Moving Picture World (Oct 1917)

362 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD October 20, 1917 in devising ways and means of bringing before the people the innumerable necessities of the stressful times. In this latest tax development, however, I see a grave danger to the film industry and cannot refrain from pointing it out so that those who are in a position to do so may use their utmost endeavors to prevent it now. "As applied to the motion picture industry, the new bill alters the exemption clause for those theatres which charge 25 cents or less admission to 5 cents and imposes a tax on the gross receipts from all theatre admissions. "Those in the industry recognize that there are thousands of small theatres throughout the country which do not make a profit on their entire investment commensurate with the tax on their intake which the conferees now propose. The result will certainly be that most of these small theatres will be forced to close their doors. They could not continue to exist and operate at a loss or with no profit. The result of this in turn will reflect directly upon the Government, because it will entail a loss of income and surplus profit tax from the theaters and from the great producing and distributing organizations whose profits will thus decline. "It is true that the tax will not so materially affect the larger theaters because some may continue to operate at a sacrifice on their admission receipts. It is the small man who will suffer and unfortunately he has already been called upon to face local and other taxes in many instances which have rendered his position precarious. I do not make this statement from any lack of loyalty to the Government, because I believe it to be the absolute duty of every man in this country to assist to the last degree in the prosecution of the war. I am thinking solely of the fact that the Government, in the end, will lost more than it will gain from this tax levy. "The tax on films means literally a 20 per cent, tax on completed positive, i. e., completed product, which is larger than that imposed upon any other industry engaged in production of any character of goods. The result of this will necessarily be reduced footage — less pictures — and again the net return to the Government from the taxation of corporations will be reduced, because of the lessening of returns as a result of "decreased output and more expensive production." The Roll of honor IT IS now First Lieutenant Lawrence J. Darmour of the signal section of the Officers' Reserve Corps. Larry has long been assistant editor of the Gaumont-Mutual Weekly and has a multitude of friends in the motion picture industry who will be glad to learn of his commission. He accompanied the Ford Peace Expedition "when it went to Europe, but admits his next trip abroad will be more to his fancy. Larry has been assigned to duty on the staff of General Lieutenant Larry Di I Corps. Pershing. Because of his experience with the motion picture camera ii is expected a part of his duties will be the photographing of enemy positions from aeroplanes. To perfect himself in this work he has been practicing for some time with the aviators who are quietly pursuing their air studies on Long Island. Charles Wallach, who has acted as assistant to Jack Cohn in the management of the Universal Animated Weekly since its inception, left for Washington last week to take up his studies in the signal corps. On the evening prior to his departure the staffs of the Animated Weekly, Current Events and Screen Magazine gave Wallach a farewell dinner, following a party at the Morosco Theater. W. S. Clime, Washington representative of the HearstPat lie News, has been commissioned lieutenant in the signal corps. Mr. Clime was one of the best known motion picture men in Washington, and is on intimate terms with all the heads of the various departments. Whenever official news pictures were to be made Mr. Clime was always selected as the representative of the news weeklies. Few film men there are who have been around town any number of years but know "Willie" — Willie Moore. He has been on the job in film offices ever since he was four feet high, or at least not much taller. But, disclaiming any intention of prepetrating a pun, he is not Willie any more. A World man this week collided in the Paramount office with a stalwart youngster garbed in infantry uniform, with a sergeant's chevrons on his arm. Sergeant William J. Moore, Company A, 165th Infantry, is his description now. He is hooked up with the Rainbow division, and if all that is printed is true will not be long in the United States. Sergeant Moore has been employed in the offices of the Atlas, the Motion Picture Distributing and Sales Company, Exclusive Supply Company, All Star, the Itala, the Raver and the Paramount. There's a reminiscent sound about some of these concerns, indicative of the time Sergeant Moore has been in the film business. He has been a member of the Sixty-ninth (now 165th) for two years. Here's good luck to the Sergeant! Charles Barnard, recently manager of the Vancouver branch of Pathe Exchange, Inc., has enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps for active service. He is popular and is widely known as "Charlie." Willard Van der Veer, expert cameraman, who has but recently returned from a trip through the West Indies for Gaumont Company's magazine, "Reel Life," is the latest to enlist. He is now sergeant in the cinematographic section of the signal corps. "Van" had reached Trinidad when war was declared. As soon as possible he returned to the United States, closed up his affairs, volunteered, and is now ready for the other side. If his photographic work abroad is only a fraction as good as what he has done for the Gaumont Company it is safe to predict that he will not remain a sergeant very long. When he was in the West Indies he struck all kinds of light conditions, but his negatives came through as clear as though made in the studio. He will be remembered for the "scoop" which enabled the Gaumont Company to release the picture of our new islands in the West Indies cm the day their purchase from Denmark was ratified. PICTURE MEN CALLED IN DRAFT. MARSHALL NEILAN, director for Mary Pickford and producer of "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," has been drafted. He has received word to report for departure to the concentration camp. The new picture, "The Little Princess," is now being staged by Mr. Neilan, and a short extension of time has been granted him in order to finish his work. Mr. Neilan has had a remarkable career in the motion picture field, and although still under thirty. as the draft call indicates, he has achieved an enviable record for cinema successes. Several months ago he was selected by Miss Pickford to produce her photoplays, and his work in "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" bears out the many laudatory mentions concerning his abilities given him during the past six months. Victor Fleming, head of the photoplay department of the Douglas Fairbanks company, has been drafted and left Los Angeles for American Lake, in Washington. During Fleming's absence Sam Landers will be in charge of the camera work for Fairbanks' productions. POPPE BACK ON JOB. To the surprise of his many friends throughout the profession, Harry Poppe, dapper and untiringly ambitious for work as ever, returned to his desk in the Yorke-Metro offices Friday morning October 5. After Joe Lee, Reilly, Miss Priest and the rest of the associates who share the same office had recovered from their astonishment, Harry explained the fact that the medical authorities at Camp Upton, Yaphank, Long Island, where he had been ordered to report the Sunday previous, rejected him from service inasmuch as he was much under weight for army requirements. On Thursday he was presented his honorable exemption, and made a bee-line for his home in Brooklyn and the Metro sanctum.