The Moving picture world (May 1925-June 1925)

746 MOVING PICTURE WORLD June 13, 1925 M.P.T.O.K.-M. Plans Membership Drive Skirboll Made Qeneral Manager of Frank Lloyd Productions FILMING of Rex Beach's "Winds of Chance" for First National Pictures, having been completed Frank Lloyd, independent producerdirector, has announced the appointment of Joseph S. Skirboll to the position of general manager for Frank Lloyd Productions, Inc. Skirboll is one of the best known film distributing executives in the industry having been active in sales and exhibition fields for the past eighteen years. For the past two and a half years Skirboll has been Western district manager for First National Pictures with supervision over the Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Butte, Denver and Salt Lake City branch offices. In appointing Skirboll to the managership of his producing organization Lloyd is making an effort to gain closer contact with those who release and exhibit his pictures and to obtain a better idea of the trend of public thought regarding the screen. . Skirboll will assume his new duties on June 15. M. P. T. O. of Western Pa* Votes to Back National Body The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania, held their regular monthly meeting at the Hotel Henry, Pittsburgh, on Friday noor, May 22nd, at which the exhibitor members were guests of the organization at a luncheon. A large and enthusiastic gahering was on hand, and the meeting was a very fruitful one. President D. A. Harris presided. Harry Davis and other members who were present at the recent National Convention in Milwaukee, made reports of the deliberations in that city. The keynote of the meeting was the attitude manifested of not being stampeded by any action that may be taken, as the national organization, through its Board of Directors, has got things pretty well in control and have a number of propositions that will be of vital importance to al ltheatre owners, which they will announce in the near future. Practically all of the Pittsburgh theatre owners were on hand, as well as many outof-towners. Among these latter were: Mike Manos and R. T. Jennings, Greensburg; Chris. Wagner, Connellsville. C. E. Gable, Sharon; John Newman, New Castle; Anthony Jim and Ed. Harvey, Woodlawn ; E. N. Walken and B. E. Cupler, Washington; A. P. Way, Du Bois ; Frank K. Brown, Brockville and Kittanning; L. M. Conrad, Johnstown. Andrew Condoleon, Kittanning; Ed. Claffey, Sharon; M. Roth, Duquesne and Swissvale. John Stahl, Homestead; Wm. R. Wheat, Sewickley ; Ben Nadler, Ambridge ; T. V. Barnes, Elwood City; Andrew Battison, Yukon ; Guy Ida, New Kensington and Tarentum ; Bart Dattola, New Kensington; Mike Winograd, Rochester; L. M. Jones, Vandergrift; John Panoplos, Wilmerding, and Frank Panoplos, McKeesport. A. M. P. A. HEARS TOM MEIGHAN The value of publicity and exploitation In motion pictures was emphasized by Thomas Meighan, noted film star, who was one of the guests of honor at the A. M. P. A. luncheon at the Cafe Boulevard at noon Thursday, May 14. The star drew a sharp distinction between publicity and notoriety, holding that the latter was a detriment to the individual player and to the industry at large. Spence Signed by Rork Following the signing of Leon Errol to appear in an elaborate picturization of Holman Day's humorous story "Clothes Make The Pirate," Sam Rork now announces the engagement of Ralph Spence, author of the current phenomenal stage success "The Gorilla," to adapt the Day story. In addition to being an author and a playwright, Ralph Spence has distinguish himself as a scenarist and title writer. Burton Signed by De Mille Clarence Burton, one of filmdom's most adaptable villains, is the latest to join the Cecil B. De Mille forces. Mr. Burton has signed a long term contract to play for the independent producer. His first role will be an important part in Rod La Rocque's starring vehicle "The Coming of Amos." EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION The fourth annual National convention of exchange managers and executives of Educational Film Exchanges, Inc., will be held this year in New York on June 10, 11 and 12 at the Pennsylvania Hotel, where the entire body of visiting managers and salesmen will be quartered. HAWN WITH MACFADDEN PUBLICATIONS 'iavin Campbell Hawn, former publicity director for Mae Murray and the MurrayLeonard productions, and more recently Par. amount exploiteer, has Joined the staff of the Macfadden Publications as director of publicity and advertising for True Story Film* Inc., a new Macfadden Enterprise. Those STAY-AT-HOMES Might have come out if they'd known about the corking short subjects on your program. Advertise the short subject! A new plan for strengthening the M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri is under consideration by C. E. Cook, business manager, which, if adopted, may result in strengthening the membership of the organizattion. During the hot summer months it is planned to obtain eight or ten exhibitors from Kansas and the same number from Missouri. These exhibitors, with Mr. Cook, will tour the entire Western Missouri and Kansas territory, making their headquarters in various key centers. From each key center each day they will divide the surrounding territory and work all towns in the district. The expenses of the exhibitors would be paid by the association, they giving only their time to the organization. In view of the fact that such a plan has been highly approved by Mr. Cook there exists little doubt but that it would be instituted this summer, lasting probably more than a month. EARL MYERS APPEALS The verdict against Earl Myers and John Kaiser, exhibitors, at Chillicothe, Ohio, charged with operating on Sunday, found, guilty by a common pleas jury, waa affirmed in rulings handed down by the district court of appeals. The exhibitor's attorneys announce that they will carry the case to the Ohio Supreme court. Directors' Meeting The National Board of Director* of the M. P. T. O. A. were meeting in the Hotel Roosevelt, New York City, on Thursday, June 4, a* Moving Picture World was going to press. The thirty members selected by the Milwaukee convention began the sessions on Wednesday. No statement of the proceedings was available at press time. This meeting is called to discuss ways and means of furthering the cause of the independents. It is expected to name a field manager to superintend the union of all independent forces. Nathan Burkan, the New York Attorney, is a possibility, but there will be competition for this post in the newly created Bureau of Trade and Commerce. A report on pledge cards probably will be made at the meeting. On Wednesday of the week an important meeting of the I. M. P. D. A. was also held to discuss means of cooperation with the exhibitor organization and other plant for furthering the Independent cause. While no statement was issued at the conclusion of the meeting, reports had it that the Independents had definitely enlisted the legal aid of an individual prominent in one of the National distributing companies — outside of the Big Three — and had also progressed further toward the hiring of a capable executive to compensate ithe \»elling efforts of the Independents.