Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

COMMENT OF THE WEEK By MA RTIN J • QJJ I G L E Y Trie State Right Alliance THE meeting last week in Chicago of independent exchangemen representing nearly the entire connm was especially significant. It represented a materialization of the frequently-urged plan of bringing a group of independent exchanges into a cooperative body. It has long since been apparent that without some sort of a union among independent exchanges they could not continue to exist much longer, except in a few cases. The odds have been all against the independent exchange, especially in the matter of getting product of a meritorious nature. The step made in Chicago by the group of managers has been long awaited and it is confidently felt that this alliance or circuit is only the first to enter the field and that several others consisting of other groups of exchanges will follow in the near future. If the plan launched in Chicago is carried to its logical conclusion it will mean the dawning of a new day for the independent exchange. It is an unfortunate fact, but nevertheless a true one, that of all the various branches of the industry the independent exchange is the only one that has not progressed. At one time in the industry the independent exchange was supreme. The changed plan of operation of the industry probably never will permit this condition to return, at least in the near future, but there certainly is no good reason why the independent exchange generally shoidd not return to the position of a stable and influential factor in the industry. But the only manner in which this can be accomplished is for state right exchanges to enter into alliances with other state right exchanges to the end that there will be created for. the independent producer a national market. Without such alliances it will become increasingly more difficult for state right exchanges to obtain either the quantity or the quality of product necessary for successful operation. * * * A Significant Report THE stat« conference of mayors of the state of New York, which is unquestionably one of the most important civic bodies in existence, has Teached an important conclusion relative to motion picture censorship. This organization, which is composed of the chief executives of the cities and towns of New York state, declares in a report issued last week, that censorship of motion pictures is unnecessary. It further states that the only promising method of regulating the production and the exhibition of motion pictures, in so far as this is necessary, is through the National Board of Beview. We commend, especially, this conclusion of the New York Conference of Mayors to the attention of exhibitors everywhere who may be confronted with a local censorship issue. No group or individual of whatever standing can rightfully question the honesty, fairness and sanity of the conclusions of this conference, which is composed of men directly charged with the moral and physical welfare of the inhabitants of every city and town in New York State. And their conclusions are not based on snap judgment, but are the results of a deliberate and painstaking inquiry, made with great thoroughness and covering a long period. Every exhibitor who now faces or who expects to face a censorship agitation should familiarize himself fully with the report of the New York State Conference of Mayors. * * * Dis-union vs. Union THE recent labor controversy in Chicago started out in true melodramatic fashion and moved on rapidly to a comedy finish. It opened with a vitriolic statement by Sam Atkinson for the Allied Amusement association, in which it was declared that the screen in Chicago was going to be freed from ''the domination of union chiefs." A few days of actionless wrangling ensued, the operators" union maintaining that the exhibitors would and the exhibitors declaring they would not. About this time Aaron J. Jones stepped off a train from New York, called a small group of exhibitors and union officials together and in a few minutes the threatened lockout and bloody war to a finish was at an end. Mr. Jones did a very commendable work and did it in his customary direct and adroit manner. So much for the recent incident. But what about the position of the Allied Amusements association, with reference to any future negotiations with the operators' union? "We are not willing to recognize the 'de luxe' proposition, which provides for an operator at each machine," said Doc. Atkinson, speaking for the association. "There is no use asking one man to do two men's work," said Mr. Jones, therebv ending the controversy, but leaving the association in the position of having started something it couldn't finish. * * * Daylight Saving THE daylight saving measure, which is a wholly objectionable proposition for the industry, again bobs up in the Chicago city council. This scheme of changing about the natural order has been tried nationally and found wanting. It was rejected by the public after a fair trial and while in existence found disfavor with a vast number of people of many classes.