Variety (January 1922)

42 PICTURES Friday, January f?7, 1922 HELD IN WHOLESALE FILM THEFT CHARGE Metro Branch Manager Said to Have Confessed in Portland, Me. > Po '(land, .Maine, Jan. L.7-. Loon Gorman, local manager of the Motto Pictures Corporation, was arraigned in the Municipal Court Jan. 21 in connection with the theft of several films from his employers. During the taking of the evidence a plot of large magnitude was re- vealed involving about $5,000. Gorman was arrestee; at the Strand theatre in South Portland. The specific charge against Gor- man was the alleged theft of $12,000 worth of film from tho Metro Pic- tures Corporation. Through his at- torney, Wilber 0. Eaton, he waived the reading a .d hearing of this charge and was released on $5,000 sureties, furnished by William O'Brien, of this c\ty, and Charles I'sen, of Old '. 'chard, both the- atrical me.i. John McLcod of the New York offices of tho Metro Pictures Cor- poration and Wilrnot C. Hawkins, special representative of the Na- tional Association of the Motion Picture Industry, furnished the de- tails of the charges. These two are connected with the Film Theft Committee of the National associa- tion. The arrest recently in New York city of a party, the recipient of 35 reels of film, was the first thread that led the men to the track that finally caused the arrest of Gorman. It was found at the time that this party was arrested that the films he had received were stolen prop- erty and had been shipped to him by Gorman. During the course of an interview with the recipient of this shipment it was brought out that he had first met Gorman at a national convention of Metro Pic- tures in New York city. There it was claimed that he said he had 2,000 films in this State that he wished to sell, and it developed that the 25 received by this party was a part of the 2,000. Correspondence Begun Arrangements were made with tho party who had been caught for him to continue correspondence with Gorman and during this cor- respondence Gorman was told that a prospective purchaser had been secured for tho films. Hawkins arrived in this city Jan. 9 and opened negotiations with the accused, who. according to the story of Hawkins, took him to 85 Market street, the office of Metro Pictures, and showed him over 600 reels of film which he alleges Gorman told him he could buy. Hawkins claims he told the respondent that these films were the property of Metro Pictures, to which Gorman replied that they were once, but not now, and that he had several more films at tho Strand theatre, South Port- land, which Hawkins cx;>rersed a desire to seo. This was arranged to take place yesterday. Hawkins then consulted with Sheriff King F. Graham and Depu- ties Gorow and Skinner wore as- signed to the case. Gorman had told Hawkins that he was running the Strand theatre and that he had stored some of the films there. Hawkin.; went with Gorman to the Strand to examine the films. Price Per Reel "When they had finished examin- ing the films a price of $3 and $5 per reel had been placed on them and the men started to depart. As they were about to step outside the theatre the officers placed Gorman under arrest. The officers later took 252 reels, of fum from this theatre, which were brought to the county building. The New York offices of the company placed the value of $12,000 on the reels recovered. They explained that tho combined cost of production added to the loss of foreign rights would run well into six figures. Hawkins and McLeol both claim that after Gorman was taken to the county building he confessed that the films were stolen and that he had no right to offer any of them for sale, or in fact any of the hun- dreds of reels that he offered for sale at the Market street branch of tho Concern. McLeod also claims that they have evidence that Gor- man secured several films reported lost when the company lost a large consignment of films on a motor truck which went through a bridge in moving their oJlces from P.angor to Portland some time ago. Muxty Hill, .ger 0 the Bos- ton Offica of Metro PicMres Cor- poration, tame .u re with Hawkins and McLcod and was present when these two men outlined the above t..s»' in court this morning, FILM IN 15 HOUSES Pittsburgh, Jan. 25. "Over the Hill" was shown simultaneously in 15 different pic- ture houses here last week, all owned by Rowland & Clark, who also control several other small the- atres here, and have a few more under construction. The firm has a unique record of success here. Their publicity has been no small factor, its director being Samuel J. Sivitz. formrely of the Pittsburgh Dispatch. SELZNICK "SET" Distributor's Layout for Remainder of Season Ralph Inco will continuo to be a factor in the screening of Selznick pictures during 1922. He will be occupied with the productions star- ring Kugene O'Brien and Elaine Hammerstein. What with photoplays that have been produced and those awaiting release, and scenarios already de- cided upon for future production, the Selznick program is practically set for tho remainder of the season. The Talmadge revivals are fixed, as announced; Owen Moore's pre- sentations will be considered apart from other Selznick productions as specials; Conway Tearle's pictures are screened; there will be features starring Zena Keefe, Martha Mans- field and Betty Howe, and so on. REVERE'S NEXT FILM San Francisco, Jan. 25. Harry Revler, producers of "The Heart of the North and "Life's Greatest Question," two five-reel feature pictures that were made practically In their entirety In San Francisco, is back in town ready to begin shooting on .. new feature to be called "Mothers of Men." Dorothy Valerga, who was featured in the two films named, Is to be co-starred In the new film with Juanita Han- sen. Revler's company Includes Harry Van Meter, Jack Connolly, Lydla Knott, Jean Burr and others. The Montague Studio in Page street has been leased. "Mothers of Men"- is a story of the underworld and high society. Many prominent San Francisco scenes will be "shot," Including the lobby'of the Fairmont Hotel and Chinatown. NOT TO,OPEN HERE Famous Will Keep Long Island Studio Closed Los AngelcF, J.,u. 2.:. Famous Players* corporation will not open its Long Island studios April 1 as scheduled. The eastern lots will remain closed indefinitely. This is the announcement of Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president, who has just returned from New York. It is reported that because of the greater increase in production in the east the reopening of the Long Island stjidios at this time would be in direct opposition to the new economy schedule of the Famous- Lasky company. With work on the. Hollywood lots well under way on' the 1922 production prog-am and local handiness of practically all of the company's stars no plans will be made at this time for the closed units. i 1 Distinct/ere Producfionj; /nco/porafod ^7/0/7?' Car/. Dor/ 3 /3i$<$Qrs'xfory in Cfh& Jafurday €uenin$fibft; Jcenario by Cforrosfi JJo/xey. D/'rocfod by JJorjmon ^XVoidhi:) . r XOhof ir tho ruling pasr/on? r XOea/fh ? . JOoutq? J-husor? Cfh& kincomparabfQ Orl/jy* Qt'urQj* tho answer/ha f)Qur comody drama:. UNITED AKTLTtr- OOQPOQATION MAQY PICKFO&D/* CUA&UE CHAPLIN • DOUGLAS rAIQDANICT- D.VGfcirriTU 4MIRAM. ADriAMJT- PftEJNDENT