The billboard (Dec 1917)

6 The Bi ilboard DECEMBER 16, i917 DISTRIBUTORS TAKE ACTION IN BROOKLYN BOYCOTT Eleven Prominent Firms File Complaint With U.S. Attorney —Ask That Immediate Steps Be _ Taken To Prevent Threatened Ban From, : New York, Dee. 8—Eleven prominent, otlon pleture distribators, with headquarters in New York, hare, thru thelr attorsess, Cadwalader. Wickersham 4 Taft, fled complaint with Mel‘ile J. France, United States Attorney for the! Eastera District, protesting against an alleged Deycott threatened by the Associated Motion Pictur Exhibitors of Brooklyn against the Fox Fitm Corporation and the Vitagraph Company of America, ‘The Brooklyn exhibitors, at a recent meeting, Geclded they Would combine to cancel thelr| ‘charging them 15 cents, ay @ war-tax, on each reel of film they rented. ‘The eleven dintribators ‘bo are protesting to Attorney France. declare| ‘that a sinflar boycott would be used agatust the other distributors 2s soon as the Fox and Vitn‘graph companies were Brought to the exhibitors’ term. ‘Tho attorneys representing the motion picture Aistifbutors protest that this alleged boycstt 1s a violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Law, elaiming the courts have held that the Sim Dus" finer, which amonnts to’ many millions a0aually, {s fnterstate business within the meaning of this act. ‘The istribatord subscribing to the complaint are as follows: Arteraft Pletares Corporation, Fox Film Corporation, Goldwya Distributing SPIRIT OF 76 CONFISCATED Robert Goldstein Held by Government Officials ; Los Angeles, Dec 8.—Robert Golisteln, producer and exhibitor of The ‘Spirit ‘of "76, is in the custody of the Federal Government, his Slins —poattives and negatives—are in thehands of| Government offclals, and the Federal Grand dary {s comddering hie Indictment for violation ‘Of the espionage laws. ‘The film opened at Clune’s Auditorium’ ‘Thanksgiving Week for a two weeks’, showing. Federal officers and Yocal people viewed the Sim, and ordered that certain portions be ellminated, ‘This, tt 4s alleged, Goldstein promised to do, but| 3t Is claimed tat be pat the cut portions back ‘at the public showing. The selzure of the arrest followed, gripping. Parts of it show lack of direction and are almost amateurish, but even the judge who Sssued the warrant for the arrest of the proGucers 1s sponsor for the correct historical data ‘and, sitoations contained, but declared at the reliminary, hearing that inasmuch as the British are our allies at this time in a world war the showing of 2 film’ that would stlr re. wentment against England was untimely ‘would tend to hamper the United ‘States in its| ‘war operations. : ‘The fact that the exhibitor did not keep ont the objectionable portions after the previewing of the film is eald to form the basis of the Government's charges of violation of the esplonage laws, THEATER MANAGER ARRESTED Cleveland, Dec. 8.—Claiming that the safety ‘exits were blocked with pleces of wood-so they could not be opened easily James E. Granger, assintant fire chfef, has asked for warrants for the arrest of proprictors of the new Palace ‘Theater, St. Clair and East i7th’street. The ‘more Is the aftermath of 2 fire In which a film was borned, whjch caused a panic, and, It} 4s alleged by Granger, several peozle were| ‘trampled upon at the exit duors, When ar| ralgued tn municipal court Jacob Stelu, manager| of the theater, pleaded not guflty to blocking the exits, AL WOOD IN LOS ANGELES Looking After His Initial-Film Pro* ductions ‘Sew York, Dee. 8—AI 11, Woods, the theat-| vical producer, 1s In Los Angeles to consider detalls of his forthcoming fim ventures. Mr. ‘Wools declares that by patting his best productions Into pletures be will not only avoid meeting a precarious fate at the present time on the read, but also present bonest attractions, with Operative Against Them Corporation, International Film Service, Inc.. Paramount Pictures Corporation, Pathe Exchange, Inc., Select Pictures Corporation, Universal Film ‘Manafacturing Compans, Vitagraph Company of America, World Film Corporation and Metro Pietores Corporation. AMERICAN EXHIBITORS! AGEN. Meeting of Officials in. Washington To ‘Outline Plans on Tax Situation | Indianapolie, Ind., Dec. &—A special meeting: of the cficlals of the American Exhibitors’ Ax rocfation will be held in Washiagton; -D. C., ‘eesday, December 11. The _porpose of tho meeting 1s to outline definite plans on the tax question and take up other urgeat matters that have come up. Most of the State orsanizations have roted, to place the question, of admission tax entirely into the hands of H. B, Yarner, of Lexington, N, C., who is chairman of the Lests all the more reasonable that exhibitors ebould combat the reel tax with renewed vigtr, ant there seema to be no better argument at this time than the proposition of Mr. Masthaum. Bahibitors! Gianapolls fa the Inilaca Trost Tallding, ana every exhibitor, no matter what bis afillations fare, 4s Invited to co-operate with the A. E. A. ‘Any information desired will be gladly given, ‘Address communications to American Ex FORM. ECONOMIC ARRANGEMENT New Argument Between Hodkinson ‘Corp. and General New York, Dec. 8—The W. W. Hodkinson will use the exchange organization of the Gen‘eral Pilm Compary ns the service end of Sts dis ‘fribution plans, It ts announced. Under the ar~ Tapgements mad: the Hodkinson Corpération will ‘In addition to the announcement of the Uatted States distribution, the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation also announces ths week that the worla j Tfuted. and upun this claim alone there appears Fights, exclusive of Canada, for al incloding the new Motion Picture Plus, have ‘been arrange? with the Inter-Oceam Film Company. “Anpouncement is also made that the ‘Canadian rights to all the Paralta Plays have HONOR RO! |. P. Exchanges and Distributors Who Are Absorbing the Fifteenbabe Cent Footage Tax aes s absorbing the fifteen-cent footage tax instead of ‘on to the exhibitor send your-name to THE YARD and it be published each week without vharge. ¢ ‘i ae a ‘The following names of exchanges, State-1 ights companies producers are now on our Roll of Honor: MUTUAL FILM CORPORATION. ‘THE. TRIANGLE DIgTRIBUTING CORPORATION. + HOFFMAN-FOUR SQUARE. GENERAL FILM CO. OMAHA FILM: EXCHANGE (State Rights). K-B-S-E. ‘ART DRAMAS. STANDARD FILM. CORPORATION. U.S. EXHIBITORS’ BOOKING CORPORATION. ‘WHOLESOME FILM! _JAXON. FILM CORPORATION. 'S CORPORATION. GLOBE FEATURE FILM CORPORATION. MASTERPIECE FIL QUEEN FEATURE M_ ATTRACTIONS. SERVICE. lative Committee of the A. B.A. Arrangements will be made to have Mr, Varner continue tn ‘Washington the work that is outlined. Every exhibitor in the United States should, get back of Mr. Varner; as be has been much mre successful than any other one connected with the industry In protecting tme exhibitor from inevitable taxation. Mr. Varner ‘is an exhibitor and knows from experience Just what the exhibitor is passing thro. a’ report of every costly distribution, ete.” There is no one {2 the industry better able to know this than Mr, Masthaum, and he hax probably made the figures From the statement of “Mr. "| move ‘was announced did the industry bave any visible sign of a tendency in this direction. _ TAX FIGHT AFTERMATH Cleveland, 0., Dec. 8—Plans for: coutloates, the fight against manafacturers of fms who insist upon pushing the 15 cents a reel, tar are Being made by the Cleveland Exhibitors) League. As the matter stands now, and as ect forth Je ‘hese columns, Judge Phiitips, 12 Common Pleas Court, ero last week, dlimissed the sult of ocel “exhibitors against the manufacturers. These’ plans will not.be divulged, but. beeavse Room ACQUIRES ANOTHER HOUSE ‘Washington, D. C., Dec. 8.—Harry “M. CranGall, head of Crandaii's circult of theaters here, has’ purchased “the American Theater, Rhode Island avenue and First street. N. W American pending alterations, altho comparatively new. ge ite products, LEGAL VICTORY FOR ARTCRAFT ‘Triangle Fails in Effor + Injunetion New York, Dec. 8—Judge Goff, in a lengtiy pileation of the New York Motion Pleture Comrestraining tures Corporation from distributing ‘William &. Hart production, entitled forPermanent EY * Judge Gof, at the close of an elaborate und painstaking review of the affidavits submitted on he defendant served in this action, Arteraft Pictures Corpotation, is: not respousibly. charged with any actof the William 8. Her Inc., so far as appears <bythe, evidence before .. eeteetee : ace i Uf sought herein. services alleged ‘The application for an injunction was ‘by Martin W. Littleton for the-New York Mo+ tion Picture Company, and was opposed by Elek. Jobn Ludvigh for Artcraft Pictures Corporation. LEAVES IVAN FILMS Ivan Abramson Now With The Graphic New York, Dec. 10—Ivan Abramson has ser ‘uralness, ir. Abramson has completed of 2 new and original story, which he New York, Dec. 8.—Eddle Igons anil Lee Moran hare retursed to Universal Olty from their vist to New York and will immediately begin the production of oue-reel comedies. Capt. Leslle T. Peacock has been engaged to provide of which is atill to be salected. LESSER IN CLEVELAND Cleveland, Dee. 8.—Explanation of the plaz of the State-Right Distributors, Inc., was made to ocr” exhibitors this week by ‘President S. D. Lemer, of the mew organization, who stopped ere on ‘his way to Chleago following a c-0 SHAKE-UP New York, Dec, 8.—A’ number of changes bave taken place during the current week in xeveral Of the Western exchenge maintained by the Select Pictures Corporation. Hurry H. “Hicks, formerly, branch manager at Lox Angeles, bes heen transferred :to San Francisce. Bernard’ E. Loper, for. the past .five years. Pathe’s nilt-.