The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-11
HARRY CRANDALL CLAIMS
HE WILL HAVE PASSION"
Denies That Legitimate House
Will Have Its Premiere.

Aroused by the published state
ments OF an unknown Organization,
purporting to be European MIN
company. that II controls Passion"
he First National special photoplay
production starring Pola Negrl, con-
tinental star OF the screen, Harry M
Crandall. owner OF the Crandall The
aters and First National franchise In
the Washington territory, today en-
phatically denied that this widely dis
cussed picture will be shown for the
hrst time locally in a theater GUS
tomarily playing articulate attrac-
lions at a $3.50 scale OF prices.
Mr.. Crandall pointed out that "Pas
sion" in so far as the American ex-
hibition rights are concerned, is the
property by cash purchase of Associ-
ated First National Pictures, Inc,
and that he Is the owner OF the First
National franchise for this territory,
which gives him exclusive right to
the first run in the National Capital
OF all First National product.
He further expressed the firm de-
termination not to be deferred in his
execution OF the announced plan to
present Passion" In the Metropolitan
Theater. beginning January 10. re-
gardIess Of the groundless implica-
lions OF wildcat promoters and other
predatory leeches that always attach
themselves to an enterprise OF epochal
importance.
1t was pointed out, however. that
the presentation of Passion" in a
distinctly motion picture theater will
be as much in the nature OF an ex-
pertinent as the recent premiere
showing of 1.-THE Woman in His
House" for purposes OF establishing
the exhibition value OF the subject.
1t has always been the practice
heretofore to offer a camera spectacle
as mammoth in conception and exc
cution as Passion" to the public first
in a so-called legitimate theater at
ayimum prices. Although Passion"
transcends in magnitude and splendor
any photodramatic spectacle ever
seen In America, Mr.. Crandall has de-
cided to determine whether or not the
theater-going public will support at
fractions of this character in recog-
nized photoplay house at a slight in
crease in admission charges
II it is found that the public must
be charged the 81 90 or 81. so scale OF
prices for these colossal pictures in
order to be sufficiently impressed
with their merit to enable them to
pay their own way, another attempt
to give patrons of the pictures first
opportunity to view the biggest films
on the market at reasonable prices
will not be made.
II, on the other hand. the public is
quick to perceive that II is being
privileged to view first the worlds
most gigantic productions at prices
that are considerably less than one.
half those usually assessed, more
master-pictures will be secured for
premiere screenings at the Crandall
houses at only such increases in ad-
mission charges as the cost of the
film, augmented orchestra and limited
capacity of the theater necessitate.
In order to controvert the totally
erroneous impression created in the
public mind by the recent published
Advertisements of the foreign COM
pany. whose identity cannot be estab-
lished, Mr.. Crandall yesterday made
the further decisive statement that,
instead OF being offered at a 80
scale of prices, Passion" will be pre-
scented at the Metropolitan, begin
ming next Sunday, at the lowest scale
ever charged in this country for
comparable attraction upon its first
run Admission to the daily matinees
will be so cents, night performances
and Sunday matinees, so cents. all
prices to include the Government war
tax.
Passion" II will be recalled, re-
Gently broke all attendance records at
the Capitol Theater in New York, the
largest playhouse in the world, at
prices double those to be charged for
the Washington engagement.