Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Dec 1917)

20 EXHIBITORS HERALD * MUSIC TAX SITUATION IS EXPLAINED FOR EXHIBITORS BENEFIT BY PETTIJOHN Tells of A. E. A. Conferences with A. S. of C. A. P. in Effort to Aid Theater Men in Securing Compositions Controlled by Society "There seems to be considerable doutjt among exhibitors over the Music Tax question," said Charles C. Pettijohn, general manager of the American Exhibitors' Association, in reply to a question relative to the situation between the exhibitors and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. "The facts of the case as it stands today are more or less befuddled through misunderstanding among the exhibitors as to the rights of the publishers to demand a tax," he continued. "The Supreme Court of the United States has rendered a decision in favor of the owners of copyright music enabling them to charge a license fee for the privilege of playing their music. Under the law they are in the right, but it is possible to reach an amicable arrangement with the publishers, I believe, whereby the exhibitors who wish to play their music will not suffer any great hardship through playing their music. "The American Exhibitors' Association in several conferences held with gentlemen representing the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has been making an effort to convince these gentlemen that their schedule of licenses as applying to motion picture houses is impractical and too high in price. In these conferences we are trying to do something for the motion picture exhibitor zvho wants to play music controlled by this society, a license for which, under the law, must be procured. "The motion picture exhibitor zvho does not care to use this music and who could conduct his program without playing music coming within this class can avoid the license by not using this music. The various trade papers have been and I understand will continue !o furnish in formation as to the companies and their music, the use of which doe* not require this license. "To sum the whole proposition up so there will be no further misunderstandings, we will endeavor, first, to obtain what concessions we can for those exhibitors who desire to use music upon which a royalty must be paid, and second, to furnish as much information as possible to the exhibitors who do not care to use this music letting them know just what music can be played without paying a license." In a statement issued last week from this office it was the intention of the A. E. A. to let exhibitors know just what the legal situation is that they may know just what concerns them when they are notified by the society to procure a license or to cease using certain music. A SCENE FROM "THE FALL OF THE ROMANOFFS" OCHS PAPER IS SCORED (Continued from page 18) Association, or, in fact, any organization, but we do claim that when a trade publication fails to make note or publish news of what is at the present time interesting a large percentage of the biggest and best exhibitors in the United States and Canada, then they are failing in their service to the exhibitor and to the industry as a whole. "The "Exhibitors' Trade Review' runs a calendar of coming events. As a subscriber of the 'Exhibitors' Trade Review' I request the publishers to announce the time and place of meeting of the officers of the American Exhibitors' Association, also to carry the news and actions of this new body in order that I as well as others may have the full knowledge of the workings of both associations. "If future issues of the 'Trade Reviev do not carry news of the A. E. A. ther we will all know that the 'Trade Review' is run not in the interest of the exhibitor, but for politics. Didn't Mention Pettijohn "In the article on the convention last week's issue of the 'Exhibitors Trade Review' no mention was made o the fact that Mr. C. C. Pettijohn, genera manager of the A. E. A., was present or of his reception and talks at both th" business and social sessions of the con vention. If this does not show withou doubt that the 'Exhibitors' Trade Re view' is dominated and controlled by Le Ochs, then yours truly is a mighty poo little guesser. If the 'Exhibitors' Trad Review' will come out in the open, pla. fair and try to live up to its slogan, '0 for, and by the Exhibitor,' it will the deserve the respect and consideration c every exhibitor on this continent, bu its present attitude on some question make it funnier than 'Life,' or 'Judge.' VIRGINIA PEARSON SOON STARTS NEW FOX FILI Virginia Pearson, the William Fo star, who has been enjoying a brief v; cation away from the camera, will bi gin in a few days on a new productio A TENSE MOMENT IN THE DRAMATIC STORY OF RUSSIA'S FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY (Herbert Brenon) BLUE 91 PD DA/ IN YOUR. HOU/'E