Motion Picture News (Jan-Mar 1918)

392 Motion Picture News Ready to Do His Bit — But i\ot the Other Fellotv's Editor Motion Picture News. Dear Sir: I have been in this business for several years and it is the first time I have ever opened my mouth, and if business don't change soon it will be closed, as I will be among the dead. These heavy war taxes have just about put a finish to me. Like a good many others, I love our flag and we are willing to do our part in this dreadful war, but do not think it fair for a few of us to do it all. I think the film companies and the exchanges should stand their share. The film companies could lessen their expenses by cutting down some of these outrageous salaries they are paying. Just think of it, some of these stars are getting higher salaries than the president. If the greater part of the exhibitors that have thousands of dollars invested would make a profit of one-fifth of their salary we would feel independent and could have a little of the pleasures of life instead of worry and wondering what tonight's business will be. When the tax went into effect I raised my admission price S cents all around, and my books will show that business has dropped two-thirds. I am losing money every day. My patrons say that living and other commodities are so high that they can't afford to go to the show. I know them personally and know they are telling the truth. What will the film companies do if the exhibitor closes his house. I should think they could see far enough ahead to see that by hurting the exhibitor they are hurting themselves. This 15-cent reel tax is a shame, and I for one am cancelling them and taking service from the exchanges that have cut it out. And the exchange that stands by me will get my little business when this war tax is over. Heretofore the exhibitor has stood everything and said nothing, but the time is almost ripe when we will have something to say. It has been only a few years ago when the General Film Company undertook to put a license on the film — $2 per week. It fell flat. And only a short time ago we had to put up a deposit for film. The exhibitor did without his money while the film company used It to produce the picture with. Some business. And It will continue so just as long as the exhibitor stands for it. If we would wake up and put our feet down flat there would be a change very quick. I for one am ready to clear my house in order to get justice. We are in this war to the finish and are going to win It. and can easily do so if we all do our pan But if some of us stand back it will be harder on the rest of us and take much longer time. So I say whatever war tax is placed on the show business let it be divided equally between us all. Then those that can stand it will nave to close up. Well, so long, I may be looking for a job bv the time you get this. „ C. F. PERKINS. Silver Star Theatre, Freewater, Oregon. Exhibitor Kimball Does Some Figuring on the Reel Tax Editor, MOTION PICTURE NEWS. Dear Sir: Another angle on the film tax. Many discussions on this matter have been reported in MOTION PICTURE NEWS and the other trade papers, but in not one that I have read has anyone seemed to hit upon the real heart of the matter. That is. the amount of this him tax flSc per reel per day) has been based upon absolutely false premises. The fact that a film may work fifty days or five hundred days is entirely beside the question under present conditions. Instead of charging a tax of fifteen cents per reel for the first fifty days of use, as worked out by their accountants, the manufacturers added it to every reel they rented. Consequently, the basis of the matter under the present plan is not the number of days a film will work, but something entirely different i e the proportion of reels of film rented to the number of reels released. Suppose, for instance, a system of Exchanges rented on an average of 5,000 reels per day This would give them, at IS cents per reel, $750 per day or $5,250 per week, and pay the U. S. film tax on 700 new reels each week. If they release more they lose, if less than 700 they make something regardless of whether the films work fifty days or more, or less. ' Since the ratio of the number of reels rented to the number of reels released would vary widely with each distributor, it would seem that this 15 cents per reel per day might prove a windfall to one while to another it would represent a loss Under the»e circumstancei is this charge of IS cents per reel per day fair to the distributors, to the exhibitors, or to anyone else? S. F. KIMBALL. New Alamo Theatre, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Here's the Man Who Would Confiscate All Film Over a Year Old Editor, MOTION PICTURE NEWS, New York City. Dear Sir: I may be starting a rumpus in the business but it seems to me that just now is a good time for the Federal government to do the motion picture business a good turn by confiscating all films one year of age and older. In the trade papers I have read of a warning from the Eastman Company to the producers to curtail any extravagance in the use of film as the government was in need of the ingredients used in its manufacture for the munition plants. We all know that one of the banes of the exhibitor is the use by many theatres of old " stuff," especially the Chaplins and other popular star releases. With these off the market, and the only chance of their re-issue being with the owners of the negative the picture business would benefit and the public be less shy of many star films. It would be the means of keeping the projection in better shape and save many booth fires. By the government confiscating the old films it would put all producers and exhibitors on the same footing, and at the same time help the film manufacturers keep the supply of raw film at a normal output. If there is any logic in my suggestion let it go to the public, otherwise you can consign my letter to the waste basket and not at all hurt the goodwill of the writer for MOTION PICTURE NEWS. With best wishes of the approaching holiday season. Very truly yours, ALLEN JENKINS, Manager. Bijou Theatre, Roanoke, Va. What Can Be Done for the Eighty Per Cent. Man? Editor, MOTION PICTURE NEWS. Dear Sir: I have read very near every comment passed upon the " REEL TAX " and have carefully noticed what leading exhibitors and film men have had to say about it, but all this talk is not saving the small town exhibitor, yet SOMETHING MUST BE DONE and very, very quickly. There are hundreds and hundreds of these small town men who will close their theatre doors on the account of poor business and the taxes levied on them and a half dozen other reasons why they are going out of business. Some are as follows: (1) Many young men who were strong patrons cf the theatre have gone to give their services to their country, and then the draft has taken a lot more, and these men counted as they were all young fellows who carried the young ladies out to the theatres, not one night a week, but from two to five nights each week, and now they have gone, of course the young ladies continue to go to the theatres, but not as often as before. "These men have gone, thousands of them from small towns that depended on them for their patronage at the picture theatre, and none have taken their places, as in a big city where thousands gather every day from all parts of the country. (2) Then film rental has advanced considerably, and yet business has decreased. The average exhibitor wants the best and is willing to pay for it, but he must make more than the cost of the picture, if not, then his investment is a losing proposition and in some places it is hard to raise prices, and in others it is very, very easy. I myself firmly believe in higher admission prices for I think that it has got to come sooner or later. (3) The war tax is keeping away a few from the theatres and some say the theatres should pay it, but I am of a different opinion and think it is a tax that the patrons should pay; teach it to them, tell them that it is a tax that must be paid in order that America can support her end of this World War by using slides and other ad. matter. (4) Then the last, but not the least of the whole thing, THE REEL TAX. The exhibitors should not pay this, it should be paid by the makers or distributors as others, namely The General, W. H. Productions and others. WHY COULDN'T ALL OF THEM PAY IT? Now, Mr. Editor, why not cheapen rentals, let the distributors book pictures on the strength of the exhibitor's business; if he does business on their pictures he is willing to pay for them at good prices, but HE CAN'T PAY AND STAY IN BUSINESS ON SOME OF THESE SOCALLED HIGH STAR PRODUCTIONS that the little town theatre manager's patrons never heard of, and have that high salaried star in a picture that the exhibitor had to charge high ad mission prices on to turn out to be a lemon, and now WHO IS THE GOAT? The exhibitor, of course. Can't something be done to remedy this for the small town man? I read Mr. Mastbaum's letter and think it is great, and it has stirred up a bunch of those high priced film men in New York who set prices from an office there on Broadway, and never once dream of the thousands of small town fellows who keep them there. Accept my good wishes for a glorious New Year and may the MOTION PICTURE NEWS continue to grow greater every day, and as far as making it better, IT CAN'T BE DID, for I certainly see no room for improvement. It is now THE EXHIBITORS' IDEAL ADVISER OF THE HAPPENINGS OF THE TRADE. Yours very truly, ALBERT H. ESTES. Bluebird Theatre. Mrs. Blackton Presides at Criterion Luncheon The fifth annual motion picture luncheon of the Criterion Club of New York was held at the Plaza Hotel in the Grand Ball Room on Friday, December 7. Mr.s. J. Stuart Blackton presided for the afternoon, a number of the Country Life series, not exhibited heretofore being shown for the large gathering of New York society women who make up the membership of the club. Mrs. Blackton, a producer in her own right, believes that these meetings go a long way toward forming an understanding between the manufacturer and the public. As she produces children's features she believes it advisable to get in touch with the mothers once a year in this way and talk over the problems arising from children's matinees and similar performances. As one of the most distinguished members of the Criterion Club, Mrs. Blackton has presided over this luncheon since its inception five years ago. She furnishes additional entertainment by bringing prominent stars with her to talk of the production of pictures. This year Alice Joyce and Virginia Pearson were the guests of honor. Vitagraph President Hurt in Accident Albert E. Smith, president of the Vitagraph Company, had a narrow escape a few days ago when his limousine leaped headon against a telegraph pole. The crash threw him from his seat and his head struck against the front wall of the tonncau. He was stunned for a few moments and suffered several painful injuries. Mr. Smith was on his way to the Vitagraph Studio, in Brooklyn, and the car was proceeding down Ocean avenue. It got into a rut of frozen snow and the chaffcur, in trying to turn out, lost control of his wheel temporarily and before he could halt the machine it plunged against the pole. Mr. Smith, who was reading, was hurled against the front of the tonneau, the impact causing a deep cut on his forehead. In addition, his leg was wrenched and his hand badly lacerated.