Variety (September 1919)

»! ; iij FILM MEN HAVE LITTLE HOPE NEW TAX WILL BE REDUCED - - '■! ' i ' Picture Industry Association Presents Objections to Pro- posed Increase—^Tax Makers Say Picture Manu- facture Is Very Profitable If Fabulous Salaries Are Paid to Stars. Washington, Sept, 18. When representatives of the motion picture industry appeared before the Finance Committee to protest against the proposed increase of the amuse- ment tax this week they found the committee “loaded for bear.” Hardly had the discussion opened before Sen- ator Thomas of Colorado, a member of the Finance Committee, broke in with a question asking if it was true that Anita Stewart was receiving $3,500 a week, which was followed by in-„ quiries regarding the salaries of Mary Pickford, Chaplin, Fairbanks and others. The whole thing looked as if the committee was antagonistic and disposed to rule in favor of the i>ro- posed increase. The representatives of the picture industry were allotted a limited time and before they were half through a number of the commit- tee left the meeting. The Finance Committee feels, it is asserted, that with the inauguration of the present amusement tax of 10 per cent, on admissions, some theatre managers, including picture exhibitors, resorted to “profiteering” by raising their prices, so that, instead of the tax proving a hardship it had the effect of increasing their revenue. Several legitimate mana'gements had also increased their $2 scale to $2.50 following the first tax. The House is considering the new tax bill as a whole and the impression is current it will be passed as framed as far as theatricals are in it. After that is done a Conference Committee will consider various appeals for modi- fication. CREEL’S EXPOSITION OPINION. Responding to a wire of inquiry re- garding his attitude toward the pro- posed motion picture exposition at Madison Square Garden, George Creel, chairman of the Committee on Public Information, said: is that where ex- positions can be made to take the form of patriotic rallies or meetings for the purpose of devising ways for co-operation with the Government in war work, they should be encouraged rather than discouraged.” The United States Fuel Administra- tion has taken space at the Garden exposition, to be held Oct. 5-13. P. B. Noyes, head of the conservation divis- ion of the Fuel Administration, says the exposition has the hearty endorse- ment of the Fuel Administration, as it is held early in October when no heat will be required and those taking ex- hibits are mostly located in or around New York, making no heavy demandTs on the railroads for transportation. Joseph Johnson, publicity director for the Red Cross, is also understood to have expressed himself in favor of the exposition. ‘WESTERN STUFF” NEXT WEEK. “Western” features will be in evi- dence on Broadway next week when Fred Stone’s first film will be at the Strand and Will Rogers’ initial camera debut is offered at the Rivoli. Stone’s is a Paramount production and Rogers’ is from the Goldwyn stable. FILM THIEVES INDICTED. There is renewed activity on the part of the .members of the Distributors’ Division of the N. A. M. P, I. toward the complete stoppage of film thefts within the ranks of the Industry, the distributors now lending every effort in conjunction with the District At- torney's office, which is out to bring the thieves who have been operating vigorously of late to justice. . Assistant District Attorney Tally is personally looking after the film cases. Tally in the past three or four weeks has brought to trial some of the gang leaders v/ho have been most active for some time past. Their arrest and subsequent indict- ment has resulted in confessions.which have given the District Attorney some valuable information that may lead to other arrests. FILM LAWYER IN WASHINGTON. Grant Carpenter, an attorney of this city, has left for Washington, where he will establish headquarters, it is said, to represent the United Picture Pro- ducers of California in legislative mat- ters affecting film inter ests. STANLEY CO. DECISION. The Federal Trade Commission in Washingfton Monday ordered the Stanley Booking Corporation to re- frain from forcing film producers and theatres to deal with each other through the Stanley company. It is a decision of irhportance to the picture industry and establishes a pre- cedent that will affect more or less similar exchanges throughout the country. The specific classes in the restrain- ing order are: Procuring the cancellation of con- tracts for the exhibition of moving- picture films made between its com- petitors, and the producers: Procuring films which have been announced for exhibition by its com- petitors and exhibiting them in the same neighborhood in advance of the • date advertised by such competitors, to hinder, harass and embarrass com- petitors ; Making contracts for films on the condition or understanding that the lessee or purchaser shall not use films produced by a competitor; Making threats and employing methods of intimidation to compel theatres to pay commissions on films booked directly from the producer or film exchanges; Making threats against independ- ent exhibitors that unless they book through the agency their supply of films will be cut off, and Threatening producers and film ex- changes with the withdrawal of pat- ronage in order to induce them to cease supplying certain of their com- petitors with films. WOMEN “SALESMEN.” If the new draft makes the inroads on the ranks of the picture salesmen and exchange men as some of the know-alls predict, it means the substi- tution of women to handle the films. The head of a big local picture com- pany said that the male forces had been sjj diminished by the first draft that tjiere was little left for the_ new draft to call. But if what’s left is in- ducted into service, then the company heads will try out women and if they prove successful are bound to have good employment, but hard work that will last until after the war anyway. It would not surprise the picture world if women selling the states rights subjects appeared on the road within the next few months. Women drummers are no longer a novelty but a determined successful proposition that will be applied to film selling be- fore many more months have passed. MORE FOR NEW CHAPLIN. The exhibitors of the United States are going to pay more money for the latest Charles Chaplin features, “Shoul- der Arms” than any previous subject, the forthcoming film to exceed any previous picture^ PICTURES IN PARIS. Paris, Aug. 29. A new picture^ company, under the name of Messidor, has just been founded in France by Lucien Lehmann, who will act as director. The first film released will be “Messidor,” being episodes of the French revolution. A member of the Swedish House of Congress has filed a petition for. sub- ventioning the cinematographs in his country, so that pictures may.be reg- ularly shown in small places for the amusement of the villagers. It is- hoped thus to curtail the emigration of the rural population which has not sufficient amusement. There is already a picture house in Sweden for every 10,000 inhabitants. In that country ac- tors, connected with the legitimate theatres, are not permitted to appear* for photo work, and special players are alone engaged in the picture industry. The English language is becoming a popular study'in France, and lessons are now included in the programs at some of the Paris picture palaces. Among the week’s events shown on the screen a conversation between two soldiers is a feature, the Englishman explaining to a poilu how he should pronounce certain words. The public get on to the phrases and mentally re- tain them, thus acquiring a rudi- mentary idea of the vernacular. THEDA BARA ILL. Los Angeles, Sept. 18. Theda Bara has developed an illness while here and may have to remain on the Coast for some little while. Her. condition is said to have alarmed her friends. Miss Bara’s proposed return to the east has been indefinitely postponed. Unionizing Studios Proceeding. Los Angeles, Sept. 18. The unionization of the studios here has progressed most favorably, with only one or two cases yet to be settled by the I. A. T. S. E. which is directing the geheral movement in behalf of the local affiliations, with Les Dolliver, As- sistant International President, per- . sdnally handling the matter. Union Orchestra at 44th St. As a result of a pending amicable settlement of the local union trouble with the William Fox offices and that an understanding has practically been reached a union orchestra and stage crew will be used at the 44th Street theatre when Fox opens the New York exhibition there of the Theda Bara feature, "Salome,” Oct. 6. “Salome” was to have opened some weeks ago at the Casino, but trouble with the unions called the opening off. No date has been set on the Chicago exhibition of “Salome,” but it will probably be around the holidays.