The Moving picture world (May 1922)

42 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 6, 1922 Educational and Religious People to Combat Exhibitor's Distribution Ban N.\-THEATRIC"AL organizations interested in the use of motion pictures for educational purposes are taking steps to combat the resolution adopted by the Motion Picture Theatre ( )wners of Kansas at the convention held at Wichita on March 27 and 28. The resolution prevents the use of motion pictures by educational and religious institutions, or any other non-theatrical organization, by obtaining the agreement of leading distributors not to supply ser\ice to non-theatrical organizations. Representatives of the various churches and schools of Kansas City will meet at Atkins' Hall on April 25 to organize against the exhibitors. The committee arranging for the meeting is composed of Dr. Burris Jenkins, Rupert Peters, C. W. Aydelotte and H. Tom Collord. Members of the committee say : "The church, school and civic leaders of America cannot sit by and permit the highest development of this great educational and recreational medium to be thwarted by a small group of commercially-minded men who would outlaw the motion picture for other than strictly selfish and commercial purposes. The action taken by the Kansas exhibitors is certain to s])read to other states, if it has not done so already." The committee reports that, if it becomes necessary, action in court will be taken to prevent the carrying out of the resolution of the exhibitors. Vote to Discontinue 8x10 Lobby Cards Lobby cards, commonly referred to in the trade as "eight hy ten's," seem doomed to be discontinued. These photographs, ''()|)ular for the lobby exploitation of both feature films and comedies for so many ^ ears, have gradually been superseded by the 1 1 by 14 cards. Two distributing companies have already dis'-ontinued the 8 by 10 reproductions, and as a re.sult of a questionnaire recently submitted to all the companies l)v the N. A. M. P. T., there is every indication that practically all of the distributors will discontinue them. Exhibitor.^ Win Respite from Fire Curtain Order 'i'iie district commissioners have suspended for six months their recent order requiring all theatres in the District of Columbia to be eauipped with steel fire curtains. The order was issued as a result of the inciuiry into theatre conditions made following the Knickerbocker disaster. The exhibitors immediately protested, pointing out that the cost of steel curtains is very high and that a considerable time would have to elapse before orders for such curtains could be filled. They asked that they be permitted instead to use asi)est(js curtains and submitted figures from other other large cities throughout the country showing that such curtains arc used extensively. .\s a result of these representations the commissioners suspended the order until next fall, that the theatre owners may have an opportunity to ])resent further arguments and figures in support of their contentions. Zukor's "Quiet Day" Ends with a Fire as Hotel Is Threatened .\dol|)h Zukor. who came to Washington April 22 to spend a quiet day, encountered considerably more excitement than he bargained for. He came to the National Capitol with Will Hays to attend the luncheon given to Judge Landis and in the evening to attend the banquet of the Gridiron Club in the ballroom of the New Willard Hotel. Tired out by the excitement of the two affairs Mr. Zukor after the banquet retired to his room in the New Willard for some much needed sleep, only to be routed out at 6 o'clock the following morning by a bellboy announcing that the hotel was on fire. The fire, which was a bad one, inflicting damage to the extent of $250,000, was confined to the ballroom which the members of the Gridiron Club had vacated only a few hours before, and it was not necessary for the guests to leave the hotel to escape the flames. Because of the fire the M. P. T. O. A. convention will be held at the Washington Hotel. The date is May 8. No Bedroom Scenes in R-C Pictures, P. A. Powers Orders R-C Pictures Corporation announces this week the adoption of a production policy by its general manager. P. A. Powers, which is claimed to be a definite and positive steji towards cleaner pictures. Mr. Powers has abandoned the generalities and issued a particular order which will ap])ly to all future pictures made by R-C. Hereafter, no bedroom scenes in the slightest way suggestive, will be permitted. A General Reorganization This written order, over the signature of Mr. Powers, was issued by Iiim before his return to New York from the R-C Eos Angeles studios, where he has been for the past month, effecting a general reorganization of the production policy of his company. Mr. Powers believes that by adopting this plan R-C will establish the confidence of the American public in its policy of wholesome and clean pictures. It is considered as an expression of good faith, and the publication of this sweeping injunction against offensive screen drama is expected to act as the most i)otent argument ever advanced against the uselessness of censorship. Hodkinson Plans for Exhibitor Convention The W. W. Hodkinson Corporaiton will be well represented at the forthcoming annual convention of the ^E P. T. O. A. in Washington. The Hodkinson organization has one of the most prominent displa}' booths in the Colliseum. In addition to this, plans are under way for a daily exploitaiton feature. Headed by W. W. Hodkinson, the party will include Advertising Manager Foster Gilroy, A. E. Smith, Jr., and Warren W. Lewis. Jacksonville Voters Frown on Open Sundays Jacksonville. 111., will continue without .Sunday picture shows and similar amusements. The complete unofficial returns from Tuesday's election on the subject show that 2.779 men and women voted against Simday shows and but 1.898 for them. The place has been without Sunday shows for many years, the five picture houses remaining closed all day Sunday. With the exception of the Public Library, which is permitted to open for a few hours in the afternoon, the churches are without opposition on Sundays. Nathan Vidaver also Leaves Wid Gunning .'\lmost coincident with the announcement of Ricord Gradwell's withdrawal from Wid Gunning, Inc., it was announced by Nathan Vidaver. the well-known New York attornev. that he had resigned as general counsel for the distributing company. Mr. Vidaver is one of the foremost lawyers of the theatrical and motion picture fields, and is identified as attorney for a number of well known distributors, producers and stars. May Party Planned Invitations are now on the press and will be sent to all New Jersey exhibitors for a big May party. The entire force at the New Jersey exchange of First National Pictures, Inc.. is hard at it. devising wavs and means for a big turnout. Many surpri.ses in the way of unusual innovations are promised. "Si" Fabian ^^onth (the entire month of May) is expected to be the greatest ever. As a consequence of the May party, record-breaking business for the month is expected.