Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

44 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 7, 1925 Tom Mix Entertains Natives of Latin Countries at Banquet Fox Film Star Cements Friendly Relations — Chadwick Enters Western Production Field With Many Stars By HARRY HAMMOND BEALL Hollywood, February 24. — Tom Mix and the William Fox Film company played host to a large group of natives of Mexico, Cuba, Spain, Panama and other Latin countries in a banquet in the Hollywood Montmarte cafe for the purpose of welding a closer friendship between the natives of these countries and the American film company. It developed during the banquet that charges that Mexican publications had stated the American motion picture industry showed the people of Mexico in an unfavorable light in films was without foundation. Ned MARIN of New York, sales director of Universal Film Exchange, Fred Gage of San Francisco, western division manager, and C. A. Nathan, manager of the San Francisco branch, here for a sales conference, were entertained at a luncheon in Hotel Ambassador last week by Carl Laemmle, president of Universal. * * * Universal will make a picture, “The Roofs of New York,” with Prince Youcca Troubetzkoy, recently signed by Car! Laemmle, as the featured player, in the east, according to an announcement this week. The photoplay will reopen the Fort Lee studio, in which few pictures have been made in recent years. * * B. P. SCHULBERG will spend $2,800,000 in Los Angeles on his 1925-1926 motion picture program, it is announced. jK ji? John Brownell, eastern scenario head for F. B. O., is on his way back to New York after an extended visit to the coast offices. * * * John Golden, William Fox and John Ford have been in conference this past week on “Lightnin’,” which Ford will direct for Fox from the Golden stage play. * * * Priscilla Dean, Brandon Hurst and other Hollywood players have taken over the Majestic Theatre, a stock house here. * * =!; Carl Laemmle was host Wednesday at an Ambassador luncheon, after which “The Phantom of the Opera” was shown to a selected audience of production and theatre executives and press representatives. * * * PoLA Negri will sail on March 21 for a three weeks’ tour in Europe, during which she will visit her old home in Poland and make brief visits in Berlin and Paris. * * H- 1. E. Chadwick, an independent producer, announced at a luncheon in the Ambassador hotel last week that he has completed arrangements to enter the western production field with Charles Ray, Theda Bara, Lionel Barrymore, Larry Semon and George Walsh. Hitherto Chadwick has maintained headquarters in the east. * ♦ sK “The Golden Cocoon,” a best seller, will be the next picture Millard Webb will make for Warner Brothers. Webb recently returned from a honeymoon. * * ^ Pierre Artigue, former newspaper artist. has filed a court action against Paul Grimm and Paul Cosgrove, artists employed by Warner Brothers, seeking to have them restrained from using a photography process known as “glass work, X” which the complainant asserts is patented. * * * Belle Bennet will give up motion picture work temporarily next May to star in “Have a Chance,” Blanche Upright’s play to be staged in the Majestic Theatre, Los Angeles. * * * Cl.arence Brown announces the cast for “The Goose Woman,” his next production for Universal, to include Louise Dresser, Jack Pickford, Constance Bennett, George Nichols, G. von Seyfertitz, George Cooper and James O. Barrows. The story is from Rex Beach’s novelette. * * The West Coast, Los Angeles’ newest pretentious theatre, to seat 2,000, at Washington Street and Vermont Avenue, will be ready for opening in eight or nine weeks, according to officials of West Coast Theatres. * * * Pauline Starke has signed a long-term contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, according to an announcement by Louis B. Mayer. * * * Wanda Wiley, Century film comedienne, suffered severe injuries to her head and back when she fell off a speeding motorcycle in filming a picture. She will be in bed for a month, says her physician. Exploitation Keynote of March Convention of Midwest Managers Conventions of the Midwest Managers Association, which are held in Chicago every six weeks, are more than mere gatherings; they are, in fact, schools of showmanship. Some important phase of theatre operation is analyzed at each session, with each member discussing his own ways and means toward betterment. At the next meeting, to be held at the Hotel Sherman on March 30 and March 31, exploitation will be the topic for consideration. Sample campaigns will be presented by each member. As an added attraction, an exploitation representative from one of the larger companies will attend. AttenT ing the meeting, whch was held in Chicago on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17, were: Ace Berry, Indianapolis; Harold Finkelstein and Clem Murphy, Finkelstein & Ruben interests, Minneapolis; Howard Pierce and’ Thomas D. Moule, Kunsky interests, Detroit; Harry Watts and Arthur Stolte, Blank enterprises; Fred Desberg, Cleveland; Eddie Weisfeldt, Sax company, Milwaukee; William Clarke, Cincinnati, and Tom Ealand, Grand Rapids, Mich. The Way It Works Following is a description of First National's “Buy-by-Mail” plan : An exhibitor in a small town received two lists of pictures, each containing about 40 pictures. A standardized price for the pictures in each list is assigned to that exhibitor. For instance : The exhibitor can pick from either Group A or Croup B, or he can pick from both groups. By purchasing 15 pictures or more he gets the lowest price. For example: 8 pictures, Group B, at $7.50 each — $ 60.00 8 pictures. Group A, at $12.50 each 100.00 Total $160.00 Average price per picture $ 10.00 The contract, when signed by the exhibitor, is automatically approved, thus eliminating approval by the New York office. First National Adopts New Sales Proposition for the Small Towns (Continued from page 35) First National. Thus the exhibitor knows that when he accepts the buy-by-mail proposition and orders pictures accordingly^ to it, he has an accepted contract and that his dates go into effect. With the circulars also will be found advertising order blank and free trailer service blank. All should be filled out at once, thus completing the entire deal, avoiding long waits for approved contracts, and all uncertainties. “As to whether this plan becomes a national selling system with First National depends entirely on the exhibitors in small towns,” explained Brumberg. “Our home office gladly gave us permission to test ft out in the Chicago district. I am hoping that we have taken a step which may go a long way toward solving one of the big problems of film distribution — economical selling in small towns, with lower prices.” This publication will be glad to receive expressions from exhibitors as to what they think of this idea. Censor Bill Would Bar Mix, Hart and Slapstick (Special From M. & K.) CHARLESTON, W. VA., Feb. 24.— An eccentric form of censorship bill was proposed here last week by Eli F. Roberts and Senator Yoho, of the second district, which would not only rigidly suppress the display of weapons and artistic dancing on the screen but would also bar William S. Hart and Tom Mix from appearing in the state and suppress all comedies where slapstick offered a view of a hospital or jail. Smoking, cardplaying and scenes portraying the violation of any law would be prohibited. Of course, it is held to be too radical a measure to get through the legislature. Owner Says to Beware of Immoral Pictures (Special to Exhibitors Herald) EL PASO, TEX., Feb. 24.— Sex pictures are most harmful to children, but are also injurious to adults, W. E. Paschall, manager of the Palace and Elanay theatres here, declared when he addressed the Parent Teachers Association last week. He advised that the children be kept at home during such shows ; and that immoral pictures should not be shown. Prince Youcca Troubetzkoy