Czar of Realism

Francis M. Hugo, former Secretary of State of New York, has been chosen to do for non-dramatic films what Will Hays does for the dramatic ones. The realm over which Mr. Hugo will Czar it is that of educational and religious pictures. There are, says Harry Levey, President of the National Non-Theatrical Motion Pictures, Inc., 40,000 moving-picture machines now being operated in churches, schools, clubs, boards of trade, and similar institutions. On the other hand there are only 16,000 moving-picture theatres in the country. New machines are being bought by private institutions at the rate of 500 a week. Mr. Hugo will get a salary of about $100,000. Mr. Hays gets $150,000.

Svend Gade, Dane, who invented all the funny engines which made the recent multi-scened play, Johannes Kreisler, so remarkable, will be art director for Mary Pickford’s next photoplay, probably to be called Rosita. Holbrook Blinn and Claire Eames will be in it.