Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1924 - Feb 1925)

Page 108 Exhibitors Trade Review Poor Colleen Moore, First National star, is standing on the outside looking in at the Christmas toys. She expects Santa to be good to her after she finishes playing the lead in "So Big," in which picture she has the greatest opporounity of her career. First National Gets "Quo Vadis" RICHARD A. ROWLAND, general manager of First National Pictures, Inc., announced upon his return Monday from six weeks spent in Europe, that he had obtained the American and Australian rights to the new and elaborate film version of Sienkiewicz's great novel "Quo Vadis", which the Unione Cinematagraphica Italiana has just completed with Emil Jannings in the favored role. Mr. Rowland was accompanied on his trip by Sam Katz, a member of the executive committee of First National and of Balaban & Katz, Chicago exhibitors. They purchased the new version of "Quo Vadis" while in Italy and brought a negative back with them. The big Italian producing company has been at work on "Quo Vadis" for the past two years. It is in twelve reels and has been made on a most elaborate scale, much bigger in every respect than the original version, which was the first motion picture ever shown in a legitimate theatre in America at regular theatre prices, and which was considered the film marvel of its day. It was shown in 1912 at the Astor Theatre, New York, at the $2 top scale of admission, and enjoyed a long and successful run there. The same producing concern made the earlier version of "Quo Vadis". Emil Jannings, who has the featured role in the new picture is famous for his work in "Deception" and other big German films which have been shown in this country. In the cast with him are several of Europe's most famous screen players. Mr. Rowland and Mr. Katz believe that they have obtained in the new version of "Quo Vadis" a most unusual and valuable piece of motion picture property for First National distribution. Jtc ^ * MEETING OF ALBANY ZONE JANUARY 6 All motion picture exhibitors in the Albany zone will meet in that city on January 6, according to arrangements just perfected by officers of the newly organized Albany Zone Committee. There are about 300 exhibitors in the territory and each and every one will receive an invitation to attend the coming meeting. According to plans now being formulated, the question of the fight which will be staged against motion picture censorship in this state will be fully discussed and suggestions from exhibitors in the field will be welcomed. It is expected that the new headquarters of the state association being moved from New York City to Albany and which will be located on the second floor of the Mark Strand building, will be in shape to open at that time and used as a place of meeting. Incidentally, all exhibitors in this territory, who may be in Albany for the day are to be urged to make the headquarters of the state association their headquarters. SYDNEY KENT RETURNS FROM EUROPE Sydney R. Kent, general salesmanager of Famous Players returned from a European trip on December 15. While abroad he studied the picture business from both a producing and presentation angle. While in Paris he m^ade an offer to finance a committee of French authorities to come to this country to study our markets and it is likely that his proposition will be accepted. Mr. Kent found so much work piled up on his desk, on his return that he did not have time to make any statement except to say that Europe is fine but the United States is finer. Universal Offers $5,000 Prizes As an encouragement to exhibitors who exploit serials, Carl Laemmle, president of the Universal Pictures Corporation, has arranged to give $5000 in prizes during a twentyweek serial exploitation contest, just announced. The Universal chief will give $250 a week in prizes to exhibitors who do their best work in selling Universal serials to their respective publics. The weekly prize will be in the form of a first prize of $100, a second prize of $50, and a third prize of $25, a fourth of $15, and six honorable mention prizes of $10 each. The contest will begin the week of January 12th and end May 30th. The prizes will go to exhibitors exploiting any of the five 'recent Universal serials, "The Ghost City", "The Steel Trail", "Beasts of Paradise", "The Iron Man', and "The Fast Express". "The present contest," says Fred McConnell, "will consider any form of exploitation. The first prize winner may be a novel lobby display or it may be a first rate newspaper campaign. Again it may be a novel ballyhoo. It is interesting to note that the prizes will in many instances pay for the film rental and for the advertising campaign. Who says there is no Santa Claus? Here is Wanda Wiley, Century Comedy star, doubling for the rubicund saint himself. No wonder folks sit up late Christmas eve. Wouldn't you? We would. Century Comedies are released through Universal.