Exhibitor's Trade Review (May-Aug 1925)

June 6, 1925 Page 15 Paramount to Establish School for Theatre Managers in Gotham Establishment of a training school for theatre managers is announced by Harold B. Franklin, director of theatres, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. This school will open August 15. On February 4, 1926, a second course will be given. The courses will be continuous thereafter and will embody every phase of motion picture theatre management. §t The. -school, the sessions of which will be field at, tlj.e Rivoli theatre, New York City, Still be . under the supervision of one of the Fame nis Players-Lasky theatre department's experts. Its administration will be in charge <Sf an executive council. In addition to this executive council, Mr. Franklin states, there will be a board of directors consisting of some of the most important figures in the motion picture industry. There will be complete and thorough instruction in all practical details of theatre management, in the course of which students will learn the daily routine of the modern, GLEICHMAN LOSES PARAMOUNT SUIT: J PLANS TO APPEAL | DETROIT, May 29.— Phil Gleichman, formerly of the Broadway Strand Theatre, lost his case against Famous Players-Lasky Corporation before Judge Frederick S. Lamb, of the Wayne' Circuit Court. 1 It was also decided that Gleichman ttas wrong in interpreting his five-year franchise as a joint venture. The case ||as dismissed without costs. An appeal will be taken by Gleichman. The contract was broken at the end of the third year, and the Judge held that both parties were to blame because of mutual obstinacy. Sidney R. Kent was in constant attendance during the trial, and the case has been watched with utmost interest by producers and exhibitors. It came out in the testimony that Famous has some 12,000 contracts similar to that which Gleichman held. The first franchise held by Gleichman from Famous was signed in 1919, and provided that the Broadway Strand should be exclusively Paramount for five years. Gleichman was supposed to have his choice of Paramount product, it was alleged. The choice was to be made by mutual agreement. It was alleged that ah oral arrangement was made whereby the pictures of Elsie Ferguson, Tom Mcighan and Wallace Reid were to be exhibited in Kunsky theatres. The contract set forth that a booking agreement be entered into yearly setting forth the amount of rentals, and at the end of the third year Gleichman declined to pay $1,000 additional rental demanded for super-productions. Famous alleged that Gleichman was behind ifi payments and that his note was overdue. Testimony was introduced showing that Gleichman's only tender of payment was in the form of a check covering the note and endorsed to the effect that rentals would be paid according to an adjustment arrived at in New York ; " up-to-date theatre and will be given definite instruction by special experts in each branch of theatre activity. In addition to classroom instruction students will be taken into intimate contact with every phase of motion picture theatre operation and from time to time will be assigned to tasks in which they will be brought into contact with the actual details of theatre management. Among the subiects which will serve as bases for courses in the school will be the history of the development of the motion picture theatre, the inter-relation of production, distribution and exhibition ; the selection of advantageous sites, the various types of theatres, from the de luxe first run house to the neighborhood theatre ; theatre architecture and equipment, house service, the relation of the theatre to the, community, music, projection' and lighting, presentation and prologues, exploitation, advertising and publicity ; good-will building, programs and theatre accounting. REPORT ATTACKING HAYS REPUDIATED BY CHURCH BOARD COLUMBUS,' O., May "29:— Repudiation of an attack on Will H. Hays, president Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., for "condoning and defending" producers of "bad" motion pictures, issued by the Moral Welfare Department of the Board of Christian Education of the Presbyterian Church, was made by the board, through its president, Dr. Hugh Thompson Kerr. The attack was contained in a pamphlet by; Dr. Charles -Scanlon, head of the .department, for circulation at the General Assembly of the church. It charged that "hundreds of grossly immoral pictures are daily shown" by the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, and that "salacious books are being constantly filmed by these companies." Mr. Hays, who addressed the assembly on the $15,000,000 pension plan, read the pamphlet on his way to New York and promptly wired Dr. Kerr. He is reported to have said his work as head of the pension campaign would be handicapped seriouslyif the criticism were not disavowed. Dr. Kerr's statement said the board and Mr. Hays were working in "sympathetic cooperation" and there was no "conflict or misunderstanding" between them. Friends of Dr. Scanlon say he and Mr. Hays fell out on the censorship question. * # # BUCKLEY ELECTED TO UNITED ARTIST BOARD Hollywood, May 29. — Harry D\ 'Buckley, for the past two years acting general manager of the Duglas Fairbanks Pictures Corporation, was elected member of> board , of directors of United Artists Corporation here to take the place of Maurice G. Cleary, resigned. In addition to his directorial duties, Mr. Buckley will act as personal business representative for Douglas Fairbanks and Alary Pickfprd. Although his headquarters will be at United Artists Corporation home office, he will divide his time between New York and the West Coast. M.P.T.O.A. BOARD HOLDS CAMPAIGN MEETING JUNE 3-4 Full details of the Play-Date Bureau and the Department of Trade and Commerce will be laid before the board of directors of the M. P. T. O. A. at a meeting at the Hotel Roosevelt, New York City, June 3 and 4. Following approval of these steps to fight to save the independent exhibitor, details of the plan will be presented to every theatre owner in the country. The Play-Date Bureau, which is already functioning, will then assume its activities on a national scale. Meanwhile officials of the M. P. T. O. A. are mustering every play-date for independent product they can. The following appeal was issued : "Fellow Theatre Owner: "YOUR PLAY-DATES— Your greatest asset and the most essential thing for th,e producer and distributor, must be allotted most carefully so they will not be used against you. ■x "At the National Convention in Milwaukee, a Bureau of Trade and Commerce was formed to "promote business relations between the Independent Theatre Owner arid the Independent Producer and Distributor, because it is most apparent that there musj-. he mutual co-operation between, them if either is to survive. "It is the purpose of this Bureau to give to these 'Independents' — producers and distributor's who are not building and operating theatres in competition with their customers, the greatest possible number of play dtatfes. — 1 "For that purpose we drew up the en, dlose'd pledge' card for the mobilization of ,PLAYTDAT,ES for,Jh,e. Independents and by -i (J^Qtifinucd, an page 17) . WARNERS ACQUIRE FIVE THEATRES IN THE GAROLINAS Warner Brothers are becoming an active factor in theatre expansion. Warners have taken over two houses of the late H. P. Varner at Concord and Lexington, N. C, respectively; the R. D. Craven theatres, the Broadway and the Strand in Charlotte, N. C, and Columbia, S. C, respectively, and management of the Winston, Salem, N, C. , . . . Warners refuse to deny or affirm that they have acquired First National Franchises in six other Southern states'. Announcement of opening of an exchange in Charlotte was made by Warners. Warner Brothers have also built a theatre in Astoria, Oregon. This house, which will be opened June 1, will seat 750. In addition Warner Brothers have taken over the operation of the Rose theatre at Sumas, Washington. ' * * * "LEGACY" PRINT RECEIVED Print of "A Tragic Legacy," the second episode of "The Mystery Box," starring Ben W ilson and Neva Garber, has been received by the home office of the Davis Distributing 1 hvision.