Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1922 - Mar 1923)

30 XHIBITORS II E RALD January 20, 192. v Sol Lesser 1923 Will Be One of Greatest Film Years That Is Confident Belief of Sol Lesser — Conditions Bright, He Says (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Jan. '.).— Sol Lesser, producer, distributor and exhibitor, is optimistic. This is what the vice-president of West Coast Theatres, Inc.. looks forward to during 1923: "I feel that 1983 is going to be one of the greatest if not the greatest year the film game has yet experienced. I did not say that a year ago. nor did I permit myself to be quoted in words to that effect two years ago. "It is not that film industry itself makes me say that 1923 will be a banner year, but conditions generally throughout the entire world gives me the courage to feel that this will be our peak season. "I feel that each division of our states are going to prosper greatly this year. The agriculture section is booming. The cattle section is also greatly improving and the industries of the New England states have taken on new and bigger activity. The Southern and Southeastern states are enjoying great prosperity and with the immigration laws modified, as I am told they will be, the labor situation will be relieved to a great extent. "All of these conditions reflect on our own industry, for when one great industry is booming it is reasonable to feel others will do likewise. Money is not as tight as it has been for some years past and the public are once more relishing entertainment of all kinds. Women of Kansas City Will Boycott Theatres Showing Arbuckle Film (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY. MO.. Jan. .9--Thc first move in an attempt to influence Kansas City public sentiment against \rbuckle films was made Thursday by the Kansas City Athenaeum, a civic organization of women with 800 members, who have pledged themselves by resolution not to attend any show in which Arbuckle films were exhibited. The club also announced that it would endeavor in every way possible to extend the Arbuckle boycott. The Athenaeum is one of the most powerful women's civic bodies in Missouri. The resolution read: "Whereas: Will Hays, chief of the motion picture industry of the United States, permits the restoring of Arbuckle films to the screen, to be viewed by the young people of our country. Therefore, be it "Resolved, That the Athenaeum emDhatically opposes this movement of giving Arbuckle a chance to remind the public of his salacious conduct and of the murder of which he was accused; and further, that w;e publicly announce that we, as a club, refuse to attend any shows where his pictures are exhibited and that we will endeavor in every way possible to influence others to join with us in the stand we have taken." (Special to E.rhibitors HeiatJ) NEW YORK, Jan. '.).— Fred E. Baer. one of the best known of advertising and publicity men, has gone into business for himself. He has established an advertising agency with offices at 1101 Loew building, from where he will handle a number of motion picture advertising accounts. For several years past Mr. Baer has been director of publicity and advertising for Kineto Company of America and the Charles Urban Motion Picture Industries. He will continue to handle the advertising for these companies. Mr. Baer is a former newspaper man, entering in that field of labor in St. Louis, and later coming to New York where he was connected with several of the metropolitan dailies. During the war he was with the :J0."»th Infantry for two years, and after the signing of the armistice went with Universal as publicity manager of the New York Exchange, which position he left to go with Urban. Paramount Adopts Cue Sheets by Mintz (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 9. — Beginning with pictures published in February, Paramount has adopted thvmatic music cue sheets, under an arrangement just closed with M. J. Mintz. president of Cameo Music Publishing Company. The music cue sheets are said to be particularly valuable to musicians in the presentation of a picture. Zane Grey Drops Suit (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES. Jan. 9.— The suit of Zane Grey against Benjamin B. Hampton, E. F. Warner and the Zane Grey Pictures. Inc., has been dropped by Grey and the case has been settled out of court. Grey has released Hampton and Warner of all charges and the unpictured novels and stories held by the corporation have been returned to the author to dispose of to any producer he may select. J. R. Cra infer Grainger Is Off on Country-Wide Touj Will Visit Goldwyn Branche and Prominent Exhibitors During Trip /.Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK. Jan. 9.— James R. Gram ger, vice-president and general sale manager of Goldwyn Distributing Cor poration, left here yesterday for a tour of the company's twentyseven exchanges. While circling the branches he also plans to confer with many prominent exhibitors. One of the purposes of the trip is to acquaint Goldwyn m a n agcrs with the calibre of productions offered by the company this year. These include 'The Christian,' "Vanity Fair." "Souls lor Sale," "'Losi and Found," "Gimme!" and other picteres which are either finished or near■ii lz completion. "The Strangers' Banquet," Goldwyn's New Year's publication, opened at the Capitol theatre Sunday to what is said to be the biggest twe day.-' business in the history of that theatre. Mr. Grainger expressed himself as bcing delighted over the success of the pictures issued by Goldwyn tor the first months of the season. "Conditions in all parts of the country are looking up," he said, "and i'rj'.i will be a great year. All we need is confidence and good pictures." "It is not apparent that there is a particular demand for any special type oi picture. Reports that I have been receiving indicate that exhibitors arc depending less on famous names and more on good, sound, well produced stories. This is a healthy condition and gives producers just the incentive they need to turn out pictures that will win on their own merits. Goldwyn is securing gifted players for its stock company and stars of the lir^t magnitude are engaged for leading roles, but first and foremost comes the story." Big Photoplays Coming, Abe Warner Reports on Return from Hollywood (Special to Exhibitors Herild) NEW YORK. Jan. 9.— The latest arrival on Broadway from the West Coast production center, bringing predictions ot great pictures for the season, is Abe Warner of Warner Brothers, who has been in the film producing zone for the past three months. "In mv estimation the coming season will prove the biggest in the history o the business." says Mr. Warner. "It will be the biggest, not in quantity production, but rather in the quality of productions. The best available screen players, directors and scenario writers are constantly in demand, and it is extremely difficult to find anybody of prominence out ot work." . . , Mr. Warner is going to remain in the East about six weeks and then jump back to the coast again, where he will assist in production of the eighteen big pictures which Warner Brothers have started making.