The Moving picture world (January 1926-February 1926)

20 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 2, 1926 Menace of Censorship Looms In Washington Legislature A LAST minute bill introduced by Senator Christensen in the Washington State Legislature provided for thp appointment of a Film Supervision Commission by the governor. This commission would be given power to inspect all films made or sold in the state, basing their fee for this inspection on the length of the film, the rate to be set by them. They would have power to enforce a penalty of $500 fine or 60 days in jail or both, for violation of this section of the bill. Members would be appointed to serve from one to five years respectively, one to be a member of the faculty of the University of Washington, a faculty member from Washington State College, two women and one member appointed at large. No one having any interest or con nection with the film industry would be permitted to become a member of this commission. This commission would refuse the right to show any film condoning or glorifying crime, any display of the commission of murder in its actuality, any scenes of violence, obscenity or anything they deemed would incite minors to crime or moral delinquency. Any film depicting hatred of any country with which the United States is at peace, or anything that would provoke religious or race hatred, anything that would tend to induce disrespect of parents, parenthood or the home. The Northwest Film Board of Trade got in touch with the Hays organization immediately and that body has taken steps to act. Exhibitors and exchanges alike are united to combat this drastic measure. First National Pictures Qet Many Bookings for January FROM all sections of the country bookings are pouring in for January, First National Month, according to reports just received from the Distribution Department of First National. Two weeks before the first of the year, the bookings in firstrun theatres of small cities as well as the key centers far exceeded the mark set by the Sales Department for that date. Many exhibitors have rearranged their programs in order to run a solid month of First National product. An important feature of the month which has aroused keen interest among the managers of theatres is the exploitation contest open throughout January and carrying awards totolling $2,000 for the best exploitation, advertising and publicity in connection with First National Month. Soon after the announcement of the terms of the contest was published, letters began to arrive from exhibitors announcing that they would enter the competition which will be decided by the editors of the trade papers, acting in the capacity of judges. Among the theatres that have booked First National pictures solid during January are the following: Strand, New York, Strand, Brooklyn; State, Minneapolis; Capital, St. Paul; Garrick, Duluth ; Rialto and Strand, Omaha; Princess and Rialto, Sioux City; Liberty, Portland ; Orpheum, Ogden ; Liberty and Strand, Seattle; Liberty, Spokane; Imperial, St. John ; Rialto, Tulsa ; Grand Opera House, Pittsburgh ; Strand, Erie ; Chicago, Chicago; Madison, Peoria; Gaiety, Springfield, 111.; Burns, Colorado Springs; Rialto, Des Moines; Strand, Grand Rapids; Criterion and State, Los Angeles ; Strand, Milwaukee ; Orpheum, Oshkosh ; Strand and Walnut, Cincinnati; Southern and Keith's, Columbus. Leland, Albany; Rialto, Poughkeepsie ; Avon, Utica ; Opera House, Newburgh ; Avon, Watertown ; Strand, Binghamton ; Olympia, Boston; Majestic, Providence; Olynipia, Worcester ; Broadway, Springfield; Olympia, New Bedford; Merrimac Square, Lowell ; Central Square, Cambridge, Mass. ; Olympia, Lynn ; Broadway, Lawrence ; Toole Square, Somerville ; Star, Manchester; Olympia, Brockton; Olympia, New Haven; Proctor's, Yonkers ; Capitol, Reading; Savoy, Wilmington; Opera House, Easton; Colonial, Harrisburg; Washington, Chester; Metropolitan, Washington; Rivoli, Baltimore; State, Dayton; Pantheon, Toledo ; Strand, Akron ; Dome, Youngstown ; Circle, Indianapolis; Main Street, Kansas City; Miller, Wichita; Rialto, Louisville; Majestic, Memphis ; Crescent, Nashville ; Rialto and Tivoli, Chattanooga ; Riviera, Knoxville ; Empire, Mobile; Stanley, Philadelphia; Poli, Bridgeport; Strand, Hartford and Crown, New London. Another Censorship Bill Is Filed in Washington The House of Representatives in Washington, D. C, is considering a second bill providing for federal control of the motion picture industry. Its author is Representative Upsham, Democrat, of Georgia. The author of the previous censorship bill is Representative Swope of Pennsylvania. The Upsham bill stipulates a membership of six censors, with the federal commissioner of education as chairman, to be appointed under civil service rules. Two members would be women. gviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ I Active in Conn* \ 1 /i BIG theatre building program, g 1 backed by the Famotu Player* i § Lasky Corporation, is reported under g § way in Connecticut. New London and g s Hartford are the tcene* of the cor M 1 poration's activities at this time. 1 1 It was definitely announced in New g 1 London that as the State Street Cor | 1 poration the Famous Players-Lasky j g Corporation is interested in the erec g I tion of a theatre to cost $1,500,000. Of | 1 ficials refused to admit they were be 1 S hind the contemplated program in g I Hartford, where a theatre and a fif | 1 teen-story building will be erected on g 1 the site of the Allyn House, which is g 1 to be demolished. 1 1 The New London theatre will be i ■U beautiful in construction and will teat M § 1,550, with provision for the addition of g 1 a balcony if necessary. Plans have not g 1 been completed for the Hartford thea g i tre, but it was announced that it will g i seat 3,000. Another theatre is also p 1 being erected in Hartford at a cost of s I $1,500,000. It will be controlled by~ | g New Jersey interests. g luiiiuiuuiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiuuiiuiiiii: . I I Montreal Men Invade Theatre Field in Rochester, N. Y. BURPEE & WEST OF MONTREAL, a corporation operating a chain of theatres in Canada, announces that plans have been completed for the construction of four community theatres in the City of Rochester, N. Y., to cost in the neighborhood of $L000,000. A 1,700-seat house to cost $225,000 will be built in Dewey avenue, north of Driving Park. Another will be in Monroe avenue, with a seating capacity of 1,400 and a cost of $200,000. Work will begin at once on these two houses, and in the spring construction will start on the other two, according to Maurice West, who was in Buffalo this week booking some big attractions for the new Thurston Theatre which this firm recently opened in Rochester. It is understood that the company may also enter Syracuse. WALRATH INVITED John Walrath, who will retire as mayor of Syracuse, N. Y., on January 1, may become a member of the New York State Motion Picture Commission. It is said that Mayor Walrath has been tendered the position by Governor Alfred E. Smith, but as yet is undecided whether or not he will accept. BOLD THEATRE ROBBERS Thieves are bold when it comes to stealing theatre safes and robbing box offices. Last week Sergeant Roy Hesser and his squad from the detective headquarters captured the driver of an auto truck who was hauling the safe taken from the Knickerbocker Theatre of Lubiner & Trinz on the North Side with the Sunday receipts of the house. Two of his helpers got away, but the safe and $2,200 receipts were turned back to the owners. It took several shots from the policemen to bring the safe robbers to bay. ^^Laugh Month SpeciaP' This Way! Snap Into It-^