Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1920)

June 5. 1920 EXHIBITORS HERALD 35 Predict Record Attendance at Both Conventions path of that national exhibitory body, as will prove to be the case with a national league, has been neither smooth nor rosy. Every member of any organization of that character represents a point of attack to the many interests antagonistic to its purposes and objectives. It is both natural and wise to assume, in the instance of a national exhibitor league, as in other cases, that some one of these myriad links in the national chain may prove vulnerable, and that destructive forces harboring ulterior motives, may break through and strive to create dissention. Then comes the real test of cooperative strength. If the majority membership remains steadfast, refusing to be stampeded into panic, these ocasional attacks will become helpful, welding the organization into a more compact and determined unit. "Questions of policy, differences of opinion, and tendencies to dispute issues will arise in a national league the same as in any other cooperative exhibitor body. The spirit behind the manner in which these are met, discussed and adjusted will have much to do with harmony and progress. "A national exhibitor organization, no matter what its objectives may be, so long as it is a cooperative body, formed for mutual aid, protection and defense, must have the undivided loyalty and un ( swerving allegiance of its entire membership, and difference^ in personal opinion and viewpoint on questions before it never should affect this support. "On to Cleveland — but with individual exhibitor determination to hurdle all petty differences, to allow nothing to gPnnmnilDI mil Miiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiimiiiiiimiiiiiiii llllinMimilHMMg] I Patterson Issues | Second Appeal | I W i 1 1 a r d C. Patterson, At | | lanta exhibitor, in answer to [ | whose call five hundred inde | j pendent exhibitors assembled | | in Chicago, April 26 and 27, | | and formed the Independent | | Motion Picture Exhibitors of j | America, has issued a second | | appeal direct to exhibitors. | | This time he urges their at | | tendance at the Cleveland con § | vention of the I. M. P. E. A., § | June 8-11. "I shall bend my every en § I er&y m Cleveland to keeping | | any semblance of politics or j | personal ambition from any | | source out of the sessions," is | | his pledge to exhibitors, "and § | I will work as an individual | | exhibitor, without office or de | | sire for office, but as one of § | the rank and file of independ | | ents who want a national j | source through which to op | | erate in defense of our respec | | tive theatre interests." ^iiniiitiiiiiiiiTiriMiiiiiiMiniiiiiiiiuiiMntiNntiirTiintitiniirrTTiniiiinMMiiiiriininHniTnrnirmnTrmniiiinim^ halt action on the big, basic dangers which can be overcome only through organization, to grant office to the most capable, and then to be loyal to them as choice of the majority — thus, every independent exhibitor will create, for himself and for his fellows, an asset beyond value." Two More Companies Pledge Their Aid Two more distributing corporations this week cast their lot with the independent exhibitors — the Reelcraft Pictures Corporation and the Victor Kremer Film Features, Inc. Both issued statements pledging every possible aid to the exhibitors in their fight against producer monopoly of theatres. Victor Kremer in his statement cites the Patents Company. General Film Company and W. H. Doom, Holland, as instances of where attempts to dominate the industry ended, and declares that the "independent exhibitor has nothing to fear." "These producer-exhibitors were they thousandfold stronger than they are will be blown away as chaff when the whirlwind of indignation will strike them with full force," he declares. "The independent exhibitor as yet owns and controls 80 per cent of the seating capacity of the motion picture audience. The independent exhibitor is a good American, cannot be fooled all the time and knows how to fight and knows how to win. The independent {Continued on page 40) "Go to Cleveland Prepared for Work— " A Communication from HAROLD B. FRANKLIN, Managing Director of Shea's Hippodrome Division, Buffalo, N. Y. Early in June there will gather in Cleveland a representative body of exhibitors from all over the country, who will endeavor to lay down the machinery for a national organization. The fact that this convention is sponsored by several units whose record is one of achievement gives promise that out of this convention will emerge a national organization of definite power. Extinction Threatens Exhibitor The very foundation of the industry, the exhibitor, is threatened with extinction. Surely, if ever there was the necessity for concerted action, that time has arrived. This is no time for evading anything. The issue is clear — on the one hand we have the Famous Players' organization, who openly have acquired theatres in different parts of the country. In the south, we were given to understand at the Chicago convention, this company, through a subsidiary, has created a situation which makes it impossible for an independent exhibitor to prosper. From coast to coast there are eruptions on this subject. We, who have given support to organizations such as the Famous Players cannot but look with distrust on any movement on their part to acquire theatres. They have openly challenged every independent exhibitor. Is it to be expected that we will stand idly by and continue to fill their bunkers with the means by which they may build theatres, and eventually prove to be our competitor? Beware Percentage Booking Under the guise of percentage we have another angle of a scheme to secure control of your theatre. Not content with the large rentals now being paid, some of the distributors are trying to force percentage booking, knowing that once percentage has been put over, that nothing would prevent them from increasing their percentage, just as they have increased their rental figures. Percentage would be placing a mortgage on your business. It will kill incentive and make of you exhibitors a rubber stamp. Percentage is another name for extortion and bondage. It is a question of a few producers against almost fifteen thousand exhibitors. The tail is trying to wag the dog. Sees Need of Leadership What the exhibitor needs most is leadership — leadership that can clearly define the issues and present a practical plan that would make of the exhibitors of the country a unit. The exhibitors of the country united would be the biggest force in the industry. No distributor, nor clique of distributors, can dominate save by the will of the exhibitors. If distributors operate theatres, it is onh because exhibitors allow them to — if distributors force percentage, it is because exhibitors permit them to. Must Get Together Now Exhibitors must get together and say what they think, with fight behind them. There are enough distributors who do not operate theatres that could furnish any program — and they would be programs of quality. The success of any distributor is in your hands, and when they are successful, it is only because you support them. If the exhibitors withdraw their support, no distributor can withstand the loss of revenue that would result. Even Wall Street looks at statements, and it would be a mighty sick looking statement if the exhibitors would fall together and show their strength against any distributor. How the exhibitor can accomplish this will be shown at Cleveland — March on to Cleveland. Leave home your ivories, booze, animosities, jealousies. Go to Cleveland prepared for work. Here is your opportunity to build a solid foundation for the future of your business— one that will withstand all onslaught.