Boxoffice-June.15.1959

Thomas A. Persons Dies;
Pioneer Film Producer
CHICAGO — Thomas A. Persons, who
produced the first film version of -The
Spoilers" for Selig Polyscope Co. in 1912.
died in Cook County Hospital here June
4 following surgery. He had been ill for
several months. Burial was at Denver. His
wife Arta survives.
With the passing of Persons go some of
the very beginnings of the motion picture
industry and the birth of Hollywood. Col.
William Selig. producing theatrical films
in Chicago (along with Essanayi. in 1908
sent young Tom Persons to California to
open a film studio in Los Angeles. Hollywood
was just a countryside group of
houses miles away and unnamed then.
A few years later after the studio proved
successful. Persons convinced Selig that
he should produce Rex Beach's novel, "The
Spoilers," and told him that the film might
cost $40,000 and would be eight reels in
length. Selig disapproved of Persons'
budget, but Persons went ahead on his own
and made the picture. It became one of
the great pictures of all time.
Two years ago when the film industry
placed a plaque on a downtown building
In Los Angeles marking the first film
studio on the west coast. Persons was to be
the honored guest, but illness kept him from
attending.
In the years 1918-1919 Persons managed
extensive studio operations of the
World Film Co. in New York where many
of the oldtime stars such as Clara Kimball
Young. William Parnum and Milton Sills
produced their silent films.
In the last ten years Persons has been
in the industrial film field and was associated
with Reid H. Ray Film Industries
in St. Paul, Minn.
British Company to Make
Several Pictures for UA
NEW YORK—United Artists has signed
Knightsbridge Films, British company, to
a multiple-picture contract, according to
Arnold M, Picker, UA vice-president in
charge of foreign distribution. Norman
Wisdom, popular British star, will appear
in a number of the films.
Among the films scheduled by producerdirector
Ronald Neame and producer John
Bi-yan. who presented Alec Guinness in "The
Horse's Mouth," are "First Ti-aiii to Babylon,"
based on the Max Erlich novel, and
"Under the Influence." Both will be produced
in association with Lopert Films. A
filmed series for television Is also contemplated.
Paramount Consolidates
Production of Cartoons
NEW YORK—Paramount has completed
consolidating and remodeling its cartoon
studios at 35 West 45th St. The cartoon
division previously also occupied space at
25 West 45th St. Now the production of
the Noveltoons, Modern Madcaps, Hernian
& Catnip and Casper cartoons in Technicolor
will be done under one roof.
Russell Holman is head of all eastern
production. Edgar H. Fay is liaison executive,
Seymour Kneitel is creative director
and Seymour Shultz is the division's
business manager.
FEATURE
REVIEW
'John Paul Jones'
Warner Bros.
By IVAN SPEAR
QNE OF the most stirring and significant
pages in American history is forcefully
and colorfully brought to the screen in this
film biography of John Paul Jones, whose
famed name accords the picture its title
and whose life and memorable exploits its
reason and motivation.
Every patriotic, red-blooded citizen of
these United States should consider it a
duty and heart-warming pleasure to see
the photoplay and therein lies "John Paul
Jones' " most potent pathway to profitable
grosses in all of its bookings. Inasmuch as
such a substantial portion of today's ticket
buyers is constituted of youngsters of high
school age. and since these teenagers are
perhaps more interested in their nation's
history than adults, the feature's patriotic
appeal should be magnified. By the same
token, this flag-waving approach will probably
prove the most potent angle in merchandising
the offering at local levels.
Inexplicable as it may seem, the life of
Jones, Revolutionary War hero and credited
with being the founder of the American
Navy, has never heretofore been filmed.
True, it has been under consideration—and
even announced—down through the years
by various film fabricators. But it remained
for independent producer Samuel
Bronston, in his first celluloid undertaking
in many years, to bring the ambitious venture
to fruition. And this he did unstintingly
and impressively, sparing no expense
in his successful efforts to mount the vehicle
with the opulence and grandeur that
Samuel Bronston presents
"JOHN PAUL JONES"
1 Techniroma and Technicolor
Released by Warner Bros.
Ratio: 2.35-1
CREDITS
126 jtes
Produced by Somuel Bronston. Directed by
Joiin Farrow. Screenplay by John Forrow and
Jesse Lasl