Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

1054 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 7 INFANTILE PARALYSIS DELAYS BEATRICE FAIRFAX RELEASE IN NEW YORK Because of the epidemic of infantile paralysis in the metropolitan district of New York, the International Film Service, Inc., has decided to postpone for two weeks, the release of their new serial, " Beatrice Fairfax," in the New York district. The first episode was to have been shown simultaneously in every city in the country, except the Pacific coast, on Aug. 7. This program will be carried out with the exception of the New York district, which will have its first sight of the splendid serial on Aug. 26. The date of the release for the Pacific Coast is Aug. 14. The International had all arrangements made for the release of the first episode in New York on Aug. 7, the date originally set. The management decided, however, that the best interests of the exhibitors would be served by postponing the release for two weeks, or until Aug. 28. World Film Comes to Aid of Exhibitors in Plague Scare Pictures for Managers to Assemble at New eatres Affected by Infantile Paralysis Company Issues Call to Houses Showing Its York Exchange, with View to Help Th ANTICIPATING the action of the Board of Health and other civic bodies, the World Film Corporation, on July 4, issued a call to all exhibitors playing World Film features, requesting them to assemble at the New York exchange,with a view to alleviating their distressing conditions during the scourge of infantile paralj-sis. Over five hundred exhibitors, showing in the area affected by the epidemic, responded, and within the next few days 92 per cent, of the exhibitors received direct financial aid from the World Film Corporation, which in most instances, according to the distressed theatre owners, not only prevented most of their houses from being closed, but gave them a leverage with which to exact similar alleviation from other producing concerns. When the Board of Health was consid Consolidated to Give Away Automobiles for Plots T Contest Consists of Best Idea for a Five-Reel Feature Based on the Characters and Situations of " The Crimson Stain Mystery " HE Consolidated Film Corporation, which is presenting " The Crimson Stain Mystery," the sixteen-episode superserial produced by the Erbograph Company with Maurice Costello and Ethel Grandin in the leading roles, announces that it will give away 13 six-cylinder 40 H. P. five passenger, 1917 model Overland automobiles in a contest in connection with the presentation of the serial. The contest consists of the submission of the best idea for a five-reel feature based on the characters, mysteries, and situations in " The Crimson Stain Mystery." The United States will be subdivided into thirteen zones, and the best idea submitted from each zone will win an automobile. The only way to go at it is to see the episodes of this wonder serial and to make a note of the salient points in the story. Then invent a plot — an original plot it must be — and work into it the above requirements. Names and reputations don't count in this contest. The story is the only thing that does count, and it will be judged solely on its merits by a board of judges composed of some of the best known men in the motion picture and newspaper fields. You have until August 1, 1917, to write your story. All manuscripts must be typewritten and addressed to Contest Committee. Consilidated Film Corporation, 1482 Broadway, New York City. Cleveland Appoints Five Members for Committee \^'ork Sam BuUock, D. S. Schuman, W. T. Slimm, George Heinback and S. Simpson Will Become Active on Organization and Political Investigation Special to Motion Picture News. Cleveland, O., August 5. THE regular meeting of the Exhibitors' League, held Tuesday, was given over to the local candidates for the fall election. Mr. Chris. S. Baxter, candidate for tional League. The following were chosen to act as the committee : Sam Bullock. D. S. Schuman, W. T. Slimm, George Heinback, and S. Simpson. state representative, expresses himself as opposed to the present form of censorship, and against over-regulation of the building code in regard to picture theatres. He passed campaign slides among the exhibitors, and C. A. McGowan volunteered the use of his screen to further Mr. Baxter's interests. Mr. Grim, candidate for state senator on the Republican ticket, also declared himself in favor of the repeal of the present motion picture censorship in Ohio. Sam Bullock, chairman of the Cleveland delegates at the Chicago convention, made his official report of the convention. A motion was then made and carried that five members of the League be appointed as a committee on organization and political action to work out plans which will meet with the approval of the Na SIX FOX COMPANIES AT WORK ON WEST COAST Six companies are at work making Fox photoplays on the west coast. Oscar C. Apfel is busy with a story which stars William Farnum. In the making of this the director first took all scenes in which the star did not take part, so as to allow the convalescent to prolong his absence from the studio in order to gain strength. The former Broadway star took advantage of the few days by going to Catalina Islands, and reports have it that he landed a 146-pound sea fish, which goes to prove the outing has been beneficial to his health. Director Richard Stanton, who has been ill since the completion of " The Beast," and underwent an operation, has now almost fully recovered and is back at the Edendale plant getting a story ready. ering its drastic action against the film theatres, the World Film Corporation began a systematic tabulating of conditions at each house under contract. Salesmen conversant with business conditions in normal times were sent to interview various employees, and in this manner the precise extent to w^hich the various theatres were affected was arrived at. In several instances wherein the investigators found theatres affected to an unusual extent the owners were either given a reduction in proportion to their business decrease or they were given other aid that met their situation. The houses in Greater New York who found willing and ready relief at the World offices are, in part, listed here. In Manhattan : Schuyler, Globe, Lyric, Odeon, Bunny Prospect, St. Marks, Bayard, Pictorium, Riverview, Rose, Orpheum, Adelphi, 77th Street, Paradise, Cherokee, Windsor. Claremont, Classic, Heights, Lenox Gardens, Art, Bushman, Arcade, Garden, University, Grange Stadium, Morris Gardens, Sheridan, S. and A., Empress, Bohemian Annex, M. and S. houses. Comet, Fourteenth Street, Airdome, Fifth Avenue, Morningside, Ideal and Osceola. Brooklyn : Brooklyn theatre, Clinton Star, Stanley Playhouse, Mardi Gras, Wyckoff, West End, Parkview, New Moon, Tuxedo, Cortelj-ou, Atlantic, New Kingston, Antoinette Duffield, Victoria, Feltman's, Hanover, Universal, Cleveland, Fulton, Parkview, Norwood, Electra, Carlton, New Gardens and Plaza. In other points throughout Long Island, Staten Island and upper Westchester and Connecticut, affected, Hoboken, Lynbrook, Bayside, College Point, Rockville Center, Flushing, Irvington, N. J. ; Bridgeport, Bayonne, Newark and Freeport were aided. No less than thirty exhibitors have written in that were it not for the action of the World Film heads they would have been compelled to close their doors. The work of aiding still goes on and not a day passes but that some film theatre avails itself of the offer of the W^orld Film Corporation, although, according to Mr. Schaefer, New York branch manager, not one instance has been recorded where the exhibitor endeavored to take advantage of the opportunity" to secure greater aid than their business injuries warranted. THEY BORROW HIS "NEWS," IT'S SO INTERESTING Motion Picture News, Gentlemen: — It seems singular to n»e that when I want to find some real reel news, I have to borrow my competitor's Motion Picture News — because mine has been taken. It is some paper and some information is imparted. Yours trulv, H. V. Wike, Luna Theatre. Mt. Uniou, Pa.