Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

382 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Jul) 20, 1918 #G^O>>?9 cSKSi*8?* ^^ ?5s<tS>C>5?5C5>OsO 4 77i£ Motion Picture Exhibitor iMtsajttfu^t ^ mmuwmM^^m.^s^IMmm MU^MiMiMn^gTMnga:^ Maine Exhibitors Choose Delegates Also Hold Annual Election of Officers, at Which A. S. Black Again is Made President. THE annual meeting of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of Maine was held at the Elmwood Hotel, Waterville, July 2, with twenty members present. The meeting was held for the purpose of choosing delegates to the national convention which is to be held in Boston and also to discuss matters for the future good of the organization. This was the sixth meeting since the organization in June, 1917. The officers elected were: President, A. S. Black, Rockland; secretary, J. M. Goodwin, Hallowell; treasurer, S. Hanson of Camden. The delegates elected to attend the national convention were W. B. Williamson, Augusta; A. S. Black, Rockland; J. M. Goodwin, Hallowell; S. Hanson, Camden; S. W. Wing, Fairfield; J. F. Euglev, Waterville. The alternates were H. Stitham, Pittsfield ; \Y B Gray, Lewiston; W. E. Reeves, Portland; P. P. Peakes, Milo, and G. P. Churchill, Fort Fairfield. St. Louis After Next ) ear's Convention League and Chamber of Commerce Will Send Boosters to Boston Session. ST. LOllS will -end a delegation of more than thirty exhibitors to Boston to the National Convention to plead for the holding of the 1919 convention in St. Louis. The film men will be led by Joseph Mogler, president of the Missouri Exhibitors' League and the St. Louis organization, and by Manager Louis Stephens of the Juniata Theater, secretary of the League. The delegation will represent at least twenty towns in the State and will hold proxies for at least forty others. The Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis has also agreed to send at least two delegates with the motion picture men to make a plea for St. Louis in the convention city bidding and the St. Louis Convention Bureau will also send a delegate to the work of seeking the convention. The St. Louis delegation has selected the Copley-Plaza Hotel as headquarters in Boston and will make a strenuous light for the next meeting. Would Prohibit Theater Opening Before 6.30 Report That Governor of Idaho Threatens Such a Measure Stirs Exhibitors. HERMAN J. BROWN, theatrical man controlling houses in Boise, and also president of the Idaho State Exhibitors' League, calling at the Universal Salt Lake office recently, said that there is a big fight now on to head off a measure which threatens to put a serious handicap on the exhibitors of Idaho. Governor Alexander threatens a measure to prohibit the opening of any theaters in the state before 6.30 p.m. during the war. All members of the exhibitors league, recently meeting at Pocatello, went on record as strongly opposed to such a measure, which they deem as emphatically unjust. Before leaving for home Mr. Brown was assured by Gus Hager, manager of the Universal exchange, that his organization would be glad to give the Idaho Exhibitors' League all the co-operation possible in their effort to head off its passage. A. B. Hager, manager of the Rex Theater, Idaho Falls, Idaho, was elected secretary of the league at the Pocatello meeting. NEW JERSEY LEAGUE ELECTS DELEGATES. At a meeting of the New Jersey branch of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League, held in Newark on June 28, the following delegates to represent that branch at the Boston convention wen elected: Dr. Charles Hespe, John G. Crawford, Walter 11. Meier, John Collins, Louis H. Blumenthal, 11. 11. Wallenbrench. The president was authorized to select two others to complete the delegation. The members present adopted resolutions opposing increased admissions and the footage tax. The meeting also declared in favor of the National League taking charge of all Liberty Loan, Red Cross and other drives so that the Government and the public may see what the industry is doing. Rolfe Re-enters Manufacturing Field Will Make Eight Special Features a Year, But First Will Produce Serial With Houdini. IT has been known for some time that B. A. Rolfe, long a producer of motion pictures, had disposed of his various cinema connections and intended re-entering the field of screen drama at the head of a new company. Further speculiation is set at rest by Mr. Rolfe's first authentic intimation to the public and the trade of his future plans. "I have formed what will be known as Rolfe Productions, Inc., to produce only high-class pictures, and these only with established Btars who are among the best in the firmament of screendom," said Mr. Rolfe. "We propose making eight of these super-specials a year, and will offer several policies in their manufacture and distribution that I believe will have a most positive appeal. "But preceding the making of these special features we will engage in the making of a serial exploiting Houdini, an announcement that should prove of special interest to the industry and the public. 1 intend devoting all of my personal attention to the production of tins important serial, which, I believe, will be an epoch-making one. "The authors of the Houdini serial are leaders in the world of scenario writers. They are Arthur B. Reeve and Charles A. Logue, both of whom have to their credit such serial successes a The House of Fear,' 'The Clutching Hand,' 'Exploits of Elaine,' etc. There will lie, ten episodes, and work will begin about July 15. I cannot announce the complete cast yet, but it will be a notable one. I or the first special feature Miss Florence Reed has been signed. We intend completing the serial and the first special in the East. After that the company will move to California, where the winter will be devoted to other features." Coming League and Other Exhibitors' Conventions (Secretaries Are Requested to Send Dates and Particulars Promptly) National Convention Moving Picture League of America at Boston July 16 to 18 American Exhibitors' Association, Business Convention Week August 20