Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

429 iraiiiii'VJllllI.'I'IM'ff'W' New Laws and Court Decisions This department is designed to keep the industry informed of all news concerning new or projected laws. Federal, State, County or Municipal, that may affect the business, and all events involving any branch of the trade with the authorities in all sections of the country J. J J ^ ^ nj r A * J ^ 4 i^m itTC Ctori SPOKANE CENSORSHIP FIGHT NOW bederal (government rLans a Lrraauatea lax of i?lu, $>lo, ^)Zuon Motion Picture Theatres APPAREXTLY it is the intention of the Federal Government that motion picture and legitimate theatre operators shall stand a large part of the burden of taxation brought about by the American relations with Mexico, for in the so-called general revenue bill brought into the House of Representatives last week it is proposed to place an assessment of one-half of one per cent, of the gross receipts of the houses upon their proprietors. Little notice is given of the matter, for it is announced that the general debate is to start on July 5, and that such debate shall cease in time for a vote to be taken on Saturday, July 8. A glance at the provisions applying to the theatres will show just what sort of a burden is to be placed upon them. The measure was introduced bj Chairman Claude Kitchin of the House Ways and Means Committee and contains provisions for a tariff commission and several other revenue producing matters. It is provided that " Proprietors of theatres, museums or concert halls, where a charge for admission is made, located in a city, town or village with a population not exceeding one thousand, according to the last preceding census of the United States, shall pay $10 ; located in a city, town or village having a population in excess of one thousand but not in excess of two thousand, shall pay $15 ; located in a cit\", town or village having a population in excess of two thousand and not in excess of three thousand, shall pay $20 ; located in a city, town or village having a population in excess of three thousand, shall pay one-half of one per centum of their gross receipts from admission. Every ediiice used for the purpose of dramatic or operatic or other representations, plays or performances, for admission to which entrance money is received, not including halls or armories rented or used occasionally for concerts or theatrical representation, shall be regarded as a theatre. " Ever} proprietor of such theatre, museum, or concert hall, located in a city, town or village, having a population in excess of three thousand inhabitants, shall, on or before the fifteenth daj' of March 1917, and on or before the 15th day of June, September, December and March thereafter, make a return under oath tc the collector of internal revenue of the district wherein they are located, stating the gross receipts from admissions for the preceding quarter. The collector shall, within five days of receipt of the return, notify the proprietor of the amount of the tax for which such person is liable, and such person shall paj the tax to the collector on or before the first day of the next month." Mayor of Elizabeth, N. J., Approves " Where Are My Children? " and Urges Everybody of the Right Age to See the Picture CENSORSHIP in Elizabeth, N. J., received a setback when Maj-or Victor Mravlag refused to interfere with the showing of "Where Are My Children?" scheduled at the Garden theatre for a week. The mayor's decision was based on a personal review of the film and the report of two citizens whom he had asked to attend one of the initial performances in that city. Instead of interfering with the showing of the picture. Mayor Mravlag threw consternation into the ranks of the critics by sending to Manager Chris Hayes a written commendation of the plaj and its presentation. The mayor's letter follows : " Owing to a complaint received against the staging of a film play entitled ' Where Are My Children?' I took steps to investigate the character of the play. For this purpose I requested two ladies of the highest social standing, prominent in the man agement of the efforts for the improvement of the civic and moral welfare of the community, and in every way qualified to correcth judge in the matter, to investigate, and I personally attended a presentation of the film. " Both their reports and my own judgment agree that the film is not only unobjectionable, but is the most powerful presentation of the subject. No sermon, no lecture, nor other form of presenting the subject could in any way have the same force and I doubt whether words, no matter how carefully selected, could in so delicate and still so forcible a way present the subject. It ought to be seen by all people of both sexes and proper age, in order to protect the innocent and perhaps quicken the conscience of the guilty ones. You have my permission to use this communication in whatever way ypu think best." INVOLVES "NATION" The first result of Spokane's newest censorship fight is an order issued by the City Council that Griffith's " The Birth of a Nation " shall not be shown there unless the assault scenes are eliminated. The film ran here for three weeks at the Clemmer theatre in 1915 without opposition. The approaching booking is at the Auditorium. W. E. Mick, advance agent for Elliott and Sherman, of Minneapolis, who are making the Spokane territory with the picture now, has announced that the courts will be asked to issue an injunction, restraining the city from interfering with the performances. At the same time that the "Birth of a Nation " question was pending, an application for the showing of " Where Are My Children?" was made to the city council. A private run of the film was made, with city officials, newspaper men, ministers and others attending. Some pronounced the film exceptionally impressive. Others found it dull, but none opposed its exhibition. It will be run at the Casino in July. TORONTO FILM MEN MAKE MOVE FOR FEDERAL CENSORSHIP Toronto moving picture men made the first move last week for a campaign to secure a national board of censorship in Canada, to replace the various provincial boards. The film interests are arranging to hold a meeting in the near future, it is declared, for the purpose of organizing this campaign which is intended to extend from coast to coast. According to present plans the matter of federal censorship is to be brought to the attention of every Parliamentarian in Canada, and the attempt will be made to have film jurisdiction transferred from its present provincial basis to a federal status in so far as censorship is concerned. TOPEKA REDUCES THEATRE LICENSE FEES The city commissioners, Topeka, Kan., have reduced the licenses for theatres. The scale adopted, effective Julj' 1, is as follows : Theatres with seating capacity less than 400, $25; between 400 and 650, $40; more than 650, $50. The $100 license fee had been the subject of protest, the exhibitors asking that licenses be reduced to at least $50, which is what Kansas City exhibitors pay. The commissioners met them more than half way. The entire negotiations were conducted in a friendly spirit.