The Moving Picture World (November 1907)

6o8 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. The Pittsburg Conference The film manufacturers and film renters held a con- ference on Saturday and Sunday, 16th and 17th inst., at the Fort Pitt Hotel, Pittsburg, Pa., at which there were present, representing the manufacturers: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, Messrs. Kennedy and Marvin; Edison Manufacturing Company, Alex. T. Moore, of New York, and Mr. Hardin, of Chicago; Essanay Company, Geo. K. Spoor and G. M. Anderson; Kalem Company, Geo. Kleine and Samuel Long; Kleine Optical Company, Geo. Kleine; S. Lubin, S. Lubin and F. W. Shinghi; Geo. Melies, Gaston Melies; Society Italian Ones, I. W. Ullman and Geo. F. Bauer- \ doy; Vitagraph of America, Wm. T. Rock, Albert Smith / and J. Stuart Blackton; Williams, Browne & Earle, J./ Carrick. . [ Representing the film renters: ' Buffalo —Powers Machine and Film Exchange, J. A. Schuchert. Cleveland —Cleveland Film Renting Company, C. H. Peckham. ■ ,, , . '. Columbus— Ohio Film Exchange, J. W. Melchoir. Chicago —Chicago Film Exchange, Max Lewis; Globe Film Service Company, J. Schuchat; Eugene Cline & Co., Eugene Cline; Laemmle Fikn^Service, Carl Laemmle; W. H Swanson & Co., W: H. Swanson; Standard Film Exchange, Joseph Hopp; Theater Film Service Com- pany, F. C. Aiken. Cincinnati —Southern Film Exchange, Thos. A. Reiliy; The Nolan-Film Exchange (Inc.), J. A. Nolan and E. R. Shaw. Detroit —National Film Company, Phil Gleichman; Michigan Film and Supply Company, Chas. J. Strong. Kansas City— Yale Film Renting Company, A- D. Flinton and C. F. Mensing. New York —Miles Bros., -Herbert I. Miles and D. MacDonald; Alfred Weiss Film Exchange, Alfred Weiss; Harstn & Co., Alfred Harstn. Philadelphia —Kohl Film Renting Company, Chas. W. Kohl; Electric Theater Supply Company, Harry Schwalbe. Pittsburg— --Pittsburg Calcium Light Company, R. A. Rowland and J. S. Clark; Pennsylvania Film Exchange, Chas. A. Taylor and Paul Gaultrough; Duquesne Amuse- ment Supply Company, L. Kreiger, S. Warner and H. M. Warner; Fort Pitt Film Supply Company, Dave Margoff and D. S. Johnson; American Film Exchange, J. L. Reiliy and John P. Robinson; Columbia Film Exchange, A. S. Davis. Toledo —Superior Film Supply Company, S. S. Rich- ard ; Toledo Film Exchange, H. E. Smith and L. M. Salsgiver. Detroit —Detroit Film Exchange, W. H. Goodfellow. Birmingham, Ala. —W. Pechle. In addition to the above, letters and telegrams were Teceived from several renting agencies, expressing full approval with the objects of the conference. The meeting was called to order by Mr. W. H. Swan- son, of Chicago, who was unanimously elected president pro tern., and Mr. D. MacDonald, of New York, sec- retary, pro tern. The following letter from Mr. A. S. Kane, of the O. T. Crawford Film Exchange Company, St. Louis, Ma, and telegram from the Bailey Film Service, of Birming- ham, Ala., express the sentiments of other absentees who sent proxies to represent them. St. Louis, Mo., November 14, 1907. Mr. Geo. Kleine, Dear Sir: We have the circular letter inviting a repre- sentative to attend the meeting to be held in Pittsburgh Saturday ^and Sunday, November 16 and 17. We art heartily in favor of this movement and I should attend myself if it were at all possible. We are so busy with getting ready with our picture plant that we will take the liberty of asking you to represent us here, knowing that our ideas coincide pretty well bn picture propositions. ' We are more than willing to work with the majority of the trade and what that majority decides upon will be agreeable to us. If there is an organization formed we wish to be counted in and will surely attend later gath- erings. If something can be done to strop p rice c utting, thjoatcutting, duping, it will be to the advantage of everybodyT^ Regretting our inability to have someone go direct from here at this time, and assuring you that anything that suits you will please us, Yours very truly, . O. T .Crawford Film Exchange Co, " O. T. Crawford Manufacturing Co. Per A. S. Kane. Birmingham, Ala., November 16, 1907. Ms. L W. Ullman, Ft. Pitt Hotel, Pittsburg, Pa.: Not being able to attend convention of film manufac- turers and importers, I will thank you to say.for m that I am heartily in favor of this, movement whose pur- pose is to bring'about an understanding .among the jBk renting concerns. We shouldadopt^.a uniforni rate Classification rates should*De _ aboushed; t meanbythii that there should be but one grade of service, or oss rate only. It would then be up to the renter to hold )k trade. It think it necessary for all renters entering iati an agreement to deposit a certain amount of cash as guarantee of good faith which would be subject to for feiture in case of violation of agreement. 'A chairms would be appointed and also.a man in each district whoa duty would be to report weekly, say, to the chairman The film renters' association and manufacturers and to porters will provide ample funds to defray expense 0! the campaign. The success of the project can onlyb: assured with the co-operation of .the. manufacturers ac importers, and I cannot suggest a better course for then to pursue than to follow the example of the Pathe Frews With best wishes for the full success' of the conventics Bailey Film Service. After the meeting had discussed various ideas relatifl to the business in general, the president was authorize to -appoint a committee to consult with the manufacttira (who were meeting separately) and report again to th meeting of renters. After practically an all-night sitting the committee drew up and submitted the following sog gestions and resolutions to the meeting, which were unas imously adopted: . * "Whereas, Through lack of organization, many e*3 have crept into the film-renting business, causing etc ditions which seriously threaten the good standing film exchanges throughout the country; and, . "Whereas, The authorities in many cities have be* and now are objecting to the nature of many films na being exhibited; and, "Whereas, In the interest of the public there is pr# tically an unanimous desire on the part of all inters