Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Oct-Dec 1928)

October 20, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 29 Lou B. Metzger whom Carl Laemmle has just appointed to the post of general manager of Universal Pictures Corporation "Marriage by Contract" By Tiffany-Stahl Deals With Companionate Union (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 16.— Tiffany-Stahl gave a private showing of their new picture on the theme of companionate marriage, "Marriage by Contract," here today, and it caught the immediate attention and interest of onlookers. The picture handled a delicate subject in a particularly adroit manner and there is no question but that the film will draw all through its career. The problems of marriage, which seldom fail to fill houses, were developed in a manner calculated to hold and excite attention. Stern Buys Sound Film Rights to Lardner Tales (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK. Oct. 16.— The Stern Film Corporation, makers of two reel comedies for Universal release, have just closed a deal with Ring Lardner, noted humorist and writer of comedy baseball stories, for the entire screen, talking picture and other rights for the "You Know Me, Al" series of Lardner stories, and for three other series. This move heralds the entry of the Stern Brothers, Julius and Abe Stern, into the sound field at an early date. The arrangement with Lardner is the largest picture rights deal ever consummated by this organization, Julius Stern said in making the announcement. The company has held the silent screen rights to the "You Know Me, Al" stories for some time. First National Names Sales Drive Leaders (Special to the HeraldWorld) NEW YORK, Oct. 16— Leaders in the four districts in First National's fall sales drive, at the end of the second week, were as follows, in the order named: Eastern district, Buffalo, New Haven. Philadelphia; Western, Denver, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City; Southern. Kansas City, Dallas, Cleveland; Canadian, Vancouver, Toronto, Winnipeg. Metzger Made General Manager Of Universal in Executive Shifts Charles B. Paine Named Treasurer Following Resignation of Goldstein : Morton \ an Praag Appointed Head of Sales Department : Rubel Quits as Laemmle's Assistant (Special to the Herald-World) XEW \ORK. Oct. 16. — Important changes in the executives of Universal make Lou B. Metzger general manager, Morton Van Praag general sales manager, succeeding Metzger ; and Charles B. Paine treasurer. Paine succeeds E. H. Goldstein, who has resigned. Van Praag has been Western sales manager. Rubel Leaves Because of 111 Health Another resignation is that of Beno Rubel, assistant to President Carl Laemmle. Ill health is given as the reason. Goldstein's resignation is announced as the result of his plans to engage in business outside of the industry. Paine was appointed treasurer at the direc theatres. Performances begin at 2 p. m. tors meeting last Friday. He has been with Universal six years as assistant to Goldstein. He was also elected Friday to the board. In announcing the appointment of Metzger to the general managership, Laemmle declared that he has decided to transfer a number of duties which have been under various heads, to the general manager. Laemmle Lauds Metzger "For ten years," said Laemmle, "Mr. Metzger has acted in every capacity in the exchange system, right up to the handling of the entire sales organization. It was he who suggested and proved the value of 'complete service contract.' and he has been a constant and useful advisor in production. "The promotion of Mr. Van Praag, was made on the advice of Mr. Metzger and because of his splendid work in the sales organization. Mr. Van Praag has had a rapid rise in the Universal exchange system, starting with the Washington exchange, through the Big U, and into the general sales organization. His successor as Western Sales Manager has not as yet been appointed." and are continuous. Receipts took" the form of collections during the first Sunday, but it was then announced that in the future admissions would be charged the same as on week days. Texarkana is located on the Texas-Arkansas border, but both Saenger Sunday houses are in Texas, which is considered a better bet for unhampered Sunday operations. Arkansas authorities are believed to be unfavorable to Sunday shows. Fourteen years ago and thereafter efforts were made to launch Sunday shows, but such strong opposition sprang up from many sources that the idea was finally abandoned. Ed Rowley, in charge of R & R houses in Little Rock, was successful there. Even the city commission was bitter toward the movement, but hostility subsided when Rowley offered to donate a share of receipts to worthy charities. Little Opposition Shown to Shows on Sunday at Two Saenger Theatres (Special to the Herald-World) TEXARKANA, TEX., Oct. 16— The Saenger Amusement Company is reported as meeting with scant opposition to its Sunday shows begun a week ago at both the Saenger and Strand theatres. Previous attempts had failed. Good-sized crowds were said to have been on hand at both Warner Bros. Announce "Home Towners" Debut (Special to the Herald-World) XEW VORK, Oct. 16.— The world premiere of "The Home Towners" is announced by Warner Brothers for October 23, at the Warner Brothers theatre here. The announcement, which comes superbly engraved and surmounted by an engraved reproduction of George M. Cohan, declares the film is the first .stage play ever produced as a 100 per cent all-talking picture. "The Home Towners" was produced on the stage by Cohan. Richard Bennett and Doris Kenyon head the cast. The director is not credited in the announcement. Here's Board That Admits Censorship May Be Ridiculous and Defeat Purpose (Special to the Herald-World) PORTLAND, ORE., Oct. 16. — The only rule on which the new motion picture censor board will insist is that of common sense. In consequence thereof it has thrown into the discard most of the rules of the old board, declaring there are times when thumbing of the nose is appropriate and when the words "sex appeal" may be used. The new board is making a strong bid for national distinction by unanimously admitting that censorship can be made ridiculous, thus defeating the very purpose of it. Or, it also holds, censorship can be made a community bene£t. According to Robert M. Mount, chairman of the new board, censorship is a thankless job at best, and the only satisfaction the censors can get out of it is that they have performed their civic duty. There are no hard and fast rules that can be applied to censorship, he says. A scene that may be harmless in one instance might be vulgar in another. Mount has directed the "viewers" to refer direct to the board all synchronized pictures about which there is any question, because of the fact that such pictures in many instances cannot be cut without ruining the story. In such instances the picture is to be sent back to the producers to be resynchronized, or it will be condemned entirely. At present the selected "viewers" will function without interference, but within the near future they will be expected to take an examination on questions prepared by the city council.