Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

2438 Motion Picture News Kent Outlines Sales and Production Policies at Paramount Session A 100 per cent representation of Paramount district and branch managers attended the annual fall convention, held at the Drake hotel in Chicago, November 6, 7 and 8, and heard Sidney R. Kent, general manager, outline the sales and production policies on the new season's attractions. This spring and summer schedule, with the sales policy adopted, will be announced shortly. George W. Weeks, general sales manager, presided at the sessions which were (addressed by Adolph Zukor, Jesse L. Lasky and other executives from the home office. On Sunday the assembled managers previewed a number of the productions which have been finished, among them being "The Wanderer/' "Volcano," "The Grand Duchess and the Waiter," "The Vanishing American," and "The Song and Dance Man." No previous Paramount program has aroused such enthusiasm. Through the medium of a special edition of the Showman's Manual the managers were given a vivid description of each picture along with suggestions on how the pictures may be sold to the public. Short Feature Ass'n Is Formed Organization is Launched to Increase Prestige of Short Subjects THE organization of an association of film men interested in increasing the prestige of the Short Feature was completed Wednesday, November 11 at a luncheon meeting in the Hofbrau, 1680 Broadway, New York City. The association is to be known as the Short Feature Advertisers Association and it has as its purpose "to increase interest in Short Features on the part of the public, exhibitors, trade papers, magazines and newspapers." Plans were furthered for a nation-wide comedy exploitation month to be held in the near future. This will be a comprehensive drive to interest the public in Short Features and to acquaint picture fans with the importance of this part of their film-fare. The meeting at the Hofbrau was presided over by P. A. Parsons, of Pathe, who is the leader protem of the organization. Gordon White of Educational is vice-chair JAMES R. GRAINGER, general sales manager of Fox Films, has departed for his fifth trip to the coast since he Joined the Fox organization last May. While there he will join Winfield R. Sheehan, vice-president and general manager, who is now lining up the production forces preparatory to starting work on the schedule of releases the Fox organization is contemplating for the 1926-27 season. Grainger did not plan to go directly to the coast. He sailed November 7th on the S. S. Comus for New Orleans and from the southern seaport he will start on a final whirl around the south and southwest in behalf of the current season's product. Before departing, Grainger expressed his enthusiasm over the Fox releases for the latter part of December and January. "The Ancient Mariner" is the special Christmas man, and Julian Solomon of Davis Distributing Division is secretary. A constitution for the organization was adopted and the following committee appointed to plan the nation-wide Short Feature exploitation campaign immediately. It is expected that this campaign will begin without delay, building up to a month of unprecedented interest in one and two-reel comedies on the part of exhibitors and the public. Cooperation will be obtained from civic organizations, societies, newspapers and magazines all over the country. The campaign committee consists of P. A. Parsons, Gordon White, Julian Solomon, Nat Rothstein, of F. B. 0., Dr. Shallenberger of Arrow, Paul Gulick of Universal and W. C. Hill of Fox. Jerome Beatty, who conducted the Greater Movie Season for the Hays organization, will consult with and advise the committee. release. The cast includes Clara Bow, Earle Williams, Leslie Fenton, Nigel de Brullier and Hall am Cooley. The last release of the year will be Peter B. Kyne's "The Golden Strain." In the cast are, Kenneth Harlan, Madge Bellamy, Ann Pennington and Hobart Bosworth. The first of the new year releases will be "The Gilded Butterfly'"' which John Griffith Wray is directing with Alma Rubens and Bert Lytell as leads. Following "The Gilded Butterfly" will come "Palace of Pleasure," directed by Emmett Flynn, with Betty Compson, Edmund Lowe, Henry Kilker, Harvey Clark, Jacques Rollens and Nina Romano. A corelease with the Flynn production is Tom Mix in " My Own Pal," from a story by Gerald Beaumont. Will Investigate Special Church Showings The using of motion picture films at churches and lodges for special performances without the knowledge of the producing companies is to be investigated by a committee representing the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Maryland, Inc. This committee was appointed at a meeting of the Board of Directors of that organization on Wednesday, October 28, and the Non-Theatrical Investigating Committee appointed. Those on the Committee are Frank H. Durkee, Palace Theatre; J. Graver, treasurer Century Theatre Company; Thomas D. Goldberg, Walbrook and Harford Theatres. New Arbitration Committee For Omaha Board The Omaha Film Board of Trade has just appointed a new Arbitration committee to serve from November 1 to February 1, 1926. The regular members are : H. F. Lefholtz, Universal Film company; Earl A. Bell, Vitagraph, Inc., and Lee Blank, Educational Film exchanges of Iowa. The alternate members are: B. B. Reingold, Fox Film corporation; C. T. Lynch, MetroGoldwyn corporation; and J. S. Abrose, Associated First National corporation. Sunday Shows Lose Again in Moberly, Mo. J. W. Cotter, owner-manager of the Fourth Street Theatre, Moberly, Mo., was beaten again in his effort to give Sunday amusements. Circuit Judge Walker sustained a $50 fine and court costs assesssed against Cotter by the Moberly City court for violating a city ordinance prohibiting Sunday shows. Notwithstanding this Mr. Cotter says he will continue the fight. Embassy Co. Takes Over Two St. Louis Houses TWO more theatres have been added to the string of St. Louis houses operated by the Embassy Amusement Company of that city through a deal under which the Ashland at North Newstead Ave., and the Newstead at Lee Ave., are to be taken over. The company also announced that on December 28 the Mikado Theatre, Hamilton and Easton Ave. will come under its control. Embassy also operates the Embassy, 850 seats; the Plaza, 735 seats, and Union, 1147 seats. Plans have been announced for the erection of a 1200 seat theatre at Marcus and St. Louis Ave., and it is stated contracts will be let soon for the building of another 2000 seat theatre at Union Boulevard. The deal for the Ashland, Newstead and Mikado theatres gives the Embassy company domination of Worth western section of St. Louis. The officers of the company are A. Laventhal, pres.; Ruby Laventhal, treasurer; Louis Stahl, vicepres. ; George A. Lubeliy, secretary, and Maurice Stahl, general manager. In addition to being general manager of the Embassy Amusement Company he is interested with George Skouras in the Aubert Theatre, Aubert and Easton Avenues, and an adjoining airdome, and also in the Chippewa Theatre, Broadway near Chippewa street. Grainger Again Off For Coast Fox General Sales Manager Enthuses Over December and January Releases