Variety (Aug 1926)

Wednesday. Aufi^ust 4. 19M PICTURES VARIETY LATM-AMERICAN COUNTRIES LEAD REST OF WORLD N AMERICAN FILM IMPORTS Highest Revenue, However, from Europe—Govern- ment's Fiscal Year Ending June 30 Discloses New Status—"Sensatior.ar' Decline by United King- dom—Australia Now First—Mexico Displaces Japan—^Germany A.way Down List PAUL ASH IS Wa.shiiiiiton. Aur. J. After a ye<ar ui concentrating; on piilur*' sHiCH in Soulh America, the exiMjrt figureB for the fliical year of the Kovcrninent. endln^c June 30 liiat. (llHclose that the L:itin-Amer- ican eountrica rttvo dlaj^lared ;U1 of Europe us thla nation's principal foreign in.irket. The total footage exported for lf?5-2« reached 2l6.ia9.974 feet vf^liiert at $6 534,202, according to Rtatisticn to be made public by the Department of Commerce. This footrtp.e Ih but a slight increase c»vor the preceding year when 210,152.587 feet valued at <6,7S9.786 waa re- corded, la declared value the pre- ceding year exceeded the one just closed. The j->ercenta«e of increase in footage coinciding with the 11- month period recently waa reported in V.irlety. The running to the top of the Latin-American countriea, thou^ nhowtng a decidedly substantial in- crease over the previous year. Is due in the ereater part to the slump in shipments to the United King- dom. This drop is characterized as "sensational" by C. J. North, chief of the motion picture section, with the figures disclosing a decrease from 47.S00.000 feet in 1124-26 to 15.C00.000 feet in 1026-26. Total exports to Europe dropped from 8f.000.000 feet to about 67, 500,000 feet, while exports U I^tin Ajnerlca jumped from 64,000.000 feet to over 69,000.000 feet. Mr. -North adds, however, "that it should be recognized tliat as a revenue producer Europe still re mains far in the lead." Britain's Big Drop Continuing the department of flcial states: With regard to individual coun- tries not only has the drop in ex ports to the United Kingdom been a tremendous one, but It has forced that country out of (Irst place and given Australia, which stood third in 1923-24. with Just over 22.000.000 feet, the lead with an additional S.000,000 feet of film over the pre- ceding year. Canada is second, her total of 22.550.000 feet for the 1920 fiscal year, being about 260.000 feet above that of the same period last year Argentine, fourth last year with nearly 17.000,0C0 feet, has brought this up to 20,600.000 feet and now stands third. The United Kingdom Is now fourth, while France ran flfth. in- creasing its purcha.ses of Alms from 11,500.000 feet to 14,000,000 feet in 1925-26. The next Ave markets for Amer- ican-made pictures for the fiscal year of 1926 are Brazil. Mexico, Japan. Straits Settlements and Germany. Thejie are the same as last year except that Mexico moved up to seventh, while Japan slipped to eighth. The Straits Settlements beat out Ocrmany. All received a footage that di.sclosed increnses in each in.stance of approximately 1,000,000 feot. Negatives Also Off Negatives exported rcfii.stered a decided falling off, the figures for 1926 being 7,671,989 linear feet valued at $1,448,415. as against 9.39.1,589 linear feet at a declared value of $1,894,314 in 1925. The market at)road for raw film is con.stanlly iinprovinp:, tlic per- ccntnge of increa.se in foolaijc practically oqu;»lling that of the po.Mllivo t\\\uH. llaw film.s totaling 62.721.Or.2 foct valued at $1,357,3:^2 wa.i exported for the 1M26 fin- cal year, n.s comp.jred with r»6,- 9\\.l)U tect valued at $1,270,307 for the pr'^cf'ding fi.Hcal yi.ar. DUPONTS OWN INDEPENDENTS Film Rights Sold Before Plty*s Produced Famous Plriyer.s lia.s purchased the picture riKhtM for I'Yench F>lay c;i!1'mI "Tho Anu'cl r;i.M.Me.M." Ado]|)lje Mv'^n.joii will l*e it.s film .st.tr AItho;ir.li the .'^hiil^ert.s ho\<\ the pi;iy. fh -y diMj>o.m'd of th*» picture riglU.s lieforc piodui tion. Noted German Director Has Doheny Backing ilie T..o.<^ Aimele^. Aug. S. B. A. Du|>ont, the tJcrnian direc- tor, whom Cnrl Ijaemmlc lirought to this country to protluce for Uni- versal, will not continue^ with the latter organization. Instead, he pro- poses to take ad\antage of the backing offered him by the Doheny oil interests to produce his own pic- tures. Following "Variet " directed by Dupont, the latter has been propo- sitioned by nearly nil of the larger producing organizations. Some of the offers were very tempting, but the director figures be is better off ftroducing Independently. When asked if his contract with Universal would hinder him in hlH new activity, Dupont made it plain that Laemmic had failed to exercise optional rights on his services and that, technically, he is a free lance. At the same time Dupont explained that an understanding had been reached whereby he would direct one super-spectacle for Universal yearly. ''Moulin Rouge" First The first of the productions which Dupont will produce independently is from an original story of his called "Moulin Ilouge." on the lives of the chorus girls of various me- tropolises, lie admits that he has a flair for stories of this type mo- tivated, perhaps, by hLs previous career as a Journalist. Mr. Dupont nt one time was a picture and dra- matic critic on I^rlin's leading daily, "B. Z. am Mittag": coupled .subsequently, with his show-world gleanings while managing and pro- ducing; revues at the Apollo. Mann- helm. Dupont expects to sail for Eu- rope in a few weeks where he will film sequences of the chorus girl in Paris. London, iierlin and Ma- drid. He will be abroad about five weeks, returning to Hollywood whore most of the interiors will be shot. While abroad he will also confer with L*acminlc on his next .story for Universal. Fust at Rialto, New Yor!% for 4 Weeks I'uiU Atih wiil Iciivo the (">i :enl;»l. Chic;it;o. to open Oct. 2 at the Uialto. New York, fitr four we<>kM. It will mark a tour of tho Tulilix picture the.itres by Anh. ShouM his I'.roadway engagement live up to expertalion.s, A.«--.h. follov\ini; llu tour, will return to a Publix theatre in New York. Ash has reigned in Chica^ro as a ftennutional lone drawing card for Kcveral nionth.s, going there from the Uranada. San Francisco, where he also created a record as a single, personality. His method of enter- tainment as a general master of ceremonies for « stajre show in n picture theatre has been generou.sly copied in the mid-west and we.st. Ash never has appeared profession- ally In New York. nefore opening with the premiere performance at the Balaban A. Katx Oriental. Chicago, Ash was at Mc- Vickers, another PuUIz (Famous Players) Chicago house. Ash stood the test so completely at McVickers' he was placed under a terra contract by Publix, and shifted as the star attraction for the Oriental. His con- tract calls for a Broadway opejilng in a Publix theatre by Oct. 1. Severe Test Publix seems to have lined up Paul Ash at the Rialto for as severe a test as could be given him If the new Paramount opens during Oc- tober. The new house is booked upon as its own draw for at least the firat three months. Back Jones Away from Fox • Lo.s Angeles, Aug. 3. Huck Jones Is understood to be ready to terminate his engagement with the Fox organization, when his contract expires this month. It is reported Jones deliberately walked off a set at the Fox West Coast Studios la^st week, but thif^ is modified by Fox film officials, who asHcrt that Jones finlshe<l all work required IxTore leaving. It is under.stood Jones is negoti- ating with anotfior producer. »>ut In his ab.sence from (i)e city thi.s could not be confirmed. U Sa!2 Off «r by F. B. 0.? No( wiilista MtliP.: (.Virl 1>:\- entniJe s tlev l ir.it iotvs Iu* will r<" . ei- sell Ills ruT''' >1 "I l'i\ <'r- .; n i .li->-i>.t.- M , I. ;<-nnn!< 's ; . ;it i!';: - m ' • ' • .i i p,>; t is ,1 !• ■ M iM Ml I ii I t t Ik'I it IV MC^Iitl l.t I toil. r;^;v.M-s.»l. r. <>. '•^ jiu at:.»!;. il i NM. * ; I lit I'lii. h IT .\.. I,::n:.' is »K': i<'«i I'nl llie 1 , ; >.»1 I j'; 1 • 1', 111 < • >• .1 1.11 r 1 r, ■ II t ili.t4 u ii. i.v l'^' I''I .1 m t'c ,if I ..n iiMii! '. >:n" > ..mill ; to r i: <> 1;:;^ »>0( :i sh Mvirv; fso.n "Huiik; .v!mc<» uiuler (In- pri'sfiu t\4 iiM»'i1v ri";:ine \V<^I1 \ < 1 < <I t u• (• ni< M > <Mn 11• I i<:ill, n .1 »l" i t«-'lty .1.1 \ inl.i - j;. nio\e f«»i lli^' f av itJisi- tinn hy V. It. (>. Haaking coiUMMMn»n> oi K. r>. t>. aie Hiiu\ to h.iw pro- n.Mineeil in favor of the U tf.i M.sai't ion. Of tluii- lii\c iM'«>n stories of a c<MnMna(ion of the l;ir*rer indep^ndentK in the lilm bu.sinesH with K. H. O. also named in that Ci»nnov tion. To what exlont any delibora'.ions hud reached for a tlu\-e-ply combine wafl n(»l reveiiled. BARNUM' Tims AND SHOW ARE r?^Ing!in']:3 ClrJni Rights to R^!!sl;ain Phrases and *Husiness* Reovocluctions ONLY 3 1ST NATl COS. WILL REMAIN IN EAST others at New Coast Studios —Everything at New Bur- bank Studios Is Set With Ash stepping into the Rialto | the opinion is that Publix does not expect to play Paul Whiteman on Broadway until toward the end of the season^ if at all. It is known that Whiteman would prefer not to appear in a Broadway Publix bouae owing to his contemplated starring revue that may get underway late next spring. IjOH Angeles. Aug. 3. Plans have been mapped out fur the centralising of production by First National Pictures, whereby approximately 90 pei* cent, of all forthcoming production activities will be at the new West Coast Stu- dios Just completed here. First National Is dally Increasing its ac- tivities. Three full units are now .^tive at the Burbank studios, and others are making ready to get un- NEW TRADE (XMrSIl IS ABRAM F. MYERS Succeeds V. W. Van Fleet— Retiring ComV Mentions 'Story Behind' F.P. Case Schiller's Atlanta Home Atlanta, Aug. 3. 10. A. .*^rhiller. of Ijoew'.s, Inc., has paid iTtO.OOO for a renidcnce in Druid'.s llill.H. Allanta'.s bcHt re.ni- denre diHtrict lie in vi.siting hl.s faniiiy here for ;i f« w days. IVIr. Schiller waH southern repre- .sentative for Lofw.s before hi.s ]»ro- molion to the New Vork ollice. III.h family continues to live here. HITCHY'S FILM JOB I.0.4 AiiK'-l<'--<. Aui^. .1 llruniond. Mitr ln ork will i>lay for M;u\sli.tll .\<'il<'n, the dir'-' lor. in ;in oriKinnl film .story l»v Nellan, c-n- lill'd ' lOverybfvly's Acting." Washington, Aug. S. Abram F. Myers, of the Depart- ment of Justice, has succeeded Ver- non W. Van Fleet on the Federal Trade Commission. Mr. Myers was given a recosH appointment by the President. He is familiar with all phases of amusements, the most recent in- vestigation to come und<sr his direc- tion being that of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The clearance c f the Society was reported In Variety of last week. The new commissioner lias been with the Department of Justice for many years, working his way up from a clerical position to that of senior attorney under the Assistant to the Attorney (leneral. Questioned by a Variety reporter a.H to the final outcome of the Fa- mou.H I'layers-Lasky case, Mr. Van Fle<?t, the retiring commi.SHioncr, detllned to make any Htaternent other than he was glad to get out of the ' turmoil." He al.so made ref- erence to a "story behind" the K, P. <:a.se. whieh, however, ho (lf«liti«'d to (liMcuHs further. A.s ha.s been previously rcpoi ictj. .Mr. Van Fleet has shown particu- lar interest in tho picture r'.iHtf, and hiH retirement before a final deci- .sion on same was handed down came .«<oniewhrtt as a surpriMf to m.iny. lie is to i)rKf;tlce Jaw, wi>h offire.s here in Wa.shingtoi. dcr way In the near future. Only three First National units will continue production activities in the east. They are Ijcon Brrol, whose stage work precludes the possibility of transference to the coast; Johnny Hlnes, who has the Broadway fever, and the Robert Kane unit. Kane ^lso prefers to make his pictures on the Atlantic seaboard. The Rockett Brothers are hesded for the Coast and will confine their productions to the far west from now on. Also the Al Santell unit. Colleen Moore, Milton 8111s and Harry L^ngdon, the three First National stars now active here, and the production activities of the units associated with Flr.it Na- tional. It looks like a very bu.sy season in store for John McCor- mick. In charge of West Coa.st pro- duction activities. Richard l{arthelmei*.s will Ht;trt hl.M first production for hlinl N.itional by Aug. 10, and the first Norma Tahnadgu pi< turo ia b< Ins prepared. Itulph IJebcr, preKident, and Richard Rowland, vice-prcHldent ;ind Kcneral manager of First Na- tional, are due hero this month at whi(h lime a comjil'-te schedule of fall and winter production activities will be decided upon. Pictures Making With the moving to the First National lot last week of Harry Iwingdon unit, all three First Na- tional stars are for the first time on the same lot. Ml.ss Mor»re has Htarted on "Twlnkletoe.s," Milton Sill.s is nt work on "Men of Dawn," and director Al (Jreen has started «*n his laMt production for Firfit Na- tional, "ladles at Pliiy," IJoyd lIuphoH .and I)oiIh Kenyon'.^ co Ktar- Tin« vehicif, wlil< h I;. P. I'inemarj is produrinj^. 1'wo of th" four hlK .st;iK<-.s at tho now First National Stndio.s are in full (»per;ttion and the oIIwth ar« .so e(4Uipped th;it ei^ht individual jM fMlucin^ unit.s cm he at woi k at a rnoineiil M noli( e. I'roviKlons for .idrlIt ion.'il iitiits ha\'<> been mapped out. Production Maii;iKer .Mef'orrnif k and M. C I^ev/-*-. general rn;uiager of the WcHt C:oa.it Sludlo.s, jiii- nounce that with the exf«))iion nf a f(;w firiiHiiln^? tou( he.s lu re and there, eveiy portion of tiio new I Uurhank .Studio l.s now in opetution. 1 11. I V f.tlej thi i-!i;;h Tio Ictj.il pro- I » - Jur.' AH vet and llu' w illiuKn?.ss ' uf t»ne picliirc ili.'^li il)Ulor to rtNog- i ni7..» property ri^rht-s. the Hinrling ! I'.rotlir I .s, through their general ' ( ounsel. .l<»hn M. Kelley. have noti- picture producers maUing or pro pi*.-;; Mi; "circuii pU'tuics" that (CiUiUJ plu;».s<*.s and *l»usincsa" linked 4ip with the Ilarnuni name c.\n not be employed. The lir.sl dihlriluitor Mr. Kelley upproMt lied in the mntter was F. B. (). witli \\A picture "IMi^Kcr Than I'.irnuiM." That lilin currlel on the p.ipcr for the bilUntard.i "Cireateat Show on hiarth." also h^re and ngnin "Wranglinir Brothers.' Destroyed All Paper Upon receipt of n notilii'ation of alleged Infringement, F. B. O. is re- ported to have returned a most courteous reply, stating it recog- nixed the Justice of the claim made ' by the Itinglings and had ordered all of the "liarnum" paper carrying the objectionable phrases to be de- stroyed. It meant a large expense to F. n. O., since itH |>aper for the "Rarnum" film had been made in <*ircus style und form. Another pro|M>sed picture Mr. Kelley is said to be interested in on behalf of the Uingllngs is the an- nounced celluloid reproduction oC "The Life of Bamum." The attor- ney asserts that while a plctur* maker \a iirlvlleged to become a film historian of any personage, in the matter of 1*. T. Barnum the pro- ducer can not dlgreae to Interpo* late Into the screen career ecenea or alleged reproduction of P. T. Bar- num's Greatest Show on Earth or the combined Bamum Jk Bailey circus. All of these are owned. It le claimed by the RingUnga, through purchase of tho Bamum Ik Bailey Circus. Important Point It is expected if litigation foUowa any of the lUngllngs protests against employment of the Big Shov/'s titles or buslnesa that a question of property rights through common usage and good-will U to largely enter into the Kelley oon- tention, for any subject-matter th% Uingllngs have been unable to pro- tect through registration as trade- marks. Mr. Kelley some years ago woo a highly important appeal on a tas matter for the Rlnglings, involv- ing titles and good-will. His brleC in that case is accepted as a stand- ard work on the history of the cir- cus in this country. Fred Hmhdsm Reported in Negodatira witb F. P. lios Angeles. Aug. 9. Famous Player.s, nuiklng Western pictures, but without a Western <-owl>oy star, is reported negotiating with Fred Thomson, at present under cuntra( t to F. R. O. His pres- ent contract with that firm expires next Murch. Thi.s Ki^es the three major firms, r. I*., M"tro and FlrHt National, a Wofito/n star aple<e. Metro has announ.X'd <'oI. Tim McCoy, and I'ir.Mt .\iitional has begun exploiting Ken Maynnrd, wh*).Me fir.st release la now out. Scnnett Leaving, Report Lo.M Angeles, Aug. 3. StoriCH are once more ^irevalent th.it M;n k .Bennett will leave I'athc :it llic (dJ of his contrac t and make coi'iedic.s for r'anious I Mayers. COSXUMES O R H I R B rnontTCTios'B KXPr..OITATI<»Na rUBHKNTATIONS