Moving Picture World (April-June 1915)

June 26, 1915 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 2123 phasis on its williiiLcness to telephone patrons at their homes flfteen or twenty minutes before a show besins. O. A. Swenby and N. L. Swanson have opened a show at Baldwin. Jack Yeo is now manager of the Orpheum at Milwaukee. It wlU run vaudeville this summer. A. H. Lyncli & Son are now conducting the Gem at New Richmond, W. S. Shannon having sold his interest to Walter Lynch. Motion pictures of the Montessori methods of teaching children were shown to parents and teachers at the Unitarian church In Milwaukee. Nels Solverson of Viroqua has commenced the construction of a one-story 36 xlOO brick and tile moving picture theater, ^lanager Brown probably will lease it and move his picture show from the opera house. Manager Reed of the Gem at Omro is adding a bit of vaudeville to his programs. He recently had some business bring pictures of local persons and scenes. The Home theater at Whitewater has been sold to Warren Taft. The Read & Neacy Investment company will erect a two-story concrete theater costing $65,000 at Downer avenue and Belleview place in Milwaukee. Richards & Schultz opened their new show in the Lane building at Wild Rose, June 5. The opening of the Marinuke theater at Galesville was fixed for July 1. The Dakotas. THE remodeled Crescent at Maddock, N. Dak., has been opened. The Rex and Grand theaters at Mandan, N. Dak., have been consolidated and the Grand will be remodeled so as to double its seating capacity. A stock company with capital of $25,000 will conduct houses in half a dozen North Dakota cities. The Cox interests in the Imperial and Princess theaters at Madison, S. Dak., have been sold to B. E. Ketcham and the firm is now Henkin, Ketcham & Melvey. J. C. Lahin has been making arrangements to erect an opera house at Winner, S. Dak. The contract for the erection of the new Lyric at Redfteld, S. Dak., to replace the building burned in February has been let. It is expected to open early in July. Abel Eriekson has resigned as manager of the Strand at Fargo, N. Dak. . Henry Thorson bought the interest of R. L. Redding in the Gem theater at Prake, N. Dak. SNAP SHOTS AT SHOWMANSHIP IN ILLINOIS. The Colonial at Quincy is featuring I'athe's Film Review, which is picturing many Quincy current events. The Colonial at Galesburg had "The Victoria Cross" for a special Memorial Day show. Manager Grampff had James Cruze and Sidney Bracey in person at the Orpheum in Rockford for two days. The Washington at Belleville w^anted to help the Olympic association, so booked a three-reel film of the Olympic games. Carl Muller of the Elite, at Waukegan, features a new $5,000 Bartola. The Star at Quincy will show "Somebody's Birth Certificate" under the auspices of the Adams County Medical society. Three shows were given to children at the Yale in Carbondale under the auspices of the Illinois State Pure Food commission. AntiFly and other sanitation films were shown. The Garden at Peoria is conducting a contest with twenty-five prizes valued at $300. Monmouth houses will cooperate with the Commercial Club in an anti-fly crusade by showing slides put out by the International Harvester Co. Bodkin & Keane's films of the Memorial Day parade in Evanston were shown at three houses in that city, the Star, Evanston and Grand. Musical specialties will be added to the picture program at the Globe at Ivesdale. Legislature and Censors Illinois Legislature Favors Censorship — Liquor Interests at Work, According to Article in Springfield Paper — New Offices to Be Given to Political Friends Also Quite a Strong Argument Favoring Movement. By Fi-ank H. Madisun, Illinois Correspondent of Moving I'icture World. ONE of the members of the general assembly favors the censorship bill because he believes it will be possible to get a board of censors who will prohibit the showing of moving picture plays depicting the results of intemperance. Such plays, he says, have done much injury to the saloon business." The above extract from the Springfield News-Record shows an induence in the Illinois legislature that is inimical to the picture business. The writer of the editorial is rated as one of the most reliable political correspondents in the middlewest, and consequently is one who is able to see the evils of political censorship. Liquor Business Hates Films. This session of the legislature lias been classed as "wet," the pro-liquor advocates combining to elect a speaker. However, it must be said, lie is not unfair. Tlie liquor business has no cause to love the photoplay industry and the inroads upon the bar daily receipts are Just as heavy in Illinois as elsewhere. On top of that, a crucial anti-saloon figlit is developing in Chicago, and another is in embryo in Springfield, where the astounding concession of closing Sunday saloons has been made. Unless Illinois politics has a remarkable uplift it is very easy to see how. as the Springfield writer points, "it will be possible to get a board that will prohibit films depicting the result of intemperance." The News-Record opposes censorship, especially if it is on the ground that the saloon business suffers. "That may be true, but moving pictures have done much to aid sobriety and the majority of the people of the state are willing to sec the saloon business fall off a little in the interest of a decrease in drunkenness. "There should be some regulation of moving pictures. Obscene, immoral or injurious plays should not be shown. But the same is true of productions on the stage. No state board of censors is required to keep play producers within bounds. With the exi.sting laws it is possible for local autliorities to prohiljit the showing of improper films. Strict and arbitrary action by a board appointed by the governor of the state is not needed. "Moving pictures can do a great good; they are doing a great good. If only innocuous, silly plays are to be shown, however; if everything that is true to life or that offends some petty jobholders' supersensitlveness is to be excluded, we had better close the moving picture theaters and be done with it." Sinecures for Friends. The legislative correspondents also pointed to the activity of Secretary of State Louis G. Stevenson in the behalf of censorsliip. It would be quite a nice thing for Mr. Stevenson's office to have a state board. The fees would be handled by that office and also would add to the number of employees. The secretary of state's office has always been regarded as one of the choicest in Illinois from a political standpoint, aside from its financial attractions. The number of the "faithful" he can reward by giving them places probably is second only to the number appointed by the governor. Censorship would be squarely in politics. days. It does not fully describe the program which is recreational and inspirational. The Playhouse at Oak Park which lias been co-operating with the Fair Hope League in an effort to give one night a week to films that are uplifting as well as satisfying to the public has been aware of this handicap. In order to offset the impression that Tuesday night will be burdened with heavy educational subjects, the man.igement has renamed it People's night. The first of the more properlylabeled programs included Judge Willis Brown's five-reel juvenile problem play, "The Hoy and the Law" and Judge Brown hinisell' was present to give an addnss. WILL KEEP EYE ON SHOWS. Commiltee of Elgin Club women will visit all motion picture houses in that city and make reports daily to the board of censors which was aiipointed a year ago. Mrs. H. H. West, head of the board of censors, outlined the new policy. "The standard of the Chicago board is all that we have to go by. We are going under the supposition that all of the Elgin liouses are showing only those pictures which have been passed by that board. But that is not all that could be desired. "For one thing we hope to be able to do away with tliose horrid big posters In front of the theaters. We would like to have them use photographs instead. The posters are often far different from the pictures themselves. Some of tlie picture men have told us they will be glad to have the posters done away with. "There will be a committee of four members from each of the clubs of women in the city, who will take turns in visiting the picture shows. Every show will bo visited every day. These" committees will report to the board of censors. Upon their report our action will be based. "In case there should be anything objectionable, which continues after warning, we will have to take away the license from the theater owner who persists in showing that kind of picture." Y. M. C. A. GIVES FREE FILM SHOWS. Free open air shows of films with strong lessons were given by the Y. M. C. A. on the streets of Rock Island for a week. This is a departure in the middle west and opens a vast field for something like social center work during the heated seasons. The films included "The Education of Mr. and Mrs. Thrifty," "The Crime of Carelessness," "The Price of Human Lives" and others on fire prevention, city beautiful work, rifle practice and scenics, which were furnished by railroads. The electrical appliance makers also gladly furnished films. HANDICAPPED BY A NAME. Experiences of Illinois managers have shown that announcing "Educational Nights" is a deterrent to some patronage, even tiiough the program would be satisfactory to the mysterious average patron. The title is, in fact, ominous and suggests the compulsory study of one's youthful ITEMS IN ILLINOIS. Elgin picture house owners must test their fire alarm boxes every day, the city fire marshal has announced. It was a double show all around for the Princess at Rushville when "The Spoilers" was exhibited. The house had two machines, two operators and two orchestras. Village officials In St. David are kindly to moving picture shows. They refunded John Lakin's license fee for May because it rained and he could use the airdome only four nights. Fire swept the Star theater In the 3100 block. South Adams street, Peoria, operated by Harry Metcalf. Loss on the liiiilding was $4,000, on the seating $1,000 and about $1,000 on the machine «lms and other equipment.