Show World (May 1909)

10 THE SHOW WORLD May 22, 1909. PATENTS CO. ANSWERS CHARGE OF INACTIVITY It would seem, accokrding to the fol¬ lowing bulletin, that the Moving Pic¬ ture Patents Company extends an ample refutation of the charge heard in many quarters of its inactivity. A lawsuit against an alleged in¬ fringement of the Edison camera pat¬ ents, the cancellation of the licenses of four film exchanges for averred breach of their license agreements, the licens¬ ing of new exchanges and a plan to permit exchanges to give spasmodic exhibitions for special occasions, upon payment of a two dollar weekly roy¬ alty, are among the accomplishments of the company within the past few days The meeting held in New York last week was liberally attended by mem¬ bers of the company and the licensed manufacturers, and while no authori¬ tative statement could be gained from any one present, it is generally agreed that much enthusiasm was shown by all present. The bulletin of the meeting, as is¬ sued bv the press department, is given in full: “That the Motion Picture Patents Company is in earnest in its determin¬ ation to protect its • own Patent hold¬ ings against infringement, and in pre¬ venting any violation of its agreement with licensed film exchanges, is made clear beyond all question by certain items in the report of the meeting of the Patents company board and the licensed manufacturers. “Suit has been filed in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia Sues Alleged Infringer, Cancels Four and Has New against the National Mutoscene Com¬ pany, of Oklahoma. The camera used by the Mutoscene company is an in¬ fringement on the Edison patent, the validity of which has been affirmed by the U. S. Supreme Court. Heavy dam¬ ages will be demanded. Four Licenses Cancelled. “Four film exchanges, three in Chi¬ cago and one in Memphis, Tenn., had their licenses cancelled. This action is an assurance to the other licensed exchanges that they will be protected against the juggling and exchanging of films by unscrupulous competitors. “The Schiller Film Exchange was dropped because of its failure to keep its agreement with the Patents com¬ pany, for its failure in co-operating with the Patents company, and its fail¬ ure in meeting requirements in the conduct of its exchange business. “One of the principal causes of com¬ plaint against the Schiller Exchange was that it had been exchanging films with other offices, in direct violation of the agreement under which a licensed exchange is alowed to use only films that it has leased from the manufac- "The Star Film Exchange of Chi¬ cago had its license cancelled for fur¬ nishing licensed films to unlicensed theaters, and for having failed in its agreement to make good in the pay- Exchanges, Grants Another License Royalty Plan. ment of a penalty which had been im¬ posed for a similar offense a few weeks ago. “The United States Film Exchange of Chicago lost its license for failing to observe the terms of the license agreement, and the American Film Ex¬ change of Memphis was dropped for the same cause. “The Governing Board of the Pat¬ ents company in conference with the licensed manufacturers went over numerous reports which have recently come to the Patents company’s offices alleging that other licensed exchanges are exchanging reels with one another to save themselves the necessity of keeping a complete stock of their own on hand for the benefit of their customers. The “Borrowing Habit.” “The practice as reported seems to be for one exchange to omit purchas¬ ing certain pictures, depending on its ability to borrow from another ex¬ change. If the borrowing exchange is unsuccessful in getting the picture ask¬ ed for, the result is that the customers of that exchange are obliged to do without such pictures. “The Patents company will take vig¬ orous steps and go to any extent to eliminate this practice. “Another item of interest embodied in the report of the conference of the • Patents company board with the licensed manufacturers was the grant¬ ing of a license to MitchellV%ilm Exchange of Little Rock, Ark,, to open a branch office in Memphis, Tenn. “The report of the many reforms and improvements made by the Pat¬ ents company for the general advance of the motion picture business, includ¬ ing the obtaining of fire and accident insurance for exhibitors, the depart¬ ment of Inspection which reports on the conditions of all licensed picture .theaters with a view to the better¬ ment of their conditions in sanitation, ventilation, fire safety etc., the perfec- | tion of a system whereby theaters may be kept light during performance^ anil the splendid work done by the Board of Censorship and so on was received with much favor. “The manufacturers declared ,|hem- selves much gratified by the work of the Censorship Board, and heartily in accord with its activities. “George Kleine, who has just re¬ turned from a visit to all of the cent¬ ers of film distribution West of Chi¬ cago, including Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco. Los Angeles, and I Seattle, reported that he found busi- I ness conditions with the licensed ex- j changes much improved, and that com¬ plete satisfaction with the licensed service was very generally expressed. “Mr. Kleine further stated that the old films, issued prior to Feb. 1st, are (continued on Page 22) LIVE NEWS TOPICS OF THE WEEK ILLINOIS. Sterling.—Paul V. Baxter has opened a new vaudeville and moving picture theater. Joliet.—John Whittle, of Goshen, Ind., will open a moving picture the¬ ater here. Rockford.—The Lyric theater, lo¬ cated in the Woodruff block, is to be greatly enlarged. Peoria.—Thomas H. Webb has pur¬ chased the Weat theater on Fulton Lincoln, Ill.—Chris Marker has sold his five-cent theater here to Jesse King. Chillicothe, Ill.—J. F. Lynch and son, Fred, have purchased the Or- pheunx theater here of D. Meekel. Peru.—Anton Schlaugh of Wyanet, has completed arrangements for the opening up of a new moving picture theater in the Germania park. Marion.—The New Roland, under the management of A. L. Byers, rep¬ resentative of the Western Vaudeville Association of Chicago, has been doing nice business each night. The Caterlin players have been making good, giving a complete change each evening, both in the vaudeville act and in the moving pictures. The bill for this week is the Lasalle Trio of Acrobats and Franz. Gilmore, the il¬ lusionist.—JENKINS. Elgin.—The opera house, Temple, Star and Globe theaters are all play¬ ing to capacity. The Coliseum skat¬ ing l'ink has been made into a palm garden where soft drinks, ice cream, etc., are served. A few concession booths have been installed. Bach’s Milwaukee Orchestra of 30 pieces will open the season May 30-22, as¬ sisted by Carl Woempner, flute soloist, and Henry Tetzner, cornet soloist. Hugo Bach will conduct the orchestra and Herman Kelbe will act as con¬ cert master. Mr. Aldrich, the pro¬ prietor and manager, has arranged to have different bands and orchestras to appear at Coliseum during the season.-—BARTLETT. INDIANA. Vincennes.—The Red Mill, accord¬ ing to announcement two weeks ago, opened in vaudeville May 17 to ca¬ pacity business with Louise LaBooth singer and dancer, Herr Schmidt, the human pillar and other attractions.— BELL. Washington.—The Airdome opened in vaudeville May 10 to good business which continued all week.—BELL. Evansville.—Big business is re¬ ported at the Orpheum last week. This week’s bill includes Earl and Bartlett, Tom Heuron, Hansom and Bonnet, and Mabel Moore. The Air- dome opened on May 9, with moving pictures and vaudeville. For the first week business was only fair.—OBER- DORFER. Logansport. — Messrs Krotz and Rife are making arrangements to open a new theater here. It will be known as the Grand. Tom Depew of the Depew-Burdette stock company has brought his wife here for the summer. Mrs. Depew. is very sick and Tom says he was obliged to cancel all his summer engagements on account of his wife’s illness. This is Mrs. De¬ pew’s home.—WARD. Elkhart.—Fred S. Timmins, who has been resident manager of the Bucklen theater since the lease of Harry G. Sommers went into effect beginning with the fall of 1906, has finally definitely resigned, and will surrender the position the latter part of June or the first of July, suiting Mr. Sommers’ convenience. Hammond.—J. C. Matthews, west¬ ern booking representative for Will- 'iam Morris, Inc., has closed a deal with the Towle Ooera house here to furnish vaudeville bookings. MISSOURI. Cameron. — Messrs. Brown and Shaw have opened a new Crystal the¬ ater in, the Woods building. Springfield.—Capt. George H. Pea¬ body has leased the building at 307 College street and will remodel it into a moving picture theater. Sedalia.—Mr. James A. Capen has opened a new moving picture theater on East Fourth street. It is known as the Lyric. Gallatin. — A. C. McCoy of Hamil¬ ton, has purchased the moving picture theater here from W. L. Hare. OHIO. Springfield.—The Fairbanks theater is giving five and ten cent vaudeville and pictures during the summer months. Harry Ketcham, the mana¬ ger, is being congratulated upon the fact that the past season showed a profit. Heretofore the theater has been a losing investment. At the Grand the Latimore & Leigh stock company appears this week. The New Sun will continue throughout the sum¬ mer months. It always has big crowds.—GOODFELLOW. Bowling Green.—Ernest Hodgson is making arrangements to open a new moving picture show in the Brown block. IOWA. Sioux City.—The Auditorium will be opened June 15, probably by Reed’s band, a local organization. It is planned to put the big playhouse on an auditorium circuit with Minneapo¬ lis, St. Paul, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, St. Joseph, Kansas City and Omaha!—TUCKER. Mason City.—A. M. Beltz and H. N. Newell will erect an airdome theater Lisbon.—Messrs. Mai'kham & Ter¬ ry, of Mt. Vernon, have leased the Leyh building here and will open a moving picture theater. Fulton, Iowa.—W. E. Baum of Sa- bula has purchased the Finch build¬ ing and will open a new .theatorium here. WESTERN PICTURE NOTES. Ogden City, Utah.—The Progres¬ sive Motion Picture Company has purchased the Globe theater here on Washington avenue. Tacoma, Wash.—The Princess The¬ ater Company is making arrange¬ ments to open a ne\y moving picture establishment at 907 C street. Valley City, N. Dak.—The Bijou Moving Picture theater here was badly damaged by fire. Turlock, Cal.—Charles Johnson, of Idaho Falls, Ida., will erect a new moving picture theater here on Sec- Walhalla, N. Dak.—John Piler, pro¬ prietor of the Bijou theater at Graf¬ ton, is planning to open a new moving picture show here. Auburn, Neb.—Ed May has opened a new nickel theater here. It is known as the New Lyric. Pocatello, Ida.—W. W. Hodkinson, of Ogden, Utah, is making arrange¬ ments to open a new moving picture theater here. Tempe, Ariz.—G. S. Wieder and T. L. Harden, of Phoenix, will install a moving picture, show in the Goodwin building. Mitchell, S. Dak.—C. D. Adams lias sold his interest in the Standard Amusement Company, which owns the Olympia moving picture theater, to Frank Welch and Joseph Hopp, of Chicago. Ainsworth, Neb.—Dr. G. D. Ship- herd is making arrangements to open j l moving picture theater here. ^ ^ Auburn, Neb.—Ed M. May, of Falls City, has purchased the Elite theater here from Til Bailey, and will soon take possession. Nebraska City, Neb.—Frank S. Morse has purchased the Fairyland theater here, and is now in charge. , Sioux Falls, S. Dak.—C. D. Adams has decided to open a new moving picture theater in the Geeleyjbuilding on South Phillips avenue. I Oxrden, Utah. — The Progressive Motion Picture Company, of this city, | which was formerly known as the 20th Century Film Company, has been forced to seek larger quarters and has I located at 2349 Washington avenue, , where their floor space is n J a . f | doubled. Manager Wm. W. Hodkin- , son, secretary and manager, is particu- | larly gratified at the outlook for sum- mer and fall business. St. Cloud, Minn.—A new moving picture theater opened herelMa)’ | It is located opposite the Fifth A vc ' , nuc theater, which was the first, thea¬ torium in the city. The new hou* ■ uses Independent films and the P u . | lie is wondering which house will v out.—KINDLER.