Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

KMTA PITCHES IN AT MEETING Topeka Parley Results in Determined Program of Action Topeka, Kas. — What started off as just another Kansas-Missouri Theatres Ass’n meeting here, June 22 and 23, rapidly turned into what exhibitors consider the most important meeting in its history. While attendance was off, exhibitors, realizing that they are faced with some of the most serious problems since the inception of the business, took off their ccats and in the first hour did more than most previous conventions have done in two days. Stronger Setup Need Obvious Exhibitors see as their principal problem the formation of a much stronger organization. To secure this they must have members and money. Steps were taken to provide both. John Stapel, president, put his linger on the critical part ol the situation when he pointed out that "we're attempting to operate a big business with a budget of $1,300." On motion of C. A. Schultz of Commonwealth, exhibitors voted to authorize directors to designate persons in different counties or districts to solicit members in their territories. Definite areas are being set up and committees appointed. Sam Sosna of Manhattan, Kas., introduced a motion that an emergency existed, and the group voted to increase dues from $1 to $5 a year. Plan Membership Campaign The association plans an immediate, aggressive campaign for members. In selling exhibitors on membership in the organization, district committee members will take to non-members the story of some of the important problems now confronting the industry. Among these is legislation, labor, double features, chance games and premiums, the music tax, insurance, etc. Non-members may be apprised of some of the troubles that appear to be in store for them by means of questionnaires, which will present the problem, ask for a reaction, and enlist support for cooperative action. The suggestion was made by Stapel that exhibitors carry their fight against the music tax to the public by using their own screens. Suggesting that possibly MPTOA and Allied have not proceeded properly in their tussle with Ascap, Stapel advanced the notion that exhibitors should, at the time they take their story to the public by using their screens, offer to the ParentTeachers’ Ass’n groups in each of their communities the amount of the music tax to form a scholarship, providing efforts of the communities are successful in removing the tax. The effect would be to give exhibitors, their theatres, and the motion picture business a continuous flow of good will that exhibitors, distributors and producers could ever buy. Objective would be to get the entire community behind the REGISTRANTS Topeka, Kas. — Registration at the Kansas-Missouri Theatres Ass’n convention here, June 22 and 23, was as follows: Exhibitors John C. Stapel, Kockport, Mo. K. R. Biechele, Kansas City, Kas. F'ranlc Cassil, St. Joseph, Mo. G. W. Harttinann, North Kansas City, Mo. Mrs. Charles K. Barron, Pratt, Kas. F. S. Riegel, Wilsey, Kas. Homer F. Strowig, Abilene, Kas. Sam L. Sosna, Manhattan, Kas. William Parsons, Kansas City, Mo. 'Tom Bdwards, Eldon, Mo. George A. Nescher, Valley Falls, Kas. Donald D. Phillips, Colby, Kas. W. B. Cook, Halstead, Kas. Ferd Ledoux, Holton, Kas. Stanley Schwaii, Lawrence, Kas. Rex Kendall, Lawrence. Kas. J. Ward Spielman, Baldwin, Kas. H. F. Higgins, St. Marys, Kas. C. A. Schultz, Kansas City, Mo. Piex Barrett. Columbia, Mo. W. G. McKinney, Topeka, Kas. A. W. Heyl, Junction City, Kas. Harry C. Musgrave, Minneapolis, Kas. J D. Rankin, Tarkio, Mo. Kleet Bratton, Council Grove, Kas. Roy Culley, Medicine Lodge, Kas. Virgil Harbison, Tarkio. Mo. Roy ].)unnuck, Atchison, Kas. Max Davisson, Florence, Kas. C. L. McVey, Herrington, Kas. Bert Pacey, assistant mgr., Sosna, Manhattan, Kas. Film and Supply Men E. L. Harris, Alexander Film, Kansas City, Mo. Don Davis, RCA, Kansas City. Finton Jones, Traveiers, Kansas City. L. F. Durland, Monogram, Kansas City. Russeli Borg, Grand Nationai, Kansas City. Wiliiani Flynn, Kansas City. Jolin tVangberg, RKO, Kansas City. A. G. Smith. National Theatre Supply, Kansas City, Ralph Morrow, Universal, Kansas City. J -e Maguire, M-G-M, Kansas City. \V. B. Truog, United Artists, Kansas City. Frank H. and Mrs. McFarland, Topeka, Kas. William Warner, Kansas City. Frank Hensler, Kansas City. . movement, and conduct it over as long a period of time as is necessary to accomplish the purpose. Cites Portable Chain Menace In reporting on Missouri legislation, Stapel said that there was considered during the last legislature the possibility of introducing a bill to place under adequate supervision portable circuit operations due to the fire hazard. The only exit in most of such shows is under the “cracker box’’ on which the projector is mounted. Stapel suggested that in some situations in Missouri the portable circuits have hit regular theatre operators badly, and that if they make money there will be more of them. Because there was a censorship and an SRO bill introduced, however, the other bill was not introduced. R. R. Biechele, secretary, reported on Kansas legislation, and read a telegram fron’i Ed Kuykendall stating that he was, on the advice of his doctor, going home for a much-needed rest, and therefore was unable to attend the convention. Biechele read a proposal from R. W. McEwan, Bank Night distributor in Missouri and Kansas, on which the convention tcok no action. McEwan proposed KMTA support of a Kansas measure to legalize Bank Night. The association would, however, like to get the reactions (Continued on next page) Drive for New Members and Wider Interest Is Launched Topeka, Kas. — Serious commitment of themselves to an organization representing all exhibitors in the Western Missouri and Kansas area was made by members of the KMTA when they volunteered to undertake immediately the selling of every nonmember and non-interested member on active participation in the affairs of the association. Membership committeemen, who will, from now until Christmas if necessary, accomplish this task are: Tom Edwards, Eldon, Mo.; Homer Strowig, Abilene, and A. W. Heyl, Junction City, Kas.; L. F. Durland, Kansas City, Mo.; Frank Cassil, St. Joseph, Mo.; Virgil Harbison and J. D. Rankin, Tarkio, Mo.; Rex Barrett, Columbia, Mo.; William Parsons and E. Rolsky, Kansas City, Mo.; George Harttmann, North Kansas City, Mo.; Edd Haas, Fox Midwest, Missouri; Howard Jameyson, Fox Midwest, Kansas; C. L. McVey, Herrington, Kas.; Max Davisson, Florence, Kas.; H. F. Higgins, St. Marys, Kas.; Rex Kendall and Stanley Schwan, Lawrence, Kas.; W. G. McKinney, Topeka, Kas.; Donald D. Phillips, Colby, Kas.; H. C. Musgrave, Minneapolis, Kas.; Sam Sosna, Manhattan, Kas.; Mrs. Meta Barron, Pratt and Anthony, Kas.; Roy Culley, Medicine Lodge, Kas., and Fred Ledoux, Holton, Kas. To Carry “Gospel” Each of these exhibitors will contact exhibitors in their territory with a definite “selling” talk on the necessity and advantage of association membership. The association will back up the effort of exhibitors with questionnaires, bulletins, regional meetings, and so on, and will outline to distributors what is being done so that film salesmen can keep the subject alive. However, the job will be done by exhibitors— for exhibitors. All oHicers and directors were re-elected by the association with the exception of E. A. Briles of Stafford, Kas., who no longer is an exhibitor. Mrs. Meta Barron of Pratt and Anthony, Kas., was elected to replace him. Officers are John Stapel. Rockport, Mo., president; E. B. Danielson, Russell, Kas., vice-president, and R. R. Biechele, Kansas City, Kas., secretary-treasurer. Directors are, for Kansas, C. A. Schultz, Homer Strowig; for Missouri, George Harttmann, E. Rolsky, Frank Cassil and Tom Edwards. While no further action was taken in the matter, the organization reiterated its stand of opposition to motion picture stars appearing on the radio. Biechele recalled that KMTA was the first association to go on record in this respect. Endurance Contests Hurt Walkathon competition is hurting boxoffices for some Kansas theatres, discussion revealed. Some promoters have discovered means of getting around the law and in some cases have found it advantageous to secure the backing of the American Legion, which usually is effective in stemming any very strong opposition. 132 BOXOFFICE :: June 26, 1937.