Film year book : 1922-23 (1923)

Sam Goldwyn acquires picture rights to "Potash and Perlmutter." Aliens developing new chain in Ontario. Valentino complains of Famous treatment to Sf. Louis public. Monday, Dec. 4 Michigan exhibitors protest against "production" to first runs. Knapp probably to head Pennsylvania censors ; Oberholtzer seeks reappointment as secretary. Sam Goldwyn on coast. Secretive about future plans. Tuesday, Dec. 5 Mack Sennett features and specials to be released through Hiram Abrams. Hiram Abrams plans to start booking combinations among exhibitors everywhere to give independent producer a chance. Wednesday, Dec. 6 M. P. T. O. launches fight against "Music Trust." M. D. H. Connick reported in deal with Thomas H. Ince. Thursday, Dec. 7 A. B. C. announces will buy on state rights basis. Charges lack of cooperation from producers. Friday, Dec. 8 Appellate Division New York, affirms decision against Valentino. Must complete his contract with Famous Players or not appear publicly until Feb. 1, 1924. Will Hays leaves for Coast. Hopes to make Hollywood an "ideal industrial center." Famous and Goldwyn making pictures bearing upon picture making in Hollywood. Nat'l. Non-Theatrical Corp. deal with Christian Herald off. Saturday, Dec. 9 W. W. Hodkinson, in Collier's urges percentage system booking as solution of problems. Massachusetts courts decide exhibitor must pay whether or not he plays picture. Fairbanks denied injunction in New York to restrain reissue of old films, court points out he was employe not producer. Monday, Dec. 11 A. B. C. members pledge $500,000 to put organization over. Hope Hampton to do two specials, one for Fox and Famous before completing First National contract. Tuesday, Dec. 12 "Doc." Shallenberger closes many deals in midwest for Arrow product. Wednesday, Dec. 13 M. P. T. O. organizes Theater Owners Dis., in Chicago, with authorized capital of $5,000,000; invites independent exhibitors to join and plan to have product ready by September, 1923. Vitagraph abolishes deposit system, effective Jan. 1 ; no contracts without play dates. Carle Laemmle denounces first run showings as industry's greatest menace; calls first runs "pure bunk." Thursday, Dec. 14 Battle looming between A. B. C. and M. P. T. O. ; former plans to extend activities in nation wide movement. Schulberg-Abrams litigation regarding United Artists settled out of court. A. E. Smith denies J. D. Williams is connected with Vitagraph. Friday, Dec. 15 H. D. H. Connick denies being interested in any picture project at present. States right distributors attorneys oppose five per cent sales tax at Washington. Important headlines for the remaining fortnight of 1922 will appear in The Film Year Book, 192.!. "Passion" Holds Capitol Record No picture shown at the Capitol, New York, during 1922, was able to make the high water mark established in December, 1920, by "Passion," which played to 22,466 admissions on the opening Sunday. THE HAYS ORGANIZATION A RESUME OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE M. P. PROD. AND DIS. OF AMERICA, INC. In December, 1921, a committee of Producers and Distributors approached Postmaster General Will H Hays, asking that he consider a proposal to head an association of a number of the leading companies in the industry. Following conferences at the White House, President Harding on January 14, issued this statement: "The Postmaster General and I have been discussing at considerable length the proposal which has been made to him to become the head of a National Association of Motion Picture Producers and Distributors. If the arrangement proves to be, when the details are worked out, what it seems to be, I cannot well interpose any objection to Mr. Hays retiring from the Cabinet to take up a work so important. It is too great an opportunity for a helpful public service for him to refuse. I shall be more than sorry to have him retire from the Cabinet where he has already made so fine a record, but we have agreed to look upon the situation from the broadest viewpoint and to seek the highest public good." Mr. Hays established offices as President of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., on March 4 at 522 Fifth Avenue. Articles of Incorporation were signed at Albany on March 11. The organizations belonging to the Association, as of December 1, include: Associated First National Pictures, Inc., Educational Film Exchanges, Inc., Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Fox Film Corporation, D. W. Griffith, Inc., Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, Buster Keaton Productions, Inc., Kenma Corporation, Metro Pictures Corporation, Joseph M. Schenck Productions, Inc., Select Pictures Corporation, Talmadge Productions Corporation, Universal Pictures Corporation, Vitagraph, Inc., Warner Brothers. As descriptive of the purposes of the organization the Certificate of Incorporation states: "The object for which the corporation is to be created is to foster the common interests of those engaged in the motion picture industry in the United States, by establishing: and maintaining the highest possible moral and artistic standards in motion picture production, by developing the educational as well as the entertainment value and the general visefulness of the motion picture, by diffusing accurate and reliable information with reference to the industry, by reforming abuses relative to the industry, by securing freedom from unjust or unlawful exactions, and by other lawful and proper means." During the first months of its work, the Association has gathered an organization and has pushed forward various projects dealing with the relationship of the public to the Mo tion Picture industry or with the mutual bu non-competitive interests of the several mem ber companies. The motion picture industry has been ham pered by reason of confusion in the contractua relations between distributors and exhibitors The associated producers and distributors havt been in frequent conference with representative of exhibitors' organizations working toward standardization of various clauses in their con tracts. While no date can be assigned for the completion of this work, agreement has been reached on a number of clauses, marking real progress, and the prospect for an accord on the remainder is hopeful. 331