Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

September 30, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 37 Amicable Settlements Made In Theatre-Union Disputes Coal and Rail Situation Easing — [Few Strikes of Projection Operators Reported — Exhibitor Complains Against Labor Bodies Exhibitors, both individuals and local leagues, are directing their attentions to three labor questions — coal, rail and operators' strikes. With the coal and rail situations easing slightly, the question of newwage scales for the operators is giving immediate concern. In only one locality has the situation assumed serious proportions, and in this city — Council Bluffs, la. — it appears as though both sides are determined to wage a finish fight. Contemplate No Serious Coal Situation There is hope in the coal situation owing to the termination of the protracted summer walk-out. While some communities may be hit by the scarcity of coal, it is not believed that a serious situation w ill develop generally. Settlement of the rail strike on virtually all the roads relieves the anxiety attending the shipment of prints and accessories. Kansas Censor Rules Out Comedy on Cops Scenes "Making Light" of Prohibition Also Are To Be Cut (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, KAN., Sept. 19.— Close your eyes for a moment and think back to the olden days of Quaker rule — then read this: ''Any burlesque of an officer of the law or any scene which would tend to create disrespect for any law, federal or state, or mitigate against its proper enforcement, shall be eliminated." Comedy Cop Doomed That is the resolution passed by the Kansas State Board of Review. The "movie cop" is doomed in Kansas. The ruling, according to members of the censor board, not only prohibits a comical role in police attire, but forbids "making light" of the prohibition amendment. Mrs. J. M. Miller, senior member of the beard, offered the following reason for the resolution: Claim Respect Lessened "Juvenile patrons of the theatres have great respect for the Canadian Northwest Mounted police. Their appearance on the screen invariably is greeted with applause from the children. The reason for this is that they have always been pictured in a way tending to create respect for them. This is far from the case in the matter of policemen. There is really no material difference to showing respect to the uniform of a soldier or sailor and a policemen. Of late, we have had numerous scenes, particularly in comedies, making a joke of prohibition. These also will be cut out from now on." Mastbaum to Build Big Atlantic City Theatre (Special to Exhibitors Herald) PHILADELPHIA, PA.. Sept. 19.— The Stanley Company of America, Jules E. Mastbaum, president, has completed negotiations whereby that organization acquires a site for a new motion picture theatre in Atlantic City to be located at the corner of Kentucky avenue and the Boardwalk. Mr. Mastbaum has ordered plans prepared and work to be begun upon the new theatre immediately. The structure is to be modeled upon the same lines as the Stanley theatre, the Stanley Company's $2,000,000 theatre in Philadelphia, and Will be a most elaborate structure. District Supervisors Appointed by Goldwyn (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK. Sept. 19.— Goldwyn Distributing Corporation announces the appointment of seven supervisors to oversee distribution. The country has been divided into seven districts and each new official will have a number of exchanges under his supervision. The supervisors and their headquarters follow: S. Eckman, Jr., New York; Ben Fish, Denver; J. A. Koerpel, Cleveland; H. Leonhardt, Los Angeles; Arthur Lucas, Atlanta; C. E. Maberry, Chicago; W. E. Truog, Kansas City. Briefly the operator situation is as follows: Vincennes, Ind. — Operators' walk-out at the Moon and Strand theatres following refusal of the managements of the houses to meet the demands of the projectionists. Rather than meet the demands. Theodore Charles of the Moon announces that he will operate his own machine. * * * Elgin, 111. — Agreement has been reached here between exhibitors and the union thereby averting a strike of operators. Slight concessions were made the theatre men. Henry Rorig of the Orpheum has complained to the states attorney's office that literature derogatory to his interests is being circulated by the operators and musicians unions. * * * New York City. — A new contract has been signed by exhibitors and the operators' union. The agreement is the same as the old one. * * * Cleveland, O. — Harry Holmden, business representative of the operators' union, announces that the Cleveland operators will not strike, predicting an amicable settlement of the wage dispute. * * * Youngstown, O. — The walk-out of operators has been settled here, a new agreement being signed whereby the operators are to receive $56 a week in Class A houses. This is an increase of $5. In the agreement is a provision that a reduction will be accepted if conditions are unfavorable in June, July and August. * * * Kokomo, Ind. — Four theatres — Strand. Victory. Star and Pictureland— -have reached an amicable settlement in the controversy with the operators. In the agreement the operators are given an increase of $2.50 a week. * * * Exhibitors of this country are not alone in their difficulties with the operators. Word has been received from Mexico City that the theatres there were forced to suspend operation recently because of the walk-out of operators and other employes. The strike was general and the result of a dispute over wages. Report New Theatre Planned by Skouras ( Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS. MO.. Sept. 19.— There is a rumor current in usually well informed circles that Spyros Skouras contemplates a new picture house for St. Louis. Valentino Objects to Lying on Hard Floor Attorney States Treatment "Was Past All Human Endurance" (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Sept. 19.— The case of Rodolph Valentino against Famous Players-Lasky Corporation came up for a hearing yesterday in the court of Justice Wasser Vogel and for more than two hours Valentino and his bride, Natacha Rambova, sat in the court room listening to Attorney Arthur Graham Butler tell of the alleged abuses heaped on the motion picture star. Said Mr. Butler to the court: "Room Small as Cell" "They gave him a dressing room as small as a cell in a building reserved for extra actors while in the star building several dressing rooms were vacant. He asked for a couch. There is always a couch in the star's room. But they gave him a table, stool and two small chairs. When he came back to his dressing room to lie down he was compelled to lie on the carpet on the concrete floor with an overcoat rolled up under his head. "When he was acting "Blood and Sand' they erected a makeshift dressing room for him in the open without a top. The sun was burning hot. The mirror was very small. They gave him half a barrel upside down as a seat and when he changed his things he could not sit down because everything was too hot. It was past human endurance." Women Share Honors And further, according to Mr. Butler, after Valentino suffered all this the corporation in its advertising of ''Blood and Sand" mentioned the names of two women as co-stars instead of advertising him as the only star. Decision was reserved and Valentino's attorney was given until September 24 to submit briefs. Previously Justice William C. Burr of the supreme court granted Famous Players-Laskv Corporation a temporary injunction restraining Valentino from appearing in any picture or performance on the stage.