Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1917 - Jun 1918)

GRIPPING SCENE FROM "JUST A WOMAN MERGE BOOKING CIRCUITS JULIUS STEGER DIRECTED THIS SCREEN VERSION OF EUGENE WALTER'S FLAY, FEATURING CHARLOTTE WALKER (U. S. Exhibitors Rooking Corp.) Fifty Chicago Exhibitors Sign for Membership in United Picture Theatres C. W. Bunn's Office Will Have One Hundred Days Instead Of Four Weeks as Originally Planned — Branches Established in South The visits of President Ochs and VicePresident Seelye to middle Western cities have resulted in large accessions to the membership of United Picture Theatres of America, the company announces. Manager C. W. Bunn signed up fifty Chicago theatres following the Ochs visit and the latter's addresses to the exhibitors of Chicago territory. "The Chicago office," writes Mr. Ochs, "will have one hundred days inside of four weeks. Indeed, I should not be surprised if the Chicago territory gave our plan no less than two hundred days of bookings altogether." The announced plan of United Picture Theatres is to start wholesale co-operative buying of films for its members after two thousand booking days shall have been secured. For Chicago alone to take from 5 to 10 per cent of this aggregate, would indicate that the plan is in fair way of realization. The general interest in the plan is shown by the fact that applications for fifteen days had to be rejected because they happened to be opposition houses to those that had already signed. Each member is to be carefully protected in his drawing territory, and there will be no cutting down of receipts by permitting two houses to appeal to the same neighborhood patrons with the same films. From Chicago Mr. Ochs paid flying visits to Cincinnati and St. Louis and then visited the southwest, with stops at Memphis, Little Rock. Dallas and New Orleans. C. R. Seelye is organizing branch offices in these cities, putting men in charge who are thoroughly acquainted with the needs of Southwestern exhibitors. The keynotes of the organization are economy and efficiency. The proper handling of film distribution over tbe widespread area is being carefully studied with the view of cutting out unnecessary expense, ensuring rapid shipments, and doing away with "positive waste" — i. e., the idle days resulting from the ordering of superfluous prints. In New York the efforts of Arthur S. Abeles, Eastern representative, and Aaron Corn, city sales manager, are lining up additional metropolitan houses every day. The home offices of United Theatres at 1600 Broadway, New York, presents a busy scene daily. There are always a dozen to twenty picture managers visiting headquarters to discuss the new plans and figure out the particular requirements of their houses in reference to the general scheme. Another live Eastern centre is Boston, with Stanley Hand in active charge. Messrs. N. I. Filkins, in Buffalo, Joseph Schwartzbine, in Minneapolis, C. S. Edwards in Kansas City, and Gilbert Heyfron in Montana, likewise report great activity, the general friendliness of exhibitors, and the actual lining up of new members daily. Conservatively it may be stated that the first five hundred of the desired two thousand booking days are in sight, though as yet only seven branch offices have been started and three-quarters of the country remains to be covered. (Continued from page 22, column 3) many facts of value to further the movement we have on foot. Welcomes Good Plan "The American Exhibitors Association has no plan to offer, except along general lines. We are clearly openminded on the subject and are ready to consider any plan offered. However, analyzing the propositions that have been offered it seems that the principal reason the exhibitors haven't taken up this question is that no definite, concrete plan has been offered, and, furthermore the plans that have been offered only contemplate the booking of one film production a week, or one a month. It seems that this would not improve the present conditions. "We now have more productions than the market is able to assimilate, and, together with the high cost of production, it would be much better if some arrangements could be made for a number of well-known producers to group themselves together to eliminate overhead expenses and economize. And such a plan would be certain of adoption if the exhibitors would show enough interest to favor that kind of a combination, and its adoption would prove of inestimable value to exhibitor and producer alike. "We have never had a meeting since the organization of the association when the producer and exhibitor discussed these general principles. The idea we had in mind, in calling this conference, is to obtain an exchange of ideas, and all that are presented will get consideration. The meeting in Washington, D. C, in December resulted in such splendid results on the tax question, there is no doubt in our minds but that the meeting in New York City, April 8, will bring about a much better understanding between these two branches of the industry and accomplish results that will be lasting." Following the conference between Messrs. Pettijohn, Shurtleff and Rembusch, the first two named left for New York City, to arrange the details of the April 8 meeting. General Reissues Snakeville Comedies Intensive treatment has been given the ten Snakeville comedies issued by Essanay through General Film with the expectation that they will duplicate tl.eir former popularity. New film, new titles, new tints, and careful editing has made these single reel subjects with western settings most acceptable as progran. adjuncts for any sort of theatre, it is 'aid. The comical adventures of "Slippery Slim" are well remembered by shownu'ii, and a most consistent group of films has been assembled for this new edition. Steiner Sells N. C. Territory William Steiner. of the Jester Comedy Company, advises he has disposed of the rights to the Jester comedies for North Carolina to the Eltabran Film Company. Charlotte. N. C. With this sale, the only territory left open is the District of Columbia. 24