The New York Clipper (January 1918)

January 31, 1918' THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 33 NEW YORK EXPO. TO BE HELD OCLJth FILM MEN SET DATE FOR SHOW It was definitely decided after a series of conferences held last week between rep- resentatives of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry and the Mo- tion Picture Exhibitors' League of Amer- ica, to hold the nest Movie Exposition at the Grand Central Palace, New York, on October 5 to 13, inclusive. The exposition was originally scheduled to start the week of February 2 but, owing to the proclama- tion of the Garfield fuelless holidays and general adverse conditions, it was thought better to postpone the affair until what is hoped will be a more propitious time. Another factor which had a direct bear- ing on the decision of the picture men to change the date of the New York exposition until the Fall is the present badly con- gested condition of railroad traffic Hundreds of out-of-town exhibitors had planned to attend the big film show this year, and the inability of those coming from distant points to make proper rail- road arrangements was a matter that had been worrying space holders with merchan- dise to sell considerably. While the public is expected to patronize movie expositions to a certain extent, the primary reason for holding them is to in- terest the exhibitor in something the pro- ducer or accessory man has to sell and, with the present unsatisfactory conditions in mind, the space holders and concessionaires, in addition to any patriotic feelings they may have had for postponing the exposi- tion were undoubtedly a bit dubious about the chances they would ran when it came to making their displays profitable. The producers' and exhibitors' organiza- tions tendered a vote of thanks to E. V. P. Ritter, who heads the company which con- trols the Grand Central Palace, for extend- ing the courtesy of postponing the show until October. It is said that there was some difficulty about arranging the post- ponement at first, but, according to report, both sides made certain concessions, which cleared the way for a satisfactory settle- ment. CHILD STAR RETURNS TO SCREEN Mildred Rankin has been cast, by Di- rector .William Humphreys, of the Ivan Film Company, to appear in his latest suc- cess, "The Unehastened Woman." Miss Rankin will be remembered about eight .years ago as one of the best child actresses on the screen. One of her suc- cesses was in "Vasco, the Vampire," a pro- duction entirely enacted by children, in which she was featured. The Universal Film Company, produced the picture. She has since graduated from school, and will be seen for the first time since her return to the screen in "The Unehastened Woman." SUNDAY FILM CASE DEFERRED Albant, N. Y., Jan. 26.—Owing to the absence of Judge Cuthbert W. Pound, the Schenectady motion picture exhibitors did not make their application to-day. for a Btay of execution of the judgment of con- viction in the case of Vincent Berghtrom for giving Sunday motion picture exhi- bitions. The application for the stay was to have been made in the hope of its being granted until final arguments are heard in the matter of Sunday-films before the Court of Appeals Feb. 28, that it might have the effect of allowing the theatres to open Sunday pending the decision. EXHIBITORS' CIRCUIT FORMED Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan. 22.—At a meeting of exhibitors held last Sunday, at which about fifty exhibitor's were present, and a number of out-of-town men were repre- sented, by proxy, the first temporary organ- ization for an exhibitors' circuit was formed. From discussions throughout the meeting, it was apparent that the exhibitors have not only come to a thorough realiza- tion of the evil and vicious combinations existing in the industry, but they seem to be in a fair way to apply efficacious reme- dies. The organization will be known as the Tri-State Exhibitors' Circuit, and will work in conjunction with other circuits, taking in exhibitors of Western Pennsyl- vania, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia. This circuit is not affiliated with any or- ganization ; therefore all bonafide exhibitors can become members. A. J. Barthell, former president of the Exhibitors' League of Western Pennsylvania, is busily engaged arranging details, and will present his final report at the next meeting. McCUNE LOSES DIXEY SUIT Henry E. Dixey won a suit in the Mu- nicipal Court this week instituted by Gustave E. McCune, who stated that be had obtained an engagement for Dixey with the Universal Film Co., to work in a pic- ture. He stated that Dixey was to receive $3,000, and was to pay him 10 per cent. Under cross-examination, McCune testi- fied he was doing business as a "theatrical broker" and "publicity specialist," with offices in the Candler building, and admitted he did not have a license to conduct an employment agency. The defendant's at- torney, S. H. WandeU, without putting a witness upon the stand, then moved for a dismissal of the case, stating that the transaction disclosed by the plaintiff's evi- dence came clearly within the business of conducting an employment agency under the provisions of the employment agency law, and that the plaintiff was not entitled to any recovery, which motion the Court up- held. HO BART HENLEY SUING ASTRA Hobart Henley has started an action against the Astra Film Corp. for the amount of $2,000, through his attorney, Nathan "Burkan. It appears' that on October 13, 1917, Henley made an agreement with Astra whereby he was to act aa a director for the company for the period of one year, at a salary of $500 per week for the first six months, and $600 per week for the balance of the year. The first picture' made was "Mrs. Slacker," but before it was com- pleted the old contract was cancelled and Astra agreed to pay him his current week's salary- and an additional $2,000 for the picture. The picture was completed De- cember 21, but no part of the $2,000 was forthcoming, he charges. TRIANGLE OUTDOES- ITSELF The producting forces at Triangle's Culver City studios have outdone themselves in establishing a new. record for work.' They have completed three productions in one week, their schedule being, only two. The finished 'pictures Are: '.'The Sea Panther," With William' Desmond; "A Soul in Trust" and" "The Hard Rock Breed." ETHEL BARRYMORE SUES BRENON. Herbert Brenon has another suit on his hands in the case of Ethel Barrymore. It appears that Brenon made a contract with her to- appear in "The Lone Wolf," for which she was to receive $2,000 per week for a period of five' weeks. She was never put to work, she charges. FILM CO. ASSIGNS The Sheer Bernstein. Enterprises, Inc., has made an assignment for the benefit of creditors to Moses H. Rothstein. STATE CENSORS PLANNED BY VIRGINIA UPLIFT BILL INTRODUCED Richmond. Va., Jan. 31.—A legal board of censorship of motion pictures may become a reality in this State, if a bill is passed which was introduced into the uen- eral Assembly this week. There is little doubt felt here that the bill will go through, although concerted action on the part of motion picture interests may help defeat it. The bill was introduced by Representa- tive J. P. Jones, a new member from this city, and, in its statement of aims, it promises to "purify and elevate the standards of the motion picture." The bill has been turned over to the Committee on Public Welfare, which will grant a hearing to persons interested before action is taken. The measure provides for the establish- ment of a board of three, who will see every foot of film planned for exhibition in the State. They will have absolute power to cut out anything which, in their judg- ment, is unfit for the people. There is no court of appeals provided for in the bill, which makes it a little more stringent than previous measures of the same sort in other states, where an appeal board is in- cluded. The censors will receive from $2,500 to $3,000 a year from their work, it is estimated, although the bin provides no definite emolument. The measure was originally framed, it is believed, to meet the demands of a women's social uplift organization here. Practically all the churches and moral improvement societies have rallied to its support, and it is expected to pass the House with ease, since the members of that body have al- ready shown their tendencies by pasjing the prohibition ratification. That it will pass the Senate, however, is in doubt. Several of the Senators have expressed their belief that it would lose out here. FOX FILMS QUIT NEW JERSEY Trenton, N. J., Jan. 26.—The Fox Film Corporation, which carries on busi- ness under its original New York charter, and also bad a charter to do business in New Jersey, yesterday filed a certificate with Secretary ' of State Martin,' which stated that the Fox concern had ceased to transact business in this State, and had revoked the appointment of Nat Beier aa the agent of the Newark headquarers. The certificate was signed by William Fox. FOX CHANGES PROGRAM Due to the fuel order, several new re- leases on the William Fox program have been delayed and, in order to accommodate his exhibitors, he has placed "Treasure Island" and "Trouble Makers" on the re- lease' program instead. FILM ACTOR BECOMES AVIATOR Miami, Fla., Jan. 28.—Rudolph W. Cameron, husband .and leading man of Anita Stewart, arrived from New York to- day to join the aviation corps of the United States Army. AUCE BRADY HAS RUSSIAN FILM The next Alice Brady Select release will be a Russian subject, work on which has already been begun, under the working title of "Ruthless Russia." "THE SHUTTLE" FINISHED Constance Talmadge has finished her work on "The Shuttle," and the film is now being titled and cut. ANITA STEWART IS MRS. CAMERON That Anita Stewart is the wife of Ru- dolph Cameron, was developed] last Friday in the Supreme Court in the course of the Vitagraph's suit for an injunction to restrain the motion picture star from act- ing for any other concern. Cameron is leading man in Miss Stewart's company, and the marriage took place some time ago, but was kept secret for business reasons. FILM DISTRIBUTORS WORRIED The express embargo is causing picture makers much anxiety. The uncertainty of shipping film is bad now, in the Middle West particularly, but distributors fear that conditions will become worse. It was to offset this possibility that the Naional As- sociation has secured from the post office authorities a ruling which permits the send- ing of reels of film by parcels post. WALSH BREAKS THREE RIBS George Walsh is in the Polyclinic Hos- pital suffering from three broken ribs. The accident occurred near Pelbam, whither Walsh had gone for a country walk. He slipped on the ice and fell heavily, fractur- ing the ribs. He will be laid up for two weeks or more. He had just finished a feature picture when he was injured. NEW FIRM IS FORMED The Hesperia Films, Inc., is the latest addition to the rapidly growing number of exploitation concerns. The newly formed company, of which Edgar O. Brooks is vice- president and general manager, will handle big features only in the United States, Can- ada, Cuba and Central and South America. KEENEY CHANGES TITLE The first production to be made by the Frank A. Keeney Pictures Corporation will be "A Romance of the Underworld," in which Catherine Calvert will be starred. "The Girl Who Saw Life." which was scheduled as the first picture, will be pro- duced later on. PETROVA GOES TO FLORIDA Madame Olga Petrova, who is starring in in her own productions with her own company, left last week for Florida to get the exterior scenes for "The Life Mask." She was accompanied by her director and company of players. CONGRESS SEES FIRST WAR FILM Washington, D. C, Jan. 20.—Members of both bouses of Congress to-day saw the first official exhibition in this city of "The Re-making of a Nation," which was pro- duced under. official auspices. TALMADGE FEATURE READY Work on "By Right of Sacrifice," which is to be Norma Talmadge's next Select re- lease, bas been finished, and the picture will be released in two or three weeks. TUCKER REPLACES KENNEDY Aubrey M. Kennedy, formerly managing director of the Goldwyn Pictures Corpora- tion, has resigned. He has been replaced by George Loane Tucker. PATHE CHANGES COMEDY DATES Beginning February 3, Fatbg will release a one-reel Harold Lloyd comedy every week, instead of a two-reel comedy every two weeks. CHARLES RAY SEEN AT RTVOU Cbales Ray, in the Paramount picture "The Hired Man," is the feature film this week at the Rivoli. Wall StfMt -All Stock AArandnc. RAYMO Up 2» Potato.