The Moving picture world (July 1924-August 1924)

530 MOVING PICTURE WORLD August 23, 1924 Associated Exhibitors' Plan Reduces Distribution Costs FOR years the hue and cry of the film industry in general has been, "cut the cost of distribution to a reasonable percentage of the investment." From Associated Exhibitors comes the announcement that they have solved the problem and will as a result save many thousands of dollars to both the independent producer and the exhibitor. The plan, which was put in force this week, is a co-operative one with Pathe Exchange, Inc. Elimination of wasted physical efforts was the first half of the plan put in operation, when Pathe arranged to handle more of the detail attendant upon the handling of the physical distribution of the Associated product. In furtherance of the plan, Pathe has moved its contract department to the seventh floor of the Pathe building to more adequately handle its enlarged activities. As an example of the elimination of the waste attending the physical efforts of the Associated employes, much information on contracts turned over to Associated by Pathe has in the past been duplicated by Associated. In the future Pathe reports will go direct to producers releasing through Associated. The Associated home office working force has been slashed heavily but only in the places where the eliminations remove duplication in effort. As noted, the publicity and exploitation staff of Pathe and Associated have been combined and a closer co-ordination may be looked for wherever possible Many new salesmen have been hired for the field by Associated, and though consolidations may be effected here and there the major portion of the sales staff will remain intact, it is announced. Pathe Announces Winners of Storey Pennant Race PATHE announces this week the winners of the $10,000 Storey Pennant Race. The offices that won in each of their various leagues were Chicago, Des Moines, Boston, Portland and Butte. For the past four months the contest has waged hotly in each of the thirty-five branch offices, and until this week none of the contestants knew who had won, due to the closeness of the race. The exchanges were divided into five leagues of seven offices to each league. The divisions were named after the regular baseball leagues, the Champion, National, American, Capitol and Minor. The standings of the offices in each league at the close of the contest were : Champion League — Des Moines, Los Angeles, Spokane, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee and St. Louis. National League — Chicago, Double "I," Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and New Haven. American League — Boston, Omaha, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Dallas and Buffalo. Capitol League — Portland, Minneapolis, Seattle, New Orleans, Charlotte, Newark and Denver. Minor League — Butte, Albany, Kansas City, Cincinnati, New York, Washington and Memphis "SINGLE WIVES" A First National release, with Corinne Griffith and Milton Sills. Change in Program Century Comedies announce that "Sahara Blues," a two-reel Century comedy scheduled for release on September 24, has been replaced by "The Trouble Fixer," the second of the Century comedies starring Wanda Wiley. The change was made because of the popularity attained by Wanda Wiley in her first starring vehicle for Century, "Her Fortunate Face," released early this month. Dorothy Devore and St. Clair Sign Warner Bros. Contracts DOROTHY DEVORE, former Christie Comedy star, has signed a fiveyear contract with Warner Brothers to appear in their Classics of the Screen. Her first appearance will be in "The Narrow Street," the Edwin Bateman Morris novel. Miss Devore was first on the stage in musical comedy, but later entered the movies, playing with Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran in one and two reel comedies for Universal. Her work immediately attracted attention For Release in December— Now Booking and she was signed by Christie Comedies. Later she was cast to play the leading feminine role with Charles Ray in "Forty-fiv. Minutes From Broadway." Eric St. Clair has been placed under a long term contract with the Warner Brothers. His splendid acting in "Find Your Man," the Rin-Tin-Tin picture which he has finished, had a great deal to do with the producing company's decision to secure his exclusive services for the next few years. Warner Brothers' contract players are steadily growing in number, Mr. St. Clair being the ninth to be placed on the list. The others are Monte Blue, Marie Prevost, Louise Fazenda, Irene Rich, Willard Louis, June Marlowe, John Roche and Dorothy De PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION ^ffom TEXAS Starring HAfMty 1 cAney (Wta* bu TOM FORM AN r3t HUNT STROMBERQ broiuclion . Season 19241925— Thirty First Run Pictures MacLean Publicity Because of the outstanding results obtained in the selling of Douglas MacLean comedies, "Going Up," "The Yankee Consul" and "Never Say Die," Associated Exhibitors, which releases these features, has arranged to handle the publicity and exploitation in a special department under the direction of Frank C. Payne, Douglas MacLean's eastern representative. This department will specialize on the Douglas MacLean features exclusively, and has engaged Arthur Hoerl, formerly director of publicity with F. B. O., to look after all exploritation for "Never Say Die."