The Film Daily (1922)

iTHE 7Ae BRADSTREET 9/* FILMDOM ^^^recochized Authority FORMERLY 1)1. XIX No. 70 Tuesday, March 14, 1922 Price 5 Cents !'4ew Sales Divisions Irst National Cuts Country into Five Districts— R. C. Seery and L. O Lukan Promoted First Xational plans to divide the (iintry into five sales districts to Endle future distribution under the spervision of an lUal number of jitrict managers. The move is as ^t in the preliminary stage, but two titrict managers have already been j pointed. The districts will be known as the istern, Southern, Central, Midestern and Western. The Eastern pck has been only temporarily Ttitioned of and as it now stands 11 include. Boston, New Haven, iiiladelphia and Washington. No [anager has been appointed. The uthern tier will include Charlotte, C, Atlanta, Louisville, Dallas, iklahoma City and New Orleans ;th the district manager, yet to be |med, having his headquarters in iLW Orleans. The Central Division II take in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, dianapolis, Cincinnati and Detroit, e Mid-Western group, Chicago, ilwaukee, Minneapolis, Des Moines, maha, Kansas Cit-" and St. Louis d the Western division, Los igeles. San Francisco, Denver, Salt ike Citv. Seattle, Portland (Ore), d Butte. Floyd M. Brockell, supervisor of changes, has just returned from licago where he appointed R. C. ■ery, present Chicago manager, as strict manager of the Mid-Western strict and L. O. Lukan, now in arge at Seattle, district manager r the West. E. J. Eichenlaub yesrday assumed his duties as Seery's ccessor in Chicago. Guy G. axey has been promoted from sales anager in Seattle to branch anager. Josie O'Grady" for Madge Evans Edgar Selden has just purchased e screen rights of "Sweet Rosie Grady" from Edward B. Marks, d will use this as the second vehicle r Aladge Evans, whose first, as ted, is "On the Banks of the abash." Selden believes that the box office hie of the title is well worth the ■ge payment made. A number of productions are in ;ht for the coming season with les of this attractive type. Many the old well known meller's are ing sought for next season; Warr Brothers having been particularly live for this class of titles. Select Pictures, Ltd. To Be Headed by Sam E. Morris — All European Distribution to Be Handled from London Sam E. Morris, at present general manager of Selznick Enterprises, is to be president of Select Pictures, Ltd.. an English company, which will be organized by him when he reaches London next month. Until a few weeks ago, Selznick distril)ution in Great Britain was handled through Walturdaw's, Ltd., but a new contract has been made with Pathe Freres Cinema, Ltd. It is understood, however, that the deal calls for only a part of the Selznick output and that there is still a number of pictures that can be placed in Lhe English field. Morris expects to leave on the Aquitania which sails from New York on April 11. He will make his headquarters in London and handle not only English distribution but the entire continent as well. His successor at the home office has not been named. As noted yesterday, there are a number of changes planned in the personnel of the organization. A definite decision has been reached regarding production. This publication stated on Jan. 23 that the producing companies would probably go to Hollywood to work at the United Studios. This is now a fact. In about three weeks, the Owen Moore company will complete its present picture and then the entire company will be removed to the coast, under supervision of Myron Selznick. Directors Elected The stockholders of Associated Exhibitors, Inc.. met last week and named the following directors: Roy Crawford, John C. Ragland, Harold B. Franklin, Elmer R. Pearson, John P. Fritts and Arthur S. Kane, is of course, president. The latter, is, as noted, president. Crawford is vice-president and treasur-^ and Ragland, secretary. The executive committee is composed of Kane, Crawford, Pearson and Ragland. Schlager Resigns Sit? Schlager's resignation from Hugo Ballin Prod., was learned yesterday, this termination of relations also affecting his status as assistant sales manager with Hodkinson. Visitors Sam Bradley, of Bradley Feature Films, Cleveland, and Ben Friedman. Minneapolis exchangeman are at the .'\stor. Distributors Meet Thursday The distributors' division of the N. A. M. P. I. will hold a meeting at the Claridge on Thursday. Bostick Leaves Saxe (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Milwaukee — E. C. Bostick on Saturday announced his resignation as general manager of the Saxe Amusement. Enterprises, effective April 1st. His future plans are unknown. North Buys "Jungle Goddess" Bobby North has purchased Greater New York and Northern Jersey rights on "The Jungle Goddess." North, as noted, has purchased the Warner Exchange, which he has renamed the I^Jew York Federated Film Exchange, Inc. Moreno Suing Vitagraph (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Antonio Moreno has filed suit for .$129,000 damages against Vitagraph, alleging breach of contract. He claims he was employed on a starring contract and that the company has put him in all-star cast pictures and co-featured him. It is alleged his contract has until July 23, 1923, to run. Moreno, it is stated, has been engaged for Rupert Hughes' next production, "Bitterness of Sweets" for Goldwyn. The offices of William Seaburv, general counsel for Vitagraph, had no comment to make on the above dispatch yesterday. Boston State Opens (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Boston — Marcus Loew's State theater, built at a cost of $2,500,000, opened last night with a notable audience present. The stage and screen celebrities brought on from New York evoked great applause. Each one did a turn. The party came here in three special cars and numbered about 40. The streets from the station to the City Hall and the Governor's Mansion were crowded with fans. It was estimated there were about 40 000 people in line. Mayor Curley presented Loew with the keys of the city. The Chamber of Commerce tendered the party a fish dinner. Today, the Kiwanis Club will entertain at lunch and this evening the entire party will be the guest of the Massachusetts M. P. T. O. at a banquet and dance. About 200 exhibitors and their wives are expected. D.\NNY. F. P.-.L. Profits Drop $641,630 Less Than 1920— Earnings $19.01 Per Share of Common Against $21.75 Last Year The net operating profits of Famous Players-Lasky for 1921 dropped $641,630.60 as compared with 1920. This interesting fact was the outstanding item in the financial statement of the corporation issued yestereday following a meeting of the board of directors. The statement covering the parent company and all subsidiaries owned 90% or more placed the total net operating profits at $4,695,499,19, after deducting all charges and reserves for Federal income and excess profit taxes. The figures for 1920 were $5,337,129.79 and those for 1919, $3,132,985.22. After allowing for a payment of dividends on the preferred stock, the above earnings are at the annual rate of $19.01 on the 206,834 shares of common stock outstanding in the hands of the public. The 1920 financial statement placed the earnings per share of common stock at $21.77 on the 208,403 shares of common stock then outstanding. Advance payments on rentals total $1,509,400.70; negatives, positives, of a residual value are placed at $11,238,810.37; rights to plays, scenarios, etc., $667,173.57; and investments in subsidiaries less than 90% owned total $8,803,257.46. At yesterday's meeting of the board, the regular quarterly dividend of $2 per share on the preferred stock of the company was declared payable May 1st, to stockholders of record at the close of business April 15th. The market for Famous Players common was active yesterday, 18,500 shares changing hands in the day's trading. The range was 87% high, 83s/s low and 84^ at the close. Eight hundred shares of the preferred stock changed in trade with the prices fluctuating from a high level of 98% to a low figure of 93, which was also the closing price. F. P.-L. to Film "Clarence" "Clarence," Booth Tarkington's comedy, has been purchased by Famous Players for production in the near future by William deMille. To Re-issue Seven Pictures Paramount has decided to re-issue seven pictures, which were originally released prior to November, 1920. These pictures, all of which are to be shown at the Rialto, will be released in a block, forming a complete week's program.