Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1927)

J uly 1 , 19 27 2553 Accident Brings Carnivals Into 111 Favor Minneapolis may absolutely prohibit travelling carnival companies from operating within the city limits as a result of an accident which occurred last week. A ferris wheel which was operated by a carnival company in Northwest Minneapolis figured in the accident, in which three persons were dumped from the top car, and fell 30 feet. One of the occupants of the car was seriously injured, and the two others suffered minor injuries. A little girl standing nearby had her skull fractured by a falling piece of iron. The injured persons have filed damage suits against the carnival operators, David J. Lachman and Andrew •Carson, for $.56,000. The city council at once revoked the carnival's license and the police closed it immediately. John Ryan, one of the aldermen, took immediate steps to frame an ordinance absolutely prohibiting carnivals from making their stands in the city, and there seemed little doubt that the ordinance would have the approval of the other council members. All three of the Minneapolis dailies came out urging the council to take this step against the carnivals. Prominent Detroit Theatre Man Dies Suddenly Word reached New York this week that Eugene Sloman, long identified ^\'ith theatrical activities in Detroit, Mich., recently passed away at his home in that city. Mr. Sloman owned the Bonistell Theatre in Detroit and was also actively engaged in the real estate business under the firm name of the St. Clair Realty Company. He was also prominent for his many charitable enterprises. Milton Kronacher, of the New York Pathe branch exchange, is a relative of the deceased. Hartford Petitions for Sunday Opening FAVORABLE action on the petition of theatre owners and managers of Hartford, Conn., will be recommended by the ordinance committee of the Hartford, Conn., Board of Aldermen to the next meeting of the full board. The theatres have asked that they be permitted to open Sunday afternoons. Heretofore local ordinance has limited Sunday opening to seven o'clock in the evening and thereafter. Although objection to the afternoon openings was voiced by some of the clergy and representatives of some of the women's organizations, the committee recognized the arguments of the theatre managers and of a large number who desired the earlier openings to keep young people off the streets on Sundays. Among the theatre officials who spoke in favor of the afternoon openings before the committee were Col. Clarence W. Seymour, president of the Allyn Theatre Corp.; Managers James F. Clancy, of Poll's Palace Theatre; David VVeinstock, of the Grand Theatre; and Henry Needles, of the Strand Theatre. Jacqueline Logan Signs De Mille Contract JACQUELINE LOGAN has signed a long-term contract with the De Mille Studio. No decision has been made as to what her first picture will be under this new arrangement. Jacqueline Logan has been in screen work for a comparatively short time. She has been under contract to Paramount, Fox, and Ince during her career, climaxing this series of performances with her role of Mary Magdalene in "The Kings of Kings." Southeast Film Men to Honor Dan Michalove What promises to be the most pretentious affair of the kind ever held in • Atlanta, Ga., will be the informal dinner to be given in honor of Dan Michalove, general manager of Universal Chain Theatrical Enterprises, Inc., at the Atlanta Athletic Club at 11 o'clock on the evening of Monday, June 27. The dinner will be given by the motion picture and theatrical industry of the Southeast and, from acceptances already received, indications are that it will be attended by fully 150 persons. In addition to the dinner itself and program of short addresses, arrangements have been made for the appearance of acts from various theatres. Exhibitors from the Southeast, executives from Universal 's New York office, state and city officials, theatre executives around Atlanta, exchange managers and prominent citizens, will be present and pay tribute to Mr. Michalove. Los Angeles Holds First Place in F. N. Drive At the conclusion of the second week of Fii-st National's summer billing drive, instituted by Ned E. Dipinet, general sales manager, the Los Angeles branch, which held sixth place at the end of the first week, had forged up to first place. Its standing was 120.81 per cent of its quota. Omaha, which stood in first place last week, dropped back to second place. Oklahoma City went from second to third place, while St. Louis forged up into fourth position. These four exchanges exceeded their quota. The standings by districts at the end of the second week were: 1st, Eastern; 2nd, Canadian; 3rd, Western; 4th, Southern. $100,000 Theatre Planned for Brantford, Ontario T. H. Moorehead and G. eJ. Filman, owners of a chain of theatres in Brampton, London and Welland, Ontario, have announced that they '^'ill build a theatre at Brantford, Ontario, to cost $100,000. The construction of the new house has already started, the site being the former Imperial Hotel at Dalhousie and King Streets. The theatre will have one floor, seating 1,800. The building, which is of brick and concrete, has a frontage of 92 feet. New Distribution Firm Formed in England A new move in the campaign for the wider distribution of British films is indicated by the formation of a private company in England under the title of British Controlled Films, Ltd. It has hitherto been difficult, it is said, to obtain outlets for English films owing to the system of block booking and the fact that distributive agencies were not under British control. An Australian company, the British Dominion Films (Australia), Ltd., has been formed with capital of $500,000, and will be affiliated with British Controlled Films. Another affiliated company controls 146 theatres in New Zealand. Negotiations are now in progress for linking up the entci-prise with distributive companies in Canada, South Africa, and India. Arrangements are also being made for the production of films in the colonies, these pictures to be handled for Empire distribution by this company. Firms Granted Charters of Incorporation in Pa. Pennsylvania charters have been granted at the Capitol in Harrisburg to the J. S. Davis Amusement Company, of New Castle, Pa., and to the Stanley-Effinger Company, of Philadelphia. The J. S. Davis Amusement Company is capitalized at $15,000, of which $1,500 is paid in and the par value of shares is $100. The treasurer is Gillis F. Falls, New Castle, who is also one of the incorporators. Other incorporators are: J. S. Davis, New Castle, and Ray Stroebel, New Castle. The Stanley-Effinger Company is capitalized at $5,000, of which $500 is paid in on the basis of $100 par value of shares. The treasurer is Irving D. Rossheim. Incorporators are: Joseph Sloane, Herbert Effinger and Jennie Effinger, all of Philadelphia. No'west T. O. to Present Requests to Labor AT a meeting held last week by the entire personnel of the Minneapolis Theatre Owners of the Northwest, Inc., it was unanimously decided after lengthy discussion to ask the musicians, stage hands, and operators of the various TwinCity theatres for a reduction in the wage scales. The wage scale committee was asked to meet with the unions and present the request with an explanation that the prevailing poor business conditions made the move necessary to the welfare of the theatre owners. A meeting has already been held by the committee with the musicians' union and it is thought that the musicians will agree to revert as requested to their 1925 scale, which is approximately 5 per cent less than that in effect at present. The stage hands will be asked for a similar reduction and the operations for a 10 per cent reduction. The committee will also request the crafts to substitute a nine months' contract for the present oneand two-years' agreements and also to agree to a two weeks' notice from either side before men shall be discharged or pulled off a job in case of dispute.