The Film Daily (1918)

Jjjtw DAILY Saturday, November 16, 1918 Stockholder Sues Claims Assets of Automatic M. P. Corp. Were Wasted A suit by a stockholder of the Automatic Motion Picture Corporation against the officers and directors of the corporation for an accounting, on the ground that the assets have been wasted has been filed in the Supreme Court by Curt J. Wackerow against Louis K. Schwartz, treasurer; Stanley Katzenstein, president, and Julius H. Dreher, J. Robert Rubin and John G. Bell, directors. The complaint alleges that the defendants have been officers of the corporation since it was organized in 1916, and that the corporation has a capital of $75,000, consisting of 15,000 shares of stock, of which the plaintiff owns 1,200. Wackerow alleges that it was the duty of the defendants to see that no assets or money of the corporation were wasted or squandered, and charges that in violation of their duty they acted in concert with Schwartz during August and September in such a way that a contract held by the defendant which was worth $150,000 has been turned over to Schwartz as his own and the corporation has divested itself of this valuable asset. The plaintiff says he got no notice that the assets were about to be disposed of. War Film To Help Drive Indianapolis has discovered a way to anticipate a^id stir up interest in the Fifth Liberty Loan drive, which is scheduled to take place in January, and at the same time to stimulate audiences for "Under Four Flags," the third U. S. Official War Picture issued by the Division of Films. "Under Four Flags" will be shown at the Circle theatre, Indianapolis, during the week of November 24. The Marion County Legion, in charge of the local war loan drives, has circularized its 6,000 lieutenants urging them not only to see this new Government war picture, but also to use every effort to get the public in their districts to attend the presentations at the Circle. The showing of the picture will be utilized to call attention to the next Liberty Loan drive and to urge the people to prepare for it. Boards of Health Aid The New York state and city boards of health are actively co-operating to stimulate interest in Healthograms to such an extent that Dr. Bruce Copeland, Health Commissioner of New York City, and Dr. S. Dana Hubbard of the state board of health, have had several lengthy conversations with Allan Cander, who is distributing this feature. It is not unlikely that Dr. Copeland will appear in one of the fourminute reels to be produced. The war is ovei — the epidemic is checked — the shut-down is a thing of the past. Now Get Busy, R. R. Nehls Returns American's Gen'l Manager Expects To See Eastern Studios Deserted After spending a month in the Pacific Coast film country in general and at the Flying A studios at Santa Barbara, in particular, General Manager R. R. Nehls of the American Film Company is back at the corporation's executive offices in Chicago. Mr. Nehls stated that he made a close, systematic and comparative survey of the film industry's general conditions and future indications. He firmly believes that the exodus of eastern studio "outfits" to the sunny shores of the Pacific ocean will continue until there is little or nothing left in the East, with its treacherous climate and limited light average. Outside of the general business and production affairs of the American Film Company, Mr. Nehls made additional improvements on the studio equipment to facilitate the fighting of the influenza. He declares that at the time of his departure from Santa Barbara the percentage of sickness among the actors and other employes of the concern was on an average lower than in any other studio. American's general manager looked over sites and plans for probable spring improvements and extensions, such as stages and additional offices and dressing rooms. He witnessed some of the finishing work on "Where the West Begins," William Russell's next picture and conferred with the scenario and directing staffs about the coming James Oliver Curwood story, "Some Liar," featuring William Russell, as well as the next Margarita Fisher and Mary Miles Minter features. Chester Made Literary Advisor Vitagraph has made another step in perfecting its literary department by adding George Randolph Chester, author of the famous Wallingford stories to its staff as literary advisor. His duties will consist of reading all scripts and the finished scenarios and adding characteristic comedy touches. He began work this week at the offices of the studio in Brooklyn. From Minneapolis Tom Kress Made Minnesota Representative For Fox MINNEAPOLIS. — Tom Kress, twin city representative of the Minneapolis Pathe exchange for the past six months has been made Minnesota representative of the Fox Film Corp. by D. Leo Dennison, Minneapolis exchange manager. Mr. Kress has also worked for the Mutual with Minneapolis as headquarters. The Broadway theatre, a new neighborhood house in Winona, Minn., has opened and is reporting a successful start. It has signed for Universal service. Among theatres re-opened in Minnesota this week, following a reduction of the influenza epidemic, were the Unique, Litchfield, Minn.; Dreamland at Willmar, and the Lux at Perham. All houses are now open again at Winona, Minnesota's fourth largest city. A. A. Nixon, well known among northwest film men, has been engaged by Ira Mantzke, manager of the Minneapolis Mutual branch to act as head salesman. M. H. Aygarn has been appointed manager of the Minneapolis branch, American Seating Company. Formerly he was superintendent of schools at Akely, Minn. The Grand theatre, Crookston, Minn., has been sold to the Northern State Amusement Co. by Theo. L. Hays. The Grand theatre, Biwabik, Minn., one of the houses recently damaged by fire, is being repaired and will be re-opened soon. Releasing "The Prodigal Wife" The Pioneer Film Corp. announces that it will release "The Prodigal Wife," which was made by the Screencraft company under the personal direction of Frank Reicher. "The Prodigal Wife" stars Mary Boland and the supporting cast includes Lucy Cotton. The story is an adaptation of "Flaming Ramparts," by Edith Barnard Delano, which appeared in "Harper's Magazine." New Battle Creek Theatre BATTLE CREEK. — Butterfield, Lipp and Cross plan to open their new Regent theatre in Battle Creek, November 27, for high-grade motion pictures. The motif of the Official War Review, No. 21, issued by the Division of Films, and announced by Pathe for release November 17, is "The Masterly Leadership of General Foch."