The New York Clipper (April 1919)

April 16, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 33 MRS. O'GRADY IS QUIZZED BY FILM MEN EVASIVE ANSWERS ARE GIVEN Mrs. Ellen A. CGrady, Fifth Deputy Police Commissioner, -was challenged last week by the Association of Motion Pic- ture Advertisers to answer ten questions propounded by the association, but she evaded answering directly all except one of them. The questions -were drawn by the association in an effort to refute 'the charge made by the Deputy Police Com- missioner that immoral films were being shown by exhibitors to the moral detri- ment of audiences, especially young girls and children. Mrs. CGrady endorsed Sunday" motion pictures, mentioning that pictures were "high art and the greatest power for edu- cation in the world." The first question was: "Can and will yon name ten theatres in New York City in which, to your knowledge, salacious pic- tures have been shown T" To which the Deputy Commissioner replied: "To begin with, look at the stacks and stacks of letters on my desk received from min- isters, school teachers and principals, mothers—all persons of good society, en- dorsing my stand. Let the general public answer the first question." The second question asking her to name three salacious films that have been shown in New Tork during the last year was an- swered with the remark, "I am not going to be a medium of advertising those pic- tures." Question No. 3, asking the Deputy Com- missioner to "name one salacious film you have seen or known to have been shown which the National Board of Review en- dorsed 1" she answered! "I have seen a pic- ture where a man attacks a girl in the most bestial manner, using his teeth to tear the young girl's clothing." To the fourth question, "Can you name one moving picture exhibitor who makes it a practice to exhibit suggestive or im- moral filmsT" she replied: "The general public will answer that." Says Parents Are Lax Question No. 5 asks her: "Do you set yourself up as a better judge of films than the parents of children who attend the theatret" She answers by saying: "The parents never see half the pictures their children see." To the sixth question asked her, "Do you know that 60 per cent of the films shown in the theatres of Greater New York are later shown in schools, churches and forums throughout America}" Mrs. 0*Grady said: "In my mail today are let- ters from school principals, a clergyman and professional people, endorsing and praising my stand against objectionable pictures." The seventh question:- "Can you produce one child of the many you speak of who has been so ruined by films T" and Mrs. CGrady answered: "I can produce twenty girls, but I hesitate to do that." To question No. 8—"Can you, and will you, produce any film in which the word 'vamp' appears and name the film, or where it was used?" Mrs. CQrady re- plied, "An actress, Theda Bara^played the part of a vampire in 'A Fool There Was,' and the young girls seeing that now use the word 'vamp,' meaning looseness of morals." Question No. 9—"Are you aware of the law which gives the license Commissioner the right to close any theatre showing-an indecent picture V The Deputy Commis- sioner answered by saying: "Ask the License Commissioner, he will answer that." The same reply covers the tenth question, which is' almost similar in tone. SUES UNIVERSAL DIRECTOR Philadelphia, April 8.—Cathleen Car- rol Evans brought suit today against Mel- ville S. Forrester, said to be the chief di- rector of the Universal Film Company, for breach of promise to marry her. Judge Shoemaker, in the Common Pleas Court, issued a capias against the defendant, fix- ing bail at $500. Miss Evans alleges that Forrester and herself became engaged after a short court- ship in November, 1918. They were sup- posed to be married last Christmas, she says, but alleges that Forrester's manner to her became cold and she gradually be- came satisfied that her affections had been trifled with. HODKINSON CHANGES POLICY The W. W. Hodkinson Corporation changed its entire sales policy last week when it sent out telegraphic orders to all representatives in the thirty Pathe offices that all productions, past and future, marketed through the Hodkinson organiza- tion, ore to. be offered and sold to ex- hibitors singly, on their individual values and merits. This means that only one release at a time can be sold by the company. They will offer as the first, "As a Man Thinks," with Leah Baird, in August. This ' will later be followed by the first of the Zane Grey productions, "Desert Gold." MARGUERITE CLARK STARTS WORK Marguerite Clark left New York last week for the Coast, where she will work on "Girls," at the Hollywood Studios, this being the first picture she has made there in several years. She has completed "Come Out of the Kitchen," and will be directed by Walter Edwards in "Girls." The cast is not yet known. At the same time, Dorothy Dalton is coming East from Culver City to make her next Ince picture with an Eastern background. DIRECTOR MARRIES STAR Los ANGELES, April 12. — Bertram Bracken, director, and Margot Cullen Lan- dis, a screen star, were married here this week and, in the excitement of the moment. Bracken forgot their honeymoon tickets. After they had arrived at the steamer at San Pedro they obtained permission to go aboard by long-distance telephone. Judge Hawkins, who placed Bracken on proba- tion one year ago for speeding, performed the marriage ceremony. FAIRBANKS COMPLETES CONTRACT Douglas Fairbanks' has completed his last Famous-Players production, a seven- reel feature called "Knickerbocker Buck- aroo." Mary Pickf ord's last with the same company was "Capt. Kidd, Jr." D. W. Griffith has one more to finish after he completes "The Chink and the Child" for the Art-craft banner. These pictures will terminate the contracts of these three of the "Big Four" combination. DEFEAT SUNDAY FILM BILL Trenton, N. J., April 1L—Assembly- man Hyland's bin permitting local option on motion picture shows and other amuse- ments on Sundays, after 1 P. M., was de- feated here yesterday in the Senate by a vote of 12 to 5, the same vote by which the sports bill, was defeated. GETS SCHULBERC'S JOB Ralph O. Proctor has been signed to fill B. P. Schulberg'e place as Hiram Abraxas' assistant with the United Artists' Association. He has been the Western District manager of Pathe, and resigned to come to'New York. RIALTO TO CELEBRATE The third anniversary of the opening of the BJalto will start on April 20. Hugo Biesenfeld will celebrate the birthday of the theatre with a pretentious display of motion pictures. ' EXHIBITORS TO PAY UNIFORM TAXRATE S PER CENT ON FILM RENTALS FILM FLASHES A uniform tax clause to be inserted in al contracts with exhibitors for the ex- hibition of motion pictures on and after May 1, .1919, was agreed upon last Fri- day at a meeting of the Distributors' Division of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry. • Under the clause, as adopted at the meeting, exhibitors will pay a tax of 5 per cent on all film rentals. This must be paid to the Government at the end of each month, in accordance with the tax imposed on motion picture-rentals by the Govern- ment in the new revenue bin. The tax clause that will be attached to all contracts reads as foUows: "The exhibitor agrees that as long as section 906 of the Revenue Act of 1918 shall remain in force, the exhibitor shall pay to the distributor in addition to nil other charges, a sum equal to five (6) per cent of the gross film rental, or in the event of a percentage booking, a sum equal to five (5) per cent of the distributor's share, for all pictures delivered and (or) exhibited under this contract on and after May 1, 1919, such five (5) per cent to be added to the bill for said film and to be- come due when the other items on said biU become due. The exhibitor further agrees that any default in the payment of said five (5) per cent shall be consid- ered a default in .the same way as the non-payment of any other moneys due under and pursuant to this contract.' "In view of the fact that the old tax of % cent per foot, which the distributors were required to pay under the 1917 law; will be rescinded as of May 1, 1919, tie. charge of 15 cents per reel per day will no longer be collected by the distributors, but in its place the 5 per cent tax will be collected, beginning May 1, 1919. "The following companies were repre- sented at the meeting: Famous Players- Lasky Corporation, First National Exhib- itors Circuit, Fox Film Corporation/ Gold- wyn Distributing Corporation, Interna- tional Film Service, Inc., Metro Pictures Corporation, Pathe Exchange, Inc., Select Pictures corporation, Triangle Distributing Corporation, Universal Film Manufactur- ing Company, Yitagrapb, Inc., and World Film Corporation." "The Sawdust Trail" will be released by Path* April 20. Jack A. Pegler will manage the Atlanta Pathe exchange. ■William C. MonsT supports Emmy Wehlsn In "The Spender." Larry Bemon's next Vltagraph company will be "Passing the Buck." Alex Yokel has been elected vice-president of Briggs Pictures, Inc. Grace Darling will appear In a Rothapfel production coming soon. Gertrude Astor will be seen In 'The Chat- terbox," with Prlicllla Dean. Ruby LaFayette will support Eddie Polo In "Cyclone Smith Bides Alone." j Katherlne Adams will support Barle Will- iams in bis next Vitagraph. production. Harry Hollander has arrived In New Tork to work for some Hasten 01m exchange. SUE OVER FEATURE A suit has been started by the Mitten- thal brothers against William F. Stoermer, Ernest E. Gagnon and William Bielinberg, promoters of motion pictures, for $1,200, which the plaintiffs claim is due them upon promissory notes. Maurice Bungard is acting as the attorney for the Mitten- thals, and the case is being tried in the municipal court, The Mittenthals declare that the de- fendants purchased a feature picture from them called "The Law of the North- woods," and paid part of the.price in cash, the remainder to be paid in notes. They allege -that the latter obligation has not been met by the defendants. The latter say they were to have paid the Mitten thai Brothers 25 per cent of the profits as the balance, and that the plaintiffs had agreed not to sue them. MARY MILES MTNTER SUES Ixys Ajjgeles, April 1L—Mrs. Pearl ReQly, mother of Juliet Reilly, otherwise known as Mary MOes Minter, brought suit this week in the United States Dis- trict Court against the American Film Company to recover $4,125, alleged hock ' pay due her daughter. ■ - Dorothy Phlulps will soon be seen In a new Universal feature called "Destiny." Frank X. Flanagan Is the latest ahort story writer added to tbe Goldwyn staff. Sylvia Brfeamer and Robert Gordon will star In G. Stuart Blackton's next production. Dorothy Phillips Is working on "The Bight to Happiness," under the direction of Allen HoUobar. • < ' Tarklngton Baker and Harry M. Berman of Universal have gone to Chicago on business. June Caprice and Crelgbton Hale have completed "O Boy" and have started on a new production. Milton Sills returns to Goldwyn as Pauline Frederick's leading man In a coming pro- duction. - - "The Follies Girl," the last Olive Thomas production for Triangle, will -be released April 2T. Tbe Independent Sales Corporation has irchaae" lvlded.' Burchased the Canadian rights to "A House The Pathe, Albany, exchange. Is moving to larger quarters, from 398 Brosdway to 35-87 Orange Street. Carter De Haven and Flora Parker nave been signed by "Smiling Bill" Parsons for Capitol Comedies. "The Perils of Thunder Mountain" com- pany have returned to Los Angeles after a - number of weeks otr location. - Montagu Love and Enid Marker win star In the ninth of the stage Women's War Belief films called "She's Everywhere." Leon Netter of the Maaterpiee Film At- tractions, Cleveland, has secured the Ohio rights to "The Spreading- Evil.; 1 Tom Spry of the Boston Universal Ex- change spent two days In New Tork last week conferring with H. M. Berman. Clara Horton will be tbe leading woman In the next Rex Beach picture for Goldwyn. Cullen Landls plays opposite her. The New Tork World will Issue an art study of Ruth Roland with their paper Sun- day when tbe Tiger's Trail" will be released. Arthur S. Kane," general manager of Select Motion Pictures Corp. has returned from a six-weeks' trip In the South and Middle-West. Constance Talmadge In "The Veiled Ad- venture," Marlon Davies In "Getting Mary Married" and Alice Brady In "Bedhead" will be released this month by Select. Anna lather and Charles Hutchinson have completed the "Great Gamble" serial for Western Photoplays, Inc. and returned from the South last week with the company. Sydney Alnsworth, "Walter MeNeznars, Ernest Spencer. Colin Kenny. Wilton Tay- lor, BlTiM Bonnet, Hallam Cooler, Bast Sprotte and Louis Cheung are the sup- porting east of Clara Horton and Cullen Landls in a coming Rex Beach production.