Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

26 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 3, 1925 Film Inspector, Mother of 3 Children, Is Killed Street Car Strikes Her as She Leaves Work — Lack of Traffic Control on Chicago Film Roiv BlaTned for Fatal Accident Mrs. HATTIE CAMPBELL, age 41, a night film inspector at Universal Pictures Corporation exchange, 831 South Wabash avenue, Chicago, was struck by a trolley car at Eighth street and Wabash avenue on Saturday morning, December 20, and died a few hours later of a fractured skull at St. Luke’s hospital. WITH two companions employed at the same exchange Mrs. Campbell was hurrying home at 6 o’clock in the morning with her week’s wages in her purse. She was the entire support of the family, having three children and an invalid husband depending upon her. She had been employed as inspector at the Universal exchange for three years and was highly regarded by all the employes. Her “trick” was from 12 midnight to 6 a. m. and on the morning of the accident the thermometer registered 8 below zero on South Wabash avenue. Mrs. Campbell lived at 841 Till avenue on the North Side and she with her fellowworkers was hurrying to State street to catch a car home when the accident happened. The conductor of the car rushed her to the hospital but she never regained consciousness. Daniel Dever, son of the mayor, is looking after her interests and investigating the accident. Several years ago the film exchanges were compelled by the city to vacate offices in the loop district, and Film Row was moved to South Wal>ash avenue. The street, however, has never been properly policed and while this is the first serious accident to occur there, many narrow escapes from death occur almost daily on this thoroughfare, from speeding automobiles. From Will H. Hays With a proper feeling of gratification for what has been accomplished during the year now drawing to a close, but with a much greater feeling of gratitude to the public which has made our accomplishments possible by its encouragement and support, the motion picture industry looks forward hopefully to the beginning of another year of opportunity to serve that public. During the twelve months now ending more really fine motion pictures have been produced and exhibited than ever before in the history of this form of entertainment. Of that fact we are proud. The success of 1924, however, is but the urge for larger accomplishment in 1925. To all the men and women of the industry who have given their sincerest efforts to this great service of providing the public with its most popular form of entertainment, I offer my thanks and my most genuine good wishes that their Christmas may be happy and their New Year one of attainment and the rewards that attainment brings. (Mt. Hays is president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association.) trucks and street cars. At certain hours a policeman is stationed at Eighth and Wabash avenue but the other crossings are unprotected and such was the case last Saturday at this particular street intersection. The tragic death of Mrs. Campbell threw a pall of grief over the employes of film row which was particularly sad coming as it does at Christmas time. The boys of the Universal exchange contributed to a fund for the bereaved family, which was participated in by many generous exhibitors. The funeral services were held at Western Undertaking rooms. Western avenue, on Tuesday. Kent Testifies at Famous Hearing; Cohen in Retort (Continued from page 21) Lasky Corporation would secure some more masterpieces of the same ilk as the “Mistress of the World” or other such colossal “super flops,” which might only he put over by the personal appearan^ of handsome Sidney Kent, for he at least would screen well. To which Mr. Kent replied : “I stand on my statement and am perfectly satisfied that those who know Mr. Cohen and those who know me shall be che judges.” Schenck Chief Witness Nicholas Schenck of Loews, Inc., was the chief witness at the Saturday session of the hearing and after qualifying as an expert on motion picture values he answered many questions regarding the firstrun situation in New York. Mr. Schenck explained that his system for buying pictures for Loews, Inc., provided for his staff seeing practically all of the pictures released by the various companies, after which he himself would personally pass on all that were considered as having sufficient merit for a Broadway showing. A list of Hodkinson releases between 1919 and 1923 was read to Mr. Schenck and he was asked about these being entitled to first-run showing of the thirty pictures on the list which W. W. Hodkinson had previously testified were worth firstrun showing. Mr. Schenck said that not one of the thirty was of Broadway first-run calibre of the list of pictures issued by A1 Lichtman Corporation and Vitagraph to the number of about sixty. Mr. Schenck did not believe these had sufficient merit for a Broadway run. When asked what companies’ pictures are comparable to the Paramount product Mr. Schenck enumerated First National, MetroGoldwyn, United Artists, Warner Brothers and Universal. General Manager Here Winfield R. Sheehan, vice president and general manager of Fox Film Corporation, arrived in Chicago Saturday, December 20, and spent several days with Local Manager George M. Dembow. Canadian Exhibitors Will Ask for Tax Cut; May Get New Censors (Special to Exhibitors Herald) OTTAWA, ONT., Dec. 23.— At a general meeting, of the Quebec branch of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, Canadian Division, at Montreal last week arose a discussion concerning the reduction of the Provincial Amusement tax and a request that the Quebec exhibitors be represented on the Quebec Board of Motion Picture Censors. Considerable criticism of the decisions of the Quebec censors was heard during the discussion and it was the feeling that if an exhibitor representative could be appointed to the board in an advisory capacity the work of the censors would be far more agreeable and greatly improved. Arrangements were completed for an early meeting of the Quebec officers to arrange for the sending of a strong delegation to Quebec City during the 1925 session of the Provincial Legislature to take up the tax and censorship matters with the provincial authorities. The legislature will be sitting in January. Approximately seventy-five representatives of the moving picture business were present at the Montreal meeting, a number of exchange officials being present in addition to the many exhibitors. State Officials to Talk at Albany Zone Meeting (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., Dec. 23.— State Senator James J. Walker, and possibly Governor Alfred E. Smith, will be speakers at the meeting of the Albany Zone Committee and exhibitors generally in that territory scheduled to be held at the Hotel Ten Eyck on the afternoon of January 6. It is expected that there will be an unusually large attendance at this coming meeting, invitations being mailed to every exhibitor. The intents and purposes of the Zone Committee will be carefully explained at the meeting. The Mark Strand building here is being remodeled on the second floor to accommodate offices of the New York State M. P. T. O., the Film Board of Trade and the Zone Committee. The Board of Trade will not move in, however, until some time in April, but the other two will be installed by the fore part of January. I nee Will Names Widow and Lawyer Executors (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23. — Thomas H. Ince, internationally famous motion picture producer, who died Nov. 19, left a net estate of $2,000,000, according to the petition for probate filed Dec. 17 for settlement Jan. 12. The will names his widow, Mrs. Ella Priscilla Ince, and his attorney, Ingle Carpenter, as executors and provides for the carrying on of all his film activities. The voluminous testament puts the executors in full control of the estate’s business for five years, when it is to become a trust of the Citizens Trust & Savings Bank for the benefit of the widow and the three sons, William Thompson Ince, 15; Thomas H. Ince, Jr., 12, and Richard Kershaw Ince, 9. Robbers Get $1,000 (Special to Exhibitors Herald) MUSKOGEE, OKLA., Dec. 23.— Two masked men robbed the Broadway theatre here of about $1,000 in cash and made their escape. Two negro porters who were in the theatre were locked in the vault.