The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

72 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. neck speed, and, as is well known, the wedding ceremony was shown to Londoners on the evening of the same day. ARCADE MEN SECURE INJUNCTION. Justice Greenbaum Restrains the Authorities from Interfering in Any Way Either on Sundays or Week Days With the Moving Picture Places, or from Interfering With Sacred or Educational Lectures Whether Illustrated or Not — A Test Case Will be Taken to Appellate Division for Final Decision. Many proprietors of moving picture shows, nickelettes, and penny arcades have combined to take a test case to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court to get a ruling as to whether or not these places may open on Sunday. There are about 500 of these shows in New York City, and the Doull ordinance, which cleared the situation soinewhat as to the regular Sunday theatres, left the question of the minor shows much as it was before. Last week, G. A. Rogers, counsel for the Moving Picture Association, which is composed of 110 members, secured ex parte injunctions from Justice Greenbaum in a special term of the Supreme Court, restraining the police from interfering with the conduct of the shows on Sundays. Mr. Rogers said that the moving picture business represents an aggregate investment of $3,500,000 in this city. He said that the injunction in the nature of a bill of peace was issued under the general equity jurisdiction of the Court in instances where oppression of a particular class of citizens is threatened, and is for the benefit of all persons in a like situation to those applying to the Court. Comtesse Marie d'Hauteiives, who sets forth that she has |60,000 invested in the business and is under a daily expense of $110, to-day got from Justice Greenbaum, of the Supreme Court, an ex-parte injunction restraining the police from interfering with her moving picture shows on Sundays at 527 Sixth avenue and 1461 Broadway. In her petition the Comtesse sets forth that she is a member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church and that the exhibitions that she gives on Sundays consist of pictures of the "Passion Play" and religious pictures. She submitted to the Court letters from Archbishop Corrigan, Archbishop Paul of ^Montreal, the Archbishop of Quebec, and from Lord and Lady Aberdeen, commending her pictures. Whether the injunctions should be made permanent came up later in the courts, but was postponed until yesterday, Jan. 14. Mr. Rogers, the counsel for the association, iu an interview, said that he and other lawyers will hold a conference with the Corporation Counsel and select one of the cases to take up to the Appellate Division in order to secure a final ruling. The proprietors of this class of amusement place have had trouble for over a year. Two Supreme Court justices in Brooklyn ruled that such shows came under Section 265 of the Penal Code and should be prohibited. This was before Justice 0"Gorman rendered his decision that brought about the "blue Sundays." Alderman Doull, however, did not think his ordinance touched upon the matters treated of in Section i65, and Corporation Counsel Pendleton had the same view. Hence, the Corporation Counsel and most of the magistrates have considered that the passing of the Doull ordinance left the moving picture shows just where they were, with two Supreme Court rulings sayiug that they were violations of Section 265 of the Penal Code. The police, too, have acted on that theory of the case, and have been making arrests, where not forbidden by injunctions, and the magistrates, following the Supreme Court rulings, have usually fined the prisoners. Recently, however, :Magistrate Butts, in the Essex Market Court, in some moving picture cases, where the prisoners tried to drag in the Doull ordinance as a defense, ruled that the ordinance was null and void, declaring that the Board of Aldermen could not nullify by ordinance a State law. Few lawyers could be found in the city, however, to agree with the magistrate that the Doull ordinance was null and void. ^ Corporation Counsel Pendleton has said frequently that a ruling from the Appellate Division would clear the atmosphere with regard to the moving picture shows. A NOVEL EXHIBITION. Was That Furnished by Mr. Hayden During a Recent Western Trip. The following interesting item came to our notice recently. On his last trip West, Mr. Hayden, of the New York Vitak Co., of this city, having a compartment, gathered around him a number of fellow-travelers to while away the evening. General topics having been exhausted, the conversation turned to business, the outcome of which was the showing of the complete Vitak outfit, which he was carrying with him, among which was the new electric lamp recently perfected. While extolling its virtues a happy thought came to him, and removing one of the bulbs he set up the machine and connected it with the current used for lighting the Pullman; with a little adjusting everything was ready for the exhibition, and those gathered about, much to their surprise, be it said, were treated to a first-class moving picture show, the same being furnished while traveling at the rate of sixty miles an hour. Is there reallj' anything impossible in this twentieth century of ours? If so. The World would be glad to hear about it. SULTAN LIKES CINEMATOGRAPH. The Ruler of Turkey Is a Great Lover of Music Being an Admirer of the Italian Opera — Likes the Talking Machine and the Cinematograph. It ,is not perhaps generally known that the Sultan of Turkey is a great lover of music, especially the modern Italian school. Signora Elvira Ciampi, a Roman opera singer of note, recently appeared in the Padisha's harem before a small audience including Abdul Hamid himself, his first Sultana and his favorite daughter. "Be saluted, 0 brilliant star," was the Turkish form of greeting that met the artist on being ushered into a charming apartment, hung with blue tapestry and in which a grand piano was placed. The director of the palace band, a Spaniard named Aranda Pasha, acted as accompanist. After the performance the Sultana, to show her pleasure, took from her dress a valuable brooch and presented it with a smile to the singer. The Sultan himself talked with much animation on musical subjects, and finally the Imperal party withdrew, leaving Signora Ciampi iu some confusion, an attendant having pressed into her hand a red silk purse containing her fee in new gold pieces. The Turks of the present generation are great theatregoers. There are several playhouses kept going all the year round in the Ottoman capital. Most frequented are at present the cinematograph shows, which have caught the Turkish popular fancy in an extraordinary manner. PICTURE POST CAEDS FOE OEPHANS. Souvenir post cards received at the dead letter oflBce, not returnable to senders because of defective addresses and which are unobjectionable in character, shall, according to a recent order of Postmaster-General Meyer, be sent to the orphan asylums and children's homes in and adjacent to Washington City. A total of between 40,000 and 60,000 of these cards are said to be received at the dead letter oflice daily. According to these figures, the department ought to be able to distribute this benevolence among all the orphan asyhims in the United States and still keep the children pretty well supplied with picture post cards. The Best Value to Retail at I 0 C Fr. HOTZ HARMONICAS This is the finest instrument that has ever been retailed for lOc, and allo'ws the dealer over 40 per cent, profit. Not a toy, but a perfect harmonica. No. 01. THE SPORT. -Has 10 sinulc holes, 20 recd.s, polished covers and plates, is in perfect tune and offered in a neat hinned hox. All instruments are of uniform quahty, and the ver> licst value thai can be secured for the money. The entire line of Fr. HOTZ HARMONICAS is ma<lc up of profitable and exceptional inducements such as this. The styles retail from 10c. up to $1.00. If your jobber cnnnot supply you we will refer you to one who can. No. 01 Send us a postal for a catalogue. It will be interesting Fr. HOTZ, New York Office, 475 Broadway. Ilnrc Factory — Knittermany