American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1924)

Four AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER September, 1924 Consolidated Buys Standard Film Laboratories Six Million Dollar Corporation Actively Enters Film Business in Los Angeles. In a deal that is announced as having involved one million dollars, the Standard Film Laboratories of Hollywood last month passed to the control of the Consolidated Film Industries, Inc. Consolidated is an eastern organization with a capitalization of six million dollars. It was brought into being late last spring through the banding together of several eastern laboratories, namely, Craftsmen Film Laboratories, Erbograph Company, Republic Laboratories and Commercial Traders Cinema Corporation. Yates in Hollywood Herbert J. Yates, vice president of Consolidated, is in Hollywood directing affairs at the old Standard as the managing director of the former organization. The purchase of Standard brings to the Consoldiated fold one of the most modern laboratories in the world, but despite the excellence of the equipment of the plant, it is announced that thousands of dollars will be spent at once in more facilities and paraphernalia. New Plant Standard was completed a little more than two years ago, on an extensive site at Seward and Romaine streets, near Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood. Its founders and heads until the recent deal were John M. Nickolaus and S. M. Tompkins, two widly known laboratory experts. Nickolaus has since joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios at Culver City as chief of the laboratory with that production outfit. Last year, with Nickolaus and Tompkins at the head, the interests of Standard were broadened in the purchase of the Hollywood Studios, located on Santa Monica Boulevard near Seward street. With the changed ownership of Standard, however, the studio is understood to have reverted to the original owners. Standard also lauched into the production field to a measure With the making of an educational-industrial film, "The Port of Opportunity," the locale of which was the harbor to Los Angeles at San Pedro, California. Under the guidance of Nickolaus and Tompkins, Standard handled the film of various of the West's most prominent producers, numerous of the screen's most successful productions having been taken care of in their laboratory. Location of Consolidated in Hollywood did not come as a surprise as it was reported in the May issue of the American Cinematographer , subsequent to the New York merger, that the expanded organization planned to be established in a large plant in Los Angeles. Release Prints Consolidated will concentrate on the subject of making release prints as well as the negatives in Hollywood, instead of leaving the completed prints to the Eastern laboratories, according to a statement by Herbert Yates. Yates Analyzes Situation "The most far-reaching effect," Yates said, "of our establishing a branch in Hollywood will be a greatly facilitated service on completed pictures to exchanges and distribution points in the west. Heretofore producers have <*mm? Takes Over Effects of One of World's Most Modern Laboratory Establishments. employed local laboratories only to develop their negatives and make one sample print of their completed picture. The negative is then sent to New York laboratories. Here the facilities for quick service were much greater. The necessary prints for showing in all parts of the United States were made and shipped there. This not only caused delay in the delivery of completed pictures to distribution points, but also made it impossible for the producer to give his personal attention to each print." To Enter England The scope of the six million dollar corporation is indicated, as was announced in May in this publication, in the intention to establish a large laboratory in England. The purpose of this arrangement is given as making negatives, placed with Consolidated in the United States, available for printing in foreign countries, thus working for prompt delivery of a product turned out according to American standards. Personnel Consolidated's personnel includes L. James San as president and general manager ; Herbert J. Yates, who is in charge of affairs at Hollywood, Harry M. Goetz and Leonard Abrahams, vice presidents; Benjamin Goetz, treasurer ; and Herbert E. Witmer, secretary. These officers, together with Ludwig E. B. Erb, Morris San, Edmund C. Dearstyne and Joseph San comprise the board of directors. Special representatives of the new force are Benjamin Goetz and J. Brophy. W. H. Evarts and A. Canter will continue in the sales force. It is understood that E. G. Patterson, sales manager for Standard, will continue with the new organization. During his Standard connection, Patterson made exhaustive journeys throughout the country among exhibitors, distributors and film executives. While the gigantic merger marks the retirement from active participation on the part of Ludwig G. B. Erb, he will serve on the board of directors as chief technical advisor. Jackson J. Rose Made Camera Chief of Clarence Brown Production Jackson J. Rose, A. S. C, has been made chief staff cinematographer for Clarence Brown, Universal-Jewel productions and is at present photographing "Smouldering Fires" with a cast that includes such celebrities as Pauline Fredericks, Wanda Hawley, Laura La Plante, Malcolm MacGregor and Tully Marshall. The company is scheduled to leave for Yosemite shortly on location. Rose's affiliation with Brown makes ace join ace as Brown is one of the Universal's topnotchers, he having directed three of the past year's eminent successes — "The Acquital," "The Signal Tower" and "Butterfly." Rose has long been a leader in his calling, having begun his career at old Essanay. He has filmed many important productions including John M. Stahl's "The Dangerous Age."