Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

2550 Allen Theatre in Calgary Is Sold for $306,000 Another chapter was written in the affairs of the Allen's Palace theatre, Calgary, Alberta, when proceedings were conducted at the Calgary court house on Friday, November 16, when an order was granted by the master in chambers confirming a sale by private tender of the large theatre built and formerly owned by the Aliens of Toronto, the purchaser being the National Theatres, Limited, a Calgary company, the price being $306,000. The proceedings were instituted in a mortgage foreclosure by the second mortgagee of the property. The National Theatres, Limited, was recently organized in Calgary and it comprises all local shareholders with entirely local capital. The Palace theatre will be operated as an independent house and will have no connection with the Aliens or with the Famous Players Canadian Corporation, who bought other Allen theatres some months ago, it is announced. The theatre is to be managed by Ray Tubman, formerly of Ottawa, who has been manager of the house for a long time. The managing director of the National Theatres, Limited, is J. B. Barron of Calgary. Ban on " Sneeze Powders " in Harrisburg "Sneeze powders" and "stink bombs" are to be strictly bannjed in Harrisburg motion picture theatres from now on. This is the decree of the police department, co-operating with the picture houses, and the police already have acted in the arrest of one offender who was made to pay a fine. Theatre owners have complained that certain boys of the city have been annoying other patrons in the theatres by exploding " stink bombs," which consist of ill-smelling gases in paper bags, when the lights are low during performances, and other boys have taken fine powder into theatres in bottles and scattered it about, causing other patrons to sneeze violently. On, the evening of November 16, Mathew Novsel, 16 years old, of 1072 South Ninth street, was ai'rested by Patrolman McFarland in the Capital theatre, Thirteenth and Howard streets, charged with scattering "sneeze powder" in the audience. He was fined five dollars when arraigned before Magistrate Hallman. The police and theatre managers say they will continue to prosecute if there are further offenses of this sort. Crippled Gateman Aids in Alleged Bandit Capture CLARENCE ROGERS, crippled gateman at Universal City, was instrumental in capturing an alleged bank robber recently. The State Bank of Burbank, California, was robbed of $2,650. The alleged bandit, Lee Cortez, a former employee at Universal City, was trailed to the Universal gate where admission was refused him by Rogers because he did not have written authority to enter. This gave the pursuers time to overtake the suspect and the arrest was made by Oscar Martinsen, Chief of Police at Universal City. As a result of his action, Rogers was highly complimented in a letter from Carl Laemmle, which also contained a generous monetary reward. Kansas M.P.T.O. in Novel Safety First Campaign THE M. P. T. O. of Kansas not only virtually instigated a Safety First Week for Kansas City, Kas., November 25 to December I, but has planned a novel feature which will be put into effect that week. Through the cooperation of the police department a " setting " for some wild violations of traffic laws will be provided for the cameraman to be employed by the association for the occasion. Motorists will be shown speeding through safety zones, crashing into buildings and injured persons carried to ambulances on stretchers. The film, when shown on the screen to the public, will contain no hint that the picture is a burlesque, but will tend to convey to audiences that they are witnessing what actually happened, although no departure from the truth will be made, the picture depending upon the vivid imagination of the audiences for proper " effect." Washington Cameramen to Fight Interference Movie cameramen in Washington, all members of the White House Cameramen's and News Photographers' Association attached to the White House, retained Wilton J. Lambert as their attorney as a result of an incident which occurred last week. Much excitement was caused last week when police exceeded their authority and interfered with the activities of cameramen at the Wilson residence on Armistice Day. The former President had asked a slight check on the cameramen which they were glad to comply with. Police officers are said to have exceeded orders by destruction of plates and cameras. As a result Private E. C. Musselman of the Sixth Precinct, charged with conduct unbecoming an officer of the peace, has been ordered to appear before a Police Trial Board on Saturday. November 24. The trial board will consist of Assistant Corporation Counsel William Wahley and Captains Stoll and Lord. Chinese City of 120,000 Without Movies A city has been discovered where the moving picture is unknown. It is Amoy, in southern China, with 120,000 inhabitants who have never seen a cinematograph. In fact, the people of Amoy have hardly any amusements at all, Consul W. J. McCafferty informs the Department of Commerce, except Mahjongg, and that is restricted to the homes of mandarins and wealthy merchants. The absence of movies in so populous a community deserves investigation, Consul McCafferty believes, and he suggests that if American moving picture producers can not see their way clear to invest money in the construction of theatres in Amoy they can without doubt interest local Chinese capitalists who will put up the houses and take by contract or other arrangement a regular supply of films. Northwest Film Board in New Executive Offices The Northwest Film Board of Trade of Seattle recently opened executive offices in the Securities Braiding in that city, following the growth of the organization to such an extent that official rooms were believed to be a necessity. • Motion Picture News Knickerbocker Theatre Co. Wins Three Suits Three initial or test suits for damages of $10,000 each were decided by the jury in i circuit court number 1, Washington, D. C, in favor of The Knickerbocker Theatre Company., Inc. The eases were the consolidated three of Mrs. Josephine T. Lyman, administratrix of the estate of her son, David H. Lyman, Jr. ; William J. Forsyth, administrator of the estate of his sister Mary Ann Forsyth, and Miss Mary Young, who sued for personal injuries. , These cases have been on trial the past ' three weeks and are the first of fifty such cases. Testimony was concluded last week before Justice Siddons. The jury began consideration of its verdict on Thursday or Friday of last week and was finally respited Monday at 5.30 when the foreman announced that they were ready to deliver the verdict. The contention of defendant's counsel that proof of responsibility stronger than any J evidence offered in court must be given was I sustained by local courts and led to the jury agreeing with the judge that no proof sufficiently strong had been offered. Hence the verdict, releasing the company from any liability in the three test cases. Big Theatre Deal Made in Washington State One of the largest theatre deals ever consummated in the State of Washington was completed recently when the Sun Motion Picture Company, owners and operators of three Hoquiam theatres, was bought out by E. Singelow of Seattle and Ed Dolan and William G. Ripley of Aberdeen. The deal included purchase of the two-story Hicks office building, which houses the Arcade theatre, from R. E. Connell, president of the Sun Company. The new owners took charge immediately. Penn. Exhibitor Killed in Automobile Accident James Gilliland, manager of a picture theatre in Greensburg, Pa., was instantly killed and two other men were injured when two autos collided on the Lincoln Highway, five miles from Greensburg, on the evening of November 11. Mr. Gilliland was 60 years old. His skull was fractured. Joseph Kent, 48, and George Kyle, 40, both of Greensburg, were injured and were taken to a hospital. All three were in the same car, which was ditched in a crash with another machine. Arrests in Blue Law Campaign at Frankfort, Ind. TWENTY-TWO business men who defied Mayor Robert Keene's Blue Law Edict Sunday were under arrest at Frankfort, Ind., Nov. 19. The mayor had forced all lines of business to close for two Sundays previous. Included in the list were M. L. Conley, proprietor of the Conley, and Walter S. Merritt, proprietor of the Strand. Both are photoplay theatres. The theatres were opened at 2 p. m. promptly, the owners were taken to police headquarters and slated, then released. The theatres were not closed, however. Agitation against Sunday movies started the trouble, the mayor clamping the lid on all business when it was pointed out it was unfair to attack only one line.