Exhibitors Herald (1926)

March 20, 1926 EXHIBITORS HERALD 21 R. F. Woodhull Sounds Official Convention Call (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORIC, March 16.— R. F. Woodhull, president of the M. P. T. O. A., makes the official announcement of the Los Angeles convention in the March 15 issue of the organization’s official bulletin. The primary purposes of the convention is: The consideration of the most vital of problems, headed by encroachments of business by producers, distributors and screen bootleggers and leeches who overbuild communities already well served with malignant intent to confiscate the investment of you established pioneers. Reports received from all parts of the country by the Los Angeles committee of the M. P. T. O. A. indicate that the forthcoming convention will be the most heavily attended meeting exhibitors ever have held. Coolidge Sees No Need of More Blue Laws at Capital President Believes Tendency Is Toward Liberalization — Lankford Amends Bill — Upshaw Measure Hearing April 14^ — Kansas City Grand Jury Attacks Industry (Special to Exhibitors Herald) WASHINGTON, D. C.. March 16.— Blue law legislation for the District of Columbia was dealt a body blow when the ofiicial spokesman for the White House announced that President Coolidge saw no necessity for such a bill. President Always Liberal It was pointed out that the President had always been liberal in this respect, having as governor of Massachusetts signed a law permitting the playing on Sunday of amateur baseball to which no admission was charged. He does not appear to believe that the closing of amusements on Sunday would be conducive to increased church attendance, and, it was stated by his spokesman, his observations as vicepresident and later as president lead him to believe the day is very well observed in Washington. A. F, Baker Enters Race for Presidency of M.P.T.O.K^M (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., March 16.— Another candidate for president g.f the M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri has entered the field from which a successor for R. R. Biechele will be chosen at the annual convention in Joplin, Mo., April 20 and 21. He is A. F. Baker, manager of the Electric theatre, Kansas City, Kan., the largest nonproducer owned house in Kansas City. An avalanche of letters was sent out from M. P. T. O. K-M headquarters this week instructing exhibitors to contract for no more films between now and the convention. It is understood film rentals will occupy the entire first day of the convention and it is believed some pointed resolutions may be adopted. Illinois Showmen Face Crisis With Indefinite Closing of Coal Mines (Special to Exhibitors Herald) ST. LOUIS, March 16.— Exhibitors _ in Southern Illinois towns that are depending upon the coal industry for revenue are facing a crisis. In former years February and early March brought the peak of prosperity in Egypt, but this year February saw many of the largest collieries closing their work shafts indefinitely. Thousands of workers are leaving the district for other fields of endeavor. High Taxes Cuts Number of Theatres 800 to 383 (Special to Exhibitors Herald) WARSAW, POLAND. March 16.--The number of picture theatres in Poland has declined from 800 in 1924 to 500 in 192. and to a total of 383 at present according to the Polish Cinema Union. This is due. it is said, to high taxes collected by municipalities which run to 50 per cent on gross receipts. Grainger Returns (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK. March 16. — James R. Grainger, general salesmanager of Fox, is back in New York after a trip through the Middlewest and South. It is the President’s opinion that the tendency now is toward liberalization of such legislation rather than the enactment of more severe laws. Meanwhile Representative Lankford of Georgia has amended his Sunday closing bill, and in a new bill submitted to the house March 13 has made provision for permitting persons who observe some other day as the Sabbath to work on Sunday. The bill, however, is unchanged with respect to motion picture theatres and other places of amusement, which will not be permitted to operate on Sunday, if an admission fee is charged. The subcommittee having the Lankford bill in charge has made no report to the full district committee, but another bill, providing for Sunday closing and carrying severe penalties for violation, has been introduced in the house by Representative Edwards of Georgia. The M. P. T. O. A. will be given a hearing by the district committee on this legislation this week. The house committee on education on April 14 will hold a hearing on the bill introduced by Representative Upshaw of Georgia for a national motion picture censorship. The bill was introduced at the beginning of the session and Representative Upshaw since has been endeavoring to have the committee bring it up for consideration. The fact that the house district committee has held hearings on Sunday closing legislation was used by him as a wedge to induce the committee on education to consider his measure. Grand Jury Enters List of Kansas City Blue Noses (Special to Exhibitors Herald) KANSAS CITY, MO., March 16.— Since the first covered wagon passed down Kansas City’s Main street many years ago blue laws and censorship of the radical type have been more or less of a laughing matter. However, when a county grand jury makes recommendations for a cleanup, exhibitors believe, it is a serious matter. The Jackson County grand jury, in session last week, recommended a theatre cleanup, both on stage and screen, and suggested two methods of procedure — one under an old city ordinance which now exists and the other through common law which may be invoked through county officials. "We welcome any investigation any individual or organization ^ cares to make/’ said C. E. Cook, business man ager of tlie M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri. "The same pictures that are being shown in our first run theatres arc being exhibited in schools and churches.” Then followed an eye-opening talk by Miss Florence Shields Wilson, traveling Universal critic and reviewer, which was given a big play in the Kansas Cily Star. "Give the movie-going folks the kind of pictures they want and there will be no need of an official censor of films.” she said, speaking before the Woman’s Club of Kansas City, an organization with a large membcrsliip. "Motliers know what their children should see. They would not let their child select any book in the library to read. Neither should they permit the child to select the pictures. We want suggestions and criticisms.” The Kansas City Star long has opposed censorship as the means for elimination of undesirable pictures. Exhibitor Directors Protest Edwards Bill (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, March 16. — Tlie complete machinery of tlie M. P. T. O. A. is in working order for the hearing this week in Washington on the Edwards bill. President R. F. Woodhull has petitioned the congressional committee for an opportunity to appear in protest against the measure and the directors of the exhibitors’ organization were requested to communicate with their representatives in Washington. Less than 24 hours after President Woodhull had sounded this warning the wires at Washington were laden with petitions from exhibitor executives stressing the destructive influences which even the consideration of such a measure would have upon Sunday pictures throughout the entire United States. The Edwards bill would close on Sunday all motion pictures and legitimate theatres and other amusements operated for secular or commercial purposes. The penalties for violation provide a fine from $10 to $100 for the first offense and $100 to $500 for subsequent offenses. The maximum penalty stipulates a prison sentence not exceeding six montiis with trials of all cases assigned to magistrates courts. Montaene Renews Contract NEW YORK,— Edward J. Montagne Iia« renewed his contract as Universal's supervising scenario editor.