The Film Daily (1923)

DAILY Saturday, January 20, 1923 The Public and "Millions" The following communication has been received from Pat Dowling, of The Christie Film Co., Hollywood: "Dear Danny: "Your editorial the other day on 'more pictures at lesser cost,' was a great thing, but didn't go far enough. I wish you could say something some day on the subject of 'less hollering from the industry to the public about money.' "The Los Angeles papers have been flooded the last few weeks with studio stories about the millions to, be spent by companies and to be earned by stars this year. Sometimes the figures are exaggerated, sometimes they are not. But in either instance, I believe publicity given to large figures has an awful kick back. "The public is getting damn sick of having millions flung in 4heir faces by moving picture interests. And yet some of our biggest companies go right on announcing 'million dollar quotas,' 'million dollar salaries,' 'million dollar contracts' and what nots. "What is the use of continually shouting to the public that ours is the fourth greatest industry, when figures recently given out in New York and printed in the leading dailies, motion picture products are not even listed in the FIRST TEN? "The public has come to believe that every one connected with pictures is fabulously rich. You would be surprised to know how many times every day even our comparatively small company is solicited for donations. The solicitors expert to get thousands. "I believe there are certain people in Los Angeles who think that Will Hays and his big hearted bosses should build parks and community centers and playgrounds in Hollywood out of their 'fat purses' and fix the rotten streets and put in buss lines and new trolley service and perhaps build hillside homes for everyone who wants to live in the film capital. "The public has naturally received these ideas from newspaper publicity concerning money. Every time they pay fifty cents to get into a theater they have an idea that about fortynine cents of that is going right into the pocket of the star and the company producing the picture. "It seems that we have tried our best to kill and cook our own goose in this way. Big figures may flatter the vanity of a few short sighted officials. It is a cinch they don't kid any exhibitors any more. And you can bet your life the time has some when they don't kid the public but simply do to it what the well known red flag does to the bull." Coast Brevities (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Hollywood — Clyde Cook is working on "The Artist." Hazel Deane has been signed by Al Christie. "Bella Donna" has been completed after three months of work. Harry Mann has been signed for stock at Universal. t'' Goldwyn has signed Claude Gillingwater to act in "Three Wise Fools." Marcel Perez has finished direction of "Three O'Clock in the Morning." "Making Good," a new Pete Morrison feature, has been completed. Sanford Prod, will distribute. Charles Stallings has been elected president of the Assistant Directors Association. Betty Francisco and Helen Ferguson will play opposite Hoot Gibson in "The Poor Worm." Theodore Von Eltz and Lillian Lawrence have been added to the cast of "The Common Law." Edward Martindel is supporting Shirley Mason in "The Eleventh Hour," directed by Bprnip Durning. Jim Davis has been engaged to direct a series of comedies for Century. He will direct Buddy Messenger's third vehicle. James B. Leong is serving as technical advisor in production of "The Remittance Woman," in which he has a role in support of Ethel Clayton. Frank Beresford is adapting LeRoy Scott's "Cordelia, the Magnificent," which will be Clara Kimball Young's next Harry Garson production for Metro. H. E. GAUSMAN. Mabel's Next "Mary Ann" (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Mabel Normand's next picture will be "Mary Ann." Iris Opens Own Exchange John J. Iris, former New York manager for Educational, has opened a short reel exchange of his own in the Godfrey Bldg. "Among the Masterpieces" has just finished a month's run at the Criterion and "Famous Paintings" at the Rialto and Rivoli. Floyd Hopkins 111 (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Harrisburg, Pa. — Floyd Hopkins, manager of the Wilmer and Vincent houses here, is ill with pneumonia. "Blue Water" Finished Ernest Shipman yesterday wired the following from St. John, N. B.: "The motion picture production of 'Blue Water,' from the book of the same name, by Capt. Frederick William Wallace, had its premier showing in St. John today, before the directors and stockholders of New Brunswick Films, Ltd. David M. Hartford, the director, and Ernest Shipman, who will now exploit the picture in all countries, were among those present. It will be released to the Canadian and American theaters in February. Short Stuff The value of the short subject to your program. How to build a program through the use of short stuff. How well known exhibitors use short subjects to advantage. "Fillers" at a price vs. real short subjects of material value. "How I pick my short subjects" by important Broadway managers. The news reel and its audience value. Just a few of the ideas that will be presented in the forthcoming Short Stuff issue of THE FILM DAILY, out Sunday, February 18. An unusual "buy** for the producer and distributor of short subjects.