Variety (May 1918)

MOVING PICTURES 49 GOLDWYN TO INCREASE OUTPUT I TO TWICE ITS PRESENT NUMBER Sets At Rest All Rumors of Being Financially Embarrassed by Contracting with Farrar and Other, Important Stars . for Increased Number of Productions. Will An- nounce Marketing Plans Next Month. For more than a year past there have been rumors, more or less cir- cumstantial, that Goldwyn was on its last legs. Every other person one met in filmdom was almost certain to state that the organization couldn't last. The reports began about the time Samuel Goldfish, in an interview in the New York "Times," stated the in- dustry was in a serious condition and that it was necessary to form a dis- tribution amalgamation to reduce the overhead. This was generally con- strued as a cry for help from his organization. Now comes official confirmation of the report published in Variett a few weeks ago that in its second releasing year the Goldwyn Pictures Corpora- tion will double the number of its productions from the present basis of 26 annually to twice that number. Commencing next month Goldwyn will release in the year following six productions with Geraldine Farrar as the star, eight with Pauline Frederick, eight with Mabel Normand. eight with Mae Marsh, eight with Madge Ken- nedy, six productions from the works of Rex Beach, and six with a popular male star, whose name is not yet ready to be announced. Within a fortnight Miss Farrar will begin her first Goldwyn production. Mabel Normand appears to have proved a potent box office attraction as she has been signed for a term of years by Goldwyn under a new con- tract, although the present one still has quite a time to run. Speaking of the future of Goldwyn just before his departure for the coast late last week. Samuel Goldfish said: "In June we shall announce our marketing or releasing plans and policies for the coming twelve months. The step we have taken in doubling our production output was foreseen from the beginning of our company's career. With twenty-six productions we first wished to build an organiza- tion and develop its capacities and facilities. We did not intend to be hurried into the making of machine- made pictures. We wished to test out our sales and distributing organiza- tion and also wc desired to # girdle the civilized globe* with our sales offices and alliances." PHILLT CENSORS UP IN ARMS. Philadelphia, May 15. Holding that producers are striving to get past the censors pictures unfit for the public to view, and charging that politics are interfering with the board, Frank R. Shattuck, chairman of the Board of Motion Picture Censors, has sent a letter to Senator Penrose couched in no uncertain terms. A serious row lias been kicked up over the recent censoring of "Hearts of the World." due, it is said, to several prominent persons interested in war mission work interesting them- selves in the case in an effort to have the picture shown in its original form Tn his letter to Senator Penrose Chairman Shattuck denies that politic; plavs anv part in the cen<=or?npr of pictures in this district, and decjnre^ the hoard stands squarelv upon the proposition that it will not permit pic- tures that are indecent, improper, obscene or salacious, and that the in- fluence of prominent persons, whether they be United States Senators, finan- cial magnates, business men or citizens generally, will be entirely ineffectual in having the board approve improper pictures of the above character. MOSS WANTS $1,000 DAMAGES. B. S. Moss, through his attorney, Myron Sulzberger, started action last week against the First National Ex- hibitors' Association and the National Film Corporation, asking damages to the extent of $1,000, for alleged breach of contract. The suit arose through the failure of the First National to release "Tarzan of the Apes" for exhi- bition in the Moss houses, the feature being rented to a competitor, it is claimed. There is a possibility that the case will be settled out of court. 4< OVER THE TOP" FOR KEITHS' Contracts were signed last week whereby the Vita's special Sergt. Guv Empcy picture. "Over the Top," will play its first Keith theatres' contract, starting May 27 in Cleveland and To- ledo. While one week is sure to be played, if the business warrants further time will be provided for by the houses. Negotiations have been virtually arranged for the IT. B. O. houses to ob- tain the Gerard film. "My Four Years in Germany." for territory not already hooked by the First National Exhibit- ors' Exchange. SHOWING FOR CLERGY. A special complimentary screening for the benefit of the clergy of George T.nnne Tucker's "1 Relieve" was held Mav 16 at the Crescent. Brooklyn. This picture, which was produced by the Cosmofotofilm Company, was recentlv purchased outright by Harrv A. Samwick. under whose direction it will he sent on the road, with a lec- turer who will, at each showing, deliver an address on the subject with which the picture treats. The picture, though touching on re- lirrion. does not deal with the matter of creed. Rather it is a psychological treatise on atheism. TENTED AIRDOMFS A scheme to use tents is being con- sidered by airdome owners in an effort to heat the inroads of the daylight saving idea. Airdome men out of town are arranging for the "big tops." but it appears that New York City depart- ments will not grant permits to use tents. A concerted appeal is looked for bv the outdoor picture men. who sav that with concrete floors and movable sea's there is no dancer of fire. They aUo claim that if the circus is granted surh a privilege, they should not he denied it. Recentlv the Parnum & Pailey outfit plaved Prnoklvn under a tent that covered between 8.000 and 10.000 per- «on<;. The averau^ nirdrmie accommo- dates from oOO to 800. "WW'S DAILY" STATEMENT. In the May 15 number of "Wid's Daily," the daily issue for the film trade by F. C. Gunning, which recently started and is a four-page paper, Sy 2 x7, a statement is published in con- formity with the Postal Regulations as to ownership. An explanatory note is displayed about the statement, saying "Wid's," a weekly, is controlled by Gunning, who has 57 per cent, of the common stock issued, with John Harvey owning 24 per cent., George Fickhardt 9 per cent., and the remaining 10 per cent, is held by Mrs. Gunning, Fred Desberg, Joe Brandt and Frank Seng. It also men- tions that $1,000 in preferred stock has been issued, that stock owned by Desberg and Send, both exhibitors. The address of Joe Brandt is given at 1600 Broadway, New York City. At that address the Universal has its main offices. There is a Joe Brandt who is the general sales manager for the Uni- versal. UNITED THEATRES' PLANS. Theodore Liebler, Jr., is handling the general publicity for the United Pic- ture Theatres, Inc., which post was lately vacated by J. J. McMahan. Within the near future the U. P. T. plans to name the date when the first picture will be set for release over the proposed circuit system, and they ex- pect to have the 2,000 days' consecutive booking fully completed before the summer is finished. Powers Plant in Rochester, N. Y. Rochester, N. Y., May 15. It is reported the Powers-Cameron Film Co. is negotiating for the en- tire plant and equipment of the Fire- proof Film Co., on Dewey avenue here. The new concern is the Pat Powers company. FRANKA ANNOUNCES That the Catherine Calvert pictures he is producing will be released through the ■im\ Wn SHEBEY SERVICE FOR THE U.S. ah» CAHkOAr U'S SHORT REELS JUNE 10. Universal will start releasing short reel features again June 10, after a lapse of about six months. At the time Universal stopped releasing and pro- ducing the short reel pictures, it had been discovered the films were being marketed at a loss. The one, two and three-reel films on hand were shelved awaiting a better price. Four "westerns" of two-rccl length will comprise the first short reelers released by Universal. ANITA LOOS SEEKS DIVORCE. Los Angeles, May 15. Anita Loos, the scenario writer, ar- rived from New York this week to ap- pear in a divorce action against her husband, Frank Palma. They were married in San Diego two years ago, but the scenarist lived with him only two days. She has since earned her own living. Strong rumors that Miss Loos is shortly to marry John Emer- son, the director, arc afloat, but Miss Loos' mother, who is here, enters vig- orous denial. First Gerard Road Film Out. The first of the road shows of the Gerard feature, "My Four Years in Germany," got under way this week under the booking direction of the First National Exhibitors' Exchange, playing at the Armory, Binghamton, N. Y., for a week, followed by week stands in the Proctor houses in Albany and Troy and Max Spiegel's Palace, Schenectady, three-day exhibi- tions being listed for Poughkkeepsie, Ncwburgh and Hudson, N. Y. The general admission is 25-50, with the boxes a dollar top. Louis Kalin- sky, out with "Watch Your Step," is managing the exhibition. A \**iw First Release X ROMANCE Mb UNDERWORLD' PAUL ARMSTRONGS Great Drama of flew York Life Starring (W The Ladij beautiful of the/ Screen. JVTHER1N& jALVERT AiOW OPEN FOR BOOKINGS for Particulars Address WILLIAM L.SHERRY Pbom 501. 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