Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

1154 MOTOGRAPHY Chicago Amusement Men Elect Officers Peter J. Schaefer Chosen President and Sidney C. Smith Secretary of Allied Body THE Allied Amusement Association, recently organized to include every legitimate, vaudeville and picture theatre in Chicago and its suburbs, held its first election last week and unanimously elected Peter J. Schaefer as its president. Other officials are Maurice Choynski, first vice-president; Samuel Gold, second Peter J. Schaefer. vice-president; Sidney C. Smith, secretary; Robert R. Levy, treasurer, and William Rohe, sergeant-at-arms. The association is to be congratulated on having at its head a man such as Mr. Schaefer, whose experience, popularity and zeal for the good of the industry is widely known. "The amusement business is the third greatest American industry," says Mr. Schaefer. "Incidentally, there is more money represented in the amusement business of this country than in Standard Oil and Bethlehem Steel combined. President Wilson is the greatest friend the amusement business can boast of, and in several of his recent addresses, President Wilson has stated that the theatres of America are doing more to preserve the morale of this country than anything else. The screens of every motion picture theatre in America have been turned over to government propaganda gladly and gratuitously. Motion picture weeklies are continually spreading the doctrine of our government. In every legitimate first-class theatre, as well as vaudeville and picture house, four-minute men have preached American patriotism. This alone places the amusement business at the very front of all other means of winning the war. "Since the tax on theatres was instituted the theatres of America have contributed to the national treasury in excess of five billion dollars. In excess profits and income tax theatre owners and managers have patriotically and gladly given to the government over three billion dollars. "It is time that this great industry organized itself, and from our beginning in Chicago, it is hoped that the organization idea will spread to every big city, town and hamlet in this great country. For as an organization we can do more to help our country to win the war than as mere individuals." In addition to a representation from legitimate, vaudeville and picture houses, the membership of the Allied Amusement Association comprises every burlesque theatre, amusement park, carnival company, film exchange, accessory to the trade and film producer in Chicago. The headquarters of the new association will be located at 336 South State street. Virginia Convention Scheduled Exhibitors of Virginia were to gather in Richmond this week for a three-day convention in Gray's Armory. The dates were June 13, 14 and 15. Several stars were scheduled to be present, among them June Elvidge, Carlyle B 1 a c k w e 1 1 , Lillian Walker, Madge Evans, Madame Olga Petrova, Francis X. Bushman and' Marguerite Clark. Twenty-six booths were erected in the armory, each housing a separate exhibit. There were to be pictures in the making, cabarets and jazz music. All the proceeds go to a fund to provide milk for babies. Saturday night — the last night — was reserved for a movie star ball. E. R. Pearson Makes Change E. R. Pearson announces his resignation from the managership of the Universal exchange in Minneapolis to devote all his time to the interest of the First National Exhibitors' Circuit. He will have an office at 719 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, where he will conduct the business of the northwestern branch of the First National. Vol. XIX, No. 25 Pacific Coast Thrives The motion picture business in Pacific coast cities is now better than it has been in the history of the industry, according to both exhibitors and exchange men. The big shipbuilding plants are putting a lot of money into circulation in these cities and all branches of business are profiting by it, but none more than the motion picture trade. Many of the men employed in the yards are from small inland towns or the country where they and their families have had very little opportunity to see really first-class shows, and they are now making the best of their opportunity and their prosperity. At the same time, however, and for the same reason that the theatres of the coast towns are flourishing, the small inland towns are reported to be "dead." Many Rothacker Men in Army Twenty employes of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company have been called to service and are now with the colors: Fred Nieman, George Gibson, Carl Lorang, Brace Grinnell, Frony Reckhow, Robert Zoncada, J. Rockwell Barnes, E. F. Lessner, Joe Steines, W. H. Kremer, Frank Koch, I. Tickton, W. Whiting, C. J. Bonnevier, W. J. Prims, Paul Serotzke, John Hahn, Joseph Kurzer, Ernest Newman and H. M. Duff. Donald Thompson, the famous cinematographer, received his first moving picture experience with the Rothacker Company; likewise Lieutenant E. F. Weigle and Lieutenant W. H. Durborough, who made European war films exploited by the Chicago Tribune. I. G. Ries, who was associated with Lieutenant Durborough in foreign war photography, is an ex-camera man of the Rothacker camera division, and Merl La-. Voy, who made "Heroic France" and "Heroic Serbia," and who is now abroad setting new war scenes, is an unofficial member of the organization. Big Theatre Organ Dedicated The largest theatre organ in the world was dedicated June 9 at the Liberty Theatre, Portland, Oregon. It cost fifty thousand dollars. The Liberty Theatre is owned by Jensen and Von Herberg of Seattle. Montreal Exhibitors Fined Ten more exhibitors of Montreal, Quebec, have been found guilty of permitting unaccompanied minors to enter their theatres. Fines ranging from $10 to $50 were imposed.