The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

320 MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 28, 1925 British Imports of Films Show Extensive Increase THE following special report to the Department of Commerce by Alfred Nutting, clerk in the American Consulate General in London, gives an analysis of British exports and imports of motion picture films for the first nine months of 1925. For the nine months to September. 1925, the aggregate quantity of British imports of cinema films reached 170,587,388 linear feet, contrasted with 79,191,467 Hnear feet in the same period of 1924 and 90.459,407 linear feet in \923. This extensive rise, however, was not accompanied by a corresponding advance in value, which increased this year to £1,114,953 against £887,500 a year ago. Of the above aggregate for the current were imported in the first six months (cornperiod, no less than 154,742,426 linear feet pared with 48,898,631 linear feet in 1924) and 87,849,206 linear fet thereof were received in the month of June last (only 6,961,309 linear feet being imported in June, 1924), in consequence of the two months' notice which was given of the intention to subject cinema films to customs duty on imports arriving on and after July 1, 1925. It has to be remembered, however, that in the budget statement of 1924 it was announced that there was no intention of continuing the McKenna duties on cinema films and certain other goods, and consequently shipments were held back until the duties expired in August, 1924, and a comparison of the figures is vitiated by these changes of fiscal policy. For the three months, July-September, 1925, the quantity imported was only 15,844,962 linear feet, contrasted with 31,518,439 linear feet during the same three months of 1923, when the duties operated. Of imports during the current nine months, blank film comprised 122,316.370 linear feet, against 53,994,350 linear feet last year, and 69,787,117 linear feet in 1923; while for the three months, July-September, the respective totals were 10,245,402 linear feet, 17.278,994 linear feet and 24,789,339 lineare feet. Positive films totaled 40,329,532 linear feet in the current nine months, against 20,257,269 linear feet in 1924 and 15,085,248 linear feet in 1923, the latest three months figures being 4,278,431 linear feet, 11,295,590 linear feet and 5,065,078 linear feet, respectively; and negative films 7,941,486 linear feet in the nine months of 1925, contrasted with 4,939,848 linear feet in 1924, and 5,586,982 linear feet in 1923, the final three months recording imports of 1,321,129 linear feet this year, against 1,718,252 linear feet in 1924, and 1.664.022 linear feet two years ago. It is thus apparent that blank film has decreased the most heavily since June 30 last. It may be added that the total re-exports for the nine months in each of the years 1923-1925 show comparatively little change, averaging about 11,(X)0,000 linear feet. First NationaVs Sales Cabinet Starts on Tour of Country IN accord with its policy of establishing direct personal contact with branch managers, salesmen and exhibitors, the members of the new Sales Cabinet of First National Pictures, Samuel Spring chairman ; Ned Marin, A. W. Smith, Jr., and Ned Depinet will leave New York, Sunday, November 22, for a whirlwind tour of First National exchanges. The trip will keep the sales executives jumping from city to city for the next three weeks, during which it is the plan of the sales cabinet to confer with all of the important exhibitors in the localities visited, in addition to holding meetings at the exchanges. Following is the itinerary for the trip: Albany, BufTalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit. Toronto and then back to New York. It is the belief of the new sales heads that one of the greatest needs of a distribution organization that aims to function to its fullest capacity is closer contact with the actual problems confronting exchange managers and exhibitors. Instead of wiring or writing instructions, the sales executives plan to keep in such intimate touch with the men in the field, that, with all the facts before them, they will be able to reach conclusions through personal conferences. It is figured that with more than 20,000 theatres in the United States, with the release of approximately 800 feature pictures a year, and with the rapid growth of theatre circuits and the pooling of buying power, distribution problems have become bigger and more involved and therefore require greater concentration of effort. It is believed that this concentration can be best achieved through a division of territory under three sales managers, who will spend about half of their time in the field. The three recently appointed sales executives are now functioning under the chairmanship of Mr. Spring. Ned Marin is in charge of the Western territory; A. W. Smith, Jr., of the Eastern territory, and Ned Depinet of the Southern territory. The trip that starts Sunday will give the home office officials an opportunity to meet the members of sales force operating in the cities visited, also the leading exhibitors with whom they are dealing. It is planned to spend one day in each city during which First National's coming product will be discussed from every angle. Sales policies will be outlined by Mr. Spring and his associates and local conditions will be considered with a view to giving exhibitors the best possible service. VETERAN PASSES ON Great sorrow is felt at the passing of John J. Huss, 65, treasurer of the Royal Theatre, Cincinnati, who died recently. Russ, who had been connected with picture theatres for fifteen years, was well known in trade circles. He is survived by his widow and one son. Strict Business (Continued from preceding page) the producer and you work in the exhibitors box office and the public eye is caught by your w'ork. Therefore, how can it be a fifty-fifty proposition? When you come right down to it I do not think that anyone will ever be able to tell which of the four of us is the most responsible for the success and progress of the industry. It will always be the four of us and therefore the four of us will always have to stick together and work together. "I am in absolute accord with Mr. Hays' suggestion, made when he first entered the industry, that the industry needs a strong exhibitor organization and that representatives of that organization and of the producers should all sit down at the same table and decide matters as they present themselves. "Most of the so-called trouble in this industry is founded on nothing but the whisperings of busy-bodies. It is up to us to recognize this fact and the sooner we do the sooner there will be real harmony and a perfect machine which will work for the mutual benefit of all of us. "VN'hen you come right down to it, friendship is the sunshine of life. I would not sacrifice the friends I made while traveling throughout the country for all the money in the world. Let us develop a code of ethics based on: 'The greatest motive in life is the public good.' " That the geography of the industry is constantly changing and that one company may be a power today and a total loss tomorrow was the theme which Mr. Cohen struck home to his audience. Due to such power menacing theatre holdings and harassing exhibitors, other units are springing up and fortifying themselves, Cohen said. With this angle in mind he declared: "It looks to me as if the battle of the giants will be fought in 1928." In connection with the "battle," Cohen referred to the inception of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of •'\merica. "I firmly believe that if our organization had not been formed then that now one or two companies instead of owning 500 or 600 theatres would own S,0(X) or 6,000 theatres — meaning that a lot of us who are now in would be out." He made known that he is preparing a series of stories under the title of "What Is Entertainment in the Motion Picture Theatre ; Showmanship ; Advertising; Benefits of Reviewing Your Own Pictures ; Proper Advertising in Trade Press Is News to the Theatre Owner ; Overshowing and Overseating; Great Help and Assistance of Smaller Theatre Owners." In his closing remarks Mr. Cohen said that the industry might be benefited if its advertisers and exploiteers had more latitude. ANOTHER CHICAGO CIRCUIT Edward Trinz, Harry A. Gourfain and George Webster have organized the Gourfain and Trinz Amusement Company, with offices at 69 west Randolph street, Chicago, and a capital of $25,000, to operate theatres and amusements. Eddie Trinz is managing director of the Pantheon Theatre and Harry Gourfain formerly had charge of the presentations at the Senate Theatre of Lubliner & Trinz. This adds another circuit to the list of amusement companies in this territory.