The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

328 MOVING PICTURE WORLD Shauer, Just Back, Says Season in European Field Looms Big THE European motion picture industry stands at the threshold of what promises to be the most successful year in its history, in the opinion of E. E. Shauer, assistant treasurer of the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation and director of the company's foreign department, who returned on September 7 from a visit of several months to European film centers. He was accompanied by Harold M. Pitman of the Paramount legal department and by Ike Blumenthal of the Paramount foreign organization in Berlin. "At no time since the war," said Mr. Shauer in discussing conditions in the film industry abroad, "have the prospects for good business been as excellent as they are today. I found a great improvement in conditions over last year, and, unless all signs fail, all branches of the industry are certain to enjoy an improved business during the coming twelve months. "Perhaps the outstanding event of the new season to date has been the sensational success scored by 'The Covered Wagon' on its opening September 5 at the London Pavilion before one of the most distinguished audiences of theatre-goers which has ever greeted a motion picture. The James Cruze Paramount special is the talk of entire Europe. Everywhere I went, including London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Prague, Budapest and Vienna, I heard about 'The Covered Wagon.' Every one is eager to see what they call the great American picture. "The Indians who were taken to London for the opening have been the sensation of London, with an army of photographers and newspaper reporters following them wherever they go. The principal newspapers in London have given columns of space to the presence of the American Indians and the opening of 'The Covered Wagon,' and the interest has spread to Paris and other continental cities. The management has been flooded with requests for visits from the Indians. An interesting feature of the exploitation campaign was the insertion of want ads in several daily papers offering a reward of one pound for the suggestion of the best camping spot for the Indians. "Cables which I have received since my return report that every seat has been sold out in advance and that the newspaper reviews have been most favorable and laudatory. "The London Pavilion has been leased for a long term and it is expected by Britishers that 'The Covered Wagon' will duplicate in London its successful run in the United States. Arrangements will be made shortly for the opening of the picture in Paris, and other European capital cities will see this Paramount special as rapidly as preliminary arrangements can be completed. "The leasing of the London Pavilion, Tivoli, Palace and Empire theatres by leading American producers and distributors for first run showing of big pictures marks a new step forward in the British film industry, perhaps the most important since the war. More attention is being paid to the elevation of the screen to the important position it September 22, 1923 Fox Leases Theatre William Fox has leased the Palace Theatre, London, England, for the showing of the screen version of "If Winter Comes." The opening date is set for September 10. An orchestra of seventy-five musicians has been engaged for the opening. A. S. M. Hutchinson personally edited the version of the Fox production to be used in the British capital. demands in an artistic theatrical sense, and it will also bring about a new era of exploitation in Great Britain which will have a tremendous effect upon the growth of the business during the coming years. "Distributing conditions are becoming more nearly normal, with t&T completion of a number of new theatres, and before the year is over our British release schedule will be on about the same basis as in the United States. "One of the many improvements which impressed me greatly was the wonderful spirit I found in business circles in the Central European countries, Czecho-Slovakia, Austria and Hungary, where the work of regeneration is already well under way. The people are cheerful, and business is improving. As a result of this great improvement in conditions we expect to announce shortly new arrangements for the distribution of Paramount pictures in this territory." Washington Exhibitors and Workers May Compromise Soon I T is anticipated that the Washington, D. C, motion picture theatre exhibitors will come to an agreement with the stage crafts this week. With respect to each of the branches a compromise of the workers' demands has been effected. The projectionists' demands approximated a twenty-three per cent advance over existing wages. The contract as signed calls for a ten per cent advance. A compromise contemplating a seven and Kansas Convention Plans Rapidly N earing Completion PLANS for the convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Kansas, to be held at the Broadview Hotel, Wichita, Kan., Monday and Tuesday, September 24 and 25, are rapidly nearing completion. Exhibitors throughout the state are beginning to realize the value of organization and co-operation and from present indications this convention promises to be one of the biggest in attendance in the history of the organization. Officers of the association have arranged to have several well-known authorities on various phases of the industry. A representative of one of the largest insurance companies will present plans for the reduction of insurance. Sam Handy, attorney for the theatre owners, will present data on the music tax situation. Practically every subject of interest to the exhibitor will come up for discussion, and it is promised that the convention will be a lively one that no theatre owner or manager should miss. Members of the organization are being urged to bring their wives, in order that they, too, might attend the business meetings and share in the entertainment which is being planned for them. one-half per cent increase in the wages paid stage hands is being discussed and it is possible that this matter will have to go to an arbitration board for settlement. A fifteen per cent increase has been agreed on between the theatre men and their musicians. The contract, however, was not signed last week because the former are demanding certain changes be made. The two principal points on which the parties to the contract are in disagreement are the failure of the contract to provide for the discharge of men during the season and the time the contract shall run. The managers want a provision permitting them to discharge a musician or for a musician to resign on two weeks' notice. Under the terms of the contract the managers have the right to discharge a man after two weeks' trial, but should they retain him beyond this probationary period they would be compelled to keep him throughout the season. A man might be at his best for the first two weeks and then, knowing that he could not be discharged, could "lay down on the job," the managers contend. They also demand that the contract remain in force for a period of two years that they may not have the same fight over again twelve months hence. Spirit of '76 in Film D. W. Griffith is to make a motion picture that will deal with the early days of the Republic, and embody the great episodes of the American Revolution. Mr. Griffith has consented to make the picture at the request of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This organization made its request through the Committee on Public Relations, which affiliates in an advisory capacity with the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America of which Will H. Hays is president.