Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1915)

July 17, 1915. MOTION PICTURE NEWS AMONG THE EXCHANGES FILM TRADE CLUB STOPS DUES AND REGULAR MEETINGS PRACTICALLY a few weeks after its organization, the Film Trades Club of New Orleans, composed of those in "Exchange Row," automatically passed out of existence, so far as its powers of organization go. The Film Trades Club was organized on a large scale, wi«th officers, a paid secretary, and headquarters in the New Orleans National Bank building. Then came a recent announcement that all meetings and dues would be suspended, and that only the name would be kept. It is stated that occasional meetings will be held. This announcement was made by one of the officers, Al. G. Shear, general manager of the Consolidated Film and Supply company : "The Film Trades Club recently wrote a similar organization in Boston, and we found that they got along there pretty well without a sure enough association. We called a meeting here, and decided that we had a pretty good thing, socially, and that we would eliminate everything but the social end of it. We shall meet when the spirit moves, and it is liable to be a lively one at any moment." A prominent exchange man stated that rumors of censorship had about quieted down, anyway. However, that was a day or two before Mayor Martin Behrman made film history for the Crescent City and appointed a board of five women censors to give the quietus to "Twilight Sleep." It is understood that the Louisiana Motion Picture Exhibitors' association, organized at about the same time the exchange men did, is still active, and it is asserted that there exists a friendly and co-operative spirit between the exhibitors and the exchange men, as formerly. LAY CORNER STONE OF V-L-S-E IN SEATTLE THE ceremony attending the laying of the corner stone for a building to be occupied by the Seattle branch of the V-L-S-E that took place on Saturday, June 19, proved to be a gala affair, and was staged with all the pomp and dignity at the command of the Seattle city administration. All of the Seattle newspapers devoted front page space to the story on the event. Mayor Gill, of Seattle, played the star role, in what the newspapers called the V-L-S-E release, "Laying the Corner Stone," and the ceremony was attended by the Chamber of Commerce and all of the leading business men in the northwestern metropolis, all of whom, owing to the fact that the occasion was re corded by the Hearst-Selig "Weekly," became, for the time being, moving picture performers. This building will be a model exchange building in every detail. In designing it, special attention was given to the peculiar and particular needs of a film exchange. Its occupancy by the Big Four will mark the first building in the world to be used exclusively by a film exchange. SAM SHURMAN, OF ST. LOUIS WORLD FILM, IS ALERT SALESMAN THE St. Louis branch of the World Film corporation possesses a very alert and progressive young film salesman in Sam Shurman, who has made numerous friends in his territory during the short time he has been with the World Film. He has four years' experience in the film business to his credit, passing successively from General Film to Warners, thence to Kriterion and finally to World Film. Mr. Shurman owns that invaluable asset to a film salesman — a pleasing personality ; he is devoted to his work, is conscientious and persevering, and will have every chance of achieving a very high position in the service of World Film. MH. BLACKWELL, feature distribu• tors, is a new concern in the Pittsburgh film field. Mr. Blackwell, who is president of the All-Theatres Film company, of New York and Buffalo, and a brother of the screen star Carlyle Blackwell, has purchased the entire list of subjects of the Northern Film company, controlled by the Weiland exchange, and has opened offices at 113 Fourth avenue. J. L. Fay, formerly of the Northern, is manager of the new exchange, and Alex. L. Feineigle, who was also with the Northern, will also be connected with the exchange. Both these gentlemen are hustlers, and are well known among the exhibitors. The territory supplied by the new house is western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. One of the largest deals in motion pictures that has been put through in this city went over during the past few days. It was a deal involving the sale of the Independent Film exchange, A. S. Davis, manager ; part of the film department of the Feature Film and Calcium Light company, D. C. Franc, manager; and the Independent Dislay company, T. D. Miller, manager. , The Universal Film Manufacturing company took over the above named concerns last Monday morning, and W. H. Hoffman, CHATBURN TAKES CHARGE OF WORLD IN MEMPHIS TW. CHATBURN, formerly a Mutual • and Pathe traveling man, will, in a few weeks, assume charge of the Memphis office of the World Film Corporation. Until recently, Mr. Chatburn was traveling representative of the Mutual's New Orleans office. Then he went to accept a similar position with World Film, and in the words of E. Auger, southern division manager, whose employe he was, "has made good." The Memphis office of World Film will have jurisdiction over parts of Tennessee and Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky. HATCH OF V-L-S-E REPORTS GOOD BUSINESS SW. HATCH, manager of the V-L• S-E feature exchange, which opened recently in St. Louis, reports good business and many bookings during the last few weeks. There is hardly a theatre in the city that does not run at least one or two features a week, and the familiarity of the "fans" with many of the V-L-S-E players may account for the popularity of the features. general manager of exchanges, negotiated the deal for his company. The exchange will be continued at its present location. 412-14 Ferry street, with Mr. Davis in charge. The Universal program was heretofore handled by the Feature Film and Calcium Light company, including the serials, and will be transferred from the office of the latter company to the Ferry street offices. The Universal program has been most successful in this territory, and while the exhibitors are generally sorry to hear of the change in ownership, they all expressed themselves as highly gratified that Mr. Davis continues as manager. Oliver McCracken, gas expert of the Feature Film and Calcium Light company, had an accident during the past week that was most painful. He had the index finger of his left hand so badly crushed while working about one of the gas-making machines that it had to be amputated at the first joint. He is slowly recovering from the shock. Sidney Able, manager of the Continental Film exchange in Pittsburgh, has left that company and is now with the Big Four. It is probable he will be sent to manage the Cleveland office of the company. Mr. Harvey B. Day, of the Fox Film corporation in Pittsburgh, is in the East on business with the officials of the company. LIVE EVENTS IN PITTSBURGH FILM CIRCLES