Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

E. J. SMITH JOINS ASSOCIATED Succeeds Gove as Sales Chief EJ. SMITH has been named General Sales Manager of Associated Exhibitors to suc* ceed J. A. Gove, resigned, according to announcement made by Oscar A. Price, President of Associated. Gove resigned to take an executive position in another branch of the industry. Smith goes to Associated with a long record of sales successes in pictures. He grew up with Universal and Carl Laemmle selected him fcr the job when the company took over the task of distributing its own pi-tures in England in 1920. Smith established a complete exchange system in England for Universal. As a result of his success in England, Smith was brought back by Laemmle two years later and made sales chief of the home office organization. Later he joined the F. B. O. sales staff and from there he went with Warner Brothers. He went directly from Warners to Associated. Smith has already assumed his new duties and it is expected that the next week or so will bring an announcement of a new sales policy and expansion of activities intended for the organization. Educators Praise Producers National Association of Education Officials Adopt Resolution in Convention RECOMMENDING that other great industries emulate the motion picture industry in providing the most improved conditions for the education and care of children, the National Association of Compulsory Education Officials, one of the most powerful of all educational bodies, in its recent convention in Duluth, Minn., adopted a resolution giving high praise to motion picture producers. The resolution was adopted after the Los Angeles Board of Education, represented by its director of Child "Welfare, Professor Raymond B. Dunlap, reported to the body just what methods obtained in the motion picture studios for educating and caring for children used in pictures. The association also commended Will H. Hays, President of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., for establishing "Saturday Morning Movies" for boys and girls. The association recommended that teachers and parents give thorough support to these programs wherever they are shown. The resolution is as follows ; Whereas, The National Association of Compulsory Education Officials, in convention assembled, has heard the report of the Los Angeles Board of Education, through its Director of Child Welfare, Professor Raymond B. Dunlap, describing the system established in the motion picture studios at Hollywood, California, for the education, care and welfare of children; Be It Resolved, That we commend and thank the Los Angeles Board of Education, Professor Dunlap and the motion picture industry for establishing and maintaining these satisfactory conditions, and we express the hope that wherever necessary other great industries obliged to employ children will emulate the motion picture industry in co-operation with the local Boards of Education in providing and maintaining the most improved conditions for the education and care of such children. Be It Further Resolved, That this Convention, recognizing that in every field of dramatic endeavor, the themes of plays are not generally offered for juvenile observation, and that the primary purpose of motion picture production is entertainment for adults, appreciates the action of Will H. Hays, President of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, in inaugurating "Saturday Morning Movies" with carefully selected programs for boys and girls; and commends this form of entertainment for the young people to all teachers, parents and guardians, individually or in groups as long as they are of moral and educational value. Radio Mat Slides Will Aid Red Cross The motion picture industry is again prepared to get behind the American Red Cross in the latter's annual Roll Call for members. The M.P.T.O.A. has addressed 17,000 radio mat slides carrying the message of the humanitarian organization to the screens throughout the United States. This means of a screen bulletin on mat slides makes possible a simultaneous showing that could hardly be achieved in any other way. The slides are made by the Radio Mat Slide Company and afford a new method for national publicity and public service. As the announcements are unbreakable and non-inflammable they are mailed like a letter. Herbel Gets Pittsburgh Universal Office H. M. Herbel has resigned as sales manager for Century Film Corporation and at his own request will return to Pittsburgh, where he will manage the Universal Exchange in that territory. Herbel will replace M. Epstein, who after an exceptionally successful term of office, will be transferred to another territory. Motion Picture News Maryland Theatre Holds Opening Night The formal opening of the Arcade Theatre, Hyattsville, Md., a motion picture playhouse said to have cost about $100,000, i.ill take place on Monday evening, November 2. This theatre was built of brick and iron and completely fireproof throughout. It was designed in the Spanish style by John J. Carey, architect, Washington, D. C. The interior color scheme for decorating is cream and gold. The stage is large and equipped with dressing rooms and other effects so that acts can be given if the management decides. There are five exists to the building. A large marquee surmounts the entrance over which is a huge electric sign, which can be seen from the boulevard nearby. Sylvan V. Dietz will manage the house for the Arcade Theatre Corporation. Performances will be given from 6 to 11 P. M. daily and matinees will be given Saturdays. Officers of the Company are : Dr. Burton Spire, of Mt. Ranier, president; Dr. Thomas E. Latimer, first vice-president; B. B. Sherwood, second vice-president; Thomas H. Welch, secretary; George H. Lanhardt, treasurer. Those on the directorial board are: James A. Dorrick, A. A. Crawford and Mr. Dietz. Musicians of Bellingham and Washington Walk Out A walkout of all theatre musicians in Bellingham, Washington, went into effect late in October, when differences between the union of that city and Fred B. Walton of the Bellingham Theatres, Inc., failed to> lend themselves to settlement. The strike was called by William Douglas, business manager of the musicians' unions throughout the state of Washington, when Mr. Walton refused to hire two separate orchestras to play at the American and Grand Theatres. The present arrangement has been to have an orchestra at the American for two days each week for vaudeville, and then move that same orchestra to the Grand for the rema:nder of the week for pictures and road shows, using oulv an organist at the American. The musicians demanded two complete orchestras, paid .for full time at each house. W. C. Fields Signs With Paramount C. FIELDS, leading light of the Ziegfeld Follies has signed a five year contract to star in Paramount pictures, following his sensational success in "Sally of the Sawdust" and "That Royle Girl." Fields will complete his contract with the Follies on January 16th and will then leave immediately for Hollywood to start work on his first starring comedy in the Lasky studio January 25th. Tom Geraghty, now supervisor of the Thomas Meighan productions, is at work on a story that has been written for Fields by a nationally known humorist and when this story is ready to go into production Fields will be given a complete comedy unit of gag men and technical men that should make his pictures unique among comedies. w