The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

646 MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 23, 1924 Upshaw Bill Seeks Dictation of Finances Within Industry REPRESENTATIVE William David Upshaw, Democratic member from the Fifth District of Georgia, has turned his attention, at least for the moment, from prohibition to moving pictures. He has introduced in the House of Representatives a bill to regulate the movies, drawn for him by Canon William Sheafe Chase, of Brooklyn. Following his usual custom, immediately after he dropped his bill into the legislative hopper, Mr. Upshaw hurried to the House press gallery, there to deliver to the newspapermen members his statement detailing the provisions of his bill. He also furnished one copy of a pamphlet form of the bill, appended to which was the following: "Note — The foregoing is tentative and open to modifications. Any changes suggested for the improvement of this bill, before or after its introduction into Congress, may be sent to the author of 'Catechism on Motion Pictures in Interstate Commerce,' the Rev. William Sheafe Chase, D.D., at 481 Bedford avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y." All that the bill does is to assess something like two million dollars a year, more or less, against the industry, furnish a lot of jobs for reformers and politicians, and establish a bureau of education against which alone there is a great deal of opposition. The chairman of the censorship commission would receive a salary of $10,000 a year and the other members $9,000 each. It would have power to "fix prices over all branches of the motion picture industry, similar to that over the meat and poultry business in the Packer Act, enacted by Congress in the summer of 1921, which has been sustained by the Supreme Court of the United States (Stafford vs. Wallace, May 1, 1922)." "The bill does not provide for censorship," Mr. Upshaw's statement continues, "nor for a compulsory investigation before films are permitted to go into interstate commerce. A film may go into interstate commerce without inspection by the commission with a permit granted by the commission upon written description that a duly attested statement that it contains nothing contrary to the laws of the United States, and has never been condemned by any court or motion picture commission. Any film which has been inspected by the commission and found not to violate the provisions of Section 5 of the bill shall receive a license from the commission and a seal to be displayed whenever the film is exhibited." License or permit fees of $10 a reel for the first film and $5 a reel for all copies are provided. There is no charge for scientific, educational, religious or non-standard films. The usual rights of appeal are stipulated. "Limberlost" Finished "A Girl of the Limberlost," considered by some as a very popular title in the book publishing field, is now the title of a motion picture. J. Leo Heehan has finished the direction of it, under the supervision of its famous author, Gene Stratton-Porter, and a print is expected to arrive in New York this week. "Girl of the Limberlost" has broken many precedents in the publishing field for the maintenance of its popularity. On its publication, it jumped into the front rank of best sellers and every year since has been among the most popular books on the store shelves. During the holiday season just passed, its sales were nearly equal to the imposing total it attained during the gift season of the year of its publication. Its total circulation to date, according to figures recently compiled by the publishers, Doubleday, Page and Company, has exceeded a total of 1,750,000 copies. Willis Clark Bright with Warners In line with the announced expansion policy of Warner Bros, comes the statement from the executive offices of this organization that Willis Clark Bright will, effective immediately, assume the responsible position of vice president and comptroller. Mr. Bright will also be a member of the Board of Directors of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. Mr. Bright is peculiarly qualified for his new connection inasmuch as he is by experience familiar with the workings and requirements of the motion picture industry, having been associated in the past with various producing and distributing organizations. In addition to his knowledge of the film business, Mr. Bright has, through his various affiliations in the financial world, a most wide acquaintance and familiarity with business conditions in general and the financial aspect in particular. Approve C. B. C. Title "Pal O'Mine" Has Right Appeal, President Brandt Finds Several questions came to the attention of the C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation concerning the advisability of using "Pal O'Mine" as the title for their latest picture. President Joe Brandt conceived the idea of sending letters to a hundred exhibitors throughout the country. In these he asked them to state their views as to the feasibility of the title from the standpoint of box office value. The majority approved the title as having an unusual appeal, he announces. The results were so favorable that C. B. C. says it has decided to employ the same method in the future with all of the company's new productions. Goldwyn Gives Dinner Samuel Goldwyn, the First National producer, gave a spaghetti dinner on the evening of February 11 at Mori's, in Greenwich Village, as a testimonial to his premier publicist, Harry Reichenbach, who is leaving his organization to join Famous Players-Lasky in a like capacity. Among those present, in addition to the guest of honor and his host, were Dr. A. Giannini of the East River National Bank. Joseph Danenberg of Film Daily, Quinn Martin of the World, Felix Feist of the Joseph M Schenck Productions; Richard A. Rowland, H. O. Schwalbe, William Morgan and Mr Clarke, of Associated First National Pictures, Inc.; F. Mordaunt Hall of the New York' Times, and Victor M. Shapiro, formerly of Pathe and now with Mr. Goldwyn as Mr. Reichenbach's successor. Scenes from the two-reel Century comedy "Quit Kidding," which Universal is releasing during February (Laemmle Month). Buddy Messinger heads a big cast. Arrow-Wilson Contract Arrow has contracted with Ben Wilson Productions for a fifteen-episode serial, "The Days of '49," starring Edmund Cobb and Neva Gerber In addition are Yakima Canuck, champion cowboy of the world, Ruth Royce and Wilbur McGaugh.