Moving Picture News (Jan-Jun 1913)

8 THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS not reach him. If these figures are near correct, is it not time the cry of Fire ! Fire ! Danger ! ! ! and the glaring scare headlines in the press should be eliminated, and due credit be given to the careful handling of the films and the safety devices used by the machine manufacturers; if only the cigarette fiend could be eliminated, we would soon hear the last of Cinematography being put in the most dangerous class of fire causers. Will our readers bring these facts before their local editors and get them to give as large a publicity to them as they do when one poor little fire breaks out through the carelessness of the cigarette boy, or the school product who bridges a fuse? By so doing they will earn the thanks of all in the industry. And now, in addition to the above and thoroughly up to date, I get the following figures for 1912 from the department of the State Fire Marshal in Albany. With a large amount of laborious work the records were examined for me so that the full, specific details might be given. I am more than thankful to the Department and to Mr. George F. Roesch, the First Deputy Fire Marshal, for the work done. Out of a total of 8,165 fires in the State, 9 were in moving picture houses. This is outside Greater New York. From Greater New York, which includes Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond counties, the number of fires was 15,633, and the number of fires in Cinematograph theatres was 19, and these could be reduced to a much smaller percentage with careful manipulation on the part of the operator, but from these fires, as is well known to my readers, the small boy crying "Fire !" is the chief factor to be taken care of. Another growing habit which I view with great alarm, and (while it may be trenching upon the liberty of the subject or personality or the liberty of gross selfishness) will, unless curbed, quickly be the source of a great deal of trouble in the theatres. Many theatres in New York are now abandoning the legitimate and installing moving pictures in their places, and the inveterate smoker is being catered to by living him open house and allowing him to smoke in the balcony and gallery, to the great annoyance and insult to the ladies. What would happen in one of these crowded theatres, and they are crowded to capacity, if during a dark period some smoker flared up a match and the small boy immediately cried out "Fire !" more especially if this smoker happened to be near the booth ? Putting aside the question of the liberty of the subject, I think the smoker should be prohibited from these houses and thus eliminate every atom, even the remotest relation, to fire from the moving picture theatre. , WEST VIRGINIA STATE BRANCH NO. 6, OF THE MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS' LEAGUE OF AMERICA The fourth annual West Virginia State convention is to be held at Wheeling, W. Va., on April 15 and 16, 1913, and to say that it will be a big success, is putting it very mildly. Clem Kerr, of Dayton, Ohio, the organizer, together with L. R. Thomas, the state secretary, have surrounded themselves with a coterie of live-wire exhibitors from Wheeling district, including a great number of exhibitors from across the Ohio River in Ohio. The beautiful new auditorium which has just been opened to the public will be the home of the West Virginia convention. Manufacturers of moving picture accessories will make no mistake in having an exhibit at this convention as Wheeling is so well located that it will command the attendance of hundreds of exhibitors from a wide area and from a number of sister states. Many manufacturers have already contracted for exhibit space, but owing to the immense size of the auditorium there will be ample room for all exhibits. The auditorium is so arranged that all visitors passing to and from the hall will see the exhibits. Many important matters will be taken up at this convention such as legislation governing taxes and licenses, a state examination board for operators, and a state Sunday opening law. A bill for a stricter censorship on pictures will also be discussed. It is extremely essential that all exhibitors in the state attend this convention as matters of vital importance will come up. An election of all the state officers and the selecting of delegates to the national convention at New York will take place. FIGHTS FOR FILM EXCHANGE J. W. Morgan, head of the Morgan Film Exchange, which was ousted from its offices at 804 Pine street, Monday, by private detectives employed by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company of New York, arrived in St. Louis yesterday from Kansas City and announced he would begin a fight to regain control of his business. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat says: "He already had filed suit for $350,000 against the New York concern, but would not divulge what other steps he intended to take until after conferring with his attorney. He registered at the Stratford Hotel and said he would conduct his business there until he could make other arrangements. The difference between the concerns is said to be an outgrowth of a proposition of the New York company to take over the Morgan business." "HER BIG STORY" NEWSPAPER PLAY TO BE RELEASED WITH MAGAZINE ISSUE CONTAINING STORY "Her Big Story" is the title of a two-reel subject which the American Film Manufacturing Company has just completed at its Western studio. This story was purchased from the Street & Smith Publishing Company and will be released by the American on or close to the date of its appearance in the Popular Magazine. This general plan will be followed by the "Flying A" forces in similar cases. BEAUTIFUL NEW AUDITORIUM AT WHEELING, W. VA., WHERE STATE CONVENTION WILL BE HELD