Motography (Jan-Jun 1913)

March 1, 1913. MOTOGRAPHY 159 The film game is like an old soldiers' home. When you get in you stay till the undertaker comes. I had forgotten all about Bill Steiner, before he bobbed up with a law suit involving all the big fellows and a million of dollars. And to think he did it with office fixtures which are listed at only $200! ^ ^ 5{c The trouble that has followed one J. H. Brand, alleged swindler in the name of the New York School of Acting at Los Angeles, seems to rest largely upon his disinclination to tell any of the incidents of his past life. Refer to the blue book of the Bureau of Criminal Identification. The guy who will filch money from the idle, love-lorn, pretending to teach the art of pantomime acting, is a bad egg. The Cleveland censors saw one hundred and thirtythree reels of films last month. They succeeded in cutting out nine feet. There's your argument in a nut shell. If you think the manufacturer hasn't learned his business you are farther out than I am. While I am still on the outside, I have been inside once or twice and I never attempt telling the insider anything about his game. He knows. Go back over the record and find a place where this book says the maker of films doesn't know and I'll buy. And to think that Ohio is trying to impose a tax of a dollar a reel — for the local censor. Who started that foolish proposition, anyway? At any rate talking pictures should satisfy the contention of mutes that the lip action isn't faked. H* 5fc *H Dick Rowland of Pittsburgh has followed in the footsteps of Max Lewis and "got 'em an injunction." It appears that Rowland has several bundles of G. F. stock — evidence of good faith transferred when he let go of his end of the old Pittsburgh Calcium Light and Film Company. I never knew before that preferred stock could do that trick, but I live to learn. With little knowledge of the facts, it is worth noting that G. F. prospers and whatever merit may attend the case, some figures are available as a result of Mr. Rowland's affidavits. In addition to restraining the directors of G. F. from dividing a surplus of $200,000 plus, alleged to be rusting in the vaults right now, Rowland insists that $844,463.95 be returned. It is stipulated that this latter amount was paid out between May and November last year to these makers, as follows: Biograph, $83,926.08; Edison, $98,217.04; Essanay, $81,853.36; Kalem, $72,666.64; Kleine, $61,846.86; Lubin, $81,096.50; Melies, $25,186.87; Pathe, $131,972.73; Selig, $87,762.41; Vitagraph, $119,935.46. These figures are helpful in emphasizing the importance of the industry. The idea that a camera man with a camera is about all that is needed to make film is being rapidly dissipated. A trip around the circle will show the over-zealous that film-making and marketing constitutes an industry of immensity; involves the handling of tremendous sums and has for its purpose, clean-minded, wholesome entertainment for millions and at the lowest possible price. It does beat the band what a nickel will do. often than they formerly did. There have been many additions to the congregation since last November. The reason is — moving pictures. Immediately after the service on Sunday night the church is darkened and then on a screen behind the pulpit the film actors work out some historical drama, or scenes from this or foreign countries pass in review before the congregation. On that night the exhibition is free, but on Friday night a small admission is charged. Then, however, the young wards of state institutions are admitted free. To a stranger the effect is somewhat startling. On entering the church one of the first things that strikes his attention is the red light exit signs, similar to those seen in theaters and moving picture shows, which are placed over all of the doors. Next the large proportion of children present is noticed. The big screen which at first seems so out of place in such surroundings, also claims notice. But usually the stranger returns, and the films have fulfilled another of their varied uses. Pictures Feature of Columbus Church No Sunday or Friday night is too stormy or disagreeable for the children who live in the vicinity of the Eastwood Congregational Church, Twenty-first street, near Broad street, Columbus, Ohio, to attend the services there, and the grownups, too, miss the services far les* Canada's Exhibitors Form League Canada now has a banded association of motion picture men who intend to see to it that their rights are not trespassed upon and that the members work together for the general good of all. The association was formed in Saskatoon on Sunday, February 16, and the gathering of exhibitors was an enthusiastic one. The afternoon session of the convention was held in the Strand theater and in the evening a banquet was given at the King George hotel. It was the proposed three hundred dollar tax against picture house owners, that brought the Saskatchewan exhibitors together to fight the injustice, which, to the smaller exhibitors, would mean going out of business. The officers chosen for the association are : President, R. H. Bertrand, Saskatoon ; vice-president, Charles E. Ellis, Moose Jaw; secretary-treasurer, J. A. Strieker, Saskatoon ; executive, A. I. Mclvar, Regina ; W. L. McBride, Prince Albert; F. G. Bailey, Humboldt; Rev. A. E. Thompson, Grandora; W. C. Clark, Moose Jaw; T. S. Cavanagh, Saskatoon. A course of action was decided upon by the attending exhibitors which will militate against the action taken by the government. Many speakers were present at the meeting in the evening which was most successful and it may also be added quite in keeping with both the spirit of the occasion and the day on which it was held. For the most part the cause of their gathering together was ignored and the various aspects of the moving picture industry dwelt upon. Meyer Cohen, who acted as toastmaster, briefly told of the beginning of the organization and the reasons for its formation. The local exhibitors had started it and secured ready support from outside motion picture men. Many obstacles had been done away with and the result was that they now had an organization on the proper lines which would be permanent. The Rev. Alfred E. Thompson of Grandora was the first speaker and he took up the motion picture industry from the point of view of its educational value and moral uplift. Mr. Thompson is in a peculiar situation. To secure enough funds to build a church he is running a circuit all his own, between Grandora, Vanscoy and Asquith. He is showing pictures all the time in theaters in the three