The New York Clipper (February 1917)

34 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 28, 1917 _i_ FIGHT NOW ON IN CHICAGO OVEREXPO. OCHS AND TRIGGER FORCES CLASH A battle royal for the control of the forthcoming Exposition, that will be an adjunct of the annual convention of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, scheduled for next July in Chi- cago, between the factions represented re- spectively by Sam Trigger and Lee A. Ochs, is confidently looked forward to by picture men throughout the country. There will, be a special meeting of the executive committee this week in Chicago and the deposing of Louis H. Frank as general manager of the Exposition, at- tributed to the Ochs forces, will be thor- oughly investigated by Trigger, who left New York for the seat of war last Sun- day in order to personally superintend the fight for Franks reinstatement. If necessary, Trigger, who is president of the New York State branch of the M. P. E. L. of A, will seek legal aid in the en- deavor to have Frank reappointed, bis plans embracing, as a last resort, a re- straining injunction. Ochs will also be in attendance at the executive session, and it is understood will -vigorously oppose the plans of Trigger or any one else to place Frank in charge of the exposition again; FAIRBANKS NOW FREE AGENT Douglas Fairbanks may now proceed merrily with the formation of his own film company, Supreme Court Justice Hotchkiss having handed down a decision last Friday dismissing the application of the Majestic M. P. Co. for an order to restrain the comedian from appearing be- fore the camera for any other concern. John Emerson was not so lucky, the jurist holding that the director must play out his contract with the Majestic, which still has another year or so to run. SCHENECTADY LOSES OUT By vacating an injunction secured in December by Walter A. Zeisser, a Schen- ectady exhibitor. Justice Borst in the Supreme Court at Albany last week, set- tled the question of Sunday shows in Schenectady until legislative relief can be obtained. The picture houses in the up- State towns will feel the loss of the Sun- day patronage keenly, many depending on that day's receipts to show a profit for the week. . $75,000 FOR FOUR PICTURES According,to. the. dope handed out by the Metro' publicity department,'. Emily Ste- vens, the legitimate actress, has been given a contract -calling for her appearance in four ■ pictures for which the in concern will bay her the sum of $75,000. Almost enough'to buy a couple of pounds of but- ter and a dozen eggs in these days of high living costs. INDIANA PAS5ES SUNDAY BILL The Senate of the State of Indiana has favorably acted on a bill to permit Sunday motion picture shows. The House of Rep- resentatives, it is expected, will ratify the Senate's action. Credit for the introduc- tion of the Sunday picture bill is univer- sally given throughout the State to Frank Bembusch, one of the leading spirits in the M. P. E. L. of A. O'BRIEN TO DIRECT FOR MUTUAL John O'Brien, a protege of D. W. Grif- fith and producer of two of the biggest successes Mary Pickford ever appeared in, has been signed to direct for the new Chaa. Frohman-Empire-Mutual combina- tion. BRAINS NEEDED, SAYS WHARTON Leo D. Wharton is out with a statement contradictory of Lewis J. Selznick's fa- mous remark at the Tax Legislative Com- mittee hearing recently to the effect that "It takes lees brains to make money in the picture business than in any other field of commercial endeavor." Mr. Wharton evidently has in mind the experiences of William Randolph Hearst and his reported $1,000,000 attempt to. become a movie magnate. BLACKWELL SIGNS NEW CONTRACT Carlyle Blackwell has signed a new con- tract with World Film. Blackwell, the only male star now on the World pro- gram, won't have to worry about a steady job for a considerable period of time. He is now said to be receiving a salary in excess of lots of bank presidents. Car- lyle is a real drawing card and worth every cent he gets at that. DEATH OF D. I_ MORRISON D. L. Morrison, for several months past a director for Thanhouser, died of heart trouble in the New Rochelle Hospital last Thursday. Mr. Morrison was on the stage for a number of years before entering the picture field. He leaves. a wife and one son. The burial took place last Sunday and was conducted by the Masons. MARY DEFIES U BOATS Mary Garden, under contract to appear on the screen for Goldwyn in the spring, sailed for Europe last week on the Span- ish liner Alphonso the Third. Miss Gar- den's main object in braving the perils of the deep is to secure gowns for her pic- ture debut in "Salome. AUGUST'S NEW COLOR IDEA Edwin August, the film director and ac- tor, is down in Jacksonville, Fla., work- ing out the details of what he hopes will make color pictures a commercial possibility. August has ample backing and expects to have a practical production ready for the market in a few weeks. A RTCRAFT EXPANDING Artcraft is expanding rapidly, plans hav- ing been made to take over the entire fif- teenth floor of the Godfrey building. With' Cohan, Fairbanks and Pickford under con-, tract and negotiations with Chaplin pend- ing, Artcraft may expect to be reasonably busy during the next few months. WON'T INSURE "DOUG" The Paeific Mutual, according to report,' has refused to issue a policy on the life of Douglas Fairbanks, contending that the screen, star takes too many chances in his business. " U HAS NEW SERIES "The Perils of the Secret Service"- is the title of a new series about to be re- leased by Universal. George Bronson wrote the stories on which the scenarios, for the series with the dime novel title, will be constructed. EDITH STOREY DENIES IT Edith Storey wants the world to know that she is not contemplating matrimony and has no intention of becoming the blushing bride of Antonio Moreno or any one else for that matter. CONEY BALL CLEARS $12,000 The Brooklyn film men's ball at Stauch's Pavilion, Washington's birthday eve, was a big financial success, over $12,000 being cleared by the Brooklyn branch of the M. P. E. L. of A., who conducted the affair. GEN. FILMS O. HENRY STORIES General Film will soon release a series of O. Henry's celebrated tales of life in the great metropolis. The series win in- clude "The Four Million." JOHNSON FILES ANOTHER LIBEL ACTION MERRITT CRAWFORD DEFENDANT COCHRANE BACK FROM EUROPE Tom D. Cochrane, the Universal execu- tive who has been busily engaged in re- organizing the London office of the Amer- ican film concern for the past two months, returned to New York Feb. 22, on the Philadelphia. It was Cochrane's original intention to stay on the other aide for sev- eral weeks longer, but the current C boat situation hastened his departure. William A. Johnston, editor of the Hotion Picture News, has instituted an action for libel in the New York Supreme Court, the papers of which were filed Monday, asking for $25,000 damages from Merritt Crawford, managing-publisher of the Exhibitors' Trade Review. This action closely follows - an action which Johnston had instituted in the Su- preme Court against Lee Ochs, president of the Ewhibitors' Trade Review and the publication, asking for $50,000 damages as a result of an article published in the columns of that publication in the issue of Jan. 20, which he said grossly libeled and ridiculed him. The alleged libel was based on a story that Johnston had written and published' in his paper some time ago with refer- ence to Frank Rem bush. In the complaint filed by Johnston he alleges that Crawford wrote the alleged libelous article which appeared in the latter's publication. HOPP HADLEY RE-ENGAGED Hopp Hadley has returned to the Mu- tual and will resume his official duties as eastern publicity representative. In ad- dition to attending to publicity matters that may engross his attention Hadley will also hire an occasional film headliner, provided said headliner and his boss, John R. Freuler, can hit it off on the 'salary question. FOX PICTURE HOUSE CLOSES The Japanese Gardens on top of the Riviera Theatre, playing a picture policy similar to the Strand, with more or less success since Nov. 1, closed last Sunday. It is a Wm. Fox house and has been a bloomer ever since it was. opened two years ago, having offered severs! forms of enter- tainment in that time with dubious results. ST. LOUIS OPERATORS SETTLE The theatre and motion picture house managers of St. Louis, Mo., have agreed to meet the demands of the local machine operators in regard to the salary question, and it looks as if the strike which appeared on the horizon recently hag been definitely declared off. The operators will receive an increase of $5.70 a week. VITA DOUBLING UP STARS The Yitagraph Co., in further pursuance of its policy of retrenchment, will shortly inaugurate a system of doubling up stars. Hereafter, in accordance with a plan for- mulated by A. E. Smith, Vitagraph's presi- dent, 'Anita Stewart and Earle Williams will be co-starred. - Alice Joyce and Harry Morey will continue a team as heretofore. MARYLAND BARS BARA FEATURE The State Board of Censorship of Mary- land has issued an edict banning "The Tiger Woman," a Fox feature starring Theda Bara, from'exhibition within the con- fines of the State on the grounds that it is "immoral, degrading and debasing." LINCOLN'S DOGS COMPETING Philadelphia, Feb. 26.—E. K. Lincoln, motion picture star, is here attending the local dog show, where he has nine, dogs competing. Three were blue-ribbon winners at the recent show in New York City. MAGICIAN FILM ACTOR Henry Clive, the vaudeville magician, has forsaken trick playing cards, wands, handkerchiefs, etc., dear to the'heart of those who mystify the public, to become a picture actor. Clive makes his • debut with Goldwyn, playing the leading role ' in Maxine Elliott's forthcoming ".produc- tion. ■ NO MORE SUNDAY MUTUALS The Mutual Film Corporation will dis- continue releasing on Sundays, starting next week. The concern's exchanges-will remain open seven days a' week, howiver. RITCHEY NOT WITH SUNBEAM J.. Y. Ritchey wishes to announce ■ that he is in no way connected with the Sun- beam company. WRONG REPORT ABOUT GLAUM Louise Glaum is not going to leave Tri- angle and wishes -to deny the report to that effect recently published in several theatrical papers. '■■ WILLlAlVi A. BRADY In association with WORLD PICTURES Presents ALICE BRADY "The Dancer's Peril" With Alexis Kosloff, of- the Russian Imperial Ballet Written by Harriet Morris Directed by Traver* Vale BENJAMIN CHAPIN Author and Director General of The Lincoln Cycle of Photoplays Studio, and Executive Office* at Ridgefield Park, N. J.