Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

March 14, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 25 Theatre Men Guard Against Legislation in Many States Wisconsin Exhibitors to Oppose Bill Which Would Censor Pictures, Posters and Advertising — S. R. O. and Regulation Also Bothering Missouri Briefly, this is the legislative situation in many states : New Jersey has launched a campaign for a liberal interpretation of the Sunday closing law. A bill to censor pictures, posters and other advertising has been offered in Wisconsin. Missouri exhibitors are fighting censorship and S. R. O. bills. New York is still wondering whether or not censorship will be abolished. The most involved situation is found in New York, where Governor Smith has just appointed a new member of the censorship board, despite the efforts now being made to abolish the commission. This action was more or less unexpected. WHAT a lot of celebrities did a “Between Trains” act in the city last week! Will Hays, Joe and Nick Schenck, Norma Tahnadge, Pat Dowling, and George Weeks. Sidney Kent was due but didn’t arrive. That’s two demerits for him. * * =1: Will Hays was returning East from the Coast where he enjoyed the hospitality of studioland. Of course, a lot of things transpired while he was out there but it wouldn’t be just exactly ethical to divulge these. Hi * 't Norma and Joe were on their way back to California, where the sun always shines and the earth never quakes, from Europe. The big feature of Norma’s sojourn abroad was her strict adherence to her “buy-athome” policy. No, siree Norma didn’t buy one single gown in dear old Paree. America first, last and always, even in dresses. Joe was optimistic over the European situation. But not half so enthusiastic over the foreign field. Nevertheless, he was singing, “There’s no place like home.” There’s one thing about Europe, however: The atmosphere over there is conducive to great ambitions. Joe came back with plans for a chain of Grauman-Schenck theatres. That’s a worthy project. t ^ Nick Schenck was going to the Coast to see his old pal, Eddie Mannix. Eddie went to the Coast two months ago and Nick hasn’t been normal since. * * * I note that John Spargo makes some disparaging remark about Pat Dowling’s stay in the Windy City. But don’t you believe a word that John says. Pat is always on his best behavior when he visits us. He knows he has to be. The Christie advertising director and Mrs. Dowling were on the first lap of their journey to England. * * * George Weeks dropped in town to give the local Paramount exchange the once over.— SHRECK. Authors and Directors on Rialto Radio Card {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 3. — Beginning today there will be talks about motion pictures and stories told by noted screen stars, authors and directors broadcast from Station WNYC each week on the radio program as a result of an innovation sponsored by Hugo Riesenfeld, manager of the Rivoli, Rialto and Criterion theatres. The first artist to appear is Bebe Daniels, Paramount actress. Other programs will include : Richard Dix, Mildred Harris, Alan Dwan, who directed Gloria Swanson in “Madame Sans Gene”; Byron Morgan, the famous author of “The Air Mail” and “California or Bust”; the noted French director Perrett, who is at present making the final “cuts” on “Madame Sans Gene”; and many others too numerous to mention. Bernheim to Go Abroad (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, March 3. — Julius Bernheim, who resigned as general manager of Universal last week, will sail, for Europe within the next few weeks. Carl Laemmle expressed reluctance that Bernheim was leaving the company. For a more detailed report of the legislative situation, read the following: State Executive Predicts Defeat (Special to Exhibitors Herald') ALBANY, N. Y., March 3. — Two new features characterize the motion picture censorship situation in New York, the two being almost diametrically opposite. Governor Smith naming a woman to the motion picture commission at a salary of $7,500 a year, and a bill being introduced in the senate to abolish the commission. A third feature occurred in Utica when Lieutenant-Governor Seymour Lowman, in a speech, went on record in favor of continuing the commission and made the prediction that it would not be abolished. The naming of Mrs. Elizabeth V. Colbert, of Albany, to succeed Mrs. Helen M. Hosmer, was taken by many to indicate that Governor Smith has little hope of repeal. Yet, even though the commission should be abolished in midsummer, the naming of Mrs. Colbert to succeed a Republican member, would pay, in a measure, political obligations. It is rather odd, however, that Mrs. Colbert is not any too strong for censorship, coming out in a public announcement to that effect. Almost at the same time as Mrs. Colbert was being named by the governor, a bill was being introduced in the senate by James J. Walker, the Democratic leader, calling for the abolishment of the commission on July 1. This bill is a companion one to a measure introduced some two or three weeks ago by Assemblyman Frederick Hackenburg. In Utica, the lieutenant-governor, in connection with a speech on the legislative program, said: “The Republican party favors the retention of motion picture censorship, and as that party now controls both branches of the Legislature, it is very apparent that we are going to have the benefit of consorship for a few more years at least. We are not going to let the Democratic party open our theatres to all sorts of indecent and nasty shows.” Opens Active Drive for Sunday Shows (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 3.— The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New Jersey, after months of preparation, has launched its state-wide campaign for a liberal interpretation of the Sunday laws, including the right to keep theatres open on Sunday. The so-called Carty bill, introduced in the New Jersey assembly by Miss Mae Carty, under which the theatre owners hope to win the several poinths for which they are fighting, has been the objective of the most serious opposition by those favoring the rigid observance of every existing law. At a meeting of the board of directors of the M. P. T. O. of N. J., in Camden, Charles Hildinger, chairman of the legislative committe, submitted a report favoring an early vote by the assembly, in order that legislators may be put on record with regard to their sentiments for or against a liberal Sunday. Despite the fact that the great majority of the most influential newspapers throughout New Jersey feel that the Carty bill reflects popular sentiment, many members of the assembly would, it appears, seek to convey the impression that just the opposite is the fact. No date has been fixed for a public hearing on the bill. The legislative committee, it is stated, has created an unusually favorable opinion in the house as a result of its tactful handling of this problem. Another measure of state-wide importance now pending is senate bill No. 241, introduced by Senator Blackwell, which confers on the board of tenement house supervision, authority to license and inspect theatres, places of public assembly, etc., in boroughs, towns or cities having a population of less than 10,000. This measure has met with unanimous support from theatre owning groups. Further than this, these groups have been asked that the measure be broadened to include communities with populations up to 20,000 because of the benefits to be derived. There’s Something New Each Week (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., March 3.— Each week in the Kansas and Missouri legislatures brings forth new problems for the M. P. T. @. of Kansas and Missouri. Never before have more adverse legislative measures been introduced. Topping the list is a censorship bill introduced in the Missouri legislature last Friday by Senator O. A. Pickett, of Trenton. In the last two previous sessions of the Missouri legislature censorship bills have been introduced and died untimely deaths, but Kansas City ministers have called a large meeting for Friday night, in support of the measure, and it appears that the fight this year may be a trifle closer than in previous years. What was regarded by exhibitors as one of the most detrimental bills in either Kansas or Missouri was killed by committees in the house and senate in the Kansas legislature last week — a measure setting forth unreasonable specifications for ventilating theatres. Thirty cubic feet of air per person per minute was required by the (Continued on page 30)