Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1925)

22' MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 3, 1925 Valentino Qold Medal to Best Performer Rudolph Valentino announced this week that he would present each year a handsome gold medal to the motion picture actor or actress who gives the best performance for the year. The decision will be made by the critics of the leading newspapers, fan magazines and trade papers. They will be asked to vote for the first three performances in order of preference. Every player will be eligible with the exception of Valentino. “My purpose is to evoke more general interest in the art of screen acting and to bestow public honor on the actor or actress who has contributed the most notable characterization for the year,” said Valentino. Kansas and Missouri Start Membership Drive At a meeting in the Hotel Muehlebach, Kansas City, of the organization committee of the M. P. T. O., Kansas and Missouri recently, C. E. Cook, business manager, was appointed to conduct the membership campaign in Alissouri and Kansas, which will last about four months, going out into the territory and meeting all exhibitors personally. J. W. Watson, Kansas City; A. F. Baker, Kansas City, Kas., and L. M. Miller, chairman, Wichita, Kas., constituted the organization committee. The organization committee also approved the newly arranged schedule of dues of 1^2 cents per capita for towns up to 50,000 and 1 per cent per capita for cities more than that. The assessments against each town will be divided equally among the number of member theatres. A $200 maximum has been fixed for a single exhibitor as an annual payment. About 850 theatres will be visited by Mr. Cook on his trip. Over 200 in N. Y* Want to Be Critics Over 200 persons in New York state, both men and women, have filed applications with the New York State Civil Service Commission for the examination which will be held for the position of motion picture reviewer. This examination was originally scheduled for December 13, but has now been postponed in order that a more practical test than the one first devised may be held in addition to the written one. Some method will be worked out to the end that applicants for the position may take the practical test in Albany, Buffalo and other places where the examination will be held. There will be about six appointments made for the position of reviewer by the State Motion Picture Commission. Expect Big Attendance at Albany Zone Session on January 6 All arrangements have been completed with the possible exception of the speakers, for the meeting of the exhibitors of the Albany Zone at the Hotel Ten Eyck, Albany, on Tuesday afternoon, January 6, at 1 :30 o’clock. Walter Hays, president of the State M. P. T. O. will be present. It is expected that Senator James J. Walker, and possibly Governor Alfred E. Smith, will be present and speak. At this meeting, at which every exhibitor in the entire territory is expected to be present, the entire program to be followed by the Zone Committee will be explained. This committee will act through its secretary in Albany as the personal representative of every exhibitor, doing away with the necessity of exhibitors traveling to Albany on various matters, and likewise saving much wire expense. In fact the Zone committee will help in everything that the exhibitor is interested in. The Zone Committee will occupy offices on the first floor of the Mark Strand building, together with the Albany Film Board and the State M. P. T. O., each having its separate office with a large additional room for meeting purposes. Theatres will be assessed in meeting the expense of the zone committee, according to the size of the place in which they are located, the assessment in each instance being but small. Exhibitors are expected to make the Zone Committee headquarters their meeting place in Albany while in town, and periodicals will be on hand for their enjoyment. Carolyn Goodman has been engaged as secretary of the Zone Committee. Catholic Women^s League Praises Ottawa Exhibitors Exhibitors of Ottawa, Ontario, were agreeably surprised when Mrs. Harry Etches, convener of the Motion Picture Committee of the Local Council of Women, presented a report at a meeting of the Catholic W omen’s League at the Gloucester Street Convent, Ottawa, commending the local theatres for the class of moving pictures which were being presented in the local amusement houses. Mrs. Etches declared that the moving pictures “are worthy of the theatres in whicii they are shown.” Airs. Etches told of the organization of the Alotion Picture Committee in Ottawa two jears ago with members from Daughters of the Empire, the Women’s Canadian Club, the Catholic Women’s League and the Ottawa Women’s Club, the purpose being to encourage a higher type of moving pictures. From time to time the committee had made suggestions to theatre managers but it was now felt that “worthy pictures” were being presented. NED NYE DIES Ned Nye is dead in Los Angeles. The story writer and author of many screen plays with western atmosphere passed away last week after an illness of several days. Pneumonia was the cause of death. Nye was well known. His most recent screen plays were “Gold and Grit,’’ which he wrote for Buddy Roosevelt and which Weiss Brothers have just released, and “Thundering Romance,” for Buffalo Bill, .Jr., a companion series. Coming and Going George Ilaekathome arrived in New Vork this week for a brief vacation. Kor the purpose of more thoroughly acCiiiainting them.selves with the motion picture industry' in Cuba, and to decide on a new policy for the distribution of First National pictures in that territory, E. Bruce Johnson, manager of the foreign department of that organization, in company with Louis Brock, foreign sales manager, will leave New Vork for Havana late this month, arriving at their destination about January 5. J. A. Koerpel will go to England for First National on January 3. Harry Rowson of Ideal left late last week for London. J. D. Williams and Hawley Turner of Ritz Pictures have returned to Ne^v York from the Coast. Jane Murtin arrived in New York from the Coast this week. Harry David, personal representative for Mack Sennett, is in New York over the holidays. He will leave thereafter for a sales trip through key cities of the South. W. S. Butterfield and his wife expect to leave Detroit for a trip to Europe in the latter part of next month. F’’. D. Hutter, president of the D’Alesandro Productions, is in New York from the Coast. William M. A'ogel returned to New York this week from a European tour. Mark Kellogg of First National is now on the Coast. ■Scott Sidney is expected to arrive in New Vork from the Coast during the first week in January. Larry Semon arrived in New York this Heek from the Coast. Warren New combe, art director for D. W. ti^riflith, is in Los Angeles from New York. Hobart Henley returned to the Coast from New York this week. Producer Lester F'. Scott is in New York from the West. John Bowers has arrived in Manhattan from the Pacific Coast. Constance Talmadge and her mother left for Hollywood early this week. Robert Schless, agent for First National Pictures in Paris, F’rance, arrived this week on the S.S. Majestic. Norma Talmadge, accompanied by her hnsband, Joseph -M. Schenck, and Sidney F’ranklin, who has directed a number of Norma and Constance’s productions, and Lola Bar^ Theda’s little sister, sailed on the Majestic tlii.s week for a four months’ vacation abroad. FRISCO FILM BOARD OF TRADE ELECTS OFFICERS The annual meeting of the San Francisco Film Exchange Board of Trade was held at its headquarters at 100 Golden Gate avenue early in December and officers for tlm ensuing year were chosen, as follows: I’l'esident, Morgan A. Walsh, of George A. Opptnheimer, Inc.; vice-president, W. W. Kofelft, manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc.; secretary, Howard J. Sheehan, manager for William. Fox, and counsel, Milton A. Nathan. The organization has been functioning in splendid shape during the past year and the policy of working hand in hand with exh'bitors will be continued.