The Film Daily (1924)

ljll£ :^<? brAdstreet of PILM>OM Authority Vol. XXIX No. 40 Sunday, August 17, 1924 Price 25 Cents Still Conferring Circuit and B'way Theaters Meet Separately from T. O. C. C. on Operators' Demands Important circuits and managers of the Broadway first-runs held a meet^ing Friday to discuss the operators' isituation. It was the second to be Iheld in the past week to decide what Ishould be done to meet the demands that seek a thirty per cent increase |»pver the existing scale. Present contracts expire at mid^ht, Aug. 31. One of the demands involves a system of double shifts to jwhich managers and circuit heads are jDpposed. There are two sets of negotiations under way. The T. O. C. C. is pieeting often on the problem but is fiot working together with the other >oup. "It will be recalled that last ./ear when the self-same situation de |{ (Continued on Page 2) American Pictures Corp. Formed (.special to THE FILM DAILY) , Los Angeles — American Pictures Porp., has been formed with Ray H. >cott president. The company has aken over the studio at Venice Blvd. nd Durango Ave., Culver City. Loi To Work in Tahiti (S fecial to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — Cosmopolitan will uce "Never the Twain Shall in Tahiti. Maurice Tourneur direct. Anita Stewart is en route to the St to sail for Tahiti for the aboveled picture. ^Buys Two Stories imperial Pictures have purchased Sr second and third vehicles, "Gar of Peril," by Cynthia Stockley, 'id "Titans," by Charles Guernon, ithor of "Eyes of Youth." As noted, '■ first will be "The Desert Healer," E. M. Hull. Features Reviewed Page How To Educate A Wife Warners 5 Strangling Threads Hepworth— S. R S Lend Me Your Husband Burr— S. R 5 Monsieur Beaucaire Paramount 5 The Last Of The Duanes Fox 8 Short Subjects 8 Organization By DANNY London The C. E. A. In other words the M. P. T. O. of England. Differing, however, to a tremendous extent. In that the British organization represents between 80 and 90 per cent. Of the exhibitors of England. And that's some difference. To the M. P. T. O. The C. E. A. obtains its strength through the Performer's Rights Society. Which is nothing more or less. Than the same thing as the Society of Authors and Composers. Of America. In some way the Performer's Rights Society has phenegled things around. So that it has a lot to do with the licensing of picture places. And Mr. Average Exhibitor in Great Britain figures it out this way: that it is cheaper to belong to the C. E. A. and get the benefit of the license reduction. Than to stay out. So most of them come in. And stay in. Which not only makes the Performer's Rights Society strong. But equally works out for the strength of the exhibitor's organization. THE MARKING COMMITTEE One of the interesting developments of the C. E. A. is the committee of exhibitors which looks over releases. And then gives them a mark indicating the box office value. Of the attraction. They mark from 1 to 10. Very few pictures get the 10 mark. Very large supers like "Robin Hood" and "Way Down East" plus a few more. Most of the very big ones get a 9y^ mark, however. The committee keeps the 10 spot for the birdies. The average good picture gets an 8 or over. Indeed, if a film fails to get an 8 mark little attention is paid to it by Mr. Average Exhibitor, Now all of you know this: that it's mighty difficult to estimate in fractions the drawing power of a film. Still this Committee does it. Or tries to. So one might easily have an honest difference of opinion relative to these marks. But just the sarne the British exhibitor watches these marks closely. A bulletin issued weekly gives the story of the "trade shows." For every picture is "trade shown" regardless of its size or importance. As a result of the bulletin many exhibitors buy, oflfering what in their opinion is the price to be paid, based on the markings of the committee. Naturally a lot of squawks develop. But this bulletin makes it tough for the distributors. Though many try to laugh off its importance. But when you realize that about 80 per cent of 3,000 or more exhibitors get the bulletin you can form your own idea of its value. THE CINEMETOGRAPH TRADES COUNCIL Probably the latest of all British organizations to be formed. Developed from the idea of Sim Rowson. Of Ideal Films. (Tncidentallv Sim Rowson is regarded as one of the foremost statisticians o'f England. And a lawyer of note.) Rowson's idea was that there .should be an organization of all interests allied with pictures. Not only producer, distributor and exhibitor, but the scenario writers, and all others interested. Together with a representation of the public. This organization was to handle all (Continued on Page 3) Select An Unknown Betty Bronson To Play "Peter Pan" —17-Year Old Girl Picked by Barrie Personally Betty Bronson, a seventeen year old girl, and an unknown was announced Friday as Sir James Barrie's choice for the title role in "Peter Pan". The selection was made in London and word received here on Friday by cable. Before Herbert Brenon left Hollywood where he had been working on "The Alaskan" he and Jesse L. Lasky had determined on Miss Bronson for the role. Later, Adolph Zukor saw the tests that had been made and came to the same decision, but it was for Barrie to decide finally. It has not yet been determined whether the picture will be made in the East or on the Coast. Miss Bronson was born in Trenton, (Continued on Page 2) Eastman Plant on Sale Today (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Rochester, N. Y. — In accordance to a Government decree, Eastman Kodak will sell two of its plants today. These are the Folmcr-Schwing Century Camera Co. with a minimum !)id set at $796,041 and the Premo Camera Co. with a bid set at $589,449. Metro, a Chipman Creditor Metro Pictures Corp. is listed as a creditor of Chipman, Ltd., to the extent of $19,056 in the schedule of liabilities and assets filed. The liabilities are placed at $456,878 and the assets $493,423. Duell Interested Seeks Information on "Louise" — "Joan of Arc" on Future Schedule Despite the cabled denial of Lillian Gish to Gustave Charpcntier of his offer to star in a version of the opera "Louise." if is understood Charles H. Duell is still interested. Wythe Williams, his general press representative, sails today (Saturday) on the Majestic for Paris. Although Williams goes primarily on personal business, he will sec Charpcntier in Paris in order to find out if arrangements for production have been completed with a French cornpan v, as reported. It will be recalled that Miss Gish was slated to appear in "Joan of Arc." Plans for this have not been abandoned, but temporarily put off. If the "Louise" arrangement develops, it will not interfere with "Joan of Arc'