Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

2546 Motion Picture News Convict Declared Winner of F. B. O. Contest to Decide Picture Title A CONVICT liberated from Sing Sing Prison last Saturday after serving a two-year sentence, won first prize of Si, 000 in the F. B. O. -Associated Arts title contest which has been running for the past year and concluded August 31st. He is Vincent De Pascal of New York, formerly an advertising and publicity manager, who has won numerous prizes for picture criticism and business slogans. The contest was held in connection with the picture temporarily titled, "On the Stroke of Three," which during its serialization in the Saturday Evening Post was called "The Man From Ashuluna." The winning title of the 189,654 submitted from the United States and Canada was, "On the Fatal Stroke." The second prize of S250 will be awarded to Rev. N. L. G. Anderson, a preacher of Tryadelphia, W. Va. The prizes aggregated S3, 000 and there were 150 of them ranging from Si, 000 down to S5. The contest was open to every person in the United States and Canada with the exception of employees of F. B. O. and of the motion picture trade journals. The judges were the editors of the trade journals, Messers Goebel and Erb and the executives of F. B. O. Goldwyn Sues First National Wants Accounting and Injunction on Three Pictures; "Charges are Unfounded" Says Spring A SUIT has been filed in the New York County Supreme Court against First National Pictures, Inc., by the Osida Productions and George Fitzmaurice Productions, Inc., for an injunction and an accounting of the three latest Samuel Goldwyn releases through First National —"The Dark Angel," "His Supreme Moment" and "A Thief in Paradise." The complaint is filed on behalf of the plaintiff by Nathan Burkan and it sets forth at length the details of the Fitzmaurice contract with First National. The contract, it is stated, called for an advance of $300,000 on each picture. Continuing, the complaint says that "The Eternal City" cost $355,531 ; "Cytherea," $293,183, and "Tarnish," $247,520. Later, it is set forth, the contract was renewed for three more pictures, the costs being as follows : "Thief in Paradise," $293,075 ; "His Supreme Moment," $300,873, and "Dark Angel," $300,475. It is stated in the complaint that when the contract was renewed First National arranged that any losses from two of the pictures could be recouped from the third THE National Laugh Month drive to the exhibitor and to the public is under way. The committee from the newly formed Short Featui'es Advertising Association has okeh'd a budget to take care of the necessary material to be sent to exhibitors. The committee consists of Gordon White of Educational as Chairman; P. A. Parsons of Pathe; Nat Rothstein of F.B.O.; Fred McConnell of Universal; Julian M. Solomon of Davis Distributing Division; Hill of Fox and Dr. W. E. Shallenberger of Arrow. The services of Julian M. Solomon have been loaned through the courtesy of Davis Distributing Division and he will concentrate on the getting up of the sketches, lithographs, banners, slides, cuts, press material and it is charged that a "conspiracy" was entered into so that the books of the corporation would show a loss on the first two pictures of the second group, and that such losses were to be recouped from the earnings of "The Dark Angel." The complaint alleges that the exhibition value on "Thief in Paradise" was reduced from $1,200,000 to $900,000, and that of "His Supreme Moment," from $900,000 to $800,000. Threats were made, so it is alleged, to lower the exhibition value of "The Dark Angel." The complaint continues that the Fitzmaurice pictures were sold with "inferior product" released by First National and the rentals were allocated so that the true values of the Fitzmaurice productions were not obtained. On Wednesday, November 18, Samuel Spring, secretary-treasurer of First National, made this statement: "Mi*. Goldwyn 's charges are utterly unfounded. First National acted within its rights and in a spirit of perfect fairness and is perfectly willing to meet Mr. Goldwyn in court, where it has no question of the outcome." and such other details as are required to equip the exchanges of the companies interested with National Laugh Month materia1. National newspaper syndicates handling cartoon strips have promised to co-operate. National magazines both serious and otherwise will be informed of the plans and undoubtedly will fall into line. The fiim trade papers have agreed to cooperate. The familiar advertising slogan will be paragraphed to meet the needs of the committee such as: "I'd walk a mile for a guffaw," "A Laugh a day will keep worries away," "What a whale of a difference a few laughs make," "Say it with Laughter," "99-44/100% pure laughs," "Have you had your laugh today?" Non Theatrical Showings Subject of Meeting As the result of a conference held between the Industrial Board of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and a number of persons interested in the motion picture industry, it is e pected a number of important changes will be adopted by the Industrial Board effecting the use of non-theatrical films. The hearing was held November 12th in the caucus room of the State Capitol at Harrisburg and was presided over by Cyril Ainsworth, secretary of the board. Among those in attendance were M. J. O'Toole, S. E. Wythe of the Neighborhood Motion Picture Service of New York; Rev. C. Waldo Cherry, Pine Street Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg and others. In addition to the discussion at the preliminary hearing briefs will be submitted by others who could not be in attendance. These briefs must be submitted by November 20th and shortly after that the board will announce its conclusions. The elimination of booths with approved types of machines, and a number of safety rules are up for consideration. Warners Make Changes in Field Forces Sam E. Morris, general manager in charge of distribution for Warner Brothers, announced several changes among the exchange forces this week. J. S. Hebrew, formerly manager at Philadelphia, becomes division manager with charge of the Philadelphia branch and, supervisor over Washington. Harry E. Weiner, member of the Philadelphia branch, has been made Washington branch manager. W. H. Rankin, taken from Seattle, has become branch manager of the Salt Lake City exchange and O. P. Hall, formerly with Fox, named branch manager at Atlanta. Erie Sheriff Advocates Sunday Opening The moving picture theatres of Erie, Pa.r will be open on Sunday, accordins: to a statement made by Major "Tom" Sterrettr a member of the Erie Daily Times staff T who has just been elected sheriff of Erie County. He will assume the duties of office January 4. In one of his articles relating to what he would do, he said: "If I am elected sheriff, I will not close the moving picture theatres on Sunday, or in any way attempt to enforce the blue laws. I am 108 per cent wet. I'll be the wettest sheriff in seven counties." New Company Purchases 30 Texas Houses THIRTY motion picture theatres in the state of Texas have been purchased by Louis L. Dent and C. J. Musselman of Dallas for a sum approximating $1,000,000. They will be operated under the firm name of Dent and Musselman, Inc., a recently chartered company. The towns in which the houses are located and the number in each town are as follows; El Paso, 4; Wichita Falls, 3; Amarillo, 3; Paris, 3; Tyler, 3; Abilene, 2; Breckenbridge, 4; Ranger, 3; Eastland, 2, and Denton, 2. Laugh Month Drive Plans Set National Campaign Launched by Short Features Advertising Association