Exhibitor's Trade Review (Mar-May 1925)

April 4, 1925 S. 0. S. Call For "TheWhiteMonkey" Associated Pictures Corporation Appeals to Exhibitors for Copy of Ancient Chinese Painting If any exhibitor has in his possession a print of "The White Monkey,' or knows where one can be obtained, he will gain the everlasting gratitude of the Associated Pictures Corporation by wiring them complete details without delay. They are anxious to hear from anyone who can help them locate the mysterious painting and are willing to pay well for information concerning same. In the John Galsworthy book of that name the White Monkey is stated to be an ancient Chinese painting, showing a large whi|te monkey, with haunting brown eyes that gaze out at life, wistful, mysterious and sad, with an endless query. In its outstretched paw it holds an orange-like fruit, while discarded golden-yellow rinds make bright splashes of color in an otherwise gray background. Have you ever seen the picture? Almost everyone asked seems to have remembered having seen it at one time or another, and yet no one can recall where. A? a last resource, the publishers of his book cabled John Galsworthy, asking where the mysterious picture could be obtained, and although it inspired this eminent author to write the best selling novel of the year, he replied that he is now unable to recall whether he actually ever saw the painting, or it is just a figment of his imagination that has become a reality through constant association. Announcement that screen rights to "The White Monkey" had been acquired by the Associated Pictures Corporation, producers of Sawyer-Lubin features, was made some weeks ago and work on the production was scheduled to begin some time this month. The scenario requires that the painting, or a reproduction of it, be used in several scenes of the production, and it is considered of sufficient importance by Director Phil Rosen to delay the filming of the novel until an effort to trace the picture can be made. Censorship Repeal (Special Dispatch to Exhibitors Trade Review) Albany, N. Y., March 25 — By a party vote the bill to repeal motion picture censorship in New York State was defeated on Wednesday noon at the State Capitol in Albany, when Assemblyman Frederick Hackenburg made a final attempt to have the bill reported out of Rules Committee. When the vote was taken after considerable debate, it was found that the Republicans had lined up solidly against Mr. Hackenburg's efforts, while the Democrats were equally as solid in favor of having the bill reported out of committee and go to a vote. Like hundreds of other bills caught in the final jam of the session, the censorship repeal bill thus dies in committee. The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Hackenburg several weeks ago and remained in committee up until the time all bills went into the so-called rules committee. The bill called for the abolishment of the New York State motion picture commission on July 30 next and this, of course, carried with it the implication of censorship repeal. The attempt on the part of Assemblyman Hackenburg, who hails from New York, to have the bill reported out of committee and Arthur H. Sawyer, supervising director of Sawyer Lubin productions and Barney Lubin in charge of production for the Associated Pictures Corporation who are making a series of pictures starring Barbara La Marr for First National. j{c sK sj« Famous Players Acquire Ten Canadian Theatres Ottawa, Ont., March 24 — An important addition has been made to the holdings of Famous Players Canadian Corp., Limited, Toronto, through the reported acquisition of the chain of theatres in Ontario formerly operated by Trans-Canada Theatres, Limited, Montreal. The first move toward the securing of this chain of some 10 theatres has been made at London, Ontario, where the Grand Theatre has been acquired. Negotiations for the control of this property were made when Clarence Robson of Toronto, supervisor of theatres for Famous Players, paid off a mortgage of $40,000 on the London Grand which was held by the London Loan and Savings Corporation. Following this recent incident, announcement was made that the Trans-Canada houses "have come under the ownership of the Famous Players Canadian Corporation." Defeated In N. Y. at least go to a vote attracted a throng to the assembly chamber that packed it to the doors. The attempt to repeal censorship has been a subject of general interest in the State Capitol this year. Assemblyman Burton Desmond, Assemblyman Walter F. Clayton, and Assemblyman F. Trubee Davison, all Republicans, spoke against the bill being reported out of committee. Mr. Desmond declared that the women of the stage were against the repeal and that the effort to wipe the law off the statute books in New York State came from the producers whom he said again wanted the privilege of showing to the pub'ic anv sort of motion picture which was found to be profitable. In reply Assemblyman Hackenburg declared that the business had grcwn until it was now the third largest in the United States and well able to care for itself. Mr. Hackenburg further said that the women to whom Mr. Desmond had referred constituted a comparatively small group who had nothing to do except take care of their poodle dogs and mix in the affairs of the Republican party. Page 31 Exhibitors Urged To Read Contracts Albany Zone Committee Points Out Evils of Buying Too Many Pictures Albany, N. Y., March 23.— The Albany Zone Committee, made up of exhibitors in what might be termed that portion of New York State east of the center, met in Albany last Monday afternoon for the first time since it was organized last January, at which time Meyer Schine was elected as president. Mr. Schine presided at Monday's meeting, at which Louis Beuttner, of Cohoes, was elected as secretary in place of Ben Apply, of Troy, who resigned. There were many important matters up before the meeting. Chief discussion centered round the present contracts and the necessity of knowing exactly what these contracts mean before the exhibitor signs them. Louis Buettner led in the discussion with Robert Wagner, of Little Falls; C. H. Mayor, of Herkimer, and others joining in. Mr. Buettner declared clared that exhibitors today should be extures at a time these days and that they should always bear in mind that they must either "pay or play." President Schine was authorized to name a committee to draft bylaws and decide how often zone meetings should be held. In all probability meetings will take place once a month from now on. Among those present at Monday's meeting were : D. H. McLaughlin, of Oriskany Falls ; L. L. Connors, of Cambridge ; F. E. Green, of Castleton ; C. L. Gardner, of Albany; Charles Sesonke, of Johnstown ; Betty Feuer, Gertrude Myers and W. W. Farley, of Schenectady; Harry Lazarus, of Kingston; Dave Seymour, of Saranac Lake ; Miss Elizabeth Walton, of Lake Placid ; C. H. Moyer, of Herkimer ; Robert Wagner of Little Falls ; M. E. Silberstein, of Catskill ; Ben Davis and Meyer Shine, of Gloversville ; Mr. and Mrs. Milligan, of Schuylersville ; Walter Robearts, Jacob Rosenthal, Uly S. Hill and Ben Apple, of Troy; Louis Beuttner, of Cohoes; William Smalley, of Cooperstown. Charlie, Charlie's brother and Charley's Aunt. The famous comedian posed with his brother Syd when "Charley's Aunt" was filmed by Producers Distributing. ■