Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

848 Motion Picture N e\ j Industry Asked to Assist Disabled Soldiers A plea, addressed to the motion picture industry, to spread some sunshine among the ranks of disabled soldiers now in hospitals as a result of wounds and other forms of disability sustained while serving under the country’s flag, was received by Motion Picture News from E. V. Hanegan. Knights of Columbus Secretary at the National Sanatorium, Johnson City, Tenn. Mr. Hanegan is evidently contributing his own mite of sunshine among the maimed and the sick and is willing to meet the industry half-way in securing additional help for “ his boys.” Mr. Hanegan’s letter follows in full : '* Editor, Motion Picture News, “ 729 Seventh Avenue. “ Dear Sir : “ In my charge is the entertainment needs of the hospital attached to this big institution containing over 1,000 disabled world war veterans and even' minute of the 16 to 18 hours daily that I spend in rendering the 300 odd hospital patients, a hundred and one forms of service, I learn how much more they require and how much more they have earned from us. Therefore, without further preamble. I am appealing to you to get a few of the big men in your trade together in order that these splendid boys may get an opportunity of seeing their production masterpieces. “ I personally screen over a hundred movie shows on the walls of the various hospital wards with my portable projector and forget my fatigue in the realization of how much more entertainment the bedridden boys need. “ The trade has a splendid opportunity to do a really big thing for the lads worn in service for our flag, though I know they have done much already. The need I speak of is vital, a good movie heartening these kids more than medicine. “ I will gladly pay transportation both ways on film sent me as I want these boys to see the big stuff that presently, they can only read about. “ With every good wish, “ Yours sincerely, “ E. V. Hanegan, “ K. of C. Secretary, Hospital, National Sanatorium.” Moss Files Revised Plans for New House in N. Y. B. S. Moss has filed new revised plans for a theatre in the Bronx at Tremont and Webster avenues, New York City. This structure has been held up for a year on account of the high cost of construction, and the erection of a modern magnificent playhouse will be started at once, it is announced. The seating capacity will be 2,600. The cost is to be close to a million dollars, it is declared. The house is expected to be completed in time for opening about Thanksgiving Day. Film Theft Unmasked; Buffalo Men Sentenced A FILM theft plot involving the attempted piracy and sale of motion picture prints which would have represented a loss of at least $500,000 to the companies involved, has been thwarted by the Film Theft Committee of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, according to word from the National Association’s offices. The film was to have been shipped to Japan, Mexico and South America, thus spoiling the market for the rightful owners of the pictures, it is declared. The details of the plot and its frustration were divulged following the arrest, in Portland, Me., of Leon Gorman, a distributor’s agent, with headquarters in that city, who is charged with attempting to steal 1,000 reels of motion picture film which were found in his possession and which belonged to several of the important film companies. William Pearson, 1233 South Harding avenue, Buffalo, a former salesman for United Artists, and an alleged member of a band of international film thieves, was sentenced in Buffalo last week to from three to seven years at hard labor in Auburn prison when he pleaded guilty to a charge of grand larceny, first degree. Pearson is alleged to have stolen films from the United Artists’ Company and shipped them to Mexico and South America. He was arrested in Chicago, where he gave $25,000 bail and waived extradition. Morris Taitus, former shipping clerk at the Buffalo United Artists’ exchange, has pleaded guilty to a charge of grand larceny, first degree, and is scheduled to be sentenced Friday January 27. Taitus is alleged to have shipped several stolen films from Buffalo. The market value of the stolen reels is said to be $1,000,000. Julius Stern , Sick, Delays Trip to the West Coast Julius Stern, president of Centun,' Film Corporation, who as second vice-president of Universal is Carl Laemmle’s personal representative at Universal City, has been ill for the past week with an attack of grippe which has delayed his return to the Coast where he is expected to carry out the plans for a big 1922 production campaign both for Universal and Century. Have an attractive sound as they clink into the box office till. Haven’t they? Why not make more of them roll in? By carefully choosing your pictures — by taking hints from those who have played them before you— by finding out how they were best exploited — by ascertaining what they did in a territory similar to yours. In short — by finding out the BEST to gives you all this information, and more. THE BOOKING GUIDE gives you all this information and more Use it in conjunction with a file of Motion Picture News and you will hear the box office resound to more. The Reader Has His So ( Continued, from page 847) Jones, of Atlanta, Ga. (where the Ij Klux comes from), conducted a 30-(yr revival here. This section is long on vivals. Towards the last of the meet;; he started on Sunday movies. 1 e Churches took it up and got a vote 01 1 from the city commissioners. Our five f them and the Mayor’s vote decided it a the negative. We have referendum a this state for the benefit of the bun that don’t want to play according to e rules. So the usual petitions were cir lated, with women voting, was easy to t the required number of signatures. Te final vote was six thousand to close i\ three thousand not to close, a fairly go< sized vote. As in most referendums, » people interested got out and voted, tin e with positive opinions voted, but the t-» ance with no special interest in the qution passed up voting. This of courses the crowd that should have been reach . The movie people were slow to gr;ji how serious the movement was and 0 / defended themselves the last week wi full page statements in the papers of th position. The local papers have no edi • rial policy and in such cases lay off al collect from both sides for advertisi . Expect you will have a report of this 1 the papers devoted to your industry, It] thought I might be able to give you a f side lights, as I know this is a serici: movement to a man with 50 or 60 theat:; to look after. My idea is that the question is not >1 much of Sunday theatres as the dang of the present movement to legislate on: person’s actions and privileges as an ■ derly citizen. In so much of this perso I liberty curtailment and besides that s idea of regelating business by people v > know nothing of it. The merchants of this town shod: have fought the proposition on that f • ture if no other. The next move by c side or the other here I believe will : Sunday closing for everything includ ; gasoline. Jones went so far as to accu the Mayor of being bought. Was no w • rant for this and should have hurt ; case if the Mayor had a strong enovi personality to have fought back, but : made a weak reply. The question got by here by referdum, women voters in the Church, a w( : newspaper editorial policy and lack of terest by people who did not sense 1] personal liberty danger and the possil • ities it contained in the present tender towards regulating everybody and eve thing in ways our various constitute: never intended. Suppose you will be c< fronted by this situation sooner or la and about the only suggestion I can mi is to get after the crowd soon enough v do not consider they are interested. Respectfully yours, (Signed) H. J. Upham, Upham Shoe Co., Springfield. Mo There are articles in the Service Bureau this week you may need later. File the News for use with the Booking Guide.