Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1220 Motion Picture News Charles O Reilly Re-elected President of M. P. T. O. of N. Y. Brandt Refuses Re-election; Other Officers Unchanged for 1922 Albany, N. Y., Feb. 16 (Special). THE Albany convention of the M. P. T. O. of New York State opened with a record-breaking attendance and two definite plans in mind. First, the reduction of film rentals; and second, the encouragement of the independent producer. About 375 exhibitors and exchangemen were present, a special train from New York City bringing 105. The Albany hotels were filled to capacity. John Boyd Thacher, city treasurer, acting for Mayor William S. Hackett of Albany, who was confined to his home with a severe cold, officially opened the convention at eight o’clock on Tuesday evening and extended the city’s welcome to the exhibitors. Mr. Thacher said : “ It gives me great pleasure and I feel very highly honored indeed to have this opportunity in behalf of, and as the official representative of the Hon. William S. Hackett, Mayor of the City of Albany, who unfortunately can not be here today because of illness, to express to you a very hearty welcome and a very cordial greeting from the people of the city. “ It is particularly gratifying to me at this time, and I am speaking now rather from a personal standpoint than officially, to acknowledge the wonderful contributions to the understanding of art and literature and to the progress and development of education generally, made by the motion picture industry, and through the splendid services and interpretation of men and women of high ideals and worthy purposes. Highlights in “ Since the last annual meeting of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York, many elements have entered into the motion picture industry which have a vital bearing on the Exhibitor. While in some relations disquieting influences have been suddenly thrust into our business, the fact always stands out most conspicuously that as Theatre Owners we have been entirely apart from every circumstance of a willful character which would in any way tend to alienate from us public confidence. “ The Theatre Owner has a better appreciation of his position now than was previously the case. He realizes now that his theatre is a community institution, a central point about which everything of consequence to the people about him revolves and advances. Theatre owners, because of this fact and the wonderful visualizing and publicity power of the screen, are fast becoming among the leading factors in all communities. Officers Elected PRESIDENT, Charles L. O’Reilly, New York; treasurer, W. H. Linton, Little Falls; secretary, Samuel Berman, Brooklyn; vice-president at large, William Dillon, Ithaca; vice-presidents, Frank Koch, Rochester; Louis Buettner, Cohoes, Bernard Deherz, New York. Among the resolutions adopted at the close of the convention was one designating the week of November 12, “ Exhibitor’s Week.” Another decried the loan or gift by distributors of films for nontheatrical use in opposition to recognized exhibitors. “ It is a pleasure for me, and a very great pleasure, I assure you, to recall the wonderful response in time, in money, in work and in all other ways made, and will ingly made, by many a star of the motion picture world, when bonds were to be sold, or funds were to be collected, or services were to be rendered during th late World War. “ It is also a great pleasure for me to say that because of the character of your work, you have a deeper conception and a keener realization of the problems of life, and a very evident and a very earnest desire to contribute to any movement which has for its end the cause of human happiness and the progress of humanity. “ It is also a further pleasure for me to say that despite certain criticisms, despite the fault of a few perhaps, you have generally won high places of esteem, affection and regard in the hearts of your fellowmen, not only because of your work, but because of those qualities of character Sydney Coh “ You must exercise due caution that your screens are not used for mere partisan or political purposes or to inadvertently advance any line of propaganda injurious to the public. Your judgment, discretion and personal knowledge of community needs, will always enable you to avoid such conditions. “ This service will become so universally recognized as among the most valuable in the nation, that all fanatical attempts to injure our business will be met with popular disapproval and like other great utility agencies, the Motion Picture Theatre will stand forward in a position of absolute security. “ The engagement of Postmaster General Will H. Hays need not cause us any alarm. Your national officers met in Washington in January and issued a statement respecting Mr. Hays. The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America are in no way connected with any of the moves which led to the in which reveal a kindliness, a thoughtfulness and a consideration for others. You have contributed to the happiness of countless thousands and I feel sure that it is your evident determination to select and to screen only those subjects which will best serve those ends. “ I desire to again bid you a very hearty welcome on behalf of the Mayor and the people of this city, and to say to you that we will all be very glad if we can in any way contribute to the pleasure, to the happiness and to the profit of your visit here.” Charles L. O’Reilly, president of the Motion-Picture Theatre Owners of New York, and Sydney S. Cohen, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, were greeted enthusiastically. Each in his speech emphasized the position of the exhibitor as a highly responsible factor in the life of his community and pleaded for the support of the M. P. T. O. plan of Public Service as the surest wray to defeat adverse film legislation, thwrart the anti-screen propaganda of so-called reformers, and win the w'eight of public opinion overwhelmingly to the side of the industry. The highlights of Mr. O’Reilly’s and Mr. Cohen’s speeches are given elsewffiere on these pages. Committees Appointed The following committees were announced at the opening session of the convention : Committee on Laws and Legislation: Chairman, Frank Koch, Rochester; and Messrs. Benton, Saratoga; Quittner, Middletown; Edelherz, New York City; Sanders, Brooklyn; Franklin of Buffalo; McFarlane, Canandaigua; Peyser, Staten Island; McCarthy of Hoosick Falls. ' Committee on Ways and Means: en's Address troduction of Mr. Hays into the business. We are not especially concerned about it and will deal only with such developments affecting us as may follow. “ We do riot need the insidious aid of the professional reformer who smiles at evil and gloats over wrong while pretending horror, because of the notoriety it gives him in the exposure and attempted reform. No, we can handle this. Let us serve notice on the elements responsible that no picture containing the face, form or name of any person involved in these tragic and scandalous procedures shall be shown on our screens. Let us be our own censors in this regard. “We hope to make ‘Official Urban Movie Chat ’ the greatest step forward in our Industry. This reel will be the Screen Organ of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and helpful messages will go to the American public in each issue.”