Moving Picture News (Jul-Oct 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS 35 Motion Picture Exhibitors Association of Greater New York At a meeting of the East New York Branch of the Motion Picture Exhibitors Association of Greater New York, held at the Rockaway Theatre, No. 547 Rockaway Ave., Brooklyn, the following officers were elected: Chairman, William H. Hollander; vice-chairman, Michael Farshower; secretary, Charles Fisher, and the following members were present: A. Taffelstein, G. Barton M. Kernan, H. Rosenberg, A. Freiberg, Mr. Friedle, J. Turtle, B. Levine, Mr. Spencer. R. Miller, Mr. Vergesslich, Mr. Forster, Miss Schwank, Mr. Reddy, M. Marias, and representatives from the following theatres were present: Kerman's Vaudeville Theatre, Mt. Morris Auditorium, Saratoga Theatre, Rockaway Theatre, Old Post Office Theatre, Saratoga Auditorium. The chairman in opening the meeting told of the ills existing in that locality through unfair competition, such as giving souvenirs, running six or seven reels of pictures, and in some theatres the admission fee was two for five cents. This sort of thing, he stated, is obviously harmful to the good of our business and unfair to a majority of the exhibitors in Greater New York. A resolution was then passed that ten cents should be the admission fee charged on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and that at the next meeting, to be held at the Saratoga Auditorium, 3026 Fulton street, Brooklyn, the question as to the number of reels to be run will be thoroughly threshed out and adjusted so that every exhibitor will show no more than four reels for five cents. A number of the officers of the parent body were present and spoke on the advantages of organization, and stated that it is the intention of the Motion Picture Exhibitors Association of Greater New York to form local branches and endeavor to cement the friendship and bring about better conditions amongst local exhibitors. The meeting was both instructive and interesting. Sixteen exhibitors joined the association. The Lure of New York, or Life in Chinatown, Bowery and Coney Island (Story of the Film— N. Y. Film Co.) Regina, a young girl, living in a small town in Bavaria, after the death of her father, decides to look for solace in the new world, where she has a brother who has not been heard from for many years. The old mother, though broken hearted, consents to part with her, but exacts a promise from the child that she will try hard to find her brother, and that she will remain a good girl, notwithstanding any temptations; she also gives her a locket in which is a photograph of her brother when only 16. Regina makes acquaintances on board the steamer. One of her friends is a certain Miss A., who is also on her way to New York. They arrive together in the city ; the young lady is met by her lover, but there is no brother there to meet Regina. The couple take Regina to their home. Some time later Regina is bewildered to find herself in the midst of such very strange environments. She is given new clothes. She is invited to theatres, cabarets and to a trip to Chinatown. She sees curious sights, and is appalled at the rough and uncouth ways of her friends. Although they pretend to be friendly to her, she now suspects their motives, and their sincerity. Her letters to and from her mother are intercepted by them ; they assure her that her brother cannot be found. She resigns herself to her fate and is now compelled to defend herself against her evil companions. One night when they are about prepared to entice her into the depth of degradation she makes her escape through the fire-escape. She fortunately falls into good hands. A young man who is the enemy of the companions that Regina was forced to associate with offers her a home in his mother's house. Regina believed in him, and the old woman is pleased with the little girl. Regina secures employment in the same mill where Paul, the young man, works. She is quite happy and contented ; Paul is in love with her. Here begins a new chapter in Regina's life. One day, while going to her work, she encounters a fashionable lady in an auto. The lady drops her purse; Regina picks it up and returns it. The lady offers her a reward, but she refuses to accept it. Whereupon the genial lady hands her an open invitation to call at her home. Much to the dismay of Paul and his mother, Regina is now welcomed into her new home. The lady takes a great fancy to her and adopts her. Amidst these conditions Regina is bewildered. She plunges into society, and becomes the envy of all her new companions. She is presented to people and meets many friends. At a reception given by the hostess Regina is the attraction of the evening. A wealthy clubman makes love to her. She is now very cautious, but he is persistent, and receives her consent to call. Her benefactors are pleased. Regina becomes coquettish. Five years elapse since Regina has left Bavaria. Her poor old mother has almost given up all hope of seeing her child. She, too, comes to America, and is seeking employment. Meanwhile Regina's lover proposes marriage and offers her all she may ask for. She demands another servant, and one is sent for. An old woman is seated alone and forlorn. It is Regina's mother ; she is sent to Regina as a servant. Regina orders her around, and asks her to change her slippers. The old woman obeys, and Regina looks at her gray hairs ; she asks her where she came from; the old woman tells her; from Bavaria. She asks her name; the old woman tells it. Regina is stunned; she makes an effort to speak, but is seized with hysteria. The old woman is about to run for help, when Regina stops her. Slowly she tells her who she is. The mother is overwhelmed, and denounces her girl for her seeming neglect and her apparent life. She relates how she prayed for her all these years, and is now to meet her under these conditions. She inquires about her son, and what she has done with the locket containing his picture. The girl pleads, tries hard to convince her poor old mother how pure and good she has lived all the while during these hard trials and temptations. Her benefactors substantiate her story, and our hero, ^ho has just become the possessor of the pawn ticket for the locket, runs to redeem it and brings it. He slowly opens the package then opens the locket, and, to his astonishment finds his own photograph and soon discloses the news that he is the long-lost brother. The old mother's heart softens. She falls into the arms of her children. The picture fades away, leaving the happy people reunited. THE PAN-AMERICAN H. M. Russell, of Los Angeles, capitalist, who has purchased the controlling rights in a number of feature films, added to his holdings on the 36th inst. by buying up the PanAmerican Film Manufacturing Company, a New York corporation. Offices have been opened on the ninth floor of the World Tower Building, 110 West Fortieth street. All branches of the feature film business will be handled with the exception of the laboratories, which have been disposed of Arrangements have been made with over three thousand of the firstclass theatres of the United States and Canada for bookings upon a theatrical basis.