Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

January 10, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 31 Germans Seeking Stringent Regulations on Film Imports Louis B. Mayer Warns American Producers to Watch Their Step or Foreign Companies Will Out-Distance Them — Sees Remarkable Strides Abroad {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, December 30. — German producers are taking a new inventory of the film situation in their country and just what will result, as it effects the American industry, is problematical. Louis B. Mayer, vice-president in charge of production for MetroGoldwyn-Mayer, just back from abroad, warns that Americans must beware for “German producers in particular have been improving their own product” and “are learning to do their pictures so remai'kably well that we Americans can learn something from them.” Commercial Attache Reports Agitation Among Producers That the Germans are concerned and seeking some protection for their own product is the word sent to the department of commerce at Washington by Commercial Attache C. E. Herring at Berlin, who declares that agitation has been created for more stringent regulations governing film imports. Fe€5d 'Elm and Fool 'Elm Says This Exhibitor (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., Dec. SO.— E. F. Gaylord, proprietor of Amusement Hall at Cranberry Lake, N. Y., has a rather novel way of handling both his theatre and his lunch room on the Boor below. Mr. Gaylord caters mainly to woodsmen during the winter months. His house seats about 200. He runs his own machine and at the end of each reel, uses a slide which announces that there will be a minute's interval while reels are being changed. Nearly everyone files out going down the stairs info the restaurant for a cigarette ot a sandwich. Mr. Gaylord takci his time in changing the reels, then stamps on the Boor, calling out that the show will go on, and the crowd troops back. The idea seems to be working out well, for both the theatre and the restaurant are paying. Kleine Sues Ritz for $20,000 Alleged Pay (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Dec. 30. — George Kleine, through his attorney, William M. Seabury, has filed suit against Ritz-Carlton Pictures and J. D. Williams for $20,300 alleged to be due Kleine in unpaid salary. According to papers filed, Kleine claims $9,500 due for service at $500 a week from September 24, 1923, to February 3, 1924, and $10,800 for service at $600 a week from February 3, 1924, to June 7, 1924. Mr. Williams’ only comment on the suit was : “Let both sides tell their stories to the judge and let him decide.’’ Stanley Company Plans $2,000,000 Playhouse (Special to Exhibitors Herald) PHILADELPHIA, PA., Dec. 30. — A new theatre to be built at an approximate cost of $2,000,000, including the price of the ground, has been negotiated here, according to the announcement of Jules E. Mastbaum, president of the Stanley Company of America. It will be devoted to Keith vaudeville and Stanley photoplays. Paramount Theatre Is Burned in Salt Lake (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, Dec. 30.— The Paramount theatre and several other business buildings were destroyed by fire early Christmas morning. The total damage was estimated at $250,000. To Be Sold at Auction (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., Dec. 30. — According to W. W. Parley, president of Farash Theatres, Inc., of Schenectady, application will be made to Judge Nichols in supreme court, on January 10, for a court order directing the sale of the State theatre in Schenectady, under the hammer. The commerce report says: “The German film industry is now engaged in a controversy concerning the number of foreign films which should be shown annually. At present about 100 pictures are produced inside the country and from two to three times as many foreign films are imported. The German market can take care of about 400 productions a year. “Last year it is claimed that about 480 films of all sorts were shown. Some of these for only very brief periods. It is claimed by film importers that at least 600 high class American films which can be suitably shown to German audiences are available each year. At the present rate of importation a little less than half this number are actually exhibited. Would Abolish Contingent “The German producing companies are agitating for more stringent regulations of film imports and for the abolition of the present contingent system, under which the distributors are placed in a very strong position since they are able to demand a heavy sum from importers before placing a foreign film upon their list. In some cases it is claimed that as much as $5,000 to $6,000 must be paid to the distributor in order that he allow an American film to be syndicated under his direction. This sum sometimes exceeds the total royalty which the importer receives and wipes out all his profits. “Exhibitors are also dissatisfied with the contingent system because it is similar to the block-booking practices elsewhere and forces them to accept programs as a unit without the opportunity of making special arrangements for particular films which they may desire to introduce on their own account. The producing companies are also dissatisfied because they hope to secure a larger share of the business for German products. They will, however, have to greatly raise the standard of their products before they can hope to get a greater share of the business than they are now obtaining. “The producing companies have arranged a tentative program which is to be brought up before a general meeting of the film industry in a short time. Under this program it is hoped to arrange a fixed ratio between foreign and domestic films which will be good for at least two years.” “Can’t Be Too Confident” In discussing the foreign situation further, Mr. Mayer said that he wanted “to tell the American industry that if we don’t watch our step the Germans will outdistance us.” “We have persuaded ourselves for so long that our domination of the picture industry is unassailable, that many American film men are not going to heed this warning,” said Mr. Mayer. “Too many won’t believe it because they do not want to believe it. That is like the ostrich hiding his head in the sand. “While American producers, always confident of their supremacy, have been going ahead under the mistaken impression that anything, as long as it is of American make, can be sold abroad, German producers in particular have been improving their own product. As a matter of fact, continental producers are learning to do their pictures so remarkably well that we Americans can learn something from them. “Foreign producers are ‘on their toes’ at present, anxious to break into the American market. In the past it has been only the fact that their product generally was inferior to our own, which prevented this. But they have improved immeasurably. “It is not, however, the American market that American producers have so much reason to be apprehensive about, but the world market, for as years go on that obviously is going to become more and more important. There is no certainty that American pictures are going to continue to dominate that market.” Obenchain Weds Co-ed The wedding last week of Ralph Riley Obenchain, Evanston attorney and former husband of Madalyne Conner Obenchain, came as a surprise to many readers of his past experiences when he took part a few years ago in the defense of his wife in the J. Belton Kennedy murder trial in California. Since then Obenchain has become the owner of two Evanston theatres. His bride is a co-ed of Northwestern University.