Movie Age (1927)

PAGE 6 MOVIE AGE Pathe, First National and FBO Named In Merger Although No Official Announcement Has Been Made, Discussion of the Proposition Has Been In Order A three-cornered combination of First National, Pathe and FBO into a merged organization is reported to be under way, according to Film Daily. No official announcement has been made of the proposed deal, but it is understood such negotiations have been discussed. Further talk of the Stanley and KeithAlbee pooling has arisen, which sounds liake a forerunner of a complete mer¬ ger In regard to the situation, Film Daily, says: “The Stanley-K-A deal, some few months ago, had progressed to a point where it was declared that the theatre holdings probably would be pooled by the end of the summer, with a merger of the film holdings to follow. Several stumbling blocks have been encountered, however, chief of which is aversion of K-A to accept stock and demanding cash to swing the deal. Reported entrance of F B 0 into the proposed pool is a new development. If this company is brought into the ar¬ rangement, Kennery may be expected to assume a high executive position with First National, probably as president, succeeding John J. McGuirk, who, it is said, would step down from the office in favor of the FBO executive, in or¬ der to devote all time to theatre ac¬ tivities. Less Light for Films Of the Future is C. B. DeMille’s Forecast “It is easy and perfectly accurate to say that the possibilities of this new art are unlimited. I think it is evident to anyone that a mere twenty years of ex¬ istence can only have made a dent in the expansion of this great new expressive medium, the first to cut across the bar¬ riers of race, creed, language and geo¬ graphical limitations, to be at the same instant the same in Tokio and Toledo, in Kamchatka and Kalamazoo.” Those are the words of Cecil B. DeMille, famous producer of some of the finest pictures in the history of the mo¬ tion picture, in speaking of the future of this business. Mr. DeMille states fur¬ ther that it is more difficult to forecast specifically the future progress of the film industry. He declares, however, that some of the most important steps forward will be in the mechanical branch of the business, making particular men¬ tion of the possibility of the develop¬ ment of lenses and film to such a de¬ gree that the tremendous amount of il¬ lumination now used in taking pictures may be cut down so that light no more brilliant than that with which one’s rooms are made livable will be suffi¬ cient. At present amperage sufficient to illuminate an entire city frequently is used on large motion picture sets. National Film Delivery Service Under Way By a Philadelphia Company The Horlacher Film Delivery Service of Philadelphia is reported to be nego¬ tiating with a large automobile con¬ cern for the establishment of a film de¬ livery service on a national scale. The plan calls for the opening of branches in key cities through out the country, each branch having a fleet of trucks to serve the local territory. In the past few years the Hays organ¬ ization has been discussing the feasi¬ bility of organizing a national film de¬ livery service. Details were taken up with the Yellow Cab Company, but the deal did not materalize. Beorge B. Seitz to Direct Conway Tearle for Columbia Mystery surrounds the production in which Columbia Pictures will present Conway Tearle. Beyond the fact that it is an unusual story of love and sac¬ rifice, whose dramatic action unrolls against an exotic background, and that it is scheduled as one of the eight spec¬ ials, the company is keeping even the name of the new production a secret. The latest developments concerned with this special was the announcement made by Harry Cohn, vice president in charge of production, that George B. Seitz has been selected to bring the Tearle vehicle to the screen. This will be Mr. Seitz’s second production for Columbia as he is also responsible for the direction of “The Blood Ship”, one of the outstanding productions of the season. Universal Chain Theatres and Films to Consolidate First steps toward eventual consolida¬ tion of Universal Pictures Corp. and Universal Chain Theatres Co. have been taken by the directors of both com¬ panies, according to Film Daily. Directors of Universal Pictures voted, in consideration of the acquisi¬ tion by the corporation from Carl Laemmle and others of a substantial ma¬ jority of the common stock and all of the management stock of the theatres corporation, to enter into an agreement under which the pictures corporation will guarantee for two years from Aug. 15, 1927, and under certain conditions, dividends on the first preferred stock of the theatres corporation. The pro¬ posal was accepted by the directors of the theatres corporation. In connection with the payment of the September divi¬ dend, further details regarding the guaranty are to be mailed to stock¬ holders. Daniel Michalove, general manager of the theatres corporation, reported to directors of the pictures corporation that earnings of the theater company had im¬ proved materially toward the end of summer, and that with the opening of five new houses now under construct¬ ion within the next two months, a fur¬ ther substantial improvement in earn¬ ings was expected. Profit of Big Chains From 4 to 9 Per Cent Charles C. Pettijohn, head of Film Boards of Trade, is authority for the statement that the average profit of the large theatre chains ranges from four to a mere nine per cent. So appar¬ ently those who believe the big circuits are reaping a harvest are under a mis¬ apprehension. Overhead and various other expenses which vary from time to time are given as the cause for the small profit realized by big chains. Lupino Lane to Direct Lupino Lane will direct himself in the next Lupino Lane comedy to be put in production at Educational studios. The start has had several years’ di¬ rectional experience in England, where he was the head of the Homeland Films prior to the war. Lane occupies a unique position in filmland. He was the only star before the screen who is, or has been, produc¬ er, director, distributor and star. At the present time he owns the controll¬ ing interest in several theatres in Lon¬ don.