Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

2638 Motion Picture News Important Changes in German Field News Correspondent Writes of Formation of ExhibitorOwned Distributing Company; Ufa Expansion Predicted THERE are rather important developments on this market at the present moment; first of all in the theatrical field. I am not speaking, in this connection, of the remarkable change and upward trend as far as exploitation methods are concerned. This had to come as naturally the standard had to be adapted to the increasing standard of production along with the increasing demands of the public. In Berlin there are about a dozen houses of good international standard (or even above it) ready or in the course of construction just now; incidentally it is a matter of course that the smaller houses which could not keep pace with the development of this business are, one by one. closing down. This development is so natural that it hardly needs any comment. What I was driving at in speaking about important developments in the theatrical field is the fact that there seems to be a remarkable trend for "trust'" formations in the ranks of the independent exhibitors. Two important formations of this kind have lately sprung into existence, one of which, called "Das Syndikat" comprising 170 exhibitors, each of whom has paid Mks. 3000.— ($750) into the general fund and has declared readiness to pay up to Mks. 15.000.— ($3,750) in case Further Light on Latest German Developments T HE accompanying article by Heinrich Fraenkel, leading German tradepaper man and correspondent for Motion Picture News, is of particular interest this week in view of the announcement of Universal's affiliation with UFA. That deal is strongly hinted at in this article which was written nearly three weeks ago. An interesting development along the lines of a possible German "First National," that is, an exhibitor-owned producing and distributing firm, is also dealt with. necessity should arise. The idea is that these "trusts" of exhibitors are hiring each film en bloc, distributing it among their members according to their own wishes. The "Syndikat" even intends to open a small renting organization of their own handling five German and five foreign films each year, and they even want to go to the length of having ] art of those films produced by an organization of their own. Naturally, it is rather unlikely that these ideas will be realized, and it can't be denied that the renters who are up against these developments are in a far stronger position. Apart of these developments on this market as outlined above there is one which seems to be many degrees more important as it may have far reaching international complication as far as this trade of ours is concerned and as it certainly shall be bound to seriously affect the international trend of the film industry. Nothing definite may (and as a matter of fact can) be said at the moment as all these things are just now developing. One thing is certain, however, never in the history of this trade has there been so much "in the a;r" as just now. And although I am sorry not to be able to give any definite clue to the matter this week, *it certainly does not require many divinatory gifts to prophesy that before long the example set by Fox in this country will be followed by other American companies, viz: production either on the unambitious lines (considering continental distributing only) of the above mentioned company, or on bigger lines or perhaps partly so. It goes without saying that also a more definite shape in the development of the import situations will be the direct outcome of those other developments hinted at above, which may be expected in the very near future. Theatre Developments Increasing Many Important Announcements Made During Past Week With Regard to Transfer of Holdings THAT Los Angeles is following the lead of Chicago, Philadelphia and New York into a new era of the entertainment business seems evidenced by recent theatre building developments within the city. The Forum, West Coast Boulevard, Figueroa and Carthay Center Theatres — all new and huge residential district playhouses — are direct evidences that Los Angeles has arrived within the sacred circle of great cities with palatial outlying theatres. To the eyes of a close observer it would seem that a very special success awaits Los Angeles when the idea of the big suburban house is given a thorough try-out. No city in the world has quite such a congested down-town district and no city in the world, of equal size, has the homes of its people scattered over such a truly immense area. It is significant that the men who are investing the great capital required in these big outside houses are theatre owners who have scored big previous successes in downtown theatres/ John Goring, Manager of the Forum Theatre came to that house after splendid successes with the Rivoli and Rialto Theatres in New York. The policy of the West Coast theatres to extend their activities into every corner of the city is well known. Fred A. Miller, budder and operator of the new Figueroa theatre needs no introduction. He has taken over this new residential property after a long experience with some of the biggest downtown playhouses. Working drawings are being prepared by Architect Leonard F. Starks of Sacramento, for four re-inforced concrete and steel theatre buildings for the Paramount Theatre Corporation. These moving picture theatres will be erected at Chico, Marysville, Placerville and Oroville, California. Each building will have a seating capaicty of about 1500. Construction will start about the first of the year. Plans for the early construction of a $3,000,000 theatre and office building on Market street at 9th, by A. F. Giannini, San Francisco banker and associated interests, were revealed with the arrival from New York of Thomas W. Lamb, architect of that city for a preliminary discussion of the plans. The theatre will be leased to William Fox, movie magnate, for 30 years, the aggregate rental to be $5,000,000. ' News of the purchase by the Comerford Amusement Company of Scranton, of a three-story business building in the central part of Carbondale, from the Miners' & Mechanics' Bank, has given rise to reports that the company will build a new theatre there. One of the biggest Nebraska theatrical deals of recent years was the purchase just announced by the Hostettler Amusement company of nine theatres, seven of them in Nebraska and two in Iowa. The price was not given out but it is known to run into a big figure. Hostettler's bought out the entire Blaine and Cook circuit, consisting of the Platte in North Platte, Nebr., the Gilbert and Rialto at Beatrice, Nebr., the Sim and Dean at York, Nebr., and the Elite and Royal at Le Mars. Iowa. The other two theatres involved in the deal were the Keith and the Sun, formerly owned by Hawley and Neville. Six new neighborhood theatres are to be erected in Omaha by next summer. The string of theatres is to be erected by Louis and Sam Epstein, real estate dealers of South Omaha. The contract has been signed for the first of these theatres, to be built at Corbv and Sixteenth streets. Each of the houses will cost about $50,000 and will have a seating capacity of 750. A. H. Blank, head of the Blank chain of motion picture houses in Iowa and Nebraska, will erect a $1,200,000 cinema theatre on the site owned by him at the northeast corner of 9th and Locust street, Des Moines. The plans call for a structure which will be the last word in modern playhouse construction with a seating capaicty of 3,600— more than twice as large as the largest picture theatre in Des Moines, and one of the largest west of Chicago. Joseph Stern has purchased ground in Bound Brook, N. J., for the erection of a building containing a theatre seating 1500, and stores and offices. The New Maltz theatre in Alpena7 Mich., damaged by fire about a year ago, will be opened again next week by Fitzpatrick & McElroy, according to reports. (Continued on page 2645)