The Moving picture world (November 1924-December 1924)

November 22, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 301 Speaking freely (By Wire from Detroit) John Kunsky and Sam Katz got together in Atlantic City, fixed up a deal, issued a statement and declared the matter closed. George Trendle won't be quoted but says the official statement told it all. But Detroit refuses to stop worrying or conjecturing. Every man you meet wants to know what New York knows about the "inside story." You have to admit that New York doesn't know a darn thing. Then he wags his head and proceeds to tell you just why there must be an "inside story." But it all runs in a circle, and you finish up where you started. Which is in the correct Detroit position — waiting — waiting — waiting. And expecting almost anything. First of all you are told how Balaban and Katz offered John Kunsky four and a half million for his entire holdings. Dame Rumor is quoted as authority for the figure. Then you are given the present status : Kunsky, fifty-one per cent, of the stock. Trendle, twenty-four per cent., Balaban and Katz, twenty-five per cent. Next comes the information that Balaban and Katz are going to supply the money to complete their new theatre here. And the emphatic statement that when completed it will be entirely controlled and directed by the Kunsky organization. That at no time will Balaban and Katz put a finger in the pie — either the new house, or the present Kunsky chain. "I can't see it," says the man who is doing the worrying. "There must be something else. Balaban and Katz don't want simply a minority investment paying good dividends. They want power. And if this story of the deal is correct all they have done is to have made a good investment." About this time the two of you agree that maybe Balaban and Katz have acquired the power. Regardless of what is written in the contract there is certainly going to be a community of interest between Mr. Kunsky and his new partner. And with his partner's other friend, A. H. Blank. When you visualize that community of interest stretching across the Mid West map you get a mighty imposing and impressive picture. Especially when you add to it the possibilities in the Kunsky dream of a new Stanley buying giant in Michigan. "That's dead as a doornail," they tell you at exhibitor headquarters. "Trendle hasn't got eight outside theatres working with him. He's given upr the idea." You walk up the street from the Wolverine to the Film Building. "Trendle has twenty theatres with him," Joe Friedman, Universal manager, informs you. "And, listen, George Trendle isn't in the habit of quitting. He'll keep right on going ahead." Oh, well, oh hum, tomorrow we are going to see George Trendle himself. Mebbe we will get some real facts then. Mebbe we won't. Accent on the second mebbe, because George isn't a talkative citizen. There you are — take your choice. And here's another chance for choice: On the rumors about allocation of product, secret agreements, and controlled towns. But that makes a story too long and complicated for writing on a portable typewriter in a Statler stall. We'll have to save it for a week or so. Watch and wait. (Adv.) Shucks, we may as well slip in another ad. Phil Gleichman is talking: "Say, I read something good in a trade paper recently — a fine analysis of Paramount's situation on the Second Forty." He proceeds to tell it to us. Takes five minutes. "Did you read it?" he concludes. "We wrote it," we reply shyly. Modest-like we repeat it here. Phil, by the way, is entirely out of the picture business now. Not even a member of his beloved organization. But we should say, "temporarily out." Because he is watching conditions with both eyes open. And anything might happen. For that matter you can't say Phil Gleichmann is out of the picture business as long as his suit against Famous is still running "And running nicely, thank you," sez he. Had a dandy chat with Jim Ritter. He arrived just after H. M. Richey had been telling what a wise exhibitor Ritter is. Has three houses, changes twice a week, and sees every picture he plays before he buys. "If they were all like that," says Richey "We wouldn't have so many mediocre pictures driving patrons to the radio." We don't know where Charlie Pettijohn picks them, but it all his Film Board secretaries have the cheery smile and wholesouled personality of Dave Palfreyman we know one of the important reasons why the Film Board idea is having such smooth sailing. Ralph Peckham, Producers Distributing Corporation manager come in with fire in his eye. Has three cut-outs from a practically brand new print. And some butcher of an operator has punch-holed them like a swiss cheese. Criminal. If Peckham saw the line-up for "Welcome Stranger" at the Broadway-Strand Sunday night, and heard the comments we heard, he is probably smiling again. This is a tip : The picture is there with audience value. Universal has poured some fifty thousand dollars worth of atmosphere into the Broadway Strand and you wouldn't know the old friend. The job has been done in bang-up fashion and in Eddie Toledo Zorn the house has a live-wire, go-getter, he-showman who is getting results. We are gazing up at the Strand's second balcony. "Just a lot of waste space these days, isn't it?" We venture, sympathetically. "Not always," laughs Eddie. "You should have seen us pack that sky-loft at thirtyfive cents a . head for 'Captain Blood.' " There's another tip straight from the box office. Here's hospitality. We happen into Joe Friedman's office simultaneously with the arrival of Fred McConnell, general sales manager of Universal short product. A sales meeting scheduled. We try to bow out. "Stay right here," says Joe. "Sit in, we'll go right through with everything just as though you weren't here." What's more, they did. Incidentally, we heard a talk on the value of serials to the exhibitor that is too good to keep within sales meetings. That's something else we'll have to feed into a real Remington later. Or get Fred McConnell to play it on his own typewriter for us. We'll make a bet with anyone that the Detroit "U" office jumps fifty per cent, on short product in the next sixty days. And then double the bet on "The White List." Ollie Brooks got tired of Pullman golf and homesick for Detroit so he said good-bye to Fox and is now back in the home town as special representative for the U exchange. Guess the homesickness got Charlie Davee, too. Because he shook the Minneapolis dust and is now selling The White List in Michigan. "Hot Water." "They" will tell you it i» not as good as "Girl Shy." "They" said it so often that we did not hurry to see "Hot Water" in New York. Paid a dollar CASH for the privilege Friday night at the Adams. Got our money's worth. And don't know which we enjoyed the most, the picture or the honest-to-goodness LOUD enjoyment of the audience that packed the house at six bits and a dollar. "They'' may be right. "They" are. But that's just like telling you that a five dollar bill is not as pretty as a five dollar gold piece. It isn't. But each will get you five hundred cents worth of value.— R. E. W.