Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

January 7, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 31 Exhibitor Raps Plan to Get [ | Data on Theatre Operation ' ' Herald ' ' Advises Theatre Men to Ignore Letter Requesting Itemized Statement and Other Information Relative to Business Exhibitors in various localities are reporting receipt of questionnaires from unknown persons asking considerable intimate information. Among these is L. L. Connor of the Victory theatre, Cambridge. NewYork, who writes as follows : "Herald" Is Leader of Them All "I am a reader of the Herald and could not do without it; it is the greatest publication the exhibitor has ever had offered to him and it sure is the leader of them all. France Leads U. S. In Film Exports to The United Kingdom (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK. Dec. 27 — During the first nine months of this year France took the lead over the United States in film exports to the United Kingdom, according to statistics received by the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry from the United States department of commerce. In 1921. during the nine months period, the United States supplied the United Kingdom with 26,929,857 feet of films as against 41,915,758 feet for the same period in 1920. France in 1921 supplied the United Kingdom with 37.9S4.S49 feet as against 10.816,723 feet during the first nine months in 1920. The total linear footage of films imported by the United Kingdom in 1921 was 69,387,210 feet as against 58,034.581 feet in 1920. The value of the films imported was 729,621 pounds in 1921 as against 754,269 pounds in 1920. These figures are for the first nine months of each year. Theatre Man Requests Thieves Wounding Him To Pay Doctor's Bills fS fecial to Exhibitors Herald) PANAMA, ILL., Dec. 27.— J. D. Williams, owner manager of the Grand theatre here, who was wounded seriously by four men who robbed the Panama bank of $31,000, has inserted an advertisement in a St. Louis newspaper requesting the robbers to advance $200 toward his doctor and hospital bills. Williams drove his automobile from the alley in the rear of his theatre as the robbers were making their get away. They thought he was attempting to pursue them and opened fire. A bullet struck Williams in the face, wounding him seriously. He was taken to the hospital at Hillsboro. Later he received a letter purporting to be from the robbers in which they expressed regret for having shot him. Three Second Run Houses in St. Louis To Play Fox Films (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, MO., Dec. 27.— The Pershing, Arsenal and Royal theatres have been contracted for by William Fox as second-run houses for Fox specials. "The Queen of Sheba" opened at the Pershing and Arsenal on Christmas day. The Fox specials will have week engagements simultaneously at the three houses. Following "The Queen of Sheba," "A Connecticut Yankee" and "Over the Hill" will go into the theatres. Bar Clara Hamon Film ( Special to Exhibitors Herald) DUNCAN, OKLA., Dec. 27. — City commissioners, heeding a protest filed with them against the showing of the Clara Smith Hamon picture "Fate," have barred the film here. The play was also stopped at Comanche. Okla., last week by county officers during the fourth reel of its showing at a crowded theatre. Considerable disappointment was evidenced by the audience. "Enclosed you will find a questionnaire received last week. The man who sends out this line of stuff must be a bright fellow to think an exhibitor, unless a newcomer in the game, would answer questions of this type. This makes the third letter from different parts of the country asking the same questions. Should Stop Practice "I think it is high time that this sort of a thing should be stopped and the exhibitor who might not be in the game long enough or who might think that he could gain something by answering these questions should be put right on the matter. "I am asking your assistance in bringing this matter before the exhibitors." The questionnaire referred to by Mr. Connor has printed at the top of the sheet, "Queen Theatre, Greenville, Ky." It is signed "Carl Duncan." Many Questions Asked The questionnaire appears to be-a comprehensive inquisition with reference to the exhibitor's business. The following are among the questions asked: "Is your theatre for sale? Lowest price? Terms? Capacity? Admission price? How many times has theatre changed management in past three years? Weekly expenses and receipts? How long have you had the theatre? Kind of film service?" Requests Itemized Statement It is asked also that the exhibitor give an itemized statement of his weekly expenses. Other questions are aimed to obtain detailed information with reference GLADYS WALTON, star of "Playing With Fire," a new Universal feature. to the equipment of the house and the construction, size and location of the building. Except for some specific, good reason, exhibitors should ignore requests of this character for information. Such a request cannot be considered as reasonable, as the exhibitor in the protection of his interests should not give out promiscuously such information with reference to his theatre. Is Promotional Scheme? Many such questionnaires that have been sent out are simply a part of an impractical promotional scheme and while the exhibitor who answers may suffer no real loss, at the same time he is wasting effort in supplying the answers. In other instances it has been known that such questionnaires have been sent out to a large number of theatres with the idea in view of obtaining inside information on certain individual theatres. The Herald recommends that such questionnaires be referred either to this publication or to the headquarters of the exhibitors' organization for investigation. Keen Interest Shown In (< Clean Up Week" In Eastern District (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Dec. 27.— Exhibitors and exchangemen of the New York State and Northern New Jersey territory are watching with interest the results of the industry's first "Clean Up Week," which will terminate on December 31. "Clean Up Week" was designated so that exhibitors and exchangemen might have an opportunity to se'tle all pending grievances so that the newly appointed official joint grievance committee could operate efficiently under the new standardized rules without any old adjustments to handicap it. President Charles L. O'Reilly of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York State has completed arrangements with the F.I.L.M. Clubs of Albany and Buffalo for a joint grievance committee in both zones to function on the same basis as the one in New York City. Motion Pictures Shown At Children's Parties (Special to Exhibitors Herald) INDIANAPOLIS, IND.. Dec. 27.— A series of children's parties was held during this week by the Indiana Indorsers of Photoplays. The entertainments were scheduled for various institutions and the motion pictures featured were "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Cinderella and Her Magic Slipper."