The Moving picture world (March 1923-April 1923)

Expect Business 1 o Fick Up After Kaster in Missouri KANSAS CITV, MO.— liusiiiuss iu tbis urritdiy jusolar as iudepeudent txcliaiiges are coiicerued is expected til pick up malerially now that the Lenten season is over. Business during' the past few weeks has been soniewbat brisk in this city as well as in St. Louis. I'he situation in St. Louis and the eastern part of the Slate is unchanged with no indications of any betteruiciit due to the circuit booking; proposition prevailin;; there. Al Kahn. piosident of the Crescent Film K.\chant;c, returned from New Viirk this week but he wouldn't say anything aliout anything. Al doesn't make an announcement until he is positive but when he does make an announcement you can rest assured it is authentic. Syd Uosenihal, general manager of the Sydiio idstributiiig Co.. says that every e.xhiliitor who has "determination " will succeed. Now, Syd, behave/ Two of the maiu characters iu Daniel Carson lioodmau s latest producti<in, 'Has the World Gone Mad?" which will be released iu this territory by the Film Booking Offices, are Mary Alden. who plays an effective roll' of a wife who has given her best years to a Iiusband who finds her "in the way" when he has finally reached social distinction and Elinor Fair, who plays the part of her daughter, who tries to stem the tide of catastrophe in her home by her father's foolish but complete aversion fi)r her mother. The Fine Arts Pictures Corporation headed by Walter Thimmig has taken charge of the Exhibitors Service Exchange. I'. E. K. Collins continues as manager and no other changes are contemplated. The exhibitors organization had a contract to purchase the Fine Arts Pictures Corporation's business, ' paying for same from the receipts of the exchange. Under the new plau Thimmig will run the exchange during the balance of the period covered by the exhibitors contract, and at the end '•t that time the exchange passed back entirely to the Fine Arts organization. The exhibitors had an option to renew their contract but have decided not to exercise it. The Motion Pictures Sales Association of St. Louis, the newlv formed film salesman's club, plans to attend the baseball game between the St. Louis Browns and Cardinals at Sportsman's Park, April 7, in a bodv. The game will be followed by a dinner in the St. Louis Film Board of Trade rooms. Barney Fegan and Sam Bromley were to open their new exchange in the .S.ino block on Olive street by .\liril 1. The offices are now undergoing alterations and a large concrete vault will he installed. In the meantime Barney is managing the Aubert theatre which is owned by Bromley and his associates. "Wildness of 'i'outh." for which Sam Werner of United Film Exchange, has the local territorial rights had its St. I.ouis premiere at the William Fox Liberty theatre on March 17. He reports many Infjuiries for the picture through the territory. Seattle News SKATTI.E— (Staff Special)— Dave C. Rodgers. a well-known figure in film circles here and throughout the Northwest, has joined the sales staff of Greater Features, Inc.. and will cover Eastern Washington out of the Seattle office. Mr. Rodgers is remem bered through his aggressive National fight against the Music Tax several years ago. He comes from United Artists. MOVING PICTURE WORLD Recognition— and Duty! WHiJ-E the current season bids fair to record the greatest independent year the motion picture has ever known, every indication, based on the demand plus prestige established by independent pictures in 1922-23, point to an even greater era in 1923-24. Just ho-w great the new season will be depends entirely upon the calibre of product offered the theatre owners. But upon the co-operation — the material financial co-operation and support of the theatregoers — depends, too, the extent of the artistic greatness of these productions. It is neither an exaggeration nor an undue outburst of enthusiasm that is demonstrated when this writer advances the claim that without the money-making first-class, artistically wonderful productions turned out by independent producers — the current season would not have been the financially great one that it has turned out to be for many exhibitors. One thing the progressively energetic independent has earned this season has been prestige. And with prestige — a prestige established by giving the exhibitor good product, consistently good product — has come that for which independents have long been fighting and seeking —RECOGNITION. To the dealer in independent productions that word means much. It represents years of struggling — fearless, troublous and gigantic struggling — struggling against seemingly impossible odds. It represents the reward for confidence, foresight, energy, co-operation between the producer and distributor, between distributor and exchangeman, between exchangeman and theatre owner — and last, but far from the least, a development of public demand for entertaining independent productions. The confidence of the exhibitor in independent productions of material box office value, the confidence of the exhibitor in the ability of independent producers to turn out money-making productions has been won. It has brought recognition. But that recognition, that confidence, must be carefully guarded against trespassers, against irresponsibles, against Wallingfordian promoters, against incompetents and against the dishonest intruder. The independent man has not yet reached the height to which we believe 1923-24 will raise him — but he has hit the right trail. He has at last found himself. The exhibitor has demonstrated his willingness to book good independent pictures. The independent producer, encouraged by this support, has made meteoric advances. Independent productions of quality ALL made money; they ALL are still making money. But success is not yet complete. We are today nearer our goal — nearer than ever before. But our goal has not yet been reached. It it in sight. And 1923-24 will find it permanently and definitely. With good productions the goal will be reached. So — in passing — may we suggest the slogan: "INDEPENDENTS WILL SAY IT WITH GOOD PICTURES." Keep that in mind— and we can't fail. And, incidentally, start working now. The sun's shining now. So let's make hay. ROGER FERRL Independent First Run News BALTIMORE — (Special) — "The Country Flapper" started off badly at Wizard theatre this week despite heavy advertising in papers and billing. tieup next season whereby they will be assured a first run showing in a representative downtown house. PITTSBURGH— (Special) — Milton Sills and Alice Lake starred in "Environment" hold the boards at the Cameraphone theatre here this week. The opening Monday was particularly good. CLEVELAND — (Special) — "The World's a Stage" is the attraction this week at the Hippodrome theatre and promises to theaaten the house record, if the Monday and Tuesday turnouts can be taken as critcirionB. ATLANTA. GA.—(Speclal)— Representative exhibitors in this city and Charlotte never were happier over the crop of independent productions available from local exchanges. PHILADELPHIA — (Special)— Realizing the increasing demand for independent productions the strongest circuit bookers in this territory are patronizing independent exchanges more than ever before. At the office of Kwality Exchanges. Warner Brothers representatives it was announced that "The Beatitifnl and Damned" will play the Blue Mouse Theatre here, opening April 7. Prints of "Brass" have been received and at the initial screening, were received with ontliusiasm. PROVIDENCE, R. I.— (Special)— Richard Talmadge has proven such a magnetic attraction at the Victory theatre here that that house management has decided to use all his productions. PROVIDENCE. R. I.— (Special) — "Poor Men's Wives" is at the Rialtc theatre and holding its own against some stiff opposition from local houses. INDIANAPOLI.S— (Special) — Business at the independent exchanges during the Lenten season just ended is reported hero to have been the worse in season, last year being excepted. April 14, 1923 New York Looks Forward to Biggest Season in 1923-24 Anticipating the greatest year for independents, exchanges in New York and New Jersey are now seeking product for distribution during the 192.'i-24 season. Conditions for the Independent distributor never have been better than they were noted this season, but with independent productions more popular than ever before and with producers announcing bigger and even better pictures for next season, exchanges report unusual demand from exhibitors who seek to tie up for product next season even at this early stage of the year. Capital Film Echange of New York has taken over the distribution rights to "Robin Hood. Jr.," for nortberD New Jersey and New York City. The picture had its premiere at the Newark Theatre last week when it was enthusiastically received by press and public. Sam Zierler and bis entire staff at the Commonwealth Film Exchange are busy these days completing plans for the Commonwealth Month which starts April 12 and continues until the middle of May. Exhibitors In the metropolitan zone are giving excellent co-operation and bookings are coming in unusually fast, according to reports given out at the exchange. The April-May drive that Merit Exchange started two weeks ago U meeting with splendid success. This period promises to establish a new record for bulk business tor the popular New York exchange. Merit Films Corporation has purchased the entire New York State and northern New Jersey rights to the latest Whitman Bennett independent production, "The Truth About Wives," starring Betty Blytbe. Appearing with her are Tyrone Powers, William Carleton, Anne Luther. Fred Jones and John Daly Murphy. Harry H. Thomas, general manager of the Arrow Exchange, Inc., reports unusual interest among New York exhibitors in the latest Arrow superspecial, "Jacqueline or Blazing Barriers," based on a James Oliver Curwood story, which Dell Henderson Incorporated on the screen. At its Paterson. N. J., premiere this production broke records at the U. S. Theatre. "Brass," the Warner Brothers' masterpiece of the current season, opened at the Rialto Theatre, Newark, N. J., Saturday, March 31, for an extended run. The opening was one of the busiest experienced by that house and indications on Monday were that the picture would run away with all house marks for a week. "After Six Days," Weiss Brothers' Biblical production, was the first attraction played at the Premier Theatre in Brooklyn, which opened on Thursday night, March 22. The picture was doing well Monday and Tuesday. Foster Moore, formerly with Herman Jans and later special representative with Al Lichtman Corporation, is now with Commonwealth Pictures Corporation handling the sales in New Jersey. Joe Forster and Harry Kaplan of the Manhattan Film Exchange, will release "Superstition" In the metropolitan territory. CHICAGO— (Siiecial)— Local Inde-. pendent exchangemen are straining' every effort to effect some sort of BOSTON — (Special) — 1924 will prove a banner year for independents in New England. Judging from the rush for booking from exhibitors for the 1923-24 season. The clrcuitization of theatres in this territory lb evidently causing the independent exhibitors considerable concern, the (ear being that the tieup will be such that the independents will be left outside In the cold. State Rights I ncorporations Albany — Carlos Prod.. Manhattan. Capital $500. Attorney, Nathan Bnrkan. Albany — General Syuehronislne Corp. Capital $100,000. Attorneys, Schechter & Dotsch. Albany — Melbourne, Arden Prod., Inc., Manhattan. Capital $40,000. Attorney, Julius Cohen. Albany — Young Pictures. Inc.. Manhattan. Caftltal $5,000. Attorneys, Blckerton. Wittenberg & Fleischer