Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

December i , 1923 2549 Hays Aiding Tax Repeal Campaign WILL H. HAYS has accepted the invitation of a group of exhibitor leaders, headed by W. A. Steffes, President of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Minnesota, to lead the fight for repeal of the Admission Tax. Official announcement of this important development was made this week by the Hays office, when telegrams exchanged between the French Lick Mid-West exhibitors' conference and Mr. Hays were released for publication. The telegraphic correspondence follows: " French Lick, Ind.. Nov. 14. 1923. •Will H. Hays, President Motion Picture Producers and Distributors, New York. N. V. " We, the undersigned representatives of our respective states assembled in French Lick this fourteenth day of November in a Central States conference on the Admission Tax Question, have been designated as a committee to request you to assume the leadership in behalf of the exhibitors represented by us in an effort to secure the repeal of the admission tax Hind other taxes now burdening the industry. We therefore request that you immediately ".all a meeting of one leader from each state at which time a definite plan of action can be outlined. If you will accept this responsibility we pledge to you our undivided support and eomplete cooperation that this relief so vitally needed by this industry may be secured. Wire Mr. Steffes here today if possible."" Joseph R. Dexistox. Michigan, Lcdwig Seigel, Illinois. H. A. Cole, Texas, H. B. Yarxer, North Carolixa. Jake Wells, Virginia, Harry Craxdall, per Wells, R. G. Liggett, Kaxsas. by S. A. Handy. Grs Schmidt, Ixdiaxa, W. A. Steffes. Mixxesota, Chairman. Hays Makes Reply To which Mr. Havs replied : "November 15. 1923: <Wm. A. Steffes, " French Lick, Indiana. Telegram from committee received last light. I appreciate the spirit which prompts t and the confidence which it evidences and ._jld be glad if I could be of service in this matter which is of course of vital interest to branches of the industry and of real public ioncem. I would be glad if I might consult Invited by Exhibitor Group Home of Johnnie Walker Looted in Hollywood THE Hollywood home of Johnnie Walker, F. B. O. screen star, was broken into recently, and stripped of all portable objects of value, including all the table silver, toilette articles, and curios which Walker has spent several years in collecting. A set of dishes, inlaid with gold, which Johnnie received on the occasion of his wedding to Rene Parker, well known musical comedy artist, was also among the valuables stolen. Police were immediately notified as soon as the robbery was discovered, and special detectives put on the case, but thus far no clues as to the identity of the house-breaker have been found. Allen Holubar Dies at Los reles Home Ang( ALLEN HOLUBAR. one of the most prominent of film directors, died at his home in Los Angeles after a six weeks' illness following an operation. He is survived by his wife, known professionally as Dorothy Phillips; a daughter. Gwendolyn, and his mother. He was taken ill soon after beginning work on " Human Mills," which was to be the first of a series of four pictures for Metro. Allen Holubar was born in San Francisco in 1889. After a successful career on the stage in stock and repertoire companies, he joined Universal in 1914 and appeared in several pictures, among them " Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." He became a director for Universal and made, among others. " The Heart of Humanity " and " The Right to Happiness." For First National he directed a series of pictures, notably " Man. Woman. Marriage " and " Hurricane's Gal." For Goldwyn he made " Broken Chains." by phone or in person at a very early date with your committee or with a committee of say three whom you might elect for that purpose and in such consultation decide as to the most convenient date and place and the general plan of any meeting or meetings that might be held for the purposes suggested in the telegram. By means of such consultation we can plan the best way to proceed. With very kindest regards and best wishes to all. • WILL H. HAYS."' H. M. Richev, General Manager of the Michigan M. P." T. 0., is in New York this week on matters connected with the tax repeal campaign. Inauguration of a campaign for the repeal of the war tax on theatre admissions will be the subject of a sub-convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Washington, to he held in Seattle within the next two weeks, with all eastern Washington theatre owners in attendance. Exhibitors Get Busy Announcement of the sub-convention plans were made by Ray A. Grombacher, member of the executive committee of the state organization, which met last week at Seattle. Realizing that the present admission tax is costing them thousands of dollars a year, and that it is absolutely unnecessary, motion picture exhibitors in central New York are responding to a letter which left Albany last Friday over the signature of Charles Walder. manager of the Goldwyn exchange, and named by the Albany Fiim Board of Trade to get tlie campaign under way. Exhibitors to a man in that section which extends west to Svracuse. north to the Canadian border and south to Ponghkeepsie and Binghamton. are behind the movement. Every exchange in Albany <tands pledged to do its best to bring about a repeal of the obnoxious tax. Robert Bendell has been named to take up the matter with the congressmen representing the Capital District, and exhibitors in other places are being urged not to delay for an hour in getting word to their respective congressmen and present their arguments. Decision Halts Picketing in Kansas City Picketing, which long has been a source of worry to Kansas City exhibitors, became a burden of the past with a decision of the circuit court in Kansas City this week. The case, Jay Means of the Murray theatre and F. A. Gibbons of the Prospect theatre, operating as partners, against the Musicians' Union Local No. 34 and the Motion Picture Operators' Union Local No. 170, has been pending before the court for some time. In issuing a permanent restraining order against picketing, the court cited these reasons, excerpts of which follow : "The owner of the theatre has the right of the use of the sidewalk for ingress and egress for himself and employees and his patrons. The method of picketing is a violation of the rights of the theatre owner. The evidence shows that it had the effect of reducing the plaintiff's patronage and his income. It is an interference with the plaintiff's business, therefore an interference with the use of his property.*' Laboratories Organize to Protect Interests The Film Laboratories Credit Association was born at a dinner conference of laboratory executives and representatives at the Hotel Astor last Thursday. It is the avowed purpose of the organization to check waste and put a curb on "wildcat" producers. The association will begin functioning December 1. The Film Laboratories Credit Association is the result of a spontaneous movement on the part of the laboratory men to protect themselves against unscrupulous promoters and distributors who order prints shipped C. 0. D. and then refuse to accept them. Through these and other practices the laboratories suffer tremendous losses annually, in addition to having their vaults jammed with many worthless negatives left as security for prints. About thirty concerns were represented at the meeting. Intermountain Trade Board in First Conference The first semi-annual conference and banquet given under the ausniees of the Interp ountain Film Board of Trade was held Last Saturday evening. November 10, at the Newhouse hotel, Salt Lake City. This event was the culmination of the efforts of the local board and film managers to inaugurate a series of such meetings for the good of the industry, and to form a closer understanding and co-operation among the board of trade, the film managers, hookers and salesmen. The twelve exchanges affiliated with the Hays' organization in Salt Lake City called in all their salesmen from the territories. Fiftynine plates in all were provided around a U banquet table., A dinner was served during which music, speeches and songs were enjoyed