Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

36 EXHIBITORS HERALD April 29, 1922 HERE ARE THE exhibitors of West Virginia, photographed immediately following the banquet held in connection with the annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of West Virginia at Parkersburg. National President Sydney S. Cohen is readily conspicuous by the silver loving cup he is holding. the organization unanimously adopted a resolution petitioning all motion picture producers and distributors to eliminate advertising in all publications but newspapers; that the newspaper was the one medium that reached all classes of people, while other publications were read by only certain people. The resolution pointed out that to reach both the masses and classes newspapers should be used more extensively in the future than they had been in the past. Casper Re-elected The following officers of the association were elected for 1922-23: Jerome Casper, Pittsburgh, president; John Newman, New Castle, vice president; H. Goldberg, Pittsburgh, treasurer; Fred Herrington, Pittsburgh, secretary board of managers; Max Engleberg, McKees Rocks; William R. Wheat, Sewickley, and Harry Handle, Pittsburgh. While official action was not taken relative to the next meeting place, it is reported that Pittsburgh again will be selected. Among the other resolutions passed was one opposing carnivals, which the framer of the resolution declared were "sewers of the show business." The convention went on record in cooperating with the state board of health in suppressing carnivals, and petitioning all municipal authorities to refuse licenses for such exhibitions. "Don't Condemn Business" A resolution was also passed asking the public to refrain from condemning the motion picture business as an institution, because of individual acts of some of the players; that the motion picture owners stand for morality in all pictures exhibited and will lend their encouragement to producers of the right kind of pictures, but disapprove of scenes that are not clean and pure. Several other resolutions were passed asking for reduced taxes on certain other factors that enter into the business. It was announced that fully 150 of the :i88 members of the Western Pennsylvania association will attend the national convention of Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America in Washington, May 8-12. All the resolutions passed at the convention here — including the one relative to producers and distributors advertising more liberally in newspapers — will be presented at the national meeting . A number of exhibitors from other states, including National President Sydney S. Cohen, Salyerds of Rochester, N. Y .; Cadorct of Illinois, and Fine and Gross of Cleveland, were at the sessions. M. J. O'Toole of the M. P. T. O. A. attended with President Cohen. Members of the organization in attendance follow: Pittsburgh — H. Handel, Hippodrome; J. E. Smith, Smith; Henry and C. Poke, Shiloh; Mr. Walker, Academy; Mr. Shrader, Olympic; J. Wagman, Merlin; M. Rosenberg, Rialto; M. Moidel, Penn; I. H. Fleishmann, Brighton; S. Pearl, Climax; Mr. Hayward, Savoy; H. Goldberg, Avenue; E. J. Golstein, Morris; D. Harris, Wonderland; Mr. Sternberg, Hazelwood; H. B. Kester, Cameraphone; Sam Gould, Arcadia and Gould; Henry Gauding, Lincoln; C. J. Vollmer, Idle Hour; P. Demas, Minerva; M. Finkel, Colonial; Alex Moore, Hill Top; O. F. Krugh, Arcade; M. Browarsky, Variety; A. Fineman, McKee; J. Richman, Pearl; Mr. Tauler, Oakland; W. Bushyeager, Orpheum; Mr. Browar, Kenyon; J. Alderdice, Delton; R. Soltz, Majestic; J. Kaiser, West End; Bennett Amder, Amder Amusement Co.; Jerome Casper and Fred J. Herrington. Out-of-Town— E. F. Desenter, Avalon, Avalon; G. F. Miller, Delmont, Oakmont; M. Angoros, Palace, Leechburg; P. G. Wright, Auditorium, Meyersdale; C. O. Baird, Pastime, Portage; W. J. Wray, Crescent. Mahoningtown ; J. D. Dunmeyer, Majestic, Butler; Mrs. F. C. McGinley, Grand, Elizabeth; E. T. Beadle, Alhambra, Cannonsburg; B. E. Cupler, Bijou, Washington; Pete Antonopolos, Frederick, East Pittsburgh; M. Feitler, Liberty, McKees Rocks; Mr. Winograd, Majestic, Rochester; Mr. McGivern. West Tark, McKees Rocks; W. M. Lodge, Fulton, McConnellsburg; T. J. Hicker, Liberty, Saxton; Thomas Paul, Casino, Greensburg; W. J. Bittner, Cambria, Johnstown; J. A. Smail, Family. Avonmore; C. Freeman, Star, New Castle; H. C. Morrison, Grand, Mt. Pleasant; J. R. Evans, Grand, Donora; Daniel Kough, Windher Opera House, Windber; S. Marousis, Dome, New Castle; R. T. Jennings, Grand, Greensburg: W. G. Maute, Grand, Irwin; V. E. Best, Albion, Albion; J. Gray, Tru-Art, Spangler; C. G. Couch, Grand. Carnegie; W. A. Ash, Brookline, Brookline; T. P. Miller, Castle, McKees Rocks; O. Federbusch, Star, Tarentum; A. H. Miller, Washington; C. H. Elder, Capitol, Washington; C. Seltzer, Main, Sharpsburg; L. Elswick, Kiski, Vandergrift; W. R. Stambaugh, Sheridan, Turtle Creek; Mr. Silverman. Princess, Donora; Max Engleberg, Liberty, McKees Rocks; S. Haimovitz, Columbus. New Kensington; G. Panos, State, Mount Oliver; J. M. Steinitz, Liberty, Rankin; W. R. Wheat, Sewickley, Sewickley; G. Schweitzer, Orpheum, Titusville; C. M. McCloskey, Penn, Uniontown; P. B. Jones, Rowland, Wilkinsburg; N. Sehring, Alma, Portage; H. Goodman, Liberty, Midland; E. Harvey, Grand, Woodlawn; T. Michalowsky, Rex, Masontown; C. E. Gable, Strand Corp., Sharon; E. T. Claffcy. Strand Corp., Sharon; Sam Soltz, Regent, Beaver Falls; A. J. Bayer, Family, St. Marys; A. E. Andrews, Opera House. Emporium; J. F. Smith. Smiths. Barnesboro; H. L. Stahl, Lyric, Oil City; C. E. Landos, Princess, Jeannctte; A. P. Way. Avenue, DuBois; M. Rosenbloom, Majestic, Charleroi; H. P. Dawson, Colonial, Beaver Falls; D. Baltimore, Strand, New Castle; Mr. Shcfller, Grand, New Brighton; B. Dattola, Strand, New Kensington; R. Navary, Pleasant Hour, Verona; Mr. Parros, Colonial, Swissvale: Mr. Lampropolos. Paramount, Latrobe; J. W. Mercer, Globe, Washington; J. Silverman, Strand. Altoona; J. M. Conners, Regent, Washington; M. Roth, Liberty, Duquesne. West Va. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) PARKERSBURG, W. VA., April 18.West Virginia exhibitors, at their convention last week, extended a hand of cooperation to Will H. Hays, president of ihe Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America. The resolution expressing the attitude of the members of the state organization follows: RESOLVED, That the M. P. T. O. of West Virginia extend a welcome hand of cooperation to Mr. Will Hays. Be it further resolved that this organization stands ready to cooperate with him to the end that the many abuses of the industry may be abolished. Other resolutions adopted follow: Film Folk Honorable "Resolved, That the M. P. T. 0. of West Virginia will not permit the exhibition of pictures in which arc featured any star or performer guiltily involved in any indecent, immoral or notorious action, or whose chief bid for fame is notoriety. "The M. P. T. O. of West Virginia recognizes that the great majority of men and women in the motion picture industry are as honorable and law-abiding a group of Americans as may be found; that great injury and acute personal suffering may be caused by indiscriminate condemnation and innuendo contained in sensational press reports, and calls the attention of the public as well as all connected with motion picture production to the firm policy of the M. P. T. O., as expressed in the previous resolution. "The theatre owners of the state of West Virginia condemns the practice oi certain distributors who seek to trade on the reputation of new and worthy productions by exploiting old and inferior pictures on the strength of similarity of titles, or other devices." Senator Sends Greetings Telegrams expressing best wishes were received from a host of screen stars, including Wallace Reid, Jack Holt. Agnc? Ayres, Lila Lee. Thomas Meighan. Jackii Coogan, Behe Daniels, Rodolph Valentin' and Dorothy Dalton. A message fron United States Senator Howard Suther land was of special interest because o the fact that his was the deciding vote ii the senate which defeated the 5 per cen (Concluded on page 64)