Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1925)

J line ZO , 192 5 mi $100,000 Budget for M.P.T.O. A. To Appoint Executive Richey Gen'l Mgr.; Play date Bureau Separate Unit ABUD(tI']T of $100,000, with three quarters of tlie amount already pledged, of which $7,500 has been paid in ca«h and the l)alance secured by 'notes. Decision to appoint a high-powered executive, who would operate under the control of the Board of Directors, of which Sydney S. Colien is chairman. Though no olficial announcement has been made, it is understood that Former Governor J. A. 0. Preus, of Minnesota, and James J. Davis, Secretary of Labor, are among those lieing considered for tliis post. Selection of an organization manager for the M. P. T. U. A. Decision was made to give this appointment to Henderson M. Richey, now General Manager of the Michigan M. P. T. 0., according to reliable information, and an oflficial announcement may be expected shortly. The naming' of an important new Finance Committee, composed of Sydney S. Cohen, M. E. Comerford, W. A. Steffes, Glenn Cross and Harry Davis. Appointment of a committee to negotiate a new standard film contract and extension of arbitration to include allocation of product and unfair competition. This committee is as follows : Joseph M. Seider, chairman; M. E. Comerford, Edward M. Fav, A. Julian Brvlawski, Charles L. O'Reilly, R. R. Biechele, W. A. Steffes, and H. M. Richey. Handling of the funds and management of the Bureau of Trade and ■Commerce (Playdate Bureau) as a distinct unit; and the creation of a ■Committee of Fifteen — tive from the M. P. T. 0. A. — five from the contributing producers and five from the public — so that the Bureau may function in direct contact with production, exhibition and patronage. Naming of four vice-presidents; the executive committee. ■Committee appointed on revision of the Constitution and By-Laws. These were the important matters settled, or started well on their way, at the meeting of the National Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America held at the Roosevelt Hotel, New York City, last week. Those present at the Board meeting were National President R. F. Woodhull ; Sydney S. Cohen, Chairman of the Board ; National Treasurer L. M. Sagal; R. R. Biechele of Kansas; A. Julian Brylawski, Washington, D. C. ; M. E. Comerford, Scranton, Pa.; Fred Dolle, Louisville, Ky.; E. M. Fay, Providence, R. I.; A. A. Kaplan, Minne:apolis, Minn. ; Jack Miller, Chicago, 111. ; J. •C. Ritter, Detroit, Mich.; J. M. Seider, Newark, N. J. ; Jake Wells, Richmond, Va. ; Xi. B. Wilson, Covington, Ky. ; C. L. ■O'Reilly, New York; George P. Aarons, Philadelphia; H. A. Cole, Dallas, Texas; •Grlenn Cross, Battle Creek, Michigan; A. A. Elliott, Hudson, N. Y. ; Charles Nathan, Peoria, 111. ; Fred C. Seegert, Milwaukee, Wis. ; W. A. Steffers, Minneapolis, Minn. ; J. Whitehurst, Baltimore, Md. ; Nathan Yamins, Fall River, Mass.; M. J. O'Toole, Scranton, Pa. National Headquarters of the M. P. T. O. A. issued the following statement on the meeting : "The Chairman, Sydney S. Cohen, called the meeting to order and gave a general report of the activities of the organization and the development of the Bureau of Trade ^nd Commerce since Milwaukee. ''Commenting on the Board's program of activities during the Wednesday and Thursday session, Mr. Cohen stated that on Wednesday, in order to facilitate the work on hand, special sub-committees were appointed to consider the matters to be discussed at the two days' session, and to report to the general Board on Thursday their deliberations. "The Ways and Mearus sub-committees governed the question of dues and recommended that the same plan be adopted as carried out during 1924 and 1925, with this alteration — theatres in towns under 2,500 population be assessed $5.00 per annum, and theatres in towns under 5,000 population at $10 per annum. The schedule of dues now in operation is as follows : "Theatres of 500 seats or under, $26 per annum. "Theatres of 500 to 1,000 seats, $52 per annum. "Theatres of 1,000 to 1,500 seats, $78 per annum. "Theatres of 1,500 to 2,000 seats, $104 per annum. "Theatres of 2,000 to 2,500 seats, $136 per annum. "Theatres over 2,500 seats, $156 per annum. "All theatres in towns under 2,500 population, $5 per annum. "All theatres in towns under 5,000 population, $10 per annum. "Recommendations for the en"'n"in2' oi Ihc services of an organization manager were made and adopted. "A committee designated as the c'onnnittee on By-Laws and Legislation was appointed to revise the present Constitution and By-Laws. The Conunittee to report at a later meeting of the Board. "It was decided that the report ana recommendation regarding Arbitration and the Standard Exhibition Contract submitted by Joseph M. Seider and approved at the Milwaukee convention, be carried out by the Board of Directors, and a committee was appointed following the decision of the Board to confer with producers on the approved standard contract, and also relative to the resolution adopted at the convention regarding the inability of theatre owners to secure film. "After due deliberation and in consideration of the negotiations for the putting into operation the mandate of the convention in relation to the allocation of product, unfair competition and unfair competifive methods of circuits and chains of theatres operated by producer theatre owner, this Committee fnrtlier recommended that the committee elected as above, shall also be the committee for the carrying out of the resolution in relation thereto passed at Milwaukee. The resolution follows : " 'Resolved, That this Convention approve, endorse and support most vigorously a plan to extend the principles of arbitration to grievances of exhibitors against producers and distributors arising out of their inability to secure service of film because of the unfair competitive methods of circuits and chains of theatres owned by these producers and distributors, and also because of the inability of theatre owner's to secure film for the operation of their theatres, because of the unfair competitive methods of circuits and chains of theatre operators, and to that end the Board of Directors meet in confei*ence in New York City with the representatives of the producers and distributors for the purpose of drafting an agreement embodying such plan.' "In order to kee]) the Bureau of Trade and Commerce a clearly defined organization for the purposes so named, Trade and Commerce, it was decided to keep the funds, manag'ement and development of this Bureau as a distinct unit; and not directly a part of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America organization, although urider its gTiidanee and patronage. A committee consisting of five exhibitors, Nathan Yamins, W. A. Steffes, L. M. Sagal, A. Julian Bry. lawski and Sydney S. Cohen, was appointed — alternates, Jake Wells and James Ritter. This committee to have full and complete authority to work in conjunction with UnivCTsal's representatives, Film Booking Offices and the Independent Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association and other producing companies under considerntion. (C <)}i1'nnti<1 1)11 page 3037)