The Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 38; entertainment by Professor Martini, the great mystifier in slight of hand. A roped arena was the next on program, after three rattling good bouts were pulled off it was 1 .30 A. M. and everybody scooted for taxi cabs. MISSOURI LEAGUE NOTES. The third annual state convention of the Missouri state branch of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America will be held at Springfield, Mo., on June 10th and nth, 1913. The entertainment end of the convention will be in charge of Springfield Local, No. 2. There will be a vast amount of important business transacted, including the election of state officers and delegates and alternates to the New York convention. President Wiley looks forward to the largest attendance of any state convention in the history of the state branch. Every credit is due to President W. J. Flynn, of St. Louis Local, No. 3, in the excellent manner in which he handled the drastic laws which were introduced at our recent state Legislature. Through the fine work of Mr. Flynn there was no laws passed pertaining to the moving picture industry. National Vice-President G. H. Wiley is working hard perfecting arrangements whereby the state branches of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri will mobilize all special cars from the different states in Chicago, and from there to New York travel in one solid special train. They will be accompanied by the Indian Band of Oklahoma, which has been secured by the Oklahoma state branch. OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT NEFF. • WHAT PRESIDENT NEFF IS DOING. Leaving New York April 10th, President Neff went to Philadelphia and concluded arrangements for a big convention of Pennsylvania exhibitors in *hat city, to be held on May 27th and 28th. A meeting of Philadelphia exhibitors was held at the Belleview-Stratford Hotel, at which President Walter Steumpfig and other officers of the state and local leagues were present. Arrangements were concluded to engage the services of Clem Kerr as organizer, and it is believed that a large attendance will result. From Philadelphia President Neff went to Baltimore and, with J. Howard Bennett, secretary of the Baltimore exhibitors' local, concluded arrangements for a convention of exhibitors of Maryland at Baltimore on June 3rd and 4th. A visit to Wilmington resulted in arrangements for a convention of exhibitors of that state to be held at the DuPont Hotel on May 26th. Arrangements for this meeting are in the hands of James M. Ginns, of the Majestic Theater, Wilmington, Del. At Washington, D. C, Mr. Neff concluded arrangements for a convention of exhibitors for the District of Columbia, date and place of meeting to be named later. He also visited the office of the Attorney General and paid a call upon Secretary of State Bryan. Upon returning to Cincinnati, President Neff learned that the Ohio Censor Bill as offered in the Ohio Assembly had been amended and sent to the Senate. He immediately went to Columbus and succeeded in having the amended bill killed by the Senate committee, securing the introduction of a new bill in the Senate which subsequently passed without opposition in both houses. CONVENTIONS SCHEDULED. Kansas State Convention — At the National Hotel, Topeka, June 2nd and 3rd. Missouri State Convention — At Springfield, June 10th and nth. Iowa State Convention — At the Auditorium, Des Moines, May 13th and 14th. Pennsylvania State Convention — At Philadelphia, May 27th and 28th. Maryland State Convention — At Baltimore, June 3rd and 4th. Mississippi State Convention — At Jackson, May 8th. West Virginia State Convention — At Wheeling, April 29th and 30th. Delaware State Convention — At DuPont Hotel, Wilmington, May 26th. KINEMACOLOR IN JAPAN. The rights for Kinemacolor for Japan and Korea have been disposed of to the biggest moving picture syndicate in Japan. Three Kinemacolor experts, in charge of Mr. Wark, left for Japan this week to superintend* the installation of equipment for the production of Kinemacolor film, as well as for its exhibition. Cleveland Exhibitors Raise Interesting Questions Relating to Rights of Picturemen. Mr. M. A. Neff, National Prcs. of M. P. E. L. of A., Cincinnati. Ohio. Dear Sir & Brother: The resolutions enclosed herewith were passed by unanimous vote of Cleveland Local No. at our regular meeting April 9. The preamble and resolutions are self explanatory. Our members have discussed this subject with each other for a long time until the matter finally crystalized into it's present form. The committee chosen to devise ways and means to carry out the purport of the resolutions have only one object in view, thus; to establish beyond all doubt and as quickly as possible our exact status in law. The question of censorship. Local, State or National, is a question entirely separate and apart from the matter covered by these resolutions. Cleveland Local No. 1 insists upon finding out for themselves and some nfteen-thousand National Exhibitors how much longer they are to be the "goats" upon this simple question of Constitutional rights and we respectfully submit the matter to you as the omcial head of our organization for action. We know that no court can or will consider a question of Constitutional Rights until someone's rights have been interfered with or ieopardized. We also know that as yet no socalled legalized censor board, local, state or national, has been enjoined or restrained from proceeding as they see fit in various localities and we think that you have plenty of available information as to where these self constituted and "privately legalized" individuals are now operating. We think Illinois would welcome a test per the Chicago police censorship. Michigan also, per the rights of one Baker to follow his formula in Detroit. Ohio per Cleveland, though ours is only a temporary expediency operating with our consent and therefore not subject to the courts as yet. This local thinks that the manufacturers should finance the proceedings inasmuch as both the licensed and independent manufacturers have expended thousands of dollars fighting each other but not one cent have they spent to make a legal stand in behalf of the exhibitor who, is compelled to take their products "unsight, unseen." We suggest that the National Officers single out a manifestly unfair decision rendered by one of the above quoted censors, or elsewhere. It will be easy to single one out. Have the reel exhibited in defiance of the decision and make the test UPON THE QUESTION OF HIS RIGHT TO CENSOR. The police power to stop crime pictures we do not question, simply the question of OUR rights to show pictures BEFORE censoring, just as the newspaper man publishes his paper, subject to legal restrictions afterwards. We have everv confidence in you and your fellow National officers supported by the Hon. J. B. Foraker and the Hon. T. T. Lentz. our attorneys and we feel that your combined wisdom will be able to evolve a plan of action and carry the same to a conclusion satisfactory to all concerned at an expense that will fall very lichtly when divided pro rata among the manufacturers and importers. In conclusion we submit that the Exhibitors desire to be open and above board in this matter as we have been heretofore in our business dealings with the public and the authorities and for that reason we are forwarding copies of the resolutions and committee's recommendations to the trade papers and the league's attorneys. Hoping this will meet with the approval of all concerned and that success may crown your efforts, we beg to remain. Fraternally yours, Samuel Bullock. Erie Amusement Co. Gustave Schroeder, Majestic Theater. A. Mahrer, Avenue Theater. C. M. Christensen, Bronx, Dreamland and Broadway Theaters. W. J. Slimm. Marquis Theater. Committee on Resolutions For Cleveland Local No. i M. P. E. L. of A. Resolutions on the "Freedom of the Screen." WHEREAS: The highest authorities, legal and editorial, have been asserting from time to time in our trade journals and public print that "The first test that is made in the courts regarding the freedom of the rights of the Motion Picture from legalized censorshin will result in the rights of the Motion Picture Exhibitors being established" and similar emphatic statements and WHEREAS: The annoyance, persecution and expense to which the a chaotic and insecure condition throughout the United States by reason of the fact that the exact status of the rights of the Motion Picture has not as vet been clearlv defined by the courts and . WHEREAS: The annoyance, persecution and expense to which the Motion Picture Exhibitors are ueing subiect in every State and City in the Union, Render it imperative and absolutely necessary that this important question be settled at the earliest possible moment therefore be it RESOLVED: That we demand that a test be mad" hv our National League officials as to the exact legal status and rights of the Exhibitors to the freedom of the Screen under the same constitutional rights which guarantee the freedom of the press. Be it further RESOLVED: That the manufacturers be requested to finance this undertaking inasmuch as the Exhibitor is entitled to morally clean and unobjectionable programs without any additional expense beyond the cost of regular service, further RESOLVED: That President M. ja. Neff be and is hereby requested to act upon these resolutions at once and arrange for a friendly action in court to settle this question for all time. MOTION PICTURE EXPOSITION NOTES. Mr. Frank Samuels has returned from London. He sailed from New York for England on March 15 and landed back in America on April 12. Mr. Samuels went to London as the special representative of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, to the International Kinematograph Exposition and Conference, which was held at the Olympia. London, for one week beginning Saturday, March 22. The principal object of his trip was to interest the English motion picture trade in the coming Exhibitors Convention and International Motion Picture Trade Exposition to be held at the Grand Central Palace, New York City, from July 7 to 12, 1913. As representative of the M. P. E.~ L. of A., Mr. Samuels was vested with full authority to close contracts with European manufacturers of all kinds, pertaining to the trade, for space or other representation at the New York Exposition. He covered a con