Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

June 3. 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 25 Meeting With Hays Step Toward Peace Theatre Men and Producer Chief Discuss Question of Contracts 'Special to Exhibitors Herald} NEW" YORK, May 23.— The first actual step towards putting into operation the program of "Confidence and Cooperation. Peace and Harmony" so strongly urged on the industry, was taken here last Friday. A meeting was held in the office of Will H. Hays between representatives of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce and the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of N'ew York and Mr. Hays, at which uniform contracts and other matters of vital interest were discussed. Senator Walker was present as counsel. Confidence in Hays The exhibitor representatives were Bernard Edelhertz, Leo Brecher, William Brandt. W'iJliam Landau, Rudolph Saunders. L. B. Blumenthal, representing the T. O. C. C. and Charles L. O'Reilly and Sam I. Berman, representing the M. P. T. O. X. Y. The exhibitors informed Mr. Hays that they had every confidence in the sincerity of his offer of cooperation and that they were there to start a movement looking to the ironing out of some of the problems which had kept the exhibitors and producers from working together in harmony. The question of contracts was one of the first taken up. It was agreed that the exhibitors should have drawn up a brief stating their views on what such a contract should contain, and that Mr. Hays should obtain similar views from his principals. Then another meeting will be held. Plan Series of Meetings Speaking of the meeting Mr. Hays said: "It was a frank, full and sympathetic discussion of our mutual problems. It was the first of what will be a series of conferences covering mutual interests, which I am sure will result in much good." The exhibitors taking part in the conference were greatly pleased over the result. Steady Improvement Seen by Brunet as He Sails for Europe (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, May 23.— On the eve of his departure for Europe, Paul Brunet, president of Pathe, issued a statement declaring that "I leave my desk with the sanguine feeling that upon my return I shall find the motion picture business still further improved." Touching upon the new organization of producers and distributors, President Brunet said: "The start made by Mr. Will H. Hays on behalf of the producers and distributors is interesting, and from the steps so far taken it seems clear that as he gets a full grasp of the industry's problems much good can be expected to result, particularly since I note the interest and participation of exhibitors in their organization and the apparent purpose of that body to make a trial of complete cooperation with the producer-distributor organization." The Tide Has Turned; Better Business Here, States Zukor (Continued from Page 24) was discarded and from that time to this the producer has been groping in the dark with reference to anything like exact guidance on the volume of product required. Contributing to this has been the reprehensible practice of some exhibitors of contracting for product for which they did not have time and which they did not intend to use, frequently for the purpose of tieing it up so that their opposition could not get it. Evils of Industry Being Corrected "The result in these cases has been that the producer was a heavyloser. He invested in product and put prints in his exchanges and they stayed there. At the outset of the season the contracts on hand warranted the volume of product that was issued but as the season went on and play dates were withheld it became apparent that great quantities of product wculd never reach the screen and the producer was compelled to underwrite huge losses. "This evil is being corrected. Producers are now sitting about a table and agreeing on procedure which is for the best interests of the industry and for the best interests of themselves. The so-called program companies will make the volume of product that is required and no more and at the same time will limit the amount so that there will be plenty of open time for the big independent pictures that are certain to come from time to time and which must be given a showing because they represent much in originality and aggressive artistic effort and they are necessary to the business. "In our own theatres we shall reserve more open time for outside product than ever before. This is the best policy for the public, for the theatres themselves and even for us as producers. We are willing and anxious to make less and still less product but what we make we want to sell and we want to know that the market is open for it. And this can best be made certain by issuing pictures with definite release dates and when an exhibitor books a picture or a number of pictures the play dates are set in as definitely as the price. "Plans of practical cooperation among producers which we would have regarded as starkly visionary a few years ago are now in actual operation. These things will permit of tremendous economic advances which will reflect credit and profit on the whole industry and will also enable us to capitalize to the full the golden opportunity that lies just ahead. Confidence and Aggressiveness Xecessary "I do not seek to be prophetic and I am avoiding hollow optimism but I am prepared to declare on the basis of indisputable facts and correct information that conditions today are tremendously encouraging, that nothing will prevent the next year from being a period of great advance, progress and profit but half-way measures and timidity from going after business with the confidence and aggressiveness that is warranted by a true understanding of conditions. "It is extremely important that the industry in all its branches immediately throw off the distressing spirit of worry and fear that was born out of the experiences of the past year. The rich opportunities of the immediate future will not be realized unless the personnel of the industry takes on a fighting, instead of a fearing, psychology. Every day that is lost in realizing what can be done will only lessen the opportunity that is offered. Conditions are right. If your methods are right you can't lose."