Exhibitor's Trade Review (May-Aug 1925)

June 6, 1925 Page 19 POLICIES EXPLAINED AT CONFERENCE OF P. D. C. SALES FORCE First of three conferences of the sales force of Producers Distributing Corporation was held at the Hotel Commodore, New York City. Policies formulated by John C. Flinn as vice president and general manager, and F. C. Munroe, president, were put in effect. Mr: Munroe told the salesmen he was pleased with the progress of the company since its inception eighteen months ago. "We are honestly trying to furnish the very best in entertainment," Mr. Flinn told them, "and all that we ask is open and above-board competition. We are ready to meet this competition with the utmost confidence in the ultimate result." Explanation of a budget system devised by him was given by H. O. Duke. It's used as a guide in the allotment of quotas. It was also announced that a new corporation was being formed to handle foreign distribution. William Vogel will head this new corporation and offices will be opened at once in London for the direct distribution of the companv's releases throughout Great Britain. Other offices will be opened in Paris and Berlin. The convention was attended by seventy managers and bookers of the eastern branches, the company's executives and department heads including salesmen from the New York, Philadelphia and Boston territory and representatives of the producers contributing to the coming season's program. Among them were : F. C. Munroe, Raymond Pawley, John C. Flinn, H. O. Duke, L. W. Kniskern, G. M. Davidson, David R. Blyth, Joseph Burger, George Harvey, Charles J. Giegerich, Joseph O'Sullivan, W. F. Seymour, F. W. Wilstach, Charles R. Rogers, Carol Trowbridge, G. M. Dillon, Robert Mochrie, W. G. Humphries, G. A. Falkner, Mrs. A. H. Sessions, N. G. Shafer, L. J. Hacking, H. R. Olshan, R. J. Wolff, and F. L. Drumm. The second conference was held at the Congress Hotel in Chicago, May 29. This will be followed by the west coast convention held in San Francisco, June 3 and 4. Sfc ♦ ♦ COLUMBIA TO SHARE PROFITS WITH ITS SALARIED EMPLOYES HOLLYWOOD, May 29.— Salaried employes of Columbia Pictures Corporation will hereafter share in the profits of the organization as partners. This was determined at a conference at the Waldorf Studios of Joe Brandt, president, and Harry Cohn, vice president, who worked out the details of the plan. Jack Cohn, treasurer, by long distance phone from New York, approved the scheme. * * * WRITES MUSIC THEME Charles Wakefield Cadman has written a special rhapsody for "A Lover's Oath/' the first of the produce to be made by Astor Distributing Corporation. The composition is entitled "Omar Khayyam," -which is the theme of the photoplay, in which Ramon Novarro and Kathleen Key play the important roles. The composition was made at the request of Ferdinand P. Earle who adapted and directed the poem to the screen. * i * SIGNS ARCHAINB AUD AS DIRECTOR HOLLYWOOD, May 29.— George Archainbaud signed a contract with First National to direct "Joseph Greer And His Daughter," adapted by June Mathis from the novel by Henry Kitchell Webster. It will be made at United Studios. Pennsylvania Pledges Half of Play-Dates to Independent Releases PHILADELPHIA, May 29.— Fifty-three per cent of their play dates were pledged to Independent product for 1925-1926 by members of the M. P. T. O., of Eastern Pennsylvania at a meeting here. Seventy-five exhibitors were present at the meeting. Twenty-nine exhibitors were unprepared to tell how much time they had open. While many prominent exhibitors were there, most of those attending owned neighborhood houses. M. E. Comerford of Scranton was represented by Michael O'Toole. * * * BERGER REPORTS MANY SALES FOR GERSON PICTURES Following sales were reported by B. Berger, general manager for Gerson Pictures : To Celebrated Film Exchange, Minneapolis, franchise for North and South Dakota and Minnesota. This franchise includes the four Ora Carew pictures, and the series of ten Richard Holt productions, to be produced and distributed during 1925-6. To Mid-West Film Exchange of Milwaukee, the franchise for the series of ten Richard Holt productions for '[Wisconsin and Michigan. To H. Lieber and Company, Indianapolis, series of Richard Holt productions for Indiana. To Renown Pictures of Chicago the Richard Holt series for northern Illinois. Twelve Pathe pictures are listed in the current issue of the "Photoplay Guide to the Better Pictures" issued by the National Committee for Better Films. "Black Cyclone," Hal Roach feature starring Rex, the wild horse, receives honor listing. It is recommended for general, family and juvenile audiences. SCRIBNER'S HELPS F. N. IN EXPLOITING THE WHITE MONKEY' Associated Pictures Corporation arranged with Charles Scribner's Sons, publishers of "The White Monkey," for the most thorough exploitation these leading publishers have ever given a film version of one of their novels. The picturization of this John Galsworthy novel was recently completed as the third Sawyer-Lubin production featuring Barbara La Marr for First National release. Members of the Scribner firm who attended the private screening of "The White Monkey" enthused over the picture and congratulated Director Rosen on his strict adherence to the Galsworthy story. Whitney Darrow, of the Scribner firm, is sending a personal letter to its dealers, advising them a splendid motion picture has been made of "The White Monkey" that is certain to meet with the approval of its many thousand readers and will undoubtedly serve to increase public demand for the novel. Scribner's are also advising their dealers that the following free material is available for window displays upon application to Bert Ennis, Director of Publicity for Sawyer-Lubin productions : Broadside sheets 18 x 23" showing jacket of novel, photo of Barbara La Marr and information on novel and picture; photographs 11x14" of white monkey symbolic painting; photographs 8x10" showing Barbara La Marr and members of "The White Monkey" cast grouped about the symbolic painting of the white monkey; photographs 8x10" showing striking scenes from the motion picture. This furnishes material for window displays and is expected to be of great assistance to the exhibitor in exploitation on "The White Monkey," which is scheduled for release June 7. A sub-title contest has been devised for use in exploiting "The White Monkey" and has been incorporated in the press sheet. *4 X Hayes Hunter Product/on Gilbert E. Gable presents Sky raider with Jacqueline Logan and Capt. Nungesser (Worlds greatest living /Ice) From the romantic story 'J he Great Air Mail Robbery hy Jack Lait A positive clean-up at four Fox Theatres in New York. To date its record has been sensational. Associate d Exhibitors Physical Distributor . Pathe Exchange. In John S Woody, President Foreign Repres. ? Sidney Garrett