Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1922 - Mar 1923)

March 3, 1923 EXHIBITORS HERALD 29 Uniform Contract Arouses Interest from Exhibitors Several State Organizations Condemn It in Resolutions — New York Theatre Owners Ask That It be Given Fair Trial The uniform contract, temporarily at least, has superceded every other topic of exhibitor discussion. Without exception, every theatre owner who has expressed an opinion on it states that it is "not perfect." A large group accept it as an earnest step in the right direction. Another large group declare it is unacceptable. And a still larger group of theatre owners remain silent — apparently waiting for it to be put to the test of being in force. State Organizations Condemn Its Provisions The ink had hardly dried on the signatures to the contract before four units of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America had voted their disapproval of the document — Western Xew York. Connecticut, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Cold Weather Sends Executives to Coast Continuous Procession of Film Officials Passes Through Chicago Everyone in the film business, who has anything which demands attention on the West Coast, is apparently arranging business so that it can be combined with "personal comfort" if not out-and-out pleasure. Since zero weather hit the eastern half of the country there has been an almost unbroken procession of film people through Chicago on their way to Los Angeles. Every Branch Is Included There have been producers, distributors, exhibitors, trade paper men and representatives of almost every line in the industry The California Limited, out of Chicago. February 18. carried Hiram Abrams, president of United Artists; Richard Walton Tully and Earl J. Hudson of First National and nearly a score of others. The day before. Jules Mastbaum. wealthy Philadelphia exhibitor, passed through Chicago on his way Westward. A day later, Vivian Moses, advertising manager of the Fox Film Corporation, left for the coast. During the next few days, a dozen more are expected. Mastbaum's Little Joke Jules Mastbaum gave Chicago newspaper men something to write about when he announced his trip was for the purpose of organizing a new company headed by Mary Pickford. Douglas Fairbanks, Charles Chaplin and Pola Negri. "That was his little joke on me," said Hiram Abrams passing through the next day. Roth Quits Rothchild Chain to Handle Film Of African Adventures (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.. Feb. 20. — Eugene H. Roth, associate managing director with Jack Partington in the Rothchild chain of theatres consisting of the California, Imperial. Granada and Portola here, has resigned his post. He will devote his time to the interests of the H. A. Snow film ''Hunting Big Game in Africa with Gun and Camera" in which he has a financial interest. Mr. Roth was made manager of the Portola theatre in 1911 and since then the chain has been increased to its present size. He is leaving the Rothchild organization in perfect amity with his associates. Elaborate exploitation is planned for the African pictures and Mr. Roth will arrange the details for this on his arrival in New York. St. Louis Salesman's Club Elects Officers (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, MO.. Feb. 20.— Tom McKean. city salesman for F. B. O.. has been named permanent president of the newlyformed St. Louis Film Salesman's Gub. The organization was formed to bring about a closer co-operation between the salesmen and the exhibitors and the exchange managers. Other officers include : Lester Bona, secretary, and Lew Bent, vice-president. The club will meet regularly in the St. Louis Film Board of Trade headquarters. In view of Sydney S. Cohen, president of the M. P. T. O. A., avoiding the ratification meeting, the action of two of these units — Western New York and Connecticut — is taken to mirror his attitude on the contract. The Connecticut organization endorses Cohen's distributing proposition at the same meeting it rejected the Uniform Contract. Signers Defend Terms S. A. Moross, secretary of the T. O. C. C. of New York City, and Bernard Edelhertz, chairman of the uniform contract committee of the T. O. C. C, issued statements this week defending the form of the contract and urging exhibitors to give it a fair trial. "Let us be fair to the uniform contract," is the plea of Edelhertz, As I have stated on several occasions, it is not 100 per cent of what we sought to accomplish in favor of the exhibitor. It was not possible to accomplish all of that on the first attempt but it is certainly a step ahead. So much is gained now and with a firm resolve for still further achievements in the future." "The contract as a whole is a vast improvement over any contract ever written before in this industry." states S. A. Moross. "It should be accepted in good faith by all parties in the industry." Presents Exhibitor Discussion With a view to being fair to both proponents and opponents of the new contract, Exhibitors Herald on the following page presents some of the communications it has received this week on the question. W. M. Roob of Port Washington, Wis., was the first exhibitor to raise a question as to one of the provisions in the contract. S. A. Moross was invited to answer him. A wire was received from The Question Box This Week 1. You have read of the first railroad theatre car. What do you think of the plan to exhibit pictures on trains? 2. You have read objections to the uniform contract and explanations by those prominent in framing it. What is your opinion? 3. You have read of the official call for the national convention of the M. P. T. O. A. In your opinion, what subjects should be dealt with at the conclave? the Wisconsin exhibitors, telling of their rejecting the contract, and a short time later, Mr. Edelhertz of the T. O. C. C. uniform contract committee, answered Wisconsin's objection. A letter from R. Ross Riley of Oberlin. Kan., objecting to another provis sion of the contract, was also received. His letter arrived too late to invite any proponent of the contract to answer it. The Herald columns, as always, are open to any comments on the question from exhibitor readers of the publication. Will Be Up at Convention It appears certain that the uniform contract will be one of the important questions at the Chicago convention of the M. P. T. O. A. in Chicago May 19 to 26. A number of exhibitor leaders, declining to make statements for publication, have declared in informal interviews that they regard the Uniform Contract a good thing as a general proposition, although they object to one or more provisions of it. They state that it is to be expected that state organizations will hesitate to bind themselves until they are certain the majority of members approve the contract. O'Reilly to Address Ampas on Exhibitors Views of New Contract (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Feb. 20.— diaries L. O'Reilly, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York, has been invited to be the guest of honor at the weekly luncheon of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, Inc., this week, and to address the members on the subject: "The Uniform Contract from an exhibitor's viewpoint" Herbert Crooker, who is the toastmaster of the luncheon, figured that the advertisers were keenly interested in the application of the new contract and invited Mr. O'Reilly to give the association his views on the effect it will have on the industry generally, and on the exhibitor specifically. Mr. O'Reilly has made an intensive study of the contract since it was proposed and represented the exhibitors of the state in its preparation, and was believed by Mr. Crooker to be best qualified to explain its benefits to the advertisers.