The New York Clipper (November 1916)

13* THE NEW YORK Ciil P.PE R November 29, 1916 •^^ «» da* ™ ri I SUNDAY CLOSING DECISION WONT AFFECT N. Y. HOUSES Unwise to Carry Third Department Decision to Court of Appeals, Say Prominent Film Men—Legislative Relief Planned— Saloon Interests Influence Feared Contrary to first daily newspaper re- ports, motion picture theatres in New ■ York and its constituent boroughs, may - operate without official hindrance on Sun- •days, despite the recent decision of the third department of the Appellate Division •of the Supreme Conrt of New York State. The third department exercises jnrisdic- - I tion in the counties of Albany, Colombia, - Schoharie, Rensselaer, Sullivan, Ulster, -Greene, Fulton, Schenectady, Montgomery, -^Saratoga, Washington, Clinton, Franklin, -< Tompkins, Schuyler, Warren, Hamilton, 1 _ Essex, Tioga, Cortland, Delaware, Broome, Chenango, Madison, Otsego and St. Law* I|6 "nee. ~ •. As matters now stand no Sunday pic- O ture shows can be conducted legally in the } j --city of Albany or any of the counties em- | j S braced in the above paragraph, but may be |'!*3** held in full accordance with the law, as in- i ; : u ierpreted by a decision made in 1008 by the ■':- second department of the Appellate Dl- > vision, in the counties of Kings (which in- g eludes the Borough of Brooklyn), Queens, h Nassau, Richmond, Suffolk, Rockland, |!ia Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and •R •Orange. Is New York county, containing the Borough of Manhattan within its environs, i -constitutes the first department of the ^■j -court, which incidentally has never made a * ruling on the law in question, and as a ' £■ consequence picture exhibitions may be i -given in New York and all of the counties m\ named, without legal interference. |» Prominent New York film men were I strongly of the opinion last week that it m would be a rather dangerous expedient to (take the Albany case to the Conrt of Ap- peals, thereby running the chance of an itd- verse decision, that would mean the State- wide abolishment of Sunday picture en- tertainments, a ruling by the latter court covering the four judicial departments. Mayor Mitchel of New York gave out a statement to the newspapers Saturday in which he signified his unqualified approval of Sabbath film shows. Senator John J. Boylan voiced the sentiment of the ma- jority of the manufacturers, exchange men and exhibitors doing business in New York, when he declared his intention of im- mediately seeking legislative relief for the entire State by the introduction of a more liberal Sunday ordinance. He is.now pre- paring a bill with that end in view, which win be presented at the forthcoming session of the legislature. While a few ethical culture societies and similar uplift organizations came out in favor of State-wide Sunday closing last week, the weight of sentiment in every di- rection backed in many instances by the better element of the community, and natu- rally endorsed by the masses, seemed over- whelmingly to express a strong desire for letting well enough alone, and allowing the picture houses of the city and State every reasonable privilege on Sundays. A factor to be reckoned with la the liquor and saloon interests, who It is said are secretly preparing to fight the Sunday film show, via the usual political and legis- lative methods, because of the inroads made in the receipts of retail refectories for the thirsty throughout the State, since the movies became a popular institution. It is understood that a fund haa already been subscribed and plans made for an attack. OCHS HEARING CONTINUED The meeting scheduled for last Friday at 2 p. m. of the committee appointed by the M. P. E. L. of A. to investigate the official conduct of President Lee Ochs was held at 11 a, m. instead of the hour designated in the written announcements sent out. Chairman Sam Trigger called the meeting at the earlier hour Friday. The prerogative exercised by the chairman caused a heated discussion, which resulted in the passing of a resolution to the effect that hereafter any postponements must be sanctioned by the entire investigating board. Tobias Keppler,. attorney for Goldreyer and Fleishman, sprung a mild sensation when he declared he had been approached to form & brand new exhibitors league. Keppler tried to bring out the true facts concerning the new trade paper, in which Ochs is heavily interested. Ochs' attorney blocked most of his efforts in this direction and a long controversy ensued. Another hearing will be held Friday, Dec. 1. 3 TRIANGLE TRADE NOTES . i "Fatty" Arbuckle has just started work '■on a new Keystone, with the alluring title •-of "The Cream Puff Romance." The higher I '. cost of high living notwithstanding, a § | couple of carloads of the delectable pastry \'. confections will be demolished during the action to make a movie holiday. Wilfred Lucas will be seen next on the Triangle I program in an elaborate screen version of '•John Hay's immortal classic, "Jim Bludso." I It is a Fine Arts production. A new light j studio, with a capacity of four large sets J for the better accommodation of the sev- I Ml MAY CHANGE LICENSE SYSTEM The committee on general welfare of the New York board of aldermen, reported favorably on an amended ordinance last week that, if passed, will have the effect of changing the present system of licensing picture houses. Instead of the license privilege resting with the commissioner, as it now does, the board of aldermen will, issue or revoke permits as they see fit. -' The aldermen also would exercise the censorship authority now vested in the license com- missioner if the ordinance passes. I v i I ,eral Fine Arts companies, is rapidly near- tei lag completion. .4*5 * HI }? HOBART BOSWORTH INJURED Hobart Bosworth was thrown from a prancing steed while cantering through a scene for a Lasky picture out in Los -Angeles last week. He wasn't badly hurt, 'but the accident becomes unusual because jj the press agent didn't insist that Bosworth . .•"finished the scene." CLAIMS U USED IDEAS Cincinnati, <)., Nov. 23.—A suit asking $5,000 from the Universal Film Mfg. Co. of New York was filed here today by Victor Miller, a scenario writer, who. al- leges in the complaint that the film con- cern produced and released two scripts written by him- and submitted in- 1014, without his consent.- Miller claims author- ship of "Brennan of the Moor" and "The Eel," both two reelers that have had con- siderable success. PRIEST GEN. FILM P. A. Bob Priest in the course of the next few days will become press representative of the General Film Co. The appointment will be in line with the aggressive policy decided on by B. B. Hampton, who was recently elected president of the big dis- tributing corporation. HELD IN FILM THEFT CASE Chan. Miller, arraigned before Magis- trate Simms in the West Side Court, New York, Nov. 24, charged by Thos. Evans, of the Evans Film Mfg. Co. of 410 West TWO Hundred and Sixteenth Street, with re- ceiving movie films alleged to have been stolen from the latter concern, was held in bail for trial. An employee of the Evans laboratory is now out on bail, under a charge of having stolen the negatives in question. "STIELOW" TITLE CHANGED For reasons best known to the Uni- versal, the title of "The Stielow Case" has been changed to "The People Against John Doe." Over $20,000 worth of paper had to be destroyed because of the title altera- tion. The picture opens at the Broadway Theatre within a fortnight. It is an argument against capital punishment. . METRO'S SERIAL READY "The Great Secret," Metro's big fourteen episode serial, starring Francis X Bush- man and Beverly Bayne, is now ready for the market. The first episode is in three reels, the rest in two. Quality Pictures produced the serial with Christy Cabanne directing. MINOR LAW UPHELD The law prohibiting the admission of minors of less than sixteen years to pic- ture houses in New York State, unless ac- companied by legal guardians, was held to be constitutional last week by the Court of Appeals. Jacob Van Brink, a Lenox Avenue exhibitor, brought the teat ease on which the Court of Appeals decision was rendered. Timely Picture Topics JUSTICE A REEL PIONEER One hears much conversation these days anent the pioneers of the picture business. Ewan Justice, presently sounding the praises of the Fox Film Corporation's out- put, has a valid claim to the distinction, having exploited the original olographs twenty years ago. The pictures were pre- sented in the best legitimate houses as a high class theatrical attraction. In those days the business was truly "in its in- fancy." "CHARITY" MAKES 'EM THINK "Charity" makes people think, opines Terry Ramsaye, Mutual trumpeter, exiled in the woolly wilds of Chicago since the big boss decided to leave our burg to its own resources. Confidentially, Terry, we ate well acquainted with several persons whose think-works were set in vigorous motion while the picture was in the throes of pro- duction. "LIBERTINE" GOING STRONG "The Libertine," featuring John Mason, is an established success on both aides of the continent The Triumph five reeler, which opened at the Empresa in Frisco, Nov. 20, has been hailed by the coast de- fenders as a great moral lesson. The Bur- land in New York put the film on for a run Monday. It is distributed on the State rights plan. BRADY INSISTS ON REALISM. Alexia Kosloff haa been engaged by Wm. A. Brady to teach his daughter Alice the intricacies of Russian dancing in order to heighten the realism of a forthcoming World Film flve-reeler in which Mias Brady plays the leading role. HORSLEY ACTIVE AGAIN David Horsley has renewed activities at his Los Angeles studios, after a lengthy period of innocuous desuetude, as Elmer McGovern might say. When Harry Poppa reads this maybe he will inform T. P. T. of the releasing arrangements for the "newer and better things," which he de- scribes as being under way. METRO MOVIE MATTERS ; During the month of December, Metro will release four big features: "The Black Butterfly" (Petrova), "The Stolen Triumph" (Julius Steger), "The Awaken- ing of Helena Richie" (Ethel Barrymore), and "Pidgin Island" (Lockwood and Al- lison). The quartet of attractions shape up as the strongest array of screen dramas ever released consecutively by any indi- vidual organization. Albert Kelly has been designated associate director by John H. Collins. Strange to say Mr. Kelly's initial efforts as Mr. Collins" assistant will be ex- pended on a comedy called "Jerry (not Kelly) from the Emerald Isle." Nothing like getting real local color.