American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1924)

Twenty AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER December, 1924 FILM TRUTH AND PROSPERITY (Continued from page 4) they are most directly associated with the public. But there are many others. One of these is plagarism in the use of titles. The most recent of this type, perhaps, was disclosed in September through the investigation by the National Vigilance Committee of the Associated Advertising Clubs, in co-operation with the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., into the efforts of a certain company to use "Moses and the Ten Commandments" in connection with the advertising of their picture, "Six Days." This, the Committee held, infringed upon the title of the Famous Players-Lasky production, "The Ten Commandments." And this opinion was sustained by Referee Robert L. Luce of the New York Supreme Court. Similar frauds along this line which have been exposed by the Committee, were those of the old "D'Artagnan" film, the title of which was changed to "The Three Musketeers" to coincide with the Douglas Fairbanks release, and of a foreign production of the "Two Orphans" to coincide with the advertising of the Griffith picture of that name. An old release of "Ten Nights in a Bar Room" was used in this manner. Questionable advertisments for "partners," "extras" and others, usually where the applicant must make a deposit have also been weeded out. One man collected $40,000 through help wanted advertisements. In Indiana One of the most recent instances of advertising fraud halted by the Vigilance Committee was in Bicknell, Indiana, in October, where a certain promoter is said to have endeavored to produce a local picture to be called "The Darling of Bicknell," without the approval of the Advertising Committee. The promoter is alleged to have ordered a double page spread in a daily paper and sold spaces in this spread for $25 and $35 which was to include the right of making a few feet of pictures of the merchant's store. Each merchant after the showing of the picture was to receive that part of the picture pertaining to his store. The spread was not printed, due to the fact that the promoter was asked to pay for it in advance. The promoter also secured applicants for the motion picture cast, collected the money from the subscribing merchants and before the first rehearsal was to be held, left town. These are but a few examples of the kinds of frauds and deceptions with which the National Vigilance Committee of the Associated Advertising Clubs and forty local Better Business Bureaus have had to deal. And all such irregularities in the motion picture field are but a few in contrast with the very great amount of honest transactions. The Vigilance Committee has a greater purpose than merely to expose fraud. It has a greater purpose than to secure the arrest of a few short-sighted individuals. Its purpose is to protect the motion picture industry and its $1,500,000,000 investment from the tampering of these few. Its purpose is to protect the public confidence in the motion picture industry. A contrast of conditions to-day (Continued on page 23) SPEED! SPEED! SPEED! The Bausch & Lomb Ultra Rapid Anastigmat is an f\2.7 lens. This not only is its rated speed — it is the speed at which it actually performs. Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. New York San Francisco Washington Chicago Boston Rochester, N. Y. London CRECO FOR RENT! Bell & Howell Cameras COMPLETE EQUIPMENT 40, 50, 75 M. M. Lenses 170 Shutters J. R. LOCKWOOD 523 North Orange St. Phone Glendale 336 I -W Glendale, California Cinema Studios Supply Corp. 1438 Beachwood Drive Holly 0819 LIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR RENT L. A. FIRE DEPARTMENT WIND MACHINES Water Engine