The Moving picture world (April 1920-May 1920)

696 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 1. 1920 Neilan Denies Rumored Intention of Ignoring Present Releasing Contract Sing a Song of Sing-S!ng. Bert Lytell favors in "Alias Jimmy Valentine." his Metro feature, from the famous Armstrong drama. MARSHALL NEILAN has denied the story that he will not release his European-made pictures through First National Exhibitors' Circuit. Mr. Neilan also has expressed himself emphatically as regards the status of his new producing affiliations with Albert A. Kaufman, who is now in New York. "In the first place," said Mr. Neilan, "I wish to deny most emphatically the story which has been printed in certain papers that the productions which I will make abroad will go to a releasing concern other than the First National Exhibitors' Circuit. To Use Exact Locales. "I have under way plans involving the production of some very unusual pictures, staged in the exact locales of the various plots, involving some of the most famous landmarks in England, France, Ireland, Belgium and Spain. These productions will, I feel, fill a long-felt want not only in this country but all over the world, due to the fact that for the past four or five At Least 2,000 Exhibitors Will Attend Theatre Owners* Cleveland Convention MEETING in Albany, N. Y., on April 20 with the executive committee of the New York State Motion Picture Exhibitors' League, Sydney S. Cohen of New York, president of the league, announced plans that have so far materialized in connection with the national convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, which is scheduled to be held in Cleveland during the second week in June. Mr. Cohen has been selected as temporary chairman of the national organization of theatre owners, and together with Samuel Bullock, of Cleveland, selected as temporary secretary, many of the details incidental to the coming convention are being settled. Mr. Cohen stated today that assurances have already been received of exhibitors from thirty-two states in addition to New York State, and that in all probability the gathering will attract not less than 2.000 exhibitors from all sections. The states which will be represented at Cleveland will combine themselves into a national organization with the state as the unit of representation. According to Mr. Cohen, a program of much importance to exhibitors is now being worked out. There will be a national drive in an effort to remove certain of the present burdensome taxes, primarily the 5 per cent, film tax. A national move will also be launched to keep manufacturers and producers from acquiring theatres in competition with exhibitors. Every eflfort will be devoted towards bringing about the elimination of the present deposit system, which, according to Mr. Cohen, is supplying much of the money that is being used these days in making pictures or in the erection of competitive houses. Up to the present time no arrangement has yet been completed for the hall in which the national convention is to be held. Simplex Projectors, for which machine the Brockliss company is exclusive distributors in Great Britain. "Our only distress is found in the fact that we can not get Simplexes in sufficient numbers to supply the demand," said Mr. Brockliss, "but I believe that the arrangements just negotiated with E. M. Porter, general manager of the Simplex plant, will result in the satisfying of many of our customers." J. Frank Brockliss in Town. J. Frank Brockliss, the well-known English film distributor and the head of the house of J. Frank Brockliss, Ltd., of Wardour street, London, has just completed another round trip across the Atlantic and comes back this time bubbling over with enthusiasm concerning the many sales of Harry Levey Reports Signing of Contracts with Exhibitors HARRY LEVEY, general manager of the industrial and educational department of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, has returned from a hurried trip to Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Chicago, where he was called for conferences with the officers of the leading motion picture exhibitors' associations of the West. The conference with western exhibitors at the Hotel Winton, Cleveland, resulted in a complete and satisfactory understanding between Mr. Levey and the exhibitors in regard to Universal industrial and educational motion picture distribution. In the future these Universal pictures will be booked to the members of all the associations represented in the conference on the Universal's direct payment to exhibitor plan, the payments being made through the association officers upon report that the pictures have been properly exhibited. The associations represented at the Cleveland conference and who become parties to the Universal-exhibitor agreement were : Miami Valley Exhibitors' Association, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana; John Seifert, president; A. W. Kinzler, treasurer. Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association; H. H. Lustig, president; Sam Bullock, secretary; W. J. Slimm, treasurer. American Exhibitors' Association of Pennsylvania and West Virginia; Fred T Herrington. Kansas City Exhibitors' Association, Michigan Exhibitors' Association, St. Louis Exhibitors' Association Northwest Exhibitors' Circuit. ' years practically nothing but .■Americanmade — and chiefly California-made — pictures have been available to the motion picture public. These pictures will be distributed via the First National Exhibitors' Circuit. "Another matter concerns the producing aliance entered into recently by Albert Kaufman and myself. In this regard I wish to repeat the fact as originally announced, that neither Mr. Kaufman nor myself are interested in each other's financial or distributing arrangements. Marshall Neilan Productions will be produced and distributed via First National just as in the past, and the only effect on these productions as a result of the affiliation with Mr. Kaufman will involve the physical staging of these pictures. Use Same Studio. "Properties and producing personnel of both Marshall Neilan Productions and Albert Kaufman Productions will be merged and shared by both organizations. A large studio will be occupied by both producing companies, the expense of which will be shared by each. The alliance is solely a producing combination and in the execution of the plans concerning this alliance there will be experienced on the part of each organization a material saving in producing costs." Margaret Loomis Signs Up with Famous Players-Lasky MARGARET LOOMIS, whose work in numerous Paramount Artcraft pictures has proved her ability as a screen actress, has signed a five-year contract with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, according to announcement made by that company. Miss Loomis' first work under her new contract will be in William DeMille's special production adapted from Leonard Merrick's story, "Conrad in Quest of His Youth." She and Kathlyn Williams will have the leading feminine roles, while Thomas Meighan will play the name part. Before entering motion pictures three years ago, Miss Loomis was a classical dancer of note. After taking dancing lessons for a single month, she was selected by Ruth St. Denis as a member of her road company in 1915. Following a month's rehearsal, she made her first professional appearance on the stage. 1 1 1 1 II 1 1 1 H 1 1 ti I II 1 1 til ti I II II rii II III II I nil HiHMi imtn iiiiiii IK I In This Land of Opportunity Even the Picture Field Opens Road to Deliver "The Goods" MAX COOPER, chief usher at the Rivoli Theatre, has been appointed resident manager of the Criterion Theatre, which will open as a motion picture-music house Saturday noon, April 24. He will be one of the youngest theatrical managers on Broadway and his rise to the position reads like a Horatio Alger novel. Cooper came to the Rivoli little more than two years ago as a page boy, from which he graduated to usher, then to chief usher. When Hugo Riesenfeld used the Sixty-third street music hall as a Children's Theatre he sent Cooper there as acting manager. His unfailing courtesy at that time — especially in dealing with children — won him the first managerial opening, which is the Criterion. Others on the house staff are: James Nimmo, property man; Ben Kelly, carpenter; Harry Livingston, electrician and Leslie Reed, chief operator.