Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

IiXH 115 [TORS II KRALI) We Are Making Them Pay! The sensation of the week, we might say of the year, or indeed, of all motion picture history, is the payment of money to exhibitors for the use of their screens, by film producers who have trc passed on those screens in the past. Beat the Tom Tom ! Sound the Bugles! ! Set Off the Fireworks ! ! ! To celebrate this great event of the exhibitor actually getting something for the use of his own property. THE WHY AND WHEREFORE OF IT ALL The Screen Protection Committee of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America through their exposure of the screen "snipers" are respon>il>le — solely and entirely responsible for this belated effort to pay the exhibitor for the use of his screen. But for the fight of the Screen Protection Committee the exhibitors would never have received a penny. In contrast with this sudden, apparent willingness to pay, we ask you to read the letter sent by W. H. Linton, state treasurer of the New Y<»rk exhibitors' league to the executive secretary of that organization which was sent on January 5th. P>2<». Mere is the letter, which speaks for itself: Mr. >. i. Bemum, i Ma* v. \.. ten. I. Ittt. Motion ricturt* Bktalbiton I ••;iien«\ State of Nf" \orU. 7M TfanM BMr .. >«*« \urk no. Dear Mr. Itcrnmn : Til In in to iM'knowlrdKf llir rerripl of rfaocih on urfoniil. ilnl DtMnbM Slflti I'M1' uittl Kitrn Ut mt* at lli»* **\«*4-ut ivt* coiiiiiiitt**** meeting ol our state IfaKiir at IliifTalo, N. V., on January l, Ml'iO, in |ia> meiil for llfcOWtBC of reel "l>uim* I u*hiou DMrMt.*1 Our member* whit lm\e run till reel Mg that 11 wan well liked liy their patrons, e*pe<i:i 1 1 \ <h»* women. 1 1 teem* to me an idea I proil net ion. hi r\ er> « a> ii|» to our *t Milliards, which pro *• hie I hat e\ er> mm*Ii reel uiuM ha v e a pretloniinaiil eul ert ai nnienl \ nine ami umler no rlrc-um*tiinre* affonl a ran hp of just romplalnl to an> of our patron*. Badl heiiiK the case I want to im on reeonl as sn>iiiic that in m> opinion it marks a new departure hoth as to exhibitor control of all screen ailv erl isinc mill as t<» (he possihilii ies of thiaiicliiic e\hihitors' oruani/at ions. In our stale, at least, no seal lax le\> or other anl hpiatcil m«*lho<ls of tuxinjc !•»«■ exhibitor* direct l> will he needed hereafter. I am iclad to note >oii huxr other lllms of the -unie stamlard reuil> for our exhibitor*. No one in this state knows hetter than we do here In 1 tint what the right kind of an exhibitor*" org a ii i /at ion can do. I( was t h rough the clfnrl s of I he organ! rut ion that we w ere enahled to open our theaters on Sunda.i . I expect lo see % nu and the ha la lice of the Imjvh at \H>ait> ahout the middle of the month to dike up leiflshitixe matters. SIlM erelv x ourM, \\ M II I IS I ON. lieasurer. Motion Picture Kxhthilors I.eaKoe. Mule of New York. The activities of tin* Screen Protection Committee of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America have started the ball rolling, and if you will guard your screen so that no industrial films or advertising inserts appear without your being paid for them through your state league it will not be very long before every state league in the country will have sufficient funds to carry on the important work that is necessary this year to safeguard the interests and investments of the exhibitor. Bear in mind that under our plan the control of all screen advertising remains in exhibitors' hands. EVERY CENT OF MONEY DERIVED FOR SCREEN ADVERTISING GOES TO YOUR STATE LEAGUE, to do with as they see fit. No part of the revenue is diverted to any more or less mythical or nominal "national" organization which does not know your local problem* and which as far as the record shows, has never done anything to henefit the exhibitor in a national way. The Screen Protection Committee has just begun to tight and will keep up its activities to get a full return to the exhibitor for the use of his screen. No doubt about the exhibitors of the country being with us heart and soul. Here is the evidence. The following exhibitors' organizations have endorsed the activities of the Screen Protection Committee, and are cooperating with us: MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS' LEAGUE OF NEW SOUTH CAROLINA EXHIBITORS' LEAGUE. YORK STATE. NORTH CAROL NA EXHIBITORS' ASSOCIATION. MIAMI VALLEY EXHIBITORS ASSOCIATION. LOS angeleS (CALIFORNIA) THEATRE OWNERS' NORTHWEST EXHIBITORS' CIRCUIT. ASSOCIATION. CLEVELAND MOTION PICTURES EXHIBITORS' EXHIBITORS' PROTECTIVE LEAGUE OF MINNEASSOCIATION. SOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA AND AMERICAN EXHIBITORS' ASSOCIATION OF PENN IOWA. SYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS ASSOCIATION OF KANSAS CITY EXHIBITORS' ASSOCIATION OF MIS WISCONSIN. SOURI. TEXAS EXHIBITORS' CIRCUIT. ILLINOIS EXHIBITORS' ALLIANCE. COLORADO MOTION PICTURE THEATRE OWNERS' MICHIGAN EXHIBITORS' ASSOCIATION. ASSOCIATION. THE MOTION PICTURE THEATER OWNERS OF AMERICA 708 Times Building New York City ,1 28