The Moving picture world (May 1922)

144 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 13, 1922 High Spots in the Week i News THE M. P. T. O. A. meets for its third annual convention on May 8. Nobody can predict what will develop, for the biggest internal fight in the history of the organization is on without any apparent chance of arbitration untU the exhibitors themselves take a hand in it and settle it, it is hoped, decisively. E. T. Peter, a member of the M. P. T. O. A. board of directors, a former treasurer and manager of the "Movie Chats," is the latest to come out against Sydney S. Cohen's third term candidacy. Cohen prefers his cabinet, Mr. Peter sa\'s, to consist of "yes" men, a band leader, a "flunky" and a court jester. The prediction is generally made that the convention will be about as peaceful as a boiler factory. * • * New York State is 100 per cent against Cohen, for the latter's underhanded attempt to have C. L. O'Reilly and Sam Berman impeached for disloyalty brought about a boomerang in the form of a resolution condemning Cohen. The Rochester group, which preferred the charges, declared that it acted at the instigation of Cohen and gladly withdrew the charges. * * ♦ R. S. Cole resigns the presidency of R-C Pictures Corporation and affiliated companies. This action has been anticipated since P. A. Powers became managing director, as it has been known that Mr. Cole desired to retire from the film business. * • • Because he conducts picture shows in the church and officiated at a bathing suit wedding, the Rev. Thomas J. Irwin may be relieved of the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church, Lawton, Okla. He comes up before the El Reno Presbytery for trial on May 9. Recent attempts to destrov the picture outfit failed. Once the minister shot at a man he found lurking around the church. * * * A monster benefit performance for Reardstown. 111., flood suff'erers will be put on by L. W. Goodell, local exhibitor, as soon as the waters recede sufficiently. St. Louis exchangemen have promised a program gratis. Goodell's Princess and Gem theatres are still surrounded by water. * * * St. Louis theatres will be without music all this summer, it appears. The contract with the musicians expired May 1 without a renewal, the exhibitors' request for the submission of a new wage scale being ignored. About 260 musicians are affected. By SUMNER SMITH Internal Revenue figures show that the sections of the country which have most felt the 1921 depression were the first Illinois, Massachusetts and second New York. Reports of taxes collected on admissions and dues show a decrease of nearlv $3,000,000 in the past fifteen months. But that was in 1921. The present year has begun in a most promising way, Elmer Pearson, Pathe general manager, assures us. Other keen students of business conditions are in agreement with him, as their opinions, printed in Moving Picture World, have shown from time to time. And just before press time along comes a statement showing that the March admission tax collections exceed by $400,000 those for the preceding month. That evidence is indisputable. * * * If criticisms are to be believed, the loss of prestige of American films in some foreign countries isn't alone due to the high exchange rate. ChUi reports that foreign films are gaining rapid headwav because of their "wider scope." A good foreign picture costs the Chilean importer about $400, while an American picture of similar or better quality costs him $800. * * * Rupert Hughes has renewed his contract with Goldwyn for a term of 3'^ears. The contract provides for perfect understanding, with never even a mild disagreement, between the author, the director and the editor of future Hughes pictures. The solution to the mvsters'? Mr. Hughes will write, direct and edit. * • * It was a "High Spot" in Mrs. Mary Carr's life when, on Easter Sunday, President and Mrs. Harding entertained her and her six children at the White House. Quite a few years ago the famous mother of "Over the Hill" gave up the legitimate stage in Philadelphia to be a mother in actual life. It was hard for her to shelve her theatrical ambitions but she felt it her duty. "Aren't you sorry vou did?" an actress asked her a few voars ago. "No." said Mrs. Carr. "for I have my six children." Then a kindly fate gave her the opportunity to trv motion picture work. Her success in "Over the Hill" has been remarkable. "Happy?" savs Mrs. Carr. "Why. I have mv children and my theatrical success, too!" * * * The gentle art of thuggery is attracting the most attention in New York City and its exponents are in the limelight, if newspapers are to be believed. But what sort of people, the country over, are most largely in the public eye? Jack Eaton, producer, nominates those in sports — Tilden, Richards, Babe Ruth, Dempsey, Hutchinson — and who cares to dispute him? For two years Eaton has been producing the Sport Reviews, with Grantland Rice collaborating, and he ought to know. * * * It is claimed for the State Theatre, opened in Jersey City on April 24. that it is the first communitv-owned theatre in the world which is operated under a membership plan. The fortunate ones will have free life-time admissions twice weekly to both the State and the Capitol United Theatre, the latter vet to be built. The State Theatres Corporation will control both houses. * * • A rather mercenary business man was being tutored in golf when a ball struck him on the head. Turning around, he shouted at the responsible party, "I'll sue you for $10,000." "Didn't you hear me crv 'Fore?' " inquired the offender. "All right, I'll take it," compromised the injured one. All of which is apropos of nothing except that the spring film golf season opens May 25 with a tournament at the Oak ' Ridge Golf Club. The frenzied cries of the trout fishermen are growing weaker, so from now on all eyes will be focused on he who whacks the little white globule. * * * Worthy of use bv the exhibitor fighting reformists is the speech of the Rev. Dr. W. L. Sullivan, Baltimore, summarized in this issue, on motion picture censorship. Censorship menaces public liberty, he said in a Sunday night address. * • • If we are to believe prognosticators. radio will soon be locking the door and putting the cat out at night. There isn't anything, it seems, that radio can't do. Its potentialities are enormous, to use a perfectly good publicity adjective. L. C. Porter, president of the Sociefv of Motion Picture Engineers, is the latest to offer a new way of exploiting radio. Why not motion picliirrs bv radio, he asks, continuing. "Today pictures are being transmitted by radio. It is but one step from the transmission of one picture to the t'->nsmission of a series of pictures which, ioined together, make a moving picture."