Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1925)

3036 Motion Picture N ezus S. Barret McCormick Appointed as Pathe Manager of Exploitation S BARRET McCORMICK has been appointed Exploitation Manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc., succeeding Arthur Brilant, who recently resigned to engage • in theatrical production work. Mr. McCormick is fitted by his long and varied experience in the theatre, advertising and exploitation fields for his new office. He has established a record as a successful theatre manager, having been identified as Managing Director with such prominent first-run houses as the Circle in Indianapolis and the Allen in Cleveland. As head of Pathe's exploitation staff Mr. McCormick will have charge of the compilation of campaign books and press-sheets and will also originate theatre novelties, and other exhibitor accessories. Pathe officials are convinced that in the new Exploitation Manager they have an executive unusually well-fitted by training and experience to handle these problems from the exhibitor's angle. Mr. McCormick has been associated with the exploitation staff during the past ten months and during that time has handled a number of special campaigns for Pathe and Associated Exhibitors. Aller Sails on Russian Aim Vice-President of Rothacker-Aller Off for Europe to Investigate Proposition CONSIDERABLE interest attached thi;, \veek to the departure for Europe of Joseph Aller, vice-president of the Kothacker-Aller Laboratories, Inc., of Hollywood, to investigate the possibility of the .extension of that company's affairs into Russia, or, as it is now termed, the Union of Socia.ist Soviet States. Aller sailed on Tuesday, June 9th, aboard the "Acjuitania," going first to London, where inijjortant changes will come about in the laboratory situation shortly thi-ougli the imposition June 30th of a tax on the import of raw stock. This will give a considerable imi>etus to both raw stock manufacture and laboratory work in the British Isles, according to those familiar with conditions there. Following his stay in London, Aller will go on to Paris and Berlin, where he will confer with several technical e perts who have l>een making investigation there for the Rothacker-Aller interests daring the past two or three years. The Russian angle to the trip is occasioned by Aller's acceptance of the official invitation extended to him by the Director of the Goskino, a department of the Soviet government which is in full control oi all motion picture activities in Russia. Rei)ort.s have come out of Russia recently from several sources indicating tfiat that country is seriously contemplating film ac tivities on a considerable scale. The film industry virtually disappeared auring the revolvition, but a fair number of theatres managed to survive and are understood to be o])erating at present on a moderately successful basis. Much of the film shown is from Germany, which has i)erhaps been most active in building commercial relationships with the Soviet States. A few films have actually been produced in Russia in recent years, but many of the so-called "Russian" films exhibited in Europe have been filmed in the Russian refugee colonies (numbering several hundred thousand persons) in Paris and Berlin. The Moscow Art tiieatre has been responsible for a number of jjroductions. These, while possessing the highest type of artistry and acting, have been rather too morbid and tragic in theme to be widely suitable for showing in other countries. It is believed by many, however, that the Russian artists will ultimately develop a high type of picture, and perhaps oecome a serious factor in the production of high grade photoplays. With its uncounted millions of citizens, Russia possesses a tremendous potential home market for its own films, as well as those from other countries, once its financial affairs permit of expansion in the building and operation of theatres. Gilda Gray A Paramount Star Famous Stage Dancer Signs Contract to Appear in Films — First Role Picked GILDA GRAY, famous stage dancer and entertainer, has signed a contract with Paramount to star in moticm i)ictuies, it was announced this week by Jesse L. Lasky. Miss Gray's first starring vehicle will be filmed from a story by Robert E. Sherwood and Bertram Block. Paul Bern has been chosen to direct. The star won fame as a cabaret performer and later as a stage star as the leading exponent of tlie ".shimmy." She began her career as a dancer in Milwaukee, later going to Chicago and so to the New York cabarets. In New York she attracted the attention of Sophie Tucker, vaudeville headliner, who obtained an engagement for Miss Gray to dance at a Sunday night concert at the Winter Garden. In announcing the contract with Miss Gray, Mr. Lasky said : "In Gilda Gray we feel we have signed one of the greatest bo^f-offiee attractions the theatre has developed in recent years. Her popularity is ])henomenal, as was proved recently when she drew $49,000 in one week at the Metropolitan theatre in Los Angeles. This record has been repeated in other places where she has appeared in the last two years. None of tiiis personality will be lost on the screen. We have tested her thoroughly and the same magnetism which has attracted tiiousands of people all over the country will be manifest in her pictures." New Companies Chartered in New York State Motion i>icture companies incorporating in New York State during the past week ineluded the following: Spring Valley Community Theatre, Inc., Spring Valley, $100,000, George Avers, Lawrence Beckerle, E. H. Bedford, Spring Valley; Ashland Amusement Corporation, S. A. Telsey, A. Rachmil, Brooklyn; S. Hellinger, New York City ; Woodhouse Productions, Inc., $1,000, J. Kendler, New York City; A. Levitt, Brooklvn; H. Lapiu, Coney Island; Rrspen Enterprises, Inc., $20,000, W. G. Lovatt, W. N. Hechheimer, G. B. Nicholson, New York City ; Herrick Productions, Inc., $50,000, F. H. and A. J. Herrick, New York City; C. E. Huek, Morristown. N. J.; AllRigiit Films Incorporated, capitalization not stated, J. Sinder, D. B. Lederman, New York City; Charles B. Paine, Brooklyn; L. B. M. Theatres, Inc., $15,000, Wi Ham Landau, S. G. Bock, M. Marmor, New York City; Neleii Producing Corporation, $50,000, M. L. Elkin, M. Salit, A. Eichel, New York City; Motion Picture Presentations Corp., capitalization not stated, C. Harriman, C. A. True, A. G. Thorne, New i'ork City; Westpenn Productions, Inc., $50,000, John Marquette, H. Schiffman, L. Butler, New York City. Commercial Capital Corporation, $50,000, W. H. Tallis, E. M. James, J. M. MuUin, New York city; Ten Eyck Pictures Corporation, capitalization not stated, A. Radeloff, Brooklyn; E. M. Barnes, A. Schimel, New York citv. J. L. Barnard Productions, Inc., $25,000, "j. L. Barnard, R. G. Beekhout, W. E. Huey, New York city. Arch Productions, Inc., capitalization not stated, S. E. Mecca, S. Schiff, S. Goodman, New York citv; Raygold Theatre Corporation, $20,000, P. Weilins, M. L. Schwartz, J. Hurowitz, New York city. Famous Players Declare Preferred Dividend A dividend of $2 on preferred stock of Famous Players was declared at a meeting held last Monday by the board of directors of the corporation. The dividend is payable August 1st to stockholders of record as of July 15th. The books will not close. R. D. Graver Heads North Carolina M. P. T. O. RD. CRAVER was elected temporary president of the North • Carolina M. P. T. O. at a meeting of the executive committee held recently. Mr. Craver will serve until the annual meeting at Wrightsville Beach on June 21-24th inclusive, when a permanent chairman will be named to take the place of the late H. B. Varner. A vigorous campaign to get exhibitors to attend the convention is being carried on by Secretary Abbott of the North Carolina body. It is understood that there will be a number of prominent theatre men at the Wrightsville Beach convention. Sydney Cohen and Charles Petti^ohn of the Hays Organization, are said to be among those who have signified their intention of attending the event.