Variety (November 1924)

,'** '•'•* r- '/ .''7^'' Wednesday, November 19, 198« PICTURES VARIETY AL IfTAIlS U. A. REORGANIZATION Wni BE ARRANGED IN NEW YORK Week and Principal Officer* Returning East This — Griffith Status Unsettled ~ Chaplin Wanted Money Makers Only * ■^--i*-'''--'"'*'^'** An«elM, Nov. 18. £ With it n«w capitalisation of $7,- i' 104,000 to be obtained from eastern taVMtors, United ArtlaU Corpora- tion will ro -thro«ch a process of re-organizatlon. Suclt was decided at a meeting Ja held here at which were present If: all of tM artist* and tlwir attor- '^ ceys, inctUidinsr Joseph M. Schenck. I'r representlngr Norma Talmadge, re-' i.. oently elected into the group. Schenck was elected chairman of the Board of Directors and bMsl- MU manager. Hiram Abrams was COAtinued In the ofllce of president and will continue in full charge of if- distribution. '/. Final arrangements were com- :{. pleted last Saturday after confer- ences had taken place for three .' %eeks.> ^hese arrangements, It Is ^,, aald, are to be worked out in New ? .York shortly. All of the attorneys, j ■ which Includes Nathan Burkan, :vf.Dennis F. O'Brien, Albert Benzhaf S^^and Edward Loeb, left here with 'f^ Schenck and Abrams this week. i^ Just what the plan of the group ^ under the reorganization will be has not been made known. It is •aid that the addition of new capl- tail will provide for the corporation being able to finance what they r^ consider worthy product and will 1^- allow the addition ajC new stars from f,.. time to time. P Chaplin Held Out' fl-^ purine the sessions it looked at UUes as though the jtcoject would ' not go through. Charlie CliapUn. It If understood was inclined to h^Id out asainit the admission of certain artist to the group. Be aven suspended the malUng of bla •. picture to be on hand to fight oUt tlta matter himself. When sug- seated that two stars, man and woman, b^ allowed Into the group, dtapUn requested the books of the prodaclng firm by whom they are apnployed be brought out to show liow much profit was made on their clotures. Chaplin argued th^t the ''f_ .mljr pnea who should be admitted :i! Ipto the exclusive body were those ^. wHxo had been consistent money \V litakers, an4 not stars In the mak- ; or stars who had failed to. show And consistent profits. This •nrument is said to have covered Mveral days, with Chaplin coming ^ pat on tot, as no other stars were l^-k Admitted to the Corporation outside i^ %t Norma Talmadge. ^'' ..^owevee, plans will be worked t 9|tt in the east within the next few ^: iflftTta whereby the output of the or- >; canizatlon is to be increased with f| 1^ addition ot other producing =;: limits. These that will )>e added, it i^' m said, will be sure fire money mak- ers from the start. Regarding Griffith ^ ' Ifr. Banzhttf, representing D. W. ' OrfBlth, exchanged several wires #l«h his client in New York* Noth- IttS was said regarding the status ilfOrifflth with United ArtlsU. out- ■■■: aMe of the fact that be Is still a ' aiamber of the group and Under ^ntract to provide it with his oat- ^t Conferences for the stralght- •ning out of the Orlfflth end wlU ^r held in New Terk. ■"^ Schenck, after the New York ■ ttOietlng, contemplates leaving for a'three months' trip to Europe. Several of the bigger releasing or- kanizations held out hope to the » JACMCOOGAN ON ROYALTY Coogan, Sr., Expects to Renew Contract with Metro Syracuse,IN. T., Nov. 18. Jack Coogan, Jr., expects his son, Jackie, to renew his contract with Metro-Goldwyn. Negotiations will shortly start. Jackie will make three rather than four pictures within a year as before, when he received a flat annual amount from Metro of $500,000 at the rate of $125,000 each picture. Hereafter, says Coogan, Sr., no flat payment nor salary and royalty will be acceptable. Instead the con- tract will call for a straight royalty payment to Jackie on all of his pictures. "WhUe it would be impossible to better the terms of our previous contract," said Mr. Coogan, "the picture business is contimially changing and our contract terms no doubt wiU change with it." Tl^e Coogans are visiting here, thalr bom* town. *Teter Pan** on Four Screens, SimnUaneously Kansas C'.ty, Nov. IS. What is expected to be the largest crowd to ever witness a picture in- doors is being planned by the Kan- sas City "Star^' when that paper gives a free showloK of 'Peter Pan" in Cdnvention halloas its yearly party to the Kansas City kiddles. The presentation will be Dec. 27. A novelty of the showing will be that four screens will t>e erected In the middle of the hall and the pic- ture shown simultaneously on all four, thus giving a view of the pic- ture from each side of the building. ANITA LOOS BETIEB Upon the return of John Emerson and his wife, Anita Loos, to New York from the coast, Mrs. Emerson became quite 111. She was confined to the house a few days but late last week took a short walk. last of being able to bring the United Artists group into their midst In case the reorganization plan failed to go through. Afarcus Loew Was In town ready with the Metro-Qoldwyn proposition, Robert Lelbler was on hand prepared to welcome \hem into the First Na- tional while offers of a most flat- tering nature were made from Fa- mous Players-Lasky. When things began to straighten out the United Artists group let it be known that they were going to continue In- dependenly In both releasing and producing. BABE RUTH APPEARING IN L A. fum rouses Pulls Business to Million Dol- lar, but No Offer from Film Companies I<os Angeles, Nov. IS. ■ Babe Ruih is intent on spending the V'lnter in Los Angelea. And while domg so Christie Walsh, his buHlnesa manager, wants the Babe to earn his salt. The first to see any value in him was A. A, Kaufman, managing director ef the Paramount trio of houses. Kuth was taken out and photograhed with Douglas Fair- banks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and other screen luminaries. About a full oee' was the resu't. Kaufman then titled '.he film, had a monolog prepared and gave Babe his first clance in the film rapitol by engaging him to make person.il appearar.ceii at the Million Dollar in conjunotif... vUh Pcla Negri's film, "ForMdden Paradise." The fJnbe opened there Saturday to big busi- ness and it is expected It will keep up during the week which is the final one for the picture there. In the meantime Walsh is en- deavoring to negotiate a contract for Babe With one of the picture companies. Up to the present time no oflfer has t>een made for the serv- ices of the "Home Run King'' on the screen. ALIENATION JUDGMENT T. Sindorf Awarded «6,00fr-Wife - Former Film Aotreac lioa Angeles, Nor. IS. Ralph T. Stndort noted tennis player, was awarded a Ktflament, of $S,000 by a Jury in Judge Monroe's branch . of the. Superior Court against W. E. Conrad, a wealthy realty dealer, whom he charged with alienating the affections of bis wife Helen, former motion picture actress. The ease took two days to try and there were some very warm mo- ments in the courtroom when wif- nesses testified.about wild parties In which Mrs. Sindorf and Conrad had participated. Slndoi'r testified that he had lived happily with his wife until Conrad came upon the scene. Conrad and Mrs. Stndort denied this and en- deavored to show that the lost love of rhe woman was due to Sindorfs neglect for the tennis courts. How- ever, the jury thought differently. CONSIOINE, JR., PRODUCING Readying Two Pictureo—Will Re> main Affiliated With Schenck COMING SOON PhOOUCfRS DlbT.^u -; s:. CO&POBA'iON HARRr AT .A^.^^ ITT'I i\4tm4\li\ iJjHP* FilMM'INXj FiDRTJ OKTNMtre kiL^^Bfe HAftvrv <*T£5 Season 1924-1S29—Thirty First-Run Pictures Loo Anfteles, Nov. It. John W. Consldlae, Jr.. oon of the former member ot the theatrical firm of Sullivan and Consldlne, who has been general manager of Joseph M. Schenck's motion picture produc- tions. Is branching out as a motion picture producer. He is already pre- pared to make two pictures at the United Studios, w^ich will probably be released through Metro-Goldwyn. Branching out as a producer will not etlect Conaidine's relations with Schenck. The latter is not to do any producing on his own account until next March and when this is done again by him Consldlne will still be ofllclating at his old post, as well as tending to his own pro- ductions. . _, FAIBBAirKS-SCHEirCE Los Angeles, Nov. IS. DoukI.-\s Fairbanks and Joseph M. Schenck are now business partners. This came about through the pair jointly buying the 22^ per cent in- terest that George K. Arthur held in "The Salvation Hunters," a mo- tion picttire that was produced by Joseph 'Von Sternberg who will direct Mnry Pickford's next release. According to present plans the picture wiU be released' ehortiy through Ualtod Artlata. Injunction Denied In Film Sifim Suit Judge Wlneiow oC the United SUtes District Court Monday 'anded down a decision in favor of Murpliy & Erode, Inc., and adverse to Norden Company, Inc., upon an application for a temporary injunc- tion brought by Norden Company, Inc., against the Piccadilly Holding Corporation, operating the Picca- dilly Theatre, and Murphy & Brode, Inc., seelving to prevent the theatre from using the signs built for the theatre by Murphy A Brode, Inc. In Its application for the injunc- tion Nordca Company, Inc., urged that the vertical cign and the mar- quise sign.s ot tt>e theatre were in- fringing upon a patent owned and controlled by Norden Company, Inc. Freudenb«rg.& Mattuck, attorneys for Murpliy & Brode, Inc., and the Piccadilly Holding Corporation, urged and contended that whatever patent Norden Company, Inc., claimed to have v.-as worthless in that it combined various elements which were well known to the rlgn building industry long before the application for a patent made by Norden Company. Inc.. and that most of tlic.eiements had been used by various manufacturers since the date of the application. The papers filed by Murphy & Brode, Inc., and the Piccadilly Holding Corporation stated that Lee Ochs, managing director of the Piccadilly Theatre, asked for bids from Norden and P. J. Martin of Strauea & Co.; that subsequentlir he was Informed by Norden that there would be no bids forthcom- ing, as an arrangement had been made between Norden and the others to that effect. Lee Ochs stated In his affidavit that as soon as Norden told him of such an --Kreement between Norden Compan.v. Inc., and the others, he decided to get bids elsewhere, and that he stated to Norden that h> would tinder no circumstances give the job to Norden Company, In<<. a« he^would not stand for a oon.bl- aatlon of that kind. COASTAGENTSIN PROTECTIVE COMBINATION Booking Offices Agree to Charge 10% Only—All Join but Edw. Small 'Yortei" Tamed Dowd London, Nov. 18. Lord Cromer, new Lord Cham- berlain, has refosed a license for Noel Cowkrd'8 new play, "The Vor- tex," listed for immediate produc- tion at the Everyman theatre. "BOXALO" AT EOTFTIAH Los Angeles, Nov. 18. The next special run at Grauman's Elgyptian. Hollywood, will be Metro- Goldw>-n'» "Romalo," which stars the two Glsh sisters. The picture is due to open Dec. 8. lios Angeles, Nov. 18. Motion picture agents who sup- ply principals and extras to the studios have organized the Motion Picture Representatives' Associa- tion, with the exception of Edward Small, every agent In Hollywood Is a member. The purpose will be to live up to the State labor law that permits 10 per cent, commis- sion and prohibits the charging of excessive managers' salaries • for services to players. The organisation wU|v also func- tion along new Unes- that are to .eliminate petty jealousy and "shar» shooting." Agents called before a producer to provide people are to eliminate "knocking" the actors under contract to competil<ors. If finding they cannot provide the proper people for « picture they will be privileged to submit people under contract to their competitors. Should they land any of these peo- ple the agent is tt> be paid/half of the commission the actor /is obli- gated to pay the agent to whom 1;0 Is under contract. The organization claims It* prime purpose will l>e to co-operate with the actor and producer and ellnoA- nate the %vlls which have cropped up in their business through i<n- sorupuloMS practices. A board of arbitration consisting of five per- •ons is to pas* upon all grievances that may artoe between membera of the association, producera and actors. Among the agents Who are mem- bers in t^ asaociatlon are Ouy Co- ^ burn. Inc. r Ben RotliwoU Co.. Uoh- ' tig ft EngUnder. Frank Klngaly. John Lancaster and Fred Beors. .i Grant E. Dolge. Hugh JefTry and Ooorge Webb. J Small attended the first meeting ^ of the organlxation, but la said to have sent word he 4id not want to join. Officers elected at the first meet' ; tng are Ben RothweU. preaident; ^^ John Lancaster, vice-president; Ben l Bnghinder, secretary, and Grant E^l Dolge, treasurer. ^-j FOREIGN PIOVRES IN EGYPT By HAUKICE VEHTUBA '/••"n Cairo, Oct. 28. It is a wrong idea for those Who know noti'.ln; of conditions here to imagine rjjypt as a most Important country for pictures and to think that they can "make a lot of money" with their pictures over here. People often call up to know the titles of the films, they Insist in getting as many particulars aa pos- sible a*.K>ut them. When finally they get the details, they will reply ttie pictures shown are not worth any- thing without knowing more of them. What make -the Egyptians reasor like this is duo to the fact that they want to grasp, from ttie title, the subject dealt with In the picttve. During the Intervals }'0U can bear rofiexions 8u;h as. "certainly 1 can- not agree «v)th the hero. I would not act as he did. This situation is not logical at all. I cannot understand why people talk milk baths," etc., etc., etc. I am wondering what the public will wny v,-hen they s*o the picture^ featuring Harold Lloyd, the first of which Is to be shown In a few days In Cairo. ' Chunce for American Films Am-^ricaiis can easily be first Iiere. They liave many a chance to suc- ceed and arc already doing well. At this writing and accordint; to a pr-r^onaVstudy, lliere Is about 66 per cent of American films shown weoCly in r^ypt at prexent against about 3.". per cent of the total foot- ago last year. There is sli=0 another point which helps Americans to do better and bettor. It is the price of their Qimo. The representative of the "Wosti" (Stinnes and WengerOff combina- tion) who came over here a few week's ago with pictures and oponoQ an oRlce with a view of rentlnsi them direct to exhibitors. 1 This gentleman came over here ^ a few week's ago with about five ; pictures among which were; 'j "Arabella" with Mae Marsh (a pic- ture made by the Stern Film Akt. Oes. of Berlin for tlie account ot Westi), "Ihe Tragedy of Love," (eaturinr Emit Janninzs and Mia May, and other films of less im- portance. The representative of "Westi" has ahowti his pictures to nearly alt the exhibitors, who being renters' themselvciS refused to help this or- ganizuticn. If the "Westi" would have made some sort of arrangement with an exlfting renting organisation here' be would have hod ttiore cli.'\nce of succeeding perhaps with dlffer^t pictures than "The Tragedy of Love" which is more likely to pass in second .lass rln>.»nas of Cairo end Alexandria rather than in the first class onj3. Practically all the pictures are passed for public exhibition except those who<ie subject cnn offend the Araitl.tncr or provol^e troubl?f. Censors do their work with rnpldfty and accuracy. New Capitol at Soalilf- '"■ Seattla, N^. ^lirif "The House of "Touth," ttmT'i Maude Radford Warren's novel. WAS selected .is the openinr faatwre for the aow Cajpitol bar*. . ,