Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1542 Motion Picture News Penn. in Hot Daylight Saving Fight Picture Interests Gain Advantage with Favorable Report Against Measure A DISTINCT advantage was gained by the motion picture interests of Pennsylvania in their spirited fight against daylight saving when the Judicial General Committee of the State Senate on March 14th reported with a favorable recommendation, and without amendment, the Derrick bill, which would prohibit any city, county, borough or other municipality of the State from passing local ordinances prescribing other than Standard time in their respective localities. The most spirited fight that the Pennsylvania picture interests have yet made in the present session of the legislature has been in support of the Derrick measure which, if enacted, would prevent daylight saving being put in force in any community. On March 13, the day before the committee made its favorable report, there was a hearing on the Derrick bill before the committee in the Senate caucus room, and it proved one of the most lively debates held during the present session. Powerful interests appeared before the committee to argue in favor of defeating the bill or amending it in a way that would exempt first and second class cities of the state from being bound by the provisions of the proposed measure. Philadelphia is the one first class city of the state and the second class cities are Pittsburgh and Scranton. Delegations from Philadelphia city council, headed by Richard Weglein, president of that body, appeared at the hearing and brought all the pressure at their command to induce the committee to adopt the first and second class city exemption clause, which would have given Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton the right to adopt daylight saving laws for their local use. Powerful banking interests of Philadelphia also favored the proposed amendment, contending that because New York has daylight saving the financial institutions of the two cities should be on the same basis to avoid a conflict of banking hours in Philadelphia with those in Wall Street. The motion picture interests were strongly represented before the committee, in their fight for the Derrick bill unamended. The picture interests agreed to permit M. J. O'Toole, a Scranton exhibitor, to plead their cause as their sole spokesman, and he made a forceful plea against daylight saving. He declared that it was all wrong to try to alter divine laws and declared that would be the effect of changing the hands of the clock from Standard time. He pointed to the fact that daylight savin? imposes a hardship upon parents, and especially mothers, because Screen Writers Lay Plans for Revue of 1923 THE Writers' Revue of 1923 will be given at the Auditorium, Hollywood on April 27th and 28th, it was announced this week. The book is being written by Prank Condon and Thomas J. Geraghty, lyrics by Aubrey Stauffer. Milton Schwartz is chairman of the entertainment committee. Walter Wills will be in charge of the production, assisted by Jefferson Moffatt and Frank R. Adams, and Harry Caulfield is the business manager. it requires them to get up an hour earlier in the mornings to send the children to school, and they do not regain this hour of rest in the evening because the children do not go to bed until the sun goes down, regardless of what the clock may show. Though Mr. O'Toole, by reason of the limited time at the hearing, was the only picture man to speak, the industry was represented by many other prominent figures who were present at the committee session. Suit Filed Against F. P.LaskyMissouri Branch William Goldman has filed suit in the St. Louis Circuit Court to compel the Famous Players-Lasky Missouri Corporation to turn over to him the Kings theatre, Kingshighway boulevard near Delmar boulevard. Goldman was formerly managing director of the Famous Players' local organization but sold his stock in that corporation last June. In his petition he states that he entered into an agreement with the defendants on February 12, last, giving him an option to purchase the Kings for $116,000. He was to assume a mortgage for $96,000, it is declared, pay $5,000 cash and the balance in three annual installments of $5,000 each. Goldman had announced that he would open the Kings on Easter Sunday, at the same time declaring he would build a $1,000,000 theatre at Grand boulevard and Morgan street, according to his statement. He charges he attempted to carry out his part of the deal for the Kings but that the Famous Players on March 5 notified him that it intended to cancel the agreement. He said he then offered a new bond, but all overtures were rejected. He then filed his suit. Jerome Storm Will Direct "Children of Jazz9' Jerome Storm, who directed most of Charles Ray's pictures for Thomas H. Ince, has been engaged to direct " Children of Jazz " for Paramount. The production will be made at the Lasky studio and among those who will have leading roles are Theodore Kosloff, Eslelle Taylor, Eileen Percy. Ricardo Cortez and Robert Cain. The Paramount production department also announces that Leatrice Joy and Owen Moore will appear in a special production directed by Charles Maigne, adapted by Sada M. Cowan from Maximilian Foster's story. " The Silent Partner." "Girl of the Golden West" Nearing Completion With the completion of the exterior scenes, Edwin Carewe is nearing the half-way mark in the production of " The Girl of the Golden West," a First National attraction. The location was at Sonora, the heart of the gold rush in '49 and the actual locale of the David Belasco stage success. The company is now at the United studios shooting the interiors. It will be several weeks before the picture is finished. "Souls for Sale" to Have Trade Showing 27th RUPERT HUGHES' latest production for Goldwyn, "Souls for Sale," is to have its premiere trade showing at the Capitol theatre, New York, at 10:15 a. m. on Tuesday, March 27th, it was announced this week. "Souls for Sale" was directed by Rupert Hughes from his magazine story of the same name which ran serially in the Red Book. It tells the story of a girl's rise from a screen extra and will include many interesting scenes about the studios as well as famous places and persons of Hollywood. The cast embraces many stellar names. Exhibitors from the territory in and around New York, members of the nearby Goldwyn exchanges and representatives of the press have been invited to the showing. F. B. O. Purchases Rights to Popular Novel In fine with its policy of acquiring big stories for its next year's product, Film Booking Offices of America this week announces that it has purchased the screen rights to " Druscilla with a Million," a novel by Elizabeth G. Cooper. This story was published by Frederick A. Stokes and Company, and to date has enjoyed a tremendous sale. With the purchase of " Druscilla with a Million," F. B. 0. now has a well-stocked library of successful novels and plays, all of which are scheduled to be put into production in the near future, in order to assure a steady supply of high-grade features for the coming season. First National Purchases Rights to "Black Oxen" First National has purchased the motion picture rights to Gertrude Atherton's novel, " Black Oxen." As a picture Mrs. Atherton's story will be unique in its appeal, it is claimed by First National. It will present a middleaged woman, who looks, acts and feels like a woman of twenty-five. Moreover, it will show how, through a seeming miracle of science, this defeat of age may become possible for all humanity. "Fools and Riches' ' Goes Into Production " Fools and Riches," Herbert Rawlinson's latest starring vehicle, has been put into production at Universal City under the direction of Herbert Blache. Chief among the supporting players is Tully Marshall, veteran stage and screen actor. The feminine leads in the picture are taken by Katherine Perry and Doris Pawn. Other well-known characters in the cast are John Cosser, Roy Laidlaw and Arthur Stuart Hull. Emmett J. Flynn to Direct "In Palace of the King" The first picture which Emmett J. Flynn will direct under Goldwyn auspices will be an adaptation of Marion Crawford's novel, " In the Palace of the King." Casting for the subject is to be started shortly.