Moving Picture News (Jan-Jun 1912)

THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS 19 WASHINGTON, D. C. Tom Moore is successfully demonstrating that cheapness of price of admission does not necessarily mean poor quality. He is not only running a vaudeville house where its patrons can see attractions for five cents that are appearing at more expensive theatres, but he recently closed a week's run with excellent financial returns of the Bernhardt and Rejane films at the Plaza. Think of it! These costly pictures, which diplomatic, social and educational Washington has been flocking to see at the Columbia Theatre for fifty cents, were placed before the public for five cents. Many who regretted their neglect or inability to see these two French actresses in motion pictures in TOM MOORE previous exhibitions, but who under other circumstances would have scorned a five-cent show, could not resist this opportunity. Consequently the Plaza was patronized by a larger number from official and social ranks than had been its former custom. Nor content with this break in costly picture enterprises, Mr. Moore has now installed Kinemacolor in the Plaza. Two reels daily are exhibited with changes three times weekly, and in addition several black and white reels are shown. In this connection much favorable comment has been made on the reel taken by the late William Harback along the Canadian Pacific, through the beautiful scenery of the great Northwest. Many of these scenes are toned and tinted. When the first Kinemacolors came to Washington less than a year ago, it was the universal opinion of those in the motion picture industry that the cost of these reels, as well as the installation of the apparatus, would preclude these views from entering the five-cent shows. Tom Moore, who has defied many other sentiments, has proved otherwise, much to the gratification and pleasure of the public. * * * * With just a narrow hallway separating the two establishments, the Mutual Film Corporation, composed of independent companies that have seceded from the Sales Company, and the Washington Film Exchange, carrying the releases handled by the Sales Company, are quartered in the same building on Ninth street. Whether this signifies good fellowship or hostilities remains to be seen. From the Mutual, with Arthur Lucas at the head, comes the report of heavy business and lots of work, and from E. T. Lux, the new director of the Washington Film Exchange, comes an equally favorable statement. As the representative of the Sales Company, Mr. Lux, who arrived recently from New York, wishes his many patrons of this territory to realize that they will receive courteous and fair treatment with excellent service. A universal program will be offered. Owing to the changes, matters are being adjusted in both of the independent offices and the managers will have something more to say in a few days. * * * * The Plaza, which uses the service of the Sales Company, will iriake a feature of running the Animated Weekly as well as first-run pictureplays. There will also be thrown upon the screen nearby events of interest caught by the Tom Moore camera. In this connection the patrons were surprised the other day to witness the motion picture of a local fire which had not gotten cold in the Washington newspapers. W. H.. TEMPORARY INJUNCTION FOR WILLIAM FOX William Fox, of the Greater New York Film Company, whose litigation with members of the Motion Picture Patents Company and the General Film Company, won a victory in the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York on Wednesday when Judge C. M. Hough ordered a temporary injunction against the Biograph Company and the General Film Company, restraining the former, "its servants, workmen and agents from delivering to the General Film Company any motion picture film for subleasing to exhibitors, or for any purpose unless said Biograph Company shall continue to furnish said film in equal quantities and upon the same terms to the complainant; restraining and enjoining the said defendant General Film Company from leasing from the defendant Biograph Company, or subleasing to any person, persons or corporations engaged in the business of exhibiting motion picture film, any motion picture film, or from purchasing positive motion picture films of foreign manufacture, to be used on machines licensed under the patent inventions owned by the Motion Picture Patents Company, or some of them; from procuring films from said defendant Biograph Company for export to foreign countries, unless said defendant Biograph Company shall continue to furnish motion picture film to the said complainant and permit the said complainant to exercise the same rights in all respects concerning said motion picture film as are granted by said Biograph Company to the General Film Company; and enjoining and restraining said defendant Biograph Company from conspiring and confederating with the General Film Company, the licensed manufacturers, the Motion Picture Patents Company, with the intent and for the purpose of in any way injuring or interfering with the business of the complainant herein by causing the supply of film by the Biograph Company to the complainant to be in any way curtailed or diminished or in any other manner interfering with the business of the complainant in supplying its customers with motion picture film; enjoining and restraining the said defendant General Film Company from conspiring and confederating with the said defendant Biograph Company, the licensed manufacturers or the Motion Picture Patents Company, from in any manner interfering with the business of the complainant herein, or curtailing or diminishing its supply of film from the defendant Biograph Company in such a way as to interfere with or hamper the business of the complainant in supplying its customers with licensed motion picture film, and from interfering with the customers of complainant, or inducing the customers of the complainant to leave the complainant and lease said supply of film from said defendant General Film Company, from doing any act or acts which would tend to bring about such a result, or that may in any way injure the complainant in the proper and lawful conduct of its business until the hearing of this motion or until the further order of this Court." The defendants are ordered to show cause why the injunction should not be continued during the pendency of the action now filed. Rogers & Rogers appeared for Mr. Fox.