Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

EXHIBITORSHERALD February 28, 1925 little narrative is an actual experience and I believe it will tend to make some one of you a little braver at some particular time when that bravery might give you accomplishment. Just like the automobile brake it is no good when you forget to use it hut properly and quickly applied it saves many a life.—JOHN HAMRICK. Never Say Quit By John Hamrick This llttle narrative is an actual experience, and I believe it will tend to make someone of you a little braver at some particular time when that bravery might give you accomplishment. Just like the automobile brake, it is no good when you forget to use it, but properly and quickly applied it saves many a life. A few years ago I was playing in my Seattle Blue Mouse theatre “The Birth of a Nation.” A good friend of mine who controlled this picture in the Northwest finally prevailed upon me to play this timeold, nationally famous picture. At first I was just kind of offended, and I might say, insulted, that he should feel there was any reason why I, John Hamrick, should play any picture that was not first-run in my beautiful Blue Mouse. For “The Birth of a Nation” had played dozens of times in Seattle, and why bring it back for a revival ? It was dead, I thought, and I* was content to let it stay dead. After a series of persistent arguments, my friend made me think I was wrong. I bowed to the inevitable and we arranged a play date. The business I did on this old “dead one” was phenomenal. Capacity every day and night, and the last night of the week I kept open house until about 1 :30 in the morning. Of course, my eyes were opened, and I found I was not quite so smart as I had given myself credit for being. I will admit another thing — the original musical score for this wonderful picture was aweinspiring, and I sat enthralled a good many hours during this important week at the Blue Mouse. Between the music and the picture my every emotion was stirred. Consequently, I was a bundle of enthusiasm to listen in on any proposal my good friend had to make about this “dead one” he possessed. One evening, just about at the end of the week, while the picture was still standing ’em out in lines, my friend said: “John, you are just the man to take the ‘Birth’ (as he called it) over to Spokane and play, as it has not been over there in years and you can clean up on it. He said to me, “You know, John, you advertised and put it over so swell here I will make you a knockout proposition where you can make a lot of monev,” and all of that, you know. He was right, so I got myself together and departed for Spokane to get all of this easy money. Nothing to it. All I had to do was go over after it and it would prove a nice little vacation. ^ * We now arrive in Spokane and we also arrive at the inspiration of this “Never Say Quit” story of mine. The first thing I did was to go over to the only available theatre in the town, a theatre that was closed for the summer. I rented the theatre, paid the rent and set the date to start my eventful picture. This was on a Friday, and I wanted to start my advertising in the Sunday paper for opening on the following Wednesday and all Sunday copy had to be in on Friday at the latest, so I must get busy to make all ends meet. This, I repeat, was Friday, my arrival day. And the way things began to look my ‘7/ you never say quit you will win!” That is the theme of the third article of the series Mr. Hamrick is writing for Exhibitors Herald. For sixteen years Mr. Hamrick has been a leading independent exhibitor of the Pacific Northwest. He owns the Blue Mouse theatres at Seattle, Tacoma and Portland. departure day too. Believe me, my brain, as little as it might be, was a busy little brain that day, for I learned you had to have a permit in that town to show a picture. I found myself down at the city hall in the public safety commissioner’s office seeking a permit. I mildly asked for what I wanted, and while I was waiting for it, the commissioner had his clerk get out the book that had the history of pictures and permits written in it, and he turned the pages to one fatal page that showed the council, composed of all of the commissioners, had passed a resolution years ago that this said picture of mine could never be shown again in town. He turned over a little further and another page showed where the superior court had granted an injunction against the showing of this easy-money picture of mine. I told him my predicament ; how I had been playing it in Seattle and about renting this theatre and a lot of other things, so he said, “I would advise your talking to the mayor about it.” I immediately JOHN HAMRICK went to meet the mayor. I found him a lovely fellow, but he said very quickly and in no uncertain language, “I would not think of such a thing. I wouldn’t let my children or family see the picture, and further, we have had all the trouble over that picture we are going to have. Nothing doing!” I pleaded with him and his final answer was this: “Mr. Hamrick, you are an American citizen and are entitled to all the same ’ privileges of any Amnrican citizen. So you can appear before our council tomorrow morning and state your case to the council.” I accepted, although he said as I departed, “I hold out no hope, as I am bitterly opposed to your request.” I went back to my room at the hotel and looked at the fine ad I had prepared, which I had to turn loose of pretty quick. In fact, I had only a few minutes to get it in the Sunday edition. So I said, “Little Willie, here is going to be a fine vacation for you. Nothing to it — all you have got to do is the impossible — that’s all. Are you going to lay down on the job?” The Sunday ad went to the paper just in time Friday evening, and the next morning, Saturday, I appeared all by myself in that council chamber, making my plea and request to show “The Birth.” * * * Now, Spokane has a commission form of government, and the council is composed of the commissioners and mayor. I met with what they may have meant to be defeat. But I did not recognize it as such. I persuaded them to give me the time Monday morning to again show them this wonderful picture. They sort of marveled at my insistence, but I made them believe they had forgotten the picture and a new look at it might mean a new opinion. Meantime, I got the leader of my Seattle orchestra to come over and Sunday we got an orchestra together. Monday morning I showed the commissioners the picture with the music played as good as any hurried orchestra could play it. I took up three hours of their time, and after the showing I asked the mayor when they could see me to give me my answer. He said, “In open council this afternoon at 2 o’clock.” At 2 o’clock I was on hand, and the council chamber was full of all the people such places are generally composed of, and a goodly bunch in fact it seemed. It seemed to me all the colored race was on hand to give their regular battle against the “Birth of a Nation.” Good night! The commissioners were against me from the start, and now this colored aggregation, in addition, was an obstacle as big as a mountain for me to combat, and I, all alone, an unknown quantity in Spokane, as this was my first visit to the fair city. When the mayor got around to my case, he asked me what I had to say. I told him, now that they had viewed the picture again I felt sure they agreed with me and would give me my permit, etc. The explosives were just getting ready to do their stuff, and prior to the fireworks, the mayor asked each one of the commissioners, one by one their attitude. Their answers were, “I stand the same as before. Nothing doing!” And he, the mayor, stood solid {Continued on page 106)