John Noble Finishes “One Million Dollars” (1915) 🇺🇸

John W. Noble, director of many notable Rolfe-Metro features, has just made an unusual record by completing the big five-act picture, One Million Dollars, in which William Faversham is starred, in less than three weeks.

For a time it appeared that Mr. Faversham would not be able to finish the picture, as a previous contract called for his presence in Pittsburgh this week, where he opens the theatrical season in his big stage success of last season, The Hawk. But by working day and night under high pressure Mr. Noble succeeded in finishing the picture in time for Mr. Faversham to take a brief vacation and rest of several days aboard his yacht before beginning his theatrical engagement.

One of the secrets of Mr. Noble’s success in effective and expeditious directing is his masterly handling of big situations where discipline counts. He is a strict disciplinarian, a training he received while a student at West Point.

He was born in Kentucky of a long line of pioneers who had to fight for their existence in the early days. When the opportunity presented itself, Mr. Noble entered the army and was a lieutenant during the Spanish-American war. He served in the Philippines and was sent to China during the Boxer uprising. For a time he was stationed in Japan. His experience as a soldier has often stood him in good stead where military or mob scenes are called for in a script.

In The Bridge or The Bigger Man, a recent Rolfe-Metro feature, he directed a mob scene of strikes and militia that attracted wide attention.

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Plimpton Epics to Expand

Horace G. Plimpton says through association with Authors’ Film Express Distribution his company will enlarge original plans.

As a result of its association with the Authors’ Film Company the Plimpton Epics Pictures Company, of which Horace G. Plimpton, formerly head of production at the Edison studio, is president, will materially extend the activities tentatively decided on at the formation of the company. The Plimpton company has acquired a studio in Yonkers approximately at Two Hundred and Fiftieth street, between Yonkers and Mount Vernon, with excellent traffic facilities accessible. The top floor of the building has a clear space of 50 by 100 feet. Lights are now being installed. It is probable production will be commenced within two weeks.

Mr. Plimpton is convinced his company will have an ideal situation and for its size be one of the best studios in the country. He says the first two releases of his company are nearly ready and that the order of their issue probably will be “A Mystery in Black and White,” by Wallace Irwin, the second subject to be by Reginald Wright Kauffman. The latter is based on the great pearl robbery of 1913, in which $600,000 worth of pearls were sent by registered mail and securely sealed, from London to Paris, but when the seals were broken there were found three lumps of sugar. Mr. Kauffman has worked out a solution of the mystery which the authorities have never solved. He has added those elements which go to make for picture entertainment, including love interest. Mr. Plimpton is confident the subject will be a strong one.

The Plimpton Epics Pictures Company will release through the Authors’ Film Express Distribution, with the plans of which Mr. Plimpton is very much impressed. A World man during the week sat in on a little chat with Mr. Plimpton, George Jordan and Gerald F. Bacon. The last two named are associated with the Authors’ Film Company, with offices in the Empire Theater Building.

“The Authors’ Film Company was primarily formed to carry out the idea of distributing film not through exchanges but through the express companies,” said Mr. Jordan.

“Mr. Bacon, who, too, is connected with Sanger & Jordan (Frank W. Sanger | Walter C. Jordan), has been for a year working out the plans. We send out traveling representatives with film just like any wholesale house sends its men with sample goods. By arrangement with express companies we send out features for first, second or third runs, etc., just as the exhibitor desires. We route the picture and give the express company a list showing where the film is to go, the hour it is to be delivered, the sum to be collected C. O. D., and the hour the film is to be collected. The express company guarantees the subjects will be delivered on time. Our system absolutely does away with exchanges, and we believe with many of the evils — from the manufacturing side — which grow out of exchange distribution.

“The exhibitor is assured of getting a picture on the minute he expects it. He does not have to go after it and he does not have to return it. We have made arrangements to see that each subject will reach him in proper condition. In the past few months we have demonstrated to our own satisfaction the plan is a success. We have been routing Just Out of College through New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To that territory we have added Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Minnesota. Now that the Plimpton subjects will be released through our organization we are going right on to the coast, covering not only the United States, but Canada as well.

“Through our association with Sanger & Jordan we have access to the seven thousand subjects in their control. These comprise 3,000 plays and 4,000 books. From these the Authors’ Film Company and its allied interests will have first selection.”

Mr. Bacon explained to the World man his novel plan of distribution through express companies, showing the duplicate sheets which accompany each shipment. From each exhibition of a subject a return is made to the Authors’ Film Company, accompanied by a draft for the amount of the booking, minus the express charges. Mr. Bacon said that while at first exhibitors were slow to look with favor on the new plan they were so impressed with its compensating advantages that now he heard no complaints. He said express distribution meant a square deal for the exhibitor, the certain delivery of his film not only on the day contracted for, but also on the minute, and to the manufacturer it meant cash in hand and no bad debts.

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Reception Tendered Marguerite Clark.

Under the auspices of the management of the Third Street Theater, Easton, Pa., a huge reception was tendered Marguerite Clark, the Famous Players Film Company’s star, and to her director, J. Searle Dawley, on Tuesday night. The elaborate executive offices of the theatre, which is the handsomest in the city, were exquisitely decorated with plants and myriads of cut flowers.

The most conspicuous feature of the affair, with the exception of the star herself, was a magnificent portrait of Miss Clark which, mounted in a gold frame, formed the keynote of the mural decorations. But even the painted idealization of the diminutive actress failed to compare in interest with the real Miss Clark, who was the vivacious center of an admiring throng.

Over two thousand gravure photographs of Miss Clark were distributed to the ladies who attended the function. The social set of Easton was prominently represented at the reception, which was one of the largest gatherings in the history of the city.

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Butts on Deck.

That sound as of a battleship being rolled along the street which has recently disturbed Times Square is only the ordinary movement of an erstwhile invalid. It is F. Worthington Butts, president and general manager of the Greenwich Lithographing Company, going through the town in his yellow automobile. Mr. Butts, after a long siege of illness, during which on several occasions undertaker’s estimates were furnished, is now in prime condition and wants all doubters to know it. He is one of the most popular figures in motion picture circles, having been identified with the display end of the business since its inception. “Worthy” they call him for short, and worthy he has shown himself of the esteem of the hundreds of friends who will be glad to learn that they may cancel their florist orders.

Collection: Moving Picture World, October 1915