Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1921)

November 19. 1921 EXHIBITORS HERALD 43 Censorship! This is the ultimate in restriction! The Chicago censor board has ordered the elimination or amendment of a subtitle in Realart's "A V irginia Courtship. " This is the subtitle under the ban: ¥ ¥ ¥ "I've no money for experiments! And if you try scientific farming on my darkies, they'll run you off the place.'" Hidden within this apparently innocent phraseology the supermoral censors have discovered a sinister violation! Can you tell wherein this subtitle offends? Think it over. The answer will appear next week. Bankers to Aid Industry in Fighting Wild Cat Schemes Vigilance Committee of National Association and Financial Men Discuss Plan to Protect Public from Fake Promotors NEW YORK, Nov. 8. — Rough sledding is promised tor fake motion picture stock promoters from now on. A coalition has been formed by the vigilance committee of the National Association and the banking interests of the country for the protection of the public and the industry from the activities of wild cat promotion schemes. Prominent Bankers In Attendance The meeting at which this protective alliance of interests was made was held last week in New York at the call of Martin J. Quigley, chairman of the vigilance committee. In addition to President Brady and other officials of the National Association there were present Thomas J. Reynolds, vice president of National City Bank; G. B. W alker, secretary of the public relations commission of the American Bankers Association, and John Young of National City Companv. Selznick May Build House in St. Louis Rumor of Project Current for Some Time — Visits Missouri City (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, MO., Nov. 8.— There is a persistent rumor going the rounds of local film circles that Lewis J. Selznick may become interested in a large first run motion picture theatre here. Selznick in City It started several days ago when Mr. Selznick, his wife and his secretary, John Cantor, paid a visit to St. Louis. While here they were guests at a dinner given by a prominent local banker, a warm personal friend of Mr. Selznick's. The affair was attended by men high in the business and financial circles of St. Louis. Mr. Selznick saw much of St. Louis on his visit and is said to have been impressed with the metropolis of the Mississippi Valley. It is needless to say that local boosters pointed out to him the advantage of having a first run house for Selznick-Select pictures in this locality. Rumor Is Current Although nothing definite has been done for some time it has been current gossip that a large office building-theatre structure may join the local amusement colony. There has been much speculation concerning the probable location of this structure should it materialize. However, labor and material prices are in a very unsettled condition locally, and in well informed financial circles doubt has been expressed as to whether any major amusement construction will start within the next several months. Elmer Pearson Thinks Admissions Too High for Average Patrons (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Nov. 8.— While he finds attendance at the theatres throughout the country" increasing, Elmer Pearson, general manager of Pathe. believes that admission prices are a little too high to suit the average patron's pocketbook. Discussing further this situation as he found it on a recent tour of the Western exchanges Mr. Pearson said: "Instead of taking in all the programs offered in his locality, one finds a patron indulging himself only once or twice a week. This has resulted in picture shopping, so to speak, and is the only way to account for the unusual difference in box office receipts from exploited subjects and big star pictures as compared with the so-called programme offering." Wife Inherits Fortune (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8.— Mrs. Earle Williams, wife of the star, has just received word that a fortune mounting into the hundreds of thousands has been left to her by an uncle, Henry Waiz. who died abroad some months ago. This is the second fortune which Mrs. Williams has been bequeathed, the other coming from her father's estate. Court Changes Name (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES. Nov. 8. — Agnes Ayres Schucker is now plain Agnes Ayres, her name having been changed by court action. Mr. Quigley explained the object and workings of the vigilance committee and dwelt at length on what had been accomplished by the body under the chairmanship of James R. Quirk, editor of Photoplay Magazine. Quigley Explains Plan "There are being perpetrated throughout America many swindles, some of them gigantic, which are not only endangering the good name of the industry, but which are robbing investors of millions of dollars," said Mr. Quigley. "The motion picture has provided unscrupulous promotors with the greatest bonanza they have ever known. Our committee has information which indicates that this wholesale swindle in the sale of stock of film promotion schemes is not confined to any one section of the country. "Our aims is to put a stop to these activities so far as possible. In order to insure the success of this vigilance work we need the cooperation of the banking interests and for that purpose we have today invited several prominent bankers to meet with us." Bankers Approve Work Short talks were made by each of the visiting bankers in which, the work of the vigilance committee was heartily approved and active cooperation promised. Arthur James, editor of Moving Picture World and a member of the committee said that the industry is deeply concerned in ridding itself of skyrocket promotions. "The responsible element in the in dustry suffers greatly by the unscrupulous methods of these promotors," he said. "There is no room in the business for such irresponsibles. It is not alone in the promotion of so-called production companies that these abuses occur, but also in the promotion of studios which may look well to an inexperienced public but may be so geographically located that they are utterly useless. This fact is not understood by the unwary." Johnston Expresses Approval William A. Johnston, editor of Motion Picture News, who has been active in aiding in the suppression of objectionable film stock promotion, also was present and expressed his approval of the getting together of the banking and picture interests for protective purposes. Others who spoke were A. P. Michael Narlian, secretary of the Los Angeles Film Board of Trade: President Brady, J. S. Connolly. Washington representative of the National Association, and Percy Waters, chairman of the executive committee of the National Association. Stern Now Chief at "U" City, Thalberg Production Manager (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8.— Julius Stern, brother-in-law of Carl Laemmle, president of Universal Film Manufacturing Company, has been appointed general manager at Universal City, succeeding Irving Thalberg who becomes production manager.