Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 1924-Apr 1925)

Page Four National President M. J. O'Toole Address Read Montana Convention Montana Motion Picture Theatre Owners Convention Mammoth Hotel — Yellowstone Park— A® interesting statement on elements of service within the Motion Picture Theatre, applicable to the great West, from National President M. ‘J. O”Toole, of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, was read at the State Convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Montana at the Mammoth Hotel, Yellowstone Park. In this, Mr. O’Toole: spoke to the Montana Theatre Owners, in part, as follows.: “One of the important aftermaths of the Boston Convention is direct membership. By having this membership direct in our National Organization, we are able to co-ordinate the activities of Theatre Owners in all parts of the United States and render their co-operation more efficient in handling national legislation, film conditions generally, and such other elements as affect our business, of a national character. ‘Then the Theatre Owners thus associated are in a definite way able to take care of such matters as may require their attention in a state or regional way through state and regional organizations. “Much of the work required of Theatre Owners’ organization is of a national character. It embodies lines of activity which affect congressional work. There are, however, many. important matters which must still be taken care of by state and regional bodies, .as.these elements are of a somewhat local nature, and those best fitted to care for them are the ones directly interested.. We find that this line of organization, direct membership in the National Organization and then such elements of activity as may be necessary in state and regional bodies, is operating in a most efficient Way. “Our organization in its national, state and regional aspects, is a protective body and gives definite and specific protection to the Theatre Owners along legislative and other lines. When Theatre Owners understand the organization in that way and know that sometimes it is difficult _to find service of this character reflected in actual results and that a considerable portion of it is business insurance and protection, they wyill have a better and more comprehensive idea of just what organization means. “The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America have a very pronounced list of accomplishments of an outstanding nature. In the first place at the National Office, we handle in direct contact with the executives of Producing and Distributing Companies many complaints made by the Theatre Owners and in a great number of instances, we have been able to so adjust these differences as to make the situation operate greatly to the advantage of the Exhibitor. “In Ohio,” we are now conducting a campaign for state-wide referendum on Sunday Opening and it may be that we will have another on the question of censorship in that state. A similar line of procedure will be. followed in Maryland very soon and the Theatre Owners of New Jersey may seek a referendum or engage in other lines of procedure to determine the question of Sunday Opening in that state. We precede all of these moves by direct application of our screen energies to Public Service. “T have made an exhaustive study of that situation and.I gave the Theatre Owners the benefit of the same in my annual report on Public Service which is at the disposal of the Exhibitors. “T would be pleased to have the Theatre Owners of Montana through their officers, keep in close and intimate touch: with National Headquarters, and I also invite each individual Theatre Owner in their state to feel at liberty at any time to communicate with me on any _ subject which may be of service to him or his theatre, and any line of suggestion he may have to make regarding the affairs of National Organization will be ‘cheerfully received by me and fully appreciated.” Buck Jones Secures Peggy Shaw for Leads Peggy Shaw has been cast for the leading feminine role opposite Buck Jones in “Winner Take All,” Fox production. Miss Shaw replaces Gladys Hulette, originally announced as leading lady for Jones in-his newest picture. “Winner Take All” is from the story by Larry Evans. W. S. Van Dyke is directing. Leonard Bishop, genial manager of the Regent Theatre, Ottawa, a Famous Players house, earned special distinction when he appeared as the baritone soloist at a concert recently for the Rideau Street Synagogue. which was held at Talmud ‘Torah Hall. Mr. Bishop was the hit of the evening. CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST _ 7 “Behold This Wonian22 Opens Rialto, New York “Behold This Woman” was shown at the Rialto Theatre, New York City, the week beginning July 20th. This picture is a romance of movieland ,adapted from the novel “The Hill man” by E. Phillips Oppenheim. It tells the love story of a motion picture star who had suffered from the wrong reputation set upon motion picture players. Louise Maurel meets John Strangeway who comes of a family whose men had suffered through women. He and his brother are woman haters. They live alone on a ranch inSouthern California. John falls in love with Louise and goes to Hollywood to offer her marriage. There he is thrown into contact with the gay life of the motion picture center. After many dramatic complications he wins Louise. J. Stuart Blackton produced “Behold This Woman” and the cast is an exceptionally strong one comprised of Irene Rich,Marguerite de la Motte, Charles (Buddy) Post, Harry Myers, Rosemary Theby and Anders Randolf. “The Sea Hawk” Has Sensational Success “The Sea Hawk,” Frank Lloyd's production for First National of Ra ‘fael Sabatini’s adventure novel, con tinues on its triumphant way. It Is not only in its eleventh capacity week at the Astor Theatre, New York, at the $2 admission scale, and has just had a tremendous opening at the Roosevelt Theatre, Chicago, and the Criterion, Los Angeles. At 11 a.m. on the Tuesday following the opening, which was on Mon+ ‘day night, June 30th, there was a big hold-out in State Street and every prospect is for a Chicago business for this. Photoplay which will be in keeping with the New York attendance and receipts. “The Sea Hawk” opens its Canadian premicr at the Regent Theatre, Toronto on August 30th at admission prices scaling up to $1.50. WELCOME STRANGER Before Buying Pictures Read The Digest Advertising Pages. Google ~4