Moving Picture World (Aug 1916)

August 19, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Irregularity of the plot. The wblcb is to be 18 feet wide and run back 90 feet to the main building, will probably be on Light street. The main buildup will measure 65 by 121 feet. Quick Work by International. It is reported that many towns and people in the state of .Maryland felt the shock caused by the munitions explosion in New Jersey on Sunday, July 30. If any of these same people were in Baltimore on Monday, July 31, they could have seen what caused it all by going to the New theater, where manager 1.. A. DeHoff was showing the Hearst International News pictures with this feature. The following exchange men from Washington were present at the reopening of the New theater: Fritz B. Whatne, manager of the International Film Service; H. C. Wales, manager of the World Film Corporation, and H. I. Rosefield, Xew York representative of World Film. Bennett Takes Pictures. J. Howard Bennett, former owner and manager of the Xew Pickwick theater, must have felt the call of the camera lately, for he got out his paraphernalia and went around "shooting" scenes and doings during the recent Elks' convention which was held here. He also caught a good bit of the parade. This film was booked by G. L. Wonders, manager of the Wilson theater, Baltimore street, at Gav, for Monday, July 31. All Texas Watching Fort Worth's Battle If Exhibitors Lose Out in Their Fight for Sunday Opening Fear is Expressed Whole State Will Close — The Eleven Houses Doing Business Are Arrested Each Time They Show on Sabbath. By E. E. Belcia, 902 West Second Street, Fort Worth. FORT WORTH, Tex. — In the spring of this year an election was held here to determine if there would be Sunday opening of picture shows. The picture show men won it by about 1,200 majority. Owing to very inclement weather on election day there was not a big vote polled and it is presumed that had there been the majority would have been much larger. After winning the election there were still some of the exhibitors who had cold feet about opening, as the election was not authorized by law and could not be, but was more to find the sentiment of the majority of the people. The business men of Fort Worth noting that matters were getting into such shape as to jeopardize their business also took matters into their own hands a few weeks ago, and after several closed meetings at which nearly all the prominent business men of the city were present it was decided the shows should open, which they did on the first Sunday In July and it is understood the business men of the city are standing benind them solid. One of the shows, the Phillips Egypt, has not yet opened on Sunday. The Strand is also closed on account of fire, but will run on Sunday as soon as reopened. The first picture show Sunday opening case has been tried in Judge Jessie Brown's court. Pierre Levy, manager of the Hippodrome theater, was the first one to be tried. Judge Baskin applied for dismissal on the grounds of the election, but the court ruled the election invalid and the case was then tried before a jury. At first the jury disagreed, but after being out an hour the second time returned a verdict of "Not Guilty" much to the gratification of the majority of those present. As the shows here now have been open five Sundays and there are eleven shows in the city running on Sunday, there is a total of fifty-four cases yet to be tried in Judge Brown's court, and eleven new cases are added each S nday. Much interest is created o\ er the State in Fort AVorth's Sunday opening, because should the shows have to close again it is said that every show in the State of Texas will have to close Sunday, also that the blue laws will be enforced to the letter everywhere, making it impossible to buy cigars, cold drinks, or anything but drugs on Sunday. This law was passed over forty years ago and not much attention has been paid to enforcing it elsewhere except on the picture shows, and the managers feel it is unfair to enforce the law against them 'and not against other lines of business; that if it is enforced a wail them thai I high ■ it enforced everywhere and to the letter so that the legislatur e would not delay longer in repealing i t and passing a more up-to-date act. Altering The Aladdin Manager Simpson Lowers Floor to Sidewalk Level — Other Michigan News. By Frank H. Madison. BAY CITY, Mich. — Manager Simpson of the Aladdin theater, who has been battling with a heating problem, believes he has solved It in a seating scheme which is being Installed while the house is closed six weeks for changes. At present the rear of the floor is five feet higher than the front and is above the sidewalk level. The floor Is to be dropped to the sidewalk level and constructed In the form of an arc with a pitch of three-fourths of .in inch to the foot. The seats at the front will be set so that every patron Views the Herein at the ri^ht angle and there will be no obstruction by the person In front, In addition to this change the capacity will I" doubled by moving the rear end of the building tbll and adding BOO chali In each of the rear corners will be placed balconies which, equipped with heavy run, wicker chair and other lUXUl 14 . « 1 1 1 bi I at a siieht extra charge for partlef, The entire house will be I decorated. Catholic Parishes Active. Qrand Rapldi After making a protei far's Women" at the Orpheum theater, 9 Federation of Catholic Parishes of ; Diocese of Grand Rapids, at its fourth nual convention here, passed a resolun which called for the appointment of littee •-operate ith the i ufacturers of films to procure a higher moral standard of general production and a larger supply of appropriate films for children, for a survey of the motion picture entertainments In the Grand Rapids diocese, each parish appointing a committee to co-operate In the work. Each member of the federation was asked to communicate with the local congressman and urge the support of II R Around the State. Perry. — Charles Taylor now has full possession of the I'eirv opera house, having purchased Mr \\\ man's interest, who had purchased from H. Able. Holland. The Knickerbocker theater. erected here several \ears agO by the illfated Tlemmcn Blagh, will be sold tlon at the courthouse at Grand Haven September 1. Slagh was killed u, a fall n inie he was adju I Ing th< sign on the im u tbeatei Manistee. The steam yacht Dolphin, owned by I>r Kashcr. Chi< man. arrived here 9 Ith the Burr Mclntoah Mm eompanj * board Thii cruising, along the shores of Lake Mlohl which Burr Me gan, takin Intosh plays the leads. Traverse City. — An ordinance has been introduced before the city council calling for the prohibition of Sunday moving picture shows. Iron Mountain. — A. E. Brauns, a merchant of this place, has awarded the contract, for the construction of a moving picture theater, 60 by 120. Grand Rapids. — Motion picture shows in parks have been resumed by C. H. Mills, supervisor of playgrounds. The films are shown in a different park every night and in four weeks make a circuit of the pleas ATLANTA NOTES. ATLANTA, Ga. — The Scenic Film Company of Atlanta, large manufacturers of animated films for advertising purposes, and who hold contracts with practically every theater in Atlanta, is broadening the field of operations. It has appointed D. D. Marcus its representative in Philadelphia, from which point he will cover the entire eastern territory. The company has already secured contracts with picture houses in cities of the east. Here's another picture player to add to the Atlanta list, Miss Thyrza Ware. At present she is spending her vacation with her family in Atlanta. She will return later to Jacksonville, to join Kalem. She has played in a number of pictures put out by that company. Her latest picture was "The Stenographer's Strategy. " She has also appeared with Rose Melville in her famous "Sis Hopkins" films. Miss Ware is a Georgia product. Her early schooling was at the Calhoun and Boulevard grammar schools of the city. She is a graduate of Cox college in voice. She also attended the girls' high school here and Brenau. Joe Marientette, southern manager of the World Film Corporation, with headquarters in Atlanta, is making a business trip through Louisiana and Texas this WISCONSIN. Madison, Wis.— Two small boys have blamed moving pictures for their setting fire to a barn, and the local press Is again agitating the local censorship idea. Mayor Sayle, it is said, refuses to consider the plan of a volunteer censorship board because of the inefficiency which would result after the first enthusiasm has died out. Miss McGovern, chairman of the social service department of the Madison Woman's Club, who is interested in the move, said that the mayor was In favor of a paid board of three members if the common council would authorize It. Sin also said she found the exhibitors to whom she had talked willing to co-operate in every way to improve programs. A petition asking for the creation of a board of censors has been submitted to the mayor. Mrs. Louis Kahlenberg, a prominent club worker, wants a paid board if possible, with one member a woman, but if that is not feasible she wants unpaid censorship with members selected from the leading civic organtaa SOUTH DAKOTA. Mitchell, S. P. Passage of the ordinance prohibiting the Sunday moving picture shows brings the matter within tl l Ince of the state's attorney, and It Is thought that at the fall hues maj he forgotten if a division of the oandldatea upon tins question can be obtained. Sioux Kails A "Girl W bj the Colonial tin. iter, the program ineluding features starring Blllle Burke, Mae Mush. Ruth Roland, ami other young Huron R«y Kamsdell has ;. from G, h Lynda the Lounge theater, which he Owned until tu reopened July 19 Including the installation of a ■. . ■ rn i.\ mi. w in i nneeted with the no .••