Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1917)

August 4, 1917 iiiiminiiiiiiiiiiii MOTION PICTURE NEWS 869 LATE NEWS ii^^ naHOBMHi Brumbaugh Slices Only $4,000 from Censor Budget Although Governor Brumbaugh of Pennsylvania on July 17 lopped $2,132,376 from the $36,000,000 general appropriation bill to cover the expenses of government for the next two years, he cut only a $4,000 slice out of the $107,720 budget of the State Board of Motion Picture Censors, reducing it to $103,720. The only item of the censorship budget to suffer was the $20,000 originally provided by the Legislature to cover the expense of prosecuting violators of the censorship law. This amount was reduced to the extent of the full $4,000, which, it is believed, will in no sense cripple the work of the board. With much formality Frank R. Shattuck, the new chairman of the State Board of Censors, took his oath of office before Judge John M. Patterson, of Common Pleas Court No. 1 of Philadelphia. He was accompanied there by Attorney General Francis Shunk Brown, Assistant District Attorney William F. Brown, former Director of Safety David J. Smyth, and other prominent Philadelphians. Mr. Shattuck was sworn on the Bible. Lower Court Decision Favoring Theatrical Managers Judge Hendricks of the Supreme Court, New York County, has rendered a decision laying down the rule that a theatrical manager who has acquired rights of production is entitled to restrain the author or anybody else from producing the play in motion pictures. The decision is in the case instituted by Charles Frohman, Inc., against William Somerset Maugham and Famous PlayersLasky Corporation, in which the court grants an injunction restraining the defendants from producing in motion pictures Mr. Maugham's play, " The Land of Promise." The right to produce this play in America, Canada and England had been acquired by Charles Frohman. The contract did not, however, in terms expressly give Charles Frohman the moving picture right. This decision is of importance because it affects many similar cases and protects the rights of theatrical managers. Emmick Buys Moss Productions The Peerless Film Exchange, owned and managed by E. H. Emmick, has secured rights for a number of the B. S. Moss releases for California, Nevada and Arizona territory, which the company handles from their exchanges at San Francisco and Los Angeles. The list of subjects bearing the Moss trade mark includes " Boots and Saddles," " The Girl Who Doesn't Know," " In the Hands of the Law," " The Power of Evil " and others. The Peerless has also secured rights for the Graphic release, " The Woman and the Beast." Germany Buying Junk Film for Explosive sir win Quiet Buying of Old Stock in Large Quantities Reported by V-L-S-E General Manager — Nitro Cellulose Employed in Manufacture of Powder RESULTING from a long period of secret service work, Walter W. Irwin, general manager of V-L-S-E., announces that he has brought to light negotiations of German agents who are quietly buying up all junk motion picture film possible for use in the manufacture of explosives. Mr. Irwin reports that this junked film is being shipped in large quantities to Germany through the Scandinavian countries. While Mr. Irwin is not yet absolutely certain that such a practice is being conducted, the fact remains that Germany is facing a shortage of nitro-cellulose bases which form the main constituent for high explosive powder, and that motion picture film is a nitro-cellulose derivative. Celluloid film can be transformed by a comparatively simple chemical process into a condition suitable for use in gunpowder manufacture. As soon as Mr. Irwin was informed of the inquiry for discarded motion picture films he engaged the services of investigators, whose preliminary reports tend to show that his surmise that this discarded stock is being shipped abroad is true. According to the preliminary investigation, the discarded stock is consigned abroad under the guise of films shipped for exhibition purposes. Much of the film will stand inspection by the ordinary layman, or even a government inspector, who might think that this discarded film is still available for exhibition purposes, whereas an expert would know almost immediately that it could not be used for exhibition purposes. Mr. Irwin feels that his short preliminary investigation has produced results which justify him placing the entire matter before the government and leaving the entire adjustment in the hands of the proper government officials. As a result of the activities of persons who have been making inquiries for used film the bid price has advanced approximately six cents a pound in a very short time. The usual price for a pound of gelatine-covered celluloid has remained steady at about twenty-two cents a pound for several months until very recently, when offers as high as thirty cents a pound have been received. The amount of discarded film in the hands of the larger producing companies is tremendous. It will run into the hundreds of thousands of tons. None of the larger companies have sold any of their discarded stock for some time, and after Mr. Irwin's investigation it is likely that all will agree to hold their discarded stock until after the termination of the war. Weeks in Charge of Foursquare Office in Detroit GEORGE W. WEEKS has been appointed division manager for the M. H. Hoffman, Inc.-Foursquare Exchange," which will be immediately opened in Detroit in temporary offices at 983 Peter Smith Building. Mr. Weeks will be in charge of the territory comprising Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Among the various Foursquare features ready for summer release are " The Sin Woman " with trio of stars, Irene Fenwick, Reine Davies and Clifford Bruce; "The Bar Sinister," the Edgar Lewis production ; " Madame Sherry " with the original music score including the well-known piece, " Every Little Movement," heard at all the performances of this popular play, and with Gertrude McCoy as the star ; " Her Fighting Chance " by James Oliver Curwood, with Jane Grey as the star; and Brodsky's " A Trip Through China " in eight reels. The first two of the Foursquare fall releases which Mr. Weeks will be able to offer exhibitors in his territory are " The Silent Witness," starring Gertrude McCoy. This photoplay is based upon the wellknown play of the same name, which at the time of its Broadway run was declared to be the most sensational drama since " Madam X " ; and " The Fringe of So ciety," an original photoplay by Pierre V. R. Key, with the following cast of stars : Ruth Roland, Milton Sills, Leah Baird, J. Herbert Frank, Ollie Kirkby and George Larkin. Mr. Weeks will shor.tly establish offices in Cleveland and Cincinnati. "Big George," as he is generally known throughout the Middle West, is one of the best liked men in that part of the country, and was long associated with Universal-Bluebird features, and his personality won him a host of friends and admirers. Newark Picture Houses to Be Open in Summer Mayor Thomas L. Raymond, of Newark, N. J., has for the first time in many years given the managements of local picture houses and other theatres the right to remain open during the summer months. The mayor's action followed a request by a majority of the local exhibitors that the usual official decree to close the playhouses during the months of July and August be abandoned this year. Exhibitors declare that they cannot afford this year to close their houses even for a few weeks.