Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

March 21, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 27 Three Journalists Turn Exhibitors ALBANY, N. Y., March 10.— Three former newspapermen are now engaged in Albany and Troy in the management of motion picture theatres. The latest to join the group is Alex Sayles, of the Albany Journal, which was recently consolidated with another newspaper in this city. Mr. Sayles becomes manager of the Clinton Square theatre in Albany. Harmanus-Bleecker Hall is being managed by Jacob Golden, former city editor of the Albany Knickerbocker Press. In Troy, the Lincoln theatre is managed by Tony Veiller, formerly of one of the Schenectady Papers. Gagged Showmen Lose Many Thousands in Valuables to Bandits {Special to Exhibitors Herald) CASPER, WYO., March 10— About $3,000 in cash and other valuables estimated at several thousands were stolen from the Rialto theatre here Sunday night in a fictional kind of robbery. Entering their office at the close of the show, Manager M. H. Todd and his assistant, Clarence Chidly, were confronted by two roughly garbed men, caps pulled low, freely handling .45 calibre guns. Then came the novel request that they lie on the floor. Thus submitting they were bound and gagged. As the robbers went about burgling the vault C. H. Schulte, theatre owner, stepped in the door. He too must lie to be bound and gagged. Besides the money in the vault a valuable diamond ring, a stickpin and a wallet containing notes and bills were missing when the bandits had escaped. ** Strongest** Sunday Bill Backed by Lutherans (Special to Exhibitors Herald) MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., March 10.— Minnesota exhibitors are concerned over a Sunday dosing bill pending in the House of Representatives which apparently has the support of church and reform interests throughout the state. It is the strongest Sunday measure ever introduced here and is sponsored largely by Lutheran ministers. The bill not only provides for Sunday theatre closing but would put a stop to work that does not come under the heading of charity or necessitj' on the Sabbath. W. A. Steffes, president of the Northwest exhibitors’ unit, and Twin City exhibitors gathered at a hearing on the bill at the state Capitol last week. Gives Metro $1,000 {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 10. — A. M. Bowles, general manager of West Coast Theatres, Inc., of northern California, is reported to have volunteered an additional $1,000 to the original price as a result of the success he achieved with “He Who Gets Slapped.” Griffith Selects Play (Special to Exhibitors Herald) HOLLYWOOD, March 10.— D. W. Griffith’s next picture will be “Poppy,” the play which ran more than a year on Broadway. W. C. Fields, comedian, who appeared in the stage production, will have the same role in the film. It will be completed in June for United Artists. Exhibitors Hold Peace Meet; Hatchet Buried in New York O’Reilly Accepts Re-election as President of T. O. C. C. on Condition That Cohen Take Chairmanship of Board — Forecast Closer Theatre Cooperation (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 10. — Exhibitor organization in New York state today presents a united front following an armed peace which has existed since the Washington convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners four years ago. The hatchet which was dug up when Charley O’Reilly, Billy Brandt, Sam Berman and other leaders seceded from the national organization of which Sydney S. Cohen was the head, has been buried. Hatchet Is Buried Never to Be Resurrected At last week’s meeting of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce, everyone made up with everyone; everyone shook hands with everyone, and everyone helped dig the hole in which the hatchet was buried. And, according to those who witnessed the “last rites,” the hatchet as been buried so deeply that it will never be resurrected. All of this has been brewing for some Finance committee; E. R. Behrend. Max Barr, time and it came to a head on the day of Samuel Lesselbaum. nominations of officers for the annual elec Discusses “Sinister” Forces Charlen L, O'Reilly Cohen’s most implacable foes, started the works by nominating Mr. Cohen for president to succeed Charles L. O’Reil tion which takes place next month. Nomination is always tantamount to election. Billy Brandt, who has always been considered one of Sydney ly. Sydney S. Cohen Lee Ochs then nominated Mr. O’Reilly, and the latter, in a speech eulogizing Mr. Cohen’s accomplishments, personality and attainments, strongly urged that Mr. Cohen be made the nominee and withdrew his name. This left Mr. Cohen alone as the nominee and many of the members pleaded with him to accept. After explaining that his own business affairs were such that he must decline to accept leadership of the T. O. C. C. or any other exhibitor body, and in this he is understood to have meant the national organization, Mr. Cohen asked that his name be withdrawn. Acceptance Is Conditional Mr. O’Reilly was then again nominated and was loudly urged by many of the members from all parts of the hall to accept. This he finally agreed to do upon one condition. This condition was that Mr. Cohen be induced to accept the chairmanship of the executive committee, which he finally agreed to do. The full ticket selected follows: President, Charles L. O’Reilly ; first vice president, Rudolph Sanders, Sol Raives ; second vice president, Joseph Jame ; treasurer, Samuel Schwartz ; secretary, S. A. Moross : sergeant-atarms, A1 Friedlander. Board of directors : Sydney S. Cohen. William Brandt, Lee A. Ochs, Hyman Rachmil, A. H. Eisenstadt, Benjamin Sherman, William Small. John Manheimer, Hy Gainshoro, William A. Landau, Louis Schneider, Benjamin Knobel. After the meeting S. A. Morross, secretary of the T. O. C. C., issued a statement in which he said in part : “The outstanding feature of the annual meeting of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce was the acceptance of the offices of president and chairman of the board of directors of Charles L. O’Reilly and Sydney S. Cohen respectively, two of the most prominent figures in the work for the advancement and improvement of conditions of the independent theatre owner. “The acceptance of the nominations, which virtually amount to election, was prompted by the sinister and aggressive attitude on the part of certain elements bent on trustifying the producing, distributing and exhibiting branches of the motion picture industry. “Mr. Sydney S. Cohen, in accepting the nomination to the office of chairman of the board of directors, will undoubtedly bring the independent theatre owners throughout the country into closer co-operation. “For some time past this organization has regarded with gravest concern the aggressive, greedy and selfish disposition of certain powerful interests in the motion picture industry and their determination to dominate its activities in all its branches. “Nathan Burkan has been engaged as counsel by the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of securing relief for these theatre owners who are now oppressed, or threatened with opposition by this ever growing system of absolute control and domination of first run product by these combinations. “Mr. Burkan has sought through conferences with Will H. Hays, president of the Motion* Picture Producers & Distributors of America, ways and means to safeguard the interests of the independent exhibitor. Mr. Hays and his associates have expressed willingness to cooperate. Mr. Hays realizes the seriousness of the existing aggressions and of the dispositions and tendencies of a few groups to virtually dominate the motion picture industry. “Mr. Hays feels that he has a plan to submit, by which he hopes to give the desired relief. Should the Hays plan fail, the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce is prepared to fight for the independence of its members and will enlist investigations by every department of the state and national government.” Defeat Labor Bill as Censor Fight Starts {Special to Exhibitors Herald) MILWAUKEE, WIS., March 10.— Paving the way for the bill for statewide censorship of motion pictures reformers last week championed and lost a fight for the Polakowski bill which would compel employers to observe one day each week for the vacation of employes. The labor bill was regarded as an attempt to get a foothold which would eventually force Sunday closing of theatres. “There is too much legislation seeking to take away comforts of the public,” declared Senator Oscar Morris.