Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

March 21, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 41 2 Chicago Suburbs in Midst of Heated Blue Law Fights Announcements Made That Millions of Dollars Will Be Invested in Theatres If’ Sunday Performances Are Permitted— Clergy Against Opening. In Evanston and in Oak Park, two Chicago suburbs, they are fighting in the open these days. The bone o£ contention is Sunday opening and not until the April election will peace and quiet have been restored in the two cities. Neither town has had Sunday shows, although Oak Park, twice before, has voted on the subject. Strange though it may seem the theatre men are not responsible for the drives. Business men’s associations, realizing that Chicago theatres are taking business from both Evanston and Oak Park, are sponsoring the campaigns. New Theatres Would Rise if Shows Were Permitted It is understood from reliable sources that should the advocates of Sunday shows win in either or both cities, prominent theatre owners should stand ready to invest millions of dollars in the erection of new houses. Some time ago it was reported that Balaban & Katz would build in Evanston if the ban on Sunday performances were lifted. One of three companies— Balaban & Katz, Lubliner & Trinz and Ascher Brothers — undoubtedly would build in Oak Park. Women’s Unit Takes “Dig” at Censor Bill {Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., March 10. — The Women’s City Club here, one of the largest women’s organizations in the state, through its motion picture committee last week, took a “dig” at sponsors of the censorship bill, now in the hands of a committee. It was adopted at a special meeting of the committee that: ‘Be it resolved that the motion picture committee of the Women’s City Club of Kansas City go on record as being opposed to political censorship in the state.” Mrs. Eleanor Walton is chairman of the committee. There is grounds for the belief that Gov. Sam Baker will not sign the bill should it be passed by both houses. Loew Discloses Plans for Five Million-Dollar Houses in Dixue Cities (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ATLANTA, GA., March 10. — Marcus Loew, head of the big Loew amusement interests, who arrived in Atlanta Friday for two days, announced plans for the construction here of a theatre to cost a minimum of $1,000,000. The new house will be known as Loew’s State and will be similar to the New Orleans theatre he is building. It is understood it will be a combination vaudeville and motion picture house and that it will be managed much like Loew’s Grand here. Ed Schiller, personal representative of Mr. Loew, declared the theatre will be begun this year. Mr. Loew also announced that he intends to spend at least $5,000,000 in the south within a short time in the construction of five theatres, including the one in New Orleans, one in Birmingham, the Atlanta house, another in Richmond and the fifth in Norfolk. He was met at the Terminal station by the mayor and other prominent Atlantians. The chief feature of the entertainment program was a banquet in his honor at the Biltmore hotel, attended by several hundred prominent citizens. Speakers included the Governor of Georgia, heads of the three daily papers, representatives of civic organizations and members of the film and theatrical contingent. Ad Contracts to Pay M.P,T,0. Units' Revenue (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., March 10.— “A city association in every city of consequential size in Western Missouri.” That is the slogan of the M. P. T. O. Kansas and Missouri. C. E. Cook, business manager, left Monday for St. Joseph, Springfield, Moberly and Joplin, where city organizations will be perfected. At St. Joseph, where the city unit already is organized, officers will be elected this week, to be followed by the organization of city bodies in the other above named cities. The units will function individually as chapters of the M. P. T. O. K. and M. According to present plans advertising contracts will be furnished the city bodies by the M. P. T. O. K. and M., in order that revenue may be derived to finance the chapters. In both cities the Sunday opening campaigns are overshadowing all other issues which will come before the voters on April 7. Opposing forces are carrying advertising in the local papers as a part of their campaigns. The news columns are full of arguments pro arid con. Here is what a Northwestern university professor (Evanston) thinks of Sunday shows ; Prof. William L. Bailey of the department of sociology : “Sunday movies should be regulated,” the professor said, “and we should see to it that only films of the highest class are shown. Every legitimate interest can be safeguarded and the community morals will not suffer if the theatres are open on Sundays. The question must be viewed broadly.” Clergy Is Opposed From their pulpits Oak Park ministers had this to say : The Rev. Merle N. English, First Methodist Church. — “The plan means the commercialization of Sunday. It tends to break down the Sabbath as a day of quiet and interest in religion.” The Rev. John S. Cole. — “I think it is a good policy to keep the movies out. We’ve got a quiet little place here and I believe that most of the people would rather spend a quiet Sunday evening at home.” The Rev. Bertram G. Swaney, Boulevard Methodist Church. — “I am not in favor of Sunday ‘movies’ and I believe that young people of my church are not. This agitation is the work of motion picture interests.” The Rev. A. Gordon Fowkes, Grace Episcopal Church. — “Sunday movies are undignified. It would bring a new element into our town that would not be of the best. It will mean the end of the Oak Park we knew.” The Rev. F. S, Derry, Fourth Congregational Church — “I am not only opposed to Sunday ‘movies,’ but every-day movies. No Christian should favor them.” The Rev. O. A. Geisemann, Grace Lutheran Church.— “My church is not taking any part in the discussion. I believe that it is a matter for the individual to decide. I do not believe in any blue laws that would legislate people into church.” Foreign Director Signed {Special to Exhibitors Herald) IIOLLYWOOD, March 10. — Benjamin Christianson has been placed under contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and has gone to the company’s Culver City studios in California. He will confer there regarding his first picture with Louis B. Mayer, vicepresident in charge of production. Director, story writer, actor and theatre manager, and still in his late thirties, Benjamin Christianson rivals other foreign directors who have become fixtures in American pictures. 20,000,000 Women Endorse Fox Play NEW YORK. — National women’s organizations with combined memberships of more than 20,000,000 women went on record through their national officers as approving the new William Fox epic, “The Man Without a Country,” in its second month at the Central theatre. Valentino Is Again Mad at Paramount^ Report Star May Join United Artists LOS ANGELES, March 10. — Rudolph Valentino is again mad at Famous Players-Lasky Corporation following an argument over the director for his next picture. Valentino last week halted preparations on this picture, and it appears as though Famous was willing to terminate the contract. The star, according to reports, will go over to Joseph M. Schenck, head of United Artists. It is understood that the split between the star and J. D. Williams, head of Ritz-Carlton which was producing the Valentino pictures for Paramount distribution, came when Valentino is said to have learned that Famous was financing his pictures. Paramount, it is said, sent a man to the lot to supervise production and Valentino refused him admission to the set. Further trouble was created, it is said, when Valentino employed Alan Hale to direct “The Hooded Falcon.” It is said that Mr. Williams did not approve of the selection.