Variety (October 1914)

20 VARIETY FILM AGENTS RECRUITING AMONG PARK BENCH HOBOS Bryant Square Derelicts Hired at Small Pay to Pose As Extras and Sometimes As Principals. Directors Said to "Hold Out" Part of Their Pay As Private "Graft/ 9 A picture agent within the Times square region, is reported as making frequent recruiting visits to Bryant Park where he engages many derelicts sitting on the benches for picture job- bing work in mob scenes. These men the agent pays from 50 cents to $1 a day with a 10-cent lunch allowance. Recently he took twenty men to Yonkers, kept them there from 11 until 5 o'clock and failed to pay when the picture was called off. One good look- ing bench warmer is said to have filled in as the leading man on one occasion. It is also related that the directors engaging these park actors charge the "office" up with $2 to $5 a day and pocket the difference. BINNS WANTS $50,000. John R. (Wireless Jack) Binns has retained R. H. Hansl to bring suit against the Greater New York Film Rental Exchange and the People's Film Exchange, asking damages to the ex- tent of 125,000 from each corporation. The Greater N. Y. concern is a William Fox corporation, while the Peoples' company is controlled by Marcus Loew. Binns claims that each of the firms named showed, rented and sold a pict- ure entitled "Saved by Wireless," which showed the wreck of the Republic, also the subsequent rescue of her passengers by the Florida and that they both used his name in advertising the pictures without permission from him. BARRED FILM SHOWN. A war reel, which was barred in all New York and Brooklyn Photoplay houses, has been shown out of town, the returns in some instances estab- lishing house records. It's entitled "Called to the Front," or "Europe at War," a four-reeler fea- ture handled by the Apex. Figman a Film Producer. Los Angeles, Cal., Oct. 14. Max Figman is organizing a com- pany, to be headed by himself, for the production of motion picture films. He promises to announce the details with- in a week or so. Local capital is said to be financing the actor's plans. DOUBLES FILM SERVICE. An enterprising picture house man- ager in Brooklyn this week doubled up on the film "Cabiria," by running it simultaneously in his two theatres. The houses are the Panorama and the Nostrand, on Nostrand avenue, in the Bedford section. The picture is started off in one houst, then rushed, reel by reel, to the other by a messenger boy. The houses have small capacity. Neither alone could afford the $125 a day the feature costs, but in combination audiences can make it at an increased admission of 15 cents afternoons and 25 cents at night The Classic, a 600 capacity house on Washington Heights, New York, opened its fall season a week ago with the picture. The Classic and the Em- press, a block away (both new 600 seat houses), are in keen competition for the neighborhood patronage. The Em- press used "Neptune's Daughter" against "Cabiria." With either house closed, the other would be a substantial winner, but neither can show a profit against the neighbor's competition when both are using ordinary service. COLONIAL ELECTION. The Colonial M. P. Corporation this week sent out this list of directors elected to serve for the ensuing year, with the note that their selection amounted to a vote sustaining the pres- ent management of the concern: Prof. Arthur Beatty, Madison, Wis.; James J. Booth, Pittsburgh, vice-presi- dent of the Oakland Savings & Trust Co. and officer in other banking con- cerns; F. C. Brooksbank, Riverton, N. J.; Frederick S. Dudley, New York; J. Watson Hayden, Troy; Robert T. Herrcke, La Salle, 111.; James D. Law, Wissahickon, Pa.; Irwin H. Meyer, Evansville, Ind.; Max R. Taylor, Port- chester, N. Y.; Herbert W. Taylor, C. W. Tenncnt, Amston, Conn.; Jesse Watson, New York lawyer, and Rich- ard Wightman, New York. Life Co. Buys High Grade. The Life Photo Film Corp. has pur- chased the properties of the High Grade Feature Film Co., together with leases held by the latter concern. CAMPAIGN PICTURES. A candidate for Supreme Court Jus- tice has hit upon a novel plan of pub- licity in connection with his campaign. Using large automobile vans with pic- ture machines and screen apparatus, he gives a free moving picture show with speakers between each reel. SERIALS OVERDONE. Many exhibitors are complaining serials are being overdone. These se- rials, which take a place on the pro- gram instead of other films regularly released, shorten the selection and va- riety of subject and are the bone of contention in almost every exchange. NEW BUSINESS. Many Greater New York exhibitors who have been desirous of taking ad- vantage of the new $2 per reel feature service as recently started by the Gen- eral Film Co., have been informed that those prices were only for G. F. cus- tomers, with the result that the G. F. Co. has gathered a few new accounts. $2,500 ASSAULT VERDICT. A sequel to the General Film-Kinet- ograph feud was a decision in the Su- preme Court last Thursday awarding a $2,500 verdict to Herman Smidt. Smidt, formerly an employee of the Kinetograph, lost his position at the time this concern was bought by the General Film Co. Immediately in con- junction with M. Weiss he opened of- fices at 219 Sixth avenue and estab- lished a branch of the Mutual Film Corporation. The General Film Co., the former tenant of this office, claimed a prior lease on the premises and in attempt- ing to dispossess Smidt and his asso- ciates the alleged assault was commit- ted. Smidt was in the hospital for several months suffering from concus- sions of the head, a broken wrist and several other injuries, and upon being discharged, brought suit for $10,000 damages. Al Harstn and Joe Unger, who claimed to have been assaulted at the same time by employees of the G. F. Co., and who also started suit, dropped their cases upon being re-employed by the G. F. M. P. EXHIBS. ELECT. At a meeting held by the Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association of New York, the following officers were elect- ed for the ensuing year: Wm. H. Lan- dau, president; I. Needles, vice-presi- dent for Manhattan; M. Hollander, vice-president for Brooklyn; A. Cole- man, vice-president for Bronx; Bob Whitten, vice-president for Queens; Adolph Weiss, secretary; William Brandt, financial secretary; Grant W. Anson, treasurer; G. Stockheimer, ser- geant-at-arms. Sam Trigger, who had been presi- dent for over three years, declined to serve again. ARRESTED FOR SMOKING. So many arrests have been made by the Fire Department in the Exchange Bldg. on 45th street for smoking that a uniformed man is stationed in the hallway cautioning all those who enter against this violation. WILLIAM H. CRANE. William H. Crane who is to become a picture itar. Crane has been engaged for the screen portrayal of bin old role of tbe borne trader In "Oavld Harum" by the Famous Player*. COAST PICTURE NEWS. By GUY PBICB. Major McOulre, one of the oldest ploture actors In the business, has resigned from the Vltagraph. Lillian Oatee Is now starring with tbe Ma- jestic. Tbe Crown City Film Co. has moved into Its new quarters in Pasadena, Cal. Tbe Jesse L. Lasky Company has con- tracted for 400 acres at the mouth of Wilson's Canyon, four miles from San Fernando, Cal.. and will establish the largest motion picture studio in the world. Also they have seoured the right to use 1,000 additional acres if needed for their film plays. Ruth Hartman is playing leads with the Norblg company In the west. She recently arrived from New York. Frank Hopkins, a star cowboy, from Wyom- ing, has Joined the Lasky ranks. Harry Edwards is now directing with the K. L. O. Sydney Ay res, one of the best-known film players in the west, has quit the screen. He will devote his attention to other fields of endeavor in future. Billy Garwood of the American has switched to Tom RicketU' company, Rlcketts directing and Garwood playing leads. Theodore Neuman, manager for W. C. Clune, the Coast picture magnate, has disappeared. He left suddenly and quietly several days ago and has not been seen nor heard from since. His home is In Los Angeles. Arthur Mackley, universally known as "the sheriff," says his face has appeared In a total of 1,600,000 pictures. Some face. Herschal Mayall is now playing leads with the Broncho (N. Y. Motion Picture Co.). R. H. Peele Is promoting a picture directory on the Coast Irene Hunt has fully recovered from her injury received in a picture fall and Is back with D. W. Orifflth. TO ORIENT TO POSE. Announcement was made Wednes- day the Lasky company will send a company of 11 principals half round the world to pose before the camera in Japan. This project is undertaken in order that the screen version of "The Darling of the Gods" may be played out in the native surroundings of the story and secure appropriate atmosphere. The Lasky Co., Wednes- day, signed contracts with Hoase Peters, to enact the part of the sheriff in "The Girl of the Golden West," a part created by Frank Keenan. CURTAIN AND UNION. Syracuse, Oct. 14. Whether a picture theatre having a curtain is compelled to hire a stage hand is a question that has arisen, owing to the refusal of the owners of the new Regent to comply with union demands. The curtain is raised and lowered twice daily and the manager refuses to pay a man union scale for a week for this work. The case has been referred to a special committee by the trades' assembly. Court's Opinion Doesn't Matter. Syracuse, Oct. 14. Despite the decision of Justice Mc- Cann that pictures on Sunday are legal, Canastota will have none of them. Herman Rakeoff, of the Sher- wood theatre there, announced Satur- day afternoon that the place would be open Sunday. Saturday night a dele- gation consisting of the chief of po- lice, the fire commissioner and several village trustees visited him and under threats of trouble Rakeoff kept the house closed.