Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

1982 Motion Picture N e Issuance of Permit Without Fee Up to the Board While Attorney-General Charles D. Newton, of New York State, has just made a ruling on a certain class of pictures as to whether or not they should be forced to pay for a permit issued by the New York State Motion Pictin'e Commission, it appears that the Commission itself will have practically the entire say in the matter. The opinion has just been given George H. Cobb, chairman of the censorship commission, in response to an inquiry on his part. The Attorney-General, in his opinion, says : " It appears from the language of the last paragraph of section 6, that the picture produced on the film need not be one of an educational, charitable or religious nature, but must be used and intended in the exhibition thereof, solely for educational, charitable or religious purposes. It cannot be used for commercial purposes. If the picture is exhibited under the auspices of a society, or body in its nature educational, charitable or religious, wihout an admission fee, or if with admission fee, the proceeds thereof to be devoted to some educational, charitable or religious work, then, and in such case it matters not what the nature of the picture film may be, whether drama, comedy, cartoon, history, sociology, science, etc. " It therefore appears that any picture, no matter by whom manufactured and placed upon the market, which is rented for one of the purposes above set forth and exhibited in the manner set forth, may be, in the discretion of the Commission exhibited under a permit without the fee charged by your Commission. I assume that it was the intent of the Legislature, in permitting your Commission to grant such permit, without fee, to make it possible for educational, charitable and religious bodies or societies to rent such picture films at a lesser cost than would otherwise be the case if a license fee were charged. " The application for the granting of this permit, however, should be accompanied by proper affidavit fully setting forth the facts that such picture films are only leased and exhibited under the auspices of educational, charitable and religious institutions or societies. " Notwithstanding the conclusions above set forth, the question as to whether or not you will issue such a permit rests in the discretion of your Commission. The law having vested you vnth such power of discretion, it therefore follows that you may make any rules and regulations deemed necessary to carry out such provisions of the statute." To Film Big Game in Wild Sections of Arizona A motion picture hunting expedition into Gila County, Arizona, arranged by Jack Callicotte, former manager of the Kinema theatre in Los Angeles, left the city during the past week for a stay of six weeks. The purpose of the expedition is to secure wild animal films. Reports from the game inspector of Gila County are to the effect that bear, mountain lions and other big game is in abundance in that section which is miles from a railroad and civilization. The motion picture will be made under the supervision of Callicotte, Harry Leonhardt, Fred Miller of the California theatre, Los Angeles; Henry Charles, vicepresident American Photoplay Company, and the camera man, A. J. Stout. Zukor to Entertain Paramount Club Members The members of the Paramount Club, which comprises a large proportion of the Paramount home office employes, have been invited by Adolph Zukor to an outing at his country estate at New York City, Rockland County, on Saturday, October 15. Lawrence E. Goldman, counsel and secretary of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Missouri THROUGH the constJint and untiring efforts of Lawrence E. Goldman, counsel and secretary of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Missouri, exhibitors in the territory west of the Mississippi River are about to attain the goal which has long been sought for — music free from tax, unhampering methods in the collection of internal revenue teixes and unrestricted co-operation among exhibitors. Having obtained the passage of the Missouri Deposit Bill, of which he was the author, Mr. Goldman is now working on a plan whereby non-members of the American Society of Authors and Composers will become banded with the exhibitors, thus dealing a telling blow to music tax. Internal revenue problems, dealing with the technical details concerning the issuance of tickets from the box-office, the methods involved in keeping a check on exhibitors by revenue agents, are only a small portion of the tasks which are confronting Mr. Goldman. Recently, letters were sent to members of the American Society of Authors and Composers, stating that exhibitors refused to be " brow beaten " into paying tax on music, and that in the future only non-taxable music would be used. Following this, Mr. Goldman's office wat literally " swamped " with offers from nonmembers of the music tax organization, and many letters were received from members of the American Society of Authors and Composers, asking that some arrangements be made whereby their productions could be used by exhibitors; also asking that they be allowed to send a representative to Kansas City where the matter might be considered. The latter request was granted by Mr. Goldman. As secretary and counsel for the exhibitors, Mr. Goldman faces a busy winter this year. Having declined a proposal to run for State Senator, not desiring to participate in partisan politics, he has buckled down to the many tasks which confront him. So highly was his opinion valued, that he was called into consultation at the Iowa-Nebraska convention, and his opinions on many vital problems sought. Reels Worth $7,000 Ae Stolen in Buffalo Forty reels of valuable film were st' from the United Artists, Nu-Art and ucational companies in Buffalo last w It was the biggest film robbery ever corded in the city and is perhaps the 1. , est in the country in a long time. k value of the stolen films will reach $7, Among the features stolen were print Fairbanks' new film "The Three Mu teers," "Dream Street," a Griffith pro< tion, "Carnival" a foreign feature; ". raeli," George ArUss' new vehicle several Pickford releases. Nu-Art some five reel features and short subj and Educational a number of short jects. It is believed that an employe, has since disappeared, worked with sc one on the outside. The films are p ably now out of the country'. The Bu police are investigating. All the f were stolen from the shipping depart: of the three exchanges, all of which housed in the Nu-Art building, 221 Fr i lin street. Bankers in Los Angeles /re Entertained by Studio The film industry is playing a big : in the entertainment of the delegate the American Association of Bar convention being held in Los Ang z Over four thousand persons are in att lOance. Sunday was spent at the Bruor studio, where a Spanish barbecue served. Buster Keaton, J. L. Frotlipham Productions, and the Jackie Co ar. Company demonstrated the work of 1 iking films. Wednesday evening, the b iters were entertained by L'niversal : at the Monte Carlo set where a trick ii storm was staged, and the delegates a'e " held up " by members of the Wir jr^ of the West serial company headed b} ttt Acord. Many Promotions in Pake Ranks (Continued front page 1881) had more than doubled. The folio r February, Mr. Brunet named him E e tor of Exchanges, and now, a few v more than eighteen months from his 1 vation to that position, he has beer i] pointed General Manager. In announcing the promotions, i Brunet stated : " It is gratifying to head an organization whos »' is composed of men who can so readily adapt t selves to positions that demand greater abilit a more pronounced initiative, than had ever befor •« demanded of them. Pathe has always felt proi :' within its own ranks were those who could full a demands that might be made upon them. Nevt i£ we been obliged to go outside our own organ n for men of calibre to fill important posts. " In announcing the appointment of Mr. Peai » General Manager and Mr. Humm as Assistant ( «*' Manager. I naturally feel some pride for I have » **« keenly their progress, their earnest efforts that 'ajTS brought them forward. I know they will ably *»• positions with which they are now entrusted The opportunity that is theirs awaits every empic : " Pathe, because it is the Pathe policy to pronn o" proof of fitness, and that policy has been c «>t*f importance in building up the great and su< 'S!'organization of which we all are a part."