Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

March 20, 1920 EXHIBITORS HERALD 27 Professor Reinhardt To Write For Screen New York Theatrical Men To Control Rights To Central Europe Productions BERLIN, March 9.— A gigantic deal, which gives a group of New York theatrical men the world rights for ten years for all central European stage and literary productions, has just been closed here. It will take to America the world's greatest operetta composers. A list of notable men and women in the central European theatrical world, headed by Professor Reinhardt, German theatrical wizard, have been signed up at princely salaries and royalties to go to New York, where they not only are to produce and direct in person their already completed works, but everything they will create within the next decade. Professor Reinhardt, it is announced, has contracted to produce four plays in three films. It is said he will open in America next Christmas Day with a super-miracle play. Among other works he will produce "Danton." Among the composers signed up are: Oscar Strauss, of "Chocolate Soldier" and "Waltz Dream" fame. Franz Lehar, king of the Viennese operetta composers, who is known in Vienna as "the master." and who composed "The Merry Widow," "Alone at Last," "Gypsy Love," and many other works of world-wide fame. Jean Gilbert, composer of "The Girl in the Taxi" and "The Queen of the Movies." Leo Fall, who composed "The Dollar Princess." Walter Kollo, of "Maytime" fame. Presbyterians Will Issue "White Lists' Of Motion Pictures NEW YORK, March 9.— Reform of motion pictures is planned by the Presbyterian board of temperance and moral welfare, which has announced that a "white list" of approved pictures would be issued from time to time in an effort to condemn pictures characterized as a menace to child welfare and a cause of juvenile delinquency. Rev. Walter A. Henricks of Portsmouth, Va., has been appointed to take charge of this work. "We do not intend to crusade widely against motion pictures," said Dr. Charles Scanlon, general secretary of the Presbyterian board. "They are an established force and our aim will be to make them more of a power for good and by a campaign or education and activity remove their evil features and tendencies." Roth Covering West (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 9.— Max Roth, general manager of the Sol Lesser Enterprises, has started on a flying trip of the west in the interests of Special Pictures Corporation. His eastern terminus will be Chicago by way of New Orleans. Maeterlinck at Work Maurice Maeterlinck, recently contracted to write one story each year for Goldwyn production, has gone into seclusion at Santa Monica, declining all social engagements, to work upon his first composition. Five Independent Producers Will Fight High Cost of Production Sam E. Rorke and Louis B. Mayer Included in New Corporation Which Is Expected to Greatly Reduce Overhead in Making Pictures ^Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 9.— With the idea of slashing the high cost of pictures, five of the best known of the independent producers have decided to band together for the purpose of making pictures at a lower expense. Each producer keeps his organization intact but the members will work under one roof and will have one set of business headquarters and one set of auditing and publicity offices. These offices and headquarters will be in New York. The organization will have no effect on the respective releases of the companies. List of Members Is Announced The producers who have taken this step are : A. J. CALLAGHAN, Bessie Love Productions. SAM E. RORKE, Katherine MacDonald Productions. LOUIS B. MAYER, who has Mildred Harris Chaplin and Anita Stewart as his stars. SAMUELSON, LTD., of LONDON, who has Madge Tetheridge, Peggy Hyland, and others as his stars. D. N. SCHWAB; head of the David Butler Company. King Vidor and Allen Holubar were mentioned as possible additions to the list. William Parker, Vidor' s manager, denied the report flatly, however, as did Al Kaufman, who is backing Holubar. Associated with the organization is also Harry Leonhardt, formerly with Goldwyn and lately manager of the California theatre. Important Steps Coming Callaghan is about to sign up a wellknown male star, it is stated. The organization will involve the activities of some twelve leading stars. One of the plans of the organization is the securing or building of a studio, ■so that all companies may be housed under one roof. This will be a tremendous saving of expense in production, as regards properties, laboratories, costumes, certain local offices and other particulars. Decision To Be Made Soon As soon as possible, the various members of the new corporation will decide on their plans in regard to it. It is the plan of each company to secure the best stories available and to give every detail of production its proper value. Each will have entire freedom in the purchasing of stories and the hiring of casts. However, all requisitions for -.upplies and properties will come through one head. This is the first organization of its kind ever formed in the film world and if it proves successful, it is expected similar companies will be formed, or others added to this one. Reports Say Griffith Will Return To Coast (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES. March 9.— David Wark Griffith will bring his players to the coast to resume production within thirty days, according to reports received here. Fire Destroys Rialto (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. PAUL, MINN., March 9— A stubborn fire of spectacular proportions, which threatened to spread to three small hotels, destroyed the Rialto theatre here on March 5. Labor Protest Expected to Kill Daylight Saving Plan in Chicago Delay that will probably defeat for the present year at least the daylight saving ordinance now pending before the city council of Chicago was caused by the ultimatum delivered to the council March 5 by officials of the Chicago Federation of Labor that members of organized labor will not set their clocks ahead, regardless of any ordinance passed by the city council. After hearing from John Fitzpatrick, Edward N. Nockels and other labor leaders, the council judiciary committee reversed its previous action recommending the ordinance and voted to ask its return to the committee for further consideration. As the ordinance provides for setting Chicago clocks ahead an hour on March 29, action by the council returning the measure to the committee would make it impossible to put the ordinance into effect on that date. Chicago exhibitors are jubilant over the unexpected turn in the situation. It is estimated that daylight saving would reduce theatre receipts in the city and immediate suburbs by hundreds of thousands of dollars in the six months.