Variety (March 1921)

i ■ mmmmm^ ■ pittottfea p =x March 11, 1921 '■'-'■"- •• ■ -" '' "■ — METRO TO HOLD DIRECTORS RESPONSIBE FOR PRODUCTION Each Will Have Own Stories, Stars and Writing Staff Under Unit Plan—Expected to Be Under Way About May 15. • » * p » * »■•■ Los Angeles. March 9. Joseph W. Kngel, treasurer of Metro, who has been in charge at the west coast studios of the com- pany, has arrived in New York by this time for a series of conferences with his associates there regarding the new unit plan of production which is to be started by Metro. According to those who have had the plan partially explained to them it will mean that the entire respon- siblty for production will be placed upon the directors. It is the plan to line up eight di- rectors at the Metro. This is almost completed. There are three or four others that are to be added to those already at work, providing that they are willing to fall in with the pew plan of the company. on the local lot at all times. Each of the eight directors will have the selection of their own stories, casts and scenario and producing staffs. Metro in reality will have little to do with the actual making of the productions other than supplying the finances. The directors will be held strictly accountable on their cost sheets, and the remuneration they will receive,will be in accord- ance with the cost of the pictures they turn out and the amount they gross. This means that they will be practically working on a com- mission basis, with a drawing ac- count. If the plan is finally adopted— and there is every indication that it will be—it will undoubtedly be placed into work along about COSMOPOLITAN'S GEN. MGR. George B. Van CUvt Appointed— Leo A. Pollock on Publicity. There will be four units working May 15. NEWS OF FILM WORLD Something of a decided change occurrof* at the Cosmopolitan last week, when George B. Van Cleve accepted the appointment of gen- eral manager. The appointment was a departure in fllmdom. as Mr. Van Cleve has not been known in pic- tures, but he assumed his post with an acute business mind, gained thiough a wide ©©ra-nvnrfaJ, expflft* ence. He was at the head and or- ganised on. of New York's largest advertising agencies. It is said his business record recommended him to the Cosmopolitan people- Mr. Van Cleve is making his headquar- ters at the International Film's studios, at Second avenue and 127th street. At the same time it was an- nounced L,eo A. Pollock, recently resigning as Fox's west coast press representative, had taken over the Cosmopolitan publicity. Morris R. Werner is his assistant. Mr. Pollock was formerly of the Kvening World and Mr. Werner of the New York Tribune. One of the first engagements made by Mr. Van Cleve for Cosmopolitan was that of Tom Terr is to direct Marion Da vies in her next feature. "The Manhandling of Ethel." INSIDE STUFF PICTURES According to one of the important film distributors the exhibiting end of the picture business Is flourishing at the present time. It is, he says, on a better average level than ever before. From reports from his exchange managers, local conditions in many sections of the country have adjusted themselves to almost normal, lie went on to cite specific instances, as follows: Akron, because of the slump In rubber after the close of the war, was bad for the past year, but the factories are now running full time; Detroit isoffercd from. the. Ja.yJj?g. nffof .tncMfann'* of .map. .In. the e.titprpphUn factories, likewise other auto towns like Flint and Toledo, are reported to be working overtime to turn out the orders for cars for spring de- liveries; the Dallas territory suffered a ser.jus let-down owing to the drop in the price of cotton and the reduction of oil production, but now reports a most healthy condition; the Atlanta territory underwent a serious slump in cotton and tobacco, but Is rapidly adjusting itself— and so on. Film actors in Berlin have endeavored to work up an agitation against the importation of foreign pictures on the ground this sort of thing de- prives them of their livelihood. The movement is not supported by the daily press, one paper saying iliat it might au readily be suggested to suppress electric lights in order to supply employment to workmen in the (as houses. The Argentine Co. of Cinematographic Art of Buenos A'ren has been formed with a capital of &00.000 peaoa. to produce pictures in South America. The entire amount was subscribed by local capita). Andre Himmel, president of the Franco-American Cinematographic Corporation, of 1482 Broadway, capitalised for $100,000,000, was ar- rested this week at Havre, France. upon his arrival there aboard the liner Savoie from New York. He was taken to Paris, where one of his backers accused him of obtain- ing 1,200,000 francs on false pre- tenses. Himmel Is said to have used the money to obtain options on theatres in France, and is al- leged to have represented here that he owned the theatres, although the options expired last December. Among his associates here were Au- gustus Fleischmann, treasurer of the Fleischmann Construction Co.; Frank D. Pavey, president of the Allianc Francaise,'and MacDougall Hawkes, all of whom have resigned from the directorate of the Franco- American concern. Himmel has been accused of falsely representing himself as an official emissary of the French Government in this country. Jack Robins, 24, convicted by a jury in General Sessions of abduct- ing a 17-year-old girl through rep- resenting himself as a picture pro- ducer, is awaiting sentence in the Tombs. He may get 10 years for his crime, being accused by the girl of keeping her overnight in his fake picture studio. opens at the Selwyn Monday. When "The Four Horsemen" went into the Lyric it was Intended to place "Yankee" at the Park, but this has, now been switched. Two Companies Dissotve. Notice of dissolution has been .'tiled with the Secretary of State at Albany by two amusement concerns, the S. H. M. Amusement Co. and the Rival Film Co.. both of Man- hattan. Louis B. Mayer announces that "The Child Thou Gavest Me" will be the permanent title for the John M. Stahl picture, Which is working under the name of "Muffled Drums." Little Richard Headrick has been assigned an important role in it. . The Kenawha Investment Co. of Charleston. W. Va„ intends to build a theatre there seating 2,000. The Williamsons have placed their latest under-sea drama, "Wet Gold," for release through the Gold- wvn. It was directed by Ralph Ince. The picture was photographed in the Bahamas and took ten months to complete. Arthur Ziehm. foreign sales man- ager for Goldwyn, sailed March It to resume charge of the Goldwyn product in all countries of Europe. His headquarters are in Berlin. French Star in U. 3. Film Debut. Deyha Loti. a French dramatic actress, mokes her American debut in the near future in the leading role of the Malcolm Strauns production. "Twice Born Women," a spectacu- lar photoplay. RUSHING ROSEMARY THEBY Offers of Three Contract. Following Work in "Yankee." Los Angeles, Mover 9. Ko.semary Theby has finished her work at the Fox strdioe with the completion of "Clung." the last Km- mett J. Flynn production to be com- pleted before that director went to New York. Miss Theby*s work in "The Con- necticut Yankee" bus again brought her to the foregroi nd among lead- lr.g women, and as a result sh : has three contract offers under conjid- » ration. FILM ACTOR DROWNED Throe Others Saved by Pulmotor After Canoe Accident. Los Angeles, March ft. While taking a scene at Redondo Beach, a Lasky company in charge of George Melford lost one player by drowning and three other.- wv»re taken from the water and revived by pulmotor. Louis jas was drowned. James Kirk wood. Units Wilson and Pat Higgins came near losing their lives when the canoe in which they were riding with K;;- jaa was swamped. m&&&&i«i& RAM Picture in History f B fAJOtBI 34 XL X EX CIICDUTX 0 With virtually all the big produc-i Ag and distributing companies sig- natory to the measure, the Na- tional Association passed a resolu- tion this week pledging the indus- try against manufacture or exhibi- tion of sex and salacious subjects, or pictures containing violence, which has brought condemnation and censorship in various parts of the country. St. Louis exhibitors caused W. A. Brady to postpone his return to New York long enough to go there and speak against censorship, a bill already having passed the lower house of the Missouri Legislature, 111 to 4. B. Mason Hooper has repewed his directorial contract with Goldwyn for*another year. The new Ceredo, W. Va., theatre will shortly open. U seats 500 and Ed Smith its the owner. Attorney Frederick E. Goldsmith has filed application with the Sec- retary of State to increase the cap- ital stock of the World Wide Dis- tributing Corporation from $50,000 to $150,000. The company engages In the moving picture expo ♦ trade. Arthur Levey, formerly associated with thd Lord Northcliffe press, is an officer of the World Wide. Kingston, Canada, will be the site for the movie studios of the Dominion Motion Pictures, Inc. A temporary laboratory will be rushed to completion. The permanent plant will cost upward of $400,000. Certificates of incorporation of the million dollar Coscardar Film Productions, Inc., which will soon change its name to Hillcrest Pic- tures, Inc., was filed In the Onon- daga County Clerk's office late last week. The studio is now being completed at Hillcrest. a Bingham- ton suburb. William H. Darrow, a Syracuse University graduate, is president of the corporation. Max an«l Mitchell Kitzer will erect a 3-story theatre and OfUcs building at 218 West Fayette street, Syra- cuse, N. V., during the summer. Roseoe Atbuckle, accompanied by his manager, Lou Anger, arrived iii New York laat week and will re- turn to the coast after ten days here. Arhucklc says he may come here again in April to make a few pictures in the east. Katharine Hillikcr, film editor, has a new post—that of "consulting surgeon" to S. L. Itothafel at the Capitol. She assists in the selec- tion, cutting and titling of various pictures u«ed to make up the pro- gram at the big house. Fox's "A Connecticut Harry MeCrea Webster, director of the U. S. Photoplay Corporation's 11 If a ted "Determination." caused the arrest this week of John J. Living- ston, former casting director for the company, charging him with acting as a theatrical agent without a li- cense. He says he paid Livingston $495 as commissions. £i £5 ifllui Cincinnati ASSOCIATED WOWTCERS UC T*9 S*fU?g Ht fEWTOK »nw ti« playbc rous corocutni m r* cirrs thxitw ?o mnsoot wanness ?na is the neon rzi M cucnnuti *» All PICTURE Of TS DStOftl OP TFC ITOUKHY 'ACCEPT 00, SOS? BURTT miCITATIOM "VftTecHs MCM&E4P. AID JACKS©*. MA1AGBRS The Sayoy Comedies. Inc., with offices at 1600 Broadway, has filed schedules in bankruptcy, listing its liabilities at $1179 and Its assets at S37"). Most of the creditors are in Loh Angeles. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Plckford, with the latt« r's mother, were stated to start this week tor Mexico City, where they are to take a vacation. According to reports In.the dailies it would peem the Sahhath l>; Al- liance in Jersey Citv. which has suc- ceeded in padlocking amusement houses in that place, is not so keen on religion as it is on preventine oioture men from making money They were Willing to stnnd for "charity" benefit show-in?* on Sun- dav until POipebodV told them the exhibitors were me king more monev than the "eharitv." whereunon they prevailed unon the Chief of Police to screw the lid down and throw away his wrench. l.e, BenoM his been succeeded •■ nre«Mcn* of Prisma, Inc. by <\ R n Welsh, heretofore vl«*e*nresidee* and treasure!' Other officers i l^t- m1 are Carrol 11. Dunning and How- ■vi\ S'fokes. viee-»ire«i''o»its: C! ov<- r.*,.il,.v «■-»•< -rfi ;• t •'•; Wi"'am V. H KeMev 'inventor °f ti»" i»roee^s> technical tulviscr and assistant Yankee" treasurer. Vivid Drarrutof life and lave ■ •i '■"L*i': The Picture of Multi-Week^ Runs 4 weeks Gifts Theatre, Cincinnati 2 weeks Barbee's Loop, Chicago 2 weeks Blue Mouse, Seattle 2 weeks Colonial, Indianapolis 2 weeks Strand, San Francisco 2 weeks Majestic, Portland, Ore. 2 weeks Rialco, Providence 2 weeks Savoy, Pittsburg 2 weeks Pantheon, Toledo 2nd week, Symphony, Los Angeles and still running Day and Date, Two Skouras Theatres, 'St. Louis Day and Date, Metropolitan and Strand, Cleveland Blanket contract, Famous Players- NathansonToronto and Ontario chain of Theatres Doubled tuTTS add extra "days in 2,000 Theatres "Nothing succeeds like success!*' ' " L. ■ . . . . i' . .. .ihj i . .» i i |, . . LIPS By MAY BDINGTOM uriry House Peters and VlorenceVidor Associated Producers Inc Wrii'.&A'*^