Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1916)

508 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 13. No. 4. COMPLETE ARRANGEMENTS FOR NEW YORK STATE CONVENTION, MARCH 1-2 Arrangements have been completed for the annual convention of the New York State Exhibitors' League, at Albany, on March 1 and 2. The opening session will be called to order at the Hotel Ten Eyck at 10:30 in the morning of March 1. Delegations from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany, Troy, Utica and other up-state cities have notified the officials that they will be present, and addresses have been announced from men of the greatest prominence in the industry. This is to be an especially important meeting for several reasons. The two most important subjects to be taken up are the fight on state censorship, and the fight on the proposed Sunday closing law; the exhibitors are united in the opposition to these two measures, and will do everything in their power to defeat them. Another thing which will come before the convention will be the protest of exhibitors against the practice of many exchanges, of cancelling bookings of various features, because a rival exhibitor has made a higher offer. Many exhibitors have reported that this practice has been growing of late, and the convention has decided on a vigorous protest. Famous Signs Robert Vignola for Director Staff BIG DEAL BETWEEN WORLD FILM, EQUITABLE AND BANKING INTERESTS RUMORED A deal of considerable magnitude was effected last week, involving the World Film Corporation, the Equitable Film Corporation and Ladenburg, Thalman & Company, the New York bankers. There are many rumors but no statements have as yet been made by the companies or individuals concerned. Lewis J. Selznick referred inquiries to Ladenburg, Thalman and Company and to Arthur Spiegel, president of the Equitable Film Corporation. Mr. Spiegel said that present rumors were now based upon facts and that a definite statement would be issued shortly, probably for next week's issue ■of Motion Picture News. Ladenburg, Thalman and Company had nothing to give BEATTY AND MEGOUN VISIT NEW YORK W. Clarence Beatty, owner of the Garden and Cameraphone theatres of Pittsburgh, and C. A. Megoun of the Cameraphone theatre, 736 Euclid avenue, Cleveland, have been in town the past week. Mr. Megoun represented the exhibitors of this territory in Washington at a recent meeting before the Congressional Committee in regard to the censorship bill. BERST FOR PRESIDENT OF PATHE? Louis J. Gasnier has resigned from the vice-presidency and general managership of Pathe to become manager of productions •of the company. It is strongly rumored that J. A. Berst, president of the General Film Company, will be tendered the presidency of Pathe, though no definite action has yet been -taken by the Pathe board of directors. Among His Best Productions Are: "Don C Haunting Fear," "The Maker of CLOSELY following the news that John O'Brien and Frederick Thompson had joined the directing forces of the Famous Players Film Company, there comes the announcement that Robert C. Vignola, ROBERT G. VIGNOLA for seven years director with the Kalem Company, has been engaged by the firstnamed organization in a similar capacity. Mr. Vignola is one of the best-known figures in filmdom, having traveled in Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Italy, Algiers, Egypt and the Holy Land during the seven years in which he has been identified with the business. aesar De Bazan," "The Barefoot Boy," "The Dreams," "The Dance of Death" Among his most notable productions of recent date and those which are most readily called to mind, are "Don Caesar De Bazan," "The Barefoot Boy," "The Haunting Fear," "The Maker of Dreams," "The Dance of Death," and "The Vampire." It is a peculiar coincidence that Mr. Vignola owes his entry into the motion picture field to another Famous Players director, Sidney Olcott, who engaged him to play his first silent role — an Italian character part. Into the interpretation of this role Mr. Vignola put the natural powers of national feeling — for he is an Italian — and the experience of eight years on the stage. So successful was his debut that Mr Olcott later engaged him to play Judas in "From the Manger to the Cross," the first five-reel film produced in this country, and he became the first actor who was placed upon a permanent salary by Kalem. Mr. Vignola treasures among his most valuable possessions a handsome loving cup which was presented to him by the players who have been under his direction at the time of his leaving the Kalem Company to join Famous. The new director's first production under the new banner will be "The Spider," in which Pauline Frederick is starred. It is the Paramount release for January 27. In support of the star there appear Thomas Holding who has appeared with Miss Frederick in many of her most recent productions, and Frank Losee, who was last seen in Denman Thompson's famous role of Josh Whitcomb, in "The Old Homestead." CIVIC LEAGUE PLANS TO SADDLE NEW YORK WITH CENSORSHIP Special to Motion Picture News Albany, N. Y., Jan. 15. The Rev. O. R. Miller, state superintendent of the New York Civic League, said today that one of the bills which the league will support is a measure to establish a censorship of moving pictures. "This is one of the bills," said Mr. Miller "that we will endeavor to have the legislature pass at this session. We realize that it will meet with strenuous opposition, but that is nothing new to us, for we have met and overcome obstacles before. "We think that there should be a state censorship of all moving picture films that are sent out to the public. The bill is now being drawn and will be introduced within a week. I cannot say at this time who will offer it in either house, but it will be in within the next ten days or two weeks." ILLUSTRATING A STRIKING SCENE FROM . V'UNTO THOSE WHO SIN, " FORTHCOMING SELIG PHOTOPLAY STAGE DIRECTOR FOR MAUDE ADAMS JOINS THANHOUSER Edward Morrissey, formerly assistant to D. W. Griffith and producer of several feature pictures, has become a director for Thanhouser. Mr. Morrisey, who is a graduate of the University of California, was a stage director for Maude Adams and others before he entered the motion picture field.