Show World (April 1909)

April 24, 1909. THE SHOW WORLD T T MURDOCK DENIES CINCINNATI REPORT. General Manager of Western Vaude¬ ville Association Says It Is Not In Anderson-Ziegler Deal. A report was circulated in Cincin¬ nati Ohio, which found its way into the’metropolitan papers and was re¬ produced in various amusement jour¬ nals, to the effect that the Western Vaudeville Managers’ Association was interested in the project launched by Anderson-Zeigler Company in the moving picture field. A representa¬ tive of THE SHOW WORLD called upon J. J. Murdock, general manager of the Western Vaudeville Managers’ Association in regard to this rumor, who stated: “I understand that the Anderson- Zeigler Co. leased the property ad¬ joining the Columbia theater in Cin¬ cinnati. This has been under con¬ sideration for some time, in order to be able to control this adjoining prop¬ erty and be assured of the_ class of business operated on that site. They have, as I have learned through the press, closed the negotiations, and contemplate, when they gain posses¬ sion of the premises, erecting a mov¬ ing picture theater, as it is ideally located for such an enterprise. As far as the Western Vaudeville Manag¬ ers’ Association is concerned, how¬ ever, it has absolutely nothing to do with this moving picture theater, or any other moving picture theater, as the association is formed solely to operate vaudeville houses. A Personal Matter. “The fact that one of its members should see fit to engage in the opera¬ tion of a moving picture theater is no criterion that the entire association is going into that field. Because I per¬ sonally am engaged in the moving picture. business is no criterion that the rest of them are going to do so. “It is a personal matter entirely and just as foreign as if some of the members entered the dry goods busi- “The fact is that Anderson- Zeigler Co. have been running a mov¬ ing picture theater in Louisville, Ky., since last September with great suc¬ cess. However, that is a matter that will take care of itself, and as they are fully capable of governing their own affairs they know what they are '“‘‘This will demonstrate how unau¬ thenticated rumors will creep into the public press and gain circulation. I am glad, however, that THE SHOW WORLD, with its usual enterprise, comes to headquarters for verification and its readers should appreciate at all times its endeavor to print real news, and not be carried away by vaporous reports.” Carl Laemmle Buys House? Minneapolis, Minn., April 19. It is reported on reliable authority that the Gem theater has been sold by • jplvanaugh to Carl Laemmle, the well known film exchange man. The Lem has been run as a 10 cent vaude¬ ville house, being booked by Hal Good¬ win. Direct confirmation of the sale cannot be obtained at this writing, but [t is understood that the price paid was between $15,000 and $18,000, and that Mr. Kavanaugh will continue to manage the house—BARNES. Moving Pictures and Vaudeville. J Sunbury, Pa., April 20. Ralph Achenbach, who has been run mng the Pastime theater at Northum¬ berland, will go on the road on tin nrst of May with moving pictures anc vaudeville. He will carry 12 peoph and has a tent which will seat 400, ir which he will show—McCREARY. Purchase Findlay Theater. 1 Columbus, Ohio, April 21. mlly James and Sam Murphy, < volumbus, have purchased the Fami: e . r | at l Findlay. The house will t ■■■■.deled and vaudeville added, ar Paced in the Sun circuit—GRAF. EXHIBITOR QUESTIONS PROMISES OF COMBINE O. D. Posey, President of an A tlanta Amusement Company Asks Information From Patents Company. THE SHOW WORLD is in receipt of the following letter from O. D. Posey, who has been prominently iden¬ tified with the amusement business for many years, and is well known among showmen, especially in the south: “Atlanta, Ga., April 17, 1909. “Editor of THE SHOW WORLD “I have been an interested reader of your publication, as well as other show and trade papers, and have been an old showman. I am at present using li¬ censed service and have paid the roy¬ alty demanded, as at the time I was not certain that the Independents could offer me the variety and quality of sub¬ jects necessary for the maintenance of a high class moving picture theater which I have always aimed to have in my house, the Posey. “I notice in the Film Index consid¬ erable comment on the situation. The learned editor advances some unique ideas. What I would like to know is, who is this man? “Is he an authority on the film busi¬ ness, and where did he acquire his knowledge? International Not Backward. “Are his statements supported by the Patents Co.? The International Pro¬ jecting & Producing Co. is not back¬ ward in stating its position over the signature of its president, J. J. Mur- His Honor, MAYOR MARTIN BEHRMAN, of New Orleans. MAYOR BEHRMAN PRAISES FILM EXHIBIT. His Honor, Mayor Martin Behrman, of New Orleans, after witness¬ ing an exhibition of International Projecting and Producing company’s films, given at the Alamo theater in that city, voluntarily wrote the fol¬ lowing letter to William F. Wood, manager of the theater: “AT THE REQUEST OF MR. HERMAN FICHTENBERG, I ATTENDED THE PRIVATE EXHIBITION OF MOVING PIC¬ TURES OF THE INTERNATIONAL PROJECTING AND PRO¬ DUCING COMPANY IN THE ALAMO THEATER, MONDAY, APRIL 12. I CONSIDER THE EXHIBITION TO HAVE BEEN THE FINEST DISPLAY OF MOTION PICTURES I HAVE EVER WITNESSED. “IT IS A CLEAN AND WHOLESOME EXHIBITION WHICH CAN BE PATRONIZED BY MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WHO WILL BEHOLD SPLENDID SUBJECTS AND THE PER¬ FECTION OF THE ART OF MOTION PHOTOGRAPHY. “RESPECTFULLY, “MARTIN BEHRMAN.” The letter is highly prized, not only by Manager Wood, but all who were directly interested in the New Orleans exhibit, but aside from its eulogy it demonstrates the keen personal interest which is being taken in the' film situation by the chief magistrate of the Louisiana metropolis. dock, but I have not yet seen an au¬ thorized statement by the Patents Co. “I notice he says the films of the In¬ dependents are ‘cheap, unsalable junk, manufactured by cheap foreign labor and dumped upon the American exhib¬ itor who is so weak as to take stock in the independent movement,’ mention¬ ing the Italian Cavalry. Has he seen these films? If so, where? And as a critic, does he attempt to state to the exhibitors that this film, or the films which have been exhibited by H. J. Streyckmans, secretary of the Interna¬ tional Co., in this city, are junk? “Is it not a fact that the Film In¬ dex is owned by the Vitagraph Co. and Pathe Freres, and is not he being paid by these firms? “What are we paying the $2 a week royalty for? Why does not the Inter¬ national Co., exact a royalty under the Armat-Jenkins patent? Refers to Past Lawsuits. “Did the Edison Manufacturing Co. succeed in their lawsuit against George Kleine, last year? If not, why not? Why did it take Eberhard Schneider into the combination, and did he or did he not successfully fight the Edi¬ son Co., in the various lawsuits against “Mr. Streyckmans appeared in this city and made some very broad state¬ ments. I learn that he has made these same statements in every large town from New York to Frisco, and through the south. Is he correct in these state¬ ments, and if not, why does not the Patents Co. or the Film Index show him up as a falsifier? “One of Mr. Streyckman’s arguments is that if ten manufacturers can at¬ tempt to supply the trade of America, 28 certainly can do it. Is he wrong? If so, why not show us exhibitors wherein he is wrong? Why does not the Film Index give us the output of these 28 European manufacturers controlled by the International Co., and give us its opinion as to which ones are not proper ones? “Mr. Streyckmans also states that the International Co. will have in op¬ eration four American factories within the next two months. Will the Pat¬ ents Co., or can it, stop the work of these factories ? “Is not the Armat-Jenkins patent the basic patent of the projecting ma¬ chines now on the market? If not, what is? “As an exhibitor, I say: Cut out this hot air and inuendo and veiled promises and threats. Come out in the open and show your hands and don’t leave the exhibitor in the dark. Tell us some¬ thing—but tell us facts. Says Promises Not Kept. “I was told by the general manager of the Patents Co. last February that no more licenses would be. issued in Atlanta as it already had as many as it could support, or the Patents Co. could supply without ruinous conflict of pro¬ grams. A large film renter, however, secured licenses for three new theaters for whom he arranged to supply ser¬ vice, owing to the fact that he is a dominant factor in the Patents Co. and overrode the objection of another ex¬ change and the exhibitors of Atlanta. This also occurred in Macon, Ga. “I cannot see that the Patents Co. has fulfilled a single promise, and its only activity has been in collecting royalties. Furthermore, my observation has been that the product of the li¬ censees of the Patents Co. has deteri¬ orated both in regard to subject and photographic quality since the forma¬ tion of that concern. “I have run nearly every picture pro-^ duced by the licensees of the Patents' Co., within the last three years in my various houses in the south, and am in position to judge. “Yours very truly, “O. D. POSEY, Pres. “Posey Amusement Co.” Chadsay & Howard Here. Chadsay & Howard are appearing in a new .sketch at the local theaters and are preparing time in the East. The sketch is a refined singing and talking act and closes with an Indian