Inordinately Long ‘Specials’ Cause Much Dissatisfication More Than Two-Thirds of Productions of Last Seven Months of Extra Length—Extra Footage Not an Asset From Audience Point of View—Drives Short Subjects Off Program. _ V When is a 'special' production and does mere extra footage mean any thing to an audience? Exhibitors they country over, have IflfTwWt time been voicing their com plaints on the unusual length of new picture productions, and inasmuch ns the exhibitor merely wants to buy lues that people will come and s«e, his complaints are a sign that the public also is complaining on long and unnecessarily drawn out photo plays. Motion Picture News, a prominent trade paper, reports from the 250 re leases oT the last seven months 170 are. more than five reels in length. 104 are more than six reels long, and S6 are more than seven reels. When you consider that a five-reel feature, a two-reel comedy, and a single reel news, travel or educational, make tip a full two-hour program there is some basis for tile complaint of both pub lic and exhibitor. In Ilis Own Defense. In his own defense the producer argues that good pictures can not he made if the director is not allowed a leeway in the matter of length. He must be given reasonable allowauce in this as well as his expenses. . One of the tilings that enters Into the subject Is the method of selling. A “special” naturally is expected to bring more exhibitor rental than an ordinary picture—hence the great number of longer than ordinary fea tures. Idle to Assume. It Is idle In assume that of the 170 features of more than 5.000 feet of film, made in the last seven months, there were wot n goodly percentage that could not have been brought to a successful termination in the final fadeout in less footage. Many of them needed just, that~rutting to be* more like what the pfiblic wants Features of such length. unless they are of such merit that one doesn't rare how long one sits and sees the story unfold, are an un doubted bore. And one of tbe things such long pictures cause—and a vital one to a big percentage of theater goers, is the driving off the program those interesting news reels and other short subjects—some of which tell more In a reel or so than the so-called -epeelnl does In six. “Souh for Solo" Tolls Story of bilmland Rupert Hughes has never hern more dramatic in the picturing of a Story than in his newest film, ‘‘Souls for Sale," at the Sun, although his hand has by no means lost its cun ning in the depiction of the comedy snd the little realistic touches of or dinary life which make the whole world kin. While "Souls for Sale" >s basically *i Htory of motion picture players and the making of photoplays, it tells one of those stories of everyday people and their reactions to life and to each othpr. One of the greatest of casts has been assembled for tills story of film* dom.. Chief interest'will, perhaps, center in Eleanor Boardman, who portrays the leading role. In the brief space of a year, this actress has risen from film extra to star. Five other Important roles in the film are acted by capable and ex perienced players. Mae Busch, Bar bara I-a Marr, Frank Mayo. Richard Dl\. and Lew Cody. There is a score more actors in the cast, majority of whom are known to the flint fans. Many of the great and near great of Hollywood have been taken in the picturing ef the life of tho girl who comes to Hollywood to seek her for tune. Tiny fist of names of all t lie stars who are seen in the picture at one time and another reads like a SHU/s who of movieland. “Poor Mon's ff ives " a Domestic Life Drama “Poor Men's Wives." which is at the Rialto, is anything but a poor man's picture, for in it is carried a wealthy of display of automobiles, pretty women tn beautiful clothes and gorgeous scenes of great festive af fairs. Barbara La Starr plays the lead, supported hy Zasu Pitts and with Da vid Butler in the role,of the taxi driving husband of the star. The story of the picture is two wom en—the poor one envying the richer her good times and her fine clothes and tlie rich one the happiness that the other seems to have. The at tempts of Laura, the poor woman, to enjoy the pnrties to which she is invited lead her to spend the savings of her husband nnd she is forced to leave the home? How the twins bring her back is the happy ending. Mickey McRan and Muriel McCor niae is the rotes of the twins bring mischief and fun into the emotional story and produce the comedy to lighten it. Betty Francisco and Richard Tucker complete the cast. An interesting bit of the program is "The Land of Tut-ankh amen" show ing motion pictures of t lie excavations made at Luxor, Egypt. The actual views of the burial chamber where most of tho priceless art objects were found and also tho (losing of the tomb by the native workers are shown in this picture. in addition to the scenes at the toinb of the Pharaoh, there are views of the historic temples of Luxor. Kar nak and Raineses, the Hall of Pillars, the Colossi of Memmon and the Val ley of the Kings. “Money. Money, Money," Talks on Sfrand Screen Probably nothing could make a more interesting subject for drama than tho effect of the social scheme, with its finedrawn distinctions on a smalltown girl. That is the general story of Kath erine MacDonald in her latest, picture, "Money, Money, Money!'' at tho Strand tho. first four days of this week. But in no way does it convey the wonderful moments of drama when thrill goes hurtling after thrill, and the suspense reaches tension point. This is tho story that Larry Evans wrote especially for Katherine Mac Donald. and which will soon appear hi novel form, and later as a piny. This is probably the greatest tribute that can be paid to the story, for it is seldom that a ilianuscript used by publishers and producers makes its Uehut on the screen. The east includes Margaret Loomis, Charles Clary, Herschel Mavall, Carl Stoekdale, Brenda Fowler, Frances Raymond, Lawrence .Steers Robert Dudley and Paul Willis. “Crashin* Thru" Tells Action and Romance , Harry Carey, western mo\ ie star, fights, rides and laughs his way across the screen in "Crashin’ Thru." his newest anil what is reported to he the most pretentious of his westerns, at tlie Moon this week. The picture is full ijf action and thrills with Carey's bits of humor in earh of the reels. One of the most thrilling scenes is that in which hundreds of fear-mad dened horses stampedn directly to. ward the camera, wdth a roaring prairie fire licking at their heels and the unconscious form of a beautiful girl in their path. Carey performs a remarkable feat of horsemanship when he reaches from his galloping horse srul snatches Vola Vale from under scores of plunging hoofs. Other spectacular scenes are a wind storm and a gigantic landslide caused by an explosion of dynamite ’’Crashin’ Thru," Is primarily dra ma staged In the heart of the glowing west, and tells a tale of romance and adventure. Tan fill ter I *red om inalrs in Films at If orld Comedy is th* chief ingredient used for the pictures which the World theater will present this week in connection with its “Laugh Week.” The feature, "The Gentlemen From America,” Is a hilarious satire about two pnls iri the A. K. F. who. follow* lug the armistice, are given a two weeks’ furlough. With a borrowed I dollar they make a “killing'’ ;it a dice Today, Tomorrow, Tuesday-One Day Only, Today A Snappy—Peppy Western Drama of Action HARRY CAREY Moon Start# Wed. FRANK MAYO In “The First Degree” %3j§^voeco 9r&\tiD L / M>ntra^s^ 7a?maaje / ' Gtor-ia. __ , liMPeess Iy/crtr^ 12'Mt/kall \(?/\V£TY | Ji's/enG G/tan. well known vaude ville star, will appear in a series of 1 f'inedy hits for Kol l.esser. Viscount fllerawiy. acconfpnnled by’ his mother, Count-ss Annesley, has come from Kngland to sign a contract to appear in Cecil de Milte's "The Nth 1 Commandment.” His movie name will be Dan Annesley. Starts Thursday A Notable 10 Days A Real Treat Joseph M. Schenck present* NORMA TALMADGE in Bayard Veiller’s Play “Within the Law” Adapted by Frances Marion Directed by Frank Lloyd Notable because The rote of Mary Turner la tn popular American drama what Juliet ia to classical drama—an acting part which gives the true artist tremendous scope. And we believe you'll say Norma is the greatest Mary Turner of all time. The fiercest of all passions is the love of a woman scorned. > Cornel laugh, cry and thrill over the big scenes Gloria Swanson Stars in Argentine Story Gloria Swanson in an tntriguiijjt story of South American politics and love in “My American Wife,” at. the Km pros q this week, has with her in the cast a new leading man, Antonio Moreno, He plays the part of La Tassa, a young Argentine aristocrat. The story is a colorful and unusual romance laid in the Argentine and j presenting the loy- story of a hand some young aristocrat arid politician, descendant of one of the old Spanish j conquistadore*. and » beautiful Amer ican girl from Kentucky, who owns i the horse which out-races the valued I track champion of the I^atln noble | man. There many other interesting | names in the supporting cast, in ad i dit.ion to Mr. Moreno. The various other characters, the ; majority of which are Argentine, are I essayed by .such well known and tab • nted screen players as Josef Swi.-k nrd. Brie Mayne, Geno t'orrado, Bdythe chapman. Bileen 1 Tingle. K B. Butler. Jacques D’Auray, Koval 1’nderwood. and Walter Kong, who as usual, is the hea\/y. Some of these players have been seen in many Paramount pictures, hut a few of them are said to be new on the Para mount stages. ff althall in Crook Story at llie Gayety Some interesting food for thought 1 is offered in the presentation of Parted Curtains," featuring Henry B. Walthall, and Mary Alden. at the jfJavety today. The problem propounded is debated by a group of aristocrats who claim 1 that "once a man is a crook, he will always be a crook ' This question has i*een marie the subject of countless discussions among literary and social welfare societies, and criminologists have delved deeply into its perplexing phases But Henry B. Walthall. In the role of an ex convict who sees the light of day after seven years of imprisonment. shows conclusively that if a mAn must always he a crook ifter having once tasted of Its bitter j cup, society is to blame. ; Mr. Walthall is aided and abetted n this engrossing story by Mary al Iden. whose life is shrouded in mys tery. She is the Wife of a noted ar tist, and into her happy life there 1 «'oniM a stranger whose career is 1 nked not only with the artist’s wife ; but also with the px-convict. The con i flict that follows, and the embarrass ing situation that threatens to cut off [*he artist s w if. from her marital tie 'forms the «uruenir*- ■ f i story of self j F-acrifice. Pit lure* t>f African If ihlerness at St rami Kouis Shuman s ' Man Against Beast. ’ in th« pursuit of which lie lost his life In Africa, will be shown this week at the Strand. The hunting of the wild gnu. the hippopotamus, the • hyena, the rhinoceros* and the ‘"ftp TODAY 4 DAYS ONLY Nites and Sun* mV, 40c Week days un ‘i1 5 9Rr o'clock."" ^ KIDS, .any ioc “A Whale of a Show” Mx KATHERINE* A ?iwt national Pictui* A drama—vitally interesting—of a *»r 1 who wanted money; of what happened when she fot it—and when she lost it all. You Will Rend It Soon ab • Novel You Will See It Soon on the Stage I You Can See It Now A» a Picture *- ■ t. EXTRA! EXTRA!! EXTRA!!! A Remarkable Picture of Thrills “MAN vs. BEAST” Louis Shuman’s Two-year Expedition, < HUNTING WILD ANIMALS —in— I DARKEST « AFRICA Originally Intended to Be j. Released In Si* Reel*. J It Was Re-Edited to Two | Reels Which Now Gives You S Two Years’ Thrills in a Half Hour “Picture* of the African Jungle* have been done before in movie*, hut none of them ever con tained »n unusual and thrilling scene* as those in “Man v* Beast.” JAMES W DE.AN, Critic for Newspaper Enterprise Assn. STIRRING SCENES OF PERILOUS COMBAT Between Men and the Most E'erociou* Wild Beasts, Actually Coming to Death (•rips Before the Camera, and Rare Shot* of the Most Wary Denison* of the V WILD* RHINOS, HIPPOS, HYENAS, BIRDS Compare it with any other similar pic ture that has ever appeared or may. l.OUISF. FAZENDA HARRY GRIBBON ln*a Rurlaiqu* of theThrillin* Mvstrry Play* ‘Cold Chills’ Strand Orchestra It ilLVi.ilMAN. Dirrttlng IMttying "Morning, Noon »nd Night" Trotzky of Russia Hfurmin the Aimed loi»e% Shawn in FOX N1 WS ! tnre of great birds are bit* of the film that are full of ac tion and thrilla land make up the version which has . i,pen built into two reels for the en tertainment of the public. Some 19 other reels have been sa\ed for the interest of scientist*. Mr. Shuman lost bis life, on th* way out of the jungles after the most dangerous part of tho exploration had been com pleted. Muse Program Uca/lcd If ith Carey's Latest | ' f.'rashln' Thru.” starring Harry Carey, open# the wwk s program at the Muac this w»'»k.>arey has a typi cal western story With ^action and thrills aplenty Monday and Tues day, Helene Chadwick appears in “Gimme.” in which a domestic r» w is created because the wife has to ask for every little* hit of money she needs. “Crinoline and Romance,” in which Viola Dana has pleased audien ces at the World for the past week, will be featured on Wednesday and Thursday and* the final two days ; there Is offered “The First Degree," a society drama. - ■■ ■ ■ r Em press Announces !\ew Summer 1*01 icy Announcement of a change of pol I ley for the summer is made today by the Empress theater and until th** [ fall vaudeville season the house will show only photoplay programs in ; pile e of a combination of boVh vaude ville and pictures. Manager Ledoult announces at the .-am* line a change in prices as fol lows; Children at all times. 10 cents; adults, matinees. 20 cents, and even ings. 30 cents. Feature photoplays will lie pur chased in the open market and the program balanced with short subjects. Reel Remarks - ■ - \ Marilyn Miller of the Follies, whose marriage to Jack Pirkford about a \ear ago was celebrated with miles of publicity. Is to make » picture thia summer with her husband. His last appearance In films was in "Garri son's Finish." “Clnemonla” is the newest disease, but you have to be a picture actor lo catch It. It is a sort of Influenza caused by outdoor work at night—the carbon dust fioin the cameras causing liad colds. Iret.e Rich Is the latest victim. It's a peculiar < uit Mete • 'hat Jackie Coogan. Roby Peggy ard Buddy Messinger. three of the b*st known children of th*- movies, were all liorn the same day r.f the year. <>, tol)**r 26. Buddy is ' Jackie S and I tabby fuggy about 5. The truth has come out. Thr*e years ago Jack l.loyd of it < Mcrroaid Comedy company was married to Miss Irene -Vernon of New York, when both were playing In "The flirting Princess" there. Sinee that time Mrs. Lloyd has been playing in Saw and “Cbu Chin Chow” there and Lloyd has been in California. Last week she came to California with her husband and may pomlbly go into pic tures. NEIGHBORHOOD THEATERS GRAND .... 16th and Binney GLADYS WALTON in "THE LAVENDER BATH LADY” HAMILTON - 40th end Hamilton REGINALD BARKER S “HEARTS AFLAME" VICTORIA - » - - 24th and F»rl MARSHALL NEILAN’S "FOOLS FIRST" PRESENTS Daily at 11-1-3-5-7-9 O’clock RUPERT HUGHES’ Startling Red Book Story of HOLLYWOOD V With a great cast of 35 FAMOUS PLAYERS It takes the public behind studio doors through the de velopment of its own story. CREATING The most original photodrama since the earliest days of the silver screen HERE’S THE CAST Chat It# t haplin Mar Huach Hat hat a la Man Ri* hatd Ota I tank Nlayn Fitch \ an Mndlfiw £ It toft hmlt Stawai t Milton Sill* I laanot Roatdman Ira Cod y vlaitr Windtot Aea**a lo\e Anna Q. NilUon Blanche Sweat T. Ri»v Bat nft I lame HumWfMtUn t'.eorjr \\ al»K l'*t»v Ruth M II#* l heater i nahlm KathU n " Hum* t laucte Gilli»|»«tr« Mabla Ba l>n Km mond i»«*lhth s«iu rut. H. liana Fl»rtnr« V (i