The Film Daily (1924)

iTHE 4fi bkAdstreet / FrLMDOM ^rkochizei Authority .. XXX No. 12 Tuesday, October 14, 1924 Price 5 Cents )PTIMISTIC By DANNY Railroading -•' First Nationalites. The hey talk. You'd think -s never was better. And -^ame story. From all sec ' if the country. Wonder \vd of exhibitors; those . And some mighty good Some serious thinkers. all of them jolly; all cheer And yet there are a lot of tting things going on. <e Robert Lieber for instance, the soul of humanity. The : shooter in the business. ■Ramsaye mentions him in his )play series. As a man, who, he refused to lead a certain ization — years ago — made it sible for the organization to on. Because if Lieber didn't ; others were afraid of it. Nothetter typifies him. Lieber is the type of man eded very much. To hold tother the 26 varying individlities of the First National oup. How he does it, ivith t patience, his reserve, his ftiity, is easily understood, t "his boys" sorely try him times. is a trying time for him now. with the Balaban-Katz idea, vading Detroit. And breaking John Kunsky. Another of the al franchisers. Mr. Pres. ^oesn't . Nary a bit. And it isn't a First nal matter, after all, and his , are — so to speak — tied. But he 't like the idea of the original ment being broken up. Of 2 he won't talk about it. Not for confidential use, much less :ation. But those who know r, the man, know he doesn't ap of the idea. But then holding )oys" in line is just one of his Then there's Richards of Noo leans. Now Rich doesn't ve much to say. Keeps way tiie background. Far away. It when he sticks his head. J out that Bay Saint Looey id. He usually says someing. And he's liable to say a ¥ somethings this week, ted to pull away. Have a lot of to write. But am en route to aw. To take a looksee at the igan crowd. And so will wire more Atlantic City chatter Just in between trains. More First in March Valentino Back From Europe in Early November — Will Make Two a Year Rudolph Valentino is scheduled to sail for America on Nov. 3. Shortly after his arrival from Europe he will leave for Hollywood to start work on his first picture for Ritz. It is expected it will be completed for prerelease engagements through Famous about March. Valentino's production activities will be so handled that he will not make more than two a year. J. D. Williams returned from the Coast Sunday and leaves for Atlantic City where the First National annual meeting is being held. He will be accompanied by Hawley Turner, formerly of the Lesan Advertising Agency and now on the Ritz board of directors. Kent Returns Traveling East with J. D. Williams was Sydney R. Kent of Famous Players. New Loew St. Louis House? The Evening Post reported from St. Louis yesterday the Marcus Loew, influenced by the success of the State, will build a vaudeville theater downtown. Executives at the Loew offices had gone for the day, when efforts were made to secure a statement. Lichtman's Post Vacant Universal officials have not as yet thought about a successor to Al Lichtman, whose contract as general manager of exchanges expired last week. It is understood Lichtman has gone to Atlantic City. Lang, Pommer Here Director of "Siegfried" and Production Chief of Ufa in America to Study American Methods Fritz Lang, director of "Siegfried" and Ehrich Pommer, production head for the Ufa of Germany are in New York to visit American studios and get the slant of this market on boxoffice angles for future pictures. They arrived late Sunday on the Deutschland and, together with Dr. Felix Kallman, managing director of the company who is here, they will leave for the Coast next week to inspect important studios. Lang is already tremendously impressed with New York. His boat docked at night, thus affording him a view of (Continued on Paqe 2) Large Gathering First National Meeting Attracts Many Outsiders, Including Robert Fairbanks, Doug's Brother By DANNY Atlantic City — There is a mighty interesting crowd here attending the annual First National meeting. Conspicuously in the throng is Robert Fairbanks, a brother of Doug, his business manager and a leading factor in United Artists. He has been constantly in attendance with Joe Schenck who, as manager and husband of Norma Talmadge, has been connected with various reports about Norma's tie-up with Doug and Mary. Fairbanks says he is here purely in ■\ social manner and will remain a dav or so before returning to NewYork. In addition to the First National crowd, Ben Goetz and James Brophy of the Consolidated Film Industries are here. It is reported here that Consolidated is angling to secure some of the First National print business, which, in the past, has been regarded almost as an exclusive Rothacker business. Common report has it that First National will make no change and (Continued on Page 2) Ayres in P. D. C. Series Agnes Ayres will star in three pictures to be made at the Peninsula Studios, San Mateo, Calif, under supervision of Frank E. Woods and to be distributed through Prod. Dist. Corp. It is understood "Her Market Value," originally made by the M. P. Directors' Holding Corp. for Grand-Asher has been taken over by Producers Distributing. Inspiration Reorganized In the reorganization of Inspiration Pictures, Inc., J. Boyce Smith, Jr., has become vice-president and general manager. Walter Camp, Jr., will occupy the offices of president and treasurer. The new company \yill for the present confine its production activities to the making of pictures starring Richard Barthelmess. Ince Signs Barbara Bedford Los Angeles — Thomas H. Ince has signed Barbara Bedford on a years' contract. Her first part will be opposite Charles Rav in "The Desert Fiddler." Silly Report Nailed Loew Denies Louis B. Mayer Would Resign From Metro-Goldwyn — Rumor Ridiculous "Printed rumors" are held responsible for a statement issued yesterday by Marcus Loew, denying that Louis B. Mayer was planning to resign as vice-presi 't of Metro-Goldwyn. The source of the reports was not discussed but Metro-Goldwyn officials are amazed at the circulation of stories of that nature. Loew said in that connection: "Mr. Mayer's success has been so outstanding on the production end, and the accomplishment of the company in all other branches of its endeavor have been so more than gratifying that I was astonished at the publication of such a rumor." Albert E. Smith Sailing Albert E. Smith, president of Vitagraph, sails for Europe tomorrow on the Bcrengaria. Jean Paige (Mrs. Smith) accompanies him. Combine Reported on Coast (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — The Times says, in part: "Persistent rumors of a huge film combine were circulating here yesterday, despite denials by the heads of the organizations reported as being affected. The presence of many of these officials in New York and reports of conferences add weight to the rumors. "An alliance of the Schenck interests with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer combine was reported from a dozen different sources. This rumor was circulated with that of the retirement of Louis B. Mayer from his official position with the combine. "Mr. Mayer sailed several days ago for Europe to join the Ben Hur cornpany in Rome. That he will sever his (Continued on Page 3) Fears Embargo Emil Shauer Sees Stricter "Contingent"—Expects 33 1-3% Increase in Foreign Business Citing the presentation of "The Ten Commandments" at $5 top in Berlin as the direct cause, Emil E. Shauer, foreign manager for Famous, declared yesterday that German producers arc now engaged in a movement to obtain the alteration of the present "contingent" to further emi)argo American pictures in case they are successful. Evidently Shauer does not agree with Ehrich Pommer, producing director of the Ufa, generally considered the most important film organization in Germany and Central Europe, who said yesterday that talk of (Continued on Page 2) f