The billboard (May 1910)

T li« Billboard MAY 14) im INDEPENDENTS COMBINE MILES BROS. BANKRUPT Ind epen dent Moving Picture Manufactuiets Hold Session in Chicago „.- . . _£_-» and Effect CombinalioD—New Sales Cmnpany is Guernsey Ptace Appomted >iy ilirATTKRsoN lb RonrtMCKni. It U « matter of hlstoiy, now, th±t wblcb wa> done doxtiis tbe recent session of the Inde- pendent moTinc plctme men, beU at tbe La SUle HoteL CUea(a. oa May B-Ti It has been efaroalded In tbe aanaJl or tbe Nattonal Inde- pendent OtofiBK Cletua Alliance tbnt .a aaw ocsanSsatlMi eC Jadepsdant fllm lataiMlB' MMt^ and eoaqnaad.. Amaag tbe mcnuBlals «( th* Anianee tben an tboee oOleUl mlntitea, witb tbdr Meodleea eoaqneat and tba aeknowledsnunt tbat the Motloo nctnre DlaOUntlns and ttalaa Company Is of a cooitractlon more endorlnc, perbape, and certainly more pcaetieal. It Is wrong, tbooffti, to cTen refer to tbls oec urr a n ce oa a conqoeat. Tbe Alliance waan't anblosated; tbere wsa Aot that element of conflict wbleb signalliea the snnnoantlnB by force. It lost happ ened, _ thatfa aO^ A. boy ^^jnejurt tli, Od 'OMtally IB tto. i-'tBtent and pimiiieM de- WiSpad' ud odtlUatf, were thrown at tbeir •Idiet with « fonMnlneas wblcb would brook ■P tatctmptlon. Tbe points at Issne were dip- lomatieally explained to tbe Ifcoarant. These who looked on Ike Idea of tbe new company aa an arbitrary body, fostered by ulterior mo- tlTea. were salred by men who had the courage of their conrlctlons snd tbe happy tacnlty of drlTlnx home an argtuncot In a manner coocla- aUe, yet tactfoL In other words, tbe Motion DtoHtbatlnc and Sales Oompany was is eoapanaon and tbe Incrltabla la- tae AUIanee qnleklj pninsd mwmr. r of Itt dimlM looM traitfi^ . '••It in a UC wotk we am' «n- nt*d ip.. Tm tike It up wbsn we-ht** Mt mt. We bave done ear bea^ bnt ya«i wm bare tp do better." ^ThatXtbp (Dm and Mbttaaet o( tte whato ■bttw^t la a VlM work, tbia etsaalantlga at Ike Independent merlnK platni* <ilnaaa, Iba MMlOB Plctnra OtoMlMtlnf od-SalM Otmmr doaa take np tto flgkt-wbeTe the Alliance left off. Xbe AlMaaM -nOonbtedly did employ lu beat efforts. Bat If tbe snccess of the new lantnre Is to be raeisnred by the possibilities, the new sales company will hare to do better, far better. In tact, than did the well-meant arcanlistlon which laat week terminated Its practical existence with Its promise* onfnlfllled. It must be Inferred that the Alliance, dolns Its Ufa, did not aid materially tba cause - which was nsponslble for Ita Mrtb. :.,TIm atatameat mar Bot ceoalatently be mad* that Ita eSorta wa -te aansbt. It did do aono tblaga wblcb d the doslx&a ' £rfDSSMB&^ a^apantlni* wUeh baTa apreatad aad, if pfopailj aanad fi deretopment, win matnre and be laden with tba flrnlt of sttslDment. However, In all dne re- spect to a departed friend. It may not adrlsedly be stated that tbe AUIince realUed to the fnUeet am Ita opportnnlty. nor did that body operate to tbe talaneat decree of tls elBclency. Tbla, not because of the taolt of Ita execntUcs, not be- es ose Its toondatlon could not support a larxer atnxctore, bat because Its IndlTldual members, baiborlnc snsplclon, bellevlna everythlDg wroog OS til It was too lata to take advaotaKe of the Stht. poUlas ticbt tbe pnrse strluKs wltb mla- wlajf when tbey aboold have looaened them with eonfldaaea, cMatiA and foaland a ftrthir of laseaiHir and dooM, tad in.gaMMl BtMH- tnted thefr eawfl7 wUb daadir xandt*^ tt'i , tbsogk, so let as jpat tbe Alliance organlsatloi down In hlatoir aa aa ortanlsa&on at good la- taat. fl flee t ed by capable men who were re- stricted by a lack oC sapport from tbe Tory men In wboee Interest the ailisari* Jlvad. May it not be mentloaed In psaslns tbat It seems to be one of tbe onfortnnate Inheritances of the film Imslness that the men who are eni^aced In this bly endeavor seem not to be able to enjoy that iccnrlti of co-opeiatlon -which Is the lint ea- fmahlnstlnn anwsat Conlldence once la amr loeoraiad, la the answer, tt.ku beaa oa^alaed by tbat tt IP .lP.M teerely hoped that the time has new sales company may op- bo the breach and In actnallty , ^ dtr wfcick kaa been atlanilated Ir njaMlM aC IIP AMkai, aad ttaton to oaa aad all.aC tka jMtte pietna nen a faith not iPvAat'dPini to facta. The Alliance — caned to aisrtna at tbe Salle . ,s^ on Mdar oC laat witlr. Tbe ^etlnc Of that dajr waa MM dtaad daaia. Vbe press was told tbat It hsd to do wltt tbe reading of preTloas mlnotss and wttb tbe reports of tbe Tirloaa eommltteea, They were dnly thankful, for tbe opportnnlty was theirs then of mlilns In the nooks and corners of the hotel, where the tesi work was In progress. I refer to the preliminary lobbying of the Inntlgators of tbe Jlotlon Picture Distributing and Sales Company, vrho were on the Job ererywhere and erery moment. expTalnlng tbelr proposition and gaining coorerta to tbelr cause. So tborongb waa. tbelr work, so complete waa it In each and •Tery detail, tbat when they did come ont In tte apaa It waa all orer bot the shoatlng. T kl tr waa ie Has* eC tsmmets, then, waa no imtaa^ta-tta aattailBBai br aieokol intetpo- Ktioa. new waa Jaat 'tbat eeeeniiT cootlnnlty and eoneeotratlon of effort which spells snccess. If your pRiposItlon Is right. Evidently tbe proposition was right, for nearly every one piled Into the band wagon and fell Into iLie. Aign- ments were many, and far from cool. Some opinions which were aired In the rotmkda of tbe La Salle and expressed loosely over a mahogany plank were anything bnt favorable to the new movement. The personal eqnatloa waa discussed also, but tbe less said about tbla tbe better. The pn> and eoa w aa gsas osar ttOMoMK- Xbe It; tben, to xaeord tbe fact tbat the Motion Pletnre Dietrlbatliig and Sales Company prevailed and that. In an easy, natural manner,. It encroacbed on the territory of tbe Alliance, aad was . erentually accepted In fact by that bodj aa tbe master of the altoatloa. n» aalsa company promises to do that which waa attamptad by the Alllancet and go It one better. It Joiaa the maaafaetnMa to a oo-op- entlTO agcasBtnt wllk tba axOaagaa aad nnder> taken the laapanalblllty' of patnag tbe Inde- pendent faetloo, flgnrattTOIy, on Ita feet. It banda the mannfa ctuc e t a together and flsnnts high -above .their heada a .common atandard. Bmpbatle and with mneb stress It cries ont its slogan. '■Qaallt7-T«o will have itl" It la, aa we luderstand It. a nnloa of matnsl beneflt, with aojdea of Incidental proflta for the sales com- pany. The company Is made self-sustaining by weekly contributions from the members who are mannfactorera. Its purpose Is to protect these aad to pfotectlng tbam to at the " firoB loA dctan work aa win bo ecatiailaad br tbe Inatltntkm of a eeatial dlatrlbotlaK-.dtpB t . - Tba atotamant was tfTta cot hr thorn aaaalatsnstcd to tbe Motion Inetnra DlattOiatbig aad: Saica Ooopany tbat every mannfaetnrer gtcaeat bad st^ed their agreement and tbat tbe majority of tbe ex- change men had done llkewiae. If this la tnxs, the new organlaatloa has to Ita control prac- tically the entire Independent oatpot. Aa to the time these tentative agreementa are to be In force nothing definite coold be officially ascertained. Aa to the cxcbangea falling Into line, tbey did mt slowly tmt smely, with an sp- parent good will and the fact staring them to tbe fact! tbat tbere was really no reasonsble al- ternative. Tbe Motion Picture DUtrlbotlng and Salee Company, Jndgtng from the opinions ex- pressed by memhcrs of the Alliance on Saturday afternoon and evenlog. Is the savior of the cause. We had this opinloa from tbe moat prominent aad acttva of its membeis. Some oC tasaa opto- loea are reeordad to the mtootes of tka iMaani of tbe Alliance and may perhapa, at moeftng of tba Alllswre as a social < be read .with totersat brtbose wbo . ■ad who, wa hope; ^jnD-Mi ..their jodgmcnt ii*stantlstml and TUdleatod <v the hago sae- cesa of tbe scheme. ne theory of tbe aalaa cempany Is nude practical by tbe sssorlstlon to It of aneb capa- ble buslneas chsractera aa Ueasra. Laemmle. Miles, Stelncr, Kesiel, Oocbraaa, iBanmsnn, Pow- ers and other graduatea of the school of experi- ence. Acknowledging the valne of the theory to the Independenta, granting Its practicability, there la only one qneatlon, and that Is, "Is tbere an nndercnrrent Jokerl" Let us tarn sslde from tliia thonght, and let the man In whose mind this fear exlata take Into conslderatloo tbat he la over twenty-one and that tbe agree- Inants are prtoted very plainly to English, and that tbe. men who are totatasted to tbe coosom nialloa of tba daal at» wflltog to Aawar any aad aU ^aiatlaaa If tfeir mTW ti mtm dl reet. . The ofBcers of the Motion Picture Distrib- uting snd Soles Oompany. are Oarl Lsemmle, president; Pat Poweia, Tlea-pn^ent; Obirles Baumann, traaaow, aad Hanert JlUaa, acere- tary. Ttisse exeeaUTo cdleat a aia aansted In counsel by WHllam flialnar, WnUam Bwansoo and J. J. Hordock, (It li aaedlMi to mention In tbls conenctloa that Mr. Mnidock baa ex- preiuHHl the Intention of < ra-enterlng the film bnslness.) In tbe new company are snfllclent brains, tact, ability and cooveiaatlon to make any good thing go. The sales company looks like a good thing. If It la as good as It looks It csn't help bnt "go." It hss been hailed and acdalmcd as the savior of the Independents, to sB ta lrueaa , then. Jet U he accepted as such given Bnch »upiKB-t an -wm enable It to re- alise to the fullest on Its expressed antlefpations of a better era of independent moving plctnrex. Aa waa aptly axsccised at the meeting, "the caetv let oa hepetolly await develop- ' 'Bnt let this tie remembered and ap- plied, "everytlilng comes to those who hnatle wUlo they wait." ■'•.v THE AIJ.IANCB BANQUET. It was early on Saturday that the Brat coarse •f tbe banqnet was eerred to the memtwni and gneats or tbe N. I. M. P. AUlance. It was folly seven hours later when tbe llgbto were dimmed and the gathering dispersed, to other words, the enjcymcnt Issted nntU t«nr e^dock on Sua- talEtag'yat uSPS^raSiatMi^Sws 'sIadlr list- ening. Mt. Ploogh la a-tllkar. Ha araa dis- covered at tbe banqnet. Alao It waa dlaeorered that Us fond of humor aad Obscrratlon bad equipped him with tbe ^eeeasaty weapoas to en- tertato with an nndercnrrent of burlesque wfaleh was caoat opportnne. Hla "speech" waa the gem of the eventog. On more serloDS topics Mr. Mllea talked. Mr. Swaason dlscoorsed, snd the others weU knownl ssld their "bit" in well chosen words. Tbe banquet waa a success. It was B credit to the Alliance to many ways. They landed the press In flattering words, whleh were taken "cum grano sails." and tasted good. even, at that. A ipirit .«if.jpeodlMlowahlp preralled. The aeattaMBt was' tWMd at-darlliB- the serving of the Tarlooa eoonsa.'.that tha^lllance was rspldly becoming a thing of tba past. The cul mlnatlon of It all aoonded tbe death knell of the Alliance aa a tact, but tempered tbe lose by boldlnjt out tbe bope'that tbe organisation would contlnne ss an oiginlxation, eren tboogb its purpose be entirely of a sodal natate. Tbls Is bow the matter stood on Suadsy m<imlng. May 8th. As to what further ramlflcatSons there may be—as to whether or not there may be things done which will change the entire aspect of the sttnatlon—who can say? Let It be hoped that the grasp of those sincere in the Inde penedent movement exceed eren tbelr scope and that they enjoy tbe quality, tbe aecutl^ and 'be general aatisfactloa of a tastoeaa wen-directed and prospenu*. Tbe list of the manufacturers who had signed tba sales sgreement on Saturday was given out by tbe Motion PietUTO DtatrlbnUog aad Sales Hu Applied toUie Pictuie Patents Company for a Personal License—rNo Occanon ^ior AUutm. od Part of Creditors, the Repom Stales / New Xork. May 9 (Special to Tbe BlUboard) —Beibert T. Edwards, an employe of Miles Brothers, petitioned Judge Holt to appoint a receiver for the company, and in complying the Judge appototed Guernsey Price. Tbe claim of tbe creditor aggiefatas tL600 and tbe UabUltles Of tta lUlaa Bcotbera to total ■ Imately «ao.O(n.OIK Itr. Price icporto tbat the conditions of the concern are such large dividends will be paid, and If tba caUon of the reclever to the Patenta for a personal license is granted cat _ cents on the dollar wiU be gnarantaad. the ir^ilSM^gri SStS?^^ banktuptv. Company as followa: The American Kiaompb Company, Great Nortbeni, Aetopbooe, Tbaa- a^^Iiiiai Canon^.Ctoea, AjitJlto^Boms, Pas- • ItalaJ'Vum Mnea' Brothers. In addition to thla waa the Great Western Film Company. . AT THB BANQUET. Bill" Swansou was, as usnal, perfectly at home at the hea4 af the table. His totiodiK- tlons were par exc*^*ience. Herbert Miles nua some things regarding comparative quality af lllma which msy weU be remembered. Amoag other tblngi^ Ad KeanI Xooad time to together and added many MaUa to Ua good mixer and a- battler. Edward Tlianbansar said that ha dsa l xsd to use all hl» eloquence In his prodacttoai. He spoke entertainingly on this subject. Hszry Raver usee good Isngusge. Be talka about Interesting thli^ He la an totetesttog man. He believes in advertising. So do wa. Pat Powers proved himself to ba a snd a scbolsr. Every one said " yon, Pat." and they meant it. When It comes to being s friend gatherer, they will have to go some to get in' BUI Steln- cr*s class. They can't even tie blm. >B. O. Baebmaa toU a aUar whiah, aa a asm- patlaaa of tba mattv nad«^lMaMia^ was da- 'Sodlr apropos. - <. - —' Mr. Monhelmer, aC Jttar'VaraaionBt, made the j«iiBtloB-4hat^tta JJUaaee ba bdd aa a ioeltl etginlzatloo. Everybody lauded Bill Swansoo for bis work as secretary- ' ^ AT THB CONYENTION AND IN THB tiOBBT. Bright Eyes Flchtenberg. of the Dixie Pllm Exchange, made the claim tbat he was tbe first excbsnge men to sign the sales agreement. Tom Quill waa on tbe Job and talked poster*. Besdell, of tbe Waterproof Film, was also tboe wtto bells on. And we mustn't forget Seavolt. He waa selling titlee at a rate that would put tba fordga marriaga aurket oat of business. Mr. P. W. TrmctT called to long enough to write his name and ray a few words of greeting to some of his many frlenila. BUI Stelner accnued his friend Baumann of being too fopd of Pllaener and Upmaim segara. Is thers such a poastbUttyT Tbe Singer Bunding was moved caat bafora tbe banqnet ao tbat It could be JlaMr «a-the cblmes of certain wedding bells. watasp-Mla Dsnaily are certain—ar'nt tbey? to there such a thing as a conMrTBtlve plnng- erT If tbere Is. B. K. ciemi-nts de s s r ve s the label. Clem, waa one of tbe laat ta alga the sales agreement, hot saya that hla Oiaat Waat- em wiu ba oae ad tta Bnt iBVAa»( quality flima. IVaM Cor Ma. Br' George Miller, at tba lU Baneb, waa to and bad a little pow-wov wItt Frank Busby. Max Lewis waa ta <hO '•amoog those present" crowd ta were Meana. Baker and Miller. AHOHO SHOBB FBBBBMT. Among the many wbo ware present In or arotmd the lobby or the meetings at the LaSalle Hotel were: M. B. wmiams, Morgan Film Co., Kansaa City and JopUn, Mo.: J. W. Monan, Morgan Film Co., Kansaa City and Joplln. Mo.: Tom Bvana, representtog Nestor A Pantograph, Ohlcago; MoUto. of tha Uollto PUa Bcatfiw Oot, New Totk Olty; Ifaahelmar, Paraaeast. Mbw Terk CUy: I. L. 8taa% Olsba POai Btrvtoa On.. Chicago; Mr. Priner, Lot * DeUoa, Mew York City; Offmin. Eelaire, New York Oty: Pat Powers, Powers Co.. New York Olty: Ar- thur Whyte, Nestor, New York Olty; Arthur Schmydt, Victor Film Service. Bulfalo: Tbeo, Brinkmeyer. Wheeling. W. Ta.: Mr. KIstt. of Michigan Film Eichanra: Mr. Wntaer. of MIrb Igan Film Exchange; B. O. Bachmaim, Cblcago; EL Davis, Independent Film Exchange, Balti- more: Cbas. Boinnsn, Bison, New ^rk Cltv- Mr. Kessell. Empire FUm. New York City; Mr. Hopper. Motlogrspb, Bsltlmore; Hr. Raver. Mo. tlograph, Baltimore; B. E. Clements. Great Weatem Film Co., Chicago; Mr. FItcbenberg. Dtole nim Service; O. B. Olten. WIeblta Film' de Siipply Co.. Rantas: Cbas. J. Oomaa. Boa- ton Pitoi Bxebange; Malrlntette. OooaOIUated Amntemeat Co.: Wm; Btetoer, New York Oltrt Mark M. Dllenfass. AclogTapb: Mr. •Coebrsne. Imp; Csri Laemmle. Larnmle Film Service, Chicago: Ssxinmar. Kigle FDm Bxchtnge; Ber bert Miles. Miles Broa.. New York City: Wm Swansnn. Chicago; Arthur Lucas, Ssvannab Film Exchange, Savannah, Oi,; Oeo. A, Magle, Amertcsn KInogrsnh Co.. Seattle. Wash.: Mr. Fnsbee. Victor Film. Chicago: 3. W. Engol. Globe FUm Service, Chicago: I. Wagner, Wag ner Film Excbsnge, St. Lonis, Mo.; 8. J. Rer- msn. Centrsl Film Exctasnae, Des Moines: Mr. Flecklea, Laemmle Film Excbsnge: Mr. Dantelfi. National Waterproof Film Co.; Cbas. Wynsrd, Hirbeck FUm Co., Seattla. Waab.: Bdwln Than- houser. Thanhooser Co.: Mas Lewis. Chicago Film Exctaaoge, Cblcagos Brasaunaa, Oeattal Film ~ " ~ iMa PATHE MACHINES ON U. S. WAR' SHIPS . Some few montba ago a Pstha Pro f Ot alOB a l Model waa toatalled on tba United BUtca bat> tlceblpe Nebraaka aad Kaaaas. Tbe other day the flrst of tba aavT'a all-bls-gna Oirtttan tha naltad Statea batttakt* HlSiiaa, ^Amr> Icaa Oicadaoaaht aalMNd'Mew Zcrtt haiMg. She was only ttete Car a few dan. but before tbe left Patbe Fretea bad received aa oidar for and InstaUed one of their Patbe Profeatioaal Models, together with auffldent aupplles to OB* abto tbe machtoo to be of use on a long eralaa. Patbe nerca alao Installed daring tbla aamo week, one of their Professional Modela at tha Palace Theatre, Market street. PblUdelpbto. This theatre, whleh waa formerly known aa Lubto'a Palace, la probably one of tba hand- somest. Isrgeat and best theatica boUt for moving pleturea. . These are only two out of a great nnmner of machlaao aold thla week hr Patho ~ Owing to the absence from the city. Of Ur. Stelncr, progresa on hla case has been delayad. bat will be Immediately resumed npoa his retara to New Yoifc: THE GAUMONT CO. IN LAROCfl ■ "!.■•■-• QU ARTE RS. • - ■ The Boceess of tbe Chronoplione aad the exool- lence of all the producUoot from tbe Otnoaat factories, particularly tha tunerior grade of fllm which thla auaafaatoNT MS pli'~' ~ plant. New York City, with Its commodious anar- tcrs. Its tall office buildings and ita many tone lofta did not offer enough floor space for me exeentloa of tbe plans to mind. WhUe than Is Uttla room for improvemant (or anything that baaia tha Oaumont trade-maifc, no detail la tee tiiian to.attaad to. to make tbe serrlee aad tha Mda^ an tbat eaa bo axpectod, JSha Oaamoat Compiny hat tor many Taan eajoyad tbe rspotatlou of making good, aad wttb Ito emerged quarters oo Coognsa avenue, nothing, L. I., New York, where boto fic- tory and office will be located, there la every Indication tbat tbls manufacturer will be able to mote than ssttafy those wbo have already favond them witb tbelr patroaage, aad thoae wb« da,|9 i>...ttg.'fiBtsia.. . Exebaage. Dea '. . . f c ia t fc lawai I. ■, Owaa, Ihaat Northern Film Co.; Oao: L, Hlller. IM Ranch wild West Show; .Engeue Cllne, Luke H. Mitbrn. MacMahon. Cincinnati Film Exchange. Cincinnati; W. A. Daniels, National Waterproof Film Co.: Mr. Hayes, n. 8. FUm Exchange. Chi- cago: J. B. Clinton, Unique Film Service: Mr. Tracey, of Carson-Excltulve Film Co., Chl- esgo; Mr. McMlUra, of GaTaoa-BzcIaslTe FUm Co., Chlcsgo: B. W , Mta ddfc. MatlMPrt Water- rroof Co., Cblcagdirlinv, aC.MfflMm Serv- ice. C%leaeo. ■ .' m . Of tbe American Film Service, Cble man who conceived and baUt ^ *Tka1 Speclalt" and tbe fatber of nt wall-kav service In Amerlcs." Mr. Van Konkcl baa a boat of friends, a wealth of moving picture kuowtcdgc and suf- flclent Inbereat tact to make one harmonious blend of Ihs ma joiattoiMa. Ba'a a tiaa "aMd Ssala'tf ** >"S*s ■aaBNM,^ as*'