Exhibitor's Trade Review (Mar-May 1922)

1538 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW Officers, Executive Committeemen and National Convention Committee of the Motion Pictiire Theatre Owners of America photogra to President Harding to address the convention. Left to right: Sidney Lust of Washington, D. C; S. L Berman, New York; C. L. O'R Dr. Francis Holley, Washington, D. C; M. E. Comerford, Scranton, Pa.; W. A. True, Hartford, Conn.; William Cadoret, Chicago, 111.; O'Toole, Scranton, Pa.; U. S. Senator Robert L. Owen of Oklahoma; Harry Crandall, Washington, D. C; A. J. Moeller, New York; Ma Rochester, N. Y.; Nelson Bell, Washington, D. C; Sam Boyd, Washington, D. C. Harding Invited to Convention President Asked to Address Opening Session — Coolidge and Prominent Senators May Also Be Heard An event of great importance in the industry occurred at Washington, April 14, when an invitation was extended to President Harding by President Sydney S. Cohen, of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, to attend the National Convention of that organization during the week of Monday, May 8. The sessions of this convention will be held in the New Willard Hotel, Washington, and President Harding was asked to speak at the opening session. President Harding is asked to attend the Convention in his combined capacities as the Chief Executive of the Nation and an outstanding and representative figure in American Journalism and the first active editor to occupy the chair of Washington. The advancement of the Motion Picture Screen as a publicity element along all lines of public and private effort is indicated, and its wonderful visualizing powers as a medium of expression declared to be of such great consequence and importance, to Government and People as to make it" in principle and effect the Screen Press 'b^f America. President Cohen, the members of the Executive Committee of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and representative exhibitors from different parts of the United States gathered about President Harding in the Executive Offices of the White House and presented the invitation. Conspicuous in the gathering as a friend and ally of the motion picture theatre owner was United States Senator Owen of Oklahoma. President Harding referred to a previous meeting with the officials of the Motion Picture Theatre Ovimers of America on May 18, 1921, at which the use of the Screens to Governmental Departments for vocational guidance work, Americanization processes and other purposes was tendered. He said that the confidence then reposed in the theatre owners was well rewarded in meritorious service since rendered. He paid a high tribute to the Screen, cordially thanked the theatre ovraers for the invitation and declared that he would make a definite statement to them in the matter as soon as possible. The letter of invitation read by President Cohen was beautifully engrossed and in book form, with red leather binding and gold and silk ornamentation. It is. as follows: New York, April 14, 1922. Hon. Warren G. Harding, President of the United States, Wasliington, D. C. Dear Mr. President: Years of practical demonstration of the publicity value of the wonderful visualizing powers of the Motion Picture, in its close adaptation to every varied phase of life, makes it fitting and appropriate that this great medium be known as the Screen Press of America. As Theatre Owners, the custodians of this most potent agency for educational and entertainment purposes and for the dissemination of useful information, with its pronounced influence in moulding public thought and action along constructive lines, we are disposed to make this Screen Press of America of maximum service to the Government and People. The printed newspaper page and the print'^d and pictures celluloid film are joined as the World's most wonderful publicity forces in the moral obligation and STeat duty of constant service to mankind and preserving always the liberty and rights of the people. In guaranteeing freedom to the Press our Constitution imposes upon it, in its varied developments, this most necessary line of public action. As an outstanding and commanding' figure in American Journalism whose service in this relation as a newspaper editor so won thp confidence and affection of the people, as to place you, by an unprecedented vote, in the highest office within the gift of free American citizens, we, the representatives, of the Mot'-'i Picture Theatre Owners of America, the custodians of America's Screen Press, hail you fis the first Editor-President of the United States, a tyijlcal and true representative of the Liberty-Preserving publicity forces of our trreat country — .the Newspaper arid the Screen Press. ; . • ; In this corinectlon, Mr. President, we are pleased to' advise you that the annual conTention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, will be held in the cifv of Washington, D. C, the week of Monday, May