Motion Picture News (July-Aug 1921)

746 Motion Picture News Warren Discounts Talk of "Unhealthy Conditions" IN the course of an interview given a press representative last week in Los Angeles, Fred B. Warren, president of the F. B. Warren Distributing Corporation, expressed his surprise over the prevalence of opinions that the film industry was in an unhealthy condition. His declarations were strongly to the contrary, and he submitted a long series of figures to support his contention that the industry is flourishing. " During the twelve months ending May 31, 1921, the government received as its tax upon admissions and upon the film rentals that the theatre owners pay to the distributing companies, $15,779,710 more than for the corresponding year ending May 31, 1920," declared Mr. Warren. " During March, April and May, 1921, the government took in from $400,000 to $800,000 more each month than it received for the corresponding months of 1920." In 1921, new theatres in various stages of construction will increase in a short time by 20 per cent the total number of motion picture houses already in operation in the United States, said Mr. Warren. Taking Los Angeles first-run theatres as an example, Mr. Warren declared that the local houses " need on the basis of their present and future requirements 784 pictures in a year, and the market from all sources promises to produce not possibly in excess of 550, with one-fourth of the output unfit for the larger institutions." This means prosperity for motion picture producers, said Mr. Warren, and for the individuals and institutions financing their productions. Ray Gallagher, News Staff, a Benedict Raymond E. Gallagher, well-known in the motion picture industry since his affiliation with Vitagraph some years ago, was married on July 23rd, to Miss Elizabeth N. Woodburn, of Brooklyn, New York. The couple are now on a vacationhoneymoon. Mr. Gallagher was entertained by members of the Old Guard, an organization of Vitagraph former employees, at a dinner on the Thursday previous to his wedding day, the dinner being held at the Green Room Club. Having been a branch manager, and also connected with the advertising department of the Morning Telegraph, Mr. Gallagher has made many friends in the film business who will be interested in this important step of his career. Upon leaving the Telegraph, he joined the staff of Motion Picture News, representing the Studio Directory. Upon his return, he will renew his efforts in connection with Motion Picture News publications. Missouri -Kansas Exhibs. to Convene September 12th The date of the Missouri -Kansas joint convention of exhibitors, to be held in Kansas City, was fixed for September 12 and 13, at a meeting of the joint convention committee in Kansas City on Wednesday of last week. Associated Not Affected by Strike, Says Lichtman General Manager Al Lichtman, of Associated Producers, Inc., made the following statement during the week in regard to the West Coast strike and its effect on Associated's schedule : " The strike will have no effect upon our .production schedule. Mack Sennett, Maurice Tourneur, J. Parker Read, Jr., and Allan Dwan are engaged upon forthcoming productions and are doing no actual studio work. Thomas H. Ince finished the actual ' shooting ' of one of the greatest pictures he has ever produced the Saturday before the trouble developed, and the cutting and titling will engage his attention for some time. J. L. Frothingham is engaged in writing the continuity for his third production." New York 'sCensors Engage Office in Candler Bldg The Motion Picture Commission of the State of New York, named by Governor Nathan L. Miller last week, announced Wednesday that it had engaged offices and projecting rooms for the examination of films at the Candler Building, 220 West 42nd St., New York City. The offices will be open for business next Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Under the provisions of the law which created the board, it is not legally operative until August 1st. Secretary of State John J. Lyons has been swamped during the past week with requests from all parts of New York State, as well as adjoining states, for copies of Chapter 715 of the laws of 191 5, under which the commission was created. An additional supply has been ordered to meet the demand. Zukor Agrees to MeettM. P. T. O. of A. Committee In a letter addressed last week by Adolph Zukor, president of Famous Players-Lasky, to Sydney S. Cohen, president of Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, the Paramount executive agreed to meet the same week or any day of the week of August 1st the committee of the M. P. T. O. of A., appointed by Mr. Cohen to confer with him. Mr. Zukor's letter was in reply to one from Mr. Cohen advising of the appointment of the conference committee. Joe Merrick Resignsmfrom R-C's Sales Department Joe L. Merrick, who for the past two years has served as general sales manager for the Robertson-Cole Distributing Corporation, will be busied for the next week or more in assisting the new sales administration to take over control of the branches. Mr. Merrick's resignation comes at a time when the business had been built up to a high mark through his initiative and energy. No General Curtailment of Production by Strike The strike of painters, carpenters and electricians at the West Coast studios has not curtailed production, generally. Walkouts occurred at practically all the lots, but the strikers' places were promptly taken by non-union men, and in many cases union men have come back to work. The labor leaders claim that 2,100 men are now out. Those who have returned to work have accepted the new scale of wages, seven dollars a day. The former price before the cut was announced, was eight dollars. Production at Universal City is being curtailed, feature companies as fast as they complete a production being laid off. It is planned to have all pictures now in the making completed by August 15th. Production, however, will be resumed full blast September 1st. The companies making serials and comedies on the Universal lot will continue without a break. The Hal Roach studio resumed production Wednesday, July 27th, after a two weeks' close down occasioned by the strike, and a vacation extended to all other employes who were not in the walkout. Al Christie has arrived at Hollywood and the Christie studio after a five weeks' visit in the East, especially New York. Will Rogers whose contract with Goldwyn was previously announced as expired has started the production of a series of pictures to be directed by Clarence Badger. The productions will be made at Hollywood. The type of subjects, length and the releasing medium is to be announced later. It is reported that a story for a new Von Stroheim picture has been accepted by Universal and that the continuity is now being prepared. Neither Universal officials or Von Stroheim, however, will confirm or deny the rumor. Pennsylvania Exhibs. Plan for Independence Month Elaborate preparations are being made by the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of J Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and! Delaware to make Independence Month a huge success. Plans include co-operation with the local exchanges of the independent companies, national and state-rights;! pledge cards for exhibitors providing for at least fourteen days of independent! bookings ; a roll of honor, prominently dis-l played in front of the League headquart-J ers in Philadelphia, which will earn the] names of those exhibitors signing the, pledge cards. A joint committee composed of three I men from each group, the national inde' pendents, the state right independents and J the Motion Picture Theatre Owners, has) been appointed with executive powers to carry the campaign through to a successful conclusion. The chairman of this committee is John Gill, of Robertson-Cole, and the secretary is George F. Aarons, of the Theatre Owners. A fund has been subscribed to defray the expenses. The climax of the entire affair will a convention of the independent film me in Atlantic City on August 21, 22, 23 and 24 simultaneously with the convention o the Motion Picture Theatre Owners.