Motion Picture News (July-Aug 1921)

August 6 ,*i p 2 i 747 St. Louis Paramount Houses to Change Hands Harry Koplar in Purchasing Syndicate; to Close Deal August 15; Minneapolis Purchase Denied FRED L. CORNWELL, president of the Famous-Players Missouri Corp., announced early this week that earnest money of $10,000 had been paid by a syndicate, composed of Harry Koplar, Sam Hamburger, Jr., and Ben S. Cormvell for the purchase of all the St. Louis neighborhood theatres of the Famous Player Missouri Corporation. The company will retain the Missouri, recently built at a cost of $1,250,000, the Criterion, the Delmonte, and the Kings. The deal which is to involve approximately $1,000,000 is to be closed on August 15, Cornwell announced. The $10,000 earnest money was paid at a conference of Fred L. Cornwell, Hamburg and Max Goldstein, real estate officer of the Famous Players Lasky Corporation at Hotel Astor, New York, last Friday. Adolph Zukor, president of the major company, has approved the plan to sell. The syndicate which has agreed to buy the theatres will be known as the Mound City Amusement Company. Hamburg, Koplar and Cornwell each own one-third in the new concern. Under the terms of the agreement, $150,000 in cash is to be paid on or before August 15. The syndicate will give a second mortgage of $250,000 to the Famous Players Missouri Corporation and assume first mortgages amounting to $530,000 or $560,000 in payment. The first mortgages which are held by five or six interests are subject to adjustments to be made later. The theatres included in the deal are the Shenandoah, Novelty, Juniata, Pershing, Arco, Lafayette, Gravois, Royal, Lindell, Maffit, Lowell and Grand-Florrisant. Mr. Cornwell said that under the terms of sale the theatres will retain the Paramount picture service. * Mr. Cornwell also declared the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation would hold a large share of the first mortgages through the Missouri organization. The Missouri Corporation since its organization has built the Missouri theatre, the Criterion and the Del Monte, reputed to be the largest one-floor picture house in America with its three thousand seats. The Kings theatre was recently leased to Loew theatrical interests. The theatres involved in the pending deal were formerly owned by Koplar and his associates in the Greater Amusement Company. When the Mound City Amusement Company is fully organized, it was learned by a representative of the Motion Picture News. Hamburg will be president, Cornwell vice-president and Koplar secretary and treasurer. The return of Harry Koplar as a dominant figure in the local theatrical field marks another step in one of the most remarkable careers in local amusement circles. He started with a five-cent show in North St. Louis ten years ago. Within a few years he began taking over other theatres leading to the formation of the Greater Amusement Company. At one time he controlled seventeen theatres. Early in 1920 Koplar entered into a deal to sell his theatres to the Famous Players Missouri Corporation, which had been organized by Fred L. Cornwell. Following the sale several suits were filed by the parties to the agreement, the litigation being settled in January of this year. Under the terms of the settlement Koplar is said to have received approximately $450,000 for his interests in the theatres. Film circles and all Minneapolis movie fans were aglow with excitement the past week following a newspaper story to the effect that Famous Players-Lasky Corporation had purchased property and were contemplating building a new theatre here. The property said to have been purchased is located a block from the new State theatre and, while on the edge of the present downtown business and theatrical district, it is conceded to be very desirable for it is predicted that in a few years the location will be in the center of the business district. Later, however, this rumor was squashed by district manager Phil Reisman of Famous Players who announced he had received a wire from Adolph Zukor denying any intention of invading Minneapolis. Screen Writers' Guild Elect New Officers Frank E. Woods Chosen President; Membership Now 115 ; Guild Opens Club House THE officers of the Screen Writers' Guild of Authors' League of America elected July 18th at the Writers' Club House, 6716 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, are as follows : Frank E. Woods, president ; June Mathis, vicepresident ; Eugene W. Presby, treasurer and secretary, and Dwight Cleveland, recording secretary. Other members of the executive council, who with the four officers above serve as the executive committee of the organization were elected as follows : Thompson Buchanan, Elmer Harris, A. S. LeVino, Jeanie McPherson, Elmer Rice, Frederick Palmer and Robert Wagner. The officers and members of the executive council with eleven others constitute the council of the organization who conduct all affairs of the Guild. The other nineteen members are : Ruth Ann Baldwin, Jack Cunningham, Marion Fairfax, Percy Heath, Lucien Hubbard, Charles Kenyon, Sir Gilbert Parker, Julia Crawford Ivers, Monte Katterjohn, Eugene B. Lewis, Bernard McConville, Mary H. O'Connor, George Pyfer, Luther Reed, Edna Schley, Doris Schroeder, Rex Taylor, Bayard Veiller, and Waldemar Young. At the annual meeting of the Guild on the evening of July 14th the election of the thirty members of the council was held, and at the same time reports were made by the officers for the past year together with reports by chairmen of all the executive committees. These reports show the Guild, now one year old, to be in excellent financial condition; to have a membership of 115, and with the purchase of a club house consummated, and negotiations perfected for the expense of furnishing, redecorating, and enlarging the attractive quarters at the corner of Los Angeles and Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood. At the annual meeting, the members voted on the question of enlarging the membership to include various people who are successful in the four arts, music, painting, architecture and acting as well as all members of the Lambs Club now in Los Angeles and various other people identified with the film industry who have achieved success. During the past year of the club, Thompson Buchanan acted as president and the members gave him a rising vote of thanks for the very efficient manner in which he had performed the duties of his office. Other retiring officers were Jack Cunningham, secretary; Eugene B. Lewis, treasurer, and the various chairmen of the ten different committees. The new home for the Guild was made possible by the formation of Los Palmas and Sunset Corp., capitalized at $50,000, of which more than $30,000 has been paid up. Elmer Harris has been elected president of this holding company, and it is expected the balance of the capital will be subscribed within the next few weeks. The quarters consist of a commodious residence occupying one of the most desirable lots in the better residence section of Hollywood, centrally located with respect to the studios and the business district and in every way favorable as a home for the club. With slight alterations it can be materially enlarged to meet the later needs of the organization and its enlarged membership.