Variety (March 1908)

14 V A RI E T y >' . .1M^ FOREIGN FILM MAKERS COMBINE TO PRESS FIQHT. . <° -i.>< ■^^ International Convention Subscril>e8 $15,000 Fund to Prosecute Stru8:gle in American Market. ^or^ign film makers have put under Way an aggressive concerted movement to protect their interests in the American moving picture market. News was re- ceived by the Edison opposition through (ieorge Kleine of Cliicago this week that a convention of European makers had met in Paris and subscribed a "war fund" of $15,400 to be spent in a campaign to exploit the American field. Mr. Kleine's information was contained in the following letter from the Kine- matograph Manufacturers' Association of Great Britain: "On Monday, March 9, in Paris, at the Hotel Continental, was held the first meeting of an International Convention of Manufacturers of Moving Pictures, at- tended by all the principal European film makers. ."The business was to consider the dis- turbance in the American film market created by the action of a trust formed by certain American manufacturers with the object of excluding European films. "The arrangements effected by the American importers in conjunction with the American Mutoscope & Biograph Company of New York to maintain a full supply of films and to protect the users from any of the pretentions of the Edi- son combination, were unanimously ap- proved. "An International Committee consist- ing of two English, three French and two Italian manufacturers was elected to take any steps which they may think neces- sary to protect the interests of European film producers. The committee was fur- ther charged to prepare additional infor- mation to be laid before another conven- tion to be held in London shortly. "For the purposes of the campaign the sum of $15,400 was instantly subscribed by the manufacturers present at the table. . . ., x^, ^__ i^,^-^ .^ "Subsequently the Kinematograph Manufacturers' Association of Great Britain, who promoted the convention, en- tertained their Continental confreres at a banquet." SAY FILM INFRINGES ON COPYRIGHT An interesting point is involved in the suit brought a few days ago by Klaw & Erianger and Harper Brothers against the Kalem Company, of 131 West Twenty- fourth street, to secure an injunction pre- venting the further manufacture and sale of a moving picture subject showing cer- tain points in the story of "Ben Hur." The film has long since outlived its use- fulness, having been first made in Decem- ber, and the Kalem Company had no idea of ever employing it again. No damages are demanded by the plaintiffs. The main point is that Harper Brotliers seek to have a moving picture film de- clared to be a dramatic presentation and therefore subject to the restrictions of tho copyright covering books and plays. Mr. Marron, of the Kalem Company, said this week: "It must be clear to any- one who is familiar with past litigation that a moving picture film is neither a book nor a drama, but is a photograph, coming clearly under the provisions of the copyright law, which provides protection for photographs. When I was with the Biograph Company we made a determined effort to have the Librarian of Congress recognize a moving picture as a drama in order that we might have protection of dramatic copyright to guard against such reposing as was done in 'Ftersonal,* but the Librarian after careful investigation decided moving pictures were plainly pho- tographs and hence we must look to pho- tographic copyright for protection." The Kalem Company has nothing to lose in the present case, "Ben Hur" being disposed of ,but in the interest of the general trade it will defend the suit. Should such a point be decided against the moving picture manufacturers it would be impossible to reproduce scenes from any copyrighted book or dramatic per- formance without consent. The Kalem Company has retained Kerr, Page & Cooper, a leading firm on copy- right law, to represent it in the action. The matter will come up for hearing in the United States Circuit Court in New York April G. MAYOR ISSUES ORDERS. Columbus, March ID. Mayor Bond, after a conference with State Fire Marshal S. D. Creamer, and Chief of the Fire Department in regard to the picture theatres in Columbus, called upon the ma«*'vg?r£: of the thfvtre? fo' a conference and directed that rear exits be made at once. The Mayor further issued an order that when the seating capacity of the house is sold out no more admissions shall be sold, and standing room shall not be al- lowed; also, every person entering the theatre must be provided with a seat. LOOKING FOR INFORMATION. Omaha, Neb., March 19. A Kansas City film concern has ad- dressed a letter to the mayors of Nebraska cities asking for information to help along business. The same plan followed all over the country, if the communications were complied with generally, would give the Kansas City company a valuable list. The letter reads like this: "City Clerk. "Dear Sir: On this letter please furnish the ntimes of partlra conductlnjf movinjc picture Khowa in your city, or if there are no moving picture b)iow8 being operated in your town kindly adviatt on this vauic nhoet. **We are endeavoring to obtain the names of all moving picture operatora ao that we can write to them to secure their business. "If you do not know the names of all please fiirniah as many as you can, and advise accu- rately the number of shows of this kind in your city. "Thanking you in advance for this kindness, w remain, yours truly, OPPOSING WITH SAME PICTURES. A somewhat peculiar condition is evi* dent on East Fourteenth Street; where the Unique, generally credited to be the model simon-pure moving picture place of tjiis country, if not the world, is competing with Keith-Proctor's Union Square The- atre for the patronage of the vicinity. Both are determined to have none but the newest and latest films obtainable from the Edison side of the factional pic- ture fight, and as both houses patronize the Edison manufacturers, the "first run" or newest films are generally the same in both houses during the week. There is much spenilation as to how long the condition will endure, the simi- larity of the views not working to the advantage of either place in the struggle for patronage, STUDENTS WRECK THEATRE. Ann Arbor, March 19. A demonstration which ended in a riot took place at the Star (B. Reynolds, Mgr.) last Monday night, when 1,000 students of the University of Michigan raided the picture house, smashing windows and fix- tures. A score of students were landed in jail, but the theatre was put out of business. POPULATION 18,000; SIX SHOWS. The only known excuse for existence that Hattiesburg, Miss., has is that it breaks the railroad jump into and out of New Orleans for one-night stand compa- nies. Its population is about 18,000, di- vided about equally between whites and negroes. An agent for one of Gus Hill's compa- nies, W. D. Norton, got off the train there last week and inquired from a "picka- ninnie" at the depot the way to the the- atre. "Which one yo' want?" asked the urchin. "Des seben." Norton investigated this ..jieD/jntJiiJDal. statement. Upon arriving in the centre of the town he found seven electric signs blazoning forth on a single block with the word "Theatre." Six were picture shows, all showing evidences of prosperity. The seventh was the opera house. 'Secy, and Treas." Rivers and Rochester open at Winni- peg March 30. They have fourteen weeks on the Sullivan-Considinc Circuit. CORRECTION. The Lake Shore Film and S'upply' Com- pany, a film rental concern of Cleveland, makes the following statement, which is published in justice to the company: "The article published in your issue of March 7, inasmuch as it states that this concern is being operated by an assignee, has done us considerable harm. We have been deluged with inquiries ever since as to whether it is a fact. "We wish to state emphatically that this company has never been operated by an assignee, and is not at the present time. This business depends a great deal on the reliability of the concern, and people do not wish to negotiate with a concern operated by an assignee. "Exhibitors do not want to make changes every day, and at the present time there is a great uneasiness among them owing to the conditions that exist in the mov- ing picture business. On this account we believe we have been injured to a great extent by this publication." BALTIMORE'S BIG NEW HOUSE. Baltimore, March 10. ^ According to report, there is to be a moving picture theatre, with a seating capacity of 2,000, erected at Baltimore and Gay streets, with a side on Custom House avenue. Pearce & Sheck, local pro- moters, are handling the enterprise. They say that Cohen, Hartz & Gebhardt will manage the theatre when completed. Mr. Gebhardt has a one-third interest in the property. Mr. Sheck stated this week the plans of the building had not yet been made. ^-' "." ' •'"' ''''- '■ ^■ ■.'■■-.' -.' •■;•'■■■;■ Pearce & Sheck have opened a house near Lubin's, on Baltimore street, and have three others on the main thorough- fare of the town. Miles Bros., of New York, also have a picture place in Lubin's vicinity. ■;,■.;;; .. •/•;•:•:.'•■:.• ■•.■•■ It is reported that $7,500 has been of- fered for the lease of the store just west of Lubin's. Another store on the east of the same house is rumored to start pic- tures soon. . . , There are twenty moving picture places in the city, all opened during this season. PRESS AGENT FOR PICTURES. Npw Orleans, March 19. • II. L. Massy of St. Louis, is in charge of the Shubert, where moving pictures are being presented. Mr. Massy was for- merly a newspaper man and also connected with some of the big circuses of the country. J. Martin Railey, also from St. Louis, will act as press representative for the house, devoting his time exclusively to that department. NEW LIGHTING SCHEME. The Nickoland Company, which Jos. F. Driscoll controls, operating three stores in Greater New York, is experimenting with a new lighting scheme for its picture places. .^ With the consent of the municipal au- thorities having this under their direction, Mr, Driscoll has installed a number of small arc lights in his elaborately fitted up show place at lG2nd Street and Third Avenue. The lights are imbedded in the wall, directly above and along the aisles. A re- flector throws a steady stream of light downward, and while not securing any flood light effect which would interfere with the pictures on the sheet, the cus- tomary dinginess of the theatre caused by the absence of any but exit lights is dis- pelled. As far as the experiment has proceeded it has proven very successful, says Mr. Driscoll. His patrons are pleased with the'result of the brightening up process. When the success of the idea shall have been finally established, Mr. Driscoll will instal a similar system in his other places. Small enclosed candles were tried at first, but the flickering flame, with other disadvantages, caused the substitution of the electrics. Mr. Driscoll is of the opinion that with the future development of the business, there will come a shadowed lighting scheme, from colored glass lined walls, which will give a soft, dim flood to an entire auditorium, without in any way de- tracting from an exhibition. i Frank V. Seymour and Emma Hill are partners once again. They will play Lon- don during the summer.