Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

M Motion HctEf e News Thoughts of the Week To Robert E. Welsh— A Tribute IN this involved trade of the motion picture there are two distinct classes of men. One, a very small group, has a keen, practical and sympathetic understanding of picture conditions, operations and values. \^ e have no hesitation ahout placing in this rare minority Robert E. Welsh, who has been Managing Editor of this publication for the past five years. He came to us from the Kalem Company and he is leaving us to put his hand again to the commercial wheel in an important capacity with the F. B. Warren Corporation. His ability is decidedly exceptional and we predict for him in his new field a full measure of the skill and loyalty he has given to Motion Picture News. More than that, our heartfelt good wishes go w ith him. Unappreciated Industry AN experienced publicist, with whom we were recently discussing the public attitude toward the motion picture — in particular the lamentable fact that the industry does nothing constructive for itself in a publicity way — said : " One thing you need is a society of fine or technical arts, or both, such as other big industries have today." We told him that the industry had such a society, a society of technical art, called the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. " I did not know of it," said he, and we have an idea that this same lack of knowledge or at least of appreciation applies to a number of the leading executives in the "industry itself. For over five years this compact, efficient and excellent organization has devoted itself seriously and successfully to the betterment of the picture on the screen, a matter, it would seem, of prime and practical importance to the producer, distributor and exhibitor of motion pictures. If anyone is interested in the amount of work and the value of the work done by the Society we suggest the last and sizeable publication, volume tw elve, of its transactions. Copies may be had from the Secretary, A. F. Victor, 50 West 67th Street, New York. The Society has gone its way, asking odds of no one. It does seem, now, as if a little blowing of the horn should be done in its behalf, and that the industry show some real appreciation of so important a work for the common good. Associate memberships in the Society are open to all; and one of the semi-annual meetings takes place in Buffalo, New York, beginning October 30th. Cancerous Silence THE Fort Dearborn Independent refers editorially to this industry as " a body wholly rotten." The "World's Work " prints an article which refers to a list of seventeen of our recent and most notable pictures as " contemptible devices to attain success." A majority of the small town newspapers of the country are pro-censorship minded (without having the least conception of what censorship is). Newspaper clippings pour into the office every week of a nature to make anyone who truly knows the picture and the picture industry grit his teeth in helpless rage. Never before, in the writer's knowledge has an American institution, a great institution, been made the target of so widespread an attack actuated by downright malice, or ignorance, or hypocrisy. And yet — We do nothing to explain, nothing to defend our vital interests, nothing even as Americans for our own self respect. We do nothing effective because we have no industrial organization. Read what an exhibitor says in this issue about the necessity of a 100% organization. He means UNITY of organization. We have a mighty clear idea that every exhibitor in the country will soon be, demanding such an organization — and every producer and distributor. The situation is very grave, gentleman! Vol. XXIV OCTOBER 29, 1921 No. XIX