The Film Daily (1924)

iTHE 7Ac brAdstreet 9jC FILMDOM ^recocmizeb Authority Ll xxvii No. 8 Thursday, January 10, 1924 Price 5 Cents Outs $958,278 In Debts Uznick Reduces Indebtedness That Amount in Eleven Months — Statement As of Dec. 31 A statement covering the financial airs of Selznick Distributing since reorganization last Spring, shows t almost a million dollars in debts, ich had stood as prior liens against ims and accessories at the time of ;e re-organization, or in the shape • advanced payments from exhibiors T service to be rendered later, have :en paid up to Dec 31, from the • rnings of the company. This does :>t include the amount due to hold's of two year notes, but to oblations of prior standing. The exact amount of indebtedness hich has been written off the books the reorganized corporation in the even months is $958,278.14, of which :'00,336.64 represents payments to |:n holders, and $257,941.50 the juidation of advance payment from :hibitors. This means that the outianding obligations have been reiced in average monthly payments $87,000. Eschmann Leaves Tomorrow E. A. Eschmann of First National aves for the Coast tomorrow. Road Shows or "Abraham Lincoln" Which Opens Jan. 21 at the Gaiety — 14 Companies Going Out "Abraham Lincoln" the big special f the life of the martyred President, ill be road shown. Fourteen commies are expected to be sent out laying the Erlanger houses, and it is iticipated by the Erlanger managelent that the road shows will run irough 1925. As a result of this move, the conacts being signed yesterday, the ockett brothers are in no hurry to ose distribution plans for regular icture house showings. This, despite lat several of the larger companies ave shown interest in trying to ob|iin the picture. The picture will open here at the iaiety on Jan. 21. The Rockett's e in no hurry to start out the other ompanies. The leading cities will Jet the picture by next Fall. At the opening George A. Billings, rho impersonates Lincoln, will be resent, as well as Ruth Clifford and ranees Marion who prepared the cript. The premiere promises to be n important event, with many film otables of the East present. "U" Galls Confab Country-wide Sales Convention Opens at the Congress, Chicago Tomorrow The first country-wide sales convention of Universal will be held in Chicago beginning tomorrow. Discussions will include stunts scheduled for Laemmle Month and the releasing arrangements for "The Hunchback." The convention will be held in the Congress Hotel, and will be under way Friday evening. It will end Sunday night with a big dinner. The convention will afford Al Lichtman the first opportunity of coming in contact with his field force. Whether or not the conference will result in any change in the handling of "The Hunchback" remains to be seen, but it is very probable that steps will be taken to make it available to more exhibitors in each territory as soon as possible. One phase of the celebration will be a tribute paid to Laemmle. This will take the form of additional booking days. The home office group leaves today on the Century and will include, Carl Laemmle, R. H. Cochrane, Al Lichtman, Ned Marin, George Brown and Paul Gulick. Others will be: E. W. Kramer, Buffalo; D. W. Frazer, Butte, E. F. Dardine, Charlotte, N. C. ; L. (Continued on Page 6) Radical Changes in Booking Plans May Grow Out of F. P.-L. Hearing If Commission Orders End of "Block" Booking Paramount Will Seek Court Order Binding All Other Companies As Well — No Decision Looked For About a Year (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Jacksonville — Possibility of far-reaching consequences looking toward a revolution in the booking of pictures if the Federal Trade Commission hands down an order requiring Famous Players-Lasky to desist from the practice of "block" bookings loomed yesterday as the Jacksonville hearing of the corporation's defense against charges of unfair business methods and attempts at monopolization came to an end. According to counsel for the defendants, a decision of the Commission holding that "block" bookings must cease and a sustaining of that decision by the Federal Courts will immediately be followed by action on the part of Famous Players seeking to force the Federal Trade Commission to issue similar orders to every other production and distribution company in the business. This attitude of Famous is in line with the defense testimon> introduced during the hearings here designed to sustain the contention that "block" bookings do not constitute an unfair business method or an attempt to monopolize the exhibition field, but is a common trade practice indulged in by all companies of importance. "In 'The Courtship of Myles Standish' Charles Ray has made a splendid picture. What an actor that man is!" says Harriette Underhill in the Tribune. Distributed by Associated Exhibitors.— Advt. It was admitted that universal application of an order, the effect of which would be to abolish "block" booking, would revolutionize the exhibition features of the industry by doing away with ability of the companies to sell a sufficient number of films at one time to warrant the expenses incident to the sale. Such a condition, it was stated, would practically place the producers at the mercy of the individual exhibitor who could arbitrarily purchase one or two pictures at a comparatively low cost, according to present prices, and refuse the remainder of the films produced during a given space of time. Such a condition, it was stated, would result probably in increased costs of admission to the public as the producr would be compelled to increase the cost for a given film to the exhibitor in order to make single bookings pay, or exhibit such films in theaters controlled by themselves. In either case, the ultimate^ result, it is claimed, would be to increase the cost to the public. (Continued on Page 2) "The Hunchback" Closes Jan. 19 "The Hunchback" closes its long run at the Astor on Jan. 19. I