Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March i o , 1923 1151 New Protective Association Formed on Coast Screen Stars Will Combat Booking Combinations and Build Own Theatres THE plans of a group of motion picture stars on the West Coast, headed by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, to form a co-operative business organization for the purpose of using their combined strength to combat exhibiting conditions in certain sections, which has been outlined in a general way previously, were given further consideration Thursday, February 22, when Mr. Fairbanks, Miss Pickford, Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin, Dennis F. O'Brien, representing D. W. Griffith, and Joseph M. Schenck, representing Norma and Constance Talmadge, held a meeting at Los Angeles, where all parties pledged themselves to contribute to a fund which will meet the cost of operation of the new organization. Following this meeting the legal machinery necessary to bring such an organization into being was started and corporation papers are now being drawn. The new company or organization has not been named as yet. A specific purpose of the organization will be to obtain for the pictures in which the various stars appear more satisfactory playing engagements than have prevailed in the past. . The stars plan to combat exhibitor circuits, arrange for more advantageous runs, which probably means longer runs, in all the larger cities and secure for their product in such districts, cities or towns, known as " closed," the sort of contracts that they believe their pictures are entitled to. They even plan to build theatres where their interests cannot be protected otherwise. The meeting held last Thursday was only preliminary, but it is planned to have the new organization functioning at an early date. The organization meeting is scheduled for the very near future. Immediately following the Thursday meeting a statement was issued to the Associated Press. The text of this statement called, "A Declaration of Independence,' follows : " Certain combinations and groups of persons and corporations are being formed in the motion picture business which will dwarf the artistic growth of the motion picture, and we, who are directly responsible to the public for the merit of our productions and having a profound regard for this responsibility, deem it necessary at this time to form an organization which will protect the independent producer and the independent exhibitor against these commercial combinations and enable us to keep faith with the public." What direct action may be expected from the group of stars is, of course, a matter of pure conjecture, but it is known that all of the persons who have banded together have felt that their pictures were not receiving justice in a great many quarters. The problem of adequate playing dates for the super-picture is considered vital. With practically every key city theatre of importance owned or controlled by a producer or distributor and the policy of many of these houses arranged for a weekly change of bill, the question of getting indefinite run dates for big pictures has become largely a matter of barter. Where the theatre is advantageously situated many pictures made by the stars mentioned above have been accorded no better treatment than an ordinary feature. In some TwentySeven Bills Hostile to Industry Defeated CHARLES C. PETTIJOHN, general counsel of the M. P. P. D. A., this week returned from a four weeks' trip for the Hays organization which took him as far as the West Coast, and which he reports as having been highly successful. During the trip, he was active in legislative matters and twenty-seven adverse bills were defeated, fourteen of which dealt with additional taxation on distributors and exhibitors, and thirteen with censorship. Mr. Pettijohn points out that his activities were not merely for the benefit of the producers and distributors in the Hays organization but for exhibitors as well. He also reports several successful conferences with Douglas Fairbanks and William DeMille on production cost data, and emphasizes the fact that the relations between the Hays office and Fairbanks are entirely cordial. Mr. Pettijohn left again this week to appear before the Michigan legislature, which is considering a censorship bill. cases two-week runs have been secured, and in others the theatre has paid for two weeks and only used the feature for one week, preferring to take rental loss rather than deviate from the weekly change policy than has been established. In certain territories some pictures produced by the stars, notably the Fairbanks, Pickford and Griffith productions, have been barred out entirely, the " closed town " managers declining to pay the prices asked or agree to the terms wanted by the distributors. In the case of Norma and Constance Talmadge, Harold Lloyd and Chaplin, it is presumed that the reason for dissatisfaction arises over their belief that other productions sponsored by the distributors with whom they are affiliated are benefiting at their expense. Mr. Chaplin, too, in view of the fact that he is about to release through United Artists probably anticipates that he will find himself hampered by the conditions under which Mr. Fairbanks, Miss Pickford and Mr. Griffith have labored. It is also understood that the difficulties of road showing pictures has also entered into the plans of the new organization. Theatres suitable for a big production have not been available in many cities and in consequence " flops " have been encountered where big successes might reasonably been expected under normal conditions. The fact that Mr. Schenck has joined the new player group has given rise to much speculation. It is assumed that his interest is, in a measure, personal and that he is not investing in a proposition that means the expenditure of perhaps millions without some greater purpose than the advancement of the artistic growth of motion pictures. The affiliation of Harold Lloyd also brings speculation. So far as is known, Hal Roach, Mr. Lloyd's producer, is not represented. The question that naturally is asked when the new organization is under discussion is whether or not the various stars are some time in the future planning to release through the same distribution unit. There is a chance that the player organization may be further expanded by the addition of other stars or production units, for invitation has been extended to " any star of accepted importance and comparing in box office value with those named " to join the group. Additions to the company must, however, prove acceptable to all the members. Wisconsin Legislature Bill Opposed by Labor Wisconsin exhibitors, with the co-operation of Wisconsin labor, are opposing a bill introduced into the legislature to regulate the showing of moving pictures. Exhibitors say that the bill will not improve motion pictures because at present they are turning down films approved by the National Board of Review and are putting forth their best efforts to present clean films to the public. The bill reads: " No person, co-partnership, association or corporation operating any theatre, moving picture theatre, hall or place of amusement exhibiting or showing moving pictures shall show or exhibit any motion picture or film projected upon the screen to which minors under the age of 16 may be admitted, unless accompanied by their parents or guardians, unless such motion picture or film shall have first been passed by the National Board of Review and shall bear the imprint of such film of said National Board of Review; or if not so passed, unless it shall be passed or approved by a committee of not more than three in number appointed by the common council, town or village board, as the case may be, of the city, town or village in which such theatre, moving picture theatre, hall or place of amusement may be located." Kansas Reformers Beaten But New Tax Bill Looms Another setback was handed Kansas reformers this week when the State of Affairs committee of the legislature killed the Sunday closing bill, which would have closed all places of amusement on Sunday where an admission was charged. This action followed closely the death blow that was dealt another radical measure, which would have made it necessary for all persons less than 18 years old to obtain a written permit to attend theatres at night. With both of these bills out of the way, Kansas exhibitors had just begun to breathe easy when a measure, which would levy a 6 per cent tax upon the box office receipts of Kansas theatres to be applied to the school fund, was introduced. " Such a tax bill, if passed, would put many theatres out of business," R. G. Liggett, president of the M. P. T. 0., Kansas, said : " The war is over and there is no justification for such a tax on theatres. Why should we bear the burden any way ? "