Variety (March 1922)

,.•, U".'. VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE CABLES 26 HANWAY ST., OXFORD ST., W. I. Friday, March 3, 1922 ENGLISH EXPLOITATION PLAN TO BAN AMERICAN FHJS Hire Press Agents from Here lo Fight U. S. Fea- tures—Try to Impress Superiority of Home Proc?uct V -I>onJon, March 1. /mril^an m« iIumIh to «lrive tlio Amori«.an-niado Jilms from the Briti^h iiiarkt't is tho aim of a ffroup of Hiifilisli i>i«'ture producjrs. To aoliifve that end they havo foriiKtl a protective association of their own ami are engaging 'an j\nK'riran exploitation man of note to come here ami convince the Knglish r'Xhil»itor the British-made film is superior to that whleh they can Impurt from the United States. Top yrars tho P.ritish producers have hein trying to break into the American mark<'t, but without suc- cess. Tlie marest approach to any- thing like Americm distribution canje in tlie ilays of the old Mutual Film Co., \Nliich took over a num- ber of Knglish foaturo productions, but eveti in those days of the begin- ning of the feature production in the United States there was little chance for competition from Kng- lish-made pictmcs. Within the last (wo years various Kng lish pro ducing org ani/atjotis have tried to gain a foothold in the l-nlted States, but have be» n unsU'^cessful. The last to make the try was the Stoll organizalioji, and It failed miserably after a num- ber of months. At present thvy are releasing a series of short sub- jects based on Sherlock Holmes in America through an independent exchansTc source. The iiroi>osed protective tariff the screen actor and director in America are advocating is having its reaction here witli the lOnglish producer, and this is the Jh'st step tliat has been taiun to combat that tariff. and the food pri-es, you arc driven wild: that is, utitil you hear the price they ask for liquttr, and then you get wilder. I'.ut. there seems to l>p a lot of people falling for it right aloni,'." PHONEY 20"S Putnam Building Excitement Over Counterfeiting Raid I ORPHEUM CIRCUIT STATEMENT Kxcjt* fiient in ilie Putnam build- ing o\cr the failure of A. R. Smith a btoik looker last week, was ■ mat. h.<d by ilic itiiding of an oJTlce used for coimterfeiting purposes I early Wednesday moining. The j ofllce <loor was marked "Max j Sasanoff. artist." with the legend , "Putnam I'ress" also on the door.' The ollice had been occupied about i eight days. Something like $03 000 in phoney money was carted away by federal sleuths. The federal man waited imtil 3 a m. for the allecjed leader of the caunteriuiting t»and^ amu.sing tliera^ selves within the otflce in a pinocle game. At last a knock was heard and a voice said "open up, it's Charlie." The man lat< r said he must have made a mistake but the federal nu-n tliought otherwise. I^jSt week one of tlie men asked for change of a $110 bill freijuenily in a numb< r of agents' offices and Avas accommod.'ited. Sometimes I can sit up all nite and write ad(l<i and then again I can't i»ut any pep in thi-m and some times I let my a«ld go till the last minute and th«n I have to rush it ana no encouragement from the jomantic side of the old brain, as for instai^.c- this add. My man lias ju.st told mo this is the last day to get it in. It's 3:25. Im on at four, and I am sitting in bed writing this. It sa\s in the coi-.tra*'ts y«»u have to appear twice daily, and the cct weeks, the Henneiien and State- I^ke thi y let you go on for an »xtra show, so, if you don't make *em lalf the first two times, they give you an«»thfr eliance. Dear ohl (Jus Sun. I've kinda given you the air lately, l>|jt ilon't worry, t»t2'*'i_ the newspapers oven speak of youin my write-ups. ^Ve are famous, kid. let's slick together. That week at $800 y«)U off. r will have to go up a $100 next season. Yoii know you said you would pay me my .salary any lime, what- ever it is. lien Shafer, no letter this week. Get busy. FRANK VAN HOVEN ITarry 7t«ichenbach stepped out fr«»ni under tho Job of exi>loiting 1 'Tile Mi'Uress of tho World' for Famous Players into a hit this w^nk and sailed ^Vednesday on the Ho- meric forlyondon. IIi.s contract with Famous still had 15 weeks to run. I and lUi'henbach wag^ supposed to • be receiving $1.0(>0 a week from the! distributors. Dased ou the real con- { tracts he held in the past and the actual figure he received for the work performed, as against the "special contracts" that he held for general exhibition on Broadway, his figure was something like 33 per cent. b«low that mentioned above. Before sailing, Keichenbach let it be known that lie had been placed under contract by the association of Knglish picture producers at $2,500 weekly to combat American- made films in Great Britain. There was a general intima'.ion lie was afraid the Famous plan of putting over 'Tho Mistress of the World" was to flop, and that Is the reason for \xm having stepped out cf his contract with the organization. By coincidence he is sailing on the same liner with Al Gray of the 1). W. Grimth staff, who Is carrying with him a print of 'The Orph.iiis of the Storm," which he is to pre- sent in Lf>ndon. HECKHEIMER VS. HART Lawyer Sues for Defamation of Character—$5,000 Asked "Max ll.irt is the defendant in a suit for alleged . defamation of • haiacter, claim* d by Harry Saks H"ckhelmer, an attorney. •The la\(yer r*^pr( sent* 1 Mrs. Hart in a separation suit recently, but the matter is now in the hands of other attorneys. Perently Hart passe,1 Heckheimer ^n the entrance of the Lo<^w build- ing, the lawyer being with Leon I'rrol at the time. Hart is alleged to have passed a remark, with the damage suit rcsulii ir. Heckheimer is asking for $',000 damages. JOSEPH S. PINKER DIES Joseph S. Pinkei', literary agent f<n' Mr. Hutchinson, author of "If AVinter Comes," who came to America a fortnight ago to conclude negotiations for the sale of the picture eights to the Hutchison novel, died last vve«'k of pneumonia at the Biltniore hotel. Xew York. He brought with him his 17-year- o]*\ daughter, who was left a stranger here. Irvin S. Col'b took t> • yeung woman to his homo until arrangements could be made to send her back to England with h»r father's body. OPENINGS IN THE WEST END Rockell's Revue Begins Run at Palladium PROHIBITION SLEUTHS (Continued from page 1) the Volstead Act restrains them from becoming loo daring. They get wise to prohil»ition a]t:«'Mts in o niunber of ways. For Instance, as Koon as an ag<'nt makes a iiiile reputation, they come down to court to look him ovir and take a mental jthotograjth of liiin for their rogues' gallery. If Later tho agent visits the cabaret he is ask»d if ho has reservations and y^-n.n an-«w«'rii)g 'no,' is itiforiued tli;tt i«s«'r\titioiis I must be made in advance to gain «dnilltajice.'' "Anyway, we liaven't bofhried "With the cabarets jti some tim«'," intcrrui.ted Izzy. 'We are after bigger stnff--stilN and the like. Ill .say tliis: it's a gr«;it game tli" 'eat and tlaiice' pal.icis pull, j-.e- twceii the antics cf the iizz b;ijids Wilelte KERSHAW GARRICK THEATRE LONDON Grace Christie Coming Back J\^ris, March 1. (h-a:M^ Christie, tlic dancer, is re- turning to New York, recalled by h» r mother .s illn«\ss^ according lo r"poi t. I.iiKan Greuse Is resting on thv I?iviera. Jteport.s say her lie.ilili has im))io\«d. Vaudeville, Paris, with Films Paris, March 1. Tie Mundus Film Co. has take>n the \'.iudevi]le theatre for the next few monlhs to pr«'s«'nt i)ictur«'s. b»-iMning witli 'Way Down Ka^t." Victor Chalmin Dies on Stage ]*aris, ^^^r^Jh 1, \i'.i«'»r C.h.'>'n>iM di'^d .-iiddenly on tlie' stage of the .Monte Carlo opera while ."-inging, Feb. 2'2. ■ Operntion on Cornelius Fellowes An o p •' r a t i o n was prrform«d Wediu.sday at St. Vincent's Hos- pitji?, X< ^v Yoik, on Cornelius Kf Howes by Dr. <Jeo. D. Stewart. Mr. lellowes is the hu>ban<: of Mile. DavJo. Thr'<^' yi.ns a.^'o when physicians advised an operation of l)azic"3 J'lot. Dr. Stewart advlsetl ag;iinst a"! .'p»:-ation and sav<.d it. Rockett's Revue at Die Palladium Feb. 25 is along the usual lines, but is a fine show without anything strikingly original in the music. It Is expensiv< ly mounted and a good company is above the average. Charlie Austin was a big success and the Sisters I^ounds soor* d heav- ily throughout and in particular with imitations of the Duncan Sister.s and the Doilies. The finale was suggested by Cochran's suc- cessful tamborine banging stunt. The show should have a good run. James K. Hackett in "The Rise of Silas Lapham" for matinees at the Lyric is a success and likely to go into the evening biil. Ha. kett had a personal triumph. "The Lady of the Rose" at Daly's Feb. 21 aftrr two postponements was an emjihatic success. Good coherent story, good music and a splendid scenic production. The acting was far above the average. It is likely to bring back the great days of the K<Uvards regime. "Sarah of Soho'' at the Savoy Feb. 23 starts well, but peters out. The audience showed signs of guy- ing. Tlie only i-aving grace in the show was LoLtie Vennes' per- formance. It will not last long. TO OUST AMERICANS Paris, March 1. According to a municipal council- lor, there l.s an obiiiolotG law pro- hibiting more than ten per cent of musicians of foreign nationality in French mii'^ical troups, and as American, Hawaiian, n»gro and Hungarian Instrumentalist.s arc said to bo ousting the native talent, it is clainn-d the old decree should be api»li«d in' th<ir favor. The Synco-!^yji'^o orehestra and sing'r-^, a comr>any of ,">•> darkies under the leadrr<liip of \V<l!n)on, are at the Th»atre d» s Champ.-^ Kljse<s for a W'M'k. Puddle, the drummer, and Dirk Carli.xh are Xvitlj, the troupe, wliieh is attraeting attention thoii;,'h jK.t. fliling the big house, oi«e of the largest in the Fien<-h capita?. SAILINGS Apiil S «.\»w V<>ik to < b rrn;iny>. Lillian Herltin i .S. .<. RoTferdatn). Mareh 11 iNVw Y»>ik to Paienos Aires, S. A.), .Mme. Lubov.-ka and -4 I Jancci".- (Vauban). (.Is {si^Uf d for JO^l and pnraJUhd with the Orphciim's statement for J920) INCOME ACCOUNT Gross Income: ' 1921. Pox office receii»fs ] $13,305,971 Rents, conc«'ssIonM, etc 783,657 1920. $14,729,714 834,100 $14,089,C29 Expenses: Artists' .salaries, film service 5,862,903 Other salaries 2,708,624 Cell* ral operating expenses and theatre overhead 3,926,800 Depreciation and amortization 702,156 $13,200,485 Net earnings bifore faxes 880.143 Taxes 104,000 Profit for year to Dciember 31 785,143 BALANCE SHEET Tangible Assets: 1921. Land $4,387,974 PuiUUiig and eiiuipment 13,019,335 • Furniture .and fixtures 1,802,009 Lease deposits 363,400 $15,563,814 5.575.569 2,533,614 1.932,086 693.685 ■■ ■ I ■! ■ I-- Bin $12,171,856 3,391.958 .':.". (too 2.s :';.<. :,g 1920. $3,953,023-1 9.141.049 1,483.889 312,000 I r- $19,572,719 Leasehold rights 8,967,067 ♦fnvstments in affiliated corporations.... 621,731 I'roceeds from bomls for new construction in hands of trustees 975,815 Intangible Assets: Good will, contracts, etc Current Assets: Cash in banks and on hand Cash (Cai\adian funds at par) Call loans with Lazard Freres Mai ketable securitu^s^ Misc«'llaneous $30,137,333 19,043,802 $14,889,968 9,011,139 021,731 1,301,273 $-'5,824,111 19.009,195 $49,181,130 $44,833,307 367.069 19,286 113.935 698,685 107,835 004,039 ^59.702 143.881 Deferred Charges: Organization exi»enso Discount on bonds antl stock, ll'epaid rent, insm^ance, etc.. Miscellaneous supplies $609,9113 64,008 330.175 213.929 6.765 $1,OH,144 72,59$ 115.075 346,844 $.'.34.51$ $-:.1l9,267 $o,b80,f'00 549,170 571,000 $614, S7S Total assets of all kinds une^utling it«'ms not desi?;nal»d as in tiie original statement sent to sockholdt'js) : $50,423,020 Capital and Liabilities Capital: . Outstanding prt feired «'cumulativc 8 per cent, stock) at $100 each $6,880,000 Outstandinglomnion at $1 each 549.170 Surplus 1,168,657 ^This shrinkage of earned surjdus represents an operating deficit of somctliing around $600,000, although three quart<^rly tlividends of 50 cents each were pai<l on tho common before the De'ember dividend was omitted. On the basis of 1921 net profit alone— without r»gard to the surplus—the common stock earned about 45 cents a ijliare while it received in dividends drawn from accumu- lated prt>fTTs and current iirofits together $1.50. Alt(»gether during 1921 dividends amounting to $1,367,755 were paid, this total also r( presenting the divid<nd requirements of tho preferred^ 68,000 shares approximat* ly at $S a share.) Funded Debt: Five-year T'i. per cent, convertible notes of which $2,Ooa,O00 were authorized and $1,500,000 issued September 1, 1021. Real estate mortgage bonds and note; of subsidiary companies (apparently representing the Orpheum, Jr.. construction linancing and constituting a new item In the statement together with the note i.^^sue first mentioned) are set down as follows: Completely maturing February 5, 1922 $140,000 Completely maturing December 29, 1927 650,000 • Completely maturing July 1, 1929 39.000 Completely maturing May 1, 1931 450.000 Completely maturing August 1, 1931 4OO.000 Completely maturing November 15, 1935 3,2<i5.000 Completely maturing January 1, 1936 1.000,000 Completely maturing September 1, 1946 2.259,000 Completely maturing demand 500,000 Maturing annually July 1, 1923, to July 1. 1927 91,800 . ■ $0,364,800 •Two items indicated are of interest. The detail of "Investments In Affiliat»d Corporations," of course, represents Orphenni holdings of stock in tho Ji. F. Keith New York Theatre Co., which continue to set down at cost and without reference to actual or estimated marketable value. This stock has never paid d4^'idends. its earnings always going into extension of theatre holdings in the Metropolitan. The disappearance of the item of $600,000 Orpheum cash in the hands of bankers for lending in the call market merely means that the Ori>heum has turned this fund to other purpose or converted it into another form. Corporations which have surplus liquid money commonly employ it in call loans, in which form it is readily accessible and it Is generally regarded as a highl/ advantageous situation for a big company to have money so employed, as indi- cating its HuVistantial cash position. In a notice sent out to Orpheum stockholders, with tiie statement, it wa.s said the annual meeting of tho Orpheum Circuit. Inc., will be held March 14 at Wilmington, Del., for the election of dir«:>'tors for the ensuing year and other busines.s. In a noti^*e sent out to Orphevthi's sto< kholders, with the statement, it was saitl the annual meeting of tho Orpheum Circuit, Inc., will be held March 14 at Wilmington, Del., for the election of directors for the rnsuiiig jear, ainl tab' r i»usiness. "YOU, YOU" MUSICAL COMEDY Pari.-:. Mar»;h 1. The ApoUo levived its former policy Fell. .25 with -You You,' a mnsleal comedy that w«iit fairly. The authors arc J. R. Ardot and .lacriueq Sirrai**. The nmsie- was by Victor Ally. The cast also ineUule.- Morton. Robert Rurnir-r, lanoir, Fevre. Ceorge Lastjy. lb itbe Adam, Simoe Judic and M.iry Richard. In the plot, You You, the daugh- ter of a ruine'd Japanese merchant, accepts emr»loyment in a t»a room as a golsha, rfinaining i>ure, thus winning a legacy left ).y .an eccen- tric mllHonaire relatlv*-. T.,arer she marries a Furopean, h«r f.ith* r re- '•ox'Ting his fi>rtun«'. ELKI/>iS laying Moss 9bll &, Principal Circuits Direction.: W.g.'Hlg.l^WSSSEYi? Sr.