The Film Daily (1918)

Monday, August 5, 1918 isbijA DAILY Published Every Day in the Tear at 71-73 West 44th St.. New York, N. Y. By WID'S FILMS & FILM FOLK, Inc. F. C. ("WID") GUNNING President and Treasurer LYNDE DENIG, Editor Entered at New York Post Office as Secondclass Matter Terms (Postage free) United States, Outside of Greater New York, $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00 ; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $20.00. Subscribers should remit with order. Address all communications to 'WID'S DAILY, 71-73 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. Telephone: Vanderbilt 4551 — 2 Southern Exhibitor Here R. D. Craver, of Charlotte, N. C, arrived in New York Friday night. Mr. Craver owns a chain of ten theatres throughout the South and is one of the national directors of the Affiliated Distributors' Corporation in the southeastern states. He says that the initial stock of the Affiliated unit in his district has been over-subscribed in the state of North Carolina alone. Trouble With Operators Exhibitors throughout Ohio are experiencing considerable trouble from operators since the industry has been classed as being essential by Washington. Operators are telling theatre owners that they are safe until the end of the war and are trying to force upon the exhibitors unfair contracts for their services. The report also states that they are raising the wages for their work. Veterans in Film A film that for the first time shows the American veterans of the Marne battle has been brought to this country by the American Red Cross, and after its premiere showing at the Rivoli theatre will be distributed in the United States by the General Film Company. The > production is the work of the Bureau of Pictures of the American Red Cross. The principal scenes are from the International Fourth of July celebration in Paris in which the United States soldiers marched. It affords the first glimpse of the new Avenue du President Wilson. S. L. Rothapfel edited the picture which soon will be shown in all the principal cities of the United States. The Arrow Film Co. has sold "The Finger of Justice" for New York state, exclusive of Now York City, to the Princess Film Corp. of Malone, 31. Y. ASSOCIATION & GOLDWYN DIFFER Removal of Branch Manager is Requested— Hampton Del Ruth Starting His Own Company BY SAM H. COMLY LOS ANGELES.— The following 1 1 legram to Samuel Goldfish, president of the Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, is self-explanatory: "Following resolution unanimously passed at our meeting July 24: Whereas several complaints have been made to the grievance committee of this association regarding business relations between local exhibitors and Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, and whereas the aforementioned grievance committee has unsuccessfully made repeated attemps to arbitrate and adjust matters with the local branch manager; therefore be it resolved that this association ask for the immediate removal of your present branch manager, also equitable adjustments of the various differences now existing between Goldwyn Distributing Corporation and local exhibitors. Signed: Theatre Owners Association of Los Angeles. Per Glenn Harper, Secretary. Hampton Del Ruth, whose resignation from the Mack Sennett Company caused quite a lot of talk along the local rialto, has decided that he will have his own company, which in the opinion of all those who know him and his work, is a decidedly wise move. There is no name that stands higher in the annals of screen story craft than that of Mr. Del Ruth. Saw Bill Russell the other night, just after he had completed "Hobbs In a Hurry." which he says is better than "Up Romance Road." If it is, Pa the, Bill's new releasing medium, will certainlv have a winner. G. Harold Percival, who does all the art direction for the Enid Bennett, Charles Ray and Dorothy Dalton productions, is winning new fame by his work in the recent productions of Thomas H. Ince's Paramount features. Robert Brunton, head of the Brunton Studios, is not very busy, he is only rushed to death overlooking the productions of the following start: Bessie Barriscale, Louise Glaum, Marie Dressier, Sessue Hayakawa, Madame Yorska, and Frank Keenan with still more to come, all of which is substantial evidence that the Brunton plan of producing features by contract is efficient as well as successful. To Protest Decision Funkhouser Supporters Will Make Effort To Re-install Censor CHICAGO.— A storm of protest greeted the news of Major M. L. C. Punkhouscr's discharge on Thursday. Reform and church organizations rose in arms at what they termed the "railroading" of charges against the former Second Deputy when the Civil Service Commission reached a decision less than forty-eight hours after the close of the hearing on Tuesday. Court fights are being planned to over-rule the Commission's decision. "Some of the testimony offered by the prosecution was perjured," said Alderman John H. Lyle, attorney for the defense, "and the Commission did all it could to prevent us from combating this. We shall go into court at the earliest possible moment." Major Funkhouser made no predictions when advised of the Commission's decision: "I was a bit surprised by the suddenness of the decision," he said, "but the verdict was not the least surprising." Shelby Singleton of the Citizens Association in a statement issued yesterday, said: "I consider the ousting of Mai. Funkhouser and his two. aids a distinct misfortune for Chicago. To my knowledge Maj. Funkhouser and his investigators have been a thorn in the side of gambling and vice interests ever since the office was created. I know the major has been thoroughly effective and active in dealing with vice." ' The decision of the Civil Service Commission reads in part: . . . "The Commission heard the evidence offered and having considered all the evidence adduced herein, we find therefrom that the said M. L. C. Funkhouser is guilty as charged in the within and foregoing charges. "We, therefore, order that the said M. L. C. Funkhouser be discharged from the office or position of second deputy superintendent of police, department of police, and from the services of the City of Chicago." President of the Civil Service Commission, Charles E. Frazier, Jos. P. Geary and Alexander J. Johnson, concurred in the findings. "We heard the case and this is the result of our best judgment." was all Mr. Frazier would saw Marie Dressler's two-reel comedy, The Band Box and Star theatres. "The Scrub Lady," _ is ready for re Chicago, are enjoying good business lease and will be issued September with the Francis Ford feature. "Ber second. Hn via. America."