Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1922 - Mar 1923)

fanuary 20. 1923 EXHIBITORS HERALD 27 State Censor Board Is Sponsored for Indiana; Legislature in Session (Special to Exhibitors Herald) [NPIANAPOLIS, IND., Jan. 0.— The hurch Federation of Indianapolis has dopted a resolution recommending that a tate censorship of motion pictures be esihlished. The state legislature now is in ession. ' The federation also noted "with interest nd satisfaction the very general disaproval on the part of the public" of the ction of Will H. Hays in reinstating Aruckle. Rev. C. H. Winders, secretary of lc federation, said that the members of the rganization did not feel that the present idorsement of motion pictures was suffiient. "A state censorship is our ultimate oal," he explained. "That is finally to be ational censorship, which we hope to acimplish through the states." Charles Pettijohn, general counsel for he Motion Picture Producers and Distribuirs' Association, Inc., while stopping over i this city expressed himself as doubting lat the Indiana legislature would enact : censorship law. "Motion picture censorlip can be effected very well under the resent Indiana laws covering the showing f immoral or bad pictures and literature," e said. Wary Pickford to Make "Faust" as Photodrama (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 9.— With herself i the role of Marguerite, Mary Pickford js announced her intention of producing a motion picture version of "Faust." The film is to be made under the direction cf Ernest Lubitsch, German director, who recently came to America and who has been engaged to direct the next pictures of both Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. Scenario is now being prepared by Mary Pickford \ s s Pick ford, Fairbanks and terbert Knoblock. Mary Pickford is also heduled to make "Dorothy Vernon of addon Hall" under Lubitsch's direction. tandard Laboratories Are Further Expanded (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 9. — A number new negative cutting rooms have en added to the facilities already availle for independent producers at Standd Film Laboratories, Seward and >maine streets, Hollywood. Although e big new film plant has been in opera>n less than a year several additions ve already been made to care for the ganization's rapidly growing business. An auxiliary drying room was built veral months ago, adding several more ums to those already in use. Standpi Film Laboratories were designed d built under the personal supervision John M. Nickolaus and S. M. Tompis, who were respectively in charge i £amous Players-Lasky and Unirsal West Coast Laboratories when -y resigned to form the company in nch they are now the chief factors. Music Tax Plan Not Unfair Competition, Declares U. S. Federal Trade Commission Declines to Act on the Complaint of President of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, January 9. — Licensing a theatre playing music of members of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is not an unfair method of competition in commerce. This is the decision of the federal trade commission in considering Sydney S. Cohen's complaint on behalf of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America against the A. S. C. A. P. President Cohen's Next Move Is Problematical Just what President Cohen's next step in connection with the '•music tax"' situation will be is problematical. He has his music department in the M. P. T. O. A. under the direction of A. J. Moeller. Effort supposedly is being made to amend the copyright law to bring the relief desired by the exhibitors. One can only conjecture as to the results to be realized from these two movements. In replying to Mr. Cohen's complaint. Willard F. Hudson, chief examiner of the federal trade commission, said: "We have carefully considered the facts, as stated by you, and examined the decision of the courts applicable thereto, with the result that it has been concluded that the case is not one calling for the exercise of the commission's corrective powers. Royalty Claim Not Unfair "The chief reason for this conclusion may be stated as the fact that the making of a claim for royalties, apparently in good faith, cannot be said to constitute 'an unfair method of competition in commerce'; it cannot be said to be unfair in the sense in which the word is used in the commission's organic act, but is merely an assertion of a supposed legal right which is fully determined by the courts; and it is not a 'method of competition' because the parties Shipman Agrees on Percentage Ernest Shipman has received from the manager of "The Man from Glengarry" company, which opened at the Grand Opera House, London, Ontario, for a three days engagement, the following wire, reporting receipts of the first day: "Gross on day $1,330 with hundreds turned away. All previous records broken. Minimum of 3,000 assured." "The anticipated minimum of $3,0C0," says Mr. Shipman, "according to the contract, which is a 50 per cent basis, will give us a net profit of $1,350 after all expenses are deducted. All previous bookings in this city through regular motion picture channels give a fixed price of $162.50 for the first run — some difference! This is not an isolated case. "Van Cleek Hill of 1,000 population, usual rental $20 for two days, grossed $253. "The Man from Glengarry" is collecting the money. "I agree with Hodkinson if you have the picture the percentage plan is best. I cannot do otherwise in the face of those figures." to the controversy are not in any way competing with each other. "It is regretted that we are unable to aid you in this instance." Must Go to Congress As stated in the Hkrald in the December 30 issue, "It is the general opinion in Washington that the copyright law is sufficiently clear and that the action of the courts in regard to the 'music tax' adequately deals with the matter. If any relief is to lie had, it has been pointed out, congress is the body to afford it through legislation to amend the copyright law." First Woman Jury in S. Dakota Disagrees In Exhibitors' Trial (Special to Exhibitors Herald) BERESFORD, S. D., Jan. 9.— Two exhibitors, M. B. Ryan and E. W. Kundert, who operate the Empress theatre have the distinction of being tried by the first jury composed of women in the state of South Dakota. Messrs. Ryan and Kundert .vere arrested recently on a charge of violating a city ordinance against operation of a theatre on Sunday. They demanded a jury trial, which was held last week and which resulted in a disagreement. A re-trial has been set for January 16 at the request of blue law advocates who are active in pushing the fight against the theatre owners. Churches Continue to Wage War on Theatres (Special to Exhibitors Herald) RICHMOND, IND.. Jan. 9.— Despite a published statement by Lawrence A. Handley, mayor, that he would not interfere with the operation of motion picture theatres here on Sunday, pastors representing nineteen churches today asserted they would continue th«ir fight to close the theatres on the Sabbath. It is expected they will file affidavits against violators of the "blue law." The ministers issued a statement in which they said the mayor promised to close the theatres on the first Sunday in January, but that he changed his mind and gave his statement to a newspaper without previously having informed the ministers of his decision.