Variety (April 1920)

. ' i'U • ■■;'■ ,^^'"-^''i(''i■^,^Avi;i■v^;•Alv;■^i'^?^ i'?:7i:^'i*^>:'fi}'^i-c!--':'\'''^'^f^l&-'^^ ^;',--^ViJCi'''^'v'^li--*;*;--.i;5'-i^T?A7';^ ENSIDE STUFF ON PICTUBBS One of the most successful of pic- ture authors and continuity writers, a man who has been in the game from the first and always successful, is re- vealing in a recent release unexplained evidence of the handwritinfi: on the wall. This author has a writing punch like Dempsey's right to Willard, but the sort of stuff he is doing and has always done is going back slowly but surely to the ten, twent', thirt' medium. Those who have seen 'The Jest" on the dramatic stage know that at bot- tom it is sheer melodrama of this same class basically. What lifts it out of that locale is the trimmings supplied by the author, his wa^ of telling his story. These same thrilling and pleas- ing trimmings are lacking to the work of the motion picture author spoken of above. He* has at bottom a matter , of fact mind. He would have reported the Thaw case and seen nothing in it but a millionaire murdering an archi- tect for the love of a chorus ^irl. The amazing romance, the poetic touch vould have escaped him. Perhaps he is right, but right or wrong such.arrange- ments of facts do not sell so well in the amusement' market. It is poetic handling SMch as Grifiith's in '^he Idol Dancer" that >bulls the market, though that feature is the sheerest nrelodrama, but melodrama pictured with a different twist, with a sense of imagination playing a part in it. Word that a leading star of the "emotionar genre will direct itself in her current production—an adapta- . tion of a stage success—sets one won- dering why this was not thought of before. This star has had enough practical exfierience to enable her to^ gauge the niceties of her vehicles on her own initiative. At all times, she has been a "solo" actress anyway, it beting common knowledge that ner temper^ camouflaged as temperament, has raised spats ever and^anon with dir'ectors. As far as she was con- cerned, the director ceased to exist. By letting her have free rein she shoul- ders full responsibility and the final reception of the production will exon- erate or condemn her "temperamental" affectations and outbursts. english'conditions. "More American pictures are finding difRculty. in making appeal to Eng- land," is the opinion of E. Rowson, an English producer and head of on^e of London's bigge;,t exchanges. He is in this country with the object of making some purchases "out of the ordinary," "It is not a question of the.exchanges over there," he continued, "although tjiat is serious, too, but there has been a steady decline in the English taste for the American stoi^r. The story of American life, the wild west, I take as an example, in other words the pic- tures that are distinctively American, no longer attract the English people. There are only two classes of jrictures that can expect to make any headway at all in England, that is the story of the universal kind, which is as true of England as it is in America, and is equally true over the world. This I would include in pictures that might find a receptive eye in England and also the very big super-special. "I look forward to productions at home in the next few yiears sufiicient in the first place to meet American films in all other parts of the world, and secondly to invade America itself. "Technical skill is improving more rapidly in England than most people imagine. They're beginning to real- ise how to bvild studios, how to light, make the necessary properties and most important of all how tO market the product with the greatest possible results. "You in America are overlooking one fact that will go to make competi- tion right now, and that is due to pic- ture producing in England being brought dowH to comparatively one- half the cost expended in the pri(;e of picture making in America, and still be as good. - "At the bottom what must be real- ized is that a world industry cannot ic the long run be dependent on local and individual stars. Naturally it is the intrinsic merits of the picture that makes it valuable. If there are any far' seeing executives needed in the industry m this country, they would at once set their ipinds working to establish aU organization which will meet the growing new conditions. "There ts less favor shown regarding the American films, but it is not a matter of politics. I know as an ex- change man that we would not take an ordinary feature subject for which we paid big sums and wait for our E refits to come in, when as a matter of usiness we can take the English made 'product costing less to make and play and get our profits quicker. And other exchange men are finding the situa- tion the same as I have put it." INCORPORATIONS. HoaHc* OiccBwaM, theatrical, Man- hattan; 180,000; H. S. Heohhelmer. R. Workman, M. nothflteln, 230 West'4M ■t R. A O. Amnument Co., Brooklyn, mo- tion pictures, $60,000; H. Oestrelcher, S. Rohnhoimer, I. B. Frent, 310 Madison Bt. Dixon Amnaement , Co., Manhattan, IG.OOO; 3. Blair, B. A. Levlne, H. P. Dixon, 701 7th a?i». Majeatle Pletnr«|i, Manhattan, $S,O0O: Ji/'_P"?«*"' ^•.'A- Hammel, M. C. Hughes, 180 W. 46th St. Go«<il Theatrtenl BBternrtaea, Man- hattan, 160,000; J. Bohm, A. Ooetzol, M. R. Sohneer, 136 Broadway. Theatrtenl Ck>Deeaalona Co., Manhattan, theatre tickets and coat rooms. 910,000; B, Bleber, I. Ooldberff. L. Rosenthal, 1482 Broadway. Sanbax Amnaement Co,, Manhattan, $10,000; J. and I. Rosenthal, J. Apter. 14 ■W. 60th Street. Jokn D. Wllllama' Prodaetlona, Man- hattan, motion plctiJreo, 100 shares com- mon stock, no par value; active capital, fB.OOO; J. D. and J. R. Winiams, J. halleck, 61 B. 42nd at. Sterlinar Bzhlbltlon and Pleaanre Qroniida Oo„ Manhattan, 910,000; J. F. Phillips. Jr., C. Jemmott, O. Hinds, 23S B. 28th St. Art-O-Trade Fllni Corp., Manhattan, 8160,000; J. li. Goodwin, H. Splrgarn, C. P. Schmidt, 163 Broad'way. John B. Chatfldd. Manhattan, realty, hotel and theatre; 1,000 shares preferred -Btock, 1100 each; 1,000 shares common, no par value; active capital, |200,000; El. J. Chatfleld, O. L. Winchester, 2d, M. F. Rolbrook. 907 Broadway. Anologne Film Corp., Manhattan, ^''.X- OOO; R. S. Palmer, M. W. Kerr, H. L. Adams. 473 W. 168th St. SheTidan Thcntre Co., Manhattan; 2,- OOO shares preferred stock, $100 each; 6,000 shares common, no par value: active capital, $230,000; J. F. RafTerty, S. Brill, M. Splegrel, 626 West Bnd ave. Jnllaa Cahn'a Galde and MotIbk Pic- ture Directory, Manhattan, $20,000; J. Cahn, B. Iiondon, C. L. Kahn, 1461 Broad- way. Krellberff Prodnctlon*. Manhattan, mo- tion pictures, $26,000; S. S. and M. J. Krellherg, S. Schwartzmann, 220 W. 42d St. Photo Play Fnmltnre Oorp., Manhatr tan, 500 shares preferred stock, $100 each; 2.500 shares common, no par value; active canltal, $62,500; D. o: Flyrin, M. A. Healey, W. J. Farrell, 330 West 95th at. SeWIn PIclnre Piny Coi'n.. produce mov- ing picture fllms; etc.. $800,000; Euffene K. AlllBon, Leslie R. Pratt, H. O. Schul- chaus; New Tork. lOndWpd Theatre, Manhattan, $5,000; G. Fortescue, H. W. Qould, H. Hunter, 18 West 34th St. DBIiAWAREi CHARTERS. Monnmentnl PIctnrea Corp„ $500,000;. .T. William Clifford, Nathan O, Goodless. CharloB M. Thompson, Washington. D. C. Modem Photoplaya, $2,600,000; W. H. !>. Gahan, Renderlobah. Cal.; R. H. Deebaoh, Los Angreles, 0.1>. Muikejohn, Omaha. Clyde Corp.. manufacture motion plo- tures, etc.; $2,200,000. T. li. Croteau, M. S. Bruce, S. B. Dill, Wilmington. Philadelphia Inveatment Amnaement Corp., deal In moylneploture machines, etc.; $100,000. M. li. Horty, M, C. KsUy, S. li. MaoKey, Wilmington. . FRIEDBERG ADDS ANOTHER. Pittsburgh, March 31.' That Pittsburgh is one of the leading picture centers of the country Js pcovid" by the new.est link added to the chain of theatres operating under the Fi'icd- berg management. Rowland & Clark some years ago acquired houses in every section of the city and have been the big folk here for years. . ' . The Harry Davis Enterprises, with the Grand as one of the finest play- houses in the country, have been doin^ a phenomenal busineiss. Aftier the Al- hambra in East Liberty failed soflie years ago, it was taken over by a local' firm headedv. by Nathan Friedberg. Later they acquired the Garden. Now a new one, called the Triangle,' is ready to be opened. PINCH MORE FOR TAXES. ' Chicago, M^rch 31. Two more picture managers were arrested in the investigation into al- leged war-tax frauds. The fifth and sixth arrests wer: f H. Schaeffer and Fred Hartman 'or»jer owners of the Broadway Theaiic, charged with with- holding |ll,412 from the government. The district attorney's office says these are not stray instances, but that an organized conspiracy is being un- veiled to "hold out" tax money, and that several theatre syndicates will be involved as well as the isolated man- agers. . . ^ V . . .. ■ y. CONSTANCE BINNEY SIGNED. Realart has exercised its oj^tion for a renewal of its contract with Con-' stance Binney, the original engage- ment to expire May 31. The renewal is for a period of three years at a material advance in salary, which in- creases with each picture. LUDVIGH SAILING. EIek J. Ludvigh, chief counsel for Famous Players-Laskyj sails Saturday for London, accompanied by his wUe. His mission is to look after the legal, end of the business, which necessitated Adolph Zukor's visit to England. BILLIE RHODES IN COMEDIES. Billie Rhodes is to star in feature comeaies for the C. B. Price Co. Since breaking away from short comedies she has been starring in dramatic fea- tures. ■ ,■■■■ BROCKLISS SAILING. London, March 31. J. Frank Brockl-'ss sail on the Baltic March 31. ' / V Another New Rochelle Honse^ ' New Rochelle, N. Y., March 31. Another theatre is to be erected here on Main street near Centre avenue to seat 1,600, according to an announce- ment made bjr R.,,Thomas ^ Short, a Brooklyn architect.' The policy was not announced and neither was it. stated when plans would be filed. This is the second announcement of a new theatre for this city within the last two weeks. Constance Tafmadge Worlring Again. Jos. M. Schenck has purchased "The Perfect Woman" from John Emerson and Anita Loos for the next Constance Talmadge production. Miss Talmadge, who has been ill since her return from Palm Beach^ has recovered and re- turned to work. Murray Signs with Famous. Charlie Murray has signed a new contract with Famous Players-Lasky, which disposes of the rumor he would head his own producing company. EQUITY ABSORBS M. P. P. A. ' Tlje Motion Picture Players* Asso- ', ciation holding a membership' of 406 was merged with the Actors' Equity Association last Friday, the M. P. P. A. becoming a department of the Equity. The . amalgamation was consummated at a meeting of the M. P. P. A. held in Geneva Hall March 26. Of the 400 members of the.M. P. P. A. there are • about lOO which have not beenfn the. theatrical profession for the stipulated two years' ;periQd required by the Equity Association; These, through a clause in the Eauity bylaws, will be ad- mitted, but will not be permitted to vote until they have fulfilled the '^wo , years' theatrical experience require-.. --. ment. ~ , > A in6ve whioh will bring/the Chorus Equity Association into the Actors' Equity and make that organization a 'department of the A. E. A. instead of. an independent unit as at present, is well under way, and is due for con- summation by the end of the week. The Picture Association will con- tinue tp ni^intain its headquarters on 46th street, the employment bureau ad- junct also being retained. The M. P." A. membership embraces in the main picture artists who play small parts, . atmosphere people or extras not being eligible. Most of the big picture stars hold menqbership in the A. E. A. proper. The merger of the M. P. A. will not affect the membership in the Equity of those picture players^ already en- rolled in the parent body. ■ NEW MUSICIANS SCALE. A committee representing the Musi- cians' Mutual Protective Union to- gether with a committee representing the United Protective Managers' Asso- ciation convened March 30 for the dis- cussion of the new wage scale for musi- M:ians for the season 1920-21. The musicians ask for a thirty-fivie week season for legit houses through- out Greater New York, no. free re- hearsals, twelve men to every or- chestra, substitutes after the first week and a. minimum wage scale of $65 a week. ^ • , The union's scale of wages Was pre- sented by William A. Dooley, and rep- reseilting the managers were Alfred Aarons, John Cort, Ralph Long of the Shubert Theatrical Enterprises, Mark A. Leuscher, representing the Dilling- ham interests, Francis X. Hope, rep- resenting Cohan and Harris, Lyie An- drews and Ligon M. Johnson, repre- senting the Protective Association. The new wage scale as it affects thfe bigger motion picture houses on Broad- way are now under consideration, as well as the scale of wages affecting legit houses. . A meeting of the directors of the motion picture theatres was called on Monday in the offices of Edward J. Bowes at the Capitol. It is understood that the wage scale in such theatres calls for a uniform rate of $85 a week, one day off during the weelk and ob- servance of certain holidays. With respect to the burlesque and- vaudeville houses the former have left their interests to be taken up by a committee constituting John J. Mur- dock of the Keith Vaudeville Exchange and Nicholas M. Schenck of the Mar- cus Loew offices. Golden's "Romeo and Jane." "Romeo and Jane," is the title of a new piece which will shortly go into' rehearsal under 'the management of John L. Golden. Edward Childs Carpenter is the au- thor. Razing Wilmington Victoria. Wilmington, March 31. The Victoria theatre here is to be razed next week and a bank built on 'its site. -■■• - -v--' Defii^nco House Road Called. The L A. T. S. E. has issued a "foad call" against the Grand Opera House, RefiaUce, Ohio, effective April 8. The house plays K. and E. and Shubert. one.nighters. ■ . . , ',