Exhibitor's Trade Review (May-Aug 1925)

Page 18 Exhibitors Trade Review WARNER BROS. OFFER members urged to support BOOKING FRANCHISES MpT °ABY treasurer FOR 3 TO 10 YEARS Warner Brothers will offer their product by franchises to exhibitors on a two to ten year plan. This new policy is a result of the Warner sales convention in Los Angeles. It was announced by Harry M. Warner on his return to New York City. While details are withheld, Mr. Warner said the franchises would be offered on an equitable basis. Mr. Warner explained: ''This franchise, which is virtually an option on Warner product for successive years, gives the exhibitor the protection and security of knowing he need no longer be forced against the wall because he lacks the product to keep his theatre open and do business profitably. "We have decided to franchise our product to all exhibitors, whether big or small, for any period from two to ten years. "Regardless of what other product an exhibitor wishes to book for his house, he is safe in the knowledge that through the Warner franchise, he has the opportunity to expand, and keep right on growing. "From the very inception of our organization, which, until a month ago, was limited to production and distribution through the state right plan, we have striven to work with the exhibitor and for the exhibitor, retaining our independence and thereby enabling showmen to retain theirs." %i % s|c SAX CLOSES TERRITORIES FOR 12 GOTHAM PRODUCTIONS Sam Sax closed important territory for distribution of next season's twelve Gotham Productions. Capital Film Exchange will take over the new pictures for Greater New York and Northern New Jersey. Jack Grauman of the Celebrated Players, Milwaukee, will handle the features for his state. The productions in these deals are: "The Overland Limited," "A Little Girl in a Big City," "The Police Patrol," "The Part Time Wife," "His Master's Voice," "Racing Blood," "Hearts and Spangles," "One of the Bravest," "The Shadow on the Wall," "The Sign of the Claw," "The Forest of Destiny," and "The Speed Limit." * * * CHAPLIN WINS INJUNCTION LOS ANGELES, May 29.— Charlie Chaplin won a partial victory over Charles Amador, also known as "Aplin," when Superior Judge J. L. Hudner handed down an order restraining the latter from using the "Chaplin characterization." Amador was forbidden in the injunction from using Chaplin's style of acting in any manner calculated to deceive the public into thinking it beheld Chaplin on the screen. Deceptive advertising and the name "Aplin" were also tabooed in the decision. * * * EASTERN PRODUCER TO HOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD, May 29.— Florida and the East loses another producer to California with arrival here of Henry Hobart, president of the Distinctive Pictures Corporation of New York. He is here as the guest of Arthur F. Beck to arrange for the filming of the future pictures of his organization/ at a studio here. * * * ASHER BUYS MELODRAMA E. M. Asher, of Faultless Pictures Corporation, and Sol Lesser, have purchased the film rights to the famous Drury Lane melodrama, "Good Luck." Complete support by members of M. P. T. O. A. is urged in the following letter by L. M. Segal, treasurer: "Fellow Theatre Owner:" "ORGANIZATION received its greatest endorsement at Milwaukee. There exhibitor leaders realized that only through a united, nationally organized body could we protect ourselves. "Then it follows — SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION! "That is the purpose of this letter. We will be brief about it. "Our new fiscal year commences June 1. We must have funds immediately to carry out the program of definite business plans voted by the delegates at the Milwaukee Convention. Will you co-operate by promptly paying dues for each theatre you own and operate, as per the attached schedule* "The newly elected Board of Directors meets in New York the week of June 1st. It would be very encouraging if I could tell them you had paid your dues. They have a busy year ahead of them. Their job is a big one — protecting and safeguarding you and me. You want results and relief. Then help them by paying your dues NOW. You cannot run your business without money. The ORGANIZATION cannot function without your dues. Do not hamper your Directors through lack of funds. They have enough to do without bothering about dues. "We need a paid Business Manager to MAX ASCHER BOOKS 24 FROM UNIVERSAL FOR CHICAGO CHAIN Carl Laemmle, president o fthe Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., announces that L. W. Alexander, manager of the Chicago exchange has just consummated with Ascher Brothers of Chicago, one of the lareest deals for service ever completed in the entire country. Max Ascher, president, carried on the negotiations with Alexander for Ascher Brothers. The contract calls for two pictures a month as released. The contract also places the International Newsreel in all the Ascher houses, and six of Universale fast-moving serials in the majority of the houses. The Ascher houses that will play this line-up of Universal jewels include: The Calo, Chatean, Columbus, Commercial, Cosmopolitan, Crown, Forest Park, Frolic, Lane Court, Metropolitan, Oakland Square, Partage Park, Terminal, Vista and West Englewood. Alexander recently closed a deal with E. Stern, general manager, Lubliner & Trinz circuit, now under the control of Balaban & Katz, for practically this same lineup of pictures for the following first-run houses : Senate, Harding, Pantheon, Tower, Rockwell, Biograph, Covent Garden, Crawford, Pershing, Wilson, Ellantee, Knickerbocker, Lakeside, Vitagraph, Windsor, Dearborn, Michigan, Oak Park, Paramount, Logan Square, West End, Madison Square, State and Tower. * * * LEASES STUDIO M. S. Epstein, general manager of the Cosmopolitan Studio, has rented the studio to the Producers and Distributors Corporation. S. E. V. Taylor is now at work on "The Miracle of Life" at this studio. * * * ROACH SEEKS NEW PLAYERS Hal Roach, comedy producer, arrived in New York from the West Coast to seek additional beauty talent for his company of screen players at the Culver City Studios. give you practical service and he must have enough human units to carry out the work. BUT WE MUST HAVE THE MONEY FIRST. "The only income we have is DUES. The money the producers and distributors are contributing is for the Bureau of Trade and Commerce alone, and no part of it goes to the support of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Am'erica. That is up to you. "DUES are the premium on your business insurance and you must pay them in order to have this insurance. If a fire comes along and you haven't paid your insurance premium, you are wiped out. Without organization — your business insurance — your investments are in danger. Protect them by paying your dues. "Don't be a backslider. Don't let the other fellow 'carry you.' Pay your dues to the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America NOW. You must have a properly financed National Organization and the better financed it is, the more help it will be to you. "As your National Treasurer, I ask you personally to give me your cooperation in making this the banner year for our Organization in the way of dues collections and service to you. "Yours for results, "L. M. SAGAL, "Treasurer." GOLDBURG RETURNS TO COAST TO DIRECT STUDIO ACTIVITIES Jesse J. Goldburg, president of Independent Pictures Corporation, who returned to his New York office last week for a brief conference with the heads of the various departments, has left for his West Coast studios, where he will remain several months. Mr. Goldburg who supervises the productions made by his company, announced that complete plans for a series of Big Timber titles of these productions are : "Lightnin* Strikes," by Ralph Baum ; "The Forest King," by Selwyn; "His Master's Voice," by Adele Buffington ; "Flaming Timber," by Adele Buffiington; "The Danger Call," by Charles Pinkerton; "Pal O' The Deadwood," by George Wise; "Silent Hero," by Edith and Thomas Long and "Crimson Fangs," by George Hayward. William J. Craft, who is now directing the Bob Custer series of Texas Ranger stories for Independent, released through F. B. O., will take over the direction of the Big Timber stories. * * * F. & R. BUYS "OZ" F. & R. Film Company has acquired distribution rights to "The Wizard of Oz" for North and South Dakota and Minnesota from Chadwick Pictures Corporation. * * ^ CURRAN WITH CHADWICK Bar'ry Curran succeeds Lon Young in the publicity department of Chadwick Pictures Corporation. Young is now with Lamas Film Corporation. * * * 7,000 BOOKINGS FOR Mac LEAN "Going Up," the first of the series of Douglas MacLean comedies to be released through Associated Exhibitors, has passed 7000 bookings in two seasons since its release. * * * ASSOCIATED ISSUES ORGAN Associated Exhibitors News, a weekly information clip-sheet, is now being issued. Ed Hurley is editor. A special house organ edition, with insert pages bearing home office and branch news, is sent to all exchanges and representatives in the field.