Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

22 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 1. It was largely through the . valuable assistance rendered by exhibitors that the Committee on Censorship, headed by David Wark Griffith, was enabled to bring about the defeat of censorship bills in thirty-one states. A News Film association was organized with Jack Colin of Universal as chairman. The association co-operated with several detective agencies in bringing to justice a number of film thieves who caused much loss to the industry. Plans are now under way providing for the establishment of a film theft bureau, through the efforts of which thousands of dollars worth of film, it is expected, will be returned to the lawful owners. Early in the year the association went on record as being opposed to the production of objectionable pictures through the adoption of a resolution which was highly commended and received editorial space in the press. A committee on children's pictures was created which issued a folder containing a list of photoplays recommended for presentation at children's performances. A plan of co-operation has been put into effect with the International Sunday School Board, comprising five million boys and girls, reports of which would indicate that much good has been accomplished. Get Films Into Mails Splendid accomplishments have been obtained by the standing committees during the past year, this being particularly true in regard to the Transportation and Insurance committees. The admission to parcel post of motion picture film for transportation in the mails was effected through an order issued by the second Assistant Postmaster General at Washington just a year ago, acting upon the direct request of this committee representing the industry. The Transportation committee successfully co-operated with the traffic managers of the American, Adams, National and Wells Fargo companies and this plan has been productive of much good to the entire industry. Boost Liberty Loan In the first Liberty Loan campaign the association issued 30,000 slides and 8,006 Liberty Loan trailers, bringing forth a letter of praise from Secretary of the Treasury William G. McAdoo. A war council consisting of eighty members of the association was appointed by President William A. Brady at the personal and direct request of President Wilson. A National Committee was also named, with one member from each state, to assist the federal authorities in the dissemination of information through the Gladys Brockwell, Fox star. Unable to Skate — Gladys Brockwell Hunts Gladys Brockwell, who is now appearing in William Fox's photoplay "For Liberty," finds it hard just now to enjoy her favorite sport of skating. For three years she has been living in Los Angeles making beautiful pictures for Mr. Fox. But ice is only found in refrigerators in Los Angeles and Miss Brockwell yearns for a Central or Van Cortland Park, New York City. For outdoor exercise during this winter Miss Brockwell has taken to hunting. 17,750 motion picture theaters in the United States. At the Chicago annual meeting which was continued in New York, William A. Brady was again elected president of the association and Frederick H. Elliott, executive secretary. Arrangements were made for the holding of two expositions in 1918. The first will take place in New York at Grand Central Palace, February 2 to 10, while the other will be held in Boston in July, during the convention of the Motion Picture Exhibitors League of America. The profits will be equally divided between the Motion Picture Exhibitors League of America and the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry and will be used to further develop and extend the interests of the two great organizations. The membership of the National Association at the end of the first year comprises 79 companies, classified as follows: Distributors 10, producers 47, supply and equipment 19, publications 3, also 135 individual members. The officers of the national association are: President, William A. Brady; treas urer, J. E. Brulatour; vice-presidents, Adolph Zukor, J. A, Berst, William L. Sherrill, Thomas Furniss, Richard A. Rowland; executive secretary, Frederick H. Elliott. The Board of Directors comprise the following: Producers' division, Adolph Zukor, chairman, William A. Brady, D. W. Griffith, William L. Sherrill, Carl Laemmle, Adolph Zukor. Samuel Goldfish, William Fox. Doctor Prescribes "Go to Movies" Pursuing its purpose to advance the propaganda for a "Go-to-the-Movie Week" among exhibitors throughout the country, the Universal has consulted with Dr. Maurice Rosenberg, a prominent New York physician, and he has issued a prescription in regulation form and drug store style. These "doctor's orders" have been printed as window cards by Universal and are being shipped to every exhibitor of moving pictures in the United States. Dr. Rosenberg's formula carries the physician's picture to give it authenticity and has a line for each of the following recommendations printed in reproduction of the doctor's handwriting: "Talk cheerfully. Avoid arguments. Stop fretting. Smile. Get out of yourself. Go to the movies at least twice a week." Crosses Continent Twice Within Month Twice crossing the continent in less than a month, H. O. Davis, vice-president and general manager of the Triangle Film Corporation, has departed for New York from the Culver City, Cal., studio to complete plans for production activity in the western plant unparalleled in the history of the film industry. While in the east, Mr. Davis will arrange for the purchase and production, by a recently formed syndicate, of a series of famous plays which will be screened in multiple-reel features. The first of these plays, upon which work will soon be started, is "The Servant in the House," by Charles Rand Kennedy. Mr. Davis expects to return to Los Angeles within a few weeks. Wall ace McDonald Is Triangle Player Wallace McDonald, well-known leading man who, until recently, played important parts with a moving picture concern in the east, has just arrived in Los Angeles from New York and has been added to the large playing forces at the Triangle Culver City studios.