Moving Picture World (Jun 1916)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD June 3, 1916 High Tax in New Orleans Exchange Managers Startled by City Tax Assessor's Idea of the Value of Film Stock in Local Exchanges — Has Read Glowing Stories and Thinks About $50,000 Each Would Do— Film Men Will Fight It in Court. i/,v Toorge M. Cheney, New Orleans Correspondent of Moving Picture World. University place, and. its appointments are exquisite. A new lighting system, never before seen in a local moving picture house, has been installed. The lights are inclosed in glass pillars, and give a subdued effect that permits patrons to easily find seats, and at the same time does not affect the showing of the pic Ni:\V ORLEANS, LA.— One fine morning recently when film exchange managers got down to work they didn't succeed in accomplishing much for a while. Each one of them found a tax assessment list In his morning's mail that called for a payment on approximately $50,000 worth of film, regardless of whether his particular exchange handled one thousand feet or film of a hundred thousand. They have hired attorneys and will go to court before June 1. Numerous meetings have been held; a committee has visited the mayor and commissioners of New Orleans, the Association of Commerce, and other civic bodies. Nothing much has been accomplished so far, except that the film men were granted a dispensation by the City Council to file a suit before June 1, when, under ordinary circumstances, such a suit could not be filed after March 1. A long list of grievances, extending over six or seven years, or since the film exchanges were first established in New Orleans, is charged against the tax assessor's office. This is not the first time the exchanges have gone to court over inflated film values. According to the tax assessor, an exchange must pay on $50,000, regardless of the quantity of film disposed of yearly. But little satisfaction came from a visit paid to the tax assessor's office by the film men. The conversation went something like this: "Mr. Assessor, our shops aren't big enough to hold that much film." "But you call yourself a film exchange?" "Yes." "Then it's $50,000." And at that figure it stood, until the arguments of the film bosses finally induced the assessor to lower his figures for eight exchanges from an average of $50,000 for each exchange to an average of $22,000. The latter figures proved not a bit satisfactory, so the film men hired Edward Rightor, a prominentt local atorney, to represent their interests in a court battle that will begin this month. According to this onerous taxation, every foot of film in some exchanges is worth $5 or $6 a foot. Just what induced the tax assessor's office to set such a high valuation is not known, but it is a matter of hearsay that the tax assessor said to one film man: "These newspaper accounts I read certainly make me believe that your films are bringing great big prices." Each film exchange in the Crescent City is yearly taxed both city and state taxes. There is no kick on the state taxes, as these are based on a fair price per one thousand feet of film. Years ago the Consolidated Film and Supply Company, managed in New Orleans by the veteran film man, Al. G. Shear, "went to the mat" with the taj c assessor c >ver a little n latter of onerous taxation, a nd won their in court. The judge ir i this case d< jcided that a reel of film ws is worth from $15 to $30, the exact valu lation being based on the phys sical condit ion of the reel. The companies prote sting in the suit are th< i General, Consolidated, V-L S-E, Param ount, Mutu; ll, Fox, Path e and and "World. H. F. Wilkes Weds Atlanta Girl. This week a mysterious-looking document was shunted back and forth among the offices in Film Row. It was brought to each office by a messenger, and the "business" consisted of reading the document, after which each manager was seen to reach for his check book. The secret came out later when a hilarious party de scended upon the New Orleans office of Paramount and presented to H. F. Wilkes, manager for a month and blushing benedict for a day, a handsome silver present. Mr. Wilkes had, not three hours before, been married to Miss Imogene Simrile at the Catholic church in Algiers, La., just across the river from New Orleans. Miss Simrile comes from Atlanta, in which city Mr. Wilkes held the Paramount fort for several years before coming to New Orleans, and it is hinted that there is just a wee bit of the runaway act in the romance. At any rate the last chapter of the film does not read "Passed by the Board of Review," but instead is labeled: "Papa forgives; and They Live Happily Ever Afterward." he new Southern he Fox Film, the )f Fox were reking space rictly Charles W. Harden division manager fo New Orleans office arranged and addit added. Mr. Harden at present. Film exchange along the row have made hii in a right royal fashion. C. B. Gondolfi, booking clerk lair, has been promoted by Manager R. E. to a position as traveling sales the job managers welcome ; Fox Barron Local Fidelity Office Closes. New Orleans. — The Fidelity Film Company, which for the past three months has had an office in Baronne street, booking independent film, has closed its office, A. C. Bernard, its manager, going to Houston, Texas, where he will open a Fidelity branch in that city. Mr. Bernard declared that arrangements will be made to book Fidelity films in this city through a booking office which he will establish shortly. F. F. Creswell Heads Local World Film New Orleans. — There have been a number of important changes in local film circles. F. F. Creswell, well known in New Orleans, but more recently of the Memphis office of Paramount, is the new manager of the New Orleans office of the World Film. He succeeds Ross Hardenbrook, who, however, it is announced, remains with the company. Elmer Smith With Local Kleine. New Orleans. — Elmer Smith, formerly with United Film, is handling the Billy Burke serial in this territory. The Billy Burke serial, backed up by extensive local advertising, is going strong in New Orleans and contiguous territory. Joe Klein in Atlanta. Joe Klein, formerly the Southern division manager for the World Film, with headquarters in New Orleans, now is with Pathe in Atlanta as special representa The Portola Opens. New Orleans. — The Portola, New Orleans newest photoplay house, and one of the most attractive to date, opened on May 10. J. J. Fabacher & Son, owners of the Wonderland theater and of the Portola, received many congratulations and numerous flower tokens from their film friends in New Orleans on opening day. The new theater is in Canal street, at A New Orpheum Coming. New Orleans. — Charles E. Bray, representing Martin Beck, head of the Orpheum circuit, this week closed a deal for the Denegre property, fronting 120 feet in University place, which will be the site for a new Orpheum theater to cost $400,000. Construction of the new theater will begin in October and it will be finished in time for the opening of the 1917-1918 season. It is probable that the old Orpheum theater will be converted into a picture house. Harcol Film, a New Company. New Orleans capital is back of the Harcol Film company, which organized on May 15, with John F. Collins, president, and A. Harrison, Jr., vice-president and inager. Heretofore the company has 'n as the Paragon Film corncompany company a films been k: pany. Th( will be at 1921 Palmyra. Tl has produced several comm and is under contract with the New Orleans Times-Picayune to film a five-reeler which will have as actors the winner: of the newspaper's moving picture con " e on May 15. ei's test, which came i DETROIT NEWS LETTER. By Jacob Smith, Special Correspondent, 503 Free Press Bldg., Detroit, Mich. A. I. Shapiro Comes to Head Local Triangle. •pvETROIT, MICH— A. I. Shapiro, former •L^ manager of the Detroit branch of the Fox Film Corporation, and who for the past few months has been doing special work in the east, is back in Detroit — this time as manager of the Triangle exchange. Although located at present at 183 East Jefferson avenue, the new permanent location is to be 73 Broadway, which will be ready by the latter part of May. The company has leased the entire top floor of the new building at that address and will fit it up very handsomely. Mr. Shapiro is welcome back to Detroit where he has a host of good friends. Good luck, Shap. Don't forget the World office at 503 Free Press building. F. Rutledge Opens Local Kleine Office. Detroit, Mich. — Frank Rutledge, Michigan representative for George Kleine, has opened an office at 207 Broadway Market building Detroit. When the writer dropped in there this week, Mr. Rutledge was extremely busy answering letters from exhibitors in all parts of Michigan who were asking for bookings on the new Billie Burke serial. The first-run of this serial has been placed with the Majestic theater, Detroit, starting May 21. Local Mutual Doubles Office Space. Detroit, Mich. — The Mutual Film Corporation has considerably enlarged its Detroit exchange, which is under the management of G. Spencer Trask. As much space again has been added by taking over the fifth floor, this additional space being used for the poster and advertising department. There is an overhead skylight which gives the force of employes plenty of daylight; all racks are double-decked and there is a mezzanine around the entire floor. It will materially relieve the strain on the second floor. The Detroit exchange handles Michigan and seven counties in northern Ohio. Manager Trask reports excellent business, particularly on the new Charlie Chaplin comedies and "Girl in the Game" and "Secret Submarine"