Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1921)

November 19, 1921 EXHIBITORS HER ALU 37 Kineto to Produce Reel for Exhibitor Educational Service Declaration Of Principles The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, commencing on this twenty-ninth day of October, in the year nineteen hundred and twenty-one, realizing the tremendous influence of motion pictures at this time for the re-establishment of the principle of right thinking among our people, dedicate ourselves to the following constructive plan: First: To encourage in every way possible the production of dean, wholesome and optimistic films . Second: To take an active interest in the public welfare and cooperate with our community civic and social forces, in helping to maintain a high moral standard. Third: To utilize our theatres and screens for the purpose of helping our boys and girls to become good citizens. And last: Appreciating that the very economic foundation of our existence is threatened and humbly desiring to do our part to the full measure in helping to re-establish a healthy condition throughout our country, we will recommend on our screens a possible solution of our present problems — the revivifying of the spirit of "Brotherly Love'* and the application in our everyday life of the principle of "The Golden Rule." MOTION PICTURE THEATRE OWNERS OF AMERICA. St. Louis Firms Merge; Skouras Heads Company (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, MO., Nov. 8.— Negotiations looking to the consolidation of eighteen Skouras and City Wide Amusement Company theatres and airdomes valued at. $2,000,000 were closed last night, the merger to be effective on November 15. Spyros Skouras is president of the new organization, which will be known as St. Louis Amusement Company. 'It will be capitalized at $300,000. Other officers are: Harry Koplar, vice-president; \V. A. Stickney, secretary, and Sam Hamburg, Jr., treasurer. Charles P. Skouras is manager. The houses included in the combination are the Pageant, Shaw, Arsenal, GrandFlorissant, Lindell, Shenandoah, Juniata, Arco. Lafayette, Maffitt, Lowell, Gravois, Novelty. Manchester, St. Louis Airdome, Grand-Florissant Airdome, Crystal Airdome, Shenandoah Airdome. Pictures to Be Handled By National Distributor Agreement Which Is Effective January 1 Provides for One Subject Each Week (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Nov. 8. — The campaign of education planned by the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America takes a big step forward on January 1, when there will be offered to the screens of the members a series of films prepared under the supervision of the organization. Contracts were signed last week by officers of the M. P. T. O. and Kineto Company of America for the production of one-reel subjects of educational and entertainment value. The agreement provides for one picture each week, beginning on January I. The distribution will be made by one of the biggest of the national distribution organizations, the announcement of whose name will be made within a few days. Urban and Exhibitor Official to Edit Film The pictures will be known as '"Official Urban Movie Chats" of the Motion Picture Theater Owners of America and Kineto Company of America. The films will be edited by Charles Urban, assisted by an associate editor appointed by the M. P. T. O. This appointment has not as yet been made but it is expected that the name of the man selected will be given out at the time the name of the distributing organization is made public. Negotiations for a series of films sponsored by the If. P. T. O. have been on for some months and last week all details of the arrangements were completed. For the M. P. T. O. the contract was signed by President Sydney S. Cohen, Vice-President Thomas Goldberg, General Manager A. T. Moeller. Director J. T. Collins. Director W. D. Burford, Charles L. O'Reilly, president, and S. I. Berman, secretary of New York State; George Aarons of Pennsylvania, J. L. Lazarus of Pennsylvania, C. C. Griffin of California. John S. Evans of Pennsylvania. C. E. Whitehurst of Maryland. R. F. Woodhull of New Jersey, W. A. True of Connecticut. E. M. Fay of Rhode Island, E. T. Peter of Texas. John Manheimer. chairman of board of directors of T. O. C. C. Bandits Rob Houses (Special to Exhibitors Herald) BALTIMORE, MD., Nov. 8.— There was an epidemic of theatre robberies here last week. Safes in three theatres were rifled in one day, the thieves escaping with their loot. Statement Is Issued The following is a joint statement issued by the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and Kineto Company of America, Inc.: An arrangement of tremendous importance has just been entered into between the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and the Kineto Company of America, Inc.. after a series of conferences extending over two months, whereby the Kineto Company of America will produce every week a single reel that will serve as the official screen publication of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. It will be known as the "Official Urban Movie Chats of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America." The contract between the two organizations was signed November 1. 1921. by the executive committee and officers of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and officials of the Kineto Company of America. The approval of the executive committee and officers of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America was unanimous, and it also received the endorsement of the various state member-organizations, as well as the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce of New York. It will become operative on January 1, 1922. Acclaimed by Exhibitors Prominent exhibitors throughout the country acclaim this step as the most constructive and progressive that has ever been taken for the good of the industry and the public ; one that will have world-wide significance. It will mark the beginning of a new era in the motion oicture industry. The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America want the screen to serve the public as well as to entertain it Charles Urban will lend his skill, gained in an experience of 25 years; his great film library and his organization to the production of the best single reel that it is possible to construct — the most fascinating, the most entertaining, the most informative, the most constructive. Associated in editing the "Official Urban Movie Chats of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America" will be an Advisory Board consisting of some of the most influential men and women in the country. It will be a reel that every exhibitor will be proud to have his name associated with ; one that will be a privilege for his patrons to see : one that will be his duty to show, because it will be the official reel of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. Every release will contain a message from some official prominent in public life as well as information the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America desires the public to know. Will Accomplish Aims The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and the Kineto Company of America are as one in their desire that the motion picture be made an instrument of public good as well as entertainment. It is also essential that the millions of theatre patrons know that the heart of the industry is clean and wholesome. It is well to emphasize that the social and civic forces working for the good of every community have an earnest ally in the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. The "Official Urban Movie Chats of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America" will help to accomplish these aims as well as furnishing the finest single reel in the world ; and it is well to point out that there will be nothing in the reel at all that savors of either advertising or propaganda. Every exhibitor in the country will be asked to contract to play the "Official Urban Movie Chats of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America." Contracts will be made in the usual way at a price in keeping with the theatre and locality. Xo deposit will be asked. Every theatre in the country will be expected to play this official screen publication of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. We feel that every producer, distributor and exhibitor who has the interest of the country and the motion picture industry at heart will welcome and cooperate in this constructive step. (On page M is a picture of the M. P. T. O. A. and Kineto officials signing the contract for the production of the educational reel.)