Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

EXHIBITORS HERALD 19 TWO MEN JAILED ON FILM THEFT Joseph M. schexck CHARGE BY MUTUAL IN N. Y. RAID widens interests IN film industry 5. A. Huffman, Exchange Owner, and Joseph Quadrini, Exhibitor, Accused of Filching Chaplin Print. Bound Over to Grand Jury After Launching Norma Talmadge and Arbuckle he Makes New Affiliations New York. — Sidney A. Huffman, owner of a film exchange at 729 Fifth avenue, nd Joseph Quadrini, an exhibitor owning a theatre at Smith and Hackett streets, , Jrooklyn, were arrested after a police raid on Huffman's place by detectives and ound over to the grand jury after a police court hearing before Judge Corrigan lis week. The arrests followed investigations by secret service men attached to the Mutual Film Corporation, from whose offices a print of Charlie Chaplin's comedy, Easy Street," disappeared. Warrants were secured for the man's arrest. He was iken to the theatre owned by Quadrini and confronted with the latter, but neither 'ould make a detailed confession and both were held. Advance Steps Against Pirates The arrests constitute a further step i the campaign being conducted by the lutual Film Corporation against film irates all over the country. In the Durse of the Mutual secret service deartment's activities many arrests have een made and several convictions se.ired in Chicago and elsewhere. Inforiation now in the hands of the officials f the corporation render probable a rge number of arrests in various parts f the country. "There will be no more civil prosecuons of film thieves by the Mutual Film orporation." said Samuel M. Field, genial counsel, in announcing the deterlination of the Mutual to push the cases against Huffman and Quadrini to the limit. Holds More Evidence "We have evidence now which will permit us to proceed with entire confidence against film thieves in various parts of the country who have been masquerading as legitimate dealers, and, under this disguise, robbing wherever opportunity presented. All prosecutions in the future will be in the criminal courts and they will be conducted with the utmost rigor of the law." The investigation which has been in progress for many months has covered the principal cities of the United States. It is understood that many other raids are contemplated. LUSS REVOLUTION AND BATTLE LINES FILMS NOW OFFERED TRADE BY OVERLAND CO. fter Successful Showing at Rialto Theater in N. Y. Official Record Films are Re-Edited to Eight Reels; Production Depicts Upheaval in Newest Republic The new pictures of the Russian Revotion and behind the Russian battle les, recently purchased from the repsentative of the Skobeleff Committee, hich brought these official reel-records om Russia, by the New Russia Film Dmpany and distributed by the Over'nd Film Company, are now ready to : shown to the public. After their successful presentation at e Rialto Theater, New York, Samuel rellberg. president of Overland, felt at the pictures could be even better ranged, and that nothing should be left idone to place a subject of this magni|de before American audiences in the I barest possible light. Accordingly, he ijgaged one of the most experienced rn editors and title-men in the busillss, and placed the picture entirely in Ip hands, with the result that the events lie chronologically laid out according I the best authorities and the struggle I the titanic struggle carefully made (par. From twenty-four thousand feet I film, the editor has selected the lioicest material and put it into eight (els of one thousand feet each, and has anaged to tell the story of the great Isis in a masterly manner. David V. Picker, manager and also "ector of the Xew Russia Film Comny, is an enthusiastic supporter of this w arrangement of the picture. He is e of the foremost exhibitors in the instry, being the owner of the Picker ain of theaters, and a keen judge of pictures. He has great faith in these new pictures, and fe'els that a great subject such as this should be arranged so as to best suit the American taste. The pictures are being run this week at the Slst Street Theater, Xew York, in their new arrangement, and all criticisms so far have been most favorable. The theater has put aside their entire program as was previously done at the Rialto, in order to give them the showing that they deserve. INDIANA EXHIBITORS HEAR PETTIJOHN; GOES TO CHICAGO Charles C. Pettijohn, general manager of the American Exhibitors' Association left Xew York Thursday to attend a meeting of the directors of the Indiana local of the American Exhibitors' Association. Frank J. Rembusch, chairman of the organization committee of the A. E. A. and Mr. Pettijohn addressed the meeting of the Indiana directors and outlined to them the work already accomplished by the association. Following the meeting of the Indiana directors, which was held in Indianapolis on Friday. September 28, Mr. Pettijohn left for Chicago to address another gathering of exhibitors interested in the American Exhibitors' Association. Joseph M. Schenck, president and treasurer of the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation. Xew York, has made rapid strides in the film world since his first venture into the field more than a 3-ear ago. Mr. Schenck, who, as manager of JOSEPH If. SCHEXCK Norma Talmadge and Roscoe Arbuckle. successfully launched these two popular players' own producing companies, has acquired larger interests and new affiliations, it is announced, the details of which will be made known soon, and big things are expected from him. CHICAGO TO HAVE TWO NEW HOUSES Alexander Flower, theatre operator, has acquired the northwest corner property at 35th street and Forest avenue. Chicago, for a stated consideration of S40.000. Mr. Flower is having plans prepared for an 1.800 seat theatre to be erected on the site at a cost of $200,000. A new motion picture theatre will be erected on West Madison street, near Western avenue. Chicago, which will have a seating capacity of 1.280. The theatre has been leased to Lubliner & Trinz. the Chicago theatre owners, for ten vears from April 1, 1918. at an annual" rental of £12,000.