Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

July 22, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 29 Uniform Contract Passage Is Delayed by Minor Details Opinions Vary on Best Ways to Accomplish Desired Results as Harmony Reigns at Discussion of Producer and Exhibitor Bodies (Spvcial to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, July 11. — Contrary to expectations the uniform contract agreement between the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce and the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, which is the first step in the harmony program, was not signed last week. Several meetings were held and it is believed now that several more will be necessary before all the details can be completed. While every conference between Mr. Hayes and each of the three exhibitor bodies, has been extremely harmonious, it is said that there is some difference of opinion as to the best way of reaching the end which is so earnestly desired by both sides. Seek Power for Arbitration Board The particular obstruction to the immediate signing of the agreement is said to be over the means to make the rulings of an arbitration board sufficiently binding on both sides. It is believed that this obstruction is but a temporary one and will be satisfactorily overcome within the next week or so. Rembusch Adds Two Theatres to Chain Buys Olympic Theatre and Wild Opera House at Noblesville, Ind. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NOBLESVILLE, IND., July 11.— Frank Rembusch of Shelbyville has purchased the Wild opera house and the Olympic theatre, motion picture houses here, from A. M. Jones. Mr. Jones has left on an extended trip to California. The theatres are temporarily closed and Noblesville for the first time is without a picture show. Has Chain of 13 Rembusch has a chain of thirteen theitres in central Indiana, among which is the Ohio at Indianapolis. At Decatur, Ind., Jess LeBrun, well known restaurant man, has leased a room n the Morrison building which he will remodel and operate as a motion picture theatre. When it is opened the latter part of this month it will give this city :hree playhouses. Will Build Theatre A new theatre is to be erected at South Bend, Ind., by the Colfax Amusement Company, incorporated for the purpose. Authorized capital stock is $5,000. The iirectors are J. Handelsman, Dave Hanlelsman and Maurice Handelsman. Oklahoma Exhibitor On First National' s Rotating Committee Tom H. Boland of the Empress theatre, Dklahoma City, original First National ranchise holder succeeds John J. McSuirk as a member of the First National otating committee. He will serve for wo weeks in that capacity. The rotating :ommittee is part of a plan of having original First National franchise holders /isit the New York offices of the com>any and take part in its management. Mr. Boland came to New York in time o find the First National executive comnittee in session. "From what I have >een able to observe," he said, "it looks as f the motion picture business has sgrne remendous events in sight." Mr. Boland has been an exhibitor since he days of the one and two-reel feature, Parting in the picture business in Oklaloma 13 years ago. Close France Theatres Unless Tax Is Lowered (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, N. Y., July 11.— Cable dvices from Paris state that the federalon of theatre and cinema unions have oted unanimously to close all playhouses n France next February 15 unless the leavy government taxation is lightened ■efore that time. Hays Going to Coast (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, July 11.— Will H. Hays, resident of the M. P. P. D. A., has acepted the invitation of stars, directors, roducers and Coast studio people to Durney to Los Angeles and address lem. He plans to depart for the West t an early date. It is held by both sides that an arbitration board without power to enforce its findings, is bound to be unavailing, and what is now being sought is a method of putting a sufficient number of "teeth" into the agreement to hold both sides of a controversy in the event of someone jumping the traces after an arbitration decision. Clause Is Unpopular One of the proposed "teeth" which it is said will not meet with the approval of the exhibitors is for an agreement to be used nationally is a clause which provides that in the event of the credit of an exhibitor becoming impaired with one exchange, all the other exchanges with wihch he is doing business can arbitrarily cancel all of that exhibitors contracts. While no official statement has been given out by either side it is admitted that this clause has been the subject of considerable discussion at the last sessions of the conference, and will be the subject of more discussion at the meetings to be held this week. There is little danger of the question causing even a serious ripple in the harmonious progress of the conferences. The most it can do is to cause some delay while it is being adjusted in a manner both sides believe is equitable. Vary on Phraseology Also there is a slight variance as how best to work out several other of the details, but it is said that most of this is due to a difference of opinion as to legal phraseology, and not to any differences as to the ends sought. Negotiations with each of the three exhibitor organizations have been moving along at about an even pace, and it is believed that all will be worked out at about the same time, although not together. It is also said that a final effort to bring about harmony between the warring factions will be made by Mr. Hays when the time comes for the signing of the three agreements. This, it is said, may take the form of asking the representatives of the T. O. C. C, the M. P. T. O. A. and the M. P. T. O. N. Y. into one session for the signing of the documents which mean so much to the industry at large. Benefit to Industry The concensus of opinion is that Mr. Hays has no interest in the burying of the exhibitors tomahawk beyond the belief that his organization can work better for greater good to the industry by working with one strong exhibitor body than with two or more factions at stife with each other. Mr. Hays has always urged a strong and harmonious exhibitor organization, conducting its affairs in a businesslike way, and permitting of no interference in the working of its internal affairs. Louis Baum of Equity Returns from Europe (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, July 11.— Louis Baum, general manager of Equity Pictures, who for the past two months has been on a business and pleasure trip abroad, returned to America today on the steamer Olympia. Mr. Baum will devote his efforts to "What's Wrong With the Women." which the company will publish on the Independent market in the fall. Ninth Week for Lloyd Feature at Symphony (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, July 11.— Harold Lloyd's new feature "Grandma's Boy" started its ninth week at the Symphony theatre Sunday night. Disregards Hays Plea (Special to Exhibitors Herald) DETROIT, MICH., July 11.— Despite the request of Will H. Hays, president of the M. P. P. D. A., that "Wild Oats" be barred from exhibition in the theatres here, it will be shown in local houses under the direction of the city's health department on the assumption that it is highly educational. New Firm Is Organized (Special to Exhibitors Herald) INDIANAPOLIS, IND., July 11.— The Mid-Continental Films, Inc., of this city has been organized with a capital stock of $1,000 to make educational films. The directors are William J. Kothe, Gordon E. Varney, Jr., and Herman W. Kothe.