Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1925 - Feb 1926)

Page 10 Exhibitors Trade Revieu? Canada Discusses Quota Plan Hull Rotary Club Seeks To Introduce British Plan In Canada OTTAWA, Can.— Impo rtant refer '■■ ence to the Quota Plan of the moving picture business in Great Britain was made by Raymond S. Peck, director of the Canadian Government Motion Picture Studio^ Ottawa, at the meeting of the Rotary Club of Hull, Quebec, at its regular meeting last week, his address being illustrated with several short subjects recently produced by the Canadian Government. Mr. Peck told of the proposal for the adoption of legislation in Great Britain to provide for a certain percentage of British pictures at all performances in theatres in the United Kingdom. He thought that this would be an excellent example 'for Canada to follow. Mr. Peck | pointed out that American pictures were < supreme on the screen, even in the British j Empire, where 95 per cent of the subjects ! shown were of American make. i "It is a matter of concern to the British Government," declared Mr. Peck, "that so much of the motion pictures shown in differ I ent parts of the Empire are of foreign manufacture. All governments realize the tremendous possibilities of the film industry and j propaganda and legislation will soon provide that there must be a certain percentage of j British film shown in^any of the Old Country theatres." In a recent interview, Mr. Peck declared j that the quota plan for cinemas in Great ; Britain would undoubtedly encourage many United States producers to make use of the proximity of Canada for the making of various releases to qualify under the British requirements. Mr. Peck has been the motion picture di ■ rector of the Canadian Government at Ottawa for the past five years. In addition, he is • a member of the executive of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, having been elected to office last month. He is a former film exchange man, having been identified with the business in Toronto and Montreal. He is a member of International Rotary and is ' prominent in musical circles of the Canadian Capital. * * * i A Son of His Father Kirke Lucas is following in the steps of his famous father, Wilfred Lucas, and is becoming the most sought after juvenile on the screen today. Kirke is the third generation of the Lucas family to seek a career as an actor. * * * Star Awarded War Citation Rosita Marstini, who played the French mother role in "The Big Parade," was awarded a commendary citation by the Belgian government in appreciation of her work in the Belgian Red Cross during the Work*War. * * * WEDDING BELLS Thanksgiving Day was a memorable occasion for Diana Miller and George Melford. The day was doubly observed for in addition to the customary festivities the day had been selected as their wedding day. The ceremony was informal with only the intimate friends of the couple atending. "When will we four meet again?" — the, famous question of Shakespeare's plays answered when Harold Lloyd, Arthur Brisbane and his little daughter drop in on Mary and Doug while the latter was at work on "The Black Pirate" for U. A. LESTER SCOTT, JR., BACK IN N. Y. OFFICES The offices of the Artclass Pictures corporation are humming this week due to the presence of Lester F. Scott, Jr., President of Action Picture Inc., the producer of the Buddy Roosevelt, Wally Wales and Buffalo Bill, Jr., series of five reel features which are being distributed by Louis Weiss. Mr. Scott calls this visit his annual vacation although he is making extensive plans for his next year's produ^iori with the three stars whose work is becoming a byword wherever action pictures are the public taste. It is expected that Mr. Scott's tentative plans for future production will soon be embodied in an announcement which will be made in the future. * * * 'FRESHMAN' HELD OVER TORONTO, Can.— Harold Lloyd's "The Freshman" closed its special Canadian run at the Regent Theatre, Toronto, on November 28, after a continuous engagement of five weeks, during which time the feature was shown continuously every day except Sundays. The run was conducted under the direction of Manager R. G. Brown of the Toronto Regent. Added numbers included a prologue, and a short subject called "Varsity Life," showing scenes and incidents in and around the University of Toronto. MAE MURRAY AND BUSHMAN TO ATTEND FILM PREMIERE HERE NEW YORK.— When the new MetroGoldwyn-Mayer picture, "The Masked Bride," opens at the Capitol Theatre on Sunday, its scintilating star, Mae Murray, and Francis X. Bushman, who plays the leading male role, will be among those attending the first performance. Mr. Bushman just arrived in New York, and Miss Murray has been prolonging her visit here in order to be present for the premiere. OHIO PUBLIC SCHOOL SHOWS BANNED COLUMBUS, O.— Public school motion picture exhibitions for so long the bane of small town exhibitors, were dealt a fatal blow in Ohio this week by a ruling of the Attorney general to C. L. Swain, prosecuting attorney of Clinton county. The opinion holds that school boards are without authority to spend public money for motion picture equipment or to enter into contract with private concerns for exhibitions when the contract involves public money, and admission is charged, though proceeds go to the schools. School boards, however, may expend money for motion picture exhibits when they are to be in connection with and a part of any particular branch of study in the school curriculum. The opinion does not say whether contracts for the showing of motion pictures in schools can be made where no public funds are involved. The Clinton county prosecutor asked for the opinion after the school board of Blanchester desired to renew a contract it has had with a motion picture firm to show educational films in the high school buildings. The village of Blanchester has just one picture theatre. In many cities and villages throughout the state, motion pictures are shown in the schools, but just how these adventures are financed and what contracts are involved, the attorney general said he did not know. * * * Receives Silver Mounted Saddle A silver mounted saddle was presented to Jean Raymond, well known screen actress, by her friends in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Miss Raymond was at one time the Colorado Women's Rodeo champion. * * * Using Spare Time Profitably Olivia Burwell is using her "between pictures" time to good advantage. Olivia purchased a tract of land near San Diego and is busy cutting it into sub divisions.