Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

November 2, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 17 Showmanship, Not Politics, To Save Independents, Says Kent 3,000 Theatres Represented At MPTOA Memphis Session What Happened At Memphis! By EDWIN S. CLIFFORD CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS, MEMPHIS, Oct. 30.— A glittering banquet and ball brought to an end the tenth annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America tonight. Despite the lavish hospitality of the Memphis theatre owners, the informative equipment displays and well-selected programs offered, the convention, like its predecessors since the stormy Los Angeles gathering four years ago. seemed more like a ghost of the past than a meeting of the fiery theatre owners who formed the MPTOA at Cleveland ten years ago. Four outstanding leaders of former days were present, Past President Pete Woodhull, now a representative of the DeForest General Talking Pictures company; Frank Rembuseh, active as president of the Motion Picture Congress; Eli Whitney Collins, former president and now recently returned to the business, and Willard C. Patterson, now with Publix. None took an active part in the deliberations. FUSION OF SOUTHERN BLOOD IS BIG HOPE The principal hope that Memphis holds out to the theatre owners is the fusion of Southern blood into the organization. M. A. Lightman, a Memphis man, slated to remain president, is probably the most dynamic recruit that the old organization has obtained in the last four years. His enthusiasm promises much. His personality promises even more. Talking with Lightman, one is impressed with his deviation from the usual type of exhibitor leader. He speaks deliberately with a slight Southern drawl. He answers questions frankly but declines to be drawn into a controversy. If he has a dislike for any of the leaders in exhibitor politics, he does not express it. Here in Memphis the admiration of local theatre owners for him and for his ability is equal to that almost frenzied loyalty that Sydney S. Cohen received, and still does, from his "Old Guard." LIGHTMAN NOT CONTENT WITH COOPERATION GESTURE Lightman probably is not satisfied to see the theatre owners of the country split into two major factions and a dozen smaller ones. But the probability is that he will make no public move toward effecting a reconciliation of the factions unless the time is opportune, and the chance of its success favorable. He does not appear to be of the political frame of mind that would content itself with a gesture towards fusion and forget it almost before the ink was dry on the trade press. Surprising as it may seem, the attendance at Memphis did not fall far below that at Toronto. This is not an easy city to get to. New York is a tedious two-nights-and-a-day. The Atlantic (Continued on page 22) Lightman Slated for Re-election — Industry Needs No Undue Official Regulation, Says Comerford By JAY M. SHRECK (Managing Editor of the Herald-World) CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS, MEMPHIS, Oct. 30.— The tenth annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America has established a record in exhibitor organization activities. More than 3,000 theatres — some contend 5,000 — are represented by delegates from 36 states. Theatre holdings which the delegates represent extend into enough states to give the country almost 100 per cent representation. Sound, from the opening session to the closing, has been the keynote of the convention, which, with the exception of a short business meeting Thursday morning for formal election of officers, closed tonight with a dinner dance in the grand ballroom of the Peabody hotel. This afternoon's session ranked the most important in accomplishment. The slate called for re-election to the presidency of M. A. Lightman of Memphis, a comparative newcomer in national exhibitor affairs. With Lightman in the chair for the next twelve months, leaders are expressing confidence for a decidedly bright future for the organization. Kent Speech Is Sensation The outstanding pronouncement of the convention was made by Sidney R. Kent, general manager of Paramount Famous Lasky, who, because of important developments in New York, could not be present to deliver his address this afternoon. It caused a sensation when read from the manuscript by M. A. Lightman. In considering the new conditions in the field brought about by chain operation and sound, Kent spoke with surprising frankness. He did not attempt to predict prosperity for all of the smaller theatres. He stated that times have changed ; that the incompetent small operator would probably be eliminated entirely ; that the competent small operator would survive, but that he faced stiff competition from the larger cities now accessible by automobile and from the chain theatre, which had the advantage in buying, just as the chain grocer has the advantage over the independent grocer in buying. "I believe that the test of good faith of the entire industry will be its treatment of the small town exhibitors in the years to come," was his keynote, "and I also believe that the treatment accorded this type of exhibitor will be the measure of greatness and wisdom accorded the leaders of the big companies of our industry in the future." A highlight of the convention was the address of M. E. Comerford, owner of independent theatres in New York, New England and Pennsylvania. To those who have viewed with concern the present day status of the independent house, Comerford gave reassurance that the "well managed independent the (Continned on page 20) Kent Address Straight from the Shoulder Probably no address delivered at an exhibitors' convention in recent years will create more wide-spread comment than will be occasioned by the speech of Sidney R. Kent, general manager of Paramount Famous Lasky, read at the Memphis convention. Kent personally was unable to be present. Kent discusses the small town situation. He does not attempt to paint a very rosy picture. He states that many will fail. He states that the best small town managers have a hard task ahead. He says that the industry's leaders must do what they can to help. For complete text see Page 21.