The Moving picture world (April 1920-May 1920)

542 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD April 24, 1920 Snappy News Secured from Sundry Sources iiiiiiiiiiTiiminiiiiitiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiririii Canadian Exhibitors Run Sunday Shows Unmolested Despite Lord's Day Act No attempt whatsoever was made to hinder the operation of the moving picture theatres in Hull, Quebec, opposite Ottawa, on Sunday, April 4, in spite of threatened legal developments m the Province of Quebec. The talk of closmg the Quebec theatres on Sundays had the effect of attracting still larger crowds than usual to Hull from the Ontario side of the Ottawa River on Easter Sunday, and not the slightest move to restrict the Sunday shows was apparent. A report from Quebec City that no actual move would be taken by the provincial authorities for the present to ban Sunday shows led to an expression of opinion in Ottawa that apparently the Quebec government intended to throw the onus of enforcing the Lord's Day Act upon the federal authorities, with whom the Quebec government is not in harmony in a political sense. This is highly interesting, in view of the fact that the French-Canadian section of Quebec is said to be anxious for a federal election in Canada as soon as possible. There is also a report from Montreal that the Lord's Day Alliance has decided riot to take action against exhibitors who violate the Lord's Day Act until the arrival in Montreal from Winnipeg of the Rev. Dr. Rochester, general secretary of the alliance and one of the most active of the uplifters. The alliance at Montreal has appointed a special committee to deal v/ith the Sunday show question, and it is intimated that this committee will meet shortly to decide upon the action that is promised. No Commercialism in Work of Trade for Americanism REPORTS from all sections of the country continue to come to Harry M. Crandall, chairman of the exhibitors' branch of the Americanization Committee of the Motion Picture Industry, from exhibitors indicating their continued activity in the movement. Already the trailers that had been written by Franklin K. Lane, former secretary of the interior, and chairman of the committee, are being used in theatres throughout the country. Mr. Crandall, in speaking of this work, said this week : "I want the exhibitors to realize that there is no commercial side to this movement. The producing companies are making the films without profit and they are being distributed without profit and are being sold to the exhibitor at the lowest possible rate. It is the intention to get circulation, and after they have been shown in the regular motion picture theatres they will be released through community, church, industrial and welfare agencies." Revenue Bureau Revises Tax on "First" Feature Showings THE use of large New York theatres for first showings of "big" features, as part of the advertising campaign of the producers, has made it necessary for the bureau of internal revenue to revise its regulations for the collection of the 5 per cent, rental tax on films exhibited by owners. Officials of the bureau now declare that returns on pictures exhibited in this manner show frequently that they were exhibited at a loss because the rental of the theatre and other expenses were high. Accordingly, the acting commissioner of internal revenue has ruled that: "The fair rental or license value of a film exhibited by an owner for a limited period as a part of an advertising or other program intended to enhance the future rental or license value of the film shall be based on the actual rental received for the film at the expiration of that period by the owner or by the person purchasing state or other territorial rights therein. An owner-exhibitor under such circumstances shall accompany his return with a statement showing the actual amounts for which the film has been leased, and in what city or cities and at what theatre or theatres it is to be shown." Saskatchewan Law Provides Censorship of Advertising A DRASTIC advertising censorship law has been adopted by the provincial legislature of Saskatchewan to come into efiFect on May 1. The new law prohibits the use of any lithographs, still photographs, slides or moving picture advertising matter until approval has been secured from the government. The adopted law is similar to the one proposed a short time ago by the new Ontario government, but which was abandoned, after investigation, because of the apparent impossibility to enforce such a drastic measure to the letter. The Saskatchewan law provides that proofs of all theatre advertisements for newspapers must be submitted to a censor board before they can be used. The Saskatchewan theatres are face to face with a serious situation. In Ontario the government decided to keep an eye on all theatres advertising in the newspapers and to point out objectionable features when they arise. The same understanding has been reached in Manitoba, it is understood, but in Saskatchewan an advertising censorship law has actually been adopted. Sunday Shows Defeated in Bloomington. The proposition for Sunday shows was defeated in Bloomington, 111., on April 6 by a majority of 600. This was much smaller than the majority at the last election, and the managers hope to be able to put it over the next time. A. M. P. A. New Member of U. S. Chamber of Commerce A NOTABLE step in the development and progress of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, Inc., was taken when that body was elected an organization member of the United States Chamber of Commerce. At a regular luncheon meeting, President Paul Gulick read a letter from D. A. Skinner, assistant secretary of the Chamber in Washington, announcing the election. The advertisers' organization is grouped in Class A by the Chamber, its numerical membership strength entitling if to a delegate representing it in the Chamber, this delegate also to act as national councillor. Paul Gulick was unanmiously elected to serve as the first delegate and councillor. Mr. Gulick paid a tribute to the interest which Alfred P. Perkins, of New York, has taken in the recommendation of the association for election to the Chamber. The affiliation officially dates as of March 4. Exhibitor Paul Gustanovic, of Cleveland, briefly addressed the advertisers on the growth of the industry and announced that it was his early intention to increase his number of theatres from five to ten. Sabbath Opening Movement Makes Progress in Nebraska GRAND ISLAND, one of the larger cities in Nebraska, voted three to one on April 6 to permit its motion picture houses to remain open on Sundays. This is the first Sunday opening fight of the season in Nebraska and is almost certain to be followed by a widespread effort of many other cities, including Lincoln, Neb., to open their motion picture theatres on Sunday. Lincoln, the state capital, has been closed on Sundays for years. 'The Chamber of Commerce, however, has appointed a special committee to see what can be done toward opening Lincoln theatres on Sunday. Fremont, another of the larger cities in Nebraska, a year ago elected a "liberal" city administration, but thus far the city officials have not seen fit to bring about Sunday opening. This step is expected, however, at any time. More Rigorou* Taxation. The British Columbia government expects to secure a revenue of $600,000 a year from the theatre business of the province through a new system of amusement taxation which has been proposed. The proposed legislation, which has been under the consideration of the legislature, provides for the payment to the province of 20 per cent, of the gross receipts of all theatres. This is an extremely heavy levy, and exhibitors of Vancouver are talking of closing their theatres. The proposed law is classed as the highest tax on amusements in the whole world, and it has been pointed out that the admission tax in Ontario, which is fairly high, averages 7H per cent, on the gross receipts. For the Love a— of a Girl. William Russell's got that spring feeling in Fox's "IfCave It to Me." To Erect a Third in Pine Bluff. J. B. Simon, proprietor of the Best and Orpheo theatres, of Pine BlufT, Ark., has purchased Main street property for the erection of another large theatre. His policy is motion pictures, interestate vaudeville and motion pictures and road attractions. He is manager of the Best Theatre Company.