Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1916)

2530 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 13. No. 17. FORD PUBLICATION RUN BY SACKER AND WILTERMOOD The Photoplayers JJ'eekly, a four-page newspaper published in Los Angeles and owned by Francis Ford, formerly of the LIniversal Company, is in the future to be edited and published by Frank M. Wiltermood, scenario writer of the Universal staff, and Jack Sacker, actor at the film city. Both parties will continue their work for the Universal and take care of their newspaper business in the evening. [any Brooklyn Houses Send Delegates to Meeting Speaker at Second Assemblage of Newly Org ■ tor Eitociive Defense A PRACTICALLY every theatre in Brooklyn was represented at the second meeting of the newly formed Associated iNIotion Picture Exhibitors' of Brooklyn, held at the Regent theatre, Fulton street and Bedford avenue, last Monday night. For enthusiasm and good will this meeting undoubtedly surpassed any other gath 9f Work and Some Imagination Make Good Cartoons Sullivan, Creator of Black-faced "Sambo" Whose "Sammie Jonsin" Comics for Universal Attracted Favorable Comment, Gets Results by Such Simple Means PAT SULLIVAN, cartoonist, creator of black-faced "Sambo," has been fashioning a number of animated cartoons for Universal which have brought forth much favorable comment. All of these subjects, which are in split reel form, have to do with tke adventures of "Sammie Jonsin," the same character which was made to perform in still pictures for the McClure Syndicate before Mr. Sullivan entered the picture field. Mr. Sullivan is from Australia. He has been in America for six years, and besides drawing "Sambo" for McClure's Syndicate, he did considerable work for the New York Evening World. Mr. Sullivan, however, does not attribute his success in motion picture work to his syndicate and newspaper experience. He believes that the art of drawing for reproduction on the screen is totally apart from that of the older pro profession, and is an individual art. He has no patents or any secret method of fashioning his comic cartoons. Plenty of hard work, some imagination — those are the essential requisites for film cartooning, to his way of thinking. Prominent on Mr. Sullivan's staff is Arthur T. Crichton, a cartoonist formerly employed on several metropolitan dailies throughout the country, including the Boston Herald, the Philadelphia North Avierican and the Philadelphia Record, where he remained for five years. Mr. Crichton is doing original work besides assisting on the Sambo pictures. Mildred Walker is another artist on the Sullivan staff. She has just, entered this field, and Mr. Sullivan is exploiting her work, the first of which will shortly appear. She is believed to be the only woman artist doing cartoon work for the pictures. Wrecking Train Shown at Fair Used in a "Hazard" Baldwin Locomotive Company Exhibit at San of Danger" — Train on CONSIDERABLE negotiations and pulling of wires with railway officials higher up was necessary before Kalem succeeded in securing permission to use the Salt Lake Railway's prized wreck train equipment in a "Hazard of Helen." The equipment is probably the latest in use on an American road, and as part of the Baldwin Locomotive Company's exhibit at the San Francisco Exposition attracted considerable attention. The use of the wrecking train was found necessary for the production of Kalem's forthcoming "Hazard," "The Trail of Danger." In this episode a series of thrilling feats lead up to the climax, which finds Helen on horseback and pursued by conspirators in an automobile. Her frantic cries for help are heard by the workmen on the wreck train, who, seeing that there is no time to stop the speeding train, swing the huge crane of the wrecking car out over the road beside the tracks. Helen quickly grasps the chain dangling from the crane and is swung clear of the saddle and through the air to the car just as the pursuing automobile strikes her mount. The monster wreckinsr train was one of the sights of the week at the Kalem "Hazards of Helen" studio, which has been designated an official station on the Salt Lake road. The station is completely equipped in every respect for its double use as a real station and as a motion Francisco Helps to Put Thrills in "The Trail View at Kalem Station picture studio with all conveniences. Coincident with the official sanction to name "Kalem" a stopping place in the Salt Lake route-books Helen Gibson was named stationmaster. Helen declares that so far she has found the position merely honorary, but that she is willing to work any time the railroad adds a salary to the title. t BULLOCK MAKES PLEA FOR | I LEAGUE AND BOARD OF | I TRADE UNITY | y Cleveland, Ohio, March 28. | i William A. Johnston, 1 g Motion Picture News, g I New York City, N. Y. | 1 My dear Mr. Johnston: | 1 I heartily concur in all that friend i i Rembusch said in Motion Picture | I News, issue of April 1, under the 1 I caption, "Let Us Have Unity." 1 i For six years we have been in poor i i shape as a national exhibitors' or 1 I jganization, but this year bids fair to § I bring grand results and while we are j i perfecting and strengthening our own j 1 organization, we should work hand in 1 I hand with the Motion Picture Board i I of Trade in everything pertaining to i I our mutual benefit. | i I have nothing to add to Rembusch's = 1 fine article. He covered the subject ^ i thoroughly. LET US HAVE UNITY! g I SAM BULLOCK. j fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii{iiiiiiiiiiiii:iiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiNi!ii!iiiiiiii!riii;iiiiiii:iH^ anized Association Urges Need of Organization gainst Adverse Legislation ering of similar character, an , it was afterward unanimously agreed that the three hundred theatres of Brooklyn would be well represented amongst organized exhibitors. Temporary Chairman William Brandt appointed a committee of five, consisting of Mr. Manheimer, Park theatre ; Mr. Loeb, Sumner ; Mr. Levine, Regent ; Mr. Glyn, Alhambra, and Mr. Title, T. N. F. theatre, to confer with Lee Ochs, chairman of The Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of New York State; and a committee of five, regarding the co-operation of the new organization with that of the state. M. Carpenter, secretary of The New York Automobile Association, was the principal speaker of the evening, and in urging a strong and centralized organization, said : "The motion picture exhibitor is almost in a similar position as were the automobile dealers before we formed our association. We were the target of every lawmakers' attack, until we got together and told these gentlemen that we had sufficient laws to be regulated under. Our organized strength made an indelible impression. We found it worked so well that we decided to make a permanent body of our organization for our mutual protection. "You have a very similar business. You are practically dealers in motion pictures, jobbing the manufacturers' merchandise at a certain price of admission, just as we job the manufacturers machines at certain prices. You should take advantage of the precedent we have established and be in the same position as we are. "If legislation affecting our industry is offered we are consulted, and there is no reason why an industry as large and vital to the welfare of the community as yours should not be in the same position. Of course our manufacturers have their own organization also, and upon jccasion when adverse legislation is presented, we stand shoulder to shoulder and fight the common enemy." Mr. Carpenter's remarks made a deep impression, and upon conclusion of his speech he was loudly applauded and presented with a rising vote of thanks. Several exhibitors immediately paid their initiation fees and joined the Brooklyn Association. Discussion regarding existing bills pending at Albany before the legislature was then held, some of the exhibitors realizing for the first time that legislation had been introduced that was very vital to their welfare. An important subject brought up was the exhibition of films in public schools and churches in direct competition with the theatres, but on account of the lateness of the hour the matter was laid on the table as unfinished business, discussion and action to be resumed at the next meeting, to be held Monday, April 10, at the Sum-' ner Theatre, Sumner and Gates avenues. All exhibitors of Brooklyn were cordially invited to attend.