The Film Daily (1918)

Ulijsj DAILY Wednesday, July 10, 1918 EXPORT SITUATION IS CLEARING Celluloid Ruling May Be Rescinded — Blanket Licenses Again Expected While the export situation is seemingly very complicated, exporters may have every reason to hope that the tangle will be straightened out satisfactorily. The new ruling barring celluloid for export caused nothing short of consternation in the trade. On the face of it, business would have to cease and the export center return to London. Interpretation Requested At the Custom House yesterday, it was said that nothing had been heard of the celluloid ruling. Chief Inspector Reynolds, when informed by WID'S DAILY of the order, got in touch with the War Trade Board where it was stated that, according to their belief, motion picture films were not intended to come under the scope of the order. The Board officials immediately telegraphed Washington for an interpretation of the order. However, it can be safely assumed that the films are exempted. Exporters yesterday expressed mystification as to the reason for such a ruling. They could not understand how a business such as the motion picture industry could be declared essential one day and then have a ruling which would harm an important part of it come along almost at the same time. It seems that there has been a misunderstanding some place in the issuance of the order that will no doubt be clarified by instructions from Washington. New Ruling Expected It is understood unofficially that a new ruling is forthcoming in a few days which will eliminate all delays in securing licenses. A few months ago, blanket licenses covering a certain amount of film were given out freely. These were recently stopped, but now, under the expected new order, these permits will again be available and subject only to censorship requirements. Exported film will leave this country as fast as cargo space can be secured. A committee of exporters headed by Paul H. Cromelin, of Inter-Ocean and David P. Howells, First National Exhibitors' foreign representative, was in Washington yesterday to discuss these questions with Government officials. In the meantime, in New York, custom inspectors are censoring films as_ if nothing had happened and things will probably go on in the same way until definite information is obtained from Washington. From the Courts $20,000 Verdict Stands— Suit Concerning Belasco Theatre Supreme Court Justice Gavegan has signed an order refusing to set aside a verdict for $20,000 given by a jury before him in a suit of Elizabeth Appleton, a film actress, against Israel Mendelson for injuries she sustained on last New Year's Eve when Mr. Mendelson's car ran her down at Broadway and '52nd Street. Justice Gavegan said in his opinion that the plaintiff's lameness prevents her from taking her accustomed parts as a picture actress for which she received $50 a week and that "any ambition or expectation of great success in that field which she may have entertained has been rendered permanently impossible of realization." One leg is shorter than the other, and in addition she lost two teeth and claims that her eyesight has been impaired, the court says. The court believes that the amount of the verdict is not excessive in view of the pecuniary loss, the loss of her occupation, and the permanent injuries she has sustained. A jury before City Court Justice McAvoy returned a verdict for $2,200 against the Stuyvesant Theatre Co., owner of the Belasco Theatre, in a suit of Barnet Berger to recover $2,500. The complaint alleged that the defendant agreed to pay the plaintiff this sum if he would negotiate a mortgage for $250,000 on the theatre for five years from 1917. He got the Bowery Savings Bank to take the mortgage but alleged that the defendant refused to pay him. Folks forget names. Link thejstar's name to some success that is remembered. Reads The Ten Dollar One THE BRUNSWICK CO. Owners and Managers of Theatres Duluth, Minn. Mr. Wid Gunning, 71 West 44th St., New York City. My dear Gunning: Well we still take all the trade papers and read the one we pay "ten" for. Am certainly sorry Duluth was not on your schedule in making your trip. Sure would have been glad to have entertained you, if only for a few hours, and soak in a little of that wonderful knowledge that you have gained from the contact with so many bright fellows in the exhibiting end. All kinds of success to you. Keep it up and you are going to win! I sure had a good laugh over your page in Johnston's paper. I kind of wondered how you were going to cover the ground, but you did it in your usual style. Again. ..Success! Cordially yours, Thomas Furniss In Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA.— Through a real estate deal, the Knickerbocker Theatre, 40th and Market Streets, has been sold, and is temporarily closed. Charles Segal, of the Apollo, has taken over the active management of the 56th Street Theatre, 56th and DeLancey Streets. J. Berger, manager of the KleineEdison exchange of Philadelphia, has resigned in answer to the call to the colors. Benjamin Freed, shipper of the Fox Film Corp., has also left for camp. Bert Moran, formerly manager of the Kleine-Edison, has been appointed office manager of the new Parex exchange, in Philadelphia. H. D. Reese, formerly of the Stanley Booking Co., has associated himself as road salesman with World Film, Saul Schwartz, formerly with World, is now with Select, on the road. It has been reported that the Stanley Interests have closed for 29 first runs at the Palace; the Stanley 31; the Arcadia 52, and the Victoria 41.