Variety (November 1922)

48 •J .■'.?■ "'""^"ft'-^ZVllFJ',,. PICTURES .^ J*i^» .1^ .''%: . '\ -'jr*. ' ; ',-1 ' ■'• I','. ' .■ ■ ■'■■ zf'.* '■ ' • ■■' Friday, November 17, 10%5 A COOPERATIVE COMBINES OF EXHIBITORS MAY SPREAD OVER WHOLE COUNTRY VALENTINO WILL NEVER REAPPEAR FOR FAMOUS A. B. C, New York, Securing *Tcis" Excites Wide Interest—New York State Association's Contingencies—Producers and Distributors Alarmed at the Prospect '^-^r" ,,,.-::^' •■•'■ '^ ' , ^ ■ ■•■ The price that the Associated Booking Corporation is paying United Artists for the Mary Pick- ford feature "Tess of the Storm Country" Is $60,000 for the New York territory in which the A. B. C. Is supposed to have something like 300 days. The agreement under which the sale was made is said to carry a stipulation that the United Artists is to spend $5,000 of the $60,000 in billboard and newspaper advertising in the greater city in connection with the presentation of the picture in the independent ex- hibitor houses. On the strength of the "Tess" booking the A. B. C. is said to have developed considerable strength with the exhibitor.^, with the result the organization expects to increase the number of days it will book to possibly 400 within the next week or ten days. At present the A. B. C. i« claiming 340 days, but count- ing all houses represented in cer- tain territories where perhaps all are controlled by one exhibitor fac- tion, and where the picture will play, as in one instance, two out of Ave houses In the territory. One of the big smashes of the t)00king of "Tess" is that the Regun theatre on 116th^ street, which is owned and operated by Al Harstn, one of the oldest exhibitors in the country, is paying $3,000 for the first run of "Tess" in the territory. This will be practically the first time that this house has bad the opportunity to get a first run on any big feature, as it is in direct opposition to Loew'a 116th gtreet theatre. The Regun seats about 1,000 and the usual weekly film bill for the house is in the neighbor- hood of $1,000." Harstn has been able to follow Locw's only on big Xklclures. Exhibitors looking over %)ub situation state the house will 'lare better with a $3,000 first run rental than it would on its regular Sl.OOO rental for a week of a sec- ond run. The expansion of the A. B. C. idea «eema to be in the air generally, •with plans already under way to form a combination of independent eochlbltors in the Westchester coun- ty territory, especially Yonkers, for collective booking of films. Frbm around the country various exhib- itor organizations h^ve been in touch with the A. B. C. here and the T. O. C. C. in an effort to ascer- tain the manner in which the col- lective independent exhibitor book- ing sc^jeme is being developed. Combines of exhibitors through- out the country for the purposes of booking are seemingly certain to develop into a huge organization eventually which will cover the en- tire country. Then a condition will prevail in the picture theatre field «uch as obtains in the legitimate theatre, where those in control of the theatres will be in a position to dictate entirely to the producer as to prices and what pictures will and will not be played. The A. B. C. plan at present is to extend the idea to all of New . York state within a short ti^e. As a result of the scheme It would not be surprising if there would be a general upheaval in the exhibitor executive ranks in the state organ- ization with a view to the possible elimination of Chariot O'Reilly, the present state president, and the placing at the head of the organiza- tion of a leader who would not be particularly friendly to Sydney S. Cohen and who would not be apt to stand in the way of the expan- sion of the A. B. C. booking idea to the entire state. Although the state . convention of New York exhibitors is not to take place until January, ■ rext, with New York city ns the possible convention point, the Indi- : cations are marked for a change among those at the head of the present administration. OReilly i.s —~nre mark thnt is beini? shot at Hin'V ' he seemingly has pr..f..s.-:cd a re- newed friendship for f^ydney S. Cohen brought about throush their . co-operative working for the elec- tion of Governor-elect Smith, which , has caused ^ breach between ..O'Reilly as the president on one , . side and Sam Berman, state secre- PROPOSAL TO WILUAMS BACKED BY MILLIONS Going to Coast Next Week— For Distributing Field v'T-v Only .■>::;:'■•■• J. D. Williams, who retired within the last few weeks from tlie general managership of the First National, although reported as having left for the coast last week, was still around New York up to the middle of the present week. William?, according to story, is backed by a bank roll that is about $4,000,000 in proportion, that amount having been tendered to him by cer- tain banking interests on the eve of his departure from First National. *for the purpose of making an offer to purchase the Interest of the director-franchise holders of that organization. On their refusal to sell, Williams is reported as having convinced his financial backers he could frame a new distributing or- ganization, and they, with faith in the works of the organizer of First National, are reported as having told htm to go ahead. It la known certain other financial interests offered Williams a propo- sition to finance him to any extent for the purpose of forming a nro- ducing, distributing and exhibiting combination. W'illiams is reported to have turned down the prolTer, as he intends to devote hiiAself solely to the distributing field and does not intend to touch either the producing or exhibiting end of the gan»fr. Reports that Harold Lloyd may be the first star to be listed under the new Williams banner were neither denied or affirmed. Within the next week Williams is to start for the coast and he will be on the ground when the Para- mount convention of sales officials is there, and likewise while there is a meeting of the First National executives on the question of pro- duction. CHAPLIN'S "PILGRIM" Syd Chaplin i New York Brother's Latest With Charlie Chaplin's latest film comedy, "The Pilgrim," in four reels, reached New York last Fri- day in the custody of the comedian's brother, Syd Chaplin, who is stop- ping at the Hotel Biltmore. It's the final ChapHn delivery for First Na- tional under the Chaplin contract, although the Sistribution terms of the pi6ture are subject to adjust- ment between Syd Chaplin and the First National's offices in New York. While "The Pilgrim'" is a tempo- rary title subject to change, it may be finally adopted. Sonny Kelly accompanied Mr. Chaplin on his through trip east from Los Angeles. • ' > Sydney Clia{)lin may return to making^picture comedies. He is con- sidering it. Los Angeles, Nov. 15. It looks like Charlie Chaplin spoke out of his turn when in San Fran- cisco he made the statement that all club women lacked individuality and personality. The club women of California are irp in arms against him for his remarks a'nd they are ^ launching bitter attacks on him here in the daily press. Chaplin in his San Francisco statement attributed the condition which he maintains prevahs in club women ranks to their failure to as- sociate more freely with men. The papers here are filled with long re- plies from the women, who are rak- ing Charlie over the coals. a PARAMOUNT SPECIAL" BOUND FOR COAST Sales Convention in Los Angeles Opposed to Ex- hibitor Combines tary of the organization, and State Senator James J. Walker on the other. Incidentally the O'Reilly- Cohen truce and love feast is an- other of the reasons that will In- fluence Walker to declare he is through with the picture exhibitor in any official capacity in the future. Borman is possibly to be one of the candidates proposed to head the organization in opposition to O'Reilly. There is also a possible chance W^illlam Brandt, founder and former head of the M. P. T. O. C. C. may be proposed for the presidency of the state organiza- tion. Either one of these men would practically be certain to assist in the spreading of the A. B. C. idea to the entire state, and possibly the United States. The producers and distributors are looking at the manner in which the A. B. C. idea has caught on with the exhibitor with alarm. They feel that the general spread- ing of the scheme, providing it Is successfully worked out in New York, is certain, rt will mean that they will be practically at the mercy of the exhibitor body of the country whiih, in that event; could dictate the prices of the rentals of films. The growth of the A. B. C. idea may have the effect of strengthening the Hays organiza- tion of producers and distributors by driving the independent pro- duc(>r and di.Htributor into that or- ganization for protection against the exhibitor. A few of the producers ;tnd dis- trilKitors, such as Loew and Zukor, are protected to a certain extent through their the.itre holdings for on outlet of their own product and they will be enabled to make a stand against exhibitor combina- tions. The Paramount Special on the N. Y. Central left New York for the coast yesterday (Thursday). The train is carrying practically all of the home office executives as well as a number of guests to Los An- geles for the sales convention which opens there next week. On the special were Jesse Lasky, Adolph Zukor, Marcus Loew and Hugo Reisenfeld. Harry Buxbaum, sales manager of the New York State dis- trict, also left on the same train. ' On the way to the coast the seals and branch managers of the various territories along the line will be picked up, as well as p^;on\inent ex- hibitor-guests who are also to make the trip. The convention is to map out the plans for the sales of the second I'aramount series of pictures for the 1922-23 season which is to follow the 41-pIctures that were ."lipped to the exhibitor in a broadside early this yeat". The chances are that methods of combatting exhibitor combines for the purchase of pictures will take up a large part of the convention's time on the coast. The Paramount organization is unalteral)ly opposed to doing businei^s with exhibitor combinations and has laid down that tenent in New York in regard to the Associated Booking Corp., the inde- pendent exhibitor combination which secured "Tess of the Storm Coun- tiT." as against Loew and the Keith- Proctor-Moss combination. BIDDING FOK HOVELLO Spirited bidding for the services for the striking appearing English leading man, Ivor Novcllo has been In progress for several weeks on the part of American producers. Since the advent i-. this country of the print of the Harley Knowles production of "The Bohemian Girl," in which Novello j.layed the lead, D. W. Grifllth, First National, and one other producing organization, haye been trying to land the Eng- lishman. A special showing of "The Bohe- mian Girl" wAs given for C.riffith a week or so ago, and he cabled abroad to try to place Novello un- der contract to play leads In seven productions. He did not recei^w a icply, as Novello was in Venice. None of the others has been able to secure any word from him. MICHIGAN'S PLAN TO CURE "BICYaiNG" Elimination Campaign On— Takes in Stealing Extra Days ■ •.•:■'■.- '■ . Detroit. Nov. 15. A campaign to eliminate the stealing of extra days and the "bi- cycling ' of film has been started by the Detroit film exchange managers and they will have the co-operation of the directors of the Michiga.i Ex- hibitors' Association. Film salesmen are to be given cards and they are to send in reports to their exchanges showing what pictures are being shown in the re- spective cities they visit. There will be a check up on these lists and drastic action will be taken against exhibitors found guilty. In this matter not all the blame rests upon the exhibitors. The un- scrupulous film salesman is greatly Star's C^nsel So States--* May Be Out of Picturef for Years ^ . , , ^ ^ , M pellate Division of the state court to blame. It has boen found that to Interpret Its decision for or oftentimes the saleshnan in order - > cinch a booking will privilege the ex- hibitor to hold the picture an extra day, yet does not out it in the con- tract. Or he will tell the exhibitor it is all right to play it in his other theatre. The Exhibitors' Association has notified Its members to accept noth- ing from the film salesman or th- branch manager that is not covered in the written contract, and under no circumstances to accept any or. 1 offers. Arthur Butler Graham, counsel for Rodolph Valentino, denies that hi» client and Famous Players may patch up their differences in th» near future, also denying that VaU entino expressed any good will for the producers when he made a per- sonal appearance at the Rivoli, Neii^ York, a week ago Sunday where "The Young i^ajah" opened. The barrister denies that Valentino ac- tually appeared on the stage, mere- ly having bought his way in with Winifred HudnutC Mrs. Valentino). So confident is Mr. (Jraliam that Valentino's differences with F. P. are far from approaching a truce that he stated offlcialiy ihe film star does not contemplate ever working for Famous if the injunction suit is final'y adjudicated in the pr-ducers" favor. If anything, an adverse de- cision for Valentino would be the greater deterrent for lils evjer ap- pearing under the Paramount banner. The appeal from the temporary injunction awarded F. P., restrain-^ ing Valentino's breaking hia con- tract, is scheduled for argument Dec. 1. If Valentino loses, Mr. Graham states, he will remain idle for three months awaitlnq: the actual irial. being confident of a victory there. The Famous con» tract with Valentino does not ex- pire until Jan. 17. 1924. There are additional options which, should the actor refuse to fulfill them, would necessitate sever-1 years' voluntary idleness until the contractual period has expired and makes Valentino a free agent once again. . ■ ■■■■>■■■'■: ] KITTT GORDON S SET BACK Kitty Gordon got another setback' in the Appellate Division last week in her suit to recover $20,000 on %] fTlm contract with the Kitty Gor-' don Feature * Film Co. against George M. Anderson and L. Law^ rence Weber. When she began a. new action Jn the Federal Court It was ruled a New York Supreme Court decision dismissing her com- plaint barred her from bringing a new action. An appeal to the Ap- against prejudicing a new suit wai^ also decided against her. . -/, Miss Gordon's sole redress now Is an appeal from the Federal Court decision to the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It is unlikely it will be carried up, although Miss Gordott was given a verdict for the full amount early in 'the court battle^ but It was reversed on a techni- cality. She held a contract for 32 weeks at 11,250 plus a 35 per cent net profits' interest. EQUmrS PICTURE BRANCH CLOSED IN NEW YOl LICHTMAN'S LATEST FILMS Louis Gasnier has completed a screen version of "The Hero" «oji the coast. The first print is being .shipped east to the TJchtmin Corp. which will handle the distribution of the picture. Another picture just completed for this organization is "Are You a Failure?" directed by Tom Forman, from a specially prep.ired original done by Larry Evans. Steady Loser—Created Feeling Among Members-- Preference in Casting Alleged—William Cohill, Formerly in Charge, Now with Famous Players The New York office of the Mo- tion Picture Department of Equity has closed. The establishment, housed in offices on West 51st street, was reported steadily losing money. It is current gossip the picture branch of E(iuity had brought about considerable fee'ing among mem- bers, because of alleged preference in casting. It was shortly after the picture employing office was opened E-^uity started agitation against picture agents and one was flnetl in the city courts. There was no further ac- tivity after that, however. William Cohill wa? in charge nf tho I'^niity pirture office, hi.s .'.ii-irv repoiltMi ;i'l $100 weekly and fi\«- pir cent of the commi.'-sionH paid the office. Members paid five per cent of their salaries for engagements secured through the Equity branch Cohill is now employed in the office of Famous Players. Equity's coast picture branch is still in operation. Lancaster, who handles that office, Is reported hav- ing a working agreement with pro- ducers, and in that way the hranchi there has been more successful than that In New York. It Is said, how- ever, the coast branch has been supported with funds from E-iuIty from time to time. ^ . 'rda HONOLULU'S PWNCESS OPENED ■ San Francisco, Nov. 15. . Cables announce the formal open^ ing of the new Princess. Honolulu, one of the K.ihn & Greenfield the- atres, who control five other houpe* in this city. The T'rinc .'^s is a one- floor theatre seating 1,700. Tttf" oj)cnIng attraction was "Shcrloop Holmes." Kone Wllliam.s is i" charge of a 12-piece orchestra, with Kdwin Sawtellc at the organ. Edwin A. Smith, formerly n*»*| ager of the Rialto here, is manair^ of the house. ■ xi^i