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June 26, 1920
EXHIBITORS HERALD
33
Victory Over Paramount Looms As Exhibitors Complete Organization; Sydney S. Cohen Named President
Adolph Zukor Buttonholes Theatre Owners in Cleveland Hotel Lobby in Vain Personal Effort to Stem Tide — Issues Tardy and Evasive Defense of Activities in Theatre Field
Defiance Gone, Lasky Group Cut Sorry Figure
Defeated at every turn, the embryonic octopus of the motion picture industry — the Famous Players Corporation — dragged itself from the exhibitors' convention at Cleveland, on Thursday, June 10, a badly beaten factor, more than seven hundred exhibitors from every state in the Union having registered their determination to conquer the menace.
Adolph Zukor, head of the producing-exhibiting combine, personally jumped into the breach early in the convention week and began what proved to be a hopeless fight to stem the tide of sentiment against Famous Players which daily gained in momentum in the convention hall at the Hotel Winton.
In the meantime the delegates, blind to all else but the need of a strong national organization to combat the tactics of the Famous Players Lasky corporation, ironed out their differences and emerged late Thursday afternoon, a united line of defense.
End of Convention Comes Suddenly Thursday
The end came suddenly. The delegates responded to roll call shortly before eleven o'clock on Thursday. Preliminary work consumed the time until after one o'clock. Xo adjournment was taken for lunch, no one thought of it. Then came the call for funds to meet the needs of immediate financing.
The plans for the first year's war chest had already been laid. The finance committee had recommended that S100.000 be raised and this had been passed by the convention unanimously.
Every delegate in the big hall wanted to give something but many differed as to the method in which the donation should be made. It seemed for a time as though the debates then engaged in would defeat the object. But Charles L. O'Reilly, who had frequently come to the front and straightened out seemingly impossible tangles, against smoothed things over.
Marcus Loew and James Miles Donate $2,000 Each
Chairman Lustig called on the delegates a state at a time and a representative of each delegation stepped forward and placed his donation amid the cheers and handclapping of all. Marcus Loew and James Miles topped the list with $2,000 each. J. H. Kunsky of Detroit gave $500, and when the total was announced it showed that more than $20,000 was available for immediate use.
Adjournment seemed inevitable at this j uncture but again the voice of Mr. O'Reilly was heard asking that the report of the committee on nominations be read and action taken. The coatless, perspiring exhibitors wavered for a moment but voted unanimously on the motion.
When the names of the men recommended by the committee to guide the affairs of the new organization during the first year of its existence had been read, nearly every delegate in the room was on his feet gesticulating to the chair for recognition. Ben Sawyer of Cleveland won the coveted honor.