Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1923)

July 7, 192$ 51 Lloyd, Roach Terminate Business Relations Friendly Agreement Reached as Solution for Permitting Both to Expand BE long business association of Harold Lloyd and Hal Roach, came to a friedly termination last Friday. This announcement was made by Roach and Lloyd, following the signing of papers whereby Roach released the famous comedian from a contract which called for more comedy productions. The arrangement was made for the mutual advantage of both star and producer, and will in no wise affect the releasing contract which Pathe Exchange, Inc., now holds with Lloyd. Elmer Pearson, vice-president and general manager of Pathe, who is now in Los Angeles, attended the conference which made Lloyd a free agent. Lloyd's entire staff has been released by Mr. Roach, and will immediately go over to lln comedian, who is as yet unable to announce where he will start production on his own account. There has been no " split " between Lloyd and Roach. The business separation is only one of the consequences of the rapid strides each has made in the motion picture world. Roach's activities outside the Lloyd unit have grown with great rapidity during the past year. The attention that has been demanded of him by his own units, made it impossible for him to devote the time to Lloyd's efforts which he felt w_as due the comedian. Lloyd, on the other hand, was finding himself crowded for space, with Roach unable to give him any more than he had been turning over to the comedian's product. During the making of the picture which Lloyd has just finished, and which is still untitled, Lloyd took up more than half the space of the Roach plant in Culver City. An entire South American city was built on the rear of the lot, while one of the two dark stages in the studio was turned over completely to the Lloyd sets. This left Roach with only half the space of his studio for six companies, developing a serious situation from a production point of view. This situation has held for six months, for it has taken Lloyd that time to make his latest picture. Roach had made plans for the coming year that made it appear likely he would be able to devote less time to the Lloyd pictures than he had given even during the past twelve months. In talking over the situation with Lloyd, Roach explained he was willing to relinquish his interest in the comedian's product in order that each might be in a position to spread out. Lloyd virtually has directed his own producing activities since he began the development of the so-called feature length comedies. His many other interests kept Mr. Roach so thoroughly occupied that he relied almost entirely on Loyd in producing affairs connected with the comedian's product. When he begins production on his own account, Lloyd will have with him nearly all the men responsible for the production of " Safety Last," the comedy which is now having a sensational run at the California and Miller's, and a recently completed six reeler, which is still untitled, although it is said to have scored a big success in pre-views. Sam Taylor and Fred Newmeyer, will go with Lloyd* as directors; Tim Whelan and Ted "Down to the Sea in Ships" for Chicago Roosevelt ACCORDING to the contract just made through the Chicago offices of the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, announcement is made to the effect that Elmer Clifton's " Down to the Sea in Ships," the whaling picture that played for three months on Broadway, New York, and which is now being distributed through the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, has been signed for a four week engagement at the Roosevelt theatre, Chicago, 111., beginning July 29. The Roosevelt theatre, one of the chain of Balaban & Katz houses, has the reputation in the Middle West of booking only big pictures that will stand an extended run. This policy has been carried forward by this theatre for some years. Wilde as "gag" men; Robert A. Golden, assistant director; Walter Lundin as staff cameraman ; Gaylord Lloyd, Harold's brother ; Roy Brooks, Charles Stevenson, and Wallie Howe, actors; Gene Kornman, still photographer. Jobyna Ralston, who has taken Mildred Davis's place as Lloyd's leading lady, will continue with the comedian. William A. Fraser, Lloyd's uncle and business manager, will have charge of the business affairs of the Lloyd company. J. L. Murphy goes along as his aide. Joe Reddy will handle the publicity. So friendly are the relations between Roach and Lloyd that they have made arrangements for the interchange of players. Roach made the offer to release Lloyd from his contractural obligations several weeks ago. Although reluctant to accept the offer which meant the severing of associations so mutually profitable, Lloyd was convinced of the advantages that will redound to Roach and himself by the move. Like Roach, the comedian felt the need of room for expansion. Up to two years ago, Mr. Roach was in a position to devote practically all his time to rhe Lloyd interests. But then he began the development of his organization, the adding of units in which he held a hundred per cent interest, and naturally he could not give so much of his time to Lloyd. Today Mr. Roach has six companies other than Lloyd, which he keeps moving all the time. Production of the Will Rogers' comedies has already begun. He is producing single reel comedies with " PauP'Parrott, and Stan Laurel ; the " Our Gang " comedies ; the " Dippy-Doo-Dads " ; a serial company is producing " Her Dangerous Path " featuring Edna Murphj7, and a feature company has been added, which Fred Jackman is directing. This latter unit has alreadv produced Jack London's " The Call of the Wild." " There is only the friendliest feeling between Mr. Lloyd and myself," Hal Roach said. " I look with pride upon his great success, and know that the future holds even greater things for him. Our separation has been so friendly that I have made arrangements for Mr. Lloyd to borrow at any time any of the players on our lot, and he understands thoroughly that every facility of our studio is at his command always. " I contemplate making a trip around the world with Mr. Lloyd, I hope in the not too distant future. " Everything has been arranged to our mutual satisfaction, and I know that we are both going ahead and that our separation will only enable us to go in for bigger things in the motion picture industry. " My best wishes are with him." Harold Lloyd said : " The only reason for my leaving Mr. Roach is the desire on his part, as well as on mine, to spread out. During the nine years we have been associated, he always has given me the best he could. I owe a great deal to him, and thoroughly appreciate everything he has done for me. " As to my plans for the future I have not definitely decided on them. There is only one thing of which I am certain. That is that the public and the exhibitors of this country can be assured that we will make every effort to give them the same type of comedy we have given them in the past. There will be no change in our policies or our plans. We will go ahead as we always have done, for I will have the same organization that has been associated with me in my most recent pictures. " Mr. Roach and myself will continue the friendship that has grown since the first time we met at Universal City, even though our business ways will take us through different channels." Loving Cup for "Potash, Perlmutter" Director Director Clarence Badger, filming Samuel Goldwyn's production for First National of " Potash and Perlmutter," was given a pleasant surprise this week when he was presented with a silver loving cup as a token of the esteem of the producer, the members of the cast and the technical staff. The presentation took place during the lunch hour at the Fort Lee, N. J., studio, where the picture is in the final stages of production, and Barney Bernard, the Abe Potash of the screen as well as the stage, tendered the gift on behalf of his associates. Montague Glass, the author of " Potash and Perlmutter," was present at the studio for the first time since his recent operation for appendicitis. Members of the cast who were present at the presentation included Vera Gordon, Hope Sutherland, Adolph Miller, Alexander Carr, De Sacia Mooers, Edward Durand, and Ben Lyons. Johnnie Walker Engaged by Emory Johnson Johnnie Walker is one of the busiest young actors in Hollywood today what with starring in his own production of " The Worm " for F. B. 0. release; just finishing a long engagement with Goldwyn in " Red Lights," one with Frank Borzage in " Children of Dust " and in " Broken Hearts of Broadway." ' He has just been signed by Emory Johnson to play the role of the son in the producer's next attraction for Film Booking Offices. It is tentatively called " The Mail Man " and will dramatize the mail men of the nation.