Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

2174 Motion Picture N e u' s Al Boyd Building New Theatre Chain; Already Includes 12 Houses IN connection with an announcement that Al Boyd, who resigned recently as managing director of the Stanley Theatre Corporation, of Philadelphia, has taken a lease on the Pergola theatre, Allentown, Pa., for a period of five years; the Allentown newspapers state the Pergola is to be a part of a new chain of theatres he is creating, and which already includes twelve houses, another of which is the $750,000 Boyd theatre for which he broke ground on June 11, at 19th and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia. Mr. Boyd was the man in control of buying all film for the big Stanley chain, prior to his leaving that organization for the purpose of promoting his own project. Mr. Boyd will take over the Pergola, which seats 1,000, on July 1. It is a comparatively new house, owned by James K. Bowen, of Allentown, and it is announced that the present manager, D. E. Knorr, will be retained as local manager. Sunday Movies Gaining in Popularity Reports from Various Contested Centers Reveal Victories for Opponents of Blue Laws SUNDAY motion pictures seem to be winning popular f avor in many localities where battles have been waged for and against the picture houses. In nearly every instance where a report has been received the last week it has announced favorable action toward Sunday shows or juries disagreed as to whether or not they should be permitted. The fight in the Province of Quebec over the question of Sunday shows took a sensational turn when the United Amusements, Limited, Montreal, scored a legal victory over the Quebec Provincial Government by securing a writ from Mr. Justice Coderre, of the Superior Court at Montreal, on June 1 prohibiting criminal proceedings against the Regent Theatre for operating on Sundays. The Regent is one of 12 Montreal theatres operated by United Amusements, and it was one house which had been named in the test cases instituted by Hon. L. A. Taschereau, Premier of Quebec. The writ is tantamount to a court injunction, and it halts criminal action against the theatre because of Sunday shows. In the petition for the writ it was stated that United Amusements, Limited, being a corporation, could not be prosecuted on a criminal charge. It was also claimed that presentations of moving pictures did not constitute a theatrical performance in the eyes of the law. The Provincial statutes contained no prohibition of moving picture shows on Sundays. The Provincial law banned theatrical performances but said nothing about moving pictures. Moving picture presentations had been permitted in the Province of Quebec on Sundays since February 28, 1927, under existing laws. The Federal statutes invoked by the Quebec Provincial Government did not make a crime of Sunday shows. For these reasons the corporation asked that a writ of prohibition be issued to enjoin the judges of the criminal courts from proceeding with the test actions. The writ was ordered issued by the Superior Court judge, and it was served on Judge Marin, of the Court of Sessions and High Constable Cinq-Mars, sheriff of Montreal, who presented the suirfmons to the theatre company. Presecution of the company has, therefore, been halted and Sunday shows are being held as usual. In all probability, motion pictures will now be shown in Marion, 0., on Sundays without any interference. Ed. Reynard, arrested and twice arraigned before a jury for keeping his theatre open on Sunday, has again been released through a jury disagreement. In April the jury that heard the case disagreed. A new jury was called. Last Monday this second jury also disagreed. So, unless some unforeseen event occurs, Reynard will continue to operate on Sunday. The promised closing of all businesses, except restaurants and prescription counters, on Sundays in Eustis, Fla., to take effect Sunday, May 27th, was a dud, and everything is going along "as usual" in that hustling little city. The Ministers association of the city filed a protest against the operation of the motion picture theatre on Sunday. As the ordinances prohibited practically all activity on Sunday, Chief of Police W. J. Davis issued an order for the closing of every business, with the two exceptions mentioned. This order caused such a storm of pro test that the city council got together in special session and passed a new ordinance lessening the restrictions imposed by the old law. The new ordinance excepts drug stores, hotels, tilling stations, theatres, motion picture shows, cold drink and barbecue stands, bathing houses, beaches and golf courses, all "during such hours and subject to such restrictions as may from time to time be designated and prescribed by the mayor. ' ' Traer, Iowa, voted on Sunday shows on May 23, following a hot contest in which 306 voted for the Sunday amusement opposed by 272. The majority of 34 for the theatres was considered a decisive victory since the churches and also the city council had offered strong opposition to the citizens' decision. Colorado Exhibitor Wins Right of Sunday Shows Hobart Kincaid, manager of the Rialto Theatre, of Florence, Colo., won his skirmish with the state authorities over the right to operate Sunday movies in Florence. An information was recently filed against Mr. Kincaid in the district court of Canon City, Colo., charging Mr. Kincaid with violation of a state law prohibiting Sunday entertainment. Upon motion by Mr. Kincaid 's attorney, Sperry Packard, of Pueblo, the information was dismissed by District Judge James L. Cooper before whom the case was called. The effect of the ruling was that the law did not apply to motion picture entertainment. Thirty days was given district attorney Delbert Hessick to appeal from the decision although it is believed this action will not be taken. Allan S. Glenn Joins W. B. Publicity Staff Allan S. Glenn has joined the Warner Bros, publicity forces headed by A. P. Waxman. He is to take charge of two divisions in publicity, one having to do with the serialization of feature pictures and the other with effecting radio tie-ups in Warner interests throughout the country. He will make personal contact with newspaper editors as well as visit all of the broadcasting stations. Theatre Manager Credited as Strike Pacifier Pottsville newspapers give credit to Samuel Friedman, manager of the Capitoi Theatre in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, for having brought about an adjustment of a local trolley strike that had been progressing for 21 weeks. Acting independently after a citizens' committee had failed to end the disagreement, Mr. Friedman is given credit for bringing the opposing forces to a satisfactory settlement. Wm. Mendelssohn Added to U. A. Exploitation Dept. William Mendelssohn has been added by Victor Shapiro to the exploitation staff of United Artists Corporation, his duties being confined to the west coast covering Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver and 'Salt Lake City. Sennett Plans 10 Color Comedies for Pathe TEN comedies in Technicolor are planned by Mack Sennett for release through I'athe. They will be two reels each. The producer also intends to screen another feature and is now preparing the story. He will leave New York for the coast shortly after a business conference. He is considering a license for the production of sound pictures.