Exhibitors Herald (1927)

June 4, 1927 EXHIBITORS HERALD 23 THE “HERALD” HELPS SELL PICTURES DESPITE FLOOD. O. O. Flake (left), F. B. O. representative, had to use a rowboat to call upon Fred Carney, Star theatre, Marked Tree, Ark., which is one of the hardest-hit towns of the flooded area. Mr. Flake is shown going over the F. B. O. 1927-28 announcement, which was carried exclusively by the HERALD , with Mr. Carney. In the other view Mr. Flake takes the top of an auto. These pictures show that the flood condition still exists but they also show the zip of the F. B. O. sales force under John L. Franconi, Memphis branch manager. Exhibitors Urge Inquiry of Colleagues’ Losses in Flood Recommend in Letters to the “Herald” That Complete Investigation Be Undertaken So That Owners Can Be Aided in Proportion to Damage to Their Theatres Letter^' have been received by the Herald from theatre owners recommending that the M. P. T. O. A. or M. P. P. D. A. make a complete investigation of the losses of exhibitors in the flood district of the Mississippi valley so that the industry can give intelligent assistance to each exhibitor in proportion to the amount of damage caused to his theatre by the flood waters. Theatre Owners Offers Aid The theatre owners in their letters offer to do all they can to assist their less fortunate colleagues. For example, Horwitz & Kaplan, of the Globe theatre at Cleveland, has arranged for a special midnight show with the entire receipts to be used for flood relief, and Cragin & Pike, of the Majestic and Airdome at Las Vegas, Nev., offers to do all it can for the affected exhibitors in the case of responsible agents. .Leslie Hables, of the Reel Joy, at King City, Cal., also urges action. Three Blue Law Leaders Refuse To Debate Issue (Special to the Herald) WASHINGTON, June 1.— Dr. Jose’^h A. Themper, national president of the Association Opposed to Blue Laws, Inc., seems to have “got the goat” of Rev. R. H. Martin, director of the Bureau of Sabbath Observance of the Presbyterian Church, with offices in Pittsburgh. A challenge of the A. O. B. L. to Reverend Martin to a debate on the Lankford “District Blue Law” bill is declined by the clergyman because he does£^ not like the phraseology employed by Dr.JTbciviper in a public statement last April concerning the Lankford bill. Martin quotes from the Herald of April 29. Dr. Themper at that time referred iiL vigorous terms to Representative Lankford and remarked that he was “not intellectually importantenough to be taken seriously.” National Secretary-Treasurer Linn A. E. Gale of the A. O. B. L. makes this comment: “Representative Lankford, Rev. Harry L Bowlby, general secretary of the iLord’s Day Alliance, and Dr. Martin have in turn refused to debate their scheme to impose a ‘blue Sunday’ on the national capital. The only friend of Sunday closing who has so far signified his willingness to do so is Congressman Thomas L. Blanton, who has advised us that he will debate Clarence Darrow, our chief legal counsel.” R, S. Peck, Director of Canadian Government Film Studio, Is Dead ( special to the Herald) OTTAWA, ONT., June 1.— Raymond S. Peck, who developed the Canadian government motion picture studio here and was its only director, died at the Civic hospital of I meningitis May 27. He was 41 years old. Peck established the' government studio in 1920, and as its director carried the scenic beauties and home-making attractions of Canda before motion picture patrons throughout much of the world. Among the rnany who have paid public tribute to him is F. C. T. O’Hara, deputy minister of trade and commerce. E. G. Sponenbarger, of the Palace theatre at Arkansas City, Ark., reports that his Industry at Milwaukee Sends Check for $36,000 ( Special to the H crald ) MILWAUKEE, June l. — A check for $36,000 was turned over to the Red Cross at a luncheon at the Elks club last Friday by the members of the Film Board of Trade, exhibitors, and members of the committees in charge of the Mississippi benefit party held at the Milwaukee Auditorium. J. Tracy Hale, chairman of the local Red Cross chapter thanked the members present and the entire theatre industry for their splendid work. According to Mr. J. G. Trackman, president of the Film Board of Trade, however, the check did not represent the entire amount taken in at the party, because a number of the schools had not as yet turned in their receipts. He stated that the total collected would amount to between $45,000 and $50,000. theatre has been wrecked, with the water fifteen feet deep in the auditorium. Meantime the M. P. T. O. A., through President R. F. Woodhull and Business Manager M. J. O’Toole, has undertaken complete cooperation with the Flood Control Conference which opens a three-day meeting in Chicago Thursday of this week, with Congressman Frank Reid as chairman. The meeting was called by Mayor William Hale Thompson, of Chicago, a member. W. D. Burford, of Aurora, chairman of the Screen Publicity Division of the conference, will represent the M. P. T. O. A. The plan is to issue a film of about 300 feet, which will contain the outlines of the plan for flood control and will be used in the theatres to solidfy public sentiment toward Congressional action. The theatre ow'uers will make tieups with the local newspapers and civic organizations. Baltimore Raises $18,000 Latest reports from organizations in the industry recording flood benefit receipts include $18,000 turned over to the Red Cross by the Baltimore exhibitors at Sunday performances conducted under the auspices of the M. P. T. O. of Maryland. The Albany Film Board of Trade reported to the M. P. P. D. A. that $6,961 had been turned in following a Sunday benefit at all Albany theatres. In Worcester, Mass., the theatres more than doul>led their quota of $3,000.