The Film Daily (1926)

3 lay 23, 1926 fiJS^ DAILY Berlin, exhibitors pay 15% IX office receipts to the t, and in some cities, 30% js meeting of theater own s pointed out that all Ger ' houses, including the 90 : Berlin, received 250,000 i in March of this year than same month a year ago. weak attendance in Sum )tors have asked to defer ! taxes during June, July -A, Last year, the taxes ! during the Summer. jiham-Wilcox Producing -Definite decision of Gra X to enter production has the purchase of "White "Pau". This will be the n announcement indicates a : production unit will in no ir:rfere with the distributing 47,000 Theaters Berlin — Asia and Africa are estimated to have about 1,400 picture houses while the nunih ber of theaters in the whole world is placed at 47,000, Russia Has 750 Houses Moscow — Russia has about 750 theaters showing pictures. Most all of them show only propaganda films of the Government. Educational pictures are also included in the programs. Theaters for entertainment purposes only, called "Kommerz Kinos," exist in Moscow, Leningrad, Odessa, Kiew, Charkow and Rostow. German pictures are most popular, while only the best of the American market are shown. N V French Trade Paper La Grifife Cinematographie" ,ie of a new trade publiuh will appear shortly. lej: Covered in Greek Book Ki^ — The Greek trade paper, ^'raphikos Astir," has pub.)0k covering this territory rient. / Last Foreign Picture in U. K. -"The Wonderful Adven ■ iloria Prod., the last to be r Vilma Banky in Europe, is virelease of International Cine I lid. Busy on "The Magician" ex Ingram is working on ician" at the studio of the Company. Alice Terry lead, supported by Paul and Svetislav Petrovich. iiiier is art director. Vatican in Pictures — Under the supervision of Granito de Belmonte, the mpany, San Marco, will picture showing the treas Vatican. k in Two British Films? -Pauline Frederick is said been made an offer to appear British pictures. English capunderstood to be behind the rman Films in the U. S. German Health Resorts, of Ave., is releasing a series of eels showing the scenic beauty many. Several were shown the "German Week," observed f in Brooklyn. After British Circuit on — Harris & Gillow are rerepresenting an unnamed syn which is dickering for a large )f English theaters. o New Theaters in Madrid rid, Spain— The Cine Madrid le Cine Gravina, both seating 3,000, have opened. 300 Theaters in Denmark Copenhagen — At present, Denmark has approximately 300 theaters showing pictures. The biggest house, the Palads Kino is located in this city. It seats 1,600. Starts Distributing in the Fall Berlin — The new First National German distributing unit will start functioning in the Fall. It is understood 25 pictures of the 1926-27 product will be picked out for this country. Film Entirely in Silhouette Berlin — "The Story of Prince Achmed" has been completed. The film is entirely in silhouette. London Premiere Soon London — Under the auspices of the London Film Society, "The Story of Prince Achmed" will be shown here shortly. To Make Scientific Films Paris — The Societe des Films Scientifiques et Documentaires has been formed with a capital of 45,000 francs. Headquarters at 24 Rue Darcet. British News Reel Appears London — The "All-British" Empire News Bulletin has made its appearance. New French Films Bv Ayraniiement With '■LA CINEMATOGRAPHIE FRANCAISE" Paris — French producers are busy at studios in and near Paris. "The Thief of Glory," being made by Pierre Marodon, producer of "Salammbo," is near completion. Lotte Neumann, Suzy Pierson and Henri Baudin aie in the cast. Dolly Davis and Andre Roanne are appearing in Gaston Ravel's "The Forty-Seventh Seat." Following this, Ravel will make "Mademoiselle Josette ma Femme," from the comedy by Paul Gavault, an adapted by Ravel. Miss Davis will star. Maurice de Feraudy is starred in "The Statuette Maker," a comedy drama. Rene Plaissetty is responsible for production. Many scenes for "Martyre," the new Vitagraph-France production, are now being filmed in and around Nice. The scenario is by d'Enery. The cast includes Jean Angelo, Camille Bardou, Z. Suzy Vernon, Su zanne Delse. Desdemona Mazza and Suzanne Munte. "Palaces" is the title of Jean Durand's new picture. He is working at Nice and on the Cote d'Azur. Huguette Duflos, of the Comedie Francaise, is the star, supported by Christiane Favier, Mme. Desgranges and MM. Volbert, Zorilla and Leon Bary. Crock's first film to be produced for Jean Kemm is "Keeper of the Harem," for distribution through the Establishments Jacques Haik. MM. Forster and Jouannetaud play the leads. Abel Gance is busy on "Napoleon" at the Billencourt Studios, for the Societe General de Films. Two New German Films Berlin — "In the Country of Happiness," a Starewitch picture, and "German Hearts at the German Rhine," are two new features which have made their appearance. In the former little dolls appear through the aid of mechanical devices. The Swedish film, "The Little Majesty," made by Svenska, of Stockholm, had its premiere last week. "Commandments" in Far East Singapore — Two "Ten Commandments" road show units are operatnig throughout the Far East. They are part of the ten companies workins: out of Sydney. One is now n Java and the other playing Siam. Two "Wilmhelm Tells" Berlin — "Wilmhelm Tell" has also been produced here. Emil Harder made one in Switzerland. Split Policies Becoming Popular London — Throughout the Provinces, vaudeville is becoming popular as part of the picture program. "Stella Dallas" Opens in Paris Paris — 'Stella Dallas" has opened at the Linder for an extended run. Asks Exhibitors to Decide Release London — A. C. Dent of Wardour Films, has circularized exhibitors asking them the most suitable release date for "The Woman Tempted." A crowded market caused Dent to hit upon this method. "Daily Express" Will Not Produce London — It is understood that "The Daily Express" has abandoned plans of producing a British film as an example of how it should be done. Betty Balfour in "Cinders" London — W. & F. Film Service, Ltd., is producing "Cinders," with Betty Balfour. Here's Service London — W. Williams is erecting a large first run on Finchley Road. The theater will boast of many unusual appliances so as to insure convenience for patrons, among them a "cloakroom" attached to each seat, in which can be put a coat, hat and umbrella or stick. Besides this, a large tea room will be installed and free parking space for the accommodation of several hundred cars. Financial Structures {Continued from Page 5) Actually, net income continued the progressive expansion that has been underway since 1921. The common stock affords a fair yield at current levels and has good long pull prospects. The preferred shares are entitled to an investment rating, while the conversion feature, which gives the holder a call upon the common at 107.32, has immediate possibilities. The only objection to the preferred stock is the fact that it is redeemable at 120, or two points under the prevailing market price. First National, Preferred {Price, 99; Dividend, $8; Yield, 8.1%) There are several rather unusually interesting aspects of this company and its securities. In the first place, there is but the one type of stock which is available to the public, but while this stock is a preferred issue, the holders thereof have an opportunity to participate in the company's net profits on a slightly complicated, but extraordinarv basis. That is to say, while the ?;2,S00,000 of first preferred are entitled to cumulative dividends at the rate of 8%, as long as the present amount remains outstanding, the issue is entitled to an additional distribution amounting to 8% of the sum by which net earnings are in excess of |1,500,000 in the preceding fiscal year. Such participation ceases above a net earnings figure of $2,500,000. As a result of this feature, an extra dividend of $1.44 a share was paid to preferred stockholders in April. The $2,070,000 of 7% preferred stock which follow the 8% preferred are privately owned while the 60,000 shares of no par common are held by companies which have entered into franchise agreements with First National. These franchises provide the company with an outlet for the greater portion of its motion picture productions and enable it to exhibit in first-run theaters in practically all the so-called "key cities" in the United States. This arrangement has the advantage of eliminating fixed capital investments in theaters so that the company devotes all its energies to production and distribution. An extensive chain of exchanges is maintained in several foreign countries. Through these and the domestic exchanges. First National distributes its own productions and those of independent producers. The company has no funded debt. Current assets of $9,890,000 compared with $3,820,000 of current liabilities at the end of last December. While advances to producers made up $5,590,000 of the former total, financial condition may be considered satisfactor)'. On the strength of $46.68 a share earned for the 8% preferred in 1924, $28.31 the year before and $78.01 last year (without making allowance for tile participation clause) the stock is well protected. It cannot be regarded as other than speculative oiving to lack of seasoning, but as a speculation it possesses considerable attractiveness. Fox, Class A (Price, 64; Dividend, $4; Yield, 6.3%) Large growth from small begin(Continued on page 21)