The Film Daily (1927)

2fe NEWSPAPER pSfilmdom ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME VOL. XXXIX No. 67 Monday, March 21, 1927 Price 5 Cents Trading KEY positions are beginning to count more mightily than ever. Concentrated theater power in a specific territory, for instance, has proven its Worth in trading involving far removed theaters which apparently have nothing to do with the case. Certain producer-distributors who are seated in the theater saddle in particular sections are learning that through this control they can place their pictures in competitive producer-distributor houses in other parts of the country. When and if the pressure becomes too severe, you can count on a fuller advantage being taken cf this condition. The Credit Column The First Nationalites are ascending the ladder. It is extremely gratifying to note advancements from the ranks. We are strong for that business principle. Ned Marin, long desirous of entering production, becomes assistant to Dick Rowland. The combination of experience which has been Marin's should serve him well. He knows distribution and boxoffice values. Ned Depinet, specialist in Southern sales, is elevated to the sales managership. Andy Smith takes over Canada in addition to the East which has been his stamping ground. That's not all. Stanley Hatch becomes western sales chief succeeding Marin while W. E. Callaway takes over the South. The Idea Hunt The bells must be ringing out in many communities. Famous has arranged a story hunt. Free for all. Everybody invited. Bill Le Baron is the titular head of the new Authors' Council. It is to be hoped his various pleasantries do not become too sour. For he is in for a lot of punishment. When the writing genii throughout the country start inundating Famous with great ideas, the flood will be a successful one. However, some good is certain to result. In the Antipodes Lots going on in Australia. Hoyts Theaters, eighty strong, are primed to cross swords with Australasian. One result is certain: The public will be enabled to disport iself in larger and more modern houses. Don't imagine the theater scramble is peculiar to these United States. KANN SCREEN FOR PANORAMA INVENTEDJN FRANCE Triple Projection Held Perfected by Joint Control in Booth By Arrangement with "LA C1NEMATOGRAPH1E FRANCAISE" Paris — For his film "Napoleon," which Gaumont-Metro-Goldwyn is going to present, in conjunction with the Societe Generale de Films, at the Opera, on April 7, Abel Gance has invented a new triple screen. It is the same height as an ordinary large-sized screen, but three times the usual width; so that the film projected is in the form of an immense fresco. This screen receives, simultaneously, three different projections, which touch each other without the junction being visible. Three projectors, (Continued on Page 5) Protecting Rights Louisville, Ky. — Infringement of its territorial rights is to be prosecuted vigorously by Big Feature Rights Corp., M. Goldberg, secretary, declared after being awarded judgment of $100 against Excelsior Film Co. of Cincinnati. Goldberg seized (Continued on page 4) 6,878 N. Y. Complaints Complaints totaling 6,878 and involving $786,829 were handled by the arbitration board of the Theater Owners Chamber of Commerce, according to an announcement of the Amer(Continued on Page 2) 22 Directors Assembled Twenty-two directors will be assembled at the Paramount Coast studio when the consolidation of the East and West Coast production forces is completed. Stay Home Week Flops Painesville, O. — "Stay at Home Week," sponsored by ministerial associations, proved a failure here. The observance was heralded as the first step in a national campaign. Abe Schwartz, who operates the Utopia, states business was average during the week, and other lines of business make similar reports. K-A Wants Cash to Join F. N. Pool Negotiations between Stanley and Keith-Albee, which would bring that company and probably its associated units into the Stanley-West CoastFirst National pool, are understood to have reached an advance stage. However, the Keith interests are reported to be opposed to the Stanley offer of stock, insisting instead on cash. 1 50 OFFICES TO SERVE PARAMOMWSREEl Force Complete with First Release in August, Cohen States One hundred and fifty established offices in the centers of governmental, political and social activities throughout the world will cover every phase of life for Paramount News, accord ing to Emanuel Cohen, head of short features production for Famous. Associated with these headquarters will be contact points which Cohen says will assure Paramount News of the latest in current events. Cohen's news staff is now complete. The initial release is scheduled for August. Sets Fox "Big Three" Los Angeles — Negotiations have, been concluded by James R. Grainger with Fred Miller's Carthay Circle, to book that theater solid for the next 18 months with three Fox productions scheduled for indefinite runs at roadshow prices. The first is "Seventh Heaven," which opens May 4. After a run this (Continued on Page 4) A Review of Reviews By LILIAN W. BRENNAN The arrival of several new and well heralded productions offered a staggering enough array of stars to give promise of a perfect week for the box office. John Barrymore in "The Beloved Rogue," John Gilbert in "The Show" and Gloria Swanson in "The 'Love of Sunya," to say nothing of Paramount's later arrivals: the special, "Rough Riders" and Bebe Daniels in "A Kiss in a Taxi" were the real "hopefuls" that promised much. The Barrymore picture has box (Continued on Pane 5) ANOTHER 'U' THEATRE IN WISCONSIN RACE Sheboygan Chosen as Next City in Three-Cornered Building Campaign Sheboygan, Wis.' — Continuing its aggressive expansion program throughout the state, Universal has completed plans for a 2,250-seat theater here. Universal's expansion in this territory started with acquisition of the Alhambra, after which the company obtained 14 suburban houses. The company is building at Racine and Kenosha. Wisconsin is witnessing a threecornered expansion race between Universal, Saxe Enterprises and Fischer's Paramount Theaters, the (Continued on page 4) 42 in Levy Chain Louisville — Three theaters at Anderson, Ind., have been purchased by the Anderson Theatrical Enterprises, a corporation composed of Col. Fred Levy, Fred Levy, Jr., Lee L. Goldberg and Sam J. and Harry R. Switow, who now own 42 theaters. (Continued on Page 2) Seeks Theater Parley Liverpool — Determined to head off acquisition of theaters by any distributor, following successful negotiations by the exhibitor association with Famous on the key city situation, the local unit has passed a reso(Continued on Page 2) German Firm Pays Dividend Berlin — That German producers can prosper without a subsidy is demonstrated by the ten per cent dividend paid by the Agfa Co., as compared with six per cent last year. Discussion of a subsidy, it is stated, has injured the trade considerably, making it increasingly difficult to obtain financial aid from bankers. Grosses $127,611 The Roxy Theater for its first full week beginning Saturday, Mar. 12, ending Friday night, Mar. 18, grossed $127,611, according to the Roxy Theater Corp. The receipts for the opening night totaled $30,000. This marks a record in theater history for any attraction.