Exhibitors Herald (1925)

March 28, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 31 QHteia .0 G. IF you’re not on the fly these days you’re missing half of the fun of being in the motion picture business. Every minute of the day that boy Oscar Ruinore is at your heels. His slogan is, “Pst ! Did you know that so-and-so is going to do this, and mark; my word whoozit has something up his sleeve if you can only get him to talk.” .■\nd so it goes day in and day out. ^ * Last week Oscar talked nothing but theatres. Apparently that’s an interesting topic right now. S’funny, too, every time Oscar whispered in my ear it was about some big deal pending at the Balaian & Katz, or Balaban Katz Midivest Theatres, headquarters. And the old boy wasn’t so far wrong on his tip on the B. & K.-A. H. Blank merger. (We refer you to page 23.) * * Oscar said that while he was snooping around the other day he learned that Arthur L. Mayer, who represented the Loew interests in the Ascher circuit until the recent deal which gave the Chicago boys complete control of the theatres, had office space at the headquarters of Balaban Katz Midwest. Arthur departed for the Coast for a three weeks’ vacation before we had an opportunity to learn the significance of this. * * * Mentioned quite frequently by Oscar is Fischer’s Paramount Theatres, which operates houses in Wisconsin and Illinois. Oscar insists some kind of a deal is pending at the company'’s Chicago offices. Time will tell. ^ ^ Everybody knows that our good friend, Ralph Thomas Kettering, doubles in lirass and whether it is writing advertisements for the Jones, Linick & Schafer theatres in Chicago, or knocking out plays, Ralph does it with an expert hand. Which leads us to Ralph’s latest play, “Sin and Sables.” This opus is being given a tryout this week at the Calumet theatre in South Chicago. We know you will hear more of this play for we predict its success. * * Frank de Lorenzo, our pal from Milwaukee, and Max Stahl, manager for Educational in the Wisconsin city, paid us a visit last week. Max was here to talk things over with Dave Chatkin, Educational sales chief. Frank was along to say “howdedo.” — SHRECK. Elimination of Music Tax Is Demanded by lo’wa Conclave N. C. Rice Is Elected President of Exhibitor League — Will Seek Legislation Which Would Penalize Disgruntled Employes for Picketing Playhouses (Special to Exhibitors Herald) DES MOINES, lA., March 16. — Complete elimination from the motion picture industry of the “music tax” was demanded by the Iowa Theatre Owners Association at its annual convention here today. The fight against the tax was led by N. C. Rice of Algona, who was honored before the close of the convention by being elected president for the ensuing term. A resolution calling upon the entire industry to affiliate with the non-associated music publishers and the elimination of all copyright taxes was unanimously adopted. Resolutions were adopted by the convention seeking state legislation which would place a heavy penalty on those which would make illegal the picketing others. Abe Smead of Council Bluffs fostered both resolutions which were adopted without discussion. Newly elected officers are: President, N. C. Rice, Algona. Secretary, Harry Hiersterner, Des Moines. Treasurer, H. C. Smith of Sharitan. The attendance was much lighter than hoped for owing to severe storms, but the visiting theatre men made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in numerical strength. A banquet and entertainment at Hotel Savery tonight brought convention to a close. Arrangements Made for Western Penn Meet {Special from H. IF. G.) PITTSBURGH, PA., March 17.— One hundred exhibitors : attended the meeting and luncheon at the William Penn hotel last week at which time arrangements were made for the fifth annual convention to be held at the George "Washington hotel, 'V\Hshington, Pa., on April 21 to 23. At last week’s meeting many interesting problems were discussed, including block booking, the independent picture situation, circuit booking, C. O. D., film shipments and other matters of importance. Many West Virginia theatre men have signified throwing stink bombs in theatres, and of theatres by disgruntled employes or their intention of taking part in the coming convention. Priscilla Dean and her mother were guests at last week’s luncheon. They were escorted by Manager Ainsworth of a local exchange. 1st Joint State Meet Set for May 4 and 5 {Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., March 17.— At a meeting of the board of directors of the M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri at the association’s headquarters Wednesday, the date of the semi-annual convention, which will be the first meeting of the inter-state body as a unit, was set for May 4 and 5 at Excelsior Springs, Mo., a suburb of Kansas City. Dubinsky Named Head {Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. JOSEPH, MO., March 17.— Barney Dubinsky, manager of the Tootle theatre, has been elected president of the newly organized AI. P. T. O., St. Joseph, which is a chapter of the M. P. T. O., Kansas-Missouri. Other officers elected were: Jack Moore, Olive theatre, first vice-president; Edward Peskay, secretary, and John Egli, treasurer. A. S. Kane Resigns Associated Exhibitors ' Presidency to Join Universal Pictures Walter Camp Rites Marked with Simplicity {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW HAVEN, CONN., March 17.— The funeral services of Walter Camp, Yale football mentor, and father of "Walter Camp, Jr., were marked with simplicity here yesterday. The younger Camp heads the Richard Barthelmess producing company. Death came to deceased in New York March 14. Film Man Succumbs {Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW ORLEANS, . LA., March 17.— H. J. Herrman, well-known film man here, died here last week following an attack of Bright’s disease. His death is mourned bv countless friends. Surviving are his widow and son. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 17. — One of the most interesting happenings of the year in the trade is the re-alignment which has brought Arthur S. Kane, one of the oldest and best known figures in the motion picture business, into the Universal fold. Until the announcement of his acquisition by Universal, the trade was ignorant of the fact that Mr. Kane had resigned as president of Associated Exhibitors. However, Mr. Kane himself held back the announcement of his resignation in deference to Elmer Pearson and the friendly feeling on both sides with which he is leaving the company which he has guided for the last three years. Mr. Kane entered upon his duties at Universal on Monday morning. His coming fills a long-felt want and one in which his exceptional abilities both as a producer and as a distributor will find ample scope. Mr. Kane will act as a liaison official between the sales force, with headquarters at 730 Fifth avenue, and the production forces at Universal City. He will be styled the contact executive. In a business in which the production and sales are so closely allied in aim, yet separated by 3,000 miles, a certain amount of lost motion, friction and working at cross purposes is bound to crop up. This one factor costs the industry more than any one expense or loss. It is Carl Laemmle’s idea to eliminate as much of this loss and friction as possible by designating a point of contact through which each will work in harmony with the other.