The Film Daily (1924)

:s& brAdstreet of FILHDOM f^RECOCV Authority Vol. XXIX No. 19 Wednesday, July 23, 1924 Price 5 Cents ^ENY "BIG 4"-ZUK0R DEAL; BOTH CLAIM D. W. GRIFFITH Two New First-Runs Moss House Opens in Late Fall — Ochs' Piccadilly in September — Each for Pictures The number of Broadway firstuns will be increased by two houses his fall. One will be the Piccadilly n Broadway between 51st and 52nd Its., and across the street from the Zapitol. The other will be the unlamed Moss house at Broadway and )2nd St., directly across from the J'iccadilly. The Piccadilly is scheduled to open n early September. The house will eat 1,560. Ochs is at present dick;ring for his first release. If possi)le, he hopes to develop extended uns. Those producers who have 'xperienced trouble in breaking into Broadway houses will have an outet at the Piccadilly. If Ochs conlucts the kind of theater he expects o, the complexion of the Broadway irst-run situation will be changed. The Moss theater wiir seat 2 500. t will be completed late in the fall ind will have a week-stand picture lolicy. Lopez Plans Unique Programs Vincent Lopez who will conduct fie orchestra at the Piccadilly wil) ppear at the house three times per lay. Speaking of the musical standrd he hopes to establish, he said estcrday: "I intend to establish what will be lefinitely known as an American or hestra. Heretofore, our theaters lave been dependent for effects on he music arranged by foreign con luctors. I intend to take the tried nd proved operatic pieces and so rrangc them to a refined, symphonic azz Style, that they will be compre ' icndcd by all classes of people Baltimore Back to Old Scales (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Baltimore — Practically all loca licaters have returned to the old ad lission prices, minus the tax. T. O. C. C. Meets Thursday The board of directors of the T. ). C. C. met yesterday, to be follow(1 by a regular meeting tomorrow. To Be Discussed At Meeting Soon Claimed D. W. Made Deal Without U. A.'s Knowledge — Director Says He's Free Before Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford leave New York for the Coast in a few days, a meeting of United Artists' directors will be held to discuss a number of matters, among them the relationship of D. W. Griffith to that organization. Apparently. Famous Players and United Artists cannot agree in whose services the producer is committed. It is understood that United Artists claims that Griffith entered upon his new arrangement without the knowledge of that group. The attitude of the Griffith organization is summed up by a statement made yesterday by Gerritt J. Lloyd, who said: "Mr. Griffith has made no prior contract that conflicts with his plans to make three productions for Famous Players". Upon his return from Europe, Fairbanks told ship news reporters that Griffith is still allied with United Artists and intimated that while he (Continued on Page 2) Hirsh Forms Marlborough Prod. Nathan Hirsh, president of Aywon. has formed Marlborough Prod, to distribute. He has secured a series of six five-reel society melos, the first of which, "The Law and the Lady," is now nearing completion on the Coast. The new unit will in no wise interfere with Aywon. Marangella, Keyes Sailing Lou Marangella and Donald Keyes are here from Los Angeles, preparatory to sailing on the Leviathan Saturday for Rome. Marangella will handle "Ben Hur" publicity while Keyes will liand'e some of the camera work. Mary In "Peter Pan": A Very Interesting Angle on the Reported Merger — The Hearst Story (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Baltimore — Under a New York date line, the Baltimore American yesterday morning, said in part: "The greatest motion picture merger ever consummated is imminent, according to exclusive information obtained today by Universal Service. It will cast under the main tent of Famous Players Lasky, Douglas Fairbanks , Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin. "The combine, contemplated for months, and, according to report now in its final evolution, will result in the absorption by Famous Players of United Artists. The latter concern has been sole distributor of all Fairbanks, Pickford, Chaplin and D. W. Griffith pictures. "Griffith, it was announced last week by Adolph Zukor. in the future will make pictures for Famous Players. (Continued on Page 2) Benefits for Lorain Sufferers (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Cleveland — M. B. Horwitz, head of the Washington Circuit, has started a plan of giving benefit performances for victims of the Lorain disaster. He donated all the admissions received 'ast Monday. Others followed suit including the Ohio Amusement Co.. six houses in Lakewood, and the Wind-A-Meer in East Cleveland. The exchanges donated the films. Tourneur With Hearst (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — It is understood Maurice Tourneur has signed a contract with William Randolph Hearst to direct Marion Davies in at least one picture. Hearing in L. A. Again (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Denver — ^The Federal Trade (!oni' mission hearing against Famous Players closed yesterday to resqme Monday in Los Angeles. 'y "Untrue"— Ludvigh "Absurd"— O'Brien Hearst Publishes Reported Merger— Says Mary Will Do "Peter Pan" Reports current in New York for some time past, concerning the future of LTnited Artists, culminated in print yesterday morning with the publication in the Daily Mirror, of New York, the Baltimore American, and apparently other Hearst newspapers, that United Artists would merge with Famous Players. The story was denied by Dennis F. O'Brien, general counsel for Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, and a director of United Artists, who called the entire report "absurd," and by Elek John Ludvigh, general counsel for Famous Players, who laughed and said: "Don't pay any attention to it." Universal Service telegraphed the story that has been discussed in New York: That Fairbanks, Pickford and Chaplin would release through Famous Players and that, as part of the deal. Miss Pickford would appear in "Peter Pan." Vote Against Salacious Films (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — The Associated M. P. Producers of California, the Coast unit affiliated with the Hays organization at a meeting, adopted a resolution pledging its members not to aid in "the production, distribution, or exhibition, of any picture salacious in character" ^^^^ Reed to Direct (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Work on "Never the Twain Shall Meet" starts in about three weeks. Anita Stewart will be featured, with Luther Reed directing. Script by Eugene Mullin. This will be Reed's first directorial effort.