Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

34 Jl/ o t i on P i c t u r e N e a s October 11. 19 3 0 Seattle Golfies Too Profane and Noisy; Curfew On Seattle — Further restrictions on pee wee golf courses and their patrons are scheduled as a result of protests on the part of irate citizens to the public safety committee of the Seattle city council. James Scavatto, chairman of this committee, announced that he will introduce an ordinance calling for a fine of $300 or 90 days in jail for golfers who make too much noise and disturb the sleep of neighboring homeowners. The ordinance further calls for the closing of residential district courses between the hours of 11 P.M. and 8 A.M. and in the business district from 12 midnight until 8 A.M. Noisy loud speakers on radios to attract public attention would also be banned. "Golf is all right in its place," Scavatto said, "but I am seriously considering a move to bar the construction of all miniature courses in residential districts. This game, usually associated with silence as its chief courtesy, is becoming too boisterous and profane as played on the dinky links." Owners and operators of the miniature links who were present in the council chambers to defend the charges against them were rather dismayed to see the public safety committee composed of Councilmen Robert Harlan and Frank Laube in addition to Scavatto. Harlan is the only golfer ot the three ! Synthetic Sport Called Nuisance Harrisburg, Pa. — A permanent injunction prohibiting the operation of a miniature golf course in a restricted residence district of this city has been granted by the Dauphin County Court. The order enjoins V. Frant Forrer and J. Sharon McDonald from establishing the proposed course at Green and Division Sts. The grounds for the order were that the course would be an "objectional structure" in the eyes of the law and would prove to be a nuisance. No Golfette Curfew Action in Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Ind. — The city attorney here has announced that an ordinance regulating the time of opening and closing miniature golf courses within the city limits probably will not be passed. He declared that he understood the committee on rules, regulations and ordinances, to which the proposed ordinance was referred, would not report the measure back to the council. "Because the pee wee golf courses which were the cause of complaints made by nearby residents regarding loud speaking and disorderly conduct have been warned and have abided by the warning, the committee probably will disregard the ordinance," he said. Jokes Going Pee Wee, Too Cincinnati — In order to get a laugh out of the miniature golf situation, Olsen and Johnson, headlining in a new act at the RKO Albee, use an effective gag. A plant, gun in hand, is stationed at the side of the stage, remaining silent and motionless throughout the entire act, which runs about an hour. This in itself has the audience guessing. Just before the final curtain he is asked why he is there. "To keep anyone from starting a miniature golf course on the stage," is the animated reply. Penna. Regulates Indoor Golfettes Harrisburg, Pa. — Pennsylvania has placed a ban on the use of any kind of old buildings for indoor golf courses during the approaching winter season. The industrial board of the state department of labor and industry, which has supervision of the so-called fire and panic law governing the construction of theatres and other places of amusement, has decided that structures used for indoor golf come within its jurisdiction and has promulgated very definite rules regulating buildings used for baby golf. These provide that, while buildings not specifically constructed for golf may be used under certain circumstances, it is insisted that they must be entirely fireproof. In the case of garages used for golf, all must be cut off completely from any place of assembly in the same building, and the walls of the exits from the garage must be of four-inch concrete and the walls of the building proper must be of eight-inch masonry. The garage portion of the building must have external doors of metal, the window frames must be of metal and wireglass must be used. Pee Wees Put on Same Basis as Film Houses Harrisburg, Pa. — Levying of a license fee of $50 annually and a ban on Sunday operation of miniature golf courses here is planned by police. The license fee is the same as charged local theatres, which also are dark on Sundays. Cummings Promoted Cleveland — Bob Cummings, with the Paramount Columbus sales force, has been appointed Cleveland city salesman. He succeeds John Himmelein, who last week became branch manager of the local office. Del Ruth May Go Abroad Hollywood — Roy del Ruth is considering an offer to direct one picture in London for Brochen Film Co. Del Ruth's Warner contract permits him to make one a year for an outside producer. Belles Named Booker Cleveland — Frank Belles has been appointed head booker at the local Tiffany exchange, succeeding Herbert Horstmeier. Belles was formerly with Standard Film Service Company. Indoor Minnies A New Worry to N. Y. Exhibitors Albany — Tom Thumb golf courses in Watertown, N. Y., are to be regulated by a city ordinance. Sunday play will be banned and the ordinance also provides for closing courses at a certain hour each night. In Rochester, a license fee of $300 per year will be required from operators of miniature golf courses. Courses opened since June 30 will be charged $150 for the remainder of the year. In Albany, N. Y., during the past week, plans were announced for the building and operation of five Tom Thumb courses which will be housed indoors, two occupying former motion picture theatres which have been closed for some time, while two will be housed in large buildings formerly occupied by manufacturing concerns. Announcement of the indoor courses is worrying theatre owners of the city, who had been counting on the outdoor courses ceasing as soon as cold weather arrived. There is no question but that the Tom Thumb courses have cut rather heavily into attendance at theatres during the past summer, yet taking everything into consideration the first-run houses of Albany have had what might be termed a good season. Putt Promoters Plan Pint Pow San Francisco — This city is to witness at least one convention which cannot be referred to as "mammoth." In fact, it will be quite diminutive. All miniature golf experts in the country will be invited to attend, according to Alden E. Glaze, president of the San Francisco Miniature Golf Course Owners' Association. Glaze and Paul T. Carroll, president of the San Francisco Convention and Tourist League, are planning to have a three-day conclave of the pee wee golfers in one of the smaller rooms of the Palace Hotel at an early date. All Night Golf Hit By Indianapolis Law Indianapolis — City councilmen have dealt a blow to all-night miniature golf in this city. They passed an ordinance requiring course operators to pay license fees of $15 a month and close the courses at 1 A. M. The ordinance has been signed by the mayor and goes into effect Oct. 6. It sets a penalty of $100 on course operators who fail to obtain licenses or close at the required hour. The law will apply also to indoor golf courses which will operate this winter. Another Rochester Suburban Rochester, N. Y.— Plans for another neighborhood house got under way last week with the creation of the Seymour Amusement Co.. with Toby Fogel," Esther Cohen and Lewis Rosenzweig, all of Rochester, as directors.