Exhibitors Herald (1925)

March 28, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 33 Theatre Situation Will Right Self, Says Joseph Schnitzer Executive of Film Booking Offices Does Not Believe That Hays Should Be Expected to Take Corrective Steps^ — Sees Economy as Aim of Producers By JOHN S. SPARGO NEW YORK, March 17 — Joseph Schnitzer, of F. B. O., is a rara avis among film executives. He makes business appointments as early as 9:15 a. m. More than that, he keeps the engagements and expects the other fellow to do the same. And another unique thing about Mr. Schnitzer is that he seldom talks for publication, but when he does he has something to say. After five months on the Coast, lining up production matters for next season for his company, the F. B. O. chief returned to New York last week. In addition to this he spent a lot of time during the five months studying the trend of production generally, and talks interestingly of his observations. Says Changes in Production Are to Advantage of All “The making of pictures has undergone a decided change within the past year,” he said, “and for the betterment of everyone concerned. Producers have begun to realize that the public which supports the industry wants entertainment, and in order to give them this it is not necessary to make pictures filled with big sets and big spectacles. Pat he Will Distribute Three New Series of Hal Roach Comedies (^Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 17.— At a conference held last week at the Hal Roach studios plans were adopted which will increase the studio’s output distributed by Pathe during the coming year. Three new series of two reel comedies will be produced by Hal Roach. Clyde Cook, screen comedian, has entered an agreement with Roach to head one of the units; Charley Chase, and Glenn Tryon will head the remaining two units. Richard Currier was appointed to take direct charge of the cutting of the Roach comedies and features. Attending the conference from the East were W. B. Frank, vice-president and Eastern representative, and F. Richard Jones, vice-president and director general. Warren Doane, general manager, and H. M. Walker, editor, were there from the local office. Christie Will Operate Three Studios Under Expansion Program (^Special to Exhibitors Herald) HOLLYWOOD, March 17.— Three studios will be used in Los Angeles in the making of pictures under the new program outlined last week by C. H. Christie, general manager of the Christie Film Corporation. A1 Christie features will continue to be produced at the original studio here. From six to eight producing units will be making features at the ChristieHollywood studios on Santa Monica boulevard and the extensive program from Cecil B. DeMille will take up the entire producing facilities at the Culver City studios formerly operated by the late Mr. Ince. This arrangement follows the decision to go into the field of the longer comedies such as “Charley’s Aunt.” Four Pictures of A. E. Shown in First Run Houses on Broadway {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 17.— Four productions made by Associated Exhibitors will play in first-run Broadway theatres within the space of two weeks. “Introduce Me,” starring Douglas MacLean, is at the Mark Strand; “Barriers Burned Away” is at the B. S. Moss Cameo theatre ; “Bad Company,” starring Conway Tearle, opened March 15 at the Piccadilly theatre, and “Percy,” starring Charles Ray, will open March 22 at the B. S. Moss Colony theatre. Coolidge May Hear Plea of Chaplin for Mother {Special to Exhibitors Herald) HOLLYWOOD, March 17. — ^Sidney Chaplin is preparing today to visit Washington, D. C., to petition President Coolidge, for aid in the matter of the deportation of Mrs. Hannah Chaplin, mother of the two actors. Unless influence from the capital is. exerted the decision of the immigration authorities will compel Mrs. Chaplin to leave the country March 26. He expects to show the president that his mother’s mental condition ’is much improved due to her stay in this country under the care of her sons. “For the past few years many of the companies have run riot in the matter of spending money in picture making, each one trying to outdo the other with huge sets and cost generally. “On the Coast now there is noticable a radical departure and picture making is rapidly getting down to a safe and sane basis, with the most sought for features good stories and the telling of them in pictures in an interesting dramatic way. Except in rare cases the big spectacle picture is out as the producers know now that that is not what is wanted. With the exception of ‘Ben Hur’ and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ I can recall nothing in the way of the so-called ‘big’ picture now in the making. A year or two ago there were a dozen. These two are really great pictures and will undoubtedly meet with the success they deserve, but my belief is that there will be still fewer of these as time goes on. “We gave all this a lot of consideration in lining up our product for next season, and as the result we have 64 pictures, all good salable merchandise, produced at an economical cost. They all have good entertainment and story value and that is what the exhibitor knows his public wants and that is what we know he wants.” Condition Will Right Self Mr. Schnitzer’s company operates in the independent market and on some of the subjects which are supposed to be worrying the companies which do not operate or control theatres, he has decided views and these are not tinged with any shade of gloom. Said he : “The distributing conTpany with no theatres under its control is finding it hatd to get first runs, but this condition will right itself without it being necessary to resort to some of the radical things which have been suggested. The building of new theatres is not the solution. This would in many instances only aggravate things as the building of many and costly theatres would only bring about a condition of over seating which would not be any betterment. Just what the solution of this problem is I am not prepared to say, but I have noticed that in any big business conditions adjust themselves, and there will be no exception in this case. Not Hays’ Mission, He Says “There has been much talk of the first run theatres being tied up by three big companies, thus shutting out the independent distributing companies’ product.' It is all wrong to expect Will H. Hays to rectify this as a lot of people think he can and should. The purpose of the Motion Picture Producers & Distribuors Association and Mr. Hays is along other lines, and he has done much to place the industry on the high plane it deserves and get for it the respect that its size and earnest effort should carry with it. “F. B. O. is not a member of the Hays organization, and I suppose I should not say anything about this, but I can’t help but feel that it is all wrong to expect Mr. Hays to cure all the ills of the industry whether they come within the scope of his jurisdiction or not.” $2 a Share Declared by Paramount; Net Profit for 1924, $5,422,34929 {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 17. — At a meeting held last week the board of directors of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation declared the regular quarterly dividend of $2.00 per share on the preferred stock, payable May 1st, 1925, to stockholders of record at the close of business on April I5th, 1925. The books will not close. Net profits of $2;500,507.16 for the three months and $5,422,349.29 for the twelve months ending Dec. 27, 1924. is reported in the consolidated statement (including the earnings of subsidiary companies). Taxes were deducted from the gross income. After allowing for the payment of dividends on the preferred stock the earnings above amount to $9.89 per share for the three months and $20.08 for the twelve months on the common stock outstanding.