The Film Daily (1924)

iTHE 7Ac IRADSTREET of MDOM ^recockizee Authority Vol. XXVII No. 12 Tuesday, January 15, 1924 Price 5 Cents Grosland Prod. For Hodkinson Distribution — Comp son in First Two — Deal on With — Dean Alan Crosland has formed his own prodi""' 0 company and has made arrangements to distribute his pictures through Hodkinson. Betty Compson has been engaged to star in the first two of the series which will be made at the Tilford studio and in Florida. Miss Compson is now on her way East from the coast. Crosland has just completed "Six Days," for Gold.wyn-Cosmopolitan by whom he was borrowed from the Hearst organization. In the last year he made "Enemies of Women," and "Under The Red Robe," for the Cosmopolitan Corp. It is reported that Hodkinson is negotiating with the Priscilla Dean Prod, for that star's pictures. One has already been made at the Hollywood studios. At Hodkinson, this iwas not confirmed yesterday but it as perhaps significant that the reort was not denied. Denver Talks of Theater Deal (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Denver — The Times publishes a long article concerning the reported sale of the Isis, American and Colorado theaters to Famous Players. The paper adds that, if the deal is consummated, the Princess . v i 1 1 be closed and Paramount will se the theaters named above for 'its first-runs. Fox is reported interested in the purchase of the Strand. Officials of both Famous Players nd Fox disclaimed any knowledge f the above report yesterday. British Rules Easier Censors There Will Pass or Reject Pictures in Bond, Thus Eliminating Import Duty According to a communication received yesterday from E. Peterson, manager of Bonded Stores, Ltd.. of London, the British Government 'as made easier the restrictions governing the importation of foreign pictures into the country. Peterson declares that arrangements have now been made whereby all films can be passed by the British Board of Film Censors in bond, obviating the paying of import duty until it is decided whether films are suitable for that country or not. In addition to this, special facilities are now available for re-editing and (Continued on Page 5) Quimby Joins "U" To Handle Sale of Short SubjectsConvention in Chicago Terminates Fred C. Quimby is expected to start duties with Universal tomorrow as short subject sales manager. He will handle one and two reel comedies, westerns and dramatic features, but not serials or the International News Weekly. Quimby has been out of the distributing end of the business for quite a period. At various times, he was reported working on an independent distributing scheme with John S. Woody and will be remembered for his work in organizing Associated Exhibitors, Inc., several years ago. The Universal sales convention in Chicago was practically brought to (Continued on Page 5) Bailey a F. P.-L. Director Frank Bailey, former president of the Title Guarantee and Trust Co. and director in a number of prominent real estate corporations in New York, has been elected a director of Famous Players, succeeding Theodore F. Whitrnarsh, who resigned recently to become active in the affairs of the Federal Reserve Bank. Washington Favors Lifting of Tax On Admissions Up to Fifty Cents Not Likely That Levy Will be Removed Entirely — Hearing Held Yesterday at Capitol — Closing of 1,400 Theaters in Sixteen Months Partially Blamed on Tax (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Washington — It was predicted in well-informed legislative circles here yesterday that if any change is made in the revenue law so far as admission taxes to theaters is concerned, such change would apply to admissions of fifty cents and under. It is not held likely that the tax will be removed in its entirety. A plea for the repeal of that portion of the revenue law that affects theaters was made yesterday by a delegation representing the industry and composed of Jack S. Connolly, Washington representative of the Hays office, Charles C. PettiJohn, and Joseph R. Dennison, president of the M. P. T. O. of Michigan. Dennison acted as spokesman for the group and told the Congressional committee that the admission tax was a contributing factor in the closing of 1,400 theaters in the past sixteen months. He was questioned Louella O. Parsons, New York Standish' is highly interesting. The sociated Exhibitors release.— Advt. American: "'The Courtship of Myles Mayflower will delight." If s an As was questioned at ength by the members of the committee and the fact that the members did indulge in queries of this character was taken to mean that they were unwilling to consider an entire repeal of the tax. It was apparent that some of the Congressmen favor the repeal on admissions of thirty cents and under while others might favor fifty cents as the line between taxed and untaxed admissions. Dennison said exhibitors were not asking for the repeal of the seating tax because he said they did not believe they were discriminated against in that respect. Pettijohn produced some figures to show that more than half of the theaters of the country charge admissions under twenty-five cents and that only nineteen throughout the country ask $1 or more. The question of salaries of stars again came up but Dennison sidestepped this. He expressed the belief that rentals have not advanced much during the past year and indicated that film prices cannot be held responsible for the closing of so many houses. M. P. T. O. Meets Today The board of directors of the M. P. T. O. is scheduled to hold a meeting here today and tomorrow.