Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

September 23, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 21 Pays $13 Per Year For the "Herald" F. Langdon Morgan, Showman, Makes Trip Down Town Weekly for Paper F. Langdon Morgan, 1216 West 73rd street, Chicago, pays $13 per year for his copy of Exhibitors Herald so that he can get it 24 hours before the mailman would bring it to him. Every Thursday he makes a special trip to the "loop" to get a copy fresh from the printer. 'Cheap at That," He Says "I know I could get The Herald for $3 a year by mail," he said, "But I don't want to wait that extra day. Even at $13 a year, I consider it very cheap for the good I get out of it. "I take all the trade papers— have ever since I went into the film business twelve years ago. The Herald is my favorite, however, and it is the only one I read from cover to cover. "I can remember The Herald when it was a little bit of a pamphlet and have watched it grow until it became the leader in its field." Ready for Theatre Again Mr. Morgan is familiar with the film business both from the exhibitor's and distributor's viewpoint. He was connected with the Reelcraft and Vitagraph exchanges. He recently sold out the Idle Hour theatre at Michigan City after making a record for himself as a capable theatre executive. He plans to return to the theatre field either as owner or manager this fall. T. O. C. C. Exhibitors Plan Booking Circuit Report 400 Days Assured— Movement Launched to Compete With Large Chains in New York, Says Prominent Theatre Owner (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Sept. 12. — It is expected that some time during the coming week official announcement will be made of the formation of a booking circuit for the metropolitan district which will have in the neighborhood of 400 days' booking. For some time past the project has been under consideration among exhibitors who are members of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce. The details have all been worked out and it is expected the circuit will be in operation before the end of the current month. Say Organization Is Necessary for Protection Those interested in the proposition assert that their neighborhood houses are being practically shut out of playing any of the big features until their values have been greatly lessened by the showing of the pictures in the houses of the big circuits such as those of Loew, Fox and Keith. They claim that the formation of the proposed booking circuit is necessary for protection. Willard Patterson and Anna Eugene A iken A re Wedded at Atlanta, Ga. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ATLANTA, GA., Sept. 12.— Willard C. Patterson, manager of the Metropolitan theatre, Atlanta, and Anna Eugene Aiken, editor and publisher of the Weekly Film Review, were married last Tuesday. Mr. Patterson and his wife have been prominent in the motion picture industry in the Southeast for several years. M r. Patterson came into prominence in Atlanta when he associated himself with the Sig. Samuels interests, Associated First National Franchise holders, and literally raised the now famous Criterion theatre "from the dead The result of the successful run of the Criterion theatre was the building of the Metropolitan theatre. Mr. Patterson is a member of several fraternal organizations and is a thirty-second degree Mason. Mrs. Patterson is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Aiken. She was educated at the Georgia State Normal School in Athens and at the University of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson will be at home after Sept. 15, at No. 247 St. Charles avenue, Atlanta. WUlard Patterson The largest individual booking now being given is 100 days for the average feature by Loew. In the case of "Blood and Sand," however, this was increased to 159 days. With 400 booking days the new circuit will be in a position to fairly well dominate the situation, and be in a position to play feature productions at a time when their box office value is greater than as conditions now are. Underway for Some Time Several of the more prominent members of the Treatre Owners Chamber of Commerce have been working quietly for a long time to bring into existence the circuit. It was only last week that knowledge of their plans leaked out, and the disclosure caused no small amount of comment in local distributing circles. One of the mfen most prominent in the movement, in discussing the number of booking days at its disposal, said: "We will have enough to protect us. Just how many I am unable now to state. The greatest number of days now being booked by any of the present circuits is 100. The nine men on the committee arranging the affairs of the new circuit have more than 100 booking days. We nine alone can present a formidable lineup, to say nothing of the great many other theatre owners who are anxious to come in with us. Brings Greater Profit "What we are considering now is simply a plan to enable us to play the big features while they are still good money makers, and not have to wait until the edge of their value is worn off before we can get them. What we may consider later is another matter, but there is no doubt but what the establishment of the circuit will help us to the profit we arc entitled to on our theatre investments — help us in more ways eventually than simply booking." Another prominent theatre owner, who asked that his name be not used until after the official announcement was made, said : "Practically ever exhibitor of any consequence that is running neighborhood houses has erected them since or during the war. They represent large investments and to be compelled to follow the circuits means a hardship and at times a definite loss for them because in many instances although they have to follow the showing of a feature in the circuit houses, they are compelled to pay more to follow than the circuit does playing it in advance. "We plan that the proposed circuit idea will check this sort of thing and also give exhibitors the opportunity of at least breaking even if not making a profit." help! Help! HELP! Wapato, Wash. Exhibitors Herald, Chicago, Illinois. Gentlemen: Please send me one of the last HERALDS. Mine must have been lost in the mails. I miss it as much as I would my weekly pay envelope. Hurry, JOE BLASCHKE, Wapato Theatre, Wapato, Wash. T. O. C. C. Is Guest At Goldwyn Luncheon (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Sept. 12.— More than 200 members of the Theatre Owners' Chamber of Commerce were luncheon guests of Goldwyn Pictures at the Hotel Astor today, after which they were treated to a screening of Goldwyn's new Rupert Hughes' photoplay, "Remembrance." This is the first time that a special screening of a new film has been made for the entire membership of the T. O. C. C. "Remembrance" is the first picture for the new season in Goldwyn's list of twenty-one features. High Taxes Will Force Berlin Houses to Close Three hundred Berlin motion picture theatres, members of the Association of Cinema Theatre Owners, will close on September 22 owing to the excessive amusement tax. Hamburg houses already have closed for the same reason.