Variety (July 1921)

30 PICTURES Kriday,.July 29, 1921 MILLER'S CENSORS PICKED FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY ««i« >#-»»*. .•^••^#. Industry Disregarded—"Raw Handing Out of Pat- ronage to Machine"—Mrs. Hosmer "Doesn't Go To Pictures Much," But Likes Thrillers. <:•, Aft«T thiiikiuK about it for a week, the film imiiistry is not ut all plroHed with I he s<'I«M'tion of (iovernor Nathan Millrr of N«'\v York of tin* llirj'c chief picluro censors to sorvc at salaries of ;h7.."»(K) a year, Tlir itiiliistry is not roprospnlod. nor wac; its intorosts consultod in tho jii. kiiiR of tlu' officials, all of whom arc oyal U(>|»il>li('ans who know nothing of IIh' pictiiro busiuosM. Ip to the annonncoment of the ((r:nnitt«M' it had boon reported (lov. IMillcr was (ool toward the whole cen- sorship plan. He was .said to have approa< lied leading ediieator.s. such &h 1M-. Nicholas Hut er, former president of Colunibia I'niversity. and men of like standing in the public eye, and t.> h:ive found them cool toward the cen- sor joI». His experience with this group <»f nx'u was said to have dis- pleased the (Jovernor to the extent tliat he considered bringing the in- flMetu*e itf his office to bear durinf the next session of the legislature to have the measure repealed. A glance at the appointment! promptly <*ancelled thia view. ing that there is no telling how ''liberal" the film commii«8ion will be in it8 censorship work until it ac- tually getH down to business. FILM MEN REQUEST EARLY CENSORING U. Asks Kansas City Cen- sor to Pre-Inspect "Fool- ish Wives" on Coast $18,000 WEEKLY FOR EDDIE SMALL ) Huffalo, July 27. Mrs. Kli T. Ilosmer. a member of the newly «-n»ated censorship board. in ;n interview here, .>«tated the new (<M)sorship must be coixlui'ted so as to cnco;irage production, raise the level of screen dramatics, and stim- ulate greater numbers and wider tliisses to attend the movies. "Censorship must be helpful and c<»nstructive rather than antagonis- tic and jleslructive," said Mrs, Ilos- mer, and added the unusual confes- sion, "I do not attend many pictures but when 1 do go, I usn,ally enjoy them. 'I hold definite opinions on sex plays, triangle dramas cpd bathing* beauty p?ctures, but I cannot express mvself as the commission bus not mot yot." l*i(fure<i which contain outdoor types and dare-devil thrills are par- ticular favorites of Mrs. Hosmer. The more thrilling they are the bet- ter .«<lie likes them. She considers the puri)ose Of the censorship to be to assist in the production of pic- tures r.ither than criticizing and re- jecting them after they are tinitfhed. "Rather than cut from a film parts and sj-enes upon which the rest of I lie picture depends," she added. "I would greatly favor the elimination of the entire photoplay." ATb;iny. July 27. Iti !iis first public statement since li." was ;j|)pointe«l ch:iirman of New "Noik State's new motion i)icture cen- s(irslii[) (ommission last week by Coveinor Nathan L. Miller, former Senator (;^o^ge II. Cobb of Water- town, de.lare.l that the Chief Kxecu- tive wants the Commission to see tliat the lihn prodn«ers and exhibitors livr lip to the letter of the regulat- ing; :i<t. '.l'u;iinr Col)l) declared he h;nl tallvoil over the mr>tion picture silu- alioM with (Jovernor Miller before his appointment. "Tliere is nf»thin^ t<» l»e sjiid of what we will do as cen- h(.rs. except that we will «-arry out the (lovtriiMi's wislies." he sa'.«l. '*IIe v;iiil> to li:ive tlie l;iw (Mifoned. We will «!'» tli.il. "I do ii"»t know Jii^t yet wh.if we nh ill (h) ;il)Miit formillal in;; .\ getiei'al .•-i-l of tnl'V. for tlie ijnidaiu'e of the P'elnie iiitiliir.'i s. I •er>oii,illy. I be- )ie\r I'"' s;:itult' ili'liiies prelly elrar- Jy tl;e >k\':t <•>' pii-tiiies tii.tt iiiiisl not br slii'iwii i;i New York Sl:ile after A11 u II > f 1. "^^^• win li;ive ;in ofliee '\\\ .\lit;iny <ui(l one in New ^l•;■K_ 1 presume that most of our cen-oriri); will he done ill N:'W York as ;i m.itler of con- vciii.'MC* to till' piodiicers whoso liradipl .rlei>; are there." 'I'll.If "llie < nd" is in .sicht for > Rood mat'.v of tlie pictures that h;ive Ix en pioduceil for the (helper sort of film houses is tlie I>«'lii'f of per- h<M\)i who have stiKlieil I lie personnel f»f (Joveii'.or .Miller'-^ in-vv commi>- sioti. Strict eiifofcemenf of the cen- jsoisiiip 1;'W is «'X|iected to m.ileri:il.v inriow t!»e scope on which UMdioii jiirtiire prodiuwMS have been allowed to work. The industry, however, is '•marking time," the producers .say- Kansas City, July 27. Henry (loldmau, picture censor of this city, lia.<4 accepted an invitation from the l^niversal to go lo Califor« uia to give his opinion regarding the final cutting of "Koolish Wives." He i.-* making preparations to leave the early part of August. The company is a.sking for (lold- niin's advice as n matter of protec- tion and economy and hi? trip to the coast is neces.<4ary, as any scenes which he might decio(» should be cut <Mit will have to be retaken there. OBAyMAN'S MET New Los Ano«l«s House Will Seat 4,000—Ready in January. Los Angeles. July 27. Fast work will have Sid (rranman's new Metropolitan, seating 4.000, ready in January next, the rtrauman people anticipate. It will replace tlie large wooden structure at Sixth and Hill streets. The completed theatre will repre- sent an investnient of $,'1,000,000. Wife Starts Separation Suit, Demanding $1,000 a Week Mrs. liaui-a VI. Small, wife of Kd- ward Snidll, the film promotor and «»wner of the Arctic studios, Port IIud.Non. N. Y., alleges her husbaiul makes $1H,000 a week from his film enterprises and demands $1,000 a week separate maintenance and $10,- 0<K) counsel fees iji her 8uit for nepa- ratiou in New York, the complaint in which has just been filed. The couple were married in Daniel- son, Conn., in 1012. Mrs. Small de- clares her husband desert«rd her two years ago. ."She obtained an order in the Domestic Uelations Court di- recting Small to pay her $-'>0 a week, but nstterts she has had di(*ictiUy in collecting it. Small's main bu.siness is placing picture actors and directors under contract to represent them for a year or more, then placing them with fUm producers. Small is reported charging a commission of 10 per cent, weekly on the salary earned, and of late Ls said to have been giv- ing particular per5*onal attention to engagements f«»r directors through the Utter receiving larger Bnlaries. While Small has contracts with a large number of picture actors, many casting directors in New York stu- dios do business direct with the actor, refusing to recognize Small as an in- terujediary though p.ware the actor may i)ay Small the usual percentage. The Small office a couple of years ago was reported as having filed an income tax return .showing an in- come of $200,000 for the year pre- viou.i. This amount was said to have been divided between Small and Col. Carruthers. the (^anadian capitalist, who. according to the story, financed Small for the picture agency busi- ness. A few years ago Small was a small-time vaudeville agent with lim- ited income. WAGE CUT OR CLOSINGS BY mm. mmm declare 5 Chamber of Commerce Takes Diastic Stand With Musicians^ and Operators^ Unions—Dozen Houses On East Side—^Truce Parleys On. -^ FIGHT FILM STUNT ONLY A FEELER HUSBAND "B£AT HER UP ' lios Angeles. July 27. Pauline Cervo, i»rofessionally known as Pauline Ives, has started a counter suit against her husband, Daniel Cervo, wh(T is suing for di- vorce. Miss Ives alleges that her hu.'4)and made it a regular rule to adminuiter I)hysical chastisement and that "he beat her up from Coast to Coa.st." (Vrvo names Charles Mci'arthy in his complaint. SCRIPTS FOR FILING I.OS Angeles, July 27. The Secretary of the State of California has went out a call for help. He is being swam|)ed with S(*enarios for registration under the new state Ijw. which becomes oper- ative Friday, whereby a certificate of fi ing will be issued to the writers as u protection against plagiarists. Several hundred scripts are already in his hands waiting for the law to become effective for registration. No Penalty For Exhibit- ing—Only For Trans- portation It is understood the nnnounccnl showing of the fight pictures at the 4Ath Street was merely a *'fecler" and that the private exhibition in this state for wounded soldiers was really in (he nature of a test case to endeavor to get a favorable ruling from Washington. This is more or less borne out by the admission of those interested that the film had been brought into the state. However, a considerable sum as ad- vance rent is said to have been i)Oited by the promoters with the Shubcrs. The 44th Street with full crew back and front has been under salary since Saturday. Ueports were that the backers of the fight pictures ex- pe.'ted to take the $1,000 fine pro- vided in the law prohibiting inter- State shipment and then 4)roceed ex- hibiting the film. The law does not state that .such pictures should not be exhibited. Over in New Jer.sey, where the fight film may be exhibited without fear of the law, a cut in admission has lately occurred. The pictura may now be seen in .some houses at rtrt cents, while other theatres arc contracted to charge 83 cent.s. The film first exhibited at $1.10. NOVEL CONTEST Whealer Proiuctions Try Out Locally Scheme to Produce Two Reelers. PICTURES FOR COLUMBUS Columbus. July 27. Columbus is to become the head- (iuarters for a picture producing and distributing contpany, it is announced here. Klla Kelly, owner of the ofti- <'ial war picture "Fighting in l''rance." ann»»unces this city has been selected as a i)roduetion cetjter for (he two reel comedy and dramatic productions she pro]»oses to offer. POST IN '• MASQUER ADER' T.os Angeles. .Fuly 27. (luy Hates Post is not to appear in the film v»M'sion of "Omar the Tent .Maker" from the Kich.ard Wiilton Tully play. Mr. Post is to start work immediately on tlu' screeuiti;: of "The Masquerader" at tlie Prunton lot. No one has been sele«ted for "()m:ir" :is yet and it is possible that pro- duction will be held up until the Ft rdi- i!:Mnl lOarle ijroductinn is com[)lele(l. l'!arle is filming the "Uuhaiyat." .VIXPLOITING IN "DANTE" Pirst Xjilion:iI is pre|>aring a large ex|ilnii;iti(»n campaign for (heir rc*- • eTiiIy iujported Kuropean feature "I>a!»t«." It will be given a si)ecial sliowin;; at a Proadwa house in the e:ir y f:jll. Hunt Stoinl>erg Production.s, star- ^iM^ Doris May. is a new producing unit that will (list rilnile through Uob- ( rtson ( 'itle. William .\. Seiter will be :itliliafei| \\'\\]\ the <'nlerprise. DORIS WOOLRIDGE DEAD Los Angeles, July 27. The ashes of Doris Woolridge^ who die<l at the Clara Rarton Hos- pital here last week, have been re- moved to San Franci.sco. Miss Woolridge was 27 years old and had n:>|»ear*»d on the IeS.'II'H§.*.?. stage as well as in screen produc- tions playing leads. LARGE SUM IN SUIT Los Angeles, July 27. The Doubleday Production Co. has lile«l suit against lltissell, (ireiber & Uussell for .$10(J..''.02.r»;i. alleged due tliem for live two-reel "Hanger and the FiOw" produrtions, and 22 one- ie<'l i.irtures that they ma<le since the first of the year. DIRECTING JACKIE liOa Angeles, .Tuly 27, Victor Herman is the new Coogan dii'ceior. ,Tohn II. wood will write the story. ('asting f4)r the pro(lu<*tion is to coinmerice this week. Jackie Plack- DENIES PROPAGANDA Los Angeles, July 27. Douglas Paiihanks and Mary Pir'k- ford have issued a denial through I>iMinis F. O'Prien, (heir attorney, that they intended at any time to mnke ])rop.'iKanda film under (he su- pervision of the Japanese (Jovern- nient during their (our of the Orient. Mr. O'Prien left for San Franclscn early (his we(»k and will be in New York in .nbout ten d.ivs. Wheeler Production.^, 1520 Broad- way, have ju.«»t tried out in Stamford, Conn., a picture scheme with pos- sibilities. In connection with the Stamford Advocate,-the local evening newspaper, this concern started a voting contest, the girl winning it to he starred in a two-reel picture to be made locally. Twenty-seven girls entered the contest and TjOO.OOO votes were poled in the course of a month. The.pic- ture is now being s'%t. It will be presented at a local the- atre and "Nothing But the Truth," by James Montgomery giT<^n the .same evening with a cast of local talent? The" tflnf concern is* lUkid U» have made an excellent profit already on the venture. ^ The New York Theatre Owners* Chamber of Commerce is drafting and will have ready to present Monday a flat uitimatum demanding that the musicians' and operators' unions ac- cept a cut in wages scaled on a "rea- sonable" basis, or be locked out by scores. If not, hundred of theatres in the metropolitan area are going dark. The executive committee of the Chamber threshed the matter out in a two-day session behind closed doora at the Autor Monday and Tuesday. Secretary Moross declined to make any statement beyond the declaration that a new form of agreement would be ready for presentation when the committee meets again Monday. He added that it would call for a reduc* tion in wages in line with the slump in box office takings. Mr. Moroae would not go into the figures. Twelve theatres on the east side of New York closed Monday, it was saii by one of the committeemen, but else- where in the city exhibitors were keeping their houses open until after the next Monday meeting. What they will do then depends upon the fate of the ultimatum to be presented. The reason the east side houses gave up the fight was that in' that section of the city the theatre em- ployees are highly organised and there are a number of unions of the house attendants besides the musi- cians' and operators' bodies. It was found impossible to negotiate with these many factors, according to one of the ('hamber conferees. During the Monday session repre- .sentativeb of several of the unions addressed the executive committee. It was apparent from the mood of the Chamber of (.ommerce men that they had made it plain that they were preparetl to resist a reduction. Ex- hibitors who were present expressed like determination and judging frogp the temper of the gatherlag, a brisk fight was in prospect. itetwecn now and Monday, It was said, the Chamber of Commerce will continue to negotiate a settlement with the unions. The various cir- cuits of theatres within the Chamber of Commerce a' ho will hold truce parleys independently and it is hoped that out of these exchanges of views a compromise will be reached in the proi>osition to be offered Monday and the counter-proposal which it is ex- pected to inspire. B'WAT PICTURES ENDING William Fox will terminate the runs of the three pictures he has in New Y'ork at the end of the current week. "The Queen of Sheba" closes at (he Lyric Saturday and will be replaced by "Shame" Sunday: "The Thunder- clap" takes the place of "A Connec- ticut Yankee" at the Central Satur- day and "The Virgin of Paradise" will have its premiere at the Park next Wednesday. The opening of the Douglas Fair- banks production of "The Three Mus- keteers," anno!inced for the Lyric next Mt)nday, has been i)ostponed for a fortnight, at which time "Shame" will either end its run there or be moved to another theatre. INGRAM'S ENGAGEMENT The engagement of Ilex Ingram to marry Alice Terry has been offi- cially confirmetl b. Ingram from Hollywood to Metro's New York of- fices. The director first met hi.s pro.npec- tive bride as am extra at th* Cali- fornia studio, gave her a part and ra|)idly promoted her to leading lady. ANYWHERE SOUTH OF THE MASON AND DIXON LINE Experienced TheatWcal Manager, understanding Motion Picture Presentation, acquainted with Concert Specialties, former New York Newspaperman and qualified Director of Publicity seeks responsible connection. Prefer Texas or Southiem Cali- fornia Territory, Address D. S., Variety, New York. F. P. PEOPLE SAILING vfeoigc^"iritafnur4-riT«* and 0;-mla -a-???"- gi^re sailed Tuesday on the Aquilania for Kngland, where they will make a filmization of "Three Live (ihosts" at the Famous Players London stu-* dio. -Cyril ('hadwick sails shortly to play his original role in the iiicture version of the comedy. At (he coa- clusioo of the feature Mtzmaurice is to film "The Man from Home." Tom Geraghty, al.so of the Famous Players staff, is scheduled to sail slnirtly to join the British production unit. 2 WASHINGTON CLOSINGS Washington, D. .C, July 27. Tom Moore's Uialto cl >.sed Sattirday for a week to enable the manager to put in a balcony to contain 400 log© seats. Moore'.; Garden theatre closed last Friday, indefinitely. INJUNCTION DENIED ^ Minneapolis. July 27. Uubcn & Finkelstcin's applif'atioil for an injunction to restrain the Friedman IJros. Holding (V>rp. from building a theatre in thi.s city has been denied. The Friedman house, it is an- notinced, will be ready to open in Oc tober. GOLDWYN'S FIRST RUN J. Lourie, who controls* three pic- ture theatres in Hoston, has soured a franchise for the (Joldw.vn prxliic- tions for the coming year, by wlii(h be gets first run in Boston for his liouseaj the Park, Modern and Deacon.