The Film Daily (1923)

iTHE He BRADSTREET »/" FILMDOM ZfcRECOGNIZEt Authority XXV No. 34 Thursday, August 9, 1923 Price 5 Cents Schmidt Resigns Is Succeeded by E. J. Smith as UniversaPs Sales Manager — Latter Now in England •t Schmidt has resigned as gensales manager of Universal to a motion picture enterprise of own, the exact nature of which i not be learned yesterday due to nidt's absence out of town. e has been succeeded by Edwin nith, a former division sales manfor Universal at present in ge of the European M. P. Co. , the Universal British company h was formed when the company led to handle its own releasing in British Isles. Smith will leave New York in a few days to take his new post. le U. B. O. Circuit in New York booked 11 Jewels beginning with rry Go Round." Abrams Leaves for Home iram Abrams sailed for New i yesterday from abroad. Take Over 165 Features at'l Non-Theatrical M. P. Inc., taken over non-theatrical distribof 165 features made by World ures. Deplore Harding's Death (Special to THE FILM DAILY) :lantic City, N. J. — Sydney S. ?n issued a statement yesterday behalf of the M. P. T. 6. deplorthe death of President Harding. ;:i said the nation "loses a statesof the highest order." Disputes Pathe's Claim ternational News Weekly yesterrefuted the claim made by Pathe s that a record had been estabd in bringing pictures of the Har funeral East. International tied that not only were pictures of funeral procession in San Fran) brought here but pictures of ident Coolidge on his Vermont i were included in the special re: issued at the time Pathe's was. The Harding Services The memorial services to be onducted at the Rialto tomorow in honor of Mr. Harding rill be free to everyone conected with motion pictures, 'he sponsors of the movement rge as many film folks to atend as possible. FILM DAILY'S INQUIRING REPORTER QUESTION Should admission prices be increased? ANSWERS W. E. Atkinson, Metro. — "Yes. production costs have gone up. Exhibitors want big pictures and producers can't make them if they have to sell them under cost. It's an exhibitor demand, not one producers have created.'' Louis F. Blumenthal, Haring and Blumenthal — "It would be detrimental to the business if prices were increased. Prices are as high now as people will pay. An increase would result in a falling attendance." Harold B. Franklin, Famous Players-Lasky CoVp. — "Local conditions influence this. It is true that exhibitors are willing to pay more money for big pictures. Speaking economically, I feel prices at this time should not be raised." W. Ray Johnson, Arrow Film Corp. — "No. General commercial conditions do not warrant it. The people won't countenance it." Joseph Plunkett, Strand Theater. — "No. The popularity of this business was established because its prices were cheap. They should remain that way." John E. Storey, Pathe Exchange, Inc. — "It's a question of merchandising. If the exhibitor books a picture at advanced prices because he thinks it!s a good attraction, he has the right to boost his admissions." 1 No Conference Yet T. O. C. C. Members Have Not Interviewed Burkan or Hearst on Dual Picture Contracts The T. O. C. C. committee named last week to take up the matter of the "Enemies of Women" and "Little Old New York" bookings, has not yet conferred with Nathan Burkan's office or with William Randolph Hearst regarding them. At Burkan's office it was stated yesterday that while it was understood that such a delegation would seek a conference, no appointment had been made yesterdav for it. The attitude of the T. O. C. C. officials has not changed in any respect. They still feel that their contracts are binding and that GoldwynCosmopolitan should observe them. (Continued on Page 2) J Patten Out / Thomas G. Patten has resigned as Pacific Coast representative of the Hays organization. Courtland Smith, who is still on the coast, is expected back in New York on Monday. "U" Plans Roadshows Five Big City Runs First with New York the Center — Ready in About a Month "The "Hunchback of Notre Dame," for which Universal officials have great expectations, will be roadshowed by the organization as a legitimate attraction at $2 top. Five key city runs are planned at the moment, these to be in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. The New York engagement will open at the Astor theater on Sept. 2. Several of the initial engagements are expected to run for many months by Universal. There is a possibility that the picture will not be available generally for picture theaters until the 1924-1925 season, but this has not been definitely decided upon. Kelly Here From Cuba H. A. Kelly of the Havana Film Co., is in at the McAlpin, looking for product for Cuba. He intends remaining here for about a week. Neilan With Pickford Signs to Direct Her in "Dorothy Vernon" — Lubtisch May Direct "Romeo and Juliet." (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Marshall Neilan has signed a contract with Mary Pickford to direct her in "Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall." Announcement was made yesterday. It is understood that Miss Pickford will also produce "Romeo and Juliet" with herself, of course as "Juliet," and that/Lubtisch will direct. dward Bowes of Goldwyn-Cos opolitan stated yesterday that Miss H had approached his organi uu securing Neilan for one pic c and that a promise had been de to loan him if the matter could bt arranged. He said he expected to hear from the coast today about it. (Continued on Page 2) Walker Returns Senator James J. Walker is back from his California trip. Burkan Sails Aug. 18 Nathan Burkan has booked passage on the Mauretania sailing from the other side for New York on the 18th. "Hollywood" Held a Third Week "Hollywood." now in its second" week at the Rivoli, will remain for a third week. "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," the current attraction at the Rialto, will be seen another week on Broadway^art the same theater. oerpel Leaves Goldwyn (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Cleveland — It is understood that J. A. Koerpel. district manager here for Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan. has resigned to accept a position abroad for the United States Steel Corp. May Make Hough Story (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — James Cruze's next picture for Famous may be "North of 36," an Emerson Hough story, which may be made on the same lavish scale as "The Covered Wagon." Tn memoriam Tn respect to the memory of our late President, Warren 6. fiardina. there will be no issue of the film Daily published on Triday.