The Implet (Jan-Jun 1912)

THE "IMPLET" THE DAYTON CONVENTION The convention of the Motion Picture League of Ohio was held on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 26th and 27th. Present at that convention were representatives of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of nearly every State in the Union, together with members of similar organizations in West Virginia, Indiana and elsewhere. The first day of the convention was spent in sight-seeeing theatre parties and a banquet at the Hotel Algonquin. The executive officers held a secret session and prepared their reports, and a general discussion was held relative to the welfare of the exhibitors throughout the State. State President Neff, of California, who is also president of the National organization, presided at the session and took occasion in his annual report to point out the good work being carried on along the lines of organization in all parts of the country. He expressed the belief that the time was not far distant when every State in the Union would be enrolled under the banner of the National organization. President Neff said that the moving-picture organization could not be used by scheming politicians. He said that attempts had been made at various times to make out of it and use it for the promotion of some man's selfish political fortunes. "But in these things the schemers have ignominiously failed," he said. "We are organized not for political purposes, but for the purpose of disseminating knowledge among the industrial classes and affording amusement to all." President Neff made a report : "I was determined to watch closely all proposed legislation which threatened to be inimical to the legitimate interests of the motion-picture men." Chairman Weaver, of that committee, however, stated that he found little disposition on the part of Ohio to harass them in business. "On the contrary," he said, "there is a disposition to encourage the enterprise." The recommendation that a Federal censor board be appointed was advocated by the entire league. It was sug gested that such a body might be appointed by Congress or the President, or that a law be passed in each State authorizing the Governor to appoint a censorship board. The national officers strenuously objected to police departments being authorized as censors of artistic and moral pictures, and also believe that the exhibitors should be consulted. While the morning session was not open to the public and was held behind closed doors, it was learned that the Sunday closing and other matters of similar import were discussed. Each member of the convention was reported to have volunteered to do all in his power to procure such legislation as will open the doors of the moving-picture theatres in cities in all parts of the country on Sunday. Charles Johnson, of Washington; J. M. Kaufman, of Gallipolis, Ohio, and J. A. Maddox, president of the Columbus local, supported the stand taken by Mayor Tynes, of Portsmouth, Ohio, and said they could see no reason why the authorities should close the theatres on Sunday when harmless and educational pictures are shown. Reports showed that there are approximately 1,100 picture theatres in Ohio and 16, 000 in the country. Cincinnati has 86 playhouses, Cleveland 125, Toledo 40, and Dayton 31. President Neff reported that eleven State organizations are now affiliated with the national association, and that he hopes to have eleven more affiliated before the next national convention, which will be held in Chicago in August. Toledo, Ohio, was the city chosen at the closing session of the convention as the place for the holding of the next State convention on July 16th and 17th. The executive committee of the National Association, which also met here this week, received applications for State charters from New York, Buffalo and Binghamton, but definite action was postponed. Charters, however, were granted to Kentucky, Missouri and the District of Columbia. Loan Sharks Criminals In The Eyes Of The Law Every "loan shark" is now a criminal in the eyes of the law, according to a decision returned by the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Department, recently, and the question of winding up their affairs is declared to be merely one of how fast the District Attorneys here and in Brooklyn care to act. To make sure that the District Attorneys shall have plenty of material to work on, lawyers representing the Sage Foundation declared, upon hearing that the decision had been returned, that they would immediately move to bring about the indictment of every loan shark in New York City. In addition to obtaining fresh indictments, the Sage Foundation's lawyers will proceed with the prosecution of cases which have passed through the preliminary stages and have been held up pending the Appellate Division's decision. The decision against the loan sharks was written by Justice Hirschberg and Justices Jenks, Thomas, Woodward and Rich concurred in it. A company was selected by the Sage Foundation to test Section 614 of the State banking law, which makes it a crime to loan money at a rate of more than 6 per cent, per annum. The company was convicted in the Court of Special Sessions in Brooklyn on May 21, 1911. At the trial it was brought out that the defendant company had made a loan of $25 to a borrower. For this loan it had charged him interest at the rate of 6 per cent, and fees amounting to $16.10, the fees being ostensibly for services as brokers in obtaining the loan from some unmentioned third party. The contention of the defendant was that the fees were a proper charge and did not constitute interest and that Section 014 of the banking laws was repealed by the enactment of a penal code amendment in which it was stipulated that the taking of more than six per cent, interest was not criminal unless security had been provided. On these two points the decision of the Appellate Division says : "The language of the sta'ule indicates clearly that where the loan is for less than $200 at more than the legal rate of interest the giving of security is not a necessary element to the crime. The plain purpose of the act was to protect the needy from extortion, and the Legislature in accomplishing that purpose limited the protected class to small borrowers. The purpose of the clauses in the banking law ami the penal code is complimentary, and they are harmonious rather than inconsistent. One establishes the general rule ; the other exempts a certain class from the hardships that would result were the whole rule universally applied. Walter Heilborn, a lawyer representing the Sage Foundation, said that the decision, in his opinion, was the most far-reaching one yet obtained. It gives the prosecuting officers for the first time an opportunity to reach beyond the defenses which have been thrown up by the money lenders for the last fifteen years, he declared. "At last we have forged a weapon for the prosecuting officers," he said, "and it will be interesting to see what the officers are able to do with it. By prosecutions which we shall undertake at once we believe we shall be able to make the first serious inroads against the loan shark business, a business best described by Judge Jones in the Federal Court in Alabama when he said it made its victims 'absolute serfs in everything except name.' " The Sage Foundation's loan office, which charges twenty-four per cent, per annum, was organized under a special section of the banking law allowing certain philanthropic or quasi-philanthropic corporations to charge that rate. Arthur Mam, in charge of the Foundation's loan shark crusade, said that the twenty-four per cent, rate would be dropped as rapidly as the business would permit, and that it was fixed at the estimated cost of conducting the business. He said that the present loan sharks could incorporate under the same section of the law if they consented to accept twentyfour per cent, a year instead of the charges of from 80 to L80 per cent., which they now exact. CARL LAEMMLE AT THE OHIO CONVENTION. (From "The Dayton Journal.") A most noteworthy event was the presence of Carl Laemmle, head of the Imp Films Company, of New York, Mr. Laemmle, in an exclusive interview, hit straight from the shoulder on matters pertaining to cinematography. This is the first convention of its kind that he has ever attended by this power of independent picturedom, and he was an object of much attention. Mr. Laemmle said : "I congratulate the Ohio exhibitors in getting together, and also on the fact that it is not only a state convention, but in reality a national convention. "As every one knows, I started in business as an exhibitor and can sympathize with their views. Good pictures are an uplift to the industries. Today the manufacturer cannot exist without the support of the exhibitors. The manufacturers depend upon the exhibitors for information. "I believe exhibitors should be independent and exercise the right of selecting their own pictures. It is to the exhibitors' associations that we must look to the exercise of the best influence in the motion picture business. It should be the business of the state and national associations to carefully watch all legislation. "Independence means a whole lot. It can influence both patrons and public. I think the exhibitor should do more to influence exchanges to secure the very best pictures to be had." Regarding the alleged investigation of the United States Government into the trust propensities of the license forces, Mr. Laemmle said : "This investigation does not affect independence. Vv e don't take the attitude of the patents company. We attend to our own business, perhaps a little more so than they do. "The Independent output has improved a hundred per cent. The competition between Independent companies has improved in quality. "The moving picture is going to educate millions of people who have never before attended a theatre of any kind. "I never tire of seeing moving pictures, and eventually the big houses will educate the people in the industry as well as the smaller theatres. "To cater to the demand for more lengthy film drama, we are now figuring on 2,000 and :i,000 feet of picture films regularly." LIST OF THE INDEPENDENT MANUFACTURERS. American Film Manufacturing Co., Ashland Block, Chicago, 111. Carlton Motion Picture Laboratories, 540 W. 21st St., New York City Champion Film Company, 145 W. 45th St., New York City. Comet Film Company, 344 E. 32nd St., New York City. Eclair Film Company, Fort Lee, New Jersey. Imp Films Company, 102 W. 101st St., New York City. Lux Film Company, 10 E. 15th St., New York City. Majestic Motion Picture Company, 145 W. 45th St., New York City. Nestor Film Company, 688 Avenue E., Bayonne, New Jersey. New York Motion Picture Company, 251 W. 19th St., New York City. Great Northern Film Company, 7 E. 14th St., New York City. Powers Motion Picture Company, 511 W. 42d St., New York City. Republic Film Company, 145 W. 45th St., New York City. Rex Motion Picture Company, 573 Eleventh Ave., New York City. Solax Company, Congress Ave , Flushing, Long Island. Thanhouser Company, New Rochelle, New York. "JUST THREE-A-WEEK." (With T. B.'s apologies to H. W. Longfellow.) The shades of night away had passed; 'Twas day; the sun was shining fast As through the streets there walked a a Gink Who cried aloud — now watcher think? "That Three-a-Week!" His brow was calfn; his eye beneath Flashed like a sword from out its sheath; And, like a big brass trumpet, rung The accents of that nifty tongue: "My Three-a-Week!" In every home he saw that night Nice comfy fires so warm and light; Above the twinkling starlits twinked So this same Gink he thusly ginked : "Your Three-a-Week !" "Go home to sleep," an old man said, "Ain't it time you was tucked in bed? You gotta git up at six A. M." But the Gink he roared : "Oh you be' dem." "Our Three-a-Week!" "O stay," a sweet girl said, "and rest Your curly head upon this breast." He fixed her with his glittering eye, And thus that Gink he made reply : "Their Three-a-Week!" "Beware the roadhouse at the turn; Their whiskey makes your tonguelet burn." This was the Gink's one last goodnight; His voice resounded sharp and bright: "His Three-a-Week!" At break of day the village cop Meandered around the old hill top And woke the slumbering Gink, who screamed The mystic words of which he'd dreamed, "Her Three-a-Week!" A traveller in the frozen North One day to shoot the bear went forth. "Don't shoot!" a strange, mad thing remarked, "For the Arctic Zone I've just embarked, '"With Three-a-Week!'" There in the twilight cold and grey This Gink decided for to stay, Ffoxn the top of the world so he could shout To all Exhibitors around and about: " Never mind T. B.'s parody of H. W. Longfellow's poem but DEMAND THREE-A-WEEK!" THE "SPEEDER" LIST IS FOR IMPLET READERS Are you using it ? F REE^EEmkFREE We have decided to install a separate department for looking after the wants of our readers, free. We can now assure prompt attention to inquiries — speedier than any other publication in the country. We've got a "Speeder" list. This is made up of dealers in theatre supplies who assure rapid fire attention to inquiries. All an exhibitor need do is write the "Speeder Dep't." of the Implet what he needs, and he will, in a jiffy, receive the best prices in the market. This is a free service to exhibitors, made necessary by the dozens of requests for information that come in every week. The Implet is tickled to do it for you.