Variety (February 1909)

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12 VARIETY . INDEPENDENT PICTURE CO. ORGANIZED IN CHICAGO J. J. Murdock, E. C. Kohl and Millionaire Chicagoans Backing the Venture. •• International Project- ing and Producing Co." the Title. Chicago, Feb. 4. Chicago capitalists hare organised The International Projecting and Producing Co. to manufacture moving pictures. It is an "independent" movement, with no af- filiations of an kind. Alderman Geo. F. Harding, a millionaire and one of Chi* cago's Aldermen, is interested financially; also John R. Davis, the Lumber King. J. J. Murdock, the vaudeville manager, is the president of the company, while it is understood that £. C. Kohl, the wealthiest man in the theatrical business in the west, is a heavy contributor to the working capital. * This connection, it is figured, will give the International Co. a strong bid for the lion's share of the moving picture busi- ness of America's vaudeville theatres, which alone represent an enormous con- sumption of film. The company will build factories in many cities, it is announced. The headquarters will be in this city. Hector Streyckmans is the secretary. The company claims that, by caj>le, an agreement has been entered into with for- eign manufacturers to furnish an immedi- ate supply of "independent" reels. The International Company says it has the rights to a new patented machine and camera, the machine operating without loop or sprocket movement, six to one in- stead of four to one (six periods of light to one of obscurity) and does not infringe on any present patented article. D. W. McKinney is the inventor. A member of the newly formed com- pany when asked by a Variety repre- sentative upon wire advices from New York if there were or would be any con- nection or association made with the pro- posed reported venture of the Columbia Phonograph Co. into the moving picture field, replied that no connection of any kind existed and that the question was the nrst knowledge they had of the Co- lumbia Co.'s picture proposition. RENTERS PAY LICENSE. Many renters are said to have seized upon the machine license fee as an excuse to compete for business. They have been circulating among the clients of rival ex- changes and offering to pay license fees as an inducement to attract away business. At the January meeting of renters it was understood that the Patents Co. was to do its own collecting, but this agreement seems to have lapsed. Most of the renters are collecting from their clients. FOX HAD TO BUY. Commencing Sfanday, at midnight, Wil- liam Qane held possession of the Family Theatre, 125th Street, New York, for ten hours. At 10 o'clock Monday morning Qane was witnessed in the act of making large motions with his arms toward the front of the building, while a man in over- alls stood beside him making notes. Oane had previously announced that he would spend $20,000 in making improvements. At a distance William Fox (Greater New York Film Exchange), who is lessee of the Gotham just down the street, watched these manoeuvres with anxiety. Anxiety grew to perturbation, and perturbation to panic. At 10:18 Fox walked over to Gane and made terms by which he takes over the place. Gane is said to have cleared $10,000 by the overnight deal. Gane's tease from Sullivan & Considine, who formerly operated the Family as a "Family" vaudeville house, ran for seven years at an annual rental of $8,200. He had paid the final three months' rent, amounting to $2,100, and when he trans- ferred the lease to Fox this was returned to him, together with other expenses amounting to $6,000 and a bonus of $10,000. Fox pays $8,200 for the first year and $9,200 for the other six years. He will make no improvements in the property, but will run it as a straight picture show, charging 5 cents admission. NO EXHIBITORS' CONTRACTS. The Patents Co. people declare that they have never required a contract signed by exhibitors, and that, therefore, the story that they had withdrawn their demand is a misapprehension. They say they merely required exhibi- tors to sign an application for a license for their theatres and a payment of $2 weekly for that license. The instructions tele- graphed to Chicago last week were design- ed to clear up a misunderstanding among the renters. The application, they say, is not in any way to be construed as a con- tract, since it does not bind the exhibitor to any terms. DISTRIBUTE LICENSES. The first licenses were delivered this week to moving picture theatres by the Motion Picture Patents Co. The docu- ments are printed in green ink, and set forth that the holder has the permission of the Patents Co. to conduct his business under three conditions: (1) That he use only licensed film; (2) that he pay a royalty on his projecting machines and, (3) that the license be prominently dis- played and the machines at all times be open to inspection by the representatives of the Patents Co. NO INCREA8E OF DUTY. Chicago, Feb. 4. The renters in the moving picture busi- ness are going to ask exhibitors and ex- changes to hold meetings xml pass resolu- tions protesting against any increase of duty on foreign film imported to this country. CONSIDER MDfDIUM SCALE. The executives at the head of the mov- ing picture combine are considering the establishing of a minimum rental scale. Nothing will be done about this detail im- mediately, but when the present situation has become settled the scale will be put through. PROPOSED WESTERN PICTURE HOUSES. Chicago, Feb. 4. The following moving picture theatres are in course of construction or being opened in the West: Sheboygan, Wit. (Blmtr 4 Fred Weber and Leon Rottnkrant); Nefaunee, Mica. (Chaa. ■. Oillard); Paeco, Waab. (H. Pttaraon); Bataria, 111. (Odrathal 4 Blaklaa); Marquette, Mich. (J. 0. Wllaoa); Marina City, Mich. (Phil Langwell); Bnrt'a, Toledo (J. O. Hooley); Cincinnati, aft* B. McMillan St, coating fJB.OOO (Orphean The- atra Co.); Aurora, 111. (frank Thlalan); Leeron- worth, Kan. (M. Lampoon, of Palala Thaatra); Ada, O. (Harry Veetal); Mllhank, Minn. (Wn. Millar); Staplat. Minn. (O. L. Aahar); Burlington, Wit. (W. O. Tloda); St. Loola, Mo., S8S1 La Oloda Avn. (Barrett Amoeemtnt Co.); Baton Bonge, La. (Brneat Boebrlnger, manager Colombia Theatre); Merrill, Mich. (Leon Harrla); La Snenr, Minn., Tarmath Boildlng; JanonvUle, Wlt. ( Ma- jostle; Atlanta, Oa. (O. D. Poeey); Baxter 8prlnge, Kaa. (B. Angnat Behm); SprlagSeM, 111. (Chicago Amnaement Co.); Omaha, Neb. (Weetern Theatre Co.); Dundee, 111. (J. W. Andrewa 4 L. W. Law- rence); St. Charlee, 111. (John Bognrt): Abilene, Kaa. (Geo. W. Schneider); Ha/ward, wla. (Blek Broa.); Fremont, Neb. (Boyd Bnrrowt); Cameron, Mo. (W. 8. Danlelt); Mulberry. Kaa. (John Me- CnDangh); Pierce, Neb. (M. 8. Holeolaw); Geneve, III. (Joaenh W. Perklni); Laramie. Wyo. (Prod Prick); Princeton, Mo. (Prank Alley 4 Arthur 0. Caateel); Hiawatha, Kaa. (B. O. Stewart 4 H. D. Adame): Concordia, Kaa. (Peter Kloeppel); St. Loula (C. Bermeltlnger); Clay Canter, Kaa. (Col. Seller*); Belolt, Wit. (Clint Blllett); Fayette, Mo. (Jamea H. Butler); Independence, Kaa. (T. Henry); Sallna, Kat. (W. I. Price); Ogden, Utah (W. Fred Boomer); Springfield, Mo. (L. M. Craw. ford); Kiowa, Kaa. (A. Gregory);' MlnneapoUa, Minn. (Alonno Belmer); Snyder, Okie. (Gueat 4 Miner); Cromwell, Mich. (D. B. Wlee); Atlantic, la. (B. A. WUlett); La Belle, Mo. (Bd. Swlnney 4 Bay Doctor); Crawford, Neb. (B. B. Wonder); Pontine. 111. (P. B. Bobrer); Oahkoah, Win. (Ar- thur H. Gray); Cando, N. D. (W. O. Bead 4 C. P. Bletton); Two Blvere, Minn. (Weetern Film Exchange); St. Paul, Minn. (Robert C. Groh); Perry, la. (A. S. Moaroe); Bonaparte, la. (Creeap); Gtlena, 111. (O. M. 4 P. B. Kramer); Mt. Pleaaant, la. (8tlth 4 Cooper); Mt. Pulaakl, 111. (W. W. Snyder); Blchmond, Mo. (D. P. Black); Hammond, Ind. (Jullnt Kohn); South Bend, Ind. (Barry Scanlan, manager Olympic); PortTtlle, Ind. (John K. Smith); Tecumeeh, Neb. (Clifford Palen); Owoaao, Mich. (I. A. Peerey 4 Plod Fletcher); Iahpemlng, Mich. (Fred B. Price); Muecatlne, la. (Geo. Dtehl); Hot Springe. Ark. (Grand, J. Frank Head); Athena, Ore. (Harry Dell 4 Bobert Thorp). PATHS MUSICIANS STRIKE. Paris, Jan. 25. The musicians, to the number of about 150, employed exploiting the Paths Brothers output in different parts of Paris, struck Jan. 16. There is a union for musicians in France, and the order for a general strike in all Pathe's estab- lishments was given on the private report that the union men were to be discharged last week and the concession for supply- ing the different orchestras given to one impressario, who would be paid a lump sum for furnishing the music in all the twenty odd exhibition resorts run by the Pathe concern. * At Pathg's residence the public, it is reported, protested noisily at the indif- ferent music since rendered, and that arrests were even made by the police. It is remarked that the press here has made no mention whatever of these facts. A new moving picture theatre opened Monday at 78th street and First avenue, New York. It is called the Yorkville Hippodrome. Jules Larvett will supply vaudeville features changing twice weekly. NEW PATBHTS OPEIf WAY. (Continued from page 3.) he was ready to place his product on the market several manufacturers were in- vited to consider the purchase of the patents. Bianci, however, had placed so high a value on his property that a pur- chaser was difficult to find. For a long time the patents have been begging sale. Apparently the attempt of the Edison- Biograph coterie to corral the business, and the consequent disposition of renters and exhibitors to revolt, has put a new value on the patents, for the understand- ing is that the Columbia Co. met Bianci's terms. Already the Cameraphone Co. has taken out a license for the use of both Columbia devices. The Cameraphone will make its films on the new camera and in the event of a restricting move on the part of the Patents Co. will employ the exhibition machine. To those in the know the Columbia peo- ple have let it be understood that it will confine itself to the manufacture of cam- eras and machines, the production of films being a vague contingency. But this pol- icy does not satisfy the majority. With no official statement to guide them, they have done their own guessing and this is the result: The purchase price of the Bianci patents was so large that the mere sale of cam- eras (only a hundred or so could possibly be sold) and projecting machines would not furnish a reasonable return on the investment. Therefore the Columbia Co. must find some other source of income from the property. The American Grapho phone Co. has an immense plant in Bridge- port, Conn., equipped with special ma- chinery and all facilities for turning out projecting machines and room enough to spare. In the present condition of the talking machine market, this plant is idle in part. Why not turn this over for the manufacture of moving pictures T The licensing of other manufacturers and sale of cameras and machines, may, of course, be adopted, but there are few picture men who are not convinced that the Columbia Co. will go into the manufacturing end on a large scale itself. The Columbia Phonograph Co. is the sales and distributing agent for the Amer- ican Graphophone Co., the latter being a holding company and the former one of its subsidiary concerns. It was the American concern that fought the Edison crowd in the "talking machine" market, and event- ually won. PICTURES FOR WELLS' THEATRES. Three of Jake Wells' legitimate theatres —Richmond, Norfolk and Portsmouth- have already gone into vaudeville, under the management of Wilmer & Vincent. Now comes the announcement that five more will be turned into moving picture establishments, interspersed with vaude- ville. The newcomers to the picture field will commence operations in a week or two. They are the Majestic, Norfolk; Orpheum, Evansville, Ind.; Grand, Mobile, Ala.; Opera House, Charlotte, N. C, and Bijou, Atlanta, Ga. Walter J. Plimmer will supply the vaudeville features. Katheryn Miley, "The U. S. A. Come- Eddie Pidgeon, the Morris Circuit press dienne," has cancelled the remainder of representative, returns from Chicago to- her season's booking over the United time, morrow.