Year book of motion pictures (1925)

exhibitors. No exchanges planner!. Exhibitor to buy rights for his territory on flat payment basis. State Department instructs all consular officers to work with industry in checking piracy. Minnesota M. P. T. O. attacks distributors on excessive rentals. Fox Eastern studio to remain inactive for time. Sidney Meyer succeeds R. A. White as sales manager. May 16 Universal big Fall picture to be "The Man Who Laughed," by Victor Hugo, starring Lon Chaney. "Passion Play," made by Dimitri Buchowetzki in 1922, in this country. To be road showed by Passion Play Prod., Inc. Minnesota exhibitors meet. Determined to oppose churches. Steffes reelected. May 17 Eastern production at highest peak since 1920. observers declare. All studios busy. Frederic G. Lee, of Famous Players dead May 19 Passage of soldiers' bonus bill may threaten repeal of amusement taxes. Goldwyn. Ltd., of England combined with Jury's Imperial Pictures. Eugene R. Schlesinger. Ufa official now here says prints of "Die Nibelungen" will be here in June. S. R. Kent, back from trip, reports business outlook for fall to be excellent May 20 Washington believes amusement tax repeal is set irrespective of bonus. J. D. Williams declares in London that he expects Valentino to start work for Ritz in August. Robert T. Kane resigns as production manager for Famous. Dorothy Gish to be starred by Inspiration for Metro release, with Henry King directing. Elmer Clifton completes Fox contract and plans to make two pictures in Inaia. Ben Wilson closes new deal with Arrow ; to make a serial and thirty features. Metro and Goldwyn men in field being consolidated. May 21 M. P. T. O. convention to discuss theater competition from producers-distributors and nontheatrical exhibitors. Marcus Loew heads Goldwyn Pictures Corn. Officers elected; James R. Grainger and E. M Saunders, directors. Lou Baum. former Equity sales manager to produce for F. B. O. Senate conferees in Washington agree on amusement tax repeal. May 22 Preferred in receiver's hands. Action said to be friendly in order to preserve assets. Vitagraph holds first annual sales convention in several years at Chicago. Principal decides to state right two Baby Petrgy's and two Harold B. Wright stories. Fox plant on Coast busy. May star Earle Foxe. Gaumont of England secures Warner output under contract that runs several vears. May 23 Hodkinson will release 19 features between August 1 and February 1. Margaret Livingston mav be featured. Warner officials leave to attend franchise holders' convention on Coast. M. P. D. A. forms new holding company on the Coast to produce. May 24 Talk of Michael O'Toole as Cohen's succes sor at head of M. P. T. O. A. Executive committee meets, prior to opening of Boston comvention. First National executives start series of conferences. Import duty on "props" lifted. Fred Niblo renews contract with Louis B. Maver. May 26 M. P. T. O. A. convention opens in Boston Harmony assured. Solid working program drawn up by committee. Cohen believes convention will establish new era for the organization. April admission taxes top same month last year by $1,111,629. Presbyterian Church favors Governmental agency to check up industry. Tax Reduction Bill, passed by Sena'e Satur day, favored by the House. Now in President's hands May 27 Cohen assails combines, intimating that Congress will act if industry draws tighter together. Martin G. Smith, head ot Ohio unit, claims Hays group refused exhibitors aid to fight nontheatricals. First National will release between 50 and 60 pictures this Fall. Universal buys Broadway-Strand. Detroit. Inability to secure first runs there, prompts purchase. May 28 Lee Ochs attacks Loew tactics, at Boston M. P. T. O. convention. Havs also brought in for flaying by Harry Davis, Pittsburgh. First National's new sales plan starts, inaugurating special long runs at increasing adrrjis sions. Marcus Loew sails for Europe June 14. May 29 Michael T. O'Toole elected president of M P. T. O. A. Milwaukee Selected as 1925 convention city. DuPonts not behind Consolidated Film Industries, as reported. Christies cut comedy output for 1924-1925, but hope to raise production standard. May 31 Pyramid wants court to modify injunction against sale of stock Small wood denies fraud. Provincial Board of Amusement, Ontario, rules pictures shall not be shown without license, be ginning June 1. Blow at non-theatricals. June 2 Dallas Park Board to show free nictures in city's parks three times a week. Film Board to fight. Exhibitors Herald believes Stanley Company intends reviving the national booking company idea. President Coolidge signs bill lifting tax on all admissions of 50 cents and under, effective Ju'y «• . First National officially announces signing of new contract with Thos. Ince for six pictures. June 3 Hearst to release next season's product through Metro-Goldwyn Five planned by Cosmopolitan. Friendly interests would seek reaction in Ohio on recent Supreme Court decision classing Sunday pictures as illegal. Plan to make Sabbath "a'l blue." Spring Film Go'f Tournament at Sound View Golf Club. Great Neck. L. 1 M. P. T. O. directorate meets in New York. Report receipt of several communications from exhibitors dealing with increased producer-theater activities. Admissions and seating taxes will be renealed within 30 days. Relief welcome. M. P. T. O. Allied Special Committee and M. P. T. O seek credit for being influential in bringing about repeal E. Bruce Johnson, manager of foreign depart ment of First National, sails Saturday for several months' trip through the European Contin ent. June 4 Combined distributing system of Metro and Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan near complete merger. Six, out of 30 Go'dwyn-Cosmopolitan managers retained, and only three, out of nine, district managers kept. Important New York circuits may adopt one attitude on revised admission questions, now that tax on tickets up to 50 cents has been lifted. Several plans under consideration. "Spectrocolor." name of new color process invented on Coast. Invention hinges around shutter on projector.