Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

2274 Motion Picture News Expansion of Stanley Theatre Chain Will Cost $10,000,000 to Execute AN expenditure of $10,000,000 is involved in the contemplated expansion of the Stanley Company of Philadelphia, directors of the corporation, were informed this week hy John J. McGuirk, president of the corporation, when they met to increase the rate of dividends from $3 to $4. Mr. McGuirk declared that the expansion program will be continued with all possible speed and with sound business judgment. An increase in payments to stockholders is justified, according to Mr. McGuirk, because of the prosperity enjoyed by the Stanley Company in every way. The 14 weeks ending April 2 realized a profit of $1,620,000, according to the Stanley president, who concluded his remarks by saying that the development of Stanley activities had been extremely rapid during the past few months. Brandt Cites Cooperation Columbia Can Secure Players of Bigger Companies Because of Production Ability, States President ADDRESSING the Exhibitors League of Baltimore at a luncheon of the League held May 26 at the Southern Hotel, Baltimore, Joe Brandt, president of the Columbia Pictures, stressed the co-operation that exists between his company and the bigger producing organizations in the matter of Columbia's being able to secure players for its productions from those organizations. One of the members of the League brought up the question of an independent company being able to get worth-while boxoffice casts because the favorites were under contract to the big companies; Mr. Brandt explained his company is able to secure players because of the fact that the big companies realize Columbia studios have the ability to produce pictures of a high calibre. In this connection Mr. Brandt pointed out that Columbia will have as a member of the cast for its production ' ' The Blood Ship," Richard Arlen, loaned by Paramount, Hobart Bosworth and Jacqueline Logan. H. M. Warner Talks to London Meet from N. Y. A SIX-MINUTE address by H. M. Warner, president of Warner Bros., who sat at his desk in New York, opened the convention of Warner Bros, sales organization in London, England, on Tuesday, May 30. The wireless telephone was the medium used by Mr. Warner in making his talk. Delegates and representatives of the English press and trade papers heard his voice, beginning at 9:30, New York time. Amplifiers brought the executives' words to everyone in the hall where the convention took place. His company's plans for the coming months was the gist of Mr. Warner's talk. Herman Starr presided over the London convention. Mr. Brandt was introduced to the League by 0. D. Weems, Columbia representative in the Baltimore territory. During the course of his remarks he emphasized his company's enlarged studio facilities and ample finances, and gave a brief outline of Columbia's program for the coming season, touched on the advertising plans arranged and, in closing, stated that Columbia will leave no stone unturned to make the very best pictures brains, money and enthusiasm could make. About forty-five theatres were represented at the luncheon Including Mr. I^ake, Hippodrome Theatre; Mr. Mornstein, Queen Theatre; Mr. Levine, Irvington Theatre; Mr. J. Levine, Bealart Theatre; Mr. L. Henderson, Fulton Theatre; Mr. C. Nolte, Linwood & Baltimore Theatres; Mr. S. Saltz, New Howard Theatres; Mr. Moore, New Theatre; Mr. W. Stump, Garden Theatre; Mr. Snyder, Bridge & Edmondson Theatres; Mr. Saltz, Majestic Theatre; Mr. Miller, Republic Theatre, Annapolis, Md.; Mr. F. Homig, Horn & Royal Theatres; Mr. C. Hicks, Hampden Theatres; Mr. A. Price, AvalonAuroraPreston Theatres; Mr. W. Macy, McHenry-Garden Theatres; Mr. Bien, Morrel Park Theatre; Mr. Tunick, Popular Theatre; Mr. Zimmerman, Echo Theatre; Mr. F. Durkee, Palace-State-Belnord-GrandForest-Communlty Theatres; Mr. L. Garman, Pinilico-Belvedere Theatres; Mr. T. Goldberg, WalbrookHarford Theatres; Mr. Back, Rialto Theatre; Mx. Blum, Idle Hour Theatre; Mr. L. Rome, CapitolBroadway-Apollo-Goldfield Theatres; Mr. H. Cluster, Crystal Theatre; Mr. Schlossberg, Solax-BroadwayGarden Theatres. N. Y. Graphic Establishes New Rate on M. P. Ads. Announcement has just been made that the New York Graphic an evening paper having the third largest circulation of the newspapers publishing in the metropolitan area, has established the run-of-paper rate on motion picture advertising. The Graphic is the third New York daily to give motion picture interests the benefit of the commercial rate. Following the campaign waged by Hanff-Metzger, which handles the theatre and national advertising for Paramount, The Telegrani and Staats-Zeitung announced a reduction from the usually high rate charged on amusement advertising. East Texas Theatres Organized With $100,000 Sol E. Gordon is the president and general counsel of the new corporation, The East Texas Theatres, Inc., which has been granted a charter and will be organized with $100,000 capital. The basis of the new company is four theatres, located at Nacogdoches and Lufkin, Texas, and will acquire other houses throughout East Texas. J. C. Clemmons is the vice-president and general manager; E. L. Kurth, chairman of the board; J. H. Kurth, Jr., treasurer, and T. R. Clemmons, secretary. The Jefferson Amusement Company, which is headed by Sol E. Gordon and the Clemmons brothers, will be the managing company. Robert H. Clemmons, supervisor of the Jefferson Amusement Company, will be the managing director of the East Texas theatres. He will be succeeded at Port Arthur by M. C. Clemmons, who has been in charge of the Jefferson Amusement Company's interests at Orange. Universal Casts Keane for "Viennese Lovers" A featured role in "Viennese Lovers," scheduled by Universal to be one of its important productions for the new season, has been assigned Raymond Keane, juvenile actor, who will play the young lover of Mary Philbin in the picture which F. Harmon Weight will direct. Jean Hersholt, one of the co-stars of the production, will play Miss Philbin 's father. According to present plans, filming will be started within a few days under the supervision of Paul Kohner. Supporting players are now being cast. Paramount News Staff Holding Convention THE American members of the staflf of Paramount News assembled this week, beginning Tuesday, for a four day convention at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. This meet, according to Emanuel Cohen, editor of Paramount News, will be the first national convention of cameramen in the history of the newsreel. Wednesday, the first day of the convention, was devoted to an inspection tour of the Paramount ofiices and theatre, the Long Island laboratory and the new laboratory being erected in 43d Street. Thursday saw the news men assembled at the Roosevelt, where Mr. Cohen delivered the opening address. Other speakers and their topics were: A. J. Richards, "Feature Stories"; S. H. MacKean, "Covering News Stories"; W. C. Park, "Reel Makeup," and Stephen T. Early, "Contacts and the Associated Press." Talks scheduled for Friday are: L. S. Diamond, "Organization"; Stanley B. Waite, "Distribution of Paramount News"; Miles F. Gibbons, "Local and Foreign Editions"; David Sussman, "The Laboratory"; Fred Waller, "Lenses and Filters," and Eugene La Roche, "Cameras." The visiting cameramen will be tendered a banquet by home office executives on Friday evening at the Roosevelt. Individual problems will be discussed on Saturday.