Moving Picture World (May 1919)

May 3, 1919 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 651 MOVIES PROPOSE HELP FOR CHURCHES Rochester Theatre Men Not Competing witli Lord on Sundays, but Want to Advertise Ministers' Sermons the shows did not compete with the Lord, and would actually assist the churches by boosting them on the AMONG the prominent Rochester figures in the fight for Sunday movies is John J. Mclnerney, an attorney of state-wide reputation and a silver-tongued orator of considerable fame. He was present and fighting at all of the legislative hearings held in Albany and between times busied himself with ways and means to crush the enemy, or rather to heap coals of fire on the opposition. At each hearing at the capitol, it has been a matter of conjecture as to what "Mac" was about to spring on those within sound of his voice. A few weeks ago he startled the session and floored his ministerial opponents, by the stinging rebuke that "Hell was doing business before the movies came." At one of the final sessions, when the ministers and alleged reform workers bewailed that Sunday was a day that should be given to the Lord, and otherwise intimated that the movies would compete with them and the Lord, to their mutual disadvantage, "Mac" sprung to life and denied it. He said that the theatre managers would see to it that Pathe Executive Resigns to Become Film Exporter MANUEL RAMIREZ TORRES, identified with Pathe for thirteen years and with a record for tenure of service with one organization unique in the motion picture business, has resigned as manager of the scenario department to enter the film export business. Mr. Ramirez has organized the Selection Film Service, Inc., and has secured the agency for the Pathe films for the West Indies, and in addition will handle the Select product for that territory. He plans to widen his field of operations at a later date. Mr. Ramirez is popular among his fellow Pathe employes. He was born in Porto Rico in 1881 and came to the United States in 1904. His first position in this country was a translator and stenographer with Pathe. He has been the directing mind in many of Pathe's departments. In 1916 he was elected director of Pathe Exchange, Inc., an office he has held ever since. "Doc," as he is familiarly called in the Pathe offices, has a very wide and valuable acquaintance among exhibitors in the West Indies, which will be of great use to him in his new business. Furthermore, being a Porto Rican born, he understands the viewpoint and tastes of Americans of Spanish descent. Archainbaud Engaged by Capellani. George Archainbaud, identified for a number of years as a director for the World Film Corporation, has been placed under contract with the Albert Capellani Productions, Inc., to direct for them. Mr. Archainbaud, who has just secured his release from the army where he served as a lieutenant in the field artillery, has already started work on his first subject, a comedy-drama co-starring Creighton Hale and June Caprice, which will follow "Oh Boy" and be released through Pathe Exchange, Inc. screen. He explained that the theatres in Rochester and other places, were prepared to run slides and trailers announcing the Sunday services, sermon topics and other notes suggested by the ministers, all without any charge for the use of the screen. "And," continued "Mac," "we won't ask the ministers to reciprocate by advertising our shows from the pulpit. We are liberal and fair-minded; can they say the same?" Say Loan Work Is Used as Guise for Sunday Campaign AT the recent Presbyterian ministers' meeting in Philadelphia it was charged that under the guise of campaigning for the Victory Loan, the motion picture men were conducting propaganda work for Sunday motion pictures. Despite the threat of the ministers to withdraw from the Victory Loan campaign and withhold their support if the Sunday motion pictures were continued, the Loan Committee has not as j'et canceled Sunday showing of pictures. Frank W. Buhler, chairman of the committee, said that he would not enter into any controversy with the ministers as it was his intention of going right ahead with his original plans. A Victory Loan campaign, with the aid of appropriate motion pictures, is at present being conducted in several theatres in Philadelphia every Sunday although it does not meet with the approval of the ministers. Personal and Otherwise THE lobby of the Hotel Astor was swarming with live ones — those who were attending the First National and Select conventions and those who were there to meet and greet them. From the South we met Percy Wells, of Wilmington, N. C. ; E. V. Richards, general manager, and Bill Garringer, assistant manager of the Saenger Amusement Company, of New Orleans, representing seventy theatres beyond the Mason and Dixie line. These three with their wives came in a little party of their own and were the guests of the Typhoon Fan Company. All of them gave glowing accounts of the prosperity of the South, declaring that it surely was coming into its own. Mr. Wells says: "Wilmington is booming, the establishment by the Government of. two concrete shipyards has brought at least three thousand families into the city, aggregating ten thousand persons. There are no Sunday movies in Wilmington, but we have been granted the Sunday privilege at our seaside park on the outskirts of the city, including the privileges of Sunday pictures." * * * R. D. Craver, from Charlotte, N. C, who represents a chain of several theatres in the South, was in a happy state of mind over the prosperous conditions and the hopeful aspect of affairs in his territory. "Don't fail to attend the North Carolina Exhibitors' Convention this fall, we will take you around and let you see for yourself," he said. * * * Tom Saxe, of Minneapolis, who is largely interested in theatres in Minnesota and Wisconsin, reported business excellent, but he feels apprehensive about the censorship question in Wisconsin. He says the situation is grave, and it is time that the National Association should awake to the conditions that confront the industry in that state if pending legislation becomes law. * * * Edward Schiller, Loew's Southern representative, was seen circulating in the Astor lobby among the many out of town representatives of the First National and the Select. * * * A. W. Moses, he of the vicelike grip, who has been a Select salesman in northern New York for the past two years, has been promoted to manager of Select's Buffalo office. * * * W. A. Northam, of London, who has been in New York for the past two months representing several English manufacturers, will give a special trade showing of a number of English made pictures on the New York Roof begining May 6, lasting four days. The object of this showing is to give a relative and comparative estimate of pictures made abroad to the demand of the American market. * * * Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne, his wife, contemplates a few weeks' visit to their Maryland estate and a vacation at Atlantic City before resuming their work before the camera. Francis X. Bushman Signed by Morocco. The screen may lose the services of Francis X. Bushman through the contract he lately signed with Oliver Morosco to be presented on the dramatic stage. The name of the piece in which he will first appear under the Morosco management is not announced. Neither is it just now disclosed whether or not Beverly Bayne will appear with Bushman behind the footlights. Mr. Bushman will make his debut as a Morosco star here in New York early in the next season. League Wants Unit Organization. Letters have been sent out by the Exhibitors' League of Maryland to all organizations in Baltimore relative to the forming of a unit body of all local bodies which are interested in the progress and welfare of the city. It is stated that the members of the league feel assured that the support of the screen in promoting vital measures could be successfully launched. They are askings the opinions of the city organizations on the matter. Syd Chaplin I* Flying High. During the past few days Syd Chaplin has been testing out the air above New York and the harbor with his latest type flying machines. He has been above ground on several different occasions and will fly to Atlantic City for the week-end. Brother Charlie will be here in a few days, Syd preceding him with his airplane.