The Film Daily (1924)

If ll£ :^BRADSmET of FILHDOM Authority Vol. XXIX No. 20 Thursday, July 24, 1924 Price 5 Cents B. & K. In Detroit? Reported Powerful Chicago Exhibitor Unit Will Invade Kunsky's Teritory Considerable interest was evinced yesterday in the report from the Middle West that Balahan and Katz. the powerful Chicago cheater organization would build a large house in Detroit. In distributing circles, the report was held especially interesting in view of the fact that John H. Kunsky at present holds both the First National and Paramount franchises for his Capitol, Adams and Madison theaters while Balahan and Katz are the First National franchise holders in Chicago and many Illinois towns. At press time, replies to telegraphic requests for statements had not been received. E. A. Eschmann and H. O. Schwalbe were reported gone for the day at First National If the report is true, it will be the first time that B. & K. have gone out of the Chicago territory to build, although | they are tied in with Mid-West Thea i ters. Inc. in a number of I linois towns. Loew Acquiring the Freeman The Loew circuit will take over the Freeman theater, Suuthern Blvd. and Freeman St. from Joe Weinstock, as soon as Marcus Loew returns fromi Europe. The house"" shows picture.-^ and seats 1 800. Returns Aug. 12 Marcus Loew is expected to sail from Europe on the Leviathan, leaving the other side .'\ug. 5. The boat is lue here about the 12th. "U" Acquires Bridgeport House (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Bridgeport, Conn. — Universal has acquired the Dawe theater. The house will reopen Aug. IS, following alterations. War On Sexy Books Coast Organization Will Seek Cooperation of Non-Members to Check Practice (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los .'\ngeles — Producers who are not members of the Associatipn of M. P. Producers — the Coast lilly of the Hays organization — will be asked to co-operate in the campaign to keep books and plays of questionable iiPtnro out of production. An interesting angle deals with properties that may be purchased for (Continued on Page 2) Two Tax Bills In Ga. Both Would Effect Admissions Up to 50 Cents, Re-Enacting Old Federal Levy (Special to THIS FILM DAILY) Atlanta — Two new admission tax l)ills have been presented to the General Assembly, now in session. Either measure, if passed, would put tlu same burden back on theater owners and, eventually, the public that they bore before relief was given from the Federal tax. One bill is sponsored by the State Alcdical Society, and was introduced in the House by Representative Meek, of Coffee County, and Representative Greer, of Macon County This would place a ten per cent tax on admissions up to and including 50 cents. Provision is made in the measure for monthly returns to the state revenue department, the money .-accruing from the tax to go to the Board of Health. The o'her bill was introduced by Represen'ative Holden, of Clark, a clause of which proposes a re-enact {Continued nn Page 4) Favorite Celebrating 'Special to THE FILM DAILY) Detroit— Favorite Film Exchange is celebrating its fourth anniversary. Edward Grossman Here h'.dward Cirossman, Epic Fi'm At1 Tactions Chicago, is at the .\stor for a few days. leC'Art Leases Studio ikes Over Tilford Plant on 44tl Street — Now has Two Downtown Plants Tec-Art Studios, Inc., have taken over the Tilford Studio, at 344 Wes' 44th Street, under a long term lease A number of important renovation? are being made on the stage, which is said to be the largest in downtown New York. The 44th Street studio will be known as the Tec-Art Studio and future work will be divided between this plant and the 48th Street studio It is understood that among the .several companies that will use Tec-Art service will be Howard Mstabrook. W. Christy Cabannc and .S. E. V. Taylor. Tec-Art is headed l)y Alfred T. Mannon, Albert Dagosfino, Charles Ohman and William Heine. "Big 4" Discuss Disposition of 20% Interest Held By Griffith Conference Called in the Fairbanks' ouite At The Ritz Late Yesterday — D. W.'s Defection Ti. ; ^.-lain Topic — Some Tilk Of A New >tar 'I he status oi D. W. Griffith with United Artists is understood to have been the chief tbpic of discussion at a United Artists meeting, held late yesterday in iJouglas Fairbanks' apartment at the Ritz. Present were Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Hiram Abrams, Dennis F. O.Brien, A. H. T. Banzhaf and Nathan Burkan. Befcre the conference began, it was stated tliat a number of matters were to be discussed relative to future plans for United Artists. Although the Griffith matter came in for no special mention, it is understood that it formed one of the important ])i.ces of business at the meeting. It is further understood that the Chaplin To Stay Scou's Talk of United Artists-Famous Players Merger — His Sla.ement (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Charlie Chaplin issued the following statement yesterday to the West Coast correspondent of THE FILM DAILY: "I want to absolutely deny that there has been preliminary talk of any affiliation on my part with Fanous Flavors as I fully in lend coniiniing in United .\rtists with Mary iiul Doug." Chaplin also stated that Griffith has a new contract with United Artists which is expected to be fulfilled. The statement followed a request for comment on the dispatch telegraphed to all of the Hearts newspapers by Universal Service earlier in the week. Won't Do "Peter Pan" Mary Pickford Denies Report — Says Griffith Will Supervise Her Pictures The Herald-Tribune yesterday published an interview with Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in which the latter was quoted as follows: "I expect to make two or possibly three pictures a year, and Mr. GrilTith will have charge of them. Paramount wanted me to play 'Peter Pan,' but I couldn't do that and be fair to my as(Continued on Page 4) question of the disposition of Griffith's twenty per cent interest in the corporation came up. The ownership of the company is divided evenly among Fairbanks, Miss t'ickford, Chaplin, Griffith and .A.brams. Many of Griffith's pictures are still active. Bookings on "America," designed for general fall release, are reported to be heavy and the producer has still to deliver "The Dawn," which he is now making in Europe. Each of the five bears his portion of the expense attendant upon the operation of the distributing machine and just what will become of the Griffith share remains to be seen. In the event that no restraint is 'placed on Griffith so far as the execution of his Paramount contract is concerned, the problem then arises of who shall take over the Griffith end of United Artists committments. It is not believed that the Griffith situation will ever reach the courts. There was some talk yesterday that a new star is about to join United Artists and that a move will be launched to secure more product for the organization. "America" goes out in the fall; "The Thief of Bagdad" and "Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall" will be placed in general di.stribution then. Chaplin will have his gold rush picture ready toward the end of the year. There will also be "The Dawn" from Griffith and at least one feature from Jack Pickford. Universal Leases the Lyric Universal has leased the Lyric theater and on .Aug. 4 will place "Love and Glory" in the house for a run.