Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1923)

642 Motion Picture N e zv s Michigan Opens Tax Relief Drive Questionaires Sent Out Calling For Seventeen Sectional Meetings In State THE opening gun of Michigan's campaign to secure relief from the admission tax was tired this week when letters went to every theatre owner in the >tate containing tjuestionnaires relative to the true situation as it exists, and the catling of seventeen sectional meetings in the state, at which time the situation will be discussed. Sectional meetings will he held in the following cities, on the following dates, with a local chairman in charge of each meeting: July 30. Lansing. Claude E. Cady. chairman: July 31. Kalamazoo. P. C. Schrani. chairman; August 2. Niles, Robert Codd. chairman; August 3. Grand Rapids, G. L. Wilier, chairman; August (i. Muskegon. Paul Schlossman. chairman; August 8. Big Rapids, chairman not selected; August 13. Boyne City, P. Tyrrel, chairman. Beginning again in September meetings will be held at: September 4, Port Huron. H. L. Weil, chairman; September 6, Flint, chairman not selected; September 7. Bad Axe, C. H. Sehuekert. chairman: September 10, Saginaw. Charles (,). Carlisle, chairman: September 12. West Branch. B. Sargent, chairman; September 14. Alpena, chairman not selected; September 18, Marquette, H. S. Gallup, chairman. In attendance at all of these meetings, in addition to H. M. Richey. general manager of the Michigan organization, will be several members of the board of directors. In this manner definite facts and figures to support Michigan's contention that relief is needed will be gathered and proeiited to Congressmen and Senators from Michigan. It is felt that if the men representing Michigan can know the situation that exists, they will be in favor of making some modification in the tax. Actively assisting in the campaign in Michigan will be Judge Alfred J. Murphy, legal counsel for the Michigan organization, who is assisting in the preparation of data and information relative to the tax situation. The fact that many theatre owners in Michigan have had to resort to the buying of cheaper pictures bccau.se they were not making enough money to keep their houses open is a situation that react very disadvantageous^ tor the public, and is a matter that mttsl be corrected, think the Michigan leaders. By getting right next to the pulse of the theatre owner through these sectional meeting, it i felt thai invaluable information can be M. uml. The final meeting will be the big Stale convention at Jackson, the second week in October, at which time the whole situation can be laid down for the theatre owners. An excellent response is being received Irom the questionnaires that are being sent out. These are confidential reports, which are handled by Mr. Richey alone, and from which a composite -urvey of the state will be made. Arrangements are being made to have direct representation in Washington, where all of this information can be supplied, and carried not only to Michigan legislators, but to anyone to whom it will prove valuable information. Brandt Sends Berman On Organization Tour r\ RESIDENT WILLIAM BRANDT \\ is sending Sam Berman, secretary of | the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of the State of New York, on a tour during the second week in September on organization matters. Mr. Berman will visit every exhibitor upstate for the purpose of keeping in close touch with the exhibitors in smaller towns and cities. The state organization has retained a projection engineer to accompany Mr. Berman on his trip. This engineer will look over the equipment of each theatre visited, for the purpose of making suggestions and aiding the exhibitor in bringing this equipment up to date or place it in the best of condition. Also accompanying Mr. Berman will be an insurance expert who is compiling data for the insurance committee recently appointed by President Brandt. The insurance expert will offer suggestions on how to lower the high cost of individual theatre rating, by eliminating unnecessary risks. Trade Boards Hold Good Fellowship Meeting A combined meeting of the Film Boards of Trade of Seattle, Portland and Spokane was recently called by Guy F. Navarre, manager of the Seattle Fox Film exchange and president of the Northwest Film Board of Trade of Seattle. A meeting of branch managers only was to be held in the afternoon and a big dinner and Hi Jinx was to round out the evening at one of the city's largest hotels. Managers, salesmen and bookers from exchanges in the three, cities were invited to attend the combined gathering, and about fifty or seventy-five guests were expected. At the business meeting all important film distributors of the United States were to be represented. The purpose of the gathering, as announced by Mr. Navarre, was to promote good fellowship and a better understanding of the problems that face the film industry in the four northwestern states of Washington, Oregon. Idaho and Montana. Winnipeg Allen Changed To Metropolitan The Allen theatre of Winnipeg, Manitoba, opened Saturday. July 28, under the auspices and direction of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, Limited, Toronto, with a new name and with a new dress, the theatre having been overhauled during the previous four weeks. A contest was conducted while the theatre was dark for a new name for the house, with the result that it is now known as the " Metropolitan theatre." More than 1.800 individual names were suggested in the contest and it happened that " Metropolitan " was offered by 194 persons. The result was that each of the 194 successful contestants will share in the $200 award. New Companies Launched in Delaware Recent Delaware charters include the Akron Arcadia and Realtv Corporation, conducting theatres, cafes, etc., capital $6,000,000; the People's Educational System, dealing in motion pictures and the exhibition of the same, capital $100,000. ■ : Kansas Exhibitors Announce Withdrawal from M.P.T.O.A. During Regime of S. Cohen THE M. P. T. O. Kansas has broken away from the Cohen regime. The action, announced Thursday night in the form of a letter from R. G. L'ggett, president of the Kansas association, to Sydney S. Cohen; followed a meeting of the board of directors of. the M. P. T. O. K.. July 11 and 12. at Kansas City, at which the contemplated action was thoroughly discussed. In Mr. Liggett's letter to Mr. Cohen, in which the former refused to accept the appointment as member of the executive committee at large. Mr. Cohen is informed that the Kansas body in the future will pay no money to the national organization and that it will refrain from accepting any national office at this time. While Kansas has taken a direct break with the Cohen regime, it has not severed its connections with the M. P. T. O. A., as a body. Although no official announcement has been made, it is generally understood that it is Cohen, not the M. P. T. O. A., who does not stand in good grace with the Sunflower exhibitors, and when there comes the time for another national president more popular with Kansas to succeed Cohen, Kansas will not be embarrassed by having severed its relations with the national organization. Mr. Liggett's appointment as a member of the executive committee at large was made July 5, but, owing to action taken by Kansas delegates at the national convention in Chicago which resulted in the withdrawal of Mr. Liggett's name as a candidate for a member of the national board of directors, the Kansas president refrained from accepting the appointment without first having the confirmation of the Kansas directors. The letter to Mr. Cohen follows: " Your letter of July 5, relative to my appointment as a member of the executive committee at large, has been duly received. " Because of action ta£en by Kansas ^delegates at the national convention in Chicago, in withdrawing my name as candidate for a member of the national board of directors, I was reluctant to accept your appointment as a member of the executive board at large without first having confirmation of the directors of the Kansas association. " The regular meeting of directors was held July 11-12 and it was the concensus of opinion of the board that the M. P. T. O. iCarlsps refrain from accepting any national office at this time. It was further agreed that we withhold the payment of any money to the national body. " The M. P. T. O. Kansas is ready and willing at all times to co-operate with and lend support to any measure which has the exhibitors' welfare at heart, whether same is sponsored by the national body or individual state units. " Respectfully yours (Signed) " R. G. Liggett, Predisent." "M. P. T. O. Kansas,