Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

Tanuarv 28. 1922 E X HIBITORS HERAL D 49 WILLIAM LE BARON who has been appointed director general of Cosmopolitan Productions. In this reorganization of the production department Verne H. Porter becomes scenario editor and Howard Irving Young, film editor. Women Want Industry To Aid in Suppressing Jokes on Prohibition (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK. Jan. IT.— Miss Adella Potter, chairman of the committee on patriotism and law enforcement of the N'ew York City Federation of Women'Clubs, has forwarded a resolution adopted by the committee to the N. A. M. P. I. requesting the industry to assist in suppressing jokes ridiculing prohibition. The resolution reads: RESOLVKD: That every theatrical manager, movie manager anil editor, whether of a daily, weekly or monthly publication, be requested to -«ee that all jokes ridiculing prohibition and its enforcement are eliminated from any production, rilm or article coming under his jurisdiction, and that the matter be treated with the seriousness that the subject merits: and that this resolution be thrown on the screen ami printed in the different papers and magazines throughout *.ut the country. Goldwyn Organization Gets Cut in Salaries (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 17— Reductions of from 10 to 20 per cent in salaries of its 3.000 employes are announced by Goldwyn Film Corporation. The reduction is said to be wide in its scope, extending from the president down to the lowest paid employe. Pictures for Empress (Special Jo Exhibitors Herald/ KANSAS CITY, MO.. Jan. IT— The Empress theatre, which formerly housed ~& stock company, is now a combination house. The seating capacity has been increased to 1.500. This makes the fifth combination first run house in the downtown district. Rob Theatre of $600 (Special to Exhibitors Herald) FARGO. X. D.. Jan. 17.— The Orpheum theatre was robbed of $600 when burglars gained entrance and broke open the safe. M. P. T. O. Completes Plans To Hold Conclave at Capital Board of Directors Expect Thousands of Theatre Men to Attend Annual Get-Together at Washington, D. C. in May (Special to Exhibitors Herald) WASHINGTON, D. C. Jan. 17. — Arrangements have been completed by the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America to hold its next annual convention here in May. Action of the board of directors here last week in completing plans for the get-together apparently disposes of the possibility of the convention going to some city in the Middle West. The question of the 1922 convention city was left open at the Minneapolis meeting. At that time both Washington and Kansas City made a play for it. Since then the Illinois exhibitors, through the adoption of a resolution, have made known their desire to have the convention held in Chicago. Sixteen Executives Attend Board Meeting The meeting of the board of directors last week was held at the Hotel Washington. Attending were: Sydney S. Cohen, national president; W. D. Burford. Aurora. 111.: W. A. True. Hartford. Conn.: E. M. Fay. Providence. R. I.: Charles L. O'Reilly. New York: John T. Collins. Rutherford. X. J.: John Manheimer. Xew York; W. A. Steffes. Minneapolis; D. A. Harris. Pittsburgh. Pa.: H. H. Lustig. Cleveland: Edward T. Peter. Dallas; A. R. Pramer. Omaha: H. B. Yarner. Lexington. X. C. ; M. I. O'Toole. Scranton : C. E. Whitehurst. Baltimore, and G. G. Schmidt. Indianapolis. Members of the board expressed the belief that the convention would bring thousands of exhibitors to the capital. In addition to the convention, announcement the board issued a statement relative to the appointment of Will H. Hays, postmaster general, to head the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry. The pronouncement was prompted by a speech made by Senator Harrison of Mississippi, who suggested the oossibility of the screen being used for the dissemination of political propaganda. Good Will Means Success The exhibitors' statement said in part: "The motion picture theatre owner realizes that the success of our business enterprise and the progress of our industry is dependent upon the good will and support of all the people, comprising those of every shade of political opinion, and we desire to assure the motion pic "I Thought I Was Hooked" Writes C. P. MacDonald, manager of the Strand theatre, Norton, Virginia, in describing his experience with a salesman last June. He bought a service intended for theatre owners. After six months, he wants to meet the salesman again; apologize, and thank him for the good turn. Instead of being "hooked," MacDonald found that for a trifling sum he had made the "biggest buy in the film business." His complete letter appears in column one on page 80. ture-going public that our theatres will never be used for the advancement of partisan politics. "Xo political propaganda of any kind will be permitted on our screens, except where the welfare of the theatregoing public and the progress of our industry is threatened. Wish to Correct Impression "If the advent of Mr. Hays or any other capable man into the manufacturers" division will correct some of the unsatisfactory business relations now prevailing, it will meet with the approval of every theatre owner and real friend of the industry. "Our only purpose in presenting this statement now is to correct the erroneous impression that the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America is in ;.ny sense a party to any arrangement now under way affecting Mr. Hays. "This we state that it may serve to clear up any misunderstanding which may exist and make it perfectly plain to every official and individual in this country that the owners of the motion picture theatres are separate and distinct in their relation, have no affiliation with the manufacturer or producer of pictures and therefore have in no sense been parties to the move under discussion." Consider Films Only After Unsuccessful Combination Program (Special to Exhibitors Herald) EVAXSVILLE. IXD.. Jan. 17.— Manager Otto Meyer of the Xew Grand theatre has received instructions that the theatre will close its vaudeville season owing to lack of patronage. It is expected the house will be kept running with motion pictures. It is said the theatre was from $25,000 to $30,000 behind on the season up to last Xovember when it was decided to try a change of policy. This change was the cutting off of one act from the six-act vaudeville program and the substituting of a feature motion picture.