Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

March 21, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 21 $158,000 Damage Suit Filed as Aftermath of Star Tour Washburn Takes Action Because of Appearance of Name in Stories Relating Arrest of Players in Iowa — Cosmic Is Made Defendant If the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors Association plans to take action in the case of Cosmic Production Corporation and the twelve stranded actors, it has not up to this time disclosed its hand. No information has been forthcoming from the office of Will H. Hays in New York. Attaches of the office said that they had nothing to say and that they knew nothing about the case only what they had read in the papers. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) DES MOINES, lA., March 10. — Abandonment of the triumphal tour of twelve Hollywood stars following the arrest of members of the troupe here last Thursday in no way spelled “finis” for Bryant Washburn, Mrs. Elsie Schlueb of San Francisco, and Raymond Morgan of Fort Worth, have filed three damage suits in district court here aggregating $158,000. Cosmic Production Corporation and H. A. DeVoe, sponsors of the pilgrimage, are made defendants. Suits Based on Stories Relating Arrest of Players Washburn is asking $150,000 because of the appearance of his name in newspaper stories relating the arrest of members of the troupe. Those taken into custody were Cullen Landis, Anna May Wong, Ena Gregory, Jack Dougherty and Harry Tigh. Their arrest was made by Des Moines police upon the receipt of warrants sworn out by the Hotel Fontenelle, Omaha, charging them with attempting to defraud the hotel out of $227 for accommodations. Fox Re-Names Hale’s Historic Story NEW YORK, March 10.— The Fox play, “The Man Without a Country," has become “As No Man Has Loved.” The change in title was caused by the reappearance, Fox explains, of a version of the same story which was made several years ago by another company. The recent picture which is running at the Central theatre has attracted such comment and has drawn such crowds that it is feared the same picture will suffer heavy losses unless a distinction is made in the name. The title chosen was selected from suggestions in a contest at Springheld, Mass., at the time of a prerelease showing several months ago. 400 Theatres in Booking Combine; Steffes Organizer (Special to Exhibitors Herald) MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., March 10. — A1 Steffes, president of the Northwest Exhibitors Association and the Allied States Organization, today announced the organization of a booking combine in his territory. According to Steffes the combine will have a membership of 400 theatres. In announcing the project, Steffes took a rap at exchanges which supply non-theatrical accounts. Metro and F, N. in Harmony With Badger Combine (Special to Exhibitors Herald) MILWAUKEE, WIS., March. 10.— Somewhat riled at the claims and troubles that have confronted him, Max Weisner, general manager of Wisconsin’s new booking combine, has issued a statement setting out developments in the rumored friction between his organization and the exchanges. Metro-Goldwyn and First National, last week reported to be at odds with the combine, have become harmonious, doing business actively. Paramount, as yet, is said to be “on the outside.” Weisner declares that there has been no calls for Paramount product ; therefore no business has been occasioned. He dismissed the thought that Paramount was preparing to fight the combine. There will be no discrimination, he added. To the claim that Badger has done an about face on the issue of screening releases and rating them Weisner said the statements made previously by members were in error; that the combine had never planned to screen and rate all releases. It was physically impossible. He credits that erroneous rumor with being the cause of ill feeling among exchanges. Other claims that he discredits are the report that the combine is losing its foothold; that members are withdrawing; and the report that he is virtually acting for Jack Grauman, Celebrated Players. After a couple of uncomfortaWe hours at police headquarters, H. A. DeVoe, manager in charge of the tour, managed to locate a friend who advanced the necessary amount and the stars were released. The members of the party alleged that they were entirely innocent and that they had left Omaha presuming that DeVoe had paid the Fontenelle for their accommodations. The arrests created a sensation in this city and the newspapers played up the plight of the “stranded” actors for several days. Phyllis Haver Leaves Troupe The first lireak in the harmony of the tour began with the departure from the company at Omaha of Phyllis Haver. When the delegation arrived in Omaha to appear at the Coliseum, under the auspices of the local Shrine Temple, it was an open secret that the outfit was on the verge of disintegrating because of financial difficulties. Salaries were in arrears it was said, and the first two to break away here were Joe Murphy (Andy Gump) and Helen Holmes. The latter departed Tuesday night for Oklahoma City while Murphy decided to remain here over the week, to make personal appearances at the Des Moines theatre, in connection with his latest comedy, “Andy’s Temptation.” As early as last Wednesday rumors were current that the remaining actors would quit, but a couple of the leaders, principally Bryant Washburn and Harry Tighe, kept insisting the tour continue. Late Wednesday night Omaha police telephoned that warrants had been sworn out for five of the actors and requested the Des Moines police to take action. It was then reported that Washburn had offered to personally guarantee the bills and no police action was taken. But early Thursday morning the warrants came from Omaha by mail and then the fun began. It was a gray day for the actors. Seek to Break Contracts Following their release from custody the five accused, with other members of the party, met in the offices of a local lawyer at which time legal measures were taken to break all contracts. DeVoe, the business manager of the organization, made the fol lowing statement after the meeting; “I believe Mr. Washburn and Mr. Tighe, who is also president of the Cosmic Production Corporation (which sponsored the party), framed us and took advantage of our financial circumstances. Mr. Tighe so far has blamed me personally for the losses and the failure to pay the hotel in Omaha. “I made arrangements there the night we left to take care of these bills which total $237.01. The hotel was to draw on me here yesterday for the amount but we Stars Plan $250,000 Suit Against Hotel {Special to Exhibitors Herald) DES MOINES, lA., March 10. — Cullen Landis, Ena Gregory, Jack Dougherty, Anna May Wong and Harry L. Tighe have authorized Attorney Walter F. Maley to file damage suits totaling $250,000 against the Eppley Hotels Company, operating the Fontenelle at Omaha, because of arrests here on charges of defrauding the hotel by nonpayment of bills. did not make as much money on the Shrine hall as we expected and consequently could not honor the draft.” Mr. DeVoe denied Bryant Washburn had even attempted to pay the bill. At police headquarters there were harsh words between Tighe and DeVoe. “You said you paid the bill,” said Tighe. “I did not,” said DeVoe. “I said I could pay it if we took in enough money in Omaha, or if the Shrine paid us enough in Des Moines. I didn’t pay it because I didn’t have it. “I’ll personally make this bill good, but I shall expect Tighe and Roy Kessler and Dave Friedner to help me on it.” While the entire party waited in the detectives’ room at the police station. Inspector Carl Vonn telephoned Omaha for instructions. He learned the hotel would dismiss charges as soon as $227 was paid. DeVoe returned to the station a few moments later with the necessary money, and the party was released.