The Moving Picture World (January 1908)

) 6o THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD cisions that have been rendered by the higher courts, but they all appear to proceed upon facts somewhat different. I think I will submit the matter to the Court of Special Sessions." The law clerk remarked that he would rather have the magis- trate dispose of the case, contending that the revised statute per- mitted the same. Magistrate Furlong asked if the defense con- sented to such action, as he did not propose having the case ap- pealed on such a point, and got a reply in the affirmative. Then he imposed the fines, which were promptly paid. * * * Harrisburg, Pa., is to follow in the footsteps of four of the large cities of the country, and before the week is out the Cam- eraphone, or "The Life Motion Pictures that Talk," will be in- stalled in this city. The auditoriums in New York, Philadelphia, Jersey City and Providence have all been too small to aoom- modate the crowds that flocked to see the wonderful mechanical invention. The new Savoy Theater Company has just been organized and have secured a lease on the old Savoy Theater, where the "Life Motion Pictures that Talk" will be exhibited. This new company has no connection with the former exhibitors, but was organized when it was learned that here was an .opportunity of securing the latest in the moving picture world. * * * A musical voice heard by accident over the telephone has resulted in the abandonment of plans for the organization of a bachelor girls' club and in a love match for Miss Anna Lubin and Salo Aulerbach. Next Sunday, at the home of Miss Lubin's mother, 041 West Division street, the engagement of the couple will be announced, according to the Jewish custom. Wires became crossed one day when the young lady was try- ing to 'phone her mother from the store of Ederheimer-Stein Company, Jackson Boulevard and Fifth avenue, where she is employed. Miss Lubin got Aulerbach, president of the American Film Service Company, in the American Trust Building, by mis- take. Both were angry for a moment, then the charming tones of her voice turned away the wrath and the acquaintance began. Soon Miss Lubin decided to give up the formation of the bachelors' club she had planned. No date has yet been announced for the wedding. * * * Nickel Theaters Held Safe in Chicago.—Building Commis- sioner Downey declared that five-cent theaters operating in the city were as safe as human ingenuity could make them. NEW COMPANIES. Oshkosh, Wis.—The George A. Knaak Company was incor- porated with a capital of $10,000 to manufacture the Peerless Kinetograph, a moving picture machine, invented by Mr. Knaak. F. B. Winter, of Milwaukee, is president of the company, and George A. Knaak is vice-president, with Charles R. Heisinger, secretary and treasurer. Among the directors are W. F. Keefe, of Chicago, manager of the Western Vaudeville Managers' As- sociation, and W. E. Jones, of the Jones-O'Brien circuit * * * . Kraft Amusement Co., the Bronx; moving pictures, theaters and concerts; capital, $6,000. Incorporators: Jacob Walz, 125th street and Eighth avenue; Leonora Roberts, No. 253 West 123d street; Elias Blumenthol, No. 414 Central Park West; Leo O. Kraft, No. 443 138th street, all of New York. FILMS! FILMS! We car. rent you every feature and good film the world produces: Pathe's "Life of Christ;" ••Parsifal;" "Ben Hut," and -'Two Orphans." RENTED REASONABLE. We are headquarters in the West for Power's and Edison Machines O. T. CRAWFORD FILM EXCHANGE CO. Oayety Theatre Building, St. Louis, Mo. American Halls Co., New York; amusements, concerts, mov- ing pictures, eta; capital, $5,600. Incorporators: Morris Weiss, No. 178 Forsyth street; Julius Berson, No. 201 Forsyth street; Herman A. Domple, No. 226 East i02d street; Nathan.Hirsch! No. 50 Rivington street, all of New York. * * * Electrograph Company, Manhattan; manufacturing moving picture machines and exhibit amusements, etc. Capital, $50,000. Incorporators: F. Beck, Brooklyn; J. W. Gunby, A. B. Garrick, J. Burnstein, New York City. * * * ' Pathe Freres; to manufacture cinematograph apparatus. Capital, $1,000,000. New Jersey corporation. TOP O' TH' WORLD IN A SUIT. Manager Wouij) Prevent Unauthorized Show of Pictures prom Play. Another novel point in copyright litigation is brought up in a suit to be brought to-day by the management of "The Top o' th' World" against the American Vitagraph Company, to enjoin the presentation in the Colonial Theater and all vaudeville thea- ters of a motion picture film showing the principal characters of "The Top o' th' World" in various scenes. When that extravaganza, with its live collie dog ballet and other odd features, became successful in the Majestic Theater, propositions were made by rival motion picture concerns to reproduce the principal scenes. J. M. Allison, manager of "Tht' Top o' th' World," entered into a contract with the Mutoscope and Vitagraph Company of America, permitting reproductions of certain scenes for exhibition purposes, for which it was agreed a royalty would be paid and the title, "The Top o' th' World," would be used wherever the pictures were exhibited. A com- plete performance of the play was given in the studio of the mutoscope company. Several of the most effective scenes were reproduced perfectly. Meantime the American Vitagraph Company has produced a series of pictures which the manager of "The Top o' th' World" asserts have been pirated. This series of pictures .is called "Dreamland." Notice has been served upon Percy Williams, manager of the Colonial Theater, that the reproduction of "The Top o' th' World" scenes under the title of "Dreamland" is .un- authorized. MOVING PICTURE EXHIBITORS' ASSOCIATION. The profession in New York won a victory on the 21st inst in their legal fight for Sunday performances. Supreme Court Justice Davis continued the temporary injunction of Keith 4 Proctor, allowing them to continue their lecture and moving pic- ture show Sunday in their 125th Street Theater. He also con- tinued the injunction obtained by the Eden Musee and sustained the writ of habeas corpus obtained by Lazar Valense, who was arrested for conducting slot machines in Park Row and Third avenue on Sunday. The Valense suit was a test case brought by the Moving Pic- ture Exhibitors' Association. Regarding it the Justice decides that Valense's shows are not peace disturbing and that they do not violate the ordinance respecting the Sabbath. It 's plain that Justice Davis also takes a very broad view regarding the exact meaning of the law. He says: "A reading of Section 265 in connection with Section 259 would indicate that the Legislature must have had in mind that 'shoot- ing, hunting, fishing, playing, horse racing and gaming' were pro- hibited only in 'public,' because after the word 'gaming' it ex- pressly says 'or other public sports.' Why speak of 'other public sports* if it is intended to restrain 'private' sport? It doubtless is the fact that 'shooting, hunting, fishing and horse racing" are usually within the observance or hearing of others than those engaged in these sports, and in such cases there would appear to be a clear violation of the law. "The peace, the quiet and repose of the community are to be protected. Where these are not disturbed the reason for the law ceases" Justice Davis, in his decision in the Keith & Proctor case, said: "Of course, the views expressed in this opinion have no refer- ence to any exhibition of pictures of a salacious or otherwise indecent character, or which tend in any degree to corrupt morals. It will be the duty of the police to suppress such shows on every day of the week." He adds that he continues the injunction because "it is important to have an Appellate tribunal pass upon the questions involved, because of the conflict of views on this subject in different departments."