Motography (Jul - Dec 1915)

960 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIV, No. 19. of a program, and the relation of the employer and employe. Incidentally Mr. Rothapfel mentioned the Mutual Film Corporation's new $8,000,000 program and the purpose and ideals for which it stands. "They are on the right track," he said, referring to the Mutual and its officers. "They realize that your success means their success. I do not want to talk about the merit or lack of merit of any film or corporation. I want to avoid that, yet I think it is due to them, for sending me around the country as they are doing, that I shall call attention to this attitude of theirs, their generous view of the business and their effort to help the exhibitor to greater successes. "It is not a case of making money 'while it lasts.' They are thinking of the tomorrow. They have grown with the picture, they know from where it emanated. They have gone through the struggle to bring it where it belongs. It is the most popular form of entertainment in the world and they are sensible enough and have business sagacity enough to know that this is the only course that can be pursued that means stability, confidence and success. They know that their interests and yours are identical." Edward O'Keefe of Atlantic City was toastmaster. Among the speakers of the evening were Jay Emanuel, Marcus A. Senn, C. Stamper, Charles Goldstein and several others. The banquet got a touch of excitement from a short but warm debate between Mr. Rothapfel and an exhibitor. Mr. Rothapfel had reached the conclusion of his address and invited questions. Edward J. Jeffries, the owner of two theaters, rose and challenged the speaker's statements on some points of theater policy. "I'll be back here after this tour is over — I am coming at my own expense just to show you in your own theater what I mean, and I will demonstrate to you in person," exclaimed Mr. Rothapfel. "That goes now, and I'll be back." The next point on the Rothapfel-Mutual itinerary is Washington, where a banquet will be held at the Hotel Raleigh. Will Oppose New Constitution The proposed constitution which reaches the voters of the state of New York at the coming election has a new and active enemy in the motion picture forces, including exhibitors, manufacturers and salesmen. An active campaign against the adoption of the new state charter has been started by the Motion Picture Board of Trade of America, Inc. A committee representing this industry waited on the constitutional convention leaders at Albany and asked for a hearing on the insertion of a plank guaranteeing as full liberty to motion pictures as is now accorded to newspapers and the spoken drama. This committee was accorded scant courtesy in its hearing before the Bill of Rights committee. The Board of Trade was organized and incorporated shortly after under the New York State law, and almost its first official action was to condemn the new constitution, whose drafters had declined to give a hearing to the motion picture men's presentation of their side of the censorship question. The campaign against the constitution will be carried on throughout the state through the medium of the screen in motion picture theaters, and by the exhibitors in all the communities large and small. It is estimated that 1,800,000 people are reached by the screen in New York state each day. The following resolution has been passed by the directors of the Motion Picture Board of Trade of America, Inc., and was given out last week from the headquarters at 18 East Forty-first street: Upon motion duly made, seconded and carried, it was Resolved, that the Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Board of Trade of America, Inc., condemns the action of the Bill of Rights committee of the Constitutional Convention, held at Albany, New York, during the months of July. August and September, for the purpose of formulating amendments to the present constitution of the state of New York, such constitution so amended to be submitted to a vote of the people this November; in refusing to report to the convention the proposed amendment, by which it was provided that the motion picture as a vehicle of thought transmission was to be granted the same liberty from legalized pro-publicity censorship, now enjoyed by the press; such action on behalf of the committee being discriminatory and contrary to the best interests of the people, in that it failed to protect them from the possibility of such censorship— the arbitrary act of the few over the many — conceived in ignorance, intolerance, prejudice or malice, and therefore, contrary to the principles of freedom and free expression of thought upon which this country is founded. Further Resolved, that this association use its influence in behalf of, and in every way possible lend its encouragement and support to, the press and all other agencies in their endeavor to cause the people to reject at the polls the amendments adopted by the said convention; such rejection being thoroughly justified upon the ground that a convention so constituted as to fail to recognize that censorship is an attack upon the bulwarks of our freedom, and to protect our people from such attack, is not of a disposition which would justify the approval of the results of its deliberations. Signed: Walter W. Irwin, J. W. Binder, Wm. A. Johnston, S. L. Rothapfel, Nicholas Power, J. E. Brulatour, Edward A. MacManus. Great Northern Signs Famous Dancer A star of international fame and great distinction who appears exclusively in Great Northern productions is Miss Rita Sacchetto, the celebrated dancer and character actress. In her early girlhood she began her theatrical career, specializing in dancing and pantomime, and winning the attention of leading critics with her power of mimicry. She has performed in all the famous theaters of the world, including the