Wid's year book (1918)

The Year In Headlines September, 1917 — American Exhibitors Association officials meet in New York to complete details of recently formed organization. Fox asks for injunction to restrain Major Funkhouser from preventing the showing in Chicago of “The Spy.” Virginia exhibitors hold convention at Ocean View, Va. Anita Stewart signs contract with Louis B. Mayer of Boston to appear in features. Proclamation issued by President Wilson prevents exporting of film without special license. Herbert Brenon’s “Fall of the Romanoffs” has initial showing. Herbert Lubin and Arthur H. Sawyer purchase Amer¬ ican and Canadian rights for “The Warrior” from Harry Raver. “Today” and “The Mad Lover” are placed on the state rights market by Pathe. Michigan exhibitors at meeting in Detroit form state organization to be affiliated with the American Exhibi¬ tors Association. Exhibitors of Maritime provinces convene at St. John, N: B. C. F. Zittel is appointed general manager of the In¬ ternational Film Service. Henry J. Brock, president of Inter-Ocean Film Co., killed in auto accident. Vitagraph gets temporary injunction restraining Anita Stewart from appearing in pictures for Louis B. Mayer. Perfection Pictures are announced. C. E. Shurtleff is appointed sales manager of Select Pictures. Motion Picture Directors Association occupies new quarters at 234 West 48th St. Paralta Plays, Inc. severs its connection with Triangle. Alice Brady signs with Select Pictures Corp. Pathe secures rights to Russian Art Films. October — Herbert Brenon purchases Lewis J. Selznick’s interest in the Herbert Brenon Film Corp. Famous Players-Lasky Corp. buys the Paragon studio and printing plant in Fort Lee. New England exhibitors convene at the Copley Plaza in Boston. Brenon secures an injunction pendente lite restraining the Export and Import Film Co., Inc., Ben Blumenthal and Chadwick from using the title “The Tyranny of the Romanoffs, with Iliodor.” Clarence L. Yearsley becomes advertising and pub¬ licity manager for First National Exhibitors Circuit. Rules governing amusement tax are explained by Treasury and Internal Revenue officials. Paramount-Artcraft national advertising campaign is launched. Paul H. Cromelin elected president of InterOcean Film Co. to succeed the late Henry J. Brock. Forence La Badie dies of results of injuries sustained in automobile accident. Julius Steger resigns as president of Triumph and Crystal Film companies and is succeeded by Joseph A. Golden. The Motion Picture Exposition Co. is incorporated at Albany. New York exhibitors, in mass meeting, decide to pass on the admission tax to the public. Motion Picture Exhibitors League of New Jersey holds annual convention in Newark. Exhibitors League of Kansas convenes at Manhattan, Kans. Oro Pictures Co. is incorporated with H. Grossman as president. Harry M. Crandall opens the Knickerbocker theatre in Washington. D. W. Griffith returns from making pictures in France. U. S. Exhibitors Booking Corp. capitalized at one million with Frank J. Hall as president and William Oldknow as secretary and treasurer. Bessie Love becomes a Pathe star. November — W. W. Hodkinson formulates plans for the W. W. Hodkinson Corporation. Sidney Garrett elected president of J. Frank Brockliss, Inc. M. H. Hoffman, Inc., closes deal with the Whartons to handle “The Eagle’s Eye.” Charlie Chaplin files a number of suits against com¬ panies and actors to prevent alleged imitations. First number of Bernarr McFadden’s Physical Culture Screen Magazine is issued. John F. Skerrett of Nicholas Power Co., dies. Walter W. Irwin resigns from the American Cinema Commission. Howell Hansel, director, dies. Mutual sues New York Motion Picture Corp. and allied concerns for $400,000 alleging violation of contract. California theatre of San Franci co, Cal., is opened. Gebhardt W. Sahner, president of the Motion Picture Exhibitors League of Pennsylvania, dies. Theodore C. Deitrich resigns as advertising and pub¬ licity director of International Film Service and forms De Luxe Pictures, Inc. with Doris Kenyon as the star. J. Ernest Williamson is awarded verdict of $3,175 against Universal Company for alleged breach of con¬ tract in connection with a picturization of “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.” Organization of State Right Distributors, Inc. is com¬ pleted. J. S. Woody becomes general manager of Pacific Northwest territory for Select. Ruth Stonehouse signs contract with Overland Film Co. to produce six features a year. December — Charlie Chaplin secures an injunction against the Film Exchange Inc., the King Komedy Film Co., Inc., Eman¬ uel S. Manheimer. Fred Beck, Louis Weiss, George Merrick and Samuel Berliner, restraining the defendants from producing, releasing or exhibiting spurious Chaplin comedies. Eleven producing companies charge Brooklyn exhibi¬ tors with attempt to boycott Fox and Vitagraph pictures on account of fifteen cents a reel tax. United States District Attorney is asked to investigate complaint. Arrangements are made for the distribution of W. W. Hodkinson pictures through General Film exchanges. American Exhibitors Association opens headquarters in Indianapolis. Essanay announces discontinuance of program re¬ leases and concentration on specials.