Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1919)

August 2 , J 9 I 9 1055 Exhibitor Controversy Waxing Warm Some of the members of the Miami Valley Exhibitors League, Dayton, Ohio Heffernan in Game tOjStay First National Signs Picture Editor of Detroit News, an Industry Booster AFTER two years of effort successfully applied to convincing the populace of Detroit and the editors of every newspaper in Michigan that the screen deserves the same serious consideration that is given to 'the legitimate stage, Harold Heffernan — known as "Heff" to every exhibitor and newspaper reader in the state — has resigned as Motion Picture Editor of the Detroit News to become Director of Exploitation for the First National Exhibitors' Circuit exchange in that territory. Beginning his fight for an intelligent recognition of motion pictures with a column published semi-weekly in the Detroit News, Mr. Heffernan has gradually forced the industry upward in the estimation of the men who control the publicity channels of the state by methods and tactics which established his department as one of the best in the country, until today there is not a representative newspaper in Michigan which has not been encouraged to fol low the lead in removing all limits and restrictions from the amount of space devoted to screen news. Convinced that exhibitors a.c men of public consequence equal in importance and influence with editors and publishers of newspapers, Mr. Heffernan has proven beyond doubt that this is an essential viewpoint for the editor of any Motion Picture Department in daily if that space contribution to public interest in the industry is to become valuable and influential. Harry Scott, manager of First National's Michigan exchange created the Department of Exploitation and finally induced Mr. Heffernan, whose resignation becomes effective August 4, to accept the important post. An office already has been added to the suite which form the Detroit headquarters of the First National, which Mr. Heffernan will occupy immediately upon leaving the staff of the News. When an exhibitor books a First National attraction, Mr. Heffernan will have a detailed knowledge of every condition surrounding the exhibitor. Then when called upon he will offer suggestions containing the proper punch and if necessary personally direct a campaign of exploitation designed to show the real worth of the attraction. Mr. Heffernan's work will not be confined to the theatres of Detroit. He will specialize even more thoroughly on the houses scattered throughout Michigan in towns where scant populations to draw from form' a bugaboo for the rural exhibitor. Alfred S. Black Charges New Yorkers with Bad Faith; Hints That Producing Concern Is Seeking to Make An Exhibitor Split U T T NDERHAND SLURS," fired without a real charge, I j is the appelation given by Alfred S. Black, president of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of America, to the attacking statement issued last week by the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of New York State. Mr. Black's answer, addressed to the exhibitors of America, follows: " Once more, unfortunately, I am forced to reply to the ' final ' open letter of the executive committee of the New York State Exhibitors' League. If trade paper controversies are as disgusting to each reader of this article as they are to the writer, you can imagine my personal feelings. The Motion Picture Exhibitors of America, Inc., is not going to be properly financed and its organization perfected by such controversies, but I cannot remain passive under the unwarranted and unproveable accusations of one set of men whose ulterior motives and good faith I noiv openly question. " Rule or Ruin " CENSOR RESTRICTIONS IN DETROIT ANEW Detroit ordinajice requires that all films shown must be passed by censors connected with the Recreation Commission. Two members of the police department who have been in charge of the censoring will work for the commission under direction of Dr. C. B. Lundy, superintendent. A stop will be put by the commission to the showing of all sex pictures and subjects that deal particularly with disease. Another Arrest for Alleged Film Thefts When Hans Frohman, New York film broker, was held at Syracuse on Wednesday last for action by the Grand Jury in $5,000 bail, the third reel of a starring film drama was thrown on the screen of public notice. The first two reels had to do with previous arrests of men charged with stealing films in New York and Chicago. Action in Frohman's case followed the alleged recovery in June of $80,000 worth of films, which it is charged were stolen in transit and received by him at greatly reduced prices. John R. Van Arnam, former Syracuse University football star, is awaiting action by the Grand Jurj", accused of acting with Frohman. Harold H^ernan Fifty New Loew Houses Before End of Year Marcus Loew is building 19 newtheatres in the United States and Canada and is buying or leasing others. He expects to have 50 new theatres. Providence Car Strike Hurting Theatres The moving picture theatres felt the immediate effects of the strike of the street car men, which July 19 tied up the entire state. All reported a falling off of about 50 per cent, in the afternoon shows, while in the evening many of them played to large audiences. It is quite apparent that under their "rule or ruin policy" they would much prefer to see every exhibitor in the United States lose the money to be saved by the elimination of unjust taxation than to see the Motion Picture Exhibitors of America, Inc., get the credit of such elimination, realizing that if we do (and right here, New York State Exhibitors or no New York State Exhibitors, that is just what we are going to do) nothing can prevent the success of our National Organization. Does the N. Y. State Committee realize that their action is giving members of Congress the impression that the exhibitors are divided in obtaining the elimination of unjust taxation. At the St. Louis Convention, I stated, upon accepting the Presidency, that I would get results and make my promise afterwards, but our campaign for taxation relief is so well under way that we only need the cooperation of the Exhibitors of the United States to win out and I don't propose to have the confidence in our efforts even shaken by methods that are unworthy of the men making such attempt. Under these circumstances may I be pardoned from breaking away just once from my platform? "The New York letter states that it has never acknowledged our jurisdiction. I openly charge these gentlemen with bad faith, as their representatives entered the convention as members thereof but apparently with instructions to control according to their own ideas or to adopt the "rule or ruin policy" which was immediately done and since carried out. •'Why didn't they act like men and be square with themselves ? What has Mr. Cohen and his associates ever done to warrant the confidence of the Exhibitors outside of New York State. I ask them, as a member of this same New York State League, ownmg a large interest in and representmg the Park Theatre in Utica, N. Y., what have they done to help us get open Sundays in Utica since the bill was (Contimted on page 1102)