Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1925)

303S Motion Picture N ezvs Woodhull to Address Meeting Asbury Park Convention May Be Scene of ' Keynote'' Speech by National President RF. WOODHULL, President of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of • America, elected to succeed M. J. O'Toole at the Milwaukee Convention last month. wUl attend the opening session of the sixth annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New Jersey, at the New Monterey Hotel, Asbury Park, N. J., June 29. It is known that President Woodhull is mapping out an intensive campaign for the national exhibitor organization for 1925-26, and it is expected that his "keynote speech" at Asbury Park will touch upon subjects of vital importance to Xew Jersey theatre ownel's, including Sunday opening. It is expected that the larger plans of the National organization for the coming year will have been sufficiently worked out to permit President Woodhull to discuss the allotment of play dates in the contest between theatre owners of this country* and interests alleged to be opposed to them. Joseph M. Seider, President of the Xew Jersey State organization, this week announced the designation of the Committee on Attendance for the convention as follows : Sidney E. Samuelson, Sussex County, Chairman; Mortimer Lewis, Atlantic County; Moii-is Kitinsky, Bergen; J. Fox, Burlington; Lewelhm Pizor, Camden; A. D. Austin. Cape May; Norman Lewis, Cumberland; Eugene Steinhardt, Essex; Benjamin Schindler, Gloucester; Leon Rosenblatt, Hudson; L. Rosen, Huntqrdon; Pierson Hume. Mercer ; "Sherman Dennis, Monmouth ; Al Roth, Morris; Leo Juskowitz, Middlesex; I. M. Hirshblond, Ocean; A. W.Hill, Salem; L. Gerard, Somerset; Alexander Okin, Union; George Kirbj', Warren; Louis Gold, Passaic. FREDERICK H. ELLIOTT, well known in the film industry through his association as executive secretary of the former National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, will be offered the position of executive manager of the i. M. P. P. D. A., the association of independent producers, distributors and exchangemen. The move to offer the post of leader of the oi'ganization to Mr. Elliott was taken at a special meeting of the I. M. P. P. D. A., held at the Hotel Astor, New York, Wednesday afternoon. The meeting invested the executive committee with powers to negotiate with Mr. Elliott for his services as executive manager at a salary not to exceed $15,000 ■ per annum. The selection was made following a debate at which several men were proposed for the position of leader of the independent ox'ganization. When the choice narrowed down to Mr. Elliot, ther move to empower the executive committee to negotiate with him was carrier! through. Mr. Elliott's former activities as secretary' of the old National Association brought him into prominence. Since that time he has engaged in several enterprises as an organ The Ladies Committee on Entertainment of Ladies is : Mrs. R. F. Woodhull, Mrs. Charles Hildiuger, Mrs. Sidney Samuelson, Mrs. Henry P. Nelson, Mrs. William Keegan, Mrs. Benjamin Schindler and Mrs. I. M. Hirshblond. One of the outstaiuling features of the convention will be the cooperation given to the New Jersey showmen by one of the leading exponents of the art of staging presentations and prologues. This will take the form of a campaign which will have its inception at the convention and will have for its slogan "Bringing Broadway to Main Street." President Seider has arranged with the expert to have a number of interesting events shown to the theatre owners and demonstrated for their benefit. The AVater Carnival planned in conjunction with the convention promises to eclipse any similar event of this kind. The Water Carnival will include a number of amazingly brilliant numbers, including many forms of sport, swimming and diving. Several New Jersey theatres have already started a contest for the most popular girl to represent her theatre section, the winner of each theatre to take part in the Water Carnival. Letters have been sent out to all New Jersey theatre owners by President Seider urging them to get behind the contest and utilize every means of publicity as well as advertising. Suggestions have been made to use the radio stations of New Jersey to publicize the event and to tie-up with local department stores who may be prevailed upon to funiish each winner with a bathing suit she will wear at the Water Carnival. Slides, throwaways, posters, voting blanks, etc., are some of the other suggestions made by President Seider. izer. He recently organized a large association of taxi cab companies. It is not certain that Mr. Elliott will accept the post which the 1. M. P. P. D. A. will offer him, though the general impression is that the members who championed him at the meeting Wednesda} had reasons to believe that he would assume the duties of the position under the tenns worked out by the association. The meeting Wednesday' also selected the man who will represent the association on the board of directors of the Bureau of Trade and Commerce, the so-called Play Date Bureau. This important assignment fell to Abe Carlos, head of Carlos Productions. Warning Producers Against Child Labor The California State Labor Bureau investigated complaints recently that women and children were required to work in motion picture studios from twelve to fifteen hours at a stretch with only enough time off to eat. As a result a letter of warning was dispatched to studio officials ordering them to comply with the statutes. Changes in Paramount Sales Personnel SEVERAL changes in the personnel of the Paramount sales department were announced this week by George W. Weeks, distribution -manager of the company. Phil Reisman, formerly general manager of Paramount Canadian Exchanges, has been appointed divisional sales manager at the home office, succeeding Harry Ballance, who requested transfer to a southern territory as district manager. Morris Milligan, Paramount district manager of Cincinnati, Louisville and Indianapolis, has been advanced to the post vacated by Mr. Reisman. Charles Reagan, Paramount Indianapolis branch manager, has been appointed to Mr. Milligan's former office and F. E. Wagoner, Indianapolis salesman, will succeed Mr. Reagan. Change in N. Y. State Censorship Commission With the Democrats in control of the New York State Motion Picture Commission, further changes came durin<' the past week when Ansel W. Brown, who has been in charge of the Albany office of the Commission, located in the State Capitol, was supplanted by Earl Leonard, of Saratoga Springs. The position pays $3,500 a year. Mr. Brown, who has been connected with the Albanj' office since the Commission wasfirst organized in 1921, is well known throughout central and northern New York through his frequent ^■isits to motion picture theatres. Mr. Brown plans to return to his home in Pulaski, and will probably enter the real estate business. No further changes are now expected in the Commission, owing to the fact that all other positions are under ci\"il service. Iowa Showman Not Guilty of Blue Law Violation Deciding that a Marcus, Iowa, theatre man could not be held on charges of violating a local Blue Law because aU admissions were collected on a week daj" although the picture was shown on Sunday^ the justice of the Marcus court in Cherokee county, dismissed a charge brought against a theatre man of that town for running a show on Sundaj-. The theatre man's plea was "not guilty"' and was based on the fact that he had sold all tickets for the Sabbath show on week days preceding the performance and that no money was taken in exchange for admissions on Sunday. Robertson Co. to Have Seven Detroit Theatres The James N. Robertson Theatrical Enterprises, Detroit, Mich., will have se\en theatres in that city, according to plan; just announced. The company is now operating the Cinderella and the DeLuxe. In Augtis: theNew Roosevelt will be opened, and the company has announced that another house will be built at Charlevoix and Mt. Elliott. In addition to these there will be another house located on the east side and two more on the west side of the city. Fred. H. Elliott Offered Post 1. M. P. P. D. A. Names Committee to Negotiate With Proposed Leader at Meeting Wednesday