The Film Daily (1918)

isM:A DAILY Saturday, August 3, 1918 FROM THE NEW YORK COURTS Katz and De Wolfe File Answer in Suit To Recover On Note — Other Litigation Herman Katz and John E. De Wolfe have filed an answer in the Supreme Court to a suit brought against them and the Paralta Plays, Inc., by the banking firm of Peierls, Buhler & Co. to recover on a note for $50,000 made by the corporation on Nov. 17 last and endorsed by Katz and De Wolfe. The defendants admit that the note was made as alleged, but say that $4,768 has been paid on it. They allege that the note was delivered to George Newgas on condition that it would be returned to the defendants unless he delivered $50,000 in cash to them on that date. For this reason they contend that the note belongs to them and not to the plaintiffs, and that the plaintiffs have come into possession of the note wrongfully. The defendants say further that Newgas, the Interocean Film Corporation and Paul H. Cromelin were their agents and that the note was delivered to them as evidence that the sum was to be lent to the defendants. They say it was mutually understood that the Interocean would reimburse itself for the loan to the defendants from the proceeds to a contract signed on the date mentioned for the defendant's films, and that the defendants would not be held personally liable on the note. They say that the Interocean has not used diligence in advertising the films and that if they had done so they would have collected the amount of the note. Supreme Court Justice McAvoy has denied an application by the Export & Import Film Co. and Benjamin Blumenthal to compel Illiodor to file additional security for costs in his suit for damages because without his authority the defendants used his picture in the film "Tyranny of the Romanoffs With Illiodor," and have been competing unfairly with the film, "Fall of the Romanoffs," in which the plaintiff appeared. The defendants say that the case will be tried in October and that if they win they will not be able to recover the money paid out to defend the suit. They asked a bond for $750, but the court held that the present bond on file is sufficient. A $12,000 organ has been purchased by the new William Fox Liberty theatre in St. Louis, which is to be opened late in September. The theatre was formerly the Victoria, located at Grand and Delmar Avenues. Fewer Dramatic Pictures The production of motion pictures of a dramatic character continues to fall off, according to data based on the review of pictures by the National Board of Review in the course of the first six months of 1918. The number of subjects reviewed in that perior was 1,010 and the number of reels 3,171 J-^. This means that the average length of pictures was 3.14 reels. In the corresponding period in 1916 the production, according to the same source of information, was 2,216 subjects and 4,850 reels, the average length of subject being 2.19 reels. In the corresponding period of 1917 the subjects numbered 1,525 and the reels •4,066^-4, the average length of each subject being 2.66 reels. A chart showing the production by subject and reels covering the period for the three years would indicate that the general trend of production by month this year is parallel to that of 1916, while that of 1917 was irregular, reflecting the nervous condition of production while the government was considering the question of taxation of motion picture production and exhibition. That there may be a deficiency this year is perhaps indicated by the fact that old pictures are being reissued in larger numbers than usual, judging from current reports. Two-Reel Comedies Vitagraph announces that beginning September 16, it will release in the place of its one-reel Big V Comedies, two-reel feature comedies of the same name. These are to be produced by two companies, one headed by Larry Semon, the other by Montgomery and Rock. They will alternate on the program. The announcement adds that Vitagraph intends making a big feature of these comedies and has turned over a large part of the western studio to them. The change is prompted by the alteration the war has caused in the taste of the public. !|BINDERS! flfor "W7D'S DAILY" will cost $1. 75 each hereafter Kunsky Ties Up Stars Independent Managers in Detroit Must Take What Is Left DETROIT.— The John H. Kunsky corporation, controlling ten of the leading photoplay theatres in Detroit, has signed up for the following stars for the coming year: Norma Talmadge, 8; Douglas Fairbanks, 8; William Farnum, 8; Charles Chaplin, 6; Constance Talmadge, 8; Marguerite Clark, 8; Elsie Ferguson, 8; Charles Ray, 8; Dorothy Dalton, 8; Wallace Reid, 8; Theda Bara, 8; Anita Stewart, 4; Roscoe Arbuckle, 10; Harold Lockwood, 8; J. Warren Kerrigan, 2; Dorothy Gish, 4; Bryant Washburn, 8; Alice Brady, 4. In addition to these pictures which will be divided between the Madison, Washington and Adams theatres, there are two Artcraft specials, "Private Peat" and "Silver King"; the Annette Kellerman picture, Theda Bara's "Salome"; and all the First National Exhibitors' stuff, tied up for Kunsky presentation. John H. Kunsky and George W. Trendle, general manager for the corporation, are well satisfied with the business outlook for the future. "If the First National gets Mary Pickford," said Mr. Trendle, "our line-up of stars is complete." Charles W. Perry, former Pathe manager in Detroit, has returned to this city as representative for the W. W. Hodkinson corporation. "Hearts of the World" goes into its seventh week at the Detroit Opera House. Business is said to be good, in spite of the excessively hot weather. The Adams theatre and the Washington theatre, are both playing Theda Bara pictures for a full week. The Washington has a return engagement of Theda Bara in "Cleopatra." This picture played to big business last winter. The Adams has the vampire in "Under the Yoke." George Montgomery, formerly manager of Metro, Detroit, is now manager for the General Film Company, Chicago. Harry Abbott has opened a Detroit office for the Educational Distributing Corporation. He will sell travel pictures, nature pictures and animated cartoons. Harry R. Guest, publicity manager for John H. Kunsky, Detroit, is on a vacation.