Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

502 Motion Picture News To Preserve Examples of Film Art for Posterity WATTERSON R. ROTHACKER has been asked by the Chicago Evening American to cooperate in a plan which the paper has for preserving examples of motion-picture art for posterity. The newspaper purposes to hold an annual voting contest by which the best photodrama of the year will be selected for handing down to ages to come. In this way the paper expects to present one film each year to some governmental agency which will undertake to act as motion-picture librarian for our descendants Fred McQuig, photoplay editor, is sponsoring the plan. Mr. McQuig draws a picture of the future, 5,000 years hence, when the children of that day might engage in the study of the early celluloid literature, just as the high-school pupil of today studies Homer and Virgil. Toward such an end Mr. McQuaig asks Mr. Rothacker and other technicians of the industry to solve the problem of a celluloid photographic base which will withstand the wear of centuries. Church and Theatre Work Together on Xmas Bill Showing that there does exist a common ground on which the church may meet the theatre and its associated activities such as symphony concerts, Sid Grauman, managing director of the Grauman theatres, joined forces with Dr. J. Whitcomb Brougher and his parishioners of the Temple Baptist Church, Los Angeles, in presenting a regular symphony concert, “ The Christmas Spirit in Music,’’ at the Grauman Million Dollar Theatre on Christmas morning. The keynote of the occasion was “ Americanism ” and “ Christmas Spirit. Giving careful attention to those subjects, Mischa Guterson, conductor of the Grauman Symphony Orchestra, arranged the concert to interpret in music the ideas thus suggested. From the stage of the theatre Dr. J. Whitcomb Brougher delivered an address on the same subjects. It was noted that his talk was as enthusiastically received as the music itself. Notable in the entire proceedings was the appearance of the lemple Baptist Choir of one hundred voices. Accompanied by Mr. Grauman s seventy-five musicians, this chorus sang Christmas and vesper songs. Two Incorporations in N.Y . Two corporations wrere formed during the past week for the purpose of engaging in the motion picture business in New York state. 'These companies were the Jupiter Film Corporation, capitalized at $25,000, with H. C. Trewedi, A. H. Goodman and Jane Morgan as directors; Just Because, Inc., $40,000, A. G. Scheer, M. C. Berman, New York ; M. Hicks, Mount Vernon. Arrangements by New York Central for Convention Following a meeting last Wednesday of the Albany Theatrical Managers’ Association, President George Roberts announced that practically every arrangement had been completed for the annual convention slated for the Capital City next month. Outstanding features of the week have been the co-operation on the part of the New York Central Railroad in not only offering reduced rates to all delegates, but also in volunteering to advertise the convention and the movie ball on all its billboards within a radius of fifty miles of Albany. This means that between now and the middle of February that the ball and convention will be advertised to hundreds of thousands of travelers. The Albany Chamber of Commerce is also doing everything to assist in making the convention the biggest possible success. During the past week a special committee was named by the Chamber of Commerce, which includes Charles M. Winchester as chairman, and is made up of bankers, manufacturers and the leading business men of the city. The committee has already started to function, and among other things will give a luncheon to the delegates. President Roberts has also called the women together and formed a committee among the wives of Albany’s managers which will be on hand to welcome all women as they reach Albany on convention week. Arrangements have also been made for a huge electric sign which will be erected at the top of Capitol Hill, and, facing the business centre of the city, will give forth the message at night to the effect that the exhibitors are in town. The Chamber of Commerce has donated a large welcome sign, which will be placed in front of the Hotel Ten Eyck. Exhibitors desiring to make hotel resercations should communicate with Samuel Suckno, Albany theatre. Albany, N. Y. Information as to what nights reservations should be made for, approximate price, etc., should be given in the communication to Mr. Suckno. “ Peacock Alley ” in Extended Run at the Cameo Mae Murray in her latest production. “ Peacock Alley,” will be held over at B. S. Moss’ Cameo theatre, Forty-second street, New York city, for an indefinite run. B. S. Moss’ new theatre exquisite, the Cameo, but recently opened, is hailed as filling a long-felt want of the theatregoers of Greater New \ ork, namely, a theatre that is devoted entirely to the perfect presentation of photoplays. 1 his “ jewel box ” of a theatre also boasts of an orchestra of renowned musicians who are banded under the name of Cameo Concert Orchestra. Gerard Carbonare is the conductor. British Seek Protection from Continental Films WILLIAM ALEXANDER, who arrived in New York last Sunday after a six weeks’ business trip abroad, reports generally improved conditions in Great Britain, France and Italy. Abroad in the interests of the Alexander Film Corporation, the distribtor visited the Coast cities of the peninsula as far as Spain. The most striking movement observed was in London, where the owners of theatres and film producers and distributors are agitating a measure to be placed before Parliament making residence in the United Kingdom obligatory for all persons who appear in films, with the penalty per capita for each non-resident in a picture made in the Kingdom or elsewhere a fine, stars to be assessed at 5 quid, or the equivalent of twenty-five dollars ; principals, three quid or the equivalent of fifteen dollars, and supernumeraries or extra people at four shillings, or about one dollar. The plan is regarded by film men generally throughout England as a sure way to check the invasion of films from Germany, Italy, and France. The measure applies to American made films, but the feeling that inspired it has been provoked by the flood of pictures seeking English markets with casts, stars and principals composed chiefly of the lowest possible priced alien players. “Conservatism Key-Note to Success” Says Crawford “ Conservatism is the keynote of success,” says Roy Crawford, treasurer of Associated Exhibitors. Mr. Crawford has interests in a number of theatres in the Middle West. “ Banks and all big-going corporations follow it. There seems to me to be a great deal of waste in the moving picture business, particularly in the producing end. When this waste is eliminated and more conservatism shown in this end of the industry, greater profits will pile up both for the distributor and the producer, and it will make for easier financing for future productions. “ The producer who can meet the payments of his notes at the bank is the one who is conservative in his production cost. Likewise, the distributing organization operating on the same principles, is the one who can give the independent producer quick returns. Bronx Exhibitors Elect Officers for 1922 At a largely attended meeting of the Bronx Motion Picture Theatre Owners’ Association Dec. 22 the following officers were elected for 1922: President, John J. Wittman (tenth consecutive term) ; vicepresident, John C. Bolte (third consecutive term) ; executive secretary, Henry Cole (ninth consecutive term) ; treasiuer. Henry Suchman. re-elected (second term) ; three-year trustee, Edward Falter; two and one-year trustees. Morris Sussman, Isadore Rothman; sergeant-atarms, William Wilson.