The New York Clipper (May 1917)

36 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER May 2. 1917 NEWS REVIEWS STATE RIGHTS RE LEAS ES FORUM WILLIAMSONS MAKE WAR ON STATE LINES TO SPLIT TERRITORIES Another demonstration of the growing tendency to split up old-established state rights territories and apportion them as "zones," instead of states, for the opera- tion of the buyers of film franchises, is given this week by the Williamson Broth- ers. This enterprise puts itself unquali- fiedly on record as supporters of the belief that state boundaries for state rights buy- ers have become obsolete. The Williamsons indorse thus the new theories that found their first expression several weeks ago in The New 1'ork Cejppkx. To sell picture rights according to the facility and distributing powers of the buyer, and not by old-established state di- visions, is the decision of the Williamsons in their release of "The Submarine Eye," the first production to be issued by this company. Discussing the plan to release the pic- ture to territorial buyers, George William- son mentioned several interesting details. The company may reserve several districts for its own direct management, but it will deal with buyers throughout the rest of the country with a broad policy. TO keep in close touch with the buyers after they have obtained the territorial rights, and to continue a strong- advertising campaign for them, will be part of the com- pany's efforts. Victor Johnson, sales manager for the Williamsons, talked in strong terms of the company's decision to broaden the field of distribution for its products. The war against arbitrary territorial boundaries, conforming to the boundaries of states and groups of states he crystallized in an at- tack on the phrase "state rights." "Ah a matter of efficiency anil sound business," he said, J*the term 'territorial rights' should be adopted universally in- stead of 'state rights.' A territory should be apportioned not with reference to state lines which were laid down by geographers seventy-five years ago, or by the geologic formation of mountains and twists of muddy streams through generations, but by economic conditions and railroads. "It is logical and proper for a distributor to construct an independent territory com- prising one city, or a group of'cities radi- ating from a central point within part of one state or lapping over into three states. "The only controlling influences should be the distributor's record as a business man, his capability for serving a given zone of operation and the prima facie evidence that a cohesive collection of theatres exist in the clientele of the distributor." Mr. Williamson's official statement of policy includes details of a plan to keep a "leading string" on the territorial buyers by leasing and not selling the prints. BERNSTEIN JOINS HOFFMAN M. H. Hoffman wired from Los Angeles several days ago that he had signed a contract to handle all the Bernstein film productions. This transaction strikes the high watermark of state rights news and the announcement aroused considerable in- terest in state rights circles. The M. H. Hoffman Co., Inc., recently established to handle "The Sin Woman" and forthcoming products of the George Backer Oo., is now able to exploit a trio of elaborate pi ctur es. The first Bernstein releases are "Who Knows I" and "The Seven Cardinal Virtues." Hoffman will use the trademark "Foursquare Pictures" on his products. W. A. Bach, recently Canadian exchange manager for the Uni- versal, has become sales manager fox Hoffman. STATE RIGHTS BUYERS HERE Among the State rights buyers who were in town last week were: Harry Schwalbe, of Philadelphia. J. E. Pearee, of New Orleans. Aaron Jones, of Chicago. E. Mandelbaum, of Philadelphia. H. S. Siege], of Boston. R. G. Fields, of Detroit Harry Nolan, of Denver. E. H. Hulsey, of Dallas. Arthur Blankmayer, of Detroit. J. A. Kressy, from Dallas. Abe Warner, of Cleveland. B. Amsterdam, of Philadelphia. ITALIAN FILMS ARRIVE Stanley Blumenthal, brother of Benja- min Blumenthal ,who manages the Ex- port and Import Film Co., arrived from Italy this week with an Impressive col- lection of six-reel feature films. Several of the pictures feature Lydia Borrelli, known, in point of vogue, as the Mary Pickford of Europe, and Novelli, the fa- mous tragedian. These pictures are re- ported to have made smashing hits before European audiences. COSMOFOTOF1LM SPREADS OUT On account of an increase in business, which doesn't make it angry, the Cos- mofotofilm Co. moved this week from its offices at 110 West Fortieth Street to more spacious quarters in the Candler Building, 220 West Forty-second Street. The "Cosmo" is alarming its special feature film competitors with "The Manxman." Heavy prices are recorded for the sale of territories for this film. WARNERS HAVE NEW POLICY On June 10th Warner Brothers will release a five-reel picture with which they inaugurate a policy of twenty-six flve- reelers per year. State rights are now being disposed of and most of the ter- ritory has been asked for. The first pic- ture, which has not yet been named, will feature Holbrook Blinn and Mabel Trun- nelle, the second Clifford Bruce and Mar- guerite Snow. "WARNING" TERRITORY GOING The state rights privileges for "Warn- ing" the moral problem motion picture being released by the Photodrama Film Corp., have been disposed of for all of the eastern section of the country. There are a few territories open in the middle west and Canada. The scenario for this picture was written by the Rev. Dr. Chan, H. Parkhurst PIONEER HAS 3 NEW FILMS The Pioneer Feature Film Company has released the following pictures during the last month: "The Slave Mart," featuring Marguerite Snow; "The Web of Life," featuring Hilda Nord and James Cruze; "Marvelous Maciste," featuring the black man in "Cabirla." ANDERSON MEETS BUYERS Carl Anderson, president of the Paralta Plays, Inc., held a meeting with state rights buyers last Thursday. A second conference will be held Thursday of this week, Anderson reports the Paralta plan of distribution is meeting with high favor. "BIRTH" TO BE STATE RIGHTED The Eugenic Film Co. has engaged a number of theatres throughout the country in which to show "Birth," a motion pic- ture based on "motherhood," prior to offering the state rights territories in those sections for sale. MAY STATE RIGHT NEW FILM . "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," the new Lois Weber-Philips Smalley produc- tion, arrived in New York last week. It is likely that the Universal will dispose of it on a state rights basis. $103,000 PAID TO LEWIS FOR HIS "BAR SINISTER" FILM COST HTM $17,000 Edgar Lewis electrified the state rights market last week by collecting $103,000 for a picture that cost him $17,000 to pro- duce. The sale was made to Prank G. Hall of Newark. The subject of the trade was "The Bar Sinister." Though it may not be without precedent, the size of the purchasing price and the vast margin of profit in this deal are. thor- oughly unusual, even in an industry that is full of startling harvests of gold. Mr. Lewis stands in this transaction as an example of the heights to which a man with mental equipment can climb in the film industry. The incident testifies to the generosity of rewards in the state rights division of the business. As a young man Mr. Lewis had the se- rious occupation of driving mules in Missouri. He pulled himself out of this stratum by natural ability and will power. He became an actor. It wasn't over four years ago that he entered the film field as an actor with the Reliance company, draw- ing $5 a day. Soon he became a combina- tion actor-director. Then he swung to the Life Photo Film Co. and produced the "Littlest Rebel." It was a great big hit. Thereafter he pro- duced "Captain Swiftwind," another hit. When creating hits became a habit with Lewis, he began to produce for LuWu. In rapid succession he brought forth "The Barrier" and "The Great Divide." These two pictures are bywords in the industry. Finally Lewis put across "The Bar Sin- ister," for himself, and, as has been noted, sold it for $103,000. A secondary element in this deal that possesses interest, is that Mr. Hall almost immediately turned the ' film hack to the hands of Abrams and Werner, who transacted the original trade for Lewis, giving them a commission to distribute the product. "JOSEPH" FOR STATE RIGHTERS The Concord Feature Film Co., of which E. Marks is president, closed a contract this week for the American rights to "Joseph and His Brethren," to be re- leased on the state rights basis. This pic- ture, a full six-reel production, received a brief trade showing about two years ago. The original drama ran for a year and a half at the Century Theatre. LESSER CANCELS SELZNICK Sol L. Lesser, of the All-Star Features Distributors, has sent to Lewis J. Selz- nick a cancellation of his contract to handle the Clara Kimball Young produc- tions. Mr. Leaser announces he was com- pelled to do this because of the necessity to concentrate on his group of big features previously acquired. HALL STARTS COMPANY Frank G. Hall, of Newark, N. J., who recently purchased the world rights to "The.Bar Sinister," has established the Frank Hall Productions, Inc., to operate on a large scale. The company will occupy offices in the Longacre building, New York. "WOMAN AND THE BEAST" SHOWN Fifty state rights buyers last week wit- nessed the first trade showing of "The Woman and the Beast," produced by Graphic Features. The film paased the censors without a change. PALLEY BUYS COMEDY RIGHTS J. Pallcy, of Detroit, has bought the state rights for his district to the King Bee Billy West comedy "Back Stage."' NEW FEATURE FILMS OFFERED THIS WEEK TO STATE RIGHTERS New state rights releases announced this week are: Corona Cinema Co., Los Angeles, Cal.— "The Curse of Eve." Ililler & Wilk, Inc., Longacre Bldg.,New York City—"The Battle of Gettysburg"; "The Wrath of the Gods." Ivan Film Productions, 130 West 46th Street, New York—"One Law For Both." The A. Kay Co., 720 Seventh Avenue, New York—"Terry Feature Burlesques"; "Terry Human Interest Reel"; "Golden Spoon Mary." Other current and pending releases in the open market are: Today Feature Film Corporation— "To-day." Gold Medal Photoplayers—"The Web of Life." Exclusive Features, Inc.—"The Liar." Cinema War News Syndicate—"'Amer- ican War News Serial." Ones Film Co.—"The Fated Hour." Sheriott Pictures, Corp.—"The Black Stork.** Max Cohen Co.—"The Fury of Civili- zation," and "America Is Ready." Edward Warren Co.—"The Warfare of the Flesh." Cosmofotofllm Co.—"The Manx-Man." Bernstein Film Productions — "Who Knows T" in preparation; "The Seven Cardinal Virtues." Frohman Amusement Co.—"God's Man." B. W. Copeland — "The Pendleton Round-up of 1016." Arrow Film Corporation—"The Deem- ster." M. H. Hoffman Co.—"The Sin Woman." Popular Pictures Corporation — "A Woman Wills"; "The Princess of India"; "The Burglar and the Lady"; "The Little Orphan"; "Ignorance." Hoffman Film Co.—"Buffalo Bill's Last Performance." De Luxe Spoilers Co.—"The (De Luxe) Spoilers." Balboa Amusement . Producing Co.— "The Twisted Thread." Graphic Features—"The Woman and the Beast." Abrams and Werner—"The Bar Sin- ister." E. I. S. Motion Picture Corporation— "Trooper 44." Sol L. Lesser—"The Ne'er-Do-Well." LaSalle Film Co.—"Lafco Comedies." Grand Feature Film Co.—"Rex' Beach Himself." Enlightenment Photoplays Corporation —"Enlighten Thy Daughter." Hanover Film Co.—"How Uncle Sam Prepares." Ultra Pictures Corporation — "The Woman Who Dared" Flora Finch Comedy Films Corpora- tion—"War Prides." Variety Films—"The Price of Her Soul." Eugenic Film Co.—"Birth." Williamson Bros. — "The Submarine Eye." Shermann-Elliott, Inc.—'The Crisis." Universal Film Co.—"God's Law." Benjamin Chapin Studios—"The Lin- coln Cycle." CHAIN GETS PRODUCERS At least one, and very probably two, producing organizations signed contracts, as subsidiaries, early this week of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit, the for- mation of which has been reported in This Clipper. It is understood that the producing companies have agreed to supply the new chain organization with a nucleus of big; films, which the latter can use to control the State rights field. The exchange numbers about 50 members, who control $20,000,000 worth of motion picture the- atres, according to official report. It was incorporated under New York State laws, with a capital of $80,000.