Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

July 8, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 19 Three States Affirm Their Allegiance to M. P. T. O. A. Confidence Expressed In M. P. P. D. A. Chief New Jersey, North Carolina and Kansas Fall in Line Behind President Sydney S. Cohen Pettijohn Starts A Bee Abuzzin' Charles C. Pettijohn, representing Will H. Hays at the convention of the M. P. T. 0. of North Carolina, stressed the absolute necessity of 100 per cent exhibitor organization all over the country, declaring that this would aid the M. P. P. D. A. in its plans along constructive lines and was one of the things Will Hays is working for. Declaring that it had long been his dream to see a strong, powerful countrywide exhibitor organization; that several times the exhibitors had been right on the verge of achieving this, but in each instance "something happened," he declared that there is food for thought in the fact that "that something" always happened East of the Hudson river, South of the Bronx, and North of Battery ParkHe declared that for many years the industry had had many doctors who could diagnose but could not write prescriptions, adding that he believed that in Will Hays the industry has a physician who can fill both jobs. Virginia League Meets At Ocean View July 11 (Special to Exhibitors Herald) RICHMOND, VA., June 27.— Henry Bernstein secretary of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Virginia, has issued a call for a convention of the league, to be held at Ocean View, July 11, 12 and 13. Exhibitors from North Carolina, Maryland and Washington, D. C, will attend the meeting. Among the entertainment features will be a motion picture ball, a seashore dinner, bathing and boating. / Receiver Is Appointed For Wid Gunning, Inc. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, June 27.— John H. McCooey, Jr., has been appointed receiver of Wid Gunning, Inc., by Judge Manton. It is stated that the liabilities are §100.000 and the assets S15.000. A petition in bankruptcy was filed against the distributing corporation on April 24. Detailed reports of the various state meetings are as follows : North Carolina Three more state exhibitor organizations — New Jersey, North Carolina, and Kansas — reaffirmed their allegiance to the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and acknowledged Sydney S. Cohen as their national president during the past week. New Jersey and North Carolina took their action at annual conventions. Kansas exhibitors spoke through their executive committee. North Carolina Would Organize Entire South North Carolina's organization went even further, pledging itself to work toward the organization of all of the southern states and sponsoring an all-southern convention to be held early in the spring of 1923. Will H. Hays was formally endorsed by the North Carolina exhibitors. All of the references to him at the New Jersey convention were in friendly terms. leigh; T. G. Leitch. Greensboro: D. M. Bain, Wilmington; W. G. Atkinson, Rockingham: C. L. Welch, Salisbury, and E. J. House, MariDn. Favor Better Films Body One of the outstanding achievements of the convention was the resolution favoring an immediate putting into effect of a Better Films Committee and perfecting a permanent organization along the line recently adopted in Atlanta and the state of Georgia. For this purpose A. F. Sams of Winston-Salem, D. M. Bain of Wilmington and E. F. Dardine of Charlotte will go to Atlanta July 20 to confer with Georgia officials. Another important step was the decision to employ an organizer to bring the membership of the state league up to 100 per cent. Wants Arbitration Committee E. F. Dardine. manager of the Charlotte Universal exchange, addressed the exhibitors urging the organization of an arbitration committee in the state to settle differences between exhibitors and exchanges, with three exchange men and three theatre owners on the board. The plan was approved by resolution and the chair instructed to appoint exhibitor members. Hon. Walter Murphy, speaker of the House of Representatives of North Carolina, spoke Wednesday, declaring himself unalterably opposed to censorship of motion pictures. "You are running a legitimate business in this country and as long as you conduct it legitimately and do not trespass beyond the bounds of common decency or violate the written or unwritten laws of our great country, you can be sure of my wholehearted cooperation and aid," he declared. Wells Urges Cooperation President Wells in his opening address urged cooperation between the theatre owners and the women of the city they serve, declaring no antagonism should exist but that they should strive toward the same end. Max M. Brvant of Rock Hill, South ASHEVILLE, N. C, June 27.— The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of North Carolina closed their annual convention here at noon June 22, after one of the most c o nstructive sessions in the organization's history. Despite the suggestion from President We 1 1 s and Secretary Varner that new officers should be selected, the nominating committee in its report recommended that, at this vital moment when the entire industry faced a turn in the road and needed experienced men at its helm, no change be made, nominating intact the present officers and executive committee to serve another term. The following officers were then reelected unanimously: President — Percy M. Wells, Wilmington. First Vice President — E. F. Dardine, Charlotte. Second Vice President — S. S. Stevenson, Henderson. Secretary-Treasurer — H. B. Varnek, Lexington. Executive committee — S. T. White, Greenville; H. F. Stallings. Kinston : H. R. Mason. Goldsboro; W. T. Joyner. Ra Percy Wells