Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

1658 Motion Picture News Greater New York Joins M.P.T.O. A. Division Organization Perfected with Large Membership of Independents THE Greater New York division of tlie Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America was perfected within the past few days. For several months the theatre owners in \he Metropolitan territory have been meeting with National President Sydney S. Cohen of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, with this purpose in view. They signed individual applications of membership at first and were then officially and duly constituted the Greater New York division of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. A large number of the members of the New York division of the National Organization are also members of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce of New York City. They desired the advantage of national organization and have been assisting and cooperating with the National Officers for some time past. They have completed plans to join with the other New York State divisions of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. Some of the Organization Committee active in the work of forming the Greater New York division are Morris Needles, David Weinstock, John Manheimer, A. H. Eisenstadt, Louis Geller, Sam Bock, Philip Rosenson and John Wittman. The Western New York Motion Picture Theatre Owners, Inc., is affiliated with the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, and acts for and in behalf of the theatre owners in the Buffalo territory, comprising the counties of Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genessee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Alleghany and Cattaraugus. The Rochester Motion Picture Exhibitors' League, Inc., is also affiliated with the National Organization and includes theatre owners in the counties of Monroe, Wayne Livingston, Ontario, Yates, Seneca, Schuyler and Steuben. The Bronx Motion Picture Theatre Owners' Association, which unanimously adopted a resolution applying for a charter in the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, as the Bronx unit of the Greater New York division of that body, is an active organization in existence for about 11 years and has in its Knickerbocker Suit Lost by Insurance Company JUSTICE HITZ in District Supreme Court at Washington, Friday last, held invalid the demurrer filed by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of America to the suit of Dr. Clyde M. Gearhart, war veteran and army surgeon, who was a survivor of the Knickerbocker theatre disaster and is a claimant to $2,250, under a total disability benefit clause in an Equitable policy. The insurance company declared that it should not be held liable until eight months after the accident. Counsel for Dr. Gearhart claimed he was totally disabled the night of the accident and should be paid from that date. Joseph W. Cox and T. Hardy Todd appeared for Equitable, while Dr. Gearhart's counsel included Attorneys Darr, Whiteford & Darr. membership every independent theatre owner in the Bronx. These members have also signed individual applications affiliating themselves with the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. Screen Writers Prepare for Annual Revue Frank Condon and Tom Geraghty will write the book of the 1923 Screen Writers' Revue which will be held in Los Angeles, California, on the nights of April 27-28, it was announced this week by Frank E. Woods, president of the Writers' Club of Hollywood. Working under the guidance of Chairman Milton Schwartz, the entertainment committee is well under way with the plans for the second annual show to be given by the screen writers. Aubrey Stauffer, who wrote the music for the Revue of 1922, will undertake a similar task with the new show. Alfred Hustwick has already begun work on the writing of the lyrics to suit the musical compositions. The actual working staff will constitute an informal production committee, which will have immediate charge of all the rehearsals and the final performances. This committee imade up as follows: Milton Schwartz, chairman; Aubrey Stauffer, stage director; Eddie Sutherland, Jefferson Moffett, Edward Rowland and Frank R. Adams, stage managers. Studio Land Suit Against City Gets Hearing The land suit of the Mastercraft Photoplay Corporation against the City of Medford, Mass., came up again last week, when Mayor Coolidge held a conference lasting many hours with the members of the Water and Sewer Commission, Park Commission, Chairman Edward S. Randall of the Board of Assessors, City Solicitor Guy E. Healey and City Engineer Fred R. Charnock on the status of the Wright's Pond land suit, the location of the Mastercraft studios. The producing company claims that the lease made in 1917 by the Mayor and Aldermen of the Wright's Pond land for a period of 20 years, at the rate of $1,500 a year rental, with the right to purchase at the end of fiveyear intervals during the term of the lease, is a valid agreement despite the failure of the Medford Water and Sewerage Commission, which has control of the land and pond, to ratify the lease and the agreement of sale. The proposition to sell the portion of the land on which the motion picture studio stands for the sum of $25,000, retaining the rest of the land and the water itself for the city, was fully explained. Portland Fire Damages Studio $25,000 A SPECTACULAR fire that is thought to have started in the developing room damaged the American Lifeograph Company studio, Portland, Ore., to the extent of $25,000 March 19th. Valuable prints and negatives were saved from the flames. Construction of a new studio building, larger and more useful, will be started within the next few weeks, according to a decision reached by the board of directors the following day. The same site undoubtedly will be used. The staff of the company is now in Alaska making a picture for Alaskan interests. All studio equipment, including wardrobe, lights and machinery, as well as the cutting, titling and developing rooms, was destroyed. First National Invades Western Canada Indication that Associated First National Exhibitors had made arrangements for direct representation in Western Canada is provided in the announcement of the establishment of a registered company, Associated First National Pictures of Western Canada, Limited. This company has been granted a license to do business in the Province of Manitoba by the Government of that province, according to an-j nouncement a few days ago. The Aliens of Toronto have been directing the distribution of First National attractions in Western Canada, the many Allen theatres, among others, holding First National theatre franchises throughout the West. In Eastern Canada First National has had its own direct distributing company, the latter operating in the Provinces of Ontario. Quebec, Nova Scotia I and New Brunswick. The Aliens have held First National franchises for all but one on their Eastern theatres, but they did not control the exchange in the East. Associated First National has been one of the principal creditors of Allen Theatres, Limited, the assets of which, affecting 36 the-, atres, are being offered for sale. The fact] that First National now has its own exchange in the Canadian West indicates direct control of distribution throughout the whole Dominion.' Warners Sign Irene Rich and Baby Bruce Guerin Irene Rich and Baby Bruce Guerin have been placed under long-term contracts by the Warner Brothers, according to an announcement bv Harry M. Warner. OfReilly Named President of T. O. C. C. Charles L. O'Reilly was elected president of the Greater New York and Northern New York T. O. C. C. at the annual election held last Tuesday. The office was uncontested. Charles Steiner won by a substantial majority over Harmon Yaffa for the vice-presfl dency. Other officers elected were as follows: Joseph Jame and Max Miller, second vice-] presidents; S. A. Moross, secretary; Hyman Raehinil, treasurer; Al Friedlander, sergeant-1 at-arms. The executive committee is composed of William Landau and Leo Brecher, New York; Rudy Saunder9 and Billy Brandt, Brooklyn; Bernard Edelhertz, the Bronx; Hy Gainsboro, Queens; Charles Moses, Richmond; Leon Rosenblatt, Joseph Stern and Louis Rosenthal, Northern New Jersey. The finance committee is made up of Saul Raives. Harry Brandt and E. H. Behrend.