The Moving picture world (January 1926-February 1926)

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STREAMIJNK NEWS nouv One of the new features of the 1926 model trade pajier. MOVING PICTURE WORLD FILM WEATHER Fair and warmer. Keep your head dear and your 24-sheets wet. VOL. 78 NEW YORK, N. Y., JANUARY 23, 1926 NO. 4 Principals in Ufa Deal Are Back in U. S. Wynne-Jones, Kent and Friedman Won't Talk Frederick Wynne-Jones, head of UFA-USA, who represents UFA in tlie United States, relurned on January 13 on tlie Majestic, but declined, for the present, to comment on th^■ agreement reached for exchanging feature films between UFA and Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Para•inount and Universal. "I was very deeply impressed," Mr. Wynne-Jones said to a reporter for Moving Picture World, "with the absolute fairness of the M.-G.-M. -Paramount proposals to UFA. No attempt was made to take even the slightest advantage of the situation, as it existed. I do not care to discuss any of the details of the transaction, at this time.'' The voyage was a trying one and Mr. Wynne-Jones avoided his offices in the Loew State Building, saying he was going home to get a needed rest. Sidney R. Kent of Famous Players and Mr. Friedman of M.G.-M. returned on the same boat. Neither would discuss the deal. Wouldn't That Be A Real Mean Trick? (.S/^ecial Dist^atcli to Moving Picture World) Cincinnati, January 12. It appears that Cincinnati is in the midst of an epidemic of theatre robberies, After bandits made a rich haul at the Capitol and Palace Theatres recently, they tackled the safe at the Cox, a stock house, but failed to find any money. Now the Aragon Theatre at Twelfth and Vine streets has been visited by burglars who forced open a door and stole a projection machine valued at $350 and twenty electric light bulbs valued at $10. Maybe they will use the money and machine to start a competing house. Avert Cleveland Panic A short cir( iiit in the projection machine, resulting in the ex))li)sion of the film at the LakeWf)od Theatre, flladys and Detroit avenues, Cleveland, occurred recently when approximate^' 7.5() patrons were in the house. .MthoUKh the auditorium was filled with smoke, a panic was averted by the organist assuring the audience that there was no danger and jilaying jazz selections. .Antone Joniak, i)rojeclionist, was painfully burned. French Aroused by Sale Of Film Rights to U. S. See Local Producers "Asleep at the Switch" — Jean Sapene Will Urge Quota System and Increase in Tariff (Special Disfatch to Moving Picture World) Paris. January 5. French film circles are greatly excited these days by reason of certain incidents that occurred at a recent banquet of the Parisian press to which representatives of the film journals had been invited. There had been much comment not only in film pa pel's but in every section of the French press on the fact that Americans had twice come into France, had taken specifically French subjects and had filmed them so well as to make them great box office pictures for tlie •i're.nch exhibitors. The films alluded to are "Scaramouche" and ".Madamo Sans Gene." One of the speakers at the banquet called attention to the fact that a million francs had been spent for advertising "Madame Sans Gene" in France alone. This was the remark that led to the abandonment of the set program for speeches and caused the after dinner orators to take sides for or against the persistent American invasion. The opinion soemed to be that the Americans were really not to blame. The French producers had had the same chances, and perhaps even better ones, but had been asleep at the switch, or words to that effect. M. Jean Sapene, who takes the part of the native film and who, It is said, has had much to do with recent re-organization of the French Pathe, will eventually carry out his ideas, according to Tiis friends. These ideas are chiefly the introduction of a quota system and a raising of the tariff on American films, whether positive or negative. ^ It is to be noted that the attitude of the French theatre owner is one of strict business neutrality. Al! efforts to commit the organization of French exhibitors to a preference for French' films as such have thus far at least been unavailing. Their only standard of value is the report of the box office and not the question of nationality. If there is to be "a European film concert"_or, as one man has expressed it, ""a Locarno of the screen" with an edge directed against the dreaded competitor from across the sea. the leaders of the movement will hardly be found in France. The latest statistics on the percentage of American films in France show that w-e supply a little more than 80 per cent. This is an improvement over the previous year of about 5 per cent. Wisconsin Plans Movie Mask Balls (Sfcrial LUsfatcli lo .\loviNr. Picture World) Milivaitkec, January 13. Every effort will be made by the M. P. T. O. of Wisconsin to raise enough funds to send its full quota of eleven delegates to the national convention, according to Henry Staab, executive secretary at Milwaukee. With this in view the association has planned a series of movie mask balls to be held at the Marigold Gardens beginning January 27. At each dance and entertainment prizes will be awarded. The mask balls will be held every Wednesday night. Pro ceeds of the affairs will be given to the convention fund, and in event enough money is raised the entire quota of delegates will be sent to the national convention to represent Wisconsin. Four mask balls in all have been arranged and different programs have been completed for each event to secure capacity houses. Fox Man Becomes Ascher Director (Special Dispatcli to .Moving Picture World) Chicago, January 11. Commissioner John Zanft, vice-president and general manager of the Fox Circuit of Theatres, has been elected a member of the board of directors of the Ascher Bros, circuit of theatres in Chicago. Mr. Zanft, who has been the ostensible head of the Fox theatre for many years, is regarded as one of the keenest showmen in eastern motion picture circles. He is largely responsible for the growth of the Fox circuit from a local string to one of the great theatre circuits of the country. In addition to his theatrical activities Mr. Zanft takes an active interest in local and state affairs and holds the honorary title of commissioner as the result of his appointment by Governor Alfred E. Smith to the board of managers of the New York State Reformatory. St. Louis Now Contemplating Booking Pool Mogler Compiling Much Data from Other Cities (.special Dispatch to Moving Picture World) St. Louis. January 12. Independent motion picture exhibitors of St. Louis, Mo., are considering the formation of a booking pool to solve the economic problems presented by chain competition and other conditions that have developed recently. Joseph Mogler, president of the St. Louis Motion Picture Exhibitors League, admitted that data is being gathered with a view of launching a similar arrangement in St. Louis. Tentative plans contemplate more than fifty of the 108 theatres booking film in St. Louis and its suburbs entering the booking arrangement. However, no formal pledges have been taken as yet, since the details of the plan of operation have not been decided on. Mogler said it was probable that every second-run theatre in St. Louis would be asked to join the new pool, including the twenty-five houses operated by tile St. Louis Amusement Company, which is controlled by Skouras Brothers and Harry Koplar. As is known, William Fox will be in St. Louis about January lb to meet Mogler and other members of the exhibitor leagu.' to discuss the first-run situation in St. Louis. The exhibitors are opposed to any additional theatre construction in St. Louis at present and hope to convince Ml'. Fox that he should refrain frcm building a large first-run house here. An effort will be made to 'have the existing firstrun theatre take care of Fox pictures on an equitable basis. Buettner Foresees The Dove of Peace (special Dispatch to Moving Picture World) Albany, N. ¥., January 13. Characterizing the entire trouble as being due to a group of jealous politicians in the business, Louis Buettner of Cohoes, N. Y., chairman of the Albany Zone Committee, declared recently that the whole situation between the Hays organization and the Albany and Buffalo zones would shortly be ironed out in a way that would be satisfactory to the exhibitor-members of the two zones. Mr. Buettner said that the board of directors of the two zones would probably go to New York in the near future for a conference with Mr. Hays.