Variety (Feb 1927)

V99dxmdMy, February 2. 1927 PICTURES VARIETY OFHCIAL DRIVE TO MAKE MGRS. GUILTY OF MINOR YlOUnON New York's Dist AH'y and Special SeMions Justices Will Confer—Opinion Given Manager Responti- blot Though Not Present, When Minor bAdbttilted BEERY SETTLES WITH F. P. Will Not Leave Organisation—Six WMk*' Layoff Gkantod A concentrated drive against man- Itgera «nd employees of picture houses who persiHtontly violate the law In permitting minors' admit- tance to the theatres unaccompanied by their parents or guardians, has been started by the District At- torney and the Justices of the Court of Special Sessions In New York. The action of the authorlUMi is due to the Montvett cataetr<»phe several weeks ago. Heretofore the managers of the- atres have escaped prosecution, it being contended that the cashier and the ticket takers were the violators. According to Chief Justice Frederic Kernoehan of Special Sessions the managers are the responsible parties even though they are not preeAit when their employees commit a vio- lation. With this in view Justice Ker- noehan will confer with District At- torney Banton to determine whether Grand Jury action cannot be started against the managers. » The subject came up In Special Sessions Monday when Ralph Rl- vello. 20, and his wife, May. 18, tlclcet taker and cashier respectively Of tho Belmore. pictures, at 1028 Third avenue, were arraigned for sentence after pleading guilty to ad- mitting minors. The sentence of the two was postponed until Feb. 21 at the request of Assistant Dis- trict Attorney Henry Alexander, who stated he wished to take the matter up with ]>lst#«M attsnisy Banton. Mr. Alexander informed the Jus- tices that Edward Meyer, manager of the theatre, had been discharged by MaRi'^trate Uonaud In the Har- lem Court, the Magistrate contend- ing that Meyer was not responsible f«r action bt his pmploy^ta, kpi having been present when the tto* latlon occurred. Another phase to be taken up by the authoritkiB has to do with men employed by managers of movie theatres whose job It Is to stand outside of a theatre and offer to purchase tickets Icr minor boys and girls who are unaccompanied by elders. The steerers get a per- centuge of each ticket they pur- chase. . Chaplin's Reception At the Cameo, on 42nd Street. New York. I.s a revival of Charlie Chaplin's "Kasy Street.** Saturday night when the film's title was flashed there was not a sound ^ in the small theatre, nor #d the capacity audience express itself in any way excoptia? by laughter throughout the running of the two-reeler. ' ' MRS. CHAPLIN CANT COLLECT ON COAST Los Angeles. Vvh. 1. Wallace Beery has settlod his difficulties with Famous Players- Lasky and will not leave that or- ganization. In straightening out his ditl'er- ences, Beery explained he had to have a rest between his current production and his next one. Ho said his physical condition was buch that a minor operation would re- quire at least a six •weeks* Uiy-oft between pictures. This lay-off nas been grunted and Beery will begin work on • Fireman, sav« My ChUd,** about April IS, Monty Briee directing. EXCHANGES READY TO BATIU COMBINE OF INDL EXHIBS. Brooklim Group Putting It Over Especially on Salee* men—Chain Booking Arrangement May Be Out* come in Metropolitan Area mt's Features Subpoena Schenck and Gold- wyn—Gov't How Into Go(imn dian for $3,000,000 The picture schedule for the new Paramount theatre, TInaes Square. has been set for February as fol- lows: Week Feb. 5. **It." with Clara Bow; 12. "The Third Decree." Warners; If. *'Love*s Great Mis- take"; 26, "Let It Rain." The Bow picture has ulrcudy been shown in a number o£ houses out- side ef If ev T^*tt**wa8 adapted from ai^jtfiiliial eiety bT Elinor Glyn. "Love's Great Mistake" will have as Mi principal fesnlnlne pUiyer Josephine Dunn, Paramount junior star. This picture will be turned out of Famous Players-Lasky As- toria, Xiong Island, studios. *Xet It Rain" is another of the Douglas. Macl^tean comedies. X^hnical Staff Wages Paid in Promises Los Angeles. Feb. U Vincent du Rubertls, promoter of a plc'tnr« called "OelRha Love." Is defendant in a series of wage claims filed with the Labor Bureau by his director, assistant director, scenario writors, cameraman and assistant cameraman. All allege they were emptoyed for varying terms of service and were paid in promises. Hanso Price asks $750; Keith Costello. $400. and J. D. Schetzler. «aoo. William TUers and Jack ■ Hooper are the cameramen. It is claimed that the promoter agreed to pay at the completion of the 1.000 toot strip not later than Jan. 1, but stalled and finally at- tempted to repudiate altogether. Another ^'Lunatic" "The Lunatic/* produced by David Thomson and directed by Harry Carson, has Just been com- pleted. The principal players were Lud- wig: Statz. James B. Carson ahd Claire Adams. The picture was shot at the Edi- son studio. N'cw York. It is not to be ronnioted with "The Lunatic at I^arge," the Leon Errol picture. Los Angeles. Feb. 1. That little mess between Charlie ChapHn and Ms «rlie beeame more and more tangled last week than It has ever been. The result is that Mrs. Chaplin will not be able to col- lect the fl4.4M aHMMmy and eevNi- sel fee granted her by Superior Court Judge Guerin, which was to be deducted from some $74,000 cash assets the sereen flomedtaii had; The appeal from the Superior Court order to the State Supreme Court has tied the hands of the va- rkma l we stvet» Ip tlie €!liaplte case and they - ill be pSJirerless t6 Junc- tion until the se tt has made its decision.* In tiM ttwantiaie Mrs. Chaplin's attorneirs became much perturbed as they said they got a letter telling Mrs. Chaplin to withdraw her law iUH against the screen comedian within 10 days from Jan. 18 or she would meet death. A similar letter was sent to Youi.g St Toung. atter- ne)ri for Mrs. ChapUn. Both these letters bore a postmark from Yonk- ers. N. Y. The attorneys have pe- titioned the authoritlee tor protee* tlon of Mrs. Chaplin and her home. The Chaplin attorneys also filed demurrers to the divorce eomplaint, claiming that eertalB panifraphs and allegations were not clear enough to them. Meanwhile, the attorneys for the wife are trying to get subpoenas tor Jaseph M. Schenck and Samuel Goldwyn that will compel these two producers to make deposition as to Chaplin's financial dealhigs and affairs With them. With Chaplin deciding to finish "The Circus" In New York, pre- parations are being niade at tlie local studio to ship props and other production accessories east at the time Myrna Kennedy, Harry Crocker, Henry Bergman and other prlnclfriKls leave to join the comedian. It Is expected a start will be made this week. It will take two baggage cars to handle the eintire prisdtiietlQn outfit, with the transportation cest estimated at around $15,000. The government found another lien lying loose with th^El f>eialt they now have $«.000.00i to plMtigS on the Chaplin assets. Mrs. Chaplin's attorneys say they have collected some $100 In Checks which Lloyd Wriffht, attorney for the comedian, sent her to support the two children. These checks have not been cashed but are to be held as evidence when the divorce trial starts. Berlin Jeweby Fiaa Sues for $16,005 Angeles, Feb. 1. Margi«fr a Co:. Jeweiers br iter- lin, Germany, has filed suit in Su- perior Court to recover |l<,005 from Pola Negri. Plaintlir alleges draffsi gtven them by Miss Negri In payment of jew- elry, delivered to the star on u visit to Berlin, came back from the Har- riman National Biak. Mew York, due to Miss NSil^ l^vlllt^ her account, . Couldn't Handle Paper Los Angeles. Feb. 1. An advance agent of a $J.50 picture road show wont into a small town near here where the attraction was to play one night, the first tUne the bouse had ever had reserved seats. After making the usual ar- rangements the agent returned to Los Angeles. On the night of the per- formance he received a long distance *phone call from the theatre manager, who said: "Say, where will I put the people who come in on passes?** TORONTO REFUSES ADS FOR UNSEEN FILM Says 'Taust" Shouldn't Have Passed Censors, but Admits llot Having Seen Film ■ 'htm AngefeiR, 'Feb.'!.' George Jessel i« expected out here in April to do "Tho Jazz Siiipror," as his second starring picture lor War- ner Srothenk;- Toronto, Feb. 1. The Globe, straightlaced Toronto morning daily, declined to run ad- vertising tor ''f'aust,** showing at Loew's. The editors declared thp picture should never have gotten by tlM censors, but admitted they had not seen It. The sanr. paper recentlyretiised to accept advertising tor *'Mantrap" because the president had read the book. For years this, dally has re- fused cigarette ads. It was reported yesterday (Tues- day) a number of the larger ex* changes in New York City supply* Ing tho motropolit;in territory are figuring on getting together to cur- tail a mo%'em^nt on the part of In* dependent exhibitors In certain por* tlons of tlie city to allocate product of the exchanges. J During the past few months the small chains of Independent houses have been working In agreement, particularly in Brooklyn, and mak- ing a division of product among themselves. This was an effort on their pjirt to stop the exchanges from playing one exhibitor against the other In an effort to raise the prices of film rentals. lOxhibitorM ;would inform a film salesman that they didn't want certain products. He would then be compelled to go to the opposi- tion houses. Having advance knowl. edge the salesman had been turned down In one tbeatre.. priees would be chopped In accordance. The exhibitors have been so suc- cessful in this form of warfare that the exchanges are no wcompletely tied up and want to do battle. From the exhibitor ranks In reply comes the threat that If the ex- changes start another price boost- Inff plan It will only mean that the exhibitors will be compelled to go Into a chain booking agreement on a larger scale than has been opera* tive UP to now. Estimates of Population for State*: 1927 The Department of Comnieice ;inn<junces its estimate Of the population of the United States made by tii^ P.ureau of the Census. STRASSEK CO.'S DEFAULT Ben Strasuer Troduction Co. which guaranteed Sade Elizabeth Huck two years* employment at $200 a month, has defaulted in its defense. Judgment for |4,89& has been entered against it. Frank J. Bates as assignee of the kid actress' parents, who were her legal i^uardians for purposes of litl- cntion, sued J^trasser. United Alabama . Arlxona ., AHftft ffS flS ciHIoriila Colorado . Census ^ J*n,l^^ states.«.... .w.> :id5,7to.62o -Estimated population- • • • • • •••••e*«»**« 'Childran of Next at Rialto. N. Y. At this time nobody aroimd the Famous Play^H • LUHky—offtcrr knows exactly how long the Harold Lloyd pirtiire. "Kid Hrothor." will nm at the Itialto, New York, but It has been .settled that the next picture In there will be "Children of Divorce." The latter has Clara Bow as its strtr. • ••••••«••'•••«•••«•• '• •-• • • «••••••••.•••*•*..... Connecticut ©elawaTe »«• • • • • District of Cohunbla.......... Florida Georgia ••,•,•••••••*•••*,.*,• Idaho •••«!••• .•• I • • • • Illinois • • • •'• • • • •« Indiana • • 4>i*.* lowa^^ (f*.****•'• *• • • *• •••••*•*•. Kansas •«» • Kentucky •«.••••• t« • • • * # * • ^ • Louisiana *• • • • ••«••«.• Maine ........................ Mlaryland .,.,*,***,*..,•.,*.*. Massa^mssttg • • «• Michigan ., • • « • » «.', • • Minnesota MisslKsippi Missouri av* •««•••• O A *.*: *> * Montn na ... «'««^ . Nebraska ..... ^fov&clft •••■•••••••«•••••••••• iTf^OT Kesp MampslilMr.>^ ^ ;«.>;i .v 443.O83 New Jersey ,,»v, ».»• • *.. 3.1 TiS.ftOO New Mexico :560..'J.'>0 New York 10,3S5.227 North Carolina 2.55».t2S Nortlt Dakota fiifi.STL' Ohio 5.7r.?).3SI Oklahoma 2.0:i8.283 Oregon ...ii ••*«•. 783,389 Pennsylvania 8.7L'0.017 Rhode Island 604.397 South Carolina 1.083,724 Routh Dakota... 636.547 Tonnes.«»ee 2.337.88r, • ••••e«»e««a»«« 2,348,174 334.162 1,782.204' S,4L'6,861 939,629 1,380,631 223.002 487,571 968.470 2,895,832 431.866 6,485.280 2,930,390 2.404,021 1,769,267 2,416.620 1,798,509 768.014 1,449,661 3,862.256 3,668.412 2.887,125 1,790,618 2,404,056 518.889 Texas Utah ... V f rni e nt • •••«•< 4.66 449.:{;io irig.iit . i i I I I I I I » I I I t » ■ I Vlrpinla '_'.:{09.1S7 V\':ivh f)-ton 1 .:{.".6.6_'l West VirKlnla... 1.46:5.701 Wisconsin 2.6;{2,067 Wyoming 194.402 St. tiouls. Feb. 1. A meeting of all of the exchange managers In this territory was held last week at which the question of price cutting against each other was the topic of discussion. Towns ranplnj? from 12,000 to 25,000 lylnff in this territory where a film war has been carried on over two years by the exchanges show that there has been a decrease in Aim rentals of 50 per cent. The war started when Universal went into the field and offered a complete proprram for those towns at the rate of 817.60 a day, to be followed by Famous Players and Metro - Ooldw yn - Mayer salesmen who cut the price of their features to $15 a day. The result was that the cutting continued with U. even- tually going to $12.50 a day. This battling virtually cut the Indepen* dents operating In the territory to nothing. The object of the meeting was an efTort to come to an understanding that there would be no further "cut* ting" and that the prices be m$^* - talned. Wife Slaps Husband Durfair DivoiM Tiial Los Angeles. Feb. 1. Judge Hazlett's court was thrown into an uproar when Mrs. Oene- vleve Sanford, contesting tbe dl* vorce suit of Frank M. Sanford, in- dependent picture producer, rushed attross the room and slapped her husband's face. The examination of Enrique Juan V'allejo, a cameraman, who accom- panied Mr. and Mrs. Sanford to Mexico City for the making of a picture, prompted the wife to slap 8anror<rB face. Mr. Sanforfl's at- torney sought to prove that the cameraman and Mrs. Sanford w«r« Intimate. OUH DISGHAKGES IN AUDIENCE New Britain, Conn., Feb. 1. A movie fan who forgot to park his gun at 'iC box otllc(> of the Kialto theatre and then dropped It in his seat nearly caused u riot when Joseph Lipski, 22^ picked up the gun and it was discharged. Llpskl was sentenced to five days In Jull wlien the court was asked to Inflict a heavy penalty as a warning. Th<'atr«' ;illa< >i»'s < .ilnu'd the audi- ence. wiii«h hail .started for tllO doorn • ropiiliifion .fan. 1. 1920; de» i»;is«' t Poptilatlon l^tate Cen«»u«. 192".. 1910 to i9JU. Banquet to Ray Hall itay Hall, who be<anie editor of the Pathe News, was tendered a Wi'IcomittK (lir'in I l»y tlie staff of the I'iirnoii^ IM !> .M S-l^'isky -news ree' ill th.> H<«t»'l ftooHcvelt Monday iihrhf.