Film Daily (1923)

THE DAILY Sunday, August 5, 1923 ' Ind'p'ts Have Trouble (Continued from Page 1) Pellerin testified that pictures can't make money without key city show to use them. Fuller asked Fair . Has could select dates and pictures, if this kind of a contract was being used. Fair then explained thai before promgs. In particular, he declared he (luct ;s purchased two conventions are found that theaters using the First lu,](t ,)1K. covering Oklahoma and National product in the key cities are Arkansas and another for Texas. At hard to sell because there is little eacn he <m\ an house managers are open time. He claimed he had to present to give opinions on the kind get higher prices from the small town (|, pro<juct desired. Then a general for his product when key city runs |conventi0n is held in New York, Fair were denied, while, on the contrary, contjmied. of which Harold B. Franksmall town exhibitors wanted key ,m head of ,hc theater department town exploitation and when they o pamous piayers was in charge. didn't get, demanded lower rentals on prankl;n considered all of the various independent product in order to make inions and then based his buying good some ot the losses met through , on that information. In this, booking pictures in groups. Pellerin testified as an independent distributor and a former employee of E. H. Hulsey. He testified that in the fall of 1919, the advances in prices for the Paramount output was so greatly in way. according to Fair, the buying was dune with the full knowledge and co-operation of the field force. Fuller was trying to establish that it was more advisable for a local manager L to select pictures for his audience than creased that Hulsey refused to meet ager in Danas or one in New them and was joined in this action by Tom Boland, P. L. Levy, Saul Harris, and W. J. Lytic, all of them operating first-run theaters in key cities in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Hulsey and his associates at that time owned the Metro and First National Pictures franchise. They then bought independent productions for distribution through Metro to fill the breach made by the loss of the Paramount output. Pellerin in describing some of his troubli .. a distributor, stated that hi -old his pictures in 1920 to Southern Enterprises, Inc., and that $5,000 worth was never played or paid for without any reason given by Williani Southern's booker. Pellerin claimed that this caused him to lose additional revenue through the loss of subsequent runs. In 1921, he said, a large number of sales was made, of which $2,500 in bookings were never collected. He said his serial, p'n Kidd.' was sold for San Antonio and only the first episode used. This was about 60 days ago. Pellerin admitted that Al E. Fair, director of theaters for Southern Enterprises, Inc.. in this section and Rocky Newton were much more fair than the former administration. He testified that Saal would hold pictures for extra days, play them in additional houses and then refuse additional compensation, saying, "You can cancel if that isn't satisfactory." Fair was the next witness. He testified that next season's product, or a large portion of it is now being bought in New York and that he himself would purchase independent product locally when he could not so through any central headquarters in New York. He was asked if he knew the details of the purchases already made, but declared he did not. except that he knew the pictures already bought totaled" about 50 for all of the towns in the circuit. Fair declared that under this buying system dates and names of theaters that were to use the product were to be filled in a* *he Dallas headquarters. Here Examiner Fuller for the Government brought iorth a special form of contract used by Southern Enterprises, which lists all theaters in all towns with the subject or series written • the towns and theaters that York. Fair declared that all contracts were flexible and that adjustments are ahvays made^ by co-operating with the exchanges. While on the stand, he produced a statistical memorandum covering theater operations. He declared that the best pictures were selected for the Palace, Dallas and for the other theaters, according to the product's availability. He showed that the Palace, in a 59 weeks' period and using one picture a week had shown 42 Paramounts and 17 outside pictures selected from United Artists, Metro, Universal and the Warners; that the Old Mill, Dallas had used 70 pictures in a 59 weeks' period and of that number, there were 25 Paramounts, and 45 outside pictures. In Fort Smith, Ark., where there are two competitive theaters, 36 outside pictures were used. Fair declared there was no attempt to exclude all product but Paramount from the Southern Enterprises' houses but said the selections were made according to merit as judged by the buying committee. American Films Abroad The Department of Commerce states that only 10% of the entire films shown in Esthonia were made in America, while 85% were filmed in Germany. There are 51 theaters in Esthonia. However, in Japan the situation is totally different. American films are well liked in this country with all the larger distributors well represented in Tokyo, three of them maintaining offices in the capitol city. It was announced a few weeks ago from a different source that motion pictures rank second in the list of best liked recreations in the country, the public story teller getting first honors. More American films are shown in Italy than any other kind, 40% comes from this country, 20% from Germany and 15% from France. The amount of pictures shown in Italy can be estimated by the fact that there are 2,200 houses in the country and 4,000 private halls where films are occasionally shown. New Theaters Corsicana, Tex.— The new Ameri can has been opened by W. F. Boj Tyrol Leaves for Hollywood Jacques Tyrol, head of the production company bearing his name, left for the coast, Friday. Lancaster, Pa.— John Hardy wii soon open his new Alto. Brodhead, Wis.— The Dorlyn, a 30j seat house, has been opened by Stan ley Swartz, who formerly operate^ the Cozy. Hastings, Neb.— The Hostettle Amusement Co. plans a new theate here. A building is now being re| modeled for the house. Bartow, Fla. — Work is progressinj rapidly on the theater and offic building being erected on East Ma St. by Hugh Wear. Winchester, Ky.— $70,000 will b< spent by the Winchester Amusemen Co. on a new theater, work on whicl will start in the near future. Favors Sundays Shows (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Patchogue, L. I. — By a vote of 1,174 to 834, residents here decided in favor of Sunday films. The town boosts of three houses. Buffalo — J. D. Parmelee has starte work on his new theater in the BlacV Rock section. The house wil be the site of the old Tri-It theater will open in the Fall. Post Travels Sold to Pathescope Jessie Bishop for the Pathescope Co. of America has acquired the rights for miniature reproduction of the new series of Post Travel Pictures. Pathescope is one of the largest organizations operating exclusively in the non-theatrical field. George Aarons Back Home (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Philadelphia — George Aarons, secretary of the M. P. T. O., is back from a six weeks' sojourn on the coast. Better Parcel Post Service in Buffalo (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Buffalo — At a recent meeting attended by post office authorities, a representative of the Hays' office and exchange managers, a plan was devised to expediate parcel post shipments of films. Robert Gallagher, postmaster, promised better service hereafter in this section. Among Exchangemen Winnipeg — T. J. Gould, Regal Films manager here is in Milwaukee. Minneapolis — Charles C. Perry, formerly a theater manager is now selling for Famous Players. Cleveland — The Ohio Educational exchange has moved into larger quarters at 507 Film Exchange Bldg. Minneapolis — Leon Madam and Barney Cohan, Pathe salesmen, are back from a vacation spent in New York. Minneapolis — Hugh Andress, former manager of the Lagoon and Loring theaters, is the latest addition to the Selznick sales force. AT YOUR SERVICE " ANo NIGUT :£gger!ht 2SOWEST54IHST. JUST WEST OF BROADWAY. NY. ART WORK,MAT5,STEREOS,ELECTROS. PHONES, CIPCLE — 2450-1-2.1