Moving Picture World (May 1919)

1320 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Mav 31. 1919 COAST RAISES $1,773,450 FOR LOAN Industry Takes Over Half of That Amount, AYhile Balance Is Sold to General Public THE campaign for the sale of Victory Bonds conducted by the players, heads and employes of the Los Angeles studios, came to a close on the night of May 10, with $1,773,450 to the credit of the drive. Each studio participating in the drive was allotted a night at the ship, a miniature transport erected in Pershing square; and from the opening night, when D. W. Griffith, chairman of the Motion Picture Loan Committee, made the initial speech of the campaign, to the last night, which wound up with a flourish and a total of $317,000, each and ever" organization participating worked wi.h heart and soul to make the campaign a success. Xot all of the bonds sold through the ship were taken by the public. The subscriptions secured from the players and employes at the studios were turned in at the ship meetings on the night that each studio was in charge. In a number of instances the picture people themselves bought as many, or more, bonds than the people in the park. Of the grand total of $1,773,450, $901,750 was sold to the people of the industry and $871,000 to the public. A number of studios did not have dates at the ship, but the subscriptions of the players and employes at these plants were included in the grand total. What the Various Studios Did. The sales at the various studios as reported to Chairman D. W. Griffith, were as follows : Comique Film Corporation (Roscoe Arbuckle) $13,900; Astra, $2,850; Anita Stewart Productions, $26,700; Brentwood, $10,200; employes and producing companies at Robert Brunton studios, $58,300; Bloom Film Laboratorv, $4,350; Bull's Eye, $2,500; Chaplin Film Companv, $32,000; Christie Film Company, $55,300; Fox, $38,000; Douglas Fairbanks, $32,100; Frazee Film Company, $150; Goldwyn, $40,000; D. W. Griffith studios, $70,000; Sessue Hayakawa Company, $29,200; William S. Hart Film Corporation, $32,500; Jesse D. Hampton Productions, $14,000; William Horslev Laboratories, $2,800; Thomas H. Ince studios, $58,650; Famous Players-Lasky, $64,550; L-KO Film Company, $7,500; Metro, $21,650; Morosco studio, $28,200; National studio, $44,500; Mary Pickford (personal), $100,000; Poppv Comedies, Inc., $4,000; Rolin Film Company, $3,850; Mack Sennett studio, $22,900; Sanborn Laboratories, $2,500; Universal, $21,900; Vitagraph, $30,150; Los Angeles Film Exchanges. $8,150; Los Angeles Alotion Picture Theatres, $17,400. GIEBLER. Brookline Rejects Idea of Picture Theatre in Town BROOKLIXE, MASS., one of the richest communities in the country, has rejected motion picture theatres bv a vote in town meeting of 203 to 85. The question of running motion pictures in this town — the wealthy suburban residential district of Boston — was placed before the voters at a special town meeting. The selectmen had three applications for motion picture theatres at Coolidge Corners. The Brookline Board of Trade voted in favor of the theatres on the basis that it would increase local business. The opposition contested the theatres on the ground of moral influences. A number of persons who said they would vote against a theatre run by private parties declared they favored a theatre under the control of the town. Mrs. George H. Francis spoke of the importance of moving pictures as an agency to assist the Federal Government in its patriotic and educational propaganda. Dr. Charles Conklin, of Beacon Universalist Church, favored the pictures as a means of providing proper places for men to gather with their families, referring to the large number of men who will be deprived of their usual haunts when the prohibition edict goes into effect. The voting followed and meant the death-knell of the motion picture in Broo'<line for a vear at least. BUCK BILL OPPONENTS ARE HECKLED At Legislative Hearing in Illinois Irwin, Pettijohn and Atkinson Get Rough Treatment Chicago, May 21. THE hearing at Springfield Tuesday, May 20, of the opponents of the Buck Bill before the judiciary committee, of the Legislature, was marked by stormy clashes. Walter W. Irwin, of the Famous Players-Lasky Company, the first speaker, was crossexamined and grilled throughout his address in most unexpected fashion by representatives Dieterich, of Beardstown and Lee O'Neil Browne, of LaSalle, the former being sponsor and leader in the House for the bill. The speech was able, i)ut was naturally marred by the frequent interruptions purposely made to minimize its effect. The entire afternoon session w'as occupied by Mr. Irwin. various parts of the state and exchange managers and salesmen were present. It is the prevailing opinion among ex change managers and exhibitors from Chicago that the bill will be reported favorably out of committee, that it will be passed in the next few days by the Houses. Already it has been passed by the Senate. Many hold the opinion that the Governor will refuse to sign it, while some believe that it is an administration measure. J AS. S. AICQUADE. SYD CHAPLIN RETURNS TO THE SCREEN Talented Actor Signs Contract with Famous Plavers-Laskv to Make Four Five-Reel Comedies Hi elf. Pettijohn Heckles a Bit The evening session was opened by C. C. Pettijohn's speech, and he was subjected to similar treatment from Dieterich, but he cooh^ delivered thrust for thrust. Dr. Sam .\tkinson next came in for his grueling when he refused to answer certain questions put by Dieterich. The doctor was followed by Rose Tapley, who spoke on the educational value of pictures. Representative Shearer, of Kane county, who lives in Aurora, protested against the unfair tactics of Representative Dieterich and O'Neil Browne interrupting, heckling and ridiculing opposing speakers, and representative Struble, of Peoria, contrasted the fair hearing given the proponents of the bill with that given the opponents. A large gathering of exhibitors f'-om SYDNEY CHAPLIN, the famous comedian of the stage and screen, has signed a contract to appear in motion pictures to be released by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. Mr. Chaplin, who has had great success here and abroad as a comedian and who for the past few years has been absent from the screen, handling the business affairs of his brother Charlie, has a large following among motion picture patrons in this country. His former work on the screen included some of the most successful comedies ever released, "The Sul)marine Pirates" being particularly prominent as one of his own creations. Others which are well remembered are "Hushing the Scandal" and "No One to Guide Him." Mr. Chaplin's arrangement with the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation calls for four pictures to present comedies running five reels each. It is also stipulated that these super-comedies will be allowed six months for production so that ample time is given to make each photoplay as nearly perfect in every detail as it is possible to make them. The arrangement involves over a million dollars. Mr. Chaplin will form his own producing organization immediately and will personally direct the production of his pictures. It is understood that he will stage his films at his brother's studio in California, one of the most modern institutions of its kind. The films will be released by the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation as Paramount-Artcraft Super-Comedies. It is understood that Mr. Chaplin will not adopt a standardized character in all his pictures, but will play different parts. Independent Increases Sales Force. Lynn S. Card, general manager, Independent Sales and Film Clearing Houses, announces the appointment of Joseph L. Marentette, pioneer exchange man and exhibitor in the South, as branch manager of the Film Clearing House exchange in Atlanta, succeeding Carl de Seay. Mr. Card also announces the appointment of C. C. McKibbin branch manager at the Pittsburgh ofiicc succeeding W. L. Russell. .