The Moving picture world (May 1925-June 1925)

744 MOVING PICTURE WORLD June 13, 1925 Tips on Management, a Feature for New Jersey Convention THE program of events for the annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New Jersey to be held at the new Monterey Hotel, Asbury Park, New Jersey, June 29, 30 and July 1 will be of great interest to the theatre owners of this territory because they are being planned to assist every manager and owner of a motion picture house in the running of his theatre and putting on a "Broadway" show even if the house is located in a small town. The plan is being called, by the New Jersey theatre members who are actively engaged on the various committees, "Bringing Broadway to Main Street." Besides the official business activities that go with every convention plans are being formulated for the display part of the program which wiH be of help to every theatre owner from a box-office angle. Expert showmen have been employed to stage novel lighting effects and prologue presentations that can be made applicable to any house, no matter what the size, and at a very reasonable cost. The small town theatre owner has been . hampered because of his inability to give his audiences a show with a Broadway presenta Roxy" Will Step Into Own $6,500,000 House Next Year SL. ROTHAFEL, or "Roxy" as he is better known to thousands, within a year from now expects to step into his own theatre. "The « Roxy," as it is already christened, will cost about $6,500,000 and seat 6,000 on 50,000 square feet now occupied by a part of the old car barn in the vicinity of 50th street and Seventh avenue, Manhattan. This is all contained in an announcement from Associated Pictures Corporation which is as follows: "Contracts were closed this week whereby S. L. Rothafel (Roxy) now in charge of presentations at the Capitol Theatre is to realize his ambition to have his own theatre. "Following several months of negotiations, Herbert Lubin, of Sawyer and Lubin has consummated a deal whereby Associated Pictures Corporation of which Mr. Lubin is president, will build for Roxy a 6,000 -seat theatre which will be one of the world's largest motion picture theatres. It will be known as the Roxy Theatre. "The site for the theatre contains approximately 50,000 square feet and the entire proposition, land and theatre, will run in the neighborhood of $6,500,000. "The theatre will have many unique features and will incorporate Roxy's progressive ideas accumulated from his successful years of building and operating leading theatres in the country. "It will be remembered that S. L. Rothafel is the pioneer of the presentday type of motion picture entertainment with music. He brought his ideas to New York from the Middle West about a dozen years ago and has subsequently opened and directed the principal motion picture entertainment which he long has held. "It is as ROXY that Mr. Rothafel is more familiarly known to millions of radio fans throughout the United States to whom his broadcasting activities have endeared him. "Mr. Rothafel's contract with the Capitol Theatre has still some time to run. The new "Roxy" theatre is expected to be completed in about a year." tion. They will be shown how at the State Convention of the New Jersey Theatre owners. Some of the few amusements that will be included in the large program of events at the convention will be fire works, water sports carnival, a midnight review dance, banquet, after dinner novelties, stunts. The entertainment committee announces that thirty-six dollars will defray all expenses at the convention. The program of the affair, lasting three days, will be closed on the afternoon of July 1st with the water sports carnival. Silver cups, it is said, will be awarded the winners who will be picked by a board of judges including three producers and three directors. So that the carnival may be a great sue-, cess New Jersey theatre owners are urged in a letter by their chairman, Joseph Seider, to start "most popular girl" contests, the winner being eligible to enter the carnival as a representative of her respective theatre. President Seider states that motion picture stars desiring to enter the contest may do so by entering their names with Moving Picture World. Copyright Victory for Canada Houses A great battle ha* been won by the Motion Picture Distributors and Exhibitors of Toronto, Canada, in the securing of a decision from the Copyright Committee of the Canadian House of Commons at Ottawa that the amendments to the Canadian Copyright Act now before Parliament would not affect the playing of copyrighted music in moving picture theatres. There is still to be a new royalty tax on the playing of copyrighted music in radio performances or concerts, except when broadcast by amateur stations operated without profit. But the exhibitors of Canada are once more free to play music as they like without special reference to authors or composers. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT FILM SALES TOTAL $21,159 That the Motion Picture Bureau of the Canadian Department of Trade and Com merce, Ottawa, operated for the past five years, is on a self-sustaining basis was Indicated in the Canadian House of Commons on May 26 when information regarding the Canadian Government's film studio at Ottawa was given on the floor of the House by Hon. T. A. Low, Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce. Low pointed out that the Canadian two and one reel pictures were being shown throughout the world, distribution having been secured through both theatrical and non-theatrical channels In all quarters of the globe. The revenue derived from the sale of Government releases during the last in months of 1924 amounted to $21,159.00. The proceeds from the sale cf releases to distributors in the numerous countries reaches $27,000 in the whole year. CANADA WILL AID AMERICANS The Cnnadian government offers a warm welcome and all possible co-operation to legitimate American motion picture producers who care to take advantage of her great resources and beautiful scenic backgrounds. This Interesting offer may be taken as quite official, for it was voiced by none other than Raymond S. Peck, director of the motion picture bureau of the Canadian government, at the last regular meeting of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers. Inc.. held at the Cafe Boulevard, New York, Thursday. May 28. REPUDIATES ATTACK ON HAYS At a meeting of the National Presbyterian Church Assembly, held at Columbus. Ohio, a report of the Department of Moral Wei. fare of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, making Will H. Hays the target of an attack upon questionable motion pictures, was repudiated publicly by the church's Board of Christian Education. VALLEY EXHIBITORS ORGANIZE Fourteen exhibitors of the lower Rio Grande Valley. Texas, last week met in Harlington where they organized the Valley Exhibitors. They elected Dave J. Toung of Brownsville as president and Roy E. Kinz of McAllen as secretary and treasurer. FRED HAMLIN RECOVERED Many people in the motion picture industry will be glad to hear that Fred Hamlin, publicity director of the Mark Strand, New York City, has been discharged from the hospital, where he was taken after a sudden attack of heart trouble, and is so far recovered that he will be in his office again on Monday, June 8.