Motography (Jan-Jun 1917)

556 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XVII, No. 11. REEL FELLOWS MEET Chicago Film Followers Get Together in New Club Rooms and Lay Plans for Future Activities — Next Meeting March 16 The Reel Fellows of Chicago got together again on the evening of March 2, for the first regular meeting held in their new club rooms in the College Building, 207 South Wabash avenue. It was decided upon the motions made by Secretary Billy Hamburg and Vice-President M. G. Watkins, to hold the regular club meetings in the future on the first and third Friday of each month. This brings the next meeting, which promises to be a big one, on Friday, March 16, at which time further important matters are to be settled. Alfred Hamburg, prominent theater man, who was present, added a suggestion that each member bring two other members to the meeting. This suggestion was unanimously agreed to. President Ralph O. Proctor called for the treasurer's report and the report by Jack Haag on the big Essanay party held on February 10. Both were read and accepted. Attorney David T. Alexander explained the new Guernsey censorship bill, which has been introduced into the Illinois state legislature, stating that a complete story of this bill was given in last week's issue of Motography. This bill provides for state censorship and eliminates all local censor boards. Mr. Alexander came out strongly in favor of the bill as offering the best solution for the present problems confronting the trade. It was suggested to .have a discussion concerning censorship carried on further at the next meeting of the club by either Senator Guy Guernsey, Samuel Ettelson or some other prominent authority. Mr. Alexander also explained that the Club has been incorporated as "The Reel Fellows Catering Club," — with the Reel Fellows Club as the parent organization, — whose purpose is to provide sufficient income to carry on the work of the club. Stock in the organization is now ready to be offered to members. The committee consisting of D. Russakov, chairman. William J. Sweeny and David T. Alexander, was appointed to investigate the question of a license for the sale of refreshments. W. C. Benson was appointed publicity director for the club. Among those present at the meeting who were called upon to talk were G. M. Luttrell of Jacksonville, Illinois, president of the Illinois branch of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America; W. W. Watts of. Springfield, state treasurer; William E. Heaney, vice-president of the Chicago Local Exhibitors' League. The members and friends who were present at the meeting, were decidedly impressed by the beauty and comfort of the club rooms and a big attendance is expected at the coming meeting on March 16. I tell you we averaged two hundred and fifty pieces of mail a day and every moment I can find is spent in writing editorial stuff for state papers. Committee meetings, conferences with legislators and steering women's organizations along the right path seem to be of almost hourly occurrence. — Yours very truly, H. H. Buckwalter, George Kleine Exchange, Denver, Colorado. Fighting Censorship in Colorado The following letter from a live exchange man in the west is a good illustration of what an energetic man can do to steer in the right direction the trend of the activities of the various organizations agitating censorship in one form or another : Denver, Colorado, March 2, 1917. Dear Editor: I will continue sending you information on censorship affairs but unfortunately cannot write very much news matter. In addition to my job in charge of Kleine offices in Denver and Salt Lake I happen to be president of the film exchange board of trade and also on the legislative committee of the Rocky Mountain Screen Club. The censorship fight is actively in my charge and you can imagine what this means when FORCES SUNDAY ISSUE Million Signatures on New York Petitions for Amendment to Closing Law — Hearings at Albany March 21 The National Association of the Motion Picture Industry will send a representation to the New York capital, March 21, carrying petitions for Sunday motion pictures signed by one million citizens, including patrons of practically every theater in the state. All of the motion picture bills pending before the New York legislature will be heard by the committees having charge of them on March 21st, according to information received by the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry. These include chiefly the bills pending on the Sunday opening of motion picture theaters, the taxation measure being delayed until the Wheeler committee can make its report to the legislature. The bills regarding the Sunday opening of the motion picture theaters number in all about ten, in both houses. Practically all of them, with one exception, merely add a clause to the present Sunday observance law, to the effect that "nothing in this law shall be construed to prohibit the exhibition of motion pictures after 12 o'clock noon" on Sundays. The exception .places the power of deciding whether or not there shall be motion pictures in the hands of the municipalities. The National Association is planning to present a strong front in the debate before the committees, and will not only appear in its own behalf, but will be supported by the many social welfare organizations which are in favor of the Sunday motion picture show. The representation at the hearings is being arranged by Executive Secretary Frederick H. Elliott of the National Association, and he is planning a delegation to be headed by William A. Brady, president of the Association. Included in the party, which will go to Albany in a special car, will be not only prominent motion picture men, but also representatives of the National Board of Review, and those charitable and social welfare bodies which have ' been such strong supporters of the poor man's Sunday recreation as a means for taking care of the workers on their day of rest and furnishing them with the distraction which the students of social conditions consider so important a part of the modern civilized life. The legal side of the Sunday motion picture problem is resting at present, under the direction of John B. Stanchfield and Judge Samuel Seabury, who have been retained to handle the case. If any legislation at all is enacted, it will be in favor of Sunday pictures, in which case there will be no need to prosecute the cases nowpending in the courts. Yale Boss is coming back. That will be great news to a large army of film enthusiasts, who have been longing for the return of this popular boy actor. Yale has outgrown the boy roles which made him famous all over the world, and he will now be featured in a series of stories especially written for him. The first of these will be "The Half-Back, " made by the Edison Company and is soon to be released by the General Film Company.