Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

24 EXHIBITORS HERALD July 1, 1922 First National Asks Walker to Investigate Contract Statement Is Sensation of Testmonial Dinner Given in Honor of Former National Counsel (Special to Exhibitors Herald J NEW YORK, June 20. — At one of the greatest testimonial dinners ever given any man connected with the film industry, Senator James J. Walker, the guest of honor, announced that so widespread is the desire for cooperation that in the past forty-eight hours he had been asked to go over and adjust the contracts between First National and its franchise holders. As Senator Walker told the 800 or more guests at the dinner, First National officials had said to him : upOME in and look ^ tr over our contracts and if you find anything in them that is unjust to the exhibitors tell us how to change them to make them right and we will change them." This startling statement, coming so closely on the beginning of the conference of three exhibitor bodies with the Will H. Hays organization, of which First National is not a member, was the sensation of the evening. * * * Senator Walker is general counsel for the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York State and of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce, and while he declined to amplify his statement, it was accepted generally as meaning that a contract modified to be acceptable to these organizations would be used generally by the distributing company. The testimonial dinner was held at the Hotel Plaza, and in addition to almost everyone of prominence in the industry, there were numbered among the guests many state and city officials, justices of the New York district courts, and many prominent representatives of the baseball and boxing fraternities. The latter sought to do honor to Senator Walker for his successful efforts in legalizing Sunday baseball and boxing in this state. Former Governor Al Smith acted as toastmaster and was introduced by Bernard Edelhertz in a happy speech. Among other speakers were Will H. Hays, who paid a high tribute to the efforts of Senator Walker to help bring about the confidence and cooperation so vitally necessary for the welfare of the industry. Congressman Frederick Landis of Indiana, a brother of Judge Kenshaw M. Landis, the supreme arbiter of baseball, talked briefly on the subject of censorship. * * * DeWolfe Hopper, for many years a close friend of Senator Walker, told a number of funny stories and was trying to tell more when the assemblage interrupted with a clamorous request that he recite "Casey at the Bat," which he did with telling effect. Senator Walker was the last speaker of the evening and during his address referred briefly to the recent unpleasantness at the national convention of the M. P. T. O. A. at Washington. He said: "You have heard Mr. Hopper tell how the mighty Casey struck out. In a recent interesting occurrence at Washington I was like Casey — I struck out. But the story of Casey has not all been told. Casey came right back after striking out and batted 500. I had announced that I would divorce myself from the motion picture industry. But I have since changed my mind. I have dedicated myself to the industry and I will stick as long as the exhibitors need me and as long as I can be of any use to the industry. And as I stick remember the story of how Casey came back." Senator Walker then told of being called in to help adjust and revise First National contracts. At the speakers table were: Daniel Frohman, Hon. William T. Collins, Thomas J. Gray, Hon. Edward J. Flynn, John Bowman, DeWolfe Hopper, Hon. Robert F. Wagner, Charles Brady, Joseph Levenson, Thomas Drennan, Hon. Charles D. Newton, Charles L. O'Reilly, William Landau, James J. Walker, Hon. Alfred E. Smith, Governor Edward I. Edwards, Will H. Hays, E. F. Albee, Charles Schwab, Hon. Edmund MacHold, Hon. James A. Foley, Hon. John Gilchrist, William E. Walsh, Henry D. Sayer, Hon. Morris Kenig, Charles Gehring, Hon. Otto Rosalsky, Robert Grier Cooke, Horace De Lisser, Hon. Murray Hulbert, Bernard Edelhertz, Hon. Perceval E. Nagle and Hon. John H. McCooey. New York Officially Quits M. P. T. O. A. Cohen Adherent Resigns as Member of Board of Directors (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, June 20.— The officers and the board of directors of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York State, in session here yesterday, formally withdrew from all affiliation with the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. This action, threatened at the Washington convention, was taken with but one dissenting vote, that of Howard Smith of Buffalo whose connection with the board of directors ended within a few minutes after the vote of secession was taken. Prompts Big Attendance Present at the session were President Charles L. O'Reilly, Vice-President W. A. Dillon, Ithaca; Vice-President Louis Buettner, Cohoes; Vice-President Bernard Edelhertz, Bronx; Treasurer W. H. Linton, Utica; Executive Secretary Sam I. Berman, Brooklyn; Executive committee— chairman, Jules Michaels, Buffalo; Leo Brecher, New York; David Cohen, Binghamton; Samuel Peyser, Port Richmond; Joseph Quittner, Middletown; Charles Steiner, New York; Samuel Suckno, Albany; Howard Smith, Buffalo; Rudolph Sanders, Brooklyn, and V. A. Warren, Massena. Howard Smith has been recognized as one of the strong Cohen adherents and immediately after the opening of the session he was asked to state his position on the question of the differences existing between the New York state body and the national association. That he declined to do and it was suggested then that he retire from the deliberations of the meeting. Refuses to Leave Meeting Mr. Smith stated that he was a member in good standing in the state and national organization as well as a member of the state board of directors and as such would not retire, but would resign if the state withdrew from the national body. The question of withdrawal was then put to a vote and the ballot showed but one vote against, that one being Mr. Smith's. His resignation was then offered and accepted. Hayman Fills Vacancy A. C. Hayman of Niagara Falls was elected to fill the vacancy on the board and the personnel of the board was increased by one member, William Benton of Saratoga, being elected. It was voted that the officers and board of directors meet with President Will H. Hays of the M. P. P. D. A., today. It was the concensus of opinion at the meeting that the arbitration agreement with the F. I. L. M. Clubs which has accomplished much good, should be renewed. SENATOR JAMES J. WALKER springs surprise in address at testimonial dinner given in his honor. Black Circuit Adds New House to Chain (Special to Exhibitors Herald) BOSTON, MASS., June 20.— The Black chain of New England theatres has acquired the new Magnet theatre at Barre, Vermont. It already controls the two other theatres in Barre, the new Park and the Opera House. The Magnet theatre seats about 900.