Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1919)

EXHIBITORS HERALD iiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiii;>iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin>ini>^ Asks Place in Sun for Director Marshall Neilan Assails Practice of Sharing Directorial Honor With Producer To Exhibitors Herald : The longsuffering director has been subject to a certain type of abuse at the hands of various producers without being able to publicly defend himself and I think the time has arrived when someone should speak out. For some time it has been the practice of the motion picture producer to take practically all the credit for the work of the director. Films are proclaimed to the world as having been "created under the personal supervision" of a person who has had nothing to do with the actual production of the film. There are some exceptions, as in the case of Thomas H. Ince, where the man credited in such a manner deserves every bit of it. However, the abuse of various persons in this connection at the expense of the director is rapidly reaching a stage where some action is necessary to curb the personal ambitions of men who are endeavoring to satisfy their own vanity and at the same time establish their own name as a business asset at the expense of the director. As a specific example, permit me to call your attention to the page advertisement which appears in the Nov. 22d issue of your publication concerning "In Old Kentucky." In this advertisement it is prominently announced that the film was "created under the personal supervision of" the owner of the picture. As a matter of fact, "In Old Kentucky" was supervised and directed in its entirety by the undersigned with the same producing staff as that which assisted him in the production of "Daddy Long Legs," "The' Unpardonable Sin" and other films. It is not my desire to seek personal publicity in connection with "In Old Kentucky." The picture has not as yet been released and its success is still a matter of the future and not of fact. Nor is this letter the result of a temperamental outburst. The instance of "In Old Kentucky" merely accents in my mind the unfairness of this practice and I think something should be done to compel those guilty to realize the fact that they cannot continue the abuse. Thanking you in advance for your consideration, I am, Sincerely, (Signed) Marshall Neilan. Sunday Lid at Clarion CLARION, IA.— The motion picture show which has been running for a few Sundays has been halted by the city council, which passed a city ordinance prohibiting Sunday amusements. The measure also means the end of Sunday baseball here. Ouida Bergere Stricken Ouida Bergere, who has written and adapted many stories for the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, is under the care of Dr. Joseph Darwin Nagel at the Pennsylvania Hotel for a complication of ailments. HOW CHICAGO REGARDS ELSIE JANIS OSCAR A. PRICE, President of the "Big Four," Who Is Being Mentioned as a Possible Choice of President Wilson for Secretary of the Treasury. Suggest Oscar Price as Secretary of Treasury Oscar A. Price, president of United Artists Corporation, was the recipient of a much envied honor during the past week, when he was notified at his New York office that he had been suggested and hundreds of his friends were working in his behalf, for the position of Secretary of the United States treasury, which position was made vacant by the resignation of Carter Glass, who accepted the appointment of Governor Davis of Virginia, making him senator, to succeed the late Senator Thomas Staples Martin. Buy English Feature NEW YORK.— The British American Picture Finance Corporation has purchased the world's rights to "Carmen of the North," in which Anna Bos is the star. Frank Hall will handle the distribution. Miss Bos is an English actress who has never before been seen in America. To State Right Comedies NEW YORK— Film Specials will have two two-reel comedies, "The Nut Cracker" featuring Ben Turpin and "Neptune's Step Daughter" featuring Gertrude Selby, ready for state right publication December 1. The brand name will be Jolly Comedies. The "Welcome" sign strung across State street by the boys of the Second Division in tribute to their favorite star. Incidentally, Select secured invaluable advertising for "A Regular Girl," Miss Janis' first Selanick production. Fight Theatre Tax LOS ANGELES, CAL.— Local exhibitors are fighting a proposed revision of the theatre tax, which it is declared calls for increases of from 50 to 300 per cent, and will result in a higher tax on motion picture theatres than on vaudeville houses. 58