Variety (December 1922)

Friday, December %, IMS PICTURES '- y v.-k .s; IGORS OF NEW YORK STA1E ' CENSORSHIP BOARD RELAXING Cloininistion Broadening in Ideas of What Constitutes Art—^Trade Speculates on Future of Censors Under New Administration - v r' Producers who bav« tubmitted ^•Icturea to the New "t'ork censors since the first Tuesday following the flfst Monday in November re- port u more liberal attitude toward i" the screen. 1^ For one thing numerous items of K|eant draperies have passed mus- hier, that would probably have drawn the scissors before election. ' The method of passing instructions i to the film editors has been changed f in spirit. Instead of noting spe- cific scenes that ai'e ordered elimi- nated the "cut sheets" from the censor organization make comment in more general terms, leaving the COMPROMISE ON MTH' ■ AND COO CLUCKS Film Permitted on Agreement to Repudiate ''Secret Empire" After two days of wrangle arid dispute before the New York State Picture Commission a compromise was reached Monday afternoon by which "The Birth of a Nation" was ^noducer to interpret the meanlns: allowed to open Monday night at latir islai guided by his own discretion. The •bject appears to be to play it safe. If there is public comment on a kjlaring passage on the screen the censors can point to the reccrd of their communication to s^ow that they ordered, such changes as "see that the scenes between the lovers are made more discreet," or some- thing like tha^L Nothing more has come out re- garding the new state administra- tion's plans for dealing with the censor question.* Governor-elect Smith has pretty definitely made known his liberal policy In regard to control over pictures, but it is a question how far he can go in legis- ^ing the commission out of ex- mce. The next Assembly will be Republican by a narrow margin, while a Demo-^ratic majority ob- tains In the iSenate. I Organisation politics would seek to retain the patronage of the commission's personnel. There are three commissioners at 17.600 a year and a host of Inspectors at llSOO, but the employes are mostly in the civil service class and not removable. The present Repub- lican regime recently framed a new seniority list of applicants for in- spector jobs and it is'presumed this list will stand after the inaugura- tion of the new Governor. I If the Republican personnel is left fan ofllce it would be highly probable to see a move in the Democratic Assembly to legislate the commis- sion out of office by rep%aling the law which created it. PRESENTATIONS NO ; MORE AT M'VICKERS /n Jam With Chorus Girls Im- ported from New York, Mason. Ends Engagement ' Chicago Dec. t. "Presentations" are a thing of the past at McVicker's and Harry A. Yerkes' Flotilla Orchestra is the. special attraction there this week In connection with "Clarence." The "change of policy" is said to have l>ecn determined upon in an effort to avoid the claims of chojrus girls 3ngaged by Jack MaaOn and wrought here with the assi^^nce Uteir positions would certainly •last until after Christmas." Mason succeeded S. Barrett Mc- Cormack who was made producing .Tianager at the opening of Mc- Vicker's. Mason parted with Jones. Unick & Schaeffer last week. The chorus girls immediately placed 'heir claims with Equity. Charles A. Nieggenmeyer, who las directed a resident stock at the Shubert, Milwaukee, for seven /ears, is now stage director at Mc- Vicker's, it is announced. The I'aramount policy of restrict- ng the showing of pictures seen at VlcVickcr's for a certain period is nneeting with opposition from man- igers in outlying districts, who -•H>mp}ain that the time is so long hat they lose the advantage of the oop advertising. Carewes Reconciled L#os Angeles, Dec. •. The FMwin Carewes are reconciknl. His wife started proceedings for a dlvorrc but called off the action last week. the Selwyn while D. W. Qriflnth agreed that an announcement would bo made from the stage and later a printed announcement would be in- corporated in the film as a title making U plain that. the manage- ment disavowed any interest in the Ku KIux Klan or its activitiea The complaint was brought before the commission specifically by the National Association for the Ad- vancement of the Colored Raca, but other interests Were heard in sup- poit<of the contention that the Grif- fith picture would promote race prejudice and provoke disorder. A lengthy discussion was carried on before Commissioner Cobb Saturday and an adjourned session Monday ended in the compromise. The growing issue of the Ku Klux Klan was the center of the row started In the New York Cen- sor Commission over the revival of "The Birth of a Nation" at the Selwyn. The Klan was not offlcially repre- sented at the argument, but It Is understood to be in favor of the picture and to have advised Its membershij) to patronize it. As a matter of fact, the advance sale for the single week at the Selwyn hung up new reo«rds. Three days after the engagement was announced the advance sale for the opening week had reached more than |1.000. Although the picture has been forbidden in several States, New York never before Interfered with its exhibiti<tn. It played a revival at tbe Capitol, New York, last spring and drew heavy patronage without a word from the censor. There was one demonstration at the theatre, when the announcements in the lobby and on the street were wrecked by agitators and the po- lice were called. There was no demonstration inside the theatre. The picture was released in 1915. Its early career was a story of con- tiOversy. It was allowed to play in Chicago for its first run, but Cook country authorities have since for- bidden its revival. The picture was stopped in Kansas and Ohio and those States never have seen it. It was shown In California, but stopped after a short run, and a court order forbidding its exhibi- tion now stands aa a bar in that St^e. 7— TIA JUANA DULL Los Angeles, Deo. i. Dashing to Tia Juana, the week end sport of the film colony bunch that like to watch the ponies run and at the same time get a couple of drinks over the bar is off for the present. At least the j>ony part is, for the Mexican officials have ordered the race track closed. The track otllcialg are appealing the case and are hoping that they w|ll be able to reopen tomorrow. Jamee Young Reported III Los Angeles. Dec. €. James Young, the director, is re- ported, serious.y ill. At the same time Sid Crnuman is threatened with append icitis and under the care of doctors^ ~ . "Robin Hood" at Pershing, St. Louis St. Louis, Dec. C. "Hobin Hood' has been set to open at t^le Pershing Dec. 25, with a seat sale of reserved seats open- ing Dec. 11, but no admission scale yet announced. $14,000 WEEK'S GROSS IN BUFFALO HOUSES Loew'8 and Lafayette Led Last Week—Lafayette Third with $11,000 Buffalo, Dec. 6. Thanksgiving played the leading role In the recital of last week's business In Buffalo picture houses. All theatres reported bumper grosses for the day, with everything going to overflow, down to the smallest community houses. Contrary to expectations end of week, showing strength, particularly Saturday business, which held up remarltably well, downtown houses reporting that Saturday supper show was almost as large as Thurs- day. Thia probably due to van- guard of Christmas shoppers in the downtown district. Hl8^ quality of offerings all roun<] kepe competition at top-notch. "Nero" at Hipp should have done better and is probably good for three days only in town of this size under present conditions. "Ken- tucky Derby" at Olympic received good notices, but business was re- ported under capacity. Downtown rivalry between organs is making the situation interesting. Last week's estimates: Loew'»—"While Satan Sleeps" and vaudeville. (Capacity. 3,400. Scale, mats.. 20; nights, 80-40.) Although neither picture nor vode particular- ly featured, bill proved well rounded and found favor. Seems to be forg- ing along at top speed, moving on Its own momentuni. Close to $14.- 000. Lafayetto — "Skin Deep- and vaudeville. (Capacity, 3,400. Scale, mats.. 20-25r nights. 80-60.) Show rounded Into good form and extra holiday sent gross to top. Belle Storey and Ernest Evans featured In billing, but scarcely up to tout- ing. Picture highly spoken of. House using billing, "Ultimate in entertainment," formerly used by Hipp. Doing steady business with the 60c top playing important part in high grosses. Well over $14,000. Hipp —"Nero." (Capacity. 2,400. Scale, mats, 15-25; nights, 26-50.) Fox spectacle started out well, but seemed to lack right kick for full week. Other features, including or- chestra and organ, doing as much as pictures to keep house in run- ning. Over 111,000. O/ympic—"Kentucky Derby." (Ca- pacity, 1,600. Scale, mats^ 16-20; nights, 20-25.) Widely heralded and used considerable extra advertising, but appears doubtful whether any- thing beyond passable business reg- istered. Holiday helped here, also. House showing signs of new life under Universal management, but still needs plenty of plugging to put it in. vanguard. Around |4,000. CAPT. GEO. AUO££'S SUCCESSOB "Herold." the German giant, was signed through Wirth, Blumenfcld & Co. to replace Capt. George Auger in the next Harold Lloyd comedy. Auger was signed by Lloyd when the latter was east two weeks ago and was to have left for the coast in a few weeks to actively engage kn pictures with the comedian. His death, Nov. 80, left the Lloyd peo- ple in the air and a jrire from the coast to Pathe instructed them to scour the field for a giant to re- place Auger. "Hirold" was secured and left for the coast this VALENTINO'S SECOND OFF Washington Pietura Housm 8t{|l « In Slump Washington, Dec. i. Although efforts were made dur- ing the past week to push the receipts of the picture houses out of the lull that was unexplalnable the preceding week, that lull seemed to hold on with the second week of the Valentino picture "The Young Rajah" taking quite a drop. Weather conditions were Ideal throughout the entire week and the pictures good, but the slump refused lo be lifted. ^ Estimates for the week: Loew's Columbia—'^The Young Rajah," Paramount, second week. Capacity, 1,200; scale, ?0-35c. mats.; 35-60C. nights. Second week of this last of the Paramount Valentino pictures took decided drop in spite of extra advertising, hitting about $10,000. Moore's Rialto—"To Have arid to Hold." Paramount. Capacity. 1,900; scale mornings, 25c.; afternoons. 35c.; evenings. 60c. This "super special" seemingly caught the in- terest and held the gross for the week up to and possibly a llttlo higher than the preceding week. Did close to $6,700. Loew's Palace—"Quincy Adams Sawyer." Metro. Capacity, 2.500; scale. 20-35C. mat.; 86-40-50c. nights. This Metro special with five well known picture stars heavily featured was rather a quiet picture with the exception of the finish which saved it. Created some mild interest whtch coupled with the usual estab- lished patronage of the house ran the gross up to about -$8,500. Crandall'a Matropolitan—"White Shoulders." First National. Cap- acity. 1.700; scale, 20-36c. mats.; 85- 50c. nights. This Katherlne Mac- Donald feature which had billed with it equally as prominently as a Bus- ter Keaton comedy, "Electric House" did Just about normal business for the house. Got about $8,000. FRISCO'S BUSINESS UP ALL AROUND LAST WEEK All Houses Improved with Holi- day—Big Game Picture Got $12,000 San Francisco. Dec. I. Business generally in the first run downtown picture bouses was better during last week when compared with the preceding week. The out- standing offering is "Hunting Big Game in Africa" at the Century, where the picture opened with a complete sell-out and kept up the pace throughout the week. A heavy advance sale also is reported. "The Big Game" picture got $12,- 000. California—"The Impossible Mrs. Bellew" (Paramount). Scats 2,700. Scale. 60-75-90. Gloria Swanson. Did turnaway business Saturday and Sunday. Gross, $16,500. Granida —"The Young Rajah" (Paramount). Seats 2.940. Scale. 60-76-90. Rodolph Valentino. Busi- ness otT. Drew $21,000. imperial— "Sherlock Holmes" /Paramount). Seats 1.426. Scale. 35-50-76. John Barrymore (second week). Running along to fair at- tendance. Got $8,000. Strand — "Shadows" (All Stars). Seats 1,700. Scale. 40-55. Don Chaney. Drawing well. Gross. $11,- 000. Tivoll—"Lorna Doone" First Na- tional). Seats 1.800. Scale. 26-40. This latest production of Maurice Toumeur got big send-off In press. Business $9,000. Loew's Warfield—"June Madness" with Viola Dana, and Buster Keaton In "The Electric House" (Metros). An elaborate revue preceded the pictures. $11,000. Frolic—"Wolf Law" (Universal). Seats 1,000. Scale, 10-30. Prank Mayo. Receipts, $3,400. HELEN FERGUSON PREACHINO lios Angeles, Dec. <. Helen Ferguson of the films has the honor of being the first actress to mount the pulpit of the Wllshirc Congregational Church. Others In the flfm world have been invited but they have all been men. Mi.ss Ferguson aald that the screen will eventually play the biggest role on making the world cleaner and better. She urged the public to over- look some of the faults at this time and to measure it by the good that It is doing. Jules Frankel Bought Gift's Cincinnati, Dec. 6. The mysterious purchaser of riift's theatre last wenk was Jules I'Yankel. who, with his associates, t-onducts a chain of picture and very small lime vaudeville houses In the Ohio Valley. Gifts was at first re- ported bought by Ike Llhson, who rontrolo practically all of Clncin- natl's first run houses. The first Intimation that Frankel wa!« the purcli.ispr catiie wlw?n Noah .Schcrhter, who has been doing his prr-HS work at the Empress, was put fn fharge at Gift's, succeeding Lew Heck. SLOW FIU WEEK SAVED BY HOLIDAY Picture and Legit Theatres in Chicago About Same Last Week <v Chicago. Dec. 6. The new McVicker's seems to have given up Its last trial at "presen- tations." After experimenting with a producer. S. Barrett McCormlck, who had experience in presentations and failed to deliver after a trial here, the owners of this theatre next took up a stage producer. Jack Mason. Mr. Mason also failed to como up to the expectations of the owners of McVicker's. They have now done away with presentations and will present feature bands or names whenever possible to obtain. It Is said that McVicker's is angling for bands. It Is doubtful if any theatre in the country can compete with Balabap & Kata along present tatlon lines. This firm has four theatres, with their own artists, architects, special stage, etc. They can afford to spend between $3,000'- and $6,000 for a presentation and pro rate it among their four houses, which only makes the cost stand each house like a feature act. With McVicker's naw policy of doing, away with ballets aqd preaen-;, tations. it is figured that between ono and two extra shows can be given, which would make a differ- ence of quite a bit of money on tha Griffith's **One Bxditing Night.** also figuring^ on cutting down tba "nut," disnUsaed the chorus of IK the girls being iaken back to New York. It cannot be figured out how this picture wlU make any money during its run at tha Illinois, but it should not lose any, and the prestlga should be worth something. - Estimates for last week: '^Young Rajsh" (Paramount) (Mc- Vicker's). (Seats 2.600; sca'le, mats., 49; night, 69.) Valentino still holds certain sway with younger sex, tind theatre played to continuously gopd business. $27,000. "One Exciting Night" <D. W. Grif- fith) (Illinois). (Third week.) (Seats around 1.600; scal«f $1* 76, 50.) With the chorus let out and same amount of business still com;* ing in to box oflica, will lust add around $1,000 to right side for pro* ducers of this picture. First-' half of the week business weak, with capacity holding Friday. Saturday and Sunday. Around $11,000. "One Wonderful Night" (Univer- sal) (Randolph). (Seats 68$: scale, mats.. 36; night, 60.) Herbert Haw- linson received good send-off in dailies. This house is maintaining a steady grind and depends on turn- away from Chicago, State-Lake and Roosevelt for 60 per cent, of its clientele. With the grind policy can take care of other overflows with- out showing hold-out. This house does not need a tremendous feature if other three bouses are doing busi- ness. "Dangerous Age** (First National (Chicago). (Seats 4.200; mats. 60; nights. 66.) Declared to be "plpptn." with Louis Stone in for extra praise. Business first half way below par, same as in legit theatres, with last half of week tremendous. Around $36,000. ''Ma nala ughter" (Roosevelt). (Seats 1,276; scale, mats.. 30; nights, 66.) (Second week.) Sur- prised every one by holding on to continuously good business. Touch- ing around $18,000. Will remain sti-ll another week, as it contracted for three. "Loma Doone" slated to follow. STRAND'S FIGHT Depends on Location and Features to Buck /.ll Newark Newark. N. J., Dec. C. As the^ first fruits of its cam- paign to grab the big pictures, the Strand has secured Harold Lloyd in "Dr. Jack" and will show tho feature beginning Dec. 29 for an in- definite run. The attempt of the Strand to buck the Adams Brothers (Newark the- atre) and the Fabians (Branford, Rialto, Goodwin and Paramount) la arousing interest here. In the Bran? ford the Fabians have the largest, and with the possible exception of the Tivoll. the finest house In New Jersey. Against this the Strand has only its location to recommend it while it has changed its policy so frequfnlly in the past few years it has no permanent clientele. Various figures have been an- nounced, but the actual seating ca- pacity of houses Is:—Br.inford, over 3,300; Rialto. 1.600; Paramount, 1.250; Goodwin, 700. This gives the Fabians nearly 7,000 seats against the Strand's 1,200. while the New- ark holds 1,$60. The Strand main- tains a combination of big features and location can'l h9 ^aalffia