Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

June 30 , 1928 2175 No Anti-Movie Legislation Last Session of Congress Left Bills in Committee ; December Session to Consider Walsh, Brookhart Measures G. Siegmann, Veteran Screen Actor, Passes GEORGE SIEGMANN, well known character actor in moving pictures, died at his home in North Martel avenue, Hollywood, last Friday, June 22, following a long illness. Death was due to pernicious anemia. He was 45 years old. A year ago he was married to Mrs. Maud Darby of Portland, Ore. Beginning his stage career with Charles Frohman, he launched his screen activities in "Intolerance," "Birth of a Nation" and other Griffith films. Altogether he was in the films for 15 years. He appeared in "The Connecticut Yankee" for Fox and "The Three Musketeers" for United Artists. There followed other numerous roles for the actor, most of them in a heavy vein. Siegman acted in Universal pictures during the past two years. He first appeared under this company's banner in "The Merry Go Round" and was later seen in two of the Laemmle specials, in "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "The Man Who Laughs." Loew's Theatre Montreal, Robbed of $2,240 Loew's Theatre, Montreal, Quebec, was the scene of a daring hold-up by a lone bandit on Sunday evening, June 17, when the gunman grabbed a cash box containing $2,240 from Arthur Bourassa, doorman, and Miss A. Chartier, cashier, as they were preparing to leave the box-office in the lobby. With great courage, Miss Chartier threw a second cash box back into the booth and locked herself inside, thus saving a large amount of cash. Bourassa shouted for help and grappled with the bandit, but the latter seized the box and made his getaway despite the crowd on the street. The theatre was packed at the time, but the audience was unaware of the robery. Two constables gave chase, but the robber ran through a nearby house to another street and was lost to view. This was the second time in recent months that Loew's Theatre had been robbed. Indian Cinema Commission Rejects Quota System The Indian Cinema Commission has issued its report which, it is understood, rejects the quota system for that country and advocates a subsidy for private enterprises. The three Euroj>ean members, however, have issued a minority report disagreeing with their colleagues' proposals on these points. All the members declare that any Imperial or British preference is unnecessary; and, futhermore, advocate one central censorship instead of the existing provincial censorships. B. W. Bickert of Saenger Theatres, Inc., Resigns For the past eight years special representative and district manager with the Saenger Theatres, Inc., B. W. (Bert) Bickert resigned that position on June 1 5. His future plans indefinite, Mr. Bickert thinks he will enter the exhibition field again for himself. NO legislation opposed to motion picture theatre interests passed at the last session of Congress. But substantial reductions were made in the Admission Tax, according to a report of the National Legislative Committee of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America made by Chairman A. Julian Brylawski to President R. F. Woodhull and the Board of Directors. Mr. Brylawski was in close touch with Congressional situations during the session. The Lankford Bill, which sought to close all Washington Theatres on Sunday with a view to extending that inhibition later to the entire nation, was held in committee. Another measure which provided for national censorship and a commission to control the motion picture business was also kept in committee. Congress reduced the tax on theatres $17,000,000, which is considered a master stroke in view of the big reductions heretofore granted and the fact that taxes on Conspiracy ACTION brought against Frank A. McAuley and Lewis R. Greenfield, Santa Cruza exhibitors and/ nine distributors by J. A. Harvey, Jr., alleging that exhibitors and distributors conspired to cut off his film service, is expected to be dropped on account of demurrers of the defendants being upheld by Judge Lucas, of the Superior Court, Santa Cruze, Calif. Nat Schmulowitz, counsel for the defense, is of the opinion that this will effect the dismissal of the complaint inasmuch as it tailed to state a cause of action against the other industries were retained. The bill introduced by Senator Brookhart, which provided certain regulatory provisions for the motion picture business, and was the subject of much contention in the industry, is yet in committee. A move will be made to bring this to the attention of Congress again in December. A Senate resolution providing for a general investigation of the motion picture business was introduced by Senator Walsh of Montana in the closing of the session. This also will be considered at the December meeting. Considerable assistance was rendered by the theatres through the efforts of the National Legislative Committee to the Mississippi Valley flood sufferers in helping through certain remedial legislation. Special attention will be given the December session as several bills and resolutions affecting the motion picture industry are in committee and ready for Congressional consideration. Charge Off? by Santa defendants. The court did not grant permission for amending the complaint. The constitutionality of California's anti-trust law was attacked by Schmulowitz, under which the double damage $100,000 suit was brought. Among the distributors named in the complaint whom Harvey alleged had entered into a conspiracy to cut off his film service were First National, Fox, F B O, P. D. C, Universal, M-G-M, Warner Bros., Paramount and Educational. A separate answer, denying the charges, was filed by each of these companies. Paramount, B & K Win Brief Delay in Marks Bros. Injunction Suit PARAMOUNT, BALA BAN & KATZ and twenty-five other defendants were granted two weeks postponement in Chicago in the injunction proceedings hrought against them by Marks Bros., charging conspiracy and restraint of trade. The postponement «a> won in the Federal District Court hefore Judge Page last Friday, when affidavits were -u!>mitted that dims were available to Mark* Bros. Granada and Marhro theatres. The defending companies asked postponement until October, hut this was denied. Marks Bros, contending that immediate relief \\ .i necessary and asserting that no films were available for showing at it house this week. The suit was hrought under the Clayton Vet, supplementing the Sherman Act. and charged restraint of trade ami discrimination. In tir-t denying the request of the defendants for a length) postponement, the court adjourned the case until the afternoon, when arguments were to be heard. Seeking to disprove Marks Bros, contention regarding inavailabilit v of pictures, affidavits were made at the Balaban & Katz offices, following the morning session, by James R. Grainger, of Fox; Pbil Reisman, Path. general sales manager, and F.arl Silverman, of \\ arners. that picture nl those companies were available to Mark Bros. It was on these affidavits that the two weeks delax wa granted Defense Counsel Expects Action Brought Cruze Exhibitor to Be Dropped