The Film Daily (1924)

^recochizeb Authority Vol. XXVII Nc Thursday. January 3, 1924 Price 5 Cents First Run Rights Important Decision in England Affecting Such Showings — Exhibitor Loses in Court (.Special to THE FILM DAILY) London — An important decision has just been filed in the English courts as to the rights of a "first run'' exhibitor. The Consolidated Cinemetograph Co., Ltd., sued Goldwyn, Ltd., for £10 for alleged breach of contract, in that after having secured "The Poverty of Riches" for first run in Sunderland that the Roker Cinema, an opposition house, billed the feature as coming to this house within a few days of the first run showing, and at lower admission prices. The Court held that there was nothing in the contract which prevented the Roker organization from advertising the showing and ordered a decision for Goldwyn. Commenting on this The Film Renter says editorially: "The decision means that a first-run exhibitor has no legal protection whatever against the advertising by a later-run house of the film which he is paying a large sum of money to show, and may be summed up by the following instance. If an exhibitor pays a hundred pounds for the first run of a picture and advertises it extensively there is nothing to prevent a man showing it four weeks later from also extensively advertising that the film will be shown in his theater on such and such a date, and that the price of his seats are lower compared to the first run's * * * The only reason that an exhibitor contracts to have a picture for a first run is, as is well known, because he expects to have it exclusively in every sense of the word. * * * "The issue raised is very important, and is one that should clearly be settled without any further delay." Eight Ideal's Listed (.Special to THE FILM DAILY) T o r o n t o — Canadian Educational Films announces the distribution of Ideal Films, for Canada. The first eight features include "Out to Win," "I Will Repay," "Through Fire and Water," "Mary, Queen of Scots," "Hutch Stirs 'Em Up," "Old Bill Through Ye Ages," "The Great Well" and "Typhoon." Educational is the third Canadian organization to distribute English pictures in Canada, the other two being Dominion and Regal Films. Earl W. Hammons made the above arrangement when he was in London in the fall. "Great White Way" Premiere "The Great White Way," will have its premiere at the Cosmopolitan tonight. " 'The Extra Girl' is entertainment that is entertaining," said Polly Wood in the Chicago Herald & Examiner, of Mabel Normand's latest picture, presented by Mack Sennett. It's an Associated-Exhibitors release. Advt. "Courtship" at the Woods' (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Chicago — "The Courtship of Myles Standish," opens at the Woods' on Jan. 18, replacing "Scaramouche." The Ray picture will remain there for three weeks. On Feb. 10, "The Ten Commandments," will have its premiere. Hearing in Jacksonville (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Jacksonville — Counsel for Famous Players will commence the gathering of testimony from their witnesses tomorrow, in the Trade Commission action against the company. Fitzmaurice Starts George Fitzmaurice shot the first scenes for "Cytherea," yesterday at the Biograph studio. Alma Rubens. Constance Bennett and Lewis S. Stone head the cast. Kunsky Here John H. Kunsky is in town from Detroit serving on the rotating committee of First National. Tops "The Covered Wagon" (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — "The Ten Commandments" at Grauman's Egyptian smashed the house record for a week's receipts the week of Dec. 23, topping the best previous record made by "The Covered Wagon" by $338. The picture prossed $25,470. "Judgment," Niblo's Next (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Fred Niblo is in the midst of cutting "Thy Name Is Woman" and will next direct "Judgment," by C. Gardner Sullivan. Work starts next month. . "Old N. Y." At Loew's State "Little Old New York," starts its run over the Loew circuit simultaneously at the State and Metropolitan, the latter in Brooklyn, the week of Jan. 14. Bert Ennis Leaves Today Bert Ennis, director of publicity for Associafed Pictures, who has been spending the holidays here, leaves, for the Coast today. Smith Urges Repeal Tells Legislature in Albany Ccmmission Is No Longer Necessary — Bill In Assembly (By Long Distance Phone) Albany — Governor Smith recommended the repeal of the State M. P. Commission law yesterday when he delivered his annual address before the 147th session of the Legislature. He declared that "censorship was out of harmony with our institutions and should not be encouraged, and then added: "It is my recommendation that the law creating the commission for the regulation of motion pictures be repealed. There has not been any necessity whatever for the continuance of this commission of censors and I sincerely invite the attention of your honorable body to a careful consideration of this recommendation for abolition." Assemblyman Fred L. Hackenberg, Democrat from New York City, introduced a repeal bill yesterday, following the Governor's address. It is the opinion here that there will be no trouble in passing a repeal measure through the Senate but that trouble will be experienced in the Assembly. It. is reported that party lines will not be drawn and that the legislators will vote independently. The M. P. T. O. of N. Y. State will maintain headquarters in the Chamber of Commerce rooms at the Ten Eyck at Albany to watch all motion picture legislation. Sam Berman, secretary of the organization, will remain on the ground all through the winter and spring season. Southwest Theaters, Inc. Formed (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Southwest Theaters Inc., a $1,000,000 company, has been organized here, it is understood, as a subsidiary to West Coast Theaters, Inc. The new unit is said to be a new name for the Turner, Dahnken and Langley circuit which West Coast has absorbed. 5 San Diego Theaters Sold (Special to THE FILM DAILY) -San Diego, CaL— Sale of five theaters to A. S. Emenhisler of Los Angeles, is announced by W. W. Whitson. The houses involved are the Plaza, California, Kinema Rivoli and Rialto. Ray to Produce Here Charles Ray declared yesterday that he. will make his next picture in tfe& East.