Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

April 6, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 657 New York Campaign Gathers Strength LEGISLATURE EXPECTED TO APPROVE SUNDAY SHOWS WITH their extensive machine well organized, motion picture interests in the State of New York have forged ahead in their fight for Sunday shows until it begins to appear as if victory would be theirs before many more weeks. The bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator George F. Thompson of Niagara, and in the Assembly by Assemblyman Clarence F. Welsh of Albany and will have a hearing before the joint codes committee of the Senate and Assembly April 3. The measure, as it now stands, has been approved by the State Council of Mayors, the New York State Federation of Labor, the People's Institute and the Association of Civic Organizations in Brooklyn. Confer in Albany Following the introduction of the bill, the leaders in the fight assembled at the Hotel Ten Eyck in Albany for a conference with the exhibitor-captains appointed at the previous Albany session. There is an exhibtor captain in each of the 51 senatorial districts. Each exhibitor captain has three aids. These exhibitor-captains were appointed to sound out the sentiment of their districts, get in touch with the big men of their communities, see and talk with their legislators; in fact, to do everything in their power to organize public opinion behind the bill. Lillian Walker, who recently formed her own company and has just joined the Producers and Exhibitors' Affiliated, to release through that organization. This, in reality, was going to the bottom of the ladder and starting the real fight there. Thus the campaign was organized in exactly the way the state and national political parties conduct their work. Report on Various Districts The exhibitor-captains presented detailed reports of the work accomplished. The reports indicate a general change in the sentiment on Sunday shows since the subject was agitated at the legislative session a year ago. Exhibitor-captains who failed to respond were immediately succeeded by live wires, so that at the present moment the motion picture people have an active and aggressive fighter for their interests in every state district. The fruits of the campaign are already manifesting themselves. In Buffalo, for instance, an exhibitors' committee for Sunday opening is conducting a strenuous campaign. In the past week this organization has obtained the unanimous support of all Buffalo daily and Sunday newspapers. These publications are running big news articles and half-column editorials backing the campaign. Exhibitors Pool Advertising In Schenectady the exhibitors have organized and are pooling their advertising, buying half pages to tell the public their reasons for wanting Sunday pictures. Exhibitors in other cities are doing this also, following out a campaign carefully mapped out at the Albany meetings. Meetings are being held in various cities and towns, at which exhibitors are organized for their individual district campiagns. List of Exhibitor Captains The revised list of exhibitor-captains follows: 1, Mrs. Jennie Reitmeyer, Freeport, L. I.; 2, William Bigall, Brooklyn; 3, Rudolph Sanders, Brooklyn; 4, William Brandt, Brooklyn; 6, William Hilkemeyer, Brooklyn; 7, Morris Goodman, Brooklyn; 8, Charles Granides, Brooklyn; 9, Louis L. Levine, Brooklyn; 10, H. Rachmil, Brooklyn; 11, David Weinstock, Manhattan; 12, Charles Steiner, Manhattan; 13, A. Fanchi, Manhattan ; 14, John Manheimer, Manhattan ; IS, Max Spiegel, Manhattan; 16, Charles L. O'Reilly, Manhattan; 17, Charles L. O'Reilly, Manhattan; 18, A. J. Wolf, Manhattan; 19, Sydney S. Cohen, Manhattan; 20, Sidney Ascher, Manhattan; 21, John Wittman, Bronx; 22, Henry Cole, Bronx; 23, Charles Moses, Staple ton, S. I.; 24, B. L. Feinblatt, Port Chester; 25, George Cohen, Newburgh; 26, Robert A. Jennings, Jurdy's; 27, Sidney A. Huffman, Saugerties; 28, Samuel Suckno, Albany; 29, Frank Barhudt, Troy; 30, Allan Beckett, Saratoga Springs; 31, W. A. Zeiser and Charles G. McDonald, Schenectady; 32,W. H. Linton, Little Falls; 33, L. A. Buettner, Cohoes; 34, A. S. Hardy, Malone; 35, Fred Gilroy, Ogdensburg; 36, Charles Fait, Jr., Utica; 38, Emmett Cornell, Syracuse; 39, David Cohen, Binghampton; 40, J. Schwartzwaleer, Auburn; 41, William Dillon, Ithaca; 42, Julius Greenstone, Rochester; 43, Julius Greenstone, Rochester; 44 Arthur Smith, Hornell; 45, W. C. Hubbard, Rochester; 46, W. C. Hubbard. Rochester; 47, Charles Hayman, Niagara Falls; 48, H. B. Franklin, Buffalo; 49, H. B. Franklin, Buffalo; 50, H. B. Franklin, Buffalo; 51, Woods & Peterson, Jamestown. Theatre Draws on Another Town The Beaver theatre, Toronto, Canada, has been conducting an interesting advertising campaign in The Guide and Enterprise, the newspaper of Weston, Canada, a town a few miles from Toronto. By this means, the theatre has attracted many new patrons. In addition the newspaper, with the co-operation of the theatre, offered a limited double pass to the house for every five new subscriptions. Dust'm Famum, soon to star in pictures for Sherman Productions, Inc.