Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

58 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 31, 1925 either in the line of reports on pictures or getting any of our continued stories in the way of letters. But we have been enjoying the Herald each week and it seems to be getting better with every issue. Enclosed find reports on several pictures we have run of late. We have been reading with interest the different articles in regard to the Free Show Proposition that have been in the recent issues of the Her.ald and wish to give our experience with the Free Show Proposition and to warn the brother exhibitors in this section of the country that free shows are going to be something to fight against in the very near future for they are coming into this section of Wisconsin, or at least that is their intention if they can get contracts and permission. A couple of months ago we were called on to make fight against the proposition. Representatives of some concern from the Twin Cities came in here and made their proposition to the mayor and city officials and made it sound very nice to them. They did not ask for any guarantee of any kind in the line of money. All they asked for was a signed contract from the mayor or president of the commercial club guaranteeing them a vacant lot and to furnish them electric power up to this vacant lot. This contract was to hold good for three years and they were to furnish good, clean, moving pictures free on this vacant lot once each week, promising, of course, that they would not show on the night that we had our shows. This looked very nice to the mayor and looked as if they were about to get something for nothing which would do a great good to the city. We got wind of it before anything definite was done and immediately got very busy. We called on the mayor and different business men and put the proposition up to them in this way. That as we were in a small town and had found out by experience that it did not pay to run a show over once or twice each week as the average fan in the small town would not go oftener than that, and that we considered this free show proposition as very unfair competition, inasmuch as we considered that the moving pictures was our business and all we had to sell was seats in our theatre or entertainment and any time the business men or city sponsored or backed anA proposition to GIVE AWAY to the public FREE that which we had to sell the public, we considered it very unfair competition. We explained to them that we were citizens of the village, owned property here, paid taxes and had an investment in our theatre, and it should be given as much 'consideration as any other legitimate business and it would be no more fair for business men and the city to get together and call on some certain general storekeeper and advise him that on a certain day of the week, he was to give away FREE a pair of overalls, a shirt or ten pounds of sugar to each customer that came to town. It was his duty to do this in order to bring more people to town so the rest of the business men could profit thereby. We also called their attention to the fact that we had always showed a willingness to co-operate with schools, churches and other local organizations in putting on shows for their benefit, and at that very time were advertising and putting on a show for the benefit of the local high school athletic association, whereby they made a profit of over $30 for themselves. We asked them if they could point out any other business in town that was doing or ever had done any such thing. We have talked them out of it, anyway, and the bird had to leave town without his contract for three years, but we do not consider that we are rid of Free Shows in this section of the state, and of course, believe they will get in in some towns. But if the distributors and exchanges could see any further than the end of their noses and value the small town exhibitor’s business at all, I believe they would be willing to cooperate with the exhibitor’s organizations refusing to furnish service for Free Movies for it is going to be the death blow to the small town exhibitors. There are several other matters that I would like to write about at this time, but do not wish to take up too much space in your valuable paper at one time. • Let’s hear from some more of the boys about this Free Movie movement. Let’s find out just how serious it is getting to be. Here’s wishing success for 1925 to the Herald and all the “H. O.” C. members. — Crosby & Schurerske, Colby, Wis. Principal Picture A WISE DECISION is said to have been made by Principal Picture Corporation when plans were completed for the picturization of ‘‘The Winning of Barbara Worth,” perhaps one of the best loved works of Harold Bell Wright. The setting of the story in the Imperial Valley, Cal., is brought to popular attention at this time by a controversy there in connection with the Boulder Dam and Colorado River project. . . Mike S. Rosenberg, secretary of the producing company, has started the wheels in motion toward the early start on the picture. PURELY Personal Interesting news about exhibitors and people with whom they come into direct contact. Readers are invited to contribute items for publication in this column. Address them to ‘‘Purely Personal.” Word comes from St. Louis that E. A. Gump has again taken over the Washington theatre in Belleville, 111., which has been under the management of Bob Cluster, operator of houses in Johnson City, 111. * * * Mrs. 1. W. Rodgers of Carlo, 111., has bought the building formerly occupied by the Barth theatre at Carbondale, which she intends to remodel for use of motion picture business. Recently it was used for stores. ♦ * * The Columbia theatre, St. Louis, has discarded dramatic stock and gone back to motion pictures and vaudeville. Tom Mix in ‘‘The Deadwood Coach” had the honor of putting the Columbia in the running as a first-run house. * * * Roy Dickson, manager for Associated Exhibitors, had a very successful trip through the territory the past week. He has also closed with the Delmonte theatre, St. Louis, for four big features. Wesley Barry will appear in person at that theatre the week of January 31, with “Battling Bunyan.” * * * On his 46th birthday, H. L. Bennett, manager of the Victoria theatre. Parsons, W. Va., celebrated by entertaining the .children of the community, all who wished to come, with a free show, candy and special features gave the evening a distinct tone. Benny now holds heartstrings of a multitude in his hand. ♦ * ♦ Arthur Bugg, a well-known exhibitor in Midland, Ontario, now is the directing head of a new Model theatre recently put into full operation. * * * A. Fielding of the Strand theatre, Truro, Nova Scotia, has moved to St. John, N. B., where he is managing the Unique theatre for F. G. Spencer, the big theatre owner of the Maritime Provinces. Fielding continues to direct the Strand at Truro. « * « Pantages vaudeville is now playing the Capitol theatre at Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week, according to announcement by Manager John Hazza. For the other three days, the Capitol plays exclusive film bills. The Capitol of Calgary is, one of the chief houses of the Famous Players’ chain. * * * Ralph W. Thayer, new manager of the Capitol theatre, Montreal, has invited all the ladies of Montreal to have a cup of tea on the mezzanine floor of the Capitol each afternoon, this being “another little Capitol service.” * * J. H. Silliman, who conducts a string of Milwaukee houses, is boomed to fill a vacancy on the motion picture censorship commission in Milwaukee, resulting from the departure of Leo A. Landau, former director of the Alhambra and Garden theatres. A' committee of showmen is making plans to visit Mayor Hoan with a formal request that Silliman be appointed. COMING Charles fV. IXogers preset kA R-ENAUD HOFFMAN Picturizatiorv ON THE threshold' with Gladys Hulette, Henry B. Walthall, Sam OeOrassa Robert Cordon. Charles Bellow, Maioaret Seddon and Willis Marh^s ^ pleased, btf' PRODUCERS r DISTRLDUTING CORPORATION ~