The Film Daily (1918)

Z^B&ADSTREET of FILHDOM jfeRKOCHIZED AUTHORITY VOL. VL No. 78 Thursday, December 26. 1918 Price s Cents Sunday Opening To be Fought For by Exhibitors at Legislature. Albany, N. Y. — With the announcement that the question of the legality of Sunday motion pictures will be submitted to the Court of Appeals, also comes the statement that a bill will be drafted and introduced in the Legislature next month authorizing the exhibition of motion pictures in any city of the state. Sidney M. Cohen, president of the State organization of motion picture exhibitors declares that their organization will use every effort to pass a bill for statewide legislation on the subject, maintaining that the only fair method is one which will apply to every city in the State. It is said that more than 80 per cent of the members of the legislature have signified their intentions of supporting a Sunday motion picture bill should it be introduced in the Legislature at the coming session. George Roberts manager of the Hudson theater says that Albany is the only city in New York State without Sunday shows. In the Capitol District, Schenectady has opened on Sundays after a long struggle and have been going about two weeks. Troy and Amsterdam have had Sunday movies for more than a year. "We feel that whatever is right for one city should be so for other cities in the State." said Mr. Roberts. Pathe's New Exchange. Albany, N. Y. — Pathe Exchange has leased a large building on North Pearl Street which will be converted into one of the most up to date exchanges in the country. B. M. Moran the Albany manager of Pathe said that their new headquarters will be equipped with every essential convenience for the motion picture exchange business, including a large projection room. The company also will construct a large vault in the rear of the building for storage of films. Foreign Sales Reported. Robertson Cole announce the sale of the Warren Kerrigan Productions made for Jesse D. Hampton, for the United Kingdom, Asia, Burma and Ceylon. Also "The Woman Eternal" and "Nine Tenths of the Law" for Burma, India and Ceylon. Worsley to Direct Alma Rubens. Wallace Worsley has been engaged to direct Alma Rubens in "Diana of the Green Van" to be distributed by Robertson-Cole. Clyde De Vinna will be the cameraman. Universal-Jewel Exchangemen Here. Joseph Schnitzer, Central states district exchange manager for Universal, J. H. Calvert, manager of the Omaha Exchange, S. J. Goldman, Jewel Manager at Chicago, V. R. Carrick, Philadelphia manager and Mr. Spry of the Boston exchange are in New York for a conference with Universal executives regarding the Jewel production "TinHeart of Humanity" and its distribution throughout the country. Arranges for Showing Harry Garson Here to Secure Theater For "Unpardonable Sin." Harry Garson who is in New York arranging the details for the marketing of the iwo Blanche Sweet pictures "The Unpardonable Sin" and "The Hushed Hour" goes west to-morrow. Arrangements are being made for the initial showing of "The Unpardonable Sin" New Year's week in New York and in Los Angeles at the same time. Both these films were directed by Marshall Neilan. It is rumored that George Eitzmurice until now director for Fannie Ward and Allan Dwan, Fairbank's former director have signed up with the Garson organization, ft is understood that no definite assignment has been given George Fitzmaurice but that Dwan will direct the Clara Kimball Young productions. Nothing could be secured at the Garson office in confirmation or denial of the fact that Miss Young had severed connections with Select. The latter company claims to have Miss Young under a four year's contract. At the present time, Marshall Neilan is directing Mary Pickford in "Daddy Long Legs." Baby Marie Kept Busy. Baby Marie Osborne, Pathe's six year old star is visiting New York for the first time. On her return trip to California she will visit thirty exchanges and make pergonal appearances at twenty-four release houses in as many cities. Yesterday, accompanied by 1,000 kiddies and a Pathe weekly cameraman, she sailed on the Leviathan out to meet the homecoming fleet. New Ascher House Added to Big Chain — Other Chicago Happenings. Chicago — Ascher brothers are about to add the seventeenth amusement place to their string of theaters. They will erect a $250,000 moving picture theater at the northwest corner of Commercial Ave. and Ninety-second St., South Chicago. The property was leased from Mrs. Frederick K. Lane for a term of 23 vears, from Jan. 1, 1919 at a total rental of $264 500 or $11,500 a year. The lot is 105x196 feet and is occu pied in part at present by a three storj store and office building. The theater will cover the balance of the property. The lessees have found themselves to erect the theater within two years after peace has been declared. Christmas week witnessed the opening of two new moving picture theaters. The Randolph, Jones, Linick & Schaefer's hands, line "loop" theater threw open its doors last Monday. The picture house, which is next door to the Colnial on Randolph Street, and just off of State St. is of steel and brick construction. Jt seats 1,100 and presents one of the prettiest interiors in the country. Louis J. Jones is in charge of the new house. Luhliner & Trinz also opened a beautiful new house at 2418 W. Madison St. The Censor Commission held an interesting session on Friday at which James R. Quirk, editor of Photoplay and Samuel Atkinson, an Evanston exhibitor gave their views on the needs of the city of Chicago in the way of a censor board. The committee took their suggestions under advisement. Adolph Zukor. together with his son Eugene and daughter Mildred, are spending the Christmas holidays in Chicago with relatives of Mr. Zukor. To-day wlil be Mr. and Mrs. Zukor's twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and they will celebrate the occasion at the home of Louis Deutsch, on Michigan Ave. Hoffman Gets Gaumont For New York. M. H. Hoffman announces the purchase of the Gaumont News and Graphic from the Gaumont Film Corp. for Greater New York, and Northern New Jersey. They will be released regularly starting January I.