Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1927)

D e c C in /'(•;• / 6 1 !> 5 7 1W2-C "U" Makes Sales Changes Van Praag Named New Western Sales Director, W hile Herbel does to Chicago Bills Concerning Films Up Before Congress INTRODUCTION in the House of Representatives of a bill providing for the repeal of the fight -film law, full repeal of admission taxes, and national daylight savins marked the opening of the first session of the 70th Congress in Washington on December 5. Repeal of the fight -film law was provided for in a measure introduced by Representative Cochran of Missouri. The elimination of all admission taxes was covered in a bill by Representative '•allivan of Massachusetts, and national daylight saving, from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, was sponsored by Representative O'Connell of New York. In a bill introduced by Representative Knutson of Minnesota, no admission tax would be assessed against admissions to cooperative or community motion picture theatres where no part of the net earnings inured to the benefit of any private stockholder or individual. The measure providing for Sunday closing for the District of Columbia, the subject of hearings before a subcommittee of the House last session, was reintroduced by Representative Lankford of Georgia. Denial of License for Sex Picture Questioned The Public Welfare Picture Corporation has made an issue of the action taken by the New York State Motion Picture Com mission in denying a license to exhibit a picture entitled "The Naked Truth." A writ of certiorari to review the action taken by the commission in refusing the license has been issued by the appellate division of the Supreme Court sitting in Albany. The writ is returnable before the court on December 12. The licensing of all motion pictures in New York state is now under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Education with James Wingate as chief of the bureau. Joseph Engel New Caddo Production Manager Joseph Engel, who was vice-president and general manager of the old Metro company, succeeds Whitman Bennett as production manager for Caddo Productions, whose pictures are released through (Jnited Artists. Engel is already in Hollywood, having left the Fox organization in New York to assume the Caddo post. .Mr. Bennett, who leaves Los Angeles for Xew York during the week of December (i, resigned as the Caddo production manager because of pressure of personal affairs. Tif fany-Stahl Completes Two Productions "Streets of Shanghai" and "A Woman Against the World" are two features that have just been completed by Tiffany-Stab] Productions and now are being cut and edited. Pauline Starke i featured in the first production, with Kenneth Harlan as her leading man. In "A Woman Against the World" are Sally Rand. Gertrude Olmstead, Georgia Hale and Harrison Ford. LOP B. METZGER, general sales manager for Universal, has effected an important shifting of his sales executives that brings about a number of changes in the organization. Several resignationhave been accepted and promotion made from within the ranks, in accordance with Carl Laemmle's long established custom. Henry M. Ilerbel, Western sales manager, at his own request assumes the management of the Chicago exchange, left vacant by the resignation of Leroy Alexander. The Western sales directorship goes to Morton Van Praag, who for the past year has been general manager of the "Big U" exchange in Xew York City. Morris Joseph, manager of the Xew Haven exchange, take Van Praag 's former post. Leo Abrains. Brooklyn and Long Island salesman out of the "Big U" exchange, become Xew Haven manager. In addition to the above another important change in sales managers has been effected. Phil Dumas, who for some time JEROME BEATTY, assistant to Will I!. Hays, has resigned bis executive post in the Hays organization to join First National, where he will be in charge of advertising, publicity and general public relations work. His resignation becomes effective January 1st. 'I'he announcement of the Beatty resignation and his prospective affiliation with First National was made by Ned E. Depinet. vice-president and general sales manager of First National. At the same time Depinet /eromfl Beatty past has been a special representative in the Cleveland. Pittsburgh and adjacent territories, has been appointed exchange manager for the company's Pitt-burgh exchange. He takes the place of Al Sir.-nrman, who has just resigned. The switch ol Leo Abrauis from salesman in the Brooklyn and Long Island field to New Haven, brings Leslie Sherwood as salesman in Brooklyn ami Long bland. Sherwood was formerly New Jersey sales manager for the ''Big U" exchange. He. in turn, will be succeeded a New Jersey sales manager by Nat Liebeskind, at present non-theatrical sales manager for the "Big U." Herman Stern will take charge of the non-theatrical sales. Herbel was relieved of the Western Bales directorship at his own request, He held the post for two years and the constant traveling incident to a territory all west of Chicago, but routed out of New York Cit\ caused him to ask for an assignment where he could be at home more of the time and avoid traveling. announced that no changes would be made in the present staff of First National. It was also announced by the Hays organization that no successor had been named to Beatty. Beatty is a veteran in the motion picture, field, his first work being with Kssanay in 1915. He is also a graduate of the newspaper field. He first took up newspaper work in Kansas, in which state he was born. He worked ." newspapers in Kansas City. Xew Orleans, Los Angeles. Washington and Xew York City. After his advent into the motion picture industry with Kssanay in 101r», he gained wide experience with a number of companies. Among other he has directed publicity, advertising and exploitation for Tbanhouser, Paramount ami Universal. Beatty' good work attracted the notice of Will Hays, who made him an assistant, and since joining the Hays organization he has ably conducted two successful Greater Movie Season campaigns, which have been observed with profit by exhibitors in all parts of the United States. Pathe-De Milk W ill Make "The Cop" The achievements of the metropolitan police force will be the theme of n film, "The Cop." planned by the Pathe-De Mille studio. Hector Turnbull. producer for De Mille. is making preparation* to film the picture, which is scheduled as a super-special. It i* undecided whether "The Cop" will be filmed in Xew York or Los Angdc-, while, a* thing are, several large cities may be u*ed BS locales. Beatty Given New Post Resigns as Assistant to Will Hays to Serve First National as Publicity, Advertising Chief