The Moving picture world (November 1922-December 1922)

840 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 30, 1922 Hays Gives Arbuckle Chance to Come Back; Protests Raised WILL HAYS in allotting his Christmas presents did not overlook the unhappiest and most repentant man in the film industry. He injected the true Christmas spirit in his offerings by "forgiving and forgetting." He presented Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle with a real man's gift to a repentent sinner. He boldly challenged the public and announced he had "given Arbuckle a chance to make good." But he supplemented this announcement with the statement that this action did not constitute a reinstatement. "The public will decide," he commented in Los Angeles late this week. "Mr. Arbuckle repents and has learned his lesson. He is entitled to a fighting, chance. And permission to make the best of this chance is hereby given him. The public will give the verdict." And that great jury — the public — is already deliberating. What the ultimate verdict will be time alone will decide. However, there was jubilation and condemnation. The clergy seemingly arose as a unit in opposing Hays' move. But that action did not come unexpectedly, for it was anticipated on the Coast that with Hays' announcement, would come attacks from the "reformers." Jesse Lasky of Famous Players Corporation, on the Coast, issued a statement in which he said that that firm had no intentions of releasing any of the completed "Fatty" Arbuckle pictures that it has shelved since the Virginia Rappe incident. Joe Schenck, Fatty's pal, who has been caring for him since he was literally stripped of every cent he possessed in the world, is standing by the comedian, and will take advantage of Hays' proposition by giving Arbuckle a "fighting chance" and putting up the money to finance his productions. The show world, in general, received Hays' announcement enthusiastically. There was not a single actor or actress in NewYork who did not rejoice with the comedian. But in other quarters opinion was divided. Representative officials of exhibitor organizations did not comment on the press reports, most of them preferring to wait. Others agreed with Hays that "any man is entitled to a fighting chance," but they did not care to be quoted or to make publicly known their identity. Just what concern will release the proposed new Arbuckle films has not been made public, but one thing is certain and that is with Joe Schenck piloting him. Fatty will get a hearing, for Joe is the sort who finishes what he starts. However, as Will Hays announced, "the public will decide." The first indication that forces other than producers and distributors may decide the fate of Fatty came on Thursday when the Federation of Women's Clubs for the Los Angeles district met and adopted a motion indorsing its previous stand taken shortly after the arrest of the comedian in San Francisco, in opposing his return to the screen. Mr. Hays comment, prior to leaving Los Angeles for New York to spend his holidays with his family, said that Arbuckle had "gone straight" and promised to con tinue. The spirit of Christmas, he added was not the least factor in the decision. Mayor Shanks of Indianapolis, and Mayor Lodge of Detroit, according to press despatches, ordered the chief of police of their respective cities not to allow Arbuckle films to be shown. The Milwaukee Federation of Ministers also opposed the return of Arbuckle to the screen. Just what the attitude is in other sections of the country was not clear at press time. Cohen on Arbuckle Case Exhibitors Discharged By Wire to MOVING PICTURE WORLD Cleveland, Dec. 2\. All exhibitors except one, arrested violating the Blue Laws, were discharged on account of a lack of evidence. "Telegrams coming to the national office of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America indicate general opposition to the return of Arbuckle to the screen. We are now awaiting a more general expression of opinion in this relation, as the same is being obtained from the public by Theatre Owners in different states and districts." Telegrams Indicate "General Opposition" to Actor's Return to Screen Sydney S. Cohen has issued the following statement : "We at the national headquarters of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America were much surprised to learn of Will H. Hays' move to reinstate Roscoe ("Fatty") Arbuckle as a motion picture actor, as the same was revealed in the articles from Los Angeles in the newspapers today. "As Theatre Owners, having the only direct contact with the public, we know of no new developments to change the minds of the people on the Arbuckle situation. As the public alone constitute the judges of what should or should not appear on the screens, the American people will determine whether or not they want Arbuckle films. No act of any official can make up the public mind in this matter. Schnitzer Returns J. L Schnitzer, vice-president of the Film Booking Offices of America, returned to the home office this week from a trip to the R-C studios in California. Mr. Schnitzer accompanied P. A. Powers, F. B. O. managing director, to the Coast on a tour of inspection. Mr. Powers will remain at the studios for the time being, and will line up productions for the next year's schedule for F. B. O. Departments Moved The advertising, art and publicity departments of Select Pictures Corporation, tor the past year or so located in the Hooven Building, U? W. 46th street. New York City, have been moved to the Select home offices on the fourteenth floor of 729 Seventh .•\ venue. Los Angeles Is Logical Production Center, Says First National THE executive committee of Associated First National Pictures, Inc., officially ended their Los Angeles meeting on Thursday, December 14, and President Robert Lieber, Secretary-Treasurer H. O. Schwalbe, General Manager Richard A. Rowland and Moe Mark have left for New York. Messrs. A. H. Blank and E. V. Richards have returned to their respective homes in Des Moines and New Orleans. Sam Katz is remaining in Lot Angeles for a few days in order to enjoy a short vacation. Before disbanding the First National officials gave forth the following statement : "We have carefully gone over the entire production situation in Los Angeles, both with respect to our company and others. We have satisfied ourselves that Los Angeles is the logical production center of the universe and we have decided that the majority of our pictures will be made in this dty. "A great many independent stars, Erectors and producers have submitted propositions to us, many of which are under serious consideration and a few of which have already been accepted. "We have decided, however, that we will not make any statement of our new acquisitions until we return to our home office in New York. "The outlook for the future of our company, both from a distributing and exhibition standpoint, is exceedingly bright. We have lined up for our 1923-24 season the greatest number of box office attractions ever assembled under one company's banner. "We want every independent star, director and producer to know and appreciate that Associated First National Pictures, Inc., has been and always will be, principally a distributing and exhibiting company and will always be receptive to making contractorial relations for high class film productions."