Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 1, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 33 E FALL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY WAS HELD AT THE PENNSYLVANIA HOTEL, OCTOBER 20-23. MP TO A Convention Predicted as Best Since It Was Started Every Division of Industry Is Expected to Be Represented at Philadelphia (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 30.— Indications are that the coming convention of the M P T O A in Philadelphia will be one of the largest gatherings of exhibitors and others in the industry since the inception of the organization. Sessions will be held at the Benjamin Franklin hotel, November 10, 11 and 12. Every division of the industry will be represented. Higher executives of most producing companies will be present to speak at the convention or the dinner. They have promised a message of great business value to exhibitors. Woodhull Return Seen It was learned today also that R. F. Woodhull, absent for some time from exhibitor organization circles, may again become active at the Philadelphia conclave. It is understood that pressure is being brought to bear to assure his attendance. Sidney R. Kent will address the convention on the contract conferences and other important subjects. The exhibitor report on the Atlantic City conference will be made by President M. A. Lightman. M. E. Comerford, member of the board, has an important statement to make in furtherance of the service work of the M P T O A. His plan, it is understood, involves definite lines of activity which he has well thought out and arranged in conjunction with other exhibitors and public officials. Banquet Speakers Chosen At the banquet on Armistice Night the principal speakers will be Congressman William P. Connery, Ir., of Massachusetts, Major General Smedley Butler of the Marines, David Stern, publisher of the Philadelphia Record, Governor lohn S. Fisher of Pennsylvania, Mayor Harry A. Mackey of Philadelphia and others. Charles L. O'Reilly of the T O C C, New York, will head a delegation from this city. Theatre owners not members of the MPTOA and all others in any way identified with or interested in the motion picture business are welcome to attend and listen to the discussions and business of the convention, the leaders announce. They also are invited to the convention banquet. First-Runs Are Given 42 Days Protection in Cincinnati Plan System Finally Worked Out and Submitted to Distributor Executives for Action — Approval Regarded as Certain — Seven Days Added for Each Outlying Group [By a Staff Correspondent to the Herald-World] CINCINNATI, Oct. 30. — The zoning plan for Cincinnati finally has been settled upon, after a series of meetings in various parts of the territory, proposals and counterproposals seeking settlement of the issues involved. The plan now awaits the approval of the distributor executives in New York. Under the terms of the plan as it is now drawn up, first-run houses are given 42 days protection. Any second-run pictures, however, in the theatres of the downtown district are to be shown during that period. Groups Outlying Theatres The theatres in the immediate outlying districts are divided by the plan into five groups, this arrangement being according to location and with a certain number of out that he opened his new theatre at a strategic moment, for he will now have factual evidence to prove that there is nothing wrong with business conditions when he goes to Philadelphia to preside at the annual convention of the MPTOA November 10-12. Lightman was formerly president of the M P T O of the South. houses in each group. Protection in these neighborhood theatres is determined on the basis of the 42 days plus seven days more, for the first group (that containing those theatres located closest to the first-run district). In this manner seven days is added for each group, making the first-run clearances increase from 42 days to 49 days to 56 days, and so on. Approval Called Certain A zone outside the city extends 25 miles out from the city, and in this district the protection period under the plan is 14 days, beginning from the closing of the first-run in Cincinnati. It is not expected here that many, if any, changes will be introduced by the New York executives, and acceptance is regarded as certain. Lightman Gets Ready For MPTOA Convention By Opening New House (Special to the Herold-World) NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARK., Oct. 30. — M. A. Lightman, president of the MPTOA, opened a new theatre here this week, which will be known as the Rialto. The official opening and dedication took place Monday evening, October 27. The house is the newest in the circuit of Malco Theatres, owned by Lightman. Lightman's exhibitor friends are pointing Indiana Exhibitors Join Fight on "Monopolistic Business Conditions" (Special to the Herald-World) INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 30.— Organization has been completed here of the Association Against Business Monopoly, Inc., and the statement is made that its purpose is "to assist theatre owners, shopkeepers and store operators in their fight against monopolistic conditions in their business." Articles of incorporation have been filed. Two theatre men are named among the incorporators. They are Theodore H. leffries of this city and Frank J. Rembusch, a theatre operator of Shelbyville. The commercial conditions which the organization will fight are similar, it is explained, to "those existing in the motion picture industry, where the large operators compel operators of individual theatres to sign contracts agreeing to take films that are sent to them." Ask Receiver for House (Special to the Herald-World) KINGSTON, N. Y, Oct. 30.— The Supreme Court has been requested to appoint a receiver in the mortgage foreclosure action against the Kingston Theatre Corporation, operators of the Broadway theatre in this city. The Kingston Trust Company is owner of the mortgage.