Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

August 19, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 33 Big Hays Discusses Plan To Aid Coast League Problems Face Northern California Unit— Will Meet August 15 (Special to Exhibitors Herald) SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., Aug. 8.— On his return from Los Angeles to New York, President Will H. Hays of the M. P. P. D. A., made a special trip to San Francisco for a brief conference with executives of the Northern California division of the M. P. T. O. A. To Co-operate With League During the conference Mr. Hays discussed ways and means of co-operating with Frank Devlin in his work as general counsel and advisor of the league. Mr. Hays was to have attended the convention of the Northern California unit on August 15, but his short stay on the Coast made this impossible. Several problems of vast importance will be discussed at the convention, which will comprise but one session. Among the questions which must receive active consideration are censorship, a proposed state revenue theatre tax, Sunday closing legislation and the like. Expects Large Attendance Thomas D. Van Osten, managing director of the organization, has just returned to San Francisco from a tour of the country districts. While business conditions are not the best, he believes that the interest created in organization is so strong as to insure a large attendance at the convention. Convention headquarters will be at the Palace hotel. All branches of the industry will participate and a holiday will be. declared among the exchanges. At the banquet, which will be a feature of the gathering, Rupert Hughes will be toastmaster. Glenn Harper, vice president of the M. P. T. O. A., will represent that organization. Film Exports Total $7,000,000 Per Year U. S. Figures Show (Washington Bureau, Exhibitors Herald) WASHINGTON, D. C, Aug. 8.— Exports of motion picture film now amount to more than seven million dollars a year, according to figures issued by the Department of Commerce covering May. The report shows that in May we exported 4,297,296 linear feet of raw stock, worth $121,664, for which Japan was our best customer, taking 2,116,436 feet, worth $61,635, while England was second with 1,380,596 feet, valued at $39,647. May exports of exposed negatives were 1,016,416 feet, with a value of $63,299, the largest shipments being 324,033 feet, worth $25,612, to England, while Germany took 134,946 feet, worth $13,108. A total of 9,985,625 feet of positive film, valued at $451,987, was exported during the month, the largest market being Canada, which took 1,425,096 feet, worth $81,266, while Argentina imported 1,046,664 ^eet, worth $58,547, and Australia 1,353,267 feet, worth $57,452. Elects Directors (Special to Exhibitors Herald) CORSICANA, TEX., Aug. 8. — The Corsicana Amusement Company, operating the Palace theatre, controlled by Southern Enterprises, elected the following directors recently: W. M. Peck, W. T. McElwee, G. W. Brilhart, J. N. Garrity, B. B. Munsey and J. S. Murchison. Hays Creates Lasting Spirit of Harmony While on Coast Producer and Distributor Chief Wins Many Friends for Industry During His Triumphant Week Among the People Who Make Pictures (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, August 8.— President Will H. Hays of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, has returned to New Yorkafter a triumphant week in studioland. His departure, however, is physical only, for the influence created by his sincerity and his dominatingpersonality will live on among the studio folk and the layman for an infinite number of years. The citizenry of Los Angeles and its environs has been in the past among the staunchest supporters of the motion picture industry. There have been those, however, who have misunderstood the industry and its people and those who had no kindly thoughts toward the screen. Some of Mr. Hays' most notable work while on the Coast was to crystallize these latter two groups into a powerful ally of the industry. "Hays Achieved More Than Any Other Agency" His achievements within the industry are briefly narrated in these words of Marshall Neilan: "In the short time he was here Mr. Hays accomplished more toward the solidification of all branches of the producing industry than the combined efforts of all agencies in this direction since the beginning of the business. Never before has the spirit of harmony and tolerance permeated the producing industry in Los Angeles among the various factions and vocations and between business contemporaries as exists in the wake of the Hays' visit." The fact that between 30,000 and 40,000 persons crowded into the Hollywood Bowl to hear Mr. Hays' message is but one evidence of the faith his presence on the Coast instilled in the public and the industry alike. Every place the producer chief went he was accorded a tremendous ovation, not only by people of the industry, but by the public including club women, divines and high officials. Newspapers Are Friendly Newspapers for the first time devoted as prominent display to a constructive movement as thev have to recent unfor tunate occurrences. Dailies in Los Angeles and neighboring cities gave more than 3,000 column inches of publicity to Mr. Hays' visit. This space included more than a dozen editorials, front page streamers, layouts, cartoons and news stories. The producer chief's answer to those who have labeled Hollywood the Modern Sodom was given in an address before the Chamber of Commerce. He said: "For the life of me I cannot see the horrors of Hollywood about which I have been reading. The one bad influence in Hollywood is talk. The duties WILL H. HAYS ON THE COAST— On the steps of the Thomas H. Ince studios, Culver City, Calif. In the foreground are Hal Roach, Thomas H. Ince, Mr. Hays Abraham Lehr, Joseph Schenck, Fred W. Beeteson, C. Gardner Sullivan, and John Griffith Wray. In the central background: James O'Neal, David Selznick, and William Jennings Bryan, Jr.