The Film Daily (1924)

THE jg^ DAILY Thursday, October 16, 1924 Loses A Point F. B. Warner's Effort to Have American Releasing Accounting Thrown Out of Court Denied Supreme Court Justice Wagner has handed down a decision denying the apphcation by Fred B. Warren to dismiss the complaint in the suit brought against him, Walter E. Greene, Mark Condell, Leo J. Rosett and the Selznick Dist. Corp., by Peter Licari, as trustee in bankruptcy of the American Releasing Corp. In this suit Licari demands an accounting from the defendants and the cancellation of the assignment liy American Releasing of its property consisting largely of films, to Selznick, on the ground that American Releasing had loaned $100,000 on the films and the entire property was worth $350,000, which would have paid the debts of $325,000. Justice Wagner said: "The complaint alleges the participation by the defendants in the divestiture of the corporation's property without affording a reasonable opportunity for the creditors to present and enforce their claims before the transfer, and sets forth an express violation of duty, and as a pleading constitutes a good and sufficient cause of action." ZR-3 Films on Broadway Pathe News was successful in getting a special release of the arrival of the ZR-3 here at Broadway theaters for last night's shows. _ The preparation for shooting the pictures involved much time and foresight. Camermen were posted at various spots in downtown New York. A cameraman in a syecial 'plane met the ship off the Long Island shore and shot pictures of its flight around New York and of the landing at Lakehurst. Another force of cameras stationed on the ground, secured the pictures from that angle. Services for Funeral services will be held at Church, Ave O Brooklyn this mor Ennis, a newspape perience recently faandle publicity fo died at a Brooklyn from appendicitis.. Harry Ennis for Harry Ennis the St. Brendans and E. 12th St., ning at 10 o'clock. r man of long exleft Variety to r Weiss Bros. He hospital this week "Sea Hawk" To Open New State Gainesville, Ga. — The new State will be opened Oct. 20 with "The Sea Hawk" as the opening attraction. Frank Plaginos is the owner. Jack Lewis will manage. This gives Gainesville two houses. The other, formerly owned by Mrs. Charles Cinciola, is now owned by Freeman and Rogers. A Correction The review of "The Pride of Sunshine Alley," appearing in last Sunday's issue was credited with being a Sunset Prod, instead of a Bud Barsky Prod. Hatton Signed by Paramount Raymond Hatton has been placed under a long term contract to appear cxclusivelv in Paramount Pictures. Saginaw Further extracts from the interesting report made by H. M. Richey at the Michigan M. P. T. O. meeting which ended in Saginaw yesterday will appear tomorrow. Combines An Evil {Continued from Pa(jc 1) general counsel for the Michigan organization spoke, he dwelt at length on this very question. "What man," he said, "is so blind tlial he cannot see the changes that are in sight? The exhibitor bears the burden. He is the focal point, yet he haf the least to say as to the type ol l)icture he has to sliow on his screen. Biit all of these economic problems will be solved within the organizations of this industry. There lies the great cliallcnge of this industry." When C. C. Pettijohn of the Hays oihcc spoke, he, too, took this problem as his sujjject. "The most friendly relations exist between this organization and the producers and distributors," he said, "and I hope that relationship will remain. Booking circuits, and the allocation of [iroduct by five or six more important chains may reach a point of placing in the liands of one exhibitor or circuit product to the exclusion of all others, thus effecting a great saving in distribution and sales. There are 22 exchanges in Detroit today. This is as it should be, but buying comliines and allocation of product will mean fewer pictures, or producers will be driven into one channel and the buying will be done at one spot and paying a fixed price." He told of the fine work done by the arbitration boards and closed by saying arbitration could settle every question of the industry. There were many other speakers, but Harry Riechenbach was again the star with his quick and ready wit. Michigan closed one of the most successful conventions yesterday, when officers were elected for the coming year, and Grand Rapids was decided upon as the next meeting place. Officers elected were, G. A. Cross, Battle Creek, president; A. J. Kliest, Pontiac, vice president; H. T. Hall, secretarj'; John Niebes, treasurer and H. M. Richey, reappointed general manager. Hiers In "Excuse Me" Hollywood — Walter Hiers has been added to the cast of "Excuse Me" at Metro-Goldwyn and has already started work. In The Courts Supreme Court Justice Davis has granted a stay of trial in a suit of the Cosmograph' M. P. Machine Co., Inc., against National Non-Theatrical Motion Pictures. The plaintiff sues for $3,440 for apparatus sold, and the defendant counterclaims for $10,000 on the ground that the plaintiff failed to fill orders for goods and has not accounted for all the commissions due. Discuss Detroit Move (Continued from Page 1) matters discussed at the session which was closed tight. It is more or less common knowledge that the feeling over the proposed B. and K. theater for that city where John H. Kunsky IS all-powerful is running high. Just what can be done about it on the part of First National officially is a matter of considerable conjecture. As far as can be gathered, the parent organization will find its hands tied. The annual meeting terminated yesterday. The home office statf and many of the out-of-town franchise holders are expected to visit New York en route to their homes. Interest Over Kunsky Move (.Special to THE FILM DAILY) Detroit — A live topic of discussion in Detroit is the future course of John H. Kunsky in relation to First National, now that Balaban and Katz are determined to build a first-run here. All sorts of conflicting reports are heard, ranging from the possibility of a deal between Kunsky and B. and K. to an entire disposal of Kunsky's First National interests to the Chicago organization. Flint Operators in Damage Suit (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Flint, Mich. — Two members of the Flint M. P. Operator's Union were arrested on a capias in connection with a $50,000 suit filed against them by Lester Matt, owner of the Strand, for damages as the result of an advertising campaign against the theater in a local newspaper. Union officials have wired the International Assn. of Theater Stage Employes and M. P. Operators, with which the Flint union is affiliated, for legal assistance in the court battle that is expected over the suit. New Company to Finance The Amorsafe Mortgage Bond Corp., with offices at 45 W. 57th St., will be formally launched at a dinner to be held tonight in the Crystal Room of the Ritz. The company, a financing organization, will embrace motion pictures as part of its activities. J. Alton Bradbury, a West Side exhibitor is on the dinner committee. Still A Bankrupt I Francis G. Conklin Denies Receiv< ship of Preferred Pictures Has Been Cleared Up Francis G. Conklin, receiver of Pi ferred Pictures, denies the report tl the receivership has been cleared i He has been serving as receiver equity by appointment of Jud Hand and in a recent statement ma to the creditors showed that the i ceivership was functioning properH While offices have been moved Ij smaller quarters and the overhead | duced, the statement shows that 1 gross and the gross collections Preferred approximate what tb were immediately before the appoi: ment of the receiver. In submitting a report recently the Federal Court, the Court confir ed this and the conduct of the ceivership received general co mendation from the court for its ministration. In a recent trip throi! the country, Conklin visited the vi ous exchanges handling Preferred! reports that business is going on usual and sales improving. 1 Unite to Fight Fake Stocks J. Homer Flatten, treasurer of Hajs office yesterday gave a cheon at the Princeton Club, ai result of which the support of important organizations was secu to aid in the fight against the motion of fake securities and stq The groups are the Better Busj Bureau, the N. Y. Credit Men's the Nat'l Ass'n of Credit Men,! Vigilance Committee of the Asl ated Advertising Clubs of the We| the American Bankers Ass'n and-j Investment Bankers' Ass'n. Loew on the Coast (Special to THE FILM DAILY\ Los Angeles — Marcus Loew ' his sons, Arthur and David their respective families are here ; New York. Desk Space for Rent in 725 Seventh Ave., N. Y. C. PhoW Bryant 2091. Apply Box G503 c/o Film DaUy, 71 W. 44th St. N. Y. C. COMING SOON n f % PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION Priscilla Dean Directed bv CHET WITHEY Adaptn) by HARVEY GATES -from thtiKjvtltylZOLA FORRESTER^i ^HUNT STROMBERGliMW^"^^-^ PRODUCTION \s3^iy"Wft*» ^ * PRESENTED BY HUNT STROMBERG AND CHARLES R. ROGERS SEASON 1924-1925 "fHIRTY FIRST-RUN PICTURES