The Moving Picture World (November 1907)

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6io THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD. Donald, Peckham, Miles and Clarke were appointed to interview the manufacturers, the meeting adjourning to await the report of the committee, who at once pro- ceeded to interview the manufacturers meeting in an- other room. Both sides expressed their opinions, fully reviewing the pros and cons of the situation, and a plan was adopted whereby both manufacturers and renters could in future work in harmony with mutual benefit to both. The man- ufacturers expressed themselves as being in full accord with the renters, and promised them their full support. Another meeting of renters was then held at 5 P. M., to receive the report of the committee. This meeting was held in private. Messrs. Swanson, MacDonald, Miles, Peckham and Clarke were appointed a committee on by-laws and constitution, to draft a form of govern- ment for the association. At the close of the meeting the manufacturers extend- ed an invitation to the renters to dine with them in the banquet hall, which was accepted by all the renters. And. also, as representing the press, by Warren A. Patrick, of the Show World; L. Rubinstein, of Views and Films, and Alfred H. 1 Saunders and J. p. Chalmers of the Mov- ing Picture Wqrux. After doing full justice to the good things put before them, Mr. Swanson called on the following, for addresses: Messrs. Hopp, Patrick, Blackton, Kleine, Barker, Smith, Kennedy, (Marvin, Moore, Howell, Miles, Chalmers, Saunders, Rowland, Menser, Peckham, Rubinstein, d'Hauterives, Ullman, Selig, Carrick, Melies, Long, Laemmle, Anderson, Rock Jr., Rock Sr., and Hardin. We must not-forget that the following ladies added their charms and presence to the festivities: Mrs. Gaston Melies, Mrs. Rock and Mrs. John B. Rock. Sunday the conference assembled at 4.30 P. M., at which both manufacturers and renters were present, at which the policy as above* outlined was adopted. To Mr. Eugene Cline, of Chicago, must be accorded the honor of being the first to record his name, arid pay- ment in full of the fees of membership, followed closely by others until $2,000 was paid into the exchequer" of the association. A Few Suggestions. By Chas. W. Kom,, of the Kohl Film Renting Co., Philadelphia, Pa. First week $60.00—3 customers. Second week 40.00—3 customers.' Third week 25.00—3 customers. Fourth week 20.00—3 customers. Fifth week 15.00—3 customers. Sixth week 15.00—3 customers. $175.00—18 customers. Example—A fair rental: First week ;. . .$40.00 Second week 30.00 . Third week ■....,. 25.00 Fourth week 15.00 Extra . '.15.00 $125.00 Dealer pays for 1,000 ft. film.. ioo.oo Profit $25.00 With me the natural life of a film is about four weeks. After the third week the film is called old by my cus- tomers. Why? Only nine of my customers have had it, but multiplied by the number of dealers or agencies handling the same film, the better and higher priced trade is covered. This means that the two little fellows on the same street, and in the same block, and who are my customers, can not or will not rent this film when it gets down to their price. which is $25.00, very often not over $20.00. What is the result? You are compelled to turn to the out-of-town customers. Opposition or not, they have as a rule small places, run a two or three-hour show. and their price is from $15.00 to $20.00 a week. Yoii are very fortunate if'you can get it to run two weeks of this trade. Even here ^ou lose perhaps two or three days-on account of shipments. Then the film is back on your-hands, very often, not in very good shape. If this subject is clean you have a chance to pick up a few dollars out of entertainments, etc. A film renter with thirty customerr finds it im- possible to use his films for. fifteen" of his customers Then all films are not alike, some die a death on accouiitj of not being worth anything. But it remains almost k a certainty that four weeks will cover the life of a film.] What we have to do is to better our condition, and now is the time to do it. If we hesitate we are lost. The rebate plan is a.good one; let the manufacturer charge a little more for his goods and rebate us after a certain period. Our charge to renters should be based on the time of issue—one, two, three and four weeks. We * should bind the manufacturer not to sell, to cutters; let us stick by the manufacturer and compel the manufac- turer to stick by us. I will guarantee that there is no* a film renter in the country who is making a dollar to- day, merely accumulating a stock-of - film of doubtful value. ... \ 3 Solution of this situation is to return the film that hi covered your circuit. How can we "do this? Only bj a manufacturers' rebate. National Moving Picture Association Strenuously Urged By Raymond Harvey, Operator, Bijou Circuit Theater, Battle Creek, Mich. While the moving picture operators of America neva considered seriously the formation of" a national asso ciation, devoted exclusively to their present interests a well as to their future welfare, it is high time that sue! an issue be given widespread publicity among the open tors, with the sole aim in view of stimulating and pro moting, together with their united support and efforts the weak pulse of such .a project. The average operator of to-day, whether working h a picture theater or a vaudeville house, has no protectia whatever, with the exception of his ability, which is :J very few cases known to a manager. What chance d< he stand when a rival, proclaiming to understand suffi ciently the details of practical operating, offers his serj vices for less money than the manager's, present operator His chance, ninety times out of a hundred, is as sr as a celluloid film motionless before a flaming arc lai At this point, a question of a saving in the operatoi wages is viewed by the manager as a .wise, economi step, but his thoughts have never been balanced on scales q| justice to ascertain critically the true skill his new operator.. r ., ..-.;'_:j . : .