The Film Daily (1922)

7Ae BRADSTREET ojT FILMDOM AUTHOmTY FORMERLY Vol. XX No. 83 Friday, June 23, 1922 Price 5 Cents England Needs a Hays Says Sir Charles Higham at A. M. ' P. A. Lunch — "Make Industry Clean" Sir Charles Higham made an apijeal for cleaner screens and paid a tribute to Will H. Hays and the American film industry in general in his address at the lunclieon given in his honor vesterday afternoon at the Biltmore, by the A. M. P. A. Higham concluded his address by asking the advertising men to help wipe out the stigma of Hollywood for only by doing this, he said, will they be proud of belonging to the picture industry. The guest was introduced by David W. Griffith, who told of Higham's work during the war, for which he has the distinction of being the only advertising man knighted. "Vv'ar is only murder!" said Griffith, in one part of his address, "It is unnecessarv and foolish. When nations of the world ^et to understand each other there will be no war. Advertising can accomplish this." About 200 attended the luncheon, including many prominent film men. Louis Wiley, business manager of the New York Times and Col O'Mohoney, special representative of the Northcliff Press, were seated at the guest's table. Courtland Smith, Robert Lieber and H. O. Schwalbe were also present. "Bill" Yearsley presided and John C. Flinn told about the aims and ideals of the A. M. P. A. In his opening remarks Higham spoke about the absence of film men at the Alilwaukee convention of Associated Advertising Clubs of the (Continued on Page 2) Won't Form New Body by the New York State Unit Denies It In tends Launching a National Organization In the statement prepared Charles L. O'Reilly covering stand of the M. P. T. O. of N. Y. State, Inc., in relation to the M. P. T. O. A., the interesting statement appears that the O'Reilly group does not intend using the state organization as a nucleus for the formation of a new nation-wide exhibitor body. That report has been circulating in film circles here for some time but in this statement, the first official (Continued on Page 2) Estabrook Resigns It was learned yesterday that Howard Estabrook had resigned on Saturday from Wid Gunning, Inc. All South in One That's Plan for 1923 ConventionNorth Carolina to Broach It to Others (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Asheville, N. C. — A monster convention of the entire South was the plan broached at the close of the annual meeting of the M. P. T. O. of North Carolina yesterday. A comtnittee was formed to present the proposition to the other states. The same officers were re-elected yesterday. Percy W. Wells, of Wilmington is again president; E. F. Dardine, of Charlotte, first vicepresident; S. S. Stevenson, of Henderson, second vice-president; and H. B. Varner of Lexington, secretary. A committee was also appointed to confer with the Atlanta Better Films Committee to perfect plans for inaugurating the same system of review in North Carolina. A mid-winter meeting will be held at Greensboro. Among the resolutions passed were one pledging support to Will H. Hays and another expressing confidence in the M. P. T. O. For the first time in the history of the exhibitor organization the meeting was thrown open to producers' and distributors' representatives. Charles C. Pettijohn, representing Mr. Hays came down from New York for the convention. He delivered an address on Wednesday. Triangle Suit On Expected to Run All Week — Aitkens Agree to Surrender $1,000,000 in Stock The trial of the much discussed Triangle suit against Harry E. and Roy E. Aitken, and Hyman Winik, the Western Import Co., and the Reserve Film, has been on before Supreme Court Justice Finch for three days and will probably occupy most of the week. The suit has already resulted in an agreement by the Aitkens to surrender to Triangle stock having a par value of more than $1,000,000, thus eliminating them liability for damages. The suit is continuing against the other defendants for the purpose of cancelling the life contract given to Reserve Film Corp., for the foreign rights to all the Triangle films, and for an accounting of all profits made on the films up to the time the suit was brought. If Triangle is successful in obtaining the cancellation a referee will be appointed to take the accounting. Arthur Butler Graham appears for Triangle, and Edmund L. Mooney appears for the defendants remaining. Hays Pledged Fullest Co-operation By National Civic Organizations Special Committee to Guide Producers in Gauging Public Desires in Motion Pictures — Preliminary Meeting Scheduled for Monday Representatives of over 60 nationally organized civic organizations which through affiliated bodies and their own branches throughout the country represent many millions of citizens yesterday unanimously voted to support Will H. Hays and the producers and distributors represented in the Hays organization in their program of "establishing and then maintaining the highest possible moral standard in motion picttire production.'' These men and women who are devoting their time to public welfare definitely voiced their approval through the passage of a resoltition of confidence and stipport and through the appointment of a committee of three to work with ^,Ir. Hays in the drafting of a permanent advisory body. The committee as adopted is : Lee F. Hanmer, of the recreation division, Russell Sage Fotmdation. Mrs. Oliver Harriman, president. Camp Fire Girls. James E. West, secretary, Boy Scouts of America. Immediately Chicago First-Run Aaron Jones Signs for Paramount Product for Five Years at New McVickers Theater (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Chicago — Aaron Jones has signed a contract with Famous Players whereby he will show Paramount product at the new McVickers theater beginning Oct. 1 and running for five years. The McVickers, which is being constructed on the site of the old theater, is expected to be completed by October. Under the agreement, Jones will have his choice of pictures, while (Continued on Page 2) Pyramid Paying Stockholders Pyramid Pictures, Inc., have announced a cash disbursement of 16% to members of Syndicate No. 1 producers of "My Old Kentucky Home." It is payable June 26 to stockholders of record on June 20 through Smallwood and Co. Selznick Guts Stars Selznick announced yesterday that its fall pictures will eliminate the stars as such and use feature players who fit the stories. Eight productions are already planned and it is understood there will be a total of 16. Myron and David Selznick are scheduled to leave for the coast today. after the meeting, which started at 11:20 and terminated about 4:30, Mr. Hays conferred with the committee of three and arranged to hold the first meeting on Monday. At that time, the personnel of the standing committee will be discussed and in all likelihood determined. The entire conference was successful. In the afternoon session, Saul E. Rogers, vice-president and general counsel of Fox explained some of the irksome problems facing producers. He took occasion to say that, in his opinion this meeting marked one of the greatest epochs in motion picture history, if not the greatest. That remark of Mr. Rogers seemed to size up the situation. Certainly, never in the history of the business has there been such a gathering of representative people to talk with film men on the problems peculiar to the industry. It is to be doubted if anyone but Mr. Hays or a man known nationally could have been successful in gathering the type of people represented there in one conference room. Groups highly organized were officially represented. Several of the religious denominations had officials on hand. As the meeting developed, the fullest sort of co-operation was pledged from important organizations. Hugh Frayne, of the American Federation of Labor; F. F. Simmonds, Eastern (Continued on Page 2)