Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

28 EXHIBITORS HERALD June 3, 1922 CI eveland Commercia 1 Club Is Completing Censor Report Better Films Conference to Be Held in Ohio Metropolis in June — Hays Scheduled to Speak (Special to Exhibitors Herald) CLEVELAND, O., May 23. — A censorship report, which the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce has had under consideration for a year, is nearing completion. Just what recommendations the special committee which has been deliberating on the report will make is not known. This and the forthcoming better films conference which will be held here on June 1 to 3, have focused the attention of the public on censorship and motion pictures. WILL H. HAYS, president of the M. P. P. D. A., is scheduled to address the conference on the second day. Representatives of civic and social organizations throughout the state are expected in attendance at the three-day meeting. * * * Although Ohio is one of the few states having legal censorship, public sentiment is by no means unanimous for such oppressive legislation. George Zahn of the Cleveland Recreational Council, expresses these views on the subject: "Censorship is un-American and undemocratic. It does more harm than good by giving free publicity to bad pictures. People flock to see a picture that has been questioned by the censors, while often the picture is of a harmless nature." Mr. -Zahn said that he believed that the Exhibitor Official Lauds Editorial RJwdc Says "Convention in Review" Is Most Constructive Suggestion Published Since Conclave A letter commending Martin J. Quiglcy, editor and publisher of the HERALD, for his constructive editorial, "The Convention in Review," published in the May 27 issue, has been received from Joseph G. Rhode, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Wisconsin. Prcsidoit Rhode writes: "Your review of the Washington convention in the issue of May 27 is the first constructive, conciliatory, sane suggestion that I have had the opportunity to read in any of the trade journals issued since the convention. " 'Right or wrong, Sydney S. Cohen is your president and as neither the issue over the presidency nor Mr. Cohen himself is of sufficient importance to your organization to be permitted to perpetuate strife, discord and disunion it behooves the theatre owners who are identified with the organization to forget the wrangling of the past few weeks and go back to work seriously on Organization affairs and try and bring that day nearer when the M. P. T. O. A. will be what it should be.' "The above quotation from your editorial strikes me as a good common sense suggestion that can be endorsed by any exhibitor who has the welfare of his business at heart. * * * "Mr. Will Hays at the banquet at \\ 'ashington reiterated what he had said at the banquet of the T. O. C. C. just a few days before, 'that he wanted to see a 100 per cent exhibitors association.' He also spoke of 'interdependence.' You know what it means. He's right. We are interdependent. We cannot get along without each other. Hays knows that and also appreciates the fact that the stronger both the producers and exhibitors are organized, that then, both organizations must and will get together for their own mutual protection. And that day is not far away. "Any national organization is bigger than any individual in it, from president down, and in the event that personality, strife, inefficiency or any other discordant element enters the affairs of the organization that is the cue for its membership to get behind the organization witji their shoulders to the wheel and keep it safe from any danger that threatens. "In this particular case I want to call attention to the fact that out of 410 votes cast, Sydney S. Cohen received 348. Good sized majority, isn't it? In your wildest dreams, you cannot imagine that Sydney Cohen and his 'gang,' as some of the trade papers have seen fit to designate them, could 'steam roller' that many exhibitors coming from all states of the union into doing anything he wanted them to do without said delegates using their own judgment at all. * * * "I want to make this statement, which in the case of Wisconsin I know to be a fact: The Wisconsin delegation went to Washington neutral. They used their own judgment in their votes without suggestion from any person or committee in the association and I honestly believe that the same can truthfully be said by any other state delegation. "'Interdependence,' yes sir, it's a great big vital fact, and it applies not only to the producer and exhibitor, but takes within its scope the trade journals as weli as the many other departments of the industry. The prosperity of one is the prosperity of all. You can't have prosperity fighting each other. Come on let's cooperate, cooperate with confidence, for 'the goodof all' — including the trade press." Stars Like to See Pictures The Capitol theatre, New York, presents evidence that the favorite recreation of motion picture players on their days off is to see a motion picture. Among the screen celebrities who visited the Capitol theatre one week to see the program were D. W. Griffith. Charles Brabin, Theda Bara, George Beban, Helene Chadwick, E. K. Lincoln, Marguerite Clark, Billie Dove, Richard Barthelmess Alice Joyce, Larry Semon, J. D. Williams, Howard Selznick, David Selznick, Constance Binney and Martha Mansfield. schools should educate the children to appreciate good pictures through study of the drama. The better films conference is sponsored by the local Cinema Club. * * * Another Ohio organization which has interested itself in motion pictures is the Western Reserve chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This organization has investigated the subject of censorship and better motion pictures. The attitude of the D. A. R. was summed up by Mrs. N. Stone Scott as follows: Boost good pictures by attendance and praise; ignore bad pictures publicly, so that curiosity may not swell box office receipts; discriminate in favor of houses, players and producers presenting clean pictures; do something about it, "don't leave it to George." "Inferno" Photoplay Starts Theatre Fire (Special to Exhibitors Herald) HACKENSACK, N. J., May 23.— Thi picture, Dante's "Inferno," virtually came to life at the Royal theatre when a fire started in the projection room while thf film was being run through the machine; Considerable damage was done to thi, theatre. Sixteen Hurt When Theatre Roof Falli (Special to Exhibitors Herald) PITTSBURGH, PA, May 23.— Six teen persons were injured when a part 0 the roof of the Majestic theatre collapsed! There were less than a hundred person: in the house at the time. Four of thosi hurt were taken to hospitals. Noble Visits Coast (Special to Exhibitors Herald) OKLAHOMA CITY. OK LA., Ma 23.— William Noble, well known in the atre circles here, has gone to Los Angele for a month's vacation. Pathe Gets New Film NEW YORK, May 23.— "Screen Snai Shots" has been added to the progran of short subjects of Pathe and will b published starting June 4.