Variety (March 1924)

Wednesday. March 19, 1924 PICTURES VARIETY 19 WILL HAYS FINALLY BROUGHT INTO WASHINGTON SENATORIAL INQUERY William Orr, Former Secretary to Gov. Whitman, Testifies He Met Him in Daugherty "House of Mystery" with Attorney-General—Joe Weber Named During Quiz for s' mitt."' t flMIIl Ti- rll! '•' '• Variety-Clipper Bureau, Ev.iMS BIdg., Wathington. Miir( ii IS. ill!', llin liOind oC Cf-nsor.-t Oii'. f'umer »<(Mr«»tafy t<> Whitman, tc-til'ieil tli'.s ;tiu>fC' tin' Whoi'loi- Ciini- .,1 ho leocivod iis inijinent I tin-so IKiii". It was not until the Monday iiiipearuiiop of (rtTii'.d (). UoMridgo, a former wt-cn^t a«ent of tlic l>t[)a-tincnt of Justice, who rclatiil th.' all'".c;("d J')auKhpriy coii- iiectioii as ti.ld to lilin by Jap Muma, New Y(>"lc icirro»pon<lont of the CiiKiiiii:.! i "i'.uquircr," a piib- Iciird a twenty pii cont [ U-ation ov/i.od and operated by !l. (Iff 1.1 :i:'i - '■' im-ni' 'I- ni'riiii.-- ' „;,. t , ,.!, hr- (t'-:Ml''t pil!i^.l>- V'- the S<': a-'.; j>; o'its of till; D'-ii'i'^'^'- 1" lu IlliUM. Orr, who was i ■ I'oKlift wi' ni'■^:'»'» yet Xi d Mi-r.ortn. wlio ,tiso owns the \\'a.-iiin'4toa "I'osl" hen', that tiio fharjif was nir.de dirtit. Tl)« wiliif.-M read a !on'4 sdito- }'\ \\ lio ri'.fd \ ai ious | tl.i' i-i-mmittt-e (111 nu- ■ r'l.n^, stilted his jn'a i tip .-my po.v ibi iti<'>; oC i iii"iit, midfr C'lh. to the cff'-t th:it Aluin.i bad pt.-itPd that 1 )au>;h»rt.v. hini^i'T, Mas bthind the oon.-'pira(y. an I tiiat thi ki.- <ii t',a> inyhlc would I K'l a ."lO por lont. cut of the i)roiits. aid al.so to (U> pii' liiit\ . I Tho Ktatcmer.l had an iii;hirsonicnt Wh.T-or niftdo Orr .•Mhrut I I'V another trov.rnmcr.t aK«-nt. I Thomas Spel!a< y. I HoldridKe stated that, after hear- I Inr. th'i story from Muma. he hur- : ried to \V.i«ir;ii,7t'in and reeourted ,.en-iir 1..0 rha! he 'roI the tv. eiify { ^atn.. to Wililam J. IJurns. who. i ',.,,- , ■ , 1 in.sttad of taking ai-tion. ordered lie' I'Mil win h Orr claimed anii'Mnt- ; ..-.•. , l'*^ the a'.;ent to mvestiKate Fomo lor.R- | efl :.. '..ur $'..'.00 d.dlais. Orr, tn.'ler , ,,,.^,„]i„p ,,.,„,. ,.,,j,,,^ Aevordiii.u- ti> I rememler one bit <>r o. 1; li.' h.ad ih)i;. , ami lioiiitod out tliat for tlv> exan.ia Hi 11. admitted tiiat h" l>ro- vadi.l niioii t'omuiis.siouei.-i Cobb an.J l.f\iii 10 to pl.K.e ;h(! liKlit 111m liuib'' i la- ta l!i ' I If", na (.'.•u.-ii...- frnlii tin a niittii.;-, up' nini hail i: prior to the (bad.sioii oC tlio eeii.soi.-f. Whe.I. r as!;,..I him li' lie (On) tlldn't lliiiiU he had been •'heM out (lU' v.iih >iiih a small iia\meii; as fort,\-liw himihed. Orr said he v.as tatisiml. Orr was to assUl with other < eu.-a.r boards outside New YoiK: ,ib.>. h- admitted he knew it wa.s ille:;;.!, but ('.aimed he ili.l not assi.-i til i;oi til": lilm to other s?!.ites. but lie 111.I been Kiveii to under- stand that after the first line waH paid nil further pro.scoution."5 would lb- claimed he h.id liis -i.iin:aiiee with lln' censors o: .-.lln;; them in.-iiran-e. Ms. i.'-iilar hti-ines-:. The • initb- I'll the shov, in:; of the witness this fo disinist.d h'-n that he shortly after left the ser- ^i'-e. This, iiieiuerfaK.\'. is the tirsf al- lejiatjoii that Iturns v.a:< mixed nr> ill th" affair. In the te.stimony of Ca.'ton 1!. .\kan.--. I'urns was re- ferred to as h.ivin« no knowlodKe with othf-rs in- rep. .rtt: to l!ii;i;s v\ h.itsot ver f(.;if>-,( will.' .i.- bei .-ir ■• wlri'ii i Clii. a.:.i th.. I ' Ellin.■ ■ ati.iii foUlli' to y. i Tb teM- I ruins that liltr..^ prior tinn of the Conimi. siou h^i would be e.s.-'iiipl r,ii:n.c:s, the witii-ss ad- ^^, .^^ proeei din'.;., with oti .11 e.-camMKition ilial tl'<'j sti uelini; -Mears to iii.ike no 1.1 lje.-u shown publioly Muma's Story .Mum..'.« !-'i)i>. as r-i.'i'.ed by H..;.lridK'\ bid to do with the Ihsl sliuwii.tT cf til" lilms here in Wash- iiiRton at the home of Bdward it. MiI.ean. w hi. li was in itself a vio- I.ition of federal statutes. Means, in his te.sliinoii^. .in.l also Quinby, who .-stated he (iwn"d .iiul predueed the lihii, had pr. V otisli mentioned this .sill.win);, whi.-h wiis attended by rresi<b;nt IlaidiiiK. Seeretary of State JlUKhes. Attorney (Jeneral I)aUL;herty. iiuI m.iny others, in- eludini; an all.".Talion I'resident ('oi.iidKe. tlen \i:-e-presid< lit, w:'.;i present. Til.- .-l.j^.-iiient w;is mad Mum.T. who added tn.it Muma .showed him a contract wherein he (Muma) under the dummy of "Martin" was to receive 50 per eent. of the protltR, and that the .signers of these contriiot.s ineluded the name.s of Tex Itiekard an.I Quinby. It later was stated that Muma took in an actual partner by the name of Martin. Senator Wheeler a.sked If Muma wa.s ever prosecuted, to whieh the witness replied no, "only the Koats," tlie witjiess adding that the film was never seized to th*" best of his knowlodfje. At a previous hearing Quinby had stated that should the dep.irtment have desired a permanent Injunetlon could li.ive ."ftopiu'd th-lr showlnpr at any time. W. J. Burns' Connection As to the connection of r.un:'! with the affJr, HoldridRe said: "I met him at the Washington hotel and toid him of my results, in deaiin;; with Minna. When I Kot to the part about Muma seeing rturns. the director interrupted me. "lie said that he had seen Muma. who brought Quinby alontr. Il-' said he told them to stop the lilm or they would be Indicted." When asked why he (Holdridge* had quit when he saw a crime about to be committed the witness said. "They looked too big for me." The developments of the charces against Da.ugherty in conneetion with the I>emp?(y-Carpentier lU»ns .-.tailed with the eallinK to the wit- ness stand of Mrs. Hoxio (Stinsi>ii> Smith, ex-wife of Jesse Smith, in- timate frii nd of Daupherty's. who iM-enpied .an adjoining offlce in th Cartoon Advertising When several carfoonist.s .agreed to plug Nellie Uevell's book. •■Right Off the Chest," in their daily strips through the v.arious syndicates, this apparently opened up a new and subtle medium of adver- tising. Now. come.s De Heck, creator of the "Spark Plug" strip and in the New York "American" was a three-sheet in the back- ground of his cartoon ad*T- tislng Marion D.ivles In "Yo- landa." So eompieto in detail was It that even the name of lU.bert a. Vlgnola, director, was Included. EXHIBITORS COMBINE TO FORCE DOWN RENTALS Greenpoint Group to Book Jointly—One Exhibitor Hold- ing Gut and Benefiting ADMISSION TAX EVASION CHARGED IN LEHER Witli the iilea of forming a book- In;; trust for that zone, a group of Oreenpoint exhibitors met Thurs- day and [lerfeeted plans whereby they can book jointly and compel tbf exchanges to cut the rental prices. One email house in this section was not represented at the confer- ence, controlled by an exhibitor named Hosenman. and he i.i getting llie lull benetit of the iletermination on the part of the New York ex- elians's to refrain from doing busi- ness with the combination. Those represented at the meeting were Sol Brill. Stern & Miller and Charles C'ranides. Al Ilarsten. representing Stern & ' .Miller, is to .act as the Joint booker KEITH- 1ST hlAT'L RESUME Vaude. Circuit Books Fourteen Pic- tures—To Begin in April Department of Justice, givin^ , ders in the absence of ix.ugh- i C-' ll>« -<'* ^'"""^'"'t'on erty and generally referred to as the "boss beh'nd the boss" by those coming in ccntact with him. M.s. Smith when being questioned said when th.. long arm of probability was being stretched. "Why. it was Jesse Smith." This will indi..-ate the connection between i)aui,'liert.\ and the m.m who committed suicide .It the Wardman Park Inn liere. The wife stated that prior to his i death Smith was constantly in f.-a.- I of "being closed in on." | Joe Weber in on It .Sn'itber angle of the far ten li- ing "arm of the department.il (im- i neelion" with Smith is shown ie _ the following tr.inseript from the j olTicial record in which Joe Weber of Weber and l''lelds. Is ref. i ted ii. i ,is "awfully cheap." ! When asked as to if she kmu ; !...■ ; I was liianiKht ou:. «' ■I'.- tboir aad had b.-'a i'.ii.l : - till 1 c. \.ho, v. i 1 II tii'-y I :ii .Iiiilge l.aiidi-' 1 ..ml. h.id ; I'mt. . II iil..;hevi y "Ilotise of M> -! I II street /lunin got inl'i t'.e ' iiy to sliiiw the connei tinn h' M II Orr and Daugherty. Orr; ni'n.iitiiii; h.' Knew Daugherty \\e'1; | I fact, he made the slip of < allili.g , 1,111 'llarr.v" on the stand. Orr j ti.ld wl'.i.m he met nt this Imuse, ■i t'li that, at :li..Willi; of the Ii'.;]il lllms. ar- rani^envnls w.a-e disdirs d for the .showing of same tliri.ii..!ioiit the country. Miin:a said, according to the" will.iss. that, ti.leiwing this showing, I'ctinaster Oeiieial New, then ;i sei:at.ir. and Seer, i.i':' Cliris- tian war.' tall;ed to ciic'. , iiing the pictures. Miim.i w.is limited as ..-i.iing tint an und.'rstanding was re I'l.ed with rrion, who w.as supposed to bo a close friend of the jittormy general. . i with the result th.it the lUm was "liiish stilled mill ain..to; these was Will Hay Plinher testimony brought oat that | shown hi 21 stat..s at :i g'.od prolit Orr ttasres|)onsibIe for the apiioint- over .and above all th.' Iin.'s. meat Hi Colonel William Ilayward inoney," .te. Quinby t. a» J)i<ttict Attorney for Southern} earlhn- this piolit had reached New Yi.il,. which Ineludes New ; JI'-'''."""- York Ciiy. Ilayward would hivej HoUlnd been the ime in issue an injunctiim ' biter wa .Miiin.i. ..-t.iti.il hi II. in.'. X me III issue Bgainsi the liim it such was ever done. The tinestionlng here ilrifled Ihto linuor cases. With the f.ict brou-iht out that Orr was iiuli ted and tried on a lifpior conspiracy ehnrge in New York. Kreiiuent tilts betwe.'n Orr and the Scr.atot.s re- sulted 111 Oir lin.iUy being excused and .ilieil .ag.iin for loiiioriow moriiiii--. He w.i> ii.lliwed by M.ii-o Sieuart of fiah.sioii. who alleg.Nl tie' laek of p;a)sc uilon by Uauglioit\- ..; tin- lottei ie... llo-..ii!jhoiii the .■ou.ili.\ in eorin.ei :i.ii wi h home l.iiildiiiu a^- *ociat:i,ii.-. Ill :i nc" - of eviib lli-.' th it h.is been , v, i, uiore .sta-tliiig 111.. : lliat dl^rl.v-eti in tile investigation oi' the '•'"a r ,i I .,>ii:i l»>a.ses enii.es lu.w tl;.- . Iiiiv. i!,;,! |I:,n-y .M. I',';i;;li '•ll.\. .lit,.li .;■. Mineral, w.e- i'i''cll.\ ''"''■'■ I'. .1 i I th.' uiiia'.vnil la.'i- ■'I'iiai \ I., evhi:.:!- till- I>.-iii|i>a.v - I'.iij.... i;. !■ i;.^iif |,i.-(iir. ■■ tii;. ir-'li- '"1/ til.' ricl/al S.ilt.'.-. 'I"a..ii..-.cut li',,. carl:.a- sta;:-- .if *>" • I' f e. I!' J i| i <, ' lV l iMIi; ''V- wli.M ;, kno.vn as th.- Wle-. ler I h . v' Inv<Bi|-:nri,M t>r the Deiiaitm. nt of crt.v." ■fiiHtli', \.iie,i cliareis we.e made | Pr.>i'!. el ">•'<. iii.llr ri;\. Daugherty wa^ "in" | broutilit ii' "" lie ii'i.'i;, ,,t ih" showings of ( li:iTl. accord sai.l tb.il a cir.'ular sent out to all .a'-;''nts ordering that .lata on tlie Hhos\in;;s of the lilm be gotten, this letter staling that a conspiracy existed. The witness followed this up with the Rt.item.nt that this onbr wfis not iKsuM. until afti^r the show- ings f)f the Mm had be. n completed :.nd th-' profit leali/ed. Picking "Goats"' a"ioiiliii- to tl;.> witii.'S.- ^ ha.l iiad conr.ici'c.s with ■ w. I'h'ri.Miai,. and l>aie;h- ! II, il diM il:>eil th.' showings ; fiha Tlial it v.a.-. ibcid.d h aa i.ndcretaii.linij. to hav.^ .a i sial. the erty of th tlirou "goal" in tacli "get a lin" of feder.i! .iiii'.;. s." .Muma said !"■ b after t.ill.s Willi gov and wei.i to Was Mi-LcMii. It .!.lii'l--e witni ss St ii II to'd .M. !.. Ill ■■i.e.i.id r to b.' liia-.l t" illlilude of III. ,Ioe \\Vber. the witness said Weill r is of W.ber and Fields, lb' own.s a t.i.'alre there, dbl ouii oii.-, I mean. .X theatrical man. Sen itor Wheeler—Who him duced you to him? Miss Sliiison —Jess Smith. S'.nalor Wheeler—Did you o\.i- lir.ar part of the conversation.' Miss Stiiison«-Yes. Senator Wheeler—Where did it l.il<e plai'e? Mi^^s Stinson—At one of th ■ tie- .aires. I don't know whether it w.is l.is or rot. We were taken to dress rehe;irsal.s and different pl.ie.'s Ihrougli the courtesy of Mr. AVeber. and we were furnished with the- atre tickets for each theatre tli.il we wanted to go to. It might have been his own—I don't know whether his own theatre or some otlur liie- .itre. S.nator Wlie.ler— Ami bow many il.'iy.s were you in New Y.irk. and liow often 'lid you see Mr. Weber? Miss Stinson -Oh. I was there a week, possibly. Seriator Wheeler - And how (iften did yoii and ,Vlr. Smith .see ,Mi Weber? Miss Stin.son—Well. Mr, Sni'.h saw him oftener than I did. I i-alled him frenurntly about tln-aire tickf Is. Sen.itor Whe.ler -Well. I nu-m how o|i. !i .lid you and .Mr. Sniiib .,..- him Uiere ill .\ew York lo- e.etliei ? Mi<.-; Sliiison- Oh. two or tbr." t inii's. On or ;iround April I the Keith- 1 ookeil houses in and around New York, which book pictures as a. unit through the I'e.-riess Corp. will re- sume their First National booking again. The First National i>roduetions alrei.ly arrange.l for by the Keith riling includes 1-t pi.turps. It is a year ^lnce First N.itii.nal Pictures appeared in Keith houses, .luring wliicli time they were run- ning in the Fox theatres. The 14 pictures are iipproximately 7". per lent of the First .National frouji of 20 iii.tures now being sold Th.' balaiiee goes to th.' I.oew Cir- ( nil for lirst run. with the latter likewi.'^e following th" ICith Imuses for the pictures tiny h.ive for lirsi run. I'ox houses, in ceitaln territory, ire al.-o pl.iying the I'irst .National hictions. In soni.- Ind.inces ew tlii'atres Senate Finance Committee Re- ported Receiving Communi- cation Wast ington. March 1'*. Charges have been made to th« Senate Finance .■Committee that it i» not the intention of the motion pic- ture theatres to Kiep faith with the government nor th'ir patrons if the admission t;ix is repii.led. There is on flle w.th thi..< commit- tee a letter in which jt is stated that the theatres are now raising their prices In anticipation jf the repeal of the tax up to the SO-cent gate. The writter stated t.hat i\\ the neighborho»"I houses of New York city where the admission was .lO cents It has now been raised to S3 cents, an<i that when the tax Is re- pealed this particular Kroup of the- atre men would then drop the addi- tional Ave cents and set forth th« claim that their p.ttrons were Retting the benetit of the repeal of the tax. It is slated this letter will be pre- sented to the committee when they reach that portion of the bill. An to* what effect It might have on the committtee's recommendations the clerk of the committee declined to discuss. Senator Smoot, chairman of tha committee. Is desirous of granting no public hearings, although the Sen- ator h.is not withdrawn his rulin;; that should any member of the com- mittee make a speclflc request for the appearance of any industry rep- resented to appear such permission will be granted. Senator Smoot be- lieves, however, that the hearings before the Ways and Means Com- mittee of the House covered the sit- uation fully from all angles. Nothing bejond the administrative features of the hill have aa yet been considered. Hearings were resume.! Monday, and it is stated that rapid progress will be made from now on. Augustus Thomas, for the produc- ing managers: Jack Connolly, for the picture Industry; Wm. A. Brad>', representing both factions, and Alfred I/. Smith for the musical in- strument manufacturers and profes- sion.'il musicians, have all requested, in direct communications to th.> ci.nimltle.'. t.i alipear. No decisbui has yet been re.K'hed as to wheth'-r these representatives of th© indus- try will be permitted to appear. Numerous letters and petitions urging the reiieal of the ndmlssioii lax have been received by the eoni- mittee from all points of the coiie- Iry. These the committeo will ail Consider, it is st.itcd. '•NORTH OF 36" NORMAL No Special of Hough Story—Mclford Directing pri I ip'itling with llie I MUSICAL COMEDY Pop Vaudeville Suspending Hip, Fresno at Sin I'r iticla.'o, Mu.-h P* .1.1. k KussoU and bis musi.'.il i iiimedy cmpiiiy fonnei iy at the ' t'entury, Oaklainl li.ve been slgncl ! for n speei.il siininier engagement I at the Ilipiioil'i inc. l.'resno. This Is a West Cois: Theatres. Iiio, house liken over from Ackerinan it Hauls .and until now has beiti pl.i; iiig in \.iuileville and [ilctures. ■line .1 •I linn 1.1 iiv--toii t. .-.ni.-i no-til":- I'lat 111, It il ' I .^liiai, 111" .\t:,i.!i p nii t i l'i . ' li - d f l iu r . 1' . ♦■•♦- ^^lli il Mil.call i'l •;,ia'eil •ur.-r.!--' to ne I. til" .\lrin 1 < 1 wa- • a.it' 11 ■ ,:i..l I I .\li. t i'l I ac-h wi;h I > 1 .;h Sen ilof Whe.'lrr- Tie eel.-r' Coll li\ fiiinihhing you an.I .stmiib 'h' a'r.' ticket,-;? .Mi-- .>-;i:n,son- Yes. sir. S. i. It'r Wii'''ler—Ami aiaiimia: v,irioii:- ii-.r'hs for you? .Miss i-';i iron- Y.-s. si'-. S.ii.il r \'. Inel. i ~ I'i.l >.>il <■'■•■ ■.-..rli' tr a c..nvers.ition bet»>'" m il .Mr. Hnii t h w i th v > < FEDERAL TRADE HEARING The l''ederil Tr.nle CommlHsion r.'sunies its he'iring In the Faniou« I'l.iyers-I.asky .lelion in Atlanta on .Monilay next. The Commission h.is li.'.'n moving about fr.im one city to another f.ir .ilmo:,! .'ix months now ;:,itliering evbbme and it is be- li.'V.'.l th.it they will return to New Noik within about two weeks lor tip tier he.iriin;,^ here. DETROIT NEWS" ON ADS Di'tr'oi. .Mari'h IX. "il..- Detroit '.S'ews' is up in arms .ig.iinst some of the sex .i.lvertising run lately by the lirst-riin hoii.ae.s, (ii.d li.is notllied the exbildlorM that it ■ Itui. I..IS .\ni;.'l.s. .\I.ii. h lH I. sse T.iskv has sent word fiotii .Vew York Ih.it in making lti» screen version of the last of llie Kmcrsmi Iloilrch stori.'S. 'North of 3G,' wliI" h the autliiu- ci.riiplelert Just bef.ire lii.-i .li..illl, the cost is Id Im' held down. 'I'lie pietiire is to be luin"d out is in oiiliniry piocriin production inl not shot .1'! a "speeiir' to fol'oW U[i "Tlie <'..vercd Wagon " by Hie s.ime author. Oe.irgO Mi'If.'id has been s'l.'.te.l by l.,asky to direct the proiludion. lailliough it was origin, illy the Inten- tion of the org.ini/.;ition to have James Cnize, who made "The Cov- ired Wagon," do the pb-ture. Cru?:e was to have started on It early this ye .r, but he was switched to "Magnoli.i" and "North of ;ii'." was shelved as a story for the lime being. ,ill not 1)0 toll-rat. .1 In tlo' fii- -W 11,11-' I!." g to .Il ,.1;: .l',iot:n". ! ■ , well. II,ce to I pard.in',' ,Mi-:- Stinsiiii- Y"S, sir. Seiia'or V\"he. ler—Just tell (I'.iiiiiiiij on pag" li II." Ray Foster's Corporation P.ay Fosii'i- b.is forme.I eor ii o r a ti'in . H*.- formerly i.ct..r for ' S-reen Sn.i|*-.h'i' ■ peei.'ilty lilm enterprise. II.' will itroiiuee on his own ii.i« on. JUST A GOOD MAN I..IS Angeles, March IS. N.al Man will jirobably, in fact you might si.v' .ilr-i..lulely, be bn^y for the ii'-xt few .l.iys In working on his ri.itiire deiii'-lmg Indi.in life Halt U UK- author of the stoi j,; Mart will manage an.I direct; H irl will play the title rol.-; Hart hi'* written the cminuily an.! wid e.li'. and title the lilm: Hart i.s tln.-in. :Mg the produ.-lioii and la' "ill liiii'!" the I'. 'leasing .n i ,i iig. Iii.uu>. And there y..u are. ■: Censoring Bill in Oklahoma <(Ki.':t..ioa City. M.irch IT. fur a st.-lte l,..ald_ of moving pill ill' . i-iisurs is . efor" I ,h.' I..'gi-;l.-iture. I.t.'ly inti-."lii.- ■' 'to II" .'ompo,;'d oi' Ib.e. inenib"is I on •< 11.11 >'.