Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

2242 Motion Picture N e w s Eschmann Resigns; Sales Committee Formed by First National EA. ESCHMANN, for several years General Manager of Distribution for First National Pictures, Inc., has resigned to take * effect December 1st. He becomes assistant to Hiram Abrams, president of United Artists, it is announced. Ned Marin and Ned Depinet has joined First National and with A. VV. Smith, Jr. will comprise a sales committee to function under the supervision of General Manager Richard A. Rowland and Samuel Spring, Secretary-Treasurer of the company. It is understood that Mr. Spring will act as chairman of the Sales Committee. Both Mr. Marin and Mr. Depinet have been members of the Sales Committee of the Universal Company. Prior to his association with Universal, Mr. Marin was with Famous-Players and later with Distinctive. He moved to Universal at the time Al Lichtman took charge of the sales for that company. Mr. Depinet is particularly well known in Southern districts, where he has been located during most of his motion picture career. As first assistant to Mr. Eschmann during the past two years, Mr. Smith has come to be recognized as one of the most capable and aggressive of sales executives. His work has been particularly notable in the handling of First National's specials which have been placed directly under his supervision. Executives of First National expressed keen regret at Mr. Eschmann's resignation in view of the many successful policies he has instituted since his association with that company. Before becoming General Manager of Distribution for First National, Mr. Eschmann occupied a similar position with Pathe. Clean Pictures Win Quiz Vote S. F. Paper Questionnaire Reveals Strong Demand for Good, Wholesome Productions WHAT does the public want in motion pictures? That question is as old as the industry itself, yet it is one in which producers, distributors and exhibitors remain vitally concerned. Seeking an answer to the question, the San Francisco Call and Post canvassed the residents of Central California. Analyzing the replies from motion picture fans, the Call made these two important deductions: "The first — and most important to our mind — is that the public apparently desires clean, wholesome pictures, rather than erotic sex or problem productions. "Second in importance from the producers standpoint is one indication that this particular portion of the playgoing public of the nation prefers pageantry, novelty and super westerns to all other forms of cinema expression." Continuing in its analysis of the survey, the Call and Post said: "Full length comedy pictures do not seem to have made as tremendous an appeal as they have been popularly supposed to do, only Harold Lloyd in 'The Frashman' managing to get in 'The Best Ten' list and 'Beggar on Horseback' into the honorable mention list — the latter undoubtedly by reason of its extremely bizarre treatment. "The surprises of the contest were the heavy votes polled by 'The Lost World,' Rothacker's fantastic adaptation of Sir Conan Doyle's novel based upon prehistoric life; 'Peter Pan,' Herbert Brenon's exquisite production of the Barrie masterpiece; 'Greed,' Yon Stroheim's gripping treatment of the Norris magnum opus, 'MeTeague,' ■* 'Gra^s,* the marvelous story of the pil grimage of the central Persian tribe of Bakhtiari over the Ural mountains." The "Best Ten" pictures in order of their popularity with contributors to the Call's survey follow : "The Ten Commandments," The Ponv Express," "Don Q," "The Iron Horse," "The Thief of Bagdad," "The Lost World," "Janice Meredith," 'The Freshman," "Peter Pan," and "The Unholy Three." Pictures receiving honorable mention included, in the order of their popularitv: "Madame Sans Gene," "Zander," "The Vanishing American," "Sallv," "The Lady," "Phantom of the Opera," "So Big," "The Thundering Herd," "Greed," "The Street of Forgotten Men," "The Sea Hawk," "The Midshipman," "Grass," "Romola," "Beggar on Horseback," "Soul Fire" and "Classmates." The Call is conducting a re-canvas "with a view of determining that person (or those persons) whose choices came closest to 'the will of the majority.' " Rochester Exhibitors And Unions Settle Members of the Rochester Musicians' Protective association have settled their differences with the Rochester Theatre Managers' association. What the settlement was the president of the union and the members refused to say. The union asked for a raise of $7 a week for men that work six days and $10 a week for those who work seven days. The managers made a compromise offer of a $3 weekly increase. Members of the Eastman theatre orchestra were not involved in the discussions. 1 In and Out of 1 own HENRY GINSBERG left November 5 for an extended trip to all Western exchanges handling Banner and Royal pictures. CR. OSBORN of Montreal, and J. N. • Klein of Albany, X. Y., Warner exchange managers, conferred with Sam Morris in New York last week. Sam Warner, who returned recently from the Coast, is on a tour of the Atlantic Coast states. rj ARRY O. HOYT, who will direct Mrs. 11 Rudolph Valentino in her F. B. O. picture, is here, conferring with F. B. O. officials. Mrs. I'alentino is scheduled to arrive from Europe on the Leviathan November 9. LEE MARCUS, F. B. O. sales manager, has left for a ten day tour of the company's central eastern exchanges. OREN WOODY, special representative for Associated Exhibitors, has arrived at the Coast from New York for a month"s visit. J J ERMAX F. JAXS is on an extended trip 11 to the cities of the East, South and Middle West. SAM MORRIS and Myer Lesser, of the Warner home office, have returned from sales meetings in Chicago, Milwaukee and Indianapolis. RICHARD C. FOX, of the Freedom Film Corp., with offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany, visited the Arrow office this week. rj ARRY BERXSTEIX, manager of the 11 Red Seal New York Exchange, is on a trip to the Middle West. BOGART ROGERS, general manager of Douglas MacLean Productions, is in New York. OHX HAMRICK, of Seattle, was a prominent exhibitor visitor of the week. MAJOR ALEXAXDER GRAU and Dr. Nicholas Kauffmann of the Ufa executive offices tit Berlin have left New York for a short visit to Hollxzvood. AN important arrival of the week was Gloria Swanson who came in on the Paris from Europe, accompanied by her husband, the Marquis de la Falaise de la Coudraye. Mrs. Sidney Drew Dies in Los Angeles MRS. SIDNEY DkEW, widow of the late Sidney Drew and co-star with him in the famous Drew Comedies, died in Los Angeles this week. She was 35 years old. The Drews appeared in the notable series of comedies for Vitagraph, and later Metro, which had a wide vogue on the screen. After Sidney Drew's death, Mrs. Drew produced two pictures for Pathe. S. Rankin Drew, son of Sidney Drew by a previous marriage, and regarded as one of the most promising of directors prior to the war, was killed in action in France.