Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

March 2, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 395 because this is one of the faults of the business to-day. We do not get the right kind of stories, and lots of this fault is right with the scenario department itself." Fred Cosman, manager of the Electric Theatre, St. Joseph, Mo., writes : "From an exhibitor standpoint, I believe there is no question but what the moving picture business is going through a change, like many other lines of business ; and one has to adjust his business to suit present conditions. However, I fail to see the great change in the picture business that we are led to believe is taking place. "It is. true now and always has been, if we are at war or not, conditions are different in all parts of the United States. What may be suited for one place is not suited for another. A successful attraction depends a good deal on the theatre, its location, the class such a theatre caters to, etc. Every manager should study his local conditions and act accordingly. "On this point, I wish to say that last spring and summer two-reel war pictures slipped in as an extra attraction brought in good returns. Now the public does not care for this line of subjects, especially those that show any fighting ; neither do they want these cheap tworeel so-called comedy subjects. "Just at present I find the comedy-drama with a pleasing climax, of five to seven reels, the best suited, also sensational dramas of love, thrills, mystery and romance ; if any war stuff, no battle scenes showing death. By all means, dear producer, keep away from the kissing scene finish, which has been worked to death. "A word in reference to the price of admission. All over the country when the cent on ten war tax went into effect, theatres raised their price of admission five cents or more. This was very wrong from a patriotic standpoint, as well as a hold-up on the public. The public knows the money from such tax does not come out of theatre receipts and is a one cent tax on ten; then what excuse has the theatre manager to offer for the extra money he has received ? "If the operation of any theatre was such under his former price of admission that he could not make all ends meet, he should not have blamed it on the war tax, but waited until the public had got used to the war tax, then raised his prices. "In this city we had a meeting of theatre managers shortly before the tax went into effect and every manager wanted to raise his price of admission five cents except myself. I would not agree to the raise for reasons as stated above, and the general opinion of the managers of this city of me the present day is that I am putting the show business on the bum. Because I would not raise none of the others did. That was up to them. I wish to say that the week of February 3 was the best week in attendance in the history of my house. The months of November and December were away ahead in attendance of these same months in the preceding two years. January dropped off some because of the extreme cold weather and nothing else. "My idea is to give the public as near as possible what they want and as cheap as possible. Then there will be no kick on poor business. "Another thing, as is the case here and in many other cities and small towns, whenever a theatre has an extra good attraction it raises the price of admission. Now if these theatres raise when they have an extra good show, they should reduce when they have an extra poor show, which happens more often, no doubt, than when they have extra good shows. If you want a standard, good business, always play fair with the public; this has been my policy as manager for the past fifteen years and has been the cause of my success where others have failed." Other letters will be published later. Select Title for Patriotic Film Albert E. Smith, president of the Vitagraph Company, makes the official announcement that the title of the big patriotic picture which Vitagraph is making in conjunction with the State Defense Council of New York will be "New York, or Danger Within." Corinne Griffith is to be the star. Webster Campbell and Marc MacDermott will have leading parts. Gov. Charles S. Whitman of New York also appears in the picture. The film is designed to show how New York State has protected itself against the intrigues of the enemy. The military and civil officers of the state government have worked in close cooperation with President Smith and John Robertson, director of the picture, to assure accuracy. There is a great purpose behind the making of this picture, one designed to reach into the minds of all the millions of loyal Americans. Until now, there has been the greatest secrecy about the plans and methods adopted by the Empire State — which naturally has borne the brunt of all enemy schemes and plots — -in the suppression of sabotage, espionage and anti-American propaganda. Long before the United States entered the war, New York state was handling this big problem. Even before the Lusitania was sunk, New York's protective machinery was in operation. Thus there is real national value in the production inasmuch as it will show in detail how the most exposed section of the Union has been successfully protected against alien plots. Demand Theatreless Day Rentals Exhibitors in Ontario, Canada, must pay for service on the five heatless Mondays starting February 18, according to a resolution passed by the Exchange Managers' Association at a meeting held at the Regent Theatre, Toronto. The exchangemen explained their action by saying that exhibitors are getting their films at a lower rental than ever before and that the exchanges are paying both the Canadian and American war taxes, duty, etc. The subject of petitioning the government to change the closing day from Monday to Tuesday, as was done in the United States, was discussed but nothing definite decided. Officers of the association were elected as follows : N. L. Nathanson, managing director of Regal Films, Limited, president; Merrick R. Nutting, secretary; executive committee, J. Allen, of the Famous Players' Film Service, Limited, and Clair Hague, president and general manager of the Canadian Universal Film Company, Limited. Hart's Hat Sent to Washington William S. Hart's famous sombrero, worn for thirteen years by the Thomas H. Ince star, in films as well as on the stage, is now on its way to Washington, D. C, after being autographed by the star, to receive the signatures of the President and his staff, thence to be transported to Europe for the names of the big figures of the Allied forces and the rulers of the Allied nations. On its return it will be auctioned off for the benefit of the Red Cross.