The Moving picture world (April 1921)

472 MOVING PICTURE WORLD April 2, 1921 Maryland Court Upholds Exhibitors in Attack Upon Them by Board of Censors MISS EASTERTIME Starring in the new Realart production, "The Outside Woman" To Be Sales Manager C. M. Van Horn, who recently resigned as assistant manager of the Minneapolis Pathe exchange, has left for Spokane, Wash., where he will be sales manager for Associated Exhibitors. CONFLICTING allegations have resulted in Supreme Court Justice Mitchell Erlanger denying the application of the Associated Photoplays, Inc., for an injunction restraining Florence Hoyt Stokes, of Los Angeles, from disposing of a motion picture called "No Man's Woman" pending the settlement of an action brought by the Photoplay corporation against her and Helen Gibson, head of the Helen Gibson Productions of Los Angeles. The plaintiffs allege, through their treasurer, Victor B. Fisher, that they had a contract with Helen Gibson for the exhibition of the picture on its completion and went to great preparations for its production, having spent to date $25,000 and having made contracts for its exploitation and distribution. They charge because a claim of $6,000 of Mrs. Stokes against Helen Gibson for money loaned to the latter to complete the picture, Mrs. Stokes has possession of the negatives, which she has refused to release to the plaintiffs so that they can have positive prints made therefrom. On the other hand, Mrs. Stokes alleges she is not interested in the contract between Helen Gibson and the Associated Photoplays, Inc., and that her lien against Helen Gibson legally entitled her to possession of the picture. She further charges that, in a spirit of fair play, she consented to deliver the negatives to the plaintiff on condition that the $7,500 was paid her, and expressed them to the Photoplay corporation, which refused to accept them from the express company on their arrival. Mrs. Stokes recently arrived here from California. Buy Waynesboro Arcade Silverman Bros. & Sluthker, of Altoona, Pa., a company operating a chain of theatres in a number of cities of Pennsylvania, has purchased the Arcade Theatre Building, AFTER a production is inspected by the Maryland Board of Moving Picture Censors and a seal has been placed upon it by that board signifying that it is aproved for exhibition in the State of Maryland, the exhibitors showing the picture cannot be held liable or responsible for any ordered eliminations which are left in the picture and appear upon the screen. This ruling was handed down in the case of the Censor Board against the Metro Film Corporation, of which George W. Fuller, is Washington manager, by Magistrate Vincent Demarco in the Western Police Court in Baltimore. Justice Demarco further held that the exchange men could not be held responsible either unless said exchange men should tamper with the film after the seal has been placed thereon, and that it is the duty of the Censor Board to have enough inspectors to see that the eliminations are made, and if they have not, they cannot lay the burden on the exchange men and exhibitors. A letter of protest in which this matter and another where the Levine Brothers, of the Realart Theatre, were fined $5 and costs for using a poster to advertise "Trumpet Island," which poster the Censor Board termed immoral, was sent to Attorney General Armstrong by the Citizen's League for Better Moving Pictures. Waynesboro, Pa. Part of this building is taken up by the Arcade Theatre, which has a seating capacity of 1,250. Subject to existing leases possession of this building will be taken over by the new owners on April 1. As the lease of the theatre does not expire until October 1, it will not be taken under the management of the new company until after that time. At a cost of aproximately $200,000 this building was built in 1916. To Move Headquarters The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, Northern California Division, which has been maintaining headquarters with the Western Poster Company and which has been holding its sessions in Red Men's Hall, Golden Gate avenue, has made arrangements to take over the quarters at 120 Golden Gate avenue recently vacated by the Independent Film Exchange and will fit up this space for office and meeting purposes. Joins David Mundstuk W. D. Ward, for a number of years manager of the Detroit Universal Film exchange and recently manager of the Stoll Film exchange, has become manager of the Strand Features, Inc., Detroit, for David Mundstuk, proprietor. Mr. Ward is to have full charge of the sales and is also interested in the exchange financially. Buy Niles Theatre Angell & Codd, operating theatres in Niles, Adrian, Owosso and Buchanan, have purchased the $150,000 New Riviera Theatre in Niles, Mich., which means that they will close up their small Strand Theatre in Niles, opening it only on special occasions. They also plan to erect a new theatre in South Bend, Ind., during the coming year. The Attorney General disclaimed any jurisdiction in the matter. The League has now taken the matter up with Governor Albert C. Ritchie. Meanwhile the Exhibitors' League of Maryland is giving careful attention to the matter and George A. McDermitt, manager of Loew's Hippodrome and J. Louis Rome, manager of several theatres, have been appointed on a committee to decide on the best method of fighting the attack. File Answer to Suit Brought by Triangle Answer has been filed in the New York county clerk's office to the suit of Triangle Film Corporation against Harry E. and Roy E. Aitken, Hyman Winnik and Joseph Simmons, in which the film corporation seeks to obtain an accounting on which damages may be assessed for certain alleged wrongful acts of the defendents in manipulating the Triangle corporation for their own profit and financial advancement. The answer filed is by Harry E. and Roy E. Aitken and makes practically a general denial of the numerous allegations of wrongdoing. All that the answers admit is that both the Aitken's were and still are members of the board of directors of the Triangle Corporation, and that a loan was made to the New York Motion Picture Corporation in the name of Patrick H. Loftus and renewed through one Ernest Bru. Film Star Arrives Miss Annie Bos, one of the most popular film actresses in Europe, has arrived in this country. She has appeared in many of the greatest Continental motion picture successes and was awarded a gold medal at the International Motion Picture Exposition in Holland last year. She took the star part in the Hollandia Production, "Carmen of the North," which was released in this country. Prior to visiting the West Coast, Miss Bos intends to "see New York first." Edward L. Klein is her personal representative. Avon Is Sold The Avon Theatre in Watertown, N. Y., changed hands this week, the Bardavon Theatres Corporation of Poughkeepsie disposing of the house to Frank A. Empsall, former head of a big department store in Watertown, and likewise heavily interested in the paper business. The price was approximately $200,000. About two years ago, the Bardavon company purchased the City Opera House in Watertown and spent a large sum in bringing it up to date. Arthur G. Forbes, present manager of the house, will be retained. Butterfield Sells Interest W. S. Butterfield and Lipp & Cross, of Battle Creek, Mich., have come to an understanding whereby Mr. Butterfield will dispose of his interest in the latter's theatres, severing all business relations on a friendly basis. Mr. Butterfield will devote his entire attention in Battle Creek hereafter to his own theatre, the Bijou. Lipp & Cross control the Garden, Regent, Strand and Post theatres. Conflicting Charges Cause Denial of Injunction to Associated Photoplays