The Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Motion Picture Exhibitors' League WASHINGTON EXHIBITORS ORGANIZE. The Washington State Association of Moving Picture Exhibitors has joined with the Motion Picture Exhibitors League of America and become the Washington State Branch No. 35. Details of the first annual convention held in Seattle, Feb. 18th and 19th. were withheld until a report could be made on the outcome of the fight against the adverse legislation then pending in the State legislature at Olympia. An active committee backed by the newly organized state league succeeded in killing two bills which would have seriously injured the business of every exhibitor in the state. One bill provided for state wide Sunday closing of all theaters and the other for a board of examiners for all operators of moving picture machines. Such board to be composed exclusively of certain operators. The exhibitor had no representation whatever on the board. Under the cloak of a public safety measure the bill gained much support. Now that these bills are both dead we can send the news of the first victory for our young organization in the fight for a square deal for the exhibitor. In no other way could we have won the battle than with the strength and prestige of an active league of exhibitors. The new officers of the Washington Branch are: President, A. B. Campbell — Sedro Wooley; Natl. Vice-Pres., John Rautz — Bremerton; First Vice-Pres., James Q. Clemmer, Seattle; Second Vice-Pres., Fred Mercy — North Yakima; Secy.Treas.. W. L. Shanks, Seattle and H. O. Allen, Executive Committee. The next meeting of the Washington State Branch will be held in Seattle June 17th. BIRMINGHAM EXHIBITORS ORGANIZE. At a meeting held at Birmingham, Ala., March 22, Henry F. Beaumont, a prominent member of the Birmingham Ad Club, was elected secretary of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of Birmingham, which was recently chartered by the national league of motion picture men. Mr. Beaumont was appointed chairman of the publicity committee of the league on its organization and his election to the secretaryship of the body is assumed to be in recognition of his valued services. The officers of the league are E. H. Colley. of the Vaudette, president; H. M. Newsome, who owns four theaters, vice-president; T. S. Abernathy, Odeon One and Odeon Two, treasurer, and Henry F. Beaumont, secretary. A State convention of motion picture men. held under the auspices of the local league, met here Monday, March 24, and M. A. Xeff, president of the national body, was the guest of honor. IOWA CITY THEATERS GET "CLEAN BILL." While digging up information that would aid in the passing of a bill to regulate public amusements in the State of Iowa, the State Law Librarian of that State got the following "clean bill of health" for the picture theaters of Iowa Citv, la., from County Attorney Hart of that city: "Iowa City's moving picture shows, vaudeville entertainments, and other attractions of theatrical type are clean, moral, and worthy of commendation. The men in charge are citizens of highest standing in the community, and would remit nothing improper or immoral to be displayed in their respective theaters, even if there were no law on the subject." This is the "clean bill' that County Attorney Hart gives the following theaters: Thomas A. Brown's American, Fred Dever's Pastime, Archie Hanlon's Iowa Theater, Thos. A. Brown's Nickeldom, W. H. Englert's Theater. WEST VIRGINIA CONVENTION. The fourth annual convention of the motion picture exhibitors league of West Virginia will be held at Wheeling, W. Va., on April 15 and 16. Organizer Clem Kerr, of Dayton, Ohio, and Secretary L. R. Thomas are working hard to make the meeting a success. Many Ohio exhibitors from the Wheeling district, Ohio side, will be present to help with the shouting. The meetings will be held in the new Wheeling Auditorium and special advantages for manufacturers' exhibits will be afforded. West Virginia exhibitors are urged to attend this meeting as many matters of importance will be considered. A number of proposed legislative enactments will come up for discussion, namely, legislation governing taxes and licenses, a bill for a State examining board for operators, a Sunday opening law, and an censorship bill. A special program for the entertainment of the delegates and guests has been arranged by the committee in charge and members are urged to bring their wives to enjoy the good time being prepared. TO FIGHT PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATION. Pittsburgh motion picture men and owners of small vaudeville theaters are preparing to beseige the Pennsylvania state legislature to enter their protest against the passage of the bill introduced into the house of Representatives by George Allen of Allegheny County, which provides that all amusement places must be licensed under a state law. The bill is now in the hands of the house committee on law and order, and it is probable that action will be taken on the bill during the next two weeks. The opposition is coming from all parts of the State and the members of the legislature are daily receiving many letters asking them to vote against the bill if it is reported out of committee. The local Motion Picture Exhibitor's League has taken a strong stand against thhe passage of the bill and the officers of Local No. 1 of this city have prepared a protest against the measure that should receive the support of all the exhibitors. A representative of the local organization will go to Harrisburg when the bill is brought and personally urge the quashing of the measure. PREFERS THE SMALL TOWN. Mr. and Mrs. William F. Nolan of Opelousas and Thibadeau, La., paid a short visit to New York the other day and spent most of their time doing the picture theaters and studios. Mr. Nolan owns theaters in both towns and remarked, after looking over a number of New York picture houses, that he couldn't see that any of them had anything on him, especially when it came to projection. Mrs. Xolan, a charming young woman of undoubted Southern birth, was pronounced in her loyalty to her home town and insisted that New York did not tempt her in the least. FEATURE FILM RENTERS' CREDIT ASSOCIATION MEETING. The next regular meeting of the Feature Film Renters Credit Assn., of Ohio, is scheduled to be held at the secretary's office, Columbia Bldg., Cleveland, O., April 1st, at 3 p. m. All members are earnestly requested to be present at this meeting, as there is business of great importance to be transacted. A. E. SIEGEL, Secretary. A FORTY-FIVE-MINUTE TALKING PICTURE. At the Gaumont Palace Hippodrome in Paris, a few days ago, there was exhibited a speaking film running forty-five minutes. This is by far the longest talking picture ever thrown on the screen. The photoplay was taken from a famous French farce and was witnessed by nearly eight thousand people, the extreme capacity of the house. The dialogue was distinctly heard in the farthest corners of the auditorium without appearing unduly amplified to those in the pit. The Paris Daily papers gave the Gaumont talking pictures from four inches to three-quarters of a column next morning and described the entertainment as a revolution in the cinematographic art. Speaking photoplays running from twenty to thirty minutes are now being shown nightly by means of the Gaumont improved Chronophone in the Gaumont Palace Hippodrome.