Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

1 2^f'' Motion Picture N e zv s Dolores del Rio Will Be Starred United Artists' "Ramona" in DOLORES DEL RIO is to be starred in a United Artists picture, "Ramona," which Edwin Carewe will direct and co-produce with Inspiration Pictures in California as soon as Miss del Rio has finished her work in "The Trail of '98." Mr. Carewe left for California this week to begin work on the scenario of the Helen Hunt Jackson novel, which has sold into 127 editions. The star, a native of Mexico, will play a Mexican girl in "Ramona." The decision to star Miss del Rio was reached after Joseph M. Schenck, Walter Camp, Jr., president of Inspiration Pictures, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin had previewed "Resurrection," the picturization of the Tolstoy novel. Dolores del Rio Companies Preparing for Sales Conventions Plans Being Formulated for Sessions, Majority of Which Will Be Held in May; Some Dates Set THE majority of film companies are at present preparing for the annual sales conventions and some have an nounced definite meeting dates. Details are now being settled with most firms planning to hold the sessions in May. Famous has made no definite decision, hut from present indications the convention will start May 2 for the Eastern division in New York, swing to Chicago May 6 for the Middle-West division, and finish in San Francisco for the Western division. The executive and sales staffs will follow the convention throughout the schedule. M. G. M. will convene at Los Angeles from May 19 to 24 inculsive, with full sales representation from all branches. First National has set May 19 to 23 inclusive, as the dates, the convention to be held at the Burbank studio, with a complete representation of executives and all branches. Fox will hold its convention at Atlantic City, about the second week in May with all exchanges in attendance. No definite dates have been set. Educational has set a tentative date early in May, with the Ambassador at Los Angeles as the probable choice if reservations can be made. Universal has made no definite decision, its plans still being in the formative stage. Warners will await the return of H. M. Warner from the Coast before definite plans can be announced. Pathe is holding plans in abeyance till the question of the impending merger with P.D.C. is settled. It may develop that this company will dispense with an annual convention and confine itself to regional gatherings. Any announcement of its convention dates at this time wovild be premature, John C. Flinn, vice-president and general manager of P.D.C, states. C. E. A. Split is Feared British Exhibitor Organization Divided on Quota Question and 1926 Annual Report FACTIONAL differences, with a possible split in the organization, are feared in England for the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association, according to reports, following differences of opinion over the quota bill and dissatisfaction with the annual report of the officers. Many exhibitors are hostile to the quota features of the bill, according to trade paper reports, although they are strongly in favor of abolishing block booking and blind booking. The bill meanwhile has passed its second reading. Another factor in the situation is the complaint by some members that the annual report shows very little accomplished in view of the expenditures made. This has led to open complaints in the trade press by exhibitors, who have pointed out that while operating costs of the organization were high, it had little to point to in the way of concrete achievements for 1926. The C. E. A., on the other hand, points to the prospective acfion on blind and block booking, and to its services in obtaining electric cun-ent supply during the general strike, averting what would otherwise have been a tremendous loss to the theatre ()\vii('i-s of Great Britain. Incorporation Charters Granted at Albany, N. Y. Newly incorporated motion picture companies incori)orated this week with the Secretary of State at Albany', N.Y., ineluded the following: Photo Process Products Corporation, $20,000, William E. Parrington, Jamaica; John P. Tucek, New York; Jeremiah Harnett, Brookvn; Weinbro Theatres, Inc., $10,000, Theresa Weisberg, David Silvei'man, Karl A. Blaustein, Brooklyn; Goshrov Theatres Corporation, '::i0,000, Lillie Fedderman, Jacob Jacobs Keul)en Cohen, Brooklyn; The Dieterieh Corporation, capitalization not specified, Ludwig Dieterieh, Forest Hill; John B. Taylor, Watertown; Edward P. Holden, Jr., Brooklyn. New South African Group Form Syndicate A new syndicate known as Kinemas, South Africa (Proprietary), Ltd., has recently been formed in South Africa with an initial capacity of 25,000 pounds, according to advices to the Department of Commerce from Trade Commissioner Pen-y J. Stevenson, Johannesburg. Large houses Avill be l)uilt in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, while a distributing department is contemplated. Programs will be shown in town halls for the present. Four New Finnish Houses Planned for 1927 Four new motion picture theatres are being built in Finland during the current year, according to a report to the Department of Commerce from Assistant Trade Commissioner F. B. Lyons, at Helsingfors, the seating capacity to range from 1,200 to 1,500. The latest available figures on the total for the country are for 1924, at which time there were 150 houses with a total seating caijaeity of about 40,000. Canadian Imports Largely from United States According to official Canadian Government figures, just given out at Ottawa, Canada, last year, imported 23,593,221 feet of film from the United States, 286,158 feet from Great Britain, and only 24,660 from all other sources. Temple Bailey Signed By Kennedy ALONG term contract with Film Booking Offices has been signed by Temple Bailey, novelist, who affixed her signature to the arrangement at the behest of Joseph I*. Kennedy, F. B. O. vice-president. By the terms of the contract F. B. O. acquires the right to film every novel that comes from the Bailey pen for the next five years. The first production to be filmed will be "Wallflowers," a serial in Good HouseTieeping Magazine.