Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1923)

August ii, 1923 645 Rembusch ReJoins Indiana M.P.T.O. M. P. T. 0. the numerous He FRANK REMBUSCH has issued a statement setting forth his reasons for rejoining the Indiana attributes his decision to quests from Indiana exhibitors and has consequently put aside his anti-Cohen sentiments. Mr. Rembusch says in part : -I weighed the facts and concluded that my first duty is to my own state. Furthermore, I would be a man of stone if I did not appreciate with all my heart the very cordial and friendly invitation by my fellow exhibitors to come along. They insisted that they could not have an organization without me," and said that many Indiana exhibitors would not join unless I did, so it became then my duty to forget any personal opinions and join 100 per cent. •• I am also particularly gratified that all the big circuits in Indiana and big exhibitors who were out joined at the same time I did, which means that we are going to be one of the leaders in strong state organizations in America. President Heller and Chairman Schmidt have a plan to finance the organization which I feel will succeed, and finances mean everything. Need of National Organization " No state can afford to split apart. Better not affiliate with any national organization than a split in a state. In state matters we must all join with the majority, whether the majority be right or wrong. This is why in the three years I have been out of the state organization I never tried to start another state organization. " If every exhibitor in America will get back of his state organization with all his might, vour national problems will solve themselves. The weakness of state organizations is what has caused political strife and inefficient results nationally. Without strong state organizations you will never succeed in any national effort." In his talk to exhibitors at the Indiana convention, Mr. Rembusch explained his situation regarding the Patterson movement expense as follows : '• Xo one in this industry can claim to greater sacrifices of time and money for the success of organizations which had for their purposes the general uplift and betterment of Gives Reasons In Long Statement Robt. C. Bruce Warns Trade Against Impostor A LETTER received from Robert C. Bruce, producer of "The Wilderness Tales," from Portland, Ore., asks that the trade and its patrons be warned against a man who is going about through the West under the assumed names of " Robert Bruce " and " Robert W. Bruce," soliciting funds to float a company while posing as the " Wilderness Tales " producer. Mr. Bruce describes the impostor to be a man of medium height, about two hundred pounds in weight, and of dark complexion. Mr. Bruce adds that as far as he can learn the man's real name is " Bruce Colman." The man was last located in Reno, Nev., but left there about July 16th. Previously he had been operating in San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles. Rex Ingram shooting a big mob scene for the Metro production, " Scaramouche." this industry than myself. I confess that for over ten years there was uppermost in my mind ' a united industry.' So you may understand why I feel so keenlv the injustice of 1920. " I will number a few of the efforts made, which today I see were based on an unwarranted enthusiasm, but were, nevertheless, important stones for the future. All my efforts were without personal gain. My regret is that these activities, because the industry was young, did not always accomplish their purposes. " I was elected national president of the I. M. P. E. of A. at the Chicago convention in April, 1920, to further the Patterson movement. Those who attended will remember how I suggested that we go home and forget the whole affair, because of a lack of funds. However, the exhibitors present pledged themselves to $10,000, if necessary, and, accordingly, I brought about the wonderful convention in Cleveland, obligating the Independents without a cent in the treasury. I readily confess to using poor judgment, as my faith in exhibitor promises was greater than it should have been. Chicago pledged and Cleveland agreed to pay, but the usual political clap-trap was put out to the exhibitor while the new officers said to me, ' to the victor belongs the spoils.' Paid Bills of Chicago Convention " When the bills came in I had to pay or stand suit. Every time I refused to pay the court overruled. However, it is certain that if I had to pay, then every exhibitor who was in any way connected with the Patterson movement is also liable, and eventually I will find a way to collect. The last judgment is on a bill of $3,000 of Attorney Sultzberger, who made the contract between producers and exhibitors, for a trip to see Mr. Taft, who was to become the head of the theatre owners. This judgment stands against my home and is a standing example of what rewards there are in exhibitor organization work. This whole thing is in the hands of my attorney and I hope no exhibitor will feel ill if he is made to pay part of it, when he considers that for three years I have shouldered all of it. The only exhibitor on the committee of seventeen who paid anything was Louis Blumenthal (about $300). which helped my burden that much. I solicited some good friends, who also contributed to part of it. The rest of it I will have to bring suit for, and I think I can collect what I have spent. " There is nothing bitter in the matter. It's only business. I did what the Chicago convention asked me to do, brought together the largest gathering at the Cleveland convention in our history — secured all of the greater producers to the pledge to remain out of the theatre business if we kept out of the producing business, and turned it all over to the new organization, who have received the applause of all for their inactivity. '• 1 didn't ask for a copyright on the bigman idea which came to me because I knew that many of us had tried to hold the exhibitors and failed. I felt a big American at our head would give us great prestige before the world and bring faith between each other. History has proven that I am right. The producers took our idea, they have the big man, and run the industry in addition to controlling the picture market. So, if there is any exhibitor in America who has an excuse for remaining out of the organization it is I, who still remained the victim of unwarranted faith in my fellow exhibitors. However, I still feel it is better to be in than out, and if we haven't succeeded the first time, or the tenth time, we are better off to try, try again. Let's go!" Visual I nstruction Classes Interest Washington The subject of the Americanization school's classes in visual instruction at the private projection room in Crandall's Metropolitan theatre last Tuesday morning, afternoon and evening was "Keeping Out Bad Fools." The film so titled was supplied by the United States Department of Agriculture. Miss Aiton's classes were in charge of Mrs. Kiernan, specially assigned to this work, and were attended by Miss Lida Hafford, director of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Washington headquarters, and Mrs. Katherine Frances Carter, assistant director, who expressed much interest in the work. Mrs. Mabel L. Benson, in charge of the day classes in Americanization, brought out a large enrollment of foreign hotel and restaurant workers, to whose daily tasks the lesson was particular^' applicable. Mr. Crist, director of Americanization, and several of his associates were interested visitors who left highly enthusiastic over the value of the visual education Mr. Crandall has made possible. to Hal Roach Is Admitted Hays Organization Hal Roach has been admitted to membership in the Motion Picture Producers' and Distributors' Association, according to word from the Will Hays organization. Roach at present is producing " Her Dangerous Path," a serial with Edna Murphv. His latest feature, " The Call of the Wild." from the Jack London story, had its world premiere at the California theatre in Los Angeles, July 22.