New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-02
FILM TRUST MATCHING
Effort to Form Combination in
London Bitterly Opposed.
WOULD CONTROL "M0VIES"
Picture Palaces Springing Like
Mushrooms in British Metrop-
olis--Ban in Germany.
from The Tribune Correspondent. !

London, Jan. 25.--An attempt to form
a combination in the cinematograph film
market, launched this week by Charles
Pathe. is meeting with the most bitter
opposition, and has resulted in a COM
binaton Of other interests concerned,
which promises to effectually quash the
ambitious scheme of the Anelo-French
manufacturer 1t is Mr.. Fathes hope
to form two trusts. the chief of which
is to comprise five OF the largest film
producing firms in Europe and the minor
trust to embrace about fifty of the smaller
manufacturers who will control the out
put OF the film market in Europe, and
limit the number OF manufacturers
The group would supply films direct to
the Snowman, and thus put the middle
man or renter out Of the business. "Ex-
hibitors renting or buying films from COM
panies not in the combination" Mr.. Pathe
frankly says, will be boycotted by It
for period of one year"
The executive committee of the Cine
matograph Exhibitors Association OF
Great Britain and Ireland an influential
body to which thousands OF exhibitors
belong. has pledged itself Ito support
only those manufacturers who will sup
port an open market for the sale OF
films" and the Reuters Association has
declared, through its secretary, that the
movement is doomed to defeat, for the
spirit Of the trade in England is unques-
tionably against the establishment OF
what would be virtually a trust and a
monopoly" But Mr.. Pathe is not abashed
pet scheme into being
Meanwhile, new cnematograph theatres
are springing up in London with mush-
room rapldity, and the latest addition Is
one Of the most elaborate ventures yet
attempted in the metropolis Ii has been
erected on the site of the New Gallery
Restaurant, in Regent street and was
opened this week by Sir George Alexan-
der. 1t is something more than an ord-
nary picture palace-a sort of cinema de
observation-disclosures, with lavish appoint
ments and decorations. You may lunch
comfortably in the brasserie, and imagine
that you own a bsronial hall I'm the Tudor
style. After luncheon you can see the latest
films. and, leaving the theatre at a little
after o'clock. have afternoon tea in the
tearooms, and return to the theatre for
the ordinary performance. There are
telephones and a waiting hall and every
thing for the convenience OF the public
And while these evidences Of the popI-
!ar!ty Of the cinema are forthcoming
every day in England. law ridden Ger
many is doing her best TO Kill the plctur.
palace. or at least To restrict the scope Of
its operations. An order has been issued
by Herr Won Jagow. the Berlin Chief Of
Police, prohibiting all children under
fourteen from going TO moving picture
shows. As German children have a COM
paratively poor time in the way - amuse-
ments they keenly feel the cinema ban.
The picture theatre Is not altogether I'm
favor with German ofilcialdom. Films
are condemned as being ''unpatriotic" De
cause they are foreign and increase the
violent admiration OF the average Ger
man for things English and American.
The reason children are excluded from
picture theatres is that they are alleged
To be too exciting and 10 have a bad in
fuence. One film depicting the amusing
waywardness OF curly headed boy OF
eight was cited by a high police official
as strong Justification OF Herr Won ia
COWS ban.
What mental benefit" he said. is TO
be obtained by the child mind which re-
ceived such impressions from success
through -disobedience- to-authorities pct
ures? The whole tendency Of our teach
ing is submission to authority. and we
shall not allow It to be nulifed by amuse-
ment places.
Then, too. pictures are too exciting
How can children who have seen pictures
OF Indians lighting and cowboys riding
recklessly go home To their exercise books
and DO their evening study work?
we want our children to grow up into
n.agafuI citizeus and pot nj