Film Index (Jan-Jul 1911)

THE FILM INDEX Film Index Published by THE FILMS PUBLISHING CO. (Incorporated) No. 1 Madison Avenue, New York City Rooms 6007-6008 Tel. Gramercy 5538 JAMES L. HOFF, Managing Editor CHICAGO OFFICE : 611 Ashland Block 'Phone, Central 1605 JAMES S. McQUADE. Representative SUBSCRIPTION RATES — One year. $2.00; six months, $1.00; three months' trial, 50c. ; single copies, 10c. Postage prepaid to all countries in Postal Union. FOREIGN SUB8CRIPTIOXS-$2.50 per annum. All subscriptions payable in advance. INFORMATION FOR ADVERTISERS ADVERTISING RATES Whole Page $60.00 Half '• 30.00 One-Third" 20.00 Quarter " 15.00 One inch, single column 1.40 Discounts on Time Contracts— 5 per eent. on three months; 10 per cent, on six months; 20 per cent, on one year CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING " For Sale," " Help Wanted," etc., 3<>. per word : minimum. $1.00 one time. "Situations Wanted." not to exceed 4 lines, 25c. one time. Cash must accompany all orders for classified advertising. , SPECIAL NOTICE Copy and instructions for advertising must reach the publication office not later than Wednesday, to insure insertion the same week. REMITTANCES should be made by express or postal order, check, or registered letter. Cash sent otherwise is at the risk of the sender. JANUARY 7, 191] CASUAL COMMENT FROM all reports it was a Merry, Merry Christmas indeed for all employees of the several licensed motion picture manufacturers. Tales of turkeys, boxes of fine cigars and real money, dispensed with lavish hand, have been coming in ever since that happy day. The true Christmas spirit seems to have actuated everybody and resulted in an appreciable division of profits where it would be most appreciated we hope. A further illustration of this spirit of generosity is found in the action of the Chicago picture men in contributing to the widows and orphans of the firemen who lost their lives in the recent fire in that city. The motion picture fund was started with the contribution of $1,000 by the licensed manufacturers, which nucleus1 will be materially augmented by the contributions of the Chicago exhibitors. There is nothing so good for the soul as Christian giving. Let the good work be prosecuted with all diligence, that the fire sufferers may be well provided for in the time of their greatest need. * » * IT has been insinuated by certain writers upon the subject of motion pictures that the product of American manufacturers has made no progress during the past year. If the source of these statements was reliable the indictment might be considered as a serious one. Fortunately the expressed opinion has no foundation in fact, and is no more than a biased "insinuation" written by a disappointed and disgruntled editor of a trade paper of shady character. The Film Index takes notice of the statement for the purpose of directing attention to the wonderful extension of the world business of American licensed picture makers during the past year, which fact would seem to be sufficient refutation of the statement referred to. It is a noteworthy fact that the year's greatest achievement of American licensed picture makers is the extension of popularity of American subjects to foreign markets. Buyers of pictures for South Africa, Australia and Continental Europe are enthusiastic over the reception given American pictures and find a ready market for hundreds of reels of that product. So important has the foreign trade become that several of the licensed manufacturers are making special arrangements for the development of that market. Evidently there has been some little improvement in American pictures or they would not be able to compete on such favorable terms with the best product of European makers. Whatever may be the cause the present state of the foreign market is favorable and there is a splendid outlook for an increase of sales. * * * ELSEWHERE in this issfue we publish the opinion of Judge Lacombe of the United States Circuit Court just handed down in the case of the Motion Picture Patents Company against The Champion Film Company. This case was brought to enjoin The Champion Film Company from infringing the well-known Edison camera patent, reissue No. 12,037. The Gaumont camera, which certain of the so-called "independents" have insisted was non-infringing, was brought before the court, which decided that the Gaumont was an infringement of said patent as was a modified Gaumont produced by the defendant. The opinion is interesting and worth careful perusal. "ANOTHER WORD FOR THE HACK" By One of Them. Of late the Moving Picture World has been smudging up a great deal of chaste white paper with unsolicited pity for the lot of the "poor underpaid hack" engaged In writing scenarios. A recent effusion by one Charles' N. Simms was obviously intended to be particularly nasty and offensive. But the scenario writer is not deceived by the erstwhile mutterings of Simms and his stripe nor even by the unmerited antagonism of the self-appointed oracles who edit the paper in which it appears. Photo story writers who have been long enough mixed up with journalism to smell a grubstreeter's copy even in print are rather inclined to view such guttersnipe attacks as proof that the prosperity of the so-called hack is hurting somebody. In the first place, who asked the M. P. W. to champion the rights of the "poor underpaid hack?" Certainly not any of the scenario writers for the licensed manufacturers who are making good. The scenario writer is not the one who is "lifting up his voice to cry out to the silent drama world" about his portion. Twenty-five to thirty-five, real dollars from the coffers of the "predatory" trust is not such bad picking for an odd three hours' work of an evening, and we doubt that the superior-minded scorners in the World's upper heavens are doing a whole lot better by their time. Let them put that in their briars and "Jai mal de tete" it. In the second place, let it be known that the "disappointed hack" who doesn't give a continental hang what the M. P. W. or its henchmen think or write about him, so long as they do not jonah his interests by attempting to say something nice of him. Also we do not suffer from headaches such as afflict the world-weary World every time it gets jabbed in the pocket-book. Zounds, what a frightful thing a headache must be in such a gigantic area of gray matter! The scenario writer not having advertised in the columns of the World for two years and then withdrawn his patronage, may be pardoned for viewing the paper's sudden spleen as passing strange. But enough. The "starving hack's" time is too precious to be long spent in answering the twaddle of pernicious critics. He is too busy punching out dear little thousand-word picture plots that may help pay for Christmas presents for his "starving" wife and family, who, paradoxical as it may seem, look well fed and happy, despite Simsified observations to the contrary The M. P. W. may gain from this that even the "poor underpaid hack" has its number some, and to it and its menials the fabled advice of the file to the viper should be sufficient. JACKSONVILLE, ILL., HAS A NEW HOUSE Frank Painter, formerly machine operator at the Grand Opera House, Jacksonville, 111., opened his new house "The Lyric" on the night of Dec. 14. Mr. Painter has made arrangements for new pictures every day, and with the illustrated songs is giving an excellent entertainment at popular prices. On the opening night, as an extra attraction, Mr. Painter had Jeffries orchestra to furnish music. RAISE RELIEF FUND Picture Men Generous in Support of Widows and Orphans of Dead Fire Heroes. On Wednesday evening, Dec. 28, a meeting was held in the offices of George Kleine, 52 State street, to devise ways and njeans whereby the licensed exhibitors of Chicago might be able to act concertedly in the matter of giving benefits to aid the orphans and widows of the firemen who lost their lives in the stockyards fire of Dec. 22, 1910. The licensed manufacturers of America were all represented as were the three branches of the General Film Co. in the city. Methods of procedure were crudely outlined, with the intention of ascertaining the views of the exhibitors in the matter and at the next meeting Saturday afternoon, Dec. 31, definite steps will be taken to include all the licensed theatres in the city in the effort to swell the widows' and orphans' fund in the most effective manner possible. The ten licensed manufacturers and importers of this country subscribed $1,000 to the fund and on Saturday, Dec. 31, checks for that amount will be sent by special messenger to John J. Mitchell, treasurer of the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank. The following letters, in order, will show how the movement originated and matured: Chicago, Dec. 27, 1910. Mr, Harlow N. Higinbotham, Chairman, Firemen's Relief Fund, Chicago, Ills. Dear Sir: — Various parties interested in the moving picture industry, including manufacturers and theatres not being represented in the published list of your subcommittees, and being desirous of contributing to the relief fund, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed consisting of the following: Edison Mfg. Co., represented by J. H. Hardin. Selig Polyscope Co., represented by W. N. Selig. Essanay Film Mfg. Co.. represented by G. K. Spoor. Pathe Freres, represented by K. W. Linn. Kalem Company, represented by Mr. Lynch. Vitagraph Company, represented by J. B. Rock. George Melies. represented by J. B. Rock. Biograph Co., represented by George Kleine. George Kleine, represented by George Kleine. Lubin Mfg. Co., represented by Mr. Fulton. It is proposed by the committee to induce as many as possible of all moving picture theatres in Chicago to donate one day's receipts to the fund. The individual contributions of the committee will be reported later. Very respectfully yours, George Kleine. Office of the CITIZENS' RELIEF COMMITTEE, U. S. Y. Fire, December 22d, 1910. Chicago, December 27. 1910. Mr. George Kleine, 02 State St., Chicago. Dear Sir: — I have just received your favor of this date making a suggestion that a sub-committee be appointed to represent moving picture industries, including manufacturers, and such theatres as are net included in the other committee. I am pleased to say I will be glad to have you act as chairman, or have your committee meet and appoint their own chairman — the committee to be composed of yourself, J. H. Hardin, W. N. Selig. G. K. Spoor, K. W. Linn. John B. Rock, Mr. Lynch of Kalem Co., Mr. Fulton of Lubin Mfg. Co. All money to be sent to Mr. John J. Mitchell, Treasurer, Ills. Trust & Sav. Bank. Yours very truly, H. N. Higinbotham, Chairman. TWO MORE PHOTOPLAY THEATRES Two permits for photoplay theatres to cost an aggregate of $22,000 were taken out in the Building Inspector's office, Louisville, Ky., Dec. 2. Both of the theatres are to be built on West Broadway. One permit was issued to the Royal Theatre Company, Eighteenth street and Broadway, for a brick building to cost $10,0 00. The structure will be completed by January 1. Joseph & Joseph are the architects. The other permit was issued to the West Broadway Theatre Company for a structure to be built at 736 West Broadway at a cost of $12,000. This building is to be finished by May 1.