Variety (February 1914)

VARIITY PITTSBURGH CLAMPS THE LID ON I MMORAL MOVIE FILMS Directors' Civilian Aid of Smoky City Stop Sin and White Slave Pictures, Branding Them Unclean and Unfit For Any Decent Person to Witness. Pittsburgh, Feb. 25. The latest films banned by the di- rectors' civilian aid are "The Wages of Sin" and one he calls "The Exposure of the White Slave Traffic." A special performance of the latter was held in the basement of the General Film Ex- change. "Among those present" were Rabbi Rudolph I. Coffee and Dr. Fred- eric Rhodes of the Morals Efficiency Commission, George Seibel, playwright, Councilman G. A. Dillinger, Archibald Mackrell, the civilian aid. It was de- cided not to allow the film because "there is no moral lesson in it. The picture is one of immorality and not calculated to have a good effect on the mind of any girl. No man would permit his daughter to see it. It shows a gathering of people of debased and immoral character." because if they used their heads they would realize they did not conform to his rules and were merely making a vain attempt to slip something over him. Judge J. A. Brackett represented the theatre managers and William Seligs- burg, of New York, came over to rep- resent the film manufacturers. Fully a dozen heads of various "re- form" associations spoke at great length, telling of the terrible things seen in modern pictures, mentioning that films showed women in negligee. One woman was asked if she had seen "The Follies." She answered no. IT'S NOT SO EASY. If the boys and girls think movie acting is a lead-pipe cinch and that breaking into the game is easy, all they have to do is to pay particular attention to the way some of the leads loaf (?) in the multiple reels. They are certainly earning their money now- adays. For instance, in a "Licensed" two- reeler, "Trapped," the principal man does wall scaling, swims through murky swamp water, fights realistically with his fists in a house burglary, rides on the runboard of a fast moving auto, boards a swiftly moving freight and then apparently meets a horrible death by drowning in the water tank of a railway engine. FIXING BOX-OFFICE RATL "Samson and Delilah," the big Bibli- cal photoplay which the Universal will release in six reels, will be shortly ready for the United States market. Samson was played by J. Walter Kerrigan while the pagan temptress has been handled by J. Walter's sister, Katherine Kerri- gan. The Universal heads have decreed that no exhibitor will be permitted to show this Samson feature for less than 25 cents admission. WAR DANCE SUBSTITUTED. Chicago, Feb. 25. Major Funkhouser, whose censorship of moving pictures has come in for much drastic criticism in some quar- ters and has raised a storm of protest from exhibitors, has been at work once more. This time he has eliminated the massacre from a picture called "Massa- cre" depicting Custer's last stand. The scene shows Indians attacking soldiers and scalping them with their knives. In place of the attack the owners of the film agreed to show the Indians do- ing a war dance. SEVERAL 3-REELERS. Among the regular releases on the independent program for the remainder of this month and March are several three-reelers. The Gold Seal trade mark is on the drama, "Captain Jenny, S. A.," released Feb. 24, while the Eclair Co. has "The Diamond Master" announced for release March 4. The Eclair picture is a photoplay of the novel by Jacques Futrelle, the au- thor who went down on the Titanic. "The Diamond Master" ran in serial form in the Saturday Evening Post. The Mutual had a Majestic out Feb. 22 entitled "The Reform Candidate" (3,000 feet). The Exclusive Supply Corporation has several three-reelers. On Feb. 21 the Gaumont feature, "Judgment of the Jungle," was released, while another Gaumont, "The Better Man," is marked for Feb. 28. The Blache Co. turns loose a four-reeler entitled "Dream Woman" Feb. 27. BOSTON AGITATES CENSORING. Boston, Feb. 25. New picture legislation to provide for a more radical supervision of pic- ture films is being heard at the State House by the committee on mercan- tile affairs, Senator Charles M. Cox of Maiden conducting the hearing for the petitioners. Chief Whitney, of the State Police, (the sole censor of Sunday films), said that most of the reels submitted to him for approval were merely a waste of time on the part of managers CAMERA CLUB BALL. The first annual ball of the Cinema Camera Club of New York that started at Pabst Casino on 110th street Washington's Birthday night, lasted well into Tuesday. That day was nearly done before some of the stragglers returned to Broadway. The affair was pronounced very success- ful. Edith Kingdom Halloe, leading woman of the Ramo company, is said to be the first American actress to wear a colored wig in public. Miss Halloe is alleged to have been at Pabst's that night beneath a purple iiair dress. |40»000 YEARLY FOR HUNTER. It's understood T. Hayes Hunter, the former Biograph chief director, is to receive something like 140,000 a year for staging the big features which the Continental Co. has slated for forth- coming releases. This makes him and D. W. Griffith of the Mutual the two highest paid directors in showdom. DeLORIS PUTS ONE OVER. Chicago, Feb. 25. John DeLbris, who is showing his Balkan War pictures at the Princess here, put one over on the publishers of a New York Greek newspaper which has a large circulation here. Before he left New York John ten- dered the paper an advertisement, but it was refused because the publishers of the paper were behind the opposi- tion pictures then showing at Weber's. When the consignment of papers ar- rived here John bought them all up and printed his announcements in large red ink across the reading mat- ter on the front page. On hearing of it the Greek publishers called upon the Kinemacolor company in New York and registered a protest, coupled with dire threats. They were told they had nothing to do with De- Loris' business, merely having leased him the reels. GETTING BOOK STORIES. As fast as the work can be disposed of the Famous Players Film Co. will place in addition to the dramatic pieces now on its studio books some of the best known of the fiction books in movie form. The Famous Players has lined up all the best books that have been issued by the Bobbs-Merrill Co. (Indianapolis). It's understood "The Redemption of David Corson" is to be an early pro- duction. LIMITING POSTERS. Because the movies of New York in- sist on overplastering the fronts of their houses with too much paper, in some instances as many as ten six sheets being used, a member of the Board of Aldermen is now drawing a bill prohibiting the hanging of posters 10 feet above the ground. FLY-BY NIGHTERS TOTTERING. Through the regular releasing agen- cies now making multiple reel subjects, it is said several of the fly-by-night feature film concerns are on their last financial legs. Bronx Is Getting Another. Southwell, Mooney & Glenz will open a picture house Feb. 28 at 169th street and Southern Boulevard, Bronx. It seats 499. A program of Mutual features will be used exclusively. Leonhardt in Charge of Features. Harry Leonhardt is now booking feature reels for the Proctor Circuit, giving that branch of the Proctor en- terprises his entire attention. Harry Du-For (Du-For Trio) was taken suddenly ill at the Palace Mon- day, and the act retired from the hill before the night show. ir you don't advertiM In VAHIBTY, don't ndvrrtlw nt all. GAY BALL IN PHILLY. Philadelphia, Feb. 25. The annual ball of the Motion Pic- ture Exhibitors' League of Penrisyl- vania, held last Friday night in Hor- ticultural Hall, was a successful and brilliant affair. Many notables of the photoplay world were in attendance, and the scene represented a galaxy of beautiful gowns and lovely women. The ^tars of the film who attended were royally greeted, and the exhibit^ ors' league was more than pleased with the outcome. In the boxes were represented the Interstate Film Co., the Famous Play- ers Co. and the General Film Co., and others, all of whom had pretty displays. Many New York notables arrived at the ball early in the evening. The grand march at 11 o'clock was led by (Miss) Ormi Hawley and Harry My- ers (Lubin stars). Miss Hawley wore a rose peau de soie gown, trimmed with silvered lace and pearls, and carried a large bouquet of pink roses and vio- lets. Among those present were S. M. Spedon, manager of the Vitagraph pub- licity department; Mr. Smith, repre- senting the Powers; Adolph Zukor, of the Famous Players, and many prom- inent Philadelphia producers, exchange men and exhibitors. Among the prom- inent actors and actresses seen in the march were Mildred Gregory, Rose- mary Theby, Paul McCaffery, Jack Voschell, Daniel Marenko, Edwin De Wolf, Justina Huff, Percy Winter, Joseph Kaufman, Margaret Dawson, Louis Mortelle, Brinsley Shaw, Carroll Halloway, Adele B. George, Joseph W. Smiley, Eleanor Blanchard, Louise Huff, Ferdinand Tidmarsh, Edgar Jones, Ethel Clayton, Lillie Leslie, Kempton Greene, Clara Lambert, Flor- ence Hackett, Arthur Johnson, Lottie Briscoe, Daisy Evans, Howard M. Mit- chell, Eleanor Barry, Ruth Bryan, Jack Halloway, John E. Ince, Charles Kel- ley, Edward J. Piel and Lloyd B. Carl- ton. "GOVERNOR'S GHOST" BARRED. Chicago, Feb. 25. "The Governor's Ghost," a picture, will not be shown in Chicago. Five women civilian censors appointed re- cently were consulted by two police censors who were passing on the pic- ture before they announced their rul- ing. The five concurred in the general unwritten rule of the bureau that scenes in brothels should not be ap- proved unless they teach a lesson. The entire plot of the picture centers around an immoral resort. TOO COLD. The cold weather of the last few weeks has given a severe punch to the business of the movies in the city. Many houses on the outskirts have abandoned matinees. NEW FEATURE FILM CO. Another new feature film concern lias been established—the Mohawk Film Co., with Robt. Law, of the Sliubert forces, camera director. Their first two pictures will be jaincs :\ Heme's plays, "Hearts of Oak" and "Sap Harbor." Actual scenes will ho taken in Maine shortly.