The Moving picture world (January 1922)

404 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 28, 1922 In the Independent^Field Probable Gross of ''Ten Nights'' Fixed at Three Millions by Arrow Arrow Film Corporation this week made public its estimate on the amount its officials expect the L. Case Russell screen version of "Ten Nights in a Barroom" will gross in theatres of this country. The estimate is based on terri- torial grosses fixed by trained and experienced showmen. One of those who is skilled in picture values and who is also in exploitation, is said to have given his deliberate opinion that this year "Ten Nights in a Barroom" may at least gross $3,000,000. Conservative listhtwle This is said by Arrow to be a conservative estimate and will probably be exceeded. It is diffi- cult to restrain encomiums when writing about the extraordinary success of "Ten Nights in a Bar- room," said the Arrow publicity purveyor in issuing the statement. All this is in favor of the State Right method of distribution and exploitation and incidentally an independent production. All these elements are combined to pro- duce this remarkable success which has not been duplicated by the program method nor probably can be because the fundamental elements of success are lacking. Trade Is Cleaning House — Kosch 'triririck iftrtrk'k •k'kk'k^ kk'kirk kk'tck^ Newsy Observations of the Trade THE entire trade is discussing thousands of dollars. Many worth- the aggressive action of the In- less checks have been given by per- dependent Producers and Distrib- .sons who knew at the time they utors .^Association in ridding the .submitted them that they were not State rights field of dishonest and worth the paper on which they were crooked operatives and at the same written. We will spare no effort to time deal a death blow to "film sec that these persons either make piracy." Harry Kosch, the I. P. good their checks or suffer the 1). .\. attorney, is a fighter and can consequences. l)c dependent upon to fulfill the im- portant duties placed on his shoul- "We have been too lenient, and ders. The editor of this depart- because of that fact we have blind- ment interviewed Mr. Kosch in New ed ourselves to an evil that should York the other day and was strong- have been eliminated years ago. ly impressed by the enthusiasm dis- But it isn't too late. No, sir; this played by this enterprising attorney, is the opportune time to clean house and we are determined to sec that "The time for definite and drastic these crooks get their walking action has come," he started off. papers and keep movmg au^y trom "We have permitted these crooked progressive mdustry. This is a individuals to operate altogether too Penod of ';econ_sti-uchon.^ long. The trouble has been that " *'" some of us have trusted too much even after we had been victimized. There are claims against these per- sons aggregating sums of many dustry is undergoing constructive changes and what better time is there than the present to right ex- isting wrong? Carewe, Fineman, Zeldman and Schrock Leave to Start Production on First Picture Edwin Carewe, one of the best Up Barnes," which is contrary to known directors, left on Satur- the usual method of only state ^j^^„a„ ^,„^„ a,^ ^v-<jp^.o.....6 day for the Coast in company righting pictures that have been \vjth"^the 'i"'p^'d^''a ' in seefng^th^^ with B. F. Fineman, Benny Zeid- rejected by national distributors, j„stjj.p (jone" man and Raymond Schrock, rather than making pictures spe- "There is not a single reliable ex- change in this country that does not agree with our association that this clean-up is absolutely necessary. The presence of these crooked deal- ers jeopardize other exchanges in their territory; their illegitimate activities have the tendency of dis- couraging patronage of the State rights exchanges. For that reason —but that is only one of the many —the exchangemen are co-operating preparatory to the production of cially for the independent ex- the initial feature this syndicate changes. will make under the firm name of In securing the services of Mr. Edwin Carewe Pictures Corpora- Carewe and giving the corpora- tion, which was incorporated last tion his name, which is so well week under the laws of the State known to the motion picture of New York. The first story world, the officers of the company will feature a blizzard. Mr. feel they have greatly added to Schrock, who wrote the scenario the name and strength of inde- for "Burn 'Em Up Barnes,' the pendent producers. Mr. Carewe initial Johnny Hines' production, needs no introduction in the pic- will furnish the scenario. Aflfi- ture world. His reputation as a Hated Distributors, Inc., of which producer of First National and C. C. Burr is president, will state Metro productions is well known, right the productions, which will Mr. Kosch is right in his state- ment concerning the attitude of lo- cal exchanges. Many of them al- ready have written this office com- mending the action of the I. P. D. .\. and offering their services in running down the disreputable op- eratives. Exhibitors throughout the country accept the movement as a timely one and a public demonstra- tion from the trade in general that the interests of the theatre man shall at all times be protected. be received with wide open arms by the trade in general, for Mr. Carewe has to his list a long string of succefses and is a thorough show- Edwin Carewe Pictures Corpo- "Exhibitors, producers and dis- tributors in general seem to be of the opinion that the coming year will see the film industry back to a state of normalcy. Everybody ap- pears to feel that way, but not Hoxie Popular in West Indies Jack Hoxie, the Arrow cowboy star, for whose pictures there ration is an independent concern, seems to be an international de- everybody is making an effort to having as its officers, B. F. Fine- mand, is reported to be one of bring about the needed readjust- man president; Benny Zeidman, the most popular screen stars in ment." So said David G. Fischer, vice president; Charles C. Burr, Cuba. His pictures are featured who this week announced the for- secretary. and William Lackey, at the Imperial Theatre in Ha- niation of the Regal-Fischer Corpo- treasurer Its purpose is to pro- vana, the premier motion picture ration which will handle State duce only high class films to be house in the West Indies. The ri.dits pictures. In voicing his made for state right buyers. This West Indies exhibitors are seek- opinion, Mr. Fischer is putting will follow out the policy of Mr. ing a personal appearances of down in plain words precisely what Burrinaguared with "Burn 'Em Hoxie. a few distributors are doing. State Rights Coast Gossip tfol Lesser has acquired the screen IModuclion rights lo "The Prince and the Pauper," "buster Brown" and ■Just David" for Jackie Coogan. According to reports heard in local circles, "The Jungle Goddess," whicb I'ol. William N. Sellg is completing for K.\[)ort & Import Film Company ol New Vorlv. will be the last animal serial that producer will make. It is reported that he will dispose of the Selig too and devote all his time to feature pro- duction. Carmen Arselle has been engaged to play opposite Oick Hatton In the Prairie production, "Four Hearts," which Western Pictures Exploitation will State right. Kay Rockett is authority for the an- nouncement that Kockett brothers will start production on their next Inde- pendent release this week. A story haa been acquired, but no title selected as yet. Production on the next Clara Kim- ball Young independent production. "The Modern Madonna," is in its eighth week at the Garson studio. Arthur Edeson Is photographing while Harry Garson is directing. Sada Cowan wrote the story. Lon Chaney arrived late last week from New York where he closed a.dis- tribution deal with National Exchanges for the Co-Operative Producers, who recently incorporated for $250,000. F. H. Croghan and David Hartford are president and vice-president, respect- ively, for this firm. Production on the Edwin Carewe Northwest features that C. C. Burr of Affiliated Distribtuors will State right will be made bere and not in the East, as was originally planned. Bernle Fineman and Bennie Zeidman are in- terested in this project, according to reports beard here. Casting will be done here. The first production Is ex- pected to be released In time for re- lease on March ]. News of the disposal of the distribu- tion rights to "Where Is My Wondering Boy" to Equity Pictures Corporation by Bernie Fineman and Bennie Zeld- man was hailed here with considerable enthusiasm. Both Fineman and Zeld- man are exceedingly popular In film- dom, and the general impression is that they could not have closed a bet- ter deal than that reported here. Since his arrival from New York Harry Wilson, the enterprising public director for Sol Leaser's enterprises, has been considerable of a busy man. Lesser has extensive plans under way for the coming season for the produc- tion of independent productions. TIs rumored here that Harry Wilson has threatened to commit hari kari If his bosses send him to New York again. Sacred Films, Inc.. Burbank. Cal.. afe rushing production on the Bible series, and Larry Welngarten is expected to be sent to New York late in February with some of the recently completed episodes, which are t>elDg released at the rate of one a week. Next Hallroom "From Soup to Nuts ' is the title that has been given the newest of the Percy and Ferdie Hallroom Comedies. The picture was for- warded this week by the producer, Harry Cohn, from the West Coast producing centre to the New York offices of Hallroom Boys Photo- plays, Inc., for release through Fed- erated Film Exchanges of .Amer- ica, Inc.