Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

October 28, 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 2663 Illinois Exhibitors' Meeting in Chicago Is Largest in Two Years; Two Hundred Present nOMEN'S CLVBS OF NEBRASKA URGE SHOW ING OF THE BETTER FILMS Women's clubs of Nebraska, individually and collectively, have lined up to boycott the motion picture theatres that do not show the better class of films. No action looking toward censorship has been taken, however — luckily for the Nebraska exhibitors, who are not maintaining an organization that could combat such a move. -Ida Robbins of Lincoln and Mrs. Hugh Lamasters were instructed by the Nebraska State Federation of Women's Clubs, meeting at Hastings, Neb., last week, to go before the state convention of motion picture men when it is held and ask for a better class of films. Resolutions were passed that club women over the state are to patronize only those pictures houses which accept the better films. A committee appointed a year ago to make a special investigation throughout the state, reported that educational pictures are unsuccessful. The women reported that children and adults wish to be entertained, not educated, when they go to a moving jiicture theatre. Mrs. E. M. Syfert, head of the Omaha, Neb., Federation of Women's Clubs, spoke at a meeting last week and emphasized the fact that it is much more expedient, and far more satisfactory, to co-operate with the exhibitors and not antagonize them in a movement the women launched for better films for Omaha children. The clubwomen voted unanimously to lend their influence to boosting the houses that show the better class of pictures. Following the state federation meeting, the Omaha meeting was duplicated in nearly every city and town in Nebraska. ROWLAND & CLARK HOUSES HAVE NEW FORM OF PROGRAM For a number of months the Rowland and Clark management has issued a separate program for its houses in the Pittsburgh section, but with this week's issue the order has been changed, with the result that a sixteen-page magazine is issued containing the program for all the houses in the chain with the exception of the Bellevue theatre. It is one of the most interesting programs of its kind issued in this section and contains live motion picture news together with a liberal amount of ads. It is mailed to 10,000 persons in the districts served by the company's theatres. The magazine is 8 by 11 inches and is compact, complete and very interesting to picture fans. M. J. C. Kornblum is the publicity manager of the Rowland and Clark theatres and he is to be congratulated on the quality of the magazine which he has issued for his company. It is without a doubt one of the largest and best house organs in the country. The title of the magazine is " The Film Forecast." n. C. THEATRE LICENSES EXPIRE OCTOBER 31 The licenses of all theatres in the District of Columbia will expire on October 31, according to announcement of William P. Richard, Assessor of Taxes for the District of Columbia, and all who desire to continue the theatre business after that date should promptly renew such licenses. THE meeting of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, Illinois Branch, held Friday, October 6, was the largest regular meeting in two years. The meeting was called at 11 A. M., and by the time the Dutch Lunch was served over two hundred exhibitors were present. Promptly at 12 :30 the president called an open session and every seat in the large hall was filled with exhibitors, exchangemen, accessory, men and representatives from the trades journals. Fifteen new members were admitted to league membership and applications for as many more were received. The opening address was made by M. A. Choynski, his remarks being confined to the good of organization, the value of the screen as an advertising medium and the great influence the league, working as a unit, will have on the coming election. Sam Spedon made a few remarks on overproduction. Various subjects of pertinence to the industry were discussed by the following speakers : H. Schoenstadt, W. J. Sweeney, Adolph Powell, H. Lieberthal, R. O. Proctor, R. Fulton, Sam Katz, Louis H. Frank, Alfred Hamburger, Joseph Hopp, Charles Abrams, Sidney Smith and George Laing. The following resolutions regarding street carnivals were adopted and a committee consisting of Messrs. Schoenstadt, Frank and Katz were instructed to present said resolutions to the Mayor of the City of Chicago, to the Commissioner of Streets, States Attorney and the City Council : Whereas, In the past, and also at the present time, street carnivals in the City of Chicago work nothing but hardships on the merchants and exhibitors in the STARTING October 15, the Majestic theatre, Detroit, Mich., entered on a new booking arrangement. It has contracted for llrst-run Paramount and runs on Mary Pickford Artcraft productions. It has already paid by check $3000 for the first Mary Pickford Artcraft production, " Less than Dust." which it will show early in November, for two weeks. Securing the first run Paramount franchise gives the Majestic the selection of two programs — the Paramount and Triangle. The Majestic pays for both programs and uses one. The Majestic announces a general advance in its prices of admission. A few weeks ago it raised prices on all seats to twenty-five cents on Sundays only, but on account of the increased film rental and other increased expenses, it raised all seat prices to twenty-five cents October 2 for all performances, except the matinees. In other words, there is no admission to the Majestic at nights less than twenty-five cents. This announcement caused considerable cominent in the film world in Detroit and many said " They would never get away with it." Judging from the business the first weeks of the new scale the neighborhoods where said carnivals are being held ; and Whereas, Said carnivals have a tendency to bring undesirable people to the neighborhood ; and Whereas, Most of these carnivals hold games of chance, offering chickens, ducks, geese, candy and other merchandise as prizes ; We, the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, Illinois Branch, hereby protest against any and all carnivals that hold free shows and erect booths on streets for this sale of merchandise ; — and do most emphatically object to said carnivals helding these games of chance, this being unfair competition to all theatre owners and merchants who are engaged in legitimate business in said neighborhood. The chairman of the Political Action Committee reported that their committee meets on Wednesday, October 11, at 11 A. M. at the League Headquarters. A committee from the L. I. L. M. Club consisting of Messrs. Proctor, Judell and Balaban submitted a proposition from a delivery company, who guarantee the insurance against loss of all film after it leaves the exchange, also will guarantee the prompt delivery of same. This matter was referred to the Executive Committee and they will take action on same at the next Executive Committee meeting. The most important news imparted to the league members was that a truce had been declared between the two operators' unions and all differences have been settled for the present by a board of arbitration. Another meeting will be held on Friday, November 3. Free dutch lunch. Open meeting at 12 :30. If you are not a member, join now and help boost. advanced prices have more than " made good" because during the weeks of October 2 and October 9 the Majestic played to the best business since it has been operating. The Majestic is getting the highest general admission price of any theatre in Detroit, and yet it is more than one mile from downtown. It plays to capacity almost every evening performance. MANY EXHIBITORS ATTEND OMAHA FESTIVAL A royal welcome was given exhibitors in the Omaha territory who visited the exchange city during the Ak-Sar-Ben festivities Oct. 2-7. Hundreds of exhibitors visited the various exchanges, where the exchange manager was the chairman of a committee, and the department heads and road men were committeemen, organized to welcome them. Every exhibitor possible was dined at the Movie Inn and visited several of the leading theatres in the city. Manager Taylor of the General exchange got the Selig Polyscope Company photographer to come from Chicago and film the big historical parade, with President Wilson in attendance, for the Selig-Tribune weekly. Neighborhood House Raises Evening Prices to Twenty-five Cents and Plays to Capacity