Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

January 7 , 1922 381 Independent Screen Artists ? Guild Endorsed Number of Theatres Backing New Movement Are Reported to Be in Excess of 4,000 Endorsements of the program of the Independent Screen Artists’ Guild, organized last week in Los Angeles by forty-five leading independent producers and stars to establish direct relations between the studios and the theatres of the nation, thereby eliminating the middle man to the benefit of the public and the producer, continue to pour into the Guild headquarters, according to advices received from Los Angeles. The number of theatres backing the new movement is now stated to be in excess of 4,000 each of which has pledged itself to set aside the week of February 18 for the simultaneous presentation throughout the United States of notable productions of the Guild members as a striking endorsement of the plans of the independent stars and producers. Two big Eastern stars and the producing companies with which they are affiliated have wired their enthusiastic approval to the Guild of the plans adopted by the Western stars and producers, headed by Charles Chaplin and the Talmadges and including many other screen celebrities. Congratulations and expressions of co-operation were telegraphed by Hope Hampton and Richard Barthelmess, who are starring in their own productions in the East, and by C. H. Duell, president of Inspiration Pictures, Inc., of New York. “ Although I am in the East,” wired Richard Barthelmess, “ I am in hearty sympathy with the movement which has so auspiciously begun and which will have a far-reaching effect on the motion picture industry. You can count upon my support and hearty co-operation.” “ The formation of the Independent Screen Artists’ Guild,” telegraphed Hope Hampton, “ marks another gigantic step forward in our industry and I want to add my heartiest congratulations to the originators of the project and the stars and producers enrolled under its banner. Aims and purposes as outlined in proclamation need no further commentary. Independent producers and stars and independent theatre owners and public will all benefit through creation of the Guild, which is positive assurance of its success.” “ Count on my organization as being with you, although we are in the East,” wired Mr. Duell of Inspiration Pictures. Among the latest exhibitors to pledge their support to the Guild and to announce their intention of joining the movement to make the week of February 18 the occasion for an American national co-operation •exhibition of the Guild members’ finest pictures are reported to be the following: The Kunsky Circuit in Detroit, the Nathan Gordon theatres of Boston, the Ruben & Finkelstein theatres of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Rowland & Clark theatres of Pittsburgh, the A. H. Blank Gut Out Talk of Huge Salaries, Christie Advises ff/TNHE motion picture public resents the tremendous expenditures in! motion pictures in the way of salaries and production costs which we know are highly exaggerated,” said Charles Christie, the comedy producer, before the members of the Western Motion Picture Advertisers at their last meeting in Hollywood. “ Even if a fortune is actually spent on a certain scene or a star does receive a hundred dollars a minute, I do not think it is good business to make capital of this fact,” said Mr. Christie. “This talk about great amounts spent by motion picture people has to a great degree been responsible for a feeling on the part of the public towards the motion pictures that does not work out favorably at the box office.” The producer urged publicity men to eliminate from their copy all references to large sums of money spent in this business and suggested they concentrate their effort on ideas that will create and establish sales points for the product they are boosting and for the industry in general. He also attacked the prologue idea which he said proved detrimental to the importance of the motion picture as a medium of entertainment. Ed Schallert, motion picture editor of the Los Angeles Times, gave an interesting talk on what the editor wants from the publicity man. Wen Milligan, of the Moving Picture World, spoke of the importance of the trade paper in the picture business. Other speakers included Roy Miller, chairman of the evening; Harry Brand, Harry Wilson and Larry Weingarten. theatres of Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa, the Harry Crandall theatres of Washington, D. C., Skouras Brothers’ chain of theatres in St. Louis, Mo., the Circle theatre and thirteen other houses of Indianapolis, the Brentlinger chain of theatres in Terre Haute, Evansville, Fort Wayne and Richmond, Ind., and Clinton Rembush’s chain in Martinsville, Marion, Shelbyville and Columbus, ten Cleveland theatres, 134 theatres in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North and South Dakota in addition to those mentioned in above circuits ; more than 150 theatres of the Pacific Northwest, including the Jensen & Von Herberg chain in Portland, Oregon, the Coliseum, Liberty, Strand and nine other theatres in Seattle, nine Tacoma theatres and five Spokane theatres ; Sig Samuel’s Metropolitan of Atlanta, Ga. ; Mudd & Colley’s Trianon of Birmingham, Alabama; Stanley C. Warrick of Palm Beach, Harry Leach of Miami and C. D. Cooley of Tampa, Fla.; five big theatres of New Orleans and a score in other Louisiana communities ; eight Colorado theatres ; eight Wyoming houses ; the Crescent Amusement Co. of Nashville, Tenn., with four theatres ; the Walnut and Alamo, Louisville, Ky. ; the Alhambra, Richmond ; the Garrick, Madisonville, Ky. ; the Avenel, Bellevue, Kentucky; the Princess, Hopkinsville, Ky. ; Brown’s Middlesboro, Ky. ; the Southern Enterprises chain, including the Strand at Memphis, the Rivoli at Chattanooga, and the Palace at Maryville, Tenn; eighteen theatres in Cincinnati ; seven in Columbus, Ohio ; ten Baltimore theatres; the Roland C. Hill theatres of North and South Carolina; 31 theatres of Chicago and more than 100 of Greater New York. Ernest Lubitsch Guest of Honor at N. Y. Luncheon A luncheon was given at the Hotel Ambassador, New York, December 28, by the Hamilton Theatrical Corporation of New York to Ernest Lubitsch, Director of “ Passion,” “ Deception,” “ One Arabian Night,” “ Gypsy Blood,” etc. Mr. Lubitsch arrived in New York the preceding Saturday, bringing with him his latest picture, “ Pharoah’s Wife.” He will be in this country three weeks and will study American methods of production. Following his return to Berlin he will engage upon another spectacular picture. Ben Blumenthal presided at the luncheon and speeches were made by Mr. Lubitsch and Paul Davidson. Dr. Riesenfeld acted as interpreter. Mr. Davidson, a prominent official of the European Film Alliance is the discoverer both of Mr. Lubitsch and of Pola Negri. In 1913, Mr. Lubitsch who was then only twenty-one years old started making comedies in one reels. At Mr. Davidson’s suggestion he took up serious drama and made “ Carmen ” with Pola Negri. This is the picture which was shown here under the name of “ Gypsy Blood.” When he later embarked upon the making of historical pictures, Mr. Lubitsch stated that he found the same radical opposition to his historical and costume pictures in general from the renters and exhibitors as has been evidenced in this country. Mr. Lubitsch states that he will continue making these pictures but will not necessarily confine his efforts to this class of production. The luncheon was largely attended by the newspaper and trade press of New York. New Haven Theatres Win Order Enjoining Police Three of the large New Haven, Conn., theatres have been granted injunctions by Judge Edwin S. Thomas of the United States Court, preventing state and city police from interfering with their operation. The application of the managements for injunctions followed the recent action of Mayor Fitzgerald, who ordered the New Haven Chief of Police to recall their licenses.