The billboard (Dec 1917)

‘THE BILLBOARD Copyrignt, 1917, by The BUibeard Publishing Gompany. WHITE RATS DO NOT APPLY FOR CREDENTIALS TO CENTRAL BODY Labor Men Discuss. Action of A. F. of L, Last Week Former Rats Appear and Ask That Something Be Done Robert Brindell ‘Tells What Happened at Buffalo New York, Dec. 1.—Despite the fact that the Mountford-FitzPatrick element recéived the endorsement of the convention of the American -Feder tion of Labor at Buffalo last’ week and ‘were allowed-to retain the White Rats’ charter it doss not seem to have done them much good, nor does it appear likely that it, will, for’ the ‘actors in all parts of the country, who are belng interviewed by ‘The Billboard's representatives, treat the matter as @ Jok ‘The further the inquiries go the more palpable it ‘becomes that the White Rats have ceased: to exist, with: the exception of Mountford, FitzPatrick and thé-Board of Directors, who .are under investigation in proceedings in the Supreme “Court of. the: State of New York. “This in-itself ts sufficient reason for this coterie sticking t gether. > In this respect Mountford’s claim that as long as they had seven-m bers they could retain’ their charter 4s enlightening, That they have no great confidence in the validity of their claims seems to be. proven by the following facts: ‘The Central Federated: Union of New York City held its weekly m ing last night. But no representative of the White Rats was’ present:to ask that White Rat delegates.be seated in that body. As every Inyman krows the seating of delegates in a ‘Central body ts absolutely necessary afd yital to the successful conduct of the. bus! ‘ness of any labor organization. Without that connection. there ‘can be no collaboration of. effort between the Aifferent ‘unions cbmposing that Ce tral body. In other :words,.a union without @ seat tn its local Central Federation ‘i practically in the position of an army without ammuniti Robert “Brindell, a'C. HV. to the cohvention;, Baward L. Hanna; also a délegate, who, by: the way, has been endorsed by t Position of Comm: Mr. Buchanan is chairman of the ‘committee which has call meeting of outdoor showmen for December 6. AN ALARMING SITUATION IS CONFRONTING OUTDOOR SHOWS Entire Business May Be Wiped Out if Concerted Action Is Not Taken Immediately Important Meeting Called for , December 6 in Chicago Chicago. Deo. 3—An alarming situation, one which threatens the activities of the outdoor show business, for the duration -of the war at least, has developed ‘and is arousing great apprehension among showmén. ‘There has been for the past’ few weeks considerable speculation as to the railroad situation: and proposed further taxation and legislation by the Government, but it was thought there was no danger of conditions becoming so acute that shows would. be‘ classed as nonessentials and as such be barred from railroad transportation. ‘During the past. week, however, information received by the National and Brnest Bohn, F. U., inspeeches took exception to the ruling of the, convention, which it 1s claimed was by no means repre(Continues ‘on page 06) . | Outdoor Showmen's Assn. showed there was @ probability if some ‘action was. not-taken to present the case of the show business in the proper (Continues on page 00) MOTION PICTURE MEN URGE HALT BE CALLED ON EXTRAVAGANCE Declare Present Methods Are Leading To Ruin Caution and Concerted Action Needed To Stem Tide Statement by Samuel Goldfish Arouses Industry New York, Dec. 3—Samuel Goldfish recently fired a bombshell into the camp of the motion picture industry when he made the declaration that producers could have annually $10,000,000 by reducing the existing number: of distributing organizations, and when he criticized the “mada methods” and extravagance which he declai are. destroying the popularity of pictures, He declared in this statement that ‘the ruinous overhead expenses maintained by various companies had produced three results. They had im. Posed an anbearable burden upon individual organizations, ‘increased the rental costs of pictures to exhibitors, and had forced a price-raising. to the public which tended to make pictures an exclusive instead of a democratic amusement available to all of the People. Mr. Goldfish has since been overwhelmed by letters relating to his statements, and one of the most remarkable-is the following telegram, sent him by Stanley V. Mastbaum, head of the Stanley Booking Co,, of Philadelphia: “Samuel Goldfish, “Pres. Goldwyn Pictures Corp. “16 East :424 St, New Yori. “Five hundred thousand dollars are wasted: weekly” by overproduction, overadvertising, too many exchanges, which necessarily mean that the ex hibitor’ must pay. How long can h tontinue to ‘pay? What will happen when he can not continue to pay? Do you know that the producers are conducting their business in. open warfare on each other? The exhibitor must pay for all the tremendous salaries paid dy the manufacturers in every branch of the business, What is the solution? Who will solve It? “The crisis will soon be at hand. ‘There ts but little time to save the motion picture industry from several severe setbacks. Should these be temporerily avoided others will come and ‘will continue until the motion picture industry is standardized on a sound basis. Inthe meantime the exhibitor must pay. The manufacturers can not (Continued on page 61) The Edition of This Issue of The Billboard is 39,500 Copies| is retirement from to establish a lyceLos Angeles, Cal. CONEY ISLAND SUFFERS LOSS OF $400,000 THROUGH FIRE Several Buildings Totally Wiped Out by Blaze Which Threatened To Destroy Entire Resort “Lighted Cigar” the Cause, Says Fire Marshall New York, Dec. 1—Fire Thursdas night threatened to wipe out Cones Island, and ‘the only thing which kept the damage down to $400,000 was. the fact that there was not a strong wind blowing arid that what wind there was . blew from.a favorable direction. The Diaze.was discovered about 6 o’clock ‘in the evening. Five alarms were promptly sent in, but quick work by employees, who formed: bucket brigades, unquestionably held the flames in check until the firemen arrived. At one time the fire threatened to destroy such landmarks as the New Brighton Theater, the Hotel Shelburne, the Brighton Beach Casino and other buildings within a short ‘distance from the point at which the blaze The fire was a spectacular one and drew 25,000 spectators to the scene. ‘The places destroyed were the Park(Continues on page 66)