair- banks, Authors Photoplay Co. (Anna Luther Releases), "Smiling Bill" Parsons Comedies and the sample print work of at least ninety per cent. of the big productions made on the West Coast. SANBORN LABORATORIES Culver City, Los Angeles, Cal. 5 (»•••♦.**.*♦•♦♦.*♦• Ptvactov o HORART HENLEY M.P.D.A.. Directing' MAE MARSH for Goldwjto. 'V. Gm-ent and /fortticomin(jfVeleas'es': " j& Face in the Dark" 'AUVoman'r-,r^Ocl4 Pearl" " OSe Glorious' Adventure" Sunday, September 1, 1918 AILY 13 Unfunny Silly Farce With Spy Twists Misses Completely Vivian Martin in "HER COUNTRY FIRST" Paramount DIRECTOR James Young AUTHOR Mary Roberts Rinehart SCENARIO BY Edith Kennedy ART DIRECTOR Wilfred Buckland CAMERAMAN Frank Qarbutt AS A WHOLE Uninteresting story that never impressed and attempts for comedy missed badly. STORY Wouldn't have made a good one reel DIRECTION Provided rather good atmosphere but allowed several slips and failed to keep this from becoming very ordinary "movie." PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good LIGHTINGS Varied from fine to fair; Generally satisfactory. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Cute but handicapped by awful story SUPPORT Satisfactory EXTERIORS Suited atmosphere INTERIORS Very good although interior and exterior of window in flag incident showed careless detail. DETAIL Painfully unconvincing and showing of flag on ground before raising was very bad and should be eliminated. CHARACTER OF STORY Harmless but fails to impress. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,5<>o feet THEY'VE certainly slipped us a "weak sister" with this one. It never registers as entertainment, the situations are painfully forced and unconvincing and the attempts at comedy and the excess of unneces- sary "Third Reader" titles which have been scattered all through this in an attempt to get laughs are un- funny and flop miserably. They take up a lot of footage at the beginning of this in an attempt to register cute stuff with a bunch of girls, led by Shero Vivian Martin whose father is a munitions manufacturer. Shero Vivian forms a Girls' Auxiliary Corps and they take up a reel or more with a lot of un- funny business of the girls drilling and learning wig- wag signals. They plant a butler in this whose mysterious actions lead Shero to believe that he is a spy and she attempts to catch him. That night we see the supposed spy sneaking around with a flash light and playing around the safe, the rea- son for which is never explained when his identity is revealed later. Shero sees him and tells her father, who laughs at the idea and they still keep the suspense at a high pitch (?) by not showing us what the spy feller was doing. The next day Shero sees the butler mysteriously en- tering the garage and she tells the chauffeur to look out for him and that she knows the password to the munitions plant but won't tell. It happens that the chauffeur is the real spy and the next night he and his female assistant get Shero in the garage and make her prisoner, threatening to kill her if she doesn't reVeal the password. The butler, who is really a U. S. Secret Agent, hears her cries and is shot when he comes up the stairs. We see them both on the bed with their hands tied while the spies leave and Shero just slips her hands right out of the ropes that bind her and goes to the window where she wig-wags to the milkman. The spies conveniently return so that they can be captured when help arrives. Then, just to make this real patriotic, they had Shero's sweetheart, who was just kept on hand for the finish, come in in a soldier's uniform and they fade out with the clutch. As a whole, this was about the most miserable at- tempt to register five reels of entertainment that I have witnessed in a long time. It never impressed, it wasn't funny and we were never given any reason for things happening as they did. As an example of the military detail in this, they opened up with a flag-raising and showed Old Glory on the ground before it was raised, while a man in uni- form stood salute beside it! Watch this and cut it by all means as your folks will certainly yell murder when they see it. Funny these spies couldn't have blown up the plant without the password and why did Shero leave hero tied while she wig-wagged the milkman and why didn't she give the spies a fake password and why — but this is so full of holes that it would take a page to enumerate them. Those in the cast were: John Cossar, Florence Oberle, Brydine Zuber, J. Parks-Jones, Larry Steers, Lewis Wil- loughby, James Farley and Lillian Leighton. IUjlllUIIIIIIHtHHIIIItll1UIIIH|IIIIIItllirllllllW'r IIIHUIIimiMtlltll TOM J. GERAGHTY WRITER In production — EARLE WILLIAMS in "The Man from Brodnev's." MAY ALLISON in "Kate of Kentucky" and "Thirty Days" (written with George D. Baker). SESSUE H AYAKAWA'S new story -and current episodes of PATHE SERIAL "HANDS UP,' with Ruth Roland (written with J. Grubb Alexander). Current releases — All J. WARREN KERRIGAN PARALTA PLAYS. HENRY B. WALTHALL PARALTA PLAYS. GOLDWYN SPECIAL, "Social Ambition." On the fire— feature story for NAZIMOVA. BUNGALOAFING IN HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. NEW TOWN HOUSE- METRO OFFICES, N. Y. CITY 14 tM\ DAILY Sundav. September 1, 1918 Hasn't Got a Chance Except With Don't Care Audiences The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Vivian Martin in "HER COUNTRY FIRST" Paramount If I had this scheduled I would certainly hunt around for something to replace it or would watch the weather reports and sneak it over on a rainy night. It never registers as anything but an unveiled attempt to stretch one reel material into five and your audiences are cor- tainly going to feel that they have wasted a perfectly good hour of time in sitting through this — if they sit through it. If you feel that you have got to play this you can probably sneak it over without having to hang out the crepe the next day but it is certainly the weakest offer- ing Paramount has slipped us for a long, long time and 1 can't figure how anybody is going to sit through it and feel that their time has been well spent. Whatever you do, don't promise them a strong patrio- tic picture, because this isn't and if you slip them that kind of talk they aren't going to have much faith in your ads when you have something really worth-while to offer. My advice is to forget it or go very, very easy. "It's A Goldwyn Picture " 7om Moore ) "MUST fOR S TONIGHT By Charles A.Logue Di reded by Charles Giblyn How one young man won the girL l of his dreams " Released Everywhere Sept 16 GOLDWYN PICTURES CORPORATION Samuel Goldfish. President Edgar Selwyn. Vice President 16 East 4-2 „ O i"&~l 1 0 T^j Longacre Building New^York [City. ed You theBe^r*. Keep ijow e«e OAlhefT^e! Now Available To ALL Exhibitors A Cheerful Patriotic Motion-Picture Spectacle That Will Thrill and De- light an Audience of Americans. Xftfcgette;Vfe Oboe! A Story of Mystery and Intrigue Masterfully Flavored with the Romance of Love and War. Featuring E. K. LINCOLN and DOLORES CASSINELLI Produced by LEONCE PERRET The EAGLE Flies Straight. He Knows Where He's Going and He Gets There. He is Determined. AFFILIATED is not Building for To-day or To-morrow, but for Next Month — Next Year. AFFILIATED is Building a Permanent Structure for the Future. Communicate with the National Director in Your Territory, or Aahtotecl Cbtp.y 1476 Broadway, New York 18 afe^l AILY Sunday, September 1, 1918 Serial Action Fairy Tale with Plentiful Display of Figures Annette Kellerman in "QUEEN OF THE SEA" Fox — Special DIRECTOR John G. Adolfi AUTHOR George Bronson Howard CAMERAMEN. . . .Frank Williams and Carl L. Gregory AS A WHOLE Serial action in fairy tale atmos= phere with nude and near nude mermaids as chief attractions. STORY One fight after another with kidnap pings, rescues and escapes mixed in to fit. DIRECTION Had a few effective sets and loca= tions, but did not lift offering by any excep= tional artistry. PHOTOGRAPHY Double exposure stuff excellent, but much of lighting quite ordinary. LIGHTINGS Seldom particularly artistic, fre- quently ordinary. CAMERA WORK Good vignetting and excep- tional effects by trick photography. STAR Good figger and quite some swimmer, but not particularly effective as actress. SUPPORT Many shapely maidens and tough warriors providing atmosphere. EXTERIORS Very good water stuff with other scenes satisfactory. INTERIORS A few effective sets, some rather ordinary. DETAIL Story ran wild with fairy tale as alibi for anything. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend unless censors cut undressed moments. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,350 feet "IT 7 ELI,. Annette and her figger are presented once \\f more as a prospective means of attracting loose dimes and quarters. As the man said about the plot "it always has been good," so I presume this one will ride just as well as the other Kellerman's have. Although not as pretentious as her previous releases, it is quite possible that this will serve the same purpose so far as box office value is concerned, and although the production is not an artistic triumph, it has sufficient weight by virtue of a good many extras and some sub- stantial sets, that it will undoubtedly get over as a sat- isfactory special. The plot, if you can call it such, is a series of action incidents hooked together by titles which make it pos- sible for any character to do most anything they like because this happens to be a fairy tale. We have fight after fight between individuals and groups with many escapes, rescues, and a couple of kidnappings. Certainly she do move. Of course, the outstanding item in this sort of a film is the question of how much footage registered the scantly clad mermaids. I think there is enough to hold the interest and tease 'em along without overdoing it. Second to the display of physical attractions comes the very excellent trick camera work which registered a number of unusual and decidedly effective delusions. The best of these was the incident where old friend Boreas, who had such a strong breath that he could destroy a ship, stirred up a storm in order to wreck hero's very ancient boat. This was done by double ex- posure photography and was quite effective. They had Annette all over the place. She opened in a tank with her legs done up in a fish skin, pro- gressed to the nude, and then suddenly became a little fairy flying in the clouds. Following this she became a mortal again and was made to take the place of the kidnapped Princess, when the author worked out the fantastic rescue of having Annette walk on a spider's web from a magic tower to the mainland which save a chance to register some tight rope walking skill with a high dive from the rope to the water below. Of course at the finish the real Princess turned over her position to Annette so that she could marry the Prince hero and they lived happily ever after. If your audience comes in in the proper spirit, they will accept this as satisfactory, principally because they ,ii'et a chance to see Annette doing many stunts. If they come in in a kidding spirit, the chances are that they will have a lot of fun with it. but I would not worry if they laugh, because I believe it will pass as satis- factory entertainment. In the casr were Hush Thomp- son, Mildred Keats. P>eth Irvins. Philip Van Loan, Wal- ter Law. Fred Par.ker. Louis Dean. Carrie Lee. Minnie Methol. Has Plenty to Register With, But Don't Promise Too Much Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If you don't promise too much and set them to ex- pectins ;' worth while story, or a tremendous spectacular production, this thins should ride very satisfactorily. .Most audiences will come in to see Annette in action and will accepl the wild twists of the fairy tale plot in perfect good nature, providing they have been tuned properly by your advertising. Don't promise that this is the most spectacular pro- duction of the year, etc., because such promises cause a comeback. Center all your attention on Miss Keller- man, her figure, her swimming, diving ability, and the fact that scores of beautiful mermaids appear in sup- port. .Most of your fans have seen at least one of the Kellerman productions and so they know pretty well what to expect from the "Queen of the Sea". It would not be advisable to compare this with "The Daughter of the Cods" because it certainly does not approach that production as a spectacle or from the viewpoint of artistry. You have plenty to work with here, without mislead- ing your fans, and you will surely find that the after effect is always better when you have made good on everything promised in your advertising. Sunday, September 1, 1918 tM% eptemher 1, 1918 IS^* \ PAlLy Uninteresting Western Is a Waste of Perfectly Good Film Roy Stewart in The story, if this can be called such, has /it i» im * t» *-w-\i— vn two i i:i rt iu>rs; wlwi nivn a rsiiwli ■ nartnor 19 Roy Stewart in "UNTAMED" Triangle DIRECTOR Cliff Smith AUTHOR Kenneth B. Clark SCENARIO BY Kenneth B. Clark CAMERAMAN Steve Rounds AS A WHOLE Just five reels of film without a single interesting moment to lift it; doesn't even move. STORY You couldn't find one with a sheriff and a search warrant. DIRECTION Just put the players through their scenes and utterly failed to make this register PHOTOGRAPHY Very ordinary with stock flashes of cattle round=up cut in. LIGHTINGS Now and then CAMERA WORK Routine STAR Didn't have anything to do that gave him a chance to register. SUPPORT Nobody stuck out because nothing interesting ever happened and they frequently "acted". EXTERIORS Shots around mission were very good; others satisfactory but very familiar. INTERIORS Not distinctive DETAIL Why worry about it CHARACTER OF STORY Just isn't anything LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet AS ARNOT says in the New York Journal. '•How- do they do it?" You could go into any junk ex- change and pick out five reels of film at random which would provide more material to hold your interest than this one docs. We've had westerns from Triangle in the past that have been very, very ordinary, but at least, they moved. This one even fails in that respect. During the entire five reels nothing ever happens to hold the attention or arouse any curiosity about what they are going to do next or how this is going to end. The story, if this can be called such, has to do with two partners who own a ranch; one partner, Roy Stew- art, being suspicious of the other. II. X. Dudgeon, who is the willun. Because this wouldn't have been a regulation grind- 'em-out "movie" without a Shero. they have a professor, who is interested in historical research work, come to the ranch with his daughter. He spends his time ex- ploring among tl»e ruins of the old Spanish missions and. of course, his daughter meets Hero Roy. Aside from this bare thread of romance there is ab- solutely no plot development or sustained interest through the first three reels except a few minor inci- dents which serve to further establish the enmity be- tween Hero and willun. We have the usual misunderstanding between Hero and Shero when Shero sees Hero brutally strike a man, not knowing that he was a hired assassin sent by willun to get him out of the way so he could control the property. His deed of kindness later brings about a reconcilia- tion, however, and after a wild chase and much waste of gunpowder in and around the ruins of the mission in a search for willun. which provides the only action in the production, ;ind that very ordinary, we find that willun's betrayed sweetheart, who had been planted in the early reels, had already snuffed willun off. And. of course, they finish with the regulation clutch of Hero and Shero. In an attempt to drag this into five reels they intro- duced some of the usual hokum incidents among the cowboys which were neither funny or interesting and they also gave us much business Inning to do with a little Spanish girl and m pet calf, which never served any purpose but to make footage. Ethel ETemming as the Shero. was satisfactory but had very little to do and others who appeared were: May Giraci, Graham Pette. H. ('. Simmons, John Lince, Jimmy Weil and Eagle Eye. HONORAJ2V MEMBER. M.P.D.A.. . Producer o£~} "JeveV- bandar -'^hoe^-" Hypocrites" "VheteAfeMy Childteif-^Prkie oF a<3oodTtme "^Doctor and the¥omauV\ "For Husband? Only" 50 /lK^TDAllJYr Sunday, September 1, 1918 Life is Too Short to Worry About Anything Like This The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Roy Stewart in and a scenic or educational should be accepted as a «TmTT>»A/ir^rv» pleasant change from the ordinary five-reel attraction UJN 1 AJY1LD and will certainly provide more diversion than an ordi- Triangle nary routine production like this. This idea has been tried with success with such You certainly can't expect to keep your gang inter- houses as the Rivoli in New York and you certainly can- ested with uninteresting, slow-moving stuff like this. not be classed as a showman or hope to build a follow- It is the most ordinary kind of "movie" and as a "west- }nS for your house if you just take these ordinary ofifer- l±ic uiuoi «"" « j mgs ag they come an(j piay them whether they provide era" contains less action and story than we used to get entertainment or not. ' in the old one-reel days. It just isn't anything and it " There is nothing concerning this film that can be certainly can't be classed as entertainment any way consistently advertised and I note that the genius who you look at it. cooks up business getting ( ? ) ideas for the Triangle My advice would be, when you get a "weak sister" press sheets is still at large. His suggestion for exploit- like this, to forget it entirely and if you can't get a ing this is to "draw a circle in the center of your lobby, worth-while five-reeler to replace it, look around and in the center of which would be thrown a banana peel, see if you can't pick up enough good short subjects to with a card, etc." Surely, some branches of the indus- make up a program. A good comedy or two, a weekly try are non-essential. ATelegram to You from One of Your Associates About "Triple Trouble ** Philadelphia, Pa. , Aug. 20, 1918. Geo. Kleine System, Distributors for Essanay, 63 East Adams St., Chicago, 111. Congratulate you on "TRIPLE TROUBLE". Pelt a little nervous due to trade paper advertisements from your competitors. I am glad, however, to inform you I have broken all house records at the Cort and Criterion theatres on the Boardwalk, Atlantic City. Am holding picture over additional days. Expect to duplicate at the City Square and Million Dollar Pier, which follows next week. Edward J. O'Keefe. SEE THIS NEW CHARLIE CHAPLIN PICTURE AND YOU WILL BOOK IT ftS.♦>»,♦♦>♦♦♦♦♦,♦♦,♦♦.♦♦>♦,*».»».»♦>♦>».« *»V«*V.*'.»WW.V»V»« '♦♦V*V» ♦♦>♦♦♦< LEON G. OSBORNE, V. P. a»d Treasurer H DIANDO FILM CORPORATION GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA PRODUCERS OF MOTION PICTURES :.: In Course of Production — Baby Osborne Features — Patbe- "Wolf Face" a Western Serial- Patbe— Baby Maria Osbarne Betty Compson Ora Carewe Mildred Rearden Ceorge Larkin Horace Carpenter "Tbe Pickaninny" Sunday, September 1, 1918 jM^ DAILY 27 Elementary Crook Plot Lifted By Players and Treatment Ethel Clayton in "THE GIRL WHO GAME BACK" Paramount DIRECTOR Robert Vignola AUTHOR C. M. S. McClellan SCENARIO BY Beulah Marie Dix CAMERAMAN Charles Shoenbaum ART DIRECTOR Wilfred Buckland AS A WHOLE Old material made rather interest- ing by players and treatment. STORY The old stuff of she=male crook being taken in and reformed by the man she came to burgle. DIRECTION Developed characterizations rather effectively and provided pleasing atmosphere. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good. Night shots effective. LIGHTINGS Some effective bits but made no at- tempt to light star effectively and generally too uniform throughout. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Had rather good moments but handicapped by too contrasty lightings and make=up showed strongly in close-ups. SUPPORT AH very good with Theodore Roberts and Elliott Dexter standing out as usual. EXTERIORS. . . .Very good; street sets especially well done. INTERIORS Very satisfactory DETAIL Well handled CHARACTER OF STORY Rather well done crook stuff; nothing to offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet WE HAVE in this the same situations that have been done time and again; hence with the ex- ception of some rather well-handled individual scenes and the excellent playing throughout there is nothing to really stamp this as unusual although most audiences will consider it good entertainment on account of the general atmosphere and well-developed charac- terizations. The story has to do with our old friend, "the poils," with the much-used situation of she-male crook being caught in the act of cracking Hero's safe and being given a chance to reform. It happened that Hero had previously rescued Shero- crook from drowning, which incident had brought about a change for the better in Shero's character although she had never been able to locate her rescuer nor was she aware that it was his house she was in the act of robbing. We had a willun who was the wayward brother of Hero's fiancee and whose company Shero had tolerated for the purpose of obtaining information regarding the location of the pearls. On the night of the robbery, willun enters while Hero is reforming Shero and threat- ens to start a scandal unless Hero will kick through with some money. Hero dares him to go ahead and while he is escorting Shero to the door, willun cops the pearls and beats it. Shero is accused of the theft although Hero believes her innocent and willun is finally forced to confess to the robbery when Hero gets the goods on him. Shero mysteriously leaves and finds employment on a farm and later when a member of the crook gang passes out he summons Hero and tells him where he can find Shero. He finds her and they finish with the clutch. I don't have to tell you that this is very elementary material that has been done countless times in the past, but it has been made fairly interesting by treatment and players and will be accepted generally. Miss Clayton screens beautifully when well lighted but was handicapped considerably in this by lightings th.it were generally too harsh throughout and her lips were made up much too heavy so that they focused your attention. Theodore Roberts gave his usual finished performance as Shero's crook father; Elliott Dexter was a convincing and pleasing Hero and Charles West was a sufficiently detestable willun. Others who appeared were James Neill. Marcia Manon, Jack Brammall, Jane Wolff, John McKinnon and Pansy Perry. 28 TtM4 DAILY Sunday, September 1, 1918 Cannot Be Depended Upon To Pull Business But Should Satisfy The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Ethel Clayton in "THE GIRL WHO GAME BACK ' Paramount This should satisfy generally as an acceptable pro- gram offering although it is not big and doesn't justify any extra advertising or special exploitation. I doubt if Miss Clayton's following is sufficiently strong to en- able you to depend upon her name alone to pull more than ordinary business on this and unless you have played recent World pictures in which she has appeared you are very apt to rind that she is almost a total stranger to most of your patrons, this being her first production for Paramount. I would give prominent mention to the presence of Theodore Roberts and Elliott Dexter in this offering as they are doubtless much better known to regular Para- mount patrons than the star. I think that the crook stuff has a popular appeal generally and I would play up that angle in my ads and lobby. You might hit them along this line: "Do you believe in helping the under dog? See Ethel Clayton, Elliott Dexter and Theodore Roberts in 'The Girl Who Came Back'." "Do you believe in your ability to judge a character to such an extent that you would believe in a female- crook who had promised to reform when everything seemed to indicate that she had broken her pact with you? See 'The Girl Who Came Back'." Continuity Thousands of dollars are wasted every time a director is started to work with a continuity which contains unnecessary scenes which are afterwards eliminated in the cutting room. Every producer knows how his overhead piles up when the director must halt production to patch up bad continuity. It's good business to get your continuity right before you start. That is where I come in. I am free lancing so that you may call me in immediately to straighten out that "sick sister." ARTHUR EDWIN KROWS 155 Hawthorne Avenue, YONKERS, NEW YORK My Phone is Yonkers 5492 Sunday, September 1, 1918 tMA AIL.Y 29 Pleasing Star in Classy Mystery Stuff Which Has Unusual Twists Bessie Barriscale in •THE WHITE LIE" ParaIta=Hodkinson MANAGER OF PRODUCTIONS Robert Brunton DIRECTOR Howard Hickman AUTHOR William Parker SCENARIO BY Julian Lewis Lamothe CAMERAMAN Clyde De Vinna AS A WHOLE Very well handled mystery stuff; is classy and interesting. STORY Unique plot development makes you think it's going to be naughty but it isn't. DIRECTION Kept this distinctive and classy all the way and developed mystery=suspense effectively. PHOTOGRAPHY Clearly defined and artistic all the way. LIGHTINGS Very fine CAMERA WORK Intelligent STAR Beautiful and appealing and made dramatic moments convince. SUPPORT Very good EXTERIORS Pleasing INTERIORS Looked substantial and real with good detail touches. DETAIL Very good CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet IT LOOKS as though the Los Angeles •'Only Their Husbands" Club was due to lose a member to the M. P. D. A. ' test his ability with. We had a unique story idea in this: one of those things that fooled you all the way anil slipped in an unexpected twist every now and then just about the time you figured you knew what was going to pop up next with the whole thing a mystery until Miss Barris- cale's confession at the finish which cleared matters. Miss Barriscale was presented as the wife of Edward Coxen and they start this off by having Edward puzzled about the remote resemblance of their little child to either one of them. Then we had the hero-hubby leav- ing on a business trip to Frisco with Charlie Gunn. an architect, calling on Bessie and demanding to see HIS baby. In the meantime, Hero-hubby finds the hotels crowded in Frisco and is conveniently given Charlie's room where he gets a slap in the face by finding a pic- ture of his wife and baby on the dresser. When hero hubby returns and puts a detekutive on the trail to find out what about it they give us another jolt by having the "Dick" find Charlie's picture in the rogue's gallery. Later, when Charlie goes to his room in the hotel, he is recognized by an old pal who wants Charlie to go with him on another "job". Charlie re- fuses, but when the gang operates that night, they are caught and the crook, thinking Charlie has squealed, kills him. In the meantime, Bessie is brought to his apartment by a note, the detective and hubby being planted in the next room when she arrives. Seeing the body, and suspecting her husband of being the mur- derer, she hides it. The detective comes in and she is forced to confess, revealing the fact that she caught Charlie in the act of robbing her house during her hus- band's absence on an extended business trip a short time after their marriage, and had left Charlie go free and adopted his baby. Knowing her husband's fond- ness for children, she had led him to believe that the child was their own. Hubby, in the next room, hears the confession and all ends happily. Edward Coxen and Charles Gunn handled their roles effectively; Little Mary Jane Irving was cute as the little daughter, although they gave her very little to do while others in the cast were: James Marley and Aggie Herring. Arvitft Stewart Productions ' ' ~~l ~1— ■irrill I I llH il II l|l Mil Ill 1 IIIIBIIITMIITIIIWIUll I >ll I III 1 iflMIIH— IIMpMI IIIIIHI — Ml M«l<— ftj 1 PI »■! l.i ■*!!■ ^hm ■ttfrjpt 30 IV* \ PAlUY Sunday, September 1, 1918 A Safe Bet As Entertainment For Any Kind of a House The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Bessie Barriscale in man jn another town and you found on his dresser a "THE WHITE LIE" picture of YOUR wife and baby, what would you think? Paralta=Hodkinson See Bessie Barriscale in 'The White Lie'." "If your wife had secretly adopted a baby and had I am sure that any audience will consider this very , -, .. . ,. ., . ,, , J m , J led you to believe it was your own, what would you do good entertainment. The unusual twists and plot de- when ^ rgal f&ther c&me tQ claim -t? gee Begsie B&r velopment will keep any gang guessing as to how this riscale in /p>> Editor "Motion Picture News" Editor "Exhibitor's Trade Review" after having seen Editor "Exhibitors Herald Motography" /ta/t/s Flaming Front *The First Films of* Whole Battle* that it actually does show Mountain fighting: Bombarding the enemy's trenches with big guns in preparation for infantry charge; men crouching low in trenches, bullets "spatting" on sandbags overhead, they go over the top, advancing in sprints, taking advantage of every cover, the final rush, hand-to-hand bayonet fighting, victory!; bringing back hordes of prisoners. Italian "75" hit by Austrian shell — smithereens! Italian artillery's hot reply — you never saw prettier work. Close-ups of dozen of different types of big guns from 40 centimeter to trench "bombards" in action. Panorama of enemy's trenches and works under fire. These pictures, taken from one side of a mountain valley, give a wonderfully graphic picture of a bombardment. men) ; Austrian drops bombs at fleet, the explosions hurl huge pillars of water and spray skyward; a submarine chaser hit, you see the explosion and the craft capsize from quarter mile distance; Italian planes close in : Austrian in desperation does dare- devil tail dive to sea and saves his life but is cap- tured by Italian torpedo boat. Italian monitors and (loafing gun carriages each mounting one great gun in action. First complete air fight ever photographed. Aus- trian bombing plane attacks fleet; six Italian sea planes give chase (two carrying enlisted camera- In general: Fighting on mountain peaks above the clouds, Italy's spider men, on skis; the wonderful aerial cable communications; unbelievable feats of patience and hardihood bridging mountain torrents and dragging great guns by hand to lofty positions where tractors, even mules, are unable to go. The eyes of the night, searchlights make night artillery possible. Shrapnel and barbed wire in night action. And many graphic pictures not listed here be- cause of lack of space. Never has Feature Film had such powerful endorsement from men who know the business. And there is not a newspaper editor in America who will not similarly endorse this ■wonderful Film — and you know what that "will mean. You know and we know it is bound to get big money, because EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE A GREAT BATTLE with the gruesome scenes cut out. Act NOW, TO-DAY Grab this Latest First National Money Maker J. Warren « $M f Hk\ Kerrigan 1 777 sH ;- liifrufcit 1 mm I&^&tS^ L 1 L "Prisoners of ^^HAB^T **Nf 111 the Pines" ill: ^*^w& npk^H i\ new photoplay of the virile Northwest produced under the personal supervis- ion of Jesse D. Hampton. HRf ^2^ .. !-SSk,'* ^181 HI tSook this newest Kerrigan production acknowledged to be the supreme effort of this popular and successful screen star. 9 Re/cased September 16th, by the W. W. HODKINSON CORP. 527 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK CITY 7&BRADSTBEET of FILWDOM JifeRKOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 116 Tuesday, September 3, 1918 Price 5 Cents PLANS MADE FOR 400 VISITORS A. E. A. Committee Completes Arrangements For Most Impressive of Convention Gatherings CHICAGO. — Frank Rembusch, sec- retary, and Louis Frank, chairman, of the convention Committee of the American Exhibitors' Association, have placed the finishing touches to plans for the entertainment of the exhib- itors who arc arriving in Chicago from all parts of the country. Over four hundred picture men, it is expected, will be present on the opening day and reservations are be- ing received hourly from every part of the country. The headquarters at the Sherman Hotel present a scene of activity and co-operation that speaks well for the men who have the affair in charge. Every indication point's to a big meet- ing and a constructive one, Mr. Frank states. Jackies from the Great Lakes Naval training station are working day and night for the success of the ball to be held Friday night, September 6. The Navy Band will furnish music for dancing and the following screen stars have wired their intention of being present: E. K. Lincoln. Dolores Cas- sinelli, Grace Valentine. Arline Pretty. Louise Huff, Carlyle Black- well, Evelyn Greelev. Kitty Gordoi., Lillian Walker. Billie Burke, Mar- guerite Courtot, Ama Hanlon and Stuart Holmes. A special showing of Leonce Per- ret's spectacle. "Lafayette, We Come!" will be given for delegates at a "loop" theatre during the week, and the ex- hibitors will be entertained by boat rides, luncheons, a visit to Rothack- er's studios, _ White City, the U. S. War_ Exposition grounds, and an auto- mobile trip through Chicago's forty- five miles of park system. Tt is proposed to set aside at least one day during the U. S. War Expo- sition, in Grant Park, Chicago, as Moving Picture Day. Arrangements are being made to have a number of screen celebrities present. Watterson R. Rothacker sugested the idea and the local chairman of the Exposition is now arranging the details. Serial Through Pathe "Wolves of Kultur" To Be Released October 13 "Wolves of Kultur," the new serial of Western Photoplays, Inc., with Leah Baird and Sheldon Lewis, will be released through Pathe whose fa- cilities for handling serials are the best, perhaps, of the industry. The first five episodes will be in the Pathe offices before the release date, which has been set for October 13. A national billboard drive will be launched with the initial expisode. Twenty-four sheet posters will be placed in all towns of 5,000 population and over. Two Charters Granted ALBANY.— The Essarell Amuse- ment Corporation of New York City was chartered bj Secretary of State Hugo last week. The corporation is formed to engage in the motion pic- ture, theatrical and vaudeville branches of the amusement business. The con- cern has a capital of $1,500 and these directors: Nathan Schulman, Jacob Rovenger, and Aaron S. Laidhold, 1971 Seventh Avenue, New York City. A charter was also granted to the Octagon Films, Inc. The corporation has its principal office in New York City. It is capitalized at $300,000 and will manufacture and deal in motion picture and photoplay films of various kinds and act as theatrical propriet- ors and managers. The directors of the concern are: Benjamin A. Rolfe, Stanleigh P. Friedman and Abel Cary Thomas, 2 Rector Street, New York City. Triangle Film exchange in Detroit has been moved to 55 East Elizabeth Avenue. D. Price, the manager, has changed his address on account of the limited space at the former quarters. Question About Stars Emily Stevens Returning to Stage — Bushman and Bayne Uncertain Three stars are expected to leave Metro within the next few weeks. Emily Stevens, who is to return to the legitimate stage, will start for a va- cation as soon as she has completed her current production after which she will commence rehearsals of her new vehicle. At the Metro offices it was said that they hoped that Miss Stevens would return to them after she had completed her stage engage- ment. Regarding the status of the Bush- man and Bayne team, one of the Metro executives stated that he really did not know the intentions of the pair. He said he believed they were per- sonally responsible for the story that they were to finsh. At present they are making a picture entitled "Little Miss Moneybags," which is to be fol- lowed by one other, after which they may sever their connection with the company. Both Mr. Bushman and Miss Bayne are at Bushmanor, Baltimore, where they gave an outing to the Bushman Club a few days ago. . Richard Row- land of the Metro is on his way to the Coast having left New York on Wednesday of last week. At the Metro offices Maxwell Karger was seen regarding the stars and through Arthur James he made the above statements. Reichenbach Sails Soon Harry Reichenbach returned from Washington Saturday, having com- pleted his final arrangements for go- ing abroad to work for the Committee on Public Information. Reichenbach will first go to France and (from there to Switzerland, Italy and Eng- land. He expects to be gone for about three months. He plans to sail in about ten days. Ward Scott has been appointed manager of the Pathe branch in Den- ver to succeed C. E. Epperson, who has joined the army. Mr. Scott has been Mutual manager in Denver for the last three years. Tuesday, September 3, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; « months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Vd dress all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 In Detroit Theatres Majestic Adopts 25-Cent Ad- mission— Labor Day Openings DETROIT.— The Majestic theatre, Detroit, has re-opened, with an ad- mission price of 25 cents for all seats at all times. The Majestic is one of the big theatres of the city. It is rumored that film inspectors, poster workers, and shipping clerks of Detroit have organized. Annette Kellerman in "Queen of the Sea" played one week at the Adams theatre. The Regent and the new Lincoln Square theatres both opened Labor Day. "To Hell With the Kaiser" played at the Lincoln Square. The Detroit Opera house, now a first-run picture theatre, has been re- named. It is now the Campus the- atre. The Ford Weekly is distributed in Michigan by the Strand Film Service. There are more than 160 theatres us- ing the Weekly in Michigan. The service is supplied free. Arthur S. Hyman of the Dawn Mas- terplay Company, has leased the De- troit Opera House, and will show first-run feature pictures. "Hearts of the World," now in its eleventh week, will remain several weeks longer. The Detroit Opera House was formerly the leading legitimate theatre of De- troit. "The Grain of Dust," made by Crest Pictures Corporation, has been sold to Criterion Film Service, of At- lanta, Ga., for the Southern terri- tory. HANDLE LOAN FILMS SEPARATELY Each Company Will Distribute Its Individual Product — Pictures To Go Through Existing Organizations It was announced late last week that as a result of a committee meeting held on Monday, the loan films of the forty-two stars will be distributed by the individual companies and not through the twelve national releas- ing organizations with the country piece-mealed into a dozen sections. Al Lichtman, of Paramount, was the originator of the first plan. His scheme, however, would necessitate the installation of a series of bookers and clerks in each office that would amount to thousands of dollars in salaries. Then, it was pointed out that whereas an exhibitor paid astipulated amount for first run showings on a certain star, under Lichtman's plan, his opposition would show the loan film of that star free of charge. The change in the distributing plan was expected but the information was withheld until the approval of the Treasury Department had been granted. Walter W. Irwin outlined the new plan which, although it is considered better than the first, will fill only one- third of the booking days. Fourteen thousand theatres at an average of five exhibition days, means seventy thousand showings a week or 280,000 for the drive. This would require 9,- 000 prints and as there are only three thousand, the exhibitors will naturally suffer. The salient points of the new scheme are as follows: 1. Each company shall distribute through all of its offices in the United States the prints in which its own stars appear. 2. Prints of any subject made by a company or individual not possessing a distributing organization will be handled by any distributing organiza- tion selected by such company or in- dividual. 3. Each office of each distributing organization will be held strictly ac- countable by the home office for book- ing solid during the four weeks of the drive each print delivered to it. 4. At the conclusion of the drive each branch office of each distribut- ing organization shall immediately for- ward to its home office the original booking sheets showing the specific theatre and the dates for which each print was on exhibition, as well as the dates for which each print was in transit, such booking sheets to be delivered by you and by you trans- mitted to the Treasury Department. 5. No charge shall be made directly or indirectly to any exhibitor for the exhibition of any Liberty Loan prints, nor shall the exhibitor be asked to pay express charges either way. 6. Express charges shall be paid by the distributing organization; each ex- change shall maintain an accurate re- cord thereon, and at the conclusion of the drive forward the record, sup- ported by vouchers, to the. home office, so that the company may be reim- bursed by the Treasury Department. 7. No exhibitor shall be permitted to book one subject for more than one day, nor shall any exhibitor be per- mitted to obtain a repeat booking for any subject. 8. Uniform instructions shall be sent by the home office of each dis- tributing organization to its respec- tive offices, such instructions to be prepared by your committee, and to be published in the trade papers. 9. The Government is to deter- mine the number of prints to be made from each negative. 10. Each distributing organization shall determine the division of such prints among its respective offices, ac- cording to the nature of the territo- ries, and the number of prints re- quired for each. Dudley Ayres With Kenney Dudley Ayres has signed a contract to appear in pictures for the Frank A. Keeney Company for the next two years. He will be Jewel Carmen's leading man and will start on her first picture in that capacity Sept. 9. At that time the studios in East 48th Street will be completed and the ini- tial production will be "Her Family's Honor," by E. Lloyd Sheldon. Wil- liam J. Scully has been engaged to as- sist Sidney Olcott in directing Miss Carmen. Jay Packard will be the studio manager for the concern. Catherine Calvert, the other Keeney star, will start work Sept. 25. "Topics" Territory Sold A. E. Siegel has disposed of South- ern and Western territory for "Topics of the Day," which is a reel of punchy paragraphs gathered from leading periodicals. Harry M. Cran- dall has bought rights for Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia. Harry Schwalbe has the rights for eastern Pennsylvania and southern Jersey, and M. H. Kohn of the Northwestern Consolidated Film Corp. for Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. -isii^A AILV Tuesday, September 3, 1918 We Can TellYouVliefeTo^eachTneni~PhoneVadfiri)ilt4551 DIRECTORS DIRECTORS AUTHORS GEORGE D. BAKER PRODUCING FEATURES MRTRO FREDDIE SGHAEFFER ART DIRECTOR R. A. WALSH PRODUCTIONS ANTHONY KELLY J. CLARKSON MILLER GOLDWYN Original Stories and Continuities HERBERT BLAGHE DIRECTING FOR METRO GEORGE A. SLEGMAN M. P. D. A. EVE UNSELL ORIGINALS ADAPTATIONS Many Successes for Prominent Companies 272 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. TOD BROWNING Directing BLUEBIRD FEATURES CHARLES SWIGKARD Personally Directing Dustin Farnura in Harry A. Sherman Productions ALBERT GAPELLANI PRODUCER S. E. V. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. With D. W. GRIFFITH STUDIOS CAMERAMEN KING D. GRAY SPECIAL CAMERA EFFECTS EDWIN CAREWE WILLIAM D. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. Director Lasky-Paramount MARY MacLAREN FEATURES Now Managing and Directing HAROLD LOCKWOOD ROY H. KLAFFKI GEORGE FITZMAURIGE ROBERT T. THORNBY M. P. D. A. Producing Fox Features UNIVERSAL FEATURES M. P. D. A. PRODUCING PATHE FEATURES Win'Q nillYwivPJSiSnrn 1914 — Birth of a Nation 1916 — Intolerance PERRY N. VEKROFF M. P. D. A., FEATURE DIRECTOR 511 W. 143rd St. Audubon 1941 lilU 0 UnlLI NOT SKIMMED These are the only productions personally directed by D. W. GRIFFITH Your name should be before the man who can sign contracts. This directory will appear once each week and there will be a similar directory of players. No matter how good your position is today it tcan be better tomorrow if you keep your name before the right people. ALLEN J. HOLUBAR M. P. D. A. Producing Universal Features LOIS WEBER HONORARY MEMBER M.P.D.A. WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY M. P. D. A., PRODUCING FEATURES IVAN BEN WILSON Directing and Starring UNIVERSAL CHESTER WITHEY DIRECTOR GEORGE IRVING M. P. D. A. GENERAL PRODUCING DIRECTOR WALLACE WORSLEY DIRECTING LOUISE GLAUM IN PAKALTA PLAYS CHARI.ES MILLER M. P. D. A. Director of THE SERVICE STAR The Flame of the Yukon The Sawdust RingThe Ghosts of Yesterday JAMES YOUNG Motion Picture Directors Association ASHLEY MILLER Motion Picture Directors Ass'n. 234 West 55th St., N. Y. C. AUTHORS R. WILLIAM NEILL PRODUCER Paramount Release Manhattan Madness Wolff Lowry CHARLES T. DAZEY The Sea Master New York Luck G. HAROLD PERGIVAL ART DIRECTOR Thos. H. Ince Productions GEORGE ELWOOD JENKS CONTINUITY AND SPECIALS Triangle Culver City PAUL SGARDON M. P. D. A. FEATURE DIRECTOR, VITAGRAPH MONTE M. KATTERJOHN Now writing Exclusively for Paramount-Artcraft Productions Jesse L. La-sky Studios Tuesday, September 3, 1918 »M DAILY Slender Story Made Delightful by Star and Artistic Atmosphere Mary Pickford in "JOHANNA ENLISTS" Artcraft DIRECTOR William Desmond Taylor AUTHOR Rupert Hughes SCENARIO BY Francis Marion CAMERAMAN Charles Rosher ART DIRECTOR WilfreJ Buckland AS A WHOLE A series of situations which serve as a foil for star's cute tricks, made de= lightful by human touches, artistry and some corking titles. STORY Very little of it, but won't worry you DIRECTOR Provided excellent atmosphere and great human touches with little Mary register= ing all the way. PHOTOGRAPHY Superb LIGHTINGS Very artistic CAMERA WORK Excellent STAR A positive delight; without her this wouldn't have been anything. SUPPORT All very good; little kid will get many laughs and introduction of Mary's own regi= ment at finish is sure=fire stuff. EXTERIORS Well selected and exceedingly well photographed. INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Many excellent touches CHARACTER OF STORY. Wholesome and entertaining LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,388 feet SINCE Rupert Hughes is credited with the authorship of this, I presume that they must have had a story to begin with, but whatever plot may have existed is lost in the production as we get it, being centered entirely around little Mary, but the result is entirely satisfactory because her cute tricks command your at- tention all through this, and I am sure that any audi- ence is going to figure the offering delightful entertain- ment. Miss Pickford has a role in this similar to her char- acterizations in "Amarilly" and "How Could You, Jean?" and I don't have to tell you how she can put these slavey parts over. Mary appears in this as a little farmer girl who Longed for romance and when a regiment of U. S. troops pass by the farm on their way to the next town, they decide to camp there for two weeks, during which time the entire regiment falls in love with little Mary. An officer has taken sick, which gives Mary a chance to nurse him and their little romance is just getting nicely started when the other members of the regiment begin to fall for Mary's charms with the result that she soon finds herself possessed of an army of suitors. They pull a bear of a title here, when Mary, in her quandary, says "Oh, Lordy, when I prayed for a man, why did you send me a thousand?" We have a lot of incidental business which provides laughs, the little freckle-faced wonder who appeared in previous Pickford pictures coming in for a good share. We get some sure-fire audience stuff where Mary, overwhelmed by the admiration of so many nice look- ing suitors, decides to beautify her appearance, and while she is taking a milk bath, Emory Johnson, the Lieutenant whom she had nursed, unwittingly comes into the room. Mary screams upon being discovered in "the alto- gether" by a man and Monte Blue, a private, comes to the rescue. In an argument between the rival suitors that follows, Monte calls his superior "a piece of cheese" and is court martialed the next day. Mary is called in as a witness, with the result that the charge is dismissed and later, when the regiment gets orders to leave, we see both Monte Blue and Emory Johnson sneaking away from the camp separately to say good-bye to Mary, and they meet near the old trysting place to find that Douglas McLean has pre- ceded them, he and Mary being too busily engaged in enjoying each other's company to notice that they are being watched. From here we fade into a title announcing that the regiment that figured in this is now in France and we get a flash of Miss Pickford and Col. Ralph J. Taneuf, of the 143rd Field Artillery, of which Miss Pickford is the official godmother. Miss Pickford's cute tricks and the many delightful human touches all through this make it register with a bang despite the frail plot, and the finish will get a hand, because it is unexpected and has been effectively introduced. Others in the cast were: Ann Schaefer, Fred Huntley, John Steppling, Wallace Beery, Wesley Barry and June and Jean Prontis. Mary's Own Regiment As Supporting Cast Ought to Start Something The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I am sure that any audience is going to consider this delightful on account of the individual bits and the human characterization of the star. I am going to leave it to your judgment as to whether it is best to comment on the fact that Miss Pickford's own regiment appears in this in your advertising or let it come as a distinct surprise when they see the film. Although to mention the fact may take a little of the kick out of the finish of this, the idea offers several opportunities for exploitation which should pull business on account of its timeliness. Of course all the folks who read the motion picture "fan" publications know that Miss Pickford has adopted a regiment and keeps them supplied with cigarettes and other luxuries regu- larly, and the fact that the entire regiment figures all through this production should be of interest. California cities could create local interest by getting a copy of the regiment roster and listing the entire personnel in a good size ad as "Mary Pickford's sup- porting cast in her latest propaganda, 'Johanna Enlists'." You can promise them that this is a delightful, human film, entirely devoid of melodrama or battle stuff and offering Miss Pickford a role that will win the hearts of everyone who sees her in this production. With her name and the regiment idea to work on, you should clean up at this time especially. ZfoBftADSTREET of FILMDOM 7/feRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 117 Wednesday, September 4, 1918 Price 5 Cents BRADY PLEADS AMALGAMATION N. A. M. P. I. Head Asks Exhibitors to Unite — Combine Scheme Is As Yet Hanging Fire CHICAGO.— Will iam A. Brady made an eloquent plea at the opening of the A. E. A. convention for amal- gamation with the M. P. E. L. of A. Sam Atkinson, who presided at the meeting, seized upon a psychological moment to introduce Mr. Brady. He first read a lengthy telegram from D. W. Griffith, who voiced his fullest sym- pathy with the amalgamation move so that "the motion picture theatres which are today the most effective propaganda mediums in the world" may be united under one head. Clearly, this diplomatic move was intended to put the exhibitors in a re- ceptive frame of mind. Then, Atkin- son brought forward Brady, who eulo- gized the work of the National Asso- ciation of the Motion Picture Indus- try and asked anyone to say that that Association was not the exhibitor's friend. Three voices of protest from Mau- rice Choynoski, Sam Bullock and Her- man Brown cited the 15-cent reel tax and the deposit system. Brady, how- ever, explained at length that the Na- tional Association had no part in those affairs. After Brady had completed his plea for amalgamation, John Freuler de- livered a short address on the N. A. M. P. I. and its work. Frank Tich- ener, General Film, begged t ) be ex- cused until later in the week. The initial gathering clearly shows that little progress has been made. At the Sherman Hotel, the A. E. A. high lights were holding a luncheon and at the same time, the M. P. E. L. members were talking among them- selves. Someone made a grievous er- ror in omitting the League men at the luncheon. In the convention hall, later on, while the discussion was progressing, Pete Schaefer, Lee Ochs, John Man- heimer, Sidney Cohen and the rest quietly walked out to replenish their empty stomachs. Whereupon the A. E. A. officials cried "Desertion." Late yesterday, there was some talk by Brady, Selznick and Abrams of taking the Century back to New York. Rushing War Bill Leaders Expect to Pass Revenue Measure Soon WASHINGTON.— The first draft of the new War Revenue Bill has been ratified by the Ways and Means Com- mittee and the measure is now before the House. Chairman Kitchin said that he will try to get the bill through by September 14. Debate will open on Friday and the Senate Committee will also commence hearings on it. It is possible that the Senate will re- ceive the bill within ten days after it passes the House. Every effort will be made to get the bill on the statute books by October 20. Record in Pittsburgh The closing of 'Hearts of the World" at the Pitt theatre, Pittsburgh, last Saturday night, following an unin- terrupted run of sixteen weeks, with a total of 168 performances, estab- lishes the longest record ever at- tained in the history of Pittsburgh theatricals. Davidson Called William Davidson, one of the leads in the all-star cast in "Why I Would Not Marry," a Fox production in the making, has been called to the offi- cers' training camp at Louisville. As Mr. Davidson must report to-morrow at the camp, Director Richard Stan- ton is hurrying the scenes in which he appears. Hammons Goes to Capital E. W. Hammons, of the Educa- tional Films Corporation, goes to Washington today to confer with Government officials on propaganda and war-time pictures. Educational's coal picture, almost completed, is just along the lines of the Fuel Admini- stration wishes to emphasize in the forthcoming coal drive in the fall. Charles A. Dean, president of the Educational Distributing Corporation, has established exchanges in Kansas City and St. Louis. Signs New Contract Deitrich to Supply Sherry With Eight Doris Kenyon Features Theodore C. Deitrich of the De Luxe Pictures, Inc., and William L. Sherry have signed a new contract under which the former agrees to fur- nish eight features with Doris Ken- yon as the star during the year be- ginning this month. The first of these pictures will be a screen adap- tation of "Wild Honey," which ap- peared in the "Pictorial Review" and which will be directed by Francis J. Grandon. The first two De Luxe productions with Miss Kenyon as the star are "The Street of Seven Stars" and "The Inn of the Blue Moon," both of which were directed by John O'Brien. "Wild Honey" will be the initial pro- duction which will be made under Mr. Grandon's supervision. The produc- tion will be in six reels. Under another contract which Mr. Deitrich has signed he will make all of his future productions at the Bio- graph studios. The contract provides that should the Government curtail the lighting of studios or confiscate the fuel for them, the Biograph will give him the us« of the Coast studios. "Wild Honey" will be started next Monday and a number of scenes will be made on Staten Island, where an outdoor location is* being prepared. It will be a full-sized town. Later the company will go into the Adiron- dacks for a number of scenes. Mr. Sherry stated yesterday that in addition to the new agreement with the De Luxe Corporation he had also closed with G. M. Anderson for 42 pic- tures and that there was a possibility of there being an additional 12 pic- tures United Activities Grow Milton M. Goldsmith, treasurer and general counsel of the United Picture Theatres went to Chicago on Sunday to attend the convention. United an- nounces the addition of four names to its field force. They are Arthur Silverman, William L. Merrill, Harry Thomas and Jack Underfeld. These men have not yet been given definite appointments, but their positions will be announced shortly. Wednesday, September 4, 1918 Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes Josie Sedgwick has resigned from the Triangle studios, leaving that or- ganization last week. Dick Watts, of the Morning Tele- graph, has left the staff of that paper to become a member of the National Army. Mollie McConnell has been re-en- gaged by Universal, this time to work under the direction of Tod Browning. She has just finished two pictures di- rected by Jack Ford. Helen Horle, formerly head of the Paralta scenario department, is now with the Universal Industrial Depart- ment, handling scenarios for them. She has completed a story entitled "Keep the Man at His Bench," which the Universal wlil make and rent to industrial plants as a strike preventa- tive. J. Stuart Blackton left Monday for Chicago, where, with the co-operation of the British-Canadian Recruiting Mission under whose auspices he is producing "The Common Cause," he will film several important official scenes to be interpolated in this pro- duction which is scheduled for early Fall release by Vitagraph. Jack Meador, the cheerful dispen- ser of Metro news, is at Camp Whit- man, where he will remain all week. Meador is sergeant in the Machine Gun Company of the new Seventh Regiment, of which Merritt Craw- ford is captain and Arthur James lieu- tenant. Mr. Meador is at camp help- ing with the publicity there and the editing of the camp paper. Lieutenant James leaves for camp next week for a fortnight's training. Exchanges in Districts I Walsh in Draft New System to Strengthen General Film's Distribution General Film Company has made several appointments of importance in its sales organization, and at the same time instituted a districting or grouping of its exchanges throughout the country. Four supervising ex- change executives or district man- agers have been appointed, in accord- ance with this movement. Working under Sales Manager W. F. Rodgers; these district managers are to co-ordi- nate and facilitate the film merchan- dizing activities of the company. The district managers most recently appointed are H. L. Orear for the central district with headquarters at Cincinnati, and H. E. Elder for the Atlantic division with headquarters at Philadelphia. Mr. Orear's jurisdic- tion includes the exchanges at Cincin- nati, Cleveland, Detroit and Indianap- olis. Mr. Elder will supervise the Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh ex- changes. Appointments made shortly before these were of T. F. McTyer for the southern district, headquarters At- lanta, involving the Atlanta, New Or- leans and Dallas exchanges, and of W. S. Rand for the western district, headquarters Los Angeles, with the Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland exchanges in- cluded. An expansion and strengthening of its organization had been planned by General Film Company for some time. In fact, the announcements now made have logically followed a gradual realignment of the system in all the local branches. The move- ment has been going on for some months. Equally well known to friends of General Film is Mr. Elder. He was manager at St. Louis for a long time and recently took charge of the Washington office. He is succeeded there by J. A. Flax, who has been assistant manager for some time, and who is one of the oldest employes with General Film. In the various changes, the General Film policy of making promotions in the organization wherever conditions encourage them has been followed. Another recent move is the trans- fer of George J. Ekre from the man- agement of the Portland exchange to a larger field as manager of the Los Angeles office. Fox Star Going to Camp Latter Part of This Month George Walsh is the latest screen star called in the draft. It was learned yesterday that the Fox star must re- port the latter part of September. As a result, work is being rushed on the production of "On the Jump," now being made for release on the Fox program. According to the present outlook, it is the last picture the popular young _ Fox star will make for the "duration of the war." Victory Theatre Opens The Victory theatre, formerly known as Miner's Bronx, 156th street and Third avenue, was opened Satur- day night by Manager David V. Picker with 'Ashes of Love" as the attraction. The receipts of the first day were divided between the Ameri- can Red Cross, the Knights of Co- lumbus and the Jewish War Relief fund. Hart Leaves for Chicago Charles S. Hart, chairman of the Division of Films, Committee on Pub- lic Information, left for Chicago yes- terday to attend the A. E. A. con- vention and to arrange for bringing some of the war exhibits now on view at the Government show in Grant Park, Chicago, to the Exposi- tion here in October, for display at the booth of the Committee on Pub- lic Information. Theodore Wharton returned from Washington Saturday, where he had gone to find out just what the govern- ment wanted in the way of films for propaganda use. Enter Film Offices The round-up of draft slackers by the Department of Justice, which oc- curred yesterday, hit several of the film offices with a smash. All of the buildings in the district were gone through from top to bottom with the result that a number of those who were without their registration cards were carted off until they could satisfy the authorities that they were not vio- lating the law. In the building at 729 Seventh Ave- nue the investigators managed to take two men on the 17th and two on the 15th floors. Later others in the build- ing on the lower floors were rounded up. Chamberlain Brown, well-known theatrical man, who left his card home, was among those held up. A guard stationed in front of the building would not permit anyone to leave the premises unless he had a card while the search was in prog- ress. Paul Gulick is back at work after a two-weeks' vacation. TS&lM DAILY Wednesday, September 4, 1918 We Can Tell YouWhereTo ^eachTtiem-PhofleVan(lerl)ilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. WILLIAM FARNUM ' FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN \ nAii V IS READ 0 UttlLl NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE RUTH ROLAND Astra-Pathe STARRING IN "HANDS UP' WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Productions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd., L. A. MILTON SILLS THE LAMBS ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear once each week. Wednesday, September 4, 1918 Sli^ DAILY Artistic Crook Play With Heart Interest Wallop. Is Pleasing Bert Lytell in "BOSTON BLAGKIE'S LITTLE PAL" Metro MANAGER OF PRODUCTIONS George D. Baker DIRECTOR E. Mason Hopper AUTHOR Jack Boyle SCENARIO BY A. S. LeVino CAMERAMAN Robert Kurrle AS A WHOLE Intelligently handled crook stuff with real heart=interest wallop and many pleasing touches and comedy bits. STORY Little kiddle causes crook to go straight and crook, in turn, brings together kiddie's estranged parents. DIRECTION Kept this snappy and made plot de= velopment logical. Injected many excellent touches, provided a classy atmosphere and sev= eral good bits of suspense. PHOTOGRAPHY Very fine LIGHTINGS A few bits too harsh on faces, but generally very artistic with some effects exce1= lent. CAMERA WORK Excellent angles and compo= sition; showed intelligence all the way. STAR Clean cut; has a natural, easy way about him that registers. SUPPORT All did excellent work and folks will love little Joey Jacobs as "little pal." EXTERIORS Very good INTERIORS Very fine; looked substantial and real DETAIL Many excellent touches CHARACTER OF STORY Clean and human; will win any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4157 feet THIS registered with me as one of the most enjoy- able offerings I have seen recently. We've had an epidemic of crook plays lately from various producers and some of them have been good, but it seems to me that this has a little the edge on most of them, because in addition to having the mystery-sus- pense stuff nicely developed, Director "Mase" Hopper has dressed up many familiar situations effectively by planting little individual incidents and some delightful romantic touches and has given us a real heart-interest wallop in the scenes between Bert and little Joey Jacobs. We have Bert in this as a gentleman crook and while he is doing a "job" in a mansion, little Joey -Jacobs comes down the stairs and discovers him, and they soon become very, very much attached to each other. At a risk of being caught, Bert takes the little fellow up- stairs again and amuses him until he falls asleep. Just as he is about to resume work at the safe, he gets a warning signal from his sweetheart, who is stationed outside, and conceals himself just as Joey's mother and her lover enter. Bert learns from the conversation that she is planning to take advantage of her husband's ab- sence to elope with this man, and when she opens the safe and gives the lover her jewels to keep until they meet later, Bert slips out of the window and posing as the husband, whom the willun-lover has never seen, pulls a bluff and demands the jewels, which are promptly turned over. Returning to his sweetheart and relating his experi- ence, Bert tells her to return to the house and take good care of little Joey, and then we see him sending two telegrams, one addressed to the husband from the wife, asking him to return and one to the wife from willun, telling her that he is through with her. They pull a unique finish by fading out on Bert look- ing at the jewels and wondering whether or not to re- turn them, after which they give us a title saying: "If you were "Blackie," how would you decide? We'll let you be the playwright and finish the play according to your choice." We had many very clever touches all through the offering. The scene where Joey came down the stairs was made unusually effective by panning down with a close-up of Joey's feet. This gave an effective mystery touch, because Joey wore pajamas and you weren't quite sure just who the intruder was. Director Hopper gave us many excellent bits of sus- pense and surprise twists and the scenes between Bert and little Joey were about as pleasingly done as any- thing I have seen. I hardly recognized littler Joey with the straight hair-trim. He has improved wonderfully since his Keystone days and is going to win the hearts of everyone in this. We had some incidental business with the servants in the kitchen while Bert was working on the safe which gave good comedy relief and also kept you on your toes for fear they would hear Bert. It was handled very effectively. Rhea Mitchell was very pleasing as Bert's girl; Rose- mary Theby was good as the wife, although the tears in her close-up looked suspiciously like glycerine; John Burton, as the butler, made a minor part register and Howard Davies and Frank Whitson rounded out the excellent cast. Human and Entertaining With Delightful Touches. Go To It Strong The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If you can't keep folks interested and attending your theatre regularly with pictures like these, then you'd bet- ter take inventory, do a little specialized canning and find out what's the matter. This is ENTERTAIN- MENT and if you can't do business when you've got real entertainment to offer then there's something be- tween the lobby and the screen that needs looking after. Beri Lytell has hardly been starred in enough pictures to make his name mean much as yet, but he has a sin- cerity and clean-cut appearance that is bound to make him a favorite, and I am sure his name will pull a little if you plant his photos prominently in your lobby and ads and mention the titles of his recent pictures. Lit- tle Joey Jacobs is going to make a big hit in this, and your folks will want to see more of him. As he is Bos- ton Blackie's "little pal" in this and has considerable to do, you are justified in mentioning him rather prom- inently. I think kiddie stuff goes big with most folks when it is logically brought in like we get it here. Miss Mitchell is very pleasing, and should be quite well known from previous films in which she has ap- peared. She is a very good looking "gel" and her photos in the lobby should help. I think this is a much better than average title and in advertising this I would emphasize the mystery-sus- pense element and the romantic thread and heart-inter- est wallop, making it plain that this is light and clean, with plenty of comedy relief, and has been artistically produced. Don't tell 'em the story or tip the surprise finish. 7/pBRADSTREET of F1LKDOM x^recochized Authority Vol. V, No. 118 Thursday, September 5, 1918 Price 5 Cents EXHIBITOR BODIES COMPLETE MERGER A. E. A. and M. P. E. L. of A. at Midnight Conference Decide to Unite Under Wing of the National Association — Peter J. Schaefer Remains at the Helm CHICAGO.— The American Ex- hibitors' Association and the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of Amer- ica have combined and formed them- selves into one organization which will be known as the National Asso- ciation of the Motion Picture Indus- try, Exhibitors' Branch. Thus the long-talked of amalgama- tion of the two exhibitor bodies, which was looked forward to and eag- erly sought for by the well-wishers of the industry, has been consummated when it was thought impossible by many. Certainly, the combine came when least expected. The outlook was a very poor one on Tuesday when William A. Brady addressed the ex- hibitors on the necessity for amal- gamation. "Later on, a closed session was broached and accordingly Will- iam A. Brady, J. Stuart Blackton and some others readily acquiesced. About midnight, the conference terminated with this new organization sprung into being. Ten representative men of both ex- hibitor bodies signed the new agree- ment. They were Peter Schaefer, Louis Frank, Alfred Hamburger, L. H. O'Donnell, Frank Rembusch, E. T. Bealey, Herman Brown, J. Cooper, H. M. E. Pasmezoglu, and August Zilligen. Agreement Removes All Barriers By the provisions of the agreement it is clearly evident that the removal of the barriers separating the two bodies is carefully provided for. The vital points of the dual agreement are as follows: 1— The name of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League is hereby changed to the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, Exhibitors' Branch. 2 — Peter J. Schaefer is to remain as president. 3 — The A. E. A. directors will name the secretary. 4 — Ernest H. Horstmann is to be named as treasurer. 5 — The executive committee is to be increased to twenty, the additional ten being named by the A. E. A. di- rectors. 6 — Frank J. Rembusch is to be a member of the new executive com- mittee and chairman of it. 7 — Effective yesterday, a by-laws committee, composed of three League and three A. E. A. members, is to be appointed and William A. Brady will settle cases of dispute. Alfred Black, of the M. P. E. L., and Samuel Bullock, of the A. E. A., signed the document, with William A. Brady and J. Stuart Blackton wit- nesses. Under the consolidation, the Na- tional Association will settle all points of difference that may arise. New Officials Named The brand new association became one in more than name yesterday when the provisions of the agreement were carried out. The A. E. A. named its ten members to the new executive committee. They are: Frank Rem- busch, Indianapolis; H. Varner, Char- lotte, N. C; Dave McGee, Michigan; Fred Harrington, Pennsylvania; E. Beatty, Chicago; Byron Parks, Salt Lake City; L. H. O'Donnell, Indiana; A. B. Monand, Oklahoma; Sam Bul- lock, Ohio; I. Mosher, New York; The M. P. E. L. committee stands ?s it is. The personnel is: Lee A. Ochs. New York City; D. W. Cham- berlain, Minnesota; H. M. E. Pasme- zoglu, St. Louis; Frank Eager, Ne- braska; Alfred Hamburger, Chicago: N. C. Rice, Iowa; Thomas Furniss, Minnesota; Dr. H. Charles Hespe, New Jersey; J. H. O'Donnell, Penn- sylvania; A. S. Black, Maine. The by-laws committee consists of the following: Sam Bullock, I. Mosh- er and Frank Rembusch, appointed by the A. E. A., and Alfred Black, Lee Ochs and Ernest Horstmann, of the M. P. E. L. The four vice-presidents appointed by the A. E. A. are H. Trinz, Samuel Trigger, Percy Wells and Peter Jeup. Although the big event was the per- fection of the amalgamation, the ses- sion was marked by a series of ad- dresses. D. J. Crittenberger, manager of the Motion Picture Insurance Bu- reau, Indianapolis, spoke on insur- ance. Charles S. Hart, head of the Divi- sion of Films of th^ Committee on Public Information, carried a message from President Wilson to the exhib- itors who asked the showmen to co- operate in the showing of Govern- ment films. Other speakers were D. K. Niles, of the Department of Labor, who asked for a plan to spread labor propa- ganda by way of the screen, and Lewis J. Selznick, who expressed faith in the new body and offered $250 for the exhibitor who brings in the great- est number of new members to the amalgamated body. To Change Quarters Division of Films to Move to West 48th Street Building The Division of Films of the Com- mittee on Public Information which is now located in the Times Building will change its quarters on or about October 1 to the building at 6 West 48th street, where the First National and Paralta offices are now located. At the present time, the Division of Films occupies part of the ninth- and tenth floors as well as the twen- tieth. It also has the entire twenty- third floor. The purpose in changing to the 48th Street Building is to se- cure more room and to house all the departments near each other. The Division will take the fourth, sixth and seventh floors of the building. .. Thursday, September 5, 1918 Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- Bide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vamderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes There will be a trade showing of Ivan Abramson's "Ashes of Love," made for the Graphic Film Corp., at the New York theatre roof next Tues- day afternoon at 2.30 o'clock. Carle E. Carleton, managing direc- tor of the En L'Air Cinema, Ltd., an- nounces that the company has bought from the publishers rights to "En L'Air," upon which their new picture is based. The first of a series of "pictures with a purpose" to be produced by Lloyd Carleton Productions, Los An- geles, is a six-reel drama entitled "Mother I Need You," featuring Enid Markey, Edward Coxen and a cast of well-known players. Carl Laemmle, of Universal, has just received from J. L. Meyberg, per- sonal representative of the War De- partment Commission on Training Camp Activities a letter expressing the highest appreciation of the serv- ice Mr. Laemmle has rendered in ob- taining Smileage for men in Uncle Sam's service. He recently sent out strong appeals to all Universal ex- changes enlisting their co-operation in getting contributions to this fund from the exhibitors. "Autoless" Sunday Helps CHICAGO.— Moving picture the- atres throughout the city report a marked increase in attendance at the Sunday matinee and evening perfor- mances, due to the first "autoless" Sunday. Many houses on the west and north side of the city had hold- out crowds with no unusual features billed, something that has not been known since the opening of several theatres. Glenn Harper Replies Another Version of Dispute Over Goldwyn Branch Manager Glenn Harper, secretary of the The- atre Owners' Association, Inc., of Los Angeles who has represented that or- ganization in the dispute over the re- moval of Goldwyn s Los Angeles branch manager, requests the publica- tion of the following letter "in justice to the- exhibitors of Southern Califor- nia": August 28, 1918. Editor, Wid's, New York City. Dear Sir: An article, which very evidently emanated from the offices of the Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, appeared in various trades pa- pers of Aug. 17th issue, in which it was stated that twelve Los Angeles exchange managers had congratulated Goldwyn for their stand in refusing to grant the request made by the Theatre Owners' Association to remove their local branch manager. It is quite clear that the Goldwyn Distribut- ing Corporation has endeavored to center our attack on the action of one local exhibitor, whereas the facts are entirely different. This association, which represents 90 per cent, of the exhibitors of southern California, upon re- ceiving a complaint, investigates it fully be- fore taking any action. Arbitration of this particular case was denied by Goldwyn, and the matter temporarily dropped. However, several complaints followed immediately from other exhibitors, and after arbitration on these was also denied,, the aforementioned request was made. The combative and arbitrary spirit with which Goldwyn met this request is plainly shown in the article published. In conclusion, I might state that even the most casual reader, the motive prompting the signatures of these twelve exchange managers to the above mentioned article, is quite ap- parent, although we have not found it neces- sary so far to repeat this action with other branch managers. Yours very trulv, Glenn harper, Secretary. Names Railroad Picture David Horsley has selected a name for his feature picture which is to advocate the continuance of Govern- ment ownership of railroads after the war. The title of the production is "For the Period of the War," and is taken from' a title ot the agreement which the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen have with the Government under which they will not go on strike for any reason while the war is in progress. Cohen Denies Report Says Exhibitors Have not Pledged Support to Smith The story published in one of the morning papers yesterday to the ef- fect that various branches of the the- atrical and motion picture professions and industries would meet to organ- ize the Alfred E. Smith Theatrical League was denied yesterday by Syd- ney S. Cohen, president of the Mo- tion Picture Exhibitors' League of the State of New York. Mr. Cohen, who is in New York at present and not attending the con- vention at Chicago, as was generally thought, sent a letter signed by him- self, Sam Berman, secretary, and Charles L. O'Reilly, chairman of the Law and Legislation Committee to this paper asking that his denial be printed. Mr. Cohen's letter said in part : "From this article, anyone unfa- miliar with the situation, would be led to believe that the theatrical and motion picture professions have or- ganized the 'Alfred E. Smith The- atrical League.' As president of the M. P. E. L. of N. Y., I wish to deny this statement, as no arrangement has been effected in any way. "Our organization is keeping in very close touch with the political de- velopments throughout the State and proposes to issue a call shortly for a state-wide conference to discuss the situation in all its phases." Wanamaker to Have Studio John Wanamaker is to have a mo- tion picture studio in New York. He has had plans filed for the conversion of a three-story stable at the north- west corner of Park avenue and 175th street into a studio, Thomas W. Lamb, architect, estimates the cost of the alterations at $40,000. Metro has finished its last Liberty Loan picture, making five in all, star- ring Mme. Nazimova, Ethel Barry- more, Edith Storey, Emily Stevens and Harold Lockwood. Censorship Regulations _ The following additional instruc- tions have been issued to exporters by Collector of Customs Byron R. New- ton governing censorship of films by the department: 1. Where a negative is to be cen- sored for export, a positive print must accompany same, so that the censor may have a proper opportunity to cen- sor the picture. 2. A representative from the ship- per should be present to assist in the repacking, so as to verify shipment, and be sure that the contents of the case are correct. 3. When positive prints containing flash titles are to be censored, a copy of the title sheet must accompany same. 4. A shipping list showing the con- tents of each case shall be packed inside the case, so that the censor may verify the contents. 5. Each reel must be separately packed in a tin or any fireproof con- tainer. Cresson E. Smith is representing Metro at the Chicago convention. He is district manager for the central states. tM^ DAILY Thursday, September 5, 1918 From the Courts Louise Dupre Seeks Divorce — Suit Against Fox Dismissed Mrs. Louise D. Terrill, film actress under the name of Louise Dupre, has filed suit in the Supreme Court for a divorce from Wallace Lee Terrill, formerly musical director for the "Military Maids," and this year en- gaged for "Aviators," in which the plaintiff accuses her husband of mis- conduct with Tessie A. Nozworthy. She will receive $10 a week alimony under an order of Supreme Court Justice Guy pending the trial of the suit. Her husband objected to paying alimony on the ground that she earned $75 a week with the Epic Pic- ture Co., but Mrs. Terrill says she has been too ill to work for months. An order has been signed in the Supreme Court dismissing a suit by the City of New York against the William Fox Productions Co. to re- cover a personal taxl!«on an assessment for $1,500 in 1915. Herbert Leitstein, auditor of the corporation, testified that the Fox company named had no property during the year when the assessment was made because it went out of business in 1913. Henry E. Kendolf and William Fox were named as defendants yesterday in a Supreme Court action begun by Rogers & Rogers, attorneys. They are suing Kendolf and Fox for $2,500. The complaint alleges the attorneys were engaged by the defendants to organize a corporation for the manu- facture of moving picture films. Rog- ers & Rogers say they organized the Rochester Film Products Company and that $2,500 is due for their profes- sional services. The defendants deny this sum is due. James Faust yesterday filed a judg- ment for $345 in the Supreme Court against Lew M. Fields and Edward Margolies. The complaint alleged that Fields made his note for $2,323 on June 15, 1914, payable to Margolies in four months. Margolies transferred the note to Faust for value. The note was protested, but subsequently all of it was paid on account except the balance sued for. Jack Le Lacy- Van Epps resigned as assistant director with World Film on Saturday, after completing "Snug Harbor," the Madge Evans picture directed by Tefft Johnson. He is now assisting John G. Adolfi in the making of Frank Carroll's Edith Cavell feature at the Ideal stu- dio. Has the Right Dope Princess Theatre Company Odebolt, Iowa August 27, 1918. Mr. Wid Gunning, New York City. Dear Sir: — Once again I take pleasure in sending you a money order for $10 in payment for WID'S for the coming year. Let me say that your editorials alone are worth the money, especially such articles as "Who's Your Boss?" Your publication is of value to exhibitors only so long as you show partiality to no one, so keep the good work up. You sure have the right dope when you say that dates should be kept open for specials, for the said specials are all the go nowadays in the smallest towns as well as in the cities. For this reason it seems that special at- tention might be given to spe- cials in your reviews. I for one hardly glance at your reviews of the ordinary features for the reason we don't run them any more. We run big stuff every other week for two days such as "Over the Top," "My Four Years in Ger- many," "Tarzan," etc., and con- centrate our advertising on said specials. We run some features, of course, and the best of the short reels, but do not need ad- vertising helps on the latter. All the help you can give us then on the specials comes in mighty handy. Wishing you continued suc- cess with WID'S. Sincerely yours, O. W. LARSON. N. A. M. P. I. to Aid Draft Law The National Association of the Motion Picture Industry has received a request from the United States Chamber of Commerce to aid in the distribution of all necessary publicity relative to the rules and regulations of the new Selective Service Law call- ing for the registration of all men be- tween the ages of 18 and 45 on Sep- tember 12. The Committee on Public Informa- tion is preparing several posters giv- ing full information relative to the draft regulations and these posters will be distributed to all of the mem- bers of the United States Chamber of Commerce for re-distribution among their members. For General Release "America's Answer" to Reach Small Houses in October "America's Answer," the second of the "Following the Flag to France" series, will be ready for distribution to the picture houses early in October. It is to be released, according to Den- is J. Sullivan, distribution manager of the Division of Films, under condi- tions that will permit the public to see this important war film at regular pic- ture theatre prices, and at the same time give the exhibitors a fair profit without raising their admission fees. Only theatres that agree not to raise their prices will be permitted to book the Government's feature film. "One thing must constantly be borne in mind by all concerned," said Mr. Sullivan. "The Government pic- tures are not issued as a money-mak- ing proposition. It is, of course, nec- essary that they should produce at least sufficient income to meet the heavy expense entailed in their pro- duction. The real purpose of the war film is to stir up interest in the war, and by showing what is being accom- plished by our armies on the other side, to stimulate war production and a generally helpful interest in all the Government's war activities." First Picture "The Nurse" CHICAGO.— Kitty Gordon, who is here with her sister Vera Beresford, en route to the Coast where the two will appear in tfie United .Picture production, announced that the first feature will be called "The Nurse." Allegory in Blackton Film J. Stuart Blackton's "The Common Cause" will open with an allegorical prologue presented by five stars: Ju- lia Arthur as Italy, Violet Heming as Great Britain, Marjorie Rambeau as America, Mrs. Vernon Castle as France and Effie Shannon as Bel- gium. New Wehlen Vehicle Selected Emmy Wehlen, who has just re- turned from a vacation in the moun- tains, will start a new Metro picture Monday in the Sixty-first street stu- dios. The name of the film is "Syl- via Goes on a Spree." It was written by E. Forst. Harry Franklin will di- rect, assisted by Fred Warren. Slacker Round-up Continued The round-up of suspected slackers was continued yesterday throughout the film section. The Universal of- fices were entered yesterday as well as on Tuesday. At the United offices a sailor entered dramatically and placed Horace Judge under arrest. Horace passed thirty-one when films were in their infancy. Thursday, September 5, 1918 DAILY Old Situations Made Entertaining by Star and Treatment Mae Murray in "MODERN LOVE" Mae Murray Prod. — Universal DIRECTOR Robert Leonard AUTHOR F. McGrew Willis SCENARIO BY F. McGrew Willis CAMERAMAN Allan Seigler AS A WHOLE Sex meller involving old situations, made pleasing by atmosphere and appealing characterization of star. STORY The old stuff of the wronged gel being denounced by her lover when he learns her past and finding happiness with another when she proves her innocence. DIRECTION Developed characterizations effec= tively and hurdled delicate situations nicely. Handling and atmosphere in hotel sequence was excellent. Provided many good touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very pleasing LIGHTINGS Generally very good; kept to soft, even lightings throughout with rather pleas= ing effect. CAMERA WORK Very good with nice composi= tion on sets. STAR Is very pretty and characterization will win audience. SUPPORT Well balanced throughout; although Chesebro overplayed at times. EXTERIORS Kept to atmosphere. Not many INTERIORS Very good with excellent detail in hotel set. DETAIL Generally very good although would have been better not to show painting which didn't register as 'masterpiece'. CHARACTER OF STORY Gets nearly naughty in hotel sequence but shouldn't offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5640 feet CERTAINLY, they can't claim that this story has got anything new, for the Lord only knows how many times we've had these identical situations in the past, but because Director Bob Leonard has given us a classy production and one that enables Miss Murray to appear to excellent advantage and express a variety of emotions effectively, I think the average gang is going to figure this good entertainment. I want to give Director Bob Leonard credit for developing a very good bit of suspense in the way he handled the character of Philo McCullough, the quiet willun who did the doity woik in this. We had our suspicions at the start that Philo was going to turn out to be an old lover of Mae's who had started her on the road to ruin, and they slipped us quite a surprise in a later sequence showing that Mae wasn't really ruined after all, although everything pointed that way. Miss Murray is presented in this as a stranded show girl who is about to land a good part when she learns that willun Philo is to be her leading man and beats it before he sees her. Later, through an accidental meeting with an artist model, she meets George Chesebro, who likes Mae and gets her to pose for him. Arthur Shirley, a friend of George's, also becomes in- fatuated with Mae, but withdraws when he notes her love for "Chese." After George and Mae have an- nounced their engagement, along comes willun Philo and slips "Chese" the dirt— that he and Mae had once "registered as man and wife." "Chese" gives Mae the air and she asks to be invited to Arthur Shirley's party, that she may forget her woe. When Arthur and Mae are alone she tells him of her broken engagement and her real experiences in the hotel with willun are described in a vision, it being established that willun had registered as man and wife when circumstances had made it necessary for them to remain at a country hotel for the night, although she did not know about it until Philo came in her room and started to do the rough act, which was thwarted by the proprietor who heard the noise. Of course, Arthur and Mae get married and they finish with a flash of the happy couple and their baby, a year later. They had the kid in a tub, and he was sure a cute little rascal. This ending is not new, but is nearly always sure-fire audience stuff and the little feller Bob picked out for this will get many chuckles. Aside from one incident in the bed-room sequence, which I would advise you to eliminate — the scene where willun Philo looks significantly at the bed just before he decides to get rough — this situation had been handled in such a way that I don't think it will offend. The incident mentioned can and should be cut as it is rather a bold and unnecessary stroke. Director Leonard gave us some excellent atmosphere in the vision explaining the hotel incident and kept the production generally classy throughout. The hotel proprietor was a good character and the three prominent male roles were very capably handled. Claire Du Brey was good as the artist model friend and Mrs. A. E. Wright completed the cast. Is Not Big But Should Satisfy Generally The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I think that Mae Murray is quite a favorite in most communities and you are safe in making quite a fuss about her in this for she is beautiful and appealing all the way and has been given many good moments. This fact, coupled with the effective way in which Director Bob Leonard has dressed up the old situations presented in this, should make it register as pleasing entertainment anywhere. Understand, this isn't to be classed as big and doesn't warrant any extravagant claims, but it will satisfy as a regular program attraction arid isn't so overburdened with sex stuff that you need have any fear of presenting it in a respectable community. I would concentrate on the presence of Miss Murray, connecting her name and photo with the titles of some of her recent productions you have played. You might use catch lines like these: "Would you marry a man who demanded proof other than your own statement that your past had been clean? See Mae Murray in 'Modern Love'." "If you were denounced by your future husband on the eve of your proposed marriage, would you want to be alone or would you seek consolation in the company of friends at a happy party? See Mae Murray, in 'Modern Love'." 7j£?BRADSTREET of FILKDOM 7/fcRKOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 119 Friday, September 6, 1918 Price 5 Cents REVIVE TAX QUESTION AT CHICAGO Lee General Manager Exhibitors Want 5% on Rentals and 10% on Admis- sions— Select William A. Brady to Present Their Case CHICAGO.— The reel tax was the important question at yesterday's ses- sion of exhibitors. Frank Rembusch, Maurice Choy- noski and Sam Bullock were the spokesmen. Later the number was augmented by Herman Trinz and Herman Brown. Brown stated the case from the exhibitors' angle very clearly. He said the 15-cent reel tax was meant for the exhibitor and not the manu- facturer and that it was unfortunate that the exhibitors had never pre- sented their case at Washington. He urged that a move be made asking Congress to make the war tax 5 per cent, on rentals and 10 per cent, ad- missions. This taxation, he said, was the limit for the exhibitor. Some of the exhibitors said the proper person to act fo: them on the tax question was William A. Brady, and accordingly a telegram was sent to Mr. Brady requesting his attention to the tax problem from the exhibitors' angle. Edgar Lewis, the producer, spoke in the afternoon on the manufactur- ers' angle of the tax as well as pic- ture-making. Frank Tichenor of General Film, who was scheduled for an address, is seemingly holding him- self aloof. His subject was to be "ef- ficiency." The convention itself is growing cold. Now that the amalgamation is completed, there seems to be no initi- ative in carrying out the scheduled Faversham Signs Noted Actor to Appear in "The Silver King" William Faversham signed a con- tract Wednesday morning with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation to star in an elaborate production of "The Silver King," the famous old drama by Henry Arthur Jones and Henry Herman. Mr. Faversham has been identified with the stage for the past thirty years and is already known as a screen star, having appeared in two pictures sometime ago. "The Silver King" will be produced in one of the eastern studios of the Famous Players-Lasky organization and work on the screening will com- mence September 12. The film will be released as a Paramount-Artcraft spe- cial. Will Have Charge of Sales for Anita Stewart Productions Louis B. Mayer has appointed Jo- seph F. Lee general sales manager for the Anita Stewart Productions. Lee has been associated with Mayer for several years as his New York representative and has been very ac- tive since the taking over of the for- mer Vitagraph star. Another appointment by Mayer is that of Richard MacFarland, former- ly with Lubin, as general manager of productions. Mr. MacFarland will be with the company at all times. During the coming week it is ex- pected that the Anita Stewart Pro- ductions will close for a half floor in one of the buildings adjacent to Fifth avenue, where the New York headquarters of the company will be. Clara Kimball Young, Select star, is now in Chicago. She will appear at the ball to be given to-night for the benefit of the Great Lakes Train- ing Station. MUTUAL GETS AFFILIATED FILMS Contract Closed for Physical Handling of Product— Release Date for First to be Soon Lincoln are the fea A contract between Affiliated Dis- tributors Corporation and the Mutual Film Corporation has just been com- pleted whereby the product of the Affiliated to be released through the exhibitors' co-operative plan gives the Mutual Film Corporation the shipping and physical distribution of Affiliated films. The contract was signed after a . conference between Henry A. Brink, program. Well-known film men are president of the Affiliated, and James leaving Chicago daily. Alfred Black, John Manheimer and Ernest Horst- mann, as well as others, of the M. P. E. L., are on their way to New York. In the meantime, the by-laws com- mittee is perfecting laws for the amalgamation. It is expected that a call will be issued for all the visitors to listen to the committee report, but it is doubtful if many will attend. M. Sheldon of Mutual in Chicago. The closing of this deal is another indication of the vogue of co-opera- tive booking, in view of the fact that one of the oldest and largest dis- tributing corporations has recognized its worth. The first Affiliated production to be thus released is Leonce Perret's pa- triotic spectacle, "Lafayette, We Come!" (Pershing, '17). Dolores Cas- sineli and E. K. tured players. This production was shown to the exhibitors at the Chicago Convention. Definite announcement of the date of release will be made shortly. Dewees Is in New York W. P. Dewees, general manager of the First National Exhibitors' ex- change at Vancouver, B. C, is in New York for a week. Mr. Dewees is also the general manager of the United Theatres, Ltd., of Western Canada, a pewerful circuit of theatres in the Dominion. Mr. Dewees is in the city to look over the present crop of First Na- tional attractions and also to arrange with the William Fox interests for the showing of Fox Standard pictures on the circuit for the coming season. Friday, September 6, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS A FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; C months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vamderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes Nazimova stopped work yesterday on " 'Ception Shoals" to make her Liberty Loan feature for the Fourth Liberty Loan drive. It will be called "A Woman of France" and is said to have a surprise finish. Albert Ca- pellani is directing it. Essanay announces that its new Charlie Chaplin film, "Triple Trou- ble" has broken booking records for that company, exceeding all the Chaplin releases by Essanay, for the same period it has been on the mar- ket. H. H. Brownell has been selected by Mutual as branch manager at Portland, Oregon, succeeding F. M. Hamburger, who has resigned to take the management of a Portland the- atre. Ted L. Serr will assist Mr. Brownell as chief road man. Metro has selected a story by Fred- erick Orin Bartlett as a vehicle for Bert Lytell. The scenario is being prepared by Albert Kenyon and George Baker. The direction will be in charge of Charles Swickard. Ralph Ince states that his brother John really deserves the credit for the direction of "Her Man," which prom- ises to be a winner. It seems that although Ralph was at the head of the producing company at the time the film was marie John was the ac- tual working director. Brandt's Tour of Exchanges Joe Brandt of the Universal will start on Saturday for a month's trip across the continent visiting all the exchanges of the company. The sell- ing force of the Universal has been weakened in spots because of the draft and Mr. Brandt intends to bol- ster up the offices that need support. B. S. MOSS TO PRODUCE AGAIN First Picture Will be Feature Based on Modernized Version of "Just Break the News to Mother" B. S. Moss closed a contract with Charles K. Harris, the music pub- lisher, yesterday, for the picture rights to his famous Spanish War song, "Just Break the News to Mother." This will mark the re-advent of B. S. Moss in the picture producing field from which he retired several years ago to give his entire attention to his theatres, after having produced about a half dozen features, among which were "Three Weeks" and "One Day." Moss has also closed with John Lopez to direct the production for him. Lopez has just completed a screen version of Cosmo Hamilton's "Sins of the Children" for Harry Rapf. Shifting Managers Harry H. Hicks, now manager of Select's San Francisco branch, will be transferred to the Seattle office about the middle of September. J. S. Woody, temporarily in charge of the Seattle exchange, will move eastward, visiting other branches in his capac- ity as field manager. H. L. Knappen, now at Denver, will succeed Mr. Hicks in San Francisco, Sept. 9, and the Denver office will be conducted by H. E. Lotz. Bill Brady is a likely candidate for the next Nobel peace prize. Kosch Issues Denial Says "Mothers of Liberty" Was Not "The Ordeal" Originally Harry G. Kosch has requested the publication of the following statement in reply to an advertisement wherein Samuel Rosendorf warns the trade in general against the playing of "Moth- ers of Liberty," which Rosendorf says was originally "The Ordeal." Mr. Kosch says: "The facts in this advertisement are incorrect, especially the statement that 'Mothers of Liberty' was origi- nally the feature 'The Ordeal' and that the picture contains parts of reels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of 'The Ordeal.' The picture 'The Ordeal' had no sixth reel. "The negative of 'The Ordeal' was purchased and is owned by the Royal Cinema Corp., and 'Mothers of Lib- erty' contains about 2,100 feet of the old picture 'The Ordeal' and very properly so. "I also doubt very much Mr. Rosen- dorf's statement that he controls the exclusive rights of distribution of the picture as set forth in your advertise- ment and I have information in my possession showing that the Merritt Film Company, of this city, has the rights to 'The Ordeal' in Greater New York and northern New Jersey." John C. Graham Returning John C. Graham, special represen- tative of Paramount-Artcraft foreign department, is due in New York next week from Chili. He undertook the South Amreican trip about three months ago and has established of- fices in Santiago. Outdoor Shows for Loan Drive There is a special move underway to provide at least twelve outdoor film shows for the Liberty Loan Drive in New York. The plan is to show appropriate films at certain centers to attract crowds and encourage the sale of bonds. Opens to Good Crowd CHICAGO. — "Crashing Through to Berlin," the Universal war film, opened for a week's engagement at the Auditorium, Sunday. Many peo- ple viewed the six reels of fight stuff on the opening day and no doubt it will enjoy a good run in connection with the crowds attending the U. S. War Exhibition at Grant Park. tM^ DAILY Friday, September 6, 1918 Los Angeles Jottings Bill Parsons as a Host — Montgom- ery and Rock Finish Comedy By SAM H. COMLY LOS ANGELES.— Bill Parsons proved the other night that he is a as good a host as he is a comedian. Messieurs Jessen, Guy Price, Ike St. John, G. P. Harleman, Verne Hard- in Porter and Sam Comly all testi- fied to Bill's skill in staging stag din- ners. May he live long and never grow thin. Montgomery and Rock have just finished their first Vitagraph two-reel comedy, entitled, "Ministers and Mat- rimony." We predict it will create a riot wherever shown. Roy A. Mc- Cray has -been appointed director for this company and is busily engaged producing these comedies, which are written by the stars, Montgomery and Rock. Roy Clements, one of the best known directors on the west coast, formerly of Universal and Dustin Far- num's company, has been engaged by Production Manager O. L. Sellers, of Triangle, to direct Belle Bennett at their' Culver City studio. Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran are still turning out their Jazz comedies at the Universal studio. Since direct- ing themselves a great improvement has been noticed in the boys' work. The comedies are now being shown in many first-class houses in Los An- geles. R. William Neil, the director of the Ince studios, has joined the ranks of the Benedicts. Miss Betty McCla- gan is the person who from hence on is star in the Neil household. Here's wishing them all happiness. Bryant Washburn, under the direc- tion of Walter Edwards, is rapidly finishing at Morosco studio his pro- duction of the stage play, "The Gypsy Trail." Mr. Washburn's first appear- ance with the Paramount-Artcraft will be in the featured role of C. B. de- Mille's latest special production. It is the first time that one player has been featured above another in a de- Mille special. Donovan With Vitagraph Frank P. Donovan, who was until recently directing comedies for the Diamond Comedy Company of New Orleans, La., has joined the Vitagraph staff at the Brooklyn studio. Dono- van is directing two-reel comedies re- leased under the Big V label. He is at work on "The Amateur Champion." In the cast are Walter Hall, Pearl Shepard, George Humbert, Florence Curtis and Don Barclay. Via Western Union August 23, 1915. Wid Gunning, 71 W. 44th St., New York. Our organization not complete without Daily. Monday's copy not received. Rush! Sisk and James. Cherokee, Iowa, Ten Years' Lease Two Theatres Go to Syn- dicate at High Rental CHICAGO.— Harry C. Moir, pres- ident of the Morrison Hotel Com- pany, has leased the Rose theatre, 63 West Madison street, and the Alca- zar, 69 West Madison street, to a syn- dicate of motion picture operators, each for a term of ten years from May 1, 1919, at an aggregate rental of $200,000 for the Rose and $250,- 000 for the Alcazar. The new lessees will spend up- wards of $100,000, it is said, remodel- ing the two houses. The combined seating capacity of both houses is about 700. They are located in the building just east of the Morrison Hotel, one of the busiest sections of the city. The hotel company still re- tains the Boston theatre on Clark street. Harry Miller is manager of all three houses. Koppel Manages Riviera CHICAGO.— J. B. Koppel has been appointed manager of the beautiful new Balaban & Katz theatre, the Ri- viera, located at Broadway and Law- rence avenue. Mr. Koppel is one of the oldest managers in Chicago, having presid- ed over the destinies of Finn & Ry- man's North Shore theatre for sev- eral years, leaving that position to open the Calo theatre for the Ascher brothers in 1915. Mr. Koppel also opened the Adephi for the latter firm and under his management its patron- age grew to surprising proportions. He enters upon his new work with the best wishes of his former em- ployers. Brady Back From Chicago William A. Brady returned from Chicago yesterday morning. He was in conference with Lee Shubert sev- eral hours, but refused to make any statement whatever regarding the Chicago Convention or anything else pertaining to the well-known M. P. industry. For Closer Unions Representatives of Ten Ex- changes Form Organization INDIANAPOLIS— Representatives of ( ten motion picture exchanges in Indianapolis, at a meeting last week at the Chamber of Commerce, formed an organization known as the Board of Motion Picture Exchange Man- agers. The new organization was per- fected with a view of furthering the interests of the exchange men by a mutual exchange of ideas. The of- ficers are: President, J. G. Connor, of the Mutual; vice-president, H. M. White, of the World; secretary, R. G. Brusch, of the Chamber of Commerce, and treasurer, Floyd Brown, of H. Lieber & Company. The board plans to co-operate with similar organiza- tions in some of the other large cities. Arrow Film Sales Arrow Film Corp. has sold the rights to "The Huns Within Our Gates" for six southern states to the Criterion Film Service in Atlanta, the New England territory having been disposed of to R. D. Marson Attrac- tions of Boston. "Her Aviator" has been sold to the Day Film Corp. for western Pennsylvania and West Vir- ginia and to the Sipe Film Co. of At- lanta for the southern territory. Thomas Toby has secured "The Fin- ger of Justice" for New Jersey. Retires From Committee At the luncheon of the A. M. P. A. held yesterday at Rector's, Arthur James of the Metro tendered his res- ignation as a member of the Banquet Committee because of pressing mili- tary duties. He will leave with the Machine Battalion of the 7th Regi- ment on a training trip and therefore will be unable to attend to his duties as a member of the committee. Charles Barrell was appointed to re- place him. The committee will hold an important meeting the first part of next week with William A. Brady present. Friday, September 6, 1918 DAILY Old Idea with New Twists and Great Comedy Titles. Is Pleasing Jewel Carmen in "LAWLESS LOVE" Excel — Fox DIRECTOR Robert Thornby AUTHOR Max Brand SCENARIO BY Olga Printzlau CAMERAMAN Frank Good AS A WHOLE Has good twists and excepting a few weak spots, registers as better than aver= age western comedy=drama. Some sure=fire titles help immensely. STORY The old idea of Shero being kept prisoner by bad man until she learns to love him, with new twists. DIRECTION. .... .Allowed a few discrepancies but gen= erally made 'this register very satisfactorily. Handled star to excellent advantage. PHOTOGRAPHY Good straight stuff; generally satisfactory. LIGHTINGS Varied from fine to ordinary. Gen= erally too uniform; no attempt for effects. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Pretty, made characterization register and was given titles which helped role consider= ably. SUPPORT Woodward very good. Others satis= factory except a few crepe beards which jarred and Nance characters didn't belong. EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; some picturesque shots. INTERIORS Satisfactory DETAIL A few discrepancies and Nance sequence would be better left out. CHARACTER OF STORY Is inoffensive and has popular appeal. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION f: .About 5,000 feet I WANT to congratulate whoever cooked up the titles for this one. With the exception of one or two which overreached, we had some real gems in this, and they contributed considerable to the offerings. They started this off with a rather good situation. We found Shero Jewel Carmen and her dancing part- ner, Edward Hearn, stranded in an Arizona town when the "burlesque" show they were with blew up and not having the wherewithal to return to the bright-lights, Shero thinks up the happy idea of having Edward im- personate a bad bandit who was wanted, the idea being for her to capture him and get the reward. As per their arranged plans, Shero takes the stage and when the bandit sticks it up she starts to go through with the remainder of the act. When she pulls her gun, however, the bandit shoots her in the wrist and com- mands her to get off the stage, ordering the driver to beat it. Miss Carmen puts over some very good scenes where she starts to give the bandid the riot act, still thinking him to be Edward. He is still masked and refuses to speak, taking her to his cabin. We have considerable business between the two in the cabin, but Shero doesn't get hep until Edward, who had missed his cue, comes in with his hands tied. Of course, this didn't convince, but I don't think anybody is going to criticise it because it was amusingly handled. In the subsequent action, in which the bandit's gang comes in and makes demands upon Shero, Edward proves himself a coward and is kicked out by the dom- inating and feared leader when he comes in and dis- perses the gang. The bandit keeps Shero prisoner althoagn he makes no demands upon her and after a week or more, we see Shero meeting Edward, who has gained the confidence of the gang, and they plan to escape. When he sug- gests looting the cabin before they leave, however, she turns against him, her regard for the bandit having grown to strong admiration. That night, while attempting to escape alone', she overhears a plan of the gang to take their leader un- awares and decides to return and warn him. In the meantime he has returned from the city with some clothes and luxuries for her and when she sees this she decides that she loves him and then we have the usual situation of the two in the cabin holding off the gang in a rather exciting gun fight. The bandit and Shero escape on a horse and we iris out on the two riding over the crest of a hill. We had some business in the first reel with a couple of Nance characters which I would certainly cut. It isn't funny ana will be dis- gusting to many. We had a painted backing in one interior shot which would have gotten by in a flash, but was held on so long that it will be picked out by most folks. This offered a capital role for Miss Carmen, who reg- istered all the way. Henry Woodward, as the bandit, was very good and Edward Hearn put over his role satisfactorily except for his fakey beard in the final reels. Play Up Miss Carmen and Emphasize Comedy Element with Catchlines The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Although there are several loose spots in the story of this, it lias been played chiefly for comedy and as such it is going to register big with the great eighty percent. I think your folks are going to like Miss Carmen better in this than in anything she has done recently because the role offers her splendid opportuni- ties and she has made the most of them. The titles are unusually good and will get many laughs. As the title of this is liable to suggest wild, blood-and- thunder western meller to the large majority, I would lay considerable stress on the fact that this is chiefly comedy, with many good touches and a pleasing ro- mantic thread. Of course, this has shooting and all the usual meller incidents but the comedy element predom- inates and the titles relieve the melodramatic moments in such a way that the film, as a whole, will leave your audiences in a happy frame of mind. If Miss Carmen is a favorite in your community, I would give her considerable prominence in my advertis- ing on this, because I have a hunch that she is going to impress very favorably in the role of the hard-boiled acterine who reforms when true love comes. You might stir up interest with catchlines like these: "If you met a bold, bad bandit who read Browning and Shakespeare, would you become interested? See Jewel Carmen in 'Lawless Love'." "Do you believe that the best way to win a girl's love is by 'treat- 'em- rough' methods? Get some pointers from 'Lawless Love'." ZfeBRADSTREET of FILWDOM DAlbY^ 7/pRECOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 120 Saturday, September 7, 1918 Price 5 Cents ALLIED CENSORSHIP IS REMOVED Deputy Collector Lamb Makes Official Declar- ation—Order Became Effective Yesterday An official announcement was made yesterday by Acting Deputy Collector G. F. Lamb that censorship on ex- ported film when it is designed for the Allied countries has been removed. The letter sent to the trade above Mr. Lamb's signature is as follows: "Please note that commencing Fri- day, Sept. 6, moving picture films in- tended to be exported to England, its Dominions, colonies and possessions, France and Italy need not be submit- ted for censorship." Although this action is heralded with elation by the exporter, the de- cision to remove censorship comes as no surprise to the trade. Some time back when William A. Brady, David P. Howells and Paul H. Cromelin went to Washington to confer with the officials there, it was pointed out that censorship to our Allies availed the Government nothing. When the censoring of motion pic- ture films was made operative, it was clearly designed to control shipments to neutrals that bordered on the Ger- man Empire. It is particularly grati- fying to exporters to learn that what had been forecast months previously has now been carried out as first out- lined in Washington. With the official approval granted, the press is permitted to speak more liberally of export matters. In the trade, yesterday, several exporters were eager to ascertain whether or not, the new ruling is to be followed by additional rulings affecting licenses. It can be stated quite definitely that exporters must still apply to Washing- ton for licenses from the War Trade Board before shipping space will be alloted. The censorship removal emanated from the Customs Depart- ment and in no way affects the license question which is a matter strictly within the jurisdiction of the War Board. The third body, the Committee on Public Information, which, with the Custom Department and the War Trade Board, makes up the necessary authority to sanction exporting will still demand an itemized account of the character of the films which are intended for shipment. The provi- sion calling for twenty per cent, edu- cational matter is still effective. A peculiar development in yester- day's news was re\ ealed in Austra- lian cables. This condition, however, applies only to a par' of the export trade. The Commonwealth Govern- ment has passed a law, which is liken- ed to an existing statute in England. This law provides ^hat when motion picture films \ cfa have been cen- scored in Austra are to be returned to the original S' _:der, an import li- cense must first ' secured from the shipper's country It means that if a film sent to Aus- tralia after being censored here is likewise censored upon arrival and is found objectionable, it must be sent back to America. But first .n im- port license must be secured from the American Government before Aus- tralia will allow the film to be ship- ped. Millard Johnson of Australasian Films, Ltd., who received this news yesterday, is attempting to prove to the Government that when a film is sent from Australia to this country, it is not being imported but returned to its original shipper. Of course, the exporter's objectioi is that an un- necessary amount of trouble must be gone to in getting the import license and cabling it to Australia. Vitagraph Executives Confer Executives of the Vitagraph dis- tributing organization held a confer- ence at the home office this week preparatory to the inauguration of Vi- tagraph's new Blue Ribbon feature booking policy, Sept. 30. Walter W. Irwin, general manager, called the meeting, which w;e reported to the advertisers on Thursday. The dinner#will be given under the auspices of the National Association and managed by the As- sociated Motion Picture Advertisers. Publicity Stunts A. A. Alperstein, of Western Photo- plays, who has returned from Chicago enthusiastic over the uniting of ex- hibitor factions, is preparing some sensational publicity stunts in con- nection with his new feature, "The Wolves of Kultur," to be released Oct. 13. iM% AIUY Friday, September 13, 1918 From St. Louis Harry Strickland Appointed Man- ager of General Film Office ST. LOUIS.— Harry Strickland, for the past six years road man for the General, has received confirmation from the New York office appointing him manager of the St. Louis office of General Film. Lester Bona, for several years booker at the General, has joined the United States Marines. Paul Bush, general manager of the Goldwyn forces, has sent in his resig- nation, and has not as yet announced his plans for the future. Among those attending the conven- tion at Chicago were Floyd Lewis, United Theatres Company, St. Louis; Harry Redmon, Majestic theatre, East St. Louis, 111.; F. J. Fegan, manager of the St. Louis office of the Stand- ard Film Corporation, and Hector Pasmezoglu of the Congress theatre, St. Louis. The shipping clerks of St. Louis, allied with the inspectors, have re- ceived a charter from the state. Mike McLaughlin, night shipping clerk of the Pathe exchange, is head of the local organization. "To Hell With the Kaiser" opened at the Royal theatre, Sept. 8, to ca- pacity business. Charles Werner, of Metro, is handling the picture for this territory. Applies to Customs Censoring Official confirmation has been given to the forecast recently published in WID'S DAILY to the effect that re- moval of censorship to Allied coun- tries applies to customs censoring onlv. John Turk, of the Foreign Pic- ture Service of the Committee on Public Information, said yesterday that the Committee's letter of ap- proval must first be secured in ap- plying for licenses from the War Trade Board for shipments to all countries except Canada and New- foundland, as was the case hereto- fore. . However, it is the intention of the Committee to pass all pictures which it has seen at some time or other and demand censoring when the question involves a brand new picture that the Government has not seen before. The Rolfe-Houdini serial will be is- sued on the state rights plan and of- fers are now being received for ter- ritorv.. Insurance For The Exhibitor Lincoln Square Theatre Decatur, 111. Kindly send me your DAILY to Lincoln Square theatre, De- catur, 111. I am inclined to think that your DAILY is as essential to an exhibitor as the advertising of the picture. A good picture exploited in the wrong way means nothing to a theatre. Following your DAILY and gaining an intelligent interpreta- tion of a picture, or pictures, we exhibitors in most instances have never seen, means every- thing. My point of view is this, the exhibitor who means to es- tablish a permanent business cannot afford to print an un- truth about a picture, for by so doing the confidence of his buying public, the patrons, is shaken. The exhibitor who re- ceives your DAILY and learns through your reviewing the pic- ture that it is only fair can make an extra effort to build around the fair picture with a solo or something to keep up the mo- rale of his theatre. A poor picture exploited and advertised as good will do more harm than any one thing con- nected with the theatre. WID'S DAILY is insurance for any theatre owner's investment. Yours truly, NATE ERBER, Manager. Educational Expands Distributing Co. Takes Addi- tional Space for Office Room The Educational Distributing Com- pany has taken part of the twelfth floor at 2 West 45th street, for the executive offices of that concern. The company was organized in early July to handle the product of the Educa- tional Films Corporation. Charles A. Dean, who was with the National Surety Company for a considerable time, is president of the releasing or- ganization. Mr. Dean has engaged L. J. Wool- dridge, who was with the producing company for a period, as his office manager. The headquarters of the firm will be completely furnished in about two weeks. It is planned to hold these rooms as the executive offices only. There will be no exchange there and it is believed that the distributing com- pany will handle Educational films all over the country except in Greater New York and adjacent territory. The present New York exchange is at the producing company's offices, the eighth floor of the Godfrey Building. Mr. Dean, who returned from the Middle West recently, has closed for representation with the Standard Film Corporation of Kansas City in that city, St. Louis and Minneapolis. He was gone thirty-four days, in which period he covered fourteen states and completely organized the central por- tion of the country. Keeps Picture Going The Rev. Paul Smith, producer of "The Finger of Justice," has returned from Cleveland where his picture was opened at the Standard theatre for a week's run to capacity. Manager Grossman of the Standard theatre was forced to take the picture off on ac- count of the other bookings, but he leased the Duchess theatre, a larger house, that had been dark for over a year, for an extended run. BINDERS! for "WID'S DAILY" will cost $1. 75 each hereafter Totten Places Film Five-Reel Subject to Be Distributed by Arrow Corp. The Arrow Film Corporation will have the distribution of the new pic- ture in which Joseph Byron Totten is the star and director. It is a com- edy in five reels. Mr. Totten was formerly an Essanay director, who has formed a company to produce his own pictures. Arrow announces the following sales: "Her Aviator" to the Day Film Co. of Pittsburgh and to R. D. Mar- son Attractions of Boston; "The Hand of Vengeance" to the Arrow Film exchange of Philadelphia; "The Struggle Everlasting" and "The Acci- dental Honeymoon" to the Exhibit- ors' Film exchange of Washington, D. C. for Delaware. Maryland. Dis- trict of Columbia, Virginia and North Carolina. Niles Welch will support Vivian Martin in her next Paramount picture, an original story as yet unnamed, by Edith Kennedy. Friday, September 13, 1918 DAILY Artistic Suspense Romance With Patriotic Punches That Will Thrill E. K. Lincoln and Dolores Cassinelli in "LAFAYETTE, WE GOME!" Perret Prod. — Affiliated Distributors Corp. DIRECTOR Leonce Perret AUTHOR Leonce Perret SCENARIO BY Leonce Perret AS A WHOLE Classy spy mystery romance tied in with very weII=done patriotic appeal. STORY Plot thread carries excellent mystery and suspense and patriotic scenes blend very nicely. DIRECTION. .. .Artistic distinction marks atmosphere with several particularly effective human touches registered. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally excellent LIGHTINGS Many very artistic bits; generally pleasing. CAMERA WORK Very good STARS Very pleasing personalities. He fine type of American; she beautiful and appealing. SUPPORT Generally satisfactory EXTERIORS .... Some very artistic. Battle flashes well handled. • INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Several very pleasing touches CHARACTER OF STORY Has sure=fire patriotic wallops. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,800 feet WE'VE had a number of patriotic appeal subjects and some of them have been good and some bad. You are entirely safe in promising that this is a very interesting story which has a suspense mystery romance and at the same time you can register the fact that there is a patriotic appeal in this film which carries a message from France to this country and registers a visualization of Pershing's answer, "Lafayette, We Come!" Of all the patriotic appeal subjects that have been produced to date, with the exception of "Hearts of the World." this is decidedly most artistic. From the very first we see the touch of the artist's hand in beautiful exteriors and classy interiors well photographed. Throughout the film. Producer Perret has managed to maintain this artistic distinction without at any time losing the dramatic value or the patriotic wallop. E. K. Lincoln is a manly American typifying the best of Uncle Sam's boys, and Dolores Cassinelli wins imme- diately by virtue of her beauty and her very decided appeal. She will undoubtedly become a favorite be- cause she photographs very well and has poise and repose which gives her work a pleasing distinction. The story thread has. to do with the fact that Mr. Lincoln falls in love with Miss Cassinelli and then faces circumstances which force him to believe that she is an enemy spy. This suspense is very well maintained and not until the very end do we realize that she has been playing the part of the spy Princess in order to trap other conspirators. You can safely say that this is not a picture of bloody battle scenes because there are only a few battle flashes which have been very well handled and I am quite sure that no one will object to the amount of actual war that is here shown. To my mind, the most effective bit in the film is a lit- tle touch where an American soldier is shown seated in the home of French peasants with a dissolve bringing the dead son to these peasants into his place, thereby suggesting that tremendous truth of American boys tak- ing the place of French boys that have gone "West," in this terrific fight to stop the Hun. The introduction of a vignetted shot of American soldiers marching above the tomb of Lafayette is going to give your audience a thrill and set them cheering. There are many other places in the production which will have a similar result and the final tableau of the Forge of Victory will certainly top it off with a rousing yell. In the supporting cast were Emmet C. King, Ethel Winthrop, Ernest Maupain, Valentine Petit Per- ret. They'll Eat It Up But You Must Work Intelligently to Get Full Results The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I think this is a wonderful title. It has kick and a patriotic punch and when you are able to promise an interesting suspense romance in addition to a genuine patriotic thrill, it's nobody's fault but your own if you don't jam 'em in. Because of the fact that we have had some produc- tions made up principally of news weeklies and others that were rather ordinarily done so far as technique is concerned, it seems to me that it would be advisable to personally guarantee that this is an artistic production entirely worth while from every viewpoint. Your folks are going to like it after you get them in and are going to boost for you so that the only problem remaining is to get them in in the first place. Don't get any idea that they will flock to this without your working on it, because you must remember that many patriotic titles have been used and that some of the films have not come up to the mark. You might head an ad. in this : NOT A PICTURE OF WAR, BUT A THRILLING VISUALIZATION OF THE PAYMENT OF AMERICA'S DEBT TO FRANCE. AN INTERESTING SUSPENSE ROMANCE WITH PATRI- OTIC PUNCHES THAT WILL MAKE YOU GLAD YOU ARE AN AMERICAN. Since such extravagant claims have been made by the manufacturers of many ordinary war features, I would suggest that the most effective means of advertising this would be your personal endorsement. Because of the peculiar conditions which have resulted from the many hurriedly thrown together offerings, I would say that this personal recommendation is almost essential. 7jfeBftADSTREET of FILMDOM Authority Vol. V, No. 127 Saturday, September 14, 1918 Price 5 Cents ZUKOR AND GREENE ON STAND Testimony Taken in Supreme Court Suit Over the Services of G. Gardner Sullivan The testimony of Adolph Zukor and of Walter E. Greene, president of the Artcraft Pictures Corporation, taken before trial in the suit of the New York Motion Picture Corporation to recover damages because the defend- ant induced plaintiff s employees, in- cluding C. Gardner Sullivan, scenario writer, to work on the William S. Hart film, "The Narrow Trail," has been filed in the Supreme Court. The plaintiff asked for the examination of Zukor and Greene for the purpose of determining whai they had to do with inducing plaintiff's employee to work for Thomas H. Ince on the Hart films. Both witnesses denied that they knew anything about Sullivan's work or that they discussed it with Ince. Mr. Greene said that the Artcraft company is not now in existence as the result of being taken over by Famous Players-Lasky. He declared that he never saw a publicity notice sent out by John Flinn, in charge of Artcraft publicity, stating that C. Gardner Sullivan was writing the sce- nario for the first Ince production of a William S. Hart picture. He said that Flinn sends out 75 per cent, of the publicity without submitting it to anyone. He didn't read the notice in two trade papers named in the sum- mer of 1917, because he often "skip- ped" reading them for weeks at a time, he said. He said that under the contract with Ince the advance pay- ment on each of the eight pictures to be produced in a year was limited to $100,000. Questioned concerning the releases by the Famous Players- Lasky company from August, 1917, to date, he said they were 140 five-reels, 50 two-reels, and 150 single reels. He knew Sullivan had been connected with the plaintiff, but didn't know he was working for Ince, he said. Mr. Zukor testified that when he made the contract with Ince he in- sisted that Ince produce better pic- tures than in the past and he agreed to do so. No reference was made to the writer of the scenarios, Zukor said, because that matter was left entirely to Ince. "We put ourselves entirely in his hands," said Zukor. The only stipulation was that Hart was to be in the pictures, he said. Irving to Direct "Silver King" George Irving has been engaged by the Famous Players-Lasky to direct the Paramount-Artcraft special, "The Silver King," which will be started sometime next week. William Faver- sham is to play the leading role. National Anthem Day The Mayor's Committee on National Defense has designated today, September 14, National Anthem Day. Managers of picture theatres throughout New York City are requested to do their part in teaching the public the words of "The Star Spangled Banner." Co-operating with the Defense Committee, the National Asso- ciation of the Motion Picture Industry has arranged for the sending of more than 1,000 slides to theatres, large and small. Two slides have been sent to each house. One calls the at- tention of the audience to the necessity of knowing our Na- tional Anthem and the other is a slide in three colors bearing the words of "The Star Spangled Banner." The Mayor's Committee has mobilized singers to cover all of the theatres of the city. These singers have been assigned to different houses and will act as leaders in getting the audiences to sing. Going to Washington Film Men to Argue Revenue Bill Before Finance Committee • At a meeting of the Producers and Distributors branches of the National Association of the Motion Picture In- dustry in the Association rooms yes- terday afternoon, it was decided to send a delegation to Washington on Monday to appear before the Senate Finance committee to urge modifica- tions in the proposed $8,000,000,000 war revenue bill. Those who attended the meeting yesterday agreed that the revenue bill presents by far the most important question before the industry at the present time, and the association is anxious to get a large delegation of leading producers and distributors. A preliminary meeting of those who make the Washington trip will be held at the Hotel Shoreham, Monday morning at 10 o'clock to decide on a course of action. At yesterday's meeting it was deter- mined to present the needs of the in- dustry in the strongest possible terms and to show where the bill as it stands now would work great hardship. For State Rights H. C. Aitken Brings "The Mayor of Filbert" East Harry C. Aitken, president of the Triangle Producing Co., has come east with his latest picture, "The Mayor of Filbert," an eight-ncel pro- hibition propaganda picture made by Christy Cabanne, starring Jack Rich- ardson. This picture is to be placed on the state right market in place of going through the regular channel of the Triangle Distributing Corp. An office will be opened in New York for its distribution. Saturday, September 14, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS * FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DBNIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; € months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vamderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes Fritzi Brunette, the star of the Uni- versal Film Manufacturing Company, is arranging to drop her nickname and resume the real one of Florence by which she was christened, because of the teutonic character of "Fritzi." John Colton, author and dramatist, has been employed by the Gail Kane Productions to write scenarios for the remainder of the pictures of the pres- ent series now being produced by Kane for release through Mutual. Joseph Rinehart, chief technician of the Screen Telegram, the Mutual's twice a week news reel, has been called by the Fort Lee, N. J., draft board and inducted into military ser- vice at Camp Dix, N. J. The new Vitagraph stage at the Hollywood studio was formally dedi- cated with the holding of a dance last week. Tickets were one dollar and the proceeds were given to the Mo- tion Picture War Service Association for the benefit of the Base Hospital which this association aims to build in Los Angeles. Nazimova Starts New One Alia Nazimova and twenty-five members of her company went to the Massachusetts coast yesterday to take the lighthouse scenes on her lat- est feature, "The Red Lantern." The troupe, which had to give very cer- tain proof of their loyalty before be- ing allowed to visit this lighthouse, the name of which is withheld, in- cludes: Albert Capellani, Henry Kolker, Henri Menessir, Robert E. Stevens, Charles Bryant, Eugene Gaudio, Eugene Morin, Henry Har- mon Nancy Palmer and Tom Blake EXPO SPACE IS GOING RAPIDLY iFuel Administration Takes Large Floor Area — Other Government Bodies Completing Plans It was made known yesterday that the United States Fuel Administra- tion has closed for space in Madison Square Garden that will make that body one of the largest exhibitors at the Exposition to be held October 5-13. P. B. Noyes, head of the Con- servation Division of the Administra- tion, was instrumental in contracting for this space and he has expressed his approval of the show in view of the fact that it will take place at a time that is advantageous for the pushing home of the fuel officials' campaign to save coal this winter. Other war organizations that are essential to the Government in win- ning the war have voiced their un- qualified support of the Exposition as a medium through which the pub- lic can be reached. Joseph Johnson, director of publicity for the Red Cross has told Frederick H. Elliott that ht intends taking space for the Red Cross. While Mr. Elliott was in Washing- ton attending to the details of the fuel conservation plan in the indus- try, he took the opportunity to visit the various Government bodies. The Food Administration, the Aircraft Board, the Army, the Navy, Depart- ment of Agriculture, the Y. M. C. A. and the War Savings Stamps Com- mittee are making final arrangements as to the nature of their various ex- hibits. The supply and equipment houses are going to be well represented at the show. The following concerns have taken space: Nicholas Power Company, the Precision Machine Company, the National Lamp Works, the National Carbon Company, the Westinghouse Lamp Company, the Cooper Hewitt Light Company, the National Carbon Company, the Edi- son Lamp Works of the General Elec- tric Company, the United Theatre Equipment Company and J. H. Hall- berg. Lincoln in Picture The following letter from E. K. Lincoln to Allan Rock, press repre- sentative for Leonce Perret, settles all doubts as to whether or not Lin- coln will appear in the second Perret production. The letter reads: "I am at a loss to understand how the report originated that I do not intend to work in the new Perret film. I wish to take this means of saying that I will positively appear in the next production. In fact I have commenced work on the Universal's Newspaper Campaign Universal have placed Hal Hodes in the field as a special newspaper rep- resentative for "Crashing Through to Berlin." Hodes is placing the prop- osition with the daily papers through- out the country on the strength of the historic value of the data contained in the feature, which is carrying in chronological order the dates of the big events in the war since America entered the conflict. "Grain of Dust" Sold Carle E. Carlton, managing director of the Crest Picture Corporation, an- nounces the sale of "The Grain of Dust" to J. V. Ritchey, of Baltimore, for the Virginia, Maryland and Dis- trict of Columbia territory. Exporters Pleased Satisfied With Censoring as Done by Committee on Public Information Exporters express themselves as be- ing pleased with the treatment they are receiving at the hands of the Committee on Public Information, by whom films for England and Austra- lia are now censored. Whereas formerly they paid for each reel censored, whether it was screened or not, under the new re- gime, exporters pay only for those reels actually screened. Another ad- vantage is that pictures that have al- ready been censored by the commit- tee are passed upon without being re- censored. Exporters up to the present have been allowed to have their films cen- sored in public projection rooms, or their own, rather than one central pro- jection room as is the case with films censored by the Customs officials. It is probable, however, that a change will be made whereby the committee will use only one projection room. Lytell Cast Picked Bert Lytell has started work on his latest Metro feature, "The Spender" at the Coast studio, and hjs cast has been picked. Clara Morris will play opposite Lytell, and others are Thomas Jefferson, William \. Mong and Clarence Burton. b)i«M DAILY Saturday, September 14, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Judgment for $2570 in Litigation Over "The Burn- ing Question"— Suit Brought by Iliodor Dismissed A judgment for $2,570 by default has been entered in the Supreme Court in the suit of Charles Cogut, on an assigned claim of Frederic E. Klein, against the Sterling Film Cor- poration and John von Rittberg to recover $2,500 damages in connection with "The Burning Question." The plaintiff alleged that the Sterling company sold the New York City rights of the film to Klein, but that the rights couldn't be disposed of in 1917 because of objection to the film b_ the License Commissioner, which has since been removed. The plain- tiff contended that the Sterling com- pany later sold a half interest in the New York rights to von Rittberg and that he disposed of them to a produc- ing company. The plaintiff valued the rights at $2,500. The defendants foiled to comply with an order to an- swer the suit after Supreme Court Justice Donnelly had ruled that the complaint made out a cause of action. Iliodor, the Russian monk who came to this country to tell about the scandals in the household of the late Czar of Russia, and who went into pictures when he got here, is now said to be in Russia leading a band of his countrymen. This statement was made in the Supreme Court by counsel for Ben Blumenthal and the Export & Import Film Co. In ask- ing Justice Donnelly to strike out a deposition by Iliodor in the suit he brought against the parties named on the ground that they used a picture of him without authority in "The Tyranny of the Romanoffs." The court granted the request. Suit has been filed in the Supreme Court by the Interstate Films, Inc., against George McKay of Sag Har- bor, L. I., to recover $90 for the use of the Billy West film, "The Chief Cook," at Sag Harbor, July 2 last. Houdini Rights Sold The rights to India for the Houdini- Rolfe serial have been sold by the Export & Import Film Co., which controls the world's foreign rights for the serial, to J. ,C. Pearson of Bom- bay. It was stated at the B. A. Rolfe offices yesterday that the serial is al- most finished. It is in fifteen epi- sodes. The title of the vehicle used to ex- ploit Rosemary Thebe, the latest of Triangle's featured players, has been changed from "Out of Western Seas" to "Love's Pay Day." Don't buy an entire prog-ram because it contains one real star Ackerman Productions Company Incorporated in New York With $50,000 Capital ALBANY.— The Ackerman Film Productions, Inc., having its principal office in New York City, was granted a charter by Secretary of State Hugo yesterday. The corporation is capital- ized at $50,000 and has been formed to produce and exhibit motion picture and photoplay films of all kinds, and to manufacture and deal in motion picture machine slides and other ac- cessories. The directors and sub- scribers to the capital stock are: Con- stantin Ackerman, of Elmhurst, L. I., and John C. Bolden and Robert L. Noah of 127 Chambers street, New York City. The Medal Film Company of New York City has certified to the state that it has increased its capital stock from $5,000 to $50,000. Healy Signs for Symphony Although there has been no definite announcement regarding the future of the Symphony theatre on upper Broadway, it has been learned that Thomas Healy has signed a contract with the Paramount-Artcraft for ser- vice at that house. Mr. Healy does not intend to run the theatre him- self, but probably will turn over the management to some individual who is already experienced in the exhib- iting- end of the business. Screencraft Films Company has se- lected the subject for its second pic- ture, but is withholding any informa- tion until the title for its first pic- ture is decided upon. The book title of the first is "Flaming Ramparts," but it is not likely that this name will be retained for the screen product. Bernstein Comes East Head of National Confirms Re- port of Walthall Leaving Screen Isadoi-e Bernstein, of the National Film Corporation, arrived in New York from the Coast yesterday and expects to remain here for about a month making his headquarters at the National offices, 1604 Broadway. Mr. Bernstein confirmed the report printed in WID'S DAILY yesterday to the effect that Henry B. Walthall is appearing in his last picture before beginning a stage engagement. It is a subject written especially for Mr. Walthall with his exceptional dramatic ability in mind and carries the title taken from a quotation, "—And a Still Small Voice." The actor will leave Los Angeles in a few days, as he is due to start rehearsals here, Septem- ber 25. Mr. Bernstein is enthusiastic over Billie Rhodes' acting in "The Girl of My Dreams," a six-reel production, and the first of her features made for the National Corporation. While in New York, Mr. Bernstein expects to secure the rights to at least two suc- cessful plays, which will be used as material for the young star. A print of "The Girl of My Dreams" is now at the National offices. Loew Books "Wives of Men" Marcus Loew has signed a contract with the Pioneer Film Co. to play the feature, "Wives of Men," for 70 days over his circuit of houses, beginning Oct. 28. Blache to Direct Metro Feature Herbert Blache has been selected to direct "The Man Who Stayed at Home," Metro's coming feature, which will be produced under the per- sonal supervision of Maxwell Karger. At Forty-fourth Street Theatre The Fox-Theda Bara special "Sa- lome" will open a limited run at the Forty-fourth Street theatre, Sunday, October 6. A special score has been written by George Rubenstein and the National Board of Review has given the picture a clean bill of health, stat- ing that it has a good moral effect. Mix Finishes. Third Tom Mix has finished his third picture by Charles Alden Selzer, called "The Coming of the Law." The first, entitled "Fame and For- tune," was from the story "Slow Bur- gess;" the second, "Treat 'Em Rough" from "The Two Gun Man." All were directed by Lynn Reynolds at the Fox studiod in Hollywood. Saturday, September 14, 1918 DAILY Artistic, Interesting, Red-blooded Romance Very Decidedly Worth While Dustin Farnum in "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS" Sherman Prod. — United Picture Theatres, Inc. DIRECTOR Charles Swickard AUTHOR Zane Grey SCENARIO BY Roy Clements CAMERAMAN Homer Scott AS A WHOLE Intimate Western character study with beautiful photographic effects and inter- esting action. Will undoubtedly please. STORY Follows book rather carefuHy and holds interest nicely. DIRECTION Gave artistic and interesting atmos- phere and made characters quite human. PHOTOGRAPHY. . . Some exceptionally beautiful bits and generally satisfactory. LIGHTINGS Some excellent, other parts varied CAMERA WORK Generally excellent, occasionally ordinary. STAR Best screen work Dusty has ever done SUPPORT. . . .Miss Kingston very pleasing; types well chosen. EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots and generally good Western atmosphere. INTERIORS Quite satisfactory DETAIL Some good little touches CHARACTER OF STORY Should please any type of audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,600 feet NOT many companies who have gone out to make independent productions have started off with as good an offering as this, the first independent Dustin Farnum feature. Taking the well-known novel by Zane Grey, the pic- turization follows the book rather carefully, and as a result we get a story which holds from start to finish with several sequences of snappy melodramatic action. At frequent intervals we have exceptionally artistic photographic bits showing cloud effects, sunrises and sunsets, and these, together with some pretty long shots help materially in lifting the entire offering into the class of a real special. The most pleasing fact about the story itself is the presence of a number of very interesting characters who are so presented, introduced and carried through the action, that the audience comes to feel as if they know them intimately. As most of you have come to realize, the great suc- cess of such films as "The Birth of a Nation," "The Barrier," "The Manxman" and other big specials, has been due to the fact that the characters were introduced and then so developed that the audience came to feel that they understood them and were intimately ac- quainted with them. While I am not comparing this with "The Birth of a Nation" as a production, I do want to compliment the director and all concerned on having made several individual characters stand out in that much-to-be-desired manner. The plot covers considerable ground but has for the most part to do with the adventures of a young Eastern girl who comes West and meets Dusty Farnum, a wild cowboy, who insults her in the very first sequence. Later on the shero persuades Dusty to return from his Mexican outlaw friends and finally after many inter- esting clashes, she yields her heart to this man of the West. One of the biggest kicks in the picture is where a cowboy pal of Dusty's resents the insult to Miss Kings- ton delivered by the cowardly sheriff, with the result that there's a gun duel in which the sheriff and two of his gang are killed by the cowboy who is also shot to death by the three men. Mr. Farnum does in this by far the best work he has yet registered on the screen. Miss Kingston screens better and appeals more decidedly than she ever has in any screen work. Practically all of the supporting cast were entirely satisfactory. In the supporting cast were Virginia Eames, Burt Apling, Charles Rogers, Jeanne Maddock, Eddie Hearne, Frank Clark, Ogden Crane, Lou Poff and George Cummings. They'll Like It, But You Must Use Real Ads to Get Biz The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This is a corking good production that will undoubt- edly please any type of audience, but it's up to you to stir things and get 'em In. Zane Grey's novel has been very widely read, but nevertheless you may find that a large percentage of your particular audience is unfamiliar with the book. I would suggest that you personally recommend this as an out- of- the- ordinary special that presents a stirring ro- mance of the West with real action in an artistic atmos- phere. I would use such lines as YOU'LL LOVE DUSTY FARNUM IN "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS." I would even say to my fans : YOU MAY THINK YOU ARE TIRED OF WESTERNS BUT GO SEE "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS" AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS A REAL WESTERN FILM. Naturally, it's good business to co-operate with the book stores and I would suggest that you go to your public library and try to get a record showing how many persons in your town have read this book in the past few years. A statement from you that so many hundreds have read this book will arouse interest and you might head an advertisement: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS" TALK TO SOMEONE WHO HAS AND THEN SEE DUSTY FARNUM IN THIS ARTISTIC, RED-BLOODED ROMANCE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN PLAINS. iii a n (TAII7A1L llrW YOirV The greatest ready-made success ever offered exhibitors THE ROMANCE OF TARZAN The Concluding Chapters of TARZAN OF THE APES from the Book by Edgar Rice Borroughs The Millions who saw TARZAN of the APES {which is still breaking House Records) are ready — waiting — for this cataclysmic Romance of Society Maid and Prim- eval Man of the Jungle. A First National Attraction Produced by THE NATIONAL FILM CORP'N OF AMERICA Production Supervised by ISADORE BERNSTEIN - .;!:,>; %WW&n » ■**&>$& w K&dtt i&kiSii Copyright 1918. Wid's Film and Film Folk, Inc. Published Every Dav in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St., N«w York. N. Y. By VVJD'S FILMS & FIL.M FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second-class Matter. Terms (Postage free) United States, Outside of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00; Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY. 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Features Reviewed Edith Roberts in BEANS Page 2 Bluebird — Universal Hedda Nova and J. Frank Glendon in BY THE WORLD FORGOT Page 3 Vitagraph Priscilla Dean in THE BRAZEN BEAUTY Page 5 Bluebird — Universal William Farnum in RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE Page 7 Standard — Fox Louise Huff in T'OTHER DEAR CHARMER Page 9 World Theda Bara in WHEN A WOMAN SINS Page 11 Fox Kathleen Clifford in ANGEL CHILD Page 13 Plaza — Hodkinson Alice Brady in THE BETTER HALF Page 15 Select Pauline Starke and Harry Mestaver in THE ATOM Page 18 Triangle Tom Mix in MR. LOGAN, U. S. A Page 19 Victory — Fox Douglas Fairbanks in HE COMES UP SMILING Page 21 Doug. Fairbanks — Artcraft Sessue Havakawa in HIS BIRTHRIGHT Page 23 Haworth — Mutual Charles Ray in THE LAW OF THE NORTH Page 25 Ince — Paramount Dustin Farnum in THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS Page 27 Sherman Prod. — United E. K. Lincoln and Dolores Cassinelli in "LAFAYETTE, WE COME!" Page 29 Perret Prod. — Affiliated Distr's In the Hands of the Few Last Winter, when I was in Los Angeles, study* ing producing conditions, I wired in an editorial stating that the film industry was in the hands of a surprisingly small number of truly capable producers, stars and other executives, tit to carr\ it on and build in a progressive manner. Every day since we have had such a welcome increase in the number of independent producer-. 1 find the repented request, "Where can I find a good director?" Going away from the production end, which is certainly in the hands of the few (and when I sax- few in that instance I don't mean the President and General Managers who sit at desks in New York City), I want to call your attention to the fact that the successful management of theatres in this country today is also "in the hands of a few." In recent years, there has been a constant shift- ing about in the manner of theatre ownership, this being such a notorious fact a few years ago that it was almost impossible to keep a correct list of theatre owners. There is still quite a lot of shifting being done in the smaller houses, but I want to put my finger on this fact and point it out to you. THE FIRST FIVE THOUSAND THEATRES IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY ARE CONTROLLED BY LESS THAN FIVE HUNDRED MEN. You will probably sit back and say it isn't so, when you read that, but I want you to think a minute. In every territory, particularly in the past three years, there has been a gradual tendency on the part of certain interests which happen to be powerful in that particular district, to acquire new theatres. There are several chains today existent where forty and fifty houses are booked by one man. There are innumerable instances where one man books for from three to ten houses. Check it up carefully and you will find that the best theatres, with a few exceptions, are listed in these chains, or booking syndicates. There has always been a great variance in opinion as to the actual number of theatres run- ning films in this country. Some have insisted that there were fifteen, eighteen and twenty thou- sand, while others have contended that there were only about ten thousand. Personally. I am convinced that there are only about eight thousand theatres running films in this (Continued on page 32) tm"XNE FAHRAR -iu*'"-' ;|§««iPK i -..3 12 tM^ DAILY Sunday, September 15, 1918 A Come-Down from Theda's Spectacles But May Pass With Her Admirers The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Theda Bara in "WHEN A WOMAN SINS" Fox It seems a pity that Theda should coine back to doing just ordinary vamps, after having managed to get away with such hell-cats as Cleo and Salome. It certainly seems like some come-down. Possibly your fans are still willing to come in and observe the large-eyed lady inveigle weak men a la "movie" vamp style, but it sort of seems to me that this return to the original ordinary feature vamp character for Theda, will register as sort of a relapse after your fans have seen her so thoroughly and completely in her undressed spectacles. The title of this sounds like just what it is, and the only way I can figure is that you boys will have to use your own judgment as to just how strong Miss Bara is with your fans. There ain't no way to tell just what some folks will like, and it's quite possible that there still remains a sufficient percentage willing to watch a vamp at work, to justify your putting this over. There is not much that you could afford to promise except that they will have a chance to see Theda vamp- ing a very conscientious minister. Mme. PETROVA in "The Panther Woman" The new Petrova Picture — A worthy companion to TEMPERED STEEL Exchanges at First National Exhibitors' Circuit PETROVA PICTURE COMPANY Frederick L. Collins, President Sunday. September 15, 1918 Tfc)jj?*t AIL.Y 13 Pleasing Star in Plotless Potpourri Helped by Cameraman Kathleen Clifford in "ANGEL CHILD" Plaza — Hodkinson DIRECTOR Henry Otto STORY Carl Mclnroy CAMERAMAN Joseph Brotherton AS A WHOLE Hopeless conglomeration of discon= nected incidents which fail to make sense, with star doing everything the director could think of. STORY They must have "thought it up out of their own heads" as they went along. DIRECTION Had star doing everything from bad young girl to good old girl; never attempted to make this convincing or consistent and re= peatedly allowed wild jumps in story without explanation. < PHOTOGRAPHY Very fine on exteriors; lifted production decidedly. Mirror shots excellent. LIGHTINGS Generally very good although at times too harsh on faces. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Pretty and has cute tricks though hardly got over as "child." SUPPORT All the "Grip of Evil" gang; Fred Church "acted." EXTERIORS Generally very pleasing. INTERIORS Rather good for Balboa with familiar "Who is Number One" set figuring promi= nently. DETAIL As Rube Goldberg would say, "They never thought of that." CHARACTER OF STORY. . . Harmless bunch of fooI= ishness. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,130 feet MAYBE they figured that this was just a bunch of nonsense that would get by — and maybe it will — but it certainly is an awful mess from a standpoint of story and production. The way this has been produced looks like they had cooked it up as they went along and had stuck in every- thing they could think of whether it had anything to do with the cent nil idea — if they had one when they started- or cot. After opening this up with a Keystone gag of Shero turning the hose on her father and her mother's guests they sent Kathleen away to the old standby of the Item- Lngton athletes, the girl's school. This permitted of the usual pillow fights and several forced attempts at comedy and in order to bring Hero into the story, they had the whole gang, including the matron, rush out- side in their pajamas, where Hero had been planted. Shero pretends to faint in his arms, she does, and after she is back in bed again we get a vision of her dreaming that she is an actress. This was by far the best part of the offering, although there was no reason for it being brought in. as it enabled Miss Clifford to look pretty in niftick clothes and showed us thai she could "deliver" if given a story. Next day Shero runs away and crawls in the back of an auto, which starts away. From here we cut ab- ruptly to Shero in her own home phoning, although howin'ell she got there we never find out. Then, just to show us that little things like this didn't worry them, they cut abruptly again to a close-up of Shero made up as a wench, with no explanation as to where, why or when she came on to the make-up. Then we have a lot of forced business where she waits on table after which she again meets Hero in her father's gar- den. They have her conveniently overhear her father remarking about the disappearance of a letter and she remembers of having unwittingly carried the letter to school with her after which it had been "accidentally" found by the daughter of the man whom it implicated. Then she goes to Gilfeather's house to get the letter back and after marvelously running all over the house without being seen. Danny leaves his coat on a chair so Shero can get the letter and after a lousy struggle between Danny's gang and Hero, who was brought in for the purpose. Hero and Shero escape with the letter. Later we have Hero asking Shero, "Will she?" and she takes his cane and writes "Yes" in the sand (in a close-up), although there was nothing but grass in the long shot that preceded it. Truly, "they do it in the 'movies'." The titles were painfully crude and missed badly in an attempt at comedy. Others who "worked" in this were: Rita Harlan, Daniel Gilfeather. Neill Hardin, Leslie Peacocke. Gor- don Sackville, and Fred Church. 14 iM^i DAILY Sunday, September 15. 1918 Some May Take It Good-Naturedly; Others Will Think It Awful Mess The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Kathleen Clifford in "ANGEL CHILD" Plaza — Hodkinson It's stuff like this that makes people call 'em ••movies." At least, it can be said that this moved. I'll dare anyone to find a story in this or a half-way reason for nine-tenths of the disconnected happenings we gret all through the offering. in sizing up ;i picture from an audience standpoint, however, I try to forget the technical shortcomings of a production in a measure, and while I feel certain that discriminating audiences or those who see enough pictures regularly to know when a thing is all wrong, will decide that this is painfully crude junk and an utter waste of time, there may be an ele- ment in some communities who will accept this bunch of foolishness without checking your house off their list or getting sore at you for playing it. As an attraction, it certainly isn't. As a fill-in for an off night, it might get over with the don't-care gang who take 'em as they come without a murmur and I don't doubt but what the kids will get some amusement out of the hokum incidents in this where they might not understand a well-constructed story that plays to situations rather than broad, forced comedy without rhyme or reason. I am making the distinction in this case because this is at least devoid of murder and sech and is harmless and clean even if it does fail to impress or make sense. Kathleen Clifford showed considerable promise in the actress vision and in her final scenes but if she hopes to stay in the celluloid, let's hope that they don't wish her into another mess like this. ' 'The Grey Parasol' ' Written by FRED JACKSON Claire Anderson in Scene frqm Ttslangle Play "The Grey Parasol7 sparkles with the personalities of Claire Anderson who does excellent work in this picture and Wellington Cross acknowledged as a musical-comedy favorite Directed by LAWRENCE WINDOM I his story of a courageous American girl who outwits unscrupulous business interests and German agents, will prove to be a good tonic for your patrons who demand diversion in these times of stress and turmoil. A Triangle Play that will please and profit and enable you to invest in W. S. S. ^1 ANGLE DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION 1 45 7 Broadway, New York Sunday, September IS, 1918 -isiijA DAILY 15 m Unique Story Centered Around Excellent Dual Characterization Alice Brady in "THE BETTER HALF" Select DIRECTOR J. S. Robertson AUTHOR Miriam Michelson SCENARIO BY Louis Sherwin CAMERAMAN H. L. Broening AS A WHOLE Effective dual characterization of star makes story with a few weak spots reg= ister. STORY Twin sister idea with one sister imper= sonating other who had committed suicide to keep up spirit of husband who had gone blind. DIRECTION Built up some situations very effec= tively and provided pleasing atmosphere but allowed several slips. Handling of dual role great until double exposure which jarred. PHOTOGRAPHY. . . .Very good except double exposure LIGHTINGS Generally pleasing; some very effec= tive bits. CAMERA WORK Showed mechanics of double; is very bad because they will look for it. STAR Sure can troupe; gave excellent contrast to dual characterization. SUPPORT Powell did excellent work and Kent effective heavy without overdoing it. EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Looked substantial and were well appointed. DETAIL Several bad slips; some of them could be covered up by editing. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,073 feet ASIDE from one big' inconsistency and several detail slips which could still be covered up, this regis- tered with me as a truly interesting offering, prin- cipally because of the excellent work of Miss Brady throughout the offering. The story was an interesting treatment of the twin sister idea, with Miss Brady appearing in the roles of the good and the bad sister. The bad sister marries David Powell, who had been a friend of both. Hero Dave is all business and Trixie, the bad sister, likes life, so we soon find her eloping with willun Crauford Kent. Before teaving, she visits her sister, Louise, who phones Dave to come at once to her address. On his way to the house he is knocked out by two thugs and in the mean- time Trixie elopes with Kent. Dave has been stricken blind by the blow and his condition being serious, Louise poses as Trixie and tenderly cares for him, not daring to tell him the truth for fear the shock might prove fatal. Some time later Trixie's flighty romance has come to an end and reading a newspaper account of her hus- band's accident which states that his "wife" has' been with him constantly, she returns to Louise in a fit of mingled jealousy and rage. When she learns the par- ticulars she realizes Louise's sacrifice and poison's her- self. Later, when the bandages are removed from Dave's eyes, he recognizes the deception and when he demands to see Trixie, is told the truth. Realizing what Louise has sacrificed for him he asks her to forgive his harsh actions and we fade out on the two in a pretty garden shot, he being happy with the right girl after all. Up to the point where Trixie comes back and de- nounces Louise just before poisoning herself, Director Robertson handled the dual role business by the cut-and- flash method with very well-handled substitution in the long shots. This was very effective and made you forget the doubles. Then they had to spoil the entire illusion by resorting to a crudely done doube exposure, which Avas unnecessary, showing Miss Brady on the screen in both characters. The mechanics of the double were glaringly apparent and dragged the offering down con- siderably as a result. This can and should be eliminated because folks will look for it. The idea of Dave being blinded by a blow on the head was inconsistent and the incident could have easily been made plausible by having the thugs throw acid or paprika in his eyes when they rolled him. In an exterior shot established as late at night we were shown several kids playing in the street which was bad detail and we also had some close-ups which didn't match with the long-shots preceding them. Miss Brady gave a truly remarkable performance in two roles which depended entirely upon expression for contrast and Dave Powell made his role effective and convincing all the way. Crauford Kent played with a quiet restraint that made his part real and others who appeared were W. T. Carleton, Isabelle O'Madigan and Richard Allen. Title and Star Should Pull and Production Will Please The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Ir is i" be regretted that they let a few flaws creep into a production that was otherwise exceptionally well handled, but this fact isn't going to keep your folks from considering this a very interesting and thoroughly entertaining offering. The really jarring note was the double exposure ; the other slips may pass with the average audience. These doubled scenes could be elimi- nated by careful editing and it would certainly be wise for Select to have this done, because whenever an audi- ence sees a dual role picture they crane their necks to pick out the doubled scenes and their estimation of the production slumps if the producer hasn't succeeded in fooling them. Your folks are going to like Miss Brady in this very much and those who recognize merit when they see it will realize that this was a much more difficult dual role than one offering more contrast in dress and make- up and as a result Miss Brady's work will leave a deep impression in this that will build for her future produc- tions. I think this is a very good title, although it isn't brought out in the generally accepted use of the term. For this reason I wouldn't tell them too much of the story. Play up Miss Brady strong. You might ask them: "What would you do if you loved two sisters and had married the wrong one? See 'The Better Half." NOW SWEEPIN WILLIAM FOX Presenj THED^I IN THE THEDA BA: THE SIR GREATEST $ I ATTRAC BREAKING BOX OFFIC1 NOW RELEASED OI PRICES WITHIN REA< MAKE YOUR BO f F W% p! FILM CORPORATION i rHE COUNTRY! greatest love story of all time BARA JPER- PRODUCTION fxtliix ¥ THE NILE [ ON MARKET TODAY CORDS EVERYWHERE DEPENDENT BASIS )FALL EXHIBITORS o G TO DAY MKk FILM CORPORATION 18 Tdljfr DAILY Sjunu^v, September 15, 1918 Cheap Sets and Failure to Develop Characterizations Kill This Pauline Starke with Harry Mestayer in "THE ATOM" Triangle DIRECTOR William Dowlan AUTHOR Catherine Carr SCENARIO BY Catherine Carr CAMERAMAN Elgin Lessley AS A WHOLE. . . .Uninteresting and cheaply produced surface meller that isn't worth worrying about. STORY Routine surface meller made very ordinary by tawdry production. DIRECTION .Allowed action to become very me= chanical; failed to make characters human and let things happen very obligingly all the way. PHOTOGRAPHY Just straight stuff; no noticeable attempt for artistry. LIGHTINGS Varied; some effective, others very ordinary. CAMERA WORK Didn't try. Better composition and vignetting could have helped cheap sets. STARS Pauline needed direction and didn't get it; Mestayer also handicapped but tried hard. SUPPORT. . . .Just acceptable. Gene Burr over=reached EXTERIORS Will get by; no attempt to select distinctive or picturesque locations. INTERIORS Appeared hurriedly put together and generally impressed as "sets." No signs of art direction. DETAIL Many crude spots; piano in beanery was certainly obliging coincidence. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet ALTHOUGH it certainly cannot be said that this was a whale of an idea for a story, it could have been made into acceptable entertainment by ar- tistic atmosphere, intelligent moulding of characteriza- tions and an unstinted production. Given the very ordinary treatment and direction that we get in this, however, it becomes very ordinary, uninteresting, rou- tine "movie." The story had to do with a boarding-house slavey whose ideal was an actor-boarder playing in a local "rep" show. On the night that she sneaks back stage to see her hero perform, a fire breaks out in the wings and Hero is disfigured for life, causing his leading lady to give him the air. His rent having expired, he is about to shoot himself in the attic — which is quite fatal when done in pictures — and Shero Pauline comes to his room in time to save him. She falls asleep in his room and when she is discovered by the landlady coming out the next morning, both she and Hero are kicked out. They go to a little beanery to eat and a friend of Hero's, learning his misfortune, offers him a job taking out a medicine show layout. Hero wants to take Pau- line along but the friend says "nothing doing," and Shero would have certainly been in a sad predicament if the property man hadn't thoughtfully placed a piano in the two-by-four beanery so she could convince the guy that she could sing. The medicine show cleans up and they take a homestead. In the meantime his former leading lady sweetheart has heard of his prosperity and she and her recently acquired willun-husband frame to get Hero's wad. she coming to the homestead and intro- ducing willun as her brother. Later, when Pauline dis- covers She-willun making off with Hero's cash, Hero comes in and Pauline is accused of the theft. Pauline runs away but Hero discovers the real thief, overtakes Shero and all ends as we expected. The sets all through the offering were cheap and lacked realism. The stage atmosphere and fire scene was lousy. The mere fact that a set is supposed to rep- resent poverty isn't an excuse for it being thrown to- gether anj' old way. I've known Bob Brunton to spend a day with his staff, carefully placing dust, cobwebs and other convincing touches in a dilapidated attic set to make it look real, and you can just bet that it did when he got through. Pauline Starke has done excellent work under direc- tors who knew how to mould characterizations but she didn't show in this because she wasn't intelligently handled. The remainder of the cast were similarly handicapped. The whole thing had a mechanical touch, it never ran true. None of the players had a chance. In the cast were: Belle Bennett. Ruth Handforth, Lincoln Stedman, Gene Burr and Tom Buckingham. Walter Perkins, a lovable old character actor, was credited on the screen as Walter Roberts and on the press sheets as Charles Force. Have yourself paged, Walter, you're among strangers. They May Accept It But It Certainly Is Very Ordinary The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor It's too bad. This is the same old grind-'em-out-in-a- hurry routine program stuff that never gets anywhere and fails utterly to provide worth-while entertainment or make you feel that you haven't wasted your time in sitting through it. It isn't terrible — it certainly isn't good; you don't care what happens, it just isn't anything. We've had Miss Starke in previous productions' which proved her to be a wonderfully appealing little person- ality when intelligently handled. Harry Mestayer also left a very agreeable impression with me in his recent Triangle play, "High Tide." It sure is giving these players a raw deal to expect them to hold whatever following their former work may have created by sticking them in one of these over- night scenarios produced with the apparent spirit of "Now let's shoot it and get it over with." It's very poor business for everyone concerned. Summed up, this isn't any worse than many we've had from the same producer recently. It may get by, but it certainly vvon't pull business and material of this calibre, played persistently, is certainly going to wean a good many folks away from the habit of going to picture shows regularly for entertainment and diversion. If you are going to play this, about the only thing you can advance for it is the fact that it's the story of how a little slavey proved her love by staying by her ideal when a misfortune caused his less worthy sweetheart to turn him down. Sunday, September 15, 1918 iMi DA1LV 19 Great Atmosphere and Reckless Stunts of Star Make This Register Tom Mix in "MR. LOGAN, U. S. A." Victory — Fox DIRECTOR Lynn F. Reynolds SUGGESTED BY Jay Coffin SCENARIO BY Lynn F. Reynolds CAMERAMAN J. D. Jennings AS A WHOLE Peppy western meller with spy twists has a few bad spots but provides real thrills and snappy action. STORY Usual meller incidents given added im= petus by unusual staging of thrills that really grip. DIRECTION Provided impressive atmosphere and made thrills convincing but held roping inci- dent in saloon too long which made it appear too improbable and caused action to drag at this point. PHOTOGRAPHY Very good indeed LIGHTINGS Too uniform at times but generally very good. Some bits very effective. CAMERA WORK Generally excellent but lost effect of footbridge thrill by using straighton angle. STAR Will be a big bet if he doesn't break his neck trying. SUPPORT. . . .Balanced nicely; Jack Dill's characteriza= tion rather overdrawn. EXTERIORS Leave it to Lynn; he knows how to pick 'em and they always impressed. INTERIORS Very good; mining camp theatre set great. DETAIL Generally very good. Titles were great. CHARACTER OF STORY Should register any= where. Kids will eat it up. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,135 feet HAVE a hunch that if Tom Mix keeps up the same consistent pace he has hit in his last three pro- ductions, ha is going to step on the heels of some of our biggest male stars in a mighty short time, at least with the element that likes western thrillers. Whatever success he attains he has certainly earned, because there is no doubt about the fact that he has taken some awful chances. Briefly, the story of this concerned Tom Mix, a U. S. I Secret Agent who is in the west to get the goods on a German Spy ring who arc posing as labor Leaders to incite a strike among the workers in a tungsten mine turning out the mineral for the government. Learning Tom's mission, the spy gang tries to get him but he repeatedly outwits them and when they finally effeel his capture through the co-operation of the sheriff, who is in on their plot, they pull a bear of a stunt by having Tom rope the sheriff's gat through the bars of his cell and making the sheriff change places with him. An attempt to blow up the mine is prevented by Tom, and in the meantime the spy-leader has abducted Shero, whom Tom has met in the first reel. Shero's jealousy lias been aroused by her seeing Tom in the company of a burlesque show dame, not knowing that Tom is a secret agent and that the girl is assisting him in his plans to thwart the spies. After the spies have been rounded up and the strikers shipped out on a cattle train, Tom starts out to overtake willun and Shero. He makes willun- spy prisoner after which he explains his mission to Shero and we fade out with the clutch. Although the position of the cell in the scene where Tom ropes the gat was obviously planted to permit of this bit of business, they made it effective by showing the action in one shot and it registers with a bang. Tom's overhand climb up a cliff with the girl was a daring bit of work, with Kathleen Connors sharing half of the risk, and we had several other real thrills that will bring gasps and keep an audience on the edge of their seats because they weren't faked. They had a familiar "serial meller" thrill wrhere Tom rides his horse across a chasm, on a tree trunk and while I 4on't doubt that this was genuine, having seen Tom take worse chances in the past, the effect was lost by having the camera placed to get it straight-on. So far as the audience could determine, the trunk might have been six feet wide and if Tom really took the chance it's too bad they didn't get the full benefit by having the camera either above or below the trunk. Mack Sennett has pulled this same stunt with a double exposure but if this was tricked I couldn't detect it. The scenes where Tom rides into the dance hall were the weakest spots in the offering, being held on so long that it was ridiculous to assume that one of the gang couldn't have picked him off in the meantime. """1 Anita Stewart Production,? I I MlMlil— I ■■■■!! ■■■■!! —II fc>»j<»iitfyiawi»jftgM>»inim m^MMMmn 20 tM^ DAILY Sunday, September 15. 1918 Concentrate on Star's Dare-Devil Stunts Rather Than Spy Angle The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Tom Mix in "MR. LOGAN, U. S. A." Victory — Fox Although this didn't impress me as being as good as Tom Mix's "Fame and Fortune," reviewed two weeks ago, it certainly is way above the average for shoot- 'eni-up westerns and as I note that Bill Fox has decided to release this ahead of that production you will have something to crow about when you play "Fame and Fortune," later as you can consistently tell them that it is better than this and this can certainly be depended upon to furnish ample entertainment for the gang that likes western thrillers. I think, however, that producers are making a rash mistake in trying to inject the spy element into every- thing they make because this is resulting in a great many very mediocre spy films being released with the result that the good ones have to suffer for those that fail to get over. After the public has seen a few of these weak sisters they aren't going to bite on another and the fact that you've got a good one isn't going to help matters much if you can't make them believe it in time to cash in on the first days of your showing. This film will get over big with at least eighty percent but would have been just as big without the spy twists, and I think you will stand a better chance by going light on this angle in your advertising and making a play on the thrills and stunts we get in this, billing it as one of the fastest and most thrilling westerns you have ever played. Make considerable noise about Tom Mix. mentioning the titles of some of his recent productions and playing on the fact that he is one of the feAV actors in the game who doesn't permit faking in getting his thrills. Audiences admire this quality in a screen star and I think the average fan nowadays can detect a real thrill from a faked one. ■—> -■ •J Tfye only studio i concentrating on the production of features to the ex- clusion of all other details. Produc- tions made by con- tract- Perfect facil- ities for individual producing units with or without con- tractees supervision- The BRUNTON STUDIOS ROBERT BRUNTON COMPANY Melrose Avenue : : Los Angeles "By Your Works Yo u A re K n own ' Recent Productions "Madam Who" "A Man's Man" "Patriotism'' "Carmen of the Klondike*' "Turn of a Card" "Alimony" "The One Woman" "More Trouble"' "The Bells" "Sierra of the Si.cties" "All Wrong" m HOBAKT HENLEY M.P.D.A.. DivacTOi* o "PARENTAGE"- Directing MAE MARSH *or Gddwyn ^^ Current and ^ortticomin^releas'es': " o£ Face in the Dark" AllVoman''-^ Odd Pearl" " ^Zfe Glorious' A.dVentttre'r Su/iday, September 15, 1918 AILY 21 The Only Doug In Fastest, Funniest Film. You Can't Stop Him Douglas Fairbanks in "HE GOMES UP SMILING" Douglas Fairbanks Prod. — Artcraft DIRECTOR Allan Dwan NOVEL BY Charles Sherman STAGE PLAY BY Byron Ongley and Emil Mytray SCENARIO BY Frances Marion CAMERAMAN Joe August AS A WHOLE Fastest moving Fairbanks produc= tion yet; gives Doug opportunity for many new stunts and athletic feats and holds all the way. STORY Made to order for star; was certainly worth the ten "thou." DIRECTION Kept this hitting on all six every minute and injected subtle little touches in between the big laughs and wonderful stunts of Doug. Didn't lose sight of romance and kept atmosphere classy all the way. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very artistic and distinctive. LIGHTINGS Many fine bits; generally pleasing CAMERA WORK Intelligent; speed helped action STAR See title SUPPORT Excellent throughout EXTERIORS. . .Decidedly classy and well photographed INTERIORS Very good; two story sectional set was novel and permitted funny business. DETAIL Many good touches and some great titles CHARACTER OF STORY Sure=fire for young and old of all classes. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,876 feet I THINK most everybody is going to agree with me that this is the fastest and funniest thing Doug had ever done. This was the stage production that brought Doug to the attention of the "movie" scouts and ever since he started in pictures Doug has been itching to do this play for the screen. No one will deny that the stage version was tame compared to this. This starts out so fast that you expect it to sag at the finish, but darned if they don't keep it going at the same breakneck speed all the way. ending up with a finish that is typically Keystone, chase and all, and if your gang doesn't yell when they pull the rapid-fire business in the two-story set in the last reel it will be because they haven't got another laugh left in them. At the opening of this, we have Doug as a teller in a bank, who is valet to the president's pet canary. This is to get over the simile of both being in a cage and eager to get out in the open and when the bird escapes and Doug starts after it we get some of the most remarkable feats of climbing dp buildings, walking tele- phone wires and the like that Doug has put over yet — and that's going some. Doug's chase ends up in the "jungles" where he meets a couple of hard-boiled guys in the persons of Bull Montana and Herbert Standing. Then comes Albert McQuarrie, a wealthy broker, who decides to take a swim when his ear becomes stalled near the "jungle," which enables Doug to appropriate his clothes, name, bankroll, car and everything. Then we have the situation of Doug being accepted as the real broker and meeting a business rival, Frank Campeau and his daughter Marjorie Daw. Campeau frames a scheme to get Doug to his country estate to keep him away from the market which permits of some pleasing romantic scenes between Doug and Marjorie. The fun starts when it develops that the real broker is in the meantime cleaning up on the stock market which complicates matters for Campeau. Then just to keep this moving, they have Bull and Herb Standing come in and Doug locks each of them in a room. When two "dicks" blowT in to ferret out the puzzle of the two brokers having the same name, Doug tucks them away likewise and then the real broker arrives on the scene. From here the action shifted to a unique set which enabled them to show action in four rooms and two dividing hallways at the same time. This idea was first introduced by Maurice Tourneur about two years ago and certainly permits of some wild-eyed action with Doug doing a Keystone chase through all the rooms with Jiis four captives, finishing up in an auto chase which puts Mack Sennett to shame. Just to make the ending more satisfactory, they had Doug receive notice that the bank president had left him his fortune and we fade out with the clutch. Others in the cast were Edward Jobson and Kathleen Kirkham. BESSIE MBRJSGALE • IJSl GoaxiittiJt So *^kfil*hEIITm JLIM*" if 22 jM^ DAILY Sunday, September 15, 1918 Tell 'Em When and Where and Nail Down the Seats. Is Sure Fire The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor odds, his best, linked firmly with the name of your theatre and the days you are showing it. The old "Money Back" idea seems to carry weight with a certain element and as you can be dead sure that no one will have the nerve to say that they didn't get value received for the admission they paid to see this, you might shoot an ad like this: BLANK THE- ATRE— NOW!!! The only "DOUG" FAIRBANKS in his newest, fastest and funniest production — "He COMES UP SMILING" Your Money Back, Cheerfully, if, after seeing it, you don't COME OUT SMILING. If by any chance, some one is either just plain mean, or hopeless enough to take you at your word, turn the fact into additional publicity by running his picture in an ad with the statement that he is the only man in your town that didn't get a laugh out of this attraction. Dare anyone in town to duplicate this man's record and tell them that the money back idea still holds good. Douglas Fairbanks in "HE GOMES UP SMILING" Douglas Fairbanks Prod. — Artcraft Anything I could tell you about the merits or pulling power of this would be superfluous. You know Doug's past work and demonstrated drawing power and if you haven't been getting more business with each succeed- ing production he has turned out, there is surely some- thing wrong with your methods because this remark- able screen personality has undoubtedly delivered a greater percentage of real knockouts than any other individual on stage or screen and this is his best yet. The main thing to emphasize when you play this is the fact that it is Doug's latest film, and by several ♦,♦ •»»■ « 8 :.: 8 :.: :.: « :.: :.: ♦♦ & ♦♦ i p I 1 l.i a g it rV» ♦«*♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦^.♦♦.♦♦.^.♦♦.'^•if.^.**.**;^.**.^^ W. A. S. DOUGLAS, President LEON G. OSBORNE, V. P. and Treasurer f§ DIANDO FILM CORPORATION GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA PRODUCERS OF MOTION PICTURES In Course of Production — Baby Osborne Features — Patbe- "^folf Face" a Western Serial Patbt Baby Marie Osborne Betty Compson Ora Carewe Mildred Reardon Ceorg'e Larkin Horace Carpenter "Tbe Pickaninny' :.: :.: :.: i.i :.: :.: :.: »♦ ♦,♦ :.t i.i :.: :.: :.: :.: :.: :.t it Sunday, September 15, 1918 iM^ DAILY 23 Much Unnecessary Footage and Detail Mar Good Offering Sessue Hayakawa in "HIS BIRTHRIGHT" Haworth — Mutual DIRECTOR William Worthington AUTHORS Sessue Hayakawa and Dennison Clift SCENARIO BY Not credited CAMERAMAN Robert Newhard ART DIRECTOR Milton Menasco AS A WHOLE Has been carefully produced as to characterizations and atmosphere but is held down by much unnecessary detail and painfully slow tempo. Could still be improved by intelli= gent editing. STORY Jap comes to America to avenge death of mother whom he thinks white father killed. Has good twists and logically developed plot. DIRECTION Provided excellent atmosphere and made characters seem real but gave too much unnecessary detail and held scenes too long, making action drag terribly. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very artistic although many scenes too dark. LIGHTINGS. . . .Generally very fine; some bits excellent CAMERA WORK Dissolves on titles and scenes held action down and masking frequently- marred general effect. Angles and composition very fine. STAR. . . .Gave splendid and convincing characterization SUPPORT Excellent throughout; Miss Sais es- pecially good. EXTERIORS Convincing; many beautiful shots INTERIORS Very good; fitted atmosphere DETAIL Much too much of it CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,100 feet THIS impressed me as being a good film but it should have been great and intelligent editing could still improve it at least fifty per cent, from an enter- tainment as well as a box office standpoint. I can readily see how a director can let his artistic sense run away with him and bring in much unnecessary detail which has no direct bearing on the plot, simply because it is artistic, but it is certainly all wrong to let this clement enter into a production when there is enough story to make the offering hold without this un- necessary padding. We had a good idea here, logically developed and with some excellent twists, but it was all but killed completely by much incidental business that should have been left out and all through the offering, the individual scenes were not only held on too long but the painfully slow dissolves on the scenes and titles added insult to injury by making this terribly draggy all the way. Briefly, the basic idea of this concerned a young Japanese who was led to believe that his white father had killed his mother and he comes to America deter- mined to find the father and avenge his mother's death. In seeking employment, he unwittingly comes in contact with a German spy ring and Marin Sais, their female leader, becomes interested in him and offers to be his tutor. It develops that Sessue's father is a TJ. S. Admi- ral who possesses an important document which the spies are trying to obtain and by professing her love and making Sessue believe that he can cause his father greater injury by stealing the document than by killing him, the she-spy induces him to do so. He secures the papers and brings them to Marin, but when he learns that her professed love was false and that he had been the victim of a German spy scheme, he sets them back after a struggle in which the spy's confederates come to her assistance. Sessue's father arrives with help and the spies are captured after which Sessue faints in his father's arms after being assured that his father had always loved his mother, who had really died by her own hand. Later, we see Sessue in an important government position, his American blood having triumphed within him, and they bring in the flag for a finish. Except for the painfully slow action, this would have been an excellent offering. The plot development was logical and convincing all the way and we had several excellent comedy touches and effectively planted indi- vidual incidents. Mr. Hayakawa's work was pleasing and forceful throughout and the cast was excellent. The spy twists were logically brought in and the patriotic finish registers because they have made it sincere. Others who appeared were: Howard Davies, Mary Anderson. Tsuru Aoki. Sydney De Grey, Harry Von Meter and Mayme Kelso. mm WILLIAM RUSSELL PRODUCTIONS, Inc. starring M.P.b.A. CURRENT RELEASE: Up Romance RoAb* RELEASED TUROV6H MVTVAL EXCHANGES m*mm^ 24 TfcH*fc AlLY Sunday, Sep^emb^r 15. 1918 Should Pull Business and Will Satisfy, Could Have Been Great The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Sessue Hayakawa in "HIS BIRTHRIGHT" Haworth — Mutual Since this ran an hour and twenty minutes on the New York Roof, where I saw it, I presume that it is in about six reels, which is certainly unfortunate for everybody concerned because this could have been made into a whale of a production in 4,500 feet or less and would not only register much better with an audience but would be a more valuable proposition from a box office angle. Since I don't presume that Mutual could be induced to call in their prints and have an intelligent editor work on this and snap up the slow action your only recourse is to let this ride, and live in the hope that they won't let it happen again. If you have an intelligent operator who understands dramatic action he can improve the general effect of this considerably by slipping his machine into high at many points in the film. Despite the faults mentioned, I think this will prove a safe bet with most audiences. It certainly cannot be classed as bad because the atmosphere is convincing and impressive all the way, the characterizations ring true and the plot development is logical. On account of the draggy tempo, many folks may feel that this falls short in some respects although they are not likely to deter- mine the real cause on account of not being versed in the technical end of picture production. Mr. Hayakawa has a unique and interesting person- ality that has made him a tremendous favorite in many communities and I think his name has a distinct box office value that can be depended upon where his pre- vious productions have been shown. *Y-"%. jHaAeati* of 9c*ee*iC£a£t is tlxat pe*so*i -who is ^woarkifig to aaoalce tlxe ciaa-eixxa. a*4 Secuxe JEb± tlie £&**** e ««s»^ J0k WID'S DAIL\ BINDERS $]75 A binder keeps your copy orderly and makes it readily convenient for reference. Sunday, September 15, 1918 tM^ DAILY 25 Has Been Given Wonderful Production But Doesn't Fit Star Charles Ray in "THE LAW OF THE NORTH" Ince=Paramount SUPERVISED BY Thos. H. Ince DIRECTOR Irvin V. Willat AUTHOR John Lynch SCENARIO BY R. Cecil Smith CAMERAMAN Chester Lyons ART DIRECTOR G. Harold Percival ART TITLES BY Irvin J. Martin AS A WHOLE Artistically a masterpiece but not the proper vehicle for star and falls short as entertainment for masses. STORY Rather slender plot depending on char= acterizations and atmosphere rather than situa= ations. DIRECTION Made this a triumph technically and provided wonderfully impressive atmosphere and horribly realistic detail but failed to make star stand out. PHOTOGRAPHY Excellent. Blending of title backgrounds to action was wonderfully effec= tive. LIGHTINGS Very artistic CAMERA WORK Exceptional. Composition and angles intelligent. STAR .... Personality was lost in role that didn't fit him SUPPORT Excellent throughout EXTERIORS Wonderfully impressive snow scenes and studio sets that defy detection except stockade, which got over as "set." INTERIORS. . . .Excellent throughout and showed care in detail. DETAIL Several gruesome incidents should be eliminated. CHARACTER OF STORY A few incidents will cause women to shudder but can be cut. Other= wise shouldn't offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,700 feet THIS is convincing proof of the fact that oft times productions which involve the greatest expense and painstaking attention to detail do not provide entertainment for the masses if the director in develop- ing the technical perfection of a production, has sacri- ficed the human note and lost sight of the fact that the prime factor of any production is its audience appeal. That's what has happened to this. In the first place, it was all wrong to select this kind of a story for Charles Ray, it isn't his kind of a char- acterization. In the second place, the bulk of the offer- ing has been centered around atmospheric touches and several horribly realistic incidents to which the person- ality of the star has been subordinated. The final effect on the audience is very liable to be unpleasant and unsatisfying. The story is laid in the far North where Charlie Ray and his sister, Gloria Hope, live with their father, Charles French, the Commandant of the trading post. Charlie leaves for the next post and during his absence, willun Bob McKim abducts Gloria after killing her father. At the next post, Charlie meets Doris Lee and learning that she is a relative of McKim's, on her way to meet him, he consents to stay over and accompany her the >>ext day. When they return together the next day. Charlie comes upon the gruesome tragedy and learning that McKim is his father's slayer and has abducted his sister, he swears vengenace and after denouncing Doris for being of the same blood as willun, starts in pursuit. McKim holds his pursuers at bay at a stockade and when Charlie and his party threaten to storm the stock- ade, McKim sends out warning that he will shoot Ray's sister is they approach nearer. When Charlie's party gain entrance they find that McKim has escaped with the fastest team of do?s in the North. Charlie starts in pursuit and comes upon Doris in the snow and giving up the chase, takes her back to the cabin. In the meantime McKim has lost his gun and is attacked by wolves. Ray and his sister are united, and Charlie, realizing that he loves Doris, apologizes for hav- ing blamed her for her relative's crimes and they finish with the clutch. We had many detail bits which were gruesome in their realism and I feel that women especially will resent the scene where McKim kills one of his dogs to keep the wolves away as well as the bit where he finds the blood of a dead man dripping on him during the stock- ade battle. They make shivers run up your spine and I am sure that folks don't want to see that kind of stuff during these war times. 26 tMA DAILY Sunday, September 15, 1918 Won't Please Like Star's Former Work But They'll Accept It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Charles Ray in "THE LAW OF THE NORTH" Ince=Paramount After the very apparent care, expense and time which must have been entailed in the making of this, it is certainly to be regretted that this lacks the one import- ant factor necessary to make it a success from an audi- ence standpoint. I am very certain, however, that your audiences will not like Charlie Ray in this production and that they will leave your theatre in a rather gloomy and dissatis- fied frame of mind after seeing this. Because it is an artistic masterpiece and has been convincingly handled throughout, you will be perfectly safe in presenting this if you have it coming, because certainly no one can find fault with the offering from a production standpoint. The rub comes in the • impression left by the horribly realistic details in the story itself. What I am trying to get at is that possibly folks will not pan you for playing the production, but I feel sure that they will not advise their friends to see it and many wouldn't come in if they knew in advance what kind of a production they were going to see. The care and expense involved in constructing the studio exteriors for this will prove a wasted effort, I am afraid, because the average audience isn't going to figure that they are not the real thing. It isn't the effect of the faked show scenes that is so wonderful as the idea that they were faked so accurately as to defy detection. In other words, I would venture the opinion that the director has figured too strongly on determining how many folks he could fool with these studio exteriors without stopping to figure that the cost of erecting them has added an expense to the production without pro- ducing results that will come back via the box office. In advertising this I would play up the idea of Char- lie Ray appearing in a virile hero role in a wonderfully realistic production laid in the far North. a TRIPLE TROUBLE" CAUSES TRIPLE TROUBLE IN COUNTING YOUR LARGE BOX OFFICE RECEIPTS Read the Telegram From This Exhibitor: San Antonio, Texas, August 27, 1918. George K. Spoor, Pres. Essanay Film Mfg. Co., Chicago, Illinois. Opened Triple Trouble Sunday to ten hundred and ninety five dollars. Picture gave entire satisfaction. Top price thirty cents . Tell the other exhibitors to get busy and cash in. W. Politzer, Grand Theatre. George K. Spoor, President George Kleine System Distributors Sunday, September 15, 1918 tM^ DAILY 27 Artistic, Interesting, Red-blooded Romance Very Decidedly Worth While Dustin Farnum in "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS" Sherman Prod. — United Picture Theatres, Inc. DIRECTOR Charles Swickard AUTHOR Zane Grey SCENARIO BY Roy Clements CAMERAMAN Homer Scott AS A WHOLE Intimate Western character study with beautiful photographic effects and inter= esting action. Will undoubtedly please. STORY Follows book rather carefully and holds interest nicely. DIRECTION Gave artistic and interesting atmos= phere and made characters quite human. PHOTOGRAPHY. . . Some exceptionally beautiful bits and generally satisfactory. LIGHTINGS Some excellent, other parts varied CAMERA WORK. Generally excellent, occasionally ordinary. STAR Best screen work Dusty has ever done SUPPORT. . . .Miss Kingston very pleasing; types well chosen. EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots and generally good Western atmosphere. INTERIORS .Quite satisfactory DETAIL Some good little touches CHARACTER OF STORY Should please any type of audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,6oo feet NOT many companies who have gone out to make independent productions have started off with as good an offering- as this, the first independent Dustin Farnum feature. Taking th<> well-known novel by Zane Grey, the pic- turization follows the book rather carefully, and as a result we get ;i story which holds from start to finish with several sequences of snappy melodramatic action. At frequent intervals we have exceptionally artistic photographic bits showing cloud effects, sunrises and sunsets, and these, together with some pretty long shots help materially in lifting the entire offering into the class of a real special. The most pleasing fact about the story itself is the presence of a number of very interesting characters who are so presented, introduced and carried through the action, that the audience comes to feel as if they know them intimately. As most of you have come to realize, the great suc- cess of such films as "The Birth of a Nation," "The Barrier," "The Manxman" and other big specials, has been due to the fact that the characters were introduced and then so developed that the audience came to feel that they understood them and were intimately ac- quainted with them. While I am not comparing this with "The Birth of a Nation" as a production, I do want to compliment the director and all concerned on having made several individual characters stand out in that much-to-be-desired manner. The plot covers considerable ground but has for the most part to do with the adventures of a young Eastern girl who comes West and meets Dusty Farnum, a wild cowboy, who insults her in the very first sequence. Later on the shero persuades Dusty to return from his Mexican outlaw friends and finally after many inter- esting clashes, she yields her heart to this man of the West. One of the biggest kicks in the picture is where a cowboy pal of Dusty's resents the insult to Miss Kings- ton delivered by the cowardly sheriff, with the result that there's a gun duel in which the sheriff and two of his gang are killed by the cowboy who is also shot to death by the three men. Mr. Farnum does in this by far the best work he has yet registered on the screen. Miss Kingston screens better and appeals more decidedly than she ever has in any screen work. Practically all of the supporting cast were entirely satisfactory. In the supporting cast were Virginia Eames, Burt Apling, Charles Rogers. Jeanne Maddock. Eddie Hearne. Frank Clark, Ogden Crane, Lou Poff and George Cummings. Charles R^ 28- DAILY Sunday, September 15, 1918 They'll Like It, But You Must Use Real Ads to Get Biz The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Dustin Farnum in "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS" Sherman Prod. — United Picture Theatres Ass'n This is a corking good production that will undoubt- edly please any type of audience, but it's up to yon to stir things and get 'em in. Zane Grey's novel has been very widely read, but nevertheless you may find that a large percentage of your particular audience is unfamiliar with the book. I would suggest that you personally recommend this as an out-of-the-ordinary special that presents a stirring ro- mance of the West with real action in an artistic atmos- phere. I would use such lines as YOU'LL LOVE DUSTY FARNUM IN "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS." I would even say to my fans : YOU MAY THINK YOU ARE TIRED OF WESTERNS BUT GO SEE "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS" AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS A REAL WESTERN FILM. Naturally, it's good business to co-operate with the hook stores and I would suggest that you go to your public library and try to get a record showing how many persons in your town have read this book in the past few- years. A statement from you that so many hundreds have read this hook will arouse interest and you might head an advertisement: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS" TALK TO SOMEONE WHO HAS AND THEN SEE DUSTY FARNUM IN THIS ARTISTIC. RED-BLOODED ROMANCE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN PLAINS. Continuity Thousands of dollars are wasted every time a director is started to work with a continuity which contains unnecessary scenes which are afterwards eliminated in the cutting room. Every producer knows how his overhead piles up when the director must halt production to patch up bad continuity. It's good business to get your continuity right before you start. That is where I come in. I am free lancing so that you may call me in immediately to straighten out that "sick sister." ARTHUR EDWIN KROWS 155 Hawthorne Avenue, YONKERS, NEW YORK My Phone is Yonkers 5492 Sunday, September 15, 1918 Sli^l A1LY 29 Artistic Suspense Romance With Patriotic Punches That Will Thrill E. K. Lincoln and Dolores Cassinelli in "LAFAYETTE, WE GOME!" Perret Prod. — Affiliated Distributors Corp. DIRECTOR Leonce ferret AUTHOR Leonce Perret SCENARIO BY Leonce Perret AS A WHOLE Classy spy mystery romance tied in with very welLdone patriotic appeal. STORY Plot thread carries excellent mystery and suspense and patriotic scenes blend very nicely. DIRECTION Artistic distinction marks atmosphere with several particularly effective human touches registered. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally excellent LIGHTINGS Many very artistic bits; generally pleasing. CAMERA WORK Very good STARS Very pleasing personalities. He fine type of American; she beautiful and appealing. SUPPORT Generally satisfactory EXTERIORS. . . .Some very artistic. Battle flashes well handled. INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Several very pleasing touches CHARACTER OF STORY Has sure=fire patriotic wallops. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,800 feet WE'VE had a number of patriotic appeal subjects and some of them have been good and some bad. You are entirely safe in promising that this is a very interesting story which has a suspense mystery romance and at the same time you can register the fact that there is a patriotic appeal in this film which carries a message from France to tins country and registers a visualization of Pershing's answer, "Lafayette, We Come !" Of all the patriotic appeal subjects thai have been produced to date, with the exception of "Hearts of the World." this is decidedly the most artistic From the very first we see the touch of the artist's hand in beautiful exteriors and classy interiors well photographed. Throughout the film. Producer Perrel has managed to maintain this artistic distinction without at any time losing the dramatic value of the patriotic wallop E. K. Lincoln is a manly American typifying the best of Uncle Sam's boys, and Dolores Cassinelli wins imme- diately by virtue of her beauty and her very decided appeal. She will undoubtedly become a favorite be- cause she photographs very well and has poise and repose which gives her work a pleasing distinction. The story thread has to do with the fact that Mr. Lincoln falls in love with Miss Cassinelli and then faces circumstances which force him to believe that, she is an enemy spy. This suspense is very well maintained and not until the very end do we realize that she has been playing the part of the spy Princess in order to trap other conspirators. You can safely say that this is not a picture of bloody battle scenes because there are only a few battle flashes which have been very well handled and 1 am quite sure that no one will object to the amount of actual war that is here shown. To my mind, the most effective bit in the film is a lit- tle touch where an American soldier is shown seated in the home of French peasants with a dissolve bringing the (had son of these peasants into his place, thereby suggesting that tremendous truth of American boys tak- ing the place of French boys that have gone •"West." in this terrific fight to stop the Hun. The introduction of a vignetted shot of American soldiers inarching above the tomb of Lafayette is going to give your audience a thrill and set them cheering. There are many other places in the production which will have a similar result and the final tableaxi of the Forge of Victory will certainly top it off with a rousing yell. In the supporting cast were Emmet C. King, Ethel Winthrop, Ernest Maupain, Valentine Petit Per- ret. They'll Eat It Up But You Must Work Intelligently to Get Full Results The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I think this is a wonderful title. It has kick and a patriotic punch and when you are able to promise an interesting suspense romance in addition to a genuine patriotic thrill, it's nobody's fault but your own if you don't jam 'em in. Because of the fact that we have had some produc- tions made up principally of news weeklies and others that were rather ordinarily done so far as technique is concerned, it seems to me that it would be advisable to personally guarantee that this is an artistic production entirely worth while from every viewpoint. Your folks are going to like it after you get them in and are going to boost for you so that the only problem remaining is to get them in in the first place. Don't get any idea that they will flock to this without your working on it. because you must remember that many patriotic titles have been used and that some of the films have not come up to the mark. You might head an ad. in this: NOT A PICTURE OF WAR. BET A THRILLING VISUALIZATION OF THE PAYMENT OF AMERICA'S DEBT TO FRANCE. AN INTERESTING SUSPENSE ROMANCE WITH PATRI- OTIC PUNCHES THAT WILL MAKE YOU GLAD YOU ARE AN AMERICAN. Since such extravagant claims have been made by the manufacturers of many ordinary war features, I would suggest that the most effective means of advertising this would be your personal endorsement. Because of the peculiar conditions which have resulted from the many hurriedly thrown together offerings. I would say that this personal recommendation is almost essential. 30 ■ttfcjgj DAILY Sunday, September 15, 1918 HAVE YOU DONE YOUR DUTY? ARE YOUR REPORTS LISTED HERE? Box Office Reports The number before the name of the feature indicates the number of reports received and tabulated on that film. The first column carries the percentage of pleased patrons. The second column shows the box office percentage. Figures in the third column indicate that that many reported the film worth a return date. Included below are pictures made within the last year on which we have had five or more reports (I think you need that many for an average) and some pictures that are older than a year the rating of which averages over 80. They should be good "repeaters." Re- ports All reports in this Percentage tabulation have been marked on this scale: Exceptional 100% Excellent ----- 80% Good 60% Fair 40% Poor 20% Bad 0% PARALTA Be- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 5 A Man's Man 82 78 6 His Robe of Honor 74 74 7 Blindfolded 53 48 8 The Turn of the Card.. 88 75 1 5 Within the Cup 62 59 UNIVERSAL Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 5 The Price of a Good Time. 80 83 "bluebird Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 8 Undine 79 86 8 8 The Silent Battle 78 84 5 The Price of Silence 87 85 5 The Bugler of Algiers... 80 69 1 6 Mutiny 60 57 9 Mysterious Mrs. M 78 60 1 5 Polly Red Head 61 68 5 Hell Morgan's Girl 90 88 1 5 Kentucky Cinderella 68 57 MUTUAL Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 8 Dulcie's Adventure 87 83 2 10 Faith 76 71 6 Miss Jackie of the Navy. 87 82 1 5 A Bream or Two Ago ... 81 87 8 The Innocence of Lizette 85 84 6 The Gentle Intruder 77 78 TRIANGLE % % Re- P. P. B. O. peat 11 The Lamb 85 78 8 19 His Picture in the Papers 89 75 5 23 Peggy 94 91 15 19 Hell's Hinges 93 90 12 17 The Flying Torpedo 88 80 S 16 The Habit of Happiness. 89 85 5 17 Stepping Stones 85 75 2 21 The Good Bad Man 90 79 6 20 The Bugle Call 93 79 9 27 Reggie Mixes in 92 77 11 27 An Apostle of Vengeance 88 85 6 30 Flirting With Fate 87 86 11 24 Honor Thy Name 87 73 4 23 Home 91 80 9 24 The Social Secretary 89 75 8 20 The Wolf Woman 85 89 6 27 Manhattan Madness 94 92 12 22 Plain Jane 88 75 5 22 The Return of Draw Egan 88 87 8 19 A Corner in Colleens 88 80 7 21 Fifty-Fifty 89 83 6 16 American Aristocracy ... 92 89 9 15 The Devil's Double 91 91 7 21 The Matrimaniac 92 93 10 20 The Sin Ye Do 9*2 85 10 16 Truthful Tulliver 97 93 9 12 The Weaker Sex 88 83 4 16 The Americano 98 97 12 17 The Gun Fighter 78 86 11 16 Back of the Man 90 80 6 15 The Square Deal Man... 96 95 8 12 The Desert Man 92 92 12 The Pinch Hitter 93 71 11 Wolf Lowry 91 91 11 The Clodhoppers 94 81 9 The Flame of the Yukon. 94 92 8 6 Strange Transgressor 81 75 5 Time Locks & Diamonds. 42 88 19 The Aryan 83 83 6 5 Madcap Madge 73 51 11 A Hater of Men 73 64 FIRST NATIONAL Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. Q. peat 7 A Dog's Life 100 97 5 8 Tarzan of the Apes 89 87 2 6 My Four Years in Ger- many 93 80 5 Fall of the Romanoffs... 62 64 1 6 Alimony 6? &0 5 A Daughter of Destiny. . 68 56 WORLD Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 7 CamiUe 86 79 S 5 The Yellow Passport 82 80 2 11 All Man 59 63 2 7 Broken Chains 50 43 12 The Rise of Susan 79 83 6 6 The World Against Him. 52 43 10 Woman Alone 67 65 7 On Dangerous Ground... 65 71 7 The Man Who Forgot... 54 71 5 The Bondage of Fear 65 63 8 Tillie Wakes Up 79 78 8 The Hungry Heart 87 83 9 The Square Deal 66 69 3 A Girl's Folly 65 75 5 The Red Woman 49 48 5 The Family Honor 66 61 9 The Dancer's Peril 71 67 5 The Social Leper 65 65 5 The Page Mystery 55 57 PERFECTION Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 7 Graustark 85 91 5 11 The Ne'er Do Well 91 77 7 6 The Prince of Graustark 85 81 2 11 Skimner's Dress Suit 93 83 7 5 Skinner's Bubble 86 75 7 Filling His Own Shoes. . 58 65 6 The Man Who Was Afraid 77 69 7 Skinner's Baby 87 84 1 5 Efficiency Edgar's Court- ship 70 51 5 Buggies of Red Gap 80 46 PATHE Re- % % Re- ports TP- P. B- O. peat 6 Excuse Me 90 73 2 6 Madame X 71 91 8 Little Mary Sunshine 90 78 1 7 The Shine Girl 73 64 8 Shadows and Sunshine.. 63 78 7 Jov and the Dragon 78 71 5 Her New York 82 62 6 Kick In W ?* * Sunday, September 15, 1918 DAILY 31 PARAMOUNT Re- % '% Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 7 Tess of the Storm Coun- try 88 88 2 11 Wildflower 89 82 8 7 The Crucible 92 84 3 5 The Sign of the Cross... 79 85 9 Cinderella 84 91 4 5 The Goose Girl 95 95 4 6 David Harum 82 78 1 6 Pretty Sister of Jose 84 82 2 7 Dawn of a To-morrow.. 83 88 1 6 Chimmy Fadden 91 75 1 6 Kindling 81 82 10 Seven Sisters 84 83 1 11 Rags 91 93 5 8 Helene of the North 87 81 2 6 A Girl of Yesterday 89 88 8 12 Carmen 82 83 4 13 Still Waters 92 90 7 9 Madame Butterfly 82 86 3 7 Bella Donna 92 77 4 6 Chimmy Fadden Out West 88 76 2 8 Gentleman From Indiana 86 78 10 Prince and the Pauper.. 82 87 5 18 The Cheat 84 80 12 10 The Old Homestead 88 84 7 8 Mice and Men 84 80 5 13 Trail of the Lonesome Pine ■ 75 87 S 10 Out of the Drifts 89 86 4 14 Poor Little Peppina 88 84 8 10 Molly Make Believe 87 82 6 16 Maria Rosa 81 80 4 23 Silks and Satins 85 88 16 35 Hulda from Holland 95 94 25 25 Little Lady Fileen 87 89 10 18 Ashes of Embers 85 83 7 14 Miss George Washing- ton 95 95 11 6 The Roadside Impresario 48 34 21 Snow White 95 95 IS 7 Heir of the Ages 34 36 7 At First Sight 63 41 8 The Highway of Hope... 38 34 5 The Little Boy Scout 64 53 7 Forbidden Paths 89 38 9 Hashimura Togo 70 50 7 What Money Can't Buy.. 42 50 8 The Amazons 97 91 9 Mysterious Mrs. Terry.. 81 77 7 The Law of the Land 40 46 6 The Varmint 77 65 9 The Hostage 68 59 5 Little Miss Optimist 32 33 7 The Ghost House 60 61 9 Double Crossed 74 63 6 The Trouble Buster 48 51 10 Bab's Diary 93 87 9 The Call of the East 51 46 5 Tom Sawyer 87 82 2 6 The Hired Man 76 63 5 Clever Mrs. Carfax 56 47 6 Keys to the Righteous.. 50 38 6 Bah's Rurerlar 91 79 1 5 Molly Entangled 60 62 11 Playing the Game 80 65 6 Madame Jealousy 55 47 9 One More American 77 64 12 Sunshine Nan 64 68 6 Wild Youth 73 68 9 La Tosca 65 63 10 Rich Man — Poor Man 67 63 6 Love Me 61 62 8 Eve's Daughter 66 62 6 Huck and Tom 92 89 7 The Family Skeleton... 58 67 9 Naughty — Naughty 67 60 6 The Honor of His House 74 67 5 The House of Silence 74 71 5 Mile-a-Minute Kindall. . 86 58 6 Prunella 76 65 FOX Re- ports % % P. P. B. O. Re- peat 96 82 87 78 94 96 93 91 72 99 94 84 94 82 56 84 79 73 89 86 67 66 80 80 62 5 A Fool There Was 84 97 5 Should a Mother Tell 85 75 9 Two Orphans 85 87 6 A Soul of Broadway 85 80 6 Destruction 76 90 « The Serpent 92 93 11 The Eternal Sapho 84 87 22 East Lynne 86 85 18 Man From Better Bootes 82 81 27 Under Two Flags 95 92 19 Her Double Life 84 84 12 Borneo and Juliet 86 86 7 The New York Peacock.. 83 79 6 A Tale of Two Cities 97 83 4 5 Alladin's Lamp 68 69 ARTCRAFT Be- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 16 Poor Little Rich Girl 97 15 Broadway Jones 94 15 In Again — Out Again... 86 9 A Reckless Romeo 89 9 The Little American 94 12 Wild and Wooley 96 8 A Roughhouse 96 11 Down to Earth 91 10 Barbary Sheep 80 9 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm 99 0 Man From Painted Post 91 6 Oh Doctor ! 82 6 The Narrow Trail 89 6 The Woman God Forgot 88 5 The Rise of Jenny Cush- ing 67 6 Stella Maris 82 6 Blue Blazes Rawden.... 79 lOHeadin' South 81 5 Wolves of the Rail 88 10 Amarilly of Clothesline Alley 89 9 The Whispering Chorus. 76 8 The Blue Bird 78 7 The Tiger Man 84 9 Mr. Fixit 88 5 Hit-the-Trail Holliday.. 94 METRO™ Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 6 The Soul of a Woman... 93 80 1 5 What Will People Say... 80 84 6 A Man and His Soul 83 83 2 8 The Wall Between 78 82 1 15 The River of Romance. . 87 76 7 10 Mr. Fourty Four 88 93 4 13 The White Raven 86 81 4 14 The Promise 82 84 S 7 The Slacker 98 90 2 6 The Haunted Pajamas ... 83 74 5 The Greatest Power 42 52 5 Aladdin's Other Lamp... 51 50 5 The Soul of Magdalene.. 44 48 5 Under Handicap 83 70 5 The Avenging Trail 73 73 9 Revelation 93 86 4 SERIALS Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 14 Patria 84 77 5 Liberty 91 92 10 The Iron Claw 93 92 9 The Shielding Shadow... 91 92 GOLDWYN Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 14 Polly of the Circus 92 89 11 Baby Mine 82 66 1 6 Fighting Odds 29 32 10 The Face in the Dark... 72 67 1 8 Joan of Plattsburg 69 61 7 The Fair Pretender 69 53 5 Our Little Wife 64 43 V1TAGRAPH Re- ports % % Re- P. P. B. O. peat 14 The Battle Cry of Peace. 96 16 God's Country and the Woman 81 9 The Island of Regenera- tion 84 C Green Stockings 88 18 The Combat 79 8 My Official Wife 90 6 Within the Law 99 6 Message of the Mouse... 71 6 The Stolen Treaty 66 8 Over the Top 91 8:j 8fi 83 5 88 2 81 1 82 4 97 1 73 66 86 6 SELECT Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 16 The Common Law 83 90 5 6 The Easiest Way 88 87 2 5 The Lone Wolf 88 76 1 8 Poppy 68 79 5 The Law of Compensation 74 70 7 The House of Glass 76 58 6 Ghosts of Yesterday 80 73 2 7 Up the Road With Sally 86 66 6 The Marionettes 78 60 5 The Studio Girl 72 67 5 The Honeymooners 74 71 7 The Reason Why 69 63 7 The Shuttle 78 72 9 De Luxe Annie . ... 93 78 1 5 The Floor Below .... 68 66 SPECIAL FEATURES Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 7 Birth of a Nation 100 100 6 8 The Libertine 83 81 4 7 The Eternal City 93 96 4 6 Little Girl Next Door 77 88 8 8 Where Are My Children. 79 84 2 5 Alice in Wonderland 76 86 1 5 The Eyes of the World. .89 72 ( 1 6 Womanhood 86 84 '2 9 The Barrier 90 81 5 On Trial 88 76 6 Daughter of the Gods... 70 65 2 MUTUAL-CHAPLIN Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 6 The Floorwalker 89 90 2 16 The Count 88 86 8 7 Behind the Scene 89 91 S 9 The Rink 96 99 • 8 Easy Street 95 100 8 14 The Cure 94 95 8 5 The Adventurer 96 96 32 iMA AILY Sunday, September 15, 1918 that movement must prove itself out before it's time to rave. I cannot rave over the entertainment provided, because the one affair of the week, the ball, con- In the Hands of the Few (Continued from page 1) country, which are really of importance, and furthermore I believe it to be an acknowledged sisted for the most Part of rather tiresome speeches fact at this time, that there are less than five thou- and pleasing entertainment furnished by boys of sand theatres that deserve the name. the Nav>'< which had nothing to do with the film Considering the fact, and it is a fact, that less business, than five hundred men control the best five thou- l cannot rave over the good that was aecom- sand houses, I want to register the additional fact, Pushed through the discussion held on the floor and it is a most important one, that those five <>f the Convention, because as a rule only a handful thousand houses represent at least ten thousand of exhibitors were present. booking days. We have all been provided with many figures But- I do want to rave about the fact that there were in the past few months as to the required number at least a hundred prominent sure-enuff regular of booking days actually needed to put a film theatre owners from all parts of the country pres- over in this country, and certainly it's no secret that the general figure aimed at was 2,000 days. Here indeed are facts and figures worth giving very careful consideration, and as the man from the Middle West says, "I'll say so." We are going" to have exhibitor co-operative distribution. All the mistakes that anyone might make can't keep it back. Many people have been under the impression that it would be an impossibility because they thought of the thousands of theatre owners, and said they couldn't be held together. I want to register very emphatically the fact that those theatres are being held together right now by the individuals who are building" groups here and ent in Chicago, during the week of the Convention, with the result that these men had a wonderful opportunity to discuss their problems to one an- other, and with the visiting producers in the lobbies of the hotels, where things were said that would never be said on the floor of any Convention. It was fortunate indeed that the First National, The Affiliated and The United organizations all held business meetings in Chicago during the week of the Convention, because I honestly believe that most of the exhibitors who were in attendance at the Convention were there as a result of one of these three business meetings. I want to urge at this time the thought that every organization in the film business, including there. Sooner or later some of these individuals the producers who annually call their exchange are going to get together and we will have an organization of exhibitors' strength that will get somewhere in a hurry. When you stop to realize that the best creators, by which I mean stars and directors, will not ex- ceed a hundred, with ten thousand booking days in the hands of five hundred men. this industry isn't so complicated after all. IS IT? There Were Results To the casual observer who might have dropped in to Chicago and visited the Convention Hall in the Sherman House last week, it might have easily seemed that the Convention was a flivver. I want to say most emphatically that I think it was an excellent meeting. I can't rave over any tremendous good that wras accomplished through the amalgamation of the organization, because men into session, should hold these meetings in St. Lours next year, while the Convention of the National Association is in session in that city. Such a movement would do more good than it is possible to put down on paper, not because of any discussions held in a Convention Hall, but because of the friendships formed, opinions exchanged, and the ideas evolved through the heart to heart talks that always come when the clans gather in the hotels on Convention Week. St. Louis should be a rallying ground for every organization in the film business, be it exhibitor, producer or distributor, and if all these organiza- tions would hold their meetings at the same time in this central city next year, it would indeed be a wonderful week in the annals of our infant industry. Just stick a pin in that and remember it about next Mav 1st. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WAR PICTURES AH Exhibitors in North America: The United States Government wants you to exhibit "America's Answer," the official war picture from the battlefields of Europe — for the benefit and comfort of American families — in every city, town, hamlet in North America. Our Government requests that you run these live pictures of our own sons, brothers and friends — filmed at the gates of Hell and brought back through the submarine-infested seas — in the same worthy spirit that put Amer- ica in this world war. In this instance, Distributors and Exhibitors should be above com- mercialism. Consistent with operation the price will be made fair. Every Exhibitor is part of the plan. Your co-operation is necessary. Every effort will be made to get "Amer- ica's Answer" to you. Right here in town there are many families represented in these pictures. You should localize the effect. A plan has been thought out whereby you can show "America's Answer" without raising your admission price. The cost to you will be the consistent minimum and you are asked to not haggle and barter and hold off, but to be personally as anxious to exhibit them as our intrepid soldiers are to establish democ- racy with the blood of their stalwart bodies. These pictures show you how they are doing it — show to Mothers the priceless nobility of their sons' manly courage in fighting for the Right. Show these pictures — you will ease many aching hearts in American homes. Exhibitor, get these films — you "will gain — your patrons will be grateful and you will effec- tively serve your country. Co-operate with the Government. Our salesman will call and outline a plan whereby you can do so advantageously. Your personal interest is respec- tively urged. Proportionate Cost Plan Small theatres can show "America's Answer" at a cost proportionate with each theatre's in- come— a new plan devised in friendliness and fairness to the small as well as the big. "America's Answer" comes to you — with the thousands of dollars of introductory expense for heavy advertising all paid — bearing the stamp of approval of the biggest centers. The smallest theatre can afford "America's Answer" — the poorest shall have it. Apply ! Distributors presented bids to the Government for the physical distribution of "America's An- swer" and from and on the bids submitted the World Film Corporation was selected. Write to the World Film Corporation now ! Preference was given also to those distributors who had not yet had an opportunity to handle an official war film. But all of the big distributors are patriotic and are requesting and instructing their sales forces and employees to help spread "America's Answer" over the length and breadth of the United States. "America's Answer" comes as a thrilling message of the approaching victory of Democracy over Autocracy. The screen is the medium by which the real news, alive and in the making, is conveyed to the families in America — they are all waiting for it. Show "America's Answer" to Americans. COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION, GEORGE CREEL, Chairman. DIVISION OF FILMS, CHARLES S. HART, Director. "America's Answer" — Released October 14th Information at all World Film Corporation Exchanges cvtret 145T Byo a t) Way Bryant 2305-5602 Xcw Yovlc City jSuttc 808-809 ZfcBRADSTREET of FILMDOH j^rkogmized Authority Vol. V, No. 129 Monday, September 16, 1918 Price 5 Cents RAPF'S ALL WOMEN FEATURE Seven-Reel Production is Almost Ready — Has Backing of Leading Women's Organizations Harry Rapf is all for the ladies right now. He has practically com- pleted a seven-reel feature depicting women's rise in the affairs of the na- tion and most particularly the part that they are playing in the prosecu- tion of the war. The picture is said to have the official sanction and back- ing of the leading women's organiza- tions in the country. The story was compiled by three of the foremost women writers. All are active in the affairs of women's or- ganizations and fully conversant with the work that is being carried on at present. Rapf has made arrangements for a showing of the picture at one of the big Broadway houses and during its run the entire staff of the theatre will be composed of women, including the publicity staff, orchestra and attend- ants. The producer states that the picture not only shows the activities of wo- men in war work such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Y. M. C. A. and Community Camp work, but also depicts those who are working in mu- nition plants and the various branches of the industrial world and public util- ities where men are being released for more strenuous occupations. A spe- cial feature in one part of the story will be the activities of women in the Army and Navy and on the police forces in a number of communities. Raph is sure that his feature will be a big seller because of the fact that he has received assurances from the foremost Women's organizations in the country that they will co-operate with him in the exploitation of the picture. In addition to the educa- tional value and the propaganda force the production will have a story of love, war and politics as an underly- ing theme. Honest Information BIJOU THEATRE Orange, N. J. Wid's Daily, New York City. Gentlemen: Wid's Daily gives me more real, honest information about features and the film game in general, than I ever expected was possible. Yours very truly, WALTER M. HOFFMAN, Manager. Selznick Gets Two Features Lewis J. Selznick has obtained "The Only Woman" and "The Mid- night Patrol" for release. He will place the pictures on the market within the next month. Incorporated in N. Y. J. M. W. Company and Other New Concerns ALBANY.— Joseph M. Weber, Max Weber and Dave Lewis, of New York, are named as the principal stock hold- ers of the J. M. W. Company of Man- hattan, which was incorporated with Secretary of State Hugo last week. The corporation has a capital stock of $10,- 000 and will engage in business of motion picture and theatrical proprie- tors and managers and will produce and exploit motion pictures, photo- plays and musical and dramatic offer- ings. Other amusement concerns char- tered last week were: Joseph Friedberg, Inc., of Manhat- tan, which is formed to manufacture and deal in motion picture films of various kinds. It has a capital of $10,000 and these directors: Joseph Friedberg, Thomas F. McMahon and Bailey C. Elliott, of 1400 Broadway, New York City. William Street Amusement Com- pany, Buffalo, N. Y., to operate a the- atre for motion pictures and other amusement attractions. It is capital- ized at $6,000. The directors are Ida P. Scofield, Pauline Franke and Mary Ranchstadt of Buffalo, N. Y. No Contract Signed Wire From Mary Pickford Refutes Recent Reports The following telegram received by Wid's Daily from Mary Pickford will be interesting news to the trade as it definitely refutes repeated reports concerning Miss Pickford's signing a contract. It confirms a statement of the situation as printed in this publi- cation last week. The despatch, dated September 13, reads as follows: "My mother leaves for New York early next week where together with my attorney, Mr. O.'Brien, she will consider all contracts offered me. I am organizing my own company and am getting ready for my next produc- tion at this time. Am not ready to announce either story or director. "Mary Pickford." Metropolitan to Open Loew's Metropolitan, the latest the- atre to be added to the circuit in New York, will be opened to the public to- night. The house is in down-town Brooklyn just off Fulton street. It is called the largest vaudeville house in America having a seating capacity of about 4,000. The cost is said to have reached up- wards of $2,000,000. Anna Case, the opera star, will be introduced by her director, Julius Ste- ger. She will sing patriotic airs. The initial photoplay is the Para- mount-Artcraft special, "The Hun Within," with Dorothy Gish. Handling Producers' Corp. Films According to the deal recently closed between the Producers' Dis- tributing Corp., of which Frank G. Hall is president, and the General Film Company, the release of the Producers' will be available at the fol- lowing General exchanges: Atlanta, Dallas, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle, Port- land, San Francisco, Los Angeles,, and New Orleans. Monday, September 16, 1918 luMishn! KAery Day in the Tear at 73-73 Went 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WlD'S FILMS & FILM FOLK. Inc. | F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDB DEXTO. Editor entered ;it New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) Unitfd States, Out- ride of Greater New York, J10.00 one year; ( months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY. 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vamderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes . Franklyn Hanna, playing in support oi Harold Lockwood in Metro's "The Great Romance," has volunteered for Y. M. C. A. service. Roswell Dague, former assistant to Robert MacAlarney, scenario editor of the Famous Players-Lasky, has gone to Camp Taylor, Ky., to try for a commission in the field artillery. "The Haunted Pajamas," a farce comedy produced and released by Metro sometime ago with Harold Lockwood as the star, is to be put on the stage according to an an- i ouncement just made. Because the print of the Marguerite Clark picture, "Out of a Clear Sky," was not ready for showing at the Ri- alto this week as promised, Manager Rothapfel substituted Frank Keenan in "The Bells," which is the current attraction. "Fighting for Freedom" Episodes of the official British war picture, "Fighting for Freedom," to be distributed by Universal, beginning October 1, will be released under the following titles: "Admiral Beatty's Fleet in Action"; "Bomb Dropping Aerial Submarine Destroyers;" Sensational Capture of Bag- "Thrilling Feats of the Royal Corps;" "Repairing War's Ravages;" "Chinese and African Workers Trailing the Hun;" and "Britain's Battling B u 1 1 d o g— the Navy." From '•The dad;" Flyin Buyers Ask Protection Reproduction of Subjects Endan- gers Owners of Foreign Rights Since the announcement within the past few weeks of a number of repro- ductions that were to be filmed, there has been a discussion on regarding the status of the original foreign sales that were made on pictures where there were still prints in ex- istence abroad. Several of the New York representatives have been ques- tioned by their principals regarding the matter and as yet they are up in the air on the question. One of the export brokers stated that in all future foreign right con- tracts his principals wouid insist on a protection clause to guard against the repetition of a like condition. Back With War Scenes Partner of Burton Holmes Has Many Views of Conflict Lewis Francis Brown, manager and partner of Burton Holmes, returned to America at an Atlantic Port yes- terday bringing with him a large quantity of film taken on the battle- fields of France. The pictures were made by special permission that was granted by the Government and Mr. Brown has spent the greater part of the year abroad obtaining the scenes. Paramount has been releasing the Burton Holmes Travel features', and they will undoubtedly be the medium through which the war material will be distributed. Holmes has in _ his collection many scenes of the cities and towns in the battle zone that were taken prior to the war and cou- pled with the present pictures they will make interesting material. "Of No Use to Germany" "Of No Use to Germany" is the third in the initial group of single reel Red Cross pictures released by that organization's Bureau of Pictures. It deals with the human wreckage that came out of Belgium, citizens too old or too ill or too young to toil at tasks set by the invader. This release will follow "Soothing the Heart- of Italy," whfth is already being routed to the public through General Film exchanges which are co-operating with the Bureau of Pictures by physi- cal distribution of the film. Third Y. M. C. A. Picture The third of the Y. M. C. A. se- ries of pictures devoted to exploiting the daily life of the individual in the various branches of the Government war service was started yesterday. The picture is entitled "Twenty-four Hours in the Life of a Marine." Frances Marion Sailing Frances Marion, author of many of the Mary Pickford screen successes, is to sail this week for abroad on spe- cial work for the Committee on Pub- lic Information. Miss Marion ex- pects to be away about three months. Notes from Detroit DETROIT.— The Producers' Dis- tributing Corporation has opened in Detroit, offering ten-twenty-thirty dollar pictures — no higher. W. A. Fiaynes, recently with the Dawn Mas- terplay Company, is the manager. William Fox, on his way to Chi- cago, stopped off to visit his Detroit exchange last week. Colonial theatre alters its policy fiom a daily change to four changes a week. "To-day," with Florence Reed, played at the Majestic theatre last week. It is reported a success. The Empire theatre, a downtown daily change house, will inaugurate a four change a week policy. Griffith's "The Great Love" is do- ing a good business at the Washing- ton theatre. It has been held for a second week. "Hearts of the World" is now in its thirteenth week at the Campus the- atre. This breaks a record for con- secutive weeks in Detroit. Clare and Graham Hoffman, De- troit theatrical men, have leased the Duplex theatre. This is the only double-auditorium theatre in Detroit. It has never been a success. The Kunsky Company, controlling ten of Detroit's leading theatres, now issues a seven-section Weekly Film News, one section devoted to each prominent theatre. Harry R. Guest, publicity representative for John H. Kunsky, Inc., has the work in charge. Thomas Joins United Harry H. Thomas has joined the field force of United Picture Theatres of America. Mr. Thomas, with eight years of exhibitor experience, will be in special charge of field work in Long Island, Connecticut and New York State as far as North Albany. First Caruso Released Oct. 20 The first Paramount-Artcraft Ca- ruso picture, entitled "My Cousin," is to be released Oct. 20. The pro- duction was made • in the Famous Players New York studio with Caro- lina White as the leading woman. Judging from the interest aroused by the preliminary announcements of the famous tenor's photoplay debut, the Famous Players-Lasky officials are confident of getting the increased rental price without difficulty. VeCatiTellYouVhereTo^eachTtieiii-PhoQeVaflderbilt4551 DIRECTORS DIRECTORS GEORGE D. BAKER PRODUCING FEATURES METRO HERBERT BLAGHE DIRECTING FOR METRO TOD BROWNING Directing BLUEBIRD FEATURES ALBERT CAPELLANI PRODUCER EDWIN CAREWE M. P. D. A. Now Managing and Directing HAROLD LOCKWOOD GEORGE FITZMAURIGE M. P. D. A. PRODUCING PATHE FEATURES 1914 — Birth of a Nation 1916 — Intolerance 1918— Hearts of the World These are the only productions personally directed by D. W. GRIFFITH ALLEN J. HOLUBAR M. P. D. A. Producing Universal Features WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY M. P. D. A., PRODUCING FEATURES IVAN GEORGE IRVING M. P. D. A. GENERAL PRODUCING DIRECTOR CHARLES MILLER M. P. D. A. Director of THE SERVICE STAR The Flame of the Yukon The Sawdust RingThe Ghosts of Yesterday ASHLEY MILLER Motion Picture Directors Ass'n. 234 West 55th St., N. Y. C. R. WILLIAM NEILL PRODUCER Paramount Release G. HAROLD PERGIVAL ART DIRECTOR Thos. H. Ince Productions PAUL SCARDON M. P. D. A. FEATURE DIRECTOR, VITAGRAPH FREDDIE SGHAEFFER ART DIRECTOR R. A. WALSH PRODUCTIONS GEORGE A. SIEGMAN M. P. D. A. AUTHOKS ANTHONY KELLY CHARLES SWIGKARD Personally Directing Dustin Farnum in Harry A. Sherman Productions S. E. V. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. With D. W. GRIFFITH STUDIOS WILLIAM D. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. Director Lasky-Paramount ROBERT T. THORNBY M. P. D. A. Producing Fox Features PERRY N. VEKROFF M. P. D. A., FEATURE DIRECTOR 511 W. 143rd St. Audubon 1941 LOIS WEBER HONORARY MEMBER M.P.D.A. CHESTER WITHEY DIRECTOR WALLACE WORSLEY DIRECTING LOUISE GLAUM IN PARALTA PLAYS JAMES YOUNG Motion Picture Directors Association AUTHORS Manhattan Madness Wolff Lowry CHARLES T. DAZEY The Sea Master New York Luck GEORGE ELWOOD JENKS CONTINUITY AND SPECIALS Triangle Culver City MONTE M. KATTERJOHN Now writing1 Exclusively for Paramount-Artcraft Productions Jesse L. Lasky Studios J. CLARKSON MILLER GOLDWYN Original Stories and Continuities EVE UNSELL ORIGINALS ADAPTATIONS Many Successes for Prominent Companies 272 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. CAMERAMEN KING D. GRAY SPECIAL CAMERA EFFECTS MARY MacLAREN FEATURES ROY H. KLAFFKI Cinematograpber UNIVERSAL FEATURES 0 UAILY NOT SKIMMED Your name should be before the man who can sign contracts. This directory will appear once each week on Monday and on Tuesday there will be a similar directory of players. No matter how good your position is today it can be better tomorrow if you keep your name before the right people. Monday, September 16, 1918 — aW4 DAILY Fairly Interesting Surface Meller with Murder Mystery Twist Mme. Lina Cavalieri in "A WOMAN OF IMPULSE" Paramount DIRECTOR Edward Jose AUTHOR Louis K. Anspacher SCENARIO BY Eve Unsell CAMERAMAN Hal Young AS A WHOLE First reel dragged and offering moved slowly all the way but star appeared to decidedly better advantage than in recent work and was well lighted. STORY Centered around old situation of jealous husband and false murder charge with real murderer confessing in time to make every= thing end satisfactorily. DIRECTION Didn't keep you from guessing how this was going to end and frequently left tempo drag although handled characterizations rather well and provided pleasing atmosphere. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Generally effective and lighted star to good advantage although some interiors un= evenly lighted. CAMERA WORK . . Good STAR Has a set poise and expression which she affects too frequently but appeared very beau= tiful in some scenes and emoted satisfactorily. SUPPORT Ramond RIoome very good; Robert Cain effective and others balanced nicely. EXTERIORS Generally pleasing and fitted atmos= phere. Milan set good. INTERIORS Satisfactory; real theatre interior rather well handled. DETAIL Satisfactory although photo insert poorly handled. CHARACTER OF STORY Shouldn't offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet COMPARED with some of Mine. Cavalieri's recent films, this ranks as considerably better than any of her previous work in pictures that I can recall ;it this minute. Mme. Cavalieri was photographed to very good ad- vantage all through the offering, appearing truly beau- tiful in some of her scenes, although she was inclined to affect a set poise and expression at many times which impressed you with the fact that she knew she was being photographed and wanted to appear in the pose thai showed her beauty to best advantage whenever possible. They planted much unnecessary detail in the first reel of this which was obviously brought in to give the star an opportunity to appear in various poses and costumes in which she had appeared in grand opera and they gave considerable footage to a theatre sequence with the star doing some of her scenes from Carmen, supported by Mnratore. the famous tenor. Previous to her operatic success, Shero was estab- lished as a poor girl who lived with her sister, she later marrying a wealthy nobleman and coming to America where she attains further operatic triumphs. Her hubby is very jealous of her and when she is seen talking to willun who has had an affair with her sister, his sus- picions are further aroused. Later, while attempting to prevent willun from keeping an engagement with her sister, she is observed by hubby and in a struggle in which willun attempts to embrace her, she apparently stabs him. When hubby rushes to the scene, he finds willun dead and his wife in a faint. An examination of the body discloses two wounds, one of which could not have been inflicted by Shero. Shero, having fainted, cannot remember what happens and just as it is begin- ning to look as though she will be convicted of the murder, a creole girl, who has been planted in previous scenes, confesses to the killing, a vision explaining how she had stabbed willun after Shero had fainted. Ramond Bloome, as the hubby, gave a pleasing per- formance throughout and Robert Cain was a satisfactory willun. Gertrude Robinson was pretty and appealing as Shero's sister. Others who appeared in this were: Ida Waterman, Leslie Austern, J. Clarence Handysides, Mrs. Matilda Brundage and Corinne Uzzell. If Star Has Following In Your Town They'll Like Her In This The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If Mme. Cavalieri has pulled any business for you in the past, I would say that you could make quite a fuss about this, purely on account of her presence, because she appears to decidedly better advantage than she has in some of her recent films. If you don't figure that her name means anything to your fans then I wouldn't make any special effort to step out and get this although I think it will be consid- ered satisfactory entertainment by the average audience. If you've got a grand opera gang in your town, you might do some business on this on the strength of Mme. Cavalieri's reputation as a famous singer, coupled with the fact that she appears in a short scene from "Carmen" in a part of this offering with Muratore, the famous tenor, appearing with her in the scene. You might head an ad: "Are you jealous? Would you get suspicious if ytfti saw your wife in the arms of another man feBBADSTREET of FILMDOM .DAlbY^ zfeRKOCNIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 130 Tuesday, September 17, 1918 Price 5 Cents Handling Loan Films General to Distribute Two Fea- tures for Liberty Campaign General Film Company is to handle the distribution of two propaganda pictures as part of its contribution to the Fourth Liberty Loan. One of these subjects was made by the United Picture Theatres, Inc., and is called "Ready Money Ring- field." Dustin Farnum is starred in this. The second is a Kalem product, en- titled "The Spirit of 1776," and is done by a number of legitimate act- ors, who are helping the cause in this way. Both these subjects are ready for immediate release. "SHOULDER ARMS" IN THREE REELS First National Exhibitors' Circuit Directors Decide on Length of New Chaplin Comedy The First National Exhibitors' Cir- cuit has decided to release the new Chaplin picture, "Shoulder Arms," in three reels. Advices at various inter- vals from the Coast indicated that Chaplin had enough material in his new picture to make a splendid six- reel comedy. A short time ago, however, the First National sent a questionnaire to the 4,000 exhibitors that have con- tracted for the Chaplin comedies ask- ing what length would best suit their needs. Eighty-seven per cent, of the exhibitors voted for a three-reel com- edy. The reason for the choice is due to the fact that the exhibitors did not wish to disrupt their programs by showing a six-reel comedy when they had contracted for program material. It is figured that as much business can be done with a three-reel comedy as with a six-reel one. The First National directors, it is understood, have refused $400,000 in cash for the world's rights to the pic- ture, stating that they would not con- sider the proposition because it would mean the breaking of faith with their members. Incidentally, it is almost an assured fact that the future Chaplin produc- tions will be five reels in length. He will make at least four pictures of that length during the year and First Na- tional will market them. Sid Chaplin, who has been in the East for some time, is responsible for the statement that "Shoulder Arms" will prove to be the funniest of all the comedies made by his brother. Sid plays the Kaiser in the production. The rumor that Chaplin was to en- ter the British Army was also laid Ho rest. This report, printed in Chi- cago, was denied yesterday at the First National offices where it was stated that he will remain in pictures for the coming year at least. Loan Pictures' Showing There will be a private showing at the Rivoli this morning at 10.30 o'clock of the propaganda pictures that the various companies have con- tributed for the Fourth Liberty Loan. Hearing Postponed WASHINGTON.— The hearing of motion picture men, scheduled to ap- pear before the Senate Finance Com- mittee in Washington, yesterday, to present arguments against the new War Revenue bill as it stands, was postponed, at the request of the vis- iting delegation, until to-day, on ac- count of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. Rowland Returns From Coast Richard A. Rowland, president of Metro, returned to New York from the Coast yesterday having been away a little less than three weeks. Metro has completed arrangements for the removal of its Eastern producing units to the Coast. It is figured by Metro officials that by handling all the pro- ducing companies at one plant, about 10 per cent, can be saved on produc- tion cost. Open and Above Board MAJESTIC THEATRE Charleroi, Pa. Wid's Daily, New York. Gentlemen: Enclosed find check for $5.00 for six months' subscription for Wid's Daily. Being a new man in the exhibitor business I hap- pened to pick up one of your numbers and I was very much impressed with its contents. I made up my mind then and there that when I get back to my office I would subscribe for it. I found it snappy reading with a punch, telling what is what open and above board. It seems to me that if the rest of the trade papers, which I have subscribed to, would be as fearless as you are in telling things, the exhibitor would en- joy reading them more. As it is, they are all on the side of the exchanges and producers. Your writing on "WHO'S YOUR BOSS?" is a dandy and I am sure it opened the minds of many exhibitors to the method of some exchanges. Very respectfully, Majestic Theatre, Michael Rosenbloom, Manager. Holiday Felt in Trade Little business was done in the mo- tion picture market yesterday, as a result of the Jewish holiday. Several of the exchanges were sparsely popu- lated while many of the smaller con- cerns were closed altogether. W. J. Clark Here William J. Clark, secretary and treasurer of the Affiliated Distribut- ors' Corporation, arrived in town yes- terday morning. During his stay, Mr. Clark will complete the details of the agreement with Mutual for the physi- cal distribution of the Affiliated pic- tures and also make arrangements for the purchase of several large produc- tions. Tuesday, September 17, 1918 ifcM DAILY Published Every Day in th« Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York. N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; ( months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone : Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes Will Rogers will make his debut in pictures next week at the Rivoli in Gildwyn's Rex Beach story, "Laugh- ing Bill Hyde." Fire in Theatre CHICAGO.— A fire in the Casino theatre, 405 North Clark street, re- cently, drove 200 patrons to the street, when an exploding film set fire to the projection booth and filled the house with smoke. Oscar Goltz, the oper- ator, extinguished the blaze with a hand extinguisher. No one was in- jured and the material loss occasioned by the fire was slight, according to Manager William Lang. Smileage Work Only L. J. Meyberg, of the W. H. Clif- ford Company, who left New York last week for a tour of the west in the interests of the Srnileage Drive of the War Department's Commission on Training Camp Activities, stated before leaving that he was going to shelve all of the film activities in which he was interested for the period of the war. The companies will con- tinue, but Mr. Meyberg will devote his time to War Department interests. "Success" is the working title of Taylor Holmes' latest Triangle pic- ture in which he is being supported b} Cliff Smith's Triangle cowboys. Constance Talmadge has completed the first of the series of pictures she is making at Select's Los Angeles stu- dio, following her return from the east. "A Lady's Name," by Cyril Harcourt, is the subject. Pliny Home, Triangle cameraman, has been admitted to Uncle Sam's Sig- nal Corps School of Photography at Columbia University, and is now awaiting orders to report to New York City. Goldwyn Pictures will have their first run in St. Louis at the big Co- lumbia theatre, chief house of the Cella and Tate chain of houses and subsequent runs in the Shenandoah, the Kings, and the smaller theatres of thi* organization. Appoints Woman Manager CHICAGO. — Sarah Maxon has been appointed manager of the Peerless theatre, one of the chain of Ascher Brothers' houses. This is the first woman the Ascher Brothers have in- stalled in such a capacity. Miss Maxon was formerly a stage singer and for a time was connected with the Colonial theatre when S. L. Rothapfel was manager, where she served as artistic director. At the Peerless, Miss Maxon will inaugurate community singing, which she will lead herself. Edward Klein Enterprises Edward Klein, formerly connected with the Central Feature Film Co., Inc., of Boston ,has opened a new ex- change to be known as the Edward Klein Film Enterprises. Mr. Klein is prepared to handle everything from feature pictures to single reel come- dies. He has made arrangements with a number of producers to release their output in the New England ter- ritory. Fromithe Courts Judgment Against Standard Corp. — Revier Sues for Salary A judgment for $4,290 has been en- tered in the Supreme Court against the American Standard Motion Pic- ture Corporation in a suit of the First National Bank of Greenwood, Miss. The complaint alleges that the de- fendant is a Maine corporation and that on Dec. 21, 1916, in Chicago the Lamree Film Corporation made a se- ries of notes to the defendant which were endorsed to the plaintiff, and amounted to $3,750, which have not been paid. Harry Revier, a motion picture di- rector, has filed a suit in the Su- preme Court against En L' Air Cin- ema, Ltd., to recover $2,250. The complaint alleges that in June and July last the plaintiff was employed by the defendant to direct the feature film, "En L'Air," for which he was to get $2,500, at the rate of $250 per week for the first six weeks and the balance on the completion of the pic- ture. He says he was to get a bonus of $1,000 if the film was finished in four weeks, which meant four weeks from the time the performers started work. He says he began on July 21 last and although he was delayed for three or four days through Govern- ment interference with the taking of certain aeroplane scenes and also in spite of the fact that the defendant refused to permit him to take the last scenes in order to keep him from earn- ing the $1,000 bonus, the picture was completed Aug. 21, and a total sum of $3,500 was due, of which he has received only $1,250. Dinner Committee to Meet The Banquet Committee of the As- sociated Motion Picture Advertisers, of which C. W. Barrell is chairman, will meet today at the Claridge to take the last steps in the arrangement for the Victory Dinner, which will be given under the auspices of N. A. M. P. I. If the army wants you, get your house management in reliable hands before you go. "Topics" Rights Sold The Topics of the Day Film Co. with headquarters at the Times Build- ing, New York City, has closed sev- eral territories recently. New York and Northern New Jersey territory has been sold to F. C. Langtree, of 729 Seventh avenue. The Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi section will be handled by the Kaufman Specials of Memphis, Tenn., and Wiliam Lochren Film Service of St. Paul has the rights to Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin. A. E. Siegel is handling the sales and the general extension work of the company. tM^ DAILY Tuesday, September 17, 1918 VeCanTellYouVliefeTo^<2achTtiem^PhoneVaiideii)ilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN "S DAILY IS READ NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE RUTH ROLAND Astra-Pathe STABBING IN "HANDS UP" WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Productions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd., L. A. MILTON SILLS GOLDWYN CO. ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Loi Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear once each week on Tuesday. Tuesday, September 17, 1918 Bfe& DAILY Powerful Characterization Gives Real Wallop To Grim Story Frank Keenan in "THE BELLS" Anderson=Brunton=Pathe DIRECTOR Ernest C. Warde AUTHOR Leopold Lewis FROM THE PLAY BY Erckman Chartrian SCENARIO BY. . Gilson Willets and Jack Cunningham CAMERAMAN Not credited AS A WHOLE Wonderfully well handled produc= duction with Keenan in masterful character delineation. Carries a real kick but is grim and heavy. STORY Reminds you of "Avenging Conscience"; murderer is haunted to point of confession by constantly hearing bells of victim's sleigh. DIRECTION Artificial snow effect was bad and obscured important action, but characteriza= tions were developed with master touch and individual incidents effectively handled with intelligent use of c!ose=ups. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally excellent work con= siderably marred by artificial snow effect which never looked real and obscured action. LIGHTINGS Superb; many excellent bits. CAMERA WORK Very fine; dissolve on dream vision was remarkably effective piece of work. STAR Powerful and convincing; made you forget vou were watching a picture. SUPPORT Excellent throughout with some great tvpes. EXTERIORS Exceptionally well handled with ex= cellent detail. DETAIL Many effective touches CHARACTER OF STORY Grim theme makes it questionable as entertainment at this time. In= offensive but verv heavy. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet OH boy! This latest onp of Pathe's sure carries a kick. Not since Griffith's "The Avenging Con- science" can I recall a play that gives yon that "deen-down-inside" feeling that this one does when they get into the dream vision which makes Keenan spring nnt of bed and come down stairs where he dies before he can confess to the murder. The story is laid in Alsace, before the war. and Mr. Keenan is presented in the role of an inn-keeper who is hard pressed by his landlord. On a winter's night, he murders a Polish Jew and appropriates his money, and although the authorities are unable to apprehend the murderer, Keenan is constantly being tortured by imagining that he hears the bells of his victim's sleigh. Several years pass and Keenan's daughter, Lois Wil- son, is to be married to Edward Coxen, a gendarme who lias been working on the murder case without success. On the eve of the wedding, according to the custom of the country, a Mesmerist is engaged to entertain the wedding guests and an inebriate, upon being brought under the Mesmerist's hypnotic influence and being asked to do what is innermost in his mind, proceeds to drink out of a candlestick. In the fear that he may be selected for the next subject, and knowing that the murder which has constantly haunted him would thus be brought to light, Keenan slips upstairs to his room. He falls asleep and we are given one of the most remarkably effective dream visions I have ever witnessed, in which Keenan imagines himself on trial for the murder and a confession being wrung from him by the introduction of the Mesmerist in the courtroom. Awakening, with a jolt, he runs down stairs, frantically crying, "The Bells, the Bells !" and passes away in a grim, tragic death scene which is the close of the picture. From a production standpoint, this left nothing to be desired except for the aforementioned snow effects. We had considerable of this, which not only looked artificial and lacked realism, but obscured much important action, and discounted the care that had been taken to make the studio exterior snow sets realistic and convincing. The dream vision was wonderfully well brought out by a dissolve whch gave the effect of Keenan being floated away into the courtroom scene. It sure gave the vision a kick. We had several good comedy touches with the village drunk who was hypnotized, but the grim finish leaves a creepy feeling which makes you for- get the lighter moments in the offering. Frank Keenan's wonderful character delineation in this will never be forgotten. As a matter of fact, he made it so forceful that the memory of it haunts you long after you have seen the picture. The attention centers for the most part upon the star, although the supporting cast was very well chosen. Albert Cody, as the drunkard, made his part register, and Edward Coxen and Lois Wilson furnished the bare thread of romance in the offering, while Carl Stockdale was truly impressive as the Mesmerist. Others in the cast were J. J. Bowling. Ida Lewis and Bert Law. In Peace Times Would Be A Knock-out. Is Rather Tragic For Now The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I would say that this is a pretty heavy diet for these war times. The tragic ending certainly leaves a kick and the entire production has been convincingly han- dled, but do folks want it? I don't think they do. The happy ending may be bromide and personally I get pretty tired of seeing 'em all finish up with the eternal clutch, but there is no doubt in my mind but what at least nine-tenths of our present-day audiences prefer it. Roxie had a reason for playing this at the Rialto. The Jewish population of New York is something to be figured with in this city and consequently the locale of this offering and the fact that the action centered about a New Year's wedding in Alsace made it a timely attraction, the past week having been the Jewish Yom Kippur. The entire bill at the Rialto bore out the Jewish holi- day atmosphere, even to the short subjects, scenic set- tings and musical numbers. If you have played "The Avenging Conscience" or "The Whispering Chorus," you should have a definite idea of how the offering is going to be received by your patrons as it carries the same tragic kick and leaves the same general impression. In advertising this I would concentrate upon the fact that this offers Mr. Keenan in one of the strongest char- acter portrayals he has ever contributed to the screen. Don't tell them the nature of the story, let them get it from the screen. 7A»B&ADSTREET of FILMDOH 7/fcRECOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 131 Wednesday, September 18, 1918 Price 5 Cents SEES RUIN IN NEW WAR TAX Brady Points Out Danger to Senate Finance Committee— Says Theatres Would Shut Down WASHINGTON. — The proposed war tax which would mean a twenty per cent, tax on admissions to motion picture theatres would sound the death-knell of the motion picture in- dustry, was the statement made by William A. Brady, president of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry before the Senate Finance Committee yesterday. Mr. Brady with various prominent men in the film world made the trip to Washington from New York espe- cially to appear before the Committee with arguments against the doubling of the admission tax. He, as president of the National Association first represented the case of the pictuie industry. He empha- sized the point that the business would be ruined and that the new tax as proposed would reflect on the rev- enue which the Government accrues from the theatres. Under the orig- inal draft of the War Revenue Bill, it was thought that the revenue from theatres could be increased from $50,000,000 to $100,000,000. Mr. Brady proceeded to show why this increase would be impossible. He sketched briefly conditions in the in- dustry during the last year. He said that 4.000 theatres had been forced to shut down because of high taxes and war conditions. It was inevitable, said Mr. Brady, that this wholesale closing should continue especially if the tax were doubled. He estimated that the revenue would decrease from the $50,000,000 to $40,000,000. The hearing served to bring forth many interesting facts concerning the financial status of the business. Ac- cording to Mr. Brady, the picture busi- ness at the present time is a losing venture. The cutting off of European markets and the constant demand for new films have resulted in the opera- tion of the domestic field at a loss to the manufacturer. Walter W. Irwin, vice president of Greater Vitagraph who followed him, pushed home the points made by Mr. Brady. He said that the large com- panies were desirous of cutting produc- tion and yet did not dare to stop making new pictures because of the danger of finding their vast organiza- tions built up after years of hard work go to smash. The three branches of the industry most vitally concerned were at the hearing. Mr. Brady, although repre- senting the N. A. M. P. I. presented the producer's angle while Mr. Irwin set forth the distributor's case. Alfred S. Black, prominent Maine exhibitor told the facts from the standpoint of a practical exhibitor. The summary of his talk was that the theatres could not stand the increase and continue operation. Mr. Brady and other two were the only speakers. Mr. Brady presented a brief to the Committee stating in full the stand of the motion picture industry. The following attended the confer- ence: Frederick H. Elliott, executive secretary of the N. A. M. P. I., Louis F. Blumenthal, of the Exhibitor's Trade Review; Harry Crandall, Washington, exhibitor; Barry Bul- keley, of the Crandall Enterprises; C. C. Pettijohn, of the Affiliated Dis- tributors Corp.; Sydney S. Cohen, president of the N. Y. State Motion Picture Exhibitors; S. L. Rothapfel; Gabriel Hess, of Goldwyn; J. V. Wil- son, of the Strand Theatre; Lewis In- nerarity, secretary of Pathe Exchange; Ernest Horstmann, of Boston; Harry Bernstein, of the Wells Enterprises, and Albert Lowe, of the Paragon Laboratories. Seattle Showing Griffith Film "The Mother and the Law," adver- tised as the de luxe edition of "In- tolerance," is being shown this week at the Orpheum, Seattle. The volume of business which it is drawing is hardly what was expected. The show is con- tinuous from 11 a. m. to 11 p. m., the regular hours for the ordinary pro- gram showing. "Mickey" on Broadway Long Awaited Mable Normand Pic- ture Opens at the Central, October 6 The Central theatre, which opened less than two weeks ago with Alice Brady in the spoken drama, "Forever After," is to house a feature picture for a run of two weeks, beginning Oc- tober 6. The picture is to be none other than "Mickey," the long-awaited Mable Normand feature which was made on the Coast. "Mickey" was secured by the W. H. Productions and they have made ar- rangements with the Shuberts for the playing of the picture at the new house. Through Interstate Jester Comedies Gives Up Its Exchange Here Negotiations have been closed be- tween Milton Cohen, of the Interstate Films, Inc., located at 729 Seventh Avenue, and William Steiner, of Jester Comedies, 220 West 42d Street, whereby Interstate will take over the distribution of the Jester product for Greater New York and New Jersey. This simply means that Interstate has bought out the company's exchange rights. Jester has also sold similar rights to the Standard Film Service of Cleve- land, for Ohio, Kentucky and Michi- gan. It has sold its rights to the Unity Photoplays Company of Ohio for the entire state of Indiana, which gives that company northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and Indiana. The Equitable Film Company of Kansas City has obtained the Jester output for Kansas and West Missouri. Starting November 1, Jester is to release on a two-a-month basis. Arrow Sells Reissues The Variety Pictures Corp. of Bal- timore, has taken over twelve two- reel Anna Little western reissues from the Arrow Film Corp. for Dela- ware, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia. Wednesday, September 18, 1918 ■{siiJtA DAILY Publi*h»d Every Day in the Year at 71-73 "Went 44th St.. New York, N. T. By WID'8 FILMS * FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- Hide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; t months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vaaderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes Sgt. Theodore F. Holland, formerly of General Film's Indianapolis _ ex- change, writes that he has arrived safely in France. Theda Bara is on her way east and is expected to arrive in New York this week. There is a report that she will spend the winter in Florida. Because of a local coal saving drive in New Jersey, film studios are com- pelled to work at night because artifi- cial lighting during the day is re- stricted. Anthony Paul Kelly has been or- dered to report at the Washington navy yard where he will be connected with the motion picture department of the bureau of navigation. By special arrangement with J. Stu- art Blackton, Maurice Tourneur has signed Sylvia Breamer for the leading feminine role in his new production, "My Lady's Garter," by Jacques Fu- trelle. Hugh Frank, head of the Mothers of Liberty Co., hay purchased the "Huns Within Our Gates" for Greater New York and New Jersey from the Arrow Film Corp. John Gilbert, leading man with Bes- sie Love in her first production for the Vitagraph Company, expects to go into the service of Uncle Sam upon the completion of his present feature. Jack become twenty-one several weeks ago ,and registered in the recent call. The Evelyn Nesbit company has re- turned from the Catskills to continue work in the Fox studio in Fort Lee. The company includes Irving Cum- mings, Russell Thaw, Bob Walker, Eu- gene Ormond, and Georgie Walters, under the direction of Kenean Buel. LOAN FILMS GIVEN SHOWING Many Prominent People Attend Private Ex- hibition—Nineteen of Short Subjects Are Run A private showing of the Liberty Loan pictures made by motion picture stars was given yesterday morning at the Rivoli, through the courtesy of S. L. Rothapfel. John C. Flinn, of the Famous Players-Lasky forces was in direct charge of the exhibition. Mr. Flinn, who is secretary of the Liberty Loan Committee of the N. A. M. P. I., made the arrangements whereby the Rivoli was turned over for the projection of the pictures. The Loan Committee was represented by Benjamin Strong, governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of the Second District and John Price Jones, assist- ant director of publicity for the Fourth Liberty Loan. The executives of the producing and distributing companies were asked to attend but owing to the hearing be- fore the Senate Finance Committee at Washington yesterday, a number of them were out of town. The showing was scheduled for ten thirty but because of the difficulty in securing an operator, it did not start until after eleven. Because of this de- lay, only nineteen of the short reel subjects were shown and sometime this week, the remaining eighteen will be exhibited at the Famous Players- Lasky office. Pictures made by the following stars were run off: Charles Ray, Norma Talmadge, Fatty Arbuckle, William S. Hart, Charles Chaplin, William Dun- can, Mae Murray, George Beban, Har- old Lockwood, Marguerite Clark, Wil- liam Farnum, Geraldine Farrar, Mack Sennett, Corinne Griffith, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew, Sessue Hayakawa, Wallace Reid, Dorothy Dalton and Douglas Fairbanks. After the last subject had been shown, John C. Flinn, in the absence of Adolph Zukor, chairman of the committee, turned over the prints to the Liberty Loan Committee. The speech of acceptance was made by for- mer Judge Otto F. Wahle. First Stewart Cost High When the first of the Anita Stewart productions is completed the cost, figured from present estimates, will exceed $125,000. Louis B. Mayer, who now has the star under contract in- tends that the first of the series of pictures shall be a "knockout." The productions to follow " Virtuous Wives" are to be made on the same lavish scale. Joseph R. Miles has started on a ten days' vacation. He will go by automobile to Tippecanoe, Ohio. Must Change Methods Federal Trade Commission Gives Decision in Stanley Corp. Case WASHINGTON.— In the case of the Stanley Booking Corp. of Phila- delphia, the Federal Trade Commis- sion has handed down a decision which may be taken as a precedent for future rulings concerning the deal- ings of producers, exchanges and theatres. The Commission has ordered the Stanley company to abandon: "Procuring the cancellation of con- tracts for the exhibition of moving pic- ture films made between its competi- tors and the producers. "Procuring films which have been announced for exhibition by its com- petitors and exhibiting them in the same neighborhood in advance of the date advertised by such competitors to hinder, harass and embarrass com- petitors. "Making contracts for films on the condition or understanding that the lessee or purchaser shall not use films produced by a competitor. "Making threats and employing methods of intimidation to compel theatres to pay commissions on films booked directly from the producer or film exchanges. "Making threats against independ- ent exhibitors that unless they book through the agency their supply of films will be cut off, and threatening producers and film exchanges with the withdrawal of patronage in order to induce them to cease supplying cer- tain of their competitors with films." Release Dates Settled Goldwyn announces the titles and release dates of four coming produc- tions. They are Mabel Normand in "A Perfect 36," Oct 21; Tom Moore in "Thirty a Week," Oct. 28; Madge Kennedy in "A Perfect Lady," Nov. 4, and Geraldine Farrar in "The Hell Cat," Nov. 11. Negotiating for Pictures William J. Clark, secretary of the Affiliated Distributors' Corporation, has entered negotiations for several large productions to follow "Lafay- ette, We Come!" It is understood that the deals are in actual transac- tion. Charles C. Pettijohn, counsel for the corporation, went to Washing- ton with the delegation on the War Revenue Bill hearing. jftjijfet (AlUV Wednesday, September 18, 1918 TWO LETTERS THAT IT WILL PAY YOU TO READ AMERICAN FILM COMPANY Chicago, Sept, 9, 1918. Mr. F. C. Gunning, Esq., Wid's, New York. Dear Mr. Gunning: — Will you please forward AT ONCE, thirty-five copies of WID'S for Aug. 31, if you have them. If not send all you can spare up to that number. Fifty if you can. I enclose you a letter which we sent to our thirty-five salesmen and the Pathe exchanges and in it, I can assure you, we express exactly what we mean. With wire pulling here and influence there, there is scarcely a word in many of the publications that somehow is not camouflaged by "policy." We feel that your publication is the Dun or Bradstreet, or even better, of the M. P. business. The writer has written many picture plays and the Helen Holmes serial, "The Lost Express," and felt that whatever you had to say about them was as just and as final as any opinion. We thank you again for maintaining a sheet that can be depended upon and would hate to see the date that it might fall into other hands, or become a subsidized organ. Yours most sincerely, (Signed) FREDERICK BENNETT, Publicity Editor. Letter Sent to Salesmen Dear Sir: — When in doubt — read WID'S, It is little, but oh, my, it's good. In commercial life we have Dun's and Bradstreet's. Their reports are regarded as reliable. In the motion picture business we have a little publication called WID'S, it is regarded as ABSOLUTE. When you see it in WID'S — it is SO. We will forward you a copy of this publication for August 31 and you will find a marked letter from British Columbia, from the manager of a circuit up there known as the biggest in that part of the world. It is written as a sincere communication from this circuit manager to the editor of WID'S. In the eight paragraphs preceding the one to which we will call your intense attention, it points out that there are many stars of which the audiences are tired, but the exhibitors still believe they are supreme money makers. The exhibitors do not get this change from the audiences. The would-be patrons merely see the name of the threadbare, worn-out star and do not go in. Also, the letter points out, by hammering on a certain program, the exhibitor makes a name for a star, or helps to keep up the name of a dying star, while losing the name of his theatre. But making a name for his theatre the exhibitor finds himself on easy street. He can only do that by booking a picture by its quality and value. And then it says (in paragraph 8) : If the brow=beaten exhibitor knew that William Russell productions are drawing larger houses in some sections than Fairbanks, perhaps he could see a spark of light ahead. Point out to the exhibitor that HE SHOULD BE HIS OWN BOSS. (We will send you the original letter as soon as we can obtain copies. Carry it with you. Point out that it is WID'S. If the exhibitor does not use WID'S regularly tell him where to get it and why.) Wednesday, September 18, 1918 ife& >AILV Unusual Treatment of Triangle Theme Given Classy Production Dorothy Phillips in "THE TALK OF THE TOWN" Dorothy Phillips Production=Universal DIRECTOR Allan Holubar AUTHOR Harry Vickers SCENARIO BY Allan Holubar CAMERAMAN Fred Granville AS A WHOLE Unusual treatment of eternal triangle idea with trick finish and interesting early plot development .to show reason for wife's later actions. STORY Interestingly developed along unique lines, has considerable kick at finish and holds interest all the way. Quite suggestive in spots. DIRECTION Provided classy atmosphere and in= jected many effective touches with great sus= pense leading up to climax. PHOTOGRAPHY. . . .Very artistic; at times exceptional LIGHTINGS Superb; many artistic bits CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Beautiful and appealing and got away with fifteen year old sequence exceptionally well. SUPPORT Not a jarring note in the cast. Some great kids. EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots; looked like paintings. Flash of "Black Cat" cafe exterior out of harmony with general classy atmo= sphere; looked "setty." INTERIORS Very fine and helped by effective lightings. DETAIL Abrupt jump in Pullman sequence; was probably scissored by censor. CHARACTER OF STORY Nears the danger line several times which might give prudes an excuse to step in. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,800 feet I THINK this going to register with a bang with- most folks. It gets nearly naughty several times, and some incidents have certainly been rather broadly dealt with but I don't think this ever reaches the point where you should have scruples about playing it unless you are operating in a Puritanical community where they let a bunch of narrow-minded wimmin pass on the stuff you show. There is just enough of the sug- gestive in this to give these birds a chance to get busy.- The story centers about .a girl who has been strictly disciplined all of her life with the result that she is sent away to a seminary with little knowledge of life and a determined desire to find out. While at school she obtains a book on "How to win the opposite sex" and learns quite considerable therein which leads her to propose to Bill Stowell, a man much older than she,, and they elope. Her main reason for marrying, how- ever, was to escape the discipline of her home and she' refuses hubby her love. Later, at a cafe, she starts a flirtation with willun Norman Kerry and demands aa introduction from hubby Bill, who refuses. Bill's warn- ing about Norman's character makes her more deter- mined to meet him and she arranges a tea party for the sole purpose of bringing this about. Then we have the usual triangle idea with Norman a frequent visitor while hubby is away, leading up to- Norman taking Shero to a road house where he starts the ruff stuff. Hero Hubby comes in just as things are- getting interesting and there is a struggle in which Norman is shot. Shero falls into Hubby's arms — cured. Then they pull a trick finish — which was a real sur- prise— proving the whole thing to be a frame-up be- tween Norman and Bill to make wifey realize the error of her ways. They stretch the ending out rather un- necessarily by showing the couple with a baby and having Shero's father admit that the discipline thing was all wrong, but it doesn't drag noticeably and the kid touches are good audience stuff. Gloria Joy, as Shero at the age of five, was extremely cute and Miss Phillips certainly got away with the fifteen year old sequence convincingly. We had some delightful hokum with a bunch of kids in the first reel which should go over big anywhere and the atmosphere and lightings were superb throughout, making this dis- tinctive and classy all the way. There were several titles in this which I have a hunch will be stepped on in some communities. Ralph Lewis did excellent work as Shero's father, Norman Kerry as the good-looking he-wamp, made you believe it, Bill Stowell gave a good performance as usual and others who appeared were: Zazu Pitts, Mrs. Griffith, William Burgess, Mr. Bainbridge, Charles Hill Mailes, and a chink who made a small bit register. The kids in the first reel were great. Almost Naughty But Should Be a Real Box Office Attraction The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This is just the kind of a production that will make a barrel of money in many communities, the talk that it creates bringing additional business for each addi- tional day of the showing. While this never impressed me as being objectionable as a whole, or being produced with an idea of seeing how naughty they could make it without bringing it to the point of where the censors would step in, it has just enough of this element in it to give the narrow-minded species of local censor an excuse to start something. You know, all some of these birds want is an excuse, they don't figure on broad- minded fairness, or the moral effect of the picture as a whole. If you are in a community where you are bothered in this respect, I would let your local board see the film and put its O. K. on it before you go to the expense of advertising and booking it. If you are assured that you wont be tampered with, go to this big. It has unusual advertising possibilities and I think it will start considerable talk that will help each additional day of the run. I would suggest copy along this line: "Do you talk about other people? Have you ever been talked about? Has idle gossip ever been the cause of unjust misunder- standings between you and your husband? See Dorothy Phillips in 'The Talk of the Town'." "Do you tell your daughter vital truths that she should know about life or do you let her find out from older companions?" Make it plain that this is not propaganda, but an interesting and unusual treatment of the eternal triangle situation which shows the effect the daughter's early home influence upon her married life. 7/pBRADSTREET of FILMDOM xfeRKOSNIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 132 Thursday, September 19, 1918 Price 5 Cents PADEREWSKI IN FEATURE FILM Will Star in "History of — Charity to Get Fifty Ignace J. Paderewski, the famous Polish pianist, is to appear in pictures. He has signified his willingness to be starred in a production that is to de- pict some of the historical facts of his native land. The picture is to be practically a history of Poland and the reason for the appearance of the pianist is purely a patriotic one. He has stipulated that one-half of the receipts which are earned by the film after the production cost has been returned to the promoters is to be devoted to the Polish Relief Fund. Arrangements for the making of the picture have progressed to such an ex- tent that a company which has been financing and promoting pictures based on the life and books of those that have obtained prominence in the public eye is behind the project. Roy Somerville and Hugh Weir obtained the consent of the musician to appear on the screen and the for- mer is to write the scenario for the picture. Not Central Theatre Miss Brady's Play Doing Very Big — "Mickey" Goes To Another House Miss Brady has been having tre- mendous success at the Central and the removal of her play from that theatre has not been considered. A Broadway theatre has been se- cured for the presentation of the Ma- bel Normand production "Mickey" at an early date, but it is not, according to the Shuberts and W. H. Produc- tions officials, the Central, as stated in yesterday's issue. Alice Brady is continuing at the Central in her suc- cessful play "Forever After." Poland" For War Relief Per Cent of Receipts Creel in Chicago Committee on Public Information Head Boosts Propaganda Films CHICAGO. — George Creel, chair- man of the Committee on Public In- formation, in a speech before the As- sociation of Commerce, at the Hotel LaSalle, paid Chicago a glowing trib- ute for its work in spreading propa- ganda and said: "Chicago is the pulse upon which we have kept our fingers and in our fight for public opinion have made it an experiment station, a testing grounds." In speaking of "America's Answer," which is being shown at Orchestra Hall, Mr. Creel said: "This is just as much a part of war as firing guns or hauling munitions. Public opin- ion stands recognized as a vital part cf the national defense, a mighty force in national attack. The strength of the firing line is not in trench or barricade alone, but has its source in the morale of the civilian population from which the fighting force is drawn." Malcolm S. Boylan, assistant pub- licity director at Universal City, is now at Camp Kearney, awaiting a call from the Signal Corps, to be trained as a war photographer. Finds Wid's Useful Custom House Navy Department Third Naval District FROM: Ensign L. F. Gilkinson TO: Mr. F. C. Gunning, 71 West 44th St., New York City. SUBJECT: Acknowledgement of receipt of WID'S DAILY. 1. This office desires to thank you for your patriotic action in sending us without charge, a daily edition of WID'S. 2. These papers are of great interest to the Film Censorship Department of this office, not only because of the interesting nanner in which they are gotten up, but because they give us a great deal of valuable informa- :ion which is used by our cen- sors. 3. Thanking you again for /our patriotic co-operation, I am Yours truly, L. F. GILKINSON, Ensign U. S. N. R. F. Lew Cody Hits Town Lew Cody, who has been the heavy menace in a number of productions on the Coast, arrived in New York this week. He will remain here for several weeks and appear in a pro- duction to be made here. Cody's contract with the Universal is expiring and yesterday Carl Laemmle had him in for a conference. UNIVERSAL IN SYMPHONY DEAL House will Play Universal and Jewel Productions In Conjunction with Paramout Pictures — Opens Saturday Riviera Nearly Ready CHICAGO.— Messrs. Balaban & Katz announce that they will soon open their new theatre, the Riviera, at Lawrence avenue and Broadway. It is said to be the last word in sump- tuousness and besides the latest pic- tures will have a large orchestra. Universal has completed a deal with Thomas Healy for the Symphony theatre, whereby the film producing company will be interested in the ac- tive management of the house. The Symphony is scheduled to open Sat- urday and the initial attraction will be a Universal picture. In addition, the house will also pre- sent the Paramount program, a con- tract having been signed several weeks ago by Thomas Healy personally with the Paramount-Artcraft company. In an announcement regarding the house it is stated that the Universal and Jewel productions will be shown in conjunction with Paramount pic- tures. Universal will have a voice in the active management of the theatre. Last season the building was opened as a restaurant and later converted into a theatre, Aubrey M. Kennedy being associated with Healy in the management. Thursday, September 19, 1918 Published Kvery Dry in thr Year at 71-73 VTfft 44th St.. New York. N. Y. Hj WTD'S FTLMS A FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DEMO, Editor •entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- iide of drearer New York, $10.00 one vear; ■> months, $."..00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address nil communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. \ Telephone: Vanderhilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes Earl Hudson has been appointed di- rector of publicity for the First Na- tional Exhibitors Circuit and is lo- cated at the New York offices. Lee A. Ochs of the United Picture Theatres. Inc.. who is touring the country in the interests of his com- pany, has just started for San Fran- cisco after visiting Los Angeles. Martha Mayo, who recently closed with "The Thirteenth Chair," has signed a contract with the Sunshine Film Company of Boston, to be fea- tured in its first production, "The Peacock Lady." Peggy Hyland has started on "A Stich in Time" from a magazine story by Fred Jackson, author of "A Pair of Sixes." The picture is under the direction of Harry Millarde at the Fort Lee Fox studio. Raymond S, Peck, former editor of the Canadian Digest, has been made manager of the Mutual exchange in Montreal, succeeding Basil Hartshall, who has joined the Committee on I'u! die [Information in Washington. Ingle Carpenter, Thomas H. Ince's attorney, arrived here on Monday from Los Angeles, after having made a stop in Chicago for a couple of days. He expects to be in New York for a few weeks before returning west. W. O. Runcie. cameraman for the Outing Chester Pictures, has just re- turned from the James Bay region in northwestern Quebec with a quantity of film. This is the first time that rhis section of the continent has been filmed and the results obtained arc said to be particularly effective. tM\ DAILY Screen Elects Senator! Declared Insolvent Georgia's Representative Attributes Election to Arthur Lucas of Goldwyn ATLANTA.— The election of Will- iam J. Harris to the U. S. Senate from the State of Georgia is one of the strongest examples of the strength of the motion picture as a value to po- litical campaigns tliai has ever been witnessed in this section of the coun- try. The campaign in behalf ol Senator Harris was managed here by Arthur Lucas, who is the special representa- tive in the southern territory for the Goldwyn Company, and after his i lec- tion the Senator personally paid trib- ute to Mr. Lucas, stating that he at- tributes L-. diT,,op to 'is urviring efforts and the efforts of his many friends in the film industry in Georgia. Laemmle Leaves for Coast Carl Laemmle leaves for the Coast today. He will remain west for about six weeks. While at Universal City he will take up the matter of lapsing contracts with several of the Univer- sal stars. Accompanying him will be Harrv Cohn. Chaplin Won't Come East Charlie Chaplin has handed out the "dope" that he is "off New York for Good"! Rumor says that Charlie Won't come east because while he was on his last Liberty Loan visit some- one slipped him a legal paper and now nothing, no, not even the pros- pect of a million iron men, will bring the little comic into the burg. C. C. Is a Daddy Now C. C. Pettijohn, of the executive staff of the Affiliated Distributors Corporation, started to re£ly to the call of "daddy" yesterday, when his wife presented him with a son. The Affiliated offices remained open dur- ing the day, however, and from lat- est reports the father was doing as well as could be expected. The Mission theatre, Seattle, is to have a new Hope-Jones Wurlitzer organ, which will he unsurpassed by any in this city except that at the Lib- erty. Tom J. Geraghty, of Metro's scena- rio staff, has been commissioned by the Governmnet to do special work at the Army cantonments. It is believed that this work will consist of writing articles, describing the various phases of Army life. Harry F. Grelle, of the Supreme Photoplays Productions, left New York last night to return to Pitts- burgh. I Washington M. P. Corp. Has Stu- dio Property and One Production SPOKANE.— The Washington Mo- tion Picture Corp., with studios at Minnehaha Park is declared to be in- I solvent. F. K. McBroom has been ap- I pointed receiver and all employes of the company have been discharged. This action followed a petition of E. W. Cole who asked for a receiver on the ground that he held a claim for $100 assigned by the firm to Zent and Powell. Stock amounting to approximately $165,000 has been sold and attorney W. W. Zent, acting for the insolvent company, believes that all obligations will be met. The tangible assets of the concern are the studio property and one picture which has been com- pleted by director Larry Trimble. Mitch Lewis was starred in this pro- duction, following the discontinuance of relations with Tyrone Power, who was engaged when the company was started. Eugene O'Brien Signs Will Appear With Famous Play- ers-Lasky for Next Four Years Eugene O'Brien has signed a con- tract with the Famous Players-Lasky Corp. whereby he will appear as lead- ing man for the important Para- mount-Artcraft stars for the next four years. Arthur Butler Graham acted for Mr. O'Brien. The leading man has already started work for the company playing oppo- i site Elsie Ferguson in "Under Green- wood Tree." His last appearances on the screen were as leading man with Norma Talmadge in her series of pic- tures. At the Broadway "The Geezer of Berlin," the bur- lesque on the Kaiser picture, and "De- lirium," a photographic fantasy, both Universal products, will open at the Broadway Sunday for a week's run. Creighton Hale in Cast The cast for "The Woman the Ger- mans Shot," the film version of the murder of the nurse Edith Cavell which Plunkett and Carroll are pro- ducing, has been completed. The story was written by Anthony Kelly and John G. Adolfi is directing the production. In the cast with Julia Arthur, who was placed under con- tract a week ago, is Creighton Hale, who was signed early this week. The others are Jack Johnson, Paul Pan- zer, George Marjoni, Martin Faust and Fred Kohlgrin. jsjij^ DAILV Thursday, September 19, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Powers Answers Suit Brought By Warners — Action Against Norma Talmadge Co. Patrick A. Powers has filed an an- swer in the Supreme Court to a suit by Albert and Harry M. Warner to recover $12,500 alleged to have been paid out at the request of the defend- ant for outstanding stock of the War- ner Feature Film Co., which the de- fendant wanted to buy before the or- ganization of the Warner's Features Inc. The defendant denies that he owes anything. Maxwell J. Gollubier, Inc., has filed suit in the City Court against the Norma Talmadge Film Co. to recover $1,049. The complaint alleges that on Aug. 31, 1917, the defendant by its assistant technical director, B. Rog- ers, contracted with the plaintiff for the use of furniture, bric-a-brac and other art objects by the week at a rental of 10 per cent, of the value of the articles per week. The complaint alleges that for the use of articles $1,956 was due plaintiff, and only $307 was paid. An order has been signed in the case substituting Neuman & Neugass for the defendant instead of Elek John Ludvigh. Carl Laemmle has filed an answer in the Supreme Court to a suit brought by Mark M. Dintenfass to recover on a note. The answer de- nies that anything is due and alleges that on July 7, 1913, the defendant paid the note by giving plaintiff $5,022 as principal and interest, which was accepted in full settlement. The Universal Film Co. has filed an application in the Supreme Court to vacate an order granted last spring for the examination before trial of all its books and of Carl Laemmle, Rob- ert H. Cochrane and Siegfried Hart- man in a suit by Clara Louise Burn- ham, novelist, to recover royalties al- leged to be due her from the film production of her book, "Jewel." The defendant contends that the plaintiff has already examined its books at length and that the officers sought to be questioned know nothing about the matters involved in the suit, while the production of the Universal books for examination will be a hardship be- cause they are needed constantly in the course of the company's business. The Aetna Amusement Co., owner of the block at the southeast corner of 107th street and Br6adway, in which its theatre is located, filed suit m the Supreme Court against the Margaret Shepherd Co. lessee of one of the seven stores in the building, to restrain her from selling dresses and blouses, on the ground that her lease, permitted her to sell only lingerie, hosiery, gloves and fancy goods. The defendant contended that "fancy goods" included dresses and blouses, and the court refused to grant the in- junction. Wanda Hawley With Washburn Wanda Hawley will lie the leading iady in the next production in which Bryant Washburn is to be starred. The production is entitled "The Way of a Man With a Maid" and will be directed by Donald Crisp. "Good Gracious Annabelle" Arthur Hopkins has disposed of the screen rights to the well-known Clare DCummer play, "Good Gracious Anna- belle" to the Famous Players-Lasky company. The piece is to be em- ployed as a starring vehicle for Billie Burke and released as a Paramount picture. The play was originally pre- sented two years ai>o at the Republic theatre with Lola Fisher in the lead- ing role. Restricting Machine Makers WASHINGTON. — The conserva- tion division of the War Industries Board has issued a war time sched- ule for manufacturers of projection machines and accessories. The schedule provides: First — The purchase of new lenses to be restricted from this date to 4 inches, 5 inches and 6 inches focal lengths, and 16 inches, 20 inches and 24 inches stereo. There is no restric- tion in dealing in second-hand lenses of any size. Second—After September 20, 1918, the following accessories to be fur- nished to purchasers only upon re- quest as extras: Rheostat, rewinder, reels. Third — Each manufacturer to re- duce the weight of his machines as much as is practicable and to advise this division immediately of the amount of this reduction. Fourth — Each manufacturer to sub- stitute some less essential material for brass, aluminum and steel in so far as possible, and to advise this di- vision of the action taken. Prices Going Up Higher Admission Charged at Three Seattle Houses SEATTLE. -Three of th( leading es of Seattle have raised their from the 20 cents that has the rule among the first-class down- town houses for the lasl year. The Clemmer adds only the war tax while tin- Coliseum and Levy's Orpheum, charge 25 c< tits straight. " The Liberty, the Strand and the Mission are the only big downtown houses that have kept to the 20-cent price for adults. These, as well as the Coliseum, are Jensen and Von Hcrberg hous< Mike Rosenberg, president of the De Luxe Feature Film Company, an- nounces the addition of two new pic- tures to his list. They are "Nine- tenths of the Law" and "How Stars Twinkle Away From the Studios." Ed. 1. Hudson, Select's star sales- man, received a hurry call, giving him less than 48 hours' notice, to report for the draft at nine o'clock on the morning of September 11. Mr. Hud- son was out covering the territory in Idaho, when the notice was delivered at his hotel, and Field Manager J. S. Woody had to send several wires be- fore he could locate him. He arrived in town just a few hours before the hour appointed. The Rialto, Tacoma's big new mo- tion picture palace just completed by flu Moore Amusement Company, of which H. T. Moore of the Colonial theatre is manager, was opened re- cently with "Hearts of the World." The opening was attended by Ernest Lister, governor of Washington; Gen- eral Cornelius Vanderbilt, command- ant of Camp Lewis, and his staff, as well as the notables of the city and practicallv all the film managers from Seattle. J. P. Cotter has remodeled and re- opened the Baker theatre, Baker, Ore., and is showing high-class vaudeville and road show picture productions. Mr. Cotter now controls the town, op- erating the Baker, the Empress and the Orpheum. Guy Matlock, who, with his partner, Mr. Gre'ulich, has been operating the Alta and the Pastime theatres, Pen- dleton, Ore., has also taken over the Cozy. J. Newton, of Spirit Lake, Idaho, has purchased the Class A theatre, Hillyard, Wash. John Hamrick has sold his Gem theatre, Seattle, to D. P. McRae, who is new in Seattle's motion picture circles. Thursday, September 19, 1918 DAILY Better-Than-Average Program Spy Meller. Players Make It Hold Corinne Griffith and Marc MacDermott in "THE GIRL OF TODAY' Vitagraph DIRECTOR John Robertson AUTHOR Robert W. Chambers SCENARIO BY John Robertson and Harry O. Hoyt CAMERAMAN Charles Davis AS A WHOLE Piayers and treatment make Ger= man spy plot interesting. STORY Provided rather good situations, more or less founded on fact and handling has made story interesting. DIRECTION Made characterizations convincing and injected many effective touches although could have created much more suspense in time bomb incident at finish. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied; rather hazy at times although generally satisfactory with night shots effective. LIHGTINGS Varied from good to just fair CAMERA WORK Good STARS She pretty and convincing; he gave finished performance as spy. SUPPORT Webster Campbell very pleasing and others balanced nicely. EXTERIORS Real winter scenes around New York interesting. INTERIORS Generally very good DETAIL Many effective touches. Wireless station didn't convince. CHARACTER OF STORY Better=than=average spy meller. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4329 feet VTTAGRA'PH lias given us in this, a rather interest- ing spy-meller enacted by a well-balanced cast and it ranks in my estimation as considerably better than most of the program spy mellers we have had recently because it never becomes overdrawn and is devoid of the forced, superficial patriotism that has marked many recent offerings dealing with the same general subject. They opened this up with a prelude showed the birth of Prussianism in Berlin, which was rather unnecessary, and after a title taking us up to the present time, we saw the members of the Wilhelmstrasse sending a code message to their operatives in America by wireless. This was unconvincing as shown, because I am quite sure that trans-Atlantic messages couldn't have been received through such a small station as the one we get in the picture. Marc MacDermott appeared as the head of the spy ring in this country, who covered up his operations by posing as a Danish scientist. ILe has a love affair with Sin i-o. Corinne Griffith and Hero Webster Campbell, who has been humiliated by his family for being a slacker, but who is a true American at heart, becomes suspicious of MacDermott and watches him. Following a sus- picious character after an explosion at his father's factory, he traces him to MacDermott's home, confirming his suspicions. The next day. he goes to MacDermott's home and openly accuses him of being a spy. as a result of which he is made prisoner and his parents led to believe through a forged letter that he had run away to escape the draft. Refusing to believe that the letter is genuine and suspecting foul play, Shero warns the government authorities and through her acquaintance with Mac- Dermott succeeds in planting a dictograph in his home, enabling the government intelligence bureau to prevent a concentrated bomb plot which had been planned for that night. The spies are rounded up before damage can be done and in the meantime an aide of MacDermott's. who had turned traitor, is caught trying to release Hero and is shot. The U. S. troops enter just as willun is about to kill Hero and they are warned by the dying aide, of a time bomb he had previously planted to destroy willun. The bomb is discovered and destroyed just as it is about to exnlode. This had a few inconsistencies but taken as a whole the individual incidents were very well handled although the suspense leading up to the time bomb incident fell rather flat. We had two killings in this which were rather gruesome in their realism but this is rather to be expected in plays of this type and shouldn't prove objectionable. Miss Griffith was very pretty in the scenes where she was well lighted and gave a pleasing performance throughout. Mare MacDermott. as the arch-spy. was sufficiently detestable in the role and played comincingly. Webster Campbell was a clean-cut, likable hero. Should Please If Your Folks Haven't Been Fed Up on Spy Stuff The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Since all of the exteriors in this show New York covered with snow it seems that Vitagraph has had this on ice for some time although I can see no reason why they should have held it until now for release be- cause we have had so many mediocre spy mellers re- cently that the better-than-average offerings of this type are discounted on the face of them as a result. As a program offering, I think most audiences are going to consider this interesting and worth-while enter- tainment. If you have recently played other program spy films which didn't come up to the mark, of course that fact is going to discount the box-office value of this to some extent. You will be perfectly safe, however, in billing this as an interesting spy mystery based on the German bomb plots in this country and you can also tell them that this production was filmed in some of the exact localities which were the center of German bomb activities in New York last winter. (I presume these locations are authentic as they are shown in detail in the production, with maps explaining their location.) You might stir up considerable interest at this time by using copy along this line: "When Leslie Seldon learned that her fiance was a German spy, she turned her romance into a patriotic service by using her wiles to trap him." Y'ou might bill this as "A timely production showing the workings of the German within." 2feBRADSTREET of FILMDOM Vol. V, No. 133 7/fePKOCHlZED Authority Friday, September 20, 1918 Price 5 Cents Worth $100,000 THE AL JENNINGS PRODUCTION COMPANY Los Angeles, Cal. August 27, 1918. Mr. Wid Gunning, 71 West 44th St., New York. N. Y. My dear Wid: For two weeks I have been trying to write you a letter with sufficient "pep" in it to show my appreciation for your article, "Who's Your Boss?", which came out in your July 28th issue. If you get your deserts on this article the producers in the independent field, the big exhib- itors everywhere and the inde- pendent manufacturers ought to make you a present of $100,000 cold cash, because that's what it would mean to them if they would let your gospel sink in to the fullest extent, and benefit therefrom. It was so in keeping with the address I gave to the M. P. D. A. out here that people would think we were working in har- mony. Common sense doesn't need any harmony, it cuts its own swath, and thank God this business is now being built on common sense. Yours as ever, ERNEST SHIPMAN. Night Shows Closed CHICAGO— The all-night moving picture show is no more in Chicago. Acting Chief of Police Alcock on Monday night issued a police order instructing the men in his department to close all theatres at 1 o'clock. "The moving picture bouses come under the ordinance prohibiting all forms of entertainment after 1 o'clock," the chief said. "Some of the captains overlooked this when clos- ing the 'dry' cabarets and permitted the theatres to remain open. That's the reason for issuing the special or- der." Theatres in the "loop" district to the number of six or eight come un- der the ban along with all dance halls that kept open 'till the wee small hours." BESSIE BARRISCALE STARTS SERIES Star To Appear In Brunton Productions For Release Through Hodkinson — "Two Gun Betty'' the First Bessie Barriscale is to make a se- ries of Robert Brunton Productions to be released through the W. W. Hodkinson Service. The first of the series, which it is expected will num- ber eight, will be "Two Gun Betty," written and directed by Howard Hick- man, Miss Barriscale's husband. It is scheduled for release, November 25. Mr. Hickman will continue to write and direct the pictures for Brunton productions to be distributed by the Hodkinson organization. This arrangement sets at rest the speculation concerning Miss Barris- cale's plans since the termination of her Paralta contract. She was to have made eight pictures for Paralta, but as that company stopped production, the subject that was to have been her eighth, "The Heart of Rachael," is to be released through W. W. Hodkin- son, September 30, as a Bessie Barris- cale Production. Gets Shumway Film Priest Takes Over World Rights on "What Becomes of the Children?" Robert Priest and Walter Shumway closed a contract yesterday whereby the former will market the latest Shumway made feature "What Be- comes of the Children?", in which Corra Beach is starred. The picture was recently finished under the direc- tion of John Stahl. Mr. Priest has already had several offers for an outright buy, but is hold- ing the film until all bids are in. Hart on Way East LOS ANGELES.— Bill Hart left here yesterday, eastward bound, to start his speech-making tour on be- half of the Liberty Loan. FIGHTING INFLUENZA IN THEATRES After Conference with Sydney S. Cohen, Board of Health Decides Houses Need Not Be Closed ■ Instead of closing the theatres, as in the case of the infantile paralysis epidemic two years ago, Royal S. Copeland, president of the Board of Health in New York, has won the gratitude of all motion picture men by deciding to fight the present epidemic of Spanish influenza in another way. As a result of a conference in the Board of Health office yesterday, in wbich Sydney S. Cohen, president of the New York State Exhibitors' League, represented the picture inter- ests, Commissioner Copeland an- nounced that theatres would remain open as usual and the public would be educated in fighting the disease through slides, placards and announce- ments reading;: "To prevent the spread of Span- ish influenza, please cough or expectorate, if you must, into your handkerchief. "There is no danger if you heed this warning. "By order of the Board of Health,. "Royal S. Copeland, "President." Mr. Cohen expressed himeslf as be- ing highly gratified by the liberal at- titude of Commissioner Copeland, which relieves exhibitors in what threatened to be a decidedly embar- rassing situation. The placards and slides are being prepared for imme- diate use. Representatives of the transportation companies and legiti- mate theatres also attended the con- ference, and formulated plans that promise to be effective in preventing the spread of the epidemic. ft n^J Friday, September 20, 1918 lM% DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DEMG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Guts and Flashes The E. K. Lincoln-Cabanne fea- ture, "American Spirit," will be re- leased through Hodkinson, Novem- ber 4. Viola Dana has completed "Oh An- nice!", which was adapted from a storyr that appeared in Woman's Home Companion. Famous Players-Lasky will re-issue under the Success Series trade mark, Pauline Frederick's film success of former days, "Zaza," the famous French play. Earle Williams, the Vitagraph star, is reported as about to enter the lists of the Benedicts. The lady is a Brooklynite of the Park Slope sec- tion. The license is said to have been applied for in Brooklyn during the last few days. Comedies Ready "Huns and Hyphens," starring Law- rence Semon, will be out this week as t lie second of the Big V Special Com- edy releases. It will be followed next week by "Roofs and Riots," featuring Earle Montgomery and Joe Rock. The fourth release will be "Bears and Bad Men," with Lawrence Semon, scheduled for October 7. Another National Anthem Day The Mayor's Committee on Na- tional Defense was so gratified by the success of National Anthem Day, as last Saturday was designated, that the National Association has been asked to secure the co-operation of the pic- ture theatres in the city in continuing the work. To-morrow, the same pro- cedure will be gont through in the houses in the city. The committee has assigned singers again, who will lead the audiences through the Na- tional Anthem. Drive For Laborers Screens to Be Used in Bureau of Employment Campaign A special drive for 350,000 mechan- ics and laborers will be started shortly via the screen in the Greater New York district. The National Associ- ation of the Motion Picture Industry has been requested to arrange for this campaign by the Bureau of Employ- ment Service of the United States De- partment of Labor. The drive in the metropolitan dis- trict will be the nucleus from which will develop a national campaign. The shortage problem is especially acute here in the East where the great cen- ters of war activity are scattered along the Atlantic seaboard. Motion picture theatres will be sup- plied with a series of slides free of charge with the request to exhibit them at every performance. Arrange- ments will be made so that each the- atre will bear the address of the near- est offices to it. Harry Levey, Manager Harry Levey, manager of Univer- sale industrial department, has been appointed manager of the Symphony Theatre, which, as stated in yester- day's issue, will be reopened to-mor- row with Universale "The Talk of the Town" as the special feature. At- tractions for coming weeks will be secured from Paramount as well as Universal exchanges. If you can't look pleasant keep away from the front of your theatre. Rivoli Starts First Production of Initial Feature Underway at Pathe Studio The Rivoli Film Producing Co., with temporary offices at room 601 Columbia Theatre Building, started work this morning on its first pro- duction at the Pathe studio in Jersey City. The first picture will be based on a story of modern drama that will contain no war action. The name is at present being withheld. Dr. O. I. Lamberger is the general manager of the company and the di- rection will be under the personal su- pervision of A. J. Bloome. Philip Hatkin, who has been cameraman for Fox for some time past, will look af- ter the photography. James K. Hackett, Irving Cum- mings, Ormi Hawley, and Eric Mann are the principals in the cast. Dr. Lamberger said that all the minor parts will be portrayed by people whose experience in life has fitted them to play the characters of the story. Fall and winter fashions seem call for a house staff of women. to Frazier Named for Censor CHICAGO. — Mayor Thompson has made the following appointments to fill vacancies existing in the police de- partment: John H. Alcock has been made general superintendent of po- lice and Charles E. Frazier, president of the civil service commission, dep- utyr superintendent, succeeding Maj. M. L. C. Funkhouser, recently dis- charged. William Luthardt, acting second deputy superintendent of police and head of the film censor board since the suspension of Funkhouser, will re- turn to his position as secretary to the chief of police, it is said. The city council took up the appointments at its meeting Wednesday. Williams Starts Off Earle Williams, in "A Diplomatic Mission," will be the first of Vita- graph's Blue Ribbon features to be released under the new booking plan, and is scheduled for release Septem- ber 30. tMJ DAILY Friday, September 20, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Campbell Sues Kennedy Theatres, Inc. — Action Brought Against Consolidated Film Corp. is Dismissed Charles F. Campbell has filed suit in the Supreme Court against the Kennedy Theatres, Inc., to recover $15,289 alleged to be due as the un- paid balance for electrical supplies and materials furnished for the Sym- phony theatre amounting to $16,489. City Court Justice Zeller has grant- ed an application by the Consolidated Film Corporation to dismiss a suit brought against it by William Birns, Inc. The plaintiff sued for $1,950 on the ground that the defendant rented bric-a-brac and furniture for use in the production, "The Crimson Stain Mystery," and failed to pay the amount agreed on. The case came to trial some months ago and the plain- tiff tried to prove by Ben Goetz as the alleged manager of the defend- ant that he had power to make the contract sued on. The trial justice ruled that Goetz had no authority to make the agreement and declared the case a mistrial. Nothing has been done in the case since, although the plaintiff in opposing the application to dismiss the complaint said that the de- fendant has made offers of settlement amounting to half the claim, and the case had not been pushed for that reason. In supplementary proceedings by the Motion Picturt News against George W. Smith, booking agent at 143 Broadway, because of his failure to pay a judgment for $96.68, City Court Justice Zeller has appointed a receiver for Smith's property. He testified that he has claims against va- rious persons for $1,360 and the re- ceiver will try to collect something. In a suit of John B. O'Brien against the Mutual Film Co. to recover $20,- 000 damages for. breach of contract, Supreme Court Justice Philbin has di- rected the defend?"" to give particu- lars. The plaintiff must show a copy of the notice from the defendant transferring his activities to the Em- pire All Star Corporation, a copy of the defendant's statement denying re- sponsibility, and a statement as to how he fixes his damage at $20,000. The defendant makes a countercalim for $5,000 for alleged misconduct by the plaintiff while in the defendant's employ. In a suit by Morris Talsky against John Auchincloss and others to re- cover for stock in the Kriterion Film Co. allotted to them, Auchincloss has filed an answer in the Supreme Court. The defendant denies that the capital stock of the Kriterion corporation is- sued to him for procuring the transfer to Kriterion of the assets of the Mica Film Co. was in excess of the value of the Mica stock and that the latter was worthless. He also denies that the directors of the Kriterion com- pany elected on Nov. 30, 1914, were dummies. Lopez Is Moss Director John S. Lopez, who is responsible for the direction and scenario of Harry Rapf's latest production, "The Sins of the Children," was engaged yesterday by B. S. Moss to stage the latter's new six-reel production. Work on the picture will be started Monday at the Este studio, West 125th street. Big Special Started Metro announces that its big spe- cial, "Wilson or the Kaiser," has been started. Maxwell Karger is now com- pleting the cast. The scenes now be- ing taken for this feature are merely preliminary ones, however, for the principals have not as yet been decid- ed upon. Tax Advances Another Stage WASHINGTON.— Exactly one day after the delegation of picture men headed by William A. Brady appeared before the Senate Finance Committee and presented arguments against the doubling of the admission tax to the- atres, the House approved the section of the Revenue Bill that calls for taxes of $100,000,000 from theatre ad- missions. This does not mean that the bill it- self has been passed by the House, but only that certain of the measures have been approved. The only salva- tion for the cause of the picture men lies with the Senate and Senate Fi- nance Committee, which gets the bill after the House has either approved or disapproved it. The attitude of the Senate remains to be disclosed. BINDERS! for "WID'S DAILY" will cost $1. 75 each hereafter Let Exhibitors Help Exhibitors have been asked through the National Associa- tion to run slides in their the- atres calling the attention of au- diences to the necessity of sav- ing fruit pits and nut shells to supply the Gas Defense Divi- sion with raw materials from which carbon can be made for use in gas masks. The follow- ing suggestions will be found helpful for slides: Save Peach Stones Over Here and Save the Lives of Ameri- cans Over There. Save Your Peach Stones — Dry Them and Send Them to the Red Cross. The Army Needs Them to Protect the Soldiers From the Enemy's Poisonous Gases. It's Like Throwing Away the Lives of Our Soldiers TO THROW AWAY PEACH ST.ONES. Help Save a Soldier's Life. Save Our Soldiers From Gas by Saving PEACH STONES. Read and Learn How You Can Do Your Part. Save All Peach, Plum, and Prune Stones, Also Shells From Walnuts, Hickory and Butter- nuts. Save the Lives of Our Sol- diers by Saving Peach Stones, Apricot, Cherry, Prune and Olive Pits, Date Seeds, and Nut Shells. Two Hundred Peach Stones or Seven Pounds of Nut Shells Make Carbon Enough for One Gas Mask. Gas Masks Protect Our Sol- diers— Your Boy, Some Moth- er's Boy, from Poisonous Gases. Know This? 200 PEACH STONES WILL MAKE CARBON ENOUGH FOR ONE GAS MASK. Save — Save the Lives of U. S. Soldiers by Saving Peach Stones. Delivered by Messenger Select Pictures Corporation has gone to considerable expense and trouble to deliver to first run accounts in four widely separated cities prints of Marion Davies' second Select pic- ture, "The Burden of Proof." The cities in question are Indianapolis, Chicago, Washington and Richmond. Due to laboratory delays the deliv- ery of prints to first run accounts in these cities became so late that it was impossible to catch the play dates ar- ranged by the usual method of ex- press shipment. Special messengers were decided upon. Friday, September 20, 1918 AIL.V Sure-Fire Titles and Peppy Treatment Make Spy-Burlesque Register Shirley Mason and Ernest Truex in "GOME ON IN" Loos=Emerson Prod. — Paramount DIRECTOR John Emerson AUTHORS John Emerson and Anita Loos CAMERAMAN Jacques Monteran AS A WHOLE Snappy farcical spy=meller made entertaining by sure=fire titles and clever handling. STORY Serio=comic burlesque on the average spy= meller, played for laughs all the way, and landed a few real wallops. DIRECTION Kept it moving and gave excellent treatment to individual incidents. TITLES Great stuff; a winner every time — no blanks. PHOTOGRAPHY Good straight stuff LIGHTINGS Varied from good to just fair; no attempt for effects. CAMERA WORK Generally very good STARS Have pleasing personalities that admirably fitted type of story. SUPPORT Well selected; some great types EXTERIORS Army cant*onment atmosphere in= teresting. INTERIORS Not particularly distinctive but adequate. DETAIL Sure=fire titles put over laughs and patriotic punches effectively. CHARACTER OF STORY. . . .Should register anywhere LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet WE might have known that when John Emerson and Anita Loos started out "on their own" that they'd hand us something with lots of pep and plenty of laughs. They have. Incidentally, the stars of this offering are going to register very favorably because it is quite evident that they were either selected to fit the story or the story written with the stars in mind — in either event they fit admirably into the general spirit of the production. From a standpoint of plot, this isn't big or unusual, and doesn't pretend to be. It hinges around the usual spy meller situations, but has been played with a broad stroke and tied together with some sure-fire titles that will register with a bang anywhere. They start this off with the news of America's declar- ation of war hitting- an office where the bantam-weight stars, whom Miss Loos has christened Emmy Little and Eddie Short, are employed, and Eddie decides to enlist. He is turned down by the examining board because of his height and they pull a sure-fire laugh by having him crowned on the bean on his way out, which raises a bump sufficient to make up the shy inch and a half, so that he can beat it for another examining board and be passed. Eddie is detailed to Camp Upton which gives his pro- German rival. Otto B. Schott. the edge on Emmy's at- tentions. Finally the draft gets Otto and he is sent to camp where he is forced to serve under Eddie, who has risen in the ranks. We had some sure fire inserts which came to the spy gang as instructions from the Kaiser and when one of these instructs them to kill at least one American officer so Kaiser Bill will have an alibi to offer his people for the million Americans that have landed in France. Otto B. suggests the scheme of marrying Emmy, so that Eddie and Shero's uncle, who is a Colonel, can be snuffed off when they attend the wedding. Things go as planned and the Colonel is thrown in a cellar and the gas turned on. but Hero Eddie has his trusty gas mask along and pulls the rescue, after which the spy gang are pinched. Then a title tells us that Emmy marries a lieutenant after all, and it's Eddie, who has been promoted another notch, and we fade out on the wedding. The names given the German spies were great, as for instance. G. Wottan Orphul-Schmell, A. Schlobb and Count Yon Bumstuff. A very effective sequence in this was the close-ups of different nationalities in the draft parade coming down Fifth Avenue. The titles played for laughs but had an undeniable sincerity behind them and registered a real patriotic wallop. The handling of the scenes showing men being examined for the army was cleverly done and the subtle touches registered by titles and in- dividual incidents all through the offering stamp it as distinctive and different. The cast included Charles DePlanta. Joseph Burke, Renault Turner, Bernard Randall, Blanche Craig, Meyer Berenson, Richie Ling and Louis Henrick. They'll Like It and It Sure Carries a Title to Play With The Box Office Analysis For the Exhibitor Regardless of the fact that you haven't got a known quality to advertise here, I am convinced that this can be put over with a bang by trick advertising along un- usual lines playing on the title. Oh boy! What a title to play with. And also what an opportunity Para- mount muffed when they didn't induce Miss Loos to cook up the ad suggestions for this production. Miss Loos has a knack of taking the audience into her con- fidence in her sub-titles which would work admirably into an intimate "Me-to-you" selling talk to get folks interested. In absence of known stars, you've got to stir some- thing if you expect to get your folks interested and here is at least a chance to prove your ability as a show- man. Just as a suggestion, which can be elaborated upon and is unlimited in its scope, you might use copy along this line: A peppy, distinctive comedy-melodrama presenting two new stars with oodles of personality supported by such prominent Germs from Germany as: Count Von Bumstuff, Prof. G. Wottan Orphul-Schmell, A. Schlobb and Otto B. Schott. "We could say more but it would spoil the plot. advise to you to "COME ON IN." Our Play up the "COME ON IN" title with a vengeance, in teaser ads ahead of your showing, on throw-aways and in your lobby. By concentrating on this one thing the psychology of it will have the effect of a magnet if you work on it hard — and keep it up. Let's have some ad copy from Miss Loos on the next one — the intimate personal appeal thing is always sure-fire and I'll bet, Miss Loos could put it over big. y'^w.* >- A / X 7/^BRADSTREET of FILHDOH DAIIM JjfeRKOCHlZED Authority Vol. V, No. 134 Saturday, September 21, 1918 Price 5 Cents EXPO CONTRACTS ASSURE SUCCESS Space at Madison Square Garden Going Rapidly — Government the Largest Exhibitor The Exposition Company reports that contracts for space at the Na- tional Motion Picture Exposition are increasing at a highly gratifying rate and that any doubts that may have existed as to the success of the show at Madison Square Garden need no longer remain. The Government a"nd its various de- partments connected with the war will be beyond question tne largest exhib- itor. It is not generally known that the Exposition Company offered space to the Government free of charge, but such was the case. The officials seized the opportunity im- mediately and their faith in the suc- cess of the exposition is clearly evi- denced by the amount of space that the various divisions have taken. The latest Federal body to requisi- tion footage for the show is the De- partment of Labor. The Government Employment Service branch of this department will have the exhibition in charge. It is here that the cam- paign for 350,000 laborers will be brought into full swing. The depart- ment will show in miniature, ships in the course of construction and aero- planes, including the types used by the Government. In fact, all the instruments used in the war will be exhibited for the purpose of revealing more forcibly the magnitude of supplying the mate- rials to 4,000,000 fighting men and the amount of .labor needed for the task. The Ordinance Department of the Army and Navy will co-operate with the Labor Department in the arrangement of this exhibit. A letter has been received by the company from F. W. Lawrence, pub- licity director of the Department of Labor, expressing the complete ap- proval of the department with the Exposition and its gratitude in being permitted to share in the exhibits. The department expects great results from its exhibit in the Garden. It is thought that this is the best way possible to impress the need for labor on the mind of the public. Pathe Convention Managers of Thirty Exchanges Called for Three-Day Meeting Pathe announces that September 24-25-26 it will hold a "save and serve" convention to be attended by the managers of all the thirty exchanges. The convention will assemble at the home offices of the company in New York. It will be the first time in the history of the company that rep- resentatives from points west of the Rocky Mountains have been called to the home office in a body. Paul Brunet, vice president and general manager of Pathe, has ap- proved of an elaborate program pre- pared by Sales Manager Quimby, which includes discussion of many matters of interest to the sales force as well as generous plans for enter- tainment. The keynote of the convention will be conservation and economy in or- der to meet the war time expectations of the Government. Its slogan will be "Keep the home wheels truning." Private Showing Soon The daily crop of rumors concern- ing film activities brought forth yes- terday the report that there will be a private showing of Charlie Chap- lin's second First National picture, "Shoulder Arms," in about two weeks to which a number of notable per- sonages will be invited. The rumor had it that the officers of Camp Mills, Camp Upton, the Min- eola Aviation field, the Army and Navy Departments, the Governor, the Mayor and city commissioners will all be invited to attend the pre-release exhibition of the three-reel comedy. The print of the picture is under- stood to be on the way east from the Hollywood studio. Of Utmost Value BLUEBIRD THEATRE Anaconda, Montana Wid's Daily, 71 W. 44th Street, New York City. Gentlemen: By the way of a pleasant be- ginning let me say that I find your review of the utmost value in conducting this theatre and undoubtedly the best thing of its kind that has come to my notice. The present loose-leaf system is a very desirable change in form. The only suggestion I could make is that reviews of short subjects would very greatly add to the value of your publication — for one desires to avoid the lemons in his fillers as well as in his features. ALBERT NADEAU, Manager. Dennison With Fox PITTSBURGH.— D. Leo Dennison. for the past six months manager of the local office of the General Film Company, has resigned to accept a position with the Fox Film Corpora- tion as special representative in the New York office. H. E. Elder, divi- sion manager of the General, is in charge of the Pittsburgh office and will remain here until a successor is appointed. Mr. Dennison is well known in the motion picture field and was formerly connected with the local Famous Players office acting as special repre- sentative and having charge of five offices in this territory. His first prominent position in the film busi- ness was with the Kleine office. He was their special representative. Prints Stolen F. G. Sliter, manager of the Mu- tual Film exchange, reports prints of "Hoosier Romance" stolen. If lo- cated advise Mutual at 1600 Broadway. Al. Brandt Local Manager Harry Levey, head of the Universal Industrial Department, has appointed Al. Brandt, brother of Joe Brandt of the Universal, as local manager of the Symphony theatre. Levey will have the executive direction of the house but Brandt will be in active charge of the details. Saturday, September 21, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. Jij WIDS FILMS Sc FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DBNIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- aide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; I months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. I. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes Word has been received from Allan Adams, formerly of General Film Company. He was the first man drafted from the office, has been gassed, and is the only one sent by his local board who is now alive. Keeney Resumes Catherine Calvert Starts Produc- tion of "Her Family's Honor" Frank A. Keeney forces resumed production yesterday, after a period of inactivity, in the new studios Mr. Keeney purchased recently at 308-12 East 48th street, adjoining the Norma Talmadge studios. Catherine Calvert is starring in the new picture, "Her Family's Honor," by E. Lloyd Sheldon, author of "Out of the Night." She is under the di- rection of Sidney Olcott. Edward Burns has been selected to play opposite Miss Calvert, and oth- ers in the cast include Georgio Ma- jeroni, Henry Sedley, Anna May and Blanche Davenport. It was expected that production would be started earlier, but the in- stallation of an up-to-date equipment in the new studio took a longer time than anticipated. Will Rogers will come from Boston, where he is at present with the "Fol- lies," for the opening of his "Smiling Bill Hyde" picture at the. Rivoli, Sun- day night. He will attend merely as a spectator. V. P. Whitaker, manager of the Washington branch of Select, is in New York for a few days conferring with General Manager Arthur S. Kane. Mr. Whitaker reports good business in the Washington district. Geraldine Farrar will go to Wash- ington to help start off the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign. While in Washington she will be the guest of the Treasury Department at a ban- quet given in her honor at the Press Club. Persons Made Studio Manager Theodore C. Deitrich, president of De Luxe Pictures, Inc., has made sev- eral additions to the organization pro- ducing Doris Kenyon features, the most important acquisition being Thomas A. Persons, who has been appointed studio manager under the supervision of Mr. Deitrich. A few years ago Mr. Persons was studio manager for William N. Selig, both in Chicago and on the Coast. Dur ing the past two years he has man- aged the Biograph studios. Joseph T. Clement, who has been associated with prominent French di- rectors, has been engaged as techni- cal director and Ned Van Buren as cameraman. A notable feature of J. Stuart Blackton's "The Common Cause," which he is now completing under the auspices of the British-Canadian Re- cruiting Mission for distribution by Vitagraph next month, is the appear- ance therein of the famous British tank "Britannia." Leon Kent, who played in and di- rected the original Universal West- erns, the old Frontier brand, several years ago, has returned to the Uni- versal fold and is appearing in the new series of two-reel westerns in which Helen Gibson is starred, under the direction of Harry Harvey. Two more stars were added to the L — KO service flag when Jack Ball, assistant director with the Jim Davis company, enlisted in the tank service and Frank Mock, assistant to Direc- tor Craig Hutchinson, was called to Texas for limited service. Outfit It takes two to make a contract. Be careful that the other one doesH get all the profit. Change Supply System Universal Plans Standardi- zation for Better Service Al. Tuchman, of Universal, is to make a tour of the exchanges during the next two months with a view to evolving a system of centralizing the exhibitor supply division. It is barely possible that the entire department may be handled from the home office in New York. At present each of the exchanges has its own department. Resulting from this method there seems to be a loss of time, money, and the co-op- eration which the exhibitor should re- ceive. If the plan to place the entire department in New York does not prove feasible there will at least be an arrangement whereby each of the exchanges will give a uniform service to the houses playing Universal pic- tures. " 'Tis Tough to Be Tender" Educational is .releasing, October 7, a novel scenic made by Robert C. Bruce, called "'Tis Tough to Be Ten- der." In the leading role is Marion H. Kohn, president of the Consoli- dated Film Corporation of San Fran- cisco. Mr. Kohn is well known on the Coast. In the scenic he appears as a green tourist who travels through Yosemite Valley and goes through a series of ludicruous mishaps while making the trip. U. Switches Release Dates Universal has switched the release dates on two of its features that are to l)e marketed during the months of October and November. The Her- bert Rawlinson and Priscilla Dean feature scheduled for November 18 has been brought forward to October 21 and "Vanity Fool," in which Mary MacLaren is starred, originally slated for that date, has been switched to November 4. United Representatives Installed In accordance with the announce- ment made last week of the arrange- ment between United Picture The- atres of America, Inc., and General Film Company whereby the latter's exchange service will handle the phy- sical distribution of United's film product, President Berst's organiza- tion announces that their representa- tives, Messrs. Aronson, Edwards and Lewis in Pittsburgh, Kansas City and St. Louis, respectively, have already completed arrangements and have es- tablished themselves in the local Gen- eral offices. lal'4% AILY Saturday, September 21, 1918 New Red Gross Film "Marching With the Eagle in Italy," Fourth Subject Made The fourth Red Cross propaganda film, "Marching With the Eagle in Italy," will be ready about October 15. Like the other three features, this is done in one reel, was made by the Bureau of Pictures of the American Red Cross and is to be released through the exchanges of the General Film Company. "Marching With the Eagle in Italy" shows American aviators and troops arriving in Italy and also the ambulances and personnel of the Red Cross. It has more of a military flavor than the second and third of the Red Cross pictures, and in this re- spect is more like the first, "The His- toric Fourth of July in Paris," which showed little else than things mili- tary. Are Keeping Jack Busy Jack Cunningham, who has to his credit the writing of a goodly num- ber of the features which have come out of the West Coast studios in the past year, has been engaged by Rob- ert Brunton to do the scripts for the Kitty Gordon pictures which will be made at the Robert Brunton stu- dios, in Hollywood, for the United Theatres program as well as a number of those in which Bessie Bar- r.'scale will appear at the Brunton stu- dios during the next year. Cunningham also has been engaged by Jesse D. Hampton to do a certain amount of screen writing for J. War- ren Kerrigan, his second script for Mr. Kerrigan, on which work will be started in a few da>s is an adapta- tion of John G. Blackwood's play, "Come Again, Smith." At the present time, three stars. Miss Barriscale, Frank Keenan and Louise Glaum, are engaged in the filming of scenarios from Cunning- ham's typewriter. Miss Barriscale, in "Two-Gun Betty," Mr. Keenan in "Todd of the Times" and Miss Glaum in an out-door story which has not been finally named. FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Shallenberger Answers Suit Brought by Gaine— Edison Sues Lincoln & Parker Go. Loughborough Made Captain James Loughborough, formerly with the Metro publicity department, has been promoted to the rank of captain in the U. S. Army. He has the dis- tinction of being the first man in his regiment, the 305th Infantry, to be promoted and receive his commission of an advanced grade. Loughborough was gassed with mustard gas early in the summer and has since recov- ered and been made intelligence offi- cer of his command. William E. Shallenberger has filed an answer in the Supreme Court in the suit brought by Hall Caine, nov- elist, against the Arrow Film Co. for an accounting of sums due him on the picturization of certain novels in which Caine contends that he has not received all the royalties payable. Shallenberger says that the Arrow Film Co. has been dissolved but as president and director of the corpo- ration he denies that anything was due Caine when the corporation quit, and asks that the suit be dismissed. Thomas A. Edison, Inc., has filed suit in the Supreme Court against the Lincoln & Parker Film Co. for $20,000. The complaint alleges that the Lincoln & Parker Co. made a note to the plaintiff on April 1 last agree- ing to pay $20,000 to the plaintiff in one month at the Chase National Bank, and permitted the note to go to protest when due. The Interstate Films, Inc., has filed suit in the Supreme Court against Gaspare Battaglia to recover $90.78 because the defendant got a print of the Billy West comedy, "The Candy Kid," for his theatre at Troy in July and failed to return the print prompt- ly as agreed. You can't help high taxes, but you can cut down a big overhead that doesn't get you anything. Papers are on file in the City Court in a suit of the Greater Pictures Cor- poration against the Crystal Film Co. in which Justice Valente granted an application to make George M. Mer- rick the defendant on the ground that he claimed certain negatives sued for by the plaintiff. The court also dis- missed the suit on the ground that the suit was brought in the name of the Greater Pictures Corporation by Samuel Berliner, alleging that he was secretary and treasurer, without au- thority. The suit demanded the de- livery of the negatives of two plays, "Dynamite and Bombs" and "Love, Luck and Stakes." It was admitted that the plaintiff corporation was never organized, but Berliner claims he was to be secretary and treasurer, Merrick vice president and Louis Weiss president. Berliner claimed tliat Weiss and Merrick had abandon- ed the corporation and that he lost large sums carrying on the business alone and paying the debts contracted when the films were made at Miami, Fla., in the spring of 1917. Berliner alleged that he paid $3,000 out of his own funds to finance the corpora- tion and that of $1,200 owed to the Crystal Film Co., $500 to perform- ers, and $1,100 for posters he paid all but $200. He alleged that he had advanced $6,594, that Merrick put in nothing, and Weiss contributed only $340, which he got back. He alleged that Weiss devoted himself to his business of running the New Jersey Exhibitors' Film exchange while Mer- rick attended to his Motioncraft Film Co. Weiss and Merrick contended that Berliner paid the debts out of the assets of the corporation and declared that he never accounted. Two More Finished Metro announces the completion of two more pictures, both made under the personal supervision of Maxwell Karger. "Little Miss Money-bags," a Bushman-Bayne subject, was writte i by Elaine Sterne and directed by Charles J. Brabin. "Five Thousand an Hour," featuring Hale Hamilton, was directed by Ralph Ince, and is an adaptation of George Randolph Chester's story. Saturday, September 21, 1918 Artistic and Distinctive Atomsphere Glorifies Elementary Heller Maurice Tourneur's "SPORTING LIFE" Maurice Tourneur Prod. — Hiller & Wilk Representatives DIRECTOR Maurice Tourneur AUTHORS Cecil Raleigh and Seymon Hicks SCENARIO BY Winthrop Kelley CAMERAMEN. .John Van den Broek and Rene Guissart AS A WHOLE Exceptionally artistic atmosphere and intelligent treatment made elementary meller distinctive. STORY Certainly simple and direct with willuns obligingly garrulous. DIRECTION Lifted every incident by splendid treatment. Held interest despite obvious situations. PHOTOGRAPHY Very artistic LIGHTINGS Generally fine, many particularly artistic bits. CAMERA WORK Excellent ACTING Entire cast well balanced and more than satisfactory. EXTERIORS Very good locations with exterior sets exceptionally effective. INTERIORS Very good with some unusual effects DETAIL Many very good little touches CHARACTER OF STORY Rather violent at times but could hardlv offend any. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 6,600 feet NO better evidence of the value of good direction could be wished for than the results secured by Maurice Tourneur in this picturization of the famous Drury Lane melodramatic spectacle, "Sporting Life." The artistry of the photography, the distinction of the atmosphere, and the treatment of the incidents make this a delightful production technically, and these individual merits impress themselves so pleasantly that they smother any possible thought of criticism because of the elementary directness of the melodramatic plot. To those who are acquainted with the type of offering presented at the Drury Lane in London, it is understood that the melodrama will be more or less obvious, but it must be considered that American film fans are not entirely familiar with this fact and for that reason might resent the presentation of a melodrama somewhat more simple and elementary than they are accustomed to. American movie fans have been fed up quite some on meller and consequently if the elementary willun, hero, vamp and innocent shero are to be forced upon them, it is quite essential that the director be able, by treatment, to differentiate the production from the or- dinary run of mellers by giving it a cloak of distinction and artistry. Certainly Producer Tourneur has succeeded in making this offering stand out as a decidedly worth while pro- duction by virtue of his ability to provide an artistic atmosphere with sufficient class to impress, and enough novelty in the manner of treatment to hold the interest. No one is starred in this, and it must be said that the cast was very evenly balanced, with Ralph Graves as the hero. Willette Kershaw as the society vamp, Warner Richmond as her gypsy victim and Charles Cray as her no-account husband, maintaining their respective parts on a very even balance. Charles J^ldridge as the old trainer, and Constance and Fair Binney as the wronged gel and sweet shero were more than satis- faeory. Henry West had a small part as Mr. Graves' opponent in the prize fight, and handled this very well. The work of Willette Kershaw marks her as an ex- cellent possibility for this type of thing, and Warner Richmond proves conclusively that I have never been wrong in my hopes that this boy was going to prove 01P when given a chance. The handling of the prize light scenes were very commendable, principally because of the unusual angles from which it was photographed, and because of the air of class given to the setting. In this sequence and in the race sequence the tempo was sufficiently well judged to bring applause from the Rivoli audience and consequently it is a pretty safe bet that it will register generally wherever shown. I want to commend the director particularly for the sets which were supposed to be exteriors and the scenes registering a London fog. These were decidedly effec- tive. We found M. Tourneur using again the cross sec- tion of a house, he having done this first in a World film about two years ago, and surely he gets a splendid result this time since it was about the only truly effec- tive manner in which to register the rescue of the stolen race-horse without giving a prohibitive amount of footage to this sequence. They All Should Like It. Bill It Intelligently and Cash In The Box Office Analysis For the Exhibitor You should be able to get them in on this and un- doubtedly they will like it. Figured from the fact that "The Whip" was a great success financially, I would say that this should be a clean-up because so far as the technical work is concerned, this production is decidedly very artistic and consequently will certainly appeal, more thoroughly to the average discriminating audience. There is the same element of direct melodrama here that was materially responsible for putting "The Whip" over, and I believe that the combination of artistic atmo- sphere and treatment, with elementary go-get-'em meller, will please most any audience, whether in a theatre of the first class or a dump, after the film gets old enough to play them. I will say that the production depends to a tremend- ous extent upon the artistry of the technique to carry over the story, but I sincerely believe that an audience forms its impression as a whole by considering the atmosphere and photographic values almost as much as the strength of the plot itself. There is nothing very subtle about the story or the situations, but they have been very intelligently handled. The treatment of the scene where the disillusioned Gypsy boy attacked the vampire in her boudoir stands out as one of the best bits of handling of such an incident that I have ever seen, and it is that sort of treatment which lifts this production. In advertising this, I would hammer hard on the fact that it is a visualization of the famous Drury Lane melodramatic spectacle, and then throw particular emphasis upon the beautiful and distinctive production given it by Producer Tourneur, without overlooking the fact that he was also the producer of "The Whip." To my mind it would be particularly valuable for you. in making the proper impression with your possible customers, to state that this is the first production made by Producer Tourneur at the head of his own Company, mentioning at the same time that he has made such films as "The Poor Little Rich Girl." "The Bluebird," "Trilby." "The Wishing Ring" and "The Whip." ZfcBRADSTREET of FILMDOM Sunday, September 22, 1918 7/fcRKOCHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 135 Price 25 Cents .iBMR;'. -• FAIIPAIL «:V YOlTk DWGRIFNTH'S CHICAGO* A The Great Love'/^Chicctefo "Public Demand Compelled Showing Second Week" Whether you run "The Great Love" for two weeks or two days depends only on the size of your town. The demand for the picture is there, and the demand will continue for a longer run than you gave any picture. "D. W. Griffith's 'The Great Love,' among greatest picture successes ever in Orchestra Hall. Although our policy provided for weekly change in pictures, public demand compelled showing second week, and even now, three weeks later, there are inquiries regarding it." — Wessels and Voegeli, Mgrs. , Orchestra Hall, Chicago. You can safely double the length of your usual "long run" and make the time pay with "The Great Love." ijfflHS- FAMOUS PLAYERS -LASKY CORPORATION V1 ♦V^>^*5^* ADOIPH ZUKOR Prrs JESSE L LASKY 2 Vv Pm CECtLBDEhUUEDimnrfenavl <£&£2zm *«y, This is one of a series of advertisements showing the success of "The Great Love" in the most important cities of the United States. Copyright 1918. Wid's Film and Film Folk, Inc. Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., N«w York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second-class Matter. Terms (Postage free) United States, Outside of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00; Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY. 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Mabel Normand in PECK'S BAD GIRL Page 2 Qoldwyn Prominent Stars in LIBERTY LOAN FILMS Page 3 Gladys Brockwell in KULTUR Page 5 Fox Mae Marsh in MONEY MAD Page 7 Goldwyn Jack Richardson in DESERT LAW Page 9 Triangle Virginia Pearson in QUEEN OF HEARTS Page 11 ExceUFox George Kleine Presents BEHIND THE LINES IN ITALY Page 13 Cines — Rome Carlyle Blackwell and Evelyn Greeley in BY HOOK OR CROOK Page 15 World William Farnum in THE RAINBOW TRAIL Page 18 Fox Mme. Lina Cavalieri in A WOMAN OF IMPULSE Page 19 Paramount George Larkin and Betty Compson in THE BORDER RAIDERS Page 21 Diando — Pathe Corinne Griffith and Marc MacDermott in THE GIRL OF TODAY Page 23 Vitagraph Dorothy Phillips in THE TALK OF THE TOWN Page 25 Dor. Phillips Prod. — Univ. Shirley Mason and Ernest Truex in COME ON IN Page 27 Emerson=Loos Prod. — Paramount Frank Keenan in THE BELLS Page 29 Anderson — Brunton — Pathe Maurice Tourneur's SPORTING LIFE Page 31 Maur. Tourneur Prod. — Hiller & Wilk Go West , Film Men, Go West Today it's gloomy. It's sloppy. It's raining. The weather is rotten. I can look out the window and see our tough old New York Winter headed this way. We may never have another as had as last year, but at their best, they're tough. I believe that it's the patriotic duty of everv film producer to make whatever pictures he ex- pects to make this Winter in California. I believe that every producer should proceed at once to transfer his activities to the coast without waiting for any action by Federal or other authorities which might curtail his heat or power for electric current. It is quite possible that the amount of coal con- sumed for providing heat and electricity to the Eastern film studios is small in proportion, but nevertheless it is something and I sincerely be- Iieve that it can be saved without working any hardship upon the producer. No one will cptestion the fact that California sunshine is to be preferred many times over to the light in the East in the winter months. I believe » that California sunshine is better for light effects, than artificial light, if the proper cameramen are handling that wonderful sunshine, on the Coast. More important, however, than the actual tech- nical question of light values, is the fact that work- ing conditions on the Coast are tremendously to be preferred to those in the East in the Winter time, if no other element be considered than the effect of the bright sunshine upon the minds of the working staff. Certainly anyone can work more cheerfully, can work harder and more hours in the bright optimistic atmosphere of California in the Winter months than in the gloomy, uncomfortable pessimistic storms of an Eastern Winter. The only possible excuse for any producer mak- ing films in the East this Winter would be that they are working with some star of the stage who is playing at the same time in New York City. Such instances will be very, very rare, if there are any, and as is generally known, it is bad business anyway to ask a star to make a picture while playing or the stage at the same time. It seems to me that the film producers could make a very splendid impression upon the Govern- ment, and the American people as a whole, if they would voluntarily make this move to the Coast, even though it entailed some sacrifice, on the basis that it does succeed in conserving a certain amount of fuel. There may be a seeming sacrifice in many in- stances which would afterwards prove to be a sure enough blessing, because personally, I feel sure that any concern will get much better results (Continued on Page 32^ jM^ DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 Speed, Characters, Atmosphere and Star Help Hokum Farce Meller Mabel Normand in "PECK'S BAD GIRL" Goldwyn DIRECTOR Charles Giblyn AUTHOR Tex Charwaite CAMERAMAN Louis Physioc ART DIRECTOR Hugo Ballin AS A WHOLE Snappy hokum farce with fast meller finish put over by atmosphere and char- acters and speed. STORY About enough for a split reel DIRECTION Helped a lot with atmosphere and characters although spread it too broad in one or two spots. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very pleasing. Night stuff excellent. LIGHTINGS Many good bits; generally pleasing CAMERA WORK Good STAR Hokum Mabel of the old days; she holds your interest. SUPPORT Excellent types EXTERIORS Very good small town atmosphere INTERIORS Good DETAIL Many nice little touches but some spots played too broadly. CHARACTER OF STORY Hardly a handful of plot but nothing to offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,400 feet THROUGHOUT the first of this we get friend Mabel of the old Keystone days, bouncing through hokum comedy in that hurry, jumpy manner of hers, which made her stand out so much that she got the label of Keystone Mabel. The story was small town stuff and we had some very good types with a number of little touches that will register and then at the finish they shot through a sequence of fast melodrama that goes over because it's snappy. One of the chief faults with this is that the titles in many instances over-reached in an attempt to be funny. Some of the titles were very good but many of them were overdrawn. There were also a few spots in which the hokum comedy was played too broadly, with the result that it missed. There is always a question, when considering farce hokum, as to just how it will go with various audiences, and there is, of course, a possibility that this will not be too broad at any time for some audiences. The kitchen mechanic, factory help cash customer will undoubtedly eat this up all the way. There are several sequences that stood out because they registered Miss Normand's ability to get laughs by her own hokum tricks, as for instance the incident where she held confidential converse with the wax model in the store, and the incident where she put on an evening gown without removing her under- vest which buttoned high at the throat. There was a sequence having to do with a run on the bank which was not particularly funny, although it provided a lot of action and may get laughs from some audiences, particularly when they get into the bursting of the hose incident. Miss Normand was photographed to advantage most of the way and given plenty of opportunity to run wild and register that snappy personality of hers which has won her a real place on the screen. The entire cast was particularly well chosen as to type. Not a Whale, But Fast and Snappy, and Should Please Generally The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I believe that this will go over with the better class this because those things have been overdone. It should of audience because it is presented without any thought be sufficient to tell them that it's Keystone Mabel back of being taken seriously, and it has enough speed and in action in a farce comedy that moves, pep to carry through. Some of the titles may jar very decidedly with your In the popular-price houses where they like a little of highbrows, although the rough necks may possibly get the rough stuff, I think this will hit them just about a laugh out of them. right because it spins through at a whirlwind gait with enough action to keep you interested, and such a simple plot that no one need worry over much to keep track of it. I would certainly not make any rash promises about I would emphasize particularly the fact that this is a small-town story, because some of the best fun in the offering has to do with little touches about the various village characters. The title, "Peck's Bad Girl," should be worth something because of course everyone immedi- ately thinks of the well-known book, "Peck's Bad Boy." Sunday, September 22, 1918 ife& DAILY Liberty Loan Films Have Tremendous Kick. You Must Run Them All LIBERTY LOAN FILMS Uncle Sam, Distributor AS A WHOLE Wonderfully more effective than any author, speaker or editorial writer could ever be. STORIES Registered facts that hit home in very effective manner. DIRECTION Excellent, with many novel ideas put over with telling effect. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally excellent LIGHTINGS Some startling effects CAMERA WORK Very good; some fine trick stuff STARS The best of them SUPPORT Worked hard and did noble EXTERIORS Ranged from battle field to street corner. INTERIORS. . . .Everything from palace to simple home DETAIL Exceptionally good »for special short subjects. CHARACTER OF PRODUCTIONS Will sell millions in bonds. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION Varied short lengths OH, BOY! You can talk about your power of the press, and the wallop behind some of your silver tongued orators, but believe me, this bunch of celluloid that is going to go scooting over the country carrying a message of the Fourth Liberty Loan home to the millions who attend the film theatres every day, is going to cause more folks, rich and poor, old and young, to dig deep, than anything printed or spoken ever could. It is one thing to read about the need of buying bonds, and another thing to hear someone tell about it, but nothing has the same wallop as to see why you should buy, told you in the undeniable manner that it is possi- ble to put over a thought on the screen. They showed some of the first films to be received at the Rivoli this week, and I feel that this collection of short subjects is going to establish more firmly than anything before ever has, the importance of the screen for propaganda work. Every subject had of course the central thought of buy bonds, but each film had a thought back of it that was different from the others, which means that each one of these subjects which you show would put over the idea from a different angle and with a new kick. You simply must show every one of them, and show them so that everyone who attends your house, will see them which means that they must go on every show . without fail. These films all registered the fact that thought has been given to their preparation, and I can assure you that you need not worry about putting any one of them on the screen, because they have been well done and have a patriotic kick. They are not plain preachment, they are visualized facts. To give you a scant idea as to the character of these subjects, I will try to cover briefly the basic thought back of each. Charles Ray was presented as a farmer boy with a label, "The American People" and he was shown being aroused by an alarm clock which peeled, "Buy Bonds." Charlie came to, swatted the Kaiser with his savings in his sock, bought bonds, sold them in a field, and saw an army of soldiers rise from the field. Norma Talmadge made a short appeal and then regis- tered a flash of the sort of tragedies that are being en- acted daily in Europe, when German soldiers attack defenceless women. Fatty Arbuckle combined a little burlesque comedy with his lesson and showed the Kaiser and his son snowed in by an avalanche of Liberty Bonds, contract- ing the Kaiser's scraps of paper with the scraps of paper bought by the American people. At the finish, the Potsdam beasts found themselves halted at each exit by the representatives of the Allied Nations. Bill Hart, asleep by his Pinto pony, Fritz, dreamed of a visit to Berlin, where he busted through a window and shot up the Kaiser in his court in sure-enuff Western dance-hall fashion, and then after comparing the Kaiser to a rattle snake which Bill permitted to live, we saw him going "hell bent for election" to buy bonds. Charlie Chaplin gave us a distinctive bit of pantomime comedy played against a black drop with contrasted sets which registered the bond of friendship, the bond of love, the marriage bond, and finally the Liberty Bond, with Charlie buying bonds which fitted a soldier and a sailor so that they could defend its liberty from Kaiser Bill. William Duncan was shown considering an invest- ment which would bring him a large return, until his wife dreamed of an invasion by the Germans, which convinced him that he was all wrong, with the result that he hurried to invest that which he had in hand in Bonds instead of risking it in the hope of being able to invent more. Mae Murray, with Bob Leonard producing, presented the taming of Kaiser Bill which showed Mae trying to subdue the beast with each of the loans represented by various weapons of defence, such as a revolver, a boulder and a lassoo, with the finale coming when Pershing's Western rough-riders rounded up the mad bull and branded him with 4 L. L. which stood for the Fourth Liberty Loan. Her film ended with a direct appeal in which Miss Murray faced the audience with a gun levelled at them, with the suggestion that they come across. -u^Sl tM% DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 LIBERTY LOAN FILMS (Continued from page 3) George Beban did one of his typical Italian characters in which we found him ready to take a six weeks' vaca- tion and spend all his money in the celebration of his sweetheart's coming from Italy, until a bond salesman explained to him in a vision that his sweetheart might be even then suffering from an attack by German soldiers, with the result that George handed over every penny he had saved and announced quite emphatically that he was going back to work the next morning. Harold Lockwood was shown as a wealthy society man who had become a factory hand to help with war work and got him checking up all the servants in his household, encouraging them in their purchase of bonds. A man from his father's industry refused to support the loan with the result that he was ejected with some snap by Harold and his father. Marguerite Clark was shown as a little girl who wanted to buy the biggest doll in the world with her savings, but when her four brothers who were in the Service showed her that Miss Liberty is the biggest doll and in need of protection, she gladly hunted up the Liberty Loan man and deposited her money. William Farnum registered a dramatic appeal as the only son of an aged mother who lost his life in the trenches, with his mother at home shown as willing to give up the last of her savings for the Fourth Liberty Loan, in addition to having given her boy. Geraldine Farrar, speaking from a rostrum, with a soldier on one side and a sailor on the other, pointed out how money loaned for bonds, would help these men protect liberty, and defeat the mad men of Berlin. Mack Sennett gave us some splashes of his wonderful Keystone comedy action, which showed all of our Key- stone favorites headed for the Liberty Loan sales at break neck speed, with a good many laughs in it and a real kick where a flag was taken away from a German who was waving it industriously, with a title register- ing the fact that he had no right to wave a flag unless he could also wave a bond. Corinne Griffith was shown as a young lady who had been left a thousand dollars by a will, with the sug- gestion that she must spend it wisely. She thought a bit of the pretty things that girls love, and then decided to buy a bond, with the result that the lawyer, return- ing later, told her that her patriotic purchase made it possible for him to give her the rest of the inheritance, whereupon she also invested that in bonds. The Drews, with Bobby Connolly, registered their "usual quiet and effective comedy, getting over the thought of giving up anticipated luxuries such as a new car, with Mr. Drew encouraging Bobby to the point where he abandoned the buying of a new bicycle with his savings. The thought was registered here that the boy scouts had sold one out of every twenty three bonds in the Third Loan, and hoped to better this record in the Fourth Loan. A boy scout was shown signing up the Drews and Bobby, with the old nigger mammy, agreed to give up watermelon and dig deep, at Bob's suggestion . Sessue Hayakawa smashed into a set registered as the German Headquarters back of the Rhine, at the head of American troops, with the Americans register- ing the fact that thesr had run out of ammunition. Then came the title, "We can fight without food, but not with- out ammunition," and the camera moved back showing that this set stood upon a stage, with an applauding audience in front. Hayakawa then stepped out and thanked the audience for their applause and said: "We can't win the war with applause, we must have financial support." Wallace Reid registered a thought that will un- doubtedly take hold with many, in appearing as Mr. Average American who tries to see how much he can save by making one pocket a bond pocket wherein to deposit each day the money saved from little luxuries given up. His example appealed to many friends with the result that when the bond drive opened, there were dozens who came to the hank with money saved in their "bond pockets." Dorothy Dalton appeared as a Red Cross nurse in a hospital attacked by German aviators, and she made a very appealing prayer after being fatally wounded, that the American people should make such outrages im- possible. Douglas Fairbanks in "Sic '10m Sam" presented an elaborate set especially designed, labelled "The Home of National Liberty." We saw Prussianism enter after a conference with propaganda, and as Democracy came out of the door for a strT>ll Ave saw Prussianism attack- ing .Miss Liberty* Propaganda distracted the attention of Democracy until Prussianism had set fire to the Home of National Liberty. Tally Marshall was a vici- ous Propaganda, Doug did Democracy, and Bull Montana was Prussianism. When the fight started, Doug burst into the house, telephoned to the world that the Dome of National Liberty was afire, and then started after Prussianism. There was a sure enuff rough house battle of the typical Fairbanks stunt type, and Doug threw old Bull Montana in such a way as will do most any audience a lot of good, considering the characters being portrayed. Then the various Allies were shown coming to the rescue as firemen, turning their hose upon the burning building, with one Ally after another join- ing in the fight until finally Uncle Sam came along to help quench the flames. Meanwhile Doug as Demo- cracy was rescuing Miss Liberty from the fire, and this was finally accomplished by the Fourth Liberty Loan in the hands of Uncle Sam. stopping the conflag- ration sufficiently to allow Democracy and Liberty to escape over a bridge of bodies formed by the allied man- power. I have tried above to give you just an idea as to the varied character of these offerings, and I can assure you that every one of them has a wallop and has been very well done. Naturally, some are more effective than others, but you can rest assured that each ham- mers home a thought and does it with such directness as can only be secured through this tremendous force of visualization made possible by the motion picture. You can be proud indeed to run these films because it is one of the greatest things that has ever happened in the Motion Picture Industry, to be able at this time, to take such a tremendously important part in the win- ning of the war. These Liberty Loan films are going to be of incalcul- able value in sending the Fourth Liberty Loan over the top with a smash, that will leave no doubt in any one's mind as to the mental attitude of the American people. Sunday, September 22, 1918 tM% DAILY Unsympathetic Characters in Sexy Meller with Dangerous Plot Gladys Brockwell in "KULTUR" Fox DIRECTOR Edward LeSaint AUTHORS J. Grubb Alexander and Fred Myton SCENARIO BY ... J. Grubb Alexander and Fred Myton CAMERAMAN Friend F. Baker AS A WHOLE War meller fairly interesting but unconvincing, illogical and entirely lacking in sympathy. STORY Places blame for world war on unsympa= thetic vamp, then tries to make her shero. DIRECTION Kept action reasonably interesting, but handicapped by illogical plot and incidents. PHOTOGRAPHY. . .Averaged good but varied decidedly LIGHTINGS Few good, generally ordinary CAMERA WORK. . . .Some good vignetting but general work just fair. STAR Had impossible part; displayed all she had quite regularly. SUPPORT Some good types, but all characters missed sympathy. EXTERIORS Satisfactory INTERIORS ._; Some rather good, others ordinary DETAIL Many very jarring incidents CHARACTER OF STORY Rather distasteful LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,500 feet IT CERTAINLY takes some nerve to step out and pro- duce a film purporting to show the underlying cause of this tremendous world war. It might be expected that if anyone was going to pull such a thing, it would be Bill Fox. Bill certainly runs wild sometimes. We are shown here that the Austrian Emperor and the Archduke, whose assassination caused the precipi- tation of the present conflict, quarrelled over a young woman who was the Emperor's favorite. This caused the vamp, played by Miss Brockwell. to send her servant to assassinate the Archduke, with a representative of the Kaiser present to take advantage of this situation and blame Servia for the crime. Then we found that a French Secret Service man sent to trap this vamp, fell in love with her, and although the vamp offered herself as the mistress of a German officer and became a German Secret Service agent, an attempt was made to build her into a sympathetic char- acter on the finish, because she helped make it pos- sible for the French agent to escape, sacrificing her own life in order to do this. There is considerable action in this and some of it is interesting but the chief fault is that the characters fail utterly to win sympathy. There are several good sets, and the atmosphere gen- erally is satisfactory with Miss Brockwell upon any and all occasions registering as much as the law will allow, due to the cut of her clothes, front, back and following the curves. In one of the cafe scenes, in which we had hundreds of German officers cheering as war was declared, we found a French Secret Service man knocking down a German officer, while surrounded by scores of others, and getting away with it. Believe me. I think one French- man is able to account for a lot of Germans, but it's hardly logical to suppose that he could knock down' one German in a crowded cafe without having some other German try to take him in charge. Considered as a whole, this sort-of comes under the head of interesting if true, since the story as outlined is not true, and since it so daringly deals with such vital historical sequence as the cause of the world war. it surely seems to be an instance of skating on thin ice. Fiction is fiction and fact is fact. It's all right to try to visualize on the screen what may happen to the Kaiser but it seems bad business to me to misrepresent historical facts, particularly with reference to the cause of the war, and unless I am very sadly mistaken, the facts have been misrepresented in this production. The cast was satisfactory but not particularly impressive. Those who appeared were Georgie Woodthrope, Wil- liam Scott, Willard Louis, Charles Clary, Nigel de Brullier, William Burress and Alfred Fremont. Ttll^ DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 Check this Carefully Because of Untrue Plot. Has Action and Interest The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Gladys Brockwell in "KULTUR" Fox Personally, I would be somewhat afraid of this, be- cause of the plot. It seems to me that one of the most essential factors built towards the audience success of any film is the item of sympathy with at least one character. In this film there is no reason why we should sympathize with anyone and there are reasons why we should dislike everyone. That listens to me like bad business. You can very easily get a certain amount of business because of the title, and Gladys Brockwell has some following since she has done some very good things, but I would consider very carefully the possible effect of this film upon my fans before I decided to play it. It is possible even, that this might antagonize many people. I cannot feel that anyone will feel particularly entertained or impressed with it. If you have a house where they like sexy meller, they will undoubtedly look this over and pass it as sat- isfactory. That is about as much as you can expect from anyone. If you have a clientele of intelligent pat- rons who analyze and discriminate, you will very prob- ably be panned a bit if you play this. I certainly would not bill this production as an expose of the cause of the war, because that's very dangerous stuff. The only safe angle that 3'ou might use in billing this, in case you feel able to play it, would be to call it a very stirring melodrama of the daring adventures of a French Secret Service man in Germany just before war was declared. The First JOHN ANITA EMERSON - LOOS Production for Paramount "Come On In" starring Shirley Mason an d Ernest Truex Showing at the Strand Theatre, New York, This Week Sunday, September 22, 1918 sM^ DAILY Slow-Moving and Hindoo Mystic Stuff Handicaps Star Mae Marsh in "MONEY MAD" Qoldwyn DIRECTOR Hobart Henley AUTHOR Lois Zellner CAMERAMAN Oliver Marsh ART DIRECTOR Hugo Ballin As A WHOLE Slow=moving and sordid theme lacks punch and lighter touches to make it class as pleasing entertainment. STORY Would have made a fair one=reel; is terribly draggy in five. DIRECTION. . . .Developed characterizations effectivelv and provided good atmosphere but story held efforts down. PHOTOGRAPHY Good on exteriors but interiors were unnecessarily dark. LIGHTINGS Good on faces but spot lightings used throughout obscured backgrounds. CAMERA WORK Very good; vignetting effective STAR Winsome and appealing but handicapped by uninteresting and morbid story. SUPPORT Very good EXTERIORS Pleasing INTERIORS Artistic but were all but obscured by too subdued lightings. DETAIL Satisfactory. Mystic writing effectively handled. CHARACTER OF STORY Has morbid spots and practically no comedy relief. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet I CAN'T figure why Goldwyn has passed on this kind of a story for Mae Marsh. Director Hobart Henley has taken advantage of what little opportunity the story offered for lighter touches and comedy relief, but these came few and far between with only one real comedy situation in the entire five reels, the remainder of which were taken up with a poisoning, a murder and much business with a turhaned gink from India who was in league with willun to get Mae's money and pearls. This started off with the murder of Mae's mother by slow poisoning at the hands of her willun step-father and his Hindoo servant, the murder having been covered up by the fact that the mother had been an invalid and ultimate death was expected. When the will is read, however, it develops that two-thirds of the mother's estate had been left to Mae, as well as a priceless pearl necklace, the only provision being that willun was to be executor of the estate until Mae became eighteen. During the intervening four years, willun and his vamp friend have spent all of Mae's money, and willun tells her that the will had also provided that the money be invested and that the inestments had failed. Left penniless, Mae takes the pearls to a jeweler, where she learns that they are worthless paste. Satis- fied that willun has substituted the paste and still has the real pearls in his possession, she plans to trap him with the aid of her sweetheart, Rod La Roque. By posing as a mystic seer, she entices the vamp to her apartments and tells her things which cause the vamp to marvel at her skill with the result that she sends willun to see "Mme. Rama" the next day. He is told that a woman suspects the hiding place of the pearls and knowing that he will at once attempt to change their hiding place, Mae and Rod follow him to his home. The vamp has already obtained the pearls when willun arrives and when he accuses her, she kills him, placing the gun in Rod's hands and placing the blame upon him when Mae and the Hindoo enter. Rod is sent to jail and when the vamp returns to "Mme. Rama's." Mae forces her to confess after which the detectives come in and make her prisoner, as well as the Hindoo, who has just entered. Rod is freed and they pull the regulation clutch for a finish. The first two reels of this were very sordid, without a single light moment to lift them. The theme of the story was certainly not pleasant at any stage and whatever attempts had been made to lift it were of no avail. The settings were held very dark all through this, presumably in an effort to carry out the general spooky effect of the mystic stuff around which the story centered. This didn't register with me because there was too much of it and whatever attempts had been made to make the settings artistic were obscured as a result. John Sainpolis was the wicked willun. Macey Harlem was li's Hindoo henchman. Florida Kingsley was Mae's invalid mother and Corinne Barker was willun's vamp friend. Alec B. Francis was Hero's father. m mmtm hiiiup/ PRODUCTION/" AlkmHolubai- <(&«% Daotky Phillips § a!i^ DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 Certainly Isn't Pleasant and Fails to Interest or Entertain The Box Office Analys Mae Marsh in "MONEY MAD" Goldwyn I am very certain that no one is going to rave over this. It savors too much of the graveyard and things morbid and funereal to place it in the class of enter- taining offerings for these war times. It's too bad that they had to wish a grim, slow-mov- ing and decidedly unpleasant story like this onto a winsome little personality like Mae Marsh, to say noth- ing of turning the script over to a capable director like Hobart Henley and expecting him to make it into an entertaining feature. I can't figure any excuse for Goldwyn deciding to film this story in the first place because even had it is for the Exhibitor been a more pleasant subject, it didn't contain enough real material for an interesting one-reel. Aside from being an unfair proposition for director and star, inasmuch as they are judged from the produc- tion as a whole by the average audience, this kind of a story certainly isn't going to land any new contracts for the producers. Having in Mr. Henley and Miss Marsh, a combination with acknowledged ability to put over the light, human stuff in a way that registers, it certainly was a crime to hand them this. If you have this scheduled, you can probably slide it over without causing any strenuous complaints but I certainly wouldn't make any noise about it or publish any rash statements as to its entertaining qualities. IF You can afford to keep the news of YOUR PICTURES from 2,225 EXHIBITORS in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana, then you are foolish to advertise in the PHOTOPLAY JOURNAL PUBLISHED WEEKLY EVERY Noteworthy Producer, Distributor and State Right Seller cannot afford to overlook exhibitros in the four of the most profitable states in The Union, who read the PHOTOPLAY JOURNAL IN CINCINNATI, O. Founded by J. ROBERT THOMAS in 1915 Sunday, September 22, 1918 Sli^l DAILY Routine Western Meller Situations Made Effective by Handling Jack Richardson in "DESERT LAW" Triangle DIRECTOR Jack Conway AUTHOR Louis H. Kilpatrick SCENARIO BY George Elwood Jenks CAMERAMAN William Edmunds AS A WHOLE Routine western meller has been well handled and holds interest. STORY Provided convincing action and some rather good suspense twists culminating in effectively handled gun fight. DIRECTION Kept it moving and made action and plot development convincing. PHOTOGRAPHY Not particularly artistic or dis= tinctive. LIGHTINGS No attempt for effects CAMERA WORK Satisfactory. Rather good com= position on exteriors. STAR. . . .Forceful but rather overshadowed by support SUPPORT Al Whitman very good; others satis= factory. EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS. . . .Jail very "setty"; otherwise acceptable DETAIL Individual incidents well handled but titles were unnecessarily long. CHARACTER OF STORY Lots of shooting but shouldn't offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet WHILE this traveled along in the beaten path of the average western without the attention being centered on any one character throughout the offering, it was considerably better handled than many stories of the same general character winch we have had from Triangle recently and I think it will be accepted generally as a satisfactory program attraction. Jack Richardson was presented in this as a sheriff who ruled a western oil center and ran things to his individual interests. In order to gel Al Whitman, who was his rival for Shero's attentions, he frames a shoot- ing scarpe to make it appear that Al had killed a man. Al is thrown in jail while the supposedly murdered man is paid to keep out of sight. It develops that willnn Jack had a double reason for getting Hero out of the way. it enabling him to jump Al's oil claim. In the meantime Al is freed from prison by Walt Whitman and Shero's brother and taken to their house, where they hold off the sheriff's posse in a rather effectively staged gun fight. .Inst as it begins to look like they will be overpowered. 1'. S. troops come to the rescue and the posse is marched off under guard. In the meantime the supposedly dead man had been tracked to his hide-out by a member of the gang who held a grudge and is brought in in time to establish Al's innocence completely after which they finish with the regulation clutch. I don't have to tell you that this was a rather slender plot around which to build live reels of entertainment and I want to give Director Jack Conway credit for having kept it rather interesting all the way by effective handling of individual incidents. The best part of the offering was the gun fight in the cabin, and while this situation has seen service in western mellers for many years, it was made rather effective in this by the intelligent of close-ups and a quick tempo. While Jack Richardson played convincingly in this, he didn't dominate the offering, and I think most folks will feel that Al Whitman, who had the Hero role, really carries away the stellar honors. Al his a (dean-cut, like- able personality and appeared to very good advantage in this. Leotta Lorraine was satisfactory as the Shero. although she didn't impress particularly; Walt Whitman and George Pearce played convincingly and others in the east were: Ray Han ford. B< rf Appling. James Farley. Phil Gastrock, Joe Singleton. Leo Pierson and Curly Baldwin. MMft uStttdet*tr of Sc±ee±xc±aft is tttat person vrho is working to aaoaice tKe cis&e*aa.a. a** secure £o± tlae £atti*e «o e$a «* SWWK8W mi mmwimmamiimtsmem^^msmesi 10 tMA DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1913 Will Be Accepted Generally Where Westerns are Favored The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Jack Richardson in "DESERT LAW" Triangle If your folks like westerns this ought to slide over as a satisfactory program offering. It isn't unusual and fails to present anything really new, being a repetition of many western meller situations Ave have had in the past, but ranks above the average we have been receiv- ing from the same producer recently on account of the effective treatment and staging throughout. In advertising this I would give Al Whitman con- siderable prominence in my advertising because he has done some very good work in Vitagraph productions during the past year and appears to very good advantage in this. Jack Richardson should have drummed up a certain following in your community if you have played Triangle's regularly. The fact that Jack Conway directed this may mean something to some of your fans, if you mention the fact that he was responsible for "Come Through" and several other productions which made money. You might create interest with catchlines like this: "Did you ever hear of a man proving his innocence of a murder charge by getting a confession from the 'murdered' man? See Jack Richardson and Al Whitman in 'Desert Law'." These are the First Stars For United Members FLORENCE REED KITTY GORDON DUSTIN FARNUM AND NEXT ? IN SIX MASSIVE MODERN FEATURES OF SPECIAL IMPORT IN SIX MAGNIFICENT SUPER PRODUCTIONS IN SEVEN STUNNING SUPER FEATURES STARTING WITH "THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS" UNITED PICTURE THEATRE, OF AMERICA, Inc. J. A. BERST President A NATIONAL CO - OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION OF EXHIBITORS HOME OFFICE 1600 BROADWAY NEW YORK Sunday, September 22, 1918 laii4^Am DAILY 11 Gets Away to a Great Start But Becomes Unconvincing At Finish Virginia Pearson in "QUEEN OF HEARTS" Excel — Fox DIRECTOR Edmund Lawrence AUTHOR Harry O. Hoyt SCENARIO BY Harry O Hoyt CAMERAMAN John Urie AS A WHOLE Murder mystery meller is marred by several inconsistencies but is rather inter= esting and holds attention. STORY Murder mystery implicating three men who are finally cleared by confession of real murderer, who was not suspected. DIRECTION Provided rather good atmosphere and kept suspense well developed until climax, then became very unconvincing. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good LIGHTINGS Some very fine; generally satisfactory CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Very pretty and made dramatic moments convince. SUPPORT Victor Sutherland pleasing; Smiley rather theatrical at times; others satisfactory. EXTERIORS Pleasing INTERIORS Generally very good DETAIL Some improbable twists in story CHARACTER OF STORY Murder=mystery ; shouldn't offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,600 feet THIS run along smoothly and held the interest very well until about the fourth reel and then they slipped in an inconsistent twist which discounted the offering considerably and made the story uncon- vincing. The story gets under way after Shero Virginia, who has been away to school in France, returns home to rind that her father is running a high -class gambling establishment. When she comes in unannounced, she conveniently meets Hero Vic Sutherland, whom she had previously met in France. Chagrined to learn that her father is the proprietor of a gambling establishment, she pleads with him to give it up, which he consents to do at midnight that night. Gambling operations continue past the hour, and when Shero comes down-stairs to learn why her father had nol kept l>is word, she finds him on the floor dead. Three men are suspected of the murder, including Hero. Before the mystery is cleared, Hero gets ;i wire from Frisco to the effecl that he is heir to ;i million provided he is married before midnighl thai night. He proposes to Shero but she refuses her conseni until Hero proves his innocence of the charge in which circum- stances have implicated him. The mystery is finally cleared by the confession of the real murderer, a servant who had nol been suspected. Hero and Shero marry, although il is pasl midnight, which deprives Hero of the fortune, according to the terms of the will. Then, just to make it more satisfac- tory, they had Hero call up the executor of the estate by Ions' distance and it develops that the difference in time between Frisco and New York made everything lovely and he got the million after all. In planting an incident to throw the audience off .-is to the real murderer until we came to the confession. they established Hero showing a gun to the father be- fore the murder. Later, after the murder, we saw him taking out the shells, one of which had been fired. This was effective in creating suspense but was explained very illogically when the climax was reached. Hero claiming that the gun was equipped with a silencer and that it had been discharged without his knowledge when he shoved it into his pocket after leaving the room. It is certainly absurd to assume that a revolver, even so equipped, could have been discharged in his hand with- out him knowing it. as the kick of the gun would have certainly been felt even though the noise had been muffled. Another point that didn't ring true was the long distance call between New York and Frisco. Hero just picked up the phone in New York and got a direct con- nection with the lawyer in Frisco without any delay and I think most folks know that it takes two hours or more to clear the lines for a direct transcontinental conversation. These unconvincing twists at the finish discounted the offeiang considerably in my estimation, but may pass muster with the average fan. In the cast were: Edward J. Burns. Peggy Shaner, John Webb Dillon, James A. Furey and Adelaide Lawrence. WILLIAM RUSSELL PRODUCTIONS, Inc. starring '*"; .- ■' ''■'■' M.Rb.A. CURRENT RELEASE: *Up Romance RoAb* RELEASED TWROV/6H MVTVAL EXCHAN6ES fc,"--i.>:< -..-„,.. mm* ma 12 DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 Has Good Advertising Possibilities and Should Satisfy Generally The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Virginia Pearson in "QUEEN OF HEARTS" Excel — Fox This impresses as a rattling good mystery play until they let it run wild at the finish but regardless of this fault, I think that the average audience, especially Miss Pearson's followers, will consider this rather interesting to watch. Up to the point where they plant the servant's mysterious actions which make it apparent that he isTthe real murderer, this has quite a suspense kick and most folks are going to he divided in opinion as to who is the real murderer. You fellows ought to know by this time how much this "poker" title means at the box office. It certainly seems to me that the various producers have 'gone through the deck" several times recently for titles and I can't figure that it really means anything. In advertising this I would concentrate on the pres- ence of Miss Pearson and the fact that this is a murder- mystery story that implicates three men. The Fox press sheet on this contains some exception- ally good advertising suggestions, the copy headed ••Suppose" appealing to me as especially well-done stuff that should create interest if displayed intelligently in your ads surrounded by plenty of white space. Don't try to put too much into your copy. Pick out the snappiest paragraphs and use them in larger type. The booklet suggestion is also a commendable idea which might bring in some business although I wouldn't advise you to bill this as "The Greatest Detective Story Ever Written." Of course, you can claim that, but many folks are liable to differ with you and it doesn't pay to misrepresent. •* -' *| The only studio i concentrating on the production of features to the ex- clusion of all other details. Produc- tions made by con- tract. Perfect facil- ities for individual producing units with or without con- tractees supervision. The BRUNTON STUDIOS ROBERT BRUNTON COMPANY Melrose Avenue : : Los Angeles "By Your Works You A reKnown' Recent Productions ""Madam Who" "A Man's Man" "Patriotism" "Carmen of the Klondike" "Turn of a Card" "Alimony" "The One Woman" "More Trouble" "The Bells" "Sierra of the Sixties" "All Wrong" Director o •P&RENTAGE" HOBART HENLEY M.P.D.A. Directing' MAE MARSH iorGoldw)fti Current and ^ortticomin^Tveleas'es': "^5£ Face in the Dark" 'AilVomari'-'^Qdd Peai-f ""^Se Glorious- A.dVenttU'GT' Sunday, September 22, 1918 idiW DAILY 13 Interesting and Comprehensive Film Showing Italy's War Industries George Klcine presents "BEHIND THE LINES IN ITALY" Produced by Cines — Rome SUPERVISED BY Italian Ministry of Arms and Munitions. DIRECTOR Not credited CAMERAMEN Cinematographic Div. of Italian Army. AS A WHOLE A positive revelation of what a tremendous factor Italy has become in the world war since 1914. STORY A series of instructive and interesting disclosures of Italy's war industries, tied to= gether by charted comparisons of strides made in past four years. DIRECTION Kept scenes in intelligent sequence and scenes comparing modern war methods with those of Caesar's time very well handled. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good considering handicaps and night searchlight shots were effective. LIGHTINGS Most interesting were scenes in steel works lighted bv glow from molten metal. CAMERA WORK Generally very good STARS. . . .Italy's fighters and workers behind the lines EXTERIORS Exceptionally interesting INTERIORS Generally well photographed and interesting. DETAIL Charts showing comparison of Italy's strides in manufacturing are startling revela= tion. CHARACTER OF STORY Will open eyes of Americans to fact that Italy is a potent power in fight for Democracy. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,300 feet I'LL admit that this was a real surprise to me. The average American, and I'm no exception in this re- spect, has a very vague idea of the comparative size and power of foreign nations and while we've all been aware of the fact that Italy has been really doing things in this war, I think every one who sees this film is going t<> lie agreeably enlightened a- in what a really tremendous factor our Italian Allies are While we gel some battle stuff in this, the him Cor the most part is given over to scenes showing war in- dustries behind the lines, as indicated by the ti»Je. In tact, it is much the same as our own official film, "Amer- ica's Answer." showing similiar activities in Italy. We had some Staged historical shots in this which were vrvy well handled, which is not strange, since Cines pro duced some of our greatest early multiple reel spectacles. These showed ancient warfare of Caesar's time, on land and sea. and were interesting in that they offered a comparison between the methods and ammunition used then and now. It was rather surprising to note thai the basic methods hadn't changed much, although the implements have of course been improved upon, as for instance, the spear and the bayonet — the eatapaulf and the modern trench mortar. Among the many interesting things brought our in this film and shown in detail, were the making of big guns. Italy's factory is one of the largest in the world and a title told us that they had immense cannon under construction which would be the largesl yet brought out by the allied nations. The construction of trench mor- tars was probably one of the most interesting things in the him. being shown in complete detail, from the melt- ing of the metal to the firing of the finished mortar. The fact that Italy is now turning out the largest and most powerful "'tanks" of any nation at war. is not generally known and therefore very interesting, as well as the fact that the once peaceful Venice is at present one of the greatest producing centers of dirigible obser- vation and bombing balloons in Europe. Italy being one of the largest silk producing centers in the world. The manufacture of immense searchlight lenses and reflectors is shown in an interesting manner along with the information that Italy is now making the most per- fect lenses on the market, which is quite some achieve- ment in view of the fact that Germany practically con- trolled this industry before the war. All through the film, we are given comparison^ of Italy's war industries output today as compared with that of 1014. The tremendous strides, as illustrated by the charts, should bring applause from any audience, as Italy has certainly made wonderful progress in every line of war endeavor. 14 nM* DAILY Sundav, September 22, 1918 Should Pull If Properly Exploited and Is Certainly Interesting The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor George Kleine presents The linking- together of the allied nations now through BEJHIND THE LINES IN ITALY" Produced by Cines — Rome the great war is going to be an inseparable alliance in- definitely after the war has been won and I think that films like this will do much good in creating the proper "get-together" spirit and feeling in the heart of every As a patriotic duty as well as a business proposition, American T think this film ought to be given proportionate con- If you are located in a communitv where there is a sideration and exploitation along with our own official large It;llian p0pUiation, this should go over with a tvar films. Pang. Exploited properly, it should prove an equally The fact that this is devoted to the war activities and good box-office attraction for American audiences, accomplishments of our Italian Allies is no reason why It has been well produced, with well-worded explana- it shouldn't prove interesting to American audiences. tory titles which are never boastful but will prove a If you've watched your audiences when the weeklies are startling revelation to most of us. some of whom may being shown, you've noticed that they applaud our have been inclined to regard Italy as a rather small fac- allied nations with the same enthusiasm as when our tor in the great conflict through hick of such informative own boys are shown in action — which is as it should be. material as this film reveals. Newspaper Critics Call "TRIPLE TROUBLE" Funniest Chaplin Film Read these fere excerpts taken at random from hundreds of commendatory clippings: "You will laugh, you will scream and you will roar, when you see this brand new Charlie Chaplin comedy, 'Triple Trouble'." — Columbia, S. C, State. "Charlie Chaplin, in his latest comedy success, 'Triple Trouble,' is smashing all records at the Franklin Theatre this week. The crowds gladly wait their turn to get a chance to see Chaplin and laugh at his endless troubles." — Oakland, Cal., Enquirer. * "Charlie Chaplin, in 'Triple Trouble,' is easily the hot weather sure-fire hit, and in one of his best Essanay brand comedies, is attracting hosts of admirers." — Sche- nectady, N. ¥., Star. "Charlie Chaplin, in 'Triple Trouble,' injects a lot of new comedy never before presented by the king of comedians. If you think you have seen Charlie in funny ones, take a peek at him in his newest comedy and you'll vote him the besi ever." — Fall River, Mass., Globe. 'Triple Trouble' is more fatal to a fit of blues than an attack of laughing gas. The picture is meeting with great success at the Strand this week and is proving one of the funniest of the Chaplin films." — Duluth, Minn., Herald. "The Essanay Chaplin comedies have been listed among the most humorous the littre comedian has made . . . and Essanay made one film — 'Triple Trouble' — that was the funniest of any." — Montgomery, Ala., Advertiser. George Kleine System George K. Spoor, President Distributors Sunday, September 22, 1918 jM^P DAILY ■Ml 15 m Obvious and Convenient Comedy-Mel ler Given Ordinary Production Carlyle Blackwell and Evelyn (ireeley in "BY HOOK OR CROOK" World DIRECTOR Dell Henderson AUTHOR Harry 0. Hoyt SCENARIO BY Clara S. Beranger CAMERAMAN Louis Ostland AS A WHOLE. . . .Convenient meller with much hokum and far=f etched situations; may get by as program offering but is very flimsy. STORY Simp turns hero by cracking safe and getting the "poipers." Formula 26. DIRECTION Permitted overplaying and failed to make action convincing or situations plausible. Generally failed to lift this out of routine "movie" rut. PHOTOGRAPHY Just routine stuff; not artistic LIGHTINGS Varied. Frequently uneven on sets CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STARS Blackwell's role was severe handicap; Miss Greeley quite pleasing. SUPPORT Satisfactory except Warwick, who was over=wicious as willun. Doane very good. EXTERIORS Satisfactory INTERIORS Some were very "setty" DETAIL Painfully convenient with several slips CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,884 feet IT'S pretty hard to get an audience to accept a player as the Hero of a story when his role lias established him as a silly-ass sort of a person in the opening reels. That's what Mr. Blackwell is up against in this. He establishes himself so thoroughly as a worthless boob in the opening of the story that his heroics at the finish fail to change your initial impression of him — he still clings in your memory as the simp. They open this up with Carlyle as a pampered son who has a valet to dress him and prepare his bawth. This characterization and the manner in which it was played made you "agin" him at the start and they tailed to briny out his good qualities, after they had him turn Hero, in a way thai made you willing to be- lieve it. As the story goes, Shero had a willun uncle who is holding the family jewels as security for a note so she frames with Hero Carlyle to crack uncle's Crib and get the security. After getting pointers from his valet's brother on "How to Burgle" they give us the Jimmy Valentine stuff, sandpaper and everything. .lust to make the plot more intrikut they had two real burglars get to the safe ahead of Hero and Doane and when the cops come in Hero poses as the owner of the house and the loot is turned over to him. In rummaging through the papers, he finds a forged proxy which gave willun the right to vote Shero's mother's stork and draws up a new one transferring the voting privilege to himself. which he has Shero's mother sign. On the day of the stockholders meeting willun. realiz- ing that he has been tricked, gets Hero into a warehouse and locks him in. After a thrilling escape which failed to yet over forcibly because everything leading up to this climax had been so conveniently arranged and obviously planted for the purpose. Hero yets to the office on the last minute of the appointed time, votes the stock, and willun is foiled. Then Hero makes good with his father by handing him the lease to sign, father con- sents to his marriage to Shero and I want to give 'em credit — they didn't finish with the regulation clinch. Hero's method of getting out of the warehouse by the aid of a convenient elevator shaft, a convenient block and tackle and a ditto auto truck was certainly an obliging coincidence. Some producers don't seem to realize that the public demands a halfway reason for things, even in comedy. The dive from the roof was another carefully planted thrill but it was a good dive — even if Hero didn't do it. Among other things that were permitted in this was a motorcycle cop who wore a braided bell-hop's uniform, with the buttons changed to make him look like a regular policeman. Not a glaring error but two people who sat behind me at the New York got it. In the cast were Jack Drumier, Jennie Ellison. Henry Warwick. Frank Doane. Nora Cecil and Alice Chapin. Some Folks May Like It But It Won't Pass With the Critical The Box Office Analysis For the Exhibitor Carlyle Blackwell and Evelyn Greeley in "BY HOOK OR CROOK" World Maybe the average gang will figure that this provides sufficient entertainment but certainly the discriminating audiences who demand a half-way reason for things are going to figure that this has been very carelessly done and is painfully convenient and obvious all the way. I think I am right when I say that there is a certain resentment, especially now. to the wishy-washy type of hero. Screen players, particularly those who special- ize in romantic hero roles, should realize that the people who see their work do not know them personally and judge them solely from the impression they yet from the screen. Thev remember him as the character, not as the man. For that reason. Mr. Blackwell is liable to create some very unfavorable impressions through the role he portrays in this. As I said in the foregoing, he didn't make you want to see him triumph at the finish, he planted the simp character so strongly in the beginning that the impression stuck. If you play this you can probably get it by without any serious complaints — and there may be some who will think it is great stuff but I can't make myself be- lieve that this class of material is getting by in the better houses. In order to create interest in this without making any rash promises as to its individual merits, you might bill it as "A romantic comedy-meller in which the hand- some hero takes a correspondence course in safe-crack- ing, gets the "papers" and wins the girl." Tarzan Treats 'Em Rouyh The Escape From the Savages These Stills Give Some Idea of: "The Roman The concluding chapters of ' Tarzan of t/iel If anything, it's better production than itsj It's about half jungle stuff— and half city soq elephant and locations as "Tarzan of the Apei dressed, same cast as first Tarzan, plus Cleo Madi A FIRST NATIONAL ATTRACTION PRODUCED liV Tarzan Hands the Vamp the Frosty Mitt THE NATIONAL FILM CORPORATION OF AMERICA Those who saw "Tarzan of the Apes' It's chuck-full of action, pep, thi Tarzan's First Taste of civilized Happiness Tarzan Fights His Wonld-be Murderers Samson and Deliah Stuff riety of Scene and Action in \ of Tarzan •> ? from the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs breaking predecessor, "Tarzan of the Apes." uff'. Same apes, lions, leopards, crocodiles, ity stuff well up to the mark, big sets, well vamp. Production supervised by Is adore Bernstein Written and directed l>y Lois Mehedyth and, Wilfred Lucas aiting for it- id pathos ! Tarzan Hears the ('all of the Wild Go to it! Tarzan Was Wrecking the Place When Jane Arrived The Vamp Pleads For Tarzan's Love Tarzan's Jungle Table Manners 18 a^ DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 Not Distinctive But Action Holds Interest and Will Garry This William Farnum in "THE RAINBOW TRAIL" (Sequel to "Riders of The Purple Sage.) Fox Film DIRECTOR Frank Lloyd AUTHOR Zane Grey SCENARIO BY Frank Lloyd CAMERAMAN Billy Foster AS A WHOLE Western meller of Mormon ac= tivities as central theme. Lots of action, and is reasonably interesting. STORY Rather far=fetched in spots with nothing to mark it as exceptional. DIRECTION Little attempt for artistry; appar= ently concentrated on action. PHOTOGRAPHY Good routine work LIGHTINGS Generally ordinary; a few good bits of night lighting. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory, but not distinctive STAR Powerful personality but somewhat inclined to "act." SUPPORT. . . .Miss Forrest pleasing, others satisfactory EXTERIORS. .. .Canyon shots good, others ordinary Westerns. INTERIORS Acceptable DETAIL Several inconsistencies CHARACTER OF STORY Had several incidents that may cause disturbance among prudes and reformers because of Mormon situation. LENGTH OF PODUCTION . . .About 5,500 ft. DO you remember they ended "Riders of The Purple Sage" with a serial "continued in our next" title, when we found the folks what were escaping from the Mormons entering the Sealed Valley? In this, we start off with these fugitives living in this Sealed Valley, where they have been prisoners for fifteen years. Bill Farnum has grown a beard, and the child has grown into a girl in her 'teens, played in this by Miss Ann Forrest. These prisoners of nature were clad in skins, and lived by trapping birds and animals. We found the Mormons still active, with a Bishop at their head who was quite a willun. As you will remember in the first part of this. Mr. Farnum Avas a very tough guy who kept killing Mor- mons with every visit to the village, because he was trying to find out something about a married sister who had been abducted, and he had decided to kill a Mormon on every trip until someone told him the truth about things. I have never read this novel, but in the sequel we find Mr. Farnum playing two parts, one thaj of the man who has been confined in the Sealed Valley for fifteen years, and the other that of a kinsman who was doing the same sort of avenging stuff that Farnum was shown so busily engaged in during the first story. It looks as if this sequel idea had sort of made use of some of the Farnum scenes from "Riders of The Purple Sage" in pulling this double character. Most of the film was made up of routine Western riding, battles between the Mormons and F. S. Marshals, with considerable footage devoted to the secret Mormon village where the plural Avives were kept. There was a little too much emphasis given to this plural wives situation, which may cause some difficulty in communities where reformers like to start something, and there was one title particularly that should come out. We find the U. S. Marshals coming to the village and posting a placard notifying everyone that arrests will be made of any found guilty of secret polygamy. As this notice is posted, one of the by-standers looks at an old man nearby and says: "You need not worry, Uncle, they will never suspect you." This may get a laugh from some rough-neck, but it's not good stuff to pull. After many adventures, which finally result in Mr. Farnum as the young man falling in love with Ann Forrest, and rescuing the couple who have lived in the valley for fifteen years, we come to the final fight be- tween the Mormons and the two hated enemies, which means that Mr. Farnum. in two characters, fights off a band of Mormons until the U. S. Deputies arrive and save the situation. It was rather odd to see Mr. Far- num dodging around either side of a big boulder firing, first as an old gink with whiskers, and then as a young Western cowboy, but the average audience will not stop to worry about technique, and Avill accept this as a rather interesting Western meller. In the cast were Mary Mersch. William Burress. Will Nye. Genevieve Blinn, and George Ross. Should Pull As Sequel And Will Get By Despite Its Weaknesses The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor While 1 here's lots of action in this, some of your fans may complain over the weaknesses in the story con- struction occasioned by the rather uncanny ability of some characters t<» figure out what is going to happen. For instance, there is nothing to indicate why the Mormons should know that Farnum was headed for the Scaled Valley to rescue the victims there, yet one of them spoke up Aery promptly and said that Avas where he was going, and the party pursued. Other similar discrepancies weakened the plot somewhat, but I have a hunch that the average audience will pass over these things and either praise this or condemn it accord- 0 their taste for bing hang action. If you have played "Riders of The Purple Sage" it is practically essential that you book this film, because it is presented as a sequel, and you should be able to get business on it if for no other reason than that it is a sequel. I would not make rash promises as to the quality of the production, but depend entirely upon the statement that it is a red-blooded melodrama of the thrilling fight against the Mormon activities in Utah before the Civil War. You might head some ads: Do you know anything about Mormons and Avhat they were in the early 50's? See 'The RainboAV Trail." of course Bill Farnum's name should be featured heavily because he undoubtedly has a large following. Sunday, September 22, 1918 afeffe! DAILY 19 Fairly Interesting Surface Meller with Murder Mystery Twist Mme. Lina Cavalieri in "A WOMAN OF IMPULSE" Paramount DIRECTOR Edward Jose AUTHOR Louis K. Anspacher SCENARIO BY Eve Unsell CAMERAMAN Hal Young AS A WHOLE First reel dragged and offering moved slowly all the way but star appeared to decidedly better advantage than in recent work and was well lighted. STORY Centered around old situation of jealous husband and false murder charge with real murderer confessing in time to make every= thing end satisfactorily. DIRECTION Didn't keep you from guessing how this was going to end and frequently let tempo drag although handled characterizations rather well and provided pleasing atmosphere. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Generally effective and lighted star to good advantage although some interiors un= evenly lighted. CAMERA WORK . Good STAR Has a set poise and expression which she affects too frequently but appeared very beau= tiful in some scenes and emoted satisfactorily. SUPPORT. Ramond Bloome very good; Robert Cain effective and others balanced nicely. EXTERIORS Generally pleasing and fitted atmos= phere. Milan set good. INTERIORS Satisfactory; real theatre interior rather well handled. DETAIL Satisfactory although photo insert poorly handled. CHARACTER OF STORY Shouldn't offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet COMPARED with some of Mme. Cavalieri's recent films, this ranks as considerably better than any of her previous work in pictures that I can recall at t li is; minute. Mme. Cavalieri was photographed to very good ad- vantage all through the ottering, appearing truly beau- tiful in some of her scenes, although she was inclined to affect a set poise and expression at many times which impressed you with the fact that she knew she was being photographed and wanted to appear in the pose that showed her beauty to best advantage whenever possible. They planted much unnecessary detail in the first reel of this which was obviously brought in to give the star an opportunity to appear in various poses and costumes in which she had appeared in grand opera and they gave considerable footage to a theatre sequence with the star doing some of her scenes from Carmen, supported by Muratore, the famous tenor. Previous to her operatic success, Shero was estab- lished as a poor girl who lived with her sister, she later marrying a wealthy nobleman and coming to America where she attains further operatic triumphs. Her hubby is very jealous of her and when she is seen talking to willun who has had an affair with her sister, his sus- picions are further aroused. Later, while attempting to prevent willun from keeping an engagement with her sister, she is observed by hubby and in a struggle in which willun attempts to embrace her, she apparently stabs him. When hubby rushes to the scene, he finds willun dead and his wife in a faint. An examination of the body discloses two wounds, one of which could not have been inflicted by Shero. Shero, having fainted, cannot remember what happens and just as it is begin- ning to look as though she will be convicted of the murder, a Creole girl, who has been planted in previous scenes, confesses to the killing, a vision explaining how she had stabbed willun after Shero had fainted. Ramond Bloome, as the hubby, gave a pleasing per- formance throughout and Robert Cain was a satisfactory willun. Gertrude Robinson was pretty and appealing as 'Shero's sister. Others who appeared in this were: Ida Waterman. Leslie Austen. J. Clarence Handysides. Mrs. Matilda Brundage and Corene Uzzell. Pes&nald Barker. V <3EBAU>INE FAKBAR 20 DAIIJV ii m Sunday, September 22, 1918 If Star Has Following In Your Town They'll Like Her In This Mme. Lina Cavalieri in "A WOMAN OF IMPULSE" Paramount If Mme. Cavalieri has pulled any business for you in the past, I would say that you could make quite a fuss about this, purely on account of her presence, because she appears to decidedly better advantage than she has in some of her recent films. If you don't figure that her name means anything to your fans then I wouldn't make any special effort to The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor step out and get this although I think it will be consid- ered satisfactory entertainment by the average audience. If you've got a grand opera gang in your town, you might do some business on this on the strength of Mme. Cavalieri's reputation as a famous singer, coupled with the fact that she appears in a short scene from "Carmen" in a part of this offering with Muratore, the famous tenor, appearing with her in the scene. You might head an ad: "Are you jealous? Would you get suspicious if yo*u saw your wife in the arms of another man qg would you trust in her until she had a chance to explain? See Mme. Cavalieri in 'A Woman of Impulse'." THE TRIANGLE DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION 1457 BROADWAY, NEW YORK announces for early release "TONY AMERICA" with a notable cast featuring francis Mcdonald as Tony, the Italian lad whose starved soul battles the verdicts of the master merchant and finds solace ni paternal love. Directed by Thomas N. Heffron • Invest your profits in W. S. S. Sunday, September 22, 1918 T&4& DAILY 21 Serial Meller Cut to Five Reels is Incoherent and Jumbled George Larkin and Betty Compson in "THE BORDER RAIDERS'' Diando=Pathe DIRECTOR Stuart Paton SCENARIO BY Frank Beresford and Jack Cunningham. 4 CAMERAMAN Not credited AS A WHOLE Abandoned serial cut to five=reeler; contains a lot of wild action but doesn't tie together. STORY Result of editing much footage into five reels makes story incoherent and messy with frequent wild jumps. DIRECTION Filmed action in usual serial style and handled individual incidents satisfactorily but whatever continuity was maintained or= iginally has been messed up in editing. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally good on interiors and some exteriors very fine while others rather hazy. LIGHTINGS Employed much trick lighting in Chink joint without any apparent reason. Otherwise satisfactory. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STARS She pretty but rather hefty; he clean cut hero; both handicapped by made=over story. SUPPORT Frank Deshon gave excellent char= acterization as Chink and Claire Du Brey effective "vamp": H. C. Carpenter very theatrical; others satisfactory. EXTERIORS Some good; others very ordinary INTERIORS Satisfactory DETAIL Awful jumps in story CHARACTER O STORY Routine border meller LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,882 feet BEFORE the first reel is over most any audience is going to figure that something has happened to this and for the remaining four reels, if they have patience, they are going to rake their brains trying to figure out what it is all about. T don't think I am spillins: any secret when T tell you this because anybody who has seen a few pictures i> going to dope it out for themselves anyway when they see it, but I have a sneaking hunch that this is our "Wolf Faced Man" serial (or what remains of it 1 dished out to you in one sitting with all the thunder left in and much detail left out. The story has to do with a gang of opium smugglers on the Mexican border, who, in league with a band of cattle rustlers, get their opium across the border by hiding it in the detachable horns of live steers. Quite some idea, I'll say. After seeing this in live reels I am wondering how they ever figured they could drag this plot along for a ten or fifteen episode serial. It i< very evident that they found out it couldn't be done — hence the decision to put it out in five reels. It looks like they had died game, evidently having shot about ten episodes before they decided to cut this down with the result that when they did find it neces- sary to do this, they had to leave out much detail and several incidents which had a bearing on the original story, making this run all over the place technically and giving us a series of wild meller incidents and much rough-riding which fail utterly to connect up into a smooth running, plausible story. We had stretches of several hundred feet in this which ran along pretty smooth and then — Zowie — they'd bust into something else. It looked like Hero Oeorge Larkin had played two roles in the original story because in one scene we would see him as a faro dealer in the Chink's hand-out and then in the next scene they'd show him in a cowpuncher outfit, with no explana- tion or reason for the abrupt jump or change of cos- tume. In one particular instance they faded out on George riding over the horizon as a puncher and in the very next scene — without a title or anything — we saw him back at the faro table again. This got real wild at the finish, with Shero Betty Compson tied to a chair in the smugglers den and Hero conveniently happening along to save her. after the usual gun fight with the sang outside the cabin. Hero's father, who had been captured, is rescued, the smugglers are pinched and Hero turns out to be a V. S. Secret Agent. Others in the cast were : Howard Crampton and Fred Malatesta. OWHC CHBWN -» iA.P.D.A. £%fectot of M>w directing ^Gr Goldwyri^ V 22 DAIL.V Sunday, September 22, 1918 I Would Certainly Hesitate About Playing This In Its Present Form The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor George Larkin and Betty Compson in "THE BORDER RAIDERS" Diando=Pathe I cau't figure how Pathe expects to let this go out as a feature release in its present condition. Allowing that the average gang isn't going to be able to determine what has been done with this, they are certainly going to be well aware of the fact that something is wrong and will probably accuse the operator of leaving out a reel or something. Parts of this are rather interesting but figured as a whole, it fails to make sense. The original serial story is apparent all through this and in several places you will be able to pick out a scene or a thrill which would have originally closed an episode. This contains plenty of wild meller and gun play, having been produced in the usual serial style and even in it's present mossy condition might get by in "shootin' galleries" that play to a transient business exclusively but it certainly should not be even considered for a com- munity house or any theatre that depends upon regular patronage for business. Since the individual scenes in this have been fairly well handled and show touches of capable direction it is possible that something might still be done to make this an acceptable meller offering by re-editing and the use of intelligent titles to cover the jumps but \mless this is done I certainly wouldn't worry about it. If you've arranged to play this and can't duck it. I'd advise you to ask for a pre- view and then use your own judgment as to whether you can afford to play it or not. The Schomer Photo-Play Producing Co., Inc. 1440 Broadway RESPECTFULLY invites the gentlemen of the Motion Picture Trade to the initial presentation of its new photo-drama RULING PASSIONS To be given at the NEW YORK THEATRE ROOF on Thursday afternoon, September 26th, 1918, at 2:30 o'clock. THE EXHIBITOR'S BIBLE IN CANADA is the Canadian Moving Picture Digest Every Saturday Head Office now at 326 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario 100 per cent Circulation New York Office Room 804, 17 West 44th Street ERNEST SHIPMAN, Representative Sunday, September 22, 1918 s!i^ DAILY 23 Better-Than-Average Program Spy Meller. Players Make It Hold Corinne Griffith and Marc MacDermott in "THE GIRL OF TODAY" Vitagraph DIRECTOR John Robertson AUTHOR Robert W. Chambers SCENARIO BY John Robertson and Harry O. Hoyt CAMERAMAN Charles Davis AS A WHOLE Players and treatment make Ger= man spy plot interesting. STORY Provided rather good situations, more or less founded on fact and handling has made story interesting. DIRECTION Made characterizations convincing and injected many effective touches although could have created much more suspense in time bomb incident at finish. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied; rather hazy at times although generally satisfactory with night shots effective. LIHGTINGS Varied from good to just fair CAMERA WORK Good STARS She pretty and convincing; he gave finished performance as spy. SUPPORT Webster Campbell very pleasing and others balanced nicely. EXTERIORS Real winter scenes around New York interesting. INTERIORS Generally very good DETAIL Many effective touches. Wireless station didn't convince. CHARACTER OF STORY Better=than=average spy meller. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4329 feet VrITAGRAPH has given us In this, a rather interest- ing spy-meller enacted by a well-balanced cast and it ranks in my estimation as considerably better than most of the program spy mellers we have had recently because it never becomes overdrawn and is devoid of the forced, superficial patriotism that has marked many recent offerings dealing with the same general subject. They opened this ud with a prelude showed the birth of Prussianism in Berlin, which was rather unnecessary, and after a title taking us up to the present time, we saw the members of the Wilhelmstrasse sending a code message to their operatives in America by wireless. This was unconvincing as shown, because I am q sure that trans-Atlantic messages couldn't have been received through such ;i small station ;is the one we get in the picture. Marc MacDermotl appeared ;is the bead ■ >!' tii<- spy ring in this country, who covered up his operations by posing as a Danish scientist. He has :i Love affair with Shero Corinne Griffith and Hero Webster Campbell, who has been humiliated by his family for being ;i slacker, but who is a true American at heart, becomes suspicious of MacDermott and watches him. Following a su>- picious character " after an explosion at his fathi factory, he traces him to MacDermott's home, confirming his suspicions. The next day. he goes to MacDermott's borne and openly accuses him of being a spy, as a result of which he is made prisoner and his parents led to believe through a forged letter that he had run away to escape the draft. Refusing to believe that the letter is genuine and suspecting foul play. Shero warns the government authorities and through her acquaintance with Mac- Dermott succeeds in planting a dictograph in his home, enabling the government intelligence bureau to prevent a concentrated bomb plot which had been planned for that night. The spies are rounded up before damage can he done and in the meantime an aide of MacDermott's. who had turned traitor, is caught trying to release Hero and is shot. The IT. S. troops enter just as willun is about to kill Hero and they are warned by the dying aide of a time bomb he had previously planted to destroy willun. The bomb is discovered and destroyed just as it is about to explode. B f** This had a few inconsistencies but taken as a whole the individual incidents were very well handled although the suspense leading up to the time bomb incident fell rather flat. We had two killings in this which were rather gruesome in their realism btit this is rather to be expected in nlays of this type and shouldn't prove objectionable. Miss Griffith was very pretty in the scenes where she was well lighted and gave a pleasing performance throughout. Marc MacDermott. as the arch-spy. was sufficiently detestable in the role and played convincingly. Webster Campbell was a clean-cut. likable hero. "Rebecca of 5unnybrcok Farm" - "M'Liss" -"Amarilly of Clothesline Alley" "Hearts of the Wild"- "Stella Maris4; - "Hit -the -Trail Hollictey" Supervised and directed by IYIoaaLM <2. 7W, In preparation: The Three Bears"- Artcraft Special- "Out of a Clear 5ky"-MThe Silver Kinq-' Address: The Lambs Club, New York City 24 ttfec^ DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 Should Please If Your Folks Haven't Been Fed Up on Spy Stuff The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Corinne Griffith and Marc MacDermott in "THE GIRL OF TODAY" Vitagraph Since all of the exteriors in this show New York covered with snow it seems that Vitagraph has had this on ice for some time although I can see no reason why they should have held it until now for release be- cause we have had so many mediocre spy mellers re- cently that the better- than -average offerings of this type are discounted on the face of them as a result. As a program offering. I think most audiences are &oing to consider this interesting and worth-while enter- tainment. If you have recently played other program spy hlms which didn't come up to the mark, of course that fact is going to discount the box-office value of this to some extent. You will be perfectly safe, however, in billing this as an interesting spy mystery based on the German bomb plots in this country and you can also tell them that this production was filmed in some of the exact localities which were the center of German bomb activities in New York last winter. (I presume these locations are authentic as they are shown in detail in the production, with maps explaining their location.) You might stir up considerable interest at this time by using copy along this line: "When Leslie Seldon learned that her fiance was a German spy, she turned her romance into a patriotic service by using her wiles to trap him." You might bill this as "A timely production showing the workings of the German within." Men with Big Ideas for Big Pictures — responsible men with worth-while plans but insufficient capital — are invited to tell their stories to — Mc Clure Productions, Inc. Frederic^ L. Collins, President 25 West 44th Street .'. New York City Sunday, September 22, 1918 iMi DAILY 25 Unusual Treatment of Triangle Theme Given Classy Production Dorothy Phillips in "THE TALK OF THE TOWN" Dorothy Phillips Production=Universal DIRECTOR Allan Holubar AUTHOR Harry Vickers SCENARIO BY Allan Holubar CAMERAMAN Fred Granville AS A WHOLE Unusual treatment of eternal triangle idea with trick finish and interesting early plot development to show reason for wife's later actions. STORY Interestingly developed along unique lines, has considerable kick at finish and holds interest all the way. Quite suggestive in spots. DIRECTION Provided classy atmosphere and in= jected many effective touches with great sus= pense leading up to climax. PHOTOGRAPHY. . . .Very artistic; at times exceptional LIGHTINGS Superb; many artistic bits CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Beautiful and appealing and got away with fifteen year old sequence exceptionally well. SUPPORT Not a jarring note in the cast. Some great kids. EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots; looked like paintings. Flash of "Black Cat" cafe exterior out of harmony with general classy atmo= sphere; looked "setty." INTERIORS Very fine and helped by effective lightings. DETAIL Abrupt jump in Pullman sequence; was probably scissored bv censor. CHARACTER OF STORY Nears the danger line several times which might give prudes an excuse to step in. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,800 feet I THINK this going to register with a bang with- most folks. It gets nearly naughty several times, and some incidents have certainly been rather broadly dealt with but I don't think this ever reaches the point where you should have scruples about playing it unless you are operating in a Puritanical community where they let a bunch of narrow-minded wimmin pass on the stuff you show. There is just enough of the sug- gestive in this to jiive these birds a chance to get busy. The story centers about a girl who has been strictly disciplined all of her life with the result that she is sent away to a seminary with little knowledge of life and a determined desire to find out. While at school she obtains a book on "How to win the opposite sex" and learns quite considerable therein which leads her to propose to Bill Stowell, a man much older than she, and they elope. Her main reason for marrying, how- ever, was to escape the discipline of her home and she refuses hubby her love. Later, at a cafe, she starts ;i flirtation With willun Norman Kerry and demands an introduction from hubby Bill, who refuses. Bill's warn- ing about Norman's character makes her more deter- mined to meet him and she arranges a tea party for the sole purpose of bringing this about. Then we have the usual triangle idea with Norman a frequent visitor while hubby is away, leading up to Norman taking Shero to a road house where he starts the ruff stuff. Hero Hubby comes in just as things are getting interesting and there is a struggle in which Norman is shot. Shero falls into Hubby's arms — cured. Then they pull a trick finish — which was a real sur- prise— proving the whole thing to be a frame-up be- tween Norman and Bill to make wifey realize the error of her ways. They stretch the ending out rather un- necessarily by showing the couple with a baby and having Shero's father admit that the discipline thing was all wrong, but it doesn't drag noticeably and the kid touches are good audience stuff. Gloria Joy, as Shero at the age of five, was extremely cute and Miss Phillips certainly got away with the fifteen year old sequence convincingly. We had some delightful hokUiAi with a bunch of kids in the first reel which should go over big anywhere and the atmosphere and lightings were superb throughout, making this dis- tinctive and classy all the way. There were several titles in this which I have a hunch will be stepped on in some communities. Ralph Lewis did excellent work as Shero's father, Norman Kerrv as the good-looking he-wamp. made yon believe it, Bill Stowell gave a good performance as usual and others who appeared were: Zazu Pitts. Mrs. Griffith, William Burgess. Mr. Bainbridge. Charles Hill Mailes, and a chink who made a small bit register. The kids in the first reel were great. 26 SJi^ DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 ■HI Almost Naughty But Should Be a Real Box Office Attraction The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Dorothy Phillips in "THE TALK OF THE TOWN" Dorothy Phillips Production=Universal This is just the kind of a production that will make n barrel of money in many communities, the talk that it creates bringing additional business for each addi- tional day of the showing. While this never impressed me as being objectionable as a whole, or being produced with an idea of seeing how naughty they could make it without bringing it to the point of where the censors would step in, it has just enough of this element in it to give the narrow-minded species of local censor an excuse to start something. You know, all some of these birds want is an excuse, they don't figure on broad- minded fairness, or the moral effect of the picture as a whole. If yon are in a community where you are bothered in this respect, I would let your local board see the film and put its O. K. on it before you go to the expense of advertising and booking it. If you are assured that you wont be tampered with, go to this big. It has unusual advertising possibilities and I think it will start considerable talk that will help each additional day of the run. I would suggest copy along this line: "Do you talk about other people? Have you ever been talked about? Has idle gossip ever been the cause of unjust misunder- standings between you and your husband? See Dorothy Phillips in 'The Talk of the Town'." "Do you tell your daughter vital truths that she should know about life or do you let her find out from older companions?" Make it plain that this is not propaganda, but an interesting and unusual treatment of the eternal triangle situation which shows the effect the daughter's early home influence upon her married life. INTELLIGENTLY prepared continuity that * develops treatment yet keeps the story progress- ing will save you much worry and more money. I can prepare it— intelligently. My Phone is Yonkers 5492 ARTHUR EDWIN KROWS r Arvitei Stewart Pt'odticttofi? ■ t— nil wii it- i — lira ii nwiiiimiBiwuii »m\t Sunday, September 22, 1918 Sure-Fire Titles and Peppy Treatment Make Spy-Burlesque Register Shirley Mason and Ernest Truex in "GOME ON IN" Emerson=Loos Prod. — Paramount DIRECTOR John Emerson AUTHORS John Emerson and Anita Loos CAMERAMAN Jacques Monteran AS A WHOLE Snappy farcical spy=meller made entertaining by sure=fire titles and clever handling. STORY Serio=comic burlesque on the average spy= meller, played for laughs all the way, and landed a few real wallops. DIRECTION Kept it moving and gave excellent treatment to individual incidents. TITLES Great stuff; a winner every time — no- blanks. PHOTOGRAPHY Good straight stuff LIGHTINGS Varied from good to just fair; no attempt for effects. CAMERA WORK Generally very good STARS Have pleasing personalities that admirably fitted type of story. SUPPORT Well selected; some great types EXTERIORS Army cantonment atmosphere in= teresting. INTERIORS Not particularly distinctive but • adequate. DETAIL Sure=fire titles put over laughs and patriotic punches effectively. CHARACTER OF STORY. . . Should register anywhere LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet WE might have known that when John Emerson and Anita Loos started out "on their own" that they'd hand us something with lots of pep and plenty of laughs. They have. Incidentally, the stars of this offering are going to register very favorably because it is quite evident that they were either selected to fit the story or the story written with the stars in mind — in either event they fit admirably into the general spirit of the production. From a standpoint of plot, t lis isn't big or unusual, and doesn't pretend to be. It hinges around the usual spy meller situations, but has been played with a broad stroke and tied together with some sure-fire titles thai will register with a bang anywhere. They start this off with the news of America's declar- ation of war hitting an office where the bantam-weight stars, whom Miss Loos has christened Emmy Little and Eddie Short, are employed, and Eddie decides to enlist. He is turned down by the examining board because of his height and they pull a sure-fire laugh by having him crowned on the bean on his way out, which raises a bump sufficient to make up the shy inch and a half, so that he can beat it for another examining board and be passed. Eddie is detailed to Camp Upton which gives his pro- German rival, Otto B. Schott, the edge on Emmy's at- tentions. Finally the draft gets Otto and he is sent to camp where he is forced to serve under Eddie, who has risen in the ranks. We had some sure fire inserts which came to the spy gang as instructions from the Kaiser and when one of these instructs them to kill at least one American officer so Kaiser Bill will have an alibi to offer his people for the million Americans that have landed in France. Otto B. suggests the scheme of marrying Emmy, so that Eddie and Shero's uncle, who is a Colonel, can be snuffed off when they attend the wedding. Things go as planned and the Colonel is thrown in a cellar and the gas turned on. but Hero Eddie has his trusty gas mask along and pulls the rescue, after which the spy gang are pinched. Then a title tells us that Emmy marries a lieutenant after all. and it's Eddie, who has been promoted another notch, and we fade out on the wedding. The names given the German spies were great, as for instance. G. Wottan Orphul-Schmell. A. Schlobb and Count Yon Bumstuff. A very effective sequence in this was the close-ups of different nationalities in the draft parade coming down Fifth Avenue. The titles played for laughs but had an undeniable sincerity behind them and registered a real patriotic wallop. The handling of the scenes vShowing men being examined for the army was cleverly done and the subtle tenches registered by titles and in- dividual incidents all through the offering stamp it as distinctive and different. The cast included Charles LVPlanta. Joseph Bnrke. Renault Turner. Bernard Randall. Blanche Craig. Meyer Berenson. Richie Ling and Louis Henrick. 28 tMA DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 They'll Like It and It Sure Carries a Title to Play With The Box Office Analysis For the Exhibitor Shirley Mason and Ernest Truex in "GOME ON IN" Emerson=Loos Prod. — Paramount Regardless of the fact that you haven't got a known quality to advertise here, I am convinced that this can be put over with a bang by trick advertising along un- usual lines playing on the title. Oh boy ! What a title to play with. And also what an opportunity Para- mount muffed when they didn't induce Miss Loos to cook up the ad suggestions for this production. Miss Loos has a knack of taking the audience into her con- fidence in her sub- titles which would work admirably into an intimate "Me-to-you" selling talk to get folks interested. In absence of known stars, you've got to stir some- thing if you expect to get your folks interested and here is at least a chance to prove your ability as a show- man. Just as a suggestion, which can be elaborated upon and Is unlimited in its scope, you might use copy along this line: A peppy, distinctive comedy-melodrama presenting two new stars with oodles of personality supported by such prominent Germs from Germany as: Count Von Bumstuff, Prof. G. Wottan Orphul-Schmell, A. Schlobb and Otto B. Schott. "We could say more but it would spoil the plot. Our advise to you is to "COME ON IN." •Play up the "COME ON IN" title with a vengeance, in teaser ads ahead of your showing, on throw-aways and in your lobby. By concentrating on this one thing the psychology of it will have the effect of a magnet if you work on it hard — and keep it up. Let's have some ad copy from Miss Loos on the next one — the intimate personal appeal thing is always sure-fire and I'll bet Miss Loos could put it over big. SERIAL will be released en the open market plan Sunday, September 22, 1918 filial AlLY 29 Powerful Characterization Gives Real Wallop To Grim Story Frank Keenan in "THE BELLS" Anderson=Brunton=Pathe DIRECTOR Ernest C. Warde AUTHOR Leopold Lewis FROM THE PLAY BY Erckman Chartrian SCENARIO BY. . Gilson Willets and Jack Cunningham CAMERAMAN Not credited AS A WHOLE Wonderfully well handled produc= duction with Keenan in masterful character delineation. Carries a real kick but is grim and heavy. STORY Reminds you of "Avenging Conscience"; murderer is haunted to point of confession by constantly hearing bells of victim's sleigh. DIRECTION Artificial snow effect was bad and obscured important action, but characteriza= tions were developed with master touch and individual incidents effectively handled with intelligent use of close=ups. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally excellent work con= siderably marred by artificial snow effect which never looked real and obscured action. LIGHTINGS Superb; many excellent bits. CAMERA WORK Very fine; dissolve on dream vision was remarkably effective piece of work. STAR Powerful and convincing; made you forget you were watching a picture. SUPPORT Excellent throughout with some great types. EXTERIORS Exceptionally weSl handled with ex= cellent detail. DETAIL Manv effective touches CHARACTER OF STORY Grim theme makes it questionable as entertainment at this time. In= offensive but verv heavv. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet OH boy! This latest nnp of Pathe's sure carries a kick. Not since Griffith's "The Avenging1 Con- science" can I recall a play that gives yon that "deep-down-inside" feeling that this one does when they get into the dream vision which makes Keenan spring out of bed and come down stairs where he dies before he can confess to the murder. 'The story is laid in Alsace, before the war. and Mr. Keenan is presented in the role of an inn-keeper who is hard pressed by his landlord. On a winter's night, he murders a Polish Jew and appropriates his money, and although the authorities are unable to apprehend the murderer, Keenan is constantly being tortured by imagining that he hears the bells oi his victim's sleigh. Several years pass and Keenan's daughter. Lois Wil- son, is to be married to Edward ('oxen, a gendarme who has been working on the murder case without success. On the eve of the wedding, according to the custom of the country, a Mesmerist is engaged to entertain the wedding guests and an inebriate, upon being brought under the Mesmerist's hypnotic influence and being asked to do what is innermost in his mind, proceeds to drink out of a candlestick. In the fear that he may be selected for the next subject, and knowing that' the murder which has constantly haunted him would thus be brought to light, Keenan slips upstairs to his room. He falls asleep and we are given one of the most remarkably effective dream visions I have ever witnessed, in which Keenan imagines himself on trial for the murder and a confession being wrung from him by the introduction of the Mesmerist in the courtroom. Awakening, with a jolt, he runs down stairs, frantically crying. "The Bells, the Bells!" and passes away in a grim, tragic death scene which is the close of the picture. From a production standpoint, this left nothing to be desired except for the aforementioned snow effects. We had considerable of this, which not only looked artificial and lacked realism, but obscured much important action, and discounted the care that had been taken to make the studio exterior snow sets realistic and convincing. The dream vision was wonderfully well brought out by a dissolve when gave the effect of Keenan being floated away into the courtroom scene. It sure gave the vision a kick. We had several good comedy touches with the village drunk who was hypnotized, but the grim finish leaves a creepy feeling which makes you for- get the lighter moments in the offering. Frank Keenan's wonderful character delineation in this will never be forgotten. As a matter of fact, he made it so forceful that the memory of it haunts you long after you have seen the picture. The attention centers for the most part upon the star, although the supporting cast was very well chosen. Albert Cody, as the drunkard, made his part register, and Edward Coxen and Lois Wilson furnished the bare thread of romance in the offering, while Carl Stockdale was truly impressive as the Mesmerist. Others in the cast were .T. ,T. Dowling, Ida Lewis and Bert Law. In Peace Times Would Be A Knock-out. Is Rather Tragic For Now The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor I would say that this is a pretty heavy diet for these war times. The tragic ending certainly leaves a kick and the entire production has been convincingly han- dled, but do folks want it? I don't think they do. The happy ending may be bromide and personally I get pretty tired of seeing 'em all finish up with the eternal clutch, but there is no doubt in my mind but what at least nine-tenths of our present-day audiences prefer it. Roxie had a reason for playing this at the Rialto. The Jewish population of New York is something to be figured with in this city and consequently the locale of this offering and the fact that the action centered about a New Year's wedding in Alsace made it a timely attraction, the past week having been the Jewish Yom Kippur. The entire bill at the Rialto bore out the Jewish holi- day atmosphere, even to the short subjects, scenic set- tings and musical numbers. If you have played "The Avenging Conscience-' or "The Whispering Chorus," you should have a definite idea of how the offering is going to be received by your patrons as it carries the same tragic kick and leaves the same general impression. In advertising this I would concentrate upon the fact that this offers Mr. Keenan in one of the strongest char- acter portrayals he has ever contributed to the screen. Don't tell them the nature of the story, let them get it from the screen. 30 iMi DAILY7 Sunday, September 22, 1918 Cuts and Flashes I caught a Bill Parsons comedy this week that made me feel good way down inside and the gang that sat in with me ate it up. It was called "Dad's Knockout," is as clean as a whistle and sure provides gobs of chuckles and several real yells. They had a clever story and what's more, it was cleverly handled all the way with settings and a general classy atmosphere that compares favorably with most of our longer offerings. Anybody that can't cut loose with a grin when "Smil- ing" Bill Parsons makes those dimples of his'n register is sure in a bad way. He appeared in this as the father of Neal Burns, who had a chorus girl in tow. Billy objects and decides to give his proposed daughter-in-law the double-0 before he consents to the match. He goes to the show and gets a close-up of Teddy Sampson, the girl, with a result that he falls, hook, line and sinker and then we have the amusing situation of father and son being rivals for the girl. This results in complica- tions which are really funny and Bill Parsons, dog-gone him, he's got such a nice, kind face that any audience is going to be for him from his first close-up 'til the finish. The titles were very good throughout because they didn't try to be funny and the cast was excellent. Jay Belasco was Neal's chum and George French was a friend of Billy's. If you are looking for some real clean comedies that you can advertise and that should prove sure-fire busi- ness builders, you certainly owe it to yourself and your clientele to take a peek at these. A good comedy covers a multitude of sins in a five-reel "almost" feature. They sure pulled a funny one in Pathe's "Hands Up" serial this week and I want to give some one credit for having done some quick thinking to good effect. Near the finish of the sixth episode, just after Hero George Chesbro had rescued the Shero in distress, they had him call the gang of punchers together and tell 'em that he had been drafted and would have to leave right away. Then they inserted "Chese's" sure-enough notice to report for military duty and finished the episode by having him introduce George Larkin to Shero Ruth Rolin as "the new man who would look after things on the ranch while he was away." My impression was that "Chese" had really been called for military duty while on this episode of the serial, which necessitated some-one taking up his role for the remaining episodes, and instead of having him killed off in the action as many would have done, they did the natural thing and brought the real reason right into the story. Simple? Yes, but I know a lot of birds who would have laid awake nights thinking up a way out of the difficulty. "Eddie and Lee" sure handed me some real laughs in a comedy I caught over at the Broadway last week. It was called "Frenzied Film" and was a "burlecue" on the "movie" meller. They first introduced the director and scenario writer, with their previous vocations appended and then we saw them going into the projec- tion with the reels under their arms. From here on we got one of the funniest and wildest things I have seen in a long, long time, with cut-in flashes of Eddie and Lee watching their work, the operator holding his nose and the prospective buyers deciding on what would be best to do with the "stars" after the picture was over. Just to make sure that no one would take them seriously, they let the cameraman in on the fun and he shot sets crooked, let the braces get into the picture, cut the players off at the neck and let things go to hell generally. We had Eddie and Lee getting a complete change of wardrobe while going from one set to another and the climax to the wild action came when Eddie came back into Set No. 1 where the bride and guests had been waiting while he went up to Alaska and got the willun, Lee Moran. It was certainly funny to me and should be a sure-fire bet anywhere. The after- thought, the sad, and part of it all, is the fact that even in these days of artistry and advanced methods some producers still permit awful blunders almost as glaring as the ones Eddie and Lee purposely put in this to make it a comedy. _ "Transients in Arcadia," a two-reel O. Henry picture which Roxie presented at the Rivoli recently, had more story, suspense and delightful humor and provided more real enjoyable entertainment that half of the five-reel offerings I reviewed last week. Edward Earle and Agnes Ayres, who are appearing in these short features, and they are features — don't forget that, are a delightful and likable pair with oodles of personality, which, combined with the sure-fire kick and human appeal that every one of these O. Henry stories contain, makes them worthy of a feature billing on any program. This particular release was exception- ally good. If these features are available for your theatre and you are not showing them, you certainly can't lay claim to being a real showman unless business is so good with you that you do capacity every day without them. It's time some of our producers of alleged patriotic pictures got hep. What kind of an impression do you think we Americans, as a nation, make with the thou- sands of our Allies in this country when they see the epidemic of propaganda pictures which have flooded the market, and which give America most, if not all of the credit for making the Kaiser back water? It certainly isn't reasonable to assume that after our Allies have suffered tremendous losses and hardships for the past four years in crushing Prussianism, that we can step in now and cop off all of the credit for the victory which is bound to come through our united efforts. And yet that's just the impression many of our hastily- thrown- together-for-a-commercial-purpose propaganda and spy pictures are doing. It's decidedly un-American and is bound to cause a re-action and a feeling that will extend years after the war if it is allowed to continue. The motion picture has proved a tremendous factor in instilling patriotism and educating the public to the real issues at stake thus far — let's not kill it. I'm for dignified propaganda and fictional stories based on the war which are sincere in their appeal but this flag- waving, hurrah stuff doesn't belong. Let's let our Allies in on some of our future propaganda productions. The appeal will be just as strong to all real Americans and it is certainly the square, unselfish thing to do. Sunday, September 15, 1918 DAILY 31 Artistic and Distinctive Atmosphere Glorifies Elementary Meller Maurice Tourneur's "SPORTING LIFE" Maurice Tourneur Prod. — Hiller & Wilk Representatives DIRECTOR Maurice Tourneur AUTHORS Cecil Raleigh and Seymon Hicks SCENARIO BY Winthrop Kelley CAMERAMEN. .John Van deu Broek and Rene Guissart AS A WHOLE Exceptionally artistic atmosphere and intelligent treatment made elementary meller distinctive. STORY Certainly simple and direct with willuns obligingly garrulous. DIRECTION Lifted every incident by splendid treatment. Held interest despite obvious situations. PHOTOGRAPHY Very artistic LIGHTINGS Generally fine, many particularly artistic bits. CAMERA WORK Excellent ACTING Entire cast well balanced and more than satisfactory. EXTERIORS Very good locations with exterior sets exceptionally effective. INTERIORS Very good with some unusual effects DETAIL Many very good little touches CHARACTER OF STORY Rather violent at times but could hardly offend anv. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 6,6oo feet. NO better evidence of the value of good direction could be wished for than the results secured by Maurice Tourneur in this picturization of the famous Drury Lane melodramatic spectacle, "Sporting Life." The artistry of the photography, the distinction of the atmosphere, and the treatment of the incidents make this a delightful production technically, and these individual merits impress themselves so pleasantly that they smother any possible thought of criticism because of' the elementary directness of the melodramatic plot. To those who are acquainted with the type of offering presented at the Drury Lane in London, it is understood that the melodrama will be more or less obvious, but it must be considered that American film fans are not entirely familiar with this fact and for that reason might resent the presentation of a melodrama somewhat more simple and elementary than they arc accustomed to. American movie fans have been fed up quite some on meller and consequently if the elementary willun hero, vamp and innocent shero are to be forced upon them, it is quite essential that the director be able, by treatment, to differentiate the production from the or- dinary run of mellers by giving it a cloak of distinction and artistry. Certainly Producer Tourneur has succeeded in making this offering stand out as a decidedly worth while pro- duction by virtue of his ability to provide an artistic atmosphere with sufficient class to impress, and enough novelty in the manner of treatment to hold the interest No one is starred in this, and it must be said that the cast was very evenly balanced, with Ralph Graves as the hero, Willette Kershaw as the society vamp, Warner Richmond as her gypsy victim and Charles Cray as her no-account husband, maintaining their respective parts on a very even balance. Charles Eldridge as the old trainer, and Constance and Fair Binney as the wronged gel and sweet shero were more than satis- factory. Henry West had a small part as Mr. Graves' opponent in the prize fight, and handled this very well. The work of Willette Kershaw marks her as an ex- cellent possibility for this type of thing, and Warner Richmond proves conclusively that I have never been wrong in my hopes that this boy was going to prove out when given a chance. The handling of the prize fight scenes were very commendable, principally because of the unusual angles from which it was photographed, and because of the air of class given to the setting. In this sequence and in the race sequence the tempo was sufficiently well judged to bring applause from the Rivoli audience and consequently it is a pretty safe bet that it will register generally wherever shown. I want to commend the director particularly for the sets which were supposed to be exteriors and the scenes registering a London fog. These were decidedly effec- tive. We found M. Tourneur using again the cross sec- tion of a house, he having done this first in a World film about two years ago, and surely he gets a splendid result this time since it was about the only truly effec- tive manner in which to register the rescue of the stolen race-horse without giving a prohibitive amount of footage to this sequence. They All Should Like It. Bill It Intelligently and Cash In The Box Office Analysis For the Exhibitor You should be able to get them in on this and un- doubtedly they will like it. Figured from the fact that "The Whip" was a great success financially, I would say that this should be a clean-up because so far as the technical work is concerned, this production is decidedly very artistic and consequently will certainly appeal, more thoroughly to the average discriminating audience. There is the same element of direct melodrama here that was materially responsible for putting "The Whip" over, and I believe that the combination of artistic atmo- sphere and treatment, with elementary go-get-'em meller, will please most any audience, whether in a theatre of the first class or a dump, after the film gets old enough to play them. I will say that the production depends to a tremend- ous extent upon the artistry of the technique to carry over the story, but I sincerely believe that an audience forms its impression as a whole by considering the atmosphere and photographic values almost as much as the strength of the plot itself. There is nothing very subtle about the story or the situations, but they have been very intelligently handled. The treatment of the scene where the disillusioned Gyspy boy attacked the vampire in her boudoir stands out as one of the best bits of handling of such an incident that I have ever seen, and it is that sort of treatment which lifts this production. In advertising this, I would hammer hard on the fact that it is a visualization of the famous Drury Lane melodramatic spectacle, and then throw particular emphasis upon the beautiful and distinctive production given it by Producer Tourneur, without overlooking the fact that he was also the producer of "The Whip." To my mind it would be particularly valuable for you, in making the proper impression with your possible customers, to state that this is the first production made by Producer Tourneur at the head of his own Company, mentioning at the same time that he has made such films as "The Poor Little Rich Girl," "The Bluebird." "Trilby," "The Wishing Ring" and "The Whip." 32 sM^ DAILY Sunday, September 22, 1918 (Continued from Page 1) in the Western studios, and after all, the day has come when quality is much more important than the commercial item of dollars and cents. The time saved, and the better quality secured in West- ern studios will certainly offset any immediate loss due to leases here in the East which must be car- ried even though the studios are not occupied. Murder as_a Fine Art Frequently in the past few years, I have gone on record quite emphatically in reference to the crime of handing over a production made by a good director to some thirty-dollar-a-week cutter for final assembling. Recently I have had my attention called to sev- eral instances wherein productions have been as- sembled or changed radically without the knowl- edge or consent of the director, with results which were not altogether favorable, which consequently gave the director a just reason for cutting loose with a loud yell. I have always favored the system of having the director cut his own film, because certainly no one knows what he has been striving for as he does. And then I believe, it is well and good to have a capable fresh mind brought in to work with the director, in suggesting changes of points which may not be clear or may be superfluous. ( )ne of the reasons why we have had so much trouble on this score is the fact that most of the release prints of our feature films are made in an Eastern laboratory. The first positive print is assembled and sent on by the director on the Coast, and then is changed in the East and slapped into a strange laboratory where the release prints are turned out and shipped as a rule, without the director ever having a chance to know what has been done to his film until he sees it running in some Los Angeles theatre. It seems quite silly to me to entrust the expendi- ture of thousands of dollars to a director, and allow him to turn in a finished product in the form of a first print and then proceed to issue the dupli- cates of that subject without this director having an opportunity to pass upon the quality of these duplicate prints. Here is a tremendous opportunity for someone. There is absolutely no logical reason why every release print of a Coast production cannot be made in Los Angeles. I am not entirely familiar with the situation, but from what I understand, there is only one important laboratory doing gen- eral work on the Coast at this time. There are several laboratories owned by individual producers, but I believe there is a tremendous chance for someone to so equip a plant as to be able to handle the work of every company making films on the Coast. There is no question but that release prints are frequently pitifully inferior to the first print ap- proved by the director. There are many reasons which cause this, the chief one being the lack of intelligent checking up by those whose money is involved. The prominent executives of big producing com- panies frequently do not see any print of their films, let alone checking up release prints after the first print has been O. K.'d. If producers would only realize that it is to their advantage to do so, we would find that a director would be compelled to check and O. K. the first release print presented by the laboratory commissioned to do this work, before any such prints were issued and then the laboratory should be held responsible to the director for any variance from this print which might happen through me- chanical mistakes in the making of other dupli- cates. It is a really vital question because we have had so many horrible blunders made in the manufacturing of release prints, that it is truly worthy of serious consideration upon the part of every maker of films. After all, we are taking photographs first, and we are selling "pictures," so why not give some intelligent consideration to turning out the best possible quality of photographing, not only in the first print, but in the actual release prints which are really the products shown to the public. Having the release prints inspected and checked by the director and cameraman who made the offering would also give these creators an oppor- tunity to see what may have been done in the way of the assembling of the production, which would do away with much of the present cojtnplaint caused by some incompetent scissors manipula- tor radically changing an offering, simply because he was instructed to cut it down in footage. I believe most thoroughly in short films, the elimination of padding, etc., but I insist that the director who makes the film should be consulted in reference to changes, so that the best of the offering could be retained. Many films can be bettered by editing, but any film can be ruined by incompetent editing. Who's going to equip a laboratory to take care of the release prints of every film made on the Coast this Winter? Here's a sure enough oppor- tunity. Once a laboratory capable of turning out quality work in this quantity is an assured fact, I believe it should be a simple matter for their repre- sentatives to sell the need of its service to any producer with an ounce of brains. 1*/Xpj L yAA*m^«*& Wid's 1918 Year Book Third Anniversary Number OUT SHORTLY A Thumb Nail Index Of What's What And Who's Who In Film Land Containing Authentic Data Of Inestimable Value To Every One In The Industry Will Be In The Hands For Daily Reference Of Practically Every Producer And Exhibitor. A Wonderful Opportunity For The Wide Awake Advertiser — No Advance In Rates. w *>* !»*"■ IJOttf "Lafayette We Come!" (PERSHING— 1917) ProJucoJ by Legos Penet feQtTintiV L.k'Lmcok ani Dolores C^melli ' B-ele-are^ B-; AFTILIATED DISTRIBU1°R5 Oorpoi-ctfiorv- 1476 8roataj jkiffeJ Rom MUTUAL FILM EXCHANGED 7^BRADSTREET of FILMDOM DAIkYi Authority Vol. V, No. 136 Monday, September 23, 1918 Price 5 Cents CHAPLIN POLICY IS EXPLAINED First National Exhibitors' Circuit Officials Issue State- ment Giving Reason For Infrequency of Releases First National Exhibitors' Circuit officials have issued a statement giv- ing the reason for the infrequency of the Chaplin releases. The statement reads in part: "Un- der the terms of his contract with the First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Mr. Chaplin is to make a total of eight comedies. No definite dates of delivery for each subject are specified. This contract became operative last year. Figured on the basis of ordi- nary comedy production, for two or three-reel subjects, the eight produc- tions could have been made and de- livered in four months, averaging two weeks of studio work for each. "When Mr. Chaplin signed his con- tract with The First National Exhibi- tors' Circuit, he had just started the construction work on his new studio. This structure he had especially de- signed for comedy work, and in it he had provided for every improvement and facility which would contribute to the quality of Chaplin productions. Many of his ideas for mechanical and technical equipment are innovations. "The suggestion was made to Mr. Chaplin that he rent another studio, pending the completion of his own, and begin work at once on the initial comedy for the First National. This he declined to do, with the explanation that he knew the facilities of his studio would contribute to a much higher quality in his first production than he could get by making it else- where. As a consequence he did not begin 'A Dog's Life' until late in Feb- ruary, and this was despite the fact that the continuity for it was prepared in rough draft early in January. "This was a forerunner of the policy which has marked his work since then. Quantity and speed have been sacri- ficed to quality, with an attendant monetary loss to Chaplin." Exporters to Meet The Film Exporters of America will meet in the Astor tomorrow at 12.30 in the Yacht Room. This will be the first meeting since early August and the first to be presided over by the new officers who were elected some time back. "Sporting Life" Sold Famous Players - Lasky Pur- chases Maurice Tourneur Feature The Famous Players-Lasky Com- pany has closed a contract with J. E. Brulatour whereby it secures the rights for the United States and Canada to the Maurice Tourneur fea- ture, "Sporting Life." The picture will not be generally released by the Paramount-Artcraft, on whose pro- gram it will be listed as a special, until some time in November. Adolph Zukor stated, after the pur- chase, that the Famous Players-Lasky Company is in the market for any big production which comes up to the nec- essary standard. The sale of "Sport- ing Life" will in no way effect the future activities of Maurice Tourneur who directed the picture. He will continue in the future to direct inde- pendent productions of the super-fea- ture calibre. In addition to the purchase of the rights to the picture for the United States and Canada, the Famous Play- ers-Lasky Company has also secured the picture for the United Kingdom, including England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The film will be distrib- uted in those countries by the Famous Players-Lasky London branch. The price paid for the foreign rights is said to be $45,000. Move For Sunday Shows EVANSTON, ILL.— Alderma:; T. R. Roberts of the Evanston city cour- cil, has submitted an amendment to the city code which provides for the operation of moving picture theatres on Sunday. Evanston has for years prided itself on being a particularly religious and "closed tight" town, not even the drug stores and newsstands being open on the Sabbath and the new move is looked upon with consid- erable interest. Several of the lead- ing theatre managers are enlisting prominent citizens in support of the measure. The matter will come up at the council meet'ng to be held Octo- ber 1. Concerns Incorporated Federal Photo-Plays Has Capital Stock of $50,000 ALBANY.— The Federal Photo- Plays, Inc., of Manhattan, has been incorporated with Secretary of State Hugo. The corporation has a capital stock of $50,000 and has been formed for the purpose of manufacturing and producing motion picture, and photo- play films of every description, also to deal in motion picture machines and apparatus. The incorporators are Hannah L. Geller, Raymond Reubens and Thomas Kearney, 149 Broadway, New York City. The Mocar Motion Picture Corpo- ration of Manhattan was also char- tered by the State last week. It pro- poses to generally deal in motion pic- ture films of all kinds and to maintain theatres for the exhibition of screen productions. The company is capi- talized at $25,000 and the following are named as the principal stockholders: Myron Sulzberger, Edna Egan, Isidor Enselman, and Clare Goldberg, all of New York City. The Graphoscope Development Company, incorporated under the lawS of the State of Delaware, has been au- thorized by the Secretary of State to engage in the business of producing motion picture films in New York State. The concern will be repre- sented by Raymond G.' Coughlan of 50 East 42d Street, New York City. Hornsby in New York O. A. Hornsby, president of the Caribbean Film Company of Havana, Cuba, is in New York. Besides being president of the Caribbean, which handles Paramount and Artcraft pic- tures in the West Indies exclusively, Mr. Hornsby is vice-president of the Trust Company of Cuba. Made Brooklyn Representative William H. Hollander, formerly president of the Brooklyn Exhibitors' League, now first vice-president and formerly manager of the old Post Of- fice theatre, has accepted a new posi- tion as Brooklyn representative for the American Film Company, which is releasing through the Pathe ex- changes. Monday, September 23, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Year at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WITVS FILMS A FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Sintered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- aide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; « months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes C. L. Yearsley, advertising manager of the First National Exhibitors' Cir- cuit, went to Boston last night to ar- range for a motor trip back to New York in his machine, which was stranded in the Hub recently. Another son of Studio Manager W. S. Smith, of the Vitagraph-Hollywood plant, has gone in the service. Ernest Smith, cameraman for Paul Hurst at the Vitagraph lot, is the newest mem- ber of the Smith family to join the colors. The initial showing of "Ruling Pas- sions," produced by the Schomer Photo-Play Producing Company, will be given at the New York Roof on Thursday at 2.30 o'clock. In the cast are Julia Dean, Claire Whitney, Ed- win Arden and Earl Schenk. The pic- ture was written and directed by Abra- ham S. Schomer. Lee Goldberg, of the Big Feature Rights Corporation of Louisville, which controls the First National franchise in Kentucky and Tennes- see, is the gleeful dad of a son who has been given the name of Jay My- ron. Lee figures that by the time the next Chaplin picture comes along for release, his son will prove an able assistant. Rights to Musical Comedy "The Belle of New York," perhaps the most famous of all musical come- dies, has been secured as a starring vehicle for Marion Davies. Julius Steger will have charge of the pro- duction. The play was first produced at the Casino theatre, New York, with Edna May in the title role and was used, in part, as the background for the picture in which Miss May ap- peared a few years ago. FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Woods Sued by Film Advertising Service— Chalmers Publishing Go. Starts Action Against Paralta Plays Al H. Woods has been sued in the Supreme Court by the Film Advertis- ing Service, Inc., to recover $30,000 damages arising out of the purchase of the advertising matter for "The Fall of the Romanoffs." The com- plaint alleges that Woods, who owned half the stock of the Iliodor Picture Corporation, which produced the film, induced the First National Exhibitors' Circuit, which purchased the rights for the picture throughout the United States, to buy the advertising matter from the H. C. Miner Co. in which the defendant is alleged to be interested, with full knowledge that the plaintiff had a contract to supply the Iliodor corporation with all the advertising sheets for the play, in re- liance on which the plaintiff bought $6,000 worth of the posters and other advertising. The plaintiff alleges that it lost $30,000 profits through the act of Woods. and $245 for advertising space in the Moving Picture World in February. The note was made by Herman Katz, treasurer, and F. M. Guinzberg, vice- president. The Chalmers Publishing Co. has filed suit in the Supreme Court against the Paralta Plays to recover $5,792 on a note made by the corpora- tion to the Chalmers Company on June 27 last, payable in two months A painful experience by two Brook- lyn men in trying to run a picture house last summer has resulted in a suit by Jackson C. Marshal and Bar- ney Worcal against the 966 Fulton Street Corporation, owner of the property at that address in Brooklyn. The plaintiffs say that through the representations of the defendant they rented the building as a theatre for five years, from July 16, last, at from $4,500 to $6,000 a year rent. The de- fendants represented that the plaintiffs could clear $300 a week, it is alleged, and also that a previous lessee had made $1,900 a week. The plaintiffs deposited $1,000 as security, paid $3,- 567 for repairs in fitting up the house, and had other expenses aggregating $4,851, and when their money ran out on August 31, they had to quit, they had taken in only $279. They sue for $78,000 damages as the profits they would have made in five years at $300 a week if the representations had been true. Start With National Anthem Because of the successful results of "The Star Spangled Banner" Day campaign instituted by the Mayor's Committee For National Defense by means of the aid and co-operation of the National Association of the Mo- tion Picture Industry, it has been de- cided to request motion picture ex- hibitors of Greater New York to con- tinue this practice. All exhibitors are therefore called upon to continue to have their audiences sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at the opening of each performance. Keep after the new arrivals in your town. They may like pictures, too. Producing in Australia Sydney, Australia, since the sport of boxing has been suspended, due to the stress of war and its preparations, has turned to motion pictures. The clos- ing of the stadium, which has a seat- ing capacity of 18,000, and in which the boxing matches were held, has given the well-known promoter, "Snowy" Baker, an opportunity to turn to moving pictures and he has formed a company which has filmed an inter- esting five-reel feature known as "The Enemy Within." The next production is to be called "The Call of the Bush." It is to be booked throughout the United States. sM^ DAILY Monday, September 23, 1918 WeCaiiTettYouVhefeTotteachThem-PhoiieVafldfiri)ilt4551 DIRECTORS DIRECTORS AUTHORS GEORGE D. BAKER PRODUCING FEATURES METRO FREDDIE SGHAEFFER ART DIRECTOR R. A. WALSH PRODUCTIONS ANTHONY KELLY J. GLARKSON MILLER HERBERT BLAGHE DIRECTING FOR METRO GEORGE A. SIEGMAN M. P. D. A. GOLDWYN Original Stories and Continuities EVE UNSELL ORIGINALS ADAPTATIONS TOD BROWNING Directing BLUEBIRD FEATURES CHARLES SWIGKARD Personally Directing Dustin Farnum in Harry A. Sherman Productions Many Successes for Prominent Companies 272 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. ALBERT GAPELLANI CAMERAMEN PRODUCER S. E. V. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. With D. W. GRIFFITH STUDIOS KING D. GRAY SPECIAL CAMERA EFFECTS EDWIN CAREWE MARY MacLAREN FEATURES HAROLD LOCKWOOD WILLIAM D. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. Director Lasky-Paramount ROY H. KLAFFKI GEORGE FITZMAURIGE UNIVERSAL FEATURES M. P. D. A. WID'S DAILY not5 Sed PRODUCING PATHE FEATURES 1914 — Birth of a Nation 1916 — Intolerance 1918 Hearts of the World ROBERT T. THORNBY M. P. D. A. Producing Fox Features PERRY N. VEKROFF M. P. D. A., FEATURE DIRECTOR 511 W. 143rd St. Audubon 1941 These are the only productions personally directed by D. W. GRIFFITH Your name should be before the man who can sign contracts. This directory will appear once each week on Monday and on Tuesday there will be a similar directory of players. No matter how good your position is today it can be better tomorrow if you keep your name before the right people. ALLEN J. HOLUBAR M. P. D. A. Producing Universal Features LOIS WEBER HONORARY MEMBER M.P.D.A. WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY M. P. D. A., PRODUCING FEATURES IVAN CHESTER WITHEY DIRECTOR GEORGE IRVING M. P. D. A. GENERAL PRODUCING DIRECTOR WALLACE WORSLEY DIRECTING LOUISE GLAUM IN PARALTA PLAYS CHARLES MILLER M. P. D. A. PRODUCTION SPECIALIST JAMES YOUNG Motion Picture Directors Association ASHLEY MILLER 234 West 55th St., N. Y. C. AUTHORS R. WILLIAM NEILL PRODUCER Paramount Release Manhattan Madness Wolff Lowry CHARLES T. DAZEY The Sea Master New York Luck G. HAROLD PERCIVAL ART DIRECTOR Thos. H. Ince Productions GEORGE ELWOOD JENKS CONTINUITY AND SPECIALS Triangle Culver City PAUL SGARDON M. P. D. A. FEATURE DIRECTOR, VITAGRAPH MONTE M. KATTERJOHN Now writing Exclusively for Paramount-Artcraft Productions Jesse L. Lanky Studios Monday, September 23, 1918 DAILY Elementary Plot Made Effective By Players and Handling Dorothy Dalton in "VIVE LA FRANCE" Ince=Paramount SUPERVISED BY Thos. H. Ince DIRECTOR R. William Neill AUTHOR H. H. Van Loan SCENARIO BY C. Gardner Sullivan CAMERAMAN John S. Stumar ART DIRECTOR G. Harold Percival AS A WHOLE Elementary plot with great war as back=ground, made forceful by artistry, per= sonalities of players and treatment. STORY Familiar basic idea made interesting by handling and timely settings. DIRECTION Provided convincing atmosphere and excellent battle stuff and made characters seem real. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine although duped weekly flashes jarred some. LIGHTINGS Generally very fine CAMERA WORK. . . .Very good; composition excellent STAR Pretty and appealing; made dramatic mo= ments convincing. SUPPORT Excellent throughout EXTERIORS Trench scenes great and exterior sets exceptionally well handled. INTERIORS Fitted atmosphere and looked real DETAIL Well handled but du >d flashes were un= necessary and marred general effect. CHARACTER OF STORY Has timelv apneal LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet DIRECTOR ROY NEILL has taken some familiar situations in this and worked them together into a very interesting and unusually well-handled story of the present war. The basic idea of the dis- patch-bearer being wounded while on a mission to get certain important papers through the German lines, enabling Shero to deliver the papers to the French com- mander, is certainly not new but has been dressed up rather effectively as we get it here and embellished by minor situations and some excellent battle stuff which makes it really grip. Miss Dalton is presented in this as a moving picture actress who is doing Red Cross duty in France where sliv m< ets Edmund Lowe, a fellow artist, who is also in the service. The village where they are billeted is threatened and when the French commander calls for a volunteer to carry an important, message through the lines of the advancing Germans, Lowe offers his services. After his departure the town is taken and Dorothy made prisoner in a neighboring Chateau, after having been branded with a hot iron upon refusing to submit to the Cerman Captain's attentions. Hero is wounded and finds shelter in the same Chateau in which Shero has been left by the Germans who have taken the town. Shero recognizes Hero and hides him in another room before the Germans come in and when they finally make a search, she begs them not to disturb the body of Hero, telling them that he is dead. After they have gone, Dorothy gets the dis- patch from his coat and succeeds in getting it to the French lines with the result that the tide is turned and the French regain the town in a fierce battle that follows. Later, after Dorothy has been decorated with the war cross for her bravery, she sees Hero, who has been in a French hospital, but his mind has been unbalanced by shell shock and he does not recognize her. His memory is finally restored when they are alone and she shows him the brand on her breast and they finish with the clutch. The "lost-memory" thing was rather a bromide to have been injected into this story and really only served to make footage as any audience will know that he is eventually going to regain his memory before we get the clutch. We had some very effective and impressive scenes where Dorothy is pleading with the German officer to spare the dead body of her lover and her re- fusal to drink a toast to the Kaiser. The battle stuff was exceptionally well done, although they gave us some close-ups of American soldiers which showed up the paper- mache trench helmets rather plainly. Edmund Lowe was a very pleasing and forceful hero and Miss Dalton was pretty and appealing throughout. Thos. Guise gave a convincing performance as the French commander, bearing a natural resemblance to our real General Joffre. Frederick Starr was sufficiently detestable as the German officer and Bert Woodruff was a good type as a French peasant. Glorifies Bravery of Red Cross Women and Should Merit Their Co-operation The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This ought to register anywhere and I have a hunch that most folks will regard it as one of the most inter- esting stories bearing on the present war that we have had recently. This has not been produced in the nature of propaganda, although the brutality of the Germans has been convincingly brought out, being more of a narrative based on incidents that could and no doubt have happened many times in real life "Over There." It is certainly much more to be desired than some of the hastily thrown together spy mellers we have had recently, many of which are questionable in their pa- triotic appeal and decidedly lacking in plausibility and punch. Since Miss Dalton appears as a Red Cross nurse in this, it might be possible to get your local Red Corss interested in this to the point of combining forces with you to put it over. The offering effectively depicts the atrocities that are being committed by the Germans and glorifies the work of Red Cross women in France. If you can arrange a pre-view for your local Red Cross committee, I am sure that they will be glad to co- operate with you in putting this over, as it carries an undeniable appeal in this respect. Play up the name of Miss Dalton strongly as her ad- mirers will certainly like her work in this. 7/eBftADSTREET of FILMDOM &MW& ZfeRKOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 137 Tuesday, September 24, 1918 Price 5 Cents FOX TO LOCATE ON COAST Producing Companies Will Be Moved To California Within the Next Two Months The Fox Film Corp. announces that it will shift all its producing com- panies to the Coast in the course of the next two months. This move has been expected for some time on ac- count of the fuel situation. Arvid E. Gillstrom who has just fin- ished the Jane and Katherine Lee film. "Swat the Spy," will be the first direc- tor to go. He expects to leave imme- diately on the completion of his next picture with the Lee Kids. Mr. Gill- strom's work has been so well liked that the Fox Film Corp. has signed him on a three-years' contract. Fox is only one of the big producing organizations that will conduct opera- tions in the far West during the com- ing winter. Metro recently announced its intention of placing its studios in Los Angeles and a number of other companies are preparing to do the same. Another Government Film The Division of Films of the Com- mittee on Public Information has pre- pared and issued a two-reel subject called "Our Colored Fighters." This film shows the work of the colored soldiers in the camps of the country and also in France. The picture further emphasizes the plan of the Division to photograph all activities of the military and naval forces. A delegation of colored min- isters from New York City will view the film tonight at 6 West 131st street at the Music Settlement. To Syndicate "Lafayette" The Affiliated Distributors' Corpo- ration evidently plans to put its first release, "Lafayette, We Come," over with a bang. Arrangements have just been completed, it developed yester- day, for the syndication of the story of "Lafayette, We Come" through the Press Service Bureau. In this way the knowledge that such a picture exists will be spread to the public through the medium of several hun- dred of the largest newspapers in the country. League Conference N. Y. State Exhibitors Called For Meeting in Albany A conference of the New York State Exhibitors' League, which prom- ises to bring a discussion of many vital problems, has been called for the the Ten Eyck, Albany, Thursday, at 2 o'clock. The legal and tax situations are two of the most important sub- jects scheduled for the conference which probably will be attended by League leaders from neighboring states. Buys Two For Export Beecroft Gets "Tarzan" and "Stolen Orders" for Scandinavia The Robertson-Cole Company has sold Scandinavian rights for "Tarzan of the Apes" and "Stolen Orders" to Chester Beecroft who acted as broker for clients in Sweden. The price paid for the two pictures for Norway, Sweden and Denmark, was not disclosed. Webster Quits Pictures Henry McRae Webster has decided to forego picture production for the time being to devote himself to the management of a dramatic stock com- pany which he is organizing. He is looking for a theatre to house his or- ganization which he is now getting to- gether. Laemmle Leaves for Coast Carl Laemmle, Universal's president, left for the Coast yesterday afternoon. He was accompanied by Harry Cohen and C. J. McGowan. Mr. McGowan, however, is going only as far as Chi- cago, having accompanied Mr. Laemmle in order to confer on a cer- tain matter, which for the present re- mains a mystery Paralta Optimistic John E. DeWolf and Her- man Katz Issue Statement To set at rest rumors concerning the future of Paralta, John E. DeWolf and Herman Katz have issued the following statement: "In about a year we have produced nearly two dozen large pictures, which are now in process of distribution here and abroad. Our pictures are doing splendidly. Our only troubles have been internal, which are now adjusted. The undersigned are now owners of a vast majority of the common stock and the control of the company is entirely m our hands. "Early in the spring we secured the advice and counsel of Benjamin B. Hampton, who went to Los Angeles at our request. Mr. Hampton found that we had built an excellent studio and had created a very valuable prop- erty. In the confusion surrounding our affairs temporarily, this valuable property was jeopardized, but we suc- ceeded in adjusting all our matters at Los Angeles by selling the studio to Robert Brunton and his associates on a plan that has entirely settled all our Coast troubles. "Mr. Hampton has assisted us ma- terially in straightening out our affairs and now we can see our way clear to success. The company's equities in its released pictures are very valuable. We are confident that when we an- nounce our new program of produc- tions, the announcement will be so important that it will be enthusiastic- ally welcomed by exhibitors. (Signed) John E. De Wolf. Herman Katz." William Fox Theatre Co. ALBANY.— The William Fox The- atre Company of Manhattan was in- corporated with Secretary of State Hugo yesterday. The enterprise has a capital stock of $10,000 and is organ- ized for the purpose of operating the- atres and engaging in a general mo- tion picture and theatrical business. The principal stockholders are Nathan Frankel, Charles W. Ames and Saul E. Rogers, 1486 Fifth avenue, New York City. Tuesday, September 24, 1918 BAILV Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- ride of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00: 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York. N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes E. J. O'Donnell, special represen- tative for the United Picture Theatres, is now in Minneapolis. Sessue Hayakawa's lategf picture, "The Temple of Dusk," will be given pre-release showings, Oct. 13. This is the second picture to be made by the Japanese star's own company. Theda Bara is expected to make a personal appearance at the opening of "Salome" at the 44th Street theatre, October 6. Miss Bara, on the eve oi her departure from the Coast, became ill, but she is expected in time for the opening performance. The New York engagement of Grif- fith's "Hearts of the World" will be brought to a close October 5, at the 44th Street theatre, where it has been showing continually since April 5. It has established the house record at this theatre, playing longer than any attraction ever booked there. Rights for Missouri The Vollgan Film Company, Colum- bia Theatre Building, St. Louis, has purchased the state rights for Mis- souri on the Moral Uplift Society's six-reel release, "It May Be Your Daughter," featuring Peggie Sweeney. JOTTINGS FROM LOS ANGELES Work on Blanche Sweet's Picture To Commence Soon — Alma Rubens Recovering From Operation LOS ANGELES.— Blanche Sweet's new picture, shortly to be commenced at the Sunset studios under the direc- tion of Marshall Neilan, is "The Unpardonable Sin," from the novel of Rupert Hughes. Matt Moore will play opposite Miss Sweet. Alma Rubens, Triangle star, last Monday underwent an operation for appendicitis at the California Hospital in this city. She is reported as nicely on the way to recovery. Franklyn Farnum has been loaned by Universal to Astra and is being co-starred with Helene Chadwick in "Go Get 'Em Garringer," with Ernest Traxler directing. The company is working at Universal. Weather Causes Delay The filming of Norma Talmadge's latest Select picture, "The Forbidden City," which was to have been com- pleted yesterday was held over by the weather. Alice Brady is also finishing one for Select. She is on the last week of a production, the working title of which is "In the Hollow of Her Hand." Lila Lee made a personal appearance at Grauman's theatre last Monday night, and on each succeeding night, during the showing of her picture, "The Cruise of the Make-Believe," and scored a big hit with a new song describing her troubles in the "movies." Theda Bara, Fox star, who has been very ill at her home on West Adams street, in this city, is in a fair way to recover, and hopes to be able to leave for New York next Sunday. Griffith has commenced a new war picture, the title of which is unknown. The cast includes Lillian Gish, Robert Harron, Elmo Lincoln, David Butler and Kate Bruce. Mr. Griffith has just completed a picture called "The Ro- mance of Happy Valley," which does not boast a single gun or German spy. Mrs. Charlotte Pickford has left for a New York conference with attorney Dennis O'Brien, and with heads of Metro, First National, Paramount and others, and no decision will be reached until she reaches home and confers with Mary and with Wellington Wales, Miss Pickford's new manager. Miss Pickford declares that under the new contract, whatever it is, she will make one picture, and will then accept the invitation recently accorded her by the Over There Theatre League to go to France and entertain soldiers, remaining for a month or two. "One Hour" Bought The Trans-Russian Film Corpora- tion has purchased "One Hour," with Elaine Hammerstein, from Harry Rapf for distribution in the foreign markets. The sale disposes of the world's rights for this picture. Notes From Detroit Will M. Elliott Becomes Mana- ger of Washington Theatre DETROIT.— Russell Pearce has re- signed as manager of the Adams theatre. John H. Kunsky has ap- pointed Will M. Elliott of the Wash- ington theatre, to supervise the Adams until Mr. Pearce's successor arrives. Arthur S. Hyman, of the Dawn Masterplay Company, has issued a statement which shows that he and Charles Seaman, of Grand Rapids, are owners of "Hearts of the World" for Michigan. The Dawn Masterplay is simply the booking office for the pic- ture in Michigan. Film salesmen in Detroit are getting government appointments to manage Liberty theatres. Dave Blythe, of the Fox company, is the latest to leave for this patriotic duty. The Adams theatre announces a sec- ond week of Theda's "Salome." This picture is doing excellent business. Griffith's "The Great Love," is doing an excellent business at the Washing- ton theatre on its second week's showing. Charles H. Darrell, manager of the Alhambra theatre, introduced com- munity singing last week. The words are thrown on the screen as the or- chestra plays and the audience is in- vited to sing. Mr. Darrell calls it the "Patron's Chorus" — 15 minutes of inspiring song without paid leaders, song pluggers, or anything of a pro- fessional or commercial nature. The songs are changed each night, using old-time selections and popular patri- otic melodies. Fred M. Shafer has resigned as manager of the Liberty theatre to be- come manager of William Fox's Acad- emy of Music, New York. L. H. Gard- ner has been appointed as Mr. Shafer's successor. Mr. Gardner is now book- ing and managing the Liberty, Gar- den, Empress and Royale theatres, all in the Kunsky corporation. "Thirty Days" for Allison May Allison has been given "Thirty Days." The sentence is not in the form of punishment, but is the title of her new play, which she will begin for Metro this week. Lieut. Luther A. Reed is the author and Wilfred Lucas the director. sfeffel DAILY Tuesday, September 24, 1918 VGCanTeltYouVliereToia3achTtiem~PhofleVafl(kAilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN 'S DAILY IS READ NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE RUTH ROLAND Astra-Pathe STARRING IN "HANDS UP' WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Productions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd., L. A. MILTON SILLS GOLDWYN CO. ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH FANNIE WARD • CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Lot Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear once each week on Tuesday. Tuesday, September 24, 1918 DAILY Has Been Well Done But Is Too Heavy For Present-Day Consumptiorf Emily Stevens in "KILDARE OF STORM" Metro MANAGER OF PRODUCTION Maxwell Karger DIRECTOR Harry L. Franklin AUTHOR Eleanor Mercein Kelly SCENARIO BY Jere Looney and June Mathis CAMERAMAN Arthur Martinelli AS A WHOLE Forceful treatment of heavy do= mestic meller not a pleasant theme but has been well done. STORY v . Triangle idea with Hero serving time for murder of Shero's husband; is cleared by confession at finish. DIRECTION Held interest and made dramatic moments convince with intelligent treatment to individual incidents. PHOTOGRAPHY .....*. Decidedly classy and distinctive all the way. LIGHTINGS Artistic; some exceptional bits CAMERA WORK, t . . . Very good. Excellent composi= tion and angles. STAR. . . .Played convincingly but has taken on weight and is losing her beauty. SUPPORT King Baggot effective willun ; Crauford Kent very good; entire cast balanced nicely. EXTERIORS .Very fine; many beautiful shots INTERIORS. . .Convincing and in good taste throughout DETAIL Very good CHARACTER OF STORY Questionable for present= dav consumption but hardly objectionable. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,900 feet WHILE many exhibitors, most of them in fact, will argue — and rightly — that this type of story isn't what present-day audiences want, I want to give Metro credit for having given us a mighty goood pro- duction. The photography, lightings, direction and gen- eral treatment all through this are of the highest order but the wife-beating incidents and other depressing spots all through the story make it a questionable bet from an audience standpoint, to my way of thinking. They'll probably accept it, but very few will be glad they saw it. This starts off with the marriage of Miss Stevens to King Baggot, whom she has never loved, the marriage being one for money and social position engineered by Shero's mother. Willun King Baggot had already been married to a mulatto, unknown to anyone, and main- tains her silence by the threat that her child will be killed if she tells anything. A sweet thought. After willun has established himself as a thorough brute by a serious of atrocious incidents we have the wife leaving the house at night and going to the home of Crauford Kent, a former friend of willun's. Realizing that he cannot help her so long as she is the lawful wife of King, a thought impressed upon him by his aged mother, he bids her return. The next morning willun learns Shero and Kent have met the night before and threatens to kill him. They meet on the road and in a struggle. King is killed, the mulatto being a witness to the tragedy. Kent is sentenced for life but is pardoned at the end of Ave years through the efforts of Shero. He purposely avoids her upon leaving the prison and several years later we find him at a sanatarium where he has donated his professional services. Through a convenient co- incidence, the mulatto, heart-broken, finds her way to the place and realizing that she is about to die, sends for Shero. Upon Shero's arrival, the mulatto confesses to the murder, a vision explaining how she had really killed willun after Kent had left him for dead after their struggle. Shero meets Kent outside of the sanatarium and all ends happily. The vision explaining the killing was effectively handled by showing the shadows on the road of the mulatto beating willun, after which willun's body falls into the picture. Not pleasant to be sure nor are any of the wife-beating and atrocious incidents that precede it. but they have been well handled from a technical viewpoint. The point to be regretted is the fact that such technique and artistry were wasted on a story that is so undesirable, especially now. Too bad, also, that they had to bring King Baggot back to the screen after a long absence and hand him a brutal role like we get in this. Others in the cast were Florence Short, Helen Lind- roth and Maggie Breyer. They'll Probably Accept It But It's Heavy and Depressing The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor It's too bad that producers insist on wasting the efforts of capable directors and players on a subject that hasn't a semblance of audience appeal, even in script form. Because this has been well handled throughout and given an artistic production it will probably get by but you can't make me believe that present-day audiences want it. From a production standpoint, no one will be able to find fault with this but the grim theme of the story itself, accentuated by the realistic detail brought out by the director, certainly isn't going to build for future business for the producer or star. If the producers have planned the production of this on a "make- 'em- like- it- whether- they -want-it-or- not" basis, I am confident that a few more along the same lines will convince them that they are wrong — and it will be a costly experience. If they conscientiously be- lieve that the public wants this kind of material, then it's up to you fellows .to set them right by a series of intelligent letters direct to the big men in the organiza- tion. If you play this, the best thing for you to do is to get all the business you can on the strength of the star and support, emphasizing the artistic production and taking your chances on the after effect upon your audiences as a result of the depressing theme. The "Kildare of Storm" title won't mean anything to your audiences as it fails to suggest the nature of the story or create a desire to find out. It's "just a title" and merely serves to distinguish this attraction from the ones you have played. ZfcBftADSTREET of FILMDOM zfeRKOGHIZED AUTHORITY Vol. V, No. 138 Wednesday, September 25, 1918 Price 5 Cents President to Attend Special Showing of Loan Films to Be Given in Washington There is to be a special showing of the Liberty Loan films in Washing- ton on Friday night on the eve of the starting of the drive for the Fourth Liberty Loan, at which Presi- dent Wilson is to be the guest of honor. A special program is to be given in conjunction with the showing of the films. Vice-President Marshall will make an address and Geraldine Farrar will sing. A number of New York picture peo- ple are to leave for Washington -to- morrow to take charge of the show- ing. Among those who are to make the trip are Adolph Zukor, Arthur Friend and Peter Gridley Smith. The showing is to be in the auditorium of the Central High School and will be- gin at eight p. m. SYNDICATE BUYS "MICKEY" RIGHTS "Birth of a Nation" Company Gets All United States Exclusive of New York The Birth of a Nation syndicate, formed to handle a series of special big features, has purchased the rights to "Mickey" for the United States, with the exception of New York state, which has been sold to Magnet Film exchange. "Mickejr" will be the first production to be launched by this syndicate. Practically all of the world rights have now been sold by W. H. Pro- ductions Company, with the excep- tion of Canada and South Africa, Egypt, Switzerland, Italy, Argentine, Uruguay and Paraguay. The foreign countries which have already been sold are England, France, Spain, Por- tugal, Australia and New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, China, India, Burma, Ceylon, Hawaiian Islands, Philippine Islands, Malay Peninsula and Dutch East Indies. The W. H. Productions company, advertising and publicity campaign exploiting "Mickey," was a material factor in the rapid disposition of most of the world rights. Even before the campaign was in fmi swing, most of the foreign territories had been sold. This campaign was also a great fac- for in prompting this syndicate to pro- cure "Mickey" as their opening fea- ture. It is figured that it will be of the greatest value in boosting the feature throughout the country. In closing the deal with the Birth of a Nation syndicate W. H. Pro- ductions Company agreed to co-oper- ate as much as possible with this syn- dicate in exploiting the production, and the advertising campaign as in- augurated by W. H. Productions Company will be utilized in every way. Negotiations are now underway for a Broadwav theatre. EARLE TO DIRECT LILLIAN WALKER Lester Park and Director Leave for the Coast — Will Start Second Picture Next Week Lester Park announced yesterday that he had completed arrangements with William P. S. Earle to direct the next of the Lillian Walker pictures. Mr. Park and the director leave today for Los Angeles where Miss Walker has been for the past three weeks rest- ing and immediately on their arrival work on the second of her starring series will be started. The story is to be an adaptation of the novel "Fran" by John Breckenridge Ellis. The first of the Lillian Walker pic- tures is being released by the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation this week. It is entitled "The Embarrassment of Riches." This picture was directed by Edward Dillon, who is to join the William Fox directing forces this week, and have charge of the next production in which George Walsh is to appear. Park also ■ announces that he has disposed of all of the foreign rights for the Lillian Walker pictures to the J. Frank Brockliss Company through Sidney Garrett. By a special arrange- ment Brockliss Co. is to be interested in the producing end to the extent of having special scenes made to be in- serted in the pictures when they are exported to certain localities. This is an innovation entirely foreign to the trade at this time, but Brockliss con- tends that a special appeal must be made in American made pictures that are intended for < xport into certain foreign countries ind he intends to try it out with tl e Walker produc- tions. De Luxe Theatre Opened CHICAGO. — The newly remodeled De Luxe theatre, with a seating ca- pacity of 1,200 persons, opened on Wilson avenue near Broadway, Sept. 21, playing to crowded houses. The theatre is now one of the finest in Chicago, being finished in white mar- ble, with mahogany trimming. A beautiful white marble stairway leads to a large balcony and a prettily dec- orated entrance makes an especially attractive appearance. The new house is under the man- agement of Frances Cuneo. An or- chestra of fifteen pieces is under the direction of T. C. Christenson. The opening bill was "The Great Love," which is to be followed by two day runs of Paramount-Artcraft pictures. Ten and fifteen cent admissions are being charged. David Russell has recovered suffi- ciently from his recent illnss to make an occasional appearance at his of- fices. He is still on crutches, how- ever. Wednesday, September 25, 1918 isiijA DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor •entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- she could carry him with her on the train. When Shero tells Hero that she is not married he figures that some mutt has betrayed her and she lets the impression stand with the result that he takes compassion on her and gives her a job in his charity mission. She soon learns that his idea of charity is all wrong and tells him so with the result that he gives her the air and she starts up a mission of her own in competi- tion. The climax is reached when a poor woman whom Shero has previously befriended comes again for aid and Shero tells Hero if he was half a man he would beat up the woman's brutal husband. Hero and Shero accompany the woman to her tenement home and then we yet the battle between the souse husband and Hero. After being knocked down several times Hero finally gets in a few telling blows and then they pull a whale of a twist by having the wife get Hero on the bean with a poker, knocking him cold. This has been put over in ;i way that should prove sure-fire with any audi- ence and really is the punch that saves the picture. After the beating, Shero nurses Hero's wound and takes him to the tenement room that she has occupied to help carry out her deception, where Her - learns that her "baby" is a purp and all ends happily. The aforementioned wallop that saved the story also saved Hero Jack Mower. He had a funny role in this that established him as a no-good guy at heart and nothing but that fight conld have put an audience in a mood to accept him as the Hero of the piece at the finish. The tenement atmosphere in this Avas about as well handled as anything T have ever seen. The large street set was an accurate replica of New York's East Side and Director Ted Sloman succeeded in getting some wonder- ful types whieh helped to make the atmosphere con- vincing. The freckled-faced kid was "all boy" and will yet many laughs. Miss Fisher's excess weight is a severe handicap wluch cannot be denied and discounted her performance in this considerably. Daniel Gilfeather was true to character as Shero's guardian and Kate Price handled a minor role capably. Gordon Rnssell and Luella Maxim were the poor conple who combined forces to make a Hero out of Jack Mower. They "done" noble. Nothing to Rave About But They'll Accept It As Program Offering The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor While this is nothing to rave over and certainly can- Charity ." This conveys more meaning and a better not be classed as anything more than an acceptable suggestion as to the nature of the story at first glance. You might hit this angle in your ads: "Competition has improved many enterprises and products but did you ever hear of two charitable organi- zations competing with each other to see who could give away the most food to the needy? That's the twist in program offering, I have a hunch that most audiences will consider it fairly entertaining. The offering lias been given an artistic and unstinted production all the way which should serve to offset the over-drawn situations and the general shortcomings of 'Mantle of Charity,' starring Margarita Fisher." the plot. "Did yon ever try to smooth over a family quarrel? If yon have, you'll probably know better next time but While the title. "Mantle of Charity" fits the produc- ... , ,, ,, ., ,,. . . .,, ,, - J if yon haven t. see Margarita Fisher in 'Mantle of tion satisfactorily, T think it would have had more kick Charity' before you try to settle any outside domestic and popular appeal if they had called it "Misdirected tangles." 2feBftADSTREET of FILMDOM jfomOWMti) DAIfcY Vol. V, No. 139 Thursday, September 26, 1918 Price 5 Cents WARNERS MAKE NEW FEATURE "The Kaiser's Finish," an Eight-Reel Pro- duction, To Be Released on State Rights Plan Harry and Abe Warner have fi- nanced the making of a new eight- reel propaganda subject which is called "The Kaiser's Finish,." The picture has been completed and as- sembled and is now ready for dis- tribution. The production was made in secret. It is believed that the great success enjoyed by "My Four Years in Ger- many," which was produced by the Warners in conjunction with Mark Dintenfass was responsible for the making of this film. William Nigh, who directed the Gerard picture, supervised the filming of this one. The actual direction, however, was by Clifford P. Saum. Late in the spring this new picture was started in the Biograph studios in the Bronx and it was completed about a month ago. The cast is prac- tically the same that appears in "My Four Years." Earl Schenck, who played the Crown Prince" in the first one, also plays the same part in this picture. Louis Dean repeats his per- formance as the Kaiser. Claire Whit- ney plays the female lead. The picture will be released on the state rights basis and already bids have been received for the various territories although the final product has not been seen. The bids were based on a synopsis that was sent out. Hiller & Wilk, Inc., will handle the foreign markets. It is believed that a Broadway showing will be ar- ranged for sometime in the near fu- ture. The story is based on the oft-re- peated rumor of the Kaiser's illegiti- mate sons. Earl Schenck plays the part of one who is sent to America and who later remains loyal to his adopted country. While posing in Germany as a Teutonic spy he man- ages to kill the Crown Prince, whom he resembles very closely, and in this way finally succeeds in bringing about the death of the Kaiser. Caruso Will Sing Famous Tenor to Open Motion Picture Exposition Enrico Caruso, the famous tenor, has been officially designated as the individual who will open the War Ex- position at Madison Square Garden. Mr. Caruso's appearance was ar- ranged by the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry. He will sing "The Star Spangled Banner" from the Grand Box on the Madison avenue side of the Garden and will be accompanied by the orchestra of the Strand theatre through the courtesy of Harold Edel. William A. Brady, president of the National Association, wil formally receive Mr. Caruso An arrangement has also been con- summated whereby one-half of the net proceeds for that evening will go to the Italian Red Cross. Mr. Ca- ruso will have the check made out in his name, although the money will really come from the National Asso- ciation, and the sum will be cabled to the president of the Red Cross at Rome. Released Out of Town TOLEDO. — The Temple here is playing the Fred Stone picture this week. The film is entitled "The Goat" instead of "Under the Big Top" as was originally planned. Stone is a champion of acrobatics in the first of his picture ventures and if he contin- ues he will make Fairbanks look to his laurels. The announcerr to the effect that was being shown surprise to most wise ones. They first showing wou. in New York nex having a pre-relea. the running of the ent from Toledo the Stone picture there came as a of the Broadway counted that the d be at the Strand l week, that house ;e arrangement for picture. Changes In Staff Heads of Division of Films Department Are Shifted Coincident with the removal of the Division of Films, Committee on Pub- lic Information, to its new quarters in the big office building at 6 and 8 W. 48th street, Director Chas. S. Hart announces several important changes in the alignment of the staff. W. J. Maclnnes, who assisted in the planning and contributed a great deal of the copy for the big advertising campaigns of different war activities, including the Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives, from their inception, and who came from Chicago to establish the Official Film News, published by the Division of Films in the interest of the Government war pictures, is named as director of advertising and publicity, and will have entire charge of all exploitation, except that of the bureau for community co-operation, which continues in charge of Ryerson Ritchie. All publicity for the Divi- sion of Films, including the design- ing and placing of trade paper and daily newspaper advertising, poster and window displays and other meth- ods of stimulating public interest, will be embraced in the department of ad- vertising and publicity. Willard D. Coxey will be manager of the press bureau, under direction of Mr. Maclnnes. Howard Herrick, recently in charge of press publicity, will be associated with Manager George Bowles as assistant manager of feature films. One of the innova- tions to be introduced by the new department will be a mat and film news service, covering the activities of the Division of Films, for the mu- tual benefit of. newspapers and mo- tion picture theatres in the smaller cities. At the present time the Division of Films is using only the sixth floor of the 48th Street Building, but when the work of fitting up the offices is completed three entire floors will be utilized. The executive offices will be on the 7th floor, the sales depart- ment on the 6th and the educational films department on the 4th. Thursday, September 26, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS * FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Bntered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; S months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Cuts and Flashes William Chilvers, vice-president and general counsel for De Luxe Pictures, Inc., of which Doris Kenyon is the star, has been appointed personal counsel to Governor Charles S. Whit- man. In "Romance of Tarzan" advertise- ment published in last Sunday's issue, the name of Lois Meredith appeared as that of the co-director with Wil- fred Lucas. This should have read Bess Meredith. O. A. C. Lund, director of Violet Mersereau, has started a rush produc- tion of Miss Mersercau's Liberty Loan picture at the Universal studio in Coytesville. Lund phoned to the Universal office yesterday for a script and all day the U's star men were grinding out stories from wdiich the director will choose one. George LeGuere, who is best known for the leading juvenile parts he has played in A. H. Woods and Belasco productions, has been signed up by the World Film Corporation, through Chamberlain Brown, to take the leading juvenile role in a feature production, as yet unnamed. Production of "The Silver King," the Paramount-Artcraft special in which William Faversham appears, -was started last week at the Fort Lee studios. Burns Mantle well known dramatic critic and writer was en- trusted with the task of writing the scenario from the original drama by Henry Arthur Jones and Henry Her- mand, and George Irving was engaged to stage the film. Barbara Castleton plays lead to Mr. Faversham. TO REISSUE "WAR BRIDES'" Nazimova Feature, Originally Anti-War Picture, Has Been Remade Into a Pro-War Subject Lewis J. Selznick has decided to re- issue "War Brides," which was origi- nally made with Mme. Nazimova as an anti-war feature. At the time of the declaration of war by this coun- try the feature was of necessity curb- ed by the Government authorities. This occurred long before the feature had lived its life. The prints of the subject that were out at that time were shelved by the producers and since then the picture has been changed about so that in- stead of anti-war propaganda film it now carries a pro-war message. At the Select offices it was stated yesterday that the picture had had a number of new scenes made and in- serted into the original and that re- lease will be made sometime in No- vember. Originally the picture was disposed of by Selznick through a number of state right agencies, which were later formed into a string of releasing or- ganizations for his company. In tak- ing over the exchanges he also re-ob- tained control of the film. First Screencraft Finished The first of the series of 12 Screen- craft productions, which is to be the trade name for the features that are being made by Messrs. Fleckes and Weinberg at the Thanhouser studios under the direction of Frank Reicher, has been completed. The picture has Mary Boland as the star and will be released shortly. E. Lanning Mas- ters is now in charge of the adver- tising and publicity for the Screen- craft productions. Two First National Releases The First National Exhibitors' Cir- cuit will release two pictures during October. One will be "The Panther Woman" with Mme. Petrova, her fifth picture to be distributed by that or- ganization and the second will be Charlie Chaplin in his second First. National comedy, "Shoulder Arms." Goldwyn Manager Dies M. Ralph Camp, since last June manager of the Boston office of Gold- wyn Distributing Corporation, died at Boston at 5 o'clock Monday afternoon of pneumonia resulting from the Span- ish influenza epidemic in that city. He had been ill less than a week. Talmadge Feature at Rivoli The next Norma Talmadge release "The Forbidden City" is to be played at the Rivoli Oct. 6. The booking was entered yesterday at the Select offices. This picture is from a story written by George Scarborough. Playing Sequel Two Weeks Moe Kridell, who manages the Goodwin theatre, Newark, has booked "The Romance of Tarzan" for two weeks at his house, commencing Oct. 13. This week he is playing "For Husbands Only" for the last week of a two weeks' run. He has discovered that with big features it is profitable to run two weeks instead of one, which is the regular policy of the house. Big Y. M. C. A. Picture CHICAGO. — A stupendous moving picture,* designed to interest every person who has a relative or friend in the army or navy, is to be the Y. M. C. A.'s piece de resistance in the United War Work campaign to raise $170,000,000 in November. The fund is to be devoted to welfare work for Uncle Sam's fighting men. The picture, which it is planned to have shown here and abroad, is al- ready underway and is being made by one of Chicago's largest film compa- nies. Thousands of Chicago soldiers and sailors will appear in the film. Moss Gets "Temptation" B. S. Moss has secured the book- ings on "Temptation" from the Em- manee Company for his New York house. Arthur E. McHugh in her- alding the fact states that "Tempta- tion" is another "Purity" and that 100 water nymphs are the spectacular attraction of the picture. Metro Casts Picked Walter Percival will play opposite Emmy Wehlen in her new Metro, "Sylvia on a Spree." Harry Franklin is directing. The cast for "Wilson or the Kaiser" has also been selected. It includes Henry Kolker, Creighton Hale, Mar- garet Aston, Joseph Kilgour and Earl Schenck. Production has just been started on it. Rawlinson With Burke Herbert Rawlinson, who_ has just finished as leading man with Geral- dine Farrar in the first of her series of Goldwyn pictures, has been en- gaged by the Famous Players-Lasky Company to appear as leading man with Billie Burke in her picture "Good Gracious Annabel." Work on the fea- ture will be started this week. iMA AIUY Thursday, September 26, 1918 PICTURES ARE NOT INCLUDED Georgia Court Rules on What Constitutes Proper Entertainment in "First Class Theatres" A decision of importance to moving picture theatre owners and operators throughout the country has just been handed down by the Supreme Court of Georgia in a suit of Asa G. Can- dler, Inc., against the Georgia The- atre Co., in which the court hold:- that an agreement in a theatre lease that "the house will be operated at all times during this lease or any re- newal thereof as a first class theatre catering to the best class of people" meant that it should not be used for motion picture performances though they be "first class and catering to the best class of people." It appeared in the case that the lessee of the theatre used the build- ing for film plays in connection with the spoken drama at times and at other times exclusively for films, and spent a large sum of money on the I building for that purpose and no ob- jection was made by the owner. For this reason, the court held that an injunction should not be granted against the lessee of the theatre re- straining the showing of film plays in the theatre, because this would be too harsh in view of the fact that the owner had continued to accept the rent at all times. The court said: "The lease under consideration was executed in 1908. At that time mov- ing pictures were in a crude state of development. The contract was re- newed in 1915. At the latter date moving pictures had reached a very, high state of development; but words in a contract are to be^ given their primary meaning at the time of the execution of the contract; and words of art or words connected with a peculiar trade, are to be given the signification attached to them by the experts in such trade." The court said it might be that moving pictures would during the pe- riod of the lease become of such dig- nity that they would be entirely satis- factory to the "best people," but if in the future they should occupy a relatively lower stand, it would not be just for the lessor's property to suffer in reputation. The Supreme Court of Georgia ac- cordingly holds, as to this Atlanta theatre, that while the lease in strict interpretation forbids operation as a moving picture theatre, yet an injunc- tion closing the house to films will not be issued pending the trial of the suit. New Directors Start Kirkwood, Dillon and Brabin Ready to Begin Fox Pictures Fox Film Corp. announces the ac- tivities of three new directors, James Kirkwood, Edward Dillon and Charles J. Brabin, who will start work this week or the first of next on Fox productions. James Kirkwood will direct Evelyn Nesbit in a picture starting Monday at the Fort Lee studio with a story showing the regeneration of a frivo- lous woman through the influences of the war. Charles J. Brabin will start Monday with Virginia Pearson on "Buchanan's Wife," a story written by Justus Miles Forman. Edward Dil- lon will start with George Walsh, to- morrow, on a story by George Scar- borough. Word has just been received that J. Gordon Edwards has finished "The Siren's Song," with Theda Bara, and that the director is bringing it with him to New York, having left last Saturday night. Miss Bara followed the next day. Madlaine Traverse, the new Fox star, leaves this week for the Coast, but as yet neither the story nor the director has been disclosed. Miss Traverse had formed her own com- pany and was ready to start shooting when the Fox offer came and it looked too good to pass. Visiting United Offices Carey Wilson of the executive staff of the United Picture Theatres has started on a trip in order to further the co-operative spirit between the home office and the United branch of- fices. His first stop is Philadelphia, where he will confer with Henry Given, the newly installed United manager there. From Philadelphia he will go to Washington to discuss matters with D. F. O'Donnell. While in the latter city, he will see Harry M. Crandall, who is actively interested in the first United production, Dustin Farnum in "The Light of Western Stars." Jester Output Doubled Jester Comedies will be released on a two-a-month basis, commencing November 1, and on the 15th and the 1st thereafter. This will bring the output up to twenty-four per year. Pursuant with the new policy, _ the playing personnel has been materially increased. Details of Handling How "America's Answer" Will Be Distributed by World Film As already announced, "America's Answer" will be released through the World Film Corporation by the Di- vision of Films The date will be Oct. 28, instead of Oct. 14, as previously indicated. The plan does not com- prehend a percentage of the receipts, but a straight rental of 33 1/3 per cent, of the average daily business of the house, plus 25 per cent, increase for the additional business that a Government picture insures. For instance, if a theatre's business has averaged $1,000 a day since No- vember 1, 1917, 25 per cent, or $250 is added, thus figuring the prospective business for the official picture $1,250. The rental for the picture in that case would be $416.66. On the basis of a daily average of $100, plus $25, the rental would be $41.67. A small motion picture theatre, with a daily average business of only $15, would secure the Government picture for the very small sum of $6.25. The addition of 25 per cent, to the average daily business of the theatres is considered fair, because "Pershing's Crusaders" has increased the business from 50 to 200 per cent, above the normal receipts of the houses. Director Hart also makes another announcement of interest to exhibit- ors. "In order to avoid any misunder- standing," he says, "exhibitors should bear in mind that the Government tax on theatre tickets is remitted only when the official films are shown di- rectly under Government auspices. When the pictures are shown on a rental basis the usual tax for motion picture theatre admissions must be collected." Fire Destroys Entire Show A film fire at the U. S. theatre at 195th street and Webster avenue, on Tuesday, destroyed the entire show of eleven reels. An investigation is being made as to the cause. The fea- ture of the show was one of the Fox issues. To Honor Bradys The F-I-L-M Club of New York, which is composed of the exchange men in this city, intends holding a theatre party next Monday evening, Sept. 30, at the Central theatre, where Alice Brady is playing in "Forever After," in honor of William A. Brady and his daughter. The members feel that some honor ought to be paid to Mr. Brady, who was largely instru- mental in having the picture industry declared an essential one. At_ the same time, a tribute will be paid to Miss Brady. Thursday, September 26, 1918 DAILY Incidental Story Permits of Interesting Photographic Illusions Francis Ford in "THE GRAVING" M. H. Hoffman, Distr's DIRECTOR Francis Ford ASSISTED BY Jack Ford STORY AND SCENARIO BY Francis Ford CAMERAMAN Edward Cheller AS A WHOLE Weird story written to permit of mechanical effects and intricate multiple ex= posures. Is interesting and unique. STORY Centers about science and hypnotic in= fluence, with doubles brought in as delirious dream. DIRECTION Patience and skill of director and cameraman combined to obtain weird effects with multiple exposures. Story proper capa= bly handled. PHOTOGRAPHY Trick effects exceptionally well done. LIGHTINGS Generally very good CAMERA WORK Doubles timed and matched per= fectly. Showed skill and patience. STAR Did effective work although mechanics dominated offering. SUPPORT Satisfactory EXTERIORS.t Moorish atmosphere very good and battle stuff rather well done. INTERIORS Acceptable; not unusual DETAIL Trick stuff excellent. Story is incidental CHARACTER OF STORY Unique novelty; should interest all classes. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,000 feet IN this unique production, shown at the Broadway this week, Director Francis Ford has written a story to permit of some very unusual and at times bewilder- ing trick camera effects and while the story is incidental there is enough of it to make you feel that the trick stuff is logically brought in and I figure that it will prove an interesting diversion for any audience for that reason. The story concerns two rival scientists, experimenting on explosives. They meet, always being wary of each other and Hero Francis Ford, upon being offered a drink by Willun Peter Gerald, declines, telling willun of his conquered craving for liquor, and then we have a vision in which he explains the weird effect of his last de- lirium. This vision is really the feature of the production and has been so cleverly done that folks not versed on camera tricks will be overwhelmed with some of the unique illusions depicted. Among the stunts introduced is a double showing a girl crawling out of Ford's pocket, a group of nymphs dancing in and around his wine glass, etc. In some shots I counted as many as four distinct exposures and they were remarkably well timed so that Ford's actions kept in perfect harmony with the action of the minia- ture figures. One remarkably well-done shot showed four girls being poured out of a bottle into a wine glass where they apparently swam around. From here the action cut to show Ford diminished to the same size as the figures and he crawls after the girls into an over-turned bottle. Then they had a set, made to represent the in- side of the bottle, where he saw Ford beholding scores of nude women disporting at some distance in the back- ground. When the vision closed, they took up the story again, which was rather draggy and uninteresting after the novelty stuff that had gone before. Willun uses his hyp- notic influence to make Shero Mae Gaston, who is his ward, get a secret formula from Hero Francis. Hero also finds himself in willun's power and when he dis- closes the formula, he becomes his old self again, and takes to drinking as formerly. This permits of another vision, wherein Hero is shown two and three times in the same set, and his real self takes his spirit on a trip through the battlefields of Europe. Awakening from his delirium, he rushes to willun's laboratory, where Shero has been made pris- oner and there is a struggle in which willun is killed by an explosion. Hero rescues Shero and takes her to his home, where she is welcomed by his mother and brother, after which they finish with the clutch. Of course, this is a fantastical thing, and was pro- duced as such, but it is distinctly different from any- thing we have had recently and I think it will prove interesting to any audience. They liked it at the Broadway. In the cast were: Duke Waine and Jean Hatheway. Weird Trick Stuff Should Be Welcome Diversion From Routine Offering The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This ought to prove a pleasing diversion from the regular run of program attractions. In the old days we used to get a lot of this trick stuff, mostly foreign, and we get a lot of it in present day slap-stick comedies, but this is entirely different because of the manner in which it is presented. A foreword title in this production calls attention to the intricate photographic effects employed and this is really the feature of the offering and the angle to concentrate upon in your advertising. The methods of obtaining the doubles in this are not new, but Director Ford and his cameraman (who is en- titled to a considerable share of the credit for this) have introduced some very clever illusions and anyone who knows how this stuff is obtained will tell you that it requires inexhaustible patience and skill, as a slip in timing any one of the exposures will spoil the entire shot, which may have to be done several times before the desired effect is obtained. In advertising this I would concentrate upon the weird photographic illusions entirely, explaining that this is an interesting story written to permit of marvelous photo- graphic effects never before shown in pictures. In watching trick stuff in comedies, folks seldom worry about the mechanical effects, many times not stopping to figure that the shot was tricked. This film calls particular attention to these illusions and brings them before you in such a way that they are decidedly weird and interesting. I have a hunch that more features along the same line as this will be welcomed by exhibitors and public alike. There is always a demand for something new, if it's interesting. jfeBHADSTKET of FILMDOH Vol. V, No. 141 tome** •«UB>u*kT , wmM !TaT77 Authority Saturday, Septemoer 28, 1918 Price 5 Cents NEW FACTOR IN DOMESTIC FIELD Robertson-Cole Company, Exporters, to Distri- bute Productions in United States — Add to Staff Robertson-Cole Company, whose activities in the film industry have heretofore been confined to the pur- chase of feature productions for ex- port trade, are now about to mate- rially change their plans of operation and expand. They have purchased world's rights to several important features and will dispose of not only the foreign showings but are planning the dis- position of these productions so far as the United States is concerned. Whether or not these productions will be sold on the state rights basis or otherwise has at this moment not been determined. In the future whenever productions are purchased for the export market Robertson-Cole Company will make a serious effort to include Canada as well. To provide for the expeditious han- dling of this expansion they have se- cured additional quarters at 1600 Broadway and announce the follow- ing additions to their staff. William A. Fine, of Chicago, will be office manager and in charge of the accounting department; David J. Mountan, formerly with Win. Fox, will have charge of the physical dis- tribution of productions for the ex- port trade, and Alexander Beyfuss, general manager for Herbert Brenon and the California Motion Picture Company, will look after the distribu- tion of productions in the United States. At present he will devote his entire energies to the releasing of the Martin Johnson pictorial feature entitled "Among the Cannibal Isles of the South Pacific." It will be re- called that when this production was shown at the Rivoli theatre in July that it was unusually well received by the critics of the trade as well as the general newspaper press. Franklin Signed Up Sidney A. to Direct Norma Talmadge in Eight Pictures Sidney A. Franklin, who directed Norma Talmadge's !ast three pictures, "The Safety Curtain," "Hep- Only Way" and the forthcoming "The For- bidden City," has just signed a year's contract with the. Norma Talmadge Film Corporatioi to direct eight pic- tures for th star. Mr. Franklin, with his brother Ches- ter, who is now in New York await- ing transfer to the Chemical Research Bureau in Washington, first came into prominence directing for David Grif- fith when with Triangle. He then went to Fox directing children's fea- tures, finally coming to Miss Tal- madge as her director. Opens South American Office John C. Graham, foreign representa- tive of the Famous Players-Lasky, who has just returned to New York after opening distributing headquar- ters for Paramount at Chile, Peru and Bolivia in South America, formed a new company known as the South Pa- cific Paramount Company, of which Senor Eduardo Suarex, Chilean Am- bassador to the Q. S., is president. There will be two Paramount-Art - craft pictures released per week via this company. Goldwyn Man Joins Colors ALBANY.— V. H. Bendell, of the Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, has joined the colors. He will leave for Camp Wadsworth, Spartansburg, S C, next week. Blackton Engages Count Pieri J. Stuart Blackron has engaged Count Pompeo Pieri, the Italian art- ist, to design the sets for "The Battle Cry of Liberty." announced for pro- duction after "The Common Cause." Count Pieri is a well-known portrait and landscape paiflter. Trade Turns Newsboy Picture Men Help Open Liberty Loan Campaign Men prominent in the film trade as- sumed the role of newsboy last night in order to insure an auspicious start for the Fourth Liberty Loan. As "crew leaders" and "town criers," they shouted their "wuxtry" through all the large restaurants of the city. The special edition this time was the "Stars and Stripes," the trench paper of the American forces in France. Carl Krusada was in charge of the motion picture end. The aid of the trade press and the press men of the large companies was enlisted and the number that turned out to help in the distribution was considerable. The Lambs and Friars Clubs took part in the movement. The Associ- ated Motion Picture Advertisers alone had thirty of its members cov- ering sixty dining rooms. The total number of copies distributed was 1,- 500.000 in Greater New York. Buys Richmond Hill House ' The firm of Schwartz & Miller who own and manage the Oxford and West End theatres, Brooklyn, have bought the Garden theatre at Rich- mon Hill. They will take possession Oct. 1. Samuel Schwartz will per- sonally manage the house. Four Reissues in October Paramount will re-issue four pic- tures under the Success Series brand during October. They are John Bar- rymore in "The Man From Mexico," Oct .6; Jack Pickford in "Seventeen," Oct. 13; Victor Moore in "Snobs," Oct. 20, and "The Cheat," with Fan- nie Ward and Sessue Hayakawa, Oct. 27. New General Branch Manager H. M. Osborn has been appointed branch manager at General Film's Pittsburgh office. By accepting the position he will succeed Leo Denni- son. Mr. Osborn was formerly with Pathe for four years, being connected with the Philadelphia and Washing- ton offices of the company. Previous to his position with Pathe, he was employed by General. Saturday, September 28, 1918 Ifgt DAILY Imblisi.etf Every Da> in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Bj VMD'S FILMS A FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("W1D") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- «ide of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign,, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 SEEKING CENSORSHIP SOLUTION Chicago City Council Appoints Commission lo Con- sider Entire Problem — Quigley Represents Trade Cuts and Flashes j Alfred Ortlieb was responsible for the excellent photography in Leonce Perret's production, "Lafayette, We Come!" Triangle has changed the name of its production "The Mask" to "The Mask of Riches," because another feature is at present on the market with that name. "Hearts of the World" was shown in Detroit to a theatre of soldiers and sailors last week — a complimentary entertainment for the boys stationed there. The finishing touches are being put on Dorothy Phillips' big war spectacle now being made at Universal City un- der the working title of "Until We Meet Again." Bill Hart, now in New York for the Liberty Loan, will take scenes for his next Artcraft, "Branding Broadway," around Times Square before leaving for the Coast. Anthony W. Coldwey, well known lor his scenario work with the Sennett comedies and formerly with the American, is now in charge of the scenario department of the L-Ko company. Bray Studios will release "Says Un- cle Sam," from the scenario by the Committee on Public Information, shortly. It shows the process by which the Department of Labor deter- mines the qualifications of an appli- cant for various positions. CHICAGO.— A big step toward the solution of Chicago's censorship prob- lem has been made in the appoint- ment by the City Council of a motion picture commission for study and in- vestigation of the entire proposition of motion pictures and censorship. Martin J. Quigley, publisher of the Exhibitors' Herald and Motography, has been named on the commission as representative of the motion picture industry. The full personnel of the commis- sion is as follows: Judge Orrin N. Carter of the Illi- nois Supreme Court. Former Corporation Counsel Adolph Kraus. Harriet Vittum, of the Northwest- ern University Settlement. Rev. Father F. G. Dinneen, Pro- fessor St. Ignatius College. Anthony Matre, secretary Catholic Societies. Judge Harry M. Fisher, Municipal Court. A. J. Cermak, chief bailiff Munici- pal Court. Rev. W. S. Fleming, secretary Protestant Ministers' Association. Rev. James B. Haslam, secretary Episcopalian Ministers' Association. Mrs. Guy Blanchard, Mrs. A. H. Schweizer, Mrs. Irvin McDowell, and Mrs. Henry Solomon, clubwomen. Martin J. Quigley, publisher Exhib- itors' Herald and Motography. Alderman George Maypole. Alderman Alexander A. McCorm'ick. Alderman Frank J. Link. Alderman U. S. Schwartz. T. D. Hurley, lawyer, chairman. The plan of the commission is a comprehensive inquiry into the in- fluence of motion pictures, what cen- sorship measures are necessary to prohibit the exhibition of unfit pic- tures and what official encouragement motion pictures are entitled to in re- spect to their educational and propa- ganda possibilities. Virginia Pearson went to Bethle- hem, Pa., on Wednesday to attend the opening of Loew's Grand theatre. Walter Heirs has been signed by Thomas H. Ince to play opposite Dorothy Dalton in her new Para- mount production under the direction of Victor Schertzinger. Smiling Billy Mason will play the lead, and this is the first feature production he has been in since leaving the Christie Comedy Company. The name of the picture has not been disclosed, but production was started last week. Plans for the commission were orig- ii a!i\ worked out several months ago when the censorship situation was under the control of the recently de- posed Major M. L. C. Funkhouser and the entire proposition was in a badly muddled condition, unsatisfac- tory both to the religious and civic bodies interested and also to the mo- tion picture industry at large. It is aimed to direct the work of the commission somewhat along the line of the recent British Cinema Commission which undertook and carried through a comprehensive in- vestigation into the subject of motion pictures in England and concluded its inquiry with a report which is regard- ed as a highly valuable document which has done a great deal toward insuring the position of motion pic- tures in England and providing for their direction along proper channels. The commission will make a care- ful examination of all existing censor- ship laws and upon its findings it is expected that a permanent ordinance governing the exhibition of motion pictures in Chicago will be drafted. Arrow Closes Deal L>ave Mundstuk, Michigan State Rights Man Buys Twenty Productions The Arrow Film Corporation has closed contracts wih Dave Mundstuk, president of the Strand Features of Detroit, for twenty productions to be exploited in the state of Michigan. The pictures sold to Mr. Mundstuk are as follows: Twelve two-reel re- issued Anna Little westerns; "The Sunset Princess," starring Marjorie Daw; "The Woman's Law," a re-issue starring Florence Reed; "Her Avia- tor;" "The Perfect Model," a re-issue of "Inspiration," starring Audrey Munson; and the following five-reel productions, re-issues starring Harold Lockwood and May Allison: "The Web of Intrigue," "The Fire of Hope," "Human Shuttles," "The Shadow of Fear." Arrow Film has also closed with C. G. Powell and P. F. Glenn, of the Key- stone Distributing Corporation of Philadelphia, who were in the city yesterday, for "The Huns Within Our Gates." The same picture was sold to C. F. Michaels, of the Bell Film Corporation of Pittsburgh, for his ter- ritory. The Equitable Film Corpora- tion of Kansas has been sold the rights to twelve Anna Little re-issues. •&4i DAILY Saturday, September 28, 1918 Year Mark for Select Selznick Organization Rounds Out Period as Releasing Corporation Select Pictures Corporation has fin- ished the first year of its existence as a releasing organization. The corporation started business on August 6 of last year, With sales branches to the number of eleven. General Manager Arthur Kane took charge and by October 15 there were twenty branch offices. J. S. Woody was elevated to the position of field manager for the purpose of co-ordi- nating effort between the home office and the field force. There are twenty-one offices throughout the country at the begin- ning of Select's second year, as fol- lows: Atlanta, T. O. Tuttle; Boston, Charles R. Rogers; Buffalo, Sherman S. Webster; Chicago, Fred C. Aiken; Cincinnati, A. M. Muller; Cleveland, Sam E. Morris; Dallas, Claude C. Ezell; Denver, H. E. Lotz; Detroit, James O. Kent; Kansas City, A. H. McLaughlin; Los Angeles, Bernard E. Loper; Minneapolis, Harry A. Rathner; New Orleans, H. G. Till; New York, Henry Siegel; Omaha, C. W. Taylor; Philadelphia, M. Milder; Pittsburgh, Leo F. Levison; St. Louis, J. C. Ragland; San Francisco, H. L. Knappen; Seattle, Harry H. Hicks; Washington, Vivian P. Whitaker, and John S. Woody, field manager. Two Firms Chartered Reserve Film Corp. and Big Two Co. Authorized to Start Operations ALBANY, N. Y.— The Reserve Film Corporation of Manhattan was granted a charter by Secretary of State Hugo yesterday. The enter- prise has a capital stock of $500, and will engage in the business of pro- ducing and exhibiting motion picture and photoplay films. The stockhold- ers are: Edgar A. Pollock, Lawrence Berenson and D. Strauss, of 60 Wall street, New York City. The Big Two Amusement Corpora- tion of Brooklyn, capitalized at $5,000, was also chartered. The concern is formed for the purpose of conducting a general motion picture theatre busi- ness. The incorporators are as fol- lows: Samuel Schwartz, Oscar Mul- ler and Jacob M. Zinaman, 630 West 141st street, New York City. H. D. Posey has been appointed branch manager for Triangle at their New Haven office. "Thirty Days," by Lieut. L. A. Reed, May Allison's latest vehicle, has been put in production. TO PETITION GOVERNMENT ON TAX Exporters Plan Sending of Brief to Attorney General— Pledge Aid to Creel Committee A d< finite method of procedure \\ ill be adopted by the Film Exporters of America, Inc., in its endeavor to gel back money paid in footage taxes on exported film. This much was decided upon at a meeting of the organization held yes- terday at Rector's. Harry G. Kosch, attorney for the exporters, stated that they had a clear case on hand. Greater Vitagraph and the Western Import Company have signified their willingness to co-operate with the ex- porters in sending a petition to At- torney-General Gregory in which will be set forth the plea of the exporters to have the tax when applied to in- direct shipments, which almost all the exporters do, declared illegal as was done in the case of films when sent direct from the producer. The Film Exporters of America, Inc., wishes it known that its members are particularly anxious to learn of the firms who will become a party to the petition, because it is desirable to make the brief contain as strong a representation as possible. David P. Howells, Sidney Garrett and W. E. Shallenberger will discuss the legal phases of the question this morning in Mr. Howell's office from the Association's angle. Later the other interests will be consulted and the one petition will be formulated. The exporters, at the meeting, passed a resolution pledging their aid to the Committee on Public Informa- tion in its foreign work. They are anxious to assist in every possible way, and they have therefore arranged a meeting in the hope that they may be able to relieve or assist the Com- mittee in the furthering of American propaganda. Sidney Garrett, secre- tary, has arranged a meeting with Public Information officials for next Thursday at 4.30 o'clock in the Yacht Room of the Astor. More Red Cross Films Coming Some interesting releases are prom- ised in the series now under prepara- tion by the Bureau of Pictures of the Red Cross. Some of these will be available from no other source, such as certain scenes in Serbia, Roumania and Russia, which at the present time are prominently mentioned in the news dispatches. Henry P. Reston, who has done en- graving for about everyone in the tiade, has enlisted in the "Treat 'Em Rough" Corps. Palmer Files Suit Claims $2,439 Is Due Him From National Film Corp. of America A judgment for .S2,439 has hem filed in the Supreme Court against the National Film Corporation of America in a suit by Harry A. Pal- mer. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant engaged him to render ser- vices as broker in selling the rights to "Tarzan of the Apes" for Great Britain and Ireland, for which he was to get $3,400, but nothing was paid. The defendant did not answer the suit. The Film Development Corporation has filed an answer in the Supreme Court to a suit of Arnold DeBiere to recover for services. The answer ad- mits that claims for $1,200 and $1,465 by DeBiere have not been paid, but denies that anything is due. An application by the Sterling Film Corporation to vacate a judgment for $2,570 obtained against it by Charles Cogut in the Supreme Court on Sept. 11 last, on the ground that the at- torney for the Sterling company through error failed to file an answer to the suit, has been withdrawn and the judgment still stands. Vitagraph Changes in West There have been a few transfers in the directorial staff at the Vitagraph Hollywood Studio. Robert Brad- bury, who played in "The Woman in the Web," is assisting Director Paul Hurst in the concluding episodes of "The Iron Test," the serial in which Antonio Moreno and Carol Halloway are the featured stars. Gilbert Pratt has been given the direction of Earle Montgomery and Joe Rock in a Big V comedy. R. H. McCray, is again assisting W. S. Smith, manager of the studio. BINDERS! for "WID'S DAILY" will cost $1.75 each hereafter Saturday, September 28, 1918 Daring Theme Presented in Classy Atmosphere. Is Triumph for Star Gladys Brockwell in "THE STRANGE WOMAN" Victory — Fox DIRECTOR Edward J. LeSaint AUTHOR William J. Hurlbut SCENARIO BY J. Grubb Alexander CAMERAMAN Friend Baker AS A WHOLE Daring theme intelligently pre= sented in distinctive atmosphere with excellent cast. STORY Bold forceful treatment of marriage prob= lem, pivoting around couple who defied laws of matrimony. DIRECTION Gave this a distinctive, classy atmos= phere and hurdled rough spots effectively with characterizations carefullv developed. PHOTOGRAPHY Artistic and clearly defined all the way. LIGHTINGS Distinctive CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Wonderfully appealing in role that was de= cided contrast to previous characterizations. SUPPORT William Scott excellent; Harry Depp, very good, and others balanced nicely. Excel= lent smalLtown types. EXTERIORS Very fine; many beautiful locations INTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; smalUtown detail very good. DETAIL Titles well worded but frequently too long CHARACTER OF STORY Daring theme but objec= tionable twists have been well handled. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,900 feet FROM a production standpoint, I think this ranks as one of the best Fox productions we have had for quite some time and I also believe that folks who have been following Miss Brockwell's work regularly will consider this the best thing she has ever done. It is no little accomplishment for a star who has specialized in "vamp" roles to do a sympathy character in a way that makes you believe it and it is also true that when an actress does succeed in doing this, her work appears all the more forceful because of the marked contrast from her previous characterizations. This is "drammer" all the way but it lias a heart interest punch and a few lighter moments and the char- acterizations throughout have helped wonderfully to make this decidedly interesting despite the heavy and rather daring theme. The story lias to do with a girl who had married a 111,111 who proved to be a despicable brute with the result that when he met his death and she later fell in love with another, she offered herself to Hero William Scott body and soul, but refused to again be tied by the bonds of matrimony because of her first experience. This occurs in France and when the couple, who are as happy and devoted as though they were legally married, return to Scott's home in Iowa, Miss Brockwell agrees to her lover's request that they keep their relations secret until she has succeeded in winning the love and confidence of Scott's mother. In the little village the gossips soon get busy and Shero's "low and behold" gowns not only cause talk but tempt one of the village beau brummels. who is married. Scott realizes that legal marriage is the only solution and leaves Shero to the test, promising to abide by her decision when he returns. In the meantime a book on "Free Love." which Shero had written, comes to the at- tention of the villagers and they decide to tell Scott's mother what kind of a woman Shero is. Shero confesses before they get in their work, however, and the mother, believing in her boy and really loving Shero, forgives everything. William Scott was admirably «ast for the role of the lover, always keeping the character human and convinc- ing. Harry Depp, a former Keystone juvenile, Avas excep- tionally good as Scott's pal and his work in this should win him a permanent place in feature productions. The village types were well selected throughout, and although some folks may think some of the characters were overdrawn, this served to put oA-er the desired thought and gave effective contrast. C. Raymond Nye, as the old bird who tried to get ruff with Shero. is deserving of special mention for a very good characterization and others in the cast were: Charles Clary. Ruby LaFayette, Ada Beecher, Eunice Moore. Grace Wood, Margaret Cullington. Lucy Dona- hue, Miss Billy Arnst, William Hutchinson, Miss Gerard Giassby and Louis Fitzroy. Should Prove a Big Box Office Bet and Will Create Talk The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This is a rather daring theme but has been produced in such a way that I can't figure how anyone can con- sistently raise any objections to this kind of a story being presented and if they do, you can alibi yourself by ex- ; plaining that this production enjoyed long runs on the speaking stage before being put into pictures. Just like the villagers, in the picture who read the naughty book in order to determine whether or not it was naughty, the folks who may think this is rather risque in spots will enjoy seeing it just the same and it is apt to do many of them a lot of good and make them broader minded. I believe that this picture will show to increased business on each day of its run, because it is the kind of a production that makes folks talk. I doubt if many folks will agree with the idea presented but it will at least give them something to think about and for that reason is entertaining and interesting. The Fox press book on this attraction sets forth some excellent catchlines and ad suggestions and I want to compliment them for having given the exhibitor more real practical and effective advertising aids on this pro- duction than has come to my attention for a long time. There are some especially good catchlines embodied in the "set in type" ad suggestions, which can be changed around to suit your needs. This same style of copy could be carried out on your lobby posters to good advantage. Z^BftADSTREET of FILMDOM Sunday, September 29, 1918 xfeRECOOMIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 142 Price 25 Cent* n^Oriflfet EMIIZML DWGRIFFITH'S TJue Great Love'y>2> Detroit "HOLDING OVER FOR SECOND WEEK" The people of the United States are characterized by their ability to grasp oppor- tunities. They seldom let a good thing get by. When they were given an opportunity of seeing a D. W. Griffith production at popular prices and in their own neighborhood theatres, their response was unprecedented. All over the country they besieged the theatres showing the first Griffith produc- tion for Artcraft. In Detroit "The Great Love" has its premiere showing at John H. Kunsky's Washington Theatre. Mr. Kunsky wired as follows: "Pleased to say that D. W. Griffith's 'The Great Love' is going so big at the Washington Theatre that I am holding it over for a second week." Exhibitors everywhere, realizing the enormous public demand for this picture, are booking it for longer runs and for higher prices than any picture in their history. It will have the same success in your town that it has had in all the big cities of America. Released by This is one of a series of adver- tisements showing the success of "The Great Love" in the most im- portant cities of the United States. 7/kRKOCNIZED Authority Copyright 1918. Wid's Film and Film Folk, Inc. Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., N«w York. N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second-class Matter. Terms (Postage free) United States, Outside of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00; Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY. 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Features Reviewed Marguerite Clark in OUT OF A CLEAR SKY Paramount Page 2 Lillian Walker in THE EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES Lillian Walker Prod. — Hodkinson Page 3 Fred Stone in THE GOAT Artcraf t Page 5 William Fox's WHY AMERICA WILL WIN Fox Special Page 7 Constance Talmadge in MRS. LEFFINGWELL'S BOOTS Selznick=Select Page 9 Edwin Arden, Julia Dean, Claire Whitnev and Earl Schenck in RULING PASSIONS Schomer Photoplay Prod. — State Rgts. .Page 11 Earl Williams in A DIPLOMATIC MISSION Vitagraph Page 13 Mary Boland in A WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE Bacon=Backer Prod Page 15 Claire Anderson in THE GRAY PARASOL Triangle Page 18 Emily Stevens in KILDARE OF STORM Metro Page 19 Margarita Fisher in MANTLE OF CHARITY American Film Co. — Pathe Distrs Page 21 Francis Ford in THE CRAVING M. H. Hoffman, Distrs Page 23 Dorothy Dalton in VIVE LA FRANCE Ince-Paramount Page 25 Gladys Brockwell in THE STRANGE WOMAN Victory — Fox Page 27 Montagu Love in TO HIM THAT HATH World Page 20 Will Rogers in LAUGHING BILL HYDE Goldwyn page 32 Red Blood and Laughs A good exhibitor who owns eleven houses in communities of varying sizes said to me the other day that he can get money now with good West- erns whereas a year ago he starved when he hung out a poster for a thriller. There's no doubt about the fact that the desires of the public as to amusements shift radically. Right now some producers and exhibitors have gone wild on the notion of playing patriotic prop- aganda offerings. Well, I'm for 'em when they're good, and I'm agin' 'em when they're bad.. I say that the film fans today want Characters more than anything else. They want them to be real, human every day folks, and then they like red blooded action and laughs. They're sick of sadness, sex and sech. They want to be thrilled and they want to laugh. But above all, you must make them believe it. Today a film must present convincing character- izations, people that live and act naturally, if thev are to register any big success. The day of the actor has passed. The day of the artist has dawned. The difference is that the artist lives a part. He doesn't "act." The great director is the artist who can keep his players from becoming conscious of the cam- era, keep them human and make their actions ring true. Sex plays on the screen and most romances for that matter have been painfully overdone. They have been exaggerated and theatric The war has brought this nation, and the world, lor that matter, up sharp. It has made every one think. It has put a quietus on sham. That's why thrones have ceased to be popular. It is the real, honest-to-Jerry human character that wins today and the vamps, willuns and weep- ing woe-begone sheros must pass on. Give us kick and punch registered by charac- ters that make vou believe it with a goodly por- tion of human fun mixed in and believe me the American public will eat it up. Everyone wants to laugh and forget for the mo- ment the horrors in Europe, and the fight has also stirred in us a love for the man that has guts enough to do things with a punch. Sav — you showman — if this fits in with your observation — slip the word to the ginks that are wasting their thousands on sad. tainted, tattered tales and slimy, sickening sex stuff. Set 'em straight ! A word from you will help YOU! 2 *m DAILY i — — — — i^m^.~—!F*r-* Sunday, September 29, 1918 Artistic Bits and Human Touches Help Unreal Jumpy Plot Marguerite Clark in "OUT OF A CLEAR SKY" Paramount DIRECTOR Marshall A. Neilan AUTHOR Maria Thompson Davies SCENARIO BY Charles Maigne CAMERAMAN Walter Stradling AS A WHOLE Bla=a=a unreal plot which director tried to get over with closeups and "touches". STORY Junky, unconvincing meller romance that fails to impress. DIRECTION Registered some fine atmosphere touches, human bits and good closeups but failed to pull it out as pleasing offering. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very soft and artistic but occasionally too far off focus. LIGHTINGS Some very beautiful CAMERA WORK. .. .Generally excellent; some excep= tionally pleasing. STAR Pretty and pleasing but never made char= acter convince. SUPPORT Meighan good quiet hero; kids and granny pleasing; others good types. EXTERIORS Some delightful shots; a few ordinary. INTERIORS Some excellent; others just good DETAIL Many little touches helped CHARACTER OF STORY . . Unreal but nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet GOOD little touches, a pretty star, artistic photog- raphy and delightful exterior locations cannot make a pleasing, successful film when the story is jumpy, unreal, inconsistent and lacking in real drama and the star fails utterly to make her characterization convincing. That's just what happened here. It is quite evident that Director Neilan has under- taken to "dress" this plot by the use of many excellent closeups, appealing little human touches and distinctive, artistic locations and photographic bits but just the same it misses fire and at the end it leaves you feeling that somebody slipped. This does keep going, except for the "slowing up to get over the human incidents which had little to do with the plot itself but on the whole it was a very odd mix- ture of appealing little touches and unreal melo bits. Somehow Miss Clark never ceased to be Miss Clark and at no time did she make you believe her characteri- zation. They started off with a touch of mystery and then in- troduced Tom Meighan with a very, very beautiful water- fall location as a background but the plot began to run wild and immediately it slipped. Most of the way Tommy Meighan had to be a good listener and he did this most satisfactorily, generally with an artistic exterior to help. Bobby Connelly and a little tot, "his girl," stepped in for several very pleasing little kid touches and these registered as well as anything in the film. There was one incident that I couldn't get. Miss Clark was supposed to step off a train in the South to escape the willun and she was rescued by hero. Later her supposed death was "proved" and the willun went away.. Then, after a lapse of time, Miss Clark's maid or secretary appeared on the scene quite suddenly with no explanation as to how she located the supposedly dead shero. I suppose they figured that in such an unreal, jumpy plot no one would stop to worry about such trifles. Needs Freak Advertising to Prepare Them For Odd Mixture The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Of course you know best what your own particular community does when you show a Marguerite Clark film. Personally I feel that her pulling power has been hurt in the past year by many of her productions. You can't afford to use the ordinary exaggerated adjectives with this but you can undoubtedly get busi- ness if you will promise that this portrays probably the wildest little adventure ever dreamed of by an author paid real money for ideas. Don't attempt to treat this seriously in your adver- tising. Bad it.... laugh at the wild idea upon which it is centered and then promise them that it shows Mar- guerite Clark, prettier than they have seen her in a long time and a couple of very cute kids. You should mention the fact that one of these kids is Bobby Connelly, formerly with Vitagraph, because Bobby is well known. Tom Meighan has an awful lot of friends and so I would particularly invite the gang in to see cute little Marguerite make love to quiet Tom with the climax coming when she asks him to marry her. Freak advertising may put them in the right frame of mind and prepare them for this enough to get it over. They'll need some preparation. Of course the fact that Director Mickey Neilan has .registered many past successes, is an additional valu- able advertising angle. Sunday, September 29, 1918 ti<£i DAILY Slender, Light Romance With Star Handicapped by Negative Suport Lillian Walker in "THE EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES" Lillian Walker Production — Hodkinson Dist'r. DIRECTOR Edward Dillon AUTHOR Louis Anspacker SCENARIO BY Roy Somerville CAMERAMAN Albert Le Guerie AS A WHOLE Pleasing star in very slender story of Princess=pretending=to=be=poor type. STORY Very light and thin, but will pass in many houses because it moves in spots. DIRECTION Failed to develop little touches, but gave fairly consistent production values. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally good LIGHTINGS Some very good, some ordinary CAMERA WORK Varied STAR Pleasing but handicapped somewhat by sit- uations and lack of distinctive treatment. SUPPORT Rather ordinary; juveniles lacked per- sonality. EXTERIORS Some very good, some ordinary INTERIORS Just satisfactory DETAIL. ..Satisfactory; some opportunities overlooked CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet ALTHOUGH this will very probably get by very nicely as a pleasing little thing, where they don't try to kick holes in production values, it's a long way from being anything more than just an ordinary little light romance. To be sure, the average audience today prefers a pleasing little romance with a star who smiles prettily, to a rough-house melodrama poorly done, but it is al- ways to be regretted when these little light things are offered, that more attention is not given to the human touches, and the development of characters that appeal. This story was a very decided handicap from the start. It was one of those poor-girl-became-suddenly- rich things, with this lady deciding to be her own sec- retary because she met a nice young man running a set- tlement in the slums and decided that she wanted to work with him instead of staying with the society folks who failed to appeal to her. At the end she made him marry her even though he was quite taken aback when he discovered that she had gobs of coin. The chief fault with this production is that the sup- porting cast without exception is negative. There is not another single character in the entire cast with per- sonality enough to win an audience or get their sym- pathy. Miss Walker has to fight alone, and that made it rather hard for her. The young hero was one of those "mean well" chaps, but he failed utterly to register as man enough to have an audience care a great deal whether he got Lillian or not. All the rest of the characters were just foils who were not supposed to win a lot of sympathy and none of them were developed in such a way as to make them really convincing, which is after all the most important thing when a story lacks guts. The production values general1;?, are satisfactorily, with a raid on the gambling joint speeding it up enough to give a little kick to the finish, and I want to mention particularly the illustrated titles and compliment Ferdi- nand Earle on some very fine work. Miss Walker did very nicely, but was not always photographed to the best advantage. In the cast were Carl Brickert, John Costello. John Dillon. Peggy Lun- deen. Howard Truesdfrie, Edward Roseman, Howard Keenan, Harriet Ross and Reeva Greenwood. "Rebecca of 5unnybrcok Farm" - "M'Liss" - "Amarilly of Clothesline Alley" "Hearts of the Wild"- "Stella Maris; - "Hit -the -Trail Hollid^y" Supervised and directed by lyiwJuji a. 7iu£, In preparation : 'The Three Bears"- Artcraft Special - "Out of a Clear Sky'-'The Silver Kin<£' Address: The Lambs Club, New York City iM% DAILY Sunday, September 29, 1918 Don't Promise Too Much. Center Attention on Star's Smile The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Lillian Walker in "THE EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES'' Lillian Walker Production — Hodkinson Dist'r. I believe that Lillian Walker is a name that everyone in this country knows, because she has been a favorite for many years, and she still has those tantalizing dim- ples which gave her the name "Dimples" some time ago when she was playing in Vitagraph productions. The fact that you can promise them that this is a light romance of a girl who was left a fortune but found it more fun to pretend to be poor, gives you a chance to slip this over without making mis-statements, and I have a hunch that the average audience will look it over without ever registering a kick. The title sounds interesting, and you can feel safe with this, if you are careful not to promise too much. I would particularly advise you to be careful about over- stating in your advertising as to this Lillian Walker production, because Miss Walker will undoubtedly have some bigger, more effective productions than this, and you can get just as much business by telling them that this is a light romance, as you can by promising that it is thrilling or wonderful, or the use of other adjectives which have been worn threadbare. Try to play upon the acknowledged fact that the nation today is anxious for light entertainment. Suggest that they come in and pass a pleasant hour with pretty Lillian Walker, the girl with the dimples. I would play up particularly Miss Walker and hei smile, by heading an ad with catchlines something like this: "WHAT WOULD YOU GIVF-J IF YOU HAD A GIRL WITH A SMILE LIKE THIS?" Using, of course, with this line, one of Lillian's photographs in which she displays those w. k. dimples. ♦ ♦♦>♦,♦♦♦♦>♦*♦>♦♦♦>*>♦>♦ ♦ ♦>♦**><• *♦.*♦>♦>♦>«*♦>*>♦>.»*♦»* «♦>««♦♦»>« ♦l' «<>«*>♦ 4 »«♦*»««*<«*# 4* WW WWW**W>* ♦•»>♦♦♦*♦♦♦>* ♦♦>»>*>♦>♦*#>♦ * ♦> ♦>♦>»>*> ♦> ♦> ♦> ♦> ♦. * ♦ > ♦> ♦> *.♦ ♦.* ♦,♦ « 8 An open letter to: Messrs. William A. Brady- Paul Brunet Wm. Fox Samuel Goldfish Ricord Gradwell W. W. Hodkinson Carl Laemmle Jesse Lasky H. A. Rowland James Sheldon Albert E. Smith Lewis Selznick Frank Tichenor Adolph Zukor and other Executives of Production and Distribution in the Film Industry. Gentlemen : — That there is a great deal of waste in the production and distribution of films is known to us all. We can put our fingers on the collective waste, but refuse to find it in our own organizations, or camiot eradicate it, unless competitors do likewise. On September 14th I sent a letter to the Priorities Committee of the War Indus- tries Board at Washington, in which are recommended drastic curtailments in pro- duction and distribution, for the good of the Nation ; and possibly also for that of the Industry. Loudly proclaiming our patriotism, eagerly professing a wish to help win the war, some of us nevertheless increase production, piling Ossa upon Pelion, furnishing a Gar- gantuan feed to a market already overfed ; we multiply distributing offices instead of reducing them ; we cover the country with a swarm of traveling solicitors, while Un- cle Sam needs able bodied men for war work. Let's help the government by lessening our activities, not increasing them. Action by Washington along the lines of my letter will have a vital effect upon the Industry. Therefore, I will send a copy on request to executives and others directly affected by such action. Very truly yours, I ** *.* *.t J.t *♦ *.♦ V *.t it 1 it :.: ♦•» it it it *.* it it $ % & **♦ * ♦ 63 E. Adams Street, Chicago, 111. Sunday, September 29, 1918 -Mi DAILY Star Hopelessly Handicapped in Painfully Forced "Movie" Scenario Fred Stone in "THE GOAT" Art craft DIRECTOR Donald Crisp AUTHOR Frances Marion SCENARIO BY Frances Marion CAMERAMAN Henry Kotani ART DIRECTOR Wilfred Buckland AS A WHOLE Painfully forced hokum merely serves as skeleton for athletic stunts of star Obvious and unfunny, utterly fails to stir any= thing. STORY Hardly enough for a split reel LIGHTINGS Varied but generally satisfactory. No attempt for effects. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Should go back to the stage SUPPORT Satisfactory but no one had anything to do that required talent. EXTERIORS The Lasky "lot" INTERIORS Acceptable; fitted atmosphere DETAIL Story didn't call for any. Titles pain= fully forced. CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive but very disappointing. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,691 feet PERHAPS the best description of this offering and the reason for it may be derived from the sample ad in the P-A press book for the production. It starts out with, "There never would be a picture like 'The Goat' if there wasn't any Fred Stone — " and they might have added, " — and if he hadn't signed his name to an Art craft contract." As motion picture entertainment, this flops miser- ably. Fred Stone's stunts on the "legit" with the late Montgomery got over great — on the stage, but they utterly fail to stir anything on the screen because our various stars of the films have done these same stunts to death for several years and most of them have gone him several points better. The story, if it can be called such, was obviously constructed to exploit the aforementioned stunts of the star and is the same old stuff that we've had many times in the past; there is no plot, no climax, no love interest — nothing, in fact, to offer an excuse for it hav- ing been produced in the first place. We have Fred Stone in this as an iron-worker who gets a job working on a new steel stage at the Lasky lot. After winning the favor of Rhea Mitchell, a "movie queen," by rescuing her pet monkey, he gets an oppor- tunity to work in the pictures by doubling for Shero in a roller-skating scene. This was obviously dragged in to show us that Fred could skate. He skates out of the picture and spoils a scene in another set and after a series of similar hokum incidents which were not funny and didn't mean anything, he gets a job as double for Hero Philo McCullough in a "western," which was also obviously dragged in to show us that Fred was nearly as good as Tom Mix with the lariat. He falls from his horse and is trampled on and then they try to have us believe that it isn't policy in studios to let other players in on the fact that stars are "doubled" (just as if they could keep it a secret) so when Fred declares he isn't hurt they send Philo to the hospital, just to keep up appearances and save his good name. Then, to make everything more satisfactory, they had Fred get a check for a "thou" from the studio and an offer of a permanent job. Probably feeling that a patri- otic finish was necessary, they had him in an army uni- form for the clutch, after he had married his first sweet- heart, Winifred Greenwood. The titles were painfully forced and unfunny in their attempt for laughs and the entire offering fails to reg- ister as "worth while." Others in the cast were: Fanny Midjyely, Charles Mc- Hugh, Sylvia Ashton, Noah Beery. Raymond Hatton, Charles Ogle, Ernest Joy and Clarence Gelclart. tM% DAILY Sunday, September 29, 1918 Star's Name Your Only Hope. Othewise Would Advise Pass This Up The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Fred Stone in ''THE GOAT" Artcraft I cau't figure how this film is going to get by with audiences who have been following Artcraft productions regularly and for that reason, may be led to expect some- thing on a par with the films turned out by Bill Hart and Doug Fairbanks. In the larger cities, where Fred Stone has appeared on the speaking stage, his name may be sufficient to slide this one over, although I am sure that it won't build for his future pictures, if he is to make any more, because he hasn't registered a sufficient impression in this to develop a following as a film star. Your only chance for business on this depends upon the pulling power of Fred Stone's name in your town. The production fails to class as more than very ordinary "movie." The most interesting part of this, to the average fan, will be the intimate glimpses in and around a large pic- ture "lot" but the impressions they have created as to how things are really done are so over-drawn and un- true to real conditions that most folks will feel that they are being kidded and this business of making rummies out of "movie" heroes certainly isn't raising the plane of the profession in the eyes of the public. After looking at this, it's rather hard to determine whether Fred Stone is "out" or not; he might register in a story that gives him a chance to do something but he will certainly leave a very poor impression with the average fan in this first effort of his to reach the screen. If I was not tied up on a contract to play this I certainly wouldn't worry about it. WANTED: Big Ideas for Big Pictures Responsible motion picture men who have money-making ideas but insufficient capital are invited to tell their stories to — Mc Clure Productions, Inc. Frederick L. Collins, President 25 West 44th Street .\ New York City Sunday, September 29, 1918 jsliM DAILY Lacks Sincerity and Dignity Due Subject Involved. Watch Your Step William Fox's "WHY AMERICA WILL WIN" Fox Special DIRECTOR Richard Stanton AUTHOR Adrian Johnson CAMERAMAN H. Cronjager AS A WHOLE Lacks dignity due subject involved; boastful to a degree that may be resented by our Allies and is very questionable as sincere and effective propaganda. STORY Alleged true life history of General Per= shing with prophetic finish showing the Gen= eral's army capturing Berlin with America claiming the entire credit for winning of war. DIRECTION Failed to make characters and ac= tion ring true and generally lacked dignified touch commensurate with subject covered. Didn't make it convincing. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally ordinary except minia= ture stuff, which was well done. LIGHTINGS Varied from good to fair; night battle stuff very good. CAST None of them a credit to the characters im= personated and comic opera Roosevelt awful. EXTERIORS Satisfactory except exteriors with painted backings which were painfully crude. INTERIORS Acceptable DETAIL Several bad slips and jarring incidents CHARACTER OF STORY An insult to the intelli= gence of thinking Americans. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 6.060 feet WITH practically every producer in the industry rushing out war films in an effort to cash in on the spirit of the times, it isn't strange that we've had an alarming number of poor ones but this latest one of Fox's has not only the appearance of being cheaply constructed and hastily thrown together but is very questionable to me in its patriotic appeal, to say nothing: of tbe very unfavorable light it places America in in the estimation of our Allies It looks to me like very poor business from any angle. This starts out as the autobiography of General Per- shing, played by four different characters to portray the various periods of his youth and early manhood. Since this film eulogizes our General in no uncertain terms. the authorization of its production must have received his sanction but I am wondering how he will receive the offering when he eventually sees it, especially when the scenes wherein his wife and children perish in a fire are revived in his memory via the screen with an actress portraying the role of the wife whom his memory holds sacred. The film also conveys the impression that his house was burned by German agents, which is certainly inter- esting, if true, as this happened before our entrance to the war. while the General was on the Mexican border. This mixture of fact and fiction kills the sincerity of the offering, in my estimation. I am sure there will be considerable resentment caused by the roles of Col. Roosevelt, President Wilson, Secretary of War Baker and General Pershing be- ing represented by actors who fail utterly to do credit to the characterizations and the comic opera "Teddy," who appears in this certainly impresses more as a carica- ture than the real man. Despite these jarring notes, the production up to the point where history leaves off and fiction commences might get by, although it certainly fails to impress forc- ibly. The false note of it all lies in the prophetic finish which fails to give any mention or credit to our Allies and shows General Pershing and the American army capturing Berlin, killing the Crown Prince (the Kaiser is killed by lightning) and giving America the entire credit for winning the war. The destruction of Berlin was shown in miniature, which was rather well done, and then they had General Pershing marching triumph- antly into the palace under the crossed swords of two lines of American soldiers. This entrance looked like the Kaiser had planned it, it certainly didn't register as the American way of doing things. They had General Pershing telling the Kaiser a few things in a series of lengthy titles which made it appear that our leader had prepared a speech for the occasion. And. of course, they showed the American flag being raised over the palace at Berlin for a finale. It is absurd to assume that America, even though she is instrumental in winning this war, can claim all of the credit for the victory. I'm sure that sincere, thinking Americans will resent the way this has been handled and as many of our Allies are going to see this film if seems to me that we are inviting trouble to let productions of this nature gain circulation. /■VP.D.A. "ScatufoT *%ev$@etAWtvorc& myw directing ^for Ooldwtft 'n^ iMA DAILY Sundav, September 29, 1918 May Pull Business But Is Questionable as To Impression Created The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor William Fox's "WHY AMERICA WILL WIN" Fox Special Because of the title and the misleading impression con- veyed by the use of the real General Pershing's name in the advertising of this film it will probably pull business. I am just as sure that thinking American's are going to look at this as merely an effort on the part of the producer to cash in on the spirit of the times with a hastily-thrown-together production, the outstanding feature of which is its box office drawing power. The production, aside from the nature of the story or the boastful, prophetic finish, utterly lacks the sin- cere note which inspires patriotism. The incidents in the life of General Pershing are rather interesting but the finish is so wildly overdrawn that it tends to make even the authentic part of the production impress as fiction, more so because of the impersonations by actors of General Pershing and other great Americans. I am not questioning the intentions of Bill Fox in producing this but it is just as easy to go wrong on propaganda pictures as any other kind, and certainly a production of this nature which is liable to create the opposite impression from what may have been intended originally, is apt to do more harm than good as propa- ganda. Good propaganda productions are doing an in- estimable amount of good toward winning the war and creating patriotic spirit at home but it seems to me that it would be a good idea to consult the government about the nature of productions planned before spending time and money on a story which misses fire. The distinguished and talented actor S E S S U E HAYA.KAWA T^e TEMPLE of DUSK" A screen drama tehtch contrasts t doctrines of self and sacrifice A drama devoted to tite^erils of dis- honor and the reyoeTSs of idealism — STORY iS F DIRECTED CAST INCLUDMd Jane Novak. Sylvia Bremmer. t«iwja Willoughby aruf Mary Jane Irvin Sunday, September 29, 1918 DAILY Beautiful, Peppy Star in Amusing Comedy, Artistically Produced Constance Talmadge in "MRS. LEFFINGWELL'S BOOTS" Selznick>SeIect DIRECTOR Walter Edwards AUTHOR Augustus Thomas SCENARIO BY Edith Kennedy CAMERAMAN James C. VanTrees AS A WHOLE Amusing tangle centering about pair of slippers; has good twists and is inter= esting all the way. STORY Jealous husband and extravagant wife plot provides many amusing situations. DIRECTION Provided excellent atmosphere and developed action effectively. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very pleasing LIGHTINGS Very fine CAMERA WORK Generally very good. Some ex= cellent composition on exteriors. STAR Beautiful and has personality and "pep" SUPPORT Ford pleasing; others satisfactory EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots with rain stuff well handled. INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Many amusing bits CHARACTER OF STORY For any audience LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,112 feet THEY had a good idea here and Director Edwards has handled it rather effectively with the result that this registers as the best thing Miss Talmadge has done for some time. The story centers about a pair of slippers and they gave us a good opening touch in this by introducing the characters "from the feet up." The slippers which cause all the trouble in this are a peculiar pair shown in an exclusive shop window and advertised to be the only pair in existence. Connie wants them, she does, but her hubby hesitates about the price and when he finally decides to purchase them, he arrives at the shop to find that they are just being purchased by George Fisher, a good-looking polo player who has previously given him cause for jealousy. When George finds the slippers too small the shop keeper produces another "only" pair and just as George is about to send them to his sweetheart, a messenger re- turns his ring and in a frenzy, he gives the slippers to the maid. In the meantime Connie has hocked her bracelet and purchased the original pair. When hubby sees Connie at the ball that night wearing the slippers, he of course thinks that George has presented them to her and although she denies the charge, he is still sus- picious. While hubby Ford is away on business Connie visits George's sweetheart and a rainstorm prevents her from returning. Connie is chagrined to find George at her chum's house but they pretend not to have met before. In the meantime hubby comes home and finds Connie gone when the chum's father, who has been caught in the storm, comes in and tells him that George is over at his house with Connie, whereupon hubby starts for the house on horse-back. Previous to this, the no- account brother of the chum, who has caused all the trouble by sending anonymous notes, has entered the house and is overpowered by George. Hubby comes in and explanations follow when the maid, who had conve- niently found employment at the chum's house, produces the extra pair of slippers. We had some particularly beautiful exterior locations in this and I want to compliment Director Edwards for giving us a real polo game atmosphere instead of using stock flashes as in a production I saw recently. The rain scenes were very well handled and looked convincing. Miss Talmadge held the center of attention all through this although the supporting cast was satis- factory. Harrison Ford was rather pleasing as the hus- band find George Fisher did all that was required of him while Fred Goodwins, as the no-account brother, appeared to be the most natural actor in the cast. Others who appeared were: Mercedes Temple, Vera Doria, Herbert Prior and Julia Faye. HOBAKT HENLEY M.P.D.A. ~3>ii*actor o "PARENTAGE" Divectingf MAE MARSH iorGddwyn Givvent and ^oi't'hcoitiin^veleayes': "^ Face in the Dai-k" AllVomfcri'-'^Qcld Peai-f ""^*e Glorious Adventure" Slif&i 10 Ufc/* X PA1L.V Sunday. September 29, 1918 You Are Justified in Making a Little Noise About This One The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Constance Talmadge in cuts of the slippers in your lobby and ads and there is an unusual opportunity here to co-operate with the most "MRS. LEFFINGWELL'S BOOTS" exclusive ladies' shoe shop in your town in this manner: Selznick=Select Have them display a sample pair of slippers of unu- sual design in their windows with a card reading some- Because this registers as much better than anything thing like this: Miss Talmadge has been given recently, I think you are "These are 'Mrs. Leffingwell's Boots.' Her husband .iustified in making quite a little noise about it. thought they were the only pair of their kind in exist- , . ence and naturally became jealous when he saw a man The fact that the story has been done on the speaking buying them and later 0Dserved his wife wearing them, stage may or may not mean anything in your particular Ah, But there wag anotuer pail% llllknown to him. community but the fact remains that it registers as a Come in and let ug ghow yoa and inci(ientally, see really entertaining offering as a screen production. the amusing photoplay starring Constance Talmadge, at I have a bunch that the word "boots" as applied to the Blank Theatre tonight." Use Miss Talmadge's dainty feminine footwear will register rather the oppo- photos liberally in the window display and in your lobby site impression in most sections, especially the smaller and ads. because she is certainly one of our most beau- communities. You can correct this impression by using tiful stars. A billboard campaign that covers almost every town in the United States from 5,000 population up gives to every exhibitor ready-made audiences on Leah Baird in Wolves of Kultur with Sheldon Lewis This serial is as vivid as a flash of lightning in a midnight sky. It strikes high A in thrills, punch, story and acting. Arrange to see the first episodes today. Produced by Western Photoplays Inc. Written and directed by J. A. Golden Pathe Distributors Sunday, September 29, 1918 ■ftfej^ DAII^V 11 Ancient Elementary Plot Dragged Fearfully Through Eight Reels Edwin Arden, Julia Dean, Claire Whitney and Earl Schenck in "RULING PASSIONS" Schomer Photoplay Prod. Co., Inc — State Rights DIRECTOR Abraham S. Schomer AUTHOR Abraham S. Schomer CAMERAMAN Sol Polito AS A WHOLE. . . .Ancient story idea dragged into tire= some unnecessary footage with slow action and many awful titles. STORY Idea of grouch being redeemed which has certainly been done frequently. Scenario con= struction very bad. DIRECTION Bothered with too much unnecessary detail, giving scores of meaningless scenes; is never distinctive. PHOTOGRAPHY Soft, but generally muddy and sometimes flat with some scenes off focus. LIGHTINGS A few good, generally poor, particu= larly of girls. CAMERA WORK Varied from good to poor STARS Arden excellent but badly handicapped; girls not photographed to advantage, and Schenck rather actory. SUPPORT Ordinary EXTERIORS Ordinary INTERIORS Some good, some poor DETAIL Much too much. Many titles bad CHARACTER OF STORY BI=a=a=a= LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 8,ooo feet SOME good kind friend should take the man respon- sible for this away down a deep dark alley and speak gently with him. Starting with the basic story idea, which has been done to death in films, he followed the tactics of five years ago by giving us easily twice as much footage as was justified by the action. There were scores and scores of scenes that meant absolutely nothing in ad- vancing the story or the characters, and most of the scenes that did count were too long, with draggy tempo, adding an additional handicap. The scenario construction was impossible, technically, because, after starting off establishing Mr. Arden as one of the meanest of mean guys,— and, boys, he was so mean that he tore up a hundred dollar bill rather than giving it to charity- — we found his man-servant telling what happened in the last two years to Julia Dean, who was the new nurse. Imagine my astonishment when I found that the man- servant was telling very nonchalantly about scores of incidents that he could not possibly have known the details of. The telling of this story took more than 45 minutes on the screen, and yet they cut back to par- allel action that was going on when the story started, with practically no indication of the passage of time. Technically, this is very bad as it stands now. If it were reduced in footage by almost half, and most of the titles re-written, it could be made into an interesting production, because Edwin Arden's work is very good. Julia Dean and Claire Whitney are pleasing despite bad makeups and poor lighting, and the story, despite its age, has a certain amount of human interest. At the beginning, the author started out with some titles suffering from "literaryitis" that were rather bad. and tied up with these, we had symbolic characters rep- resenting Hate, Love, Mercy and Revenge. These were all right except for the fact that the guy doing Revenge looked like Larry Semon dressed up as Julius Caesar. In many of the titles which came in the story proper, the writer got his tenses badly mixed with rather start- ling results in some instances. Claire Whitney was the country sweetheart who picked Arden's partner instead of himself, and Julia Dean was the nurse who came to cure Arden of his grouch. She impressed me more as a household vamp than as a nurse, because she cured him by fixing cushions and footstools, lighting his cigar, etc. The incident which placed Miss Whitney under obliga- tions to Mr. Arden was played exactly like the old hero- rescuing-the-farm-from-the-mortgage situation, but they titled it to indicate that the six thousand bucks were paid over to save brother who was never seen, from a forgery. Not much choice, anyway. In the cast were Eveline Roland, John Walton, Louise Palmer, Alexander Vernon, and Doan Borrup. Charles Rear 12 DAILY Sunday, September 29, 1918 Stars Cannot Overcome Footage. Dodge It Unless Cut The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Edwin Arden, Julia Dean, Claire Whitney and Earl Schenck in "RULING PASSIONS" Schomer Photoplay Prod. Co., hie — State Rights Despite the terrible slowness of this, and the fact that it never gets anywhere in particular, it is built on ele- mental, established human incidents that may hold the interest of a non-critical audience if they don't go to sleep, because of the excess footage. It is really a pity that this should be offered in the present footage, because if ever a production needed cutting, this is it. As you all know, a five-thousand foot subject is better commer- cially than an eight thousand-foot subject, so there seems no sane reason why this should not be trimmed. Since this will undoubtedly be offered as an independ- ent release, it would seem to me that it would be de- cidedly advisable to side-step it entirely, unless it is trimmed. Your folks who know will all become tired and there will be very few who will know exactly why they are bored. When this was screened for a private showing, it ran only a minute or two under two hours. I don't have to preach to you about how good a film must be to hold for two hours. The title really suggests a strong dramatic subject, whereas the story itself is rather noticeably lacking in real dramatic clashes. This makes your advertising diffi- cult because you cannot promise powerful dramatic situa- tions, and even the title suggests these, which places yon in a position of indirectly misrepresenting it. Cut to five reels, this would move quite satisfactorily, be rather interesting and please generally. In its pres- ent form I consider it very, very sad. TRIUMPHANT SUCCESS of the first JOHN ANITA EMERSON - L 00S ii Production for Paramount Come On In" starring Shirley Mason and Ernest Truex What some of the critics said: Wid's : — " We might have known when John Emerson nnil Anita Loos started out on their own that they'd hand us something with lots of pep and plenty of laugh's. They have." Moving Picture World:— "One of the- most novel and re- freshing releases of the year. A satire as clean and cut- ting as a razor blade." Exhibitors' Trade Review: — "'Come On In!' strikes an entirely new note in war films. It provides much bubbling fun, and is full of adventure and excitement, pep and appeal, and through every reel the patriotic note is finely trumpeted." Moving Picture News:— "The first half of this piciure will make your sides ache from laughing. The other half will make you sit on the edge of your seat from excitement and thrill." New York Telegraph :— "To those who follow the films the names of John Emerson and Anita Loos were a suffi- cient guarantee that the feature would be novel and gen- uinely humorous. And it more than realizes all expec- tations." S. Jay Kaufman in The Globe: — "When brains and expe- rience combine the result is certain to be better pictures. 'Come On In!' came to the Strand yesterday. You will see it. Emerson- Loos, welcome! Ernest Truex is the intellec- tual Chaplin. He's a delight." Evening Mail: — "'Come On In!' is mostly all fun, plus a great dose of patriotic thrill. Mr. Emerson and Miss Loos prove that with Paramount facilities they can turn out a mighty entertaining product, and One which again serves to prove the power of the motion picture in stimulating the right sort of spirit among the people for carrying on the war to a victorious conclusion." New York Tribune: — "The picture is what one man we know calls a 'community picture.' He says that means a picture that gets the people laughing together." New York Globe: — "'Come On In!' is by far the best photo play that has been written about this' long suffering theme (German spy film) and in many ways the best play about anything at all that has appeared on the screen for some time." Sunday, September 29, 1918 AILV 13 Pleasing Personalities Handicapped by Wild, Impossible Story Earl Williams in "A DIPLOMATIC MISSION" Vitagraph DIRECTOR Jack Conway AUTHOR Don Bartlett SCENARIO BY Don Bartlett and Al. J. Ohlson CAMERAMAN AS A WHOLE Pleasing players handicapped by impossible story staged in wild serial meller style. Completely misses fire. STORY Impossible stuff, overburdened with pain- fully forced heroics which never ring true. DIRECTION Failed to make action convincing or situations plausible. Allowed things to hap= pen very obligingly all the way with result that a few good touches failed to make a dent in general impression of offering. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied from good to just fair. Cut in battleship shot didn't match and cheap= ened offering. LIGHTINGS Generally ordinary CAMERA WORK Routine STAR Registered great until action got wild and then was swallowed in awful story. SUPPORT Miss Darmond very pretty; balance of cast generally impressed as "movie extras." EXTERIORS. . .Some rather good; others very ordinary INTERIORS Acceptable; nothing more DETAIL Painfully convenient and inconsistent. Some awful titles. CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive but fails to stir anything. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,167 feet THIS was certainly an awful mess to wish onto Eari Williams as the first of his "Star Series" produc- tions for Vitagraph. The scenario market must be in a bad way when they select the kind of material we get in this for one of our really popular stars and the handicap was too much for Mr. Williams — it swamped him. I have frequently protested against this type of story, which depends upon a sans: of half-dressed Ethiopians in a thatched-roof village for its wild action. This junk never rings true unless it is made with painstaking care and I have not yet seen a production centered around this stuff that was worth the time and effort, from either an entertainment or a box-office standpoint. Why they planted the early action of this in the fic- titious provinces of Somona, Varonia and Platina, when they eventually dragged Germany into the plot I can't understand. Anyway, Hero Earl was an American visi- tor in Somona when he wins the admiration of Shero, Grace Darmond, by beating up a Crown Prince who was forcing his attentions upon her. Later, Hero very conveniently gets a job quieting the natives working the platinum mines of an English prov- ince; said natives having been stirred to murder and arson by their German foreman. Hero arrives on the island and we get a lot of wild battles in which he holds the entire gang at bay on several occasions, finally cul- minating in a plot to burn the village and blow up the mines. In the meantime Shero has conveniently arrived on her private "yatch" and when the few refugees on the island are hemmed in the chateau, Hero finds a secret passage and makes a break to the wireless station where he warns an American battleship, and they are rescued in the nick of time by U. S. Marines just after the na- tives have battered down the entrance to the chateau. They ring down the asbestos with Hero and Shero in the clutch. As a sample of some of the titles we had in this, I want to quote one they slipped us after Hero Earl had treated the German spy roughly. Listen: "Now do your worst, you German brute!" Shades of Don Likes! Whoever wrote that should be kicked. Several times in this they pulled the stunt of Hero or Shero being able to see anything called for in the script through a pair of binoculars, regardless of where they were standing. Since the action was planted as in 1914, the presence of an American battleship in war paint in foreign waters at that time was probably accounted for by the fact that they couldn't get a weekly shot of an English dreadnought, since the flash is all we got anyway. The wild gang outside the chateau could have bat- tered the door down long before the marines arrived, but that would have spoiled the plot. Miss Darmond was very pretty, but was completely handicapped by the wild, impossible story, as was Mr. Williams. The others in the cast, with a few excep- tions, generally impressed as "actors." Mm BAESJSCALE ■^omaiJOL, eleases ^e^HTM! ZJJET ":.% 14 iMA DAILY Sunday, September 29, 1918 If You Must Play It, Center Attention on Star and Leading Lady The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Earl Williams in "A DIPLOMATIC MISSION" Vitagraph It is little short of a crime to wish such material as this onto pleasing personalities like Mr. Williams and Miss Darmond. I can't believe that this kind of mate- rial is being accepted by discriminating audiences as entertainment. It might get by with the don't care sang, but it certainly isn't worth worrying about if you haven't got it coming on a regular program basis. The name of Karl Williams will undoubtedly draw in most communities because he has been in some very good productions in the past. If I had arranged to play this, I would certainly let it slide very easy and lay low on any claims as to its entertaining qualities because I feel certain that intelligent folks are going to laugh at it. This must have been rushed out to meet release sched- ule or Vitagraph certainly wouldn't have chosen it to head Mr. Williams' series of eight special productions as advertised. In advertising this I would center all my attention on Mr. Williams and Miss Darmond, who appear to the best advantage possible under the severe handicap of an im- possible story, poorly handled. You might kid this along by using catchlines like this : "Just a lot of wild action centering around an Ameri- can who steals a Crown Prince's sweetheart and wins her for himself." This will serve as an alibi if anyone hollers about it being impossible. Wid's 1918 Year Book Third Anniversary Number Containing Authentic Data Of Ines- timable Value To Every One In The Industry A Thumb Nail Index Of What's What And Who's Who In Film Land Will Be Used For Daily Reference By Practically Every Producer And Exhibitor. An Unusual Opportunity For The Wide Awake Advertiser — No Ad- vance In Rate. Last Advertising Forms Close October 3 Sunday, September 29, 1918 DAILY 15 Double Triangle Drama with Good Incidents and Fair Treatment Mary Boland in "A WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE" Bacon=Backer Prod. DIRECTOR Perry N. Vekroff AUTHOR Paul M. Potter SCENARIO BY Perry N. Vekroff CAMERAMAN Edward C. Earle AS A WHOLE Eternal triangle situation that holds right well in dramatic moments. STORY Rather elementary but moves fairly well DIRECTION Gave acceptable atmosphere and reg= istered some incidents forcefully, but missed on many treatment opportunities. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied from good to fair LIGHTINGS Some very good, but generally unfav= orable for star. CAMERA WORK Varied STAR Appeared under strain most of the time and lightings handicapped her work. SUPPORT Cain stood out; Hardy too camera= conscious. Others satisfactory. EXTERIORS Some very good; some ordinary DETAIL Many little opportunities missed CHARACTER OF STORY Has bed=room scenes but will probably get by. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,800 feet THERE is nothing particularly distinctive about this, but several of the dramatic incidents move and have enough kick to hold the interest, so that the average audience will probably feel that this is reason- ably good entertainment. Technically, there are many weak spots, the chief one being the fact that Miss Boland was not lighted to ad- vantage which proved a decided handicap, since it will unconsciously affect the amount of sympathy extended to her by those who see the film. Since she was the central figure throughout, it was of decided importance that she should be made to appear both beautiful and appealing. The story has rather an elementary thought, telling of two young folks who wanted to live in the city for pleasures of city life, with a rather rude awakening to its artificiality, followed by an eternal triangle incident wherein the willun, a guest in their home, realized that there had been trouble between husband and wife and forced his way into the wife's bedroom, after she had encouraged him by a note, and then repented when he knocked on her door. The willun was accidentally killed after a struggle, by drinking a sleeping potion which the wife had pre- pared, and she was able to cover up this death by the convenient situation of willun having decided to com- mit suicide when the wife first turned him down. Old Uncle in the country, with whom the young couple had been living at the first of the film, came to the rescue to save hubby from his financial difficulties, and they return and agree to live forever after with him, which gave a happy ending. Sam Hardy as the husband was a bit stiff and camera- conscious, so that he failed to win sympathy or convince, and Miss Boland remained on the emotional strain most of the time with the result that this, and the poor light- ing, placed her at a disadvantage. Robert Cain, as the willun, gave the best performance and made his part stand out. Technically, this varied quite a bit. There were some very good incidents, and some were ordinary, with some of the sets distinctive and others registering rather poorly. The underlying thought indicated may justify this in the minds of many, that thought being that hap- piness is not found by seeking it. In the cast were Lawrence McGill, and Corrine Uzzell. By Hammering Happiness and Forgiveness, You Can Put this Over The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This is just straight "drammer," of the eternal tri- angle type with a second woman figuring as well as two men so that it really becomes a double triangle. Most fans will unodoubtedly look this over and be comparatively interested as it rides, but not particularly impressed with the offering, as a whole. Mary Boland is comparatively well known to those acquainted with the theatre and will be remembered by most of you as John Drew's leading lady for several seasons. You can safely advertise this if you don't make rash promises, and get it by for one or two days. I do not consider it a big enough production to place in the week- run houses, unless your clientele is particularly fond of bedroom stuff. In advertising this I would concentrate upon the idea of: ARE YOU HAPPY? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FIND HAPPINESS? HAVE YOU BEEN SEEKING HAPPINESS? This seeking happiness idea has been planted in the story at the first, and brought in again as a moral at the finish, with the entire plot tending to impress the point, so that it would be decidedly ad-1 visable to concentrate upon that idea instead of promis- ing with fool adjectives that this is a tremendous dra- matic subject, etc. You might also head some ads: DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FORGIVE? with the sub caption: REMEMBER. SOME DAY YOU MAY HAVE TO RE FORGIVEN. By following such thoughts you can safely do a lot of bill- ing on this and the chances are that you will get busi- ness and send your fans away satisfied because they seldom are able to pick out such technical flaws as mar this, and while they may not be enthusiastic about Miss Boland. they won't realize just why the film misses as frequently as it does. G)ke Motion Picture Industry is in tkc T HE Motion Picture Industry has pledged itself to sell One Billion Dollars' Worth of Liberty Bonds of the Fourth Issue. Stars, Directors, executives, scenario writers, camera men, and all others have done much in making and exploiting pictures advertising the Loan. To the exhibitor comes the greatest opportunity and the greatest honor. His con- tribution towards the winning of the war can be greater, almost, than that of any other class, except the actual fighting man. Others can only buy Liberty Bonds, but he can sell them. The Industry has been declared essential. Here is our chance to prove that it is essential, and to keep it so. Every exhibitor in America is going to help to the utmost. Here is what he must do: Thirty-seven stars have made special motion pictures for the Loan. The names of these pictures and the exchanges at which they can be secured free are listed herewith. Book one cf these pictures for every day during the drive. Secure subscription blanks for Liberty Bonds from your local Federal Reserve Board. Take subscriptions in the theatre. Then — this is essential — report the amount of Bonds sold to the Committee under- signed, on blanks provided for this purpose and supplied by your exchange. EVERY EXHIBITOR MUST DO ALL THESE THINGS. IT IS HIS PATRI- OTIC DUTY TO DO THEM. The Industry Depends on Him to Do Them. The Government Depends on Him to Do Them. I II I%111 1 1 llliljllf 111 COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATION with the UNITED STATES TREASURY DEPARTMENT Adolph Zukor, Chairman Walter W. Irwin Marcus Loew George K. Spoor J. E. Brulatour Al Lichtman, Manager of Distribution John C. Flinn, Director of Publicity 485 Fifth Avenue New York A< \ Eroni Lmeirenclics Here Are the Thirty=Seven Star Pictures and the Exchanges That Distribute Them Fourth Liberty Loan Pictures Distributor Alice Joyce V Gladys Leslie V Corinne Griffith V Harry T. Morey & Betty Blythe V William Duncan V Earle Williams V W. S. Hart FP Lillian Gish FP Mack Sennett FP Charles Ray FP Dorothy Dalton FP Enid Bennett FP Mary Pickford FP Douglas Fairbanks FP Wallace Reid FP Flsie Ferguson FP Marguerite Clark FP George M. Cohan FP William Faversham FP "Fatty" Arbuckle FP George Beban FP Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Drew FP Harold Lorkwood M Edith Storey : M Emily Stevens M Nazimova M Alice Brady S Norma Talmadge S Geraldine Farrar G Goldwyn All Star Cast G Mae Murray U Charles Chaplin FX William Farnum F Sessue Hayakawa MU Dustin Farnum GF Kalem All Star Cast GF Frank Keenan P V — Vitagraph Company of America FP — Famous Players-Easky Corporation M — Metro Pictures Corporation S — Select Pictures Corporation G — Goldwyn Pictures Corporation U — Universal Film Mfg. Corporation FN — First National Exhibitors' Circuit MC — Mutual Film Corporation F — Fox Film Corporation GF — General Film Company P — Pathe Exchange, Inc. $1,000,000,000 IS OUR PLEDGE! Motion Picture! (Industry IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIII iniiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiii 18 tM% DAILY Sundav, September 29, 1918 Rather Well Developed Mystery Tw'sts Make This Interesting Claire Anderson in "THE GRAY PARASOL" Triangle DIRECTOR Lawrence Windom AUTHOR Fred Jackson SCENARIO BY Chas. J. Wilson, Jr. CAMERAMAN Steve Norton AS A WHOLE Rather good mystery meller with spy twists; is interesting. STORY Has to do with our old friend, "the secret formula" but has been given rather good twists DIRECTION Kept this moving and registered rather good New York atmosphere but played for action rather than characterization with re= suit that cast left rather negative impression. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally satisfactory; not un= usual. LIGHTINGS Not particularly good on faces with few effects registered. CAMERA WORK Acceptable STAR Pretty but took happenings rather quietly at times. Was frequently lighted poorly. SUPPORT Satisfactory EXTERIORS New York atmosphere rather well handled although sets were evident. INTERIORS Satisfactory; not particularly artistic DETAIL Some good touches CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet WHILE this isn't big or unusual, it is considerably above the Triangle average and should be ac- cepted generally as a satisfactory program offer- ing. The story is one of those mystery things, having to do with the "secret formula" and Director Lawrence Windom lias kept the action rather interesting in a way that slides this over the line as entertainment. The chief fault with this was the fact that the char- acterizations never impressed forcibly. You were more impressed with what was going to happen next than how the characters were going to take the happenings and although we had the two factions, the Hero and Shero, all through this, the producer failed to develop the love interest until we got the clutch at the finish. We knew it was coming, but the romance was not de- veloped sufficiently in the early part of the offering to offer a real reason for it. The action centers around a formula for a coal substi- tute which Shero keeps in the handle of her parasol. Hero bumps into her in an umbrella repair shop where he be- comes infatuated and later rescues her from two thugs who try to obtain the parasol. These boys turn out to be agents of the coal trust who are trying to prevent the formula, which would ruin their interests, from reaching the market. When Hero calls upon Shero. she intrusts him with the parasol with the result that he is followed and over- powered by the "coal dust twins." When they find the parasol, however, and look for the formula, they find that Shero has outwitted them, leaving a note wishing them better luck next time. Further complications arise when two men purport- ing to be financiers who are in a position to manufacture the coal substitute, but who are in reality German spies desiring to obtain the formula for their own govern- ment, almost succeed in obtaining the formula from Shero when Hero and the two coal trust agents appear on the scene in time to apprehend them. This seemed to be a rather good story idea and they gave us several effective mystery twists as presented but because the characters didn't impress forcibly at any stage, this registers as just an aceptable program offer- ing. Miss Anderson was very pretty when lighted to ad- vantage, which occurred none too frequently, and she was given a few good moments but generally failed to really get to you. Wellington Cross was pleasing although failed to reg- ister anything unusual and Joe Bennett and Ed Brady just held their own in parts that gave them little oppor- tunity to really put anything over. Frank Thorne and William Quinn completed the cast. Play Up Mystery Twists and Use Stunts Suggested by Title The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This will undoubtedly get over satisfactorily as a pro- gram attraction and I think the title sounds interesting enough so that you should be able to get some business on it if you play it up along unusual lines with empha- sis on the mystery theme. Miss Anderson is quite easy to observe and as she was at one time a member of the Keystone beauty squad there should be some of the Keystone lobby enlarge- ments available at your exchange which would help con- siderably in attracting attention to your theatre. Although Wellington Cross is fairly well known in New York and in the larger cities where he has appeared in vaudeville, I don't think his name will mean anything to the average fan outside of these centers. Joe Bennett and Ed Brady have appeared in many Triangle pictures in the past and may be remembered through their pre- vious work if you have played this program regularly. Of course, a gray parasol is at once suggested by the title of this for advertising and if you want to create a little talk you might find it a paying investment to have a pretty girl appear on the down-town streets and in the various stores each day, carrying a gray parasol upon which the name of the attraction and your theatre would be lettered. Sunday, September 29, 1918 bM DAILY 19 Has Been Well Done But Is Too Heavy For Present-Day Consumption Emily Stevens in "KILDARE OF STORM" Metro MANAGER OF PRODUCTION Maxwell Karger DIRECTOR Harry L. Franklin AUTHOR Eleanor Mercein Kelly SCENARIO BY Jere Looney and June Mathis CAMERAMAN Arthur Martinelli AS A WHOLE Forceful treatment of heavy do= mestic meller not a pleasant theme but has been well done. STORY Triangle idea with Hero serving time for murder of Shero's husband; is cleared by confession at finish. DIRECTION Held interest and made dramatic moments convince with intelligent treatment to individual incidents. PHOTOGRAPHY Decidedly classy and distinctive all the way. LIGHTINGS Artistic; some exceptional bits CAMERA WORK Very good. Excellent composi= tion and angles. STAR. . . .Played convincingly but has taken on weight and is losing her beauty. SUPPORT King Baggot effective willun; Crauford Kent very good; entire cast balanced nicely. EXTERIORS Very fine; many beautiful shots INTERIORS. . .Convincing and in good taste throughout DETAIL Very good CHARACTER OF STORY Questionable for present= dav consumption but hardly objectionable. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,900 feet WHILE many exhibitors, most of them in fact, will argue — and rightly- — that this type of story isn't what present-day audiences want, I want to give Metro credit for having given us a mighty goood pro- duction. The photography, lightings, direction and gen- eral treatment all through this are of the highest order but the wife-beating incidents and other depressing spots all through the story make it a questionable bet from nn audience standpoint, to my way of thinking. They'll probably accept it. but very few will be glad thev saw it. This starts off with the marriage of Miss Stevens to King Baggot, whom she has never loved, the marriage being one for money and social position engineered by Shero's mother. Willun King Baggot had already been married to a mulatto, unknown to anyone, and main- tains her silence by the threat that her child will be killed if she tells anything. A sweet thought. After willun has established himself as a thorough brute by a serious of atrocious incidents we have the wife leaving the house at night and going to the home of Crauford Kent, a former friend of willun's. Realizing that he cannot help her so long as she is the lawful wife of King, a thought impressed upon him by his aged mother, he bids her return. The next morning willun learns Shero and Kent have met the night before and threatens to kill him. They meet on the road and in a struggle, King is killed, the mulatto being a witness to the tragedy. Kent is sentenced for life but is pardoned at the end of five years through the efforts of Shero. He purposely avoids her upon leaving the prison and several years later we find him at a sanatarium where he has donated his professional services. Through a convenient co- incidence, the mulatto, heart-broken, finds her way to the place and realizing that she is about to die, sends for Shero. Upon Shero's arrival, the mulatto confesses to the murder, a vision explaining how she had really killed willun after Kent had left him for dead after their struggle. Shero meets Kent outside of the sanatarium and all ends happily. The vision explaining the killing was effectively handled by showing the shadows on the road of the mulatto beating willun, after which willun's body falls into the picture. Not pleasant to be sure nor are any of the wife-beating and atrocious incidents that precede it. but they have been well handled from a technical viewpoint. The point to be regretted is the fact that such technique and artistry were wasted on a story that is so undesirable, especially now. Too bad, also, that they had to bring King Baggot back to the screen after a long absence and hand him a brutal role like we get in this. Others in the cast were Florence Short, Helen Lind- roth and Maggie Breyer. % WILLIAM RUSSELL PRODUCTIONS, Inc. starring CURRENT RELEASE: *Up Romance RoAb* RELEASED TUROV6H MVTVAL EXCHANGES 3 ■iiilLJCTiyjrr ■■ m lM% 20 U/I *\* ] )AlUVr Sunday, September 29, 1918 They'll Probably Accept It But It's Heavy and Depressing The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Emily Stevens in If the producers have planned the production of this crrrv_. _ _ , on a "make-'em-like-it-whether-they-want-it-or-not" "K.ILDA.RE OF STORM' basis, I am confident that a few more along the same Aletro lines will convince them that they are wrong — -and it will be a costly experience. If they conscientiously be- lieve that the public wants this kind of material, then It's too bad that producers insist on wasting the it's up to you fellows to set them right by a series of efforts of capable directors and players on a subject intelligent letters direct to the big men in the organiza- that hasn't a semblance of audience appeal, even in tion. script form. jf y0U piay this, the best thing for you to do is to get Because this has been well handled throughout and all the business you can on the strength of the star and given an artistic production it will probably get by but support, emphasizing the artistic production and taking you can't make me believe that present-day audiences your chances on the after effect upon your audiences as want it. a result of the depressing theme. From a production standpoint, no one will be able to The "Kildare of Storm" title won't mean anything find fault with this but the grim theme of the story to your audiences as it fails to suggest the nature of itself, accentuated by the realistic detail brought out by the story or create a desire to find out. It's "just a title" the director, certainly isn't going to build for future and merely serves to distinguish this attraction from the business for the producer or star. ones you have played. PLAY A TRUMP AND WIN! Samuel Faulkner, of the Franklin Amusement Corporation, Oakland, Cal., in a letter to the George Kleine System, distributors for Essanay, says : 'The week just ended, featuring Charlie Chaplin in 'Triple Trouble', showed the biggest business ever done in the history of the Franklin Theatre. 'Triple Trouble' was not only an exceptional box office attraction, but proved thoroughly satisfactory to our audience." WE HAVE SCORES OF TELEGRAMS AND LETTERS LIKE THIS George Kleine System George K. Spoor, President Distributors Sunday, September 29, 1918 jMi DAILY 21 Artistic Production of Ordinary Story Saved By Kick at Finish Margarita Fisher in "MANTLE OF CHARITY" American Film Co. — Pathe, Dist'rs. DIRECTOR . . Edward Sloman AS A WHOLE Far=fetched idea lifted by atmo= sphere, handling and sure=fire comedy kick at finish. STORY Overdrawn but satisfying satire on mis= directed charities. DIRECTION Provided excellent atmosphere throughout and handled individual incidents effectively although players and action over= reached at times. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine LIGHTINGS. . . .Distinctive and classy; many good bits CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Excess weight discounts her beauty and "figger" and make=up on lips too heavy. SUPPORT Generally very good; some great types EXTERIORS Very good; tenement street set excellent. INTERIORS Generally very fine DETAIL Bad backing in office set and attempted comedy in office door inscriptions missed fire. CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet THE comedy fight at the finish of this saved it from being a very ordinary "movie." I figure that that wallop at the finish will discount the shortcomings in the far-fetched and frequently forced situations lead- ing up to it in such a way that the average gang will go out after seeing this with the feeling that they have been entertained. They had a flimsy and very much overdrawn story idea here, presenting Miss Fisher as an heiress and Jack Mower as a 'ansome 'ero also possessed of much wealth. They meet on a train, it having happened that both had been assigned the same stateroom through an error. 'Ero gets to the stateroom first and won't give it up, he won't, until he sees Margarita holding in her arms what he thinks is a baby. The "baby" is a Pekinese purp what Shero has camouflaged to look like a che-ild so she could carry him with her on the train. When Shero tells Hero that she is not married he figures that some mutt has betrayed her and she lets the impression stand with the result that he takes compassion on her and gives her a job in his charity mission. She soon learns that his idea of charity is all wrong and tells him so with the result that he gives her the air and she starts up a mission of her own in competi- tion. The climax is reached when a poor woman whom Shero has previously befriend d comes again for aid and Shero tells Hero if he was half a man he would beat up the woman's brutal husband. Hero and Shero accompany the woman to her tenement home and then we get the battle between the souse husband and Hero. After being knocked down several times Hero finally gets in a few telling blows and then they pull a whale of a twist by having the wife get Hero on the bean with a poker, knocking him cold. This has been put over in a way that should prove sure-fire with any audi- ence and really is the punch that saves the picture. After the beating, Shero nurses Hero's wound and takes him to the tenement room that she has occupied to help carry out her deception, where Her ^ learns that her "baby" is a purp and all ends happily. The aforementioned wallop that saved the story also saved Hero Jack Mower. He had a funny role in this that established him as a no-good guy at heart and nothing but that fight could have put an audience in a mood to accept him as the Hero of the piece at the finish. The tenement atmosphere in this was about as well handled as anything I have ever seen. The large street set was an accurate replica of New York's East Side and Director Ted Sloman succeeded in getting some wonder- ful types which helped to make the atmosphere con- vincing. The freckled-faced kid was "all boy" and will get many laughs. Miss Fisher's excess weight is a severe handicap which cannot be denied and discounted her performance in this considerably. Daniel Gilfeather was true to character as Shero's eruardian and Kate Price handled a minor role capably. Gordon Russell and Luella Maxim were the poor couple who combined forces to make a Hero out of Jack Mower. They "done" noble. Starring *n~ BLUSBlDD ^e^ure^ 22 TsbtJA DAIL.Y Sunday, September 29, 1918 Nothing to Rave About But They'll Accept It As Program Offering The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Margarita Fisher in ''MANTLE OF CHARITY" American Film Co. — Pathe, Dist'rs. While this is nothing to rave over and certainly can- not be classed as anything more than an acceptable program offering, I have a hunch that most audiences will consider it fairly entertaining. The offering has been given an artistic and unstinted production all the way which should serve to offset the over-drawn situations and the general shortcomings of the plot. While the title, "Mantle of Charity" fits the produc- tion satisfactorily, I think it would have had more kick and popular appeal if they had called it "Misdirected Charity." This conveys more meaning and a better suggestion as to the nature of the story at first glance. You might hit this angle in your ads : "Competition has improved many enterprises and products but did you ever hear of two charitable organi- zations competing with each other to see who could give away the most food to the needy? That's the twist in 'Mantle of Charity,' starring Margarita Fisher." "Did you ever try to smooth over a family quarrel? If you have, you'll probably know better next time but if you haven't, see Margarita Tisher in 'Mantle of Charity' before you try to settle any outside domestic tangles." The Virile and Sympathetic Personality of "BILL" DESMOND ■ will delight your audiences in "The Pretender" The story of a vagabond cowboy who makes good when he deceives for the sake of good fellowship. Directed 6p Cliff Smith Scheduled for early release TRIANGLE DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION NEW YORK Sunday, September 29, 1918 T&4& DAILY 23 Incidental Story Permits of Interesting Photographic Illusions Francis Ford in "THE GRAVING" M. H. Hoffman, Distr's DIRECTOR Francis Ford ASSISTED BY Jack Ford STORY AND SCENARIO BY Francis Ford CAMERAMAN Edward Cheller AS A WHOLE Weird story written to permit of mechanical effects and intricate multiple ex= posures. Is interesting and unique. STORY Centers about science and hypnotic in= fluence, with doubles brought in as delirious dream. DIRECTION Patience and skill of director and cameraman combined to obtain weird effects with multiple exposures. Story proper capa= bly handled. PHOTOGRAPHY Trick effects exceptionally well done. LIGHTINGS Generally very good CAMERA WORK Doubles timed and matched per= fectly. Showed skill and patience. STAR Did effective work although mechanics dominated offering. SUPPORT Satisfactory EXTERIORS Moorish atmosphere very good and battle stuff rather well done. INTERIORS Acceptable; not unusual DETAIL Trick stuff excellent. Story is incidental CHARACTER OF STORY Unique novelty; should interest all classes. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,000 feet IN this unique production, shown at the Broadway this week, Director Francis Ford has written a story to permit of some very unusual and at times bewilder- ing trick camera effects and while the story is incidental there is enough of it to make you feel that the trick stuff is logically brought in and I figure that it will prove an interesting diversion for any audience for that reason. The story concerns two rival scientists, experimenting on explosives. They meet, always being wary of each other and Hero Francis Ford, upon being offered a drink by Willun Peter Gerald, declines, telling willun of his conquered craving for liquor, and then we have a vision in which he explains the weird effect of his last de- lirium. This vision is really the feature of the production and has been so cleverly done that folks not versed on camera tricks will be overwhelmed with some of the unique illusions depicted. Among the stunts introduced is a double showing a girl crawling out of Ford's pocket, a group of nymphs dancing in and around his wine glass, etc. In some shots I counted as many as four distinct exposures and they were remarkably well timed so that Ford's actions kept in perfect harmony with the action of the minia- ture figures. One remarkably well-done shot showed four girls being poured out of a bottle into a wine glass where they apparently swam around. From here the action cut to show Ford diminished to the same size as the figures and he crawls after the girls into an over-turned bottle. Then they had a set, made to represent the in- side of the bottle, where we saw Ford beholding scores of nude women disporting at some distance in the back- ground. When the vision closed, they took up the story again, which was rather draggy and uninteresting after the novelty stuff that had gone before. Willun uses his hyp- notic influence to make Shero Mae Gaston, who is his ward, get a secret formula from Hero Francis. Hero also finds himself in willun's power and when he dis- closes the formula, he becomes his old self again, and takes to drinking as formerly. This permits of another vision, wherein Hero is shown two and three times in the same set, and his real self takes his spirit on a trip through the battlefields of Europe. Awakening from his delirium, he rushes to willun's laboratory, where Shero has been made pris- oner and there is a struggle in which willun is killed by an explosion. Hero rescues Shero and takes her to his home, where she is welcomed by his mother and brother, after which they finish with the clutch. Of course, this is a fantastical thing, and was pro- duced as such, but it is distinctly different from any- thing we have had recently and I think it will prove interesting to any audience. They liked it at the Broadway. In the cast were: Duke Waine and Jean Hatheway, 2A IlL/i^i^ PAlUy Sunday, September 29, 1918 Weird Trick Stuff Should Be Welcome Diversion From Routine Offering The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Francis Ford in knows how this stuff is obtained will tell you that it "Tf-TP CRAVTiNIC" requires inexhaustible patience and skill, as a slip in 111Lj v^rvi-v v ii^ivj timing any one of the exposures will spoil the entire M. H. Hoffman, Distr's shot, which may have to be done several times before the desired effect is obtained. This ought to prove a pleasing diversion from tne In advertising this I would concentrate upon the weird regular run of program attractions. In the old days photographic illusions entirely, explaining that this is an we used to get a lot of this trick stuff, mostly foreign, interesting story written to permit of marvelous photo- and we get a lot of it in present day slap-stick comedies, graphic effects never before shown in pictures, but this is entirely different because of the manner in In watching trick stuff in comedies, folks seldom which it is presented. worry about the mechanical effects, many times not A foreword title in this production calls attention to stopping to figure that the shot was tricked. This film the intricate photographic effects employed and this is calls particular attention to these illusions and brings really the feature of the offering and the angle to them before you in such a way that they are decidedly concentrate upon in your advertising. weird and interesting. The methods of obtaining the doubles in this are not I have a hunch that more features along the same line new. but Director Ford and his cameraman (who is en- as this will be welcomed by exhibitors and public alike, titled to a considerable share of the credit for this) have There is always a demand for something new, if it's introduced some very clever illusions and anyone who interesting. THE EXHIBITOR'S BIBLE IN CANADA is the Canadian Moving Picture Digest Every Saturday ... 100 per cent Circulation Head Office now at n ™?w,y^k °?.cf o Room 804, 17 West 44th Street 326 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario ernest shipman, Representative WID'S DAILY $1 75 BINDERS l— A binder keeps your copy orderly and makes it readily convenient for reference. Sunday, September 29, 1918 iMA DAILY 25 Elementary Plot Made Effective By Players and Handling Dorothy Dalton in "VIVE LA FRANCE" Ince=Paramount SUPERVISED BY Thos. H. Ince DIRECTOR R. William Neill AUTHOR H. H. Van Loan SCENARIO BY C. Gardner Sullivan CAMERAMAN John S. Stumar ART DIRECTOR G. Harold Percival AS A WHOLE Elementary plot with great war as back=ground, made forceful by artistry, per= sonalities of players and treatment. STORY Familiar basic idea made interesting by handling and timely settings. DIRECTION Provided convincing atmosphere and excellent battle stuff and made characters seem real. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine although duped weekly flashes jarred some. LIGHTINGS Generally very fine CAMERA WORK.... Very good; composition excellent STAR Pretty and appealing; made dramatic mo= ments convincing. SUPPORT Excellent throughout EXTERIORS Trench scenes great and exterior sets exceptionally well handled. INTERIORS Fitted atmosphere and looked real DETAIL Well handled but du d flashes were un- necessary and marred general effect. CHARACTER OF STORY. . Has timelv appeal LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet DIRECTOR ROY NEILL has taken some familiar situations in this and worked them together into a very interesting and unusually well-handled story of the present war. The basic idea of the dis- patch-bearer being wounded while on a mission to get certain important papers through the German lines, enabling Shero to deliver the papers to the French com- mander, is certainly not new but has been dressed up rather effectively as we get it here and embellished by minor situations and some excellent battle stuff which makes it really grip. Miss Dalton is presented in this as a moving picture actress who is doing Red Cross duty in France where she meets Edmund Lowe, a fellow artist, who is also in the service. The village where they are billeted is threatened and when the French commander calls for a volunteer to carry an important message through the lines of the advancing Germans, Lowe offers his services. After his departure the town is taken and Dorothy made prisoner in a neighboring Chateau, after having been branded with a hot iron upon refusing to submit to the German Captain's attentions. Hero is wounded and finds shelter in the same Chateau in which Shero has been left by the Germans who have taken the town. Shero recognizes -Hero and hides him in another room before the Germans come in and when they finally make a search, she begs them not to disturb the body of Hero, telling them that he is dead. After they have gone, Dorothy gets the dis- patch from his coat and succeeds in getting it to the French lines with the result that the tide is turned and the French regain the town in a fierce battle that follows. Later, after Dorothy has been decorated with the war cross for her bravery, she sees Hero, who has been in a French hospital, but his mind has been unbalanced by shell shock and he does not recognize her. His memory is finally restored when they are alone and she shows him the brand on her breast and they finish with the clutch. The "lost-memory" thing was rather a bromide to have been injected into this story and really only served to make footage as any audience will know that he is eventually going to regain his memory before we set the clutch. We had some very effective and impressive scenes where Dorothy is pleading with the German officer to spare the dead body of her lover and her re- fusal to drink a toast to the Kaiser. The battle stuff was exceptionally well done, although they gave us some close-ups of American soldiers which showed up the paper-mache trench helmets rather plainly. Edmund Lowe was a very pleasing and forceful hero and Miss Dalton was pretty and appealing throughout. Thos. Guise cave a convincing performance as the French commander, bearing a natural resemblance to our real General Joffre. Frederick Starr was sufficiently detestable as the Herman officer and Bert Woodruff was a good type as a French peasant. ^Sttticn* of Scae*e±\c±a£t ks tliat pe*son-w3i0is^woxkti£ to sxi&Ue tlxe cinema a*4 Secure £o± tne £ttt«t*e «r *•» •. •*■ 26 tMA DAILY Sunday, September 29, 1918 Glorifies Bravery of Red Cross Women and Should Merit Their Co-operation The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Dorothy Dalton in "VIVE LA FRANCE" Ince=Paramount This ought to register anywhere and I have a hunch that most folks will regard it as one of the most inter- esting stories bearing on the present war that we have had recently. This has not been produced in the nature of propaganda, although the brutality of the Germans has been convincingly brought out, being more of a narrative based on incidents that could and no doubt have happened many times in real life "Over There." It is certainly much more to be desired than some of the hastily thrown together spy mellers we have had recently, many of which are questionable in their pa- triotic appeal and decidedly lacking in plausibility and punch. Since Miss Dalton appears as a Red Cross nurse in this, it might be possible to get your local Red Cross interested in this to the point of combining forces with you to put it over. The offering effectively depicts the atrocities that are being committed by the Germans and glorifies the work of Red Cross women in France. If you can arrange a pre-view for your local Red Cross committee, I am sure that they will be glad to co- operate with you in putting this over, as it carries an undeniable appeal in this respect. Play up the name of Miss Dalton strongly as her ad- mirers will certainly like her work in this. "f ^ The only studio , concentrating on the production of features to the ex- clusion of all other details. Produc- tions made by con- tract- Perfect facil- ities for individual producing units with or without con- tractees supervision. The BRUNTON STUDIOS ROBERT BRUNTON COMPANY Melrose Avenue : : Los Angeles "By Your Works You A re Know n Recent Productions "Madam Who"1 "A Mans Man" "Patriotism'''' "Carmen of the Klondike'" "Turn of a Card" "Alimony" "The One Woman" "More Trouble" "'The Bells" "Sierra of the Sixties" "All Wrong" ♦.»»>*>♦>♦> ♦> »>♦>»>«»»> M »j» »> »> 4 "» ♦.» »> •> M ♦■> *>*>♦-•♦> »>♦>*>*>»>♦>♦>♦■>'» ♦,*♦ ♦♦♦♦>♦♦♦*♦%*♦♦ ♦V#wV#*W**W#«W#*V* ♦♦*♦*♦♦♦%♦♦♦♦*♦**♦♦♦♦'♦**♦*♦***♦♦♦♦ ♦♦*♦*♦ ♦V ♦*♦ f* W. A. S. DOUGLAS, President ♦V ft ft 1 ft & % ft •wSJ •>♦.♦♦>♦>♦>♦-♦♦-♦♦>♦-♦♦>♦>♦.♦♦>♦.< ♦**♦♦♦♦*♦*♦*♦♦♦♦♦*•*♦%♦*♦*♦*♦*♦♦♦*♦*♦*#♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦ DIANDO FILM CORPORATION GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA PRODUCERS OF MOTION PICTURES In Course of Production — ft Baby Osborne Features — Pathe — ♦♦ 4 "Wolf Face" a Western Serial— Patbe— ft »♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦♦♦♦* ♦*♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*^» LEON G. OSBORNE, V. P. and Treasurer j'| ft :.: 8 :.: ;.: :,: :.: ft % ♦♦ »,♦ ft ft :.: :.: ft ft :.: ft :.: ft j.: :.: ft ft ft Baby Marie Osborne Betty Compson Ora Carewe Mildred Reardon Ceorge Larkin Horace Carpenter "Tbe Pickaninny' Sunday, September 29, 1918 DUBMU IMIlli l lil*"'^ miillia i DA1LV 27 Daring Theme Presented in Glassy Atmosphere. Is Triumph for Star Gladys Brockwell in "THE STRANGE WOMAN" Victory — Fox DIRECTOR Edward J. LeSaint AUTHOR William J. Hurlbut SCENARIO BY J. Grubb Alexander CAMERAMAN Friend Baker AS A WHOLE Daring theme intelligently pre= sented in distinctive atmosphere with excellent cast. STORY Bold forceful treatment of marriage prob= lem, pivoting around couple who defied laws of matrimony. DIRECTION Gave this a distinctive, classy atmos= phere and hurdled rough spots effectively with characterizations carefully developed. PHOTOGRAPHY Artistic and clearly defined all the way. LIGHTINGS Distinctive CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Wonderfully appealing in role that was de= cided contrast to previous characterizations. SUPPORT William Scott excellent; Harry Depp, very good, and others balanced nicely. Excel= ient small=town types. EXTERIORS Very fine; many beautiful locations INTERIORS Fitted atmosphere; smalI=town detail very good. DETAIL. . . .Titles well worded but frequently too long CHARACTER OF STORY Daring theme but objec= tionable twists have been well handled. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,900 feet FROM a production standpoint, I think this ranks as one of the best Fox productions we have had for quite some time and I also believe that folks who have been following Miss Brock well's work regularly will consider this the best thing she has- ever done. It is no little accomplishment for a star who has specialized in "vamp" roles to do a sympathy character in a way that makes you believe it and it is also true that when an actress does succeed in doing this, her work appears all the more forceful because of the marked contrast from her previous characterizations. This is "drammer" all the way but it has a heart interest punch and a few lighter moments and the char- acterizations throughout have helped wonderfully to make this decidedly interesting despite the heavy and rather daring theme. The story has to do with a girl who had married a man who proved to be a despicable brute with the result that when he met his death and she later fell in love with another, she offered herself to Hero William Scott body and soul, but refused to again be tied by the bonds of matrimony because of her first experience. This occurs in France and when the couple, who are as happy and devoted as though they were legally married, return to Scott's home in Iowa, Miss Brockwell agrees to her lover's request that they keep their relations secret until she has succeeded in winning the love and confidence of Scott's mother. In the little village the gossips soon get busy and Shero's "low and behold" gowns not only cause talk but tempt one of the village beau brummels, who is married. Scott realizes that legal marriage is the only solution and leaves Shero to the test, promising to abide by her decision when he returns. In the meantime a book on "Free Love," which Shero had written, comes to the at- tention of the villagers and they decide to tell Scott's mother what kind of a woman Shero is. Shero confesses before they get in their work, however, and the mother, believing in her boy and really loving Shero, forgives everything. William Scott was admirably cast for the role of the lover, always keeping the character human and convinc- ing. Harry Depp, a former Keystone juvenile, was excep- tionally good as Scott's pal and his work in this should win him a permanent place in feature productions. The village types were well selected throughout, and although some folks may think some o'f the characters were overdrawn, this served to put over the desired thought and gave effective contrast. C. Raymond Nye, as the old bird who tried to get ruff with Shero, is deserving of special mention for a very good characterization and others in the cast were: Charles Clary, Ruby LaFayette, Ada Beecher, Eunice Moore, Grace Wood, Margaret Cullington. Lucy Dona- hue. Miss Billy Arnst, William Hutchinson. Miss Gerard Grassby and Louis Fitzroy. 28 tMA DAILY Sunday, September 29, 1918 Should Prove a Big Box Office Bet and Will Create Talk The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Gladys Brockwell in "THE STRANGE WOMAN" Victory — Fox This is a rather daring theme but has been produced in such a way that I can't figure how anyone can con- sistently raise any objections to this kind of a story being presented and if they do, you can alibi yourself by ex- plaining that this production enjoyed long runs on the speaking stage before being put into pictures. Just like the villagers in the picture who read the naughty book in order to determine whether or not it was naughty, the folks who may think this is rather risque in spots will enjoy seeing it just the same and it is apt to do many of them a lot of good and make them broader minded. I believe that this picture will show to increased business on each clay of its run, because it is the kind of a production that makes folks talk. I doubt if many folks will agree with the idea presented but it will at least give them something to think about and for that reason is entertaining and interesting. The Fox press book on this attraction sets forth some excellent eatchlines and ad suggestions and I want to compliment them for having given the exhibitor more real practical and effective advertising aids on this pro- duel ion than has come to my attention for a long time. There are some especially good eatchlines embodied inin the "set in type" ad suggestions, which can be eh a Dived around to suit your needs. This same style of copy could be carried out on your lobby posters to good advantage. IF You can afford to keep the news of YOUR PICTURES from 2,225 EXHIBITORS in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Indiana, then you are foolish to advertise in the PHOTOPLAY JOURNAL EVERY Noteworthy Producer, Distributor and State Right Seller cannot afford to overlook exhibitros in the four of the most profitable states in The Union, who read the PHOTOPLAY JOURNAL PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN CINCINNATI, O, Founded by J. ROBERT THOMAS in 1915 INTELLIGENTLY prepared continuity that * develops treatment yet keeps the story progress- ing will save you much worry and more money. I can prepare it— intelligently. My Phone is Yonkers 5492 ARTHUR EDWIN KROWS Sunday, September 29, 1918 jM^ DAILY 29 Ancient Plot Helped by Intelligent Direction that Kept it Human Montagu Love in "TO HIM THAT HATH" World DIRECTOR Oscar C. Apfel AUTHOR LeRoy Scott SCENARIO BY Wallace C. Clifton CAMERAMAN Alec Nilson AS A WHOLE Much involved and complicated plot made pleasing by skillful direction that kept it human despite age of situations. STORY Contained enough material for several complete five=reelers but direction kept it from running wild. DIRECTION Kept players human and deserves much credit for intelligent handling of shop= worn situations and many effective touches throughout. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied but generally satisfactory LIGHTINGS Generally too uniform and attempts for effects were discounted by tinting. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Forceful and sincere; made sympathy role convincing. SUPPORT Balanced nicely with Charley Jackson standing out noticeably. EXTERIORS Fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Some good; others ordinary DETAIL Both auto accidents fakey; otherwise very good. CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,963 feet NO one can consistently question the importance of a capable director after seeing this latest one of World's. Director Apfel has taken in this, a complicated plot that involved several counter-plots, none of which presented anything new in the way of situations, and has built them into an entertaining story by keeping the human note uppermost all the way. This impressed me as the best thing we have had from World since "Tinsel" which, by the way, was also Mr. Apfel's. It would take a page to summarize the entire plot, but briefly, it concerned a man who had served five years in prison on a larceny charge of which he was nut guilty, to protect the good name of ;i much-loved and respected mission worker who had dice] immediately after the robbery which lie had committed. The dead man, unknown to anyone, had Led a dual life and had been the vicitim of blackmail by a "vamp," having appropriated the mission's funds to maintain her silence. Hero Montagu's romance with Shero Gertrude McCoy is shattered by his confession and subsequent prison term and when he is released after serving lie obtains a room in a tenement and fosters a boy who had entered the room to rob him. Thoroughly discouraged by his inability to obtain work on account of his prison record, he finally gives in to a female crook across the hall who persuades him to do a "job" with her, she taking him for a sure-enough crook. The "job" is abandoned when Hero finds that his conscience will not allow him to become a thief and these peculiar qualities cause the dame to fall in love with him. He tells her he loves someone else. Later Hero gets a job with a real estate man, after saving him from an auto accident and a convenient twist of circumstances brings him back to Shero's home. Her father recognizes him as the burglar whom he had re- leased but Shero tells her father that she loves him. In the meantime the "vamp" who had blackmailed the dead man and later obtained money from Hero, bares the dead man's past and all ends satisfactorily. Director Apfel gave us a nice bit of suspense towards the end of this by his skillful handling of the characters of Shero and the female-crook. For a considerable period at this stage of the story there was a question as to who would come in for the clutch at the finish, both factions having been played for sympathy. P>efore we get the clutch, the she-crook is effectively disposed of by having her enlist for Red Cross work. We had several sure-fire sympathy wallops in this in the scenes between Hero and Charley Jackson, a boy who registered convincingly, and several minor inci- dents were handled effectively. Gertrude McCoy didn't have much to do until the finish but was rather appeal- ing when given the chance and Clio Ayers as the female- crook was very good. The "muff" on the real estate guy looked fakey. In the cast were: George DeCarleton. George Lessey. Reginald Carrington,- Marion Barney. Edward Elkas. Dean Raymond, Henry Hebert, Jack Ridgway. Henry West and John Sturgeon. Should Register Satisfactorily Because of Human Treatment The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Although this calls for considerable "Hearts and Flowers" music on the "Nux Vomica" stop, it has a human appeal that should make it a very satisfactory offering most anywhere. Certainly it registers as a far better offering than we have had from World in quite some time and if you have been playing this program regularly I am sure your folks will think it a decided improvement over what has gone before. We are told that this was adopted from "The Cross Bearer" but in changing the title they have still clung to a line which savors of the stained glass windows and I am certain that it is a poor box-office title for that reason. If you think I am right about this you might cook up a title of your own such as: "PRISON SHOES" (brought out in the picture). '•RIGHT IS MIGHT," "MORE SINNED AGAINST THAN SINNING" or "FATE'S INNING." I think the "Prison Shoes" thing carries the biggest kick and really has a bearing on the story for when Hero is trying to put his past behind him, his prison shoes reveal the fact that he is an ex-criminal, prevent- ing him from obtaining employment. This suggests several unique stunts in advertising and. to me. is a title that will create a desire or a curi- osity on the part of the prospective patron. I'm certain that it will pull more business than the title World has given the production. I would play up the name of Mr. Love in my adver- tising, mentioning some of his recent offerings, and would also mention the names of Gertrude McCoy and Charley Jackson, both of whom appear to good ad- vantage in this. 30 Jsi'd^ DAILY Sunday, September 29, 1918 HAVE YOU DONE YOUR DUTY? ARE YOUR REPORTS LISTED HERE? Box Office Reports The number before the name of the feature indicates the number of reports received and tabulated on that film. The first column carries the percentage of pleased patrons. The second column shows the box office percentage. Figures in the third column indicate that that many reported the film worth a return date. Included below are pictures made within the last year on which we have had five or more reports (I think you need that many for an average) and some pictures that are older than a year the rating of which averages over 80. They should be good "repeaters." All reports in this Percentage tabulation have been marked on this scale: Exceptional 100% Excellent 80% Good 60% Fair - 40% Poor 20% Bad 0% PARALTA Be- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 5 A Man's Man 82 78 6 His Robe of Honor 74 74 7 Blindfolded 53 48 ' 8 The Turn of the Card.. 88 75 1 5 Within the Cup 62 59 UNIVERSAL Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 5 The Price of a Good Time. 80 83 BLUEBIRD Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 8 Undine 79 86 8 8 The Silent Battle 78 84 5 The Price of Silence 87 85 5 The Bugrler of Algiers... 80 69 1 6 Mutiny 60 57 9 Mysterious Mrs. M 78 60 1 5 Polly Red Head 61 68 5 Hell Morgan's Girl 90 88 1 5 Kentucky Cinderella .... 68 57 MUTUAL Re- % % Bo- ports P- *• B. O. peat 8 Dulcie's Adventure 87 83 2 10 Faith 76 71 6 Miss Jackie of the Navy. 87 82 1 5 A Dream or Two Ago ... 81 87 8 The Innocence of Llzette 85 84 6 The Gentle Intruder 77 78 TRIANGLE Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 11 The Lamb 85 78 S 19 His Picture in the Papers 89 75 5 23 Peggy 94 91 15 19 Hell's Hinges 93 90 12 17 The Flying Torpedo 88 80 t 16 The Habit of Happiness. 89 85 5 17 Stepping Stones 85 75 2 21 The Good Bad Man 90 79 6 20 The Bugle Call 93 79 9 27 Reggie Mixes in 92 77 11 27 An Apostle of Vengeance 88 85 6 30 Flirting With Fate 87 86 11 24 Honor Thy Name 87 73 4 23 Home 91 80 9 24 The Social Secretary 89 75 8 20 The Wolf Woman 85 89 6 27 Manhattan Madness 94 92 12 22 Plain Jane 88 75 5 22 The Return of Draw Egan 88 87 8 19 A Corner in Colleens 88 80 7 21 Fifty-Fifty 89 83 6 16 American Aristocracy ... 92 89 9 15 The Devil's Double 91 91 7 21 The MatTimaniac 92 93 10 20 The Sin Ye Do 9"2 85 10 16 Truthful Tulliver 97 93 9 12 The Weaker Sex 88 83 4 16 The Americano 98 97 12 17 The Gun Fighter 78 86 11 16 Back of the Man 90 80 6 15 The Square Deal Man... 96 95 8 12 The Desert Man 92 92 12 The Pinch Hitter 93 71 8 11 Wolf Lowry 91 91 2 11 The Clodhoppers 94 81 8 9 The Flame of the Yukon. 94 92 8 6 Strange Transgressor 81 75 5 Time Locks & Diamonds. 42 38 19 The Aryan 83 83 6 6 Madcap Madge 73 53 6 11 A Hater of Men 73 64 FIRST NATIONAL % % ports P. F. B. O. 7 A Dog's Life 100 97 8 Tarzan of the Apes 89 87 6 My Four Years In Ger- many 98 80 5 Fall of the Romanoffs... 62 64 6 Alimony 67 56 5 A Daughter of Destiny. . 88 58 WORLD Re- % % Re- ports P. P. B. O. peat 7 Camille 86 79 8 5 The Yellow Passport 82 80 2 11 All Man 59 63 2 7 Broken Chains 50 43 12 The Rise of Susan 79 83 6 6 The World Against Him. 52 43 10 Woman Alone 67 65 7 On Dangerous Ground... 65 71 7 The Man Who Forgot... 54 71 5 The Bondage of Fear 65 63 8 Tillie Wakes Up 79 78 8 The Hungry Heart 87 83 9 The Square Deal 66 69 3 A Girl's Folly 65 75 5 The Red Woman 49 48 5 The Family Honor 66 61 9 The Dancer's Peril 71 67 5 The Social Leper 65 65 5 The Page Mystery 55 57 PERFECTION Re- ports % P.P. % Re- B. O. peat 7 Graustark 85 91 11 The Ne'er Do Well 91 77 6 The Prince of Graustark 85 81 11 Skianer's Dress Suit 93 83 5 Skinner's Bubble 86 75 7 Filling His Own Shoes.. 58 65 6 The Man Who Was Afraid 77 69 7 Skinner's Baby 87 84 5 Efficiency Edgar's Court- ship 70 51 5 Ruggles of Red Gap 80 46 5 The Unbeliever 93 90 PATHE Re- ports % P. P. B. O. Re- peat 6 Excuse Me 90 73 1 6 Madame X 71 91 8 8 Little Mary Sunshine 90 78 1 7 The Shine Girl 73 64 8 Shadows and Sunshine. . 63 78 8 7 Joy and the Dragon 78 71 1 5 Her New York 82 62 t 6 Kick In 78 71 1 Sunday, September 29, 1918 W*\' 31 PARAMOUNT Re- ports % % P. P. B. O. Re- peat 7 Xess of the Storm Coun- try 88 88 2 11 Wlldflower 89 82 6 7 The Crucible 92 84 3 6 The Sign of the Cross... 79 85 9 Cinderella 84 91 4 5 The Goose Girl 95 95 4 6 David liar u in 82 78 1 6 Pretty Sister of Jose 84 82 2 7 Dawn of a To-morrow.. 83 88 1 6 Chimmy Fadden 91 75 1 6 Kindling 81 82 10 Seven Sisters 84 83 1 11 Rags 91 93 5 8 Helene of the North 87 81 2 6 A Girl of Yesterday 89 88 3 12 Carmen 82 83 4 13 Still Waters 92 90 7 9 Madame Butterfly 82 86 3 7 Bella Donna 92 77 4 5 Chimmy Fadden Out West 88 76 8 Gentleman From Indiana 86 78 10 Prince and the Pauper.. 82 87 8 18 The Cheat 84 80 12 10 The Old Homestead 88 84 7 8 Mice and Men 84 80 S 15 Trail of the Lonesome Pine 75 87 3 10 Out of the Drifts. . . .89 86 4 14 Poor Little Peppina 88 84 8 10 Molly Make Believe 87 82 6 16 Maria Rosa 81 80 4 23 Silks and Satins 85 88 16 35 Hulda from Holland 95 94 25 25 Little Lady Eileen 87 89 10 18 Ashes of Embers 85 83 7 14 Miss George Washing- ton 95 95 11 6 The Roadside Impresario 48 34 21 Snow White 95 95 It 7 Heir of the Asres 34 36 7 At First Sight 53 41 8 The Highway of Hope... 88 34 5 The Little Boy Scout 64 53 7 Forbidden Paths 89 38 9 Hashimura Togo 70 60 7 What Money Can't Buy.. 42 50 8 The Amazons 97 91 10 Mysterious Mrs. Terry.. 80 78 7 The Law of the Land 40 46 6 The Varmint 77 65 0 The Hostage 68 59 5 Little Miss Optimist 32 S3 7 The Ghost House 60 61 9 Double Crossed 74 63 6 The Trouble Buster 48 51 JO Bab's Diary 93 87 10 The Call of the East 52 47 5 Tom Sawyer 87 82 2 6 The Hired Man 76 63 5 Clever Mrs. Carfax 56 47 6 Keys to the Righteous.. 50 38 6 Bah's Burglar 91 79 1 5 Molly Entangled 60 62 11 Playing the Game 80 65 6 Madame Jealousy 55 47 9 One More American 77 64 12 Sunshine Nan 64 68 6 Wild Youth 73 68 9 La Tosca 65 63 10 Rich Man— Poor Man.... 67 63 6 Love iVIe 61 62 8 Eve's Daughter 66 62 7 Huck and Tom 93 91 7 The Family Skeleton... 58 67 9 Naughty — Naughty 67 60 6 The Honor of His House 74 67 5 The House of Silence.... 74 71 5 Mlle-a-MInute Kindall. . 86 58 6 Prunella 76 65 FOX Re- ports % P. P. % B. O. Re- peat 5 A Fool There Was 84 97 2 5 Should a Mother TeU 85 75 9 Two Orphans 85 87 4 6 A Soul of Broadway 85 80 2 6 Destruction 76 90 1 6 The Serpent 92 93 1 11 The Eternal Sapho 84 87 4 22 East Lynne 86 85 9 18 Man From Better Bootes 82 81 2 27 Under Two Flags 95 92 17 19 Her Double Life 84 84 6 12 Romeo and Juliet 86 86 5 7 The New York Peacock.. 83 79 6 A Tale of Two Cities 97 83 4 5 Alladin's Lamp 68 69 5 The Birebrand 64 34 ARTCRAFTi Re- % % ports P. P. B. O. 16 Poor Little Rich Girl. ... 97 15 Broadway Jones 94 15 In Again — Out Again... 86 9 A Reckless Romeo 89 10 The Little American 94 12 Wild and Wooley .... 96 8 A Roughhouse 96 11 Down to Earth 91 10 Barbary Sheep 80 9 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm 99 99 9 Man From Painted Post 91 94 6 Oh Doctor I 82 84 6 The Narrow Trail 89 94 ". The Woman God Forgot 86 82 5 The Rise of Jenny Cush- ing 67 56 6 Stella Maris 82 84 6 Blue Blazes Raw den 79 79 lOHeadin' South 81 73 5 Wolves of the RaU 88 89 10 Amarilly of Clothesline Alley 89 86 9 The Whispering Chorus. 76 67 X The Blue Bird 78 66 7 The Tiger Man 84 80 9 Mr. 88 80 5 Hit-the-Trail Holliday.. 94 62 Re- peat 96 11 82 6 87 5 78 2 94 3 96 4 93 2 91 72 METRO Re- % % ports P. P. B. O. 6 The Soul of a Woman... 93 80 5 What Will People Say... 80 84 6 A Man and His Soul 83 83 8 The Wall Between 78 82 15 The River of Romance. . 87 76 10 Mr. Fourty Four 88 93 13 The White Raven 86 81 14 The Promise 82 84 7 The Slacker 98 90 <; The Haunted Pajamas... 83 74 5 The Greatest Power 42 52 5 Aladdin's Other Lamp... 51 50 5 The Soul of Magdalene.. 44 48 5 Under Handicap 83 70 5 The Avenging Trail 73 73 9 Revelation 93 86 "SERIALSSi;-" Re- % % ports P. P. B. O. 14 Patria 84 77 5 Liberty 91 92 10 The Iron Claw 93 92 9 The Shielding Shadow... 91 92 GOLDWYN Re- ports % P. P. % B. O. Re- peat 14 Polly of the Circus 92 89 11 Baby Mine 82 66 6 Fighting Odds 29 32 7 The Danger Game 65 57 6 The Floor Below 70 59 11 The Face in the Dark.. 71 67 9 Joan of Plattsburg 71 62 8 The Fair Pretender 69 54 5 Our Little Wife 64 43 5 The Beloved Traitor 59 53 VITAGRAPH Re- ports % % P. P. B. O. Re- peat 14 The Battle Cry of Peace. 96 16 God's Country and the Woman 81 9 The Island of Regenera- tion 84 6 Green Stockings 88 13 The Combat 79 8 My Official Wife 90 6 Within the Law 99 6 Message of the Mouse... 71 6 The Stolen Treaty 66 9 Over the Top 87 83 86 83 6 88 2 81 1 82 4 97 1 73 66 81 6 SELECT Re- ports % % Re- P. P. B. O. peat 16 The Common Law 83 6 The Easiest Way 88 6 The Lone Wolf 87 8 Poppy 68 5 The Law of Compensation 74 7 The House of Glass 76 6 Ghosts of Yesterday 80 8 Up the Road With Sally 87 6 The Marionettes 78 6 The Studio Girl 70 6 The Honeymooners .... 72 7 The Reason Why 69 8 The Shuttle 76 10 De Luxe Annie 93 5 The Floor Below 68 90 5 87 2 75 1 79 70 58 73 2 69 60 66 66 63 72 72 1 56 Re- peat Re- peat SPECIAL FEATURES Re- ports % % Be- P. P. B. O. peat 7 Birth of a Nation 100 100 8 The Libertine 83 81 7 The Eternal City 93 96 6 Little Girl Next Door 77 88 8 Where Are My Children. 79 84 5 Alice in Wonderland.... 76 86 5 The Eyes of the World. . 89 72 6 Womanhood 86 84 9 The Barrier 90 81 5 On Trial 88 76 6 Daughter of the Gods. 70 65 6 The Woman and the Law 84 58 6 The Honor System 79 67 MUTUAL-CHAPLIN Re- ports % P.P. % B. O. Re- peat 6 The Floorwalker 89 90 16 The Count 88 86 7 Behind the Scene 89 91 9 The Rink 96 99 8 Easy Street 95 100 14 The Cure 9* 9S 6 The Adventurer 96 96 32 2^ DAILY Sunday, September 29, 1918 A Whale As Entertainment. Human, Sincere, Funny; Really Delightful Will Rogers hi "LAUGHING BILL HYDE" Goldwyn Production DIRECTOR Hobart Henley AUTHOR Rex Beach CAMERAMAN Arthur Cadwell ART DIRECTOR Hugo Ballin AS A WHOLE Exceptionally human and sincere characterizations with splendid treatment and atmosphere, and wonderful titles. STORY Principally effective because characters convinced and rang true. DIRECTION Made Rogers wonderful and gave kick to it all because types and atmosphere were made real. Intelligent use of c!ose=ups helped decidedly. PHOTOGRAPHY Splendid, with some excellent effects. LIGHTINGS Generally very pleasing in closeups, with some very nice silhouettes. CAMERA WORK. . .' Generally very good STAR Registered exceptionally big because of sin= cerity and naturalness. Has great smile. SUPPORT Excellent types,. kept well in character EXTERIORS Splendid, nicely, some quite effective INTERIORS Very good DETAIL Many delightful little touches CHARACTER OF STORY Will win any type of audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,790 feet ZOWIE! Boys, get sot! If you don't knock 'em dead with this, you're siek. There just ain't no excuse why you should miss fire on this one. It's a bear! ! Director Hobart Henley jumped funny old Bill Rogers right Tip into the big league on his first time out. Who- ever had the happy thought of picking our trick rope nionolojiist for Rex Beach's story, certainly deserves a red apple because, boys, he just naturally belongs in that character. But, boys, don't overlook the fact that despite Bill's being fitted for the part, and Mr. Beach having written a great lot of titles to go with the good story, it was necessary for Hobart Henley to take our bii mm-chewing cowboy and make him act natural, and I'm telling you that it's some job to get anyone to act natural the first time they step out in front of the old one-eyed monster that the camera man grinds. Everyone who knew anything about Bill Rogers has been wondering what would happen when Bill got be- fore a camera. It's happened! But full credit must be given to the director for easing the way for Bill. If you have never been in front of a movie camera your- self, just stop and consider how much all our great per- sonages act as you see them in the news weeklies when they are being filmed. There's something about that staring lens that makes you very self conscious, and it's tedious work to keep anyone from "actin'." The casual person who might see funny old Bill in this would say, "Isn't he natural?" He sure is, and that's real art, combined with a lot of patience aud hard work on the part of both Mr. Rogers and Mr. Henley. Bill's smile is great but it was work to make it seem so easy. The story has to do with an escaped convict who befriends a little Indian girl, and a doctor who had be- friended him when he meets them in Alaska, with dram- mer provided by the willuns who were stealing the gold from Indian beauty's claim, and Bill, who was some crook himself, double crosses the tough guys so that everything panned out all right. The story holds perfectly, because it is tilled with human touches, sincere characterization, and Mr. Beach has provided one of the most delightful set of titles that I have ever seen in any film. I have an idea that many people will think that Mr. Rogers is responsible for many of these titles because lie is known as a wit, but I made special inquiry as to this and was informed that Mr. Beach had written most of the titles with two m furnished by the star. "Whoever wrote any of them, I'm telling you, they're great. Anna Lehr. as the Indian girl, was powerful good- looking for an Indian, but just the same she was en- tirely in character and surely played the part perfectly. Every character, down to the bits, was beautifully done, and riftht here and now I want again to mention the 1' ct that I think Hobart Henley is one of the most capable directors in the business when it comes to pick- ing types and registering characterizations that really convince. This holds true both for comedy touches and human bits of pathos. In the east were John Sainpolis, Clarence Oliver, Mabel Ballin, Joseph Herbert, Robert Conville and Dan Mason. Get This and Make a Lot of Noise. It's a Cleanup and Will Please The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor tier going, boys, and put this over with a Avallop. You've got a wonderful opportunity here, and if you uon't cash-in, in a big way, you've got nobody to blame 0111 yourself. You may feel that nobody in your town knows Bill Rogers. Maybe they don't, but it's up to you to so ad- vertise Bill that the fellow who doesn't know who he is will feel that he is the only one in a million who doesn't, and feel sure that somehow his education has been sadly neglected. You can get some attention, and might start something by pulling an ad with a heading: LATEST ZIi:<;iTi:LI> BEAUTY TO BECOME SCREEN STAR, and then use a cut of Bill. Rex Beach's name is a sure-fire box office asset, and you can safely promise that this is one of the finest Beach pictures that has yet been offered. I have a lot of respect for "The Barrier" and "The Spoilers," and both sure had some great melodramatic kicks, but I have a hunch that there will be as many people who like this as well as they did the other two, while some will like it much better. It just naturally wins you. Don't overlook the mention of Hobart Henley's name as the director, because Henley has done some good things in the past, and you can mention the ones which you have played, and you can use the same principal with him as you do with Rogers, in that, if you speak of Henley as a great director, the fellow who is not familiar with his name will feel that it is his fault and not Henley's. The title has genuine box office value for the public anxious for comedy, and you can go back of this with a personal guarantee, feel safe in the knowledge that your fans are going to come out very much pleased. You needn't worry about them likin' it. The thing for you to worry about is to be sure you get 'em in. Don't sit still and hope. Go to it and work. With the same intelligent handling and another good character, Bill Rogers can be made in a very short time one of our most popular stars. People do love human characterizations. All right, boys, let's go! For Foreign Rights, Apply to HILLER & WILK, Longacre Building New York City "V iSKlags^**' ,...,,.„.l.llr le Firat 5tep k\ the Climb for Ne^r Honors From the Broadway Sucees5 by Loui5K-An^packer ^hie first of tho series' of ei^ht happy pictures £tan'in< "By all odds the best production in which this attractive young actress has ever appeared." — N. Y. Morning Telegraph. Now available at all General Film Exchange? Through the Bodkins'on Service — Lillian Walker Picture? Corporation LESTER PARK, PRE5IOENT ■ p>01 Fifili Avenue, New Yoi-K Citrv- 7/pBRADSTREET of FILMDOM Authority Vol. V, No. 143 Monday, September 30, 1918 Price 5 Cents $1,000,000,000 IN BONDS PLEDGED Dinner Date Settled Industry Promises One Sixth of Loan Total- Fifteen Thousand Theatres in Line for Drive The motion picture industry expects to prove conclusively and beyond all doubt its right to the title, "The World's Fifth Greatest Industry," dur- ing the Fourth Liberty Loan Cam- paign just started. To that end it has pledged itself to obtain $1,000,000,000 in subscriptions for the Fourth Liberty Loan which is one- sixth of the entire loan. Approxi- mately fifteen thousand moving pic- ture theatres and thousands of per- sons connected with the producing, distributing and other departments of the industry have been mobilized for the greatest drive ever undertaken by the motion picture industry. Every theatre in the country, under the plan of campaign worked out by the National Association of the Mo- tion Picture Industry, will be con- verted into a recruiting station for Liberty Bond subscribers, while thou- sands of prints of the thirty-seven Lib- erty Loan films contributed by the industry's stars will serve as silent salesmen to promote the sale of bonds. Arrangements have been made for the appearance of four minute men speak- ers in nearly all of the theatres, and the exhibitors will co-operate with lo- cal Liberty Loan committees in ar- ranging for the taking of subscriptions in their houses. All subscriptions re- ceived in this manner willbe credited to the sum which the industry has promised to obtain for the Fourth Lib- erty Loan. It is expected that the double con- tribution which the motion picture in- dustry will make to the Fourth Lib- erty Loan Campaign will demonstrate for all time the essential part the in- dustry is playing in the government's "Win the War Quick" program. Gov- ernment officials who have seen the Liberty Loan films made and con- tributed by the stars have stated that they expect these pictures to be one of the most powerful selling agencies to be used throughout the campaign. The Treasury Department is so well pleased with the results obtained in the filming of the Liberty Loan stories that it has planned to place the great- est reliance upon the Liberty Loan Specials as selling' agencies. Those films will supplant i.i a large measure the large army of speakers who trav- eled about the country in the previous campaigns, although local speakers will continue to be used in all cities and towns. Hundreds of copies of these films will be used by Liberty Loan work- ers in meetings to be held in school houses, churches, public halls and other meeting places, and it is ex- pected that a total of more than 10,- 000,000 persons will be reached each day of the campaign with the screen Liberty vLoan appeals. British Government to Erect Studio The British Ministry of Information in London has requested and received from Famous Players-Lasky plans of one of this company's largest and most modern studios at Fort Lee, N.J. These plans will be utilized in con- nection with the erection of a plant in England for making of propaganda pictures for the British government. In addition to sending the plans, Adolph Zukor has advised Lord Bea- verbrook of the British Ministry, that the Famous Players-Lasky organiza- tion will be glad to lend whatever de- partment heads might be needed, free of charge. New Universal Serial Universal announces that arrange- ments have been made for the release of the first episode of "The Lure of the Circus," featuring Eddie Polo, on November 4. The tide of this episode, which was to have been "Under the Big Top," has been changed to "The Big Tent." There will be eis^'een episodes in all. Universal will als~> release on tm day, the new Lois Weber production, "Borrowed Clothes. ; The title was originally "Orange Blossoms." The Time, Friday, Oct. 11— The Place, Astor Ballroom The A. M. P. A. and N. A. M. P. I. have finally come to an agreement regarding the Victory Dinner which it will be remembered was originated by the advertisers a few months ago. The joint committee has decided on Fri- day evening, October 11, as the date for the occasion and the place, the As- tor ballroom. The dinner will, therefore, be during the Exposition week. The tickets will be $6 each. The two organizations ex- pect the occasion to be a gala affair at which will be present many famous personages in political and diplomatic life. Hall Back With Mutual Ray L. Hall, who was loaned to the government for service in the Division of Films of the Committee on Pub- lic Information in July, has returned to his old love, that of news editor of Mutual Screen Telegram. He be- gan work in this capacity last week at the New York office. Mr. Hall in his duties for the government, organ- ized the department under him as manager of production, and handled the Official War Review. Metro Players on Location Metro's cast for "Wilson or the Kaiser," is moving to a village in Pennsylvania, where they are to take some Alsatian scenes. The village, the name of which Metro withholds, is said to be typically twelfth century in appearance, and many choice loca- tions are expected. Charles Millier is directing this. Berst Aids Merritt Boys J. A. Berst, president of the United Picture Theatres, has lent his co- operation to the boys of Camp Mer- ritt, who are producing a show en- titled "Good Luck Sam," something on the order of "Yip Yip Yaphank." They will use a portion of the United .n f' .lecca Building for their ,vork, thereby saving a rental fee. Nazimova and her "Red Lantern" troupe have returned- from Boston. Monday, September 30, 1918 tt)t_uld be closed down, but this was deniel yester.iay by Whitman Ben- nett, production manager for Famous I'layers-Lasky. Works of Sholem Aleichem Will Be Produced by The Zion Films, Inc. Engaged for Another John Ince to Direct Bushman- Bayne Film Not Yet Named John Ince has been engaged by Metro Pictures Corp. for a new Bush- man-Bayne picture, the title of which i« not definite. "The Gay and Festive Claverhouse," which was to follow "Miss Moneybags," has been post- poned for a later date. King Baggot has been engaged to play the leading male part, that of Christopher Brent, for 'The Man Who Stayed Home." The story is by Lechmore Worrall and J. E. Harold Terry, scenario by June Mathis, and will be directed by Herbert Blache. This is the same play which was produced last year at the Forty-eighth Street theatre. The writings of the late Sholem Aleichem, known as the "Jewish Mark Twain," will be adapted to motion pic- tares by the Zion Films, Inc., 1164 Broadway. Contracts with the au- thor's widow were closed recently. Work on the first production, a two-reel picture, will begin next week. The corporation will spare no expense to make these pictures of high qual- ity. A cast of noted stars is being selected, the humorist's widow herself playing an important role in engag- ing the most important characters for the screen adaption of her husband's work. If Sholem Aleichem films meet with success the writings of other noted Russian and Jewish writers will also be adapted to the screen. Ar- rangements are being completed for a showing of the first film at a popu- lar Broadway motion picture house. The officers of the corporation are Solomon Adler, president; Elias Can- tor, of Boston, vice-president; E. Walitzky, treasurer, and E. Jacobson, secretary. "Success" Completed The second Taylor Holmes feature, "Success," a film adaptation of the western comedy, "When the High- brow Joined the Outfit," by Nina Wil- cox Putnam and Norman Jacobsen, has just been completed and is now in the editing department at the Tri- angle studios. Director Lawrence C. Windom and his star are now await- ing a new vehicle. Increase Studio Space With all the Goldwyn stars in the midst of productions, the Fort Lee studio has become too limited to ac- commodate Geraldine Farrar, Madge Kennedy, Mae Marsh, Tom Moore and Mabel Normand and maintain the schedule of releases promised. To overcome this difficulty, what is prac- tically a new and separate studio has been built on the "lot." Where once stood the Alexandrian street and tem- ple created for Mary Garden's "Thais" there is now a structure of another kind. It is a frame building 100 feet square, and is in no sense an open air studio. Roofed and equipped with a full complement of lights, it offers every facility for production found in the studio proper. Theda Bara arrived in New York from the Coast last Saturday morn- ing. J. Gordon Edwards. Miss Bara's director, came a ay earlier. Sales In Theatres Ward Organizations Locking After Sales in Chicago Houses CHICAGO.— Commencing Oct. 12 subscriptions for Fourth Liberty Loan Bonds will be taken in every motion picture theatre in Chicago. Prior to that date the ward organiza- tions will have direct charge of the sales in theatres and each organiza- tion has appointed a captain for each theatre. These captains will work in co-operation with the theatre man- agers. Peter J. Schaefer, chairman of the theatrical division, has issued the fol- lowing notice to all theatre managers: "In accordance wvth the ruling- adopted by the Liberty Loan Com- mittee and the Theatrical Committee, for the sale of Liberty Bonds, I de- sire to inform you that the ward or- ganizations in the ward in which your theatre is located will have full au- thority to solicit for Liberty Boners n your theatre. Kindly co-operat. with the ward organizations which will appoint a captain in your the- atre, who will solicit all subscriptons. "It is our intention beginning Oct. 12, which is the last week of the drive, lo have women sell to audiences in your theatre. This arrangement will give the ward organizations a chance to canvass every precinct in their re- spective wards." Arthur Oliver Resigns Arthur Oliver, who has been pub- icity director of the Frank A. Keeney Pictures Corp. since that organization was launched, has resigned. Mr. Oliver has not made known his plans for the future. Alex Stoneman Dies Alex Stoneman, of Boston, connect- ed with the Metro exchange, died of Spanish influenza and pneumonia last week. Alex Stoneman was a brother of Dave Stoneman, who is well known on account of his activity in film. circles in Boston. Tuesday, October 1, 1918 DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDB DENIG, Editor llutered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Xerms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. ■Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S OAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telepiione: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Cuts and Flashes Mrs. Mason, of the Clement Mason Super Features of Sydney, Australia, is now in New York being entertained by Sidney Garrett, of J. Frank Brock- liss, Inc. The name of June Mathis should have been given as that of the author of "The Successful Adventure," re- viewed in a recent issue. Nathan Hirsh, president of the Pi- oneer Film Corp., has sold the foreign lights to "Wives of Men,'* the Flor- ence Reed production, to the Inter- ocean Film Corp. Three hundred members of the F. I. L. M. Club attended last night's per- formance of Alice Brady in "Forever After," at the Central theatre. The function was in honor of Miss Brady's return to the legitimate, and for Wm. Brady, who is president of the club. The picture that Glady Brockwell has just completed for Fox has been named "The Sneak." The production was made at Hollywood under the direction of Edward J. Le Saint. The story was written by J. Grubb Alex- ander. C. L. Chester has left New York on a trip that will carry him to the Pacific Coast, in the interests of a multiple-reel ship building picture which he is to make under the super- vision of the Division of Films, Com- mittee on Public Information. A very thorough exposition of America's great ship undertaking is contemplat- ed, and the scenario calls for scenes showing how the materials from which the victory fleet is being con- ed nre obtained. WHAT COAST FOLKS ARE DOING Government Board of Film Review Estab- lished— William Desmond Leaves Triangle LOS ANGELES.— All the stars who are producing independently are gath- ered together at Brunton Studios these days. Included are Sessue Hayakawa, Helen Keller, Kitty Gordon, Frank Keenan, Mme. Yorska, Lillian Walker, Dustin Farnum, Gloria Joy, and Charles Gunn; also Bessie Barriscale and Louise Glaum. Rumor has it that Kathleen Clifford will soon also be on the ground. The first member of the new Gov- ernment Board of Film Review to be established in Los Angeles is Mrs. Powell Schley, at present head of the reading department at Universal City, from which position she will resign to take up her new duties. The duties of the Film Board of Review are under- stood to be the careful inspection of all films made in Los Angeles and the elimination of all scenes apparently pro-German or anti-American in their propaganda effects. A new method of tinting pictures has been discovered by the Sanborn Laboratories at Culver City, and one of the first stars to take advantage of the invention is Julian Eltinge, who will use the process to tint some of the more important scenes of "Over the Rhine," now being made at the Gordon Street Studios in Hollywood, under the direction of Fred Balshofer. William Desmond has left Triangle and is considering two or three other picture offers. The William Russell company is still up at Bakersfield in the newest Rus- sell production, "Where the West Be- gins," by Stephen Fox. A long dis- tance telephone call from Mr. Russell informs the world at large that the arrival of his company in Bakersfield was the only opposition encountered by Barnum & Bailey's Circus, which happened to show there the day fol- lowing. In fact the Russell company plus its three cars of live stock and props and its fifty cowboys, gave rise to the rumor that a rival circus had come to town. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle has gone to Catalina to make his newest pic- ture, and it is understood some under- the-sea stuff is to be introduced. With autoless Sundays almost a na- tional issue, Douglas Fairbanks has disposed of his automobile and a fast trotting, racing pony, used in scenes of "Arizona," his new picture, has taken its place. Fairbanks was the first in Los Angeles to go driving in his handsome carriage. Introducing this new custom brings back the days when Fairbanks was a legitimate star, when he introduced something new in each starring vehicle. He was the first to wear an evening suit made of light blue material, rather than the conventional funeral black, at a stage social function. Fairbanks improved on this in another play, by adding jet black buttons to the same outfit. Things are humming at the National Film Corporation's Hollywood studio these days. Co-directors Bess Mere- dyth and Wilfred Lucas are busy on a five-reel Billie Rhodes De Luxe fea- ture entitled "The Springtime of Youth," a circus story from the pen of Miss Meredyth. Director Louis Wm. Chaudet is using the megaphone on a "Smiling Bill" Parsons' comedy. The jovial William himself is pretty busy, too, being leading man and pro- duction manager at the same time in the absence of Production Manager Bernstein, who is in New York con- summating the sale of the first Billie Rhodes De Luxe Feature, "The Girl of My Dreams," and the five-reel fea- ture, "And a Still Small Voice," starr- ing Henry B. Walthall. It is said Wal- thall's work in this picture is the best he has done since "The Birth of a Nation." Bertram Bracken is respon- sible for this production. Big Foreign Deal Export and Import Co. Sells Sixteen Mutual Features for South America Ben Blumenthal, president of the Export & Import Film Company, has consummated a deal whereby sixteen Mutual features have been sold for South American territory. The sale was made to the Western Import Company for Brazil and to Max Glucksmann for Argentine, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile. The pictures sold are as follows: "Reputation," "Queen X." "Daughter of Maryland," "Who Loved Him Best," "American Maid," "Her Sec- ond Husband," all with Edna Good- rich; "The Richest Girl," "Please Help Emily," "The Outcast," "The Beautiful Adventure," "My Wife" and "The Imposter," with Ann Murdock; "The Unforeseen," "Her Sister," "The Girl and the Judge," with Olive Tell; and "The Runaway," with Julia San- derson. WeCatiTellYouVhereToIteachThem--PhODeVaiidfiri)ilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN WID'S DAILY IS READ NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD YORKE— METRO BERT LYTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY of the VITAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE RUTH ROLAND Astra-Pathe STARRING IN "HANDS UP" WILLIAM RUSSELL William Russell Productions, Inc. 6035 Hollywood Blvd., L. A. MILTON SILLS GOLDWYN CO. ANITA STEWART VITAGRAPH FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear once each week on Tuesday. Tuesday, October 1, 1918 Appealing Star in Unique Story With Heart Interest Wallop May Allison in "THE RETURN OF MARY" Metro SUPERVISED BY George D. Baker DIRECTOR Wilfred Lucas AUTHOR Hale Hamilton SCENARIO BY George D. Baker CAMERAMAN William E. Fildew AS A WHOLE Unusual story with good twists made delightful entertainment by treatment and players. STORY Has several surprise kicks and a forceful dramatic climax and happy ending. DIRECTION Provided good atmosphere and de- veloped suspense effectively with several ex= cellent bits of pathos and a forceful climax. Made it hold all the way. PHOTOGRAPHY Very good LIGHTINGS Generally pleasing CAMERA WORK Composition pleasing and dis= solves very well done. STAR Delightful, appealing personality, has cute mannerisms and gave good contrast in time lapse. SUPPORT Darrell Foss did surprisingly well; Frank Brownlee forceful although a little in= dined to act. Others very good. EXTERIORS Pleasing INTERIORS. . Generally very good DETAIL Many effective touches CHARACTER OF STORY Wholesome entertain- ment for any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet BOYS, this registers! We have a very good story idea here, played by a pleasing cast that kept it human and Director Lucas has handled his situa- tions in a way that made them hold, injecting effective bits of pathos throughout with a touch of delightful comedy here and there, all working up to a climax that really gripped because it rang true. The unique plot in this concerns the return of Shero to her parents after she had mysteriously disappeared fourteen years previous. Mystery shrouds the identity of the man who had raised Shero in the belief that she was his own daughter and after a lapse of five years, diiring which time Shero has grown to womanhood, we have the rather odd twist of her brother actually being in love with her to the extent of becoming jealous of her other suitors. The brother, who is now a successful lawyer, is in- strumental in gaining a pardon for an engineer who had been sent up for life as responsible for a wreck on the road of which his father was president. Here it .is dis- closed that the engineer is none other than the man who had raised Shero and he returns to her home upon being released and they give us the final kick which reveals the fact that Shero is really the engineer's daughter after all and that he had merely planned the ruse to have his daughter taken care of before being sent away to prison. After this climax, which is really forceful and dra- matic, they provide a happy ending by having the son propose to Shero, enabling her to remain in the home where they had grown to love her, she promising to pay her real father regular visits every day. On account of the stress placed upon the devotion of the apparent brother and sister, some folks may have an inkling of the finish, but it is far from being obvious and has certainly been well handled. You've got a pretty hard-hearted gang if they don't "dampen" a little during the scenes where the real father comes back and the ladies will surely share Shero's predicament with her when she is unable to decide whether to go back to her real father or stay with the foster parents who have been so kind to her in the belief that she was their own daughter. May Allison was wonderfully appealing in this, which registered with me as the best thing she has ever done nnd should win her many new admirers. Darrell Foss was a thoroughly likable Hero-brother who made his role human and convincing. The very fine work of Frank Brownlee, as May's father, was discounted at times by an inclination to "act" but his performance as a whole should register very favorably. George Burton, as Darrell's father, made his role forceful and convincing and Claire MacDowell was very good as Burton's wife. Baldy Belmont filled a minor role capably. Go To This Strong. It's the Kind That Builds House Prestige The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This should prove sure-fire entertainment with any kind of an audience. It's human, has a dramatic punch and a sure enough heart interest wallop and is thor- oughly enjoyable to watch all the way with a happy finish logically brought in to send your folks out in a pleasant frame of mind feeling that they've been enter- tained. May Allison has a winsome, appealing personality that clings in your memory and I am sure that a few more pictures like this one will put her over the top as a sure-fire box-office magnet. I'd display her photos liberally in my lobby and newspaper ads and they might be interested in knowing that this is the screen version of a stage play by Hale Hamilton, who is also now a Metro star, You might word your ads along this line: "Do you love your sister so much that you are jealous of her suitors? See May Allison in 'The Return of Alary'." "What would you do if you had lived with folks whom you thought were your parents and whom you had learned to love, and a man who proved to be your real father came to claim you? May Allison finds a unique way out of this predicament in 'The Return of Mary'." You can safely promise your patrons that this is one of the most wholesome and entertaining features that you have shown in a long time; it's the kind of a picture thai builds for house prestige and future business. Go lo it strong. XfcBRADSTREET of FILMDOH PMWi j^recochized Authority Vol. V, No. 145 Wednesday, October 2, 1918 Price 5 Cents FOUR SQUARE LOSES "EAGLE'S EYE' Wharton Releasing Corporation Takes Spy Serial And Will Release It Through Independents Former U. S. Marshal Henkel, who is at present at the head of the Whar- ton Releasing Corporation, has taken "The Eagle's Eye" serial out of the hands of the Foursquare exchanges and in the future the picture will be handled through a number of inde- pendent exchanges throughout the country. The picture was made by the Whar- tons at Ithaca from the stories fur- nished by William J. Flynn, former head of the U. S. Secret Service. At the time that the picture was com- pleted the Foursquare exchanges were just being formed and gave promise of being the best possible dis- tributing medium. Subsequently, Mr. Henkel decided that better results could be secured through independ- ents. Marc MacDermott With Fox Fox Film Corp. announces Marc MacDermott,' formerly with Vita- graph, is the lead with Virginia Pear- son in her new picture, "Buchanan's Wife," under the direction of Charles J. Brabin. Mr. MacDermott was with Vitagraph for a number of years and has made a name for himself in pictures. Back With General After four years of absence from General Film Company, H. M. Os- born, a well-known exchange man, has returned to that company, the an- nouncement being made that he is the new appointee as manager of the Pitts- burgh branch. During his absence Lorn General. Mr. Osborn was with Fathe in Philadelphia and Washing- ton. Scott Has Detroit Office Harry Scott, formerly with Kleine, has taken over the Detroit office of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit. He has been in New York for several weeks, but started West to take up his new post on Monday. Meeting Brings Results Up-State Exhibitors Gain Fa- vor of Woman's Suffrage Party Sydney S. Cohen, president of the New York State Exhibitors' League, was enthusiastic when seen yesterday over the results of the meeting held last week in Albany. Mr. Cohen said that the meeting was of special sig- nificance because of the fact that those who attended the convention were in the main up-State exhibitors, who as a rule never attend conferences. He said there were only five exhibitors present from Greater New York. As a result of that meeting, the Red Cross has been presented with an ambulance fully equipped. The pres- entation was made by the showmen of the state. A closer co-operation with the Woman's Suffrage party is another result of the occasion. Ex- hibitors have promised to run slides urging women to register and take advantage of their right to vote. In return, the Suffrage party promises its aid to the League in pushing any legislature that it may desire. Greenblatt Treasurer A. Morris Greenblatt has been elect- ed treasurer of the Producers-Distrib- uting Corp. Mr. Greenblatt is a stockholder of the American Feature Film Corp. of Boston, which distrib- utes the P-D pictures in New Eng- land. Dave Stoneman, who is the head of the American Feature Film Corp., handling Metro and independ- ent pictures, is also interested in the re-arrangement. Deal is Held Up Illness of Pickford's Attorney Prevents Closing of Contracts The illness of Denis F. O'Brien of the firm of O'Brien, Malevinsky & Driscoll, attorneys for Mary Pick- ford, has had the effect of holding up the possible closing of any contracts for the star's services. Miss Pick- ford's mother is now here and she was conferring with Mr. O'Brien al- most daily on the contracts that were proposed. it >vas stated yesterday flat noth- '.ng would be done in ths Pickford matter until Mr. O'Brien r,ad recover- ed and returned to his offices. Buys for South America L. H. Allen, president of the For- eign Markets Distributing Corp., has purchased "Hearts of the World" for Argentine, Uruguay and Paraguay. No announcement has yet been made as to the releasing organization, but it will in all probability be handled by the New York Film exchange of Buenos Ayres. Among the contracts Mr. Allen closed recently for Vita- graph productions which he controls in a number of foreign markets are for Spain, Chile, Cuba, Brazil and Porto Rico. The footage amounted to nearly two and a half million feet and was contracted for within a pe- riod of four months. In Blackton Picture J. Stuart Blackton announces the engagement of Ruby De Remer as co- star to Mitchell Lewis in his new production, "The Battle Cry of Lib- erty." Miss De Remer just completed I work in two pictures for Metro in which she played opposite Harold Lockwood. Hale Joins Vitagraph Following an absence of about a year, spent in legitimate and vaude- ville production, Albert W. Hale has once more taken up the direction f*t motion pictures. Mr. Hale has bet.i engaged by General Western Manager W. S. Smith of the Vitagraph Com- pany, to direct Nell Shipman in Al- fred Henry Lewis' Wolfville stories. First Sale Consummated The first sale of territory for "The Kaiser's Finish," the new eight-reel propaganda subject made by Abe and Harry Warner, is announced as be- ing Western Pennsylvania. The name of the buyer or the price has not been made public. John Kunsky has booked the feature for a special two week's run in one of his Detroit houses. Wednesday, October 2, 1918 tsM:A DAILY I'libllehcd Every Day in the Tear at ?l-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. Uy WID'S FILMS * FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DEXIG, Editor icntered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Cuts^and Flashes Annie Russell will play Edith Ca- vell in "Wilson or the Kaiser," a new Screen Classics, Inc., production. Charles Miller is directing. George Gibbs' novel, "The Yellow Dove," has been selected as a starring vehicle for Harold Lockwood. It will be made under the direction of Ed- win Carewe. Gladys Brockwell has started on a new production at Hollywood under the direction of Edward J. Le Saint. The story was written by Julie Burn- ham and the scenario by Dennison Clift. Raymond Ellis, the baritone, will sing Hopp Hadley's new song pic- ture, "The Vow," illustrating the song cycle, "Eliland," at a trade showing r.ext week in Wurlitzer Hall. Madge Evans will appear in June Elvidge's new picture, "Love's De- fender," under the direction of Tefft Johnson, at the Fort Lee-World stu- dio. Arvid E. Gillstrom has started on his second Fox-Lee picture, "Tell It to the Marines." a fantastic comedy with Jane and Katherine Lee. _ After this picture is completed Director Gillstrom will go to the Coast. Elinor Fair has left the Triangle studios and gone over to the Blanche Sweet Company, where she has been specially engaged to play an impor- tant role in the latter's present fea- ture, "The Unpardonable Sin," by Ru- pert Hughes. PLANS CONTEST OF EXHIBITORS First National to Offer $1200 in Prizes for Exploitation of "Romance of Tarzan" Here's a chance for exhibitor? to win $1,200 in prizes and at the same time boost their house receipts. First National is turning the trick. The circuit plans to offer twelve prizes in Liberty Bonds to the ex- hibitor who after playing "The Ro- mance of Tarzan" is accredited with hsving had the most novel and strik- ing campaign in exploiting the pic- ture. The contest has four principal divi- sions: Newspaper advertising, lobb> display, newspaper publicity and nov- elty stunts, such as lobby displays and trick presentations. Theatres en- tering the contest are divided into four classes. One, seating 2,000 or over; two, from 1,000 to 2,000; three, from 700 to 1,000; four from 400 or less to 700. The conditions governing the con- test for each class of theatre are like- wise specific. In class one of theatre, eight points are allotted for news- paper advertising, three for amount o? publicity, five for stunts in adver- tising outside the theatre, five for lobby display and four for unique presentation. The total is twenty-five. For the second class, the points are divided the same as in class one. The third class gets five for ads, three for publicity, eight for outride stunts and nine for lobby display. The fourth class gets four for ads, three for press matter, eight for stunts and ten for lobby displays. Each class will have three prizes, one of $150, one of $100 and the third $50. The decision will be made by a committee of judges composed of one representative of each trade pa- per. The contest begins with the ini- tial release of the "Romance" and runs until Dec. 30. The conditions of entrance demand that the exhibitor mail photos and written accounts of his particular campaign ten days af- ter he shows the picture. The replies should be addressed to the Tarzan Editor at the First National headquar- ters. 6 West 48th street, New York City. United Picture Theatres announces the appointment of Homer Howard, formerly of the Pathe exchange, as its representative for western New York State. Gail Kane has started the third of her series of productions. The title is the "The Kaiser Bride." Alice Joyce has started work on the well-known novel and play, "The Lion and the Mouse," by Charles Klein. The picture will be directed by Tom Terriss at the Brooklyn Vitagraph studios. Bessie Love has started on "The Enchanted Barn," and Corinne Grif- fith, Gladys Leslie and Harry Morey have also started new pictures, titles of which are not yet decided upon. NO W is the time to show "'America's Answer" if you haven't shown it. It will help the Loan. It shows how the money is being- spent. In St. Louis ST. LOUIS.— District Manager Mooney of the Fox Film Corporation, New York, has been in St. Louis for the past week, going over the changes to be made in the local of- fice. It is understood that Dave Thomas, present St. Louis manager, will return to New York in the near future. His successor has not been announced. The Fox people had a big celebra- tion Sunday last, when they opened their new Liberty theatre, for- merly known as the Victoria. The house has been renovated and put in first-class shape, and the Fox people advertised extensively in the newspa- pers about their opening production — "Why America Will Win the War." F. Rush, who has resigned from the Goldwyn Company, was tendered a dinner last week, and the boys of the various film exchanges chipped in and presented him with a farewell tes- timonial in the shape of a cigarette holder. Loses Oldest Employe E. H. Warren, the oldest employe in General Film's Boston branch and one of the oldest employes in the en tire General Film organization, has resigned for army service. As a mem- ber of the sales force since 1909 he was widely known among New Eng- land exhibitors. Sli^l GAILY Wednesday, October 2, 1918 "Five Nights" Territory The Classical Motion Picture Co. has disposed of territory for its pic- ture "Five Nights." The Chicago ter- ritory goes to the Silee Film ex- change; the Criterion Film Corp. of Atlanta has Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida; A. L. Hartson of the Ex- hibitors' Booking Syndicate has Greater New York and Northern New Jersey; Fred Schram of Cleveland has the state of Ohio, and Wilbur A. Haynes of Detroit has Michigan. TO HANDLE EIGHT DESMOND FILMS Robertson-Cole To Distribute Pictures of Former Triangle Star Who Signs Up with Jesse D. Hampton New evidence that the Robertson- Cole company proposes actively to en- ter the domestic field of film distribu- tion is shown by the fact that this ex- porting firm has contracted to han- dle in this country, as well as in the foreign field, the eight feature films that Jesse D. Hampton will make with his new star, William Desmond. Heretofore the activities of the Rob- ertson-Cole organization have been chiefly confined to foreign countries, but now it intends to distribute pic- Inn s in this country. The contract for the first year of the Desmond pic- tures will be its initial effort in this direction and it is understood that negotiations for the handling of other important film products that will in a few days be brought to a conclusion will make it apparent that the com- pany proposes to be an important fac- tor in the distributing end of the film industry. William Desmond for some years was a Thos. H. Ince and Triangle star. When Mr. Ince was at the producing head of the New York Mo- tion Picture Company he engaged Desmond as leading actor and with the advent of the Triangle corpora- tion Desmond was advanced to stel- lar distinction. Jesse D. Hampton now has under his management J. Warren Kerrigan and Bill Desmond. The latter is en route to New York and after a fort- night spent in this city, he will return to Los Angeles to commence his first picture under the Hampton manage- ment. William J. Flynn, who was the authority for the farts which formed the basis for "The Eagle's Eye," the Wharton propaganda serial, has been appointed head of the railroad police of the United States Railroad Admin- istration by Director General McAdoo vth national jurisdiction. Territory Disposed of Arrow Film Corporation has dis- posed of the following territory for "Huns Within Our Gates: Western Pennsylvania, to the Bell Film Corporation of Pittsburgh; Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, to the Southwestern Film Corporation of Dallas; Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and North and South Caro- lina, to the Criterion Film Service of Atlanta; Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, to the Key- stone Distributing Corporation of Philadelphia; Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, to the Mothers of Liberty Company of New York; Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, to the Unity Photoplays Company of Chicago; Michigan, to the Strand Fea- tures of Detroit; Ohio to the C. C. Hite Attractions of Cincinnati. This disposes of more than 50 per eent. of the United States. Walter Morton, motion picture di- rector, whose most recent production was "A Daughter of Uncle Sam," se- rial for the Jaxon Film Corporation, has offered himself for work abroad as a Knights of Columbus secretary. He goes to Paris to work under James Hearn of New York, who is in charge of all field activities at K. o! C. headquarters. From the Courts Another Judgment Against Kennedy Theatre s— Application Withdrawn judgments now on file against ill-' Kennedy Theatres, Inc., as a re- sult of the Symphony Theatre failure increased yesterday when Jacob and Joseph Kahn, Inc., filed one for $1,188 in the City Court as the bal- ance due for labor and material worth $2,285. The best way to take care of your taxes is to put on a good show. Supreme Court Justice Cohalan has permitted the withdrawal of an appli- cation for the release of the film, "Ig- norance," attached by the Crystal Film Co. in a suit against the Private Feature Film Co. of Cleveland in a suit for services. The application was nade by the United Business Associa- tion of Pennsylvania, Inc., alleging that it acquired the assets of the Pri- vate Feature Film at a sale of the latter's property. The Paralta Plays, Inc., Herman Katz and John E. De Wolf, have been sued in the Supreme Court b}' the Edward Corning Co. on a note for $3,836 made on April 9 last and payable in sixty days, which was pro- tested when presented for payment. Katz and De Wolf endorsed the note. To Produce "The Light" Theda Bara will start on a picture, at the Fox-Fort Lee studio, the latter part of this week, or the first of next, called "The Light." It is a French play written by Luther A. Reed and Brett Page. The interiors will be taken here, but exteriors prob- ably will be made in New Orleans. Protege of Rothacker CHICAGO. — Dorophia Browne, tne four-year-old moving picture star and a protege of of W. R. Rothacker, is now at work on her second picture at the Romaine Fielding Photopiay stu- dio. The new picture will be released under the name of Monogram Films. The picture is to be called "Mama's Angel Child," and was written by Penny Ross, a Chicago newspaper cartoonist. James Kirkwood has just started on his first Fox production at the old Kalem studio at Fort Lee. Evelyn Nesbit is the star of the picture and it is entitled "I Want to Forget." This is the second of the Evelyn Nesbit series, the first having been completed last week. Universal Film Corp is building a miniature Liberty Loan theatre at 59th street and Central Park. Prom- inent speakers will appear there dur- ing the course of the present cam- paign. Wednesday, October 2, 1918 Bill Hart Takes a Crack At the Kaiser in Well Done Spy Film William Hart in -THE BORDER WIRELESS" Hart=Ince — Artcraft SUPERVISED BY Thos. H. Ince DIRECTOR William S. Hart AUTHOR Howard E. Morton SCENARIO BY C. Gardner Sullivan CAMERAMAN Joe August ART DIRECTOR Thomas A. Brierley ART TITLES BY Irvin J. Martin AS A WHOLE Familiar situations made effective by star and wonderfully realistic atmosphere and settings. STORY Elementary situations made effective by star and wonderfully realistic atmosphere and settings. DIRECTION Played a little more to action than characterization with romance developed nicely and good, tense dramatic action at climax. PHOTOGRAPHY Very fine LIGHTINGS Generally very good; few opportu= nities offered for effects. CAMERA WORK Very good. Some scenes could have been helped by more speed. STAR Virile and sincere in fighting Hero role SUPPORT Miss Hawley pretty and appealing; James Mason gave human characterization and Charles Arling very good as spy; others bal= anced nicely. EXTERIORS Excellent throughout; street excep= tionally well done and convincing. INTERIORS Very fine; detail and construction of wireless station interior commendable piece of work. DETAIL Very well handled CHARACTER OF STORY Combines Hart pinch and timely appeal. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,353 feet WHILE this has the elementary basic idea of the reformed bandit winning the "'gel" and coming- in for a hero finish by busting up a German spy gang on the border, it has all the Hart elements and has been given a careful, well-handled production, with the patriotic punches effectively brought in and worked up to a tense, dramatic climax that carries a timely appeal. They start this out with Bill eluding his pursuers and saving the Shero in distress and then after Bill has decided to locate in Yellow Dog because of the "gel," war is declared and willun Charlie Arling is shown up in his true colors by his pro-German utterances, where- upon Bill forces him to kiss the flag. Bill rides' to a nearby fort to enlist and in the mean- time willun, realizing that Bill may interfere with his plans, produces 'evidence that he is wanted for murder ami yets the sheriff on his trail. Bill escapes and learns that willun's mine is a secret wireless station and that information regarding the sailing of General Pershing and staff to France is being relayed to Berlin. Bill and Shero Wanda Hawley who is a telegrapher, gain entrance to the station, Bill holding off the operator while Shero sends a message to the fort. The spy gang busts in and Bill succeeds in holding them off while Shero destroys the wireless apparatus and we have the familiar "cavalry to the rescue" finish with Bill in khaki and on his way to Berlin with Shero watching from the side-lines. I want to comment particularly on the sets in this, which showed unusual care and painstaking detail and must have involved considerable labor and expense. We had a few good comedy touches in this, particu- larly the scenes where Bill, after watching aeroplane manoeuvres at the fort, says he will enlist, "providin' he can ride a horse." The romance bits were also good audience stuff, with Bill in his usual role of the bashful but sincere Romeo. The "Kamerad" title appeared somewhat forced and out of place to me, as it is hardly convincing as the truce cry of a spy gang in this country who speak American. This opened up with Bill as a fugitive and they gave us a rather good suspense twist by not disclosing what Bill was wanted for until the finish, when he was cleared of the charge. The scenes where the cavalry comes to the rescue and where Bill lands a wallop on Leo Willis' jaw would have been helped materially if the camera- man had cranked slower. Have your operator watch for these and speed them up a bit. Others in the cast were E. von Ritzen, Berthold Sprotts and Marcia Manon. Hammer Fact That this Is New And Use Guts of Star In Khaki The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor They'll like it and you know what Bill Hart will do at the little old ready cash window so about all that's necessary is to let your customers know that this is Bill's latest and when you are showing it. The spy- meller plot would mean more at the box office if we hadn't had so many recently that were poorly done and have undoubtedly soured the G. P. somewhat on spy films as a result but Bill Hart's sincerity makes the patriotic twists in this inspiring and should serve to offset some of the bad ones you may have played. If you've been using the same stock cuts of Bill in his w. k. bad man outfit for your newspaper ads, I would advise getting some new cuts made for advertis- ing this attraction, showing him in the uniform of the U. S. cavalry. This will not only serve to establish the fact that the star appears in a new role in this but will help distinguish it from older Hart films which may be playing in your neighborhood. You could get up some effective lobby cards on this by having cut out flashes emanate from the lettering backed with tissue paper and illuminated from the back by a strong light equipped with a "Skedoodle" (flash) socket. You might head on ad: "Bill Hart is six foot, one and quick on the trigger. Come in and see what he does to the Kaiser's gang in 'The Border Wireless,' his latest production." 7/pBRADSTREET of FILMDOM $>Mm Authority Vol. V, No. 146 Thursday, October 3, 1918 Price 5 Cents BIG PLANS FOR FIRST RELEASE Affiliated Distributors' Corporation Will Issue Fifty Prints of "Lafayette, We Come" The plans of the Affiliated Distrib- utors' Corporation for its first re- lease, which is Lafayette, We Come," call for one of the most spectacular campaigns ever launched for a feature film in the annals of the industry. The picture is to be released on a date late this month. The advertising campaign is to practically swamp everything else in the city and fifty theatres in New York are all to play the picture on the same day. This wallop was de- cided on at a meeting in the Affiliated offices this week. The bookings for the fifty theatres have been practically all arranged and the advertising campaign is to start about a week in advance of the re- lease date. All the subways and ele- vated boards are to be posted and in addition there is to be a general cam- paign waged in the daily papers and on the regular billboards. This production will be the initial release that the Affiliated is placing on the market and immediately after the first splurge in New York the prints will be shot around the coun- try to the various distributing units of the Affiliated, via the Mutual of- fices: To Reissue "Deadly Sins" McClure Productions, Inc., will re- issue a new and complete version of the "Deadly Sins" series. In accord- ance with a request from various ex- hibitors, the productions will be issued in two-reel lengths, as opposed to their original six-reel form when pub- lished several years ago. The leading figure in the new two- reel versions is the present Paramount star. Shirley Mason. Miss Mason plays congenial roles in each of the two-reel "Deadly Sins" series. She appears in company with such well- known figures of stage and screen as H. B. Warner, Holbrook Blinn. Nance O'Neil, Ann Murdock and Charlotte Walker. Biggest War Film Nearly 2,000,000 People to Be Used in Selig War Picture The Selig Polyscope Company has been commissioned by the Y. M. C. A. to film what is designed to be the world's biggest war picture. George Bainbridge, director of the enterprise, announces that nearly 2,000,000 peo- ple— virtually all of them soldiers and sailors and marines — will be in the cast. The title selected for the film is "The Red Triangle." It is to be re- leased by the Mutual Film Corpora- tion, Oct. 20. Included in this picture will be about 600,000 men in the training camps in the United States, as well as large bodies of men on the battle- fields of Europe. The Y. M. C. A. is to use the picture in the United War Work Campaign. A special film of two reels is being made for each locality, the main idea being to present the "home boys" at every place. To make this possible nearly 100,000 feet of film was neces- sary. Rushing Official Picture Director Chas. S. Hart announces that the material for "Under Four Flags," the third U. S. official feature war picture, is rapidly being culled from the thousands of feet of Ameri- can, British, French and Italian film that is being sent from overseas, and that this will be, in many respects, the most comprehensive picture is- sued by the Division of Films, of the Committee on Public Information. The release date of the new picture has not yet been announced, but it will probably have its first showing in New York early in November. George Bowles, manager of Feature Films, has already tentatively arranged a route covering several weeks, during which the picture will be exploited bv the direct representatives of the Division of Films. Commission Meets Chicago Body Proposes Ex- haustive Study of Pictures CHICAGO. — The moving picture commission of citizens and aldermen appointed recently by the City Coun- cil, held its first meeting in the City Hall, Sept. 28. The meetng was largely taken up with the naming of subcommittees and officers. Martin J. Quigley, editor of Exhibitors' Herald and Motography, was appointed secretary and the Rev. W. S. Fleming was chosen vice chair- man. Chairman Timothy D. Hurley out- lined the work of the commission as follows: "We propose to make an ex- haustive study of the motion picture censorship problem with a view of Submitting the best, possible ordinance to the city council. We begin our work unbiased and ready for opinion and advice from everyone interested in motion pictures." Men high up in the industry will be invited to come before the commis- sion and express their grievances and make recommendations. William A. Brady will probably be the first spokesman for the industry before the body. Religious, juvenile, civic, women's leagues, reform and other organiza- tions will be invited to testify before the commission. Chai'-man Hurley read from a report made by a similar commission in London and said that after an investigation which consumed over six months, it recommended laws acceptable to both the motion picture industry and advocates of censorship. Exporters and C. P. I. to Confer The Film Exporters of America,. Inc., have arranged for a meeting to- day with the officials of the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information at 4.30 o'clock in the Yacht Room of the Astor. The pur- pose of the meeting will be to em- phasize the fact that the exporters are willing to offer their organization and experience in ^xport matters to the Committee to aid in that bod3''s for- eign educational work. Thursday, October 3, 1918 Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. T. By WID'S FILMS * FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Second- class Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- «lde of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 _ Mf Cuts and Flashes Viola Dana has commenced work on her new picture, "Diana Ardway," written by Van Zo Post, and adapted and directed by John H. Collins. Henry Kolkcr, who is playing the Kaiser in "Wilson or the Kaiser," is to play the same part in "The Man Who Stayed Home." In the review of "Riddle Gawne," published some time ago, G. Harold Fercival was erroneously credited as Art Director. Tlios. Brierley was the man responsible for the settings in this and subsequent William S. Hart subject. Charles Simone, New Haven ex- change man for General, received word that his son has been gassed and wounded and that he is expected to return to the United States soon. He was, before his enlistment, em- ployed at the Fort Lee-Universal laboratories. W. J. Maclnnes, director of adver- tising and publicity for the Division of Films, Committee on Public Infor- maton. is organizing an art depart- ment for furnishing picture mats, cov- ering the various film activities of the organization, to newspapers through- out the United States. William Fox has guaranteed that the total of subscriptions that will be forthcoming from his theatres in New York will total $1,000,000 for the Fourth Liberty Loan. In the event that they do not reach that amount he will make up the deficit. For the first three days of the loan the total was $200,000. P-A in Three Houses Dayton Is Latest The- atre to Receive Stars DAYTON. — There are now three first run houses using Paramount- Artcraft in Dayton. In the past, the Columbia, seating 1,000 ana tne Strand, managed by Clay Brehm, leased by Lisbon interests, split the program. With the signing of new contracts the Dayton, a new house seating 2,500, has about eight of the stars for the coming season. If one program doesn't pull busi- ness, try another. Henry Lehrman, vice-president and general producer of Sunshine Come- dies, has engaged Vera Steadman to appear in forthcoming Henry Lehr- man Sunshine Comedies. John Zanft, of the William Fox of- fices, is now entitled to the title of captain, having achieved that rank in the Theatrical Unit of the New York Folice Resreves. Al. Tuchman, of Universal, will start on his tour of the Universal ex- changes today. The purpose is to centralize the distribution of supplies for the exhihitor. Bess Meredyth and Wilfred Lucas have nearly finishi d shooting the in- terior scenes on the second Billie Rhodes five-reel De Luxe feature. "The Springtime of Youth." Universal exchanges report having found considerable advantage from joining the board's nf trade in their towns. This idea was suggested by the Universal several weeks ago. Adolph Zukor Day in the Fourth Liberty Loan Drive of the Stage Wo- men's War Relief is Oct. 12, and in New York City will be one of the most important events of Liberty Day, which President Wilson has de- clared a national holiday. The second Official War Picture, "America's Answer," played a week's engagement at the Memorial Hall here last week. Leading manufactur- ers supported the engagement, which was under direct government super- vision. After hooking "Bread," a Universal feature, Mark Gates of the Dayton theatre, changed the name to one with better selling points and re-christen- ed it "Innocent Eyes." Mary Mc- Claren plays the leading role in the picture. Carl B. Adams, who has been act- ing as editor of the Photoplay Jour- nal, published at Cincinnati, Ohio, has resigned and will take a course of training to fit himself for entrance into the army. Bruce Bairnsfather Here Capt. Bruce Bairnsfather, of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, arrived in New York yesterday. He is the orig- inator of the "Ole Bill" cartoons that have become popular in American the- atres. Capt. Bairnsfather received a leave of absence from his military work in order to finish these cartoons. The Interocean Film Corporation, of which Paul H. Cromelin is president, has the world's rights to these re- leases. Tilt Over "Temple of Dusk" Mutual will release the second Hayakawa feature, "The Temple of Dusk," Oct. 13. It is understood that S. L. Rothapfel is desirous of show- ing the picture at the Rialto, but B. S. Moss has the first run release in his string of theatres in New York City. It is believed that an attempt will be made to have Moss defer his showing of the picture until after the Rialto has shown it. "Bonds of Honor," the Japanese star's third picture, will be released in the latter part of Novem- ber. The Universal supply department of which H. Horowitz is manager has been moved from the fourth floor of the Mecca Building to the eighth. jM% DAILY Thursday, October 3, 1918 STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, CIRCULATION, ETC., REQUIRED l'.V THE ACT OF CON- GRESS OF AUGUST 24. 1912. Of "WID'S DAILY," published daily at New York. N. Y.. for October L, L918. Slate Of New York. / County of New York, J SS- Before me, a notary public, in and for the State and county aforesaid, personally appeared Joseph Dannenberg, who, having been duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is the Business Ma'nager of the '-'Win's DAILY," and that the fol- lowing is. to the best of his knowledge and belief, a true statement of the ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the cir- culation), etc., oi the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the above caption, required by the Act of August 24, 1912, embodied in section 443, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to wit: 1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are: Publisher, "Widis Films & Film Folk," Inc., 71 West 44th St., New York,*N. Y. ; Editor. F. C. ("Wid") Gunning, 71 West 44th St.. New York. X. Y. : Managing Edi- tor, Lvnde Denig, 71 West 44th St., New York, N. Y.; Business Manager, J. Dannen- berg, 71 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. 2. That the owners are: "Wid's Films & Film Folk." Inc., 71 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. ; F. C. ("Wid") Gunning. 71 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. ; John Har- vey, 71 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. ; John W. Alicoate. 71 W. 44th St., New York. N. Y.; George H. Fickardt. 71 W. 44th St.. New York. N. Y. : Fred Desberg, 322 Euclid Ave.. Cleveland. O. : F. J. Seng. 1450 Day- ton. Chicago, 111.; Joe Brandt, 1000 B'way, New York. N. Y. ?>. That the known bondholders, mortga- gees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent, or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: None. 4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners, stock- holders, and security holders, if any, con- tain not onlv the list of stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company but also, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain state- ments embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and con- ditions under which stockholders and se- curity holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that a bona fide owner; and this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds. or other securities than as so stated by him. 5. That the nverajre number of copies of each issue of this publication sold or dis- tributed, thronsh the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers during the six months preceding the date shown above is 2.641. Joseph Dannenberg. Business Mgr. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 1st day of October, 1918. (Seal) Frank S. Stanley, (My commission expires March .".0. 1020). NEW UNIVERSAL SERIAL READY "The Lure of the Circus" To be Released Nov. 4 Will Overlap- "Brass Bullet" By Four Weeks Univ i -a! has completed its new se- rial "The Lure of the Circus," in which Eddie Polo will be starred. The first episode is to be released No- vember 4, which will be four weeks prior to the termination of the pres- ent serial, "The Brass Bullet." "The Lure of the Circus" was writ- ten by William E. Wing and directed by T. W. McGowan. In the cast, in addition to Mr. Polo, will be Mollie Malone and Eileen SedgeAvick, who will play the leads, Fred Montague, Duke R. Lee, Harry Carter, Charles Hill Mailes and Noble Johnson. In addition to shooting several cir- cuses that visited California this sea- son the Universal framed its own cir- cus for the picture. Polo was for- merly a circus performer and from his former associates he selected a number to work in the circus scenes of the picture. * Change Release Dates Goldwyn announces a shift in re- lease dates affecting "A Perfect 36," Mabel Normand's newest comedy v e h i c 1 e , and "Thirty A Week," Tom Moore's second production as a Goldwyn star. "Thirty A Week," originally scheduled for release Oct. 28, has been moved up to Oct. 21, the Monday preceding, and "A Perfect 36." which was to have been released on that date, has been set for Oct. 28. Julius Steger announces that Anna Case, the opera star, has completed her picture, "The Golden Chance," which was directed by L. J. Hender- son. Miss Case, at the request of Secretary McAdoo, is singing in be- half of the Liberty Loan. More "Topics" Territory Sold A. E. Siegel, of the Topics of the Day Film Company, has sold addi- tional territory for his product. The Kaufman Attractions of Memphis have bought the rights for Tennes- see, Arkansas and Mississippi. Sam- uel O. Siegel and A. Hartson of the Exhibitors Booking Syndicate at 729 Seventh avenue have bought the rights for all of New England, New York state and northern New Jersey, and the Lochrane Film Service has the nictures for Minnesota and southern Wisconsin. Mr. Siegel also an- nounces that the Topics, which are composed of short, snappy paragraphs from leading periodicals released weekly, have been booked for the Maiestic and Regent theatres in De- troit. The French Pictorial Service, which handles the official French war pic- tures in this country and of which M. Ratisbonne is director, has moved from the Chandler Building to a suite at 729 Seventh avenue. Fighting Influenza People With Colds Not Admit- ted to Indianapolis Theatres I XD1ANAPOLIS.— Local exhibitor and theatre managers are whole- heartedly co-operating with the city authorities this week in their efforts vent a spreading of Spanish in- fluenza, which is now prevalent in va- rious parts of the country, especially the army cantonments and naval training stations. Representatives of the Motion Picture Exhibitors League of Indianapols and the Indianapolis Theatre Managers Association met with members of the city board of health this week and offered to ao everything; in their power to help com- bat the disease. As a result of plans worked out at the meeting ticket sellers in local the- atres have been instructed to put the following question to all prospec- tive patrons: "Have you a cold, sore throat or other respiratory affliction?" If the patron answers in the affirma- tive, admission is denied. It is also reported that military police visited the downtown theatres Sunday and took out all soldiers in uniform and sent them to Fort Benjamin Harri- son, the army post a short distance from the city. The post, it is said, is practically under quarantine with the disease. Dalton Finishes Another Dorothy Dalton, Ince star, has fin- ished "The Woman Who Dared" for Paramount release. Vic .Scherzinger, who directed a number of Charles Ray's vehicles, handled this produc- tion. "False Faces," an Ince production to be released as a Paramount-Art- craft special, is rapidly being finished. Henry Walthall and Mary Anderson are in the cast. Another Propaganda Film Warner Brothers, producers of "My Four Years in Germany" and "The Kaiser's Finish," announce the start of a new propaganda feature, the ti- tle of which is not as yet selected. It will be in ten reels, and is under the direction of Carl Harborough, as- sisted by Clifford P. Saum. Mary Murillo is responsible for the story and scenario. Thursday, October 3, 1918 isiiJtA DAILY Human Touches and Cute Kiddies Make This Entertaining Gladys Leslie in "THE MATING" Vitagraph , DIRECTOR Frederic Thomson AUTHOR Millicent Evison SCENARIO BY A. Van Buren Powell CAMERAMAN Jules Cronager AS A WHOLE Elementary plot made entertaining by delightful kid stuff and human characteri= zations. STORY Poor girl — young author plot with Hero stealing father's invention to keep willun from swindling him out of it. DIRECTION Kept characterizations human and developed little touches effectively although al= lowed a few slips. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied from good to ordinary LIGHTINGS Varied decidedly; some good bits, generally too uniform or contrasty although ob= tained effective back=lightings on star. CAMERA WORK Just straight stuff; frequently careless. STAR Very pretty and has pleasing personality SUPPORT Herb Rawlinson very pleasing; kids great and others satisfactory. EXTERIORS Provided pleasing atmosphere; good village detail. INTERIORS Acceptable; some good touches DETAIL Not showing rescue or accident was rather disappointing. CHARACTER OF STORY Pleasing little romance LENGTH OF PRODDUCTION 4,046 feet IF I were running a community theatre I would pre- fer one pleasing little offering like this to a whole handful of wild mellers and sex plays. This is clean, wholesome and entertaining, has little mystery element which has been effectively handled and the characterizations and pleasing romantic thread, inter- spersed with many delightful kiddie touches, make it a thoroughly enjoyable offering. The story is elementary, having to do with the poor Shero and the struggling author whose intentions are misunderstood but who finally proves an alibi and comes in for the clutch at the finish. We had a twist in this that reminded me of "The For- tune Hunter," Shero's father having spent several years on an invention which finally attracts the attention of a confidence man who tries to swindle him out of it. The father is perfectly willing to part with the idea for the five "thou" offered by the shrewd willun but Herb, realizing that it must be worth more or willun wouldn't be interested, steals the model to prevent the sale of the patent, in the meantime writing to a mining engineer friend to come to the village and look the invention over. We have the usual misunderstanding when Shero dis- covers that Herb is in possession of the invention and thinks he is a common thief, with Herb clearing himself in court by producing the letter that he had written to his engineer friend, establishing his innocence. They gave us a good suspense twist in the robbery incident because the scene of the theft was handled in such a way that you suspected willun was the thief, with another kink in the plot when willun hires a detec- tive to find the thief, finally implicating Herb as the guilty party. We had some delightful kid stuff in this, particularly in the sequence following the arrest of Herb, where Shero refuses to speak to him. Shero's little brother, Avho likes Herb, "fixes" it for him to "happen" along where Shero is picnicing with her brothers and little sister and Herb comes along just in time to rescue the kiddies from drowning when their canoe overturns. Of course everything ends satisfactorily with Herb's story bringing home the bacon and Shero's father getting a real price for his invention through Herb's efforts. The titles throughout were excellently worded and will get over great because they didn't overreach. They failed to explain the presence of thickly populated chicken coop in the backyard of Herb's house, which had long been vacant, but this will hardly be criticised. Director Thomson gave us many pleasing human touches in this with some very cute kiddies figuring prominently, Little Stephen Carr being especially good. Herb Rawlinson was a likable, buoyant Hero, Miss Leslie was very sweet and appealing and the others balanced nicely. They were: Forest Robertson. John Thomson. Aida Horton and Frances Miller Grant. Emphasize Wholesome Element and Play Up Mysterious Theft Angle The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor It seems to me this same title has been used by someone else recently. I can't recall where, but it sounds familiar. At any rate, it's a bromide that has been used several times in the past in slightly changed form and I think you can think up something that will promise more to the gang out in front who are wondering whether to spend an evening in your house or the one across the street. I am sure this will please any audi- ence and it's clean and wholesome, but you've got to do something to get your gang interested. You might use a title like "A WELL-MEANING BURGLAR," "A LUCKY THIEF," "AN HONEST CROOK" or "A PETTY LARCENY ROMANCE." Miss Leslie is a very pretty and pleasing star who should develop quite a following in this type of offering and don't overlook the fact that you have the name of Herb Rawlinson to play with here because Herb has been starred in several productions for Universal and recently supported Geraldine Farrar in her first Goldwyn pro- duction. All of these things help in advertising a film. I would mention the fact that this is a delightful human little story with some cute kiddies furnishing much of the comedy. (j You might ask your folks: "What would you do if you found that your sweetheart's father was being swindled and the only way you could save him was to turn swindler yourself at a risk of losing your girl's love? See Gladys Leslie and Herb Rawlinson in 'The Mating'." ZfeBftADSTREET of FILHDOH jkoKomw DAILY Vol. V, No. 148 Saturday, October 5, 1918 Price 5 Cents ALL READY FOR EXPOSITION Stage Set For Big Display in Madison Square Garden — Caruso There Tonight With all arrangements concluded, Exposition officials are ready for the opening of the National Motion Pic- ture Exposition at Madison Square Garden this evening. The first night will be marked by the appearance of Enrico Caruso, who will sing "The Star Spangled Banner," accompanied by the entire Strand the- atre symphony orchestra. Music will also be furnished by a fifty-piece band from one of the shipyards. Through the co-operation of the Liberty Loan Committee Madison Square Garden has been converted into a veritable No Man's Land. Ex- act replicas of the trenches, also ma- chine guns and various souvenirs will be on view. The Woman's Land Army has con- tracted for the entire space on one side of the building where they have a complete flower and vegetable gar- den under cultivation. The Emer- gency Fleet Corporation and the De- partment of Labor have contracted for space in which they will make suit- able displays. One of the greatest drawing attrac- tions for the public will be a studio for the making of motion pictures by the leading stars of the screen. Space holders are as follows: Coop- er, Hewitt Electric Company, Mary Garden Co., National Lamp Works, Alpha Lithographing Company, Am- bulance, Gas Defense Division of U. S. Army, Liberty Loan, Moving Pic- ture World, Edison Lamp Works, Wm. L. Sherry, Nicholas Power Co., Famous Players-Lasky Co., Pathe, Trade Review, World Films, U. S. Food Administration, Edgar Lewis Productions. William A. Brady Pictures Corp., National Carbon Company, Fatherless Children of France, Select Pictures, Thomas Cusack Co., Select, Morning Telegraph, Stanley Frame Company, National Association, Vitagraph Com- pany, Fox, Precision Machine Co., Motion Picture News, Westinghouse Lamp Works, Motion Picture Appli- ance Co. Ye Olden Times, Red Cross, Metro, Department of Agriculture, U. S. Fuel Administration, Eel ay a Company, Dramatic Mirror, Exhibitors Herald, U. S. Emergency Fleet Corporation, Women's Land Army, U. S. Employ- ment Service, Valley Forge Cutlery Co., U. S. Employment Service Of- fice, U. S. Employment Service Booth, Snead & Company, Modern Tool and Machine Company, Remington Arms, Union Metalic Cartridge Co. Hits the Ball LA CROSSE TRIBUNE and LEADER-PRESS La Crosse, Wis. Dear Mr. Gunning: Wid's Daily hits the ball, I think, because it is brief, to the point, and contains nothing but the information the exhibitor wants. I am in the newspaper business, and I know it is of great value to the man occupied in getting out a daily photoplay department, but I think it is of even greater benefit to the fel- low who has to choose his pic- tures and please his public. Yours truly, N. D. TEVIS. UNITED CLOSES WITH HOWELLS Deal is Made for Handling of Foreign Rights to Feature Productions J. A. Berst, president of the United Picture Theatres of America, has closed a contract whereby David P. Howells gets the exclusive distribu- tion of the foreign rights to the Unit- ed product, commencing with "The Light of Western Stars," now on the point of release, and further compris- ing the forthcoming Kitty Gordon and Florence Reed features, together with the series in which Dustin Far- num is directly under contract with United. The decision to place the business conduct of United's foreign rights m the hands of Mr. Howells' firm was arrived at only after a careful survey of the whole field, and the arrange- ment was concluded in furtherance of the interests of United's exhibitor- members. Madlaine Trayerse. the newly signed Fox star, is on her way to the Coast to make her first Fox film under the XL brand name. The names of the director and of the story are not given as yet. Washington Theatres Closed WASHINGTON.— The influenza situation in the District of Columbia has become so acute that Washing- ton has been declared a sanitary zone by the Public Health Service. Upon the recommendation of that organi- zation orders were sent out by the District Commissioners that all the- atres, motion picture houses and dance halls should be closed for an indefinite period. Roscoe Quits Fox Albert Roscoe, who was leading man for Theda Bara in the last eight productions that she has starred in, has severed his connection with the William Fox organization. Miss Bara has come east and will do two pic- tures here before returning to the Coast. Her new leading man has not selected as yet. The B. A. Rolfe Producing Corpo- ration announces its removal to new quarters at 18 East 41st street. Saturday, October 5, 1918 Published Daily at 71-73 West 44th St. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered as second class matter May 21 1918, at the post office at New York, N. Y. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, 3.00. Foreign, $20.00 Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551—2 Guts and Flashes John Colton is the author of "The Kaiser Bride," which will be used as a vehicle for Gail Kane. The Cleveland Triangle exchange has moved into new quarters at 504 Sloan building. Carlyle Blackwell, the World Film star, has gone to Baltimore where he will finish up the first week of the Liberty Loan drive. Hugh McClung and Glen MacWill- iams should receive credit for photo- giaphing "He Comes Up Smiling," the Douglas Fairbanks picture re- viewed in a recent issue. Three subjects have been added to the series of Outing-Chester adven- ture pictures released through the ex- changes of the Mutual Film Corpora- tion. They are "A Jungle Joy Ride," "Unblazed Trials" and "A Tropic Meling Pot." Texas Guinan is featured in World's new picture, "Love's Defender," star- ring June Elvidge and Madge Evans. Miss Guinan was with Triangle for a considerable time and was starred in several of the Triangle produc- tions. EXPORTERS PLEDGE THEIR SUPPORT Resolution to Assist Committee on Public Information Finds Enthusiastic Approval At a meeting of the Exporters of America, held at the Astor, Thursday afternoon, the matter of the govern- mental refund of the lc. per foot tax was discussed but laid on the table again, awaiting further investigation and a proposed resolution was read before the meeting. This resolution formulated a pledge that The Exporters of America, either singly or as a body, as occasion might arise, give whatever aid to the Com- mittee on Public Information in ad- vice, work, or funds necessary to carry on the propaganda program proposed by the government in either allied or neutral countries. The resolution was to be signed by the individuals of the association and the association it- self. The meeting was well attended by members of nearly all the exporting firms. The Committee on Public In- formation had three representatives present to receive the resolution and thank the members for their support in the matter. They were Marcus Beeman, E. M. Anderson and John Turk, who thanked the exporters for their interest and patriotic action, promising that they soon would be called on to make good their pledges. John Manheimer of the Affiliated Distributors Corp. leaves today for Grand Rapids, Michigan, to arrange for the final details of release for "La- fayette, We come!" General Coun- sel C. C. Pettijohn also goes to Washington to inaugurate the activi- ties of the southern unit of the Affili- ated Distributors Corp. The Rivoli theatre will have a unique Chinese setting and lobby dis- play for the presentation of the Norma Talmadge Select Picture, Oct. 6. Due to the closing of all theatres because of Spanish influenza, "Hearts of the World," which was to open in Reading and Coatesville on Oct. 7, is postponed. The picture is due back in Philadelphia again, Oct. 21, and it The Expo, is here with a great big is hoped that by this time the sick- Government O. K. Buy your bonds ness will be in check. at the Garden. "Twilight" Comes Next Doris Kenyon's next picture follow- ing "Wild Honey" will be entitled "Twilight." Theodore C. Deitrich, president of Miss Kenyon's company, De Luxe Pictures, Inc., yesterday signed contracts for the motion pic- ture rights of the story which ap- peared in the October issue of Metro- politan Magazine under the title of "The Alchemy of Love." Like "Wild Honey," the magazine story was written by Vingie E. Roe. Louis Joseph Vance, who made the screen adaptation of "Wild Honey," is also making the picture version of "The Alchemy of Love" under the title of "Twilight." Firs\ Run Contract To take effect immediately, a con- tract has been drawn up between B. S. Moss and the Select Pictures Cor- poration, whereby Moss' Hamilton theatre, 146th street and Broadway, will have prior and exclusive neigh- borhood rights to first run Select re- leases. The contract is said to repre- sent a yearly outlay of $30,000. Chaplin to Remain The First National Exhibitors Cir- cuit denied yesterday the rumor print- ed in one of the weeklies that Charlie Chaplin was to discontinue his con- nection with them and become an Art- craft star. According to one of the executives of the company, the star will make a number of pictures for the Circuit during the coming year. "Yellow Dog" Delayed Manager Kashin of the Broadway theatre has postponed his showing of the New Universal feature "The Yel- low Dog," for another week and will play instead, Violet Mersereau in "To- gether," during the week of Oct. 6. This is the second postponement. tM^ DAILV Saturday, October 5, 1918 More Shut-Downs Philadelphia Houses to Be Closed for at Least Ten Days PHILADELPHIA.— The authori- ties have closed all public places for a period of ten days, or perhaps longer, until the influenza epidemic is placed under control. Just why the theatres are the first to be picked upon when health authorities want to close places 's hard to tell, and it would be a good thing for every exhibitor in the coun- try to begin at once to let the public know that ventilation of theatres and careful attention to cleansing keeps the houses in good condition. Business had fallen off this week, however, because of the Loan drive, and it may be a good thing for some theatres which have felt the effect of the drive upon their box offices. The closing of the theatres will cause a lot of confusion by the disarrange- ment of the bookings and the makers of film will have several products on hand which must be shown out of re- lease order unless the houses are opened soon. This closing may bring about a closer relation among the exhibitors, although they did get together at the time of the closing of their houses because of infantile paralysis, ' and again at the order of the Fuel Ad- ministrator, but after the houses were opened no further attention was paid to the spirit of organization. It is now up to the exhibitors to show the authorities that they have a strong organization and request to have their theatres inspected at any time while those houses which cannot stand in- spection will be the better off for the scrubbing they receive. Heretofore it has been a custom to use perfume in the house instead of soap and wa- ter. Scrub up — open up. No More Program Features J. Stuart Blackton announces that he will make no more feature films to be issued as regular subjects on a routine program of releases. He plans to give his time to longer and more ambitious productions, handled under specially arranged distributon plans, presenting four and perhaps six super- features a year. "The Common Cause," which he has just completed and has been announced for release through the Vitagraph Company about November 1, is the first of these spe- cials. The Co-operative Film Co. of New York will shortly release "The Eagle's Eye" for Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. VICTORY DINNER Motion Picture Industry Hotel Astor Next Friday Night October 11th Handling Dixon Film "The One Woman" To Go Through Select Exchanges Select Pictures Corporation an- nounces that it has acquired for dis- tribution through its exchanges "The One Woman," the latest photoplay by Thomas Dixon. "The One Woman" is based on Mr. Dixon's novel of the same name, which, when published a few years ago, caused considerable comment. A special campaign of advertising and publicity will be instituted for this picture in the trade papers and through other mediums. The cast includes Lawson Butt, Clara Williams, Hershel Mayall, Ad- da Gleason, Thurston Hall and J. J. Dowling. Mr. Dixon and Harry Chandler prepared the novel for the screen with E. Richard Schayer look- ing after the continuity. Ready for Another Tom Terriss has returned from Bay shore, L. I., where he has been film- ing the remaining scenes of "Cap'n Abe's Niece." Alice Joyce will appear in a role quite unlike any that she has undertaken previously. The Terriss- Joyce combination is about to start work on another $10,000 story of Rob- ert W. Chambers, entitled "The Cam- bric Mask," which will be the fourth Chambers story that Mr. Terriss has directed. Vivian Moses, of Select Pictures, has contracted for a double booth at the Motion Picture Exposition and one of the features of the display will be the trade-mark of the concern, S. P., done in a large electric sign in three colors. BINDERS! for "WID'S DAILY" will cost $1.75 each hereafter Production Continues Government Work Does Not In- terfere With Essanay Activities George K. Spoor, president of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Com- pany, has turned over a portion of one of the large Essanay property rooms to government work. The company is turning out binocu- lar:, by the Spoor-Bergren Optical Laboratory system, a new method ( f making binoculars just recently pat- ented. The new binocular was sub- mitted to government officials and ap- proved and - contract was let for their making at the Essanay plant. The binocular is so constructed that it is of unusually high power while at the same time small and compact and easily carried. Under the new process thousands can be turned out daily with but few machines and with little labor. The making of the binocular in no way interferes with, the production of pictures, the three Essanay studios be- ing kept open for this purpose. Be- side making special feature produc- tions Essanay announces that it will continue to make its movie marion- ette pictures and also commercial films. Arrow Sales C. C. Hite Attractions of Cincin- nati has bought four five-reel Allison- Lockwood re-issues, "The Sunset Princess," "Her Aviator," "Huns Within Our Gates," "The Woman's Law," and "The Perfect Model," for Ohio; I. E. Chadwick has "My Hus- band's Friend" for the Ohio Ivan ex- change at Cleveland, and ten two-reel Kerrigan re-issues and four five-reel Allison-Lockwood re-issues for Great- er New York: Southwestern Film Corp. secured "The Huns Within Our Gates" for Texas: Jesse J. Goldberg sold all the foreign rights to "My Husband's Friend" to the Interocean Film Corp., who in turn sold the ter- ritory of France and Switzerland. Arrow Film sold eastern Pennsyl- vania and southern New Jersey for the new Rolfe-Houdini serial to Key- stone Distributing Corp. of Philadel- phia. Booking Chart Ready The Vitagraph distributing organi- zation has completed the 1918-19 edi- tion of the "Exhibitors Booking Chart." For several seasons past Vi- tagraph has provided these film record books for the exhibitors of the coun- trv, giving them out at the beginning of each year. This season, however, i1: has advanced the distribution date to Oct. 1, which marks the inaugura- tion of the company's new Blue Rib- bon booking policy. Saturday, October 5, 1918 DAILY Artistic Values and Pleasing Characters Make This Very Entertaining Harold Lockwood in "PALS FIRST" Yorke=Metro — Screen Classics DIRECTOR Edwin Carewe FROM NOVEL BY Francis Terry Elliott Published by Harper Brothers DRAMATIZED BY Lee Wilson Dodd SCENARIO BY O. A. C. Lund ART TITLES BY Ferdinand Earle CAMERAMAN Antonio Gaudio AS A WHOLE Very well done and decidedly en= tertaining if physical resemblance theme can be accepted. STORY Has good twists and holds interest al= though basic structure of coincidence makes it somewhat unreal. DIRECTION Gave artistic atmosphere, intelligent treatment and use of closeups, with characteri= zations properly developed. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally excellent LIGHTINGS Many very fine; generally pleasing CAMERA WORK Splendid SUPPORT Lackaye excellent, Miss De Remer pleasing, others good types. STAR A pleasing hero EXTERIORS Many excellent bits of composition, generally very good. INTERIORS. . .Well photographed, generally distinctive DETAIL Some good little touches CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,600 feet WHEN this starts off with an intimation in the very first few scenes of a basic structure depend- ent upon an unbelievable physical likeness be- tween two utter strangers, you have a sense of feeling that this is absolutely artificial. The intelligent treat- ment of the director, the pleasing personalities of Mr. Lockwood and Mr. Lackaye, quickly offset this, however. and before the film is half finished, you are thoroughly interested in the characters and accept the dramatic situations: and they develop without harking back to the physical resemblance curse until it presents itself at the finish in a rather startling coincidence, where the hero, Mr. Lockwood, explains how his unknown twin jest happened to pick out his bedroom to rob with the result that they traded places and caused the mixups which make this yarn possible. The idea of Jim Lackaye, with his happy smile and sturdy young herald, the hero, going through life as pals, will win sympathy quick, and the dramatic mo- ments which come several times in the course of the action, where these two seem about to split forever, will undoubtedly register quite effectively. I want to compliment whoever is responsible for the choice of locations, and the composition of both exte- riors and interiors, because this work added quite a bit. in the way of artistic distinction, to this offering. The photography throughout was excellent. Director Carewe relieved the drama with occasional comedy touches, provided principally by a couple of sure-enough old darkey servants, and the happy smiles of these two will undoubtedly bring a response from most any audience. The story, briefly, had to do with the arrival of a tramp at the home of a man apparently his twin in appearance who had just been reported dead. He was accepted as the dead man by everyone, including his sweetheart, until the willun secured what he considered positive evidence of the death of the real owner of the property. Complications arose, until it reached the finale where we found that the tramp was really the man supposed to be dead, since he had taken the tramp's place to regain his health, when the tramp had insisted upon sailing for Australia under the name of the wealthy man. It was the tramp who was lost at sea. Particularly in the middle West, and probably throughout the country James Lackaye will be remem- bered by all who have seen such good old-time plays as "York State Folks." His characterization in this was excellent. Mr. Lockwood as the tramp hero gave a very pleasing performance and Miss De Remer as the sweetheart was right easy to look at, and quite satis- fying. Others in the cast were: Frank DeVernon, Rich- ard R; Neill and Rollo Llovd. They'll Enjoy It. Special Advertising Will Help You Quite a Lot The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor They'll like this, and you can afford to bill it as a novelty story of two pals who wander into a great adventure. Of course, you know what to do regarding Mr. Lockwood. because no one knows as well as you, just how strong he is in your particular community. Certainly he will make new friends in this. It would be a mistake 10 overlook the advertising passibilities presented by Mr. Lackaye's appearance in this character, because his work stands out. and it would seem to me to be advisable to play him up in the billing very strong, in order to bring out the thought that this is the story of two pals and a girl whom they found in their won- derful adventure. While this may be known to a ureal many of your fans, both as a book and a play, it having been done on the stage by Tom Wise and William Courtney as the pals, it is quite possible that many of your regulars may not know of the yarn. I would suggest, consequently, that you lay particular emphasis in all of your advertis- ing, upon the phrase, "You'll love this wonderful adven- ture of these sure-enough pals." Since Mr. Lockwood has been seen iii a great many straight roles, it is quite possible that some will prefer I lie thought of seeing him in character. It would seem to me. therefore, to be a good hunch to carry some of your ads with Mr. Lockwood and Mr. Lackaye shown as tramps, with Miss DeRemer between them as the beau- tiful girl. Those three figures can be worked into some effective copy and. of course, you must always remem- ber that white space is valuable if you let it alone instead of cluttering it up with a lot of unnecessary type. 7/oRKOCHIZED Authority ^i~*- Qerne jPj'ctmrc'cilQ INDEX IIN THIS ISSUE DWGRIFNTH'S xThc Great Love'L Pittsburgh .o. "New Record for Pittsburgh" In Pittsburgh "The Great Love" had its pre- miere showing at the Grand Theatre. John P. Harris writes as follows : **\X7E have played The Great ▼ w Love for a week to enor- mous business, and were it not for our fixed policy we would continue it for a run. I am playing it in all our theatres in other cities, with the same results it achieved here. I consider "The Great Love" a box office factor of the first rank. It established a new record for atten- dance in Pittsburgh, and I am sure it will repeat this result wherever it is played." All over the country, in cities and towns and villages, D. W. Griffith's first Artcraft Picture is establishing new records. When will you show it? Released by \jyW».^ i FAMOUS PLAYERS -LASKY CORPORATION ADOLPH ZUKOR/V*-* JESSE L. LASKY ZVr /V™ CECIL B DE MILLE DirvaorGemrul T4EW YOBIO • J This is one of aseries of adver- tisements showing the success of "The Great Love" in the foremost cities of the United States. Copyright 1918, Will's Film and Film Folks, Inc. Published Daily at 71-73 West 44th St., New York, X. V. by WID'S FILMS AND FILM FOLKS, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered as second-class matter May 21, 1918, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879 TermS (Postage free) United States, Outside of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months. $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00 Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Features Reviewed Margarita Fisher in MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING American Film Co. — Pathe, Distrs Page 2 Peggy Hyland in BONNIE ANNIE LAURIE Excel. — Fox Page 3 Anita King in WHATEVER THE COST Plaza — Hodkinson Page 5 James K. Hackett, Effie Shannon and Mabel Scott in ASHES OF LOVE Graphic Film Corp'n Page 7 George Walsh in ON THE JUMP Victory — Fox Page 9 Fritzi Brunette in THE VELVET HAND Bluebird — Universal Page 11 Ethel Clayton in A SOUL WITHOUT WINDOWS World Pages 13 Francis McDonald in TONY AMERICA Triangle Page 15 William Russell in HOBBS IN A HURRY American Film Co. — Pathe, Distrs Page 18 May Allison in THE RETURN OF MARY Metro Page 19 William S. Hart in THE BORDER WIRELESS Hart=Ince=Artcraft Page 21 Gladys Leslie in THE MATING Vitagraph Page 23 Dorothy Gish in 'BATTLING' JANE New Art Film Co. — Paramount Page 25 Bessie Barriscale in THE HEART OF RACHAEL Bessie Barriscale Prod. — Hodkinson, Distrs. Page 27 Carmel Myers in A SOCIETY SENSATION Bluebird — Universal Page 29 Harold Lockwood in PALS FIRST Yorke=Metro — Screen Classics Pages 32 Theatre Chains Important In compiling statistics for the Year Book, which is going on the press this week, I have found that the sales-managers of various distributing and pro- ducing organizations, have come to a realization <>!~ the fallacy of the long-quoted twenty thousand theatres in the film business. One of the chief and most important tendencies of the present time in this wonderful industry of ours, is the organization of chains of theatres, and the rapidly growing tendency towards one man or one organization controlling either all or most all of the important theatres in any one town or city. I am not going to undertake at this time to dwell upon the importance of this really radical move- ment which has come into being in the last two or three years, but I do want particularly to call to the attention of everyone in the business, the fact that such chains of theatres do exist. Up to the present, few people other than those actively engaged in the sale of film, have realized how important these respective theatre chains are. I hope to have some very enlightening information on this subject in the Year Book. There will be another very welcome and very important feature of the coming Year Book, which will make it of exceptional value to most everyone in the business. For the first time there will be a complete list of all the features released during the past year, indexed three ways. First, they will be arranged in alphabetical order. Second, they will be listed under the names of the various directors who pro- duced the films, and third, they will be listed under the names of the stars who appeared in the pro- duction. This index will be of rare value to anyone who wants to check up the productions of any director or star, or anyone who cares to get information about any feature in the past year. There will be a number of very, very interesting bits of data, similar to this in the Year Book. It is not to be filled with special articles written by press agents, but an attempt has been made to make it of practical reference value. While waiting for the figures on the chains of theatres now existent, just give a little thought to that important situation which presents itself to anyone considering distribution, and if you have (Continued on page 28) iMi DAIL.Y ———Mi Sunday, October 6, 1918 ■ ■ — ewag Intelligent Handling and Comedy Touches Make This Sure-Fire Margarita Fisher in "MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING" American Film Co. — Pathe, Distrs. DIRECTOR Edward Sloman AUTHOR Fred Jackson SCENARIO BY William Parker CAMERAMAN Not Credited AS A WHOLE Truly delightful comedy; has far= fetched idea but surely entertains. STORY .... Has great twists and provides many laughs and nobody will worry about improbable plot. DIRECTION Gave this exceptionally fine treat= ment with intelligent handling and many effec- tive touches registered throughout. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine. A few hazy shots seemed to be fault of print or projection. LIGHTINGS Generally pleasing although fre= quently too harsh and chalky on faces. CAMERA WORK Splendid STAR Truly delightful in this. Best thing she has done recently. Registered many cute tricks. SUPPORT Jack Mower very pleasing hero and others balanced nicely. EXTERIORS Excellent as to requirements of story; large sets looked a trifle artificial but were well handled. INTERIORS Generally very good although some rather "setty." DETAIL Oodles of sure=fire touches. CHARACTER OF STORY Will go big anywhere LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet THIS is a truly delightful comedy drama, based on a rather ridiculous idea, but it entertains every minute, has excellent twists, is never obvious and is so pleasing to watch that no one is going to worry about the idea presented in this, which has to do with a Shero who hires her beauty and company by the hour, but never speaks. We had some excellent twists all through this that kept it moving and taking unexpected turns every now and then and Director Ted Sloman has crammed it full of ingenious comedy touches that register with a bang. Hero Jack Mower was introduced at the opening of this as a poor lawyer who had a trick of being very busy whenever a prospective client called and we get some delightful comedy business when Shero Margarita comes in for advice. Hero puts on a bold front, thinking she is wealthy but his dreams burst when she confesses to a bank-roll of seven pesos and we have them combin- ing forces on an idea from the brain of Hero, which is for him to be her manager and hire her beauty by the hour. They test the idea in a cafe, where it works wonders, a part of the scheme being that Shero never speaks. They soon branch out and Shero hires out to million- aires for one hundred dollars an hour, always being ac- companied by a chaperon. Shero falls in love with Jack, but he is too much engrossed with the money they are making to tumble. When they have accumu- lated twenty "thou" Hero purchases a house from Wedgewood Nowell, one of Shero's "customers." This proves a swindle, the deed being a forgery, and Shero learning of the swindle before Hero is wise, plans to re- gain the money and attends Nowell's reception which she had decided to turn down in order to get back the stolen money. Hero follows her and misunderstands her intentions, becoming very suspicious when he finds her in Nowell's bedroom, where she had gone to find his wallet. They are discovered by the guests and searched by the po- lice who have seen them enter through a window, but the money is not found. The lights go out and Hero and Shero escape. When they return home, Shero takes the money from her hair, where it had been overlooked by the searchers, and we finish with the clutch! Director Ted Sloman made this wonderfully entertain- ing by intelligent handling that never muffed an oppor- tunity for effective touches. Miss Fisher registered many delightful bits in this and was decidedly pleasing to watch all the way. Her cute tricks were much in evidence and her work in this regis- tered with me as the best thing she has done in months. Jack Mower was very good indeed ; Kate Price made a small part stand out and Wedgewood Nowell was an effective semi-willun. J. Norris Foster was another "customer" of the beauty corporation who did all that was required of him and the minor parts were very well played. Star is a Delight and Title Should Pull. Use Trick Advertising The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This is sure-fire audience stuff that should go over with a bang anywhere. Delightful offerings like this are none too plentiful and this is certainly worth stepping out and grabbing if you are making an effort to build up a permanent clientele with clean offerings that en- tertain. This one surely does. I think this is a good box office title and in advertising this I would emphasize the fact that this is a delightful comedy-drama that will send 'em out in a happy frame of mind. You can't plant that "happy" thought too strongly these days ; it's what the great eighty per cent, want to see. There is an insert that figures in the story which should create curiosity in your advertising. This Is a card which Shero handed to anyone who asked her why she didn't speak and read: "Franklyn Smith — He speaks for me — (address)." To use this you could get up an ad in liberal space with a good cut of Miss Fisher and under it this copy: "This girl made $100 an hour by being beautiful and keeping her mouth shut." Then in smaller type say : "This is the card she handed to anyone who asked her why she did not talk." Reproduce the card in a box and use the street address of your theatre. Under* this say : "If you are anxious to know how she accomplished this, see Margarita Fisher in 'Money Isn't Everything' at the Blank Theatre — NOW. It's a delightful comedy drama. You'll love it." Sunday, October 6, 1918 iM i DAILY Modern War-Time Romance Has Been Given Excellent Production Peggy Hyland in "BONNIE ANNIE LAURIE" Excel — Fox DIRECTOR Harry Millarde AUTHOR Hamilton Thompson SCENARIO BY Lela Liebrand CAMERAMAN # A. Leach AS A WHOLE Exceptionally human and well= handled heart interest story of the war. STORY Rather convenient though not impossi= ble plot has been made convincing by charac= terizations and treatment. DIRECTION Provided excellent atmosphere and made this hold all the way by intelligent hand= ling of characterizations and action. Made it ring true. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied but generally satisfac= tory; storm stuff very good. LIGHTINGS Generally pleasing with some good bits but frequently chalky on faces. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Fitted role perfectly and will win audience SUPPORT Sidney Mason excellent; William Bai= ley very good; Henry Hallam gave great char= acterization and types rang true. EXTERIORS Very fine indeed; great Scotch at- mosphere and convincing battle stuff. INTERIORS Very well handled DETAIL Many excellent touches CHARACTER OF STORY For any audience. Is wholesome. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet IVE SAT through a great many war films lately, good and bad, and I want to commend Director Harry Mil- larde for giving us in this some of the most convinc- ing and well-handled battle scenes and trench atmos- phere that has come to my attention since everybody started doing war films. The Scotland atmosphere in the early part of the offering showed the same careful and convincing detail. This offering classes as distinctly different from the routine war story, being centered about a romance with the war as a background, and it has been exceptionally well handled throughout and given a logical ending, which is certainly commendable. As the story opens, Peggy Hyland is betrothed to William Bailey, who leaves for the front with the Scot- tish regiment. Later, a ship- wrecked stranger is washed ashore and as Peggy cares for him they fall in love. Peggy gradually losing interest in her betrothed. The stranger. Sidney Mason, suffers from a lapse of memory and cannot remember anything concerning himself. When Peggy's stern father learns of her love for Sid- ney, he orders him to leave. Peggy follows him and begs to go along. A storm overtakes them and they become separated. The effect of the electric storm restores Sidney's memory the next morning and remembers of having been on the Tuscania when it was torpedoed sev- eral months before and reports to army headquarters where be resumes his ppst. In a dug-out on the front he meets William and they become staunch friends and he later rescues him in a spying expedition, both being wounded. In the mean- time Peggy has been turned out by her irate father and is a nurse in the base hospital where William is taken. Sidney is taken to a hospital in another sector. Peggy tries to renew her love for William but the memory of Sidney haunts her and on visiting day, when Sidney visits the base, we have some very effective scenes where the three are together, William being una- ware of their previous meeting and love for each other. After a mental fight with himself, Sidney steps out and the story closes with Peggy and William back in their home village, where he has been invalided until his im- paired eyesight is restored. There was an unmistakable sincerity and heart inter- est wallop all through this that made it ring true and the trench atmosphere, all of which was staged, was won- derfully effective and convincing. We had some great village types who provided many delightful comedy touches in the early part of the offer- ing and the titles were very well worded and got over patriotic punches without overreaching. Dan Mason and Marion Singer completed the cast. ^ The only studio , concentrating on the production of features to the ex- clusion of all other details. Produc- tions made by con- tract Perfect facil- ities for individual producing units with or without con- tractees supervision. The BRUNTON STUDIOS ROBERT BRUNTON COMPANY Melrose Avenue : : Los Angeles "By Your Works You A re Known ' Recent Productions "Madam Who" "A Mans Man" ' ''Patriotism ' "Carmen of the Klondike" "Turn of a Card" "Alimony'''' "The One Woman" "More Trouble" "The Bells" "Sierra of the Sixties" "All Wrong" istijij DAIL.Y Sunday, October 6, 1918 Garry Out Scotch Atmosphere. Offering Should Please Anywhere The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Peggy Hyland in "BONNIE ANNIE LAURIE" Excel — Fox This has wholesome appeal, exciting battle stuff, comedy and pathos and a real heart interest punch brought out by skillful handling of characterizations and should prove very pleasing entertainment anywhere. I don't remember of ever seeing Miss Hyland in a role in which she appeared to such excellent advantage and the entire cast was well selected, from the principals to the true to life types in the Scotland sequence. Owing to the fact that war stuff may suggest car- nage and unpleasantness to many, I would play up the fact that this is centered about a romance with the great war as a background, because while we have some ex- citing battle stuff in this, the gruesome details have been avoided without losing any of the punch. The song, "Annie Laurie," is worked into the story and is also the character name of Miss Hyland. which may offer a suggestion for your advertising. If you are in the habit of doing things in jazz style, you can work in a very effective bit in your music on this by having a bag-piper accompany the scenes in the picture in which the kiltie band figures. There is "not much of this, but the effect would be worth the expense and you could use the piper as a bally-hoo in your lobby when he was not playing the scenes in the picture. Lobby cards with Scotch plaid backgrounds would help the general effect and this idea could be elaborated upon according to your resources and facilities. The production is worth the effort. In her Latest and Greatest Success TyjKOFIHETOWN'1 I y UNIVERSAL SPECIAL ATTRACTION Sunday, October 6, 1918 tM^ DAILY "Rip-an'-Tear" Western Meller. Has Action But Is Very Crude Anita King in "WHATEVER THE COST" Plaza=Hodkinson DIRECTOR Robert Ensminger AUTHOR Capt. Leslie T. Peacocke CAMERAMAN George Rizard AS A WHOLE "Rip='en=tear" meller of the "ten= twent'=thirt' " calibre. STORY "Doity woik in the gulch" stuff with Shero on a still hunt for her father's murderer. DIRECTION Varied decidedly. Some bits effec= tively handled; others painfully crude. Showed lack of supervision. PHOTOGRAPHY Good in spots but generally very careless. Shot some sets without diffusers and let sun spots creep in where diffusers were used. LIGHTINGS One good silhouette bit; otherwise ordinary. CAMERA WORK Routine straight stuff STAR Makes a better juvenile than an ingenue. Got over very well as boy. SUPPORT Satisfactory but frequently "acted" EXTERIORS Acceptable INTERIORS Generally impressed as "sets" DETAIL Varied from good to awful CHARACTER OF STORY A wild mixture; should hardly offend. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet IT LOOKS ms though the author, in writing this, had spent a *.M>«;M;»«;M>;V<'*»JM'WM>*.^^ »*♦ ♦*♦ ♦.* ♦.♦ *♦ ♦♦ § "The Pacific Coast is the' Logical Place to make Release Prints" § ♦,♦ ♦,♦ The Sanborn Laboratories, Inc. ! is the logical place on the Coast to do your release print work. We :•: :.: ♦V ♦.♦ control exclusive rights on the Handscheigh Color Process. Super excellency is the reason for our making release prints for Douglas Fair- :*: banks, Authors Photoplay Co. (Anna Luther Releases), "Smiling Bill" « Parsons Comedies and the sample print work of at least ninety per cent. £ of the big productions made on the West Coast. g ♦♦ ♦*♦ ♦V ♦** ♦.♦ -—-——---_———-_-__-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-__-_-_-_-_----_-_-_-_-—-_-——--_-_--_ ,» *♦ «v SANBORN LABORATORIES :: Culver City, Los Angeles, Gal. ♦.♦ ♦.♦ *» ♦» ... ♦,♦ For Rent — For Motion Picture Business About 2,500 square feet of office space, with projecting room facilities, at No. 6 West 48th Street, subdivided and especially desir- able for motion picture offices. Conveniently located and immedi- ately available. Apply to R. J. Huntington, No. 3 East 44th Street, fifth floor. Telephone, Murray Hill 6664. Sunday, October 6, 1918 afe^l AlLY Athletic Star in Liberty Loan Stunt Meller Has Been Overdone George Walsh in "ON THE JUMP" Victory — Fox DIRECTOR R. A. Walsh AUTHOR R. A. Walsh CAMERAMAN Roy Overbaugh AS A WHOLE Impossible stunt meller with many awful punning titles; is unfunny and never impresses but patriotic attempts may excuse it with some. STORY Wild, disconnected meller incidents obvi= ously arranged for star's athletic stunts. DIRECTION Provided good atmosphere generally but made no attempt to have this convincing and action never impressed. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Generally very good CAMERA WORK Good STAR Jumped all over the place and never stayed in one spot long enough to register anything but speed. SUPPORT. . . .Satisfactory but star hogged everything EXTERIORS Generally satisfactory INTERIORS A few sets looked trashy; others very • good. DETAIL Star and story all over the place CHARACTER OF STORY Wild=eyed stunt meller with forced titles. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION (In Six Reels) BILL FOX seems to think that anything will set over if it contains a lot of wild action and oodles of "Give-the-Kaiser-Hell" titles, regardless of whether the story and action ever gets anywhere or has any semblance of consistency. This runs all over the place technically with the star climbing everything in sight and beating up a gang of rough-necks single- handed, hardly stopping long enough any place in the film to register anything but speed. I'm for giving the Kaiser hell, but producers should realize that this stuff can easily be over done and when this is the case, the effect of the attempts at patriotic punch are lost in wild action and over-reaching titles that lack dignity and are not taken seriously as a con- sequence. Some of the titles in this were good but others were so painfully forced in an attempt to be funny that as a whole they left the general impression that the person who wrote them was trying to kid you rather than put over a thought or punch. The effect was lost. The theme of this centered around the Fourth Liberty Loan Drive and no doubt would have been effective in boosting the loan and stirring up enthusiasm if they hadn't tried so hard to be funny and allowed so much wild action that never registered because it was so im- possible and unconvincing. They had George Walsh turning over his offices for Liberty Loan headquarters and emulating the "Human Fly" by climbing up the outside of a skyscraper to get into the office of a wealthy gink who couldn't be seen and who had refused to kick in. The titles given George here, in which he put forth the loan issue and induced the wealthy man to buy bonds, were the most effective in the production because they were sincere, straight forward talks and didn't try to be funny. Some that we had preceding these, however, were just plain awful. Of course, they had a spy in this, who had purchased a newspaper to launch subtle German propaganda in this country. This gink also steals a formula for a gas sub- stitute which George had perfected and we have a wild chase in which the spy is pursued to a schooner, upon which he attempts to escape, with George holding off the entire gang until the marines arrive and pinch the outfit. The most effective sequence in the entire production was where George gets an inspiration from Paul Revere and uses the same methods of awakening the public to the necessity of buying bonds and flashing a light in the tower when the subscription went over the top, as in history. Those in the cast were James Marcus. Frances Burnham and Ralph Faulkner. Henry Clive. 10 tMA DAILY Sunday, October 6, 1918 May Help Loan Drive But Will Be Dead Issue When Loan Is Over The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor George Walsh in "ON THE JUMP" Victory — Fox If George Walsh's stunt stuff has been getting over in your house in the past, this will probably slide by without any strenuous complaints but I am sure that no one is going to take this thing seriously. It isn't objec- tionable but it is so wild and painfully forced that it neither impresses as funny or interesting. The theme of this makes it timely right now and it will probably pull business for that reason, but I can't hand it much as to the impression created and it appears to me that several of the short Liberty Loan special sub- jects I have seen will really do more effective work in actually getting folks to buy bonds than this six-reel offering will. No doubt Bill Fox's intentions were good in putting this out and he is to be commended for put- ting time and expense into a subject which will be nil when the drive is over, as to timeliness of appeal, but it certainly is a shame that he didn't make this more sincere and plausible while he was doing it because much of the effect of this is wasted by the way it lias been handled. I would advertise this as a straight Liberty Loan Ap- peal by George Walsh, which will serve to excuse the mild effect of the thing by the knowledge that at least his intentions were good, although many will feel that the producer missed badly in getting his point over. I can't see any percentage in playing this after the Fourth Loan Drive is over, because if the appeal of the bond issue does satisfy them they certainly won't be im- pressed with the story after this has served its purpose as Liberty Loan propaganda. CASH IN ON "TRIPLE TROUBLEJ" Read the Advice of Experts. "Charlie Chaplin's tricks in 'Triple Trouble' will get the laughs. You needn't worry about that. In fact I can safely say they will be as hearty as any that have ever been caused by his contributions in the past." — Motion Picture News. " 'Triple Trouble' is one of the funniest comedies that Chaplin ever appeared in, and he uses some of the most original laugh-producing tricks that were ever screened. This picture is not a re-issue ; the scenes and story are new.^Photoplay Journal. " 'Triple Trouble' was made when the comedian was at his best, and is one long continuous laugh. " — Motion Picture Bulletin. George K. Spoor, President George Kleine System Distributors Sunday, October 6, 1918 lljffl DAILY 11 Fairly Interesting Meller Will Satisfy As Program Offering Fritzi Brunette in "THE VELVET HAND" Bluebird — Universal DIRECTOR Douglas Qerrard AUTHOR Edith Bernard Delano SCENARIO BY F. McGrew Willis CAMERAMAN Virgil E. Miller AS A WHOLE Rather ordinary offering lifted by star and pleasing atmosphere. Is satisfactory program attraction. STORY Shero swears vengeance on her brother's slayer and after falling in love with him finds he is not the guilty man. DIRECTION Provided rather good atmosphere and kept this fairly interesting by handling and de= velopment of characterizations. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Varied from good to fair; at times too uniform on sets. CAMERA WORK Very good; doubling in of cas= tie was excellent idea but crude painting marred effectiveness. STAR Rather pleasing, dolUfaced ingenue SUPPORT Satisfactory EXTERIORS . .Some big sets and Venice atmos= phere rather good. INTERIORS Sets large and substantial looking but got over as "sets." DETAIL Acceptable CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet ON ACCOUNT of the rather pleasing atmosphere in this and certain amount of interest, I think it will slide over as a satisfactory program offering. Be- ing laid in Venice, this has the usual stabbing incidents that seem to be an integral part of every scenario con- cerning Sunny Italy, but the way it has been handled hardly classes it as objectionable. Gene Corey and Fritzi Brunette are a devoted brother and sister living in Venice with their father who has saved to provide a dancing career for his daughter. Gene falls for Carmen Phillips, a vamp adventuress, and be comes jealous when he sees her in the company of Wedge wood Nowell, who has come to the town with his friend William Conklin, to spend the night. Gene sees them in the garden together and in a dispute which follows Gene is killed. Conklin, who has been a witness, comes over to the body of Gene and is seen by Fritzi just as he is picking up the dagger, which makes her believe that he is the murderer. Fritzi swears vengeance and later we find her a dancer in Milan where she meets Conklin and determines to ruin him financially, win his love and then kill him. In the meantime Nowell has enlisted in the Italian army, Conk- lin having promised him never to reveal his knowledge of the murder while he is alive. Then we have Fritzi gambling away Conklin's money and winning his love, finally accusing him of the mur- der, which he denies, but cannot explain. Meanwhile Carmen has become infatuated with Conklin and stabs him from behind out of jealousy when she finds Fritzi is in love with him. Fritzi comes in and finds Conklin on the floor and he recovers after which the mystery of Gene's death is cleared when Nowell is reported killed in action, enabling Conklin to explain the murder. The short battle flashes which showed the death of Nowell in a trench were very well handled. The cameraman put over a great stunt in the early part of the offering which opens the way to new possi- bilities in photographic effects. The effect was rather crude as we got it, however, because the doubled-in pastel painting of the castle was poorly done and looked artificial. The stunt was the showing of a large castle on a far-off hill in an exterior shot, which was done by doubling in a crayon drawing of the castle on the top of the hill. The idea was great but was rather poorly done and it's effectiveness discounted accordingly. Gene Corey was a good type as the brother who was killed off early; William Conklin played convincingly and Wedsewood Nowell was very satisfactory. Carmen Phillips was sufficiently wicked as the vamp and others who appeared were Fred Turner and Nicholas Dunequ. PRODUCTIONS A1%??!ukai' fa&f rbtothy Phillips j iMHiiiniiiiiiiiyiaH 12 iM% DAILY Sunday, October 6, J918 Is Not Big or Unusual, But Should Pass Muster With Most Audiences The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Fritzi Brunette in "THE VELVET HAND" Bluebird — Universal This just registers as a satisfactory program offering which won't give any one cause to rave over it but will no doubt be accepted generally as entertainment, although it isn't sufficiently good to warrant your mak- ing any special effort to get it if you haven't got it coming on a contract basis. The fact that the Italians are our allies and the presence of a few flashes of war stuff on the Italian front will give you an excuse to trim your lobby with Italian flags for this attraction if you think it will pull busi- ness on account of the timeliness of it. Miss Brunette is rather a pretty girl of the doll-faced ingenue type and her photos in the lobby might help to stop the gang on this while the presence of William Conklin may interest those who have seen him in sev- eral Ince productions in which he has appeared with Dorothy Dalton and other stars in the past. You might use catchlines like this in your advertis- ing: "What would you do if you vowed to avenge your brother's death and found that you loved the man who was suspected of the murder? See Fritzi Brunette in 'The Velvet Hand'." You might tie the title up with your advertising by having lobby cards made with the outline of a lady's hand cut out of bright colored velvet and pasted in the center of the cards, around which you could have the title and other reading matter lettered. "Reckoning Day" The Triangle Play based on an actual experience of the Secret Service in Washington during 1918. presents three of Triangle's most popular favorites — Belle Bennett J. Barney Sherry am Belle Bennett in Triangle Plav N%TME RECKONING DAY" Jack Richardson There are profits for you and for War Saving Stamps, in the presentation of this photo- play which tells of the beauti- ful woman whose keen intellect conquers a vicious plot to di- vert American charitable dona- tions to the treasury of the Kaiser. Scheduled for early release Triangle Distributing Corporation New York Sunday, October 6, 1918 bM*| iAILV 13 Convenient and Uninteresting Story Lifted Somewhat By Star Ethel Clayton in "A SOUL WITHOUT WINDOWS" World DIRECTOR Travers Vale AUTHOR Julia Burnham CAMERAMAN Max Schneider AS A WHOLE SIow=moving plot with convenient twists fails to impress forcibly but will get by as program offering. STORY Old stuff of orphan leaving Quaker Colony and making pampered hero happy, with pain= fully dragged out finish. DIRECTION Gave ordinary atmosphere and failed to make this distinctive; frequently let players "act." PHOTOGRAPHY Generally ordinary; few good shots here and there. LIGHTINGS Varied from good to ordinary; gen= erally too uniform. CAMERA WORK Routine; composition frequently bad on exteriors. STAR Beautiful and lifted this decidedly, although badly handicapped by story. SUPPORT Mayo "acted" frequently; others acceptable. EXTERIORS Some good; generally satisfactory INTERIORS Generally impressed as "sets" DETAIL Some crude bits but will get by CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive, but fails to stir anything. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,115 feet ON ACCOUNT of the presence of Miss Clayton, this will probably get by as a program offering, but the story was very obliging with many inconsist- ent bits and forced comedy situations, and as a whole, registered as very ordinary. They open this up with shero as a child being brought to a Quaker Colony, and then we have a time lapse with Miss Clayton introduced as the girl grown up, having been reared in ignorance of the outside world. Hero Frank Mayo is introduced as a wealthy guy in love with Pinna Nesbit, and who becomes paralyzed as a result of rescuing Pinna from drowning at a bathing party. Previous to this, Shero has met a wandering musician and has stolen his violin with which she amuses herself, and when it conveniently happens that hero Frank's mother comes to the Quaker Colony, she adopts Shero and takes her back home where Frank, who is an inva- lid, falls in love with her, it having happened that he had previously met her while riding through the woods near the Quaker village. When Frank's mother dis- covers that he is desperately in love with Shero, she makes it plain that such a union is not in line with her wishes, because shero is a nameless nobody, so in order to enable them to finish this with the clutch, and inci- dentally to drag this plot into five reels, they have Shero hunt up her old musician friend who gives her violin lessons. Of course, Shero becomes a famous musician, and to make it more satisfactory, they have her con- veniently turn out to be the long-lost sister of Pinna, who had turned Frank down since the accident, and the postponed clutch was pulled off as per schedule. In the scene where Shero first comes to Frank's home, they had us believe that she had never seen an automobile, a piano or a mirror before. I don't know anything about the inner workings of a Quaker Colony, but the idea of Shero being frightened at seeing her reflection in the mirror, was certainly a forced and far- fetched piece of business. The scene where the life guards jump out of the boat to rescue Frank and Pinna was very clumsily done, and will get laughs. Others in the cast were Richard Clark, Eugenie Woodward, David Davies, George Mor- gan, Gus Pixley, Zadee Burbank and Jack Drumier. -Mi i 1 \jj+ *\f DAll-V Sunday, October 6, 1918 Is Very Ordinary But May Get By As Program Offering The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Ethel Clayton in In advertising this, if you feel that you must play it, I would lay off of any mention of the story, concentrat- "A SOUL WITHOUT WINDOWS iug ou the presence of Miss Clayton, who appears to World rather good advantage in this, despite the handicap. I wouldn't mention anything about this having to do with This is "just one of those very ordinary routine _ , ,. . ■,-,-, j. *.- *.i «s • J ■ J Quakers, as this would only serve to tip them off in "movies" that isn't worth worrying about if you're not advance to the fact that this is slow and uninteresting, scheduled to play it, and while it will probably get by without any serious complaints if you have been play- WMle this is more to be desired tMn ™ld sex mellers< ing ordinary program releases on a daily change basis, it fails to create any real impression and for that rea- certainly nobody is going to rave over it or advise their son I would just slide it over very quietly without mak- friends to see it. ing any rash promises as to its entertainment qualities. r°j£o^re»:a^:^^^^»^:^^ f l i i I I I 1 I 1 I 'i I Success Is Electric! F^VERY exhibitor knows when a producer has profit -making -*— ' stars and productions. News of this kind travels with the rapidity of electric current. Travels by wireless. Is often felt and recognized even before the producer himself is fully aware of it. Goldwyn has made good its advance prediction that "This Is a Goldwyn Year." A year of success for exhibitor-customers. A year of powerful productions. A year of increased pop- ularity for its stars. A year of still better pictures. The biggest fall successes in the motion picture industry are all— GOLDWYN PICTURES. GOLDWYN PICTURES CORPORATION Samuel GOLDFtSH. President Edgar Selwyn. Vice President 16 East AZnd Street New York City I I i 1 | I rao^g«-^go^9&o;&?^^^ Sunday, October 6, 1918 tM% DAILY 15 Characterization of Star Helps Slender, Slow-Moving Story Francis McDonald in "TONY AMERICA" Triangle DIRECTOR Thomas N. Heffron AUTHOR Evelyn Campbell SCENARIO BY Doris Schroeder CAMERAMAN c- H- Wales AS A WHOLE Very frail plot helped by pleasing characterization of star. STORY Very, very little of it DIRECTION Made this rather pleasing by human treatment and satisfactory atmosphere. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally pleasing LIGHTINGS Soft, even lightings; little attempt for effects. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR Has sincere appeal; lifted this decidedly SUPPORT Satisfactory EXTERIORS Acceptable INTERIORS. . . .Adequate but not distinctive. Lacked detail touches. DETAIL Satisfactory; newspaper insert crude CHARACTER OF STORY Mildly entertaining LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,500 feet FRANCIS MCDONALD'S very human and appealing characterization in this makes it rather pleasing but there is not enough story for a split reel and without the human element and the work of Francis McDonald this wouldn't have been anything. As it stands it is mildly entertaining, depending entirely upon characterization rather than action, with just enough interest developed to get it over the line as acceptable. The story is centered around Tony, an Italian who comes to this country where he makes a living peddling fruit. He marries the daughter of his boarding bouse land- lady, who has married him merely to get his money and has a secret affair with a pro-German butcher. ■ The coming of a baby lightens Tony's burden some- what and when Tony meets Rae Godfrey, who becomes a friend of Tony and the baby, and he sees her fre- quently. When the child is about four years old, Tony's wife, who has secretly carried on an illicit love affair with the butcher, obtains a divorce and demands custody of the child. His friends jeer him with the news that the butcher is really the father of the child and he is overcome with grief. Tony swears to kill the butcher but the child inter- venes and he learns that it was all a lie and that he is the real father after all. Tony and the child go to Rae, who is waiting for them, and all ends happily. In the fight sequence we have the child holding up an American flag and saying "America, My America." causing Tony to relinquish his grip on willun and aban- don the idea of killing him. This appeared very much overdrawn and could have been handled more convinc- ingly or a title used which would have registered the reason for this effect of the sight of the flag upon Tony. It was far-fetched as shown. We had a few little kiddie touches in this which were very good and the boarding house atmosphere and garlic eating gang of wops were rather well selected as to type. Yvonne Pavis, as the faithless wife, was satisfactory in the role but certainly isn't beautiful and Rae Godfrey was sufficiently pleasing as the Shero. Dorothy Giraci was the child and others who appeared were : Mrs. Harry Davenport, Herald Holland, Ludwig Lowy and Dick Loreno. May Satisfy But Is Very Slender Material For Feature The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Unless your folks are content to watch a film which has nothing but one pleasing characterization to com- mend it, with nothing ever happening so far as action is concerned and a frail plot which provides no suspense, they are going to feel that this hasn't done much to re- pay them for the time they have spent in sitting through it. I like light, human stories personally, but there must be some semblance of a plot and a few twists that work up suspense or interest or the mere presence or one pleasing character can't hope to hold the attention for five reels of film. This will probably get by as a program offering but it certainly is slender material to be presented as a fea- ture and I'm sure no one will rave over it while many are liable to feel that it is far below the average as entertainment. I think most exhibitors will agree that even the best of character actors are a very poor bet at the box office and you have the additional disadvantage in this of pre- senting a star who is practically unknown to your fans having appeared in supporting roles 'in the past, prin- cipally as a juvenile. This certainly cannot be classed as an "attraction," it may get over as a routine offering in a daily change house. It can't be expected to pull business and I think it would be clever to pick up a good comedy or educa- tional feature that you could give prominence in your billing, to go with this. Attention — States Righters and I'm Running For the bei H THE KAISI A Stupendous Photoplay Prophecy of th< While the real event the Public mind is THIS THUNDEROUS IV 7 reels full of the stuff the Public wa Produced by S. L. Warner For territory apply to A. WARNER, 220 West 42nd St., N. Y. Hiller and Wilk, Foreign Agents Longacre Building, New York Don't A Jump the ibitors who are their own bosses! e War Now — of buyers of R'S FINISH When the Yanks March into Berlin rawing nearer — while taring itself for it — LODRAMA SHOWS IT! hrilling Story— Mammoth Production n ai it— Get It Now! train for New York, I'll Show You! tMA DAILY Sunday, October 6, 1918 Story Rather Jumpy But Speedy Action and Star's Pep Put This Over William Russell in discovered that the property is rich in tungsten, the TT>T^--7-,, father plans to send Bill to buy the property back again "HOBBS IN A HURRY before the owner can learn of its true worth. Bill's sweetheart. Winifred Westover, is the daughter of his American Film Co.— Pathe Dist. dad»s business rival, and a titled Englishman who has niPPCTOR Henrv King been courting her, accidentally comes on to the infor- AiiTHOr? Georee Lee McCandless nation regarding the mine and tells Shero's father, and SCENARIO BY ' .' .' .' .".'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.... Stephen Fox the rest of the story is taken up with the race of the fAMFPAMAN Not Credited tw0 factions trying to get to New Mexico first and re- AS A WHOLE.'.V.'.'.Has 'rather "good twists and pro= Purchase the property. vides oodles of snappy action but is confusing Shero and her father, accompanied by the English- in spots. man, speed west in the father's private car, and Bill, STORY Not convincing or consistent but has who has been detained in a theatre mixup, beats it to speed and pep so that the detail may be ac= the station in his evening clothes and hops on the train cepted. as it is leaving. We get some excellent stuff here when DIRECTION. Timed action effectively and gave Bill, who has been sleeping on the deck of the special excellent treatment to individual incidents, but car, is discovered at the first stop, and has a battle with allowed rather abrupt and incoherent jumps in the cop who tries to put him off. ~.„~~~^ ,^'rVb ^ .1 a ii + It has previously been established that the English- PHOTOGRAPHY. .Generally very fine; many excellent man,g twin brothe; is the owner of the minej wMc| en. , .^..„,?jfilv- ^ >• < •■*.!. • u* *.«« ables the two to become mixed later, when the titled LIGHTINGS. . . Generally pleasing with night stuff ink ghaves off Wg sideburns and sells tne pr0perty to „ , ,«™ *eS^U^* bUt fr^uent,y *00 contrasty on faces. gher(),g father while pretendin to be Ws twin brother. CAMERA WORK Very good. Doubles exception The brother in the meantime has closed the deal with „™ . ^ ally well handled. ntn.0 p^jj which makes matters clear as mud, when STAR Peppy athletic hero; worked hard and has botb ghero,g father aud Bill pr0duce a deed for the prop- personality that wins. er^.„ SUPPORT Miss Westover very pleasing; Hay ward ' . Mack and Carl Stockdale very good. Back ]nr New(i Y°rk' ,Blll's father discovers that the EXTERIORS Provided excellent atmosphere ™ine^d ^en salnted and W11\e,s. BlU *ot nto Purchase INTERIORS Very good; train stuff and theatre £• Bill 5.avm« already, done1 tnis' sells J11S .deed to scenes great Shero's father, the father's deed, of course, having been DETAIL Individual touches great; some weak a forgery. Feeling that things will be a trifle too warm snots in story when Shero s father discovers that he has been CHARACTER OF STORY For any audience ^i1ndl^d: Bdl and s.h?™ *?* off the train and watch for LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet Bill s father s special train, which is on the way to meet them. WE HAD many very obliging coincidences in this They had a sequence in the twin brother mixup where and quite a few spots in the story were confus- Bill blacks up and changes places with the porter in ins?, and at times far-fetched, but because of the order to ferret out the mystery, but while this provided snappy action, which was excellently handled, and the a few laughs, it was too unconvincing to register forcibly. personalities of the players, I think most any audience The two characters played by Hayward Mack were very will feel that they have spent an enjoyable hour or well handled and Carl Stockdale gave a very good per- more in seeing this. forrnance as the bad man in the employ of Bill's father They gave us some good touches at the beginning to {>t the mine. bring out the title given Bill Russell who was known Tho chief fault with this lay in the fact that we had as "Hobbs In A Hurry" because he was always on the several situations which were obviously brought in to jump — acts first and thinks afterwards. He is the son provide action, but really did nothing' to advance the of a financier who had sold a mine in New Mexico which plot. Others in the cast were Henry Barrows and Rich- had been considered worthless, so that when later it is ard Morris. Play Up Star. Promise Speed and Thrills Galore. They'll Accept It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If your folks like Bill Russell, and they surely do if you have shown any of his recent pictures. I think they will accept the rather incoherent shifting of events in this and figure that it provides entertainment be- cause of the comedy bits and the excellent handling of the speedy action which dominates the offering. I think "Hobbs In A Hurry" is a bear of a title as it suggests speed and you can safely promise your folks that this one has got that because it certainly travels. In advertising this, I would give a little prominence to the presence of Miss Westover who is Bill's new lead- ing lady and is very pretty. You might ask your folks: "Have You Ever Hopped a Train?" "Would You Swin- dle Your Sweetheart's Father?" or "Do Yon Act First and Think Afterward?" See William Russell in "Hobbs In A Hurry." You might bill this as "The story of an energetic mil- lionaire who rade from New York to New Mexico on the top of a passenger train because he was in too much of a hurry to buy a ticket." Sunday, October 6, 1918 afe4* DAILY 19 Appealing Star in Unique Story With Heart Interest Wallop May Allison in "THE RETURN OF MARY" Metro SUPERVISED BY George D. Baker DIRECTOR Wilfred Lucas AUTHOR Hale Hamilton SCENARIO BY George D. Baker CAMERAMAN William E. Fildew AS A WHOLE Unusual story with good twists made delightful entertainment by treatment and players. STORY Has several surprise kicks and a forceful dramatic climax and happy ending. DIRECTION Provided good rtmosphere and de- veloped suspense effectively with several ex= cellent bits of pathos and a forceful climax. Made it hold all the way. PHOTOGRAPHY Very good LIGHTINGS Generally pleasing CAMERA WORK Composition pleasing and dis= • solves very well done. STAR Delightful, appealing personality, has cute mannerisms and gave good contrast in time lapse. SUPPORT Darrell Foss did surprisingly well; Frank Brownlee forceful although a little in= clined to act. Others very good. EXTERIORS Pleasing INTERIORS Generally very good DETAIL Many effective touches CHARACTER OF STORY Wholesome entertain- ment for any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet BOYS, this registers! We have a very good story idea here, played by a pleasing cast that kept it human and Director Lucas has handled his situa- tions in a way that made them hold, injecting effective bits of pathos throughout with a touch of delightful comedy here and there, all working up to a climax that really gripped because it rang true. The unique plot in this concerns the return of Shero to her parents after she had mysteriously disappeared fourteen years previous. Mystery shrouds the identity of the man who had raised Shero in the belief that she was his own daughter and after a lapse of five years, during which time Shero has grown to womanhood, we have the rather odd twist of her brother actually being in love with her to the extent of becoming jealous of her other suitors. The brother, who is now a successful lawyer, is in- strumental in gaining a pardon for an engineer who had been sent up for life as responsible for a wreck on the road of which his father was president. Here it is dis- closed that the engineer is none other than the man who had raised Shero and he returns to her home upon being released and they give us the final kick which reveals the fact that Shero is really the engineer's daughter after all and that he had merely planned the ruse to have his daughter taken care of before being sent away to prison. After this climax, which is really forceful and dra- matic, they provide a happy ending by having the son propose to Shero. enabling her to remain in the home where they had grown to love her, she promising to pay her real father regular visits every day. On account of the stress placed upon the devotion of the apparent brother and sister, some folks may have an inkling of the finish, but it is far from being obvious and has certainly been well handled. You've got a pretty hard-hearted gang if they don't "dampen" a little during the scenes where the real father comes back and the ladies will surely share Shero's predicament with her when she is unable to decide whether to go back to her real father or stay with the foster parents who have been so kind to her in the belief that she was their own daughter. May Allison was wonderfully appealing in this, which registered with me as the best thing she has ever done and should win her many new admirers. Darrell Foss was a thoroughly likable Hero-brother who made his role human and convincing. The very fine work of Frank Brownlee, as May's fathpr, was discounted at times by an inclination to "act" but his performance as a whole should register very favorably. George Burton, as Darrell's father, made his role forceful and convincing and Claire MacDowell was very good as Burton's wife. Baldy Belmont filled a minor role capably. ■— wamwiwi 1 into ■ nmiia WILLIAM RUSSELL PRO&VCTIONS, Inc. starring fflfraawM M.P.fc>.A. CURRENT RELEASE: *Up Romance RoAb* BELEASE& TUROVdH MVTVAL EXCHANGES 3 I I.>V.?t 4i.lV'--' fc ;■■■■■■ him 1 1— wmammmta Jam 20 tMA DAILY i I'H Sunday, October 6, 1918 Go To This Strong. It's the Kind That Builds House Prestige The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor May Allison in "THE RETURN OF MARY" Metro This should prove sure-fire entertainment with any kind of an audience. It's human, has a dramatic punch and a sure enough heart interest wallop and is thor- oughly enjoyable to watch all the way with a happy finish logically brought in to send your folks out in a pieasant frame of mind feeling that they've been enter- tained. May Allison has a winsome, appealing personality that clings in your memory and I am sure that a few more pictures like this one will put her over the top as a sure-fire box-office magnet. I'd display her photos liberally in my lobby and newspaper ads and they might be interested in knowing that this is the screen version of a stage play by Hale Hamilton, who is also now a Metro star. You might word your ads along this line: "Do you love your sister so much that you are jealous of her suitors? See May Allison in 'The Return of Mary'." "What would y.ou do if you had lived with folks whom you thought were your parents and whom you had learned to love, and a man who proved to be your real father came to claim you? May Allison finds a unique way out of this predicament in 'The Return of Mary'." You can safely promise your patrons that this is one of the most wholesome and entertaining features that you have shown in a long time ; it's the kind of a picture that builds for house prestige and future business. Go to it strong. Continuity Thousands of dollars are wasted every time a director is started to work with a continuity which contains unnecessary scenes which are afterwards eliminated in the cutting room. Every producer knows how his overhead piles up when the director must halt production to patch up bad continuity. It's good business to get your continuity right before you start. That is where I come in. I am free lancing so that you may call me in immediately to straighten out that "sick sister." ARTHUR EDWIN KROWS 155 Hawthorne Avenue, YONKERS, NEW YORK My Phone is Yonkers 5492 Sunday, October 6, 1918 AILV 21 Bill Hart Takes a Crack At the Kaiser in Well Done Spy Film William Hart in "THE BORDER WIRELESS" H art= I nee — Artcraf t SUPERVISED BY Thos. H. Ince DIRECTOR William S. Hart AUTHOR Howard E. Morton SCENARIO BY C. Gardner Sullivan CAMERAMAN Joe August ART DIRECTOR Thomas A. Brierley ART TITLES BY Irvin J. Martin AS A WHOLE Familiar situations made effective by star and wonderfully realistic atmosphere and settings. STORY. . . .Elementary basic idea dressed up in timely settings puts over patriotic puches effectively. DIRECTION Played a little more to action than characterization with romance developed nicely and good, tense dramatic action at climax. PHOTOGRAPHY Very fine LIGHTINGS Generally very good; few opportu= nities offered for effects. CAMERA WORK Very good. Some scenes could have been helped by more speed. STAR Virile and sincere in fighting Hero role SUPPORT Miss Hawley pretty and appealing; James Mason gave human characterization and Charles Arling very good as spy; others bal= anced nicelv. EXTERIORS Excellent throughout; street excep= tionally well done and convincing. INTERIORS Very fine; detail and construction of wireless station interior commendable piece of work. DETAIL Very well handled CHARACTER OF STORY Combines Hart punch and timely appeal. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,353 feet WHILE this has the elementary basic idea of the reformed bandit winning the "gel" and coming in for a hero finish by busting up a German spy gang on the border, it has all the Hart elements and has been given a careful, well-handled production, with the patriotic punches effectively brought in and worked up to a tense, dramatic climax that carries a timely appeal. They start this out with Bill eluding his pursuers and saving the Shero in distress and then after Bill has decided to locate in Yellow Dog because of the "gel," war is declared and willun Charlie Arling is shown up in his true colors by his pro-German utterances, where- upon Bill forces him to kiss the flag. Bill rides to a nearby fort to enlist and in the mean- time willun, realizing that Bill may interfere with his plans, produces evidence that he is wanted for murder and gets the sheriff on his trail. Bill escapes and learns that willun's mine is a secret wireless station and that information regarding the sailing of General Pershing and staff to France is being relayed to Berlin. Bill and Shero Wanda Hawley, who is a telegrapher, gain entrance to the station, Bill holding off the operator while Shero sends a message to the fort. The spy gang busts in and Bill succeeds in holding them off while Shero destroys the wireless apparatus and we have the familiar "cavalry to the rescue" finish with Bill in khaki and on his way to Berlin and Shero watching from the side-lines. I want to comment particularly on the sets in this, which showed unusual care and painstaking detail and must have involved considerable labor and expense. We had a few good comedy touches in this, particu- larly the scenes where Bill, after watching aeroplane maneuvers at the fort, says he will enlist, "providin' he can ride a horse." The romance bits were also good audience stuff, with Bill in his usual role of the bashful but sincere Romeo. The "Kamerad" title appeared somewhat forced and out of place to me, as it is hardly convincing as the truce cry of a spy gang in this country who speak American. This opened up with Bill as a fugitive and they gave us a rather good suspense twist by not disclosing what Bill was wanted for until the finish, when he was cleared of the charge. The scenes where the cavalry comes to the rescue and where Bill lands a wallop on Leo Willis' jaw would have been helped materially if the camera- man had cranked slower. Have your operator watch for these and speed them up a bit. Others in the cast were E. von Ritzen, Berthold Sprotts and Marcia Manon. "Rebecca of 5unnybrook Farm" - "M'Liss" -"Amarilly of Clothesline Alley" 'Hearts of the Wild"- "Stella Maris'; - "Hit -the -Trail Holl'idtey" Supervised and directed by IyIoaaLm a. tux, In preparation: 'The Three Be*rs"- Artcraft Special- "Out of a Clear Sky'-'The Silver KinAltV Sunday, October 6, 1918 Emphasize Wholesome Element and Play Up Mysterious Theft Angle The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Gladys Leslie in "THE MATING" Vitagraph It seems to me this same title has been used by someone else recently. I can't recall where, but it sounds familiar. At any rate, it's a bromide that has been used several times in the past in slightly changed form and I think you can think up something that will promise more to the gang out in front who are wondering whether to spend an evening in your house or the one across the street. I am sure this will please any audi- ence and it's clean and wholesome, but you've got to do something to get your gang interested. You might use a title like "A WELL-MEANING BURGLAR," "A LUCKY THIEF," "AN HONEST CROOK" or "A PETTY LARCENY ROMANCE." Miss Leslie is a very pretty and pleasing star who should develop quite a following in this type of offering and don't overlook the fact that you have the name of Herb Rawlinson to play with here because Herb has been starred in several productions for Universal and recently supported Geraldine Farrar in her first Goldwyn pro- duction. All of these things help in advertising a film. I would mention the fact that this is a delightful human little story with some cute kiddies furnishing much of the comedy. You might ask your folks: "What would you do if you found that your sweetheart's father was being swindled and the only way you could save him was to turn swindler yourself at a risk of losing your girl's love? See Gladys Leslie and Herb Rawlinson in 'The Mating'." Book the Shirley Mason Series A New Idea in Short Pictures A chain of seven cyclonic 2-reel specials, each complete in itself, but joined by an appealing romance. A condensed ver- sion of "The Deadly Sins". Backed by Mc Clure nation - wide publicity. Distributed by General Film Company for Mc Clure Productions, Inc. Sunday, October 6, 1918 TsiijA OAILV 25 Star Registers Distinct Triumph in Sure-Fire Comedy. Will Go Big Dorothy Gish in "BATTLING JANE" New Art Film Co. — Paramount ?J RECTOR Elmer Clifton £U1 HOR Arnold Bernot r5S^R/!2 aBJ ArnoId Bernot ^ES • Not credited as A w nULt Exceptionally entertaining comedy- drama has laughs galore, great titles and oodles of sure=fire touches. STORY Elementary plot made delightful by star and treatment. DIRECTION Registered many sure=fire touches and made this interesting every minute by won= derful handling of star and cast and a keen appre= ciation of smal!=town atmosphere. PHOTOGRAPHY. Adequate but not distinctive; frequently muddy and off=focus. LIGHTINGS. Varied decidedly; some good touches but generally too contrasty. CAMERA WORK Routine STAR A positive delight in comedy role that regis= tered with a bang. Mannerisms and actions are a riot. SUPPORT Boob lover was a scream; great types throughout. EXTERIORS Provided excellent smalltown atmosphere. INTERIORS Fitted atmosphere with many good detail touches registered. DETAIL Many effective bits CHARACTER OF STORY Will win any audience LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet DOROTHY ! Where have you been ! We've seen Miss Gish in some splendid produc- tions in the past and her work in "Hearts of the World" Avas delightful but if this little lady don't knock 'em dead with this production, there is surely something the matter with 'em. I claim there is more delightful, sure-fire comedy in this delightfully humorous offering than we've had handed to us for a long, long time, and it's of such a distinctive, effervescent nature that you just keep on chuckling way down inside, when you're not laughing outright, all the time you are watching this. The story is elementary, but Director Elm«r Clifton has kept it moving with oodles of sun touches and a dash of meller which is also | the comedy vein, with the result that you just and eat this up. Director Clifton deserves credit for having dev< Loped a characterization that is delightfully different than any- thing we have seen Miss Gish do in the past and he has provided atmosphere and some great village tj put this over with a bang. They start this off with a running close-up of Miss Gish coming down a country road on a "bike" we have her dismounting to do battle with a gang of kids and grown-ups to get over the nick-name "Battling Jane" — and believe me. the name is impressed upon your mind when she gets into action. The story concerns a worthless doctor who has left his wife and baby and Dorothy adopts the child when the mother dies. Dorothy gets a job slinging hash in a boarding and picks up with a rural lover, permitting of some of the best bashful romantic stuff I have ever se< n. Doro- thy's adopted baby wins the prize at a baby show and when the Doctor hears about it he frames with willun to get the money. This brings on the meller. with Dorothy holding the two crooks prisoners in a closet until the detective comes in. Dorothy invests the prize money in W. S. S. and The Red Cross and they finish with a parade of soldiers headed by Dorothy and her sweetheart, who is in a uniform of the U. S. army. The scenes where Dorothy is milking the cow are a riot and the business of the kerosene in the candy given her by Hero will certainly get a yell. I saw this at the Rivoli and the names of the cast were omitted on the film, which is the custom with that house, but I want to give the fellow that played the boob lover credit for one of the best characterizations of a bashful rural youth that I have ever seen. His name was omitted on the Rivoli program, which credited others in the cast as George Nicholls as "Doc," May Hall as the baby's mother, Katherine MacDonald as the betrayed sweetheart of willun. Bertram Grassby, as the willun crook and Ernest Marion as the baby, who was a healthy-looking little youngster that would win a prize in any baby show. All did good work but the attention centered on the star and the boob guy all the way. *&*&!& Dii-ttctoro HOBART HENLEY M.P.D.A. Directing- MAE MARSH 4orGcldw>ii Current and ioi,ttico«iin?^releayes': "^s£ Face in the Dark" "AirVbrnai^-^eO^ Pearf ""^e Glorious Adventure" 26 DAILY Sunday, October 6, 1918 Get This and Go the Limit. They'll Tell Their Friends to See It The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Dorothy Gish in "BATTLING JANE" New Art Film Co. — Paramount If you want to make a touch-down with your folks, get this ! As delightful entertainment this registers a hundred percent, and will send 'em away laughing and happy. Unless you have played "Hearts of the World." Miss Gish hasn't been seen in your community in a new pic- ture for a year or more so I would revive the memory of her past successes with Triangle and go the limit in promising them that she appears in a distinctive comedy role in this which establishes her as one of the most delightful and distinctive comediennes on the screen. Emphasize the fact that this is different from anything she has ever done in the past and that they'll like her in this better than anything she has ever ap- peared in. You might head an ad: "BATTLING JANE. She treated 'em rough but she had a heart. You'll love Dorothy Gish in this delightful comedy." Or you might ask them: "Have you ever lived in a small town? If you have, Dorothy Gish in 'Battling Jane' will revive fond memories. Whether you have or not, you are going to remember this as one of the most delightful comedy-dramas you have ever seen." Just remember that this is sure-fire and carries an appeal for old and young. Having this to work on, you can't claim credit for being a showman if you don't do a whale of a business with it. Sunday, October 6, 1918 Willi Ml— IIWIIHIIMI imiii 27 ■M — c Beautiful Star in Appealing Story Given Artistic Production Bessie Barriscale in "THE HEART OF RACHAEL" Bessie Barriscale Prod. — Hodkinson Distrs. MANAGER OF PRODUCTION Robert Brunton DIRECTOR Howard Hickman AUTHOR Kathleen Norris SCENARIO BY Jack Cunningham CAMERAMAN Clyde de Vinna AS A WHOLE Pleasing personalities in wonder= fully artistic production; holds all the way. STORY Has good twists and human situations brought out by capable direction, atmosphere and cast. DIRECTION Kept this decidedly classy all the way and developed characterizations effectively with many little touches registered throughout. PHOTOGRAPHY Distinctive and artistic LIGHTINGS Exceptionally fine with many effec= tive bits. CAMERA WORK. . . .Excellent; mat work wonderfully effective and composition pleasing. STAR Delightful and appealing personality SUPPORT. . . .Excellent throughout; some cute kiddies EXTERIORS Classy and distinctive INTERIORS Lavish and convincing DETAIL Many effective touches CHARACTER OF STORY Problem play intelli- gently handled; for any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION s,ioo feet MY HAT is off to the producers for this one. It has all the qualifications of a production that should go over with a bang anywhere and if you can't do some real business on it you ought to go out and have a talk with yourself. It's been a long time since I've seen an offering that checked up so well from every angle as this one does. The star is wonderfully appealing, the direction is intel- ligent, the cast is excellent and the artistic lightings and atmosphere combined with a truly interesting story make this check up about as near 100 per cent, as any pro- duction can. Miss Barriscale is presented in this as the wife of Herschall Mayall, a widower, being little older than Ella Hall, Mayall's daughter by his first wife. Unable to stand the indifferent attitude of both, Bessie divorces Mayall and marries Herbert Heyes, their family phy- sician, whom she really loves. Later, when Ella elopes with Edward Coxen, a worthless adventurer, Mayall kills himself. As time passes, Heyes becomes infatuated with Gloria Hope, an actress, and his love for Bessie gradually dwindles. Six years pass and we find Bessie the mother of two children. She learns of her husband's affair with Gloria and tells her that she may have her husband and that she will not contest the case, whereupon Heyes turns Gloria down and leaves for Europe. He returns later but does not see his wife and finally they are brought together by an accident to one of the children, Heyes being the only surgeon in the vicinity who can save the child's life. After the successful opera- tion, Heyes begs forgiveness and they finish with the clutch. We had some wonderfully effective rain scenes where Bessie takes the child to Heyes' residence in her limou- sine and the operation was exceptionally well handled with the suspense as to whether it was successful or not effectively developed. The lightings, photography and camera work on this were about the most artistic and effective I have ever seen and I want to compliment the cameraman particu- larly on the mat effects registered all through this. This was an elaboration on the regulation closeup with the spot shifting from one character to another and still leaving both characters in the picture, the scene surrounding the spot being dimmed by a mica screen. The general effect has been used before but I have never seen it as effectively handled as we got it here. Miss Barriscale was truly beautiful and appealing and the effective lightings helped to make this register as probably the best work she has done. The cast was excellent throughout and Director Hickman gave us many effective touches and some delightful bits with Ben Alexander and Mary Jane Irving, the cute kiddies who appeared. Charles Ray 28 laiijij DAILY Sunday, October 6, 1918 Should Appeal to All Glasses and Deserves Extended Engagement The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Bessie BarriscaSe in "THE HEART OF RAGHAEL" Bessie Barriscale Prod. — Hodkinson Distrs. I don't rave about 'em very often but this positively registered with me as one of the most entertaining and artistic offerings I have seen in a long time and it will certainly be a shame if this is not given an ovation by exhibitors and public that will encourage more pro- ductions along the same lavish and unstinted lines. If there was ever a deserving production, this is it. I'll defy anyone to consistently pick holes in this from the standpoint of story, treatment, direction, cast or tech- nical flaws. There isn't a jarring note in the offering. Knowing that you can't promise too much in present- ing this, the thing to do is to get out and make some noise about it, Give them your personal guarantee that it is one of the most artistic and interesting offerings you have ever played and if you haven't made the mis- take of promising this on every picture you show, regardless of its merit, you ought to stir something. I think Miss Barriscale has a considerable following in most communities and if you can't get them in on this, there's a screw loose somewhere. You might create interest by billing this as "The Story of a Woman Who Couldn't Hold a Husband." Or you 'might say. "'She didn't want her first husband and she left him. She wanted her second husband but she coudn't hold him. What would you have done under the circumstances? See Bessie Barriscale in 'The Heart of Rachael'." I would mention the fact that Howard Hickman (Miss Barriscale's husband) directed this, for he has surely registered an artistic triumph. Theatre Chains Important ("Continued from page 1) any worth-while ideas, remember that I am always glad to print them. Someone asked me the other day why I had printed the Universal interpretation of the Para- mount Contract, and I told them that it was be- cause Universal had sent it to me the same as they sent it to every other paper. I am anxious to print anything which I feel will be of interest to my readers and will gladly devote one page at any time to an}- intelligent discussion of any import- ant production, distribution or exhibition problem, it whoever sends in the article will sign it, provid- ing, of course, that it is interesting and is not libelous. I think it is a good thing for the Industry to have discussions, and I know many folks in this busi- ness who can talk better when they write it, than they can when they try to explain in person. NOW, WHO WANTS TO HAVE A TELL? WID'S DAILY , BINDERS 175 A binder keeps your copy orderly and makes it readily convenient for reference. Sunday, October 6, 1918 DAILY 29 Elementary Plot Made Delightful By Players and Treatment Carmel Myers in "A SOCIETY SENSATION" Bluebird — Universal DIRECTOR Paul Powell AUTHOR Perley Poore Sheehan SCENARIO BY Hope Loring CAMERAMAN E. O. Ullman AS A WHOLE Truly delightful comedy=drama; is not big, but entertains. STORY Had several good twists and kept moving all the way with comedy touches dominating. DIRECTION Injected many pleasing little touches and human bits; provided good types and kept action and plot development interesting. PHOTOGRAPHY Just straight stuff LIGHTINGS Generally too uniform; no attempt for effects. CAMERA WORK . Acceptable STAR Very pretty and pleasing personality SUPPORT DeValentino likable, clean=cut Hero; Miss Titus very good character and many well= selected types in fishing Village. EXTERIORS. . . .Generally very good; fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Very few; were adequate DETAIL Many good little touches CHARACTER OF STORY Wholesome light en= tertainment, should please any audience. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet THIS is a delightful little offering that should regis- ter anywhere as pleasing entertainment. It isn't big cr pretentious and the production was rather ordinary but it just kept sliding along at a good clip with new twists brought in as the story developed, which, helped by the pleasing personalities of the play- ers and the effective human touches registered through- out by Director Paul Powell, made it leave a very fav- orable impression at the finish. Carmel Myers is a poor girl in a little fishing village and when an enterprising reporter sees a "story" in her ancestral record, lie photographs the family group with the result that the article is seen by a rich woman in Frisco who has been trying to pry her way into society and sees in Carmel, with her "Duchess" title, a chance to bring this about. Carmel is dolled up and taken to Frisco where she wins the admiration of Hero by res- cuing him from drowning. In the meantime, Shero's father has been nicked for $G00 by a confidence man, claiming that he could produce proof of Shero's ancestry for that amount and when he fails to come through Shero's mother goes to Frisco for her and spills the beans just as her romance with the young millionaire is getting along lovely. Shero returns to the village where Hero soon comes after her and after a chase in which Shero's village lover tries to abduct her, Hero comes to the rescue and gets her on his private yacht where he asks her to marry him. In the meantime, the society dame has obtained proof that Shero is really a Duchess and comes to the village. All ends happijy and Shero's bucolic lover finds solace with another girl from the village and we fade out on the society dame paying five "thou" for the proofs of Shero's ancestry, which was phoney after all. Rudolph DeValentino was a good-looking hero whom the girls will think "jest grand." He's a clean-cut chap and registers very well. Lydia Yeamans Titus, as the society woman who adopted Shero, put over a very good character and will get quite a few laughs. We had several type characters in the fishing vil- lage who were very well selected and one feller in par- ticular, who had a habit of sniffing whenever he talked, made a hit with me and will get several quiet chuckles. Fred Kelsey was Shero's village sweetheart and Zazu Pitts was the girl he finally fell for when Shero was "taken." Alfred Allen was a good type as Shero's father. Title Sounds Interesting and Production Has Popular Appeal The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This ought to prove a safe bet anywhere, being a light, entertaining offering of the type that is particularly de- sirable just now. These wholesome little offerings don't come along any too often and they are certainly much more to be desired than the wild mellers and hit-or-miss spy films that we have been getting recently. There is a little meller in this, but it is played with the comedy element predominating all the way and never becomes objectionable or wildly overdrawn. I think most folks will find this thoroughly enjoyable and interesting to watch. Miss Myers is very easy to observe and is a rather distinctive type and her photos in the lobby ought to help. In advertising this you might use catchlines hitting along this angle: "If you were a poor girl how would you like to have some rich woman take you under her wing, dress you up in swell clothes and introduce you to exclusive so- ciety? See Carmel Myers in 'A Society Sensation'." "What would you do if you had gained a place in exclusive society because they thought you were a Duchess and suddenly had all the joy taken out of your life because the alleged high-brow ancestry turned to be phoney?" In advertising this I would mention the presence of Rudolpho DeValentino, because he is a good-looking chap with personality who is going to win an individual fol- lowing in a short time if they give him more real parts like he had in this. 30 Sunday, October 6, 1918 Index from June 30 to September 29, 1918 There will be an index in Wid's every three months HODKINSON DATE PAGE Aug. 18 A Law Unto Herself 5 ' Sept. 1 The White Lie 29 Sent. 8 Prisoners of the Pines 11 Sept. 15 Angel Child xi Sept. 29 The Embarrassment of Riches 3 PIONEER FILM CORP. Aug. 25 The Still Alarm 13 Sept. 1 Wives of Men 2 FOX SPECIAL Aug. 25 The Prussian Cur 19 Sept. 1 Queen of the Sea 18 Sept. 29 Why America Will Win 7 GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA FILMS Sept. 22 Liberty Loan Films 3 & 4 GEORGE KLEINE Sept. 22 Behind the Lines in Italy 13 CLUNE July 7 The Eyes of the World 13 GENERAL July 21 Her Moment 2 Aug. 11 The Locked Heart 7 Aug. 11 No Children Wanted 21 WM. SHERRY SERVICE July 21 A Romance of the Underworld 11 Aug. 18 The Inn of the Blue Moon 4 SHERMAN-UNITED PICT. THEATRES, INC. Sept. 15 The Light of Western Stars 27 MARTIN JOHNSON— ROBERTSON- COLE CO. July 28 Among- the Cannibal Isles of the South Pacific.... 18 STERLING PICTURES Aug. 4 Peg O' The Sea 17 T. HAYES HUNTER SPECIAL Aug. 4 The Border Legion 19 WESTERN IMPORT CO.— W. H. PROD. Au g. 11 Mickey 4 AFFILIATED DIST. CORP. Sept. 15 Lafayette, We Come! 29 .SCHOMER— STATE RIGHTS Sept. 29 Ruling Passions 11 BACON-BACKER Sept. 29 A Woman's Experience 15 PARAMOUNT-ARTCRAFT SPECIAL Sept. 1 The Hun Within 21 Sept. 22 Sporting Life (Tourneur) SI BUREAU OF PUBLIC INFORMATION DATE PAGE Juno 30 Flying with the Marines 21 Aug. 4 America's Answer 23 GOLDWYN July 14 The Service Star 18 July 28 Back to the Woods . . I 13 Aug. 11 Friend Husband 29 Aug. 18 The Glorious Adventure 29 Sept. 8 The Turn of the Wheel 25 Sept. 22 Peck's Bad Girl ~ Sept. 22 Money 3Iad 7 Sept. 29 Laughing Bill Hyde 32 M. H. HOFFMAN Sept. 29 The Craving 23 PARAMOUNT June 30 Sandy 9 July 7 The Claws of the Hun 3 July 7 Uncle Tom's Cabin 29 July 14 The Firefly of France 5 July 14 The City of Dim Faces 29 July 21 The Vamp 21 July 21 Less Than Kin 31 July 28 Fedora 11 Aug. 4 A Nine O'clock Town 21 Aug. 18 Green Eyes 19 Aug. 18 The Source 23 Aug. 25 In Pursuit of Polly 9 Aug. 18 On the Quiet 25 Sept. 1 Her Country First 13 Sept. 1 The Girl Who Came Back 27 Sept. 8 The Cruise of the Make-Believe 7 Sept. 8 The Marriage Ring .21 Sept. 15 The Law of the North 25 Sept. 22 A Woman of Impulse 19 Sept. 22 Come On In 27 Sept. 29 Out of a Clear Sky 2 Sept. 29 Vive La France 25 ARTCRAFT July 7 We Can't Have Everything 18 July 7 Shark Monroe 27 July 14 The Danger Mark 21 Aug. 4 Bound in Morocco 27 Aug. 18 The Great Love 15 Aug. 18 Riddle Gawne 31 Aug. 25 Heart of the AVilds 7 Sept. 1 Till I Come Back to You 25 Sept. 8 Johanna Enlists 27 Sept. 15 He Comes Up Smiling 21 Sept. 22 The Goat 5 MUTUAL June 30 Up Romance Road 23 July 7 Outing Chester Travelogues 15 July 14 The Ghost of Rosy Taylor 19 July 28 Impossible Susan 7 Aug. 11 Her Husband's Honor 27 Aug. 25 A Hoosier Romance 11 Sept. 8 Love's Law 19 Sept. 15 His Birthright 23 Sunday, October 6, 1918 TdiJtA TRIANGLE DATE June SO Juno 30 July 7 July 14 July 14 July 14 July 14 July 21 July 28 Aiiff. 4 Aug. 4 Aug'. 4 Aug. 11 Aug. 11 Ahr. 18 Aug'. ?."> Aim. 25 Sept. 1 Sept. 1 Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. :>f) PAGE The Tainted Lily 15 The Fly God I8 Every Woman's Husband 2 Marked fart) s ~ A Good l.oser H Hell's End 1"> By Proxy 25 False Ambitions 15 Beyond the Shadows 6 Alias Mary Brown 4 The Price of Applause 15 The Golden Fleece 31 Cactus Crandall 15 Shifting Sands 18 The Ghost Flower 7 Wild Li fe 3 Daughter Angele 5 The Mask 3 High Tide . 7 Untamed 19 The Secret Codp 3 31 y st ic Faces 9 The Atom 18 Desert Law 9 The Gray Parasol 18 FOX June 30 We Should Worry 3 June 30 The Kid Is Clever 13 Juno 30 Ace High 31 July 7 Other Men's Daughters « 5 I July 14 Her Price 3 July 21 Miss Innocence 3 July 28 The Fallen Angel 9 Aug. 4 Doing Their Bit 11 Aug. 11 The Bird of Prey 11 Aug. 25 Fame and Fortune 31 I Sept. 1 The Liar 5 Sept. 8 Lawless Eove 23 | Sept. 15 Riders of the Purple Sage 7 Sept. 15 When a Woman Sins 11 Sept. 15 Mr. Logan, U. S. A 19 Sept. 22 Kultur 5 Sept. 22 Queen of Hearts 11 Sept. 22 The Rainbow Trail 18 Sept. 29 The Strange Woman 27 METRO June 30 The House of Gold 29 July 7 To Hell With the Kaiser 11 July 7 A Man's World 21 July 14 Opportunity .'. 31 July 21 A Successful Adventure 19 July 21 No Man's Eand 23 July 28 The Demon 27 Aug. 4 A Pair of Cupids 29 Aug. 11 The Hon se of Mirth 31 Aug. 25 In Judgment of 23 Aug. 25 Our Mrs. McChesney 27 Sept. 1 Flower of the Dusk 9 Sept. 8 Boston Blackies Little Pal 15 Sept. 8 The Silent AVoman 18 Sept. 29 Kildare of Storm 19 PATHE June 30 Annexing Bill 27 July 14 Cupid by Proxy 7 July 21 The First Law 7 July 28 Waifs 21 Aug. 4 The Ghost of the Rancho !!.!!!!!!!■!!! 7 Aug. 11 Winning Grandma 13 Aug. 11 The Eyes of Julia Deep 25 Aug. 18 The Girl From Bohemia 9 Aug. 25 Her Man " 25 Sept. 1 A Japanese Nightingale 23 Sept. 22 The Border Raiders " 21 Sept. 22 The Bells ....!.. 29 Sept. 29 Mantle of Charity .....!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 21 DAILY 31 VITAGRAPH DATE PAGE June 30 Tangled Fives :»r» J uly 7 One Thousand Dollars 7 ,1 uly 21 Eove Watches 9 July 21 The Highest Bidder 29 A Gentleman's Agreement 19 All Man 25 Wild Primrose 23 The Changing Woman 11 The Clutch of Circumstance 29 The Green God 11 A Nymph of the Woods 13 By the World Forgot 3 The Girl of Today 23 A Diplomatic Mission 13 Jirly 21 Aug. 4 Aug. 11 Aug. 18 Aug. 25 Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 UNIVERSAL June 30 Aug. 4 Aug-. 4 Aug. 18 Sept. 8 Sept. 22 Tke 31ortgaged Wife 19 A Woman's Fool 9 Bread 13 Crashing Through to Berlin 21 Modern Love 29 The Talk of the Town 25 WORLD June 30 July 7 July 14 July 21 July 28 Aug. 1 Aug. il Aug. 18 Aug. 25 Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. )■> Sept. 29 A Woman of Redemption 11 The Heart of a Girl 25 Tinsel 23 The Golden Wall 5 Joan of the Woods 25 Neighbors 5 Heredity 19 The Beloved Blackmailer 18 Merely Players 15 Inside the Lines 15 The Power and the Glory 5 T' Other Dear Charmer 9 By Hook or Crook 15 To Him That Hath 29 BLUE BIRD UNIVERSAL City of Tears 7 The Empty Cab 23 The Deciding Kiss 13 Winner Takes All 27 The Dream Lady 23 Playthings 13 The Love Swindle 27 That Devil Bateese 31 Beans ., 2 The Brazen Beauty 5 FIRST NATIONAL— PETROVA June 30 Tempered Steel 5 June 30 July 7 July U July 21 July 28 Aug. 18 Aug. 18 Sept. ! Sept. 15 Sept. 15 PARALTA June 30 One Dollar Bid s J uly 14 Wedlock 27 July 21 Maid O' the Storm 18 Aug. 11 A Burglar for a Night 9 SELECT Safety Curtain 9 The Whirlpool 19 A Pair of Silk Stockings 9 The Death Dance 13 The Ordeal of Rosetta 25 The Savage AVoman 5 Sauce for the Goose 18 Her Only Way 21 The Burden of Proof % The Better Half 15 Mrs. Lemngwell's Boots 9 A Myth of the AVoods 13 The Beloved Blackmaster 18 July July 7 July 14 July 81 July IL Aug. 11 Aug. 25 Aug. 25 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. ■>•> Sept. 8 Aug. 18 32 DAIL.V Sunday, October 6, 1918 Artistic Values and Pleasing Characters Make This Very Entertaining Harold Lockwood in "PALS FIRST" Yorke=Metro — Screen Classics DIRECTOR Edwin Carewe FROM NOVEL BY Francis Terry Elliott Published by Harper Brothers DRAMATIZED BY ■ Lee Wilson Dodd SCENARIO BY O. A. C. Lund ART TITLES BY Ferdinand EaYle CAMERAMAN Antonio Gaudio AS A WHOLE Very well done and decidedly en= tertaining if physical resemblance theme can be accepted. STORY. . ; Has good twists and holds interest al= though basic structure of coincidence makes it somewhat unreal. DIRECTION. . . . . .Gave artistic atmosphere, intelligent treatment and use of closeups, with characteri- zations properly developed. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally excellent LIGHTINGS Many very fine; generally pleasing CAMERA WORK : Splendid STAR A pleasing hero SUPPORT Lackaye excellent, Miss De Remer pleasing, others good types. EXTERIORS Many excellent bits of composition, generally very good. INTERIORS. . .Well photographed, generally distinctive DETAIL Some good little touches CHARACTER OF STORY Nothing to offend LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,600 feet WHEN this starts off with an intimation in the very first few scenes of a basic structure depend- ent upon an unbelievable physical likeness be- tween two utter strangers, you have a sense of feeling that this is absolutely artificial. The intelligent treat- ment of the director, the pleasing personalities of Mr. Lockwood and Mr. Lackaye, quickly offset this, however, and before the film is half finished, you are thoroughly interested in the characters and accept the dramatic situations ; and they develop without harking back to the physical resemblance curse until it presents itself at the finish in a rather startling coincidence, where the hero. Mr. Lockwood, explains how his unknown twin jest happened to pick out his bedroom to rob with the result that they traded places and caused the mixups which make this yarn possible. The idea of Jim Lackaye. with his happy smile and sturdy young herald, the hero, going through life as pals, will win sympathy quick, and the dramatic mo- ments which come several times in the course of the action, where these two seem about to split forever, will undoubtedly register quite effectively. I want to compliment whoever is responsible for tin- choice of locations, and the composition of both exte- riors and interiors, because this work added quite a bit, in the way of artistic distinction, to this offering. The photography throughout was excellent. Director Carewe relieved the drama with occasional comedy touches, provided principally by a couple of sure-enough old darkey servants, and the happy smiles of these two will undoubtedly bring a response from most any audience. The story, briefly, had to do with the arrival of a tramp at the home of a man apparently his twin in appearance who had just been reported dead. He was accepted -as the dead man by everyone, including his sweetheart, until the willun secured what he considered positive evidence of the death of the real owner of the property. Complications arose, until it reached the finale where we found that the tramp was really the man supposed to be dead, since he had taken the tramp's place to regain his health, when the tramp had insisted upon sailing for Australia under the name of the wealthy man. It was the tramp who was lost at sea. Particularly in the middle West, and probably throughout the country James Lackaye will be remem- bered by all who have seen such good old-time plays as "York State Folks." His characterization in this was excellent. Mr. Lockwood as the tramp hero gave a very pleasing performance and Miss De Remer as the sweetheart was right easy to look at, and quite satis- fying-. Others in the cast were: Frank De Vernon. Rich- ard R. Neill and Rollo Lloyd. They'll Enjoy It. Special Advertising Will Help You Quite a Lot The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor They'll like this, and you can afford to bill it as a novelty story of two pals who wander into a great adventure. Of course, you know what to do regarding Mr. Lockwood, because no one knows as well as you, just how strong he is in your particular community. Certainly he will make new friends in this. It would he a mistake to overlook the advertising possibilities presented by Mr. Lackaye's appearance in this character, because his work stands out. and it would seem to me to be advisable to play him up in the billing very strong, in order to bring' out the thought that this is the story of two pals and a girl whom they found in their won- derful adventure. While this may be known to a great many of your fans, both as a book and a play, it having been done on the stage by Tom Wise and William Courtney as the pals, it is quite possible that many of your regulars may not know of the yarn. I would suggest, consequently, that you lay particular emphasis in all of your advertis- ing, upon the phrase, "You'll love this wonderful adven- ture of these sure- enough pals." Since Mr. Lockwood has been seen in a great many straight roles, it is quite possible that some will prefer the thought of seeing him in character. It would seem to me. therefore, to be a good hunch to carry some of your ads with Mr. Lockwood and Mr. Lackaye shown as tramps, with Miss DeRemer between them as the beau- tiful girl. Those three figures can be worked into some effective copy and. of course, you must always remem- ber that white space is valuable if you let it alone instead of cluttering it up with a lot of unnecessary type. TEN PARTS On The Way David Lloyd George By SIR SIDNEY LOW The Romantic Life Story of the Great Welsh Statesman Produced by The Ideal Film Renting Co., Ltd., LONDON (Under the sole direction of MAURICE ELVEY) TEN PARTS Which allied Statesman, outside America, has most CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION and won the hearts of the world? Beyond a doubt it is DAVID LLOYD GEORGE, the great little Welshman, who has fought his way up by sheer grit, FROM COTTAGE TO PARLIAMENT, from bookmaker's protege to the Cham- pion of England and the cause of civilization! Fiction in its most fascinating pages contains no more captivating chapter than the real-life ROM- ANCE OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE. The old saying that "Truth is stranger than Fiction" has received no more wonderful exemplification than in Lloyd George's great upward climb to leadership. America and Lloyd George To-day the entire world hangs upon his every utter ranee and in particular no international figure makes so VIVID an APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA! His picturesque speech, his freedom from the spirit of caste, his rise to fame from humble origins, his determination to make the common people prevail over TYRANTS IN PURPLE, all give him in es- pecial degree the ear and the heart of the Democracy of the United States. Like Abraham Lincoln It is not to be wondered at that the Nation that produced an ABRAHAM LINCOLN should admire such a figure as DAVID LLOYD GEORGE, for there is something wonderfully akin in the char- acters and careers of the two men. The "Ideal Film Renting Co.," whose famous master-pieces such as "MY OLD DUTCH" and "MASKS AND FACES" found a warm welcome in America, have been engaged for AN ENTIRE YEAR ON THE PICTURE! — such is their determination to make it accurate as well as realistic! The life story of LLOYD GEORGE, besides its fascinating romance, will be the most vivid illustration of THE REAL OBJECTS OF THE WAR that has yet been anywhere exhibited. Through it move such famous Americans as WASHINGTON, LINCOLN, WILSON, etc., and it is, otherwise, PACKED WITH INTEREST FOR THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA. Showing Soon THE LIFE STORY OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE will be shown to the Trade in London in October. Those who may be interested please communicate at the earliest moment with the "IDEAL FILM RENTING CO., LTD ," 76-78 WARDOUR STREET, LONDON, W. 1., and arrange without fail to be represented at the Trade Show. A MODEL CINEBIOGRAPHY. ! THE PICTURE THAT ALL AMERICA WILL WANT TO SEE ! NOTE. — The picture has been so construed that it may be released in episodes or completely. Of l^ctcftaeit" cDiracteJ hu "HmirarcJ "Hickman, Jcreen"Vcmon feu 3ack Cunningham. ■— m m ** m m <«i -■» m^> im «ri an i IN THE "Heart of Rachael," Miss 1 Barriscale reaches the high water mark in her dramatic career of screen- craft portrayal. As a woman whose heart is torn and bruised by an un- happy marriage and who seems to find happiness again with the man of her dreams — her character study is splendid BUT when with two beau- tiful children crowning her joy, she is suddenly over- whelmed by the fact that her husband is slipping from her, Miss Barriscale makes her role really live. Of course, content- ment comes finally, but only through pain and sacrifice. n)irtri6uiedL &y tta XiSXAf'^Hx^kJuxrort Gjorpjorakiatv 7/eBftADSTKET of FILMDOM X^RECOCHIZED Authority Vol. VI, No. 2 Monday, October 7, 1918 Price 5 Cents SHOW MAKES GRATIFYING START First Days Indicate that Public is Keenly Interested in Madison Square Garden Exposition The attendance figures on Satur- day, the opening night of the Motion Picture Exposition at Madison Square Garden, exceeded the expectations of. the management, who feared that 'he influenza epidemic might seriously curtail patronage of the show. From shortly after eight o'clock, when Enrico Caruso electrified the crowd by his singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" and "Over There," until the doors were closed, the Gar- den was well filled. Chief interest centered in the impressive war ex- hibits, many of them brought from the battlefields of France. A battle scarred French airplane is on view, also a 155 mm. gun which has seen service. Then there are numerous booths containing exhibits of war work, such as the manufacture of gas masks and the construction of ships. Most of the large producing com- panies are represented in attractively arranged booths. One marked differ- ence between this and former exposi- tions is that the companies and their stars are devoting more energy to the selling of Liberty Bonds than to the advertising of their own product. Elsie Ferguson, Theda Bara, Har- old Lockwood and William Farnum were among those who attracted con- siderable attention on Saturday night. Last evening Alice Brady was the cen- ter of interest as the star of the first picture made in the Garden in view of the public. The Liberty Loan theatre, in which the Liberty Loan films are shown, is well patronized. Rickson Chicago Manager R. E. Rickson, who was in charge of the publicity for the War Exposi- tion, recently presented in Chicago by the United States and Allied govern- ments, has been appointed manager of the Chicago office of the Division of Films, Committee on Public Infor- mation, which has been opened at 39 La Salle street. The Chicago office will keep in close touch with all ac- tivities of the Division of Films in the Middle West. All the News GRAND-COLONIAL THEATRES Green Bay, Wis. Wid's Daily, 71 West 44th St., New York. Gentlemen: The news you bring to my desk every day, together with the reviews on pictures, is, in my opinion, the best that any ex- hibitor could expect, and if it wasn't for the fact that I do want to see some of the adver- tising in the other weekly pa- pers, I would not get them at all, as I am actually too busy and tired to look at all the press agent dope mixed in with the genuine news that these week- lies print. It is a source of sat- isfaction to receive your Daily in such a concise form and in ten minutes one knows all the hap- penings of trade. Best of success for the future, I remain, Yours very truly, HENRY GOLDMAN, Manager. Locates in Albany ALBANY.— The William Fox Film Corporation has established a branch office in Albany for the purpose of facilitating the distribution of pictures throughout the Capitol district. E. H. Arnold, of New York, a former rep- resentative of The Moving Picture World, will have charge of the Al- bany office, which is located at 48 Howard street. Walthall Film Arrives Isadore Bernstein, of the National Film Corporation, announces that he has received the first print of Henry B. Walthall's latest picture, "And a Still Small Voice." Fox Still Fighting Makes Another Effort to Prevent Use of Symphony William Fox has not given up his effort to prevent the use of the build- ing at Broadway and 95th street, for- merly occupied as the Symphony The- atre, for moving pictures. This fact is shown by the application in behalf of the 97th Street and Broadway Real- ty Company through Rogers & Rog- ers, the Fox attorneys, for an order restraining Building Superintendent Walsh from approving the plans for the remodelling of the former Sym- phony theatre. The plaintiff alleges that the ap- proval of the plans will be illegal and will constitute a peril to life and limb. The plaintiff alleges that the building laws prohibit the maintenance of a the- atre in which a hotel is also conduct- ed, this allegation referring to Healy's restaurant, and states twenty alleged violations of the building law in the proposed theatre. Supreme Court Jus- tice Delehanty has granted an order requiring the Buildinsr Superintendent to file a defence of his action in ap- proving the plans. Smileage Donations CHICAGO.— To follow out an idea introduced by Leonard Meyberg, of Los Angeles, and which has the sanc- tion of the War Department, a num- ber of Chicago theatres will donate 10 per cent, of the gross receipts for one day each month to a smileage fund for the duration of the war. The theatres already signifying their intentions of following out this plan are: Maplewood, 2811 Diversey Boulevard; Crescent, 2915 Milwaukee avenue: Aristo, 2648 Lincoln avenue; Alvin. 1612 West Chicago avenue, and Easterly, 2768 Lincoln avenue. Going to Toronto DETROIT— W. M. Elliott has ten- dered his resignation as manager of John H. Kunsky's Washington the- \ and will be managing director 6l the Regent theatre, Toronto, Can- ada. Mr. Elliott leaves Detroit at once, so that he can familiarize him- self with the policy of the Regent theatre before taking charge, Oct. 14. Monday, October 7, 1918 ufrft DAILY Published Daily at 71-73 West 44th St. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & Ili.M FOLK, Inc. f. C. ("W1D") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered as second class matter May 21 V.ns. at the post office at New York, N. Y. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage tree) United States, Out- .side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; M. Katzman, suing as a partner of Allan Rock in the Press Service Bureau, of 1402 Broadway, formed for the purpose of advancing film publicity, has started an action against Rock for an accounting. Katz- man alleges that the defendant has terminated the partnership, but in spite of that fact has taken a contract from the Affiliated Distributors Cor- poration in behalf of the Press Serv- ice Bureau and is using the proceeds for his own benefit. Katzman asks the court to appoint a receiver of the business. VICTORY DINNER Motion Picture Industry Hotel Astor Next Friday Night October 11th Notes from Detroit DETROIT. — Community singing at the Alhambra theatre, which was suc- cessfuily launched through a slide sys- tem devised by Charles H. Darrell, tire Alhambra manager, is becoming more and more popular. Mr. Darrell calls it the "Patrons' Chorus." G. J. Trask has been appointed De- troit manager for the United Picture Theatres, Inc. Theatre proprietors in Highland Park, a suburb of Detroit where the Ford motor plant is located, are pe- titioning for a repeal of the ordi- nance prohibiting the operation of the- atres on Sunday. Harry Scott, formerly general man- ager for the George Kleine company, has come from New York to handle First National releases through the Madison Film exchange. Sidney Drew has filed an applica- tion in the Surrogate's Court for let- ters of administration on the estate of his son, S. Rankin Drew, actor and film director, killed on May 19 last while serving in the French flying corps. Mr. Drew said that the value of his son's estate is less than $1,500. "American Spirit" Completed W. W. Hodkinson reports that the W. Christy Cabanne picture "Ameri- can Spirit," is ready and will be re- leased November 4. E. K. Lincoln is starred in this pro- duction, which is a six-reel melodra- matic propaganda feature made on the Coast. "E. K." is shown as the son of an old Confederate colonel who brought his son up as a Conferedate, rather than an American. The latter part of the story shows the spiritual development of the boy. Many of Detroit's theatre managers were presented with government cer- tificates of appreciation, for their co- operation in every government call. W. D. McLaren, managing director of the Majestic and Colonial theatres, Jackson, Mich., has taken over the in- terests of W. F. Phillips, and assumes full control of the business. The Broadway-Strand theatre put on an animated song sheet for the Liberty Loan song, "For Your Boy and My Boy." Sixty young women stuck their heads out of the painted notes and sang, while Eddie Mac- Grath, the soloist, urged the audi- ence to join. Sydney Garrett states that "Wolves of Kultur" has been sold to Sociedad Generale Cinema Corp. for Argentine, and to Bidwell and Lorrain for Chile. Backed by a liberal advertising cam- paign in the Detroit Free Press, "Crashing Through to Berlin" open- ed at the Washington theatre Sunday night. Harry R. Guest, publicity manager for John H. Kunsky, issued a special three-color edition of the Weekly Film News to assist in the exploita- tion of "Crashing Through to Berlin," at the Washington theatre. We Can Tell'Vbu Vher e To UeachTtiem-I>honeVafldfiri)ilt4551 DIRECTORS , DIRECTORS AUTHOhS GEORGE D. BAKER PRODUCING FEATURES METRO FREDDIE SGHAEFFER ART DIRECTOR R. A. WALSH PRODUCTIONS ANTHONY KELLY J. CLARKSON MILLER HERBERT BLAGHE DIRECTING FOR METRO GEORGE A. SIEGMAN M. P. D. A. GOLDWYN Original Stories and Continuities TOD BROWNING EVE UNSELL ORIGINALS ADAPTATIONS Directing BLUEBIRD FEATURES CHARLES SWIGKARD Personally Directing Dustin Farnum in Harry A. Sherman Productions Many Successes for Prominent Companies 272 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, N. Y. ALBERT CAPELLANI CAMERAMEN PRODUCER S. E. V. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. With D. W. GRIFFITH STUDIOS KING D. GRAY SPECIAL CAMERA EFFECTS MARY MacLAREN FEATURES EDWIN CAREWE M. P. D. A. H XKULDLOCKWOOD WILLIAM D. TAYLOR M. P. D. A. Director Lasky-Paramount ROY H. KLAFFKI Cinematographer UNIVERSAL FEATURES GEORGE FITZMAURICE M. P. D. A. M\ MM Y x Js EL PRODUCING PATHE FEATURES ROBERT T. THORNBY M. P. D A. Producing Fox Features PERRY N. VEKROFF M. P. D. A., FEATURE DIRECTOR 511 W. 143rd St. Audubon 1941 191* — Birth of a Nation 1916 — Intolerance TflU 0 UnlLl NOT SKIMMED These are the only productions personally directed by I>. W. GRIFFITH Your name should be before the man who can sign contracts. This directory will appear once each week on Monday and on Tuesday there will be a similar directory of players. No matter how good your position is today it can be better tomorrow if you keep your name before the right people. ALLEN J. HOLUBAR M. P. D. A. Producing Universal Features LOIS WEBER HONORARY MEMBER M.P.D.A. WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY M. P. D. A., PRODUCING FEATURES IVAN CHESTER WITHEY DIRECTOR GEORGE IRVING M. P. D. A. GENERAL PRODUCING DIRECTOR WALLACE WORSLEY DIRECTINfi LOUISE GLAUM IN PARALTA PLATS CHARLES MILLER M. P. D. A. PRODUCTION SPECIALIST JAMES YOUNG Motion Picture Directors Association ASHLEY MILLER Motion Picture Directors Ass'n. 234 West 55th St., N. Y. C. AUTHORS R. WILLIAM NEILL PRODUCER Paramount Release Manhattan Madness Wolff Lowry CHARLES T. DAZEY The Sea Master New York Luck G. HAROLD PERCIVAL ART DIRECTOR Thos. H. Ince Productions GEORGE ELWOOD JENKS CONTINUITY AND SPECIALS Triangle Culver City PAUL SCARDON M. P. D. A. FEATURE DIRECTOR, VITAGRAPH MONTE M. KATTERJOHN Now writing Exclusively for Paramonnt-Artcraft Productions Jesse Li. Lasky Studios Monday, October 7, n ■■ 111 ■■!■■■ iw i inn 1918 DAILY Treatment and Pleasing Players Make Frail Plot Entertaining Ruth Clifford in "THE LURE OF LUXURY" Bluebird — Universal DIRECTOR Elsie Jane Wilson AUTHOR Nalbro Bartley SCENARIO BY Fred Myton CAMERAMAN Eddie Kull AS A WHOLE SIow=moving story with slender plot made entertaining by human characteriza= tions and pleasing treatment. STORY The old stuff of rural romance being bro= ken up by city guy; has been pleasingly handled. DIRECTION Played to characterizations rather than action and kept this human and appeaU ing with many good little touches throughout. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally satisfactory LIGHTINGS Pleasing; no attempt for effects CAMERA WORK Acceptable STAR .Very sweet and appealing; made role con= vincing. SUPPORT Edward Hearn very pleasing and kids great. EXTERIORS Gave pleasing atmosphere INTERIORS Generally satisfactory DETAIL Many pleasing touches CHARACTER OF STORY Wholesome little romance LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet THIS isn't big and there is very little story, but it is pleasing and human and Miss Wilson, who di- rected this, has given us many delightful little touches and has handled the characterizations in a way that makes you feel that you know the characters inti- mately so that this registers as a light but enjoyable offering that should be accepted anywhere as entertain- ment. They opened this up with some delightful kiddle stuff between a very cute girl and a little boy who were sweethearts and then we had a time lapse of twelve years, with Ruth Clifford, as the girl grown up, coming back to the little town after having graduated from a convent and renewing her girlhood romance with the boy. played by Edward Hearn. Ruth offers to tidy up Hero's house and she comes across a handkerchief that she had lost twelve years ago. now a cherished possession of Hero's. The inti- macy of the two soon causes scandal in the village and when Ruth decides to give a party to set acquainted no one shows up but the faithful Edward and they have the party all by themselves. Finally they become engaged. At this juncture, Harry Van Meter, who has been a sort of guardian to Ruth, and supposedly managed the estate which was left her upon her mother's death, puts notions into her head about the city and continually im- presses her with the monotony of being a farmer's wife. He finally invites her to come to the city and pur- chase some clothes for her trouseau. at which time he does his utmost to win her love, working quietly and never forcing the issue. She consents to marry him and they return to the vil- lage where Hero Edward denounces her and leaves her heartbroken. Seeing the love of Ruth for Edward. Van Meter's better nature comes to the surface and he tells her to return to Edward. We have considerable pathos in the scene where she goes back to Hero's honse and begs him to take her back after which they fade out on the happy couple. Little Elizabeth Janes, who appeared with George Hopp in the opening scenes of this, was a very cute kiddie and made a small bit of business stand out no- ticeably. Audiences will remember her after seeing her in this. Edward Hearn had a typical Charlie Ray part in this and was very pleasing and sincere. The scene where he "entertained" Van Meter by giving an imitation of a calf at the request of Shero. was a human and amusing bit of business that will set over with a bang. Miss Clifford Avas truly delightful in this and Harry Van Meter save a good performance as the semi-willun who turned good at the finish. Is Not Big But Is Pleasing and Should Get Over As Program Offering The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor As a program offering this ought to be a safe bet any- where. It's just a simple little story depending entirely upon characterizations and little human touches but these have been handled in a thoroughly commendable manner that makes this register as entertainment. I think there are enough folks in every community who prefer a light offering of this nature to make this a better than average program attraction from a box office standpoint, if you hammer on the human element and the fact that this is clean and entertaining. If you have been playing Universal subjects regularly the presence of Miss Clifford in this ought to pull a certain amount of business. You might create interest in your ads by usinj lines on this order: catch- "Would you leave the man you loved because another offered you luxuries that he could never hope to provide? See Ruth Clifford in 'The Lure of Luxury'." "Would you prefer a life of luxury to a humble ex- istence on a farm with the man you loved? This is the question Ruth Clifford is called upon to decide in 'The Lure of Luxury'." "If you haven't forgotten your kid days you will love "The Lure of Luxury,' a human, entertaining photoplay starring Ruth Clifford." of FILMDOM AUTHORSTY Vol. VI, No. 3 Tuesday, October 8, 1918 Price 5 f>~ »- Office Hours Changed Board of Health Order Is Felt in Film District The order issued by the Board of Health of New York City had its ef- fect on the opening and closing hours of the majority of film offices yester- day. The Famous Players-Lasky home offices opened yesterday at 8.30 a.m. and closed at 4.30 p.m. instead of the regular 9 to 5 routine. The same or- der hit the Paramount distributing of- fices and the Universal, both in the home office and exchanges in New York were similarly effected, as were also the World Film, the Fox office and several others. Some of the smaller concerns did not hold to the schedule. The order will be in effect for sev- eral days at least, according to one of the officials at the Board of Health. There was no further order issued up to noon regarding the theatre situa- tion, although it was thought by many that in the event of there not being a material decrease in the num- ber of cases of influenza, the theatres in New York would undoubtedly be closed. GOLDWYN GETS TRIANGLE STUDIOS Production Activities To Be Moved To Finely Equipped Plant in the West In line with reports that Goldwyn intends moving production activities to the Coast, it was learned yesterday that western Triangle studios have been taken over by that concern. This deal follows the trip of Studio Mana- ger A. Lehr to the Coast in search of a suitable plant. At the present time Goldwyn has only one star in the west, Tom Moore, with his director, Harry Beaumont, but with this lease going into effect, prob- ably all the stars and their producing organizations will be sent to the Coast before the first snow flies. Whether or not the entire Triangle plant has been acquired by Goldwyn, is not known at present. Goldwyn Managers Shift There have been several shifts and promotions in the ranks of the mana- gerial and sales force of the Goldwyn exchanges. The most important is the announcement of the return to the Goldwyn ranks of F. M. Brockwell. He will manage the St. Louis office. He was formerly in charge of the Chicago office but retired to go with Paramount in that city. He succeeds Paul M. Bush in St. Louis. Richard Wernick, recently chief salesman of the Goldwyn Detroit of- fice, has been appointed manager of the Boston office, succeeding the late Ralph M. Camp, who was one of the influenza victims. Oscar F. Bower is now managing the Cincinnati office, succeeding A. J. Pincus, and George W. Smiley has been appointed to man- age the Philadelphia office for the company. New Offices Ready- Famous Players-Lasky Quar- ters to be Opened October 14 The new home of the Famous Play- ers-Lasky Company in Chicago is to be thrown open for the first time, Oc- tober 14. The building is a nine-story structure which is located in the heart of the business district of the town and is to be known as the Famous Players- Lasky Building. Max Goldstein, district manager for the Chicago territory will make his headquarters there and the local ex- change will be in charge of Mr. Scate as manager with Mr. Crestwell as as- sistant. W. H. Gardiner is the new Triangle exchange manager in Boston taking the place of W. J. Pratt. The change became effective yesterday. Willis With United Lloyd D., Willis, formerly assistant general manager of the Fox Corp., has been appointed by J. A. Berst to an important position on the execu- tive staff of United Picture Thea- tres. Mr. Willis was a newspaper man before he became secretary to Fire Commissioner Joseph Johnson and later to Disfric* Attorney Charles S. Whitman. T« David P. Howells announces that "The Eagle's Eye" has been sold for Java. Expo Pulling Crowds Vitagraph Day at Madison Sq. Garden Well Patronized The third day of the Motion Picture Exposition at Madison Square Garden started off the week yesterday with a large attendance, in spite of the re- strictions placed on subway and street car traffic by the Board of Health of- ficials. Yesterday was Vitagraph Day and in addition to the regular host and hostess drawn from the company's stars, Edward Earle and Agnes Ayers appeared in the making of a picture under the direction of Kenneth Webb. Walter McGrail and Alice Terry were the host and hostess, respectively, for the evening. Today is Famous Players-Lasky Day and as the special attraction that company will present Shirley Mason and Ernest Truex as the stars in a picture directed by Anita Loos and John Emerson. This quartet is now working on a comedy called "Kanning the Kaiser" at the New York studios. Kaufman Has Sailed Lieut. Al. Kaufman, formerly of the Famous Players-Lasky, has sailed for overseas service. His address abroad is in care of the Signal Corps, Ameri- can Expeditionary Force, France. Exhibitor's Wife a Victim The wife of Sidney Asher, one of the well-known New York exhibitors who has a string of houses in the Bronx section, died yesterday morn- ing. She was a victim of the Spanish influenza which she contracted on Sat- urday and her death followed after an illness of two davs. Manheimer Goes West _ John Manheimer, one of the na- tional directors of the Affiliated Dis- tributors Corporation, left yesterday for Grand Rapids, Mich. He will be gone for about a week and will attend a series of conferences there of the national directors of the corporation. Tuesday, October 8, in ii ii 1918 sfe^ PAIL.Y Published Daily at 71-73 West 44th St. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS S FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered as second class matter May 21 1918, at the post office at New York, N. Y. under the Act. of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, 3.00. Foreign, $20.00 Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 [SGCuts and Flashes Morris Cohen has been engaged as general sales manager for The Moth- ers of Liberty Film Co. William Desmond, former Triangle .star, and now under contract with Jesse D. Hampton, arrived in New York the later part of last week. Bill Hart is now making a tour of eastern cities on behalf of the Fourth Liberty Loan. He will return to New York October 15. Maurice Tourneur announces the engagement of Ethel Haller as Eve, and Henry West as Adam, in his new production, "Woman." Sol. S. Tausand, who supported Irving Cummings in "The Whispering Shadow," and who has just completed appearances in a mystery serial on the Coast, has joined the colors. The first episode of "Wolves of Kultur," featuring Leah Baird and Sheldon Lewis and called "The Tor- ture Trap," heads the Pathe program for next week. R. D. Burge, formerly sales man- ager for the New York Triangle ex- change, has been appointed general manager of the same corporation, tak- ing the place of Dan Mickelove, who has returned south. Cecil De Mille, director general of the Lasky studios in Hollywood, re- ceived a message from the Govern- ment at Washington, a few days ago, and left Thursday for Fort Sill, Okla- homa, on a mysterious errand con- nected with war propaganda. Marcel Morhange, general manager of the New York Film exchange of Buenos Ayres, distributors of Vita- graph productions for Argentine, Uru- guay and Paraguay arrived in New York last Saturday for a stay of about two months to look after further dis- tribution matters for Vitagraph. James Goebel, Universal camera- man, was the only person who was able to photograph the TNT explo- sion at South Amboy last week. Mr. Goebel at a great risk managed to get a number of pictures which were shown Sunday evening at the Broad- way, Symphony and other theatres. Charles H. Powell takes the posi- tion of manager of the Fox Cleveland exchange in the place of Sidney Abel. Mr. Abel has been placed in charge of the contract department at the home office, taking the place of Leon Bamberger, who has been drafted. William Farnum started making per- sonal appearances at various theatres last Friday night and he will continue to do so every night until the Liberty Loan drive is closed. He started last Friday at the Fox Audubon theatre at 168th street and Broadway; where $120,000 was subscribed. Single Reel Serial Finished The single reel serial which the Sullmack Film Corporation had in work was finished last week. Dick L'Estrange, who directed the produc- tion, has completed the cutting and the titles were furnished by Tom Brett. The production will be mar- keted in about three weeks. Grace Davidson is starred and in the sup- porting cast are Clayton Davis, Beth Reid, Roland Osborne, Raymond Cacho and Norman Hartsell. Claims $2,220 Is Due The Greenwich Lithographing Co., Inc., has filed a judgment in the City Court against the Frank Hall Produc- tions, Inc., for $2,302. The complaint alleges that the defendant, by its pres- ident, Frank Hall, made notes to the plaintiff on April 18 last on which $2,- 220 was due. The defendant did not answer the suit. VICTORY DINNER Motion Picture Industry Hotel Astor Next Fridiry Night October 11th Seattle Houses Closed Mayor Acts Promptly When Influenza Epidemic Reaches City SEATTLE.— All theatres in Seattle were closed at noon Saturday by order of Mayor Hanson and the Board of Health, as a preventative measure against the spread of Spanish influ- enza, which reached the city by way of Camp Lewis and the Naval Training station at the University of Washing- ton. Churches and schools also have been closed. Only twenty-five cases have been reported thus far and a delegation of theatre managers, believing that the situation did not warrant the closing of theatres, presented their case to the Mayor, who convinced them of the wisdom of the order. Wage Scale Submitted The St. Louis shipping clerks' and inspectors 'unions of St. Louis have been granted recognition by the American Federation of Labor. The scale for head shipping clerks is $25 per week, assistant shippers, $17.50, and second assistant shippers, $15. Forewomen in the inspection depart- ment, $16 per week; assistant, $13; apprentice, $9 a week while learning and $1 a month until they have reached $13. A committee from the shippers' and inspectors' unions met with a delegation from the St. Louis film exchange managers at the Plaza and submitted their scale. Any ac- tion regarding the acceptance of the scale will be deferred for two weeks until the exchanges have had time to confer with their home offices. Buying in Quantity W. E. Shallenberger, president of the Arrow Film Corporation, has de- vised a new method of state right sell- ing which was first submitted to two out of town buvers who immediately approved the plan. An exchange, instead of buying one attraction purchases all the produc- tions of the same grade, at one time, deliverv to be made at stated inter- vals. This requires but one deposit on the entire series of productions and the release dates are sufficiently far apart to permit the exchange to secure advance bookings on the entire series. The first consolidated purchase was made by the Strand Features for Michigan and the second by the C. C. Hite Attractions of Cincinnati for the state of Ohio. Starting New Reed Picture John Stahl is to start on a new Florence Reed production today. He has taken the Bacon-Backer studios for the making of this picture. We Can Tell YouVhereTo KeachTtiem-PhofleVaijdfiibilt4551 STARS MAY ALLISON BESSIE BARRISGALE PARALTA STUDIO Los Angeles California ENID BENNETT THOMAS H. INCE-PARAMOUNT JOHN BOWERS WORLD FILM WILLIAM DESMOND TRIANGLE PLAYS Culver City, Cal. WILLIAM FARNUM FOX FILMS MARGARITA FISHER AMERICAN— MUTUAL LOUISE GLAUM Paralta Plays EDNA GOODRICH MUTUAL LLOYD V. HAMILTON "HAM" TAYLOR HOLMES ESSANAY FRANK KEENAN HITS DAILY IS READ NOT SKIMMED STARS HAROLD LOGKWOOD \ ORKE— METRO BLKi LVTELL BESSIE LOVE TULLY MARSHALL LASKY TOM MOORE HARRY T. MOREY ol the V1TAGRAPH JAMES MORRISON WARNER OLAND PATHE RUTH ROLAND Astra- I'atlie STAKKJUNU IN "iLANUS UP' WILLIAM RUSSELL William Kusseil Productions, Inc. O0J5 Hollywood Blvd., L. A. MILTON SILLS GOLDWYN CO. ANITA STEWART V1TAGRAPH FANNIE WARD CLARA WILLIAMS PARALTA STUDIO Lot Angeles California STARS You May Think that everyone knows where to find you, but you would be sur- prised to learn of the telephone inquiries we have from producers trying to locate really prominent film folk. Your name should be kept before these men who can sign contracts. This Directory of Players will appear once each week on Tuesday. Tuesday, October 8, 1918 Beautiful Star, Treatment and Glassy Atmosphere Put This Over Norma Talmadge in "THE FORBIDDEN CITY" Jos. M. Schenck — Select DIRECTOR Sidney A. Franklyn AUTHOR George Scarborough SCENARIO BY Mary Murillo CAMERAMAN Edward Wynard AS A WHOLE Wonderfully human and appealing character portrayal of star and a distinctive, classy atmosphere makes elementary plot en= tertaining. STORY Conventional theme of Chinese=American marriage with star as her own child going through similar experiences after time lapse. DIRECTION Kept this classy and distinctive and made characterizations convincing. In= jected many effective touches throughout. PHOTOGRAPHY Very fine LIGHTINGS Artistic with many effective bits registered. CAMERA WORK Very good indeed STAR Beauty and appeal will win any audience: made difficult role convincing. SUPPORT. . . .All very fine; cute Chinese kiddies a hit EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots; fitted atmos= phere. INTERIORS Excellent with many artistic and weird Oriental settings, very well lighted. DETAIL Still photo insert out of harmony with artistry of offering but won't jar. Many good touches. CHARACTER OF STORY Quite sad in spots but is not depressing. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,500 feet IN THIS we have Miss Talmadge doing two charac- terizations, first as a Chinese maiden and then as her own daughter, a Chinese- American, several years later, and her sincerity and appeal in these two roles has made this story, the basic idea of which is certainly not new, register as a very interesting and pleasing offering despite its sad trend at times. The story reminds you somewhat of "Madame But- terfly" and has to do with an American who secretly marries a Chinese maid, played by Miss Talmadge. Tom Meighan, the husband, is called away and in the mean- time a child is born and Norma is selected to be one of the Emperor's favorites in "The Forbidden City." When the Ernperor learns that she has a child, he orders her killed. The child is allowed to live. After a time lapse, we have Miss Talmadge as the Chinese- American child, who is shunned by the other court beauties because of her mixed blood. A royal guard assists her in escaping and she finds her way to Manilla, where she meets a young lieutenant, Reed Hamilton. They fall in love and Reed proposes, taking Norma to his guardian to an- nounce their engagement. The guardian conveniently happens to be Tom Meighan, who is now governor of the island, but learning that she is Chinese he refuses consent to the marriage because of his own sorrowful experience. Reed is ordered to join his regiment and shortly afterward Norma has become a Red Cross nurse and is about to asphyxiate herself with sulphur fumes when she receives word that Tom is ill and wants her to come to him. Here they establish the recognition of father and daughter and when Reed arrives the couple are united with Tom's blessing. Because of the natural resemblance of the two charac- ters played by Miss Talmadge, the idea of Tom not rec- ognizing her as his daughter at the first meeting was unconvincing and would have been better had they played this sequence without Miss Talmadge present. I want to compliment Director Franklyn for a very clever bit of treatment to help make you believe Miss Talmadge's Chinese characterization. He gave us a close up of Miss Talmadge followed by a closeup of some real Chinese children which registered the fact that the peculiar slant of the star's eyes were identical with those of the Chinese kiddies. It's hard to make an audience believe a characteriza- tion when they continually remember a star as her real self and this little touch helped decidedly to make the star's role ring true throughout the offering. In the early part of the offering we had many cute kiddie touches and the atmosphere and lightings were decidedly classy and artistic throughout. Thomas Meighan did very effective work as the hus- band and father, respectively, of Miss Talmadge; L. Rogers Lytton made the character of the Emperor con- vincing; A. E. Warren and Michael Rayle made their respective character roles effective and Reed Hamilton was very satisfactory as the lieutenant. Will Please But Would Bill Star's Name Above Everything Else • The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Some time ago I predicted that Norma Talmadge would soon be stepping on the heels of the "Big Four" as to popularity and box bffice drawing power and if that prophecy hasn't been fulfilled in your community before this, then you'd better check up your methods and see what's the matter, because they certainly flock to see her here in New York and every out-of-town ex- hibitor I have talked with has told me the same story. You can make considerable noise about this, princi- pally on account of the characterization of Miss Tal- madge. I wouldn't place much stress on the story unless you think that your folks would be interested to know that the star does a Chinese characterization in this. You can safely promise them that this has been given a classy, artistic production and I am sure that any audi- ence will like the offering as a whole very much ; they'll certainly rave about the work of the star. Chinese lobby decorations are always attractive and the lanterns, incense and other paraphernalia are usually obtainable in even the smallest towns. For the small expense involved, this makes the best flash of anything I can think of, if tastily arranged so as not to appear junky. It would be advisable to use a good fast comedy to balance out the program because while this is not de- pressing, it can hardly be classed as light. 2feBftADSTREET of FILMDOM mim 7j£pRECOGMIZED Authority Vol. VI, No. 4 Wednesday, October 9, 1918 Price 5 Cents Chicago Houses Closed! Board of Health Acts in Western Metropolis CHICAGO.— By an order of the I Board of Health issued Monday, night. , Chicago theatres must remain closed i until the Spanish influenza epidemic i has been placed under control. The | disease has been gaining rapidly in i this city and the order was not un- expected by the theatre managers. Doug Coming East Secretary McAdoo Asks Help To Assist Liberty Loan Drive LOS ANGELES.— Douglas Fair- banks left yesterday morning via the Santa Fe for Chicago and will make Liberty Loan appeals en route. He will reach Chicago on Friday and pro- ceed direct from there to Washington and then on to New York. The de- cision was a sudden one, arrived at on Monday after Fairbanks had received a wire from Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo requesting that he drop all work and get busy at once on the Liberty Loan drive. Others here have also received wires and are holding themselves in readi- ness for a last minute call to help in the Loan, which seems to be slump- ing badly in several spots throughout the country. Leases Shubert Theatre MINNEAPOLIS.— The Fox Film Corporation has leased the Sam S. Shubert theatre, Minneapolis, through L. N. Scott and will exhibit Fox fea- tures there during the remainder of the present season at least. "Hearts of the World" is now running at the Shubert and is expected to continue for several weeks. At the expiration of its run, the Fox corporation will close the house two weeks while pro- jection machinery is being shifted. Theda Bara in "Salome" will be the opening bill under Fox management. The manager of the Fox Chicago house will be sent to the Shubert, it is understood. Best Paper on Earth THE LINWOOD THEATRE Kansas City, Mo. Dear Friend Wid: Please find check for $10 for another year's subscription to the BEST PAPER ON EARTH. It is a pleasure to send you this money, as I certainly get my money's worth. I have made back the price of your subscription for the next five years on one single wild cat feature that I picked up from your dope, which under ordinary circumstances I would never have used. Here is hoping that the Kaiser gets hell for ever and that you always run such a pa- per as you do now. Yours respectfully, Carl F. Weiss, Mgr. Robert Ellis has been engaged as leading man with May Allison in her new picture, "Thirty Days," by Lu- ther A. Reed. Speakers for Dinner Whitman and Present Opponent Both Agree To Be On Hand The committee having charge of the speakers for the allied A. M. P. A. and N. A. M. P. I, Victory Dinner which is to be given Friday night at the Hotel Astor accounces that it has secured acceptances from both Governor Whitman and his opposing candidate in the present campaign, Al. Smith. Frank R. Wilson, publicity di- rector for the' Treasury Department, will also be present. One of the other novelties at the dinner will be the showing of a film specialty which Harold Edel of the Strand is keeping a secret at present. Emil Chautard, who has been ill and will be unable to attend has sent the committee a check and asked that they take a large table and have present at his expense a soldier and a sailor from as many of the allied nations as possible. Hearst Pathe Split International Co. to Issue Their Own News Weekly The Hearst-Pathe News Weekly will pass out of existence with the ex- piration of the contract between the two organizations, December 24, and in its place there will be two news reels, the Pathe News, distributed through Pathe exchanges and the Hearst International News, issued by the International Film Service Co., Inc. The termination of the long-estab- lished business agreement between Pathe and Hearst's news gathering forces is understood to be mutually agreeable to all concerned. Pathe has built up an organization strong enough to handle the news weekly without outside assistance, whereas International, with its newspaper con- nections, is in a position to issue a news reel on its own account. Releas- ing arrangements for the Hearst film will be made soon, after which an ex- tensive advertising campaign will be launched. Nat Brown, who organized Paralta with' Carl Anderson and Robert Kane is now a second lieutenant in the U. S. A. attached to the War College in Washington. E. H. Duffy Dies E. H. Duffy, manager of the Chi- cago 'exchange of the Mutual Film Corporation and one of the most widely known of the middle west's film men, died at his home, 5210 Ken- more avenue, Chicago, October 4. Mr. Duffy's death was a shock to the Mutual organization and to the large circle of film folk who knew him well. He was stricken, almost at the outbreak of the influenza epidemic and before he had fully recovered from the attack typhoid fever set in. Weak- ened as he was from influenza he was unable to combat the fever, and death came before but few of his friends and associates knew he was seriouslv Lockwood Begins "Yellow Dove" The production in the picture form of George Gibbs' novel, "The Yellow Dove" for Harold Lockwood was be- gun this week at the Sanger studio in New York. Naomi Childers has been engaged to play the leading feminine role. Edwin Carewe. responsible* for "Pals First," will also direct "The Yellow Dove." Wednesday, October 9, 1918 DAILY Published Daily at 71-73 West 44th St. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS 8 FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered as second class matter May 21 1918, at the post office at New York, N. Y. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, 3.00. Foreign, $20.00 Subscribers should remit with order. II communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Guts and Flashes W. W. Hodkinson announces that he has booked the Kerrigan, Barris- cale, and Glaum pictures in the Reu- bens and Finkelstein theatres in Min- neapolis and St. Paul. George E. Morris, manager of the accounting office at Triangle for more than a year, has left the Culver City studios to accept a position with the Universal Company. Diamant-Berger, editor of Le Film, France's leading moving picture trade paper, will arrive in America some- time this week in order to ascertain conditions of the market, and also to see what he can do in marketing French pictures. He will remain for two months. Harry Goldstein, pioneer exchange man and exhibitor of Detroit, Mich., arrived in New York last week for the purpose of purchasing state rights fea- tures. He announces that he has al- ready bought from Harry Rapf "The Struggle Everlasting" and "The Acci- dental Honeymoon." Elaine Hammer- stein will appear personally in Detroit at the presentation of the latter pic- ture. Stars in Evidence Leading Players Appear at The Garden Exposition The Exposition at Aiadi.^on Square Garden last night was made notable by the gathering of popular stars. Ma- bel Normand and Harold Lockwood were among those who sold bonds. Viola Dana was present at the Metro booth, and the Paramount forces pre- sented Ernest Truex and Shirley Ma- son in one of the scenes of their forth- coming picture. John Emerson and Anita .Loos directed. Tonight will be Emergency Fleet night. Prominent members of the shipbuilding board will speak, among them Charles M. Schwab, if he can arrange to come to New York. Mem- bers of the shipyard will hold a rivet- ing contest and also present their own vaudeville show in the auditorium. The Stage Women's War Relief will send members of the local companies. Leah Baird, Sheldon Lewis and Charles Hutchinson, principals in the Pathe serial, "Wolves of Kultur," will be present and make a Liberty Loan picture on the stage. Betty Blythe and Florence Deshon will also be there. Thursday night the features will be Marion Davies of Select Pictures and Alice Joyce of Vitagraph, and both will show the public a few tricks in the art of motion picture making. Saturday night, Anna Case, the op- eratic and motion picture star will be present and sing several of the selec- tions that have made her famous. VICTORY DINNER Motion Picture Industry Hotel Astor Next Friday Night October 11th "Red Triangle Film" CHICAGO. — A poster reading: "See your boy in the movies in the uniform of Uncle Sam" is being sent out to all parts of the country by the Y. M. C. A. this week, calling atten- tion to the Association's new "Red Triangle" film. It is a single reel pic- ture and is part of the Y. M. C. A. propaganda to arouse interest in its drive next month for a welfare fund. Pictures taken at Camp Grant, Rock- ford, 111., Great Lakes and other places where Chicago boys are training will be shown. Record for June Elvidge ALBANY. — June Elvidge of the World Film Company broke all rec- ords in selling Liberty Bonds here on Monday. At noon Miss Elvidge was introduced to a large crowd at the corner of State and Pearl streets by James A. Watt, Mayor of Albany, and through her speeches and personal ap- peal succeeded in obtaining $135,000 in Liberty Bond sales. Selling "Kaiser's Finish" S. L. Warner, who has been selling the rights on his picture, "The Kai- ser's Finish," the propaganda film made by John Joseph Harvey, has placed the following territory: New- England to Gordon and Mayer of Bos- ton; Michigan to John Kunsky of De- troit; Ohio to Peter Sotus of Cleve- land; Indiana to the First National exchange of Indianapolis; Western Pennsylvania to Sotus and Freeman of Pittsburgh, and Georgia, Florida, Ala- bama, Virginia, North and South Caro- lina to F. Ferrandini of Richmond. Riviera in Operation Chicago's Newest Picture Thea- tre Is Luxuriously Furnished CHICAGO.— The Riviera theatre, the latest venture of Balaban & Katz, opened its doors to the public Oct. 2. The new picture palace is located at Lawrence avenue and Broadway, and is just ten minutes from Ravenswood, fifteen from Evanston and twenty from the "loop" district of Chicago. It is located in the Wilson avenue dis- trict, catering to a high-class trade. The new edifice is metropolitan in its magnificence and compares favor- ably with the Strand and Rialto in New York. In fact, the balcony ar- rangement is identical with that of the Rialto theatre. The theatre will seat 2,600 persons, has an orchestra of thirty pieces under the leadership of Leopold Kohls, late of the Academy of Music orchestra, New York. . Joseph B. Koppel is manager of the new house. In decoration the Louis XIV period has been followed. Everything is rich, quiet, artistic and in good taste. The walls are covered with silk panels, with white ribbed woodwork extend- ing to the ceiling, which is frescoed in delicate colors. An immense dome gives plenty of space above the balcony, which seats 1,000, and across the front are logue boxes similar to the Strand in New York. Two tiers of boxes are on either side of the stage proper, which is 90 feet across. At the back between two white pillars, is the screen, flanked on either side by crimson curtains of silk. The interior is lighted by eight thousand incandescent lights and a large automatic dimmer blends the colors presenting a most restful ef- fect. The Riviera's program on the open- ing night consisted of a harp solo, a duet, a Paramount feature, Mutual comedy ,war pictures and a tableaux. An admission charge of 30 cents is be- ing asked. Ora Carew has been signed up by the Goldwyn Company to play oppo- site Tom Moore in his latest starring vehicle for that concern, which will be produced at the Triangle studios in Culver City. Tg);<^ DAILY Wednesday, October 9, 1918 FROM THE WEST COAST STUDIOS Charlie Chaplin's "Shoulder Arms" is Hailed as a Masterpiece at Advance Showing in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES.— Charlie Chaplin's latest picture, "Shoulder Arms," has been given a perview before Los Angeles critics, and is pronounced a great screen comedy. It sounds a deep note, in spite of its comic char- acter. As much film was cut out as was used in the picture, and most of this is so good it is to be use ' ;n the making of another feature. Chaplin is now at Santa Catalina Island, taking a short vacation. Nell Shipman has finished her con- tract with Vitagraph and announces that she does not desire to sign any more contracts, but that she will ac- cept engagements by the picture. Seena Owen is returning to pictures with William S. Hart in "Branding Broadway," now in course of produc- tion at the Hart studios in Los An- geles. Bessie Barriscale has taken her un- ruly company of cowboys who are supporting her in "Two-Gun Betty," her comedy drama, and put them in their natural environment, on a cat- tle ranch up north of the Sierra Ma- dras. There the star will "shoot" most of the scenes in her picture. A service flag with 25 stars, one of them of gold, has taken its place with three other patriotic emblems that are an ornament to the administration building at Metro's west coast studios in Hollywood. These emblems con- sist of the national colors, a War Savings Society banner and the triple- barred flag given to 100 per cent, sub- scribers to the Third Liberty Loan. Edith Roberts in "A Romance for Roma." Al Ray, a cousin of the better known Charlie, has been engaged as Ruth Clifford's leading man, for her st Bluebird photoplay, "Home s,"- now being made at the west studios under Elsie Jane Wil- direction. It is a comedy drama. Douglas Fairbanks is to stage a Wild West show right on his own plantation, and under his own vine and fig tree, at his home in Beverly Hills, near Los Angeles, for the bene- fit of the Liberty Loan. He is going to charge no admission to his show, which will consist of broncho-busting, boxing, wrestling, and fancy riding stunts performed on the grounds of his residence. But in order to get in, you've got to pledge yourself to buy a $50 Liberty Bond before a waiting bus will take you through the gates. Olive Thomas, Triangle star, has commenced work under Director Frank Borzage, in a most unusual ve- hicle titled "Blood Will Tell," from Verna Aldrich's story. In this pic- ture, Miss Thomas will have the lole of a Belgian girl. Nina Wilcox Putnam has just ar- rived at the Triangle's Culver City studios from New York, and is look- ing over the plant to get the "picture angle." Miss Putnam will remain in Southern California indefinitely and will be connected with the Triangle scenario staff, furnishing original sto- ries for such stars as Alma Rubens, Olive Thomas and Taylor Holmes. Dorothy Phillips seems to have a penchant for having two leading men in each picture. In "The Talk of the Town" she was supported by William Stowell and Norman Kerry. In "Des- tiny," her newest drama, just started at Universal City, she will have play- ing opposite her Harry Hillard and William Stowell. Hillard made his debut in "Big U productions with Bert Lytell, Metro star, who has been studying at the Officers' Train- ing School in Hollywood, near Los Angeles, and who has been drilling the men there as acting second Lieuten- ant during the past three months, and who has taken several examinations, lias applied for a commission in the Army, and in case his application is accepted will leave for Camp Pike, Arkansas, in order to take the train- ing and examinations. Carl Laemmle, president of the Uni- versal Film Manufacturing Company, arrived in Los Aneeles last week. A huge propaganda picture is to be made, featuring the Aviation service, with Henry McRae directing it and S. H. Woodruff serving as "-eneral manager. Well-known business men of the city have formed an organiza- tion for the purpose, to be known as Photo Crafts Film Trust, with Title Insurance & Trust Company of this city holding the trust. High army offi- cials, including H. B. S. Burwell and General W. L. Kenby, are interested in the production. Changes in St. Louis. ST. LOUIS.— Geo. McKean, for the past eight years manager of Para- mount, succeeds D. E. Thomas as manager of the local branch of the Fox Film Corporation. It is under- stood Mr. Thomas will be appointed special traveling representative. Paul Bush, of Goldwyn, left last week for Detroit, where he will as- sume the managership of the Detroit branch of Universal. Mr. Bush has been succeeded by F. M. Brockell, who will be temporary manager for a nonths, pending the appointment of a permanent successor for Mr. Bush. Mr. Brockell comes to St. Louis from the Paramount-Artcraft offices at Chicago. Sam Bromley, for the past several years proprietor of the Duchess at Grand near Olive, who converted a church into a up-to-date moving pic- ture show and made a barrel of money, has sold his interest in the Duchess to George Tompres, formerly proprietor of the Lafayette. Universal's Jewel productions, "For Husbands Only" and "Her Body in Bond" have been doing capacity busi- ness at the Royal. "Crashing Through to Berlin" opened October 6. The house is under the direction of Herman Overtalz. George and Nick Angelich have ac- quired control of the Mutoscope the- atre at Cardinal and Olive and re- named it the Lincoln, also the Yale at Minnesota and Winnebago streets. Ditmars' Living Book of Nature Subjects. distributed through the Standard Film Corporation for St. Louis and adjacent territory, have been booked for St. Louis by the New Grand Central, Central, Columbia, Park, Shenandoah and other first- run houses. Two prints of "America's Answer" are working in first-run houses in St. Louis this week. One print is at the King's theatre and one at the Colum- bia. The initial presentation of "America's Answer" at the Odeon theatre for one week played to ca- pacity houses. Pathe Film exchange has leased headquarters in the Plaza Hotel building, at the intersection of Olive and Lindell, what is now known as the new film row. Vitagraph. Select, Kleine, Standard, Goldwyn and Trian- gle film exchanges are now located in this new district. Wednesday, October 9, 1918 Pleasing Personalities In Human Domestic Comedy. Grab It Madge Kennedy in "THE KINGDOM OF YOUTH" Goldwyn DIRECTOR Clarence C. Badger AUTHOR . . Charles A. Logue SCENARIO BY J. Clarkson Miller CAMERAMAN Ned Van Buren ART DIRECTOR Hugo Ballin AS A WHOLE Pleasing personalities in delightful romance with some great titles and many good little touches. STORY Decidedly human and amusing treatment of newly=wed jealousy theme provides many laughs. DIRECTION Made this delightfully human and developed little touches effectively with excel- lent treatment of individual incidents. PHOTOGRAPHY Very fine LIGHTINGS Many artistic bits CAMERA WORK Excellent; running shot of yacht exceptionally well handled. STAR Truly delightful; has inimitable tricks and a personality that wins. SUPPORT Tom Moore great and others very good EXTERIORS Excellent INTERIORS. . . .Lavish and well appointed; looked real DETAIL. .Some great titles and many sure=fire touches CHARACTER OF STORY They'll eat it up LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,55<> feet TWO decidedly pleasing personalities in a delightful little romantic comedy drama that provides oodles of wholesome laughs and made by a director that kept it logical and human, comes about as near being made to order for present-day audiences as anything I can think of. That's just what we get here. This opens up with Tom Moore and Madge Kennedy on the outs because a Count has asked Madge to take a trip on his yacht with him. Tom is jealous and because of this, Madge decides to accept the invitation, which she originally had no intention of doing, just to be real mean. Tom goes away in his car and Madge rows out to the yacht, the boat overturning just before she reaches it. Tom sees the accident and starts to the rescue in a motor boat. In the meantime we see Madge going down in an under water shot which dissolves into a title tell- ing how incidents flit through the mind of a drowning nci son. From here on we get Madge's vision, which starts the story proper. Madge and Tom have married secretly because of the objections of Madge's aunt and we have the couple sneaking a few moments together at every opportunity until Tom is called away to visit the widow of his guardian. The widow, still having matrimonial inclinations, makes a play for Tom, not knowing that he is married, and in the meantime Madge has 'fessed her marriage to the aunt, who softens and tells her to go to her husband. With this handicap to her one-sided romance, the widow brings in a Count to occupy Madge's time while she continues to shower her attentions upon Tom, with the result that both get jealous, neither one knowing that they are being framed. The opening of the story is the climax to a series of jealous love spats and ends by Madge finding herself in the arms of Tom on board the yacht after he has rescued her and we fade out on the two going home in Tom's motorboat. I can't figure why they brought in the entire story as Madge's vision in the drowning incident, because this makes the plot unnecessarily complicated and rather illogical without improving the story itself. It seems to me that this could have been improved by starting the vision as the story proper with the drowning incident brought in as a climax without any vision being used in the production. The scenes where Madge discovers the window sans corset and make-up and hits on the happy idea of start- ing a smudge outside her room and yelling "Fire" to cause her to rush out "as is" where Tom could see her without her youthful beauty and "figger" will certainly get a yell from any audience and was exceptionally well handled. We had many delightful bits between Miss Kennedy and Tom Moore and some very well worded titles helped to make their scenes sure-fire. I want to comment particularly on the sets, which were excellent throughout. Art Director Ballin has a way of making his settings lavish and artistic without the usual fol-de-rols and gaudy wall-paper with the re- sult that they always impress as real interiors. Marie De Wolfe was cast to excellent advantage as the widow while Lee Baker, as the Count, and Jennie Dickerson as Madge's aunt, fitted in nicely. It's Delightful and Two Star Combination Should Pull Business The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Go to this strong. You've got a peculiar gang to cater to if they don't fairly eat this up and holler for more of the same kind. This ought to put Madge Kennedy a few notches higher in the estimation of your fans for she sure registers all the way and don't forget that you have Tom Moore to advertise here because Tom is a star in his own right now and this double combina- tion ought to get you some real money. I'd give him equal billing with Miss Kennedy in this because the parts run about fifty-fifty and they sure are a pleasing pair together. In advertising this you might ask them: "What do you find the most difficult phase of married life — landing a husband or keeping him after you've landed him? See Madge Kennedy and Tom Moore in 'The Kingdom of Youth'." Or you might address an ad especially to married folks and say: "HONESTLY NOW — Haven't you experienced this: After being married a few weeks — you felt that your hubby was trifling — and you personally couldn't care for another man — But just to make him think you did — You accepted other men's company — Which made him jealous — And after a quarrel — In which neither would give in — You found that you had both been wrong — And that you really couldn't get along without each other — Haven't you? See 'The Kingdom of Youth'." of F1LMDOM PMWi jfomomitD AUTHORI rY Vol. VI, No. 5 Thursday, October 10, 1918 Price 5 Cer.i VICTORY DINNER IS POSTPONED Picture Men Act in Accord With Board of Health Request — May Stop Distribution At a largely-attended meeting of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, yesterday afternoon, it was decided to postpone indefinitely the Victory Dinner scheduled for the Hotel Astor, tomorrow night. This action was in compliance with the re- quest of the Board of Health that pub- lic gatherings be discontinued in so far as possible until the Spanish in- fluenza menace has been overcome. Plans for one of the most represen- tative gatherings of motion picture men since the memorable appearance of President Wilson at the Hotel Biltmore had been completed, and the committee in charge is confident that the Victory Dinner will materialize as soon as conditions permit. The meeting was called to consider the proper steps for the film industry to take in fighting the influenza scourge which is sweeping over the country. Several drastic measures were discussed, the temporary discon- tinuance of film distribution among them, but nothing was decided upon beyond the postponement of the din- ner. Practically all of the large produc- ing and distributing concerns were represented at the gathering and all expressed a determination to follow any course that would help the Board of Health authorities. Byron Park, western supervisor for Affiliated Distributors, has arrived in New York and reports that virtually all first run bookings on "Lafayette, We Come!" have been completed. Even in the Service Camp Travis, Texas Will you kindly change my ad- dress from 1502 Pocohontas St., Dallas, Texas, to my military ad- dress * *No. 51 Avenue "A," San Antonio, Texas Even in the service I find Wid's indispensable, and I would appreciate your usual prompt at- tention in making the change. Sincerely, Private Shannon Fife Appeal For Workers Colby To Be Chief Figure at Shipyard Day in Garden Today will be Shipyard Day at the Madison Square Exposition and it is expected that between 7,000 and 10,000 shipyard workers will attend. The Board of Employment has sent out 50,000 circulars advertising the event. Bainbridge Colby, of the Emergency Fleet Corps, will arrive in New York in the afternoon at the Pennsylvania station and will be escorted to the Garden by three bands composed of the workers from various shipyards. Mr. Colby will speak in the Garden at nine o'clock. Chas. D. Sayre, Federal State Em- ployment Chairman, will appeal for volunteers to make good the 6,000 shortage in laborers. Last night the Pathe stars of the "Wolves of Kultur," Leah Baird, Sheldon Lewis, and Charles Hutchin- son made a Liberty Loan picture on the Garden stage. Betty Blythe and Florence Deshon, of Vitagraph, and Louise Huff, Johnny Hincs, Frank Mayo, and George MacQuarrie, of World, were among the hosts. World Gets Another "Under Four Flags" To Fol- low "America's Answer" World Film Corp., now distributing the official war picture, "America's An- swer," has been selected by Director Charles S. Hart of the Division of Films, to handle the third of the offi- cial releases, "Under Four Flags." According to Mr. Hart it was deemed inadvisable to open the dis- tribution privileges to competitive bid- ding, because the World Film bid was the most satisfactory received and the forces of that concern have been or- ganized to secure a complete circula- tion for the Government films. "Under Four Flags" is a logical suc- cessor to "America's Answer," show- ing as it does the actual operations of the American soldiers in France in co- operation with the forces of the allies. Sunday Opening Appeal North Dakota Exhibitors Name Representatives to Present Case MINNEAPOLIS.— North Dakota exhibitors have appointed Joe Mait- land of Mandan and W. R. Dean of Fargo to place, their appeal for Sun- day opening privileges before the State Council of Defense. Benjamin Friedman, president of the Friedman Film Corporation, Minneapolis, helped them prepare the data. The exhibi- tors will suggest that Sunday opening be allowed with every house agreeing to show a government or propaganda film at least one Sunday a month. They will claim that $25,000 a month would be added to picture house tax returns' in North Dakota if Sunday shows were permitted. Williamson Bros. Coming Back Williamson Bros. Submarine Film Corp., producer of "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" and "The Submarine Eye" is contemplating an- other submarine feature film, news of which will be shortly announced. Preparations for an expedition to the West Indies are' under way. Thursday, October 10, 1918 Published Daily at 71-73 West 44th St. New York, N. Y. By WIDS FILMS S FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered as second class matter May 21 1918, at the post office at New York, N. Y. under the Act, of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States, Out- side of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, 3.00. Foreign, $20.00 Subscribers should remit with order. i Address all communications to WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., Xew York, . N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Guts and Flashes North American Pictures announces the sale of "Eagle's Eye" for Argen- tine through Robertson-Cole. On the final lap of their picture-tak- ing expeditions, Educational's "Ro- mance of Coal" players have returned to the West Virginia mining fields where he picture was begun in July last. The objective is their former Pocahontas mine location at Omar, near Logan, W. Va., after a week at which they will make the final "takes." The negative of the fifth special Pe- trova. production, "The Panther Woman," has been finally cut and edited and is now in the hands of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Com- pany for the purpose of printing the necessary copies for distribution. Bert Lytell has completed "The Spender," picture adapted from the Saturday Evening Post story by Fred- erick Bartlett, and has commenced work on "Faith," by Richard Wash- burn Childs. Both are under the di- rection of Charles Swickard. The Anna Case picture, "The Gol- den Chance," will have a private show- ing some time next week on the New York Roof. William Vogel announces the sale of the Outing Chester pictures for Scan- dinavia. Shipment of the first Chap- lin picture, "Dog's Life," was made to Egypt after much difficulty in procur- ing of license. A showing for the foreign trade of the second Charlie Chaplin comedy. "Shoulder Arms," was held at the First National projection room yes- terday. A. E. Hoerl, formerly with Herbert Brenon and later with Francis Ford, has been made a corporal in the Pio- neer Infantry Corps. I Bernard P. Arons, formerly asso- ciated with Bert Adler in publicity work, has been made a sergeant in the Quarter Masters Corps in Paris. Sergt. Arons enlisted last summer as a private. Norma Talmadge, who went out to the Coast to take a few exteriors for her new picture, "The Heart of We- tona," is so pleased with conditions there that she will probably complete the entire picture in California. Among those set "at liberty" by the temporary closing of the Triangle scenario department last Saturday, was George Elwood Jenks, for a long time a continuity expert and special writer for that company. He immediately completed arrangements to write for the Jesse D. Hampton Productions, Arvid E. Gillstrom has finished "Tell It To the Marines," the Katherine and Jane Lee picture, and the film is be- ing cut. Director Gillstrom and the two little stars will leave for the Coast tomorrow where they will make all their productions this winter. A precedent will be established when there will be a double run of "Hearts of the World," commencing October 21. Besides playing at the Knickerbocker theatre it will also start for an indefinite showing at the Standard theatre, 90th st. and Broad- way. Schaefer Conducts Chalk Talks CHICAGO.— George Ade and John T. McCutcheon will head a chalk talk Liberty Loan drive to be inaugurated this week throughout the city and will appear in the various theatres, retail stores and outlying amusement houses to bring Chicago up to its quota in the Fourth Liberty loan. Others who appear are Charles H. Burras, with Sidney Smith; Wilbur N. Nesbit, with Frank King; Percy Ham- mond, with Ted Brown; Ring Lard- ner, with Carey Orr; Col. Will Viss- cher and Charles Lederer; Drury Un- derwood, and Harry Murphy; as well as Opie Read and Everett E. Lowry. Peter J. Schaefer is in charge of the chalk talk program, assisted by Harry Ridings, and D. J. Lavin, who are working out the assignments with Chairman Palmer of the Four Minute Men. Jack L. Lloyd has been appointed director of publicity for D. W. Grif- fith's coast studios. //' the Board of Health closes your house, get it in si tape for a gala opening. Headquarters In West Goldwyn Scenario Dept. To Move Too — Triangle Continues Confirmation of the report published in Wid's Daily of Tuesday, to the ef- fect that Goldwyn has acquired the Culver City Triangle studios and pro- ducing plant has been received from Samuel Goldfish, president of Gold- wyn. All Goldwyn stars will make their headquarters on the Coast in the fu- ture and the main part of the scenario organization also will be located there. J. G. Hawkes, long with the Ince forces, will join the scenario staff in Culver City. Hugo Ballin, art direct- or, and other production executives are going to be in the west under the supervision of Abraham Lehr. Triangle still retains ample studio facilities to carry on its reduced pro- duction schedule, which calls for one instead of two pictures a week. Ac- cording to present plans considerable attention will be paid to specials as well as program offerings. Bureau of Pictures Here The Bureau of Pictures, of the Di- vision of Films, Committee on Pub- lic Information, has been moved from Washington, and is now installed in the New York offices, 6 W. 48th street. Director Chas. S. Hart announces the appointment of William A. Grant, president of the Rathbun-Grant-Heller Company of Chicago, as manager of the bureau, which will be organized to meet the needs of newspapers for still pictures of the war. The thousands of photographs on file in the' Wash- ington office of the bureau, together with all the office equipment, were brought to New York in army motor trucks. Three companies of "Hearts of the World" have been called back, due to Spanish influenza epidemic. Two are from New York state and one from Pennsylvania. tMA DAILY Thursday, October 10, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Maxine Elliott Files Suit Against Samuel Goldfish — Decision is Reversed in Iliodor Litigation Maxine Elliott has filed suit against Samuel Goldfish for $50,000 damages for breach of an egreement by Gold- fish to buy from her 500 shares of stock in the Goldwyn Pictures Cor- poration. Miss Elliott states in her complaint that on January 9, 1917, she signed a contract with the Gold- wyn company by which he was to appear exclusively in two pictures, for which she was to get $50,000 cash and $50,000 in Goldwyn Pictures stock, the stock to be rc-purchased in whole or in part as Miss Elliott wished, on May 1 last. She performed her part of the agreement, she said, and ac- cording to her promise to Goldfish she put her stock under a voting trust agreement between Goldfish and Ed- gar Selwyn, and on April 17 last noti- fied Goldfish that she had decided to sell her stock on May 1. She tendered it at that time but he has refused to pay for it. In the suit of Iliodor against the Export & Import Film Co., Supreme Court Justice Cohalan has reversed his ruling that Iliodor, who has not been heard from since last March, need not make his present where- abouts known to the defendants be- fore the coming trial of his $100,000 action. The court decided that the present address of the plaintiff must be made known and the trial is stayed until twenty days after this is done. Supreme Court Justice Delehanty has dismissed the complaint in the suit of Frank D. Williams against the Fox Film Corporation to restrain the defendant from using a deep sea photographic apparatus invented by the plaintiff. The court held that Williams had failed to make out an action for fraud and has not con- vinced the court that Samuel F. King- ston, general manager for the Fox company, had induced Williams to give his consent to the use of his ap- paratus through duress by threaten- ing to withhold salary due the plain- tiff. In the suit of Robert H. Davis and William H. Cowen, owners of the property formerly leased by the Screen Club, in which the owners are trying to recover for rent lost after the club was dispossessed, the club has filed an answer alleging that the plaintiffs have no case against the club. Arthur H. Jacobs has filed suit against Lewis J. Selznick in the Su- preme Court to recover $10,000 dam- ages. The plaintiff states that in spite of the fact that he has always borne a good reputation the defendant on September last at the Hotel Astor stated to C. F. Zittel, in the presence of other persons, that the plaintiff was dishonest and Zittel should not have any business dealings with him. Buys Foreign Rights A contract has been entered into between Jesse J. Goldburg, owner of the production "My Husband's Friend." a re-issue of "The House of Mirrors," and Paul Cromelin, president of the Interocean Film Corporation, where- by that company purchased the entire foreign rights on the production. The contract provides that the neg- ative is to be delivered to the Inter- ocean Film Corporation. All the ter- ritory in the United States has been sold to state right buyers with the exception of eastern Pennsylvania and the mountain states. Completing Organization Dennis J. Sullivan, manager of do- mestic distribution for the Division of Films, has made several appointments in completing the organization for the exploitation of "America's Answer." James F. McLaughlin of New York City, has been appointed to take charge of the St. Louis district, with headquarters in that city; H. J. Mar- shall, also of New York, will handle the Atlanta district, and Ned E. Thatcher, recruited from the "New Orleans Times-Picayune," will be in charge of the New Orleans district. The Chicago district will be taken care of from the Chicago office, of which R. E. Ricksen is manager. Charles (Dick) Rush, for nearly three years assistant to Cliff Smith, the Triangle director, has deserted the moving picture Avorld to become a sol- dier. Rush is now in Canada training and will fight with the Anzacs on his arrival in France. He was born in Australia and is a veteran of the Boer War. BINDERS! for "WID'S DAILY"* will cost $1.75 each hereafter Plans for Zukor Day Determined Effort for a Record at Liberty Theatre on Saturday Extensive plans are under way to make next Saturday, which is to be Adolph Zukor Day in the schedule of the Liberty Loan Drive of the Stage Women's War Re- lief, a record breaker. The Stage Women's Relief has turned over its Liberty theatre in front of the Public library to the picture industry on that day and the stars of various branches of the field will appear. In return the Stage Women's Relief is to receive the use of the Famous Players-Lasky booths at the Motion Picture Exposi- tion at Madison Square Garden for one evening. Those who are to appear at the Liberty theatre on Saturday, include Nathan Franko and his orchestra, a number of noted song birds through the courtesy of Charles Isaacson, mu- sic editor of "The Evening Globe," and from the well-known M. P. divis- ion there will be Elsie Ferguson, Mar- guerite Clark, William Faversham, Alice Brady, Shirley Mason, George M. Cohan, Olga Petrova, Billic Burke, Ernest Truex, James Montgomery Flagg and others. Grace Miller White, the authoress, will sell autographed copies of her novels to the highest bond subscribers and in addition Gus Edwards, with a batallion of wounded marines, who have been returned from France, will sing, "Tell That to the Marines." Among the producers and others in the industry, Emile Shauer, treasurer of the Famous Players-Lasky Co.," is ' making a special effort for subscrip- tions to be entered on Zukor Day. He has already received assurances that Daniel Frohman will take $10,000, Hugh Ford. $9,000, and J. E. Brula- tour, $25,000. Back With General A well-known southern film sales- man, T. E. Dillard, has just been ap- pointed manager of the Atlanta ex- change of General Film Company. Mr. Dillard is remembered by the trade as a former member of the Atlanta office force of the company, and also as manager of its former Jacksonville ex- change. His last connection before coming back to General was with the W. L. Sherry office in Atlanta. For Foreign Markets The Export and Import Film Corp. announces that it has bought one hun- dred Metro features to be used within a year in foreign markets. This is said to be the biggest buy that any ex- porter has handled at one time. The deal was closed Monday. Thursday, October 10, 1918 DAILV Large Mob Stuff and Rather Impressive Atmosphere, But Drama Misses Until Last Sequence Theda Bara in ♦'SALOME" Fox Special DIRECTOR J. Gordon Edwards SCENARIO BY Adrian Johnson CAMERAMEN John Boyle and Harry Gerstab AS A WHOLE Size makes it impressive but fails to entertain and is dramatic only at the end. Historic figures and Bara's bareness hold at= tention. STORY Was mostly plots and murders. Final se= quence has considerable kick. DIRECTION Provided substantial sets and kept large mobs moving but failed to make charac= ters register forcibly until final sequence. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good except for lighting and close=ups which showed makeup. LIGHTINGS A few excellent effects; generally ordinary. CAMERA WORK Good, except closeups STAR . .Showed quite some in most scenes but makeup painfully in evidence in closeups, which marred her appeal. SUPPORT Roscoe excellent; others satisfactory, but characters not particularly impressive. EXTERIORS Big sets generally very well done but not exceptionally artistic. INTERIORS Some splendid, particularly throne room which was shown from several excellent angles. DETAIL Nothing that jarred except rather crude title illustrations. CHARACTER OF STORY Historic facts may alibi rough spots, of which there are several. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 7,700 feet THE idea of Bara, the largely advertised vamp, ap- pearing as "Salome." the largely advertised ladv what danced with several veils, undoubtedly has commercial value, and the Fox organization has un- doubtedly attempted to put this production on with sufficient spectacular atmosphere to justify an attempt anywhere to get advanced prices for it. Unfortunately, for the first hour and a half, the pro- duction is chiefly made up of plotting scenes in which undressed Theda tries to doublecross all the folks asso- ciated with King Herod, with her plots presented against a background of arm- waving extras who manoeuvre in the big exterior sets in such a way as to give the offering size. The tempo was so slow through all the first five or six reels, and there was so much deity woik in the air, that I'm afraid that most audiences will commence to feel rather oppressed. The characterizations have not been made, up to this time, sufficiently real and sincere to take hold, principally because of the lack of effective dramatic clashes. It has all been rather artificial and theatrical. However, from the time that Al Roscoe, as John The Baptist, stands before King Herod and calls down the wrath of God in the shape of a hall of fire which de- stroys the Roman God, Jove, we find the drama decidedly interesting. John is made prisoner. Theda makes most passionate love to the young Prophet, and when her teasing fails to tempt him. she agrees to dance for the Kin°- if ne wjh give her John's head so that she may kiss his lips. Following the dance, there was another excellent storm effect which broke up the party and caused the King to have "several" spears thrust through Theda. and they ended the picture with Theda "goinj;- West." I wise fans will get the fact that a double does 1 ace for Miss Kara, principally because Theda stumbles rather awkwardly in doing the famous fall on the steps of the Throne. The director has cut in Miss Bara's closeups into the dance, very nicely, however, and because of that, it may get over with many. It's a pity that Miss Bara was allowed to make up as heavily as site did. because some of her closeups were very, very bad on this account. Her makeup was always very much in evidence. The performance of Al Roscoe stood out throughout the offering. Others in the cast were: Herbert lieyes. G. Raymond Nye, Genevieve Blinn and Bertram Grassby. Should Be Big Cleanup at Advanced Prices. Will Get By Nicely The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Undoubtedly, this is a money-maker. You can also feel reasonably sure that your fans will not criticize you particularly for asking advanced prices for this offer- ing because thousands of people have been used, the sets are rather impressive, and it has a size due to the spectacular scenes which will impress most folks suffi- ciently that they will be afraid to criticize it very se- verely. It is unnecessary for me to tell you that the chief ad- vertising value of this is the bareness of Theda and the fact that you will have still pictures of her in vari- ous poses which can be displayed. Considering the advertising that the name "Salome" has had, you should be able to pull 'em in in bunches if you will impress upon the minds of those who may be inclined to scoff at Bara doing "Salome," the fact that the production has cost a tremendous sum and has been produced as a spectacle. You will find less criticism from the high-brows who may come to scoff than you will from the regular fans who will appreciate the lack of drama in the early reels. In addition to your regular line of spectacular adver- tising on this, I would play up particularly the thought: "Do you know the story of 'Salome?' You should be familiar with this greatest drama of the days of Julius Caesar." 7^B&ADSTREET of FILMDOM 7^recochized Authority Vol. VI, No. 7 Price 25 Cents /;#& IIFV Voir* ^.;:*::;:V; ^ '■:"'::•'. >V, AN UNUSUAL DRAMA of a modern 1^ /"\ frontier — a fun loving maid of the mountains whose heritage of Indian blood precipitates the sacrificial tragedy, which so often precedes the coming of complete hap- [| / [ piness. Louise Glaum in a distinctly new and unusual role. Iftributod fey the W. W. IJODKlHtfDN CpPvFOPvATION ar part of UODKJNjON ffcRVICE at all General Film Exchan^p Sunday, October 13, 1918 iM% DAILY Deliberate Mixture of Drama and Hokum Kills Effect of This Bert Lytell in "UNEXPECTED PLACES" Metro MANAGER OF PRODUCTION George D. Baker DIRECTOR E. Mason Hopper AUTHOR Lieut. Frank R. Adams SCENARIO BY A. S. Levino and George D. Baker CAMERAMAN Robert R. Kurrle AS A WHOLE. . . .Spy meller spoiled by hokum touches which will get laughs but are out of place in offering. Is unconvincing to the point of becoming silly. STORY Painfully far=fetched and unconvincing with things happening obligingly all the way. DIRECTION Provided good atmosphere and detail touches but Keystone hokum in drama of this nature was all wrong since entire offering was not played in same spirit. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied but generally satisfactory LIGHTINGS Generally too uniform; some bits effective. CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Pleasing hero SUPPORT Rhea Mitchell pretty and pleasing; others very satisfactory. EXTERIORS Very good; fitted atmosphere INTERIORS Well handled DETAIL Painfully convenient and unconvincing CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet IF your folks are in good humor and don't care what happens as long as the meller keeps moving, they are going to get a lot of laughs ou*t of this but if you've got a gang that expects a reason for things they are very apt to feel that you are imposing on their good nature and intelligence in slipping this one over on them. There's a sharp line between light comedy and hokum and it's dog-gone dangerous to mix the two. Because that is what has been done here, the general effect is "Bla-a" so far as sound reasoning is concerned and while there are some excellently worded titles in this and some well handled individual touches that earn laughs, the offering keeps jumping from the sublime to the ridiculous with such frequency that the "drammer" moments fail to get over. They started this out very nicely as a serious spy meller. Hero Bert Lytell is a cub reporter and goes out to get a story from a special messenger for the King of England, who has just landed in America. The hotel is full of spies and the Lord's coffee is doped. He passes out and is taken to a hospital, which gives Bert a chance to pose as the Lord when Shero Rhea Mitchell, a relative of the Englishman who has never seen him, arrives at the hotel. When Bert goes up to the Lord's room he finds a spy going through the trunk for the "poipers" and they pull the first wild one by having Bert push the guy in the trunk, lock it and leave him there, nonchalantly speeding away in Shero's car with- out giving the incident further thought. A helluva re- porter that wouldn't call in the cops but from this point on we get so many nonsensical bits of business like this that you get used to it and the average fan, because of this, will either think this is awful lowzie or will enjoy it as a comedy without worrying about the way things are allowed to happen. At Shero's home we have Bert posing as the Lord and getting away with it and we have some very good business injected in several spots here, helped by some great titles. A title tells us that Bert has the "poipers" although we didn't see him get them in the Lord's room and the way he leaves them around so the spies can get them again is certainly crude. After a series of attempts on the part of the spies to get the papers, proceeding to the point of a female Hun coming in and claiming to be Bert's wife and getting away with it sufficiently to get to Bert's room and make a search we have the spies kidnap Shero and call Bert on the phone, telling him to deliver the "poipers" to a certain place if he wants Shero returned. Then they even go to the point of Bert actually delivering the real papers into the hands of the spies after Shero is released, when according to the action as presented, he could have easily slipped them blank papers and had plenty of time previous to this to prepare dummy plans. Others in the cast were: Louis Morrison, Colin Kenny, Edythe Chapman. Rosemary Theby, Stanton Heck, Jay Dwiggins, Frank Newberry and Martin Best. Some Will Like It; Others Will Pan It. Depends On How They Feel This isn't so bad that you'll have to duck it. As a metter of fact it would be very good if it had been played as either a straight comedy drama or a hokum comedy ; it's the deliberate mixture of the two that jars. As an instance of what I mean, we have a very amusing incident where Shero's father is mixing a strong drink for Bert. This got over great as delight- ful light comedy until they had Bert pour the contents of his glass into a pot of flowers which promptly wilted. This was funny in itself but it didn't belong; it was just plain Keystone hokum that didn't jibe with the spirit in which the previous action was played. I think "Unexpected Places" is a very good title be- cause it suggests mystery and creates a desire to come in and find out what it's about. You ought to know The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor 1 what Bert Lytell will do for you by this time and while this offering places him at a disadvantage because of the ridiculous situations it places him in and the nutty things they have him do, he makes enough of his in- dividual scenes and puts his personality over well enough so that he shouldn't lose any friends because of this production. As I stated previously, some folks will get enough enjoyment out of the good comedy in this so that they will class the offering as a whole as entertainment even though it is silly and far-fetched, while others will feel that they are being kidded by having this wild idea slipped to them. You might kid this along in your ads by billing this as "The story of a young reporter who tried to capture a spy gang and win a girl at the same time and got his dates mixed, but finally won on both counts." A SECOND-SEE THIS MASTERPIECE.- THEN THIRD-SHOW ITTOYOUR PATRONS- THEN YOU AND YOUR PATRONS w,Lt A//t# FOURTH LIBERTY LOAN bONDS WM/MMIBM Sunday, October 13, 1918 jM^ DAILY Star's Characterization and Atmosphere Make This Entertaining Monroe Salisbury in "HUGON, THE MIGHTY" Bluebird — Universal DIRECTOR Rollin S. Sturgeon AUTHOR William E. Wing CAMERAMAN Harry B. Harris AS A WHOLE Virile and pleasing characterization in French=Canadian story staged amid impres= sive scenic backgrounds. STORY Centered around characterization of star but had substantial plot and registered humanly DIRECTION Provided excellent atmosphere and developed little touches effectively but fre= quently allowed star to "act" which jarred a little. PHOTOGRAPHY Superb LIGHTINGS Very pleasing with effective back= lightings on exteriors. CAMERA WORK Excellent angles and compo= sition. STAR Virile and sincere although a little inclined to "act" at times. Gave excellent portrayal of French=Ca*nadian. SUPPORT Miss Bennett very pretty and appeal= ing; others satisfactory. EXTERIORS Wonderfully impressive and well photographed. INTERIORS Fitted atmosphere effectively DETAIL Some good touches CHARACTER OF STORY For any audience LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,900 feet MONROE SALISBURY certainly makes a wonderful French-Canadian type and although this particu- lar type of story and characterization might easily be over-done if Ave get them too frequently, I figure that any audience will thoroughly enjoy an offer- ing of this kind about every so often. This isn't a whale for plot or action, being centered principally around the characterization of the star, but he certainly puts it over in a way that makes ii register and the impressive natural scenic backgrounds help make you believe that yon are watching an episode from real life rather than a film play. As in his last offering, Mr. Salisbury appears in this as a big-hearted French-Canadian of powerful physical strength with the love interesl developed between the star anil Marjorie Bennett, who was certainly a happy selection for a leading lady. Antrim Short is Monroe's rival for the girl and when Monroe sees Marjprie's preference for Antrim, he tries to make Antrim strong like himself, Antrim being vis- ibly short on physical and mental equipment. Antrim shows tb •■ t he doesn't belong, however, and Monroe gives up the job. George Holt, a crooked surveyor, lias been trying to swindle Monroe out of his land, purporting to be working; for the government and when Monroe learns of the swindle a fight issues in which he is seriously injured in trying to rescue Marjorio, whom they have held pris- oner to gain their point. Monroe pursues Holt to the river, where he nails him just as he is about to escape in a boat and when he returns, exhausted, he learns of the proposed marriage of Antrim and Marjorie. On the day of the wedding, however. Antrim gets cold feet and backs out. which is very satisfactory to Marjorie. as she has learned to love Monroe in the mean- time. She goes for him and finds him at the old tryst, and we get the clutch. They pulled a comedy bit where Antrim decides to back out on the marriage proposition which may appear a little over-drawn to some, but will register a laugh nevertht less. lie is nil dressed up for the wedding when he se ♦.♦ W. A. S. DOUGLAS, President LEON G OSBORNE. V. P. and Treasurer DIANDO FILM CORPORATION GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA PRODUCERS OF MOTION PICTURES In Course of Production — Baby Osborne Features — Pathe — "Wolf Face" a Western Serial — Pathe — Baby Marie Osborne Betty Compson Ora Carewe Mildred Reardon Ceorge Larkin Horace Carpenter "Tbe Pickaninny" 8 8 8 j.: 8 ♦♦ ♦.♦ :.: ♦V 8 *.* 8 •♦ ♦.♦ 8 ♦♦ #,♦ :.: 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 WWW * ♦♦ *-• ♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦•* *W* ♦* #WW W WW W WWWW W WW w wwwwwwwwwwww* ♦♦ *v >♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦>♦. >♦*♦*#*#***♦>♦>♦»♦♦♦*♦*♦»♦*♦*♦>*♦ ♦WW* #www w* ♦♦ #w www w* ♦♦ ♦■ 8 :.: 8 :.: ♦♦ . -.♦»*! » ♦♦♦♦»♦*♦♦•♦«> ^Stolen* of Scxeetxc*a£t is that pecsoiiwlio&^woxkifig to aaaalce tlie cxx&eixia a*t S©ctw?eIo±tlie£t3ittst*e «»«««• Sunday, October 13, 1918 DAILY Excellent Drama of Big Historic Scandal Forcibly and Effectively Given Madlaine Traverse in "THE CAILLAUX CASE" Fox — Standard DIRECTOR Richard Stanton SCENARIO BY Adrian Johnson CAMERAMAN H. Cronjager AS A WHOLE Forceful drama with particular kick because of timeliness. Big scenes well handled and characterizations quite effective. STORY Historic facts presented exceptionally powerful situations. DIRECTION Atmosphere effective and general treatment very good except for occasional crude appeal to patriotism. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good with many effects not soft and artistic but clear cut. LIGHTINGS Extravagant use of effects, generally well handled. CAMERA WORK Very good, some closeups par= ticularly fine. STAR Her sincerity impresses; she seems excel= lent dramatic emotional possibility. SUPPORT Principal types very good EXTERIORS Good INTERIORS Very good; court room quite effective DETAIL Many very interesting bits, only jarring notes were occasional unnecessary crude patri= otic pleas. CHARACTER OF STORY Exceptionally interest- ing because of historical connections. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 6,500 feet TF WE could get scenarios like this every day. viewing pictures would be a pleasure. Here is a bit of his- tory that lias been visualized on the screen and, we find it presenting dramatic situations of exceptional power with complications that make the action tense and interesting all the way. Of course, this has an added strength bce-inse of the fact that we realize that the film is a visualization of historical fact, but at the same time I want to give full credit for the manner in which it has been presented. Miss Traverse as the central figure of this very re- markable drama, holds the attention all the way be- cause of her sincerity. Henry Warwick as Caillaux, and George Majeroni as Bolo Pasha gave a very good per- formance. The remainder of the cast were very good types who played through without a jarring note. Occasionally we had visions of the President and titles introduced which were rather unnecessary since their appeal for patriotic applause was somewhat crude. These few touches were the only bad spots in the production and possibly in many houses these may register with the same effect that the old crude melodrama had in the days of 10-20-30. The court room scene was particularly well handled both as to the ensemble scenes, the mob bits and the closeups. I want also to commend the director for the treatment given the very important scene where Madame Caillaux demanded the incriminating papers from Editor Calmette just before she murdered him. The closeups used in this sequence were exceptionally effective. The theatric presentation of the German Secret X Society was possibly quite a bit overdrawn, but this may register satisfactorily for popular appeal. Others in the very good cast were Eugene Ormonde. Philip Van Loan. Emile La Croix, Norma McCloud, George Humbert and Frank McGlynn. HOBART HENLEY "LAUGHING BILL HYDET The HEX BEACH ^tosy biTfacltfmhIKXSmtm-tGi (You liwe i*ead the v eView?) Nov* di^ec4fm^2mo4^e* Rot iM^ DAILY Sunday, October 13, 1918 Properly Advertised, will be Very Big Winner. Is Particularly Timely The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Madlaine Traverse in "THE GAILLAUX CASE" Fox — Standard This is corking good drama, well done and well played. If you will advertise this intelligently it should get you a lot of money and please everybody. I have a hunch that while everyone remembers about Madame Caillaux murdering the French Editor Calmette, that they may not be sufficiently familiar with the name Caillaux to justify your relying entirely upon the title given this production. I would suggest that you emphasize particularly the name Bolo Pasha and that you make it very clear that this is the story of the infamous German intrigue which created such a sensation throughout. the world just pre- ceding the declaration of war. The reason I advise particularly that you emphasize these points is that we have a great many productions called "This Case" and "That Case" with the result that the casual reader of an ad. might miss the connection and think this to be just an ordinary mystery story. Off hand, you might think I'm all wrong about how well-informed our public is, but having been through the newspaper mill I want to tell you that a very large percentage of our popula- tion forgets very, rapidly, and the war has so completely overshadowed this tremendous scandal that it would be very advisable to play safe in your advertising of this very good production. The New England Yankee; the blase New Yorker; the easy- going Southerner; the hustling Middle Wester; and the optimistic Pacific Coaster are all alike in one thing — they like a serial with Show them Thrills! Leah Baird in the sensational serial Wolves of Kultur with Sheldon Lewis and then listen to the applause. Produced by Western Photoplays Inc. Written and directed by J. A. Golden Pathe Distributors Sunday, October 13, 1918 TjJt offered an agreeable contrast as the girl Morey met in Africa while William Deninson was very satisfactory as her father. 'NhDTe^Prodncti in six reels — produced b^L RT LE Watch for announcement of future affiliation %MM)A. 12 DAILY Sunday, October 13, 1918 Holds Nicely and Climax Will Keep 'Em On the Edge of Their Seats The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Harry Morey in "THE KING OF DIAMONDS" Vitagraph If yon have played Vitagraph productions regularly you have the advantage of knowing about how your au- diences take to this type of play for we have had sev- eral similiar offerings recently which were done by the same director and with the same star. If they liked "All Man," they will be just as enthusiastic over this. I can't figure that these "poker" titles carry any box office kick because they don't suggest anything in par- ticular and the title in this case is misleading in sug- gesting the type of the story as this has nothing to do with cards or gambling, the title being applied to Morey as the "king" of the diamond mines where he made his stake. "The Mysterious Mr. King," "The Cost," "The Return of Oliver Bennett," or other titles along this line ought to mean more to the gang out in front. You might frame an effective ad in plenty of white space, using a cut of Morey in 'the "straight" on one side, a cut of him with his beard and spectacles on the other and below in the center, to form a triangle, a cut of Betty Blythe. Under the first cut say, "This is the loving husband whom she betrayed." Under the second, "The eyes of the Mysterious Mr. King haunted her," and under the cut of Betty, "What is there about these two men that caused this woman to take her life?" See Harry Morey and Betty Blythe in "The King of Dia- monds" (or whatever title you decide to use). AMERICAN FILM CO., Inc., Presents MARY MILES MINTER *« "ROSEMARY CLIMBS THE HEIGHTS" By Bernard McConville Directed by Lloyd Ingraham Dainty Mary Miles Minter has firmly established herself in the hearts of the fans. Big theatres everywhere know from experience they can bank on capacity attendance when a Minter picture is the attraction. Her first picture of this new series has fattened the bankroll of the houses which have shown it. It is playing to capacity this week and is booked for weeks ahead., Visit your nearest Pathe Exchange and see this newest Mary Miles Minter offering — "Rosemary Climbs the Heights." You can book it now. Follow the lead of such exhibitors as Marcus Loew. Turner & Dahnken, Ruben & Finkelstein. D stributed by Pathe Now Playing Mary Miles Minter in "The Eyes of Julia Deep" Starring in. BLUEBIRD ^eature*T Sundav. October 13, 1918 sM^ DAILY 13 Star Handicapped by Artificial, June Elvidge in "THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL" World DIRECTOR Lawrence C. Windom AUTHOR Horace Hazeltine STORY BY Clara S. Beranger CAMERAMAN Max Schneider AS A WHOLE Best work from star in months but story misses badly and production never rings true. STORY Idea of couple keeping marriage secret with resultant scandal created. Is very arti= ficial all the way. DIRECTION Couldn't keep this from being very ordinary "movie" despite attempts to lift it by individual touches and allowed many slips in detail. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied from good to ordinary LIGHTINGS A few good bits; generally too uni= form. Silhouette shots rather effective. CAMERA WORK Satisfactory STAR If you could forget plot her work would im= press vou in this. SUPPORT ..." Satisfactory EXTERIORS Some shots beautiful; generally sat= isfactory. INTERIORS . . . Stock sets; will get by DETAIL Some awful slips and plot missed fire CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive but never im= presses. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,352 feet I WANT to thank them for finally getting June El- vidge out of the sticks but aside from that I can't hand 'em anything on this one. This was glaringly artificial all the way and never rang true or convinced and from the way the players frequently did their indi- vidual scenes it looked as though no one in the cast had been hepped to what this was all about while it was in production, with the result that scenes were frequently played in the wrong spirit and registered expressions that didn't match up with the action or the scenes that followed. Unconvincing Plot Misses Badly We had the situation in this of Frank Mayo and June Elvidge, wild had been married in Belgium, keeping their marriage a secret because a clause in June's will pro- vided that she would lose all if she re-married, Frank being No. 2. They lived in the same house and the neighbors start talking when one of them sees the silhouettes on the window shades of Frank and June undressing, appar- ently in the same room, although it is established that they were in separate rooms adjoining. This was about the wildest stunt I've ever seen pulled in a drammer that you were supposed to take seriously. In the first place, whoever saw a window shade, nowadays, that you could see through, except in Sennett comedies where anything goes and in the second place why would they be so careful about living separately in the house where no one could see them when they were really lawfully married as later action developed? It's this Keystone gag of the transparent window blinds that gives this its title. Another wild slip in this was where June went to see Frank in his apartment, after he had moved to the city to avoid the talk in the neighborhood. June comes to the apartment in a street suit, she does. Frank comes in and finds June waiting to receive him in an evening gown — and she exits to the waiting taxi in the street suit again. Where she got that sown the Lord only knows. When it was later necessary for Frank and June to prove that they were really married they found that they had lost the certificate, which was rather careless of them, but the lawyer asks Frank for a description of the gink what married them in Belgium and Frank sketches a picture of the guy so well that when the lawyer goes out and gets an actor to make up as the Belgian Sacris- tan from this sketch, June immediately "recognizes" him as the gink what married them. Truly, "they do it in the movies." Another obliging incident was the fact that when Frank sailed from Belgium on June's former husband's passport, he had no trouble getting by with it regardless of the fact that the passport registered a photo of the original owner which fortunately no one took the trouble to look at. I could fill a page enumerating similar incon- sistencies which appeared in this. Others in the cast were: Clay Clements, Jr., Inez Marcel. Cora Cecil. Louis Grizel and Jack Drumier. raSSIE BAKRfSCALE 14 iM^ DAILY Sunday, October 13, 1918 Not For Critical Customers, But May Pass In Daily Change Houses The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor June Elvidge in "THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL" World This isn't any worse than many others we've had from World lately and it might not even be considered as bad as some, so if you have been getting by on that program regularly you can undoubtedly slip this over, although it certainly never registers as anything but very ordinary "movie." If the stuff Miss Elvidge has been appealing in re- cently hasn't caused a disastrous slump in her popu- larity in your community you might make some mention of the fact that she appears in a society role in this, which registers as the best work she has done in months. The gang that doesn't care what happens may stand for this because it contains a few comedy touches which will provide laughs for those who laugh easily and the tact that the star has been given a story which allows her to appear in civilized attire should be somewhat of a relief to those who have followed her recent produc- tions. If I hadn't arranged to play this I certainly wouldn't make any effort to get it and I wouldn't promise any- thing in my advertising if I did have this coming. This class of offering may get by all right in a daily change house where folks attend regularly and don't expect them all to be good, but it certainly isn't good enougih for a theatre playing split or full weeks and isn't the kind of stuff with which you can expect to biuld up a permanent patronage. WID'S DAIL\ BINDERS $ 175 A binder keeps your copy orderly and makes it readily convenient for reference. Sunday, October 13, 1918 bMH )AILV 15 Is Entirely Obvious and Convenient But Cute Star Registers Violet Mersereau in "TOGETHER" Bluebird — Universal DIRECTOR O. A. C. Lund AUTHOR R. Wohlheim SCENARIO BY O. A. C. Lund CAMERAMAN Harry Forbes AS A WHOLE Is convenient, obvious and uncon= vincing but personality of star makes it rather pleasing to watch. STORY Series of very obliging happenings obvi= ously constructed to permit of double charac= terization of star. DIRECTION Made star's work pleasing to watch but there was no attempt to create suspense or make you believe plot. Got in several good little touches. PHOTOGRAPHY Varied from good to ordinary; tinting was frequently off. LIGHTINGS Generally very pleasing; no particu= lar attempt for effects. CAMERA WORK Some doubles well done; others showed dividing line. STAR Never convinced as boy but is pretty and had cute tricks which made her work delightful SUPPORT Chester Barnett very pleasing; others balanced nicely; some very good types. EXTERIORS Generally pleasing. Rain stuff rather good. INTERIORS Acceptable DETAIL Mechanics of doubles detracted from action. CHARACTER OF STORY Very flimsy but may get over because of star. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,800 feet DOUBLE exposures and dual characterizations when the plot makes them necessary are all right if cleverly done but when we have a plot like this which was obviously constructed to permit of double ex- posures and a dual characterization being used, the me- chanics of obtaining these detract from the action and folks muff the story and become uninterested in what's happening. If producers woidd take the trouble to sit in with a gang of cash customers while one of these double ex- posing things are being shown, preferably in the sticks where folks are not supposed to be hep. they would find that the large majority had turned their entertainment into the indoor sport of picking oul the doubled scenes and that as a result darn few of them could tell you What the story was aboul after it was all over They invariably look for the doubles, it's human nature. Cute little Violet Mersereau saved tins. She was de- cidedly pleasing to watch all the way although the story didn't stir anything and was woefully obvious. This has all the familiar ingredients, Including the will, the willun and the long-lost brother. Shero Violet played the part of her twin brother (with the lip rouge registering in both characters 1. also playing the part of her own mother in a vision shot and we had her being notified to appear at the reading of her will, the execu- tor being the willun who was trying to gyp her out of it. Twin brother happens to be a crook who conveniently picks out Shero's house to "burgle." accompanied by his older pal. When twin brother loots the house, we have the two registering their surprise at their resemblance to each other and when the brother hears of the will his pal gets the idea of him posing as the long lost brother, of course not knowing that he really is. to get in on the money. They frame the meeting at a hash-house and when Shero arrives we have a rough house battle in which the brother and sister change clothes with the result that when the fuss is over, Chester Barnett, Shero's sweetheart, takes the boy home by mistake. In the meantime. Shero in the boy's clothes has arrived at the house, things are straightened out and we set the clutch. Outside of the pleasing personality of the star, this never really got anywhere, because you were always conscious of the doubles and the thing impressed as very artificial all the way. We got several shots of an auto outside, which was photographed against a black backing. This looked arti- ficial and jarred because you expected all the time that this was arranged to permit of double business in the auto. They didn't pull a double here, however, and why they used the backing in lieu of a real exterior I can't figure. The triple exposure opening shot was very well hand- led but most of the double shots either showed the di- viding line or were staged in front of a background which was obviously used to hide this. Barney Randel was a satisfactory willun and we had some cute kiddies in the vision. Since They Don't Try To Make You Believe It, Should Entertain The Box Office Anal If your folks are content to watch a cute little lady cut up through five reels of film which are not to be taken seriously, they will probably accept this as entertain- ment on account of the star's presence and several inci- dental touches in this which were pleasing. In advertising this I would concentrate all of my attention on the star, using her photos liberally, and would keep mum about the obvious plot. If you don't like the title "Together," you might cook up a trick ad on the three words which form this, "To Get Her," which, strange as it may seem, is what the willun was trying to do all through this. Because there might be some interest in the dual ysis for the Exhibitor role angle, you might arrange an ad with two photos of the star, one as the boy and one as the girl, and tell them that she appears in this as herself and as her own brother. Since they evidently didn't try to make you believe this. I wouldn't make any promises about the remarkable boy characterization, as far as being con- vincing is concerned, because it isn't. I'd just say that she is extremely cute in either char- acterization and that the story permits of some amusing tangles and mix-ups which make this a pleasing light offering. I figure that most folks will enjoy the star's work in this sufficiently to make them forget about the plot. ■ft);^ DAILV Sunday, October 13, 1918 A Statement to Exhibitors By reason of the fact that a majority of theatres in the United States and Canada are closed, the under- signed companies have decided to release no new or re-issued pictures for a period of four weeks, commenc- ing Tuesday, October 15th, and ending Saturday, No- vember 9th, 1918. Branch offices of these companies will continue to serve exhibitors with pictures regularly, released prior to October 14th. ' Serials and news reels will be the only exceptions and may be released as usual. Affiliated Distributors, Inc. Edgar Lewis Productions Famous Players-Lasky Corporation First National Exhibitors Circuit Fox Film Corporation General Film Company Goldwyn Distributing Corporation International Film Service, Inc. Ivan Film Productions, Inc. Metro Pictures Corporation Mutual Film Corporation M. H. Hoffman Exchanges Pathe Exchange, Inc. Select Pictures Corporation Triangle Corporation Universal Film Mfg. Co. William A. Brady Picture Plays, Inc. William L. Sherry Service World Film Corporation W. W. Hodkinson Corporation Sunday, October 13, 1918 Story Construction is Faulty But Star and Treatment Get It Over Tom Moore in "JUST FOR TONIGHT" Goldwyn DIRECTOR Charles Giblyn AUTHOR Charles A. Logue SCENARIO BY C. Clarkson Miller ART DIRECTOR Hugo Ballin AS A WHOLE Incidental characters make plot and action confusing but pleasing star and romantic touches put it over as entertainment. STORY Got away to a rather poor start and was frenquently confusing on account of inconse= quential characters involved. DIRECTION Made romantic bits delightful which helped excuse superfluous characters and minor inconsistencies that held this down. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very fine LIGHTINGS Pleasing; some bits verv effective CAMERA WORK Very good STAR Decidedly pleasing romantic hero with a winning smile; certainly deserves to be starred. SUPPORT Miss Fox pleasing and others balanced nicely. EXTERIORS Many beautiful and well selected locations. INTERIORS Artistic and convincing DETAIL Story rather incoherent and confusing CHARACTER OF STORY Inoffensive mystery comedy=drama. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,740 feet TOM MOORE as a star should be welcomed with open arms by every exhibitor and if he doesn't show an immediate commercial value at the start, he is certainly worth developing by concentrated introduc- tory advertising to get folks acquainted with his pleas- ins' personality. They slipped him a rather bad story for a starter as an individual star, which is to be regretted, but Tom makes the most of the opportunities presented with the result that this should register very well with most audiences because if his presence and Director Giblyn has handled the individual scenes very nicely with many good little romantic touches injected throughout. At the start of this we had Tom falling in love with a girl whom he had never met formally and after she had written her name and address on a piece of paper at his request he finds after she has gone that it was phoney and is still in the dark as to who she is or where she lives but determines to find out. Tom's dad is trying to run down a stray block of stock which was once worthless but had suddenly taken a flyer and in order not to arouse the suspicion of the owner he sends Tom out to purchase it. Tom meets the girl on the way and forgets all about his mission. It develops that Shero's uncle has been the victim of frequent robberies and a nut detective who has been hanging around thinks Tom is the thief, also suspicioning Shero when he sees them together. Another detective, who has located the stock for Tom's father, is put on the jewel robbery case and when it is decided to plant a detective in the home as a supposed titled guest, Tom bribes the "Dick" to let him be the "Lord" so he can be near the girl. Tom gets in a mess with the girl when the "Lord's" wife is announced, forcing him to either admit that has a wife or that he is not a real English Lord. It is not explained why Tom and his alleged wife take their first meeting very matter of fact, as they had had no opportunity to frame their actions in advance. This didn't ring true, just having been brought in for the puropses of the scenario. "That night" (and they used this bromide for a title), Tom discovers his alleged wife going throughthe safe and she is pinched by the cops who have been conveniently waiting outside; the robbery is cleared and it also develops that Shero has obtained the stock ahead of Tom, so we finish with everything satisfactory and Tom winning Shero. We had some titles in this which were very good but there were many others which missed because they tried to be funny. This is bad business and always dis- counts a picture with intelligent audiences. The mystery touches in this, which frequently showed sinks peering from behind bushes and sech, became more confusing than mysterious and their specific con- nection with the plot was not sufficiently explained at the finish. Lucy Fox was a pleasing Shero and others in the cast included: Robert Broderick, Henry Hallam, and Ethel Grey Terry. The detective was a very good type who made his role register. He has appeared in many films but I can't recall his name. Make a Fuss About Tom Moore. He Should be a Sure Winner as a Star The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor The presence of Tom Moore justifies your making some noise about this because while this is far from being big, it's Tom's first starring vehicle for Goldwyn and the sooner you let your folks "discover" this hand- some boy, the better for your box-office if you intend to pay his future productions because he is worth cultivat- ing with your fans and I don't think I am far wrong when I predict a real future for him as a star. He has a personality that wins and with the war taking many of our boys away, there aren't any too many youthful stars left to entertain the folks at home. The title sounds rather interesting and you might stir up a little interest in your ads by using catchlines like these : "Do you believe in love at first sight? See Tom Moore in 'Just For Tonight'." "What would you think of a young man who was sent on important mission by his father, met the girl of his dreams en route and be- came so much infatuated that he forgot what he was sent after? See 'Just For Tonight'." You might make a play on the title by wording an ad like this : "JUST FOR TONIGHT — A wholesome, sparkling play of youth and romance starring TOM MOORE — Wont you come in and spend an enjoyable hour and a half with this new Goldwyn Star — JUST FOR TONIGHT?" If you play a film two days or more you might say in a separate box in all of your ads: " — not 'just for to- night' but every night this wTeek." Ralph Ruffner, of the Rialto in Butte, never muffs an opportunity to inject the personal touch in his ads by playing on the title, star or timely events and he has educated his folks to look for it. 18 M/*h[ PA1LV ■••.'■■•■■■■■"■v. October '.:. 1?!3 ANNOUNCEMENT fl For the past two years, or since the amalgamation of the Hearst international News and Paihe News, this reel has occupied the premier position in the news reel field.