Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1922)

December 16, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 43 Exhibitors Seeking Ban on Service to Non-Theatricals Michigan and Milwaukee Leagues Declare That in All Fairness to Motion Picture Houses Practice Should Be Abolished Declaring that the practice of supplying pictures to non-theatrical institutions is unfair and a menace that is growing "by leaps and bounds," the' Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Michigan and the exhibitors' organization of Milwaukee have addressed communications to the exchanges in their respective territories urging that they abolish the practice. While the letter of neither association singles out any exchange, the Michigan league, in a reader forwarded to its members, hits specifically at Douglas Fairbanks, whose latest attraction was booked in Detroit by a non-theatrical organization. "Prevent Injury Now," Declares Pamphlet The reader opens its attack on the Fairbanks deal with the caption, printed in large type: "Is It Fair. Exhibitors of Michigan?" Follows in smaller type this question : "First, for Douglas Fairbanks to sell 'Robin Hood,' his greatest picture, to a non-theatrical organization, to be played in direct competition with you, without giving every theatre owner interested at least an opportunity to bid for it?" The organization's advice to its members is, "Prevent the injury before it is too late." Laboratory Men Will Observe Anniversary Celebrate Second Birthday of Association at N. Y. Dinner December 7 (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Dec. 5.— Laboratory men, representing various film laboratories throughout the country, raw stock manufacturers, film companies and others identified with this branch of the motion picture industry will get together for the second annual dinner of the Allied Film Laboratories to be held at Delmonico's, Thursday evening, December 7. The dinner will be in celebration of the second successful year of the Allied Film Laboratories Association, organized for the purpose of bettering conditions in the laboratory branch of the industry and to bring its members into closer association. Members Are Located Members of the Association of which William K. Hedwig is secretary are : Biograph Company, Burton Holmes Laboratory, Claremont Film Laboratory, Inc., Craftsman Film Laboratory, Cromlow Film Laboratory, Inc., Dobbs Laboratory, Eclipse Film Laboratory, Erbocraph Company, Evans Film Mfg. Co., Film Development Corp., Lyman Howe, Kessel, Nicholas Laboratory, Kineto Company of America, National Film Laboratory, Palisade Laboratories, Republic Laboratories, Inc., Rex Laboratory, Inc., Tremont Film Laboratories, Inc., William Morsley Laboratory. Invite Will Hays Will H. Hays and Courtland Smith have been invited to attend the dinner. Lichtman Goes East; Ready for New Year (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5.— Declaring that his organization to distribute Preferred Pictures, produced by B. P. Schulberg, throughout the world, is completed, Al Lichtman returned to the East Monday, planning big things for the new year. Several new productions to be made by the Schulberg organization will be given elaborate exploitation by Lichtman during the year 1923 and notably among these is "The Girl Who Came Back," a picture suggested by the Charles E. Blaney stage production of the same name. Tom Forman, who produced "Shadows" will direct. Lease St. Louis House For Fairbanks Picture (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, MO.. Dec. 5.— United Artists has taken a lease on the Pershing theatre, owned by the St. Louis Amusement Company, for "Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood.'' The picture will be presented with a special orchestra and prologue exactly as in Chicago, commencing Christmas Day. All seats will be reserved, the advance sale starting December 18. The general admission will be SI. Wallace Beery Engaged (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5.— The engagement of Wallace Beery, film star, to Virginia Sutherland, Kansas belle, has been formally announced. Succeeding questions asked the exhibitor were: Won't the playing of big productions by lodges, fraternal organizations and the like. if permitted, milk the productions before you get them and make the public believe that the best is not being played in motion picture houses? Is this your reward for the money you have spent for former Douglas Fairbanks productions, and for exploiting him, advertising him, and assisting him to the position of a star, whence he may turn his back on the exhibitor when be has a production like •Robin Hood"? If such a practice is permitted, what will other producing companies do? What will happen to you if this practice becomes general? Cartoon Illustrates Complaint Explanation is then made that one first run exhibitor in Detroit was "given a chance by long distance phone from New York" to book the picture and "was given an hour and a half to decide whether he would pay $30,000 for a picture he had never seen." In the reader is published a cartoon illustrating the complaint. According to the reader, Judge Murphy, attorney for the M. P. T. O. M., was sent to New York to take up the matter with Mr. Fairbanks' representative, "but to no avail." In conclusion the pamphlet says: "You, Mr. Exhibitor, hold the key to the situation. What are you going to do about it now?" Hits 30-Day Protection The communication addressed to the Milwaukee exchanges by the theatre organization of that city declares that nontheatrical institutions have "entered in direct competition in a commercial way with the theatre members of our association and the menace is growing by such leaps and bounds that it becomes necessary for us to determine once and for all what the stand and attitude will be that we are going to take henceforth with respect to all producers and distributors who make it a policy of supplying nontheatrical competitors with commercial films." In addition to expressing opposition to the supplying of service to non-theatrical institutions, the Michigan organization, in its communication to exchanges, condemns the granting of "more than thirty days' protection on any produc tion, and more than seven days' protection of second runs." Cites Desire for Co-operation The communication concludes with this: "We feel this organization has proved that it is desirous of co-operating with you for our mutual welfare. We would greatly appreciate a reply, indicating your attitude upon these vital topics, so that we may communicate it to our members." Important Statement To Follow Meeting of First National Chiefs (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5.— The executive committee of Associated First National Pictures. Inc., in session here for the past few days, is "making big medicine" but thus far have given out no announcement for publication. Robert Lieber, president of the organization, upon his arrival in Los Angeles, commented upon the weather and flowers. He stated that the convention of the committee was to be a very important one and that he would probably have an official announcement to give out later but that at the present he had nothing other to say about First National than that this city would benefit industrially by the result of the executive meeting. Those who accompanied Mr. Lieber from the East are H. O. Schwalbe, secretary-treasurer; Messrs. E. V. Richards, Jr., of the Saenger Amusement Co., with headquarters in New Orleans; A. H. Blank of Des Moines: Sam Katz of Balaban & Katz. Chicago; Moe Mark of the Mark Strand chain of theatres and other prominent exhibitors. Buys Anchor Program (Special to Exhibitors Herald) DALLAS. TEXAS, Dec. 5.— A. & R. Film Exchange of Dallas, presided over by Jack K. Adams, has purchased the entire line of features issued through Anchor Film Distributors, Inc.. of which Morris R. Schlank is president.