Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1927)

S c pte m her 30 , 19 27 989 July Exports Totalled 27,903,405 Feet MOTION picture exports in July totaled 27,903,405 feet valued at $741,831, an increase of approximately 1,800,000 feet over the same month last year, but $90,000 iess in value, but 5,000,000 feet and $98,000 more than the shipments for June of this year, according to statistics compiled by the Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. Exports by classes during July were: Positives, 20,427,892 feet valued at $493,983; negatives, 748,270 feet valued at $94,473; raw stock, 5,382,746 feet valued at $136,124, and shipments to non-contiguous territories, 1,344,497 feet valued at $17,251. First National to Continue McGuirk Drives The resignation of John J. McGuirk as president of First National will cause no change in the plans of the company's sales department for the McGuirk Month sales drive, according to Ned E. Depinet, general sales manager, who has instructed his branch managers to proceed with the compaign with unabated enthusiasm. The standing of exchanges and districts in the first week of the McGuirk Month sales campaign was completely upset at the end of the second week. Portland fell back to seventh place nationally and to third place in its district. The Albany exchange captured first place in its district and for the country at large. The Western district won second and third places, with the Des Moines exchange a shade ahead of the Seattle branch. Pittsburgh leads the Southern district. Yugoslavian Theatres Total 273 Yugoslavia, with 12,000,000 inhabitants, boasts 273 motion picture theatres, with 86,630 seats, or an average of 317 seats per theatre and one house to every 44,000 people, say's a teport from George H. Canty, Paris, to the Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. Belgrade, the capital, with 112,000 population, possesses eight picture theatres, with a total capacity of 6,100 seats, or one seat for every 18 people. Strangely for Europe, every theatre contains at least 400 seats. Six average from 500 to 1,000 seats, while one exceeds 1,000 seats in capacity. The capacity for houses in Belgrade averages 737 seats. Zagreb, the second city of importance in Yugoslavia, with a population of 108,000 people, has 6 theatres with approximately 5,150 seats, or an average of 850 seats per theatre. Goldwyn Selects New Title for Golman-Banky Film Samuel Goldwyn will name the forthcoming Colman-Banky feature "The Flower of Spain," instead of "Leatherface," as already announced. Fred Niblo will direct the production, scheduled to begin within the next two weeks. Mayer Not Backing Tiffany M, H. Hoffman Brands Report Published in Hollywood as Ridiculous; Spikes Other Coast Rumors A REPORT, published in Hollywood to the effect that Louis B. Mayer is financially backing Tiffany Productions, Inc., was bi-anded this week as ridiculous by M. H. Hoffman, vice-president of the company. He also denied that John M. Stahl is to become director-general for Tiffany. Mr. Hoffman's statement said, in part: "Outside of the rapid strides made by the Tiffany Company and, thei-efore, its natural expansion and development, there have been no 'shakeups' of any kind in the company, nor are there any changes being made. "New financial backing by Louis B. Mayer or anyone else is ridiculous. Mt*. L. A. Young, president of the company from its inception, has always backed the company and will continue to do so. "Mr. M. H. Hoffman has always been, and still is, in full executive charge. "Regarding a studio, the Tiffany company has been on the look-out for a studio site for some time, and will build or buy a studio very shortly. So that is nothing new. "As to John M. Stahl becoming DirectorGeneral — not a bad idea — ^wc like the suggestion; but unfortunately that illustrious gentleman is under contract with MetroGoldwjm-Mayer — and, besides, it takes two to make a bai^ain. He has not been asked nor has he said 'Yes.' " Joe Brandt Off to Europe Columbia Chief Will Make Distribution and Reciprocal Arrangements Abroad JOE BRANDT, president of Columbia Pictures, is off on a three months' tour of Europe for the purpose of extending his company's distribution abroad, and to make reciprocal arrangements for the distribution of foreign pictures in America. His itinerary covers the important countries of Europe, with length stops in London, Hague, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Christiania. Brandt, together with Jack and Harry Cohn, the guiding heads of Columbia, feel they have built up a strong distributing organization in the United States, and that they can build an equally strong one in the foreign market. Discussing his trip before sailing on the Olympic, on September 16th, Brandt said : "With many foreign countries embarking on a broad-gauge schedule of picture piHiduetion, I look forward to the making of many worth-while pictures that audiences in the United States will be glad to see. Wherever possible, we plan to establish direct representation for Columbia pictures and, to further that end, will enter into reciprocal arrangements with foreign producers to serve as their distributors in the United States. "I sincerely believe that much of the success for the future distribution of foreign-made pictures will eventually fall upon the shoulders of independent producers in America. American producers who have established their own companies in Great Britain, for example, cannot, or will not, absorb the number of pictures which the quota will bring about. This means that many worth-wliile British pictures will never be distributed in the United States, unless American independent producers, through their sources of distribution, pro' vide the outlet. < "I feel that a definite business relationi ship with British producers and European; producers is a vital necessity." ' j M-G-M Reported in Broadcasting Deal for National Distribution of Programs METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER is to enter extensively into radio broadcasting as a business, according to a story published in the New York Sun, the plan being the sale of radio programs. The story, unconfirmed by M-G-M officials, is to the effect that contracts for land wires for a nation-wide hook-up involving from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 annually, are being negotiated with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. According to the Sun, New York City will have the central broadcasting station, while other stations will receive the programs by land wire in a coast-to-coast hook-up. WHN is named as the main distributing station. It is said that theatre acts in different localities suitable for radio programs will be sent to New York by land wire and from there relayed throughout the country. The story says the plan will go into effect by February of next year. The new venture will be launched by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a separate business enterprise.