Variety (May 1909)

VARIETY 13 POST-CONVENTION CONDITION* Paris, April 26. Although the convention of the Inter- national Editeura dee Film* held here April 16 ruled that moving pictures ahould be sold outright in all caaea with no "re- turn" string' on them, it is now hinted that this condition may be only tempo- rary. After Oct. 1 all reels sent out by the manufacturers will be dated, so that, should the question of returns again come up, each subject will carry ita own date of release. Thus, although the renters and middle men seem to have won the first skirmish against the manufacturer, the possibility of a reversion to the "return" system waits only upon a solid agreement among the makers. The feature of the convention waa the withdrawal of Pathe Freres from the de- liberations and from the organization. It appears that Charles Path6 had been criti- cised by the Board of Directors of the Comptoir International des Editeurs des Films and, as he expressed it, the "lament- able check" experienced at the former con- gress, caused him to remain apart from the movement until "the situation was more favorable." Eastman, of course, joined the bolt, leaving the manufacturers free to purchaae their "blank stock" where they pleased. The principal points of the new regula- tions are that films will be sold outright at a minimum price of 24 cents a yard in Europe. Nothing in the convention af- fects the American market. A discount of 2% per cent, is allowed for cash payments and a further discount of 5 per cent, is conceded to commission agents. Any manufacturing concern in active business prior to April 15 (the day before the meeting) may join the combination at any time up to May 1. The renters are at one in the opinion that their triumph is a temporary one at best, and are looking to the future for a revival of the old controversy. MANHATTAN CLOSES. To-morrow (Sunday) evening will mark the passing of the Manhattan Theatre, 33d Street and Broadway. It will be razed to make room for Pennsylvania Railroad Terminal building)*. The owners of the property gave Will- iam Cane, the lessee, an extension of his lease until June 1, but this week arrived at an agreement by which Gane gave up possession immediately upon payment of a bonus. The amount was not made public. Mr. Gane will move his picture and vaudeville show over to the corner of 31st Street and Broadway in Felix Is- man's building, but this establishment will not be ready for opening until some time in August. The Lyceum, Peterson, N. J., opened Monday under the management of Ed Bizard with combination pictures and vaudeville. The seven acts used weekly are placed by Sig. Wachter. Harry Corson Clarke opened with "The Dollar Princess" at Bradford, England. April 19. The Beck Theatre, Bellingham, Wash., has announced its intention of playing vaudeville at 10-20 over the summer. MOVING PICTURE REVIEWS. FILM MAKERS TO COMPETE. London, May 6. A feature of the International Optical Exposition which will occupy the Crystal Palace from July 17 to August 14 will be a contest for a gold medal and trophy by the various moving picture manu- facturers represented at the exhibit. Each contestant will be required to take a negative film not less than 260 feet in length at some point within the exhibi- tion grounds and these subjects will be judged aa to general merit. The whole operation of photographing, developing and exhibiting to the public will have to be done in four hours under the terms of the contest. MORE ABOUT "FEATURES." The incident of the Vitagraph's "fea- ture" film of the "Marathon Race" in the Polo Grounds recently has caused wide discussion of the conditions which give rise to the practice of issuing special reels outside the regulations of the ordinary "release" product. In defense of features the manufactur- ers urge, that when a reel of extraordinary cost is made, there is frequently not enough return in "standing orders" to let them out with a profit. William Rock is said to have told the Biograph-Edison di- rectorate that his firm offered the "Mara- thon Race" at a slight advance in price to all its customers, but there waa not enough demand for it to cover the cost of production. According to wiseacres in the trade this incident is viewed as touching upon a vital point in the "combine's" system. There is practically no competition among the manufacturers. The volume of busi- ness is done on the "standing order" basis, and special orders for a picture of unusual merit amount practically to nothing. It appears from this that a manufac- turer knows just how much goods he is going to. dispose of regardless of its qual- ity, and there is no particular incentive to produce subjects of unusual value as there would be were the competition more keen.' $i 37,790 ONE YEAR'S RECEIPTS. Paris, April 26. Figures just published give the receipts at the Hippodrome, a moving picture establishment, for the year just passed. The total is $127,790, or $10,040 a month. The Hippodrome leads the list with the other local establishments following in this order: Omnea (run by PatI16 Freres), $81,200: Circue d'Hivcr, $31,300; Dufayel, $2JS.000~" and Kinema Theatre, $26,000. The houses named are devoted exclu- sively to cinematographic entertainment. REFUSE LICENSE. The Biograph-Edison moving picture combination this week refused to the Talking Machine Co.. a rental exchange concern with main ollices in Rochester, N. Y., a license to conduct a branch bu- reau in New York City. No explanations went with the denial of their application. ANOTHER BATCH OF OPENERS. Chicago, May 6. The following new picture houses are re- ported in the middle west: Atlanta, Bijou Theatrt Co.; WllUimon, w. V., Williamson Theatre Co.; CUntonrllls, Wis., J. B. Gilbert; Princeton, Mo., Ed Hunt; Duloth, E. Riley; Shawnee, Wis.. J. F. Koclan and P. O. Dietrich; Nlckemon, Kas., J. g. Page; Medford. Wis., Panet Opera House, Dr. B. Tanner; Alex- andria, Ind., flip* Bros.; IfontoTldeo, Minn., Mike 8heeban, Carl 8tarbeck and Anton Anderson; Llndeaborf, Kas., Ed. Weddle and Sidney Hernia- pen; Vinton, Iowa, Jay MltcheU; Mendora, 111.. Schmidt and Schwarts; Wankesha, Wis., D. B. Brown; Csrrolton, 111., B. B. Orlntol; Hollyard, Wash., Harry Kingston; Wappelo, la., J. P. McCray; Champaign, 111., Varsity Amusement Co.; Florence, Neb., J. J. Cole; Brasll, Ind.. Michael Doyle and Joe. Dlel; Cottonwood Falls, Kss., Martin Copeland; 'Portland, Ore., M. Manley; Pckln, III., Fred Pitts; Wlllmar. Minn., Wlllmar Opera House, J. C. Forsberg: Pawnee, 111., J. C. Manley and J. O. Harlan; Emporia. Kas., Q. 8. Coudrey; Jonesboro, Ark., Jesse Sinclair and Blelch and Mack; Independence, Mo., 8. H. Landy; Napa, Cal., Unique Theatre; Mineral, Kas., Our- bin snd Mnlynesnz; Ironton, Ohio, Jos. B. Kill- lck; Grsnd Island, Neb., A. MUler; Springfield. Mo., Geo. Olendorf; Urbana, 111., W. B. Qalll- Tsn; LesTenworth. Kas., Ed. Lampoon; Leroy, 111., B. C. Barley; Laporte, Ind., The Lsrson* Dsnlelson Co.; Cheyenne, Wyo., B. I* Bmory; Winnipeg. Can., Wm. Bruce; Hutchinson, Kss., Barney Leigh; BooneTllle, Ark., Franke Welser; Propbetstown 111., W. I. snd Psul Bchreyer; Manhattan, Kas., Harry Warenatn; Grand Forks, N. D.. A. B. Brown; Little Rock, Ark., R. R. Freeland; Canal Dotot, Ohio, Daniel Rless. PICTURES MAY CONTINUE. New Orleans, May 6. The outlook for the prosperity of the combination vaudeville policy at the Green wall, which is temporarily (over the summer) under the management of Jack Singer, is so good that Mr. Singer is reported to be in negotiation with Henry Greenwall for his Coliseum here. Should Singer obtain that house he will transfer the vaudeville and picture show there after William Morris takes possession of Green wall's Aug. 31. Mr. Singer is giving four acts and 3,000 feet of pictures as one show for five and ten cents. It is getting the money. LAW AGAINST CHILDREN. Albany, May 6. Governor Hughes has signed the bill forbidding moving picture show manage- ment to allow a child of sixteen or less, or who may look of that age, to enter the place without an accompanying adult. -Violation becomes a misdemeanor. NEW LICENSED EXCHANGE. A. C. Hayman, formerly connected with the Actogrnph Co., of New York, has opened a licensed film exchange in Syra- cuse, operated under the banner of the Biograph-Edison combine. H. Blanche, representative on this side for Leon Gaumont's "talking pictures," left on Thursday for the other side. A theatre will be built at Mt. Sterling, Ky., by Verner Davidson, assistant city engineer of Covington. The house will use four acts weekly and pictures. The Southern (K. & E.) and the High Street (Stair & Havlin), Columbus, O., started last week with moving pictures for the summer. "Two Ladies and a Beggar." Manhattan. This is an amusing comedy pantomime from the studios of Gaumont. A cripple is shown in pitiable condition bagging on the streets. Two elderly women are moved to pity and bestir themselves in his behalf. A scene is shown in the "cripple's" home, where he exposes him- self aa an imposter. His deformities dis- appear and in private he becomes a nor- mal, husky person. The women prese n tly drop in to press upon him further hens- factions. The beggar slips back into Ms disguise to receive them and takes their gifts with humility. However, when they take away his furniture and replace it with a child's sice suite to better accom- modate his afflictions, the kindness he- comes oppressive. These mistaken favors go to such lengths at last that the beggar is forced to flee, being actually in danger of being killed with kindness. The idea is a really comic one. The single point that seems to be in poor taste is the introduction of a real cripple girl, brought to the imposter as a possible helpmate, a detail that waa far from humorous. Rusk. "Dream Spectres." Manhattan. "Dream Spectres" is a Gaumont prod- uct. It is a prettily colored reel with an Oriental setting that lenda itself nicely to the coloring scheme. The opening shows a blind beggar in a Turkish bazaar. His supplications for alms are fruitless and in discouragement he drops into a friendly corner, going to sleep. In a dream he is transported to a gorgeous harem, where beautiful houris dance for his amusement. Spectacular dancing effects are introduced. The film ends suddenly and without bring- ing the blind beggar back to his real self. It makes a pretty colored film, but the matter is not novel. However the reel is up to the average. Ruth. The Xew York offices of George Kleine and the Kleine Optical Co. are now lo- cated at 19 East 21st Street. The Majestic moving picture theatre, Centerville, Towa, was destroyed by fire. The loss was partially covered by in- surance. The Lincoln Theatre. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, has been secured by VV. II. Jericho, who will make a number of improvements. The I'nion, a vaudeville and moving pic- ture theatre at Atlanta, opens soon. John Berscheit has leased the Plum Opera House, Strcator, 111., and will run moving p4e44ir«*. It ha* a seating capacity of 1,700. The Airdome Theatre Co., Huntington, Tenn.. has incorporated to operate a num- ber of moving picture theatres. The Favorite Amusement Co.. St. Louis, organized recently with a capital stock of $125,000. will erect and control a number of vaudeville iiml moving picture theatres ii» the middle \\e«*i. The orpini/ers are Harrv and Ku«rene Knund.