Variety (January 1922)

Friday, January 27, 192g PICTURES 43 I INSIDE STUFF ON PICTURES U STARTS PRICE CUTTING WAR WEST The picture ec-st something like ICj.OOO to make. During the early part of the current week First National and Al Lichtnum were still dickering for the services of the latter as general jalei manager. The majority are still in favor of securing LIcktman for their organization, those opposed comprising the executives who feel their power might be minimized by such an arrangement. The principal opponents are said to be Harry Schwalbe and Robert Liefer. X picture will be exploited and released shortly, featuirug a star vho recently made a most advantageous contract for producing on his own. The picture to be exploited was made with him in the leading role gome three or four years ago, but never released and the company making it has gone bankrupt. From Foston comes word that N. H. CJordon, Xtw Bnglend franchise holder of First National, is interested in the new American Realeasing Corp., with F. B„ Warren and Walter Greene. Around Times square Lewis J. Selznick. William Vox and R. II. Cochrane each have adherents who claim their principal was responsible lor securing Will Hays to head the new film organization. Others sit back and smile and say that before Hays Is in the saddle very long it will be found he will not be,very far from the desk of Adolph Znkor. It in now stated Hays* salary in $100,000 a year, with an expense allowance or $15,000 per annum. UP-STAT£FIGHT Picture Men in Struggle at Water- town, N. Y. The head of a pretentious lilin distributing concern is seeking new capital to continue its operations. Meanwhile the creditors are being referred to the New York representative of the original backer, who tells them if they will be patient there will bo a reorganization and that the backer, upon examination of the books, may put in another $130,000. Meantime the aforesaid "head" is scurrying around to raise a new bankroll In other quarters. In an effort to recover three pieces of furniture Alleged to have been loaned to Mrs. Juanita Cohen, owner of a local millinery establishment, Jackie, Saunders, film actress, In private life Mrs. K. D. Horkheimer, last week commenced suit in Los Angeles. In the complaint It is shown a general, quarrel has existed between the two families for some time. Miss, Saunters was named corespondent by Mrs. Cohen last summer when the latter sued her husband for separate maintenance. It would appear Will II. Hays was "wise" to the picture mob from the account in the "World" how, after he had signed his contract, he was taken to one of the studios where a flash for a news weekly was to be made.' A dummy contract was used and Hays attached his signature. After the picture was finished he started to walk a/'ay with the magnates that surrounded him when ho suddenly bethougrTt himself of the signa- ture, the "•World" said, on a blank contract and he rushed back, tore it en* and destroyed it. • Minneapolis, Jaiy -•"»• Universal has started a price- cutting lilm war in the Northwest territory. Moses Finkelstein controls the Universal output for this terri- tory and the new scale of prices for the smaller towns in the territory is designed to drive out the Selznick, punning, Hodkinson and Robertson- Cole product. The. general idea is thai the ex- hibitors will snap up the bargains that the Universal is offering and in doing so make it necessary for them to defer all their playing dates on the pictures of other'companies and thus compel the other exchanges to huffer. Business at present with the exchanges is not any too good and the V. move cutting off their revenue through deferred dates looks as though it might make it possible for them to continue, un- less (hey also cut and meet the Uni- Veraal's price-cutting plan with one of their own. At present the Universal bargain prices maintain only in the town with a population of.3,000 or under. In those towns they are offering a complete first run program of a feature and a comedy comprising seven reels to the exhibitors at $7.50 a day. All of the Universal Jewel Specials are being offered on a same basis at $10 a day. Of course, this does not idmh that the U. 'picture, "Foolish WiveV which is also a Jewel Special, is included. That picture is only going to play such houses as will give up a per- centage guaranteeing the picture, but tho sentimnet hero does not seem to indicate that exhibitors are anxious about the picture after the notices that it received In New York. Anita Stewart is on her final picture of the contract .^he holds with Louis B. Mayer. The picture is entitled "Hose of the B*SV? and will be completed next month. In* the three years Miss Stewart .has been under contract with Mayer she has made 14 pictures, although he released 16 Anita Stewart productions. The first two were made by the Vitagraph and taken over by Mayer as part of the settlement of the lawsuit Vitagraph started against him over Miss Stewart leaving Vita, No announcement of future* plans regarding Miss Stewart has been made as yet. It is understood she is to have her own producing organization. Watertowa, N. T., Jan. n. The merriest little theatrical war that was ever wag».d in the North Country is now on, with Nathan L, Kobbins, of Syracuse and Utica, and Charles S-sonske, of Oswego, and this city, directing the moves in the struggle for local supremacy. Robbing is here to personally lead the drive into the stronghold of the Morton & Sesonske interests, the Kobbins purchase of the three Papayanokos Brothers' houses here recently giving the Syracuse native his foothold. The real battle is be- tween the Avon, managed by Seson- ske, and the remodeled Palace, op- erated by Rob bins. The former has three acts of vaudeville and a feature film as its bill, Willi a 2") cent top. The Palace, reopened by Robbins, offers five acts of vaudeville and a film feature for 20 cents. As an indication of the quality of the films offered, it might be added that the Avon offered "Over the Hill" and the Palace "The Four Horsemen"' In the first clash this week. Robbins, with a string of houses In Utica and Syracuse, has a mam- moth bank roll to use in the fight, while Morton & Sesonske can sum- mon additional financial help, if need be, from Frank Kmpsall, owner of the Avon and interested with Sesonske in a new theatrical proj- ect here, to inaterialize in the spring. The big sensation came from the Sesonske side of the fence when the Avon announced the approach- ing* appearance of Eva Tanguay. According to the Sesonske an- nouncement, Eva will come to the three-a-day house for $2,50Q, while in her troupe are, it is asserted, 14 stage hands, a full orchestra, three maids, four electricians and 40 trunks. The s*ame bill, says the Avon announcement, Will have other acts /as well. Week to put the German activities of Famous Players on a more con- servative ba>.i«, Realart is now entirely out of business after showing a profit on the investment, and so on. Representatives from all the film trade papers sat in solemn conclave at a private meeting last Saturday to vote on the feasibility of extending •further credit for advertising to one of the more recent distributing concerns, which Is far behind In its payments for inserts already pub- lished. That isn't a marker to what will happen when the producers wbone pictures are being released by this concern, seek to collect their •hare of the grpss, which at present is being diverted to the maintenance of the chain of exchanges that are running at a loss. Any number of rumors during the past few weeks regarding the future of one of the producing and distributing organizations which has been a bottomless pit for money, which its backers have spent trying to force the organization "over the top." At present the organization, with its studios on the coast and its exchanges throughout the country, rep- resents an investment of $5,250,000. A recent examination of the as- •ets of the company shewed that were they to liquidate at this time they Would be lucky If they realized 15 cents on the dollar, so the backers are between the devil and the deep blue. If they go on they must tecure at least another $1,000,000. At present the organization out of ■oae 30. pictures that have been made and distributed have had but one which brought a return of its production cost. At present the distributing coat is figured at 37 per cent., which rep- resents a loss of seven per cent., for while the company gets 35 per cent, for distributing, there is an old agreement under which a former distributing organization was taken over, and that contract calls for tn 8 payment of five per cent, on all business done, which leaves the Present organization 30 per cent. Its collections at this time are av- eraging around $65,000 weekly on the pictures it has in the market, which means a loss of from $7,000 to $10,000 a week. Overtures have ^cn made to a number of film executives to come into the cone in, take it over, handle the distribution outside, or any other feasible plan that mi|?ht counterbalance the loss the company is now sustaining. CI w on't be surprising if there is an announcement to the effect that »ome- thing of this nature has occurred in the near future. Bobby Xorth, who has ben associated*with Warner Brothers and Harrj J|*Pf In the production of films for Btatoright, is negotiating With his Pa.tners to retire from the production end of their enterprises and tale jovor tbe Warner Brothers' New York Stat.- Exchange, A native of Germany who attended a performance of Eric Yen Btroheim's film production, "Foolish Wives." says it i* a filmlzation of '"Blind Husbands/' a German novelette, written by Marie Ebner Von l' :s<, henbaeh, one of a series of publications known as "Hook G< ms." **»t we,k the Universal phoned the lilm trade papers their edver* tisint> copy was ready; Uiually the advertising solicitors for th# trade Nbttcations } ia ve to "chase up" ITs copy. Silas ]••. Beadier, who has been directing lite publlcits foi lh< Arthur S. Kane Pictures since the beginning of ib<- company two years ago, has Jjaifned. He has not announced bis future feifiHation*. He w**nt with Hr niart when thai concern began its career, snd j" ; 'i"i Kche when the Jan..i resigned to form his o'wn company, ' r '" (losing d>v.n ..i" production at the Pantous l*ia>ers IvngTlwh sty din ls one more, move In the n» neral plan i<»r the concentration • f produ* lion J-ctivitiofl in j.om Angeles, Originally n separate producing corjwration »»> England, financed by British capita!, tic production* of ktf< havi been JJad.' by ihe American parent con'.::- hid!* never «•' Pf.nrted after ^"^deiable m«.ney was spent «" preparation; Rhlph Kobn -•''••! '> ,v It Is reported that in the recent agreement arrived at between A. L. Erlanger and the Shuberts on the booking of legitimate attractions, the i'.rooklyn situation was clarified by having the Shubcrt attractions play the Montauk instead of the Majestic next season, the "Syndicate" shows to continue at the Teller, thereby eliminating the Majestic, which has been playing the Shubert shows. Just what become* of the Majestic, controlled by Stair & Nicola*, is not Known. Tbe house must have been a profitable one, judging by the fact that it paid the government In the neighborhood of $100,000 last year for war tax on tickets. It has been playing eight shows In six days each Week and two vaudeville shows Sundays. Persistent reports have had it that George M. Cohan and Sam 11. Harris may resume business relations, just as they did until a year or so ago for 17 years without the scratch of a pen between them. It was Harris who proposed Cohan for membership In the r*oducing Managers* Association and it is not known that either has ever uttered an adverse comment^ about the other. These reports have been In circulation ever since Cohan withdrew"from the management of "Mary*' and the enter- price was taken over by Harris. "Whenever either of the former partners is asked about such rumors he replies there is nothing to it, and so do others who .should know. . FILM THIEVES $35,000 COUP ON THE CCAST Police Say Eastern Gang Is Now Operating in California Here is the expose of just another of the many forme of graft that obtain in the picture business; however, this one hits at the exhibiting and not the producing end of the business. It is a plan whereby the booking manager of a circuit of picture houses outside of New York manages to feather his nest to the extent of from $30,000 to $60,000 annually. There are usually three people in on the cut as the scheme is worked at present. It is the general manager of the circuit, one of the circuit's outside men and the manager of the local exchange from which the feature is booked. The G. M. decides that he wants a certain feature; the outside man starts his work on the local ex- change manager and tells him that there might be a possibility of a fir.<t run for one of his features providing he v ill do'the right thing in the mntter of price. It is necessary for him to do the "right thing" because of the prestige that a first run In the houses of the circuit will give the production in the territory. Finally when a low rental is agreed on the local exchange manager wires his home office that he deems it advisable that the small price for the iirst run should be accepted, fcr if they do not agree to the price they will be forced out of the lirst run in the territory. The home oftlces are fully aware of the situation to a certain extent and they wire an acceptance and then the real manipulation starts. The contracts for the picture are sent to the general manager of the circuit with the play dates entered, hut with the rental price In blank. Usually there are four contract blanks. Three Of these, the one for the producer of the picture, that for tli" home ohVe of the distributor and the one for the local exchange, carry a rental price of $1» , <>, but the fourths contract, which Is h^ld by the general maniger, is filled out with the price of the feature placed at $l'50. This is O. K.'d by Hi" C. If; and signed by the theatre. Then the outside man collects the rental In a Cheek and When it is cashed the exchange gets the $100 agreed on, the local exchange manager $25, the same r.mount to the fixer, and the general manager oi the circuit ma 1 ' it,. - to take the other hundred. In picture circles it Is said that William Pos will clean up over $4,000,0H in bookings of "Over the Kill" and "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." Report! are the H HilP picture is $L\. r >00,000 ahead already. Mo.^t of its showings have been 00 a percentage basis with special presentations, in Philadelphia Fox had the Stanton for Ifl weeks, playing the "Hill" for fight week*, with four weeks each for "Yankee" ami -gui.n of Shaba," the total gross for the three films being $_.*i0,«n.u. Tic house K»d bei n set down ns a sort of dead one. in three weeks played In' w u ■ i-Bar re end Bcranton "iMr is claimed to l,..\ •• :•■ ossi <i $50,000 ij.i»j.\ Rapt !oW 6 -too '''• other day of .. n denl of Chambersburfc; i'a.. a ho bought a doscn iggS 0 «n' at one Io«;. | sto<'e and Mid tliein 10 .-,' i. i < r, In order 10 •*•' »*ri sufficient coin to fake his wife to f nh tore -i ->\. i:.:|-t claims the )• i• >>.i« was one of hts releasee. &An Francisco Jan. :.'. J?nn Francisco police detectived are seeking to get a line on a ring of motion picture thieves that have been operating extensively along the Pacific coast In stolen film which has been shipped secretly to the Orient for sale. Last week two theatres in thej Mission district, tire Isis and the Courtland, were entered by mem* bers of the gang and two fllma stolen from each theatre. Yester- day Louis Ilyman, head of the All- Star Feature Film Exchange, re- ported to the police that his office had been entered and 33 reelS of film valued at more than $35,000 taken. During the pa«t month thefts have been reported from cities along the entire coast from Seattle to Los Angeles and the police of these* cities have been conducting an in- vestigation. It is believed by the detective* that the thieves working on this) coast are the same men who some months ago pilfered theatres and exchanges of films in various East- ern cities. "PEACOCK ALLEr SUIT Promotor Asks Accounting from Mae Murray's Backers The .Metro picture, "Peacock Al- ley/; directed by Robert Z. Leonard, with Mae Murray starred, is get- ting an unusual share of involved litigation, the latest development of which is a suit for an accounting, injunction and receiver, begun by Henry L. Gates against Leonard, Miss Murray, Herbert B. Cronen- weth, ilyman Winlk, Tom K. Davie, George Perry aqd the Metro Pic- tures Corporation. Gates alleges he organized the Globe Productions, Inc., and secured Mr. Cronenweth'e financial backing to produce four pictures starring Miss Murray, in- cluding "Peacock Alley," and that he was granted a quarter interest in the organization to act as general manager and take care of ihe pub- licity. He charges Perry with or- ganizing the Tiffany Productions, Inc., and transferring Cronenweth'e backing to that corporation, thus letting Gates^out altogether. Wlnik asjj *Davis are involved by virtue of being the foreign distrib- utors of the picture and Metro the local releasing agent. Gates is con- nected with the New York Sunday "American" editorial staff. He previously began actions against Leonard and Miss Murray -individually through the Globe Pro- ductions, Inc., but these suits were discontinued since no such corpora- tion is in existence any longer. Another angle figured In the "Pea« cock Alley" matter when Lewis Al- len Browne, playwright, brought suit that he has a vaudeville sketch out under that title. Metro settled by purchasing the rights to the title. HAS CRISP $200,000? Wifs Say He Has—He Puts Pos- sessions at $74,000 Los Angeles. Jan. 25. A request by Mis. Marie Crisp that she be allowed $1,000 for costs to determine the amount of property controlled by her husband, lJonahl Crisp, film director and aetor, was taken under advisement by the court bearing ihe divorce suit be- tween the couple. Mrs. Crisp contend, d her hus- band's wealth was around $200,000 and practically all commmiit;, prop- erty. The husband, wlio is sail to be in London working in pietures, has reported that he is Worth but $74,000 in property ami lhat this ia not community ownership, LUBITSCH SAILS HOME lanst Labitsch, tii«> German di- rector, sailed for home en the Oeorge "Washington Jan. 17, without waiting for the premiere of hi% "Wife of Pharoah," Which has been renamed 'The Loves of Pharoah." The feature* opens at the Criterion in a fortnight, Intncdiately follow- ing ih»« Rinei eon-Loos product ion, •*Red Hot rtomaniM garded as ■• ,,( :». \. i > .i is re-