The New York Clipper (December 1916)

32 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER December 6, 1916 PENN. CENSORS BAN SCREEN BURGLAR OTHER NEW RULES AMAZE MFRS. The Pennsylvania State Board of Cen- sors, noted in the past for curious rulings on screen manners and morals, issued an announcement Dec. 1 which completely eclipses anything they have yet attempted in the censorial line. The latest ukase of the film solons In effect declares, here- after motion picture plays containing the characters of burglars, dope fiends and prize fighters will be summarily banned from exhibition in the sacred precincts of the Keystone State. Furthermore photo plays with heroines tied to railroad tracks bravely awaiting destruction beneath the wheels of the onrushlng limited, are also cited in the announcement as undesirable and will be entered under the' rather lengthy list of "forbidden scenes." The board made a sweeping negative decision on fifty "white slave" films, twen- ty "sex" play and fifteen so-called patriot- ic subjects, with the action occurring In Mexico. The Mexican derision may also include topical weeklies showing the elusive Mr. Villa and bis several wives and families. If the censors are really serious, and Pennsylvania film men are quite sure they were never more so, their edict concern- ing stage burglars will cause numerous manufacturers to indulge in a state of mental unrest narrowly approaching panic. Big film organizations owning expensive and admittedly strong box office comedies sncb as "Officer 668," "Stop Thief," and hundreds of similar farces, not to men- tion serials such aa "Jimmle Dale" and its countless forerunners, the plots of which revolve around the activities of the ubiquitous burglar in every Instance, are •aid to be contemplating united legal ac- tion to test the constitutionality of the Pennsy Board's recent ruling. TO SAVE CINCY'S ZOO The M. P. E. L. of A. and the Chamber of Commerce of Cincinnati are collaborat- ing on a novel plan to save the local zoo. One hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars must be raised by Jan. 1. 1017, and the picture men and merchants have jointly produced a feature film which they feel will earn a goodly share of the nec- essary amount. One hundred Ohio ex- hibitor* have agreed to co-operate by run- ning it for two days each. The receipts will be turned over to the fund. LOEW ENTERS NEW FIELD Marcus Loew, who up to the present lias confined his activities in the motion picture business to the exhibition of films exclusively, signalizes his entrance in the State rights Geld by the purchase of "The Masque of Life." Lew Rogers will dis- tribute the picture in the New York State territory acquired by Loew. TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY Fred J. Balahofer, president of the Yorke Film Corp. of Hollywood, Gal., has written to this department to take excep- tion to a paragraph concerning the with- drawal of Henry Otto from the Yorke directorial staff. According to Mr. Bali- holer's letter Otto's resignation was more in the nature of a request, rather than a voluntary action. M, CHAPLIN ON SKATES NEXT Charlie Chaplin's next bid for popularity will be made in a two reeler called "The Rink." Nat Goodwin appeared in a farce twenty-five years ago, entitled "The Skat- ing Rink." The roller skating craze was just beginning to become a popular fad at the time RUTH LAW'S BIG OFFER Ruth Law, the young girl Who recently broke the non-stop aviation record from Chicago to New York, has been deluged with picture offers, several as high aa $10,- ooo for one feature. Two years ago Miss Law often tried in vain to interest film pro- ducers and her services were frequently ot- tered in vain at the modest rate of $100 a week. KELLY'S WORK IN DEMAND When it comes to making adaptations of books and plays for the screen there are few, if any who can turn out the finished product like Anthony Kelly, according to Wm. Shcrrill, who has engaged the youth- ful photo playwright to create four orig- inal features, on the strength of Ms suc- cessful visualization of Augustus Thomas' "The Witching Hour." DRUG STORE CIRCUIT DORMANT Picture men in and around New York are wondering what has become of the talked of plan to build a combination cir- cuit of one thousand drug stores, tobacco shops and movie theatres nil to be housed in one structure. FILM UPLIFT LEAGUE FORMED With the avowed purpose of uplifting the current standards of morion picture plays, the Clean Picture and Play League of America received a charter as a New York State Corporation Dec. 1. Four Brooklyn men are named as incorporators. CLEO MADISON MARRIED Oleo Madison was married to Don Peake Nov. 27, at Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Pcake is Pacific Coast Manager of the Briscoe Motor Car Co. Miss Madison will retire permanently from the screen. ANOTHER RECORD SMASHED Alexander Peacocke made a one reel, thousand foot length picture at the Uni- versal coast studios last week in three ".lours and thirty minutes. This achieve- ment seems to have smashed all existing single reel producing records. FLORENCE TURNER RETURNS Florence Turner has returned from cbroad. She resumes film work for the Mutual this week. Larry Trimble will continue as Miss Turner's producing director. ASK REHEARING ON SUNDAY LAW BEST REMEDY FILM MEN THINK The joint conference of the Executive Committee, of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, and the dele- gation appointed to represent the M. P. E. L. of A. held last week in the offices of the Association brought forth no definite plan of action, regarding the re-' cent decision of the Third Department of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, forbidding Sunday film exhibitions, in twenty-seven New York State counties. Another meeting was held by the com- mittees early this week and it was prac- tically decided that the most feasible pro- cedure would be to engage expert legal counsel and endeavor to obtain a rehear- ing of the Bender case, on which the Ap- pellate Division made its drastic ruling. Several of the more aggressive members of each committee, it is understood, were strongly of the opinion that the case should be carried to the Court of Appeals, but those of a conservative turn of mind pointed out the danger of such a course, which in the event of an adverse decision would effectually close every picture house in the city and State on Sundays. The loss of business in the twenty-seven counties affected win total over a million dollars yearly, New York film manufac- turers say, and will undoubtedly result in the elimination of many small film thea- tres, depending heretofore on the Sabbath receipts for the major part of their profits. Assemblyman Welsh, of "Albany has promised to introduce a local option Sun- day observance measure at the next ses- sion of the Legislature, which would, if passed,,provide the proper solution to the present serious problem. METRO TO FILM BEST SELLER The screen rights to "The Promise," one of the year's best selling novels has been purchased by Metro. Harold Lockwood end May Allison are slated to appear in the picture version. "LONESOME TOWN" A FILM "Lonesome Town" the musical comedy used unsuccessfully by Kolb and Dill the coast comedians, to break into the east sev- eral years ago, has been made into a movie feature by the Mutual. ROY STUART ENGAGED BY TRL Roy Stuart baa been engaged by Fine Arte to play leads opposite Lillian Giah. Stuart is the tallest juvenile in the busi- ness, standing jnst six feet four in his Holeproofs. KEMBLE AND MOONEY A FIRM Wm. H. Kcmble and H. Clark Mooney, two prominent Brooklyn film, men, have formed a distributing corporation for the purpose of handling the Christie comedies. NEW JOBS FOR SEVERAL : Albert S. Le Vino is Vitagrapb'a new publicity man. Robert Emmet Welsh leaves Kalem this week to become man- aging editor of M. P. Newt. W. Stephen Hush has resigned from the staff of the It. P. World and Fred Beecroft leaves' the Mirror this week, both joining the Ex- hibitor'* Trade Review. Jesse J. Gold- berg succeeds Harry Reichenbach aa press representative for Frohman Amusement Company. '; "INTOLERANCE" SUCCESS IN CHI. D. W. Griffith's big spectacle "Intoler- ance" opened successfully in Chicago Nov. 28 at the Colonial. A distinguished as- semblage of Windy City notables attended the premiere and unanimously voted "In- tolerance" a wonderful entertainment. The film is booked for a run. ACTRESS SUES THANHOUSER Alleging that she was injured during the filming of a scene, Sept.- 29 at the Than- bouser studio. New Rochelle, N. Y., .lane Henry started an action in the Supreme Court, Dec. 1, asking $25,000 damages of the picture concern. Newman and New- man are Miss Henry's attorneys. WANT DOLLY SISTERS The Dolly Sisters, musical comedy stars may be seen in a big serial calling for the services of twins shortly. A picture or- ganization specializing in that type of films has made a bid for Yansci and Koszika which they are giving serious con- sideration, j TRI'S BRIGHT HOUSE ORGAN "Selling and Management," the weekly pamphlet published in the interests of the Triangle sales force, breaks all precedents in its particular field because of the bright- ness and non-almanac quality of its con- tents. D. W. Bartlett is the literary per- son responsible for making us read it from cover to cover every week. FILMS WAR ON HIGH PRICES Over four hundred picture bouses in New York and vicinity, are running slides at every performance asking their patrons to assist in the metropolitan housewives war on high food prices. The movement ■b in line with the plan of the authorities to force down the high cost of egga and other food staples via the hunger strike method. RICARDI STILL IN HOSPITAL Albert Ricardi who entered St. Marks Hospital, Second Avenue and -Fourth .St's., New York, Nov. 5, is still a patient at that institution. The ex-Vitagraph favorite is convalescing very slowly, aa the result of a major surgical operation. He would keenly appreciate a visit by Ms friends. DRESSLER SUES LAWYER Marie Dressier is suing Nathan Oold- berger, the attorney who represented her in the litigation with the Keystone Co. over "Tillie'e Punctured Romance" for $5,055. The sum in dispute between law- yer and ex-client is part of the $45,000 verdict awarded-Miss Dressier as a result of the original Keystone suit. is &*