Variety (May 1908)

VARIETY 11 MOVING PICTURE NEWS AND REVIEWS CLAIM IMPORTANT VICTORY. The Film Service Association issues a bulletin this week giving information of what is claimed to be a sweeping victory for the Edison licensees. It is a decision in the United States Circuit Court of Illinois restraining Chris Rolandsen, a Chi: cago exhibitor, from displaying moying pictures infringing upon the Edison patents. From the association circular it appears as though the decision were a bona fide test case, but the Biograph .people assert the decision was granted to the Edison people by default of Ronaldsen's appear- ance in court, and that the court did not consider or pass upon the validity of the Edison patents, nor enter into a con- sideration of the merits of the different claims at issue. "The defendant, Rolandsen," said H. M. Marvin, vice president of the Biograph Company, "was sued by the Edison Com- pany, together with a number of other Chicago exhibitors. He consulted a lawyer and this attorney advised, that, inasmuch as the object of the Edison Company was to force him to use films under Edison license rather than to collect damages, it would be as well to come into the Edison camp without contest. "Rolandsen thereupon agreed to take an Edison service, and did not enter a de- fense to the complaint filed against him in court. In this way he was considered by the court to,have confessed judgment, and a decision was entered automatically against him without the merits of the case being gone into at all. To all in- tents and purposes and in fact this de- cision leaves the litigation between the Edison people and 'the independents' just where it was before. It has no bearing on the matter either way." The association bulletin says: "The Edison Company has instituted suits against all makers and users of unlicensed films. One of these suits, that of the Edison Company against Chris Rolandsen, in which a bill of complaint was filed March 16, 1908, has been determined fa- vorably to the Edison Manufacturing Company, and a decree has been entered in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois, East- ern Division." The statement goes on to recite some of the text of the decree, in effect a repe- tition of the bill of complaint, and con- cludes: "It is desired to call the attention of all moving picture buyers and exhibitors to tliis decree in order that every one shall be properly advised as to the prob- able outcome of the suits which have been or will be filed by the company against in- fringers, and of the intention of the com- pany to press all suits to a conclusion as rapidly as possible." MORE PICTURES. Washington, April 30. The policy changed at the Majestic this week from melodrama and musical shows to moving pictures, with a supporting '►ill of vaudeville acts. The house is under the management of F. W. West- ern. Two shows are given daily at an *idmi9sion of 10 rents. Boxes command 25 cents. CINCINNATI SEES WAR CLOUDS. Cincinnati, April 30. "The Post" a few days ago devoted a column and a half of space to a highly colored article concerning what it was pleased to term a prospective "theatrical war, bigger than the world has ever seen," in which the moving picture exhibitors and popular price amusement promo tors "will presently lock horns." The item is inspired by the opening of the Lyceum as a moving picture show and the announcement that Heuck's Opera House and the Grand will inaugurate the same policy within a few weeks. The Ly- ceum and Heuck's are links in the Stair & Havlin chain. In the course of its observations on this phase of the theatrical situation, the au- thority for which is "a New York man- ager, now in Cincinnati," "The Post" de- clares that the invasion of moving picture shows has cost the Stair & Havlin cir- cuit "hundreds of thousands of dollars this year." In conclusion the New York manager is quoted as saying: "The Nickelodeon managers have their own backers and declare that while such a war would mean a big reduction in profits for them, all they have to do is to sit tight and wait. When the regular season starts again they will have to play legitimate shows and then nickel vaude- ville will be without opposition again for eight months. In other words, if the bat- tle is not won in three or four months the theatres will have to give it up." PICTURE TRAVELS "INCOGNITO." The moving picture series entitled "The Goebel Tragedy, or the Trials of Caleb Powers," is a product of the S. Lubin (Philadelphia) studios, although that man- ufacturer's name does not appear on the screen. After the negative was. finished Lubin disposed of the whole product to Carl Laemmle, a renter of Chicago, who has put it on the market under his own name. When the reel was exhibited at the Unique, New York, the Lubin name ap- peared through an inadvertence. No rea- son has been advanced for the curious transaction, but those who have seen the film express the opinion that Lubin did not care to stand sponsor for it, which might have happened often with his prod- ucts in the past. MIXED ENTERTAINMENT. Youngstown, 0., April 30. The Lyric Theatre here is running a new sort of show. From 10 A. M. until 2 P. M. moving pictures are given with a five-cent admission. From 2 to 5 the ante is raised to 10 cents and a vaudeville show takes the boards. From 5 to 7 more pictures, and vaudeville again from 7 to 9. This week's vaudeville attractions are Harrington and Pauline, musical; Chicken and Coxey, Hebrew comedians; Maurice Kane, and ill. songs. NEW ONE IN TOLEDO. Toledo, April 30. Last Saturday a new picture house called "The Princess" opened on the main street. Another will start operations in a few days, and will be run by a local man. CHICAGO FILM NOTES. By Frank Wiesberg. VARIETY'S Chicago Office, Chicago Opera House Block, Chicago, April 30. Elry Kiley, of Crookston, Minn., will open the first moving picture theatre in Baudette, a town in northern Minnesota. The new picture theatre in Eureka, Cal., will open soon under the management of Burkholder, Stewart & Siqueros. J. L. McClinton has purchased "Dream- land," a moving picture theatre at Water- loo, la. The Coliseum, Auburn, Ind., has been converted into a moving picture theatre by J. V. Reyher. Another moving picture house will be opened in Richmond, Va., at 700 West Broad Street by H. S. Wallerstein. The Theatorium, Wilmington, N. C, has been purchased by A. T. Brice. J. J. Ferry, owner of a moving picture theatre at Birmingham, Ala., filed a volun- tary petition in bankruptcy. His liabil- ities are $4,099.65. W. B. Connor and B. Smart will open a Nickelodeon at Central City, Neb. Moving pictures will be given in the Coliseum Skating Rink, Vincennes, Ind. The place seats 1,250. Frank P. Fox and Col. A. D. Rogers are the managers. The original Hackenschmidt-Gotch wrestling match pictures are on view at Brooke's Casino for two weeks, under the direction of W. W. Wittig, the owner and promoter of the match. Richard Drake and George Steak started a Nickelodeon at Waupun, Wis., last week. The Gay Theatre, Hastings, Neb., opened with moving pictures and illustrated songs. The Ithaca (N. Y.) Amusement Com- pany, composed of J. E. Shea and Joseph Ryan, has leased Parish Hall, in that city, for vaudeville and pictures. Frank E. Berry has a moving picture theatre in Lancaster, Ohio. A new theatre, devoted exclusively to moving pictures, is now under way at Anaconda, Mont. H. F. Errett is the owner. Myers' Theatre, Janesville, Wis., is now operated with moving pictures and illus- trated songs. The Wagner Film and Amusement Com- pany, S't. Louis, has incorporated, capital $5,000. G. Wagner and J. Mathes are the incorporators. "Briarcliff Auto Races." Hammerstein's. The delivery of a film at Hammerstein's on Monday showing the Briarcliff Races which took place the Friday previous, argues a rush job for the Vitagraph Com- pany's mechanical department. The handi- cap under which the reel was turned out is perhaps reflected in the photographic quality of the film. There are times when the figures are very indistinct, and not more than half the views are really clear. In an effort to give the effect of dizzy speed to the racing machines, the reel is ruu off too quickly in places, the "fake" being easily discernible from the jerky motions of the spectators. Several sharp turns in the course are shown, but the cars seem to hold steadily on their way, and the sensational features of "The Dieppe Race," seen some months ago, are absent. In comparison with that series, the "Briarcliff" is tame. Hush. "In the Land of the Gold Mines." Unique. The reel does not show any consistent, orderly idea. It is just a fairy story backing for a series of spectacular pic- tures. A girl is picking up firewood in the forest. She hides behind a tree as a company of gnomes approaches. The gob- lins dig in the ground and uncover gold. Fascinated at the sight, the girl cries out, and the little men take her captive. They take her to the palace and there show her fabulous riches. The queen of the fairies is making coins out of the molten gold in a rather novel series of views. She pours the gold on an anvil. Then the camera is moved up close to the boiling yellow metal, which gradually- takes shape and arranges itself into rows of coins seemingly without being' touched. The film is colored in a half-hearted way, but the job is indifferently done. Hush. Pocatello, Idaho, has a moving picture show. It is owned by a man from Butte. "Uncle Bill's Bull." Unique. As the name indicates, this is a comic subject, and a decidedly good one. The opening scene is a young couple at break- fast, when the postman enters with a let- ter. "My pet bull is at the express office; gU it and take care of it. If you don't, III disinherit you," it read over the signa- ture of "Uncle Bill." The young man gets the "bull," which turns out to be a bulldog. Speculation as to the nature of the "bull" had kept interest alive up to this point. Prom here on the picture resolves itself into a novel and highly amusing chase. The dog must have been a remarkably well trained animal. It breaks away from its leash and every- body that comes in the way of its mad rush is bowled over unceremoniously, only to arise and join in the chase. When the nephew gets home his troubles have only commenced, for the pup proceeds to wreck his domestic peace in a general rough- house. A telegraphic notification that Uncle Bill had died, leaving his fortune to the hero of the picture, puts an end to the young couple's bondage. The pup is tied to the front porch and a large sign stuck up beside it, Inviting passers-by to "go as far as they lik< i " K has a capital idea, and it "worked out with first rate com- edy incidents. Ruth.