The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

382 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 17, 1920 QUICK GLANCES AT inimmrtuumiininiiiiintrnniiiMitm»iiiiMimiriininiiiiiiiitiirni(iiiniMiiiimirMi»iiiiHiMiiinMiiiiimMmiMiiimiimiiMwriHnmiin Gas! Antonio Moreno goes "south" for the winter in his Vitagraph serial, "The Invisible Hand." COXGRESSMAX JOHX W. HARRELD, of Oklahoma, is introducing a bill to deny transportation in interstate commerce to "any picture film, moving picture film or films or other representation purporting to show or simulate the acts or conduct of any exconvict, desperado, bandit, train robber, bank robber, or outlaw, or of any person reputed to be or to have been convicted of crime or to be or to have been a desperado, bandit, train robber, bank robber, or outlaw, any commission or attempted commission of any crime or of any acts of violence, or escape or flight of any such person from the alleged scene of any purported crime or attempted crime or of any trial in court or otherwise of any such person." Fines of not to exceed $10,000, imprisonment of not to exceed five years, or both such fine or imprisonment. "The bill comes as the result of a resolution adopted by the Oklahoma Bar Association last month," said Representative Harreld in explaining the measure, "and was based upon the fact that not long ago a man was arrested in the act of robbing a bank. His arrest was accomplished by a sixteen-year-old boy. This man sentenced to twenty years in prison, but he was recently pardoned by the governor of Oklahoma. "After his release, this man formed a company and made a motion picture fifm of t"he incident and has been going OTpr thecoutitry exhibiting tliese pictures. Oklahoma has Jalready 'secured all the advertising of that kind it wants. Holah Made President of Omaha Film Trade Board THE Film Board of Trade in Omaha, Neb., concluded its first year last week and new officers were elected for 1920. The board more than proved its worth, says it members, and has contributed greatly to raising the standard of the industry in Iowa and Nebraska to a higher plane. Many exhibitors have expressed their appreciation of the activities of the board, say C. E. Holah, the new president. The 1920 officers are president, C. E. Holah, manager of the A. H. Blank Enterprises, which is the Omaha First National Exhibitors' Circuit exchange; vice-president, C. L. Peavey, manager of the Famous Players-Lasky exchange in Omaha; secretary, Leo Delaney, manager of the Vitagraph exchange in Omaha; treasurer, SamuelaMcIntyre, manager of the Metro exchange in Omaha. Additional members of the executive board are Sidney Meyers, manager of the Fox exchange in Omaha; Max Wintroub, manager of the Fontenelle States Right exchange in Omaha, and C. W. Taylor, manager of the Omaha Selznick-Select exchange. A gold watch fob, bearing the insignia of the Film Board of Trade, was presented to Harry Graham, manager of the Pathe exchange in Omaha, who con .Such pictures have given the people of the country the idea that Oklahoma has nothing but people of this type." Mr. Harreld is of the opinion that the adoption of his bill by Congress would have the effect of driving much of the gunplay and Wild West features with stage coach and bank and mine robberies out of existence. Probably all "crime" pictures would be affected. Kansas City Showmen May Have Express Film Service THE Film Board of Trade of Kansas City adopted the suggestions of several of the managers of the exchanges and at a recent meeting began forming plans for an exclusive express service to exchanges. Several express companies are figuring on taking the contract, which will provide instant serivce on films between exchanges and the Union Station and to the censor boards. A fleet of light and heavy trucks will be used if the plan carries, with expressmen on duty day and night. An idea of the volume of film business handled by express in Kansas City may be gained from the amount of film that arrives at the Union Station daily. Fourteen hundred boxes of film reach the station in a day, aside from all outgoing matter. Managers of the various exchanges almost unanimously are in favor of such a' plan. They are convinced it would speed up service to the exhibitors. eluded his year's term as president of the board, and a testimonial of gratitude was sent to New York to L. A. Getzler, former secretary of the board. Many More Picture Firms File Incorporation Papers THERE is but little let-up in the numbed of concerns in New York State who are incorporating for the purpose of entering the motioin picture business. During the last few days, the following concerns have incorporated with Secretary of State Hugo: The Pear Amusement Company, $63,750, H. C. and C. Berlin and Samuel Feldman, Brooklyn; the Allwyn Amusement Company, $3,000, Albert Frankenthal, Ernest Kahn, Sylvan Bier, New York ; Talking Picture Records Company, $25,000, P. Loflf, Charles Post, B. M. Battey, New York; Ariel Theatre Amusement Company, $75,000, Joseph and George Schowartzott, Joseph Geigand, Buffalo; Screenart Pictures Company, $50,000, Romaine Fielding, Julius Cahn, William G. Willman, New York; Reserte Advertising Company, $100,000, A. F. Davidson, H. W. Mosely, P. G. Offin. New York; Municipal Studios, $250,000, E. London and M. Elkin; Hyperian Productions Company, $25,000, George H. Wiley, David W. Russell, Walter R. Hill, New York. The New Dorp Theatre Company was also incorporated at $25,000, giving as its object the manufacture of moving picture film of celluloid or other composition, the incorporators being H. W. Bridges, C. B. Callahan and C. W. Hastings. Minneapolis Salesmen Meet to Talk Harmony MORE than 100 salesmen of the twenty-three film exchanges in Minneapolis were the guests of their employers at a dinner at the Radisson Hotel, December 26. The dinner was a general get-together affair and was the second annual dinner of the Minaepolis Film Board of Trade. Following are the speakers and their topics : introductory address, A. H. Fisher, Metro manager, president of the board; "Transportation and Its Problems," Wiliam Lestico, Triangle; "Payments," B. N. Judell, B. N. Judell, Inc.; "Change in Bookings," Phil Reisman, Hodkinson; "Contracts," Charles W. Stombaugh, Pathe; "Rules," Max Weisfeldt. Fox Film Corporation; "Bookers' Problems," Harry Hillweg, First National; "Misrepresentation," Jack Elliott, Elliott Film Corporation ; "Holding Films," Fred Cubberly, First National; "Response," H. W. Hembold, Goldwyn, and C. M. Van Horn, Pathe; "Legislation," R. C. Cotton, Republic; "General Co-operation," E. S. Holmes, Vitagraph; "Unselfish Selfishness of Exchange," James V. Bryson, Universal ; "Knocking Your Competitors' Service to Sell Your Own," Ira Mantzka, Robertson-Cole and "Open Discussion," Frank Thayer, Standard. Stress was laid on the desirability of closer association among the members Congressman Would Prohibit Interstate Commerce to Films With Crime Scenes