Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1922)

3226 Motion Picture News Retail Shopmen and Exhibs Squabble in Baltimore Baltimore is the scene of quite a lively skirmish between the owners of the retail establishments in the business section and theatre managers in the same neighborhood. The retail shop owners complain .there are too many theatres within the limited retail shopping area and that this is uClhg material damage to their business. They further brand the houses in the vicinity of their shops as “ parasites/’ declaring that the theatres are benefiting by the adyertising done by the retailers. These charges were specifically aired at a hearing before the Zoning Commission held last week. The shop owners asked that the Commission restrict the number of theatres in a given area. Defenders of the theatres were also on hand. They replied that the theatres, far from " cheapening ” the streets, had actually “ made ” some of the thoroughfares, the New theatre being especially proposed in support of this contention. The exhibitors, moreover, refuted the “ parasite " charge, maintaining that the shops profited greatly from the proximity of the theatres because of the fact that thousands bound for the various theatres passed the stores every day. The Zoning Commission told the retailers that it would be impossible to limit the number of theatres in a given area, as the City Council issues the permits. They offered a plan by which a Zoning Board of Appeals, to be established by law, would review these permits. Some business men are ready to press the proposal for limiting the houses, but it is anticipated that the regulation will not become effective. Twenty-Eight Incorporations in New York Motion-picture companies incorporating in New York state the past month showed a returning confidence in business, there being 28 companies incorporated as compared with 15 during the month of April. During the past week, the following companies have been incorporated at the state capitol, the capitalization as well as the directors being given : Central New York Amusement company, Herkimer, $100,000, Charles H. Moyer, Charles T. Gloo, Robert Earl, Herkimer; Summer Gardens, Inc., $1,500, Kinderhook, F. C. Fowler, E. H. Nietsche, G. B. Wilkins, Kinderhook ; Plays and Pictures, Inc., $50,000. Everett Moses, Charles B. Jones, H. W. Wack, New York city; Richton Corporation, $100,000, L. D. Wharton, Leo R. Wharton, Joseph A. McKenna, New York; Suffern Amusement Company, Suffern, $500, R. J. Davidson, Jr., J. F. Imwolde, Suffern; A. J. Miller, Ramapo; Lincoln Theatre Corporation, Dunkirk, $500, J. J. Walsh, Henry B. Boone, Marian Roklin, Buffalo ; The Arman Producing Company, $500, Arman Kaliz, Mildred Singer, Evelyn Greenfield, New York. MOTION PICTURE NEWS William A. Johnston, Pres. & Editor E. Kendall Gillett, Treasurer George D. Gould, Managing Editor Fred. J. Beecroft, Adv. Mgr. Published on Friday every week by MOTION PICTURE NEWS, Inc., 7 ts Seventh Ave., New York, N. Y. ’Phone 9360 Bryant Chicago Representative. L. H. Mason, 910 S. Michigan Ave. ; 'Phone Harrison 7667. Los Angeles Representative. J. C. Jessen, Room 616, Security Building. Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Cal. Subscription ?3 a year, postpaid, in United States, Mexico, Hawaii, Porto Rico and Philippine Islands. Canada, $5. Foreign, $8. N. B. — No agent is authorized to take subscriptions for Motion Picture News at less than these rates. Have the agent who takes your subscription show his credentials and coupon book. Western Union registered cable address is “ Picknews,” New York. Copyright, 19ti, by Motion Picture Newt, Ino. Musicians ’Strike Continues in St. Louis The musicians’ strike in St. Louis, Mo., continues unsettled. The principal development during the past week was a statement by Joseph Mogler, president of the United Theatre Managers’ Association, published in a local newspaper in which the offer was made to the musicians’ organization to arbitrate the dispute. Mogler made public a letter to Frank Geeks, president of the Musicians' Mutual Benefit Association, in which this offer of arbitration was made. So far Geeks has not replied to Mogler’s suggestion. Mr. Mogler also issued a statement direct to the public through the local newspapers in which he denied charges of Stephen Butler, business agent for the musicians, who, in an address to the Central Trades and Labor Unions Sunday, May 28, charged that he suspected a conspiracy existed to prevent theatres that might sign agreements with the musicians from obtaining first-run pictures, and that the attorney for the union was investigating to see if this were true. 8 3 7 4 The greatest strictly trade circulation ever audited in the field! Sheriff Orders Blue Sunday for Tampa, Fla. 1 ampa, Fla., is in the grip of a Blue Sunday agitation. As the result of an order issued by Sheriff Spencer of Hillsborough County, the entire county, including 1 ampa, is prohibited from indulging in picture shows, dancing, beach bathing, etc. Beginning Sunday, June nth, with penalties for violation, all amusement houses and business shops are ordered to close. The amusement interests are especially concerned over this sudden change in affairs as they contend it is the Sunday business that turns the balance to the credit side of their ledger. Sheriff Spencer’s decision is taken by many as the sequel to a recent visit of about twenty Tampa citizens to Governor Hardee with the complaint that the Sheriff was not enforcing the law and ought to be removed. The Governor did not find the charges sufficient and Spencer continues in office. The Sheriff's Blue Sunday order is the latest development in the situation. The general opinion seems to be that the Sheriff has killed himself politicallv as the Tampa public have always been strong for Sunday amusements. C. D. Dooley, general-manager of the Consolidated Amusement Company, which control all of the down town theatres of Tampa, said: “I shall continue to operate my houses as long as the people want them. They have shown me by their patronage that they want Sunday shows and I will give them to them until the Court orders me to close. I am receiving hundreds of calls, letters and messages from the citizens as suring me they are with me in this. I shall operate all my houses next Sundav.” Resigning Film Head Is Feted in Atlanta Officials and branch managers of the Consolidated Film and Supply Company, together with leading Atlanta film men. toasted and feted \\ illiam C. Oldknow, resigning head of the Consolidated, at a farewell dinner in the Ansley Hotel, Atlanta, last week, Oldknow, who is one of the best known film men in the South, founded the Consolidated ten years ago, and has been its head ever since. Ned. E. Depinet, the new general manager of the Consolidated was master of ceremonies. Following the dinner, he presented a platinum watch to the retiring chief, a gift of esteem from the employees of the Consolidated. Oldknow and Mrs. Oldknow are now on their way to England for a vacation. Among the film men present were : Willard Patterson, N. W. Redmond, Arthur C. Bromberg, John Ezell, Arthur Dickinson, and the following branch managers of the Consolidated, W. E. Sipe, W. M. Richardson, John R. Barton, and R. B. Williams.