Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

52 EXHIBITORS HERALD September 23, 1922 LETTERS From Readers A forum at which the exhibitor is invited to express his opinion on matters of current interest. Brevity adds forcefulness to any statement. Unsigned letters will not be printed. A Word on Film Prices EXETER. X. H.— To the Editor: take the September 9 issue of Exhibitors Herald and turn to page 73 in the "What the Picture Did for Me" department. Look at the very bottom of the last column and see what B. P. McCormick of the Liberty theatre, Florence, Colo., says about "A Sailor Made Man" and then sit still for a minute and let it sink in. The producers are getting into the habit of mixing in with their program some new man or woman (or starring someone that never had a chance before) and we, of course, accept him or her (because we cannot help ourselves). They may please our patrons or they may not. We have to take them and pay for them just the same. But if one of them happens to make a hit, what happens then? Just this: The next season they come around and want an increased price for this one person's pictures. I am talking now particularly of short subjects. For example: Last season we signed for so many subjects of Educational Films and we had to take that many no matter who they starred in them. If they went bad that was "our hard luck." If they went a little better than the average that was also "our hard luck," for they come around the next season and want more rentals for this particular star, as they are doing for the Lloyd Hamiltons. And this extra rental comes out of our pocket for we cannot pass it along to the public in the form of higher admissions. They won't stand for this on short subjects and they have been stung by it about as long as they will stand it with features. It is about time for us to stick together and whenever they increase the price on any particular star's pictures, refuse to take them at any increase. I have just refused to take the Hamiltons from Educational. A year or more ago, I refused to take the Harold Lloyds, Semons. Keatons, and Turpins and some others. You may say "For the love of Mike, what are you using?" And I will tell you. I am running about the same as the rest of you, and I am using some of those that I once refused to touch at the rental price offered me. Yes, go ahead. I will give you one guess. But for your own (yes, and mine, too) ^ FERDIE IN THE NEW 1922-25 HALLROOI BOYS COMEDIES CHARLES RAY and his director, Joseph DeGrasse, discussing the action of a scene in "A Tailor Made Man," a forthcoming United Artists' picture. benefit, get busy and step on some of those yearly increases in prices, and the only way you can do it is to absolutely refuse to contract for anything at a price larger than you are already paying. You can't sit still and expect the M. P. T. O. to do it all for you. You have got to do a little hustling for yourselves. The time to start is now and the way to do it is to say "I refuse." — G. W. Yeatox, I oka theatre, Exeter, N. H. A Letter from the Government EDITOR'S NOTE. A few weeks ago we printed a letter in this column from an exhibitor stating that he had been heavily penalized for being just one day late in returning his admission taxes to the government. The HERALD took the matter up with the revenue department and the reply from Washington is as follows: WASHINGTON, D. C— To the Editor: Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of August 16, 1922, written in behalf of Mr. C. E. Johnson, manager of the Paramount theatre. Gibbon, Nebraska, protesting against the assertion of the 25% and 5% penalties for failure to file return and pay tax under section 800 of the Revenue Act of 1921 within the time prescribed by law. You are advised that the assertion of these penalties is not optional with the Department. If the return and payment are delinquent, there is no alternative except to assert the 25% and 5% penalties. The 25% penalty is not asserted if it can be shown that there is a reasonable cause for the delinquency. It is suggested that you advise Mr. Johnson that if he believes the penalties assessed against him f.re erroneous or unjust, it is his privilege to file claim for abatement thereof on Form 843, a copy of which may be obtained from the collector of internal revenue for your district.—A. C. H olden. Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Washington. D. C. * * * Ed Goeman has been appointed manager of the Rex theatre owned by E. B. Thomas, at Dallas, Tex. Mr. Goeman has been associated with the Queen, Old Mill, Palace and Rex theatres in Dallas for the past six years. PURELY Personal Interesting r.-ews about exhibitors and people with whom they come into direct contact. Readers are in-, vited to contribute items for publication in this column. Address them to "Purely Personal." J. C. Robinson, of the Gaiety theatre. Starke. Fla., has the distinction of breaking the ice in this new column. Mr. Robinson reports that he has leased the Carter Building in Starke, which has been completely remodeled for the presentation of motion pictures. C. W. Hall has appointed E. H. Brient manager of the Illinois and Grand theatres at Centralia, 111. Mr. Brient formerly managed the New Grand and the West End Lyric theatres in St. Loui* and :s leaving Associated Exhibitors in that territory to go to Centralia. * Nathan Gordon, owner of the Betten dorf theatre at Davenport, la., was in Chicago recently lining up his program. Next time you're in Mr. Gordon we want you to drop up to the Herald office and sav "Hello." R. H. Hursh has taken over the Family theatre at Coleman, Michigan, and will redecorate it. That ought to bring the "Family" out. * W. M. Hughes, Astoria, 111., purchased the Castle theatre at Havana, 111. Then he turned around and traded the theatre to Charles Lee and son, of Parker, for the Colonial theatre in Astoria. Mr. Lee and famliy will move to Havana before October 1. Milton L. Overman, who has been managing the Rialto theatre, Boone, la., for A. H. Blank has been promoted to booking manager for the Blank theatres in Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. * Wm. E. Jahr will close the Lincoln theatre at Sebewaing, Mich., just as soon as the new 300 seat theatre which he is building is completed. * Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Gruwell have acquired the Ideal theatre at Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., from John Stark which they will open as soon as improvements are completed. * Hugh Rice, who conducts a theatre at Piper City, 111., has rented a building at Cullom, 111., which he will open as a theatre October 1. J. E. Higgins, who runs the Majestic at Cullum will be hineighbor. * Joseph G. Rhode, former head of the Wisconsin exhibitors organization is kept busy these days managing the Orpheum. Rhode, and Majestic theatres at Kenosha now controlled by Orpheum Theatre Company. Frank Costello may be found at Reno. Nev., now in charge of the Turner and Dahnken theatres. He succeeds Earle Snell, resigned. * Lee Baskett, Thomas Baskett and Stewart Starling, who operate the Grand and Princess at Henderson, Ky., have opened the new Vernon theatre at Mount Vernon, Ind.. costing $25,000.