Efforts of Firms to Have Products Mentioned or Displayed in Films Motion picture producers have been selling out the exhibitors to commercial advertisers for the past six months and must stop the practice at once or face court action for violation of contract says an American writer.
This was the ultimatum hurled recently at the motion picture producers and distributors, comprising all major film-making groups, by showman throughout the United States, Exhibitors insist that acceptance of money on the part of the producers of motion pictures for direct or indirect sales messages from national advertisers is a violation of a long-established Hays office code. Further, they assert, acceptance of such advertising is not only undermining the entertainment value of motion pictures, but is a flagrant attempt to usurp' trading powers that do not belong to the producers.
"Our screens are owned and controlled by us," declared a prominent chain theatre operator, "and no producer has the right by practice or law to use them for advertising purposes. If money is derived from such deals, it rightfully belongs to us, "But exhibitors have no intention of turning their theatres or the pictures they show over to advertisers. Further, we intend to see that producers live up to their obligations as set forth in our contracts."
Since January 1, the number of thovie studio lobbyists representing big advertising agencies in Hollywood has almost doubled, and a theek on pictures released during the first six months of the year in-dictates clearly their overtures have been meeting with some success.
"Scotch and Soda"
The extent of the ad men's. campaigning is reflected in an incident of last, winter, when the representative of a certain liquor group des-conded on the Hollywood colony with the avowed determination to induce film makers to put a check on repeated references to "Scotch and soda" in barroom and cocktail party sequences.
Sales of rye, bourbon and other drinks were slipping, it was declared, because of the tremendous indirect plugging given to Scotch on the screen.
There have been many recent conspicuous examples of bad taste on the part of greedy producers and employes in accepting ad pay-offs, some so boldly obvious that audiences have tittered audibly over them. No commodity escaped. Stoves, ice boxes, carpet sweepers ande vacuum cleaners, household goods, foods; drugs—everything that has any sales possibility now seems to be finding a way into movies via the greased palm.
In a picture released by a major studio recently, the leading male character of the story collapsed in death beneath a huge poster advertise ing a well known brand of candy. Two children were discussing automobiles in a scene and one said, "My daddy owns a (naming the make of the car) because it's best."
One big city hotel is said to Have paid a studio employee a large sum in "due bills" to have its name mentioned in a line of dialogue. Steamship lines are reported offering free transportation for boosting ocean travel, and two agents have a standing offer of a case of whisky to any studio employee who can get a bottle displayed showing the brand label.
The recent arrival in Hollywood of Will Hays from New York and numerous conferences by him and his staff with production and publicity executives of the various studios are indications that the screen's governing body may actually get down to business on a serious attempt to rid the industry of a grave menace Carnival Proposed Plans are being formulated by the management of the cool Pavillion Cafe and Amusement Centre for ai gala three-day carnival period which, it is stated, will be quite different from the usual summer carnivals. For one thing a monster floor show is tanned, in addition to which there Sill be entertainment in the garden proper, Various games of skil, special prizes and contests wit Gmeluded. Every Tuesday night is Wee Golf Bank Night, an occasion on which cash prizes are awarded to the who hold wee golf, concerts, dinner offered. Music by Nina "Three Blind Mice" 5 criticized as a "3-star" film, this comedy romance which opens the h today, should the most discriminating—Loretra Young, Joel McCrea, wid Niven and Stuart Erwin.
"Dangerous to Know"
Current at the Nanking, this film is based on Edgar Wallace's "On the Spot." Among the players are Akim Tamirof, Gail Patrick, Anna May Wong and Lloyd Nolan, eT Walter Cameron, who set the styles Atlantic Ocean An enterprising place of showman-r screen he-men 32 years ago, when|ship that deserves recognition is the he became filmland's first hero in] feat accomplished by the Fox Movie-"The Great Train Robbery," first tone News in getting here at record story-telling picture ever made, is go- speed the moving picture account of ing to return to motion pictures. the visit to Paris of King George and Cameron was signed up for a role Queen Elizabeth. The film ys flown in David O. Selznick's next produc-|PY the pick-a-back plane acres the tion, "Made for Each Other' whicn Atlantic in 24 hours, was printer and shown to Lowell Thomas for his will ce-star Carole Lombard) and James Stewart. It will be his first news comment, and then, 24 hours film part, save for occasional work as later, was on the transcontinental a long-distance double in riding plane on its way to San Francisco to scenes, since he retired from thejmake the Pacific hop. Included in flickers in 1922.
Long before the public ever knew there was such a thing as a star, Cameron was contributing to motion picture history. In "The Great Train Robbery" he was the sheriff. This was the film that started the motion picture industry on its way to billion dollar proportions. It changed films from a freak and curiosity to the world's leading medium of dramatic entertainment, Now 69 years old, Cameron makes a business of renting horses, carriages and similar items for motion pictures, this reel are the first pictures of Mr. Corrigan's arrival in Dublin.
The film will be shown at the Grand in connection with "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.