Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-31
Il TRUST LOOMS
ON HORIZON AGAIN
Ben Hampton Crops Up signifi-
eantly Among vitagraph's
New Directors


The much-fnooted question OF movie
ffus@1 is steadily taking now shape. II
hcsins to look as II II might involve the
bringing Of Mary Pickford to Philadei-
fhit as a member Of the Lubin forces.
This much In fact The Triangle Cor
roration has united It's three producing
rompanics--the Fine Arts (Grifith), the
Kay Bee (Tnce) and the keystone (Seh-
nett With two Of the producing compa-
hies Of The Paramount--the Famous
Players Daniel Frohman-zukor) and
fasisy (de Miie-Iasky). The arrange
ment Is virtually a pooling Of the re-
SOURCES IN plants. stores, directors and
writer's The products are likely TO be re-
the Triangle Corporation, either on It's
own program or on the Paramounts,
which, Of course, holds contracts for n
certain number OF Aims bearing the Fam
Gus Players and I.asky trade marks.
further fact: The Vitagraph has been
recapitallzed and in the consequent reor-
Eanization Of the board OF directors the
following significant names appear: Ben
Hampton. OF the American Tobacco Com
pany; q. J. Ryan, son of Thomas Ryan,
and Herbert Vreeland, formerly president
OF the Metropolitan Railways Company OF
New York city. The presence Of Mr.. Hamp-
toms name, coupled with those of moneyed
New Yofkers. raises the inference that the
vitagraph Company is to have something
70 do with the moving picture consolidation
which Mr. Hampton was trying to accom-
plish some months back
A trade paper declares that It has def
initely learned Mr. Hampton will exercise
an option he held on the Lubin property in
Philadelphia, in addition to bringing
definite conclusion the negotiations pending
for the studios of Selig and Essanay, of
Chicago. These companies are all releas-
Ing their special features through the
Wise Company exchanges, formed for
that sole purpose; and II present plans
carry the entire four companies will be
merged into ono gigantic company. with the
v-L-SE serving in Its present capacity,
but also being a part OF the scheme of
things.
''Where the General Film Company, now
handling the releases up TO three reels In
length. fits in. Is problematlcal With the
machinery of the Wise exchanges az
their own. II Is very doubtful IL this new
regime will continue to release any film
whatever through the G.. f.
I'm addition, Mr. Hampton will un-
doubtedly take up his option on the serv
ices of Mary PiclSford, which he has held
since his merger activities, giving Vita a
trump card. Famous players deny that
Mary will leave them, but Hampton has her
contract. nevertheless. Mary has not APP
peared before a camera in several weeks,
Famous sending out a report she is suffer-
ing from a nervous breakdown but those
who know say she Is as well as ever and
ready to report for work as soon as things
settle down"
1t is also interesting TO learn that the
Paramount has made an arrangement with
the World Film Corporation to hendle the
lntter's features in certain field Of South
ern distribution.
This week the Palace Theatre has COM
pleted the installation of new echo organ.
The Hook Hastings echo organ is located
in the back of the theatre, hidden from the
audience by a decorative grill work. This
fr in htf 10 rIa
from the main keyboard, located In the or
chestra pit. In addition to its two organs,
the Palace has a 10-piece orchestra The
whole idea is in keeping with the new policy
at the Palace 1t Is understood that several
radical changes will be made in the furnish
ings of the theatre within a short time, so
that when complete the Palace will indeed
live thoroughly up TO it's name.