Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1918)

March 2, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1221 New York Operators Hold Ball Annual Social Event Packs Palm Garden to Overflowing. Rothapfel Leads the Grand March. THURSDAY night, February _14, the occasion of the fifth annual ball and entertainment of the Moving Picture Machine Operators' Union 306, I. A. T. S. E. and M. P. M. O., at Palm Garden, New York, saw the most remarkable gathering that has yet marked the social affairs of that organization. Palm Garden was crowded to the limit and an appreciable number of trade notables honored the projectionists by their presence. Among these were S. L. Rothapfel, manager of the Rialto and Rivoli; Virginia Pearson, Sheldon Lewis, Florence Turner, Nellie Anderson and daughter, Larry Trimble, Rose Tapley, Sam Trigger and Judge Strahl, who is, by the way, an honorary member of No. 306. Among the important members of the union present were Assistant President of the International Crickmore, who was accompanied by Harold Williams of the International General office. Chicago Local 110 sent its two business representatives, Tommy Malloy and C. Brown, who^came a thousand miles to attend the ball. President Boscarelli and Secretary-Treasurer Edward W. Bordmann of Local 384, Hudson County, N. J.; President H. R. Manner and Benjamin Siegle of Local 359 of Trenton, N. J. Regrets were received from President and Business Manager Howard of Baltimore Local and Walter G. Murray of the Philadelphia Local. Mayor Hyland of New York was to have been present, but was unable to attend, and sent his regrets through Judge Strahl. The guests were introduced by Will C. Smith from the stage, and were given a hearty reception. Especial approval was accorded the remarks of Mr. Rothapfel when lie announced that he paid his chief operator $5,000 per year. A few excellent vaudeville numbers followed, and then came the grand march, which was led by Mr. Rothapfel and Virginia Pearson. An effort was made to take motion pictures of the grand march, which were to have been developed and shown later to the guests, but the experiment was not entirely successful, largely because of the great crowd and the difficulty of handling some of those present who were determined to get into the picture at places where they did not belong. This delayed the taking and prevented getting a print back to the ballroom before five o'clock, when most of the guests had departed. The pictures were taken by Charles Unger and developed and printed at the Edison Studios in the Bronx. In all other respects the Operators' Annual Ball was a great success and held the merrymakers till a very late hour Friday morning. Appreciation for Rothapfel Bronze Tablet Unveiled in Lobby of Rivoli Commemorating Accomplishments for Moving Pictures. THE principal event in filmdom Saturday, February 16, was the ceremonial unveiling of a tablet, presented by Famous Players-Lasky, to symbolize the achievements of Samuel Z. Rothapfel in the realm of motion pictures. The tablet, cast in solid bronze, measuring 28 by 42 inches, had been permanently fixed in the east wall of the new Rivoli's lobby. The ceremony was witnessed by a large company of invited guests who, later on, shared Mr. Rothapfel's hospitality in a luncheon given at Churchill's just across Broadway. It was 11.30 a. m. when the spectators assembled before the tablet. The martial beat of drums and the call of the bugle resounded within the auditorium as the attaches of the Rivoli were engaging in their daily drill, preparatory to opening the doors of the theater for public admittance. William A. Johnston, editor of the Motion Picture News, introduced Adolph Zukor, president of the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation, and to Mr. Zukor's speech of presentation Mr. Rothapfel responded. Then Hamish MacLauren, publicist of the Rialto and Rivoli, made the concluding speech (briefest of all), bidding the guests repair to the feast spread for them across the way. The commemorative tablet is in bas relief, the work of Signor Giuseppe Moretti, an Italian sculptor, who has created a beautiful work of art. The upper half of the panel bears a portrait bust of Mr. Rothapfel. The lower half shows at the left the figure of History leaning on the earth as she inscribes her records. At the right is a figure symbolizing the Motion Picture, with his lens and his reel of film (the first creation of this sort ever conceived) throw ing a shaft of light that illuminates the earth for History. Floating above these figures is the Spirit ' of Music, thus completing the suggestion of the new type of entertainment which Mr. Rothapfel originated. The inscription on the bas relief reads as follows : "Dedicated to S. L. Rothapfel, the pioneer and leader in artistic presentation of motion pictures, on the occasion of his opening the Rivoli theater, December, 1917. Presented by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation — Adolph Zukor, president; Jesse L. Lasky, vice-president; Cecil B. De Mille, director general." Southern Exhibitors Prosper Theater Patronage Shows Marked Improvement — Showless Tuesdays Thought to Have Boosted Amusements. THE short-lived Tuesday closing order of the Food and Fuel Administrator for Uncle Sam has worked to a very appreciable advantage with the motion picture exhibitors. When the order went into effect there were many predictions of ruin for the theater owners, but happily all of these predictions have failed. The theater business in the South is showing a marked improvement. It looks as if the enforced closing of the places of amusement for one day in the week has brought the people to a realization of the convenience of the motion picture as an entertainment. At least this is taken as one of the reasons for the rush which has been apparent since the order went into effect and, now that it is lifted, the patronage of the theaters is as great as ever. In New Orleans on Sundays it is an impossibility to find accommodations for the crowds at any of the places of amusement. The "pop" vaudeville and picture theaters are jammed, and it is no uncommon sight to witness a line of three or four hundred patiently awaiting the chance to buy tickets. The suburban houses are just as fortunate when it comes to the Sunday audiences, and during the week a relatively high proportion of attendance is recorded. Every manager in the city is elated over the favorable turn in the tide of business and reports from all sections of this film territory are to the effect that business is exceptionally good. Of course a lot of the weaker theaters have been closed during the winter, but this fact has worked no hardship upon any one save the man who has been so unfortunate or unprogressive as to be unable to hold his patrons. The theaters that are now in operation are generally making money. An exhibitor from Wisconsin has been in New Orleans for two weeks endeavoring to purchase all or a substantial interest in a going motion picture theater and he has at this writing failed entirely, although he has made a diligent canvass among the owners. Predictions are now freely made that the improvement will continue. N. E. T. FELIX MALITZ AGAIN IN TOILS. Felix Malitz has again been incarcerated together with his secretary, Gustav Engler, in Raymond Street jail, Brooklyn, N. Y., and the bail of each raised from $3,000 to $10,000. The occasion for this action on the part of the Department of Justice is said to be on account of revelations connected with the arrest of an American army captain as a spy at Washington. Malitz and Engler were under bail on account of former charges. While Malitz claimed at the hearing before Judge Chatfield that his business was exporting films, documents of the greatest importance to the United States government were found in his possession and U. S. District Attorney Beer characterized him as one of the cleverest propogandists that ever came into that court. Judge Chatfield said that he would entertain an application from the District Attorney to intern Malitz and remanded both men without bail, but later fixed their bail at $10,000 each. DINNER TO WILLIAM FOX. Arrangements have been completed for the dinner to William Fox in the ballroom of the Hotel Astor, Sunday evening, February 24. The dinner will take the form of a tribute to Mr. Fox for his record of public service in the field of charity and in his own profession. The following is the list of speakers: Toastmaster, Wilton Lackaye; Rennold Wolf Arthur Brisbane, De Wolf Hopper, Felix M. Warburg, Victor J. Dowling, Raymond Hitchcock and William A. Brady.