Moving Picture World (Apr-May 1918)

738 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 4, 1918 coming to Nashville as a result of the powder plant's establishment here, and his appeal for Sunday opening has been with a broad sympathy. At the end of his talk he requested that every member of the audience in favor of opening fhe moving picture houses on Sunday stand up. About six people remained seated, and they are the class who remain seated when the Star Spangled Banner is played. The people of Nashville want Sunday pictures, and will continue to fight until they get them. Big Picture for Charity. Huch interest is being created in Nashville in the forthcoming presentation of "America at War," an official American Government war feature, which will be run at the Vendome theater for a three days' run. The production is in nine reels, having been directed by the National Committee on Public Information at Washington. Net proceeds of the show will be donated to the war charities. Censorship by Persuasion in New Orleans Louisiana Moral Photoplay Association Will Try Reasoning with Theaters Before Asking for Legal Censorship. By N. E. Thatcher, 3081 Canal street. New Orleans, La. NEW ORLEANS, LA. — The Louisiana Moral Photoplay Association has just been formed here to exert strong personal and public influences for the elimination of objectionable motion pictures which are notoriously suggestive and for the elimination of those portions of otherwise acceptable pictures that might have a tendency to offend. The avowed purposes of the association make it appear to be a commendable organiaztion. There is no threat of drastic measures and none are contemplated if the results sought to be obtained can be brought about by the application of the powers of reason. Failing in this, the association membership is of such a quality and of such importance in this community that it would be possible to make matters troublesome for such persons as might attempt to pay no heed to its suggestions for the betterment of film productions. Nearly every civic society and social club in the city has been affiliated with the movement and it is estimated that at lease 30,000 persons are directly interested in the success of any movement which the officers of the organiaztion may inaugurate. New Orleans is an exceptionally strongmotion picture city so far as regular attendance at the theaters is concerned and there are few cities that have a greater special footage taken of local scenes. The Federated Woman's Clubs especially have taken up the subject of motion pictures and their influence upon public and private life and, as a general rule, the feeling toward the pictures is a most kindly one. However, the determination has been made to secure the elimination of all objectionable footage and, rather than fail in the determination, censorsliip, as a last resort, will be demanded. And if it is demanded, under the present circumstances, it is almost sure to be adopted. There is not the least objection to Sunday showing of pictures and all of the theaters count upon the Sunday shows as the most profitable ones, -while the people have come to regard them as the most ■wholesome and beneficial diversions that can be devised. They keep the family together and the great portion of the weekly ■wages intact. That the saloons and oldtime resorts have suffered irreparably through the furnishing of well-regulated motion picture entertainment on Sunday, is an admitted fact. New Orleans now, for the first time in a long term of years, enforces the Sunday closing of saloons, nor is it possible to secure liquors under any of the ordinary subterfuges. Wines only ma^ be served with meals in hotels and restaurants. It is impossible to buy a cigar on Sunday and the result is that the family, including father, spends the day in the parks or on short excursions and -winds up the season of surcease from the grind of breadwinning by going to a picture show in the evening, which is regarded as the fitting ending for a perfect day. That the newly organized Louisiana Moral Photoplay Association will accomplish much good appears to be the consensus of opinion. Tennessee News Letter By J. L. Ray, Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tenn. Popular Demand for Sunday Shows. NASHVILLE, TENN. — Rev. W. B. Taylor, pastor of the First Unitarian Church, of Nashville, concluded his Sunday night lectures at the Knickerbocker theater with a talk on the benefit of Sunday entertainment. Rev. Taylor has been active in the fight at Nashville to secure Sunday moving pictures as a necessary diversion for the new influx of people is said to be going big throughout the South. Evins Helps Sheltering Arms. John Evins turned over the "excess profits" of the Strand theater on Wednesday, April 17, to the Sheltering Arms. The attraction was William Fox's "Woman and the Law," which drew splendid business all week. Official War Pictures AreShown. The official United States war films, "America at War," were shown from April 17 to April 20 at the Atlanta theater, drawing big houses. In advance of the showing addresses were given in various parts of the city by Sergeant L. Shannon Cormack, formerly with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces, who was with the picture. "Kaiser" Sets Record. "The Kaiser, Beast of Berlin," shown at the Rialto for whole week, is said by Hugh L. Cardoza, general manager of the Jake Wells interests in Atlanta, to have brolten all motion picture attendance records for this city. Exact figures are not yet available. Atlanta News Letter By Linton K. Starr, Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Ga. Oldknow Leases Atlanta's Odeon. ATLANTA, GA. — William Oldknow, general representative for the Universal in the Southern States, has leased the Odeon theater, at 79 Peachtree street, in the heart of the amusement center, has changed its name to the Tudor and announced that he will completely remodel it immediately with a view to making it a Universal theater. Mr. Oldknow is a pioneer motion picture man in the South and formerly operated several theaters in Atlanta. His theater Tvas Atlanta's first "motion picture theater de luxe." Built years ago as the Montgomery, it was then the most extravagant and beautiful movie house in the South. Gradually others of greater seating capacity and more lavish embellishments sprang up. The Montgomery became the Georgian; then was leased by Jake Wells and John Evins, who changed its name to the Odeon. Its fourth name is to be the Tudor. Madge Evans Visits Atlanta. Madge Evans, in company with a number of other World stars, spent a good portion of the week of April 15 in Atlanta, Miss Evans making a personal appearance at Loew's Grand theater, where she was given a most cordial ovation. The company came here to make scenes for a new picture and used locations at Stone Mountain, the famous "largest rock in the world," located near liere; at Piedmont park and other points. They were entertained while here by George L. Weaver, local representative of the World Film. The company included, in addition to Miss Evans, Violet Palmer, Kitty Johnson, Maxine Hicks, John Hines, Frank Crance, H. Pattee, Charles Hartley, J. Monteran, M. Furry, T. Zuker, M. Bitzer, J. Hyland and Frank Zuker. "German Curse" Draws Big. "The German Curse in Russia," shown at the Alamo No. 2 theater the week of April 15, proved a tremendous box-office attraction. The picture was pushed enthusiastically and splendidly by the Pathe branch manager, R. V. (Diamond Dick) Anderson. The Atlanta Woman's club sponsored the exhibition, and various organizations, such as the Rotary club, the Ad Men's club, and others, attended the theater In force. The picture Kansas City News Letter By Kansas City News Service, 115 Railway Exchange, Kansas City, Mo. Notes from the Exchanges. K-VNSAS CITY, MO.— James Ways has been made bookkeeper at the Kansas City Kleine office to succeed Cecil Bliss, -who has resigned to become shippirig clerk at the local Fox office. Leo J. Doty has been made booker at the Kansas City office of the Universal Film and Supply Company to succeed Emmet Recob, now working for Pathe. Mr. Doty was formerly with the Universal office, and has since -worked -with the Standard Film Corporation in the capacity of booker. R. H. Fairchild is now handling the publicity for the General Film Company. This is a new position, for which Mr. Fairchild is especially -well qualified, owing to the fact that he has served this company in several positions. Before taking this work he -was city salesman for the General. He has also been employed by the Mutual and Universal companies and has managed the Kansas City General office. He has been in the moving picture business about four years. V. A. Simes Called in Draft. V. A. Simes, camera man for the Mutual Screen Telegram in this territory, is the second Mutual man to be called in the draft within the last two weeks. The other was William Parsons, a salesman out of the Kansas City office. Mr. Simes will report April 26. He was formerly part owner of the Enterprise Motion Picture Company here. Scattered Middle West Theater Notes. Manson, Iowa. — R. I. Stewart lias purchased a moving picture show here and took possession April 15. Hawarden, la. — The Lyric theater has been sold to O. J. Dyvig of Beresford, S. D. Kaukauna, Wis. — The Conkey-Cleland Bijou theater has been opened to th(, public with motion pictures. Hale, Mo. — Hale's new motion picture house, the Trio, has been opened to the public. It has a seating capacity of 400. T. F. Houx and A. D. Hanners are at the head of the new concern. Wheatland, Wyo. — An architect is now making plans for putting a balcony into the Iris theater, rebuilding the stage, installing a scientific ventilating system, putting in new lights, etc. The proposed improvement will increase the seating capacity to between 500 and 600. Grand Junction, Colo. — The management of the moving picture house at Grand Junction is considering the erection of a theater building.