Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1916)

2502 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 13. No. 17. Herrington Explains M. P. E. L. Attitude League President Gives History of Split with Board of Trade Over Proceeds of Exhibition Planned for Madison Square Garden in New York remaining fifty per cent, was to be divided share and share alike between the League and the Board. »<TT is due to every exhibitor as well as to A every producer of motion pictures to be informed of the facts which have led up to the holding of two separate motion picture expositions in the city of New York," says Fred J. Herrington, president of the National League. "After both the Exhibitors League of the State of New York and the Motion Picture Board of Trade had decided to hold an exposition, it was felt in many quarters that two expositions were bound to be in each other's way, and that neither could be successful. Thereupon as I believed in a spirit of conciliation, the two bodies entered into negotiations for adjustment and compromise. "I had prepared a complete statement setting forth my position in the matter, siding with the exhibitors because I believed they were acting within their rights. At the request of the chairman of the executive committee of the Board of Trade I held up my statement. How he ever learned of the existence of my statement is not relevant here ; suffice it to say that he urged me for the sake of harmony to withhold it. "Later, at the invitation of several members of the executive committee of the Board of Trade, a committee of the exhibitors, accompanied by myself, went into conference with these members of the governing body of the Motion Picture Board of Trade ; both committees were represented by counsel. "The Board of Trade committee solemnly declared itself in favor of a proposition for holding one exposition under the joint Control and the joint auspices of the Board of Trade and the Exhibitors League. They said that they were satisfied to deposit fifty per cent, of the net profits of the exposition in a joint account, subject to the joint order of both the Board and the Exhibitors. The "All the members of the executive committee of the Board of Trade present at this conference were enthusiastically in favor of the proposition, and our committee understood them to say that the final endorsement of the full Board was a mere formality. "Relying upon these statements, the Exhibitors League decided to yield to the Board with but one proviso : that the management of the Grand Central Palace was to be satisfied with the arrangement. A week later the full executive committee of the Board met and repudiated the action of its committee. I offer no comment on this action ; none is needed." "SHOULD A BABY DIE?" WINS APPROVAL FROM BRONX AUDIENCE "Should a Baby Die?" the five-reel screen drama written by Charles K. Harris, is being successfully exploited by Variety Films Corporation, of 126 West Forty-sixth street. New York, according to reports from the company. It was shown recently to a large audience at the Spooner theatre, in the Bronx, and won general approval. A novel feature in connection with the presentation of the picture is that spectators are asked to express their criticisms and submit synopses for a sequel to the subject. AITKEN CONSULTS WITH GRIFFITH, INCE AND SENNETT Special to Motion Picture News. Los Angeles, April 15. Llarry E. Aitken, president of the Triangle Film Corporation, is in Los Angeles, spending much of his time at the Fine Arts studio in consultation with D. W. Griffith and Frank E. Woods. It is understood that Mr. Aitken is here on matters connected with the contract recently made with Messrs. Griffith, Jnce and Sennett concerning the merging of their interests with the Triangle releasinng organization. TRADE PRESS GUESTS OF WORLD AT SHAW PLAY To prove their contention that the World Film Corporation is now presenting pictures played by actors as capable as any appearing in the spoken drama, the officers of that corporation entertained a number of the trade writers at a performance of "Captain Brassbound's Conversion" at the Playhouse, New York, last week. In this production Robert Warwick, one of the World-Equitable stars, plays Captain Brassbound, opposite Grace George. Mr. Warwick has been devoting practically all his time of late to the pantomime of the studio. His performance of the Bernard Shaw play was, therefore, also taken as a demonstration of the fact that screen work does not necessarily impair the powers of an artist for the spoken stage. Mr. Warwick gives a powerful and convincing portrayal of the unusual character of Captain Brassbound. If work for the screen has any tendency to alter or impair GRACE GEOKGE AND ROBERT WARWICK IN ■CAPT. BRASSBOUND'S CONVERSION" the methods of a stage artist, it is not perceptible in this case. Simultaneous with his work at the Playhouse, Mr. Warwick is at work on a new picture to be released soon. PRIVATE SHOWING OF "MYSTERIES OF MYRA" ON LOEW S ROOF ON APRIL 19 The International Film Service will give a private showing at Loew's New York roof, on Wednesday morning, April 19 at 10:30. The first two episodes of "The Mysteries of Myra" together with the rest of the company's program will be exhibited for the trade in general. "FROM MANGER TO CROSS" MAKES LENTEN RECORD "From the Manger to the Cross," the perennial offering, is coming up to its usual record for Lenten bookings this year, though no special efforts in the way of advertising and other solicitations have been made in its behalf. MME. TAMAKI MIURA, JAPANESE PRIMA DONNA, FACES CAMERA WITH TYRONE POWER AT UNIVERSAL CITY "WOMAN WHO DARED" NEARLY READY FOR RELEASE Alex. E. Beyfuss, of the California Motion Picture Corporation, reports that excellent weather the last few weeks has enabled the company to make great progress with the filming of "The Woman Who Dared." The picture is now nearly ready for release. Mr. Beyfuss has also busied himself with the arrangements for a special showing of "The Unwritten Law" at the Alcazar Theatre in San Rafael on April 17. GRATTAN SIGNS WITH FOX Stephen Grattan, character and stock company actor, is engaged in a new William Fox photoplay under the direction of Will S. Davis.