The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

528 110,VING PICTURE WORLD December 12, 1925 \J" Controls 85 Per Cent, of U. S. Distribution in Qermany By Sumner Smith N' THE Universal Pictures Corporation will control 85 per cent, of American distribution in Germany by virtue not only of the Ufa deal announced last week but by deals with the Landlicht Exchange, a distributing subsidiary of Ufa, and the Bruckman Exchange, the second largest system in Germany. That nation requires about 200 feature pictures a year. Ufa will supply about forty, about thirty will be Universal Jewels and the remainder will be American pictures selected by Universal. These additional details were made known this week by Carl Laemmle, president of Universal. Mr. Laemmle leaves this Saturday for Berlin and expects to arrive in the German capital on December 14, to affix his signature to the Ufa contract. He chatted this week with the trade paper men and again showed himself to be one of the most agreeable of the bigger personalities in the industry. The Universal-Ufa deal is so great in scope that it is impossible for even Mr. Laemmle to now predict all its ramifications. He and the other Universal officials were obviously elated over their success in signing Ufa and hinted briefly at the competition with other American companies that they had to overcome. But Germany knows Carl Laemmle so well, and sees in him the personification of all that is not only progressive but fair and square as well, that he began in the bidding with an undisputed "edge" on his competitors. Nevertheless — so he said himself— they made it keenly competitive for a while. Undoubtedly this Universal-Ufa deal is one of the very biggest of the year. Its principal value to Universal, as stated last week, is the opportunity it affords for distribution in Germany of Universal Jewels. The Kontin iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ Censors Doomed? I A BSOLUTELY no place has been | 1 XI made for the New York State f 1 Motion Picture Conunission in the re 1 organization plan in New York State, | I which will become effective during the i 1 months to come through the adoption | 1 of the constitutional amendment at the | 1 last general election day. This means | I that there is a strong possibility that 1 I censorship may be removed at last from s 1 the statute books of New York State, | § a thing long desired and advocated by 1 I Governor Alfred E. Smith and others 1 1 of his party. 1 I It is expected that some such state | I ment may come from Governor Smith J I when he addresses the New York State | 1 Legislature at the opening of the ses | I sion the first week in January. Gov M 1 ernor Smith has frequently advocated 1 I the abolishment of the conunission in 1 S both his messages to the Legislature | B and on other occasions. 1 liiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^^ gent plan now won't bother Laemmle very much. Also, Universal will book all Ufa pictures in all English-speaking countries, and, in addition, Universal will book Ufa pictures in all other countries where Ufa isn't profitably represented. Concerning Universal distribution in Germany, Ufa owns 143 theatres outright and books 600. Most of these are in Germany, some in Holland, Switzerland and Belgium. Stars will be "swapped." Emil Jannings probably will come to this country to make one or more pictures. Ufa is begging for the services fo Mary Philbin, but Universal can't loan her at this moment. Universal does not have majority representation on the Ufa Board. Universal's representation will be two directors out .of the five. Universal does not want control, said Mr. Laemmle, and it is that knowledge which led Ufa to align itself with Universal. "It is a friendly arrangement," Mr. Laemmle said, "a friendly arrangement of mutual value. That is one of the chief reasons why Universal was favored. Ufa had no fear of our attempting to dominate." It is impossible, Mr. Laemmle asserted, to estimate how many German pictures Universal will release in the United States. That will depend upon the future — and the pictures. He has great hopes, however, of creating a good market for them here. Closing the interview Mr. Laemmle again talked acquisition of theatres. "Universal," he emphasized, "will not tread on the toes of any exhibitor. We will buy where we can legitimately or where forced to by our opposition. We will not molest the business of any of our customers, not even the smallest and most occasional ones." Mae Murray also sails for Germany on Saturday. piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim I Over seated? | ' OW the talk among Chicago build 9 _ ers and theatre owners concerns g 5 overseating the city, especially in the B 1 Loop. While several large theatres 3 I have been opened this year in the out { 1 lying districts and have taken a ere P 1 tain amount of the business from the 1 1 Loop, the houses are jammed with 1 m patrons over the week ends and the g M big Sunday business no doubt helps s I to keep the net up for the week and 1 g pay the overhead. g E According to a well known manager, 1 i more than a dozen large houses have g 1 been opened this year and more are S E to come, so it will be the survival of | i the fittest, after all is said and done. | iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiuiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinniiHiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiniiuiiiiiiiiHiiiuiuiiiiniil Bioscope Explains How Quota System May Be Worked THE Bioscope, British film publication, prints an interesting explanation of the possible operation of the quota system which may go into effect as a measure of protection against foreign productions. It follows : "If a quota system was decided on to help British film production, and that quota was fixed at 12}^ per cent., exclusive of topicals, it would mean that an exhibitor showing 10,000 feet of film in each program would have, in course of four weeks, to show 12J4 per cent, of 80,000 feet. This amounts to 10,000 feet, and the exhibitor could either choose to show two five-reel British features per month, or one five-reel British feature per month and 1,000 feet of British scenic or interest film per week. The whole 10,000 feet of British film could be shown per month, or a total footage of British film amounting to 120,000 feet could be spread over the entire twelve months and divided between features and shorter films, as best suits the exhibitor." L M. A. Executives To Attend Ohio Convention PRESIDENT I. E. CHADWICK and General Manager Frederick H. Elliott of the Independent Motion Picture Association of America will attend the annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Ohio at Columbus, December 8 and 9. Vice-President J. J. Harwood of the Ohio theatre owners telegraphed Mr. Elliott an invitation to President Chadwick to address the convention on Tuesday afternoon, and it is not unlikely that the I.M.P.A. president will remain over for the banquet on Tuesday evening, when he has been invited to be one of the principal speakers. General Manager Elliott will go to Columbus in advance of President Chadwick for a conference with the Ohio officials, along with President Frank J. Rembusch of the M.P.T.O. of Indiana, who advised that he will meet him in Columbus on Monday. It is not improbable that the I.M.P.A, executives while in the Middle West will have conferences with the M.P.T.O. officials and independent theatre owners from adjoining states who are to attend the Columbus convention. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIillllllllllllllllU^ Incorporations 'iiiiiii>iiii"uiiiiiiiiiiiniii::MiiiiiiiiiiiiiNiiuiii[iiiiiiiiii[iiiiiiiii!i[iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ There appears to be no let-ap In the number of motion picture compaalea Ineorporat* ing In New York State, the past vreek brlnsInjr the UKunI grist to the Secretary of State's ottlce at Albany. There wun an nveragre of one company a day, each nith a fairly good capitalization. The foIlonInK gives the names of the companies, the capitalization and the directors chosen for the ilrst year; Bob Custer Productions, |IS,0OO, Julias Chapsky, Joseph Joel, Mildres Spiro, all of New York City; Blum Theatrical Corimration, «20,000, GuHtav Blum, F'rederic Clayton, H. B. Forbes, New Y'ork City; Saland Film Laboratories, $10,000, Abraham Weinsteln, Joseph ti. Mar> Kolln, Nnthanlal Seaman, New York Clty| CInechrome Film Corporation, $2O,0O0, Arthur Gross, Morris KInhom, Stella Berthotf, New York City; MacFadden True Story Pictures, riOO.OOO, G. L,. Hnrrlnsrton, William Thompson, S. N. Wo€>d, New York City; FUtter Productions, Inc.. fl2.000, Walter A. Futter, M. L.. Greenbergr, Isaac Sehmal, New York Cltyi Bershap Theatre Corporation, no capitalisation Klven, Henrietta Anidur, N. K. CoheB« Bernard Shapiro, New York City.