Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

H B R H R D Celebrated Players Head Suggests Percentage Charge Supplant 15c Tax J. L. Friedman Declares That Present System Will Make for Ruin of Small Exhibitor The injustice of the present method of assessing the 15 cents per reel per day charge by the film exchanges was forcefully brought out in a recent interview with J. L. Friedman of the Celebrated Players Film Co., Chicago. Mr. Friedman urged the manufacturers to get together and change the conditions now existing and pointed out that the present charge spelled ruin for many of the smaller exhibitors. He suggested that the producers impose a fixed percentage charge of one, two or three per cent to be determined by general consent. Just Taxation Wanted "As I conceive it," he said, "it is the intent of all taxation to be fair, just and equitable. If the burden falls heavier on the small merchant than the large corporation, its purpose is defeated from the outset. "In my judgment the method of assessing all exhibitors whether large or small, 15c per reel is unfair and unjust. As this film law is now interpreted and applied the man who pays $100.00 a day for a first run feature is taxed on the same basis as the man who pays $5.00 for a reel that may be a year or two old. Let us presume this first run consists of five reels. At the rate of 15c per reel the exhibitor is charged 75c. Let us further presume the exhibitor who rents this feature operates a 1,500 seat house. "Now we turn to the small exhibitor, the one who is forced to count the pennies. He buys from the exchange the old releases in order to get the lowest possible prices. Let us suppose he rents a feature that is 12 or 15 months old at say $10.00. He also pays the 15c per reel tax or a total of 75c. The man who pays $100.00 a day pays 54 of 1 per cent. The man who pays $10.00 pays lYi per cent. Think of the injustice. The large exhibitor who by the very nature of his business can easily absorb ordinary charges is taxed ^ of 1 per cent as against 7^4 per cent that the small exhibitor, who is fighting hard just to make a living, must stand. Unfair to Small Exhibitor "If it is the purpose of the law to put the small exhibitor out of business that purpose will soon be achieved. But I cannot believe that it is the producers' intent to impose an unfair burden on the small exhibitor, while at the same time it gives an absolute advanfage to his larger and richer brother. "Having shown the unfairness of the assessment as it is now applied it should be the effort of every fair minded man to attempt to change it into an assessment that is fair for rich and poor alike. My suggestion is that the producers impose a fixed percentage of the invoice charge of one, two or three per cent to be determined upon by general consent. Let us use a fixed percentage of 2 per cent and see how such an assessment would operate. "An exchange rents an exhibitor a feature to cost him $100.00. To the bill he adds the war tax of 2 per cent on $100.00 or $2.00. At the same time the exchange rents to a small exhibitor a $10.00 feature. To his bill he also adds the 2 per cent war tax or in his case a charge of twenty cents. "I believe any fair minded man will immediately see the injustice of the present assessment and the absolute fairness of the change I suggest. "Aside from any sentimental reasons, it is well to remember that the film business of the country depends for its existence upon the continuance in business of the small exhibitors. If their business is ruined it will only be a question of time before the word ruin in capital letters will be spelled for the entire industry. "Get together and let us change this assessment." Film Exchanges Must Pay Higher Rates for License Chicago Council Committee Ignores Plea of Film Men in Action Despite the pleas of the film companies that the industry is at the present time carrying as large a burden as it can possibly stand, the council committee on licenses voted to recommend an increase from $25 to $200 in the license fee of film exchanges. The manufacturers, however, obtained some concession as it was the original intention of the committee to raise the fee to $250. A number of the film exchange owners told the aldermen that the imposition of the war tax made the business a losing venture for many of the exchanges. "Then why do you stay in the business?" asked Alderman Long. "To protect our investment," was the answer. This served only to excite amusement on the part of the committee and the vote favoring the increase was taken. Nicholas Power Co. Promotes S. S. Cassard Samuel Snowden Cassard, who has had charge of the purchasing and stock departments of the' Nicholas Power company for the past five years, has been appointed general manager of the company. He fills the vacancy caused by the promotion of Will C. Smith to the post of general manager. Mr. Cassard has also had charge of the company's advertising for the past year. His wide knowledge of projection machines, coupled with his remarkable executive ability tells the story of his promotion. 14 Richard C. Travers Wins Army Captaincy Among those who obtained commissions in the United States Army at the close of the second Reserve Officers Training Camp, held at Fort Sheridan, 111., was Richard C. Travers. After three months of arduous toil, trench life, CAPT. RICHARD C. TRAVERS long marches and nights of study, Travers won a captaincy. The new army officer is well known in Chicago, having starred in many Essanay productions among which were "Lost, Twenty-four Hours," "Borrowed Sunshine," "The Phantom Buccaneer" and "The Hoodoed Story." Mr. Travers was born in Canada, educated at St. Andrew's College and in his early years served in the army and practiced medicine. Who Did Ask Major to Suppress Film? Washington, D. C, — .The name of Major M. L. C. Funkhouser, Chicago's film censor de luxe, has been placed in nomination for membership in the Ananias Club, the organization made famous by former President Roosevelt. The major's sponsor is George Creel, chairman of the committee on public information. Major Funkhouser refused to pass the film play on the Russian revolution called "The Rose of Blood," produced by the Fox Film Corporation, saying he acted at the request of Mr. Creel. The committee on public information said it had never requested Major Funkhouser to reject any film. The division of pictures of the committee on public information says it passed the picture without cuts or changes. innmn mn innniiHtiiininititmintiiiii uiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiii mmmnM