Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

H B R H R D City Council Will Not Demand Chicago Exchanges Leave "Loop" Fire Prevention Bureau Relents in Its Insistence That Film Companies Be Confined to Two Story Buildings The drastic ordinance aimed to drive film exchanges out of the Chicago "loop" district, is no longer contemplated by the Chicago fire prevention bureau, it became known at a meeting of a subcommittee of the council buildings committee last week. Following a disastrous fire in the Pathe Exchange in the Consumers building last summer, the fire prevention bureau went before the committee and demanded an ordinance which provided that a film exchange be prohibited from occupying a building more than two stories in height. This was followed by a number of conferences betwen the film men, mem bers of the council committee and the framers of the ordinance, in which the demands of the latter were modified somewhat. Due to the fact t,hat only a minority of the sub-committee were present at the last meeting another session was called by Aid. Pretzel, chairman, for Wednesday morning, November 23, at which time exchange men, exhibitors and others interested in the ordinance will be heard by the sub-committee. It is now generally understood that if an ordinance can be framed which will provide for the equipping of all exchanges with automatic sprinklers and other means of fire prevention, the fire prevention bureau will be satisfied. A. E. A. MOVES WEST (Continued from page 15, column 1) Y.; W. H. Linton and William Fait, Jr., Utica, N. Y.; Peter J. Jeup and Harry Oppenheim, Detroit, Mich.; Charles C. Pettijohn, Indianapolis; Jay E. Sherwood, Madison, Wis.; R. D. Craver, Charlotte, N. C, and Moe Levy (representing Jake Wells), Richmond, Va. Detroit Exhibitors Hold Rousing Meeting A large attendance and enthusiasm which augurs well for the future of the Detroit branch of the American Exhibitors Association, marked the meeting of that body last week. The branch is now 90 per cent strong. The exhibitors went on record as being absolutely opposedto the payment of the 15 cents per reel per day tax and served notice to the film exchanges "that the sooner they find out we mean business the better off financially they will be." The state meeting has been postponed to Tuesday, November 27, so that it will not conflict with the big state rally. Theater Capacity to Fix License Fees in Little Rock, Ark. Little Rock, Ark. — (Special to Exhibitors Herald) — A graded scale for the payment of theatre license fees will probably be put into effect in Little Rock in the near future. At the present time all theatres pay the same fee. County Judge Lee Miles is now formulating a plan for checking the seating capacity and prices of admission to theatres, with the intention of basing the license fee upon these figures. It is believed by the authorities that the new system will add considerable revenue to the county. Profits From Completed Titan Comedies Will Go to Buying Comforts for Soldiers Raymond Hitchcock, Ernest Truex, Charles Grapewin and Other Stage Celebrities Contributed Services — Five Films Ready Without organization nothing on a big scale can be accomplished. If you are not one of the twenty seven hundred and sixteen A. E. A., join at once. The completion of five one-reel comedies, with nationally known stars, is announced by the Americal Military Relief Association. The pictures were filmed by the Titan Pictures Corporation. Plans for the distribution of the pictures have not as yet been completed and for the present they will probably be issued by the Titan Pictures Corporation. The American Relief Association, according to Frederick/ Russell Clark, president, was formed for the purpose of providing American men under arms, in the service of the government, with luxuries, such as tobacco, candy, and other things of which their departure from civil pursuits deprived them. MME. PETROVA IN "DAUGHTER OF DESTINY' THE NOTED POLISH ACTRESS IS SFFN IN TWO SITUATIONS FROM THE FIRST PICTURE MADE BY HERSELF (Petrova Pictures Corp.). 18 It is the hope of the association that exhibitors will respond in the same generous manner as the stars of the productions, who donated their services: Mr. Clark, who is also in charge of the Titan company, is now working on a plan whereby a lump sum each week can be turned over to the relief association. The productions thus far completed are "Bucking the H. C. of L.," with Raymond Hitchcock; "He Could Dance With Everybody but His Wife," with Joseph ine Harriman; Ernest Truex in "The Garden of Allie," Charles Grapewin in "The Hawaiidiot," and Leever & Leroy in "The Jassicians." The scripts for the comedies were written by Jo Swerling of the Chicago Tribune and were filmed under the direction of Rex Weber. Garson Productions Gets W. S. Hart Film Harry I. Garson, manager of Gars Kimball Young, acting in behalf of th( Harry I. Garson Productions of Detroit, Mich., purchased from the Trian gle's Film Corporation the W. S. Hari picture, "A Cold Deck," for the state o! Michigan. The only hope of a readjustment of the tax — or a solution of many other big problems — is through the authority and influence of concerted organization effort. Don't be a parasite; if you expect to be benefited by the work of the organization—BE A MEMBER.