Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1921)

November 19, 1921 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW 1715 Live News of Exhibitor Organizations Missouri M.P.T.O. Wins Big Support for Lampert Bill Armed with every influential factor available, Missouri exhibitors have consolidated their strength in supporting the Lampert bill, which would amend the copyright law so as to afford relief from the music tax. The sentiment of the "men back home" has been brought to bear upon United States Senators and Congressmen, straight-tothe-point resolutions have been adopted and sent to Missouri representatives, and not without results. The following telegram was received last week from United States Senator Selden P. Spencer, a member of the committee on claims: "I am just in receipt of the resolution signed by the committee of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Missouri, concerning the Lampert bill and taxes on file, etc., and I am very glad to have it. It is most helpful, and you may be sure that I shall not forget what you have written. (Signed) "SELDEN P. SPENCER." Accompanied by the above message, a bulletin, an extract of which follows, was sent to each exhibitor in Missouri: "This favorable reply is due to the prompt and efficient work of every theatre owner in Missouri. Senators and Congressmen desire to represent the sentiment of Censorship and Sunday Closing Beaten in Alabama Final reports from the special session of the Alabama Legislature leave nothing to fear from censorship and Sunday closing for the present. The Senate postponed indefinitely the censorship bill, which was never presented in the House. The Sunday closing bill, which was the subject of considerable anxiety on the part of motion picture people, was defeated on the floor of the Senate, and its attempt to pass the House was likewise unsuccessful. When Governor Thomas Kilby called the extra session, he admitted that two of the prime measures to be considered were censorship of motion pictures and Sunday closing. Immediately upon the publication of his statement the forces began to rally; Alabama exhibitors met in Montgomery on the day before the Legislature convened and planned an effective campaign which resulted in the failure of the measures in both the House and Senate. Calendar of the M. P. T. O. A. Conventions and Events November 14-15 Convention, Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Louisiana, Hotel Grunewald, New Orleans. November 29-30, December 1-2 Southeastern Motion Picture Exposition, under auspices of Motion Picture Theatre Owners of North Carolina, Charlotte, N. C. (Editor's Note. — Officials of M. P. T. 0. A. State Units are urged to send Exhibitors Trade Review advance notices of conventions and other events for listing in this calendar.) their constituents. A letter from "the man back home" — the smallest exhibitor in any district — has more weight than all the supposed influence of organized bodies. Your congressional representative is listening to you and not to 'parrots on parade.' "President Cohen, Senator Walker, Col. H. B. Warner and other exhibitor officials who represent the theatre owners in Washington are men too big of mental calibre to ask for personal glory — they proclaim the victory due to exhibitors throughout the United States — the "men back home." Had it not been for the "men back home," who were aroused to action by the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, and the State bodies, no relief from the tax burdens would have been in sight. "Let Missouri exhibitors always remember their friends. Senator Spencer's message should not be forgotten. Whenever we are given an opportunity to show our appreciation — let us1 not fail those who are with us. Sincerely yours, "MOTION PICTURE THEATRE OWNERS OF MISSOURI. "Charles T. Sears, president. "Lawrence E. Goldman, secretary-counsel." Buffalo Exhibitors Win Wage Fight With Union The long standing wage fight between the Buffalo Theatre Managers' Association and the Musicians' Association of Buffalo has been settled with a victory for the theatres. The musicians accept a cut in salary as follows: Downtown houses, men, $2 per week; leaders, $3; neighborhood theatres, men, $1 ; leaders, $2. The stage hands have accepted a five per cent decrease and it is expected that the operators will soon agree to a cut. Sign painters have put in a petition for a raise, which has been turned down. The Loew State theatre has been admitted to membership in the managers' association. Al Beckerich is manager of the State. Exhibitors' Days in Kansas Prove a Great Success Exhibitors of Kansas pledged their support to "Exhibitors' Days," Nov. 2 and 3, at meetings in the eight congressional districts of the State last week, and the success of the venture was a tribute to the loyalty of the theatre owners of the Sunflower State. The event might have been called a "self-benefit," as one-half the profits made on one of the two days, the exhibitor himself to select the day, went towards the maintenance of the State organization, the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Kansas. M. Van Praag, president of the organization; R. G. Liggett, vice-president; C. M. Patee of Lawrence, Kan., and H. R. Troh of Valley Falls, Kan., not only volunteered their time in making a success of the venture by addressing various exhibitor meetings throughout the State, but bore the burden of expenses as well. Exact figures on the amount which will be turned over to the State organization have not yet been compiled, but estimates indicate that the event was even a greater success than had been anticipated. Important Ruling on Sunday Law in Oklahoma Prohibition of Sunday picture shows in Oklahoma by city ordinance is not illegal, according to an opinion by the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals at Oklahoma City, Oct. 29. It is a legitimate exercise of police power, the opinion held. However, William Johnson of Bartlesville, Okla., motion picture exhibitor, who was fined $50 and costs and sent to jail for failure to pay the fine was ordered released by the court on application for writ of habeas corpus. The court held that where a fine and costs totaling more than $20 is imposed it cannot be enforced unless imposed by a jury. Johnson was arrested in September for exhibiting pictures in Bartlesville on Sunday. He was fined $50 and costs, and sent to jail for refusing to pay the fine. The sentence was passed by the municipal judge of Bartlesville. Johnson demanded a jury trial which was refused. The district court refused to grant a writ of habeas corpus, but upon appeal, the Criminal Court of Appeals granted the writ. The decision means that in order to give municipal and police courts jurisdiction of violations of the law, fines and costs must not exceed $20 and no jail sentence penalty.