Motography (Oct-Dec 1916)

1164 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XVI, No. 22. Mutual After Chaplin Film Pirates A campaign of damage suits, and criminal prosecutions against film pirates operating with fake Chaplin pictures has been ordered by President John R. Freuler of the Mutual Film Corporation. A special "protection fund" of formidable proportions was set aside for the purpose when the Chaplin project was launched. A staff of detectives and legal aids has been organized for operations under the direction of Samuel M. Field, general counsel of the Mutual. Attempts to steal Chaplin prints from a number of the Mutual's sixty-eight exchanges in the United States and Canada have led to discoveries that will come to light in the form of raids and action in the criminal courts. A recent raid in a southern city recovered several stolen Chaplin reels. Meanwhile, indictment for grand larceny has been returned against three men, who will be taken into custody on warrant now in the hands of special detectives, if the fugitives can be overtaken. President Freuler expresses himself as follows on the subject: I suppose this thievery will continue until we put two or three of these fellows into prison. That we will most certainly do. The bold and astonishing daring of the thieves, crooks and grafters upon the fame of Chaplin is beyond belief. Exhibitors are being offered pictures of Chaplin made up of ancient junk, stolen, "duped" and assembled together by various devious and unlawful methods. Such pictures are of no value to the exhibitor and any showing of them is a damage to the reputation of Mr. Chaplin. The old Chaplin pictures are no more representative of the Chaplin art of today than the nickelodeon of 1905 is representative of the modern theater. We are spending $670,000 for Mr. Chaplin's services, and a good many thousands more to put out the pictures. We have a good deal ready to spend in prosecutions to protect our investment and our customers. This statement is not a threat — it is a sincere promise. Captain Leslie T. Peacocke is producing at Universal City a two-reel comedy, "Baby Doll's Christmas." That Free Record Book The Daily Record Book for motion picture theater men which was offered free to the exhibitors of the country in an advertisement run by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company and printed exclusively in the November 11 issue of Motographv will be ready for distribution in about ten days. The exhibitors who have sent in coupons requesting one of the boks for each of their theaters will receive them within three weeks at the outside. They will be enabled to start a comprehensive record of their receipts and disbursements with the dawn of the new year. The Universal Film Manufacturing Company is amazed at the number of requests it has received from exhibitors lor copies of the Record Book. The first four mail deliveries to the Universal offices in New York, after the issue of MoTOGRArnv containing the advertisement was delivered to subscribers, brought requests for six hundred and sixty copies of the book. That these requests reached the Universal offices so quickly shows that they were mailed as soon as the subscribers received the magazine. Exhibitors Prosperous Says Mutual Man "I believe the film business of the south and east is in the healthiest condition that I have seen in the last two years," remarked Hunter Bennett, sales manager for the Mutual Film Corporation, as he breezed back into the Chicago home office to report to President John R. Freuler of the Mutual last week. "Exhibitors are building their business more solidly. They are finding the public critical but ready to recognize and to patronize good pictures. The really capable, hard-working exhibitors are forging ahead more rapidly today than ever before, I believe. The reward of merit is now coming to quality pictures and quality presentation. Certainly this makes for Mutual prosperity." In Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Bennett conferred with Charles E. Kessnich, exchange manager, in planning a number of important changes in operation to better service to the exhibitors of that territory. At Philadelphia W. H. Rippard of the Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania branch, and C. K. Campbell of the Harrisburg office met with the sales manager. Murry Beier of the New York branch has been transferred to Philadelphia temporarily. The Cincinnati offices will be moved into their new two-story building at 112 North Seventh street on January 1. The building has floor space of 8,000 square feet, a projection room and splendid equipment. Mr. Bennett announces some changes in the Mutual's sales force, which numbers over 100 men, which have taken effect the past few weeks. John Hardin has been sent from Chicago to sell pictures for the Mutual at Atlanta. George F. Law, an experienced film man from Winnipeg, Canada, has been made assistant manager of the Minneapolis branch, while R. C. Fox has been added to the sales force of that city. A. R. Patten, salesman, has been transferred from Spokane to Los Angeles ; Louis Baxley and J. W. Potter have been added to the Dallas, Texas list of salesmen ; and J. W. Critch field has been changed from head booker to salesman at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Students and Foremen Visit Rothacker The Foremen's Club of the Pullman Car Company came from Pullman, Illinois, to visits the Rothacker plant and spent the afternoon seeing how motion pictures are made and made to advertise. One of the features of entertainment was the showing of a film illustrating the "safety first" methods employed by the Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester. All the members of the Foreman's Club were filmed and this picture will be shown at a special gathering at Pullman. The annual senior and junior inspection trip of the students of Valparaiso University was a visit to the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company's plant. Every department was visited by the students and the different pi ly explained by Vice T dent N. f. Baumer. I< [ewel Carmen in Fox Role Jewel Carmen, lately associated with Fairbanks in Triangle photoplays, who has just joined the William Fox screen forces, has been assigned I leading part in a new production which director R. A. Walsh is making on the Pacific tor Walsh's first picture since he completed "The Honor System."