Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1929)

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22 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD January 26, 1929 Bills Affecting Exhibitors Put Up to Four State Legislatures Four Vermont Measures Call for Seat Tax — Laxness of Theatre Owners in Organization Interest Despite Proposals Before Lawmakers Charged by Biechele State legislatures are swinging into action with their winter sessions and in at least four to date the interests of exhibitors are directly concerned. In Vermont three bills call for a 10 per cent admission levy and a fourth would lay an assessment on all admissions of 50 cents or more. In New York state a bill has been introduced to provide for one day rest in seven for projectionists. Laxness of organization interest of exhibitors is charged by R. R. Biechele, president of the M P T O of Kansas-Missouri, just as the Kansas legislature is taking up the matter of a 5 per cent amusement tax and censorship of talking pictures and Missouri theatre owners are facing the prospect of introduction of several inimical proposals. Apathy on Organization Ruinous, Says Biechele (Special to the Herald-World) Four Seat Tax Bills Up to Vermont Solons (Special to the Herald-World) MONTPELIER, VT, Jan. 22.— Exhibitors of Vermont are uniting to oppose four bills introduced in the Vermont legislature here this week, which propose taxing the gross receipts of all theatres to aid in raising funds for reconstruction of highways. These roads were washed out in the floods more than a year ago. Four separate bills have been proposed, under three of which it is proposed to levy a ten per cent tax on all admissions. The fourth would levy a tax on all admissions charged of 50 cents or over. Publix has sent Myron Shellman as counsel to oppose the bills in its behalf and to act for independent exhibitors who care to join in the opposition. Shellman has established his offices at the Playhouse in Montpelier. Already many Vermont exhibitors have notified him of their hearty cooperation. Many Vermont theatres are small houses, some operating only two or three days a week. It is pointed out that imposition of a 10 per cent tax would wipe out many, if not all, of these theatres. Since the flood, many theatres have had a struggle to continue operating. One Day Rest in Seven Asked for Projectionists (Special to the Herald-World) ALBANY, Jan. 22.— The first legislation of interest to the motion picture industry to receive consideration from the New York State legislature made its appearance this week when Senator John F. Williams, of Troy, introduced a bill seeking to amend the state labor law to the end that projectionists be given one day of rest in seven. The measure was drafted last week by the state bill drafting commission at the request of Harry Brooks, of Troy, for many years president of the projectionists' union in his home city. Inquiry among exhibitors of Albany and Troy as to the attitude they will take on the bill revealed that there will probably be much opposition to the measure from exhibitors throughout the entire state. Exhibitors are not opposed to giving operators one day's rest out of seven, but they are of the opinion that if this bill becomes a law, it will add materially to the overhead expense of projection. For instance, in Troy, one theatre employs four projectionists, another two and a third employs one, the three theatres paying a total of $410 a week for their projectionists, the union scale in the city running from $40 to $78 a week. The exhibitors figure that with the passage of the bill and its becoming a law, they will be compelled to add another man who will receive about $50 a week, and who will be a sort of "swing man," going from theatre to theatre in order that the regular operator may be relieved. This would mean an additional overhead of about $16 a week to each of the three theatres. Public All Washed Up With Machine Music, Says Musicians' Head (Special to the Herald-World) FORT WORTH, Jan. 22.— The public is sick of mechanical music in theatres — all washed up with it. This is no kidding, either — at least it was not intended to be by Joseph Weber, president of the American Federation of Musicians, who said things to that effect at a union musicians' dinner given in his honor here. He burned no bridges, however : "Even if it does prove a success," he said, "theatres will be the graveyard of music rather than centers for its advancement." In other words, even if it's good, music lovers won't like it. Continuing, Weber said, among other things : "We leave it to the public. Mechanical music is like a photograph — it carries none of the soul of the musician. Already people are beginning to resent synchronization, and the novelty is hardly worn off. I have seen this all over the country." KANSAS CITY, Jan. 22.— With injurious legislation in both the Missouri and Kansas legislatures on the one hand, the M P T O Kansas-Missouri is confronted with another problem even more serious, a laxness in organization interest of exhibitors, President R. R. Biechele of the MPTO K-M announced this week. "While the Kansas legislature is endeavoring to pass measures requiring a 5 per cent amusement tax and legalize the censorship of talking pictures, there is a woefully small number of the 500 exhibitors in Kansas, to say nothing of more than that in Western Missouri, who have not paid their dues in the MPTO Kansas-Missouri," Biechele said. "I am not making any effort to pose as a hero, but it has been necessary for me to take money out of my own pocket to go to Topeka, Kansas state capital, and fight injurious legislation there. If exhibitors of Kansas and Western Missouri are of the opinion that they can sleep quietly in their respective home towns and have their interests protected at the state capitol, they are due for a sad awakening. "Suppose the proposed 5 per cent amusement tax on motion picture theatres becomes a law. In a comparative few days that tax would amount to more than one year's dues in the exhibitor organization. Suppose Kansas legalizes the censorship of spoken lines in talking pictures. What kind of a muddle is that going to throw the industry into? "The trouble lies in the fact that a lot of theatre owners still believe in a figurative Santa Clans. They think some guardian angel will look after their interests without one whit of cooperation on the part of the exhibitors. Many theatre owners won't fight until after they have been cracked between the eyes with a hammer and then it usually is too late. "There are several detrimental bills to be introduced in the Missouri legislature, I am informed, but the emergency problem right now is to fight the proposed Kansas tax and talking censorship proposals." New Saenger at Biloxi Opens with Sound Film (Special to the Herald-World) BILOXI, MISS., Jan. 22. — The new Saenger theatre, Biloxi's $200,000 amusement place, operated by Saengers Theatres, Inc., of New Orleans, was formally opened last night before a capacity audience of 2,500, with a Vitaphone and Movietone Publix program. The exercises were presided over by Rev. E. A. De Miller, rector of the Church of the Redeemer. The invocation was given by Rev. Father Keenan of the Church of the Nativity. Addresses were delivered by civic leaders. R K O Regional Sales Meeting Takes Up Sales, Distribution Problems (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Jan. 22.— A regional meeting was held by RKO (FBO) Productions, Inc., at the Astor Hotel on January 20, for the discussion of sales and distribution problems. Charles Rosenzweig, general sales manager, presided. Joseph I. Schnitzer and Lee Marcus addressed the sales force. Others from the home office who attended were Joseph P. Skelly, manager of the exchange operations, and Al Tuchman, accessories sales manager. The branch managers who were present were George Lefko, Albany ; C. L. Peavev, Atlanta; William H. Gardiner, Boston; H. T. Dixon, Buffalo; William Conn, Charlotte; C. B. Ellis, Jacksonville; John J. Lane, New Haven; Cleve Adams, New York; Jerome Safron, Philadelphia; A. H. Schnitzer, Pittsburgh, and F. L. McNamee, Washington. Police Defeat Holdup Plot By Arrest of Youths, Girl (Special to the Herald-World) INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 22.— Confession of a 16-year-old youth led to the arrest of a young man and a girl companion here and according to detectives prevented a holdup at the Apollo theatre. The youth told detectives that the three planned to rob the manager of the theatre when he started to the bank with the theatre receipts. The two young men were ushers at the theatre. It was decided to arrest the two rather than permit them to proceed with their plans and walk into a police trap. Kunsky Is Recuperating After Appendix Removal (Special to the Herald-World) DETROIT, Jan. 22.— John H. Kunsky, head of the theatrical chain here bearing his name, is recuperating from an operation for appedicitis. Kunsky was stricken suddenly last week. He appeared at his offices as usual on Tuesday, January 15, and the operation was performed the next day. Physicians say his condition is satisfactory and that he is now convalescent. Fire Destroys Cozy (Special to the Herald-World) VILLISCA, IA., Jan. 22.— Fire that started in the early morning on January 19, destroyed the Cozy theatre. Total damage was not determined.