Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

September 16, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 31 DIRECTORS AND OFFICIALS of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Michigan. Left to right: J. F. Wuerth, Ann Arbor; F. R. Rumler, Detroit, treasurer; J. C. Ritter. vice-president, Detroit; Claude E. Cady, president, Lansing; W. S. Butterfield, Battle Creek; H. T. Hall, secretary, Detroit: Phil Gleichman. Detroit; W. S. McLaren, Jackson: Glerja Cross. Battle Creek: J. R. Denniston, Monroe, and H. M. Richey, general manager. Michigan Exhibitors League Launches Insurance Division Great Saving to Members of Association Expected; General Manager Richey Is in Charge of Organization's New Department (Special to Exhibitors Herald) DETROIT. -MICH., September 5.— The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Michigan, one of the most enterprising of the units of the national organization, has taken another advanced step in its inauguration of a fire insurance department. H. M. Richey, general manager of the league, will be the agent in charge of the department which is expected to save members of the M. P. T. O. M. "real money on your insurance." Three Kinds of Insurance Now Written For the present the department will handle only Fire, use and occupancy policies, although it will expand as soon as suitable arrangements can be made. To derive benefit under the new plan insurance must be written through the organization. Property other than theatre? may be insured through the division Kansas to Consider Hoy and Arbitration Legislative Problems Also Scheduled for Discussion at State Convention (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., Sept. 5.— Two questions, the feasability of the Hoy system and the newly formed arbitration board at Kansas City, will be the principal questions to come up for discussion at the state convention of the M. P. T. O Kansas at Wichita, Kas., September 25. May Adopt Arbitration The first session of the arbitration board at Kansas City apparently having been productive of successful results, the Kansas organization now is investigating the plan, and, if found logical, may adopt a similar system. Discussion of the Hov system, recently abandoned by the Missouri organization, did not come up at a meeting of the Kansas board of executives recently, apparently having been saved for the state convention. Invitations have been issued to W. Y. Morgan, candidate for governor of Kansas; Richard J. Hopkins, candidate for justice of the Kansas supreme court; C. E. Griffith, candidate for attorney general of Kansas, and Rev. Earl A. Blackman, national chaplain of the American Legion to address the convention. Consider Proposed Bill The legislative problem also will come up for consideration at the convention. There now is a bill in the embryo which would prohibit children less than 16 years old from attending theatres at night without a chaperon. C. C. Cook, new business manager of the Kansas body, in effort to make a thorough check of the situation, will visit every town in Kansas, making special effort to perfect a greater degree of co-operation among the exhibitors as well as prepare to combat unfavorable legislation. Exchanges May Hold Simultaneous Meet With Missouri Unit (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., Sept. 5. — A suggestion by Harry Graham, president of the Kansas Film Board of Trade that a state convention of exchanges be held in conjunction with the Fall convention of the M. P. T. O. Missouri is being regarded with approval. Similar affairs have been held with much success, it is pointed out, in California and Wisconsin. Lower film rentals will be an important topic of discussion when the Missouri exhibitors meet. A number of cities are bidding for the convention although the selection of the place will depend largely noon the plans of Will H. Hays and Sydney S. Cohen, both of whom are expected to attend. Meeker Is Made Sales Head of Cosmopolitan (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Sept. 5.— George R. Meeker has been appointed general sales manager of Cosmopolitan Productions, succeeding James R. Grainger who resigned to accept a similar position with Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. Mr. Meeker has had long experience in the industry having been in it since the Biograph days. Recently he has been managing the Tony Sarg Almanac. The new department becomes a realization through an affiliation with Mill Mutuals Company. In a letter to members of the league. General Manage' Richey says: Investigate Fifteen Firms "After months of investigation, during which time we have had propositions irom some fifteen companies, we have decided to affiliate ourselves with the Mill Mutuals Company, whereby all of the insurance of members of the organization can be written through this office if you so desire. "In order to secure the benefits of this plan application for insurance must be made through this office. Other Plans Contemplated "This company writes fire and use and occupancy insurance only. Just as soon as suitable arrangements are made, we will also be ready to handle compensation and public liability, but we are first launching our. fire plan. Explains Operation "Their plan of insurance is briefly this — insurance is written on theatres and contents, or any other building you may own and desire to insure in this company, at the regular conference rate. However, a term policy is written, a five-year mutual form, at four times the annual premium, but only one-fifth of the aggregate premium is collected each year and at the end of each year a dividend is paid. In this connection it may be said that your policy gives you the right to cancel at each premium paying interval or each year if so desired. In addition to the attractive rate that we feel we will earn, your theatre is given a thorough inspection for the purpose of minimizing the fire hazard. The make up of your fire insurance rate examination to determine whether the insured property receives as favorable initial rate as the circumstances surrounding the risk will permit. Such a rate check is secured by application through this office. "At the present time we have over a million dollars worth of insurance assured. In order to effect the savings we hope to effect that amount should be doubled. We can insure anything, even outside of the theatre line, your house, store, etc., and still grant you the same saving."