The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 1, 1923 Wisconsin Exhibitors Urge Cleaner Productions and Ads 34 Shauer Coming Home E. E. Shauer, director of the foreign department of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, will sail on the Aquitania for New York on September 1st, according to cable advices received by Joseph H. Seidelman, assistant manager of the department. Accompanying Mr. Shauer wilt be Harold Pitman of the company's legal department. During his two months' stay abroad Mr. Shauer visited London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vienna and Budapest, where he inspected Paramount distributing offices. Invention Successful Dispatches from Chicago would indicate that George K. Spoor, head of the Essanay studio, has perfected the third dimension on the screen, which, it is explained, is the application of the theory of the stereopticon to the movies. This invention, which is estimated to have cost the producer over $1,000,000 and occupied seven years of his time, makes the characters in the projected film appear in relief on the screen, as figures and objects appear naturally. Paramount Defense Successful (Continued from preceding page) the standpoint of revenue from other centres, it is advisable to give all pictures their first run in New England in Boston. This practice, he charged, was not universal as it should be. The seven circuits he enumerated include Goldstein Brothers, with thirty theatres; the Olympia circuit, or the socalled Gordon houses, of thirty theatres; Poli with sixteen ; Graphic with fifteen ; Boaz with eight; Lowry with five, and Elm with nine. J. H. Brennan and V. J. Morris, managers respectively of Marcus Loew's two big Boston theatres, The New State Theatre and the Orpheum Theatre, also testified. Mr. Brennan stated that at the State Theatre during the years 1922-1923, he showed forty Paramount pictures, twenty-three Metro productions, twelve First National releases, as well as several others from the studios of prominent producers. During the same period, according to Mr. Morris, out of the seventy feature pictures shown by him at the Orpheum Theatre, thirty were Paramount and eleven were Metro productions. Had Hard Time Getting Films As a contrast to this sort of testimony, two former theatre owners gave some enlightening testimony. J. W. Conn, fromer owner of two small houses, the Sterling Theatre and the Star Theatre, declared that he had a hard time getting films after Black sold out to Famous Players. He admitted, however, under cross examination, that all he needed to run successfully was the product of one well known and recognized producer of pictures, and he said he had been offered fifty-two features by Universal. He charged that finally he had been forced to sell out to the Famous Players-Laskv Corporation for the tidy little sum of $105,000. Cross examination of J. B. Ames of Littleton, N. H., who formerly operated the Park Theatre at Barre, Vermont, brought out some interesting statements. He admitted that he sold out to Black in 1918, but said he continued in Black's employ at his manager. He said his work with Black was to assist in taking over theatres. He was discharged later, he said. All this was in 1918 and 1919. he said, and he testified that on his visits to theatres with Black, the latter showed theatre owners plans of theatres, which he threatened to build if the owners refused to sell out. In this way, Ames said, they acquired theatres in Northfield, Vt., and Morrisville, Vt., at very low prices. A COPY of the resolution urging better pictures and cleaner exploitation, which was adopted at the recent convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Wisconsin, has been forwarded to the leading producers. The resolution follows : "Whereas, the motion picture industry controls by far the most powerful medium of influence over the public in general, since there are in the United -States about 18.000 theatres where motion pictures are shown, as compared to 2.500 daily newspapers and 4.000 public libraries, and since the number of publications of all types, Including daily, triweekly and weekly is more than a thousand less than the number of motion picture theatres, and "Whereas, full recognition is given and appreciation felt for the marked improvement in the moral tone of the pictures produced during the past two or three years, yet having in mind the tremendous influence wielded by the motion pictures, the producers are hereby urged to bear in mind constantly the great responsibility resting upon them as the makers of pictures and the shapers of moral and mental fibre, and to continue to improve the moral tone of their productions and to instill in each picture some thought for the uplifting of American ideals, and "Whereas, the theatre-going public forms its opinions of the pictures it is going to see solely through the mediums of advertising spread before it in the form of newspape'' displays, heralds, posters, slides and photographs, and in view of the fact that the advertising matter used by the exhibitor is prepared by the producer, "Therefore, be it hereby resolved, that producers be urged, by means of this resolution, to watch as zealously the appeals incorporated in their advertising mediums as A. S. Kane, Jr., Doing Publicity "Following in father's footsteps," Arthu.' S. . Kane, Jr., launched this week upon a career in the motion picture industry, joining the advertising and publicity staff of Associated Exhibitors. Mr. Kane was graduated last June from Yale University where he specialized in English. May McAvoy Comes Back to Screen May McAvoy is returning to the screen after an absence of many months in "Her Reputation," a forthcoming Thomas H. Ince production which will be released in September through Asociated First National Pictures. The story is by Talbot Mundy and Bradley King. Lloyd Hughes has the leading masculine role, John Griffith Wray directed under the supervision of Thomas H. Ince. Strike Threatened There will be a meeting Friday, August 24, of the T. O. C. C. to consider demands mad.by New York projectionists for a wage increase. It is predicted that the demands will be refused. The original one was for an additional 50 per cent., but it is said that has been reduced to 25 per cent. A strike may develop. O'Neill Recovering Joseph O'Neill, assistant to Will H. Hays, is convalescing in the country after a month's illness at the French Hospital, New York City. Many members of the industry will rejoice at his return, for "Joe" is one of the most popular film men to paradeFifth Avenue. they do the appeals put forth in the productions they offer the theatres for showing to the families of America." A partial list of those registered at the convention follows: P. L. Waterbury, Idle Hour, Jefferson; J. Hickey, Grand, New London; G. W. Heft. Pastime, Horicon; F. M. Barrus, Gem, Clinton; A. A. Suszyokl, Majestic, Mauston; Otto Anders. Atlas, Milwaukee; Max Krofta, Mozart. Milwaukee; E. A. Accola. Bonham. Prairie du Sac; N. J. Blumberg. Rialto, Racine; H. E. Welsch, Iris. Milwaukee; A. Neis. Shadows, Lodi; C. Beglinger, Majestic, Appleton; J. Winninger, Davidson, Waupun; H. J. Altschwager, Rural, Columbus; W. Jacobs. Lexington. Milwaukee; E. W. Van Norman, Parkway, Milwaukee; J. G. Rhode, Orpheum Co., Kenosha; G. A. Schackow. Bijou. Wausau; J. Silliman, Downer, Milwaukee; Fred Seegert, Regent, Milwaukee; Mrs. F. E. Seegert. Regent. Milwaukee; Tom Foster, Star, Stanley; C. Guelson, Badger. Stoughton; A. P. Desormeaux, Strand, Madison; P. M. Cain. Falls, Sheboygan; Geo. Magee, Magee, Evansville; O. E. Komdat, Gem, Oconto; N. Thompson, Majestic, Wausau; B. C. Brown. Temple, Viroqua; Mrs. J. G. Hey wood, Lyric. Cornell; J. J. Tadysch, Empire, Two Rivers; Otto Bell, Bell, Sparta; G. E. Muier, Unique. Ladysmith; John Koehn, Little Chute, Little Chute; Jack Yeo, Davison. Beaver Dam; B. K. Fischer, Park, Milwaukee; Paul Langheinrich, Burleigh, Milwaukee; C. G. Baumann, Star, Oshkosh; C. G. Baumann. Rex, Fond du Lac; A. C. Gutenberg, Grand. Milwaukee: Eugene Phalen, Allis, West Allis; Mildred Cleland, Bijou, Kaukauna; Leo W. Regez, Palace, Elroy; H. L Karlen, Karlen, Monticello; W. A. Kempen, Rex, Berlin; Rufus Olson, Pastime, Delavan; Alex Rice, Fern, Milwaukee: N. Cohen. 'State, Milwaukee; J. P. Adler, Trio, Marshfield. Carleton Offices Moved Carl Carleton Pictures Corporation moved last week from New York offices at 729 Seventh Avenue to more spacious offices at 505 Fifth Avenue. Carleton will continue to duce on the Coast, but will retain his New York offices. His most recent picture production is "The Flying Dutchman," which the Film Booking Offices are distributing. Production work on William S. Hart in "Wild Bill Hickok," the famous Western star's initial production since his retirement, has been definitely scheduled to start August 20. Hart will produce this and all subsequent Paramount Pictures at the Lasky studio, where he will maintain his own production unit. Whitaker Appointed J. S. Woody, general manager of Associated Exhibitors, announct ; the appointment of V. P. Whitaker as an additional special representative of that organization. Reception for Record Sid Grauman held a big reception at his Hollywood Egyptian Theatre in honor of the 250th performance of "The Covered Wagon," which hangs up a new long-distance record for Southern California and gives Hollywood the honor of showing a picture that for long-distance beats the" record run of any film ever shown in Los Angeles, including "The Birth of a Nation" and "Grandma's Boy." The Mayor of Los Angeles, members of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and numerous Woman's Clubs and civic organizations were the guests of Sid on the anniversary performance. Grauman advertised the week as "Grand Jubilee Week."