Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

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June 29, 1918 MOTOGRAPHY 1203 Cohen Out of M. P. E. L. Race for President SAYS ONLY CONCERN IS A SINGLE ORGANIZATION SYDNEY S. COHEN, president of the New York branch of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, who has been prominently mentioned as a candidate for the president of the national organization, to be chosen at the convention in Boston in July, made plain this week that under no consideration is he in the field for the office. "I want no office and will accept no office," said Mr. Cohen. "My only interest is the amalgamation of all exhibitors into a national organization that will stand for something. Personally I favor no especial candidate for the presidency of such an organization and the New York league has none. All we want is a business body, conducted along clean lines in the interests of all exhibitors and without any entangling side issues. "Unless such an organization is devel oped by the Boston convention, a national league will amount to nothing. The tendency already is more and more toward independent state leagues, and this is certain to gain in strength, unless the national league divorces itself from politics and the selfish interests of a few. Only an administration of unquestionable integrity and sincerity of purpose will save the national league from completely degenerating into nothing more than a name." Mr. Cohen, in association with Charles C. Pettijohn, general counsel of the American Exhibitors' Association, has been in the forefront of the efforts to bring the two leagues together into a united, business organization. Mr. Pettijohn has echoed Mr. Cohen's sentiments. He says the suggestions put forth by factions opposing such a merger, that he seeks the leadership of such a body, are "most preposterous," especially in view of his executive association with the Affiliated Distributors' Corporation. "These statements are made simply to embarrass those who arc earnestly desirous of effecting a union of the two leagues along lines that are straightforward and clean," said Mr. Pettijohn. "They are camouflage, put forth to befog the real issues and those who are responsible for such insinuations are in the best position and know that there is no foundation for such statements, because they have correspondence from me stating very clearly and explicitly where I stand. "It is tactics of this sort which retard honest efforts to develop a united organization which will be representative of the interests of all exhibitors." Exposition Site a Scene of Activity Two Model Theatres Containing the Latest in Appliances Are Expected to Be the Chief Feature PLANS for the National Motion Picture Exposition, to be held in Boston at the Mechanics Building, during the week of July 13, are going on apace and exposition headquarters presents a scene of frenzied activity. Requests are coming in from all parts of the country for space reservations and the committee in charge of hotel accommodations is working overtime. In the educational and historical side of the work there is much that promises a wealth of interest to those in the industry, as well as to those outside of it. One innovation especially should be of interest to the visiting exhibitor. This is the two model theatres in which will be seen many of the latest accessory machines and improvements. Here the visitor may see new devices in actual use in a real theatre. Opportunities for exhibition will be open to the firms engaging space. The museum is awakening lively interest among those who were pioneers in the business, and there have been many who have come forward with offers of machines and appliances used in the first days of the industry. The management invites those who wish to loan any ancient appliance to help the cause by getting in touch with the manager of the exposition, Samuel Grant. The two great novelties of the exposition will be the studio and the laboratory. It is expected that some of the leading producers will take a scene from one of their future releases in this studio where those present may witness the actual filming of a photo-play. Any visitor may have a motion picture made of himself or family or friend which will be developed in the model laboratory and shown at one of the theatres the following day. The laboratory will be installed from plans made by Watterson R. Rothacker, who will handle every detail of the installation and its operation. In this he will have the co-operation of several well known expert laboratory operators. New Director for Miss Brady Alice Brady has a new director, John Stewart Robertson. This director, who has done effective work for the screen, received a stage training under Charles Frohman with Maud Adams, and under Henry B. Harris, having been two years with Rose Stahl. Mr. Robertson is in charge of the new production which Miss Brady is now starting for Select. David Powell, well liked for his leading roles in support of Mary Pickford and Elsie Ferguson, will be seen for the first time as Miss Brady's leading man. Miss Brady herself will again essay a double role. In this case she will play two sisters who strikingly resemble each other in appearance, but whose natures are totally dissimilar. New Chicago Censor Plan A new censorship ordinance for Chicago has been drafted by Corporation Counsel Ettelson, following the plan of Alderman John Coughlin, to take the place of the Maypole amendment. The ordinance provides for a department of censorship to include three principal censors and nine subordinate censors. This would take the censorship authority away from the police department. The censors are to be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the Council, to serve two years. The censors are to receive salaries of $4,000 a year and to have authority to employ a chief clerk and other necessary clerical help. One of the principal censors would be required to be present on all occasions when films were being censored, and in cases of disagreement a vote of two of the three would prevail. Alderman Coughlin intends to introduce the ordinance as a substitute for the Maypole ordinance, also designed to eliminate "one-man" censorship. A vigorous and stern policy with regard to advertising posters used by moving picture theatres, and "pink permits" issued with films not supposed to be viewed by persons under 21, now obtains in the police department. Theatres Aid Belgian Children To collect funds for the purchase of milk for Belgian babies, the picture theatres of San Francisco recently placed milk bottles in their lobbies for the contributions of patrons. A total of $532 was collected the first three weeks.