Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1921)

2404 Motion Picture News First National's "Get Together" Meeting Advisory Board of Franchise Holders to Aid Functioning of Organization By William A. Johnston Chicago, Oct. 26. — The First National " Get-Together " meeting was brought to a close today. The finishing touch on the delegates' work of co-operation was the adoption ot a constructive measure designed for perfecting the functioning of the organization. It was decided to form an advisory board of franchise holders in every territory in the United States and Canada, whose purpose will be to work with the original franchise holders and exchanges on all matters concerning the relation of the franchise holders and the exchanges. The Board members will be elected by the franchise holders of the territories. In all matters which it is found necessary to refer to the home office, the Board will make a preliminary investigation and report the basis on which their decision could be made speedily. President Leiber and Mr. Schwalbe approved of the proposal, which was made by the California delegate, and which was later approved by the meeting. At the closing session, C. C. Griffin, of California, introduced a resolution of confidence in the officers and executive committee of First National, which was adapted with enthusiasm by the delegates. Mr. Griffin de Harding Wires Greetings to First National THE following telegram from President Harding was received at the second day's session of the Associated First National " Get Together " meeting in Chicago, and read before the convention: "White House, " October 24th, 1921. " Please accept my good wishes for your industry and the enterprising people who have created and developed it into one of the wonderful commercial and artistic creations of our time. You will serve the country well if you shall maintain a high and constantly higher standard of the work you are carrying on. Your opportunities for true public service rank with the very greatest. "WARREN G. HARDING." clared his absolute faith in the fairness and ability of the executives and pledged them his hearty support. THE lobby of the big Drake Hotel, Chicago, began to fill Sunday with delegations arriving from all sections of this country and Canada to attend the Associated First National Franchise holders convention. Over 200 are in attendance including 120 delegates. Every state seems represented. It is probably the largest strictly business meeting held thus far in the history of the industry. The delegates are well representative of the country's exhibiting interests. All in all a very heavy investment is represented. There is considerable tension in the air, and naturally so. An exhibitors cooperative enterprise, and a large one is on trial, an enterprise which started with a country-wide group of large theatre holders and which now, through sub-franchises embraces some thirty-five hundred picture houses. The co-operative principle is involved. It remains to be seen whether or not this principle can be made operative under the plan laid down for it by the Associated First National. To judge from the talk in the lobby, and delegates are expressing themselves freely, the issue is exhibiting values and rentals. The point most commonly raised, in the broad question of high rentals, is whether or not the exhibitor should be compelled to take the poor picture to get the good one. This has for years been a prime point of discussion; it has come to the top now however with a new emphasis because the exhibitor knows full well that the flush times are over and the public is shopping, as never before. Most every exhibitor reports that the exceptionally good picture makes money. He does not object to the high rentals put upon these few pictures alone but to rentals on mediocre pictures and the fact that by the terms of his contract he must take the low weeks with the high. The executive committee of Associated First National went into executive session Sunday afternoon. On Monday a large luncheon was served and immediately following the first session opened. Be Delegates attending the "Get Together" Sessions of Associated First National Franchise holders in Chicago