Variety (July 1923)

--.T ■ .1 ' Thursday^ Ju^ 1«, IWS ■;t I- PietUKKr' '•■ ^ 1 t^- SMALL AGENCY GEmEHAN GOT $1,100 FOR CELEBRITIES Bad Check Action in Boston Brings If Out—Had :]FUin People Attend ''Movie Ball/' Which Was • JNot a Succefs v•:^V":■•-:!^■^^ '.. ,^j Boston. July Jl. ' A.i.li^rge of attempted larceny by means oLu^ worthless check, the echo of the "movie ball" held at the Bos- ton^VfcMiJi In November. 1922. was broWcnt against John D. Byrr, a for* mer"J'e^Jd«"nt^o^ this city, who now claims 1-.OS Angreles as his home, in ^ igftKinn of th6. Municipal Court BcUlio SiUon. of New York, an agent of tho Kdward Small brokmg coinu*m>\ was the. complaint-nt. lie claimed (hat Byer arrringrd thp ball.'ivhirh was not aHO^ncinl suc- cesii.' -rind engagetl him to arrange to hovo cerlaln picture st.srs attend, thc^afiair as an adV'>;-tiHins teiture. He»iW»« to be paid Is.OO) for his serjcipti'.s in tliis connect Ion. Silt^on .says he was gi-.tM $500 in cash' and that wfien a later airrange- meni^va.s mad^ to have anotli-^r star add^n to the Tist the an;e wa«- raised to flf.lOO and that eventually i^** got a check for $600 from Byor. AVlien the- check was pre-Mt-nted for pay- ment at a local bank ihere werv in- sufBciiMit Mims to meet it, and it .wa« pi\.^fntcd from time to time. Finally the check was stoopel by Bycr. oilton alleges. W<<e:> the wheel.s of jus;ire pot moving it was d4scovered that Byer had gone t.> Qoldfleld. Nev.. and from there to California. A civil suit i^hr InstUuted and a warrant -secured. and,>vhen Byer within a .short time acalii came into Iho,jurisdiction of the l^fassachusetts courts he was iar- rested. In hiH defense Byer said that the depositing of mon^y was left to a girl in his employ an J that before he gave Hilton the check he had communicated with her on the tele- phoi)e and was told he had $1,000 on deposit. The case was taken under consid- eration by the curt. NEW YORK'S BIGGEST SIGN William Randolph Hearst's Cos- mopolitan theatre, as the Park, on Columbus circle, New York, will be renamed when,it opens its doors aa a picture theatre next month with "Little Old New York." is to have the biggest outside electrical sign display in New York. - The sign is to rise 104 feet above the roof of the theatre, and when lighted will be visible from Long Island City. The contract for the building of the sign was secured for the Elec- tric Sign Co. by Sam Roth, after a period of competition with the other •ign manufacturers in New York. MAY DISSOLVE N. Y. ARBITRATION BOARD T. 0. C. C. Claim That Ex- change Men Use Un- fair Tactics Harold Fraaklin of Famous Players Gitos Some Frank and Plam Facts After Practical Experience and Obserrations on "Extra Attractions" in Picture Houses—All Need Adver- tisiac to Build Them Up —^VaudeTillians Not Suc- cessful Draws in Film Pal- aces — Picture Theatres Must Provide Their Own Special Attractions— Rothafei ExaiBi^le oh Coast Cited. #,v«'».> ->V BRQADWAY CHA NGES .tv . The working of the Arbiti-at'lon Board in CJreuter ^rew York; com- posed of the managers of the film exohmiges and appointee members oC the Theatre Owners' Cimmbier of Commerce, seems likely to strike the rocks in tiienear future and go to pieces unies.i some Immedhit? steps are taken to placate the exhibitors; The procedure under which the film exchange members of the board have been operating is dooid^'dly outside of the code laid down in the arbitration agreement, accord- ing to the exhibitors side. The fllni exchange managers have been try- ing to use every device possible to win all of the cases that are brought before the board and interpose such legal technicalities as to make it practically impossible for an exhi- bitor to ob<tain a verdict. According to one of the execu- tives of the T. O. C. C. there Is no blame attached to. Will H. Hays aa head of the M. 'iP. Producet» and Distributors. Inc., who worked out the idea of the uniform contract and through whose effort the Arbitra- tion Board again became a fact for the settlement of disputes between distributing organizations and exhi- bitors, the local exchange managers evidently taking It upon themselves to over-ride the situation and let the Hays outfit worry whether or not the entire arbitration scheme comes to naught as far as New York City, at least, la concerned. Early this week this same T. O. C. C. executive stated that unless matters were taken in band imme- diately and ih0 loco! exchange man- agers changed Ineir tactics In re- gard to.th* arbitration of disputes, the Chamber of Commerce would most assuredly break off with the Film Club and the arbitration board would then cease to function. ATLANTIC CITY'S METING CONFRONHD Wrm PROBLEMS i-^. National Censorship, National Sunday Law and ^, Copyright Law Modification to Come Up—M. P. T. O. A. Officers Meet August 6-8 I Tli(» first ;;.'ii*T^I m<*eting Of the national (MhrtMs of the M.,P. T. O. A, since tiio Ciiicago^convention is to be li»M.l in Atlantic City Aug. 6-8. ArraiiKonuMHs will be raad«^ at this meetin!?: to place in effect the or- gaaiy.aiir»i|-.s program to secuit* the repeal of the neat and admii..-iioM tax ^» well a.s to secure ;t nioditicalion ■of hh' t'lttyi'ighi iaw mi ha lo si-t a«idf tUf miiHio tax. A' iwui)r»>;».,i nation,!! ( c-M.soi-wliii) '«'"• •'< ri.'uioaai ?!und;iv closing bill t'J b« |»r*^.'enl<»d lo tlu- nexi jse.-^Hion ^' Co.n^i-o. ^ hy (M'lai I i;i:eio.'-iH '''"1, :i|(tr:» Iv-. fiUoii ui'dcr cimsiilcra- tton ■,• ti,i . ,„f.oiin.: and i-upnio •I'^M 111,. sifiiari'M, oulUn.Ml. '•"5 ir.. .|(>*f»|,i, Mrtc-tfr St |,.iiii.. i> . - MO.: Mulin C. Smith. Toh-do. O : Jo.st'ph W. Walsh. IlaiLford. Conn.; K. W. Collins, Jonesboro. Ark.; William linnder. .Ir., South iJend. Ind.; (Jeuigo V. Aaron<s. i^liiladel- phia. Pa.: M. K. Commerford. Scran- tan. Pa.; C. A. I.irk, P'ort Smith. Ark.; W. A. Tiup. Ilarttord, Conn.; Marry I>avi.«, PittHhurgh. Pa.: W. I>. MtirCord, AtH^»«a, l!I : (■!■ LI. ili hin It. Itulianapoiis. fnd.; A. .luiiaii liiy- liw.ski, \V'a.sliiiiKi<Mi D. (*.; A, It. Pram**!. Oniah.i. N>l».; Fro«l Se«';v'it. .Milwankc*', VN'is.; (Jli'nn llirpor. I.(»~ A*ji{fU"^. (.*•!.: K. V. V\«.Mllnill. lK>\er-. .\. .1.; 1- •' Ditimar. l-ouis- \ iP»\ 1\'.; ./ohM .\. Srh'.valm. Ilimi'- t(»:i. O: ('U^tl*'* l. Si'ars. .\«v.i.l.«. I;m» S. C •li'.'jl. S*'*> Mo., u d V.-»r ». ^/' The requirements of .th« picture theatre im the oaatter of entertain- ment, other than that wiuchls of- fered on the screen. Isa.^iuestion that is causing the F,amous. Play/ovs theatre dei>ariment.jio UtU« anxiety these, days.., ;• ; .,..j-, , . -... Seemingly tl»e experimenrts made within the last three or four months with attractions that were either culled from vaudeville or built along vaudeville lines have not brought the result.-? expected. It is how evi- dent that as far as Famous Players is concerned U*s going out to- de- velop a different type of entertain- ment, one that is t. be distinctively of and for the p:cture theatre. In discussing the situatioft during the current week. Harold B. Frank- lin, chief *'x*»cutlve of the theatre department of Famous Players. stated vaudeville as vaudeville had been a diaappointment when tried in the picture theatres. "What Is required in the picture house after all Is something that 'carries with it a certain synount of music and effects in lighting. It has to be entertainment, that appeals to the eye and ear. Those that at- tend the picture theatre if th^y »vant vaudeville can go to the vaude- ville theatre* for it; picture house Audiences, however, do riot seem to want vaudeville or straight concert programs. What we have to do is go out and seek a h^ppy medium be- tween the two," was the gist of the remarks Mr. Franklin made. Continuing, he said undoubtedly vaudeville and the concert stage would contribute In a certain meas- ure toward the building up.of the type of entertainment that had to be developed for the picture tlie- atre, through the supplying of cer- tain talent, but there was one thing certain, and that was that vaude- ville comedy would tiever get over In the cinema theatre. Vaudeville as vaudeville is too diversified and moves too speedily for the motion picture audience, Mr. Franklin added. Concert attrac- tions are proving too highbrow; therefore a middle stage in enter- tainment must be arrived at. Within the last few months an expensive and beautifully arranged tableau, the work of Ben All Hag- gin, wa« booked pver the Famoun Players circuit of picture theatres and In certain sections, where It was built up with a terrific adver- tl.slng campaign In advance, th<» novelty scored; in other seciion.s it flopped. That meant buf one thinfj as far as the theatre department's executives are concerned and it l.s that the advertising sohl |^<- aitta<'- tion rather than the atti-.Hi ion s^'II- inR lt.'<olf lo the public. In a great measure thit is a!.s«» true, of the vaudeville actr* that have been tried In the i»icturc lu)use.««. They do not draw at »the picture house box ofllces and have to be built ui) with ndvi-ri i.«in;^. This in the fare (tf the f.irf the ina- jorit.v uf vaudeville people who h»\.« (■on.<«idered playing picture tlir^afre.' have diMihlfd the salar.v tli»\'. h.ive been getting in vaudevlll'^ jind tlifn .showing th;<t t .v did T»n( wari-ai" r>n por rent, of it. accordinv; to liri.x- ofTice return.**. The pieture mana;'*'m»'n*, nWo Ilk'-" t'l.- .jM^l • !!iit aft«'r ai'. the liicHifi- l.s ll><' umI tiling iri ihf wa.v of the altiiiolion in the Picture lioti<c rind, tio matter what ilie exir.i .itliafti'Mi iM. let t1»*» picfure !»e .'• \K)(>y oMo nnd iIk- buiiMfs-t will fjill oflf. Tili* they have proven Id ihf*ni- «»*M\es tlirnu.^h «Tperi»'fv»* in . tiie « .H'diH t (ii ih-'ir Ihei'n'^. Tiie •o«ii-. en«-(M K'''«4(iina'y -Hiiy at the exit a • tH'.l'T on ofr<T»*d ''»#'«"Vi»tl.T >»• H'»l\i>- $2 TOP, BROADWAirS HIGHEST IN B. S. MOSS' NEW HOUSE ., .^> 53d Street Location Marks Expantion of Theatrical Zone—Most' Proposed Theatre Will Seat 2,000 People "A* .\>ii n- •'iV *,» T^ mUTAM'S OWN STAR' IN FIRST AND LAST FILM Margaret Fealy Chaperoned by Justine Johnstone—Stood . Up at Wrong time ' ■' ■ ^ ^' ' r;ondon, July 11. FoTlowlrig the return from Amer- ica of the greatly boomed Talnuidge protege, MargaiN't Leahy, the lady herself a-ppeared .at the London Hjppodrojne on the occasion of a .si>eclal performanoe on. behalf. of, the Middlesex Hospital. She was accompanied by Justine Johaistono (Mrs. Walter Wanger). So well he^d the a(falr been boomed that many people took up positions early.in the afternoon to watch the "star's" ar-' lival. • When the Miifesos Leahy and Johnstone entered their box. every focus lime in the Iiouse was swung on them. The orchestra played a special number composed by Pat^l Whttemain In honor of the new star, during which she stood. This was rather a remarkable breach of eti- quette,' because Jn this count^y no one being accorded honors stands; the juLCipl. lit sits, whllfe the givers stand. At the cN'ening show^ .fune ?8, Miss Johnstone again chaperoned The proposed new picture (mi lac* for Broadway at 61d street, an-^ nounced as a B. S. Moaa aoquisition: will establlah a top admission of $2. a new high scale for the big 'Un tlieatres. The house will, lave .. seating capacity of about 2.000. The Improvements around (S<t! street mark the steady expansion of^ the- amusement xone northward on Broadwajr. At that particular In-,' tersectlon the erection of a mam-. mouth dAQPe hall across the street from the Moss site. Is expected to aid development. Following the completion of th« two projects, showmen i>eljcve it 1« only 9, question of time when th«.- then^rical «one will, extend beyond' the "L" structure at ,68d.stree» acd dvpntually fuse Into the amusement.^ located *ln the environs of Columbus Circle. Miss Leahy at the Marble Arch Pa- vilion, where her first picture, "The Three Ages," was shown. They v.-«r«i received by the Princess Alice and the Duke of Alhlone. MIs.s Lej^hy Is having a very good time, and Associated First National, having put the feature on to fllni': booking offices, Is happy, while the "stunt" has given much publicity to the Talmadges; .. ."^ , ..'' . \,', The big stunt is now over, and "The Three Ages", Is probablK tht» last picture in which "Britain's Own Film Star" will, be seen unlets'the newspaper Arm of liulton will run a producing company for her.. ing that it must have been added to the show Ln an effort to leister up a weak picture. Xhen there is always the danger of building up a demand for a type of entertainment through giving the picture house audiences big vaude- ville names that they would not bo able to follow up with. There aren't enough names in all vaude- ville Viow at the type of acts that would be acceptable In picture houses that would give these the- atres sufficient number to last out one season with a week to week change all around the ciccuit. This foregoing analysis of the situation was outline^Jn a few min- utes by Mr. Franklin, who stated the only solution was that the pic- ture house entertainment had to be developed by the picture people themselves. He pointed out that in New York one type of entertain- ment was acceptable. In Chicago another t.vj)© and on the coast still a different style was required to .'ippease the appetites of the audi- ences that patronized their theatres. One instance that definitely proves the fact Js In the example of the hrlef lime that S. L. Rothafel, winuii Mr. Iranklin calls one of the foremost nf ail of those presenting liieture Ijoiise .Mitortalnment, re« niained in T.,iT.s Angeles managing a theatre then. Mr. Hothafel's suc- cess in Ne ,' Vork is undented, yet LoM ArigeloH^seomingly would not ai <ept his type of entertainment, possibly because they were not Miiriiientb- cdneated in that part of the roiintry. However, in New York the puhlio desire it above all things, yet with the ll<»thafel name estaljL- lislied as pr<»vidin>; as good as any eiitei tainni' :it at the Capitol, busi- ness even at that house suffers when The pi* tore itself in not up to t i e mark In other words. Mr. Franklin seems to iM-lievc it must be the pfc- r ni' f a Met ; »t i. Hu«o l{jc.s»nfeld. who is the man- at?in:^ diee<.lf»r of the three F;lmou^ riaici, houKCx- in the TimVy< square se«-tiori. in likewj.se |>articularl.v ."Mited lo provide for the require- nent; of th»' New Vork public. >et II would be ini'iossihie to figure th.il ;ir(v presentativ he provided would le tcreprable t h'* country fivr ifi the same degree thai New Yorkers might accept It, i.V *, . In Chicago, at McVicker^s, th*»' management has arrived at a form of entertainment betwixt and be- tween the style yaed In New York. It is lighter ar.d more popular iti its flavor and the Chicagoans weem to like it better than the bills tint New York provides. Yet that f-tyle, would not be acceptable in the far western reaches of the cou»'lry. .^*-. Franklin stated. With this In mind the I'amr.'us Players b.elieve that Its establishing: of three distinct producing centers, one In New Yorl^ Chicago and Los Angeles, In charge of those fully Conversant with the requirement^ of the public of the various dlstru-ts in which they are localed, will move a step In the right directiofi. In New York there is to be sk change of policy at the Itialto and Hivoll theatres that will go ^n force about Aug. 1'. The RIalirt after that date will l)ecQme the concert theatre of the two an* there the or- chestra will be built up under the direction of Dr. RIesenfeld to jsueli an extent that there will be nothing In a musical way in any of the pie- ture theatres of Broadway that will vie with It. The house Itself Is tM<i« particularly suited for musical r»r<»- grams than it Is for presentation'*, and in addition to the tremenl >\ih orchestral settings the pictures ;ire to reeelve there may pos.sildy he o< • cnslonal soloists, but that is all ttiut will be offered on the stage. At t'lo Ttivoll, however, the presentation Is to be the attraction. In this lu»use Famo\is Players Is going to go m for settings and novelties and a ballet corpH at)d en.femble are to i»e maintained. These will alio ).© under the direction of Dr. Riesc-i* feld, but his greater attention will be given to the mu.slcal featur.-s at the itialto. The UivoH pr*».'!''nta(loi n are to be mad«' <vi(h an unlimit.d hand af» to «^x|m*4vk« and t lig y after being Hhowii there are to h^ seiit !<> the other Famous notideii in t li«% ey.ktern t«-rrit<try. When ilie two ad<liiional prudu< - lion centers. Chicago Tind IjOs At.* Keles, are develof'd. tfiey will 8»r»^ respectivi* (»arts of the couitt* / with th^ present ilioMH that are dc« v»*lo(>*».1 in fl;OH'» cen'•■»»<.