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

20 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 10, 1928 Rayart Affiliates for 3 Years With British Screen Productions Contracts of Johnston and Pearson Call for Minimum of 36 Pictures — Others to Be Distributed by Rayart (Special to the Herald-World) N'EW YORK, Nov. 6. — An international agreement that may have .a farreaching significance was made known here this week by W. Ray Johnston, president of the enterprising Rayart Pictures Corporation. For three years Rayart will be affiliated with British Screen Production, Ltd., of London. Too Prosperous in This Canadian Town (Special to the Herald-World) TORONTO, Nov. 6.— For the first time on record an exhibitor has complained because his community has been too prosperous industrially. This was J. A. Bolinsky, manager of the Capitol theatre at Paris, Ont. He reported that the Capitol was doing very good business, then added, "but our factories are very busy and keep going until nine o'clock every night." NEGOTIATIONS between the American and British film companies were brought to a successful conclusion during a ten days' visit here by George W. Pearson, managing director of the British organization. He returned to England today confident that a step of importance to both companies, and to the trade, had been taken. "Apparently the New York trade is under the impression that Rayart and British Screen Productions have entered upon a one-year tentative basis," said Pearson in an exclusive talk with a representative of the HeraldWorld. "This is something much stronger, much better, much more stable. This is a three-year agreement and contracts for a minimum of 36 pictures. Enhanced Business Seen "We have given each other guarantees that should enhance our businesses and better our productions considerably. As far as we Britons are concerned, we are getting the invaluable experience of a particularly able director, Trem Carr. We are getting more money for our productions. We are widening our market. From the American point of view there are as many advantages, as Mr. Johnston can well point out. "Our plan at present is to make nine pictures a year in Hollywood and three in London. You know Rayart's equipment in California. All I can say is that we can provide anything we have yet seen in a good picture in London, perhaps more, for we have been so cramped for space and cramped for money that we have developed the art of camera trickery to an extraordinary degree. Also, I think we Britons are still a bit ahead of you on incandescent lighting. "We have a magnificent estate at Isleworth, twelve miles from London. There, on six and a half acres, we have two studios and a laboratory in beautiful grounds. We have an Elizabethan mansion house with 24 dressing rooms, in addition to all of our executive offices. An American director will find himself quite happy with us in London." More Money Available Johnston, outlining the advantages of the plan from an American viewpoint, said that the mutual guarantees insured the success of the venture at once, , that more money would be available, and that the notoriously slow British market would be quickened into almost instant action, freeing moneys generally frozen for a year or more. "We are entering into this agreement with the friendliest sense of co-operation," said Johnston, "and I am confident that it will be both workable and successful." Produce British Screen News Pearson's organization produces and distributes the "British Screen News," semiweekly newsreel, also the "British Screen Tatler," and have their own exchanges throughout the United Kingdom. Pearson is also joint managing director of Lancashire Screen Productions, which has its own studios at Blackpool, called the largest single span studio in Great Britain. The contract provides for the pictures being made under the personal supervision of Trem Carr, director-general of the Rayart Studios organization, who will go to London to supervise the British made pictures. Production of the first picture will start in Hollywood in May, while the three to be made in London will be made consecutively in June, July and August. Others to Be Distributed In addition to the program of 36 being cooperatively produced, a number of important British Screen productions, including "The Kohinoor Diamond," which is being made with the approval of the king and queen, will be distributed through Rayart in America. Two other British Screen productions will be made in India, and one company of British Screen artists and technicians sailed last week for Lapland, where scenes are to be made for a special, i Pearson is completing arrangements for staff representatives in United States points for news-weekly service for the "British Screen News." The "British Screen News" is distributed throughout the United Kingdom by Paramount, as well as British Screen Productions. Arthur Levey, importer and distributor of London, accompanied Pearson. The negotiations have been carried on for several months by David J. Mountan, president of Richmount Pictures, Inc., foreign distributors for Rayart. Levey is also connected with George Pearson, and is a member of the board of Lancashire Screen Productions. Publix Will Give Managers More Latitude in Work (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 6— Publix Theatre managers are to be given increased latitude in all phases of house management, such as advertising, publicity and picture booking, it was learned from A. M. Botsford today. However, Botsford emphatically denied recent reports that a change in the service policy is to be made. Ushers' uniforms, training, and relations to patrons remain exactly the same. "In regard to our unit stage band shows, we realize as well as anybody that more variety is desired," declared Botsford, "and we would welcome any plan which would enable us to give more variety, but more than anything else, the units need more comedy. But try and get it." Provincial Board Now to Censor Paper in Quebec (Special to the Herald-World) MONTREAL, Nov. 6.— All theatre posters, still photographs, window cards, lobby displays and heralds used in Quebec will be subject to the scrutiny of a Provincial board of censorship, as a result of an amendment te the Quebec "Moving Pictures Act," passed by the Quebec legislature. This was formally derided at a meeting of the Provincial cabinet at Quebec City last Friday. For some years all posters used in Montreal and one or two other cities, have been passed upon by special local censors. They will now disappear and the work will be done for all theatres in the province by the newly created provincial board. Fire Damages 2 Picture Houses; One Starts in Pit (Special to the Herald-World) OAKLAND, Cal., Nov. 6— The Park theatre was severely damaged when fire started in the orchestra pit. The organ was destroyed and the interior of the house damaged, while a fireman was seriously injured. The Hippodrome, a West Coast house in Bakersfield, was damaged to the extent of $5,000 by a fire which razed an adjoining hotel and which threatened the downtown district Eastern Pa. M P T O To Meet November 22 (Special to the Herald-World) PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 6.— A special business meeting of the M P T O of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware, will be held here November 22 at the Elk's Club, it is announced. Fox Closes Deal for 12 Stoneman Houses, Report; Angles for Big Netoco Circuit (Special to the Herald-World) BOSTON, Nov. 6. — The deal which has been pending between William Fox and the Stoneman circuit for a dozen New England theatres is understood here to have been completed and signed at New York. Negotiations have been under way for several weeks. In another deal it is known here that the New England Theatres Operating Company, going under the trade name of Netoco, has been approached by Fox interests. How far negotiations have progressed, however, cannot be learned at this time. Netoco was reorganized about a year ago with $20,000,000 capitalization, and under the leadership of Samuel Pinanski. one of the youngest circuit owners in the country, has entered upon a program of expansion on a larger scale than any attempted before by a New England independent company. Three theatres are now under construction, representing an investment of approximately $3,000,000.