Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-28
EXHIBITORS LEAGUE
ON THE OFFENSIVE
Philadelphia Organization Hits
Out at Interference of Many
Kinds With Photoplay
Business
Rx the Photoplar Editor

Several days ago there appeared in this
department an article by oliver Morosco,
IN which he declared that the moving pic
ture was already showing signs of degen-
GRAFTON. that its doom was sealed. At the
time no detailed answer was made, The
Photoplay Editor contented himself with
pointing out that while Mr.. Morosco's
analysis of the situation was correct in his
remarks on the great number of bad movies
produced, his conclusion was wrong. The
next step will be a gradual lettering of
the films
Today we give space to a plaint of an
other nature. It is from the exhibitors:
the people who choose the films made by
others, who give their theaters to these
films, who take the chances with large in
vestment. Many persons will disagree with
some of their points The question of
quarantine is a vexed one. and no one
seems to be able to solve it to the salts
faction Of ALL The Motion Picture Ex-
hibitors of Philadelphia met recently at
the office of the Photoplayer Company,
Parkway building, to discuss the matters
mentioned below. The following is from the
letter calling the meeting:
THE motion picture exhibitor OF today
is waglng losing battle against a host
of enemies worse than any business ever
before has had to contend with. An unjust
censorship, discriminating quarantine, the
low price of admission, the increased cost
of films these and many other conditions
are sapping the very life blood from the
theater business. These are conditions we
must already contend WITH but is that the
end to the persecution of our business? We
don't know What is to prevent all those
persons, official and otherwise, who are try
ing to regulate our business for us-the
business in which we have hundreds of
thousands of dollars invested-from fur
ther imposing unjust restrictions upon our
theaters, the necessity for which exists
only in the minds of the regulators? In
dlvidual protests are futile Only in con-
certed action may remedy be found"
Henry Ford purposes nominating Thomas
II. Ince as candidate for the Nobel Prize,
in view of the fact that Mr.. Ince produced
that greatest of all screen spectacles, Civ
ilization," now current at the Criterion The
ater. At least so 1t Is said. Mr.. Ince's mas
terpiece has admittedly created an epoch
in the art of silent drama production and
by reason of that fact has interested many
noted advocates of universal peace. 1t will
be recalled that Mr. Ford paid $1,000 a seat
for a private showing of Civilization in
Detroit August 4.
E. H. Sothern and Edith Storey are buslly
engaged on "An Enemy of the King" by
Robert N. Stephens Frank Thomson is d-
recting.
Rumors are flying fast. Don't be sur
prised If Griffith and Ince films land on the
open market soon. A tip from Wild.
w. Christy Cabanne. for seven years as
socated with D. w Griffith as director, has
signed long-term contract with the Metro
Pictures Corporation His first work on
the Metro program will be the direction of
Francis Y. Bushman and Beverly Bayne
in new serial, yet unnamed. The serial
will be released through Metro in IA epi-
sodes of two reels each, He will start work
with Metro early in September.