Wid's year book (1918)

The Committee on Public Information approves Fox’s the “The Rose of Blood’’ despite Funkhouser’s refusal to permit its showing in Chicago. Jesse J. Goldburg opens state rights sales bureau. Ivan Abramson launches the Graphic Film Company. John G. Adolfl resigns as director for Fox. Members of the M. P. E. L. of A. and A. E. A. hold joint convention in Washington. Paramount-Artcraft forms organization in Havana for distribution in West Indies and Central America. First National Exhibitors Co. of Ohio is incorporated. “Spirit of ’76,” issued by the Continental Producing Co., is seized by Federal officers in Los Angeles as enemy propaganda. Robert Goldstein, producer of the picture, is indicted on three counts. Famous Players-Lasky Corp. places Fred Stone under contract. Fred E. Wright, after an absence of three years, re¬ turns to the direction of Pathe films. Eric Campbell, comedian with Charlie Chaplin, killed in automobile accident. Rivoli theatre. New York, is opened. William Fox takes over the Victor studio, 638 West 43rd St., New York. William D. Taylor signs with Famous Players-Lasky. Epoch Producing Corp. releases “The Birth of a Na¬ tion” to regular motion picture theatres. Hiram Abrams and B. P. Sehulberg, respectively president and general manager of Paramount Pictures Corp., resign their executive offices in order to devote themselves to bringing about a closer relationship with exhibitors. Edgar Lewis sells “The Sign Invisible” to the First National Exhibitors Circuit. January, 1918 — Charles W. Gates elected president of Associated Theatres, Inc., at first annual meeting in Minneapolis. Metro plans enlargement of west coast studio. Regal Films, Ltd., Toronto, acquires selling rights in Dominion to all films controlled by Globe Films Ltd., Toronto. Felix Malitz arrested and placed under $5,000 bail, charged with having smuggled rubber into Germany in 1916. Paramount-Artcraft exchange managers convene in New York. Walter E. Greene becomes head of Paramount, A1 Lichtman, general manager. Censorship fight grows active in Los Angeles. James Kirkwood engaged to direct Frank A. Keeney productions. Mastercraft Photoplay Corp. announced with F. Eugene Farnsworth as president and director general. Maryland Exhibitors League starts campaign to secure repeal of censorship law. John Manheimer elected president of Manhattan Ex¬ hibitors Local No. 1. Semi-annual convention of North Carolina Exhibitors Association held in Raleigh. Mutual Film Corp. announces the Screen Telegram. John Emerson and Anita Loos engaged by Jesse L Lasky to work on Paramount pictures. Delegation of picture men visits President Wilson at the White House. Aubrey M. Kennedy resigns as manager of produc¬ tion for Goldwyn. Motion Picture Directors Association gives dinner and dance at the Biltmore. John C. Graham closes contract with Gaumont to dis¬ tribute Paramount-Artcraft pictures in France and her colonies, also Switzerland, Belgium, and Egypt. Famous Players-Lasky Corp. absorbs Paramount and Artcraft. Metro launches Screen Classics, Inc. George Loane Tucker becomes managing director for Goldwyn pictures. February — Censorship is threatened in Virginia. Wm. A. Brady resigns from World Film Corp. Leander Richardson dies of pneumonia. Joseph Kaufman dies of pneumonia. Famous-Players Lasky Corp. starts administrative bureau conducted by Hiram Abrams and B. P. Sehulberg. George D. Baker appointed manager of productions at Metro’s west coast studio. “Smiling Bill” Parsons starts making Capital Com¬ edies for Goldwyn. Louis B. Mayer again assumes control of American Feature Film Co. and Metro Pictures Corp. of New England. Grauman’s theatre is opened in Los Angeles. C. D. Cooley re-elected president at convention of Florida Exhibitors League. William Russell Productions, Inc. formed. Testimonial dinner is given to William Fox at the Astor. Edwin Thanhouser retires as president of Thanhouser Film Corp. Sixth annual convention of Oklahoma Exhibitors League held in Oklahoma City. Birth of a Race Photoplay Corp. is investigated by Attorney General Brundage of Illinois. Oscar C. Apfel joins World Film to direct Kitty Gordon. Mutual is denied injunction restraining New York Mo¬ tion Picture, Keystone Film Co., Domino Motion Picture Corp., and Broncho Motion Picture Co. from re-issuing through other companies than Mutual. March — Mutual adds five new members to its Board of Direc¬ tors. Fight for Sunday opening in Alabama is started. Margaret Mayo resigns as head of Goldwyn scenario department. William L. Sherrill elected president of Producers and Exhibitors Affiliated. Haworth Pictures Corp. organized to exploit Sessue Hayakawa pictures. Goldwyn closes deal with John Olsen and Co. of Scandinavia, for releasing Goldwyn pictures in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Grand Theatre, Pittsburgh, Harry Davis, owner, is opened. New York State Exhibitors League convention at the Astor, New York. Allied Motion Picture Committee starts campaign for Sunday opening in New York. Stanley V. Mastbaum dies. J. A. Berst resigns as vice president and general manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc., and Paul Brunet Is named as his successor. Capital Film Co. incorporated in Indiana with capital stock of $2,500,000. Julius Steger becomes producing director of Inter¬ national Film Service, Inc. Crawford Livingston elected president of Thanhouser Film Corp. U. S. Court of Appeals decides against Funkhouser in fight over showing of Fox’s “The Spy” in Chicago. Gaumont Company adopts state rights plan of release. Mitchell H. Mark, president of Strand Theatre Com¬ pany, dies in Buffalo.