Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

30 EXHIBITORS HERALD FIRST NATIONAL GET-TOGETHER, Montreal, Can., at which the following were guests of J. LaBrecque of the Passe Temps theatre. December 13: Left to right — (top row) S. Brint, Montreal; I. Goldwater, Lachine; Nick Lazanas, Montreal; I. Singerman, Sherbrooke. Second row: Frank Wanicker, Montreal;' Jim Sperdakos, Montreal; A. Gorman, Montreal, J. LaBrecque, Montreal; Frederick Guest, Hamilton; A. J. Robert, Hamilton; W. W. O'Fenety, Frederickton. First row: D. Wolfe, Montreal; George Nicholas, Montreal; Harry Brouse, Ottawa; J. Draker, St. John; Mrs. E. H. Davidson, Moncton, N. B.; W. J. Drummond, Toronto. Theatre Men in Missouri and Canada Approve Policies Votes of Confidence Given at Territorial Meetings of Sub-Franchise Holders of First National RESOLUTIONS of confidence in Associated First National Pictures, Inc., were adopted at territorial get togethers held recently in Canada and Missouri. The meeting in the Dominion represented Eastern Canada, including the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Maritime. It was held at the Windsor hotel in Montreal. INSTEAD of the one advisory committee, three were elected, one for each of the provinces represented at the convention. These boards are comprised of the following: * * * ONTARIO: Frederick Guest, Hamilton, chairman; Jule Allen, Toronto; W. D. Ferguson, Toronto; Hy Meehan, Lindsay; H. Brouse, Ottawa. QUEBEC: George Nicholas, Montreal, chairman; Maurice West, St. John; J. E. LaBrecque, Montreal; I. Singerman, Sheerbrooke, Ottawa, Ont. MARITIME: W. W. O., Fenety, Fredericton, N. B., chairman; Mrs. E. H. Davidson, Moncton, N. B.; John Connor, Glace Bay, N. S. ; Colin Dansen, Springhill, N. B.; Messrs. Brouse and Stapleton, Ottawa, Ont. * * * All of the sessions, under the chairmanship of William J. Drummond, were marked by a spirit of harmony and cooperation. The final business of the meeting consisted of passing motions endorsing all the policies which have guided and arc guiding First National and voting confidence in the officers and the executive committee. George Rotsky of Montreal, representing the Allen theatres, paid a tribute to the home office advertising department and its manager, C. L. Yearsley. After praising the benefit and assistance it has been to the exhibitors, he said: "In my opinion it is the best advertising and publicity department in the business. All other companies could take lessons from the First National publicity department, and make it extremely profitable for themselves." * * * The Missouri meeting was held in St. Louis, at the Hotel Jefferson. On the advisory committee are: John Karzin, Casino, Olympia, Star, Marquette and Majestic theatres, and Ferd Warner, North Grand theatre, St. Louis; Jack Truitt, Sedalia, Sedalia, and Charles T. Sears, Grand, Brookficld. Spyros Skouras, original franchise holder for Missouri, is the fifth member of the board. Joseph Desberger, St. Louis manager for First National, will attend meetings of the board, but will have no vote in deciding points in dispute. The resolution of confidence in the national officers was adopted after Skouras, Sears, Truitt and Joseph Mogler of St. Louis, delegates to the Chicago convention recently, reported the results of that gathering. Templin Made Manager (Special to Exhibitors Herald) BELLEVILLE, ILL., Dec. 27.— Forrest C. Templin, Indianapolis, well known throughout Indiana theatrical circles, has assumed the management of the new Lincoln theatre here. January 7, 1922 Film Rental Tax Dies But Argument Thrives William A. Brady Writes New Chapter in Controversy Over Who Did It (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Dec. 28.— Three days from now the 5 per cent film rental tax will cease to be enforced, as the new revenue law goes into effect. Three years from now, however, the argument as to who should have the credit for the repeal of the tax will probably still be raging. Smoot Praises Brady The latest addition to the mass of documentary evidence causing the "I did," "You didn't," controversy comes from William A. Brady, president of the N. A. M. P. I. It is a letter from Senator Reed Smoot, in which Mr. Smoot says Mr. Brady, Mr. Saul Rogers and Mr. Jack Connolly, representatives of the N. A. M. P. I., gave him invaluable assistance in obtaining the repeal of the tax. Declares Formal Letter Misued Mr. Reed also says: "It has just come to my attention that one of several hundred formal letters bearing my signature and acknowledging communications which thanked me for my work in bringing about a repeal of the five per cent film rental tax, is being given wide publicity, apparently for personal advantage or for the purpose of furthering factional advantages, by one of the several hundred individuals to whom the same letter was sent." Houses in South Bend Resenting Union Rules Eliminate Orchestras (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SOUTH BEND, IND., Dec. 27.— Because they are faced with what they designate as excessive demands on the part of the musicians' union here, motion picture theatre owners have decided to do away with orchestras after January 1. The theatre men say they will not submit longer to a rule that requires a certain number of musicians for each theatre, depending on the seating capacity. The local orchestras run from seven to seventeen men. It is said the musicians are now willing to compromise on a wage scale which also is in dispute. The present average salary for a musician is between $70 and $80 a week. Cohn Again Operates Play Brokerage Firm Alfred A. Cohn, play broker of Los Angeles, who joined the forces of Palmer Photoplay Corporation for the purpose ot establishing a story service for that company, has completed this effort and, according to announcement last week, he has resigned from the Palmer company and, commencing on January 1, he will resume operating his own play brokerage firm with headquarters in the Markham building, Hollywood boulevard. Theatre Firm Dissolves (Special to Exhibitors Herald) INDIANAPOLIS, IND., Dec. 27.— Frankfort Theatre Company of Frankfort, Indiana, has filed a preliminary certificate of dissolution with the secretary of state.