The Moving picture world (May 1922)

376 MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 27, 1922 Three St. Paul Men Indicted for Sale of International Church Film Stock FOLLOWING charges of illegal sales of stock in the International Church Film Corporation of Minnesota, three St. Paul men were indicted last week in Minneapolis. They are Anthony P. Da Pron and his two sons, Anthony P. Da Pron and H. Hal Da Pron. The last pleaded not guilty and was released on $2,000 bond. The others are to be arraigned later. The complaint states that stock in the corporation was sold to ministers, edu'cators and others having a leaning toward religious pictures. About $30,000 was obtained from Minnesota investors in this way, according to the allegations. The Da Prons, according to the complaint, organized the Minnesota corporation and voted themselves $100,000 worth of stock in return for a contract they held with the International Church Film Corporation of Delaware to exhibit its pictures in Minnesota. Upon this showing, the Minnesota State Securities Commission refused them permission to sell stock in the state. The commission demanded, also, that the Da Prons return $75,000 worth of the stock they are alleged to have received and place the other $25,000 in trust until the company had earned 10 per cent, dividends for three years. They then withdrew their application to sell stock, but continued its distribution, collecting as they went, the state alleges. The Da Prons contend that they performed their services according to agreement, but that the enthusiasts for religious pictures held onto their quarters while their pictures were being put over. Minneapolis Showman Wins Court Order Restraining Picketing of His Theatre FIVE years of litigation came to a victorious conclusion for John J. Campbell, proprietor of the Wonderland Theatre, Minneapolis, when the Minneapolis Trades and Labor Assembly voted last week to comply with the order of the Minnesota Supreme Court affirming the lower courts in restraining picketing in front of the theatre. In May, 1917, Mr. Campbell, who operates a small house in the transient district of Minneapolis, down on Washington avenue, discharged his union operator and assumed the work himself to curtail expenses. His place was immediately bannered by the unionists. Campbell fought the case out in the district court and won. Four local labor leaders were ordered to pay $125 each as damages. This they refused to do and went to jail. Upon their appeal to the supreme court, they were released. The supreme court held that the men could be jailed for contempt of court and that the picketing could be restrained, but ruled that the amount of loss Campbell sustained was not shown. The assembly voted to pay $100 in attorney fees for the contempt case and $120.75 for the main case. The supreme court decision is expected to set a precedent that will be followed in several picketing cases now pending. Falling Theatre Roof Hurts Sixteen Persons Sixteen persons were injured, two of them seriously, and a score of others escaped injury when part of the roof of the Majestic Theatre, 1217 Fifth avenue, Pittsburgh, collapsed May 15. It is extremely fortunate that there were only a few people in the house at the time of the accident. Public Safety Director McCandless then ordered the closing of the Pearl Theatre, nearby, until it could be examined. It is likely that he will order the Majestic torn down, as the building is old and was formerly used as a church. Abo Against Peggy Joyce The M. P. T. O. A. resolution that no pictures featuring Peggy Joyce should be shown on the screen is received sympathetically by the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors. Inc., according to Courtland Smith, Will H. Hays' secretary, and it is not likely that any members of the organization will sign a contract with her. Mr. Ince to Produce for Mr. Ince THOMAS H. INCE announced on his return from Washington to New York that he is not to produce pictures for Warner Brothers, and that he will produce only for Thomas H. Ince. This is in denial of a report circulated in Washington and published in good faith in our issue of last week. Lesley Mason to Do Editing, Titliftg and Film Reconstruction A distinct service to the industry will be performed by Lesley Mason, for seventeen months First National's director of trade paper publicity, who on June 1 will open an office at room 511, 729 Seventh avenue, New York City, for the reconstruction of pictures to pass censor boards, the preparation of European pictures for the American market, the editing, titling and cutting of film. Mr. Mason has a thorough knowledge of every branch of the industry, having served for four years as editor-in-chief of the Exhibitors Trade Review and for the previous two and one-half years as managing editor of the Motion Picture News. His knowledge of picture technics was not alone gained in this country, for in 1920 Mr. Mason made a four-months' survey of film conditions in England, Italy, France, Sweden and Germany. The trip made him many friends among foreign producers. He is exceptionally well known to Americans. Houdini Wins Suit Judge Delehanty and a jury in the -Supreme Court, New York County, has given Houdini a verdict for $32,795.18 against Benjamin A. Rolfe, of Rolfe's Musical Revue, Harry Grossman and Octagon Films, Inc. The sum represents one-half of the profits of the "Master Mystery" in which Houdini was starred, up to September, 1919. Hays to Speak Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., will speak before the students of Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, on Friday, May 26th. The address by I\Ir. Hays will be one of the features celebrating Campus Week at Carnegie, scheduled for May 24, 25, 26 and 27.