Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March 24, 1923 1379 here, could not the same idea (the uniform contract) be employed without the ceaseless bickering and fruitless disputes that have arisen during the past two years? Where could we obtain such a man? Is it not possible to induce Lloyd George or Sir Eric Geddes? Either one of these men would prove a bulwark against the attacks that are increasingly evident each day, and would proclaim to the world that if it was good enough for him to take on such a post, then there must be serious business in such an industry. " The time is ripe for a Will Hays. Let us look to the future, and if we can secure the services of a great personality such as I have outlined to take command of this industry, it will be the greatest thing that has ever been done in its history." * * * THE Kinematograph Weekly, on the other hand, contributes a full-page article on the uniform contract which is not so enthusiastic. This British trade paper says: " There is a good deal in America's new ' uniform ' Contract to rejoice the heart of an exhibitor — that he lives in England. The doeiuuent has been acclaimed as a wonderful monument to the statesmanship of Will Hays. No doubt it is an achievement to get all the American distributors to agree to a single form, the more so as the ' Uniform Contract, ' though described by an American trade magazine as ' the strongest distributor's contract ever presented to an exhibitor,' cuts out some clauses in older forms very obviously in favour of the distributor. " One of the most obvious features of the Contract is that it is designed for a market in which block booking and blind booking nourish with all the old and evil luxuriance. Just how viciously the American Trade is organized is clear from the fact that the exhibitor is expected to rejoice in the fact that the films for which he contracts will actually be delivered to him. These films must now be identified by letter or by the names of stars, and if postponed in issue must be delivered on a later date." The Kinematograph Weekly attacks from several angles and concludes by stating that " there is something in being a British exhibitor ! ' ' RyfABEL NORM AND has returned to Los Angeles after an absence of several months in Europe vacationing. She expects to start work shortly in Mack Sennett's story, " Mary Ann.". IT occasionally happens that a spectator will fall asleep on a picture if there isn't anything inspiring in the action to keep him awake. The wise observer who has a penchant for using a comfortable theatre seat may start his nap at the introductory reel, waking up at the end knowing that everything has been O. K. Some houses have alert ushers who can tell a snorer from the bass violinist. Our advice to the nodding patron is to find a secluded seat and if the picture proves disappointing, enjoy a pleasant nap by keeping his mouth closed tightly and not recline too far on his back. Apropos of the sleeping question allow us to introduce Abraham Owen, a respected resident of Albany, New York, who furnished a near tragedy to himself and a good laugh to the citizens of his fair city when they read of his >experience while visiting the Regent Theatre one night last week. Mr. Owen works hard at his trade all day. The picture was uninteresting so he concluded to take a brief nap. The owm Index to Departments Editorial 1377 Pictures and People 1378-1379 General News and Special Features 1380-1389 Chicago and MidWest 1390 Comedies, Short-Subjects and Serials. 1464-1466 Construction and Equipment 1473-1487 Exhibitors' Box-Office Reports 1397 Future Release Chart 1489-1492 PreRelease Reviews of Features 1453-1454 Production-Distribution Activities 1 468-1472 Regional News from Correspondents 1455-1463 Reviews of Latest Short-Subjects 1467 Studio Notes and Player Brevities 1488 With the First-Run Houses 1491-1494 Special Arrow Section 1405-1452 of the theatre failed to notice Mr. Owen an hour later when he closed up for the night. At 1 :45 o'clock, the napper awakened. The house was in utter darkness. After a few moments, realizing his predicament, the man made his way the best he could to one of the exits. He found the door barred and bolted. At first he pounded. Then he shouted. Sergeant McGinn, of the Sec ond Precinct happened by and released Mr. Owen. The moral of this story is that anyone who finds a poor picture on his hands and wants to enjoy a nap should advise the usher to wake him up on time or else bring an alarm clock. H ERE'S a little breath ol humor from the Kinematograph Weekly, a British trade paper. As an example of the gentle art of making the best of a bad job, the following handbill, distributed by the management of the Gaiety, Aliwal North, Transvaal, South Africa, certainly takes some beating: "APOLOGY. — We apologize most humbly for the absolutely rotten picture shown at the Gaiety on Monday night. It was bad, DAMNED BAD ! It was ghastly, it was a tragedy, but it wasn't our fault! We paid good money (our money) for that picture, so please curse the people who sent it to us." Here comes an adroit bit of humor. Continuing, the handbill says: " Those that left the theatre before the show was over we do not blame, but to those that had the courage to stick it out to the bitter end we offer our congratulations. It is such bulldog courage, such brave tenacity of purpose that made our Empire what it is today and helped to win the war! And that's that!" # # * J-JEDDA HOPPER, who has appeared in several screen productions in character parts, has returned from the pleasure resorts of Europe. St. Moritz, Venice, Nice, Monte Carlo, Paris and London were included in her itinerary. BERTRAM MILLHAUSER, who for the past several years has been identified with George B. Seitz serial productions for Pathe, has accepted an engagement on the scenario staff of Universal and is en route to the west coast. In addition to his work on stories and continuities in connection with Seitz productions, Mr. Millhauser also directed two of his own serials. His work in Universal City will be along similar lines. * * * f\ *7 ' HE Film Renter and Moving Picture Neivs, a British "* trade paper of the industry, in its issue of March the third, pays a eulogy to our own William A. Johnston for his tribute to the genius of Will Hays in evolving the new contract in America. After quoting several salient paragraphs of Mr. Johnston's editorial, it advises the leaders of the British industry to catch the importance of the unity brought about by the uniform contract. "America has settled its differences on the question, and it is up to this country to do likewise. It has taken many months to do it on the other side, but it has been accomplished. There is a great lesson in this for the British industry, and it is conveyed in the few words, ' Go thou and do likewise ! ' " OOD NEWS! Col. L. G. Nutt, head of the Federal narcotic squad, investigating drug conditions in Los Angeles and Hollywood, has given the city and its suburb a clean bill of health.