Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Sep 1924)

August 16, 1924 EXHIBITORS HERALD 37 Allied Plans Action on Block Booking and Hays Contract Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Kansas to Meet September 29 and 30 — Pennsylvania Convenes This Month at Atlantic City {Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., August 5. — The date of the Allied State Organizations meeting in Kansas City, announced by President R. R. Biechele of the M. P. T. O. Kansas, will be Monday and Tuesday, August 18 and 19, at Hotel Muehlebach. Out of the meeting probably will come two important results. Proposed amendments and changes in the present uniform contract no doubt will be definitely decided upon and prepared for presentation to distributing forces. Then, something probably will come of the organizations’ stand in opposing block booking, whether it be in the form of additional resolutions or what not. Non-Theatrical Situation Is Problem for Discussion The non-theatrical situation and free shows being staged by community picture companies also are included in the list of subjects, outlined in a letter from President A1 Steffes to Mr. Biechele, wdiich wdll be placed before the meeting. “Covered Wagon” Score on Film {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Aug. 5.— A decided novelty will be offered by Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld, managing director at the Rivoli theatre here next week. Commencing Sunday, Famous Players masterpiece, “The Covered Wagon,” will be seen at the Rivoli for the first time at popular prices. During the run of the picture at the Criterion theatre, Dr. Lee DeForest, creator of the Phonofilm, the radio talking motion pictures, photographed the musical score of the “Covered Wagon” on the same strip of film with the action of the picture. At the private showing it was declared to be amazingly realistic. At the Criterion Theatre, the orchestra played the complete score twice a day. But when the picture goes into the Rivoli there will be six performances a day. Because the orchestral accompaniment is such a vital part of “The Covered Wagon,” Dr. Riesenfeld has arranged to use the photographed music as reproduced by the Phonofilm, during such times as the Rivoli Theatre orchestra does not play. Vitagraph Seeks Photos Of Exploitation Stunts (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Aug. 5. — The Vitagraph publicity department wants photos of lobby displays, ballyhoos, window tie-ups or any other special stunts used, done or perpetrated in connection with any of its pictures. Photos should be accompanied by a brief description of the stunt, the cos^of the display or any other items of pertinent interest. All photos should be sent to Publicity Department, Vitagraph, Inc., 1400 Locust Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. Five prints of each subject printed on “glossy” paper should be sent accompanied by the photographer’s bill. The company will reimburse the sender for the cost of the pictures. ** Abraham Lincoln** In Fourth Week at Stanton (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Aug. 5. — Reports received by First National about the showing of “Abraham Lincoln” in Philadelphia are most encouraging. The dramatic chronicle of the chief events in the life of the martyred president is about to enter upon its fourth week at the Stanton Theatre. The highly eulogistic review which the picture was accorded by the Philadelphia newspapers, aided by the strong appeal of the film itself, got a big attendance from the start, it is reported and it has kept up very satisfactorily despite the hot weather that has been prevailing in Philadelphia. Wallace Berry to Wed (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES Aug. 5.— Wallace Beery, screen villain, is going to settle down into the quietness of married life. The secret became known when the actor obtained a marriage license here the other day to marry Miss Mary Arriea Gillman, who has been appearing in pictures for the past year. Although the speakers and subject matter, usually one of the major tasks of a convention, are provided for in advance, the M. P. T. O. Kansas officials today are busily engaged in preparing an entertainment program for the visitors. There will be no M. P. T. O. K. convention i n conjunction with the Allied meeting, but there will be a meeting of the Kansas directors and invitations covering a large territory R R Biechele have been issued. Representatives from Texas, North Carolina. Michigan and Minnesota are expected to be present. Upon the policy outlined by the A. S. O. at Kansas City depends largely whether the M. P. T. O. Western Missouri and the M. P. T. O. Kansas City, Mo., become affiliated with Allied. In view of the fact that a merger of the two Missouri bodies and the M. P. T. O. Kansas, which already is affiliated with Allied, is pending, added importance is attached to the meeting, for, should Missouri representatives disagree with the policies outlined at the Allied meeting it would serve as “cold water” upon the proposed affiliation with Kansas. However, nothing of that nature is expected, most of the Missouri officials approving of the Allied’s stand in major matters and favorably regarding affiliation. Kansas Meet May Complete Merger (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., August 5.— The seventh semi-annual state convention of the M. P. T. O. Kansas will be held at the Kansan hotel, Topeka, September 29 and 30, according to an announcement at the headquarters of the organization this week. It is at this convention that the final welding of the consolidation ties between the M. P. T. O. Western Missouri, the M. P. T. O. Kansas and the M. P. T. O. Kansas City, Mo., will be completed and a new organization, which probably will be known as the M. P. T. O. Mid-West, will be created. Topeka was selected as the convention city because of the fact that it is accessible to both Missouri and Kansas representa tives and is the state capitol, as well. A joint convention of the mid-west body probably will be held in Kansas City, Mo., in October or November, for the ])urpose of “ironing out” the system of finance. The committee on arrangements is busy lining up some of the biggest speakers in the industry for the Topeka convention. Each year Kansas conventions have gained momentum and the coming meeting promises to eclipse all others. In the future there probably will be semi-annual conventions in the three districts included in the mid-west body, to be followed by a joint convention. Letters are to be sent all Western Missouri exhibitors to attend a special meeting in Kansas City, August 11 and 12, for the purpose of further discussing the proposed three-cornered merger and working out of details. “None of the three organizations involved in the proposed consolidation lias a desire to tear down what it has built up individually,” said C. E. Cook, business manager of the Kansas bodv and who probably will be business manager for the merged organization. The system of finance and dues is one that will require some time to satisfactorily work out. The merger does not mean a decrease of dues or revenue for maintenance, but it will be possible to decrease overhead expense and acquire a surplus so that dues eventually will be minimized. A decrease in dues, however, will not be realized until a surplus is obtained.” Music Tax Big Issue In Pennsylvania (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, August 5.— The Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware theatre owners will hold their annual meeting in Atlantic City on .August 18, 19 and 20, with the convention banquet on the 20th. National President M. J. O’Toole will attend this convention and bring to the notice of the theatre owners certain matters affecting the music tax situation in the state as well as the question of censorship now being considered by a special committee for that purpose named by Governor Pinchot, from among the exhibitors of which Mr. O’Toole is chairman. Mr. O’Toole then contemplates makin.g a flying trip to Milwaukee, Wis.. where he will attend the annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Wisconsin.