The Moving picture world (April 1921)

468 MOVING PICTURE WORLD April 2, 1921 E. E. Fulton Dies Suddenly in Chicago; Left Distributing to Form Supply Co. FOLLOWING an illness of but a few hours brought on by an acute attack of gastritis, E. E. Fulton, founder and president of the E. E. Fulton Company and one of the best known motion picture men of the midwest, died at the Hotel Sherman in Chicago, Friday evening, March 18, Mr. Fulton had been identified with motion picture activities in Chicago for a quarter of a century and was one of the first to enter the film distribution field as western representative for Lubin in the days preceding the formation of the old General Film Company. Through successive stages of General Film, Universal and Mutual reorganizations of the film exchanges, and the conflict of the "independents" against the dominant power of the General, Mr. Fulton remained a prominent figure in the distributing world and was known virtually from coast to coast. Foresaw Big Field Coincidental with the introduction of feature pictures and with keen foresight of the future possibilities in the mechanical and supply fields, Mr. Fulton gave up active participation in the distributing end and organized the E. E. Fulton Company as dealers and jobbers in motion picture supplies and accessories, opening at 154 Lake Street, Chicago, one of the most completely equipped theatrical supply houses the industry has seen. With the formation of the United Theatre Equipment Corporation as a chain system of supply houses and the re-adjustment in original plans necessitated by the war, Mr. Fulton retired from active participation in the supply business as dealer and devoted his entire time and energies to the development of his manufacturing business which came into being at about that same time. As manufacturer of the "Fulco" products he has been known from coast to coast. Sons His Partners His three sons were brought into the business with him and continuing in his footsteps have carried on the same high ideals. In close comradeship with their father, they worked with him in the development of a business that is noteworthy in the annals of the motion picture industry. Mr. Fulton was 62 years of age and is survived by his widow, Mrs. Fannie Fulton ; three sons, Leroy Myron, Ralph H., and Carl H., all of Chicago ; and three brothers, George Fulton, of Dayton, Ohio; J. H. Fulton, of Chicago, and Guy Fulton, of Indianapolis. Funeral services were held Sunday with interment in Chicago on Monday. A Texas Bill Senator Edgar E. Witt, of Waco, introduced a bill on March 5 prohibiting the showing of any film depicting crime, immorality and indecency. The penalty for violation is not less than $10 nor more than $500 fine and not more than sixty days in jail. Senator Witt stated that in Texas for 1920 the sum of $24,438,963.40 was paid for admission to picture shows. He says that this sum shows the large patronage of picture shows. Projectionists' Bill There has been introduced in the New York State Legislature a bill to amend the general city law relative to licenses to projectionists. The bill is now in the cities committee, having MOE STRIEMER Who was recently appointed sales manager of United Artists' New York exchange been introduced in the Assembly on March 10. Under its provisions, no license to operate a moving picture machine is to be granted to an applicant unless that person has served as an apprentice to a licensed projectionist for at least six months, or had at least six months' experience as a projectionist. There are several provisions in the bill as to age and the previous place of emplayment of an apprentice. The bill call's for a fine of $100 or imprisonment •for a violation. One Indiana Town Forbids Picture Shows on Sunday Indiana exhibitors are still being "pursued" by the advocates of the "blue laws." The City Council at Bicknell, in Knox County, has passed an ordinance forbidding the operation of picture theatres on Sunday. The measure is like one passed several years ago and later repealed. An immediate test case with a jury trial is said to be the plan of the exhibitors affected by the ordinance. One of the Bicknell newspapers is conducting a voting contest on the Sunday question, which, as it appears now, is going to loom up as an important factor in the May primary and the November election. Efforts of the United Theatres and Amusement Company, of Princeton, Ind., to open its theatres for Sunday shows were further hindered last week when a temporary restraining order prohibiting the company from operating its theatres on Sundays was made ]>ermanent by R. C. Baltzell of the Gibson County Circuit Court. The order prohibits the defendant company from giving its shows on Sunday until the statute governing in the case is repealed by the General Assembly in Indiana. Called Home Leo Barclay, general manager of the Grand Amusement Company, Johnstown, was called home from the Harrisburg Convention, owing to the death of his mother. Adjudges Forced Sunday Closing Discriminatory A DECISION that is expected to be far-reaching in its effects on Sunday closing of motion picture houses by local authorities was made by District Judge J. N. Searles of the nineteenth judicial district of Minnesota last week in a ruling handed down in the suit of Charles E. Power, manager of the New Power's Theatre, Long Branch, Minn., to restrain the municipal authorities from closing his theatre on Sunday. Judge Searles ruled that the action of the Long Branch city council was discriminatory and that the blue law code could not be applied to the New Power's without its enforcement against all other Sunday activities not coming under the statutory provision of "all other labor except work of necessity or charity." The decision is expected to be the forerunner of many other suits of picture houses throughout Minnesota to throw off the yoke of Blue Sunday closing. The closing of the New Power's followed the circulation of petitions by proponents of censorship some time ago, advocating the closing of the theatre on Sunday. A city ordinance had been previously passed by the Long Branch "city dads" making such action possible. An injunction obtained by Mr. Power forbidding the Long Branch municipal authorities to close the theatre expired three months ago. Since that time the house has been dark. It is expected that the case will be carried to the Minnesota Supreme Court later.