Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

\pril 22, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 41 mnal of public opinion and shall do our ■est to enlist the cooperation and support f our patrons in supporting only those .ho show a disposition to cooperate with s in our efforts to keep open our theatres nc! to bring the price of screen entertainlent within reach of our patrons at a ime when they need the diversion the creen affords and which they now find it ■j difficult to benefit by owing to the gen.al depression and high prices of enterainment." Word has been received here that both ie Missouri and Illinois state organizaons at their conventions last week conurred in the resolution. Copies of the esolution have been placed on file at the ational headquarters. West Va. F. C. Smoot (Special to Exhibitors Herald) PARKERSBURG, W. VA,. April 11.— 'he second annual convention of the lotion Picture Theatre Owners of West Virginia was held here today at the Chancellor Hotel, the single session which was followed by a banquet in the evening being featured by a representative attendance of exhibitors and addresses by Sydney S. Cohen, president, Sam Bullock, secretary and M. J. O 'T o o 1 e, chairman of the 'ublic Service Commission of the Motion 'icture Theatre Owners of America. Outlines Year's Work Telegrams of greetings were read from Tnited States Senator Howard Sutherind and a long list of motion picture !tars. President F. C. Smoot of Parkersurg outlined the activities of the past ear, prominent among them being the efeat cf the censorship bill and one proosing a 10 per cent tax on admissions. i the state legislature. He emphasized ie need of bringing the state organiation up to a 100 per cent basis and of erfecting methods for a better financing f it. . Steps for uplifting the moral tone of ictures were touched upon and recomlended, after the report of the treasurer, I. H. Robey, of Spencer, was submitted howing the finances of the body to be in 5und shape. Take Rap at Carnivals C. E. Typton of Huntington, discussed ie "carnival menace" calling attention ) a state law which is not being en)rced by which a license of $10 a day ~>r each attraction, which, if enforced, ould have the effect of keeping this kind f shows out of the state. It was delded to take steps to have this law pu> Uo effect. Mr. Cohen's talk concerned among ther things the falling off of admissions, s shown by the federal tax bureau reurns for February, 1922. which totalled 5,867,000 as against $7,802,000 for February, 1921, and which he said indicated decrease of at least 10,000,000 in paonage and with the need for intensive rganization to combate the tendency to vertax the exhibiting business. His adress covered all the current problems of he exhibitor. After an enjoyable banquet this evening at which C. S. Smoot of Smoot amusement Company presided as toastmaster, the exhibitors in a body saw Richard Barthelmess in "Tol'able David" at the Lincoln theatre. Officers elected were: President C. E. Typton, Huntington, secretary, C. G. Becker, Charleston; treasurer, H. H. Robey, Spencer. Four vice presidents are to be appointed later by the president. (S fecial to Exhibitors Herald) MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., April 11. — One hundred Northwest exhibitors cheered W. A. Steffes, president of the Minnesota division of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, following a fiery address in which he scored the producers and declared Will H. Hays "their goat" at an enormous salary which the exhibitors will pay unless they fight for reduction of exorbitant film rentals. President Steffes' address was the feature of the second day of the state exhibitors' convention and his thoughts seemed to meet with the hearty accord of the exhibitors. Highlights of his address were: Pictures Drab Conditions "Under the present inequitable arrangement we find in the motion picture industry, we no longer expect fair and reasonable returns on our investments. In Minnesota since our last convention, 125 theatres have been forced to close, many of them permanently. "During the war and since, the producers and distributors conceived the brilliant idea of securing Will H. Hays as their goat at an enormous salary, which you and I will pay, and don't kid yourself; we have to pay our share and then some with the assistance of the public, if the public will fall, but we know that the public is not going to fall, or if we have any doubts as to such a question all we have to do is refer to our box office statements." Scores the Producers Declaring many theatre owners face bankruptcy because of the present chaotic condition and again scoring the producers, Steffes said: "What do they care? They sat at their desks in New York — that is, they visited their "offices once or twice a week — and dictated in their autocratic way a policy which means ruination unless something is done and done immediately." Hinting that exhibitors may find it necessary to produce their own pictures in order to be assured a fair and reasonable price Steffes said: "The reduction in film rentals is our biggest task and we must accept it as such. Maybe it will be necessary for us to produce our own pictures. If so, let's get started at once. Let's show them that the Minnesota organization can do something and means business." The recent appointment of R. C. Seery as district manager of First National in this territory was characterized by Steffes as: "A positive insult to exhibitors in this territory." To "Smoke Hays Out" One of the important features of tomorrow's convention session, he announced, will be the appointment of a committee which will draft a series of questions which will be forwarded to Mr. Hays. He said: "We are going to smoke him out so the public will know just what his attitude toward us and the rest of the industry really is." Referring to references made about possibilities of exhibitors entering the production field, Mr. Steffes said: "The Minnesota organization hopes to create enough sentiment at the national convention to effect some production organization." This morning's session was devoted to short talks by both exhibitors and exchange men. It was a love feast in which both told of the others shortcomings and agreed to bury the hatchet and enter into an era of cooperation. Theodore Hayes, vice-president, told of the marked improvement in conditions with reference to this phase of the business. Election of officers, appointment of delegates and adoption of resolutions is scheduled for tomorrow. West Pa. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) PITTSBURGH, PA., April 11.— About :JO0 persons attended the banquet tonight in the English room of the Fort Pitt hotel of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Weste r n Pennsylvania. Henry W. Gauding was the toastmaster. The speakers were Jerome Casper, D. A. Harris, Joseph N. Mackrell, State Senator Frederick W. Service, Assemblyman Joseph C. Marcus, M. J. O'Toole of Scranton and Mayor Dennis Harris William Magee of Pittsburgh. The latter extended to the member., the freedom of the city and paid a lofty tribute to the motion picture theatre owners of the city and state. Mr. O'Toole spoke of the public service that the motion picture man could perform in co-operation with state officials and emphasized the fact that if the schools could be close to the motion picture that there would be n ore benefit to both. He portrayed the teaching of lessons by means of visual demonstration on the film and stated that such a method would increase the efficiency of the school children of the state. Ohio President Attends The business session opened at 2 o'clock with H. W. Gauding presiding. The first speaker was M. G. Smith, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Ohio, who brought the greetings of the Buckeye state exhibitors. Mr. O'Toole followed with a brief resume of the fight before congress in getting the 5 per cent tax on films removed and stated that the motion picture people of West Virginia were responsible for getting Senator Sutherland of that state to cast the deciding vote in the committee. President Cohen Talks President Sydney S. Cohen of the M. P. T. O. A., devoted most of his address to the organization's Public Service Department. Further, he stressed the importance of a representative attendance at the national convention in May. Among those active at the convention were: President Casper, Dennis Harris, director of the board of governers; Secretary Fred J. Herrington and others.