Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1919)

4062 Motion Picture N e u ^Universal and the News Reel IT would seem to be that Universal Film Manufacturing Company's ordained mission is to wage war for the general good of the industry. Back in the Patent days it was Universal that bore the brunt of the struggle, and to-day it is Universal that has fought and won for the news reel the freedom given the press. By decision of the Appellate Division last week in the case of Mrs. Grace Humiston, the news reel weeklies are granted full privileges of the press in photographing current news events. The decision is far reaching in effect and will open up to all news reels many things they have heretofore hesitated about taking. The gratitude of news reel producers and of the entire industry is therefore due in large measure to Universal for its courage in carrying the case through to this successful conclusion. Wm. A. Johnston New United Plans are Approved President Berst Receives Number of Congratulatory Telegrams; Meetings and Elections ENTHUSIASTIC reports are coming in to the home office of the United Picture Theatres of America as regards the first meetings held for the election of local Boards of Trade and a director to represent each territory on the National Board of Directors of United. President J. A. Berst has been flooded with telegrams all of which speak in glowing terms of the manner in which his plan has been started and the whole hearted way that exhibitors are backing it up and working to make United bigger and stronger than ever. Up to the time of going to press, meetings had been held in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Cincinnati and Cleveland. In the Philadelphia territory, Mr. Frank Hill of Reading was elected permanent chairman with L. J. Chamberlain of Shamokin and Harry Savage of Atlantic City as members of tht Local Board. Pittsburg elected Mr. Charles Feinler of Wheeling, W. Va., Mr. George Panagatocos of Johnstown, Mr. C. M. M'cClosky of Uniontown and Mr. Michael Rosenbloom of Charleroi. At the Boston meeting, Mr. W. G. Hartford of Pawtucket, R. I., owner of the Imperial Theatre and one of New England's best known film men, was elected chairman with Mr. F. A. Smith of Lynn and Mr. Victor Morris of Boston. Mr. Smith is one of the ofificials of the Waldorf Company, having large theatre, restaurant and realty holdings, while Mr. Morris is General Manager of Loew's Orpheum and has supervision over other theatres. Fred Schaeffer of the Chrystal Theatre, Chicago, was elected at the meeting held at Morrison Hotel, Chicago, with George Hines, Auditorium Theatre of South Bend, Ind., and Fred Seegert of the Regent Theatre, Milwaukee, Wis. Cincinnati, Ohio, will have as their leader Mr. J. W Weining, of the Western Plaza Theatre, while Cleveland franchise holders electea George J. Schade of the Schade Theatre, Sandusky, Ohio. In the New York territory, the following well-known exhibitors were elected : Gustav Koenigswald of Brooklyn, Louis Rosenthal who operates theatres in Newark and Passaic, H. Gainsboro, owner of two theatres in Flushing, L. I., Harry Hall of Troy, N. Y., and Leo Brecher of New York City. The reception that Mr. Berst's plan met with can readily Jje seen from the whole heartedness of the exhibitor cooperation. Every meeting so far held has voted to give United and its ofificials their earnest support at all times and to work hand in hand with them in furthering United's success. Plans of Larger Select Branch Sam Morris Describes Plans For Enlarged New^ York Office; Modem in All Ways TN a very few weeks the Select Organization will be greatly enlarged and organized on a more extensive plan, according to General Manager Sam E. Morris, of Select Pictures Corporation. Many changes are under way, the most important being the removal of the New York exchange, of which Henry Siegel is the manager, from its present location at 729 Seventh Avenue to 130 W. 46th Street, the former home of the World Film Corporation. " We must have more room in which to operate at once," said Mr. Morris in announcing the plans. " Keeping our office space ahead of our growth is our problem just now. The New York Exchange has completely outgrown its present quarters, and needs at least four times as much room as it now occupies. It is hoped that the new location will he adequate, as it takes in the entire ground floor and basement of the building. It is being remodelled in a thoroughly efficient and modern way, with regard to office arrangements, lighting, projection rooms and vaults. " The decorations and furnishings will be new and luxurious. When completed, the New York Exchange will be one of the most completely and handsomely equipped branches in the countrj'." A staflf of painters and decorators are now at work on the 14th floor of the Home Office headquarters and after the necessary alterations, Mr. Morris stated, the former quarters of the New York Exchange will Industrial Leaders of the Wor Guests at Capitol Theatre New York's great Capitol Theatre Ni vember 22d provided entertainment for 2t of the most notable men ever gathered t< gether under one roof. The occasion wa the visit of the delegates to the Interna tional Trade Conference, now being hel in .this country, and the members of th New York General Reception Committee among whom were the business men <r j New York. The largest employers of labor in th« world, the principal financiers, the chiel manufacturers, the great merchants — all were there to get a close-up view of the highest development of the production and exhibition of the newest thing in art and industry — the motion picture. The distinguished foreign visitors and the members of the General Reception Committee, made up of 175 of the city's most notable citizens, were received by Edward Bowes, managing director of the Capitol, and Harry Levey, general manager of the Industrial and Educational Department of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. Through the courtesy and effort of Mr. Levey a picture was shown as the chmax of the evening entitled, " Industrial Democracy in America — Partners in Prosperity and Dividends of Contentment," which conveyed to the distinguished visitors an idea of what is being done toward bringing the employer and the employee closer together and thereby increasing the quantity and quality of production to the advantage of all concerned. Columbia Films Acquire New England Universal Exchange The New England Universal Film Exchange, with headquarters in Boston, it is announced, has been acquired by the Columbia Films Company of Boston, representatives and exclusive distributors of nine different productions in New England, with J. M. Mullen, formerly manager of the Universal Exchange in New England, as president of the new corporation. Plans have been arranged by the newlyelected president for the enlargement of the present headquarters of the corporation at 6 Church street, Boston, which when completed, will house what is considered the best and largest organization of its kind in New England. Another building at No. 10 Winchester street, Boston, has been secured for temporary offices of the Film Exchange and will be used with the present headquarters until the starting of the operations of remodeling early in January of the coming year. The Columbia Films have entered into a contract with the American Feature Film Company of Boston to distribute the Universal output in New England. be occupied by the Purchasing Department of the Select organization, which is now housed on the sixth floor of 729 Seventh Avenue. In the meantime, Mr. Morris stated, the films will be released from the home address of the Exchange pending the completion of the vaults in the W. 46th Street offic'