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46
EXHIBITORS HERALD
June 30, 1923
Forecast Early Settlement In Fight Over "Music Tax"
Observers Believe Truce Will Be Reached in at Least Two States and Possibly the Entire United States
(Special to Exhibitors Herald)
NEW YORK, June 19. — It is believed that the long standing battle between the motion picture exhibitors on one side and the American Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers on the other is in a fair way of being settled in at least two states and possibly for the entire country. If negotiations which have been started are concluded in a manner satisfactory to both sides, legal action over the "music tax" may become a thing of the past.
Negotiations Pending in Minnesota and New York
The two states in which negotiations are now under way are Minnesota and New York. During the recent convention at Chicago, Nathan Burkan, J. C. Rosenthal and E. C. Mills, representing the "music tax" people, were in conference with Al Steffes, Theodore Hays, and several other Minnesota exhibitor leaders. The whole matter was discussed at length and it is said a plan was agreed upon tentatively which will end the legal quarrels. Arrangements were made for the continuance of the negotiations with E. S. Hartman, the Chicago attorney of the "music tax" people.
Mr. Mills, who has on a number of occasions, acted as spokesman for the "music tax" people. He has always held that if given an opportunity to address any body of exhibitors, an agreement could be reached that would end all the trouble harmoniously. Mr. Mills went to Chicago with Mr. Burkan and Mr. Rosenthal, with the understanding that he would be given an opportunity to address the convention on the subject of the music tax. Later he found that such arrangements had not been made.
However, during the Chicago convention Mr. Burkan held a conference with Sydney S. Cohen and some of the other national leaders, and it was agreed that the "music tax" people should soon have an opportunity to meet in New York with the entire executive committee to see if some working agreement could be made.
Mr. Mills has been invited by Charles L. O'Reilly to go to the Syracuse convention, and has promised him an oppor
Sees First Film at 90 Years
(Special to Exhibitors Herald)
WATERTOWN, N. Y., June 19. — Ninety years of age, and never had seen a motion picture! Rather remarkable to say the least, in this day and age. And such, however, had been the case with Mrs. Caroline Eddy, of Watertown, N. Y., who celebrated her ninetieth birthday last week by going to a motion picture show. Mrs. Eddy, who is still spry despite her advanced years, was taken to the Avon theatre, where she witnessed Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." She enjoyed the evening immensely and was the cynosure of all eyes. Her only remark was that it was "wonderful."
tunity to lay his plan before the exhibitors from the floor of the convention. Mr. O'Reilly and Mr. Mills have had several conferences on the subject, and while neither will disclose just what working agreement is expected to be made, both are sanguine that all the troubles are in a fair way of being smoothed out.
Jacobs Picks Name For New Production
Screen Version of Novel byDixie Wilson Is Titled "Against the Grain"
(Special to Exhibitors Herald)
LOS ANGELES, June 19.— Dixie Wilson's novel, "Dust in the Doorway" will be issued as a motion picture under the title of "Against the Grain" it has bee^; announced by Arthur H. Jacobs, producer of Frank Borzage productions.
Mary Philbin in Cast
Borzage has assembled a notable cast for this picture which includes Mary Philbin, Wm. Collier, Jr., Myrtle Stedman, Josef Swickard, Aggie Herring, J. Farrell MacDonald and juveniles including Frankie Lee, Mary Jane Irvine and Bruce Guerin.
Actual filming of the production has just been started at United studios.
Is for First National
Collier and Truesdell were brought out from New York specially to play in this production which is to be a First National release.
Levey Service Gets
Paper Film Machine
(Special to Exhibitors Herald)
NEW YORK, June 19.— Harry Levey Service corporation has announced exclusive distribution rights in America to the patent British film and projector known as "Kinereflex." The apparatus is claimed to be especially suitable for projecting pictures in the church and school.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Appears at Mc Vickers
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., made his debut in a motion picture theatre last Wednesday, when Jones, Linick & Schaefer induced him to appear several times a day before audiences at McVicker's, Chicago He slipped in between shows at 2, 4, 8 and 10 p. m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and made a very pleasing impression with his engaging smile and youthful bashfulness. In his brief speech he said :
"Excuse my nervousness. This is the first time I ever talked to such a large audience. I do not want you to think I am traveling on my dad's reputation, for I hope to make good in my own way in pictures. If you give me just half the support you are giving dad, I will do my share. Dad is the big star, while I am only a small planet, but watch me grow. I am on my way to Los Angeles to make pictures for Famous Players-Lasky, where I will start my first picture. I hope it's good and hope you'll like it. It will be shown in this theatre. Thanks."
O'Reilly Protests Forming National Body at Syracuse
(Continued from page 41)
tion, and even by these three there is no semblance of campaigning. The three mentioned most frequently are Sam I. Berman, now secretary of the association; Mike Walsh of Yonkers and William A. Dillon, of Ithaca.
Berman has many boosters and while he has stated that he is not a candidate for the presidency, a movement was quietly started recently by some of his adherents looking to have him change his mind. When approached recently by one of his friends on the question of whether or not he would accept, Berman said: Berman Explains Attitude
"I am too poor a man to accept the presidency of the organization. It is an honorary position and about the only thing that goes with it besides the honor and a year of the hardest kind of work is the privilege of spending a lot of your own money. While I would like to do this, I can't afford it." .
That this will meet with opposition is generally conceded. In spite of the excellent financial condition President O'Reilly's report will show, there are many who will hold that the office of Secretary which carries with it a salary of $5,000 per year, is the only thing along the paid job line that the association can afford.
Fine Annual Report
The annual report of President O'Reilly will show that New York state exhibitors paid into the state organization during the past year upwards of $31,000 and that 987 theatres are members in good standing. It is pointed out by the New York leaders that this, which is nearly two and a half times the sum paid into the treasury of the national association during the past year, speaks pretty well for a state which has been broadly advertised as "disorganized" since it withdrew from the national organization at the Washington convention. It is said this is the largest amount ever paid in to headquarters by any state in one year.
The convention will end Thursday afternoon at which time the election of officers will take place, the first session being held Tuesday night. Many of the New York City exhibitors made the trip to the convention somewhat in the nature of an outing by leaving on the Albany night boat Monday night and joining the train contingent at Albany and continuing the journey.