Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1922)

In g us t 19, 1922 863 First National — Goldwyn Deal Off — ( Continued from page 859) rd Walton Tully production with Guy Bates >ost in the stellar role ; “ Minnie,” Marshall Neilan’s feature; and “ Money, Money, Toney,” starring Katherine MacDonald. Only recently Mack Sennett concluded an mportant contract with the First National irganization for the release of his future shortgngth and feature comedy productions. Judgrg from Mr. Sennett’s announcement of the rrangements effected there were no provisions a his agreement contingent in any way upon . possible consolidation with the Goldwyn Organization. Mr. Sennett stated, in connecion with his newly signed contract : “ I have ontracted with First National to supply them ibth as many Ben Turpin special attractions ,nd as many two reel comedies as I can possidy produce. This means naturally that I will •e forced to put on additional comedy companies. I have also contracted to deliver as jiany feature productions as I can and desire. ,n addition to starring Mabel Normand in features, I intend to produce a number of other tig specials all of which will he five or sixieel comedy dramas. By that time Miss Norland will have returned from her European rip, and no doubt will be engaged in producing her next feature, the story of which is j.ow in course of preparation.” i Closely following upon the joint statement nnouncing the abandonment of all plans for onsolidation comes word of a gathering of hrst National division managers to be held a New York next Monday. A series of sales onferences will be held at the home office, for he purpose of discussing the details of the reease program for the next six months. This leeting comes as a final confirmation of First National’s determination to function as a disinct selling organization in the distributing leld. Important announcements are forthloming as a result of the conferences, it is fated. Goldwyn has twelve pictures of its quota of :0 practically ready for the market. Release lates are set on two of this number, “ Rememrance ” and “ Sherlock Holmes,” the latter a ucture which F. J. Godsel, president of Gold/yn has sponsored not only in the advance bowing at the Capitol but also in production. Remembrance” is scheduled for Oct. 8th and Sherlock Holmes ” will be available two ?eeks later. The remainder of the twelve, “ The Sin Good,” “ The Blind Bargain,” “ Bitterness | Sweets,” “ Passions of the Sea ” (formerly Captain Blackbird”), “Broken Chains,” The Stranger’s Banquet,” “ The Christian ” nd “ Gimme ” will follow in about the same ' eneral way. It would look as if Goldwyn has s ot planned entirely on the amalgamation e iroject. I t f e f 1 e r t c Howard Deitz, publicity and advertising dilector of Goldwyn, was interviewed Tuesday in n attempt to get a statement more voluable ban the one forthcoming from First National, le was willing to talk in a general way on loldwyn’s product and general fall plans ■ut did not augment the statement made by oint agreement. When asked if there seemed any possibility f negotiations being begun on the proposition iter, as the phrase of the statement indicated light happen, he pointed out the season and he necessity for preparation of a year’s sellig plans that would forbid the practicability f such a proceedure inside of another year. [Pant ages, Loew Join Forces in Ontario AN important step leading to the termination of the strenuous competition between Alex. Pantages and Marcus Loew in eastern Canada is the amalgamation of the Loew and Pantages theatres in Hamilton, Ont., announcement of which was made at Hamilton on Friday, August 4. Under the terms of the agreement the two large, new houses are to be operated under one management by a joint company, Hamilton United Theatres, Ltd., in which Pantages will hold preferred and common stock to the value of $1,087,000, while the Loew interests will have $900,000. The two theatres are within a block of each other and they have been presenting similar programmes for almost a year, the Pantages theatre having been opened on October 3, 1921. Chas. J . Post Joins Hodkinson Home-Office Staff Charles J. Post has been appointed to an executive capacity in the home-office of the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation, New York City, and resigns this week from the assistant directorship of the William Fox publicity department to take up his new duties with the Hodkinson organizatiozn. Mr. Post is well-known in both motion-picture and magazine-publishing circles. In the latter field, he served some years ago as an illustratCharies Johnson Post tor for Harper’s, Century, Cosmopolitan, etc. When Griffith, Inc., and Sennett formed the Triangle Film Corporation, Mr. Post was assigned to the task of organizing the Triangle publicity department on the West Coast. Later, he came East to promote the Kelhem talking-pictures patents. During the war while at the Thos. Ince Studios, Mr. Post conceived and directed the first recruiting and war-training film presented to the United States. Mr. Post has also traveled extensively through the South American continent and for two years explored the rubber jungles of the upper Amazon. Famous Offers $850 ,000 for Allen Assets Definite announcement has been made regarding the size of the final offer made by N. L. Nathanson of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, Limited, Toronto, for the assets of the Allen Theatres, Limited, Toronto. Several bids have been made for the Allen theatre assets by Mr. Nathanson but the final and official offer stands at $850,000, it is announced. Mr. Nathanson’s first offer was $1,050,000 but this was withdrawn and lower proposals were subsequently made. The reason for this action, as outlined by J. M. Bullen, lawyer for the Famous Players Canadian Corporation, was that in the intervals between offers some of the assets of Allen Theatres, Limited, had been lost by reason of foreclosure proceedings. “ Boost Good Pictures” Campaign Suggested Harry Reichenbach, who was the speaker at last week’s regular luncheon of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, made a suggestion in his address which will probably result in a “Boost Good Pictures” Campaign. Mr. Reichenbach made the point that the public will not believe that pictures are good unless they are told so by the concerted action of the entire industry, and that there is too much disparagement within the trade of its own product. The time has come, he said, for unselfish action toward a common end. The suggestion was applauded by those present’ and President C. L. Yearsley appointed committees to work out practical ideas in the matter. It was suggested that the movement be begun by some recognition of the “Prisoner of Zenda,” to be followed by the some recognition of other meritorious pictures as they appear. It was also suggested that the trade papers in their advertising announcements and elsewhere carry some kind of a slogan to this effect. President Yearsley appointed as a general committee Nat G. Rothstein, Arthur James and Lloyd Willis, with Harry Reichenbach in an advisory capacity. Exhibitors ’ Candidates Win Elections A wide sweeping victory for Kansas candidates who were backed by the exhibitors in the primary was self-evident 48 hours after the election last week. Attorney General Richard J. Hopkins, who recently came to the aid of the Kansas exhibitors by a ruling on a double censorship practiced in Kansas, was strongly supported by the exhibitors in his race for justice of the Kansas supreme court and his victory is a certainty. W. Y. Morgan and Charles B. Griffith, candidates for governor and attorney general, respectively, who won the support of exhibitors by broad minded views towards censorship, also are apparent victors. The screen campaign was led by President M. Van Praag of the M. P. T. O., Kansas, R. G. Liggett and C. M. Smith, secretary of the Kansas organization. Father of J. W. O’ Mahoney Killed in Accident Daniel J. O’Mahoney, father of J. W. O’Mahoney, director of advertising and publicity for Educational, was killed last week in an accident at the Lawrence Water Works, Lawrence, Mass., while pursuing his duties as superintendent of the filter gallery of the plant. Mr. O’Mahoney was knocked unconscious by a piece of moving machinery and his head badly, crushed before he could be rescued. He died shortly after the accident and before his son, hastily summoned from New York, could reach his side. Interment was at Lawrence, Mass., on Wednesday, August 2nd. Mr. O’Mahoney was in his sixty-seventh year and is survived only by his son, J. W. O’Mahoney. Mary Carr Starts on New Subject for Fox Herbert Brenon is assembling the cast for Mary Carr’s new production for release by William Fox. “The Custard Cup,” the novel by Florence Bingham Livingston, will be the basis of “Mother” Carr’s new vehicle, which will be released under the title of “Penzie.” Miriam Batiste has been cast for an important child role.