Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

34 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD October 11, 1930 Big Interests" Are Denounced At Grand Rapids Convention (Continued from page 25, column 3) Allied States were implied in a closing reference' to Brookhart. "I am talking as much to Senator Brookhart here before me," he said, "as I am to you exhibitors. I want to educate Senator Brookhart as to what is going on in the motion picture industry, just as I would like to educate his colleagues in Congress. For unless we fight, the elimination of all of us is only a question of time." Brookhart didn't get into the subject of protection until the latter part of his speech, part of which had been prepared and previously handed to the press. A considerable portion of his address was devoted to tracing the development of his interest in the motion picture industry as one of several fields in which he saw attempts to wipe out the independent business man. Blockbooking was at first the great evil he saw, and he spoke at length in favor of his bill, long pending in the Senate, to modify this practice. Protection, he declared, would be aimed at next, and in this same bill, by means of amendments. Asserts Monopoly Exists On the basis of both practices he asserted the existence of monopoly by the producerdistributor-chain interests, and on the basis of this alleged monopoly he demanded government action that he declared would be justified even if it went to the length of making the motion picture industry a public utility. "I recognize in the movies an agency of tremendous potentiality in providing wholesome and economical entertainment for the people, in the advancement of culture, and in the propagation of ideas. I have no desire to retard the steadily increasing growth of the business or to cramp the development of the motion picture art. But I would remind my friends in the industry that there is no government worthy of the name that has committed so vital a subject as education solely to private enterprise without retaining some measure of control. "If it be said that the known effects and potentialities of the movies as an educational medium are not sufficient to justify a public interest in what is regarded by some as a purely private business, then there are other grounds. The whole business is founded on a form of property that is not a natural or inherent right, but is in effect a government bounty. It is a fair assumption that the framers of the Constitution and the authors of the copyright law never intended that a copyright should serve as a means for oppressing any part of the people, or of depriving the people of the right to regulate in all needful particulars any agency that is so intimately linked with their happiness and welfare as the movies. Encourages Independents "That the motion picture industry, both by reason of the copyright law and the extent to which it has been manipulated with the indulgence of the prosecuting authorities, is a monopoly, scarcely admits of doubt." He held out encouragement to the independent interests represented by the convention, stating he believed that "a high degree of independence can be restored and maintained in the exhibition of motion pictures if the unconscionable practices saddled on the industry by the Hays crowd can be outlawed." Senator Brookhart's address was followed by election of officers, which named A. Eiseman of Flint (former vice president), president; P. C. Schram of Kalamazoo, vice president; J. E. Niebes of Detroit (former treasurer), secretary; and H. T. Hall of Detroit, treasurer. Directors elected are: Ray Branch, Hastings; Fred De Lodder, Detroit; Allen Johnson, Grand Rapids; E. E. Kirchner, Detroit; Leon Krim, Mount Clemens; Tom Lancaster, Detroit; H. T. Reynolds, Grand Rapids; J. C. Ritter, Detroit; A. Robinson, Detroit; Alex Schrieber, Detroit; Carl Schweighart, Detroit; H. A. Wood, Bangor; Frank Wetsman, Detroit; and Lew Wisper, Detroit. Mount Clemens was decided on as the site of the 1931 convention. The convention began socially on Monday, with a golf tournament, and closed on the same note, with a banquet and dance Wednesday evening. Wednesday morning members were entertained at the plant of the American Seating Company, where they were welcomed by President H. M. Taliaferro. Those Registered at Michigan Convention The following were registered at the convention of the M P T O of Michigan at the Pantlind hotel in Grand Rapids, October 7 and 8: From Detroit Mr. and Mrs. R S. Fisher, Tom Lancaster, Mr. and Mrs. G. Caplan, C. H. Shalet, John E. Niebes, Carl Buermele, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Richey, Mr. and Airs. Alex Schrieber, J. E. Stocker, John G. Golden, H. R. Pettey, Douglas Dickerson, H. C. Robinson, D. Mundstruck, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Cross, G. W. Carr, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Ritter. Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Kirchner, R. C. Taylor, P. M. Sprott, Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Kinney, W. J. Schulte, Mr. and Mrs. Milton G. Goff, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. London, F. A. Wetsman, J. G. Partell, W. N. Flemion, S. K. Decker, Leonard Shecter, Charles A. Komer, Ira A. Waddell, N. Shore, Roger Kennedy, J. J. Thompson, L. C. Becker, Mr. and Mrs. G. G. MacArthur, C. H. Townsend, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. Lenahan, George W. Trendle. Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Rundle, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lau, J. D. Goldhar, R. Barnett, Sydney Hockford, G. L. McCoy, S. L. Gilbert, S. Fisher, Harry Brown, Mitchell Victor, Lew Wisper, Louis De Golden, Samuel Ackerman, M. D. Thompson, F. A. Schneider, G. Kern, T. D. Williams, W. Schulenhelm and Arthur Prescott. From Other Cities Mr. and Mrs. N. E. Frank, Wayland ; Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Dennis, Paw Paw ; Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Cassidy, Midland; L. A. Winchester, Grand Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Harris, Hart ; Fred K. Harris, Hart ; L. L. Ward, Mount Pleasant; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Peck, Trenton; Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Schram and daughter. Kalamazoo. Mr. and MYs. Leon Krim and daughter, Mount Clemens ; Ray Branche. Mason ; C. H. White, Mason; J. A. Price. Hollv; Roy Partee, Reed City: Mr. and Mrs. O. Varneaw, Grand Rapids"; Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Revnolds, Grand Rapids: Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Biechler, Charlotte ; E. T. Conlon, Grand Rapids ; Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Pennell, Bernice Snrines ; O. A. D. Baldwin, Bridgman; E. D Mvers, Shelbv; W. W. Brown, Grand Rapids; Herbert A. Wood, Bangor. Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Marz, Saginaw: Mr. and Mrs. T. Dabek, Saginaw : T. Kulms, Grand Ranids; Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Rhoads, Everett: H. A. Bird. Grand Rapids: Toe Roszko«ki. Grand Rapids: A. Eiseman. F'int; A. L. Puppert. Flint: and H Terrv. William Cook. E. A. Hotchkin and Mr. Lockwood of Lansing. Michigan M P T O Votes Greater Unity Pledge (Special to the Herald-World) GRAND RAPIDS, Oct. 10 The MP T O of Michigan in convention here adopted a pledge of loyalty and support aimed to increase the organization's effectiveness. Each member must sign the pledge, promising, under penalty of dismissal from the association, to: 1. Pay dues monthly in advance. 2. Fully and completely carry out every policy determined by a majority of the board of directors, after receiving notice of the measure, in order that the composite strength of the organization may be maintained. 3. Voice any criticism of the association, its policies or activities, only to the association headquarters or to the board of directors at their regular meeting, either in writing or in person, that the organization may not be handicapped by internal conflict. 4. Respond promptly when the organization asks the member to render personal service 5. Attend the state conventionunless prevented and as many other meetings as feasible. 6. Show in the member's theatre (if any advertising other than his own advance trailers are shown) the advertisement of one advertiser per week, slide, trailer or industrial reel, the revenue derived from such showing to go, in addition to the regular dues, to the association. Three City Councils, 67 Commerce Groups Oppose Daylight Saving (Special to the Herald-World) SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9.— Thomas A. Maloney, president of California's All Right, the league fighting the daylight saving movement in this state, has announced that 67 out of 107 Chamber of Commerce organizations have gone on record as opposed to daylight saving. Of the remaining number, 33 have taken a neutral stand and only seven are in favor of it. The city councils in Oakland, Fresno and Hanford have also refused to adopt the resolution. Motion picture studios are playing a prominent part in the drive against daylight saving, as are labor organizations, railways and other institutions. The question goes to the polls November 4. Court Orders Inquiry Of Blue Law Violations (Special to the Herald-World) LAUREL, MISS., Oct. 9.— Circuit Judge W. Joe Pack scored operators of moving picture shows or other persons guilty of violating Mississippi's Sunday blue laws and instructed the grand jury to investigate thoroughly such violations. He deplored that those high in standing and influence in a city openly defied the law and announced their opening of the shows. He also stated that the plea that "the other fellow wasn't getting punished for similar violations" should not be used. The jurist pointed out certain establishments, such as drug stores, are exempted1 from the blue law inhibitions. Swerling on Long Term (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 9.— Jo Swerling, playwright and novelist, has been signed on a long term contract by Columbia.