The Film Daily (1921)

THE INDEPENDENT MARKET If you are over the BIG PARTY at Minneapolis and are ready to settle down to business once more, it might be a good idea for you to secure some real pictures. For instance Muriel Ostriche in "THE SHADOW" * * * Joseph Bennet in "YOUTH'S DESIRE" * * * "HEARTS O'THE RANGE" with An All Star Cast * * * and then the big bet Claire Whitney and Robert Emmett Keane in Filmdom's latest surprise. A two cent stamp will bring a reply from Forward film Distributors, Inc. J. Joseph Sameth, Pres. 110 West 40th St. New York City Independents Band Together To Unify Territorial Percentages and Contracts (Continued from Page 1) finance productions of members of the organization. It is stated that the members of the financing group which is headed by a New York bank are ready to go ahead with the proposition once they are shown that the independent field as represented by the new organization is of sufficient stability to warrant the investing of large sums of money in it. The announced motives of the association are as follows: To co-operate for the purpose of driving the irresponsible and "fly-by-nighter" from the field. To establish a credit bureau which will investigate the past and present business status of exchanges with whom the members have to transact business. To launch a national educational campaign the purpose of which will be to inform the public that the independents are the bases of the success of the picture industry and not the members of the big corporations backed by unlimited financial power. To standardize contracts. To standardize the percentage ratios of various territories. To standardize the division of territories. To adjust grievances that may arise between exhibitors and distributors. To adjust grievances that may arise between producer members and distributor members. To smoothen out, in general, whatever knotty problems may arise in the course of ordinary business. Mr. Goldburg, in speaking of the plans of the organization, said yesterday: "We really mean to make this or ganization one of a lasting nature. Under the by-laws a member must be confined to cither the distributing end of the business or the producing end. A producer member cannot also be a distributor and vice versa. "There will be a board of eight directors to govern the affairs of the organization, four from the producing ranks and four from the distributing ranks. We now have 34 members and expect to line up more. There will be a paid secretary to manage the details and executive headquarters will be maintained in New York City. "1 have twice before attempted to launch an organization of this character, but at each attempt various men thought the plan was not feasible. Now we are going through with it. "The idea in itself is not a particularly new one with me, but in recent weeks the absolute necessity of forming some kind of a national co-operative organization of independents was brought home to me in the course of carrying out certain financial negotiations. "Certain men asked me whether it was not true that Adolph Zukor was for all practical purposes dominating the industry. I replied in the negative and added that I thought he had a strangle hold on it. "They later inquired whether or not the independents had any sort of an organization through which an effort could be made to secure a market for meritorious product. I was forced to reply they had not. I was told that if the independents could point out specifically that they could work together harmoniously and agreeably that the necessary financing would come through. That's one reason why this organization has come into being." Weiss Nails Rumors In order to set at rest various rumors which have been circulated since the announcement of the "Adventures of Tarzan" serial starring Elmo Lincoln, Louis Weiss of the Adventures of Tarzan Serial Sales Corp. yesterday issued the following statement: "I wish to point out now that 'Adventures of Tarzan' is brand new. It is being produced at the present time at the coast by the Great Western Producing Co., with the direction in the hands of Robert F. Hill. It stars Elmo Lincoln and is being made from the concluding chapters of 'The Return of Tarzan.' " Something New in the way of press books has been evolved by us that represents novelty, efficiency and at the same time economy. It was built with the idea of keeping the cost dewn and the quality up. Ask us about it. "Advertising is half the battle" C. J. Ver Halen and Staff Advertising En gin e e r s 844 Sixth Avenue, New York City Telephone Bryant 9223 Northwest Men Ally Minneapolis Exchangemen Form Cooperative Organization — Pledge Fair Play to Exhibitor (Special to WID'S DAILY) Minneapolis — Fifteen prominent local independent exchangi gotten together and formed the I ml'pendent Distributor.-, Association o{ the Northwest because they "realized that the future of the independent field is at stake." The organization pledges itself to observe the following: "Specially selected high class productions at a price you can afford to pay and make a profit, sold on an individual basis — eliminating the 'lemons.' "Distributed by experienced exchangemen who know you personally and who are familiar with con ditions in your town. "No long term contracts. "Contracts approved in your ter ritory and not in New York by swive chair officials. "The opportunity to book picture--consistent with your immediate needs. "Legitimate business methods always." The members of the organization are as follows: Masterpiece Film Co., Carl Michael and Guy Dawson; Mantzke Film Co., Frank Mantzke; Monarch Film Co., Kuhn and Nelson; W. R. Frank Film Co., W. R. Frank; De Luxe Feature Film Co., H. Rothner; B. X. Judell, Inc., B. N. Judell; First Film, Herb. Blass; Theater Owners' Corp., L. H. Coen; Greater Features Corp., M. H. Conhaim; Tri-State Film Exchange, E. Tunstall: Elliott Film Corp., F. York Elliott: Merit Film Corp., Albert E. Wunderlich; Friedman Film Corp., Benjamin Friedman; Midland Films, Inc., Tom Burke and Globe Film Co., H. Wirpel. Mary Anderson at Work (Special to WID'S DAILY) Los Angeles — Work has started or the first of a series of comedy dramastarring Mary Anderson. The storv was written by Florence Bolles will be picturized under t,he working title of "Oh What a Time." So Dunlap will direct. Cummings Leaves for Coast Irving Cummings has left for Cali fornia after a several days' visit ii New York, having made a trip hen to confer with executives of the Fro ducers' Security Corp. and to show them two of his newly complete* subjects, "Patsy's Jim" and "Th< Rope's End." They are three an( four of the series of Northwesl Mounted stories. His fifth will b< "Corporal Campbell's Ward." Independents Organize All those interested in the independent field will find an interesting article startirg on page 1 relative to the formation of the Independent Producers' and Distributors' Protective Association.