Variety (July 1915)

MOVING PICTURES 17 FROHMAN'S WITHDRAWAL WILL NOT AFFECT COMPANY'S PLANS Election of William A. Sherrill as President of Frohman Amusement Corporation Cause of Gustave Frohman's Active Withdrawal from Firm. Sherrill Has Ten-Year Contract for Use of Frohman Name in Corporate Title of Corpor- ation. Frohman Retains Big Interest in Company. The withdrawal of Gustave Frohman as an active member of the Frohman Amusement Corporation, following the election of William L. Sherrill as presi- dent of the organization, will have no direct bearing on the future of the pic- ture concern, according to an officer of that corporation. Mr. Frohman, who was deposed as president of the company by the stock- holders at their last annual meeting, is now actively connected with the Bos- ton Photo Play Exchange. Gustave Frohman's announcement the Frohman Amusement Corporation had no fur- ther right to the use of his full name is rather misleading for the corporation never included his complete name In their announcements or advertising, Frohman's contract with the company specifically stipulating it is authorized to use the name "Frohman" in the title of the corporation. Mr. Frohman's contract also stipulates his acquiesence to act as president of the company during a ten-year term, provided he is so elected by the directors. At the last meeting of the board, the members present decided to give the office to William L. Sherrill, organ- izer and general manager of the propo- sition, and inasmuch as this relieved Frohman from any supervising capa- city, he accordingly decided to with- draw whatever moral support his per- sonal name carries, although he still retains a quarter interest in the Froh- man Amusement Corporation, which holds a perpetual charter granted by the state of Delaware. However, since Mr. Frohman has never been actively connected with the firm's productions, his withdrawal and subsequent alliance with the Boston concern, despite his ten-year contract guaranteeing his ex- clusive services in motion picture lines with the Sherrill firm, will have no weight on the future releases of the Frohman Corporation. STATE RIGHTS PICTURES. "Just Out of College," the George Adc famous story reduced to picture form, will be turned loose on the film market by its makers, the Frohman Amusement Corporation, through the selling of states' rights for the fea- ture. The fame of its author, with the well- known title itself, is a standing argu- ment in favor of state rights, and the Frohman people apparently have taken the unprejudiced picture man's stand— that where the feature film has some- thing established in connection with it, beyond the actual picture, the state rights' manner of circulation should prove the most profitable to the three classes represented in state rights sales —the exhibitor, state right buyer, and manufacturer. The discussion of the state right proposition is continual. It was the first mode of circulating feature film, and was supplanted by the service pro- gram. The latter was an invention to speed along the manufacturer, giving him a quick return for his initial in- vestment, remove the exchange or dis- tributing feature from his care, and permit the film maker to proceed steadily along in the business of pro- ducing features. This rapid invasion of the service companies reduced the chance of a growth of state right buy- ers, which would have aroused compe- tition. The Frohman Co. in making the first start for a feature concern recently connected with a Service company, to place its picture on a state rights basis will probably be followed with much interest by the trade. NEW CONCERN FORMING. An important formation was report- ed early in the week of a picture com- pany that will enlist the financial sup- port of a downtown coterie of wealthy men who have hitherto remained away from the picture field. The successful development of the company would lead to extended in- terests in pictures, it was said. Albert E. Lowe, acting for his com- pany (Kinemacolor, which will make the new concern's pictures) is reported to have been the prime factor in bring- ing about the formation. SERIAL'S AD SCHEMES. The North American Film Corpora- tion is in receipt of numerous letters daily from exhibitors throughout the country telling of novel schemes em- ployed in advertising this company's serial picture, "The Diamond from the Sky," for which there is an offer of $10,000 in gold to the person writing the best sequel to it. Many of the picture house managers are sending floats through their re- spective towns announcing the serial, while one western exhibitor is said to have borrowed $10,000 in gold from his bank and placed it in a conspicuous window in town, announcing it as the prize money, which naturally brought him capacity business during the pic- ture's showing there. EXHIBITORS 9 CONVENTION. San Francisco, July 21. The National Motion Picture Ex- hibitors' Association convention closed July 16 with a ball. The grand march was led by Geraldine Farrar. Tuesday the convention opened with President Pearce in the chair. After the opening preliminaries had been dis- posed of the body went on record as being opposed to the operation of pic- ture theatres by film manufacturers which does away with the independent exhibitor. Wednesday was Bessie Barriscale day at the convention. The principal event was the thorough discussion and criticism of censorship which permits politicians to graft. In a speech to the delegates, President W. W. Hod- kinson, of the Paramount, pleaded for cleaner pictures and emphasized the necessity of newspaper advertising. Thursday was utilized by discussing the present methods of censorship, and after a speech by D. W. Griffith, ad- vocating the right to produce films depicting the dark side, which hereto- fore has been suppressed by the censors, the convention passed a reso- lution to begin campaigning at once to defeat all attempts at censoring film dramas in the United States. The election of officers occurred Fri- day, with the following results: J. Fred Harrington (Pittsburgh), presi- dent; Mark Cory ('Frisco), first vice- president; L. W. Brophy (Muskogee, Okla.), second vice-president, and Peter J. Jeup (Detroit), treasurer. No secretary was elected. Other resolutions adopted during this session were for the exhibitors to op- pose the exhibition of films in cafes, saloons and dance halls. Detroit, New Orleans and New York are after the convention next year. WATCHING "VASELINE.'^ The "Vaseline" service is being watched rather intently by the picture trade. V. L. S. E. is the official title, and its sponsors would like the trade to call it "The Big Four" (Vitagraph- Lubin-Selig-Essanay), but the picture people have tacked "Vaseline" upon the combination. What the trade is most anxious about is to see if the V. L. S. E. will do any- thing worth while. So far the exchange for the large daily release concerns' feature films has done naught but spout, with little in the way of good features coming out of it. The discussion over "Vaseline" is most often heard in connection with the feature film market after Sept. 1, and what the V. L. S. E. people may be looked forward to produce. ALICE LLOYD'S SONG FILM. Alice Lloyd has appeared before the camera in a special song film which is to be released by the Windsor Film Corporation. It is entitled "Bobbin' Up and Down." A corps of women singers has been engaged to render the song for each film show. They will travel with the picture. Later the Windsor will make a proposition to state right buyers for its output. AFRAID OF TIMES SQUARE. The numerous reputable film con- cerns which have recently moved their offices or are contemplating doing so arc said to have been prompted through the failure of the owners of the build- ings harboring picture concerns in the neighborhood of Times Square to in- vestigate upon all the concerns that have rented offices. Several so-called film concerns are mostly money-mak- ing schemes which after conducting business for a while suspend. Numer- ous inquiries are made in the building by stockholders or creditors, which throws the regular concerns into dis- favor through their name being on the boards in these buildings. The big concerns breaking away are getting out of the old district as much as possible, taking up quarters in a commercial locality with a known busi- ness standing. de- the PICTURE MAN REPLIES. Through his company's press partment, J. Stuart Blackton, of Vitagraph, has issued a statement giv- ing the picture maker's side of the story in regard to the numerous com- plaints registered of late by the legiti- mate managers against the inroads the picture business is making into the other fields and the high salaries it is making necessary. Mr. Blackton claims the legit man- agers are only standing in their own light by refusing to sign players who have appeared in pictures. As far as hurting the drawing power of an artist, pictures increase his or her popularity, according to this statement. It goes on to state the film concerns are not dependent upon the stage for atari, giving the Vita companies as examples, with Anita Stewart, Lillian Walker, Earle Williams, Edith Storey and An- tonio Mareno mentioned as current picture stars and who were never heard of before their picture work. HORSLEY IN MUTUAL Last week David Horsley signed a contract with John R. Freuler, presi- dent of the Mutual, whereby the former will release his entire output through the Mutual after Aug. 12. At the same time Mr. Horsley cancelled his contract with the General Film Co., under which he has released the MinA brand of comedies for the last seven months. The cancellation of the Horsley con- tract with the G. F. becomes effective within 30 days. It is said :hat in lrak- ing a connection with the Mutual the producer hopes to find a wider market for his productions. Mr. Horsley is one of the best known film men in the country and one of the first independent producers. He is also the inventor of a number of mechanical devices for pictures. KRITERION OWES $203,244. The Kriterion Film Corporation, which has been in the hands of a re- ceiver since last May, has filed sched- ules showing assets of $43,500 and lia- bilities amounting to $203,244. The receiver since his appointment has been putting into money the various assets of the company, which consisted most- ly of pictures on the shelves.