Variety (March 1909)

VARIETY ,11 HEADLINERS NEXT WEEK. NEW YORK.' Joe Howard and Anna Laugh 1 in and Bowser, Hinkle and Co. (joint), Colonial. Minnie Seligman and Co. and Wilfred Clarke and Co. (joint), Orpheum. May Irwin, Alhambra. Belle Blanche and Dan Burke and Co. (joint), Greenpoint. Fiske CHara, 126th Street. Fifth Avenue. Bite and Donlin, 125th Street. Andrew Mack, Hamraerstein's. Annette Kellerman, American. CHICAGO. Blanche Ring, Majestic Mclntyre and Heath, Olympic. Laurence Irving, American. "Futurity Winner," Haymarket. Clivette, Star. PICTURE NOTES CRUSADE FOR ENFORCEMENT. Philadelphia, March 18. A local newspaper has started a crusade against the moving picture houses in this city which do not fulfill strictly the re- quirements of the laws framed by the fire marshal, under whose direction the houses are operated. It has resulted in even more stringent rules being laid down, especially those against the overcrowding of the buildings and allowing persons to stand. The pic- ture men are fighting the crusade, a com- mittee waiting on the Director of Public Safety complaining of what appears to cut into the receipts. Director Clay insists that the laws be obeyed, no matter how hard the house-owners -are hurt, and a further discussion is scheduled. If rigidly enforced, the laws may force many of the houses to close, as it is said the situation of many prohibit the carry- ing out of all the rules. The movement started by the newspaper has caused con- siderable commotion among the picture people. SOME SENSE TO THIS. Toronto, March 18. While city oflieials all over the country take it out in worthless criticism, Fire Chief Thompson, of Toronto, has gone right to the point. This week he visited all the picture places and examined them carefully. Then he made out a list of directions for each individual house in which he demanded in detail certain spe- cific changes. Here is a sample: Lyceum —Fasten seats to floor. Red lights and six-inch letter signs over each exit. Re- move drapery from doors. Widen rear doors to 3 feet 0 inches. Put light in back yard. Unlock all bolts and locks during performances. An individual report went to each other manager. "Now the picture men know what they have to do," said the chief. "If they do not follow instructions, I will proceed against them/* FOUR NEW FILMS IN A DAY. On Tuesday at the Manhattan, William Cane placed before his patrons six reels of film, four shown for the first time at the matinee. This occurs but seldom, said Mr. Gane, and at the night performance through the crowds attending he would have to cut the supply down. ALLEGES INTIMIDATION. Chicago, March 18. The International Producing & Pro- jecting Co., the leading opposition in the moving picture battle, claims that the Motion Picture Patents Co. is attempting to intimidate the independent exhibitors through legal processes to recover its film belonging to members of the com- bination from exhibitors—using independ- ent goods. An official of the International said this week that the Motion Patents Co. caused a seizure to be made after court hours, and knowing an injunction or replevin cculd not be procured. It is also claimed by the International that exhibitors have been compensated to remain passive in order the general im- pression shall be strengthened. AMERICAN PICTURES THE BEST. Sydney, Australia, Feb. 1. At the Lyceum, C. Spencer has secured a winning film in 'The Guerilla/' an inci- dent in the American Civil War. The American films have a fidelity that ib commendable, while the French films are too stereotyped to arouse enthusiasm. Should the French firms persist in •serving up such machine-made dramas as we have lately been given, they will lose all support. West at the Glaciarium is putting on a series of French plays. Though billed ex- tensively, they fail to gain any favor. . .At the Bijou, Victoria Hall, and Alham- bra, the films are running to good busi- ness. MOVE AGAINST SALOON SHOWS. The Ohio Film Exhibitors' Protective Association has voted to bar from its list of renters doing business with members all those exchange men who make a prac- tice of supplying film to saloon proprietors who run free moving picture exhibitions in order to attract business to their bars. This phase of the picture business was discussed at the last meeting of the asso- ciation, held at the Neil House, Columbus, 0. Other trade matters were gone into at the conference, among them being the association's attitude toward the opposi- tion fight of the manufacturers. On this point the conferees agreed to have the association remain non-partisan, taking sides neither with the Independents nor the Biograph-Edison combination, "except in so far as it affects the welfare of the entire association." NEW FILMS AT CHICAGO. Chicago, March 18. The following imported films have been received by the Chicago Film Exchange this week, the first of the series shipped from the other side': "A Providential Chance," 'A Widow to Console," "A Good Kxeusc." "The Burden of Debt," "Prasco- via," "A Moroccan Romance," 'The Trou- bles of a Pretty School Marm," "Wanted, a Colored Servant," "Giordana Bruno," "Storv of the Poer War," "A Storv of Every Day." Cliff Gordon has resigned with William Morris for next season. KALEM CO. BEATEN. The U. S. Circuit Court has decided against the Kalem Co. in the hitter's at- tempt to present a moving picture story of "Ben Hur"*free from royalty or other payments to the author of the book or producers of the play. The legal proceedings were commenced against the picture concern a year or so ago. The Court decided that no free dramatization of a copyrighted book could be made. 35,000 IN A WEEK. With a capacity of some 750, the Man- hattan Theatre, New York, a combina- tion picture and vaudeville house, with a uniform price of admission (ten cents) to all parts of the theatre, played to 36,000 people last week, the gross takings being $3,500. William E. Gane, the manager of the house, pays $2,500 rent monthly for the theatre, situated at Thirty-third street and Broadway. The orchestra of the Manhattan holds 420- seats; the balcony 241, and while there is a larger capacity in the gallery, never are over 100 persons placed there, the price in the loft remaining the same as downstairs. TAKES CIRCUIT FOR SUMMER. Beaumont, Tex., March 18. A deal has been closed between Lew Hose, of Chicago, and Phil Greenwall, of the Greenwall Circuit, whereby the former takes over the circuit commencing March 22, when we will install cheap vaudeville until next September, when it reverts to Greenwall for the regular season. The houses are located in New Orleans, Beaumont, Houston, Galveston, Waco, Ft. Worth and Dallas, with headquarters in New Orleans. There will be four vaudeville acts, with pictures, and prices will be 5-10-15. MANAGERS URGE COMPROMISE. Trenton, N. J., March 18. New Jersey theatre managers are urg- ing a change in the amusement bill await- ing action by the House. The original measure provided for the exclusion of children under 16 years from all play- houses unless accompanied by adults. The managers' representatives appeared before the Committee on Municipal Cor- porations recently, and asked that the bill be reported back to the House with the age limit changed from 10 to 14, and.with the proviso that children of all ages be admitted to the theatre on Friday even- ing and Saturday matinees or on school holidays. They also asked that they be protected by a clause which would release them when a child gained admittance by a misrepresentation as to age. The Biograph-Edison people were rep- resented before the legislative committee, and Maurice Goodman appeared on behalf of the Keith-Proctor interests. Edw. S. Keller will place the vaudeville dates for Will II. Ward in "When the Devil Comes to Town" at the conclusion of the season for 'The Tiger Lilies." MOVING PICTURE REVIEWS. "The Lure of the Gown.** Manhattan, / "The Lure of the Gown" has no gfeat strength as a story, but is splendidly set, and although an American product (Bio- graph), resembles for all the world a French picture, first fiance, the characters having been drawn from some Italian col- ony, evidently. The scene is a ball room, and a youth is weaned a/wey from his inamorata in a "•well" gown by another piece of femininity more handsomely cos- tumed. There is sufficient comedy for the short time the picture runs, and it pleased very much. Stme, "The Terrible QnerreL" Manhattan. \ "The Terrible Ouarrel" is a Biograph picture, so listed at the Manhattan this week, although the Biograph advertised the title as "I Did It, Mamma." It's a very cute and pretty picture, of two chil- dren principally, brother and sister. They have a quarrel when the girl brushes over the house of blocks the boy has built in their playroom. He slaps his sister/who, after thinking it aver, "goes for" her brother, giving him a sound thrashing. The mother spanks the youngster in addi- tion. The little girl offers herself for a spanking also, but receives a Idas instead for the happy ending. The picture is short, but sweet. The children are most likable in their action and looks, even on the sheet, and the subject leads thought to the almost impenetrated field of childhood for an untold number of good, clean, interesting and highly amus- ing series. Sinie. "At Home at Last" Manhattan. The Vitagraph people have selected in- sanity as the theme for "At Home at Last." Possibly there is nothing more gruesome to a gentle person than insanity, to be seen, heard of or met with. Still the Vitagraph amends somewhat through showing a mild form caused by grief, and were not those always abundant and ofttimes superfluous descriptions flashed, speaking of "insanity," with accom- panying scenes showing a physician advising the "only remedy," the audi- ence would have no inkling of a men- tal derangement. Otherwise the series is quite touchingly sentimental in its story of a mother's love for a child lost, and her refusal to accept an adopted girl into her empty heart. The finale shows the mother finally taking the adopted girl to her arms, with a happy husband over- looking the two. As a story "At Home at Last" is very good and very well told. It would be worth while removing the "insanity" lines from the film. The pan- tomime is sufficiently expressive. The young child in the picture is a very ca- pable actress; also the mother, the lat- ter particularly. Simc. (leo. May, the orchestra conductor, at Ilammerstein's. received a young assistant in his house last week. Mr. May was already the father of two girls, and the twist of fate caught him by surprise, al though he says he was "moling f«»r a boy and nuule tin- nurse look twire for con- fii'if 1:11 ion."'