Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

48 EXHIBITORS HERALD May 20, 1922 500 Attend Meeting (.Concluded from page 36) the third annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America was officially opened on Monday afternoon. At 1 o'clock, the starting time, an orchestra from the Crandall theatres rendered several selections. They had been playing about half an hour, when Cohen and other officers entered the hall. His appearance was the signal for wild cheering, the ovation lasting several minutes and terminating in "Three cheers and a Tiger for Cohen" in which the entire front of the hall participated. Dr. Montgomery, chaplain of the House of Representatives, then gave the invocation and the meeting was called to order. He was followed by U. S. Senator Robert L. Owen of Oklahoma, who has been active in sponsoring legislation for exhibitors. The senator gave a brief talk impressing on the exhibitors the remarkable possibilities of motion pictures and urging them to make the best use of their screen. "You have the possibility of rendering the greatest service of any organized force in America," he declared, "and you deserve the sympathy of American people just as you avail yourself of this opportunity." M. J. O'Toole of Pittsburgh was selected to respond to the senator and thanked him for his message and welcome. Cohen Reads Report Sydney S. Cohen then arose and after being cheered, gave his annual report. In brief it was as follows: 'The Public Service department has been successful beyond expectation, but must be expanded and eivcn proper financial support. "The M. P. T. O. A. was responsible for the repeal of the 5 per cent film rental tax, which saves the exhibitors $6,000,000 annually. "Adjustments were made during the year of difficulties with Famous Players-Lasky Corporation and First National. "Three months ago, the M. P. T. O. A. inaugurated the Official Urban Movie Chats, and it now enjoys being almost as widely circulated as any weekly reel. "The music tax demands drastic action. The most logical way of fighting the trust is establishing a clearing house for music write-rs. Have the M. P. T. O. A. publish and sell their music for them and refuse to use the music of the 'trust.' "The M. P. T. O. A. must emphasize to the public that theatre owners have a separate identity and must not be held responsible for the actions of other divisions of the industrv. "The M. P., T. O. A. must face the task of cleaning the business at its source. "A reference library must be established; a librarian chosen, and money must be voted to make it a big division of the work. "A budget system must be adopted for the M. P. T. O. A. "The M. P. T. O. A. should establish a Board of Review to pass on all pictures, the board to protect the public by eliminating the objectionable parts of films and protect the theatre owner by establishing a fair exhibition value on the film. "Exhibitors must advertise the merit of a picture, instead of the star, director or producing company to eliminate many of the existing evils in the business. "District leaders should be established in every territory to look after the interests of the exhibitors generally and gather important information for distribution. "The theatres must continue their efforts to become the recognized community centers. "Service stations should be established in every film center to adjust differences between exchanges and exhibitors. These should be in charge of a paid manager, centrally controlled. "The entire organization must back the Massachusetts exhibitors in their fight to defeat censorship at the state referendum next fall. "School and church competition must be vigorously fought. "An exchange of exploitation ideas should be established by members by sending the ideas to headquarters to be disseminated. "Present theatre admission prices must be maintained. "Trustification must be prevented as well as commercial and political control of the screen. Film rentals should be cut 50 per cent. The independent producer must be encouraged. "The exhibitors must see that the producers wipe out waste. "Distributors should stop wasting money in magazines of national distribution and should put this money into newspaper advertising with the cooperation of the exhibitors. "Disillusionment of the public by permitting people to go through the studios should be stopped. Also, the exhibitors are tired of reading how many people slept in tents to see a picture at the Capitol theatre. "Prices of accessories must be reduced. "Insurance on theatres must be lowered. "A privately owned express companies for the distribution of films should be discouraged. "Reform organizations seeking blue laws must be fought." The Convention By MARTIN J. QUIGLEY (Concluded from page £}.) those present that there was a great number of Cohen enthusiasts in the audience. No occasion for a noisy demonstration on behalf of Mr, Cohen was overlooked. Just what effect the events of this convection will have on the future of the organization remains a matter of much doubt, although well informed observers declare that a great possible peril to the immediate development of the organization has been created by Mr. Cohen's iasistence upon reelection and his split with many of those who have been his closest supporters. Two years seems to have been too long a test, Cohen Again President (Contined from page 34) but had not suggested him for president. "Someone told me last night to keep quiet because it would hurt Metro if I spoke," he said. "Gentlemen, Metro is a small part of my holdings. It is just an incident. But I will say that if I have to sacrifice my self-respect, I will quit making pictures." Sydney S. Cohen then took the floor, accepted the office of president and announced that he would not be a candidate for re-election next year. He stated that he appreciated the expression of confidence from the exhibitors and valued their friendship more than all the money in the world. He pledged his time for next year to con-' structive matters; declared that he felt it was time to sit down at the table with the distributors and producers, and announced that he wanted the board of directors to rehire Senator Walker. The election of other officers followed. Glenn Harper of California was elected first vice-president. C. C. Griffin, the only other nominee, withdrew. Joseph Mogler of Missouri was elected second vice-president, Willard Patterson declining to permit his name to be placed in nomination. C. A. Lick of Arkansas was elected third vice-president; Joseph Rhode of Wisconsin, fourth vice-president; M. Van Praag of Kansas, recording secretary, and John T. Collins of New Jersey, treasurer, without opposition. The following sixteen men were nominated for directors twelve to be elected: W. A. True, Connecticut; W. D. Burford, Illinois; Julian Brylawski, District of Columbia; Gus Schmidt. Indianapolis; M. E. Comerford, Pennsylvania; Henry Lustig, Ohio;Claud E. Cadv, Michigan; I. W. Mahan. Ohio; W. A. Steffes, Minnesota; H. B. Varner, North Carolina; R. F. Woodhull, New Jersey; Jake Wells, Virginia; A. R. Pramer, Nebraska; C. C Griffin, California; Jake Loure, Massachusetts, and E. M. Fay, Rhode Island. Michael Rosenblum of Pennsylvania and John Mannheimer of New York were nominated, but withdrew. Charles L. O'Reilly declined the nomination. The ballot was taken and the result will be announced tomorrow. San Francisco, which appeared to have the convention for next year without opposition, now has a tough fight on its hands, as Illinois is in with an invitation to Chicago and is making a vigorous campaign. MONEY MA Which Have Been Exhibitors to Build By R. ROSS RILEY (Wigwam theatre, Oberlin, Kans.) We pulled off a little stunt at our theatre and made some extra money. I got a couple of kids and had them pose for about 25 photos in the woods, etc., to illustrate the poem, "That Old Sweetheart of Mine," by James Whitcomb Riley (no relation, I'm sad to say). Then we made slides of them, colored them all up line with water color, and made title slides, readers of the poem, etcv and made a nice little layout of about 50 slides. We ran them with a regular feature and it made lots more business. If enough exhibitors would be interested, I would be glad to send the HERALD a copy of my scenario to print. Of course, I am a photogra I N G IDEAS sed Successfully by Up Their Patronage pher, but if you are not, you could get the local photographer to make the slides for you. By A. C. BETTS (Powers theatre. Red Creek, N. Y.) Demand cheaper rentals ! We do. Give them a variety of stars, also plenty of comedy. Run nothing but good clean moral pictures. We have never run anything that was not fit for all. We run a serial on Saturday night. On February 11, we started "Adventures of Tarzan" and have had good attendance ever since. We run only one show and give them their money's worth — two reel comedy, two reel serial, and a five or six reel picture.