Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

wM E X H B I O R H R money which they had obtained on the grounds of advance deposits, decided on its "separate deposit" system, which, from advices we have received, has given them between two and one-half and three million dollars of exhibitors' money, with which they are financing their operations. But it is idle talk to blame the Paramount company for doing this, because it is just what many of us would do if we COULD GET AWAY WITH IT. The blame for the existence of the Paramount "separate deposit" system rests on the shoulders of the exhibitors who have submitted to the injustice. If you are content to be imposed on in this manner, go ahead ; but if you are real exhibitors and intelligent business men, tell Paramount and every other film company whose treatment is not fair that you will not submit, and then stick to your course. If you are backed up by a real organization, there can be no doubt of the outcome. There is but one course open to you, if you value the future of your business. Join an association which is able and willing to place the weight of organization behind your appeals for fair treatment. _ Join the American Exhibitors Association ! What About the Admission Tax? CERTAIN outsiders will contend that for exhibitors to protest the governmental tax is an unpatriotic thing to do, but the reverse is true. If this tax is disproportionate, if exhibitors cannot meet its requirements and live, then it is their duty to themselves and to their country to protest and to fight for a readjustment. For the government's aim in the levying of this and every other tax is to obtain revenue from the business that is taxed. But if the business is taxed out of existence, the revenue likewise will disappear. Consequently the government is greatly interested in allowing no tax to rest on a business which that business cannot meet without disaster. Careful study of several of the provisions of the Revenue Act as relating to the film business indicate that in all probability they came into existence through the abyssmal ignorance about the film business of certain members of Congress. The so-called footage tax was so absurd that officials of the Internal Revenue Department almost immediately stated that it would not be enforced literally. As to the admission tax, with which exhibitors are most vitally interested, it is obvious that in certain details it is over-burdensome, particularly with reference to the neighborhood house which is a real community necessity and not a luxury. In fact, the entertainment service dispensed by the neighborhood house is no more of the luxury variety than nine-tenths of the stuff sold by the neighborhood druggist and if this merchant was required to collect an additional ten per cent on everything he sold he certainly would be speedily taxed out of business. SUMMARY OF CURRENT ISSUE NEWS OF THE WEEK A. E. A. Headquarters Forsakes New York for Indianapolis.... 15 How Exhibitors Are Handling Tax Detailed in Reports to "Herald" 15 Modification of Theatre Tax Law Sought by Chicago Picture Men 16 New Exhibitors' Circuit Formed With Headquarters in New York. 1? Bell & Howell Co. Reorganize and Increase Capital 17 City Council Will Not Demand Chicago Exchanges Leave "Loop" 18 Profits from Completed Titan Comedies Will Go to Buying Comforts for Soldiers 18 Ochs Excoriates Manufacturers Who Foist Reel Tax on Exhibitors 20 Director R. A. Walsh Joins Goldwyn Staff 20 A. E. A. Official Report Shows Association's Growth 21 Six Paralta Films Completed; Work Started on Glass Studio.... 22 M. J. Weisfeldt of Wholesome Films Corp. Predicts Evening Shows for Juvenile 24 Taylor Holmes and Mary MacLane Star in Essanay Special Feature Series 25 "The Warrior" Ranked Among Year's Ten Big Photoplays by Critic in Article in Leading Magazine 25 "Lest We Forget," Selznick War Spectacle, Featuring Rita Jolivet, New Complete 26 Advance Deposit System Evil Exposed in Metro Suit Against Chicago Exhibitor 26 World Announces Feature Films for the Remainder of the Year. 34 Chicago Motion Picture Houses Asked to Aid "Red Triangle" Y. M. C. A. Fund f 34 Essanay Makes Scenic Films, "Wonders of Nature and Industry" 36 W. W. Hodkinson Corp. Will Commence Distribution of Paralta Plays This Week 37 United States War Tax on Export Films Hits Canadian Ex changemen Hard Blow 38 Attractive Booklet Issued by Fox Credit to Company 44 "The Cinderella Man," With Mae Marsh, Ireal Production for Holiday Season 44 Replica of Germans' Mammoth Dirigibles Used in "The Zeppelin's Last Raid" Film 44 REVIEWS "The Antics of Ann," Paramount C, Five Parts, With Ann Pennington 27 "Over Here," Wm. A. Brady's News Picture, Two Parts 27 "Easy Money," World D, Five Parts, With Ethel Clayton 27 "The Winged Mystery," Bluebird C. D., Five Parts, With Franklin Farnum •• 28 "Who Is Number One?" Paramount Serial, Four Episodes, With Kathleen Clifford 28 "The Mate of the Sally Ann," Am. -Mutual C D., Five Parts, With Marv Miles Minter 28 "Draft 258," Metro D., Five Parts, With Mabel Taliaferro 29 "The Man From Montana," Butterfly D., Five Parts, With Neal Hart 29 "Shame," John W. Noble D„ Six Parts, with Zena Keefe 29 "Indiscreet Corinne," Triangle C.-D., Five Parts, With Olive Thomas 29 "The Painted Madonna," Fox D., Five Parts, with Sonia Markova 30 "A Case at Law," Triangle D., Five Parts, With Dick Rosson... 30 "Nearly Married," Goldwyn C, Six Parts, With Madge Kennedy 30 "The Voice of Conscience," Metro D., Five Parts, With Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne 30 "Gift O' Gab," Essanay C, Five Parts, with Jack Gardner 31 "The Judgment House," Paramount D.. Five Parts, With Wilfred Lucas • 31 DEPARTMENTS "Over the Top" 23 The Periscope 32 The Film Stock Market 33 At Down-Town Chicago Theatres 33 Synopses of Current Publications 35-36 Chicago Trade Events 37 Canadian Film News 38 The Open Market 39-40 Calendar of Program Publications 41-42 The American Exhibitor 43 New Corporations 43 14