Moving Picture News (Jul-Oct 1913)

8 THE MOVING PICTURE NEWS of your body would only act in unison with the various children's societies of your neighborhood, and make your theatres light, the trouble of the admission of children will h ve entirely passed aw^ay, and if these people could be satisfied by the admission of a matron to take charge of the children, who should be allowed only in a certain part of the house, free from the mixture of adults, one of the greatest difficulties yon face will have been vanished. At this exposition your attention will he called to all kinds of mechanical contrivances for the comfort of your house, but may I make an appeal here on behalf of your operators? You all know that not one of you would be satisfied to remain in the coop, called a booth, at present in existence. Not one of you would stay therein for an hour. Then "why not do unto your operator as you would be done by yourself"? Give him breathing space, give him a comfortable room to work in. Much has been written about the fact of conditions and the slavery existing in some factories, but I question if any slave is so hard pressed and oppressed as is the moving picture operator to-day. Let your deliberations take into consideration the changing of the fire laws regarding the booths. Another point is the fact of musical instruments that you may select to go with your pictures. You will be shown instruments of mechanical device galore in this exposition. None of them are equal to a good piariist who knows his or her business and can put some feeling into the music. I was visiting the Astor Theatre the other night, in company with a musical friend, and, in my opinion, the whole entertainment was spoiled by the enlarged hurdy-gurdy grinding out the music in the orchestra. All such mechanical devices are not only an eyesore but an earache condition to those who have any music in their souls. The most important question before your body will be that of the election of officers. I am only concerned in your obtaining the best the industry can produce. One fable says, "You may give a man an office, but you cannot give him discretion," and so, in your deliberations for a leader, I trust you will give a man of discretion the gavel; and who is more capable of wielding this gavel than your present president, M. A. Neff? He is a man well tried, "sterling," "hall-marked," a man who has led you from nothing to the present state of organization. He has been tried and not found wanting. He is capable in every respect for work of advancing your interests and looking after all that is best in the industry, working to gain justice and right for every man who owns a theatre. It needs no words of mine to paint him, because words are superfluous. You know him, and knowing him, knowing the work that he has done, what he is capable of and what he can do in the future, is better than any number of words spoken or written. He has led you always forward, and never backward, in the past and right up to the present day. Through his efforts he has brought you to the present stage of perfection. See to it that he still leads you to greater victories, until cinematography is |)laco(l upon the highest pinnacle it is possible to attain. Then, and then only, will it be time for you to call a halt and select another general. Wishing you, your convention and exposition all the greatest and most glowing success it is possible to attain, and wishing you, individually, prosperity in your business, and that you may. if I may re-echo the wish, have such an enjoyable week in New York Citv that to the remainder of vour lives it will remain ever green in your nifiiiorv. THE MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS' LEAGUE OF AMERICA General Headquarters 703 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio OFFICEHS OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION. President, M. A. Neff, 1003 Mercantile Library Bldg., Cincinnati, O.; Secretary, C. M. Christenson, 703 Euclid Ave., CleTCland, O.; Treasurer, J. J. Rieder, Jackson, Mich.; Counsellors, Hon. J. B. Foraker, Hon. J. J. Lentz; Executive Committee, M. A. Neff, Chairman; C. N. Christenson, Secretary; J. J. Rieder, L. F. Blumenthal, Geo. H. Wiley. OFFICIAL ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM OF THE MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS' ASSOCIATION, JULY 7 to 12 The following entertainment has been arranged by the Alotion Picture Exhibitors' Association of Greater New York for the week of July 7th to 12th, for the entertainment of the delegates and their wives and friends, at our third annual convention, which is to be held at Grand Central Palace during that week. Monday, July 7th. Entertainment provided by the Universal Film Co., leaving Grand Central Palace, Convention Hall, at 1:30 p.m. sharp, sight-seeing buses will proceed to the headquarters of the Universal Co., to meet the directors, thence to Fort Lee, N. J., visiting one of their many studios, then on to Palisades Park, taking in the various amusements. The evening entertainment will consist of a prize dancing contest and a moonlight amateur swimming contest for the various visiting delegates, after which a supper will be served at the Casino. Tuesday, July 8th, Edison Day. Visiting all points of interest in the City of New York in various sight-seeing buses and autos, in three sections. First section leaves at 9 a. m. sharp; second section, 11 a. m.; third section at 3 p. m., from Grand Central Palace. Wednesday, July 9th, Pathe-Freres Co. Day. Outing up the Hudson to W'est Point on the palatial steamer "Adirondack," leaving Pier 33, North River, at 10 a. m. Thursday, July 10th, Kalem Co. Day. Entertainment at Cliffside Airdome Studio, New Jersey, leaving west Forty-second Street Ferry at 13 o'clock, noon, sharp. Thursday night, July 10th. Grand reception and dance given by the Famous Players Film Co. at their big studio, 313 West Twenty-sixth street. The studio of the Famous Players will be converted into a ballroom de lux, elaborately decorated and equipped with every possible agency for the comfort and pleasure of the guests. Refreshments will be served, good music will be provided, and several leading stars of the day will entertain the guests. h'riday, July 11th. Vitagraph Day. A special train will leave Brooklj'n Bridge on the Manhattan side at 1 p. m. and every ten minutes thereafter to Elm Street Station, where the visitors will be met by the "Famous Pop Rock" and his official staff, proceeding to their large studio, where elaborate entertainments will be provided. Friday night, July 11th. PVom the Vitagraph studio the visitors and exhibitors and Ladies' Entertainment Conmiittce will ])roceed to Coney Island, where the motion picture exhibitors are giving a banquet or shore dinner at the Brighton Beach Casino and Shelbourne Hotel at 8 p. m., at which many notables and state and city officials, including many prominent speakers, will be the guests of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of .\merica. Saturday, July 12tli, is reserx'cd for the Western manufacturers, Selig, Essana\ and Kleine, who are arranging for tiie comfort and pleasure of the delegates aiul their friends, and it is expected to be a big surprise day. In behalf of the connuittee we desire lo aiuunuicc that all mtcrtainnuMit will be strictly informal. Tickets for each cntcrtainnu-nt will be issued and can be secured from the l'"ntirl;iinincnt Committee. WILI.LVM HILKEMEIER. ( 'h.iirman. I'lilcrtainmcnt Committee.