Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1924 - Feb 1925)

Page 12 Exhibitors Trade Review M.P.T.O.A. Review Season of 1924 Close Cooperation Hcis Brought About Great Results for Members THE year which has just closed has been featured with many happenings and circumstances which greatly influence the business affairs of the Alotion Picture Theatre Owners of the country. Through the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America we have endeavored to develop and direct the energies of the Theatre Owners of the Nation in such a way as to secure for them along all lines the greatest amount of material advantage. This service which was carried on through legislative and other processes is so well known to the Theatre Owners as to require no specific presentation here. In 1924 the Theatre Owners received their greatest con.cessions in tax reductions from Congress and the year also witnessed the substantial advancement of other remedial moves which we hope to have consummated in the present session. We are indeed very proud of the record of achievement of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America in this relation but our greatest concern and most pronounced gratification in this connection is that we were able to give the service through our Natiori„! Organization and that it has operated to the signal advantage of every Theatre Owner in the Nation, our industry as a whole and the great theatre-going public. f 'THROUGH the Public Service work of the Theatre, directed by our National Organization, in cooperation with the United States Government Departments, State Governments and in other ways, we have succeeded in building up such a pronounced degree of official and public good will for the Theatre Owners, that our position is doubly fortified to resist the passage of unfair and discriminatory legislation in State and Nation. In no other way could this very gratifying state of affairs have been brought about and this Screen service of our Theatres to Governmental agencies continues to win for our industry daily an ever-increasing measure of this very essential public favor. Havmg advanced and consolidated our position in this relation, making the Theatre a center and the Theatre Owner a commimity leader, we have immeasurably strengthened ourselves to successfully combat all other evils within the industry. Theatre Owners must, however, take full advantage of this situation and be ever on the alert to fully protect their interests as forces are now in operation, the efforts of which must be curbed through organization processes, or much of what has been gained will be lost and the Theatre Owners position rendered more precarious. In the Alotion Picture Theatre Owners of America, we look conhaently forward to a complete understanding of these situations by the Theatre Owners and feel assured that 1925 will be a militant year for them in the intelligent handling and solution of the trade and other problems confronting them and in the consequent business and general advantage this will be to them. /^UR National organization has made ^-^ gratifying advances in the year just closed. We have worked constructively, for the direct and specfic advantage of the exhibitor as the results obtained and in prospect amply prove. Our National Officers could not do this without the substantial measure of coope;ration which was given them by State and Regional Officials and Theatre Owners gen erally. We know we can speak for them as well as ourselves in thanking all within our ranks and others who have aided us in any way and pledging to them renewed loyalty and service for the future. Without assuming to invade the realm of prophecy we firmly believe that 1925 will be a very prosperous period in the United States and we again earnestly urge Theatre Owners to unite firmlj' with us in the laudable effort to obtain for themselves the fullest measure of this new prosperity. Organization alone will enable the Theatre Owners to hold what they have and secure more of what justly belongs to them within our Industry. Theatre Owners cannot be inactive. Eternal Vigilance Is the Price of Their Business Liberty and Security. Let us hope that through these organized processes as the same are developed in the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, the year 1925 will have for all Theatre Owners elements of prosperity, good will, trade mutuality and service in keeping with their highest purposes and supplying every possible need. (Signed) M. J. O'TOOLE, President. R. F. WOODHULL, Chairman. ^ ^ ^ GERMAN PRODUCERS WANT PROTECTION THE EXTENT to which American movies have captivated the German fancy is brought out in the hot controversy which is now engaging different factions of ihe industry as to the number of foreign films that should be imported annually, says Commercial Attache Herring, Berlin, in a report to the Department of Commerce. The German market can take care of between 400 and 500 films each year according to estimates of the trade. Of this number only about 100 are produced within the country, the remainder being chiefly American importations. It is claimed by film importers that at least 600 high class American films which can be suitably shown to German audiences are available each year. At the present rate of importation a little less than half this number are actually exhibited. The German producing companies tare agitating for more stringent regulations of film imports and for the abolition of the present contingent system. Under the contingent plan the distributors are placed in a xery strong position since they are able to demand a heavy sum from importers before placing a foreign film upon their list. In some cases it is claimed that as much as $5,000 to $6,000 must be paid to the distributor in order that he allow an American film to be syndicated under his direction. This sum sometimes exceeds the total royalty which the importer receives and wipes out all his profits. Exhibitors are also dissatisfied with the contingent system because it is similar to the block-booking practices elsewhere and forces them to accept programs as a unit without the opportunity of making special arrangements for particular films which they may desire to introduce, on their own account. The producing companies are also dissatisfied because they hope to secure a larger share of the business for German products. They will, however, have to raise greailv the standard of their products before they can hope to get a greater share of the business than they are now obtaining. The producing companies have arranged a tentative program which is to he brought up before a general meeting of the film industry in a short time. Under this program it is hoped to arrange a fixed ratio between foreign and domestic films which will be good for at least two years. The whole matter is, hcwever, merely tentative and there is no indication that the Government has taken side with any of the parties to the controversy. Whenever farnous folks in any line of human endeavor visit Holljrwood, they usually make it a pyoint to visit the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio at Culver City. In this group are opera stars and noted film executives. From left to right they are Armando Aguini, Pavio Ananian, Graiomro Spadoni, Audre Farrier, Irving G. Thalberg, Mr. Schafer, Marshall Neilan, Mary Newsome and Harry Rapf.