The Film Daily (1918)

7&BRADSTREET of FILMDOM 7/feRKOCHIZED authority Vol. VI, No. 42 Monday, November 18, 1918 Price 5 Cent* TERRITORY WELL ORGANIZED Pettijohn Explains True Status of AffiliatedMutual, Now Under Control of Exhibitors Charles C. Pettijohn, the host at an Affiliated-Mutual luncheon at Rector's Saturday, explained with considerable detail the exact relationship of the recently allied organizations. The name that has been under consideration, Exhibitors Distributing Corp., can not be adopted at present because it is being used by another company. Mr. Pettijohn stated that the stockholders of the Affiliated Distributors Corp. have bought the controlling interest in the Mutual Film Corp. and that in the future the Mutual organization will be known as the Exhibitors-Mutual Distributing Corp. This means that the two organizations are under the same financial control, but that they are separate concerns. The Mutual Corp., it appears, is free from debt and will start on its new career with William J. Clark as president, A. H. Brink as general manager, and Mr. Pettijohn as counsel for Mutual as well as the Affiliated Distributors Corp. In reference to the Affiliated organization, Mr. Pettijohn declared that the exhibitors hold fifty-one per cent, of the stock of the national distributing company. He said that this company has its representatives and exchange centers in ninety-two _ and five-eighths per cent, of the territory in the United States at the present time. This leaves only seven and three-eighths per cent, of the territory to be organized for the distribution of pictures. Mr. Pettijohn announced that ■within the next few weeks a statement would be issued giving the names of from twenty to fifty pictures which will be distributed through the selling organization. Material For Walthall Having secured a number of stories for Henry Walthall to produce for the National Film Corp., N. W. Aronson left for the Coast on Saturday afternoon. "The Long Lane Turning," by Amelia Rives and "Merry Andrew," by F. Roney Weir, were two of the stories purchased for Mr. Walthall. To Discuss Tax Today There will be another meeting of the officers of the Film Exporters of America at Rector's today to further discuss the question of taxes and the removal of censorship in the sending of licenses. The committee consists of David P. Howells, president; Joseph Miles, Dr. W. E. Shallenberger and Sydney Garrett. The Senate Committee has already amended the House Revenue Bill as follows: "That under such rules and regulations as the Commission with approval of the Secretary may prescribe, the tax imposed under the provisions of this title shall not apply in respect of articles sold or leased for export and in due course so exported." The adoption of this amendment will make all exported films free of tax, and the only remaining question on the tax situation is to recover the taxes already paid. DollVan Acquires Rights Henry Dollman, president of the Doll-Van Film Corporation of Indianapolis, spent a few days in New York last week and purchased the Florence Reed picture, "Wives of Men," for the state of Illinois. He also bought "The Still Alarm" for Illinois and Indianapolis, as well as several other productions. Want Lockwood Subjects Metro reports a great demand for the Screen Classics pictures c ompleted by the late Harold Lockwoo I. He left four features, "A King in Khaki," "Pals First," "The Great Romance" and "The Yellow Dove." "Pals First" is to be released first and week runs are scheduled for The Alhambra, Toledo; Tivoli, San Francisco; Alhambra, St. Paul; Merrill, Milwaukee; Goodwin, Newark; Olympia, Boston; Stanley, Philadelphia; Adams, Detroit. Four and five day runs are booked for The Baltimore, Baltimore; Strand, Buffalo; Regent, Rochester; Queen, Dallas; Empire, San Antonio, and the California theatre, of Los Angeles. A Great Help BIJOU AMUSEMENT CO. Battle Creek, Mich. Nov. 13, 1918. Mr. F. C. Gunning, 71 West 44th St., New York City. My dear Wid: — We read your criticisms of plays with great interest and find them a great help to us in the booking of pictures. Yours very truly, W. S. Butterfield. Sales Force Increased Pathe Representatives to Push Sale of American Productions By a new arrangement between Pathe Exchange, Inc., and the Flying A interests, 150 additional sales representatives will push the rental of American productions. President S. S. Hutchinson of the American Film Co., and Paul Brunet, vice-president and general manager of Pathe have added a clause to the contract between the two concerns whereby all Pathe selling representatives will also push the sale of American Ftying A productions. This force, in addition to the regular American salesmen, operating through and stationed at the various Pathe exchanges, will give the American company nearly two hundred representatives. Convalescent Soldiers' Benefit Mrs. F. K. Lane, wife of the Secretary of Interior, will give a benefit performance of "Lafayette, We Come"' to the Convalescing Soldiers in Washington at the new Crandall theatre tomorrow. The picture and theatre have both been donated for the patriotic screening, the picture by the Affiliated Distributors Corp., and the theatre by Harry Crandall. Dolores Cassinelli, the star of the production, will appear in person. Blaisdell's Son Killed Captain William E. Blaisdell, of the 106th Infantry and acting major of the Third battalion, was killed Sept. 29, while leading his command in battle. Capt. Blaisdell was the son of George Blaisdell, of the Moving Picture World editorial staff.