Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1917 - Jun 1918)

X H I B I R H R N. Y. Firm Presents Tax-Exempt Amusement Parks ^M^tr^ue Source of Worry to Exhibitors Considerable Apprehension Felt by Motion Picture Men as to Outcome of Unfair Competition During Summer Season Elliott, Comstock and Gest Chosen by D. W. Griffith To Handle Film in Manhattan Elliott. Comstock & Gest will handle D. \Y. Griffith's latest cinema war drama "Hearts of the World" it was announced last week and have taken over the Forty-fourth street Theatre, Xew York, where it will be presented under the management of Morris Gest. commencing next Friday night. It was originally planned to present the picture at the Lyric Theatre, on Forty-second street, but Mr. Gest was unable to obtain this house due to a previous arrangement between William Fox and the management. The Shuberts will transfer the A. H. Woods' play "The American Ace." which had several more weeks to run, to another theatre to make way for the Griffith production. A private showing of "Hearts of the World" will be held on Thursday evening at which French and British army officials as well as representatives of the United States government will be present. Many persons prominent in public life, state and city officials have also been invited to attend the first showing in Xew York. It is said S. L. Rothapfel offered Mr. Griffith $7,500 a week for the picture for ten weeks, which gave rise to the rumor that Mr. Rothapfel intended to put it on at the Metropolitan opera house for the summer. However, the noted director preferred to have the film presented as early as possible by reason llof its war propaganda value and therefore placed its destinies in the hands of Morris Gest who as once arranged to secure a Broadway house sufficiently large to take care of immense crowds during its New York run. Mr. Griffith arrived in Xew York on Monday and will personally supervise the initial showing of "Hearts of the \Yorld." Following its premiere the Dicture will be presented twice daily. Theatrical men in Xew York regard Mr. Griffith's decision to place the Xew , York presentation of his spectacle in the nands of the firm of Elliott. Comstock I &: Gest a wise one. inasmuch as it will ?ive the picture, it is thought, consideribly more prestige than otherwise. \nita Stewart Must Fulfill Her Contract Supreme Court Justice Cohalan, who leard a suit of the Yitagraph Company of America against Anita Stewart to restrain her from appearing for any Jther moving picture company during :he existence of a contract with the \ itagraph Company, handed down a derision last week granting the injunction. The contract really expired on Jan. U last, but because Miss Stewart reused to act for the plaintiff for twentyline weeks before the term expired she s enjoined from acting for anyone else or twenty-nine weeks after the end of he term. On the eve of the opening of the amusement parks in the United States, the motion picture industry has awakened to the full significance of the congressional action in exempting this brand of entertainment from the war tax where the admission does not exceed ten cents. Forced, as they will be, during the coming summer to combat the effects of the Daylight Saving bill under which the theatres face the necessity of opening their playhouses for the first evening show in practically broad daylight, exhibitors are now beset with the problem of competing with the amusement parks, which are not compelled to collect any tax from their patrons. In addition to this, through skilled lobbying, representatives of the parks have convinced the committee in Congress which considered the amusement tax feature of the war revenue bill, that the amusement parks are the "Poor Folk's Amusement" and this, in itself, has proved an obstacle in the way of the motion picture industry in its attempt to get some sort of a revision of the tax. Well Laid Campaign There is no denying but that the amusement parks had a well laid plan of campaign. Representatives, under the able leadership of Frank L. Albert, spent months in Washington prior to the consideration of the revenue bill, and their presence there was more than evident in the result which showed this branch of entertainment practically free from tax. Xow that the full meaning of the victory obtained by the parks is beginning to be apparent to the exhibitors, considerable feeling is manifesting itself concerning the way their cause we.s handled in the capital. They believe, and justly so, that the motion picture theatre is the "Poor Folks' Amusement" and that the amusement parks interests have misrepresented themselves to the nation's law makers in laying claims to this function. They point to the fact that the parks are open but six months in the year — spring, summer and early fall — and that any form of amusement which is not year-around in its nature cannot, of necessity, be considered "poor folks' amusement." The gate admission to an amusement park means nothing, they contend, which is apparent when it is taken into consideration the number of complimentary tickets distributed in the course of the season by the various amusement parks. Exhibitors Not Blameless The exhibitors do not hold themselves blameless in the matter. They realize Fifteen Cents and No War Tax— The amusement park people, jubilant over their success in representing their business as "Poor Folks' Amusement," have decided to make the best of their opportunity and raise prices. Riverview Park. Chicago, the largest amusement park in the country, has decided to increase the admission charge for the coming season to fifteen cents — and they will be compelled to charge no war tax on this admission. now that too little attention was paid to the affair when the matter was up for discussion in the congressional committee prior to the passage of the bill. Xo real concerted action was undertaken until after the bill had been put into effect and the resultant falling off in attendance at the motion picture theatres was noted. When a convention of exhibitors was called at Washington it was found that little or no hope could be entertained of having the bill reopened and the matter gone into again. A permanent committee was. however, appointed to watch for further legislation concerning the industry. A salary was voted to H. B. Yarner to stay in Washington for a matter of thirty days and this was later increased by another thirty days. At the end of that time he returned to his home when it became apparent that immediate action could not be hoped for. These facts do stand out. however, that during the coming summer the exhibitor will be forced to collect a war tax from his patrons while his rival, the amusement park, charging practically the same admission, is exempt from this war measure. What the effect will be as regards attendance remains to be seen. George A. Schmidt, general manager of Riverview Park. Chicago, chairman of the parks committee of the Xational Outdoor Showmen's Association, and also treasurer of the association, said: "The motion picture people ought 'to get onto themselves.' We went down to Washington and got what we went after because we knew how to go after what we wanted. We had a paid lobbyist down there who convinced members of Congress that the parks are the poor folks' amusement. Last week we showed officials of the treasury department an interpretation of the law which let us out. "The picture interests have had some representatives there in Washington, but they didn't know how to go after what they wanted. They wanted to get the whole matter reopened for them but it doesn't look as if they will get anything." 13