Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

February 11. 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 49 Recommends Regulation to Body Investigating Industry Motion Picture Men not Represented at the First Hearing Before Committee Probing Alleged Political Activities of Business (Washington Bureau, Exhibitors Herald) \\ ASHINGTON, D. C, Jan. 31. — Arguments for and against an investigation of the motion picture industry were heard on January 25 by a subcommittee of the senate judiciary committee consisting of Senators Shortridge of California, and Ashurst of Arizona. The principal witnesses to appear before the subcommittee, both in favor of the investigation, were Senator Myers of Montana, author of the resolution on which the hearing was held, and Canon William S. Chase, chairman of the motion picture committee of the Society for the Prevention of Crime. The industry was not represented, but will probably be given an opportunity to be heard at a later date, if it desires. Recommend "Regulation," Not Censorship Basing his testimony on the "Catechism on Motion Pictures in Interstate Commerce," of which he is the author, Canon Chase told the subcommittee that he is not seeking censorship, but regulation. He called the attention of the subcommittee to investigations that have been made in the past six years into the advisability of motion picture censorship, including the hearings of the house committee on education in 1915 on a censorship bill, investigations in England in 1917 and inquiries into the industry made by the New York legislature in the same year. Christie Involved in Tax Collection Case Millions of Dollars Hinge on Decision to Be Made by Government (W ashinglon Bureau, Exhibitors Herald) WASHINGTON, D. C, Jan. 31.— The irst of a series of demands to be made lpon producers for collection of the film ax on all films leased under state right igreements has been made by the Interlal Revenue Bureau upon the Christie rompany. As a result of representaticns nade by Jack Connelly, Washington rep-esentative of the National Association of :he Motion Picture Industry, however, officials of the bureau will fix a date upon which the company may offer argument as to why the tax should not be collected. Applies to All Films The government has taken the stand that the film tax applied to all films leased, whether for direct exhibition or for publication to exhibitors, and has announced its intention of calling upon the producers for the amount due upon all iilms leased from the time the film tax was enacted until January 1, when its repeal became effective. In behalf of the company, Mr. Connelly claimed that the law provides only for the collection of the tax on films leased for exhibition and therefore does not apply to films leased to state right distributors by producers where such distributors did not exhibit the films but in turn leased them to exhibitors. Millions Hinge on Ruling While the demand upon the Christie rompany calls for taxes amounting to slightly more than $11,000, it is declared that this is a test case, and that the fate of several millions of dollars in taxes hinges upon the decision of the bureau. Directors of Prizma And Stockholders in Election of Officers (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 31.— At the January meeting of the board of directors of Prizma, Incorporated, producers of Prizma pictures, the following officers were re-elected for the ensuing year: C. K. D. Walsh, president; Carroll H. Dunning, vice president; H. G. Stokes, vice 'president; B. S. Hall, treasurer, George P. Kelley, secretary and William V. D. Kelley. technical advisor. At the annual stockholders' meeting, the following were elected directors of the company : E. E. Loomis, New York; Francis T. Homer, New York; Rodman E. Griscom, New York; Marshall J. Dodge, New York; Carroll H. Dunning, New York; Thomas M. Pierce, St. Louis; H. Wilson Saulsbury, New York; William V. D. Kelley, Jersey Citv; C. K. D. Walsh, New York; H. G. Stokes, New York: W. H. Woodin, New York; and George T. Ordway, New York. The new directors are W. H. Woodin, president American Car & Foundry Company: H. G. Stokes, vice-president, Prizma, Incorporated, and George T. Ordway of the firm of Bertron, Griscom & Company, New York. Patrons Name House PHILADELPHIA. PA. — The new Nixon-Nirdlinger theatre at Glenside has been named Nixon's Glenside, following a prize contest in which more than 400 names were suggested. "These investigations have not been thorough enough, I feel, to meet all of the needs," he said. "There is a very great feeling of need of more efficient regulation of the morality of the motion picture." Makes Broad Assertion The industry has in the past few years engaged energetically in politics, Canon Chase asserted, referring to statements alleged to have been made by William A. Brady to the Chicago motion picture commission in 1920, asserting that the latter was afraid to undertake with newspapers the same sort of censorship that had been placed upon films, and declaring that the New York motion picture interests conducted a campaign to elect to the general assembly men who were against censorship and to defeat men who were in favor of it. The introduction by Senator Myers of his resolution calling for an inquiry into the industry was responsible, the witness asserted, for the formal complaints issued by the Federal Trade Commission against Famous PlayersLasky Corporation and other organizations and individuals, and he suggested that members of the commission be asked to testify regarding the findings in those cases. Sees Censor in All States Senator Myers, who followed Canon Chase, predicted that within a few years all the states would have censorship laws. Neither Senator Shortridge nor Senator Ashurst appeared to be greatly impressed by the testimony of the witnesses and frequently interjected their own views into the hearing. Both senators declared that the screen had a right to portray the personal views of writers in the same manner as do newspapers, but placed themselves on record as against any films of a nature which would offend a cleanminded audience and in favor of any legislation which would keep such* pictures out of the theatres. No Encouragement Given It was net thought, however, that censorship was the best method of accom plishing this, and while the witnesses were given every opportunity to express their views, they did not get much encouragement. If another hearing is held, Canon Chase announced, he would endeavor to bring others who were in favor of regulation to combat any testimony which might be introduced by motion picture men regarding the undesirability of such a method of dealing with the subject. Crusades and English History to Feature in New Fairbanks Picture (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES. Jan. 31.— The Crusades and the early history of England will be the basis of the next film in which Douglas Fairbanks will be seen for United Artists. The picture, it is stated, is to be a stupendous costume play, more elaborate than "The Three Musketeers." A spirit of chivalry will predominate throughout the theme, in which many dramatic incidents will be evolved. Research work for the production is already under way by Kenneth Davenport and Lotta Woods. It is aimed to give the feature every accuracy in detail, from a historical standpoint. Weiss on Way Back From European Tour (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 31.— Max Weiss, president of Adventures of Tarzan Serial Sales Corporation, has sailed for New York from Paris, France, following an extensive tour of continental Europe and the British Isles. During his trip Weiss disposed of Adventures of Tarzan starring Elmo Lincoln to Sir William Jury for the United Kingdom and made a survey of film conditions abroad.