The Film Daily (1924)

iTHE brAdstreet FILMDOM r^RECOCMIZEl Authority XX No. 24 Tuesday, October 28, 1924 Price 5 Cents ) CHENCK By DANNY " Again in the limelight. admitting he is ready to For Doug and Mary and To release through the hannel. Upon the expira his contract. With First il. And openly announc I hat Famous, First Na md Metro-Goldwyn. Are 1 means that the trip across iitinent. Meant something. Hi Abrams and others were arty. Aboard the same train, -o means more than that. wires say that Joe has "dis his interests." In Loew's. in the know. Appreciate means a lot. Because not :s Schenck always held a >ck of Loew stock. But his relationship. In that coni las been outstanding. Vhen Schenck sold his :k. In Loew's. He did not '.t because of any crazy He knew he must have entangling alliances." If iiAfas to make Doug and Mary a lerstand things. Because Abrams did the same Several years ago. Be he became general man of United Artists. e you forgotten that? (This moves so fast one might be for forgetting much.) But ou did, here's the reminder: -old a lot of Famous stock — ned. At a great sacrifice. To Doug and Mary. That he t'tiliation. Of any kind. With 'liat Schenck is out in the ^ow that it is public. That big concerns are after the A'hat about Chaplin? What iffith? What about United Well, he patient. And you'll I is just possible that Chapbalk. And block the entire is still in the cards. That — loned three weeks ago — Un be rcorganize<l. Almost is possible at the moment. iut stick a pin in this: That lew deal is about to be dealt, new hand will be played. (Continued on Page 2) Hearing Opens John C. Ragland Testifies — Relationship Between Paramount and Realart Gone Into Famous Players launched its defense yesterday against charges of monopoly brought by the Federal Trade Commission when the hearing reopened in New York. John C. Ragland, Eastern representative for Harold Lloyd was the only witness. The session ended in the afternoon out of deference to Ragland, but was resumed again last night when it ran for two hours. The relationship between Famous and Realart was the principal matter gone into. Asked by Bruce Bromley what his position was with Realart, Ragland declared he had opened up about 20 exchanges. He also declared that Famous owned stock in Realart. Asked if he had ever instructed his salesmen, or had instructed branch managers to tell salesmen to conceal the connections of Famous with Realart, Ragland replied that he never had (Continued on Page 6) Errol Signed for Sally Leon Errol will plav his original role in "Sally," which First National will produce on the Coast. June Mathis is now writing the script. Green to Direct "Sallv" (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Al Green will direct "Sally" in which Colleen Moore will be featured Production start.s af United on Nov. 10. Herbel, Century Sales Manager H. M. Herbel, former Universal sales executive, has been appointed sales manager for Century and has alrcadv left New York, where he will have his headquarters, for a tour of the Universal exchanges, through which Century distributes. F. Richard Jones Here F. Richard Jones, newly elected vice-president and director-general of the Hal Roach studios is at the Biltmore on a vacation. Negatives Burn ATeacrrc reports reached New York from London over the week-end about a fire that is reported to have destroyed the warehouse of Ideal Films, I,td., in London early last wff'k A number of negatives are understood to have been lost. Reports would indicate that the loss was a heavy one. Sam E. Morris, general manager at Warner Bros., stated yesterday his organization had six for(Continued on Page 6) Schenck Ready To Close For Stars; Disposes Of Interests In Loew's Inc. Norma Talmadge, Mary Pickford and Fairbanks to Release Through One Organization — Three Major Companies Known to Be Negotiating for Distribution — United Artists May Reorganize (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Holi} vvood — In making official annotmcement upon his arrival here that he was joining Norma Talmadge with Doug and Mary and that the trio would release collectively through one distributing channel, Joseph M. Schenck announced that he had disposed of his interests in Loew's, Inc. He did this, he said, in the open market and not to any one individual. The announcement that when his First National contract was completed, his star would go with Doug and Mary has led to many reports, much speculation and a huge amount of gossip as to what was really in the wind. There is no secret that the three major concerns : Famous, First National and Metro-Goldwyn are bidding for the stars. But it is openly stated that it is still quite possible that United Artists may remain intact and be reorganized with Schenck assuming a most important post. Famous Profits Up Third Quarter Report $1,550,000 — lops Previous Quarter and Like Period in 1923 "The Wall Street Journal" yesterdayquoted EIek J. Ludvigh of Famous as follows: "Net operating profits of Famous Players-Lasky Corp. for quarter ended Sept. 30, 1924, is estimated at approximately $1,550,000 after charges and taxes. This compares with $547,729 in preceding quarter, and $1,230,252 in tliird quarter of 1923. "For first nine months of 1924, net operating profit is estimated at $2,900,801, against $3,121,300 in same period of 1923." I. M. P. P. D. A. Calls a Meeting The I. M. P. P. D. A. has issued calls for an open meeting to be held at the Astor on Thursday. State rightcrs, irrespective of whether or not they are members have been invited. A luncheon will precede the business session. Hays Addresses Rotarians (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Sullivan, Ind.— Will H. Hays delivered an address yesterday before a large gathering of Rotarians who met here to greet Everett Hill, their international president. "Headed" Towards Metro Considerable speculation followed the announcement made by Schenck that he had disposed of his holdings in Loew's. There is no secret that this was done to prevent any discussion that his interest in that concern might cause him to lean in that direction should the situation develop where Metro had an inside track to the securing of the stars. Because Schenck wanted to be "in the clear" and not involved beyond the interests of the stars he represents, the disposal of his interests in Loew's was brought about. (Continued on Page 2) Von Sternberg Here Joseph Von Sternberg, the unknown director selected by Mary Pickford to direct her next picture will arrive in New York today from the Coast. "The Salvation Hunters," the picture that created a furore among those who saw it in Hollywood has been brought East by Curtis Melnitz. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford are interested in it and, in view of this, it is likely that it will be distributed through United Artists.