Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1923)

672 Do Exhibitors Want Tax Repealed] No Interest in Bill to Abolish LowPrice Theatre Tax, Says Congresman JH. MICHAEL, chairman of the executive committee of the Western New York •Motion Picture Theatre Owners, Inc., and manager of the Regent theatre, is in receipt of a letter from Representative Clarence MacGregor of the 41st district, New York, who recently introduced a bill in Congress calling for the abolition of the tax on low price theatre admissions, in which he sets forth an amazing situation — the non-interest of exhibitors of the state and country in a bill which would mean a saving of millions of dollars a year to the theatre men. Although Mr. MacGregor introduced the bill he got no encouragement, according to the letter ; nor, it seems, was there any interest whatever on the part of exhibitors or exhibitor organizations. It is just this sort of innocuous desuetude that is going to help keep censorship in New York state, according to Mr. Michael, who points to the already widespread campaign on the part of women's clubs and others to keep the state motionpicture commission in Albany. In commenting on the situation as regards the tax bill, Mr. MacGregor says that a month has passed and he has received outside of Mr. Michael's letter " just two letters on the bill and one request for a congressman in answer to a letter from a constituent." And in the face of this situation many exhibitors are complaining about the tax admissions. Mr. MacGregor's letter to Mr. Michael follows : " This session of Congress will end on March 4th and there will probably be no extra session. This means that Congress will reconvene in December. " From now until Congress reconvenes would not be any too long a time to create a demand for the passage of the bill to remove the tax on low price theatre admissions. " To illustrate the matter let me call attention to the fact that I introduced the bill December 13, 1922. It was carried in the press dispatches of the Associated Press pretty widely. " A month has passed and I have received outside of your letter just two letters on the bill and one request for a Congressman in answer to a letter from a constituent. " I recall when I first came down there was a demand for the removal of the tax on soda water and I assure you that I received from ten to fifteen letters a day on the matter and all other members were having the same experience. It took a little time but the Tax was removed. M.P.T.O.A. Issues Separate Charters in Missouri THE Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America has issued separate charters to the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Eastern Missouri of which Mr. Joseph Mogler, of St. Louis. Mo., is president, and to the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Missouri, of which Mr. Charles T. Sears, of Nevada. Mo., is president. This was done at the request of the Theatre Owners of the State at their recent convention at Excelsior Springs, Mo., where a resolution was submitted requesting same and unanimously adopted. " The fur dealers and jewelers are still working on their matter but they have nothing like as popular a thing as you have to work on." It looks like it is time for the exhibitors of the country to get behind this measure 100 per cent, and create a demand for the passage of the bill or forever hold their peace when a " friend in Washington " tries to help them turn losing houses into profitable ones — for that is just what the war tax means in many cases. Forty-Five Week's Total in Carolina Music Suits Organized exhibitor circles in North Carolina were greatly surprised to learn during the past week that a total of forty-five cases had been entered for suit against Carolina theatre owners for infringement of the music copyright laws by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. John H. Manning, Esq., of Raleigh is state representative for the music people and has been threatening suit for some six or eight months ; however, the actual filing of this number of actions against exhibitors in the State leads one to believe that few exhibitors have paid the music license fee demanded by the Society. Twenty-nine of the cases are filed in the United States Court for the Western Districts of North Carolina and sixteen suits in the Eastern Districts and will come up within the next few weeks for preliminary hearings. It is expected that the theatre owners will pool their interests in defending the actions against them. Movie Censorship Bill Is Presented in Nebraska The Nebraska state legislature has received a movie censorship bill, which was expected, according to an announcement made several weeks ago. Nebraska motion picture men are interested but not excited. Two years ago when a similar bill was presented to the legislature the movie interests succeeded in defeating the proposed measure. J. E. Kirk and C. E. Williams, representing the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Nebraska, have been to Lincoln, the state capital, and will go again to keep in touch with the situation. A. R. Pramer, president of the association, announced recently that the members of his organization will not go to any great length in an effort to defeat this legislation, but if the bill should be enacted, which is not probable, they will invoke the referendum and thus hold the act in abeyance until the voters of the state can express themselves. They are confident that on a state-wide referendum a censorship law would be defeated. Receivership Asked For New Jersey Corp. An application for receivership has been filed by Libman and Spanger against the New Jersey Theatres Corp. and the owner of the LindHirst theatre at Lindhurst. Assets are reported at $90,000 and liabilities at $85,000, including a mortgage on the property. Motion Picture News National Board of Review Holds Annual Luncheon THE ANNUAL get-together luncheon of the National Board of Review was scheduled to be held Saturday, February 3, in the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria, New York City. The National Committee for Better Films, affiliated with the National Board, was to join in the event. The topic for the luncheon, " The Future of the Exceptional Photoplay," was to be discussed by a group of speakers, to include: Everett Dean Martin, until recently chairman of the National Board; Walter Prichard Eaton, essayist; Clayton Hamilton, author; Kenneth MacGowan, dramatic critic of the New York Globe and former director of Goldwyn's scenario department; Senator James J. Walker, majority leader of New York Senate; Rex Ingram, Reginald Warde and Ferdinand Pinney Earle. Madame Nazimova and Charles Bryant were also to be present. Milwaukee F.LL.M. Ass'n Holds Election The F. I. L. M. Association of Milwaukee at a meeting on Friday elected Geo. Levine, local manager of the Universal exchange, president; Wm. A. Ashmun, of Pathe, vice president ; Robert Hess, secretary, and Arthur H. Grey, of the Wisconsin Film Association, treasurer. This organization, which has been in existence for a number of years, is composed of managers of the various film companies and works for complete co-operation between the distributing and exhibiting branches of the local industry. A . " grievance " committee was appointed, and will act as a board of directors in amicably settling all complaints and making whatever adjustments are necessary. The committee includes Charles Trampe, MidWest Distributing Corporation; Arthur j Grey, Wisconsin Film Association ; Ray Smith, Ray Smith Co.; Max Stahl, Educa-i tional, and John Ludwig, John Ludwig Film; Co. A committee will also co-operate with I the Legislative Committee of the Wisconsin j Exhibitors' Association in activities against proposed state legislature bills. Frisco Manager Attempts to Halt Bold Thief Manager L E. Phelps, of the Tivoli theatre, San Francisco, last Friday night became a local hero through his courageous attempt to capture a thief who obtained two coin bags from the box office. Manager Phelps was inside the house at the time of the theft. The thief asked for a ticket, and as he received it, put his arm through the window and seized two coin sacks. The cashier, Mrs. Marjorie McKenzie, seized another bag, containing $500, and began to scream, as the man darted away. The crowd about the lobby was too dazed to move, and as Manager Phelps came from the house and saw the situation, he made after the thief. Despite his threats, he pursued him for four blocks, when the thief entered a waiting automobile and escaped. It is said that Manager Phelps' prompt action saved the $500, as no one else had made a move toward the man. The police were | notified and a description sent out.