The New York Clipper (March 1916)

March 4 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 39 FILM INTERESTS SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO TIMELY PICTURE TOPICS. ALBANY TO ARGUE AGAINST PASSAGE OF AHERN LAW. The annual dinner of the United Scenic Artists' Association will be held on Saturday even- ing, March 11, at the Hotel Breslln, New York. PROPOSED MEASURE .WOULD SADDLE PICTURE INDUSTRY IN N. Y. STATE WITH EXPENSIVE CENSOR BOARD. HEARING HELD LAST WEEK BEFORE ASSEMBLY CODES DEVELOPES HEALTHY OPPOSITION. COMMITTEE The Ahern bill, which provides for a trigs salaried board ot aim censors for New York State was the object ot strong opposition at its Initial hearing before the Assembly Codes Committee, at Albany, N. Y., last week. Cranston Brenston, chairman of the National Board of Censorship, which he explained was really a board of editing, spoke in opposition to uli forms of legalized censorship, declaring the police power sufficient to handle the situation. .Ninety per cent, of the motion pictures now on exhibition, he said, went before his board before tliey were displayed in public. Wm. P. Capes, secretary of the Educational Committee of the State Conference of Mayors, characterized the measure as unworkable as well as unconstitutional, inasmuch as it contained no provision tor court review of the action of the Board of Censors. Others who spoke were J. P. Holland, president of tbe N. Y. State Federation of Labor; Lee Ochs, president N. Y. State Branch M. P. B. h. of A.; &am Trigger, national vice president of the Ex- hibitors' League, and J. W. Binder, secretary of tbe Motion Picture Board of Trade. The moving picture interests showed that of fifty- eight thousand films In use at the present time not more than sixty have been the subject of com- plaint or criticism, and that the fifth largest In- dustry in the United States would be ruined by a system of State censorship, under which there might be forty-eight varying standards with which each picture must comply. Rigid censorship, as provided by the Ahern bill, was urged by two local clergymen and H. C. Barber, secretary of the Parkhurst Society. "NE'ER DO WELL" CAUSES LITIGATION. Last week, in the Federal District Court, Justice Mayer declined to dismiss the suit brought by the executors of the estate of Charles Klein, the playwright, against Rex iBeach, author of the novel, "The Ne'er Do Well." Some time previous to his unfortunate death Klein dramatized the novel, but since then Beach baa granted to the Sellg Polyscope Co. the right to make and exhibit motion pictures of the play. The Klein executors allege that the films are being shown In inferior theatres. Furthermore, the Klein executors contend that the dramatic version of the book, which was pro- duced a season or two ago, may be seriously affected by the exhibition of tbe screen version in aforesaid alleged "inferior theatres," consequently they asked for an injunction and an accounting. In refusing to grant the injunction the court held, however, that there was enough left In the complaint to Justify the arguing of a suit for an accounting of the profits received from the movies of tbe novel. He contends that the Klein estate was a co-owner In the book with Beach, but that the contract which gave Klein the exclusive right to dramatize the novel referred only to the speak- ing stage. INTEREST IN SKINNER'S DEBUT. -All fiimdom is discussing the news recently pub Ushed to the effect that the California M. P. Com. pany had secured the John Hancock of Otis Skin- ner, guaranteeing his appearance In the screen version of Edwin Knobloch's Oriental pageant- drama, "Kismet." When it Is taken into consideration that the. deflection of Skinner from tbe spoken to tbe voice- less drama is an achievement that embraced a tremendous expenditure and months of time to consummate, it can readily be seen that the sub- ject is worthy of discussion. While It may be true that any number of stars of the dramatic stare have "gone Into the movies," as we say in our set, the vast majority of them have not received the verbal advertising to equal that caused by the announcement of Skinner's debut. His career as a romantic actor, during which he proved himself a master of pantomime, facial expression and grace of carriage, should fit him effectively for the movies. Those who have witnessed his portrayal of HaJJ, tbe Beggar, on the speaking stage, will recall to mind easily the ragged vagabond seated before the mosque gathering alms with his silent, but superb eloquence. ■ It is safe to say that no actor commands In equal degree with Skinner, his capacity to enforce his personality, persuade by a gesture, compel by a glance, and convince by eloquence. One may expect that "Kismet" will prove a film sensation when It la produced this Fall. OFFERED TO FIX IT. Smith B. Hall, publicity agent, has filed suit in the District Court, Minnesota, against A. 6. Bain, bridge Jr., John Elliott, Harry Sherman, and tbe ElUott, Sherman Film Co., for $1,000. Hall alleges that he was to receive that sum from the defendants, if through his Influence he could have the ban on "The Birth of a Nation" removed after Mayor Nye had refused to permit the spectacle to be presented at the Shubert The- atre, St. Paul, Minn. WESTERN EXHIBITORS' CONVENTION. The Motion Picture Exhibitors* Association of the Northwest has decided to hold a convention and exposition in Minneapolis, Minn., during the month of May. Tbe exact date has not been agreed upon as yet. An elaborate program of entertainment Is planned, and exhibitors are expected from all over the Northwest. It is proposed to make the affair interesting enough to induce tbe general public to pay a small admission fee, which will make the expense burden very light for nil. PANIC AT PICTURE THEATRE. Last week, at the moving picture theatre. No. 110 Avenue C, New York, a film caught fire and exploded. Fifty persons who were in the house at the time became panic stricken and rushed hysterical- ly for the exits. Mrs. Ethel Hellenherg, of 363 East Eighth Street, fainted and was trampled upon by the crowd. The operator, Herman Charleston, perceiving the danger, quickly slammed the cage door shut and turned on the house lights. When the firemen arrived the blaze bad been extinguished. THE Theatrical Federation of San Francisco, representing six labor anions with a membership of 3,000. called last week upon the Board of Super- visors of that city. They requested the discon- tinuance of censorship of films and the giving of equal rights to the motion pictures with the spoken dxamn JOSEPH FARNUM has received heavy money for Race Suicide, or rather the film called "Race Suicide." We bad Roosevelt in mind when we began this Item, not against Teddy, but with him. Although no general announcement has yet been made concerning the productions of the E. and R. Jungle Fihn Co., the members of this Los Angeles studio have been busily at work for the past few months. Its output Is one reel comedies, featur- ing the two chlnpanzees. Napoleon, the Great, and Sally, bis mate. Sol Lesser has sold M. Rosenberg Eastern terri- torial rights of "The Spoilers," screened by Selig. Rosenberg will exploit the film in tbe States of Kentucky. Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina. Delaware and the District of Columbia, The author of "The Discard," a sew Essanay feature, Is Charles Michelson, formerly managing editor of The Chicago American. S. J. Mayer, formerly manager ot the General Film Co. In Washington, and representative of tbe World Film Corp., has been appointed salesman in the Washington office of tbe V. S. L. E. On March 12, at the Hotel Actor, New York, the Motion Picture Board of Trade will give a cartoonists' dinner. Those in charge of arrange- ments are Sam Speden, George Blaisdell and a few others. •Bull" Durham, formerly pitcher on the New York Giants, is now a movie actor at the Horsier studios In California. The Rev. Crawford Gray, a Methodist minister, of Litchfield, Minn., in a recent sermon discoursed at some length upon tbe subject of moving pic- tures and their influences. He asserted that tbe public Is to blame for tbe baser kind of films, and can secure good ones If it makc-s known to the exhibitors its desires. While riding In a closed automobile, last Sun- day, In company with Clifford B. Harmon, presi- dent of the Mirror Film Co., Charlie Chaplin, the much discussed comic, was the victim ot an acci- dent. The car, while turning a curve, skidded and crashed against a brick wall, and Chaplin's hand and arm was forced through the glass win- dow of tbe machine. Nothing serious, but enough to give him a scare. Tom Terrls announces the completion of a five part melodrama, entitled "The Triangle," that deals with the munition plots in Oils country. The Strand Theatre, New York, has engaged Mr. Rolf Pielke, an artist of International repu- tation, to produce exclusive posters and other ad- vertising matter for lobby and newspaper display. Fritz (Keystone Fritz) Shade, who had several ribs damaged during the filming of "Fldo's Fate," is doing nicely and expects to return to work in the near future. On Monday afternoon, March 0, the Strand The- atre, New York, will be the scene of a benefit to be given for the Actors' Fund. No moving pic- tures will be shown, but all the prominent stars of the screen will appear in person, and prominent operatic stars will sing. Daniel Frobman and Samuel Goldfish have charge of the arrangements. The Vltagraph Co. has engaged Betty Howe. who comes Into fllmdom with no stage experience, as a member of its stock company. The American Film Co. employees have formed a hunt club. Art Acord is president, and Wm. Russell, vice president. A venison dinner and fancy dress dance Is scheduled for March 17. A I.NT saying as how Bill Russell, of tbe Ameri- can Fihn Co. can't fight, but refuse to believe tbe story sent out to the effect that during the filming of "The Bruiser." be smote Al. Kaufmans, a for- mer "White Hope" on the Jaw. and caused him to bear tbe birdies twitting. 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