Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

2240 Motion Picture News New Sales Directors Appointed by Universal UNIVERSAL this week announced the appointment of two sales directors to replace Ned Marin and Jules Levy, resigned. The successor to Ned Depinet, who resigned his management of Unicersal's southern sales territory, has not yet been appointed. Earl Kramer, who has been manager of Universal's Buffalo exchange for a number of years, has been given charge of the eastern sales territory, over which Levy presided. Kramer is now in New York and will assume his duties immediately. Lou Metzger, who is well known as the manager of Universal's Complete Service Plan and who has been identified with the Universal organization both in its exchanges and in its Home Office, has been named by Mr. Laemmle to supervise the western sales territory, formerly handlel by Ned Marin. The Complete Service plan will be turned over to Fred J. McConnell, Universal Short Product manager, who will take charge of this important branch of Universal's product in connection with his other work. DeMille Plans Consolidated Metropolitan And Culver City Studios Amalgamated — To Make 50 Productions DETAILS of the consolidation of the Metropolitan Pictures Corporation studios with the Cecil B. DeMille pla at Culver City, negotiations for which have been under way for some time, were completed this week in Los Angeles. The final arrangements were made shortly following the arrival on the coast of John C. Flinn general manager of Producers Distributing Corporation, and president of Metropolitan Pictures. The merger is said to place under DeMille's supervision the most extensive producing machinery in all Los Angeles. Under the arrangement he will supervise the production of from forty to fifty features for release during 1926-27 by Producers Distributing Corporation. William Sistrom, general manager of the Metropolitan Studios, will assume the general management of the consolidated organization. Fred Kiev, heretofore general manager of the De Mille Studios, has been appointed personal representative of De Mille in the field of distribution. The executive committee of Metropolitan Pictures Corporation consisting of Messrs. Charles and Al Christie and John C. Flinn, will extend its business to embrace all the activities of the combined studios. Cecil De Mille's name will be withdrawn from all productions excepting those which he personally directs, as soon as the 192526 schedule of pictures are completed. This arrangement will eliminate the confusion in the public mind caused by De Mille's name appearing on both productions made under his supervision and those made under his personal direction. De Mille's present plans call for three personally directed productions. New Canada Music Association Organization Launched to Combat Tax to Holders of Musical Copyright A!\EW musical association has been launched in Canada with headquarters in Toronto as a protective measure against the music tax and to combat as far as possible the activities of the Canadian Performing Eight Society Limited. The new body has taken the name of The Musical Amusement Association. As its first move following organization, the new association has issued an invitation to become members to all Canada theatre proprietors, managers of annual exhibitions, military and other bands, orchestra leaders, choir leaders and other persons interested in public performances. Lieutenant Colonel John Cooper, president of the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Canada is the moving spirit of the new organization, which has its head quarters in the Metropolitan Building, Toronto. The executives in charge of activities include, Lawrence Solman, Royal Alexander Theatre ; John Arthur, Hippodrome Theatre; Jerry Shea, Shea's Theatre; Captain W. M. Plunkett, musical producer; D. C. Ross, Canadian National Exhibition ; J. C. Brady, Madison Theatre, and R. K. Hunt, King Edward Hotel. The announced purpose of the organization is to see that the musical organizations of Canada get a square deal from the foreign and domestic holders of musical copyright and their legal representatives. According to the announcement, it is possible the right of musical copyright holders to demand a yearly license fee from all those who play music in public for profit may be contested in the courts. William Sistrom, new general manager of the Consolidated De Mille-Metropolitan studios. Seider Business Manager of M. P. T. O. A. (Continued from preceding page) tively short time that the M. P. T. 0. A. is again presenting a united front. No less important are the exhibitorproducer relations which assume a new phase by reason of the Seider appointment and the conferences with Mr. Hays as outlined in the Brylawski statement above. An interesting sidelight is the fact that Messrs. Seider and Hays had never met until last week. It is expected that the negotiations now in progress between the Hays 'organization and the M. P. T. 0. A. on contract and arbitration will lead to definite results acceptable to both sides. Even more important than these detailed matters, is the inauguration of an era of co-operation between the M. P. T. 0. A. and the Hays organization which observers see in the events of the past week. This co-operation will probably come about on questions affecting the whole industry in its relation with the public. Adjustment of trade differences, so far as possible, will also be taken up, it is believed, and if these indications are correct, solutions of problems will be sought at the council table instead of through exhibitor-producer warfare. New Philadelphia Exchange to Handle Weiss Product The Artclass Film Exchange, Inc., operated by Gus Krug, which is to handle the Southern New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania territory is now open for active husiness according to word received from Krug by Louis Weiss, managing director of Weiss Brother's Artclass Pictures Corp. The exchange will handle the full Artclass urogram and also the Clarion Photoplays, Inc., line-up of eight five-reel Western Gems featuring Leo Maloney with his horse Senator and his dog, Bullet. A full line of aeces sories and prints has been received.