Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1538 Motion Picture N e w s Legitimate Theatre for Hollywood Film Celebrities Backing Enterprise to Bring B'way Plays to Film Center DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS and Mary Pickford have taken on the mantle of theatre-builders and owners by joining forces with Sol Lesser, Sid Grauman, Joseph M. Schenck and West Coast Theatres, Inc., officials, including Adolph Remish, A. L. and M. Gore. This group will immediately erect a new and beautiful theatre in the heart of Hollywood, costing approximately $1,000,000. It will be located on Hollywood Boulevard, and plans are now being drawn. It is said the new footlight temple will be ready for opening within eight months. The theatre is to be devoted to the spoken drama exclusively, with only on rare occasions film presentations being given. It is the thought of the theatre organization to bring to the Coast and the center of the film industry well-known Brooadway stage successes. Negotiations are now under way with Messrs. Klaw and Erlanger, Shuberts, Selwyns and David Belasco, it is stated. Sol Lesser, vice-president of the West Coast Theatres, Inc., will leave for New York early in April, and will confer with these producers regarding the first series of plays to be sent to the coast. It is the intention of those interested in the new playhouse to give the leading roles in these Broadway hits to artists now appearing in the silent drama. Following is a statement in part received from the offices of Principal Pictures Corporation on the Coast announcing the new project : " That the new Hollywood theatre will be the showplace of the world is assured by all interested in the project. Both Miss Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks are devoted to art in the highest sphere, and they are keenly excited over their new association in theatre building and owning. Grauman is regarded as the master showman of the West and will devote all of his time in the new edifice. Schenck is a fifth N. Y. Senate Passes Censorship Repeal Measure THE Walker Bill, providing for the repeal of motion-picture censorship in New York State, passed the Senate by a vote of 27 to 22 shortly after midnight on Tuesday of this week. The voting was marked by the dissolution of party lines, Senators Dick and Whitley (Republicans) voting with the Democrats in favor of the repeal and Senator Love (Democrat) voting against the measure with the majority of the Republican Senators. This came as a surprise as forecasts pointed to a solid Democratic vote in favor of the repeal owing to Governor Smith's frequently reiterated opposition to censorship. The breaking down of party lines in the Senate and the winning of two Republican votes for the proposal is considered by observers as a prediction of similar action in the Assembly, which is Republican only by a majority of six. Up to the present it has been generally conceded that the bill would meet with certain defeat in the lower house. The Senate voting was preceded by some little debate with Senator Clayton R. Lusk, minority leader, opposing the passage of the bill on the grounds that the recent hearing showed public opinion to be for a continuance of censorship. owner of the West Coast Theatres chain. The theatre will contain many new and unique innovations and will grace one of the choicest spots in all Hollywood." New Colorado Exhibitors* Body in Meeting State exhibitors of Colorado recently banded as an association known as the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Colorado and affiliated with exhibitors in the Intermountain Receiving Service, met at a general State meeting in Denver last Wednesday. High lights of the meeting was the general participation in discussions relating to the working in unison on subjects affecting the box office receipts, bank balances and general standing of the theatre owner in his community. The subject of non-theatrical showings occasioned considerable comment. The owners say that in all fairness to their business, their rights as legitimate film exhibitors should not be encroached on by church and school organizations showing commercial pictures. Religious and educational pictures received the stamp of "0. K.," but the owners declared that the showing of commercial film should be banned. The meeting wound up with a discussion on the alleged unfair demands and tactics of union operators. An adjusting committee consisting of Messrs. Shubach, Eppler and Hefferman was appointed as an adjustment committee for the exhibitors. " Bring your troubles with you and let's have 'em out," is the aim of the organization, President Huffman said. S. Barret McCormick Honor Guest at Luncheon Trade press representatives and members of First National's advertising, publicity and exploitation staffs attended an informal luncheon at the Hotel Astor, March 17, in honor of S. Barrett McCormick, who left Saturday night for Oakland, Cal., where he will manage the new Fox theatre, soon to be opened. Among those who paid tribute to Mr. McCormick's personality and ability were William A. Johnson, editor and publisher Motion Picture News; L. W. Boynton, editor and publisher Exhibitors Trade Review; John Spargo, New York representative Exhibitors Herald; Jack Alicoate, treasurer and business manager Film Daily; C. L. Yearsley, director of advertising and publicity First National, and Horace Judge, Ned Holmes and Bob Dexter, also of First National. Kansas Equalization Bill in Committee The equalization bill introduced at the Kansas legislature last week, a measure whicii would compel all theatres to admit negroes upon the same basis as white persons, still is being considered in committee. Public sentiment is strongly against the measure. The Welfare bill, which would create a welfare board in each county of Kansas to issue licenses to theatres, still is pending in committee. The measure was introduced two weeks ago. Knickerbocker Trustees Ask Suit Dismissal THE National Savings and Trust Company, Charles T. Tittman, Reeves T. Strickland, trustees, named as defendants in a suit to set aside last April's sale of the Knickerbocker theatre site and property on Eighteenth Street at Columbia Road, Washington, D. C, to Harry M. Crandall, asked the District Supreme Court, Thursday last, to dismiss the suit. A categorical denial was entered of any fraud or fraudulent intention in the dissolution of the Knickerbocker Theatre and appointment of receivers for it, in the Delaware courts. New York's F.I.L.M. Clu Holds Dance March 17 The F. I. L. M. Club of New York gave thei St. Patrick's Day party at the Automobil Club on Saturday, March 17. Over two hun dred people attended. One of the big surprise hits which Bill Ray nor, chairman of the Entertainment Commi tee, gave was Bobby Clark's presentation o Dorothy Palmer's Kiddie Revue of 1923. The affair was in charge of W. E Raynor, assisted by Tom Murray, A. M. Wein berger, George Dillon and William Marsh. A buffet luncheon was served by Billy Flynn, steward of the Automobile Club. The dancing was enjoyed until the wee hours of the morning. Dentzig's Society Orchestra furnished the music. Albany F.I.L.M. Club to Be Revived Efforts will be made in the near future to revive the F. L L. M. Club in Albany, N. Y. This is in line with a request which has been made by Joseph Unger, president of the F. I. L. M. Club of New York City, who will probably come to Albanv to assist in the reorganization. The F. I. L. M. Club of New York and the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce have started to function once more on the basis of the new uniform contract. The Albany F. I. L. M. Club was organized about four years ago, but became inactive about nine or ten months ago. C. R. Halligan was the first president. Later the club became the Film Board of Trade of Albany. It is believed that the reorganization will be effected within the next two or three weeks, as practically all managers of film exchanges in Albany are in favor of the procedure. Theatre Head Found Guilty on Sunday Opening Charge While Common Pleas Judge Walter J. Wright declared permanent the temporary injunction granted four weeks ago, restraining the city administration of Bucyrus from interfering with Sunday operations of the Bucyrus Theatre Company, the Mayors Court found G. R. Moore, of Bellevue, President of the company, guilty of having operated a picture show on Sunday, February 4, sentence being deferred. Herman Seckel, motion picture machine operator, was found to be guilty of having violated the Sunday law. He was fined $25 and costs but will appeal the case. The case against R. L. Hertzer, manager and part owner of the show, was thrown out because the date on the warrant had been altered after the arrest had been made.