Show World (May 1909)

6 THE SHOW WORLD May 8,1909 A TIMELY TALK ON RESULTS By J. J. MURDOCK. MOVING PICTURES IN NEW YORK DANCE HALLS On next Monday. May* 10, the In¬ ternational Projecting and Producing Company will make its seventh re¬ lease. Let us pause for a moment and consider what has been accomplis h e d since our first release was made March 22 . During the past six weeks I have repeat¬ edly assured exchange men and exhibitors that under no circumstances would the Interna¬ tional supply more than one-third of the American'trade. In this connec¬ tion it might be just as well for me to briefly reiterate my reasons for determining to confine the supply of our films to one-third of the trade. It was to create a healthy compe¬ tition and to eliminate a ruinous op¬ position. It was to encourage a profitable rivalry and to make it pos¬ sible for the enterprising exhibitor, who was willing to pay a fair price for the best films, to maintain a high standard of service and thus build up and hold a lucrative clientele. I fig¬ ured that in supplying but one of every three moving picture exhibit¬ ors in America, with our product, that the International would most certainly create a condition which would prove beneficial to all con¬ cerned—give the moving picture in¬ dustry that impetus so necessary to its welfare and eventually place it upon a plarte second to no other amusement interest in the world. A Reconstructive Period. I am also free to confess that in bringing about this most desirable state of affairs; in solving a problem which had harrassed the minds of many engaged in the profession of motography, that I had in view, al¬ though only supplying one-third of the trade, of placing the International company upon an overshadowing pedestal for the general welfare of the moving picture industry and all worthy members identified therewith. The amusement world is passing through a reconstructive period. Mod¬ ern ideas are displacing the antiquated methods of the past. Was it not high time indeed that this reconstructive force should be apolied to the film business which has experienced such enormous strides during the past dec¬ ade? The story of the moving picture reads like a romance. One would al¬ most think that its pioneers had rubbed Aladdin’s magic lamp, so mir¬ aculously have they amassed wealth. But blinded by the golden showers of shekels, which poured upon them, not through, but in spite of their en¬ deavor, they have stumbled in the path of their own progress, and have brought about a condition which must and will be remedied. Just what the International has ac¬ complished in this direction it is hardly meet for me to say, but it is well known that one of the mosc menacing conditions was that of an over burdening opposition; that is, the forcing of all exhibitors to secure their films from one common source of supply, without discrimination, thus compelling all of them to exhibit the same subjects. Refers to Statistics. My attention was recently called by an actor to an article which appeared in the special spring number of an Eastern dramatic paper, dealing with the moving picture situation in this country as viewed by their corre¬ spondents, which, as they declare, are located in almost every city and town of consequence in the United States. In this special spring number this dramatic publication endeavors to out¬ line the conditions as existing in ev¬ ery field of amusement and has much to say regarding the moving picture situation. In order to obtain this in¬ formation the correspondents of this publication were instructed to report, as far as possible, the class of film service used by the different motion picture houses in their towns, to¬ gether with such other information as might be of interest. In summar¬ izing the reports, provided by its rep¬ resentatives, the following statement “Numerically the licensed houses occupy nearly, if not quite, 75 per cent of the entire field. The percentage is much greater in the east, exceeding 90 per cent in many localities As we move toward the west the percent¬ age decreases until we reach the lo¬ calities tributary to Chicago, where we find the two forces very nearly even¬ ly divided. Further west, toward the Pacific coast, the proportion of li¬ censed houses increases until in some localities they are almost as strong as in the east. In the south, also, the licensed houses are the more numer¬ ous. . . . Chicago being the center of the independent strength, presents a larger proportion of prominent pic¬ ture houses exhibiting independent films than any other city in the coun¬ try, although many of the larger the¬ aters are licensed.” Loosely Conducted Exhibitions Led to Many Bills Being Introduced in the Legislature. Albanv. N. Y„ May 6. The hand and seal of Governor Hughes, which has been set on the bill introduced recently in the legisla¬ ture by Assemblyman Charles F. Mur¬ phy of New York city, marks the first step in important reform of the rules governing the giving of moving pic¬ ture performances. Assemblyman Murphy’s bill, just signed, provides that it shall be a misdemeanor for the manager, pro¬ prietor, or in fact any person con¬ nected with a moving picture exhibi¬ tion, to admit a child under sixteen years of age unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. There have been several bills along the same lines introduced in the legis¬ lature this year and several of them were passed by both the senate and assembly. These additional bills, aimed to restrict operations, are still under executive consideration and ii they do not conflict in purport with Assemblyman Murphy’s measure there is little doubt but that they, too, will be signed. The moving picture proposition was singled out this year for attack, per¬ haps with the hope of reform. Re¬ ports of loosely conducted exhibitions and the existence of dance halls in which the moving picture machine found its way, is believed tfflbe the cause of the attack. The general ef¬ fect of the dance hall moving oictnre project has been a great detriment to the cleaner and more legitimate en¬ terprise, hence the new law. The moving picture reform is j spreading to many cities of the state and ordinances have been passed in many municipalities, including this city, restricting the admission of children.—CARDOZE. Favors the International. The report in detail covers several hundred cities and towns, and what does it go to prove? Their statement proves that the International is now supplying 25 per cent of the trade throughout the country, and that has been accomplished in less than six weeks. Bear in mind that the Inter¬ national company only asks for 33 1-3 per cent of the trade. Candidly, I am proud of the show¬ ing, and all who are at all conversant with the existing situation must admit that the International has kept every promise and is living up to its stand¬ ard for honorable dealing and integ¬ rity. To the army of co-workers who have assisted us in inaugurating the International campaign, which is daily taking on added strength and which must perforce become the vital pow¬ er in the moving picture field, I em¬ brace this opportunity, through the columns of THE SHOW WORLD, of extending my sincere thanks and felicitations upon the sturdy spirit which has been infused into the move¬ ment through their efforts. Of course no regenerating move¬ ment was ever inaugurated and car¬ ried to complete success without its interruptions and annoyances, but happily the International campaign goes on with ever increasing vigor, building up a tower of strength for the future and brushing aside the idle frothings of maligning individuals, who, either through spleen or for per¬ sonal gain, or to court the graces of the Trust, endeavored to place imped¬ iments in our path. NEW PICTURE THEATERS. North Dakota—Grand Forks, Mrs. L. Feldkirschnerm, mgr.; another in the same city, W. J. Hawk, mgr. Wyoming—Cheyenne, V. F. Park¬ er, mgr.; Cody, W. S. Greenleaf and Dan Schofield, mgrs.; Rock Springs, C. L. Hogle, mgr. Wisconsin—Janesville, Edw. Mantz, mgr.; Shawano, J. F. Kocian and P. C. Diedrich, mgrs. Minnesota —■ Minneapolis, H. H. Green, 307 Hennepin St., mgr. New York—Antwerp, M. H. Bent, mgr. Iowa—Mt. Ayr, L. Hoover and Ed Ray, mgrs.; Audubon, A. L. Bliven and George Fuller, mgrs. Indiana—Logansport, Fred Nelson, mgr. New Mexico—Artesia, D. S. Loon¬ ey, mgr. Pennsylvania—Chambersburg, M. R. Webber, mgr.; Emaus, Lehigh amuse¬ ment company, mgrs. Kansas—Iola, Thomas Parker, mgr. Missouri—Marshall, W. T. Carroll and Son, mgrs.; Slater, W. T. Carroll & Son, mgrs. Illinois—Champaign, J. W. Lyman, mgr. New Film Making Concern. Salt Lake City, May 6. Articles of incorporation were filed last week in Ogden of the Progressive Motion Picture company, capital stock, $25,000, divided into shares of $100 each. Ogden is to be the prin¬ cipal place of business, and the com¬ pany is to run for 100 years. Some films have already been made by this concern, and work will begin at once to get out a good line, western pic¬ tures being the main product. The incorporators are: Albert Scowcroft, president; Charles Zeimer, vice-presi¬ dent; W. W. Hodkinson, secretary; H. A. Sims, treasurer, and Susie Sims. —JOHNSON. New Film Company. Iowa Falls, May 5. The Clinton Film Service Company is the name of a new company at Du¬ luth with a capital of $20,000. The company will handle picture machines, films and other annaratus as well as equip and operate theaters.—FOS¬ TER. Mankato, Minn, May 3. Has Mankato’s Sunday “lid” warped? Is there really a show > for Sunday shows in the local show sho^s^Hf These are the burning questions of the hour in Mankato. The big climax was looked for last night, inasmuch as Manager Ruerup of Wonderland, a 10c vaudeville and picture shop, had an¬ nounced in the papers a continuous per formance from eight until ten o'clock and Mayor Meyer had predicted Mr Ruerup’s arrest if he opened his place Mr. Ruerup late Saturday afternoon re marked that the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra had been permitted to give afternoon and evening concerts Iasi Sunday under the auspices of St John's Catholic church at the theater, and on the same day a big ball game had been pulled off at the fair grounds,, and be¬ cause Mayor Meyer, who entered upon the duties of his office only a couple of weeks ago, had permitted these things, why not moving pictures and vaudeville on Sunday? He proposed |jf bring about a test case. But when people passed Wonderland last evening, the doors were locked and a big poster in the window explained: "Hon. Mayor has asked me not to open theater tonight as he wants deci¬ sion of the people if he should enforce the law to the letter as he cannot half measures. Watch the papers and help decide.’ - Mr. Ruerup cannot be reached at this writing, and his plans are not generally known, since his conference with mayor yesterday. The matter ing much attention RICHTER. ot generally ■e with tM "•=] MOVING PICTURE NOTES. Engage in Picture Business. Hyman and Hirsch, well known as candy manufacturers in this city, have obtained a site at Larrabee and North avenue and will erect a theato- rium to seat 200 persons. It will be an elaborate affair and the cost is said to be something like . $24,000; ten thousand for-the building and four¬ teen thousand for the lot. The policy will be five cent vaudeville and pic¬ tures during the week and ten cent vaudeville and pictures Saturday and Sunday. Ishpeming, Mich.—The Bijou the | ater, conducted by C. A. Crinnian, w-a-, destroyed by fire. Champaign, Ill. — Matt Kusell has sold the Crescent to Marcus Henm" Cambridge City, Ind.-W. D. Wags' has purchased the Bijou. Chicago, Ill.—Henry Comus’ theato- rium was damaged by fire. Temple, Texas.—Kennedy and Wy¬ ler have purchased the Peoria, Ill.—The Crescent; owite by W. F. Robinson, was destroyed fire. New Local Theatorium. Schaeffer and Schindler have brok¬ en ground in North avenue near Sedgwick for a ndw moving picture house which will seat 1,100 persons. Racine, Wis.—The Orpheum added vaudeville to its program 1 moving pictures. — PRAMER. Osage, Iowa.— II. G- BaiimgarW' has sold the Lyric to W. I- ''em and F. C. Atherton.