Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

334 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 7 What Theater Men Are Doing NEWS OF EXHIBITORS WHO ARE SUCCEEDING— ARE YOU ONE? This department of Motography specializes in giving to exhibitors stories of the accomplishments of successful theater managers. If you have attempted any experiments and they have succeeded or failed write Motography about it. Refuse to Pay Tuesday Film Rentals Exhibitors Take Ground They Are Not Responsible for Closing, Therefore Should Not Have to Stand Loss A COMBINATION CONVENTION and banquet of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Exhibitors' Leagues took place at Boston the other day, with a large number of members participating in the elections and discussions. Michael J. Lyndon of Dorchester, Mass., was elected to the presidency of the New England exhibitors, the vote being made unanimous. Much discussion of war problems took place, but at the end of the meeting united support of the President and of the administration's war policies and measures was pledged. At the same time the plan of direct dealing between exhibitors and producers, first put forward at Washington by a group of independent manufacturers, was gone into at length, and a committee of three was appointed to look further into the matter. With regard to the question of payment of film rentals on Garfield Tuesdays, it was decided that the exhibitors should refuse to pay, basing their position on the ground that the theater owner had no voice in the Tuesday closing, and was therefore not responsible. A canvass of the distributing offices in Boston brings to light the fact that most of them are disposed to deal fairly with the exhibitor. Little trouble over the payments is expected. The meeting also upheld the right of the individual members to deal with their employes as best suited them in the matter of the closed Tuesdays. The banquet which followed the meeting was largely attended. The new president, Mr. Lyndon, made a patriotic speech, and also pledged himself to organize a 100 per cent association, if the proper help is furnished him. Mr. Lyndon was followed by Rose E. Tapley, special Paramount representative, who was the guest of honor. Other speakers were : Alfred S. Black, president of the Maine branch of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America; Joseph Mack, former leader of the Massachusetts organization, and now manager of the Rialto Theater, Brockton. Mass. ; Mrs. Alice Rice Carroll, Marion Brazier Howard of the Boston Film Club ; George F. Washburn, Frank J. Howard, Harry Asher, manager of Paramount in New England ; Samuel Grant, Nathan Gordon and Mrs. M. J. Lyndon. Keep Open Tuesdays The Tennessee fuel administration has given a ruling that permits theaters to remain open Tuesdays if they use wood for fuel. It is reported that practically every house is doing this and as a result business conditions are all that could be wished for. Exit Luminous Paint — Enter Carbide! New York House Gets Around Lightless Nights by Finding Something Not Under the Ban F 'ROM the inky blackness of what was formerly New York's famous White Way before the days of fuel administrators and coal shortages, there emerged last Sunday night a ray of light. It cut through the famed thoroughfare over the surface cars and the heads of the women conductors and concentrated the illumination of 30,000 candles on the sign of the Broadway Theater on the opposite side of the street, lighting up with sufficient brilliancy to be seen for many blocks the sign of the famous old theater and giving it Announcement. For the convenience of our patrons, and to avoid delays at the box office, we have prepared books of tickets containing ten (10) admissions as follows: Ten 17c Tickets Ten lie Tickets $1.70 1.10 ELMWOOD THEATRE. A new feature introduced by the Elmwood Theater at Buffalo, N. Y ., at which E. O. Weinberg is the manager. the distinction of having the only illuminated sign of Broadway without violating the orders of the fuel administrator to conserve gas and electricity. A Carbide White Way now becomes a possibility and acetylene gas makes a bid to guide the city theatergoer to his destination or the late and happy diner to his subway or his taxi. The Broadway Theater, of which Carl Laemmle, president of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, is lessee, utilized three acetylene Milburn lights of 10,000 candle power each to illuminate its front and the signs that were previously using electricity. The Milburn lights were thrown upon the signs like three searchlights. Monday the lights were dark on police advice that they violated the law. Tuesday they were dark by law. Wednesday the police decided that acetylene and carbide had not been prohibited. So "Harry Carey in 'The Phantom Riders' " is now blazing brightly at the Broadway and will continue to do so indefinitely— at an expense of thirty cents an hour. Seek to Open Sundays A delegation of exhibitors called on Mayor James. Watt of Albany, N. Y., a few days ago, and requested permission to give shows on Sundays. Mayor Watt pointed out that under the law as interpreted by one division of the Appellate Division, Sunday shows are not allowed and that he has no power to permit them, regardless of his personal views. February 28 has been set for arguments to be heard by the Court of Appeals in a test case on the legality of Sunday performances.