The Film Daily (1927)

^ o/^FILMDOM ALL THE NEWS ALLTHE TIME VOL. XLII No. 4 Wednesday, October 5, 1927 Price 5 Cents Clicking HOLLYWOOD, or a large part of it, has l)een lifted out of the doldrums. The various component parts which g-o to make up a prt)duction unit ajiparently realize that while they are concerned with an art they are also cogs in a huge business machinery which must function adequately, efficiently and on time if the works are not to be choked beyond all relief. For Hollywood, where they make 'em, has been sensible enough to bow to the inevitable. The dissipation of untold thousands through the production sieve is being forced out of the picture rapidly. One of the most encouraging dispatches to hit this office in many months is that which tells waste in the studios is being eliminated, production budgets are being respected, and release dates met. Applied Remedies Indeed the occasion is sufficiently happy to cause handsprings. Production, the base of the motion picture triangle, always has been and perhaps always will be the principal ill. Naturally, it is at production that the bulk of criticism and unreasonable carping will be levehed. To find then that an applied remedy will take and that production is susceptible to cure, constitutes a discovery of moment. No Hits or Misses While on production, we are reminded of a long talk with Winnie Sheehan. What he has done to elevate production standards at Fox is known, of course, throuphout the industry. "We are building five years ahead," he said. "Production is no longer hit and miss, but the result of intensive, hard work year in and year out. We cannot afford to let up." This we think, is largely the viewpoint of all major factors in production. They have a serious task on their hands and one that involves the expenditure of manifold millions. Friendly and sympathetic cooperation, based on the substantial business premise that the individual in production prospers as the producer flourishes, is not an unreasonable experiment to trj-. K A N N Commission Scrutinizes Affiliations of Delegates as Parley Date Nears Assembling for Trade Conference With opening of the Trade Parley Conference scheduled for Monday, delegates are heading toward New York. Several important members of the Coast contingent are here. Jesse L. Lasky and Walter Wanger are in New York. Louis B. Mayer arrived yesterday. Harold B. Franklin who came Kast for a few days, has extended his stay in order to attend the parley. Fred Beetson, of the Ass'n. of M. P. Producers, Hays allied organization in Hollywood, is also in New York. When the gavel falls at two o'clock Monday next, there will be between 250 and 400 in the assembly room at the Bar Association building on West 44th St. The roster will comprise the best known names m the industry. ..The heads of practically every producing and distributing organization will be present — in person and not by proxy. fLOAT ISSUE fOR 5 PARAMOUNT THEATERS Four Houses For Brooklyn, One in Birmingham in 60 Days What comprises one of the largest motion picture theater issues in recent .nonths comes in an announcement .rom Allied Owners Corp which has iold an issue of $9,500,000 first mort.^age real estate 6 per cent lionds to I group headed by Halsey, Stuart & Jo. and including Graham, Parsons & Co. and Bonbright & Co. Inc. (.Continued on Page 2) 70 PICTURES EROM BRITISHHIS YEAR IVashington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Seventy pictures will comprise the output of studios of Great Britain during the present season, it is reported to the Dept. of Connnerce. Of these, 22 are awaitng trade show; 12 are in the course )f production, and 36 are scheduled subjects. British International Gaumont, and Gainsborough continue to dominate the British production field, and have (Continued on Page 6) Studio Economy and Efficiency at Highest Peak, Lasky Says Orpheum Net Drops First Six Months, Report Shows Comparison of Orpheum Circuit earnings for the first six months of the current year with the like period in 1926 shows a decrease. For th^ six months ended June 30, 1927, net income was $736,806 after interest, depreciation and federal taxes. This (Continued on Page 2) Pictures now are being made with an efficiency and economy never before attained by the industry, as a direct result of the economy program which has aroused the "economic conscience" of Hollywood, Jesse L. Lasky, first vice president of Paramount, stated yesterday on his return from the ^oast. He will remain in New York a month, and then attend (Continued on Page S) Los Angeles Today — See Page 5 31 Exchange Centers Have Chosen Delegates to Conference Thirty-one exchange centers have chosen exhibitor delegates to the Trade Practice Conference which opens in New York next Monday, Charles C. Pettijohn, head of Film Boards of Trade, stated yesterday. Delegates and territories they represent appear on page 7. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Qualifications of delegates to the 1 rade Practice Conference in New York Oct. 10, with the Federal Trade Commission, now are being passed on by the commission, it is understood. Reticence marks attitude of the commission toward efforts to secure discussion on the forthconihig conference, but it is known that the tnajor portion of the nation's arbitration boards have forwarded their certified list of delegates. The delegates and their affiliations (Continued from Page 7) N. J. to Act Denied direct representation in the Trade Practice Conference to be held Oct. 10 in New York under auspices of the Federal Trade Commission, because of a peculiarity of the arbitration system, the New Jersey exhibitor association will appeal to the commission for the right to be represented by counsel. This course was decided upon yesterday, with a meeting to be held Friday to obtain report of a committee and decide on a final course of action. The Jersey unit for some time has been fighting to secure amendment of the arbitration agreement to gain representation for exhibitors of the state on the arbitration board.