Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

32 EXHIBITORS II ERA L J) March 20, 1920 Garsson Announces Territorial Sales For Picture "A Dream of Fair Women M. W. Garsson of the Foundation Film Corporation states that since his announcement that "A Dream of Fair Women" would be distributed on the state right basis he has received inquiries from all parts of the country. Several territories already have been disposed of, according to the distributor. Mr. Lightman of Criterion Film Service, Atlanta, Ga., has purchased the rights for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. Foreign Rights Sold The rights for India, Indo Ctfina, Malay Peninsula, Straight Settlements, Burma and Spain have been acquired by Mr. Clark of David P. Howell, foreign buyer. . "A Dream of Fair Women is the fame and fortune contest picture promoted by several fan magazines. The girls presented in the picture were selected from nearly 75,000 entrants. From this number the most beautiful girls were given an opportunity to display their talents before the camera. Four In Principal Roles Blanche McGarity, Virginia Brown, Anita Booth and Anetha Getwell portray the most important roles in the production. "A Dream of Fair Women is a pictorial version of Tennyson's famous poem. Speaking of the picture, Mr. Garsson says: "Many first-class pictures that should prove highly successful fail every year because of the fact that they do not lend themselves to proper exploitation. In "A Dream of Fair Women," the exploitation possibilities are unlimited. Enough interest already has been created throughout the country to insure the success of the picture, if for no other reason than the publicity it has STEPHEN ALLEN REYNOLDS Author, globe-trotter, soldier, sailor, explorer, miner and adventurer, the aiost reeent addition to the William Fox scenario staff in California. received through the fan magazines which conducted the contest. Go Ahead With Advertising "But we are going ahead just as if it had never before been mentioned. Every possible publicity and exploitation angle that lends itself to the picture will be carried out. "We expect no difficulty in disposing of the picture and we have no doubt whatsoever of its success from a financial standpoint of the independent distributor and the exhibitor." National Inaugurates Council of Directors Under a new ruling adopted by the National Film Corp. of America a studio council, composed of a member of the board of directors and all the unit directors, will pass upon all vital phases of production. The meeting of the council, which will be informal, will be presided over by I. Bernstein, production manager of the National studios. The first meeting, which was to pass upon "The Kentucky Colonel," resulted in a vote of approval. File Incorporation Papers EVANS VTLLE, IND. — The Standard Realty Company has filed incorporation papers. Capitalized at $100,000, the concern will build a modern motion picture playhouse. In answer to an inquiry regarding the report that United Artists Corporation now is accepting contracts on its productions without insisting on a percentage arrangement, Hiram Abrams states .that the company is as firmly convinced as ever of the equity and fairness of percentage. In accepting contracts from exhibitors without the percentage arrangement, he announces that he simply is making it possible for theatres to show the "Big Four" pictures who are not convinced that a percentage plan is to their best interests. "Some time ago I stated that we are headed for straight percentage, and I am more convinced than ever that the whole motion picture business will be on that basis before long. Forward Movement Opposed "At that time I pointed out that forward movements in the industry had been opposed from the beginning by certain factions among exhibitors who did not realize that they were fighting against their own best interests, and you can put down as an absolute forecast of fact that in not so remote a future the same men who are today opposing percentage will turn down a booking offer of a flat rental and demand percentage. "We are playing percentage engagements all over the country. We shall do all in our power to encourage percentage, and our entire organization is being built with an eye to the day when straight percentage will be in full force. Exhibitor Must Lose "If, however, an exhibitor is not convinced that he will benefit by the per Pettijohn Declines Secretaryship Offer Of Franklin K. Lane Announcement is made that Charles C. Pettijohn, vice president of the Selznick Enterprises, has declined the offer of the secretaryship of the committee on Americanism offered him by former Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane, but that he would do if necessary any of the detail work needed for the progress of the committee. The vacancy on the committee was caused by the death of Major Pullman of Washington. Although Mr. Pettijohn appreciated the honor of Mr. Lane's offer, he expressed the opinion, in his reply to Mr. Lane, that the Selznick Enterprises were well represented in the Americanism movement by Lewis J. Selznick, who is chairman of the committee on distribution of films. Money Values Causes Briton To Leave U. S. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 9.— Because of the loss of capital in converting English pounds into American dollars, G. B. Samuelson, the English film magnate who has been producing at Universal City, leaves April 1 to take his organization back to London. Baptists Vote Opposition KNOXVILLE. TENN.— The congregation at the Smithwood Baptist church has voted unanimously as opposed to Sunday motion pictures. centage method, if he wantsto take the entire risk of an engagement himself, if he is going to be satisfied with the limitations of flat rental, if he is going to let the real showmen exploit and profit all around him on the percentage basis while he takes the older method with a 'good enough for me' attitude, that will have to be his loss. "If he wants to play our pictures that way, we'll let him, because, though he is the equal beneficiary under the percentage plan, if he will not take the extra profits, it is not for us to go against his will in the matter. To Receive Encouragement "An increasing number of theatres are playing our pictures on a percentage basis, and they will receive every encouragement, for I really believe that the future development of motion picture exhibition is in the hands of the men who are sure enough of their own ability as showmen to go out and get the bigger profits that come to initiative and theatrical genius. '.The best argument for percentage is the exhibitor who has played it." National Film Will Enlarge Laboratory LOS ANGELES.— The National Film Corporation of America will enlarge its laboratory at Hollywood in order to handle the extra footage involved in developing and printing the output of the three Marion H. Kohn Productions units. Abrams, Convinced Percentage Is Fairest, To Let Exhibitor Choose