Variety (March 1909)

12 VARIETY M. P. CO. APOLOGIZING. Nearly three months after its organiza- tion the Moving Picture Patents Go. is making apologies for its failure to satis- factorily handle its correspondence, and it would occasion no surprise in picture circles were there a change in its execu- tive management. D. McDonald is the present general manager of the concern. Mr. McDonald's methods as secretary of the former Film Service Association sev- eral times occasioned surprise to newspaper men. At one time he advocated the start- line plan of having all moving picture newt used by the trade journals sub- mitted to him for censorship before it was printed. In an instance or so, Mr. Mc- Donald requested a change in the policy of the paper a ddr e ssed . PICTURE NOTES TO ARRANGE CONTRACT FORM. Chicago, March 26. The International Projecting and Pro- ducing Go. will shortly hold conferences with Its renters with a view to formu- lating a manufacturer-renter contract satis- factory to both parties. In a circular letter to its exchanges the International says: "A great deal of study has been given to the form of contract to be used in fur- nishing our service to exchanges. "As far as the company is concerned, a simple contract covering the manner of payment, price of goods, and method of delivery with a reasonable assurance that goods will be accepted and paid for by consignee on arrival at destination would be sufficient TAis would be about the only contract we would need. But a number of important exchanges have re- quested us to draw a form of contract whereby we could extend to all legitimate exchanges protection aa far as lies in our power against the unscrupulous individual who might come into possession of our goods through misrepresentation. "And aa it is our desire to have our con- tiact meet with the approval of all, we deem It advisable to furnish the exchanges with service without restriction until we confer with a number of the exchange representatives of the International Co., and with their assistance formulate a con- tract which will be acceptable to all parties concerned; which will be done at an early date. "All kind* of rumors have been cir- culated against the Independent movement, and the latest trick is, that a fictitious contract purporting to be an instrument executed by the International Projecting & Producing Company is being circulated containing unreasonable conditions. "We therefore, make a bona fide offer of $10,000 to any one holding a genuine printed or typewritten contract bearing the signature of any officer of the International Projecting and Producing Company, except a few simple contracts which are written or typewritten, and in which the subject matter does not exceed one hundred words. "From and after our initial release day, we will release regularly on each succeed- ing Monday, and we will use our best ef- forts to have all reels reach the exchange in time to take advantage of the release day. "In order to avoid any misunderstanding whatever on the subject of the price of our film, we hereby notify all that the price of our film is lie. per foot" AGREEMENT IN OPERATION. Paris, March 15. At last the firms, to the number of thirty-two, which were officially repre- sented at the international congress in Paris, have signed the agreement, and the conditions to be imposed on the showmen enter into operation to-day, so far aa concerns France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria-Hungary. In these countries no films will be sold out- right, and all renters will be under con- tract to return their stock at the end of six months. It is still openly stated to be four months, as arranged by the congress, but I hear on good authority that the period for return will be six months, being assured that the makers have privately taken that decision, in view of the discon- tent expressed by some exhibitors. Aa con- cerns other European countries, notably Italy, Germany and England, there will be no attempt at coercion at present, and Charles Path6, of Pathe Fibres, has suggested that they wait another four months and a half (until August) before making any definite decision. Only one firm present at the congress has not signed, and that is the company of Theophile Pathe (which was being reformed at the time of the meetings), which will com- mence to release reels next week, probably as an idependent concern. The secretary of the new European combine will be M. Vandel, director of the Eclair Co., who re- places M. Rogers, director of the Eclipse Co., chosen at the time of the Paris con- gress. NEW EDITOR FOR FILMS. James Hoff, well known among theatri- cal newspaper men, this week took charge of the Films Index, the pro-combination organ in the moving picture trade. Mr. Hoff is deservedly popular in the trade and his appointment to the editorial chair is received generally with satisfac- tion. He has been one of the most au- thoritative writers on cinematograph sub- jects during his connection with several class publications, and is eminently qual- ified for the new position. SWANSON'S HOUR SPEECH. Chicago, March 25. The International Projecting and Pro- ducing Co. held a meeting at the Sher- man House, followed by a banquet during which W. H. Swanson delivered an hour speech. About 200 were present. PLEASED WITH OUTLOOK. Paris, March 15. The news that an association had been organised in the United States, with a capital of ten million francs, for control- ling the output of European firms left outside the Edison-Pathc* group, caused quite a flutter here, and there was at once a bright ray of hope that the American market will not be closed to the independ- ent manufacturers. The Cine" Journal is re- sponsible for the news that nearly $78,000 worth of reels were shipped to New York and Chicago within the past month. The independents declare they are equipped to supply four tiroes the amount of films pro- duced by the combine controlled by Pathe* Frerea. BERST IN EUROPE. Mr. Beret, the American representative for the Path6 Brothers, the Parisian mov- ing picture manufacturers, sailed for the other side this week. He goes to the home office of the firm to discuss the American situation with his chief, according to re- port. LUBIN'S NEXT BIG HOUSE. ♦ Baltimore, March 85. Sigmund Lubin of Philadelphia, the pro- prietor of Lubin's theatres, vaudeville and moving-picture houses, occupying the premises from 404 to 410 East Baltimore Street, in this city, will race the present houses at the close of the season and erect on the site a magnificent new theatre that promises to exceed anything thus far of its kind in Baltimore. These lots combined have a total front- age of 70 feet and extend to a depth of about 150 feet. The proposed building will be a three-story structure and fitted with every comfort and convenience of the most modern theatre. It will seat 1,500. The same policy of vaudeville and mov- ing pictures will continue. E. O. Earle is manager ef the Lubin enterprises in this city. SHOE STORE PICTURE HOUSE. New Orleans, March 25. Very recently Max Levy, a local man, gave up his shoe store and then reopened with the business place transformed into a moving picture theatre. The receipts of the old shoe business were more than doubled. He began in a few weeks to add vaudeville to the show. These attractions have advanced in cost, and last week two feature acts played the house, costing more than $100. The little venture is re- turning a considerable profit despite op- position of more pretentious entertain- ments of the same character. INDEPENDENTS' FILMS REVIEWED. Cincinnati, March 25. The Times-Star gave considerable space on Monday to the exhibition of foreign films by the independents in the picture field. Last Thursday the Lyric waa rented and the new subjects shown. The following extract appeared in the paper: The affair at the Lyric Theatre Thursday afternoon was in many ways extraordinary in the character of films shown. Regardless of by whom they may have been made, or the merits of the commercial contro- versy raging between the producers, the films were extraordinary in their beauty and originality. All were of foreign make and of foreign subjects, yet their foreign character was edu- cational and interesting. Some de- picted dramas. One was a vivid re- production of Bulwer Lytton's "Last Days of Pompeii," giving all the sa- lient features of that great story. Some of the films were fantastic and weird; others impressive, like that of the storm at sea. The entire list was impressive as showing the perfec- tion of the art abroad. MAT xST, MANHATTAN'S FINISH. T%e remarkable career of the Manhat- tan Theatre, with pioturea, will end May 1, next. William E. Gane, its manager, waa notified this week that his lease, ex- piring that date, would not be renewed and he must vacate, the site being required for building purposes. The Manhattan has been operated as a moving picture show house for the past two years under an agreement with a short cancellation clause. The rental has been 92,500 each thirty days. The theatre has been one of the largest money makers in the field of film exhibitors; Mr. Gane is at work on another proposi- tion in the middle-Broadway section for a picture place to succeed his present profitable house. CLOSES BALTIMORE HOUSE. Baltimore, March 25. S. Lubin haa closed his vaudeville the- atre, located above his picture parlors. Since the Victoria, across the street from Lubin's opened with vaudeville, the pa- tronage at the latter place has fallen off. The Lubin pictures will continue at the same stand. Two other picture places near by have recently opened. THE SIXTH COSTS $20,000. Des Moines. la., March 25. A new picture house, to cost $20,000, is a current rumor. Seems there may be something to it as the site spoken of re- cently changed hands. There are at present only five film shows in this city of 100,000. PAYING HOUSE LOST. Youngstown, O., March 25. Charles E. Smith, formerly manager of the Princess, a picture and vaudeville house, haa lost a bitterly fought suit against the owners of the playhouse. Smith waa doing a "turnaway" business in the Princess when the owners leased it over his head to other tenants. Claim- ing a verbal lease Smith fought the case. COMBINATION INEFFECTIVE. Paris, March 15. There is a general impression here that the combination recently entered into by the European manufacturers will not prove effective. Five of the conferees have declined to sign the convention and there is little liklihood that they ever will. With these five holding out, the trade will continue in much the same manner as during the pre-convention days. HEADLINERS NEXT WEEK. NEW YORK. Annette Kellerman, American. Jack Johnson, Hammerstein's. Irene Franklin, Sydney Drew A Co., Chas. J. Ross, Geo. Primrose (splitting the top line), Lincoln Square. Stella May hew, Fulton. Andrew Mack, Colonial. Neil Burgess, Greenpoint. Wilfred Clarke and Co. and Claire Romaine (joint), Alhambra. CHICAGO. "Love Waltz," Majestic. Saharet and Lawrence Irving (joint), American. Edna Aug, Olympic. Thorne and Carlton, Haymarket. Hengler Sisters, Star.