Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1917 - Jun 1918)

H B O R H R D illiam Fox Visits Indianapolis and Aids Libertv Loan lliam Fox, president of the Fox Corporation, enroute from Onto New York, paid Indianapolis a visit last week, and while in the renewed his friendship with Belle i prodigy of his playing at i's local house, and bought a $10,iberty bond. It was Mr. Fox*s first to Indianapolis, and while he came rily on business connected with the aapolis Fox exchange, he made a i>er of friends, came unannounced Monday evejig, dropping into Keith's where he immediately recognized by Belle fer. who stopped her act to announce presence to the audience whom she her success was due in a large lasure to Mr. Fox. He was called upby the audience to make a speech, responded by saying he was very jch pleased 'with Indianapolis on his |t visit, and that Indiana generally being closely watched by the East ere the "Hoosier" state was known be up and doing in every patriotic leavor. He closed his talk by subibing -510,000 to the Liberty Loan npaign. Mr. Fox spent Tuesday with E. I'enrod. manager of the Indian)lis office of the Fox corporation. lerican Studios Make Tank for Parade tie secretary of the Chamber of Comce of Santa Barbara, Cal., has writa personal letter of congratulation to riuel S. Hutchinson, president of the lerican Film Company. Chicago, to )ress the appreciation of that body for assistance of the American Film npany in preparing for the big dem■tration attendant on the Santa Bart a opening of the Third Liberty Loan ■The wonderful war tank built at your Hdio is admittedly the best piece of |rk in the way of a float ever turned ^at a local plant," he wrote. ""It sured in design, appearance and matea similar float that was passing ngh the streets of Los Angeles at same time." fargarita Fisher and Mary Miles Iter, American Film Company stars, foted a part of each day to talking for Liberty Loan and were instrumental the sales of thousands of dollars th. it is said. ichigan Exhibitors To Meet in Detroit tion picture exhibitors of the State Jchigan have called a meeting to Meld at Tuller's Hotel, Detroit, at p. m., April 25. Exhibitors from pb, Indiana and Ohio have been to attend the meeting. A theatre and stag smoker to visiting ex'itors have been arranged for the after the business session. It elaborate preparations are being )r the meeting. Box-Oiiice Angle of a S tar s Indi scretion Pursuant to its invariable policy of giving every exhibitor an opportunity to be heard on an\ matter of general interest to the trade, the EXHIBITORS HERALD prints the follovAng sensational communication received from one of the leading exhibitors of the Middle West: PRINCESS THEATRE L. M. Rubens, Manager Joliet, 111., April 16. 1918. To the Editor Exhibitors Herald. Dear Sir — While motion picture manufacturers and exhibitors are worrying about the effect of the war, distribution costs, film rentals, etc., on the motion picture industry they are all asleep to a menace which is in the meantime eating like a filthy ulcer at the root, trunk and branch of the entire industry. The whole matter can be summed up in the few words contained in a remark made by one of our motion picture patrons: "I mil not permit my family to attend a motion picture theatre exploiting a star who is known to be immoral.'' Every day the exhibitor is being confronted by his patrons in regard to the illicit conduct of a star he is exhibiting or is going to exhibit. Every self-respecting exhibitor is disgusted as his daily newspaper holds up another "film favorite" covered with the foul sewage of scandal. No business exploiting people ichose home life is knenen to be impure Tti7/ long endure. A few weeks ago I sat in the private office of one of the big film men for an hour while he strenuously denied to the press that a certain film favorite was shot by the husband of another film favorite. This was in Chicago: today I received word from Baltimore, Md.. that the father of a family would not permit his children to patronize a theatre showing these same stars because they were familiar with this ugly rumor. This is only one example of how far-reaching is this greatest menace to the industry. It is the height of absurdity to expect decent people to watch a play depicting purity, cleanliness, wholesomeness, morality, enacted by a star of either sex who has violated the sanctity of their own homes by illicit sexual relations when the fact is known throughout the country. It is far better for all that the same play be produced with unknown performers. I trust that the manufacturers and exhibitors will awaken to this greatest peril that assails the motion picture industry. The fact that it is known that a star is immoral should be a just cause for the manufacturer to terminate their contract, also for the exhibitor to be relieved of the disgrace of being obliged to present them to his patrons. Such stars should be at once oushed back to the ranks of prostitutes where they belong. We wouldn't want to present such people in our homes : why foist them upon a respectable audience. It is up to the trade papers, manufacturers and exhibitors to purge the industry of these characters, no matter how popular they now are. before the public places motion pictures out of the class of entertainment for the family. As a subscriber to your paper we insist that this be published. RUBENS' THEATRES. (Signed) L. M. Rubens. Mgr. 17