The Film Daily (1918)

7j£?BRADSTREET of FILKDOM 7/fcRKOGHIZED Authority Vol. V, No. 119 Friday, September 6, 1918 Price 5 Cents REVIVE TAX QUESTION AT CHICAGO Lee General Manager Exhibitors Want 5% on Rentals and 10% on Admissions— Select William A. Brady to Present Their Case CHICAGO.— The reel tax was the important question at yesterday's session of exhibitors. Frank Rembusch, Maurice Choynoski and Sam Bullock were the spokesmen. Later the number was augmented by Herman Trinz and Herman Brown. Brown stated the case from the exhibitors' angle very clearly. He said the 15-cent reel tax was meant for the exhibitor and not the manufacturer and that it was unfortunate that the exhibitors had never presented their case at Washington. He urged that a move be made asking Congress to make the war tax 5 per cent, on rentals and 10 per cent, admissions. This taxation, he said, was the limit for the exhibitor. Some of the exhibitors said the proper person to act fo: them on the tax question was William A. Brady, and accordingly a telegram was sent to Mr. Brady requesting his attention to the tax problem from the exhibitors' angle. Edgar Lewis, the producer, spoke in the afternoon on the manufacturers' angle of the tax as well as picture-making. Frank Tichenor of General Film, who was scheduled for an address, is seemingly holding himself aloof. His subject was to be "efficiency." The convention itself is growing cold. Now that the amalgamation is completed, there seems to be no initiative in carrying out the scheduled Faversham Signs Noted Actor to Appear in "The Silver King" William Faversham signed a contract Wednesday morning with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation to star in an elaborate production of "The Silver King," the famous old drama by Henry Arthur Jones and Henry Herman. Mr. Faversham has been identified with the stage for the past thirty years and is already known as a screen star, having appeared in two pictures sometime ago. "The Silver King" will be produced in one of the eastern studios of the Famous Players-Lasky organization and work on the screening will commence September 12. The film will be released as a Paramount-Artcraft special. Will Have Charge of Sales for Anita Stewart Productions Louis B. Mayer has appointed Joseph F. Lee general sales manager for the Anita Stewart Productions. Lee has been associated with Mayer for several years as his New York representative and has been very active since the taking over of the former Vitagraph star. Another appointment by Mayer is that of Richard MacFarland, formerly with Lubin, as general manager of productions. Mr. MacFarland will be with the company at all times. During the coming week it is expected that the Anita Stewart Productions will close for a half floor in one of the buildings adjacent to Fifth avenue, where the New York headquarters of the company will be. Clara Kimball Young, Select star, is now in Chicago. She will appear at the ball to be given to-night for the benefit of the Great Lakes Training Station. MUTUAL GETS AFFILIATED FILMS Contract Closed for Physical Handling of Product— Release Date for First to be Soon Lincoln are the fea A contract between Affiliated Distributors Corporation and the Mutual Film Corporation has just been completed whereby the product of the Affiliated to be released through the exhibitors' co-operative plan gives the Mutual Film Corporation the shipping and physical distribution of Affiliated films. The contract was signed after a . conference between Henry A. Brink, program. Well-known film men are president of the Affiliated, and James leaving Chicago daily. Alfred Black, John Manheimer and Ernest Horstmann, as well as others, of the M. P. E. L., are on their way to New York. In the meantime, the by-laws committee is perfecting laws for the amalgamation. It is expected that a call will be issued for all the visitors to listen to the committee report, but it is doubtful if many will attend. M. Sheldon of Mutual in Chicago. The closing of this deal is another indication of the vogue of co-operative booking, in view of the fact that one of the oldest and largest distributing corporations has recognized its worth. The first Affiliated production to be thus released is Leonce Perret's patriotic spectacle, "Lafayette, We Come!" (Pershing, '17). Dolores Cas sineli and E. K. tured players. This production was shown to the exhibitors at the Chicago Convention. Definite announcement of the date of release will be made shortly. Dewees Is in New York W. P. Dewees, general manager of the First National Exhibitors' exchange at Vancouver, B. C, is in New York for a week. Mr. Dewees is also the general manager of the United Theatres, Ltd., of Western Canada, a pewerful circuit of theatres in the Dominion. Mr. Dewees is in the city to look over the present crop of First National attractions and also to arrange with the William Fox interests for the showing of Fox Standard pictures on the circuit for the coming season.