Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

February 25, 1922 1221 “Lower Rentals and Boost Independent Producer ” Watchwords Successful Meeting Attended by 350 ; Many Chairman, Walter Hayes, Buffalo; and Messrs. Loew of New York City; Silverman, Schenectady; Grob, Bronx; Kress, Rochester; Berinstein, Albany; Dipson, Batavia; Hayman, Niagara Falls; Linton of Utica. Committee on Business Relations: Chairman, Howard J.. Smith, and Messrs. Hayman, Niagara Falls; Crabb, Syracuse; Robbins, Utica; Farren, Rochester; Brecher, New York; Schwartz, Brooklyn; Sheer, Queens; Warren of Massena. Committee on Adjustments: Chairman, A. A. Elliott, and Messrs. Howell, Rochester; Apple, Troy; Gainsboro, New York; Eck, Ilion; Moross, New York; Rosenson, Brooklyn; Lumberg, Utica; Seider, Brooklyn. Committee on Credentials: Messrs. Bernam, Linton and Sanders. Committee on Public Service: Chairman, Wm. Brandt, New York; and Messrs. Schatt, Gowanda; Finck, Niagara Falls; Moyer, Herkimer; Eleak, Schenectady; Peters, Hornell; Knoebel, New York; Smalley, Cooperstown; Falter, New York. Committee on Publicity : L. A. Buettner of Cohoes. Committee on Resolutions : Chairman, Jules Michaels, Niagara Falls; and Messrs. Cohen, Binghamton; Silverstein, Catskill; Barr, Brooklyn; Stahley, Rochester; Rachmiel, New York; Mausert, Glens Falls; Schneider, New York; Rhonheimer, Brooklyn. Committee on Constitution and By-Laws: Chairman, John Manheimer, and Messrs. Delmath, Buffalo; Greenstone, Rochester; Kingston, Salamanca; Needles, New York; Suchman, Bronx; Duffy, Utica; Colin, Johnstown; Steiner, New York. Exchange Booths The rooms in which the exchange i booths were located proved extremely popular with the general crowd, and injcidentally, those in charge, reported an excellent three days’ business. The following gives a list of the booths and those who received the exhibitors at the various stands. Grand-Warner — Robert Bertschy, Albany; Sidney Sampson, Buffalo; Samuel Grand, Boston; E. W. Dimmick, Boston, president. Metro. — Henry Kahn, Buffalo ; E. M. Saunders, Arthur Abeles, New York; Joseph Schwartz, “Al” Shea, Thomas Joy and F. C. Robke. Goldwyn — V. H. Bendell, Albany; E. L. Hickey, George Hickey, R. B. Matson, National Exhib. Convention May 8th, in Washington THE national convention of the Motion Picture Owners of America will be held in Washington, D. C., May 8th to 12th, inclusive. This announcement was made during the week from the M. P. T. O. headquarters in New York City. It is expected that the coming convention will be the biggest exhibitor gathering held so far. Business of the first importance is to be transacted. Arrangements will be pursued to advance the M. P. T. O.’s public service work; plans will be laid to meet adverse legislation; and other measures designed to promote welfare of the exhibitor will be brought up for action. A special appeal is made in the M. P. T. O. announcement to bring the ladies, as ample provisions are being made for their entertainment at the national capital. The following committee has been named to arrange for the convention: W. A. True, Hartford, Conn., Chairman; W. A. Steffes, Minneapolis, Minn.; W. D. Burford, Aurora, 111.; John Manheimer, New York; E. M. Fay, Providence, R. I.; E. T. Peter, New York; A Julian Brylawsky, Washington, D. C.; Glenn Harper, Los Angeles, Calif; D. A. Harris, Pittsburgh, Pa. Buffalo; S. Eckman, Jr., New York; J. A: Ivorpel, Boston. Pathe — James Loughborough, S. Hochstein, J. Rose, E. Hochstein, Theodore Hayes, J. Sachs, J. Krause, Albany. Select — E. W. Kramer, R. S. Bendell, Albany. United Artists — C. A. Saunders, and Moe Streimer, of New York. First National — A. Herman, Harvey Sachs, Nathan Dobson, Albany. Robertson-Cole — Charles Walder, sales Resolutions of Import manager, Albany; Joseph Klein, manager New York branch; Archie Moses, Buffalo; Charles Rogers, New York, general manager. Merit — I. E. Chadwick, N. I. Filkins, Buffalo ; Miss Marie Wheeler, Homer Howard, Harold Filkins, Albany. Wid Gunning — Dan Dolan, Mack Weinberger, New York. Lightning Coin Changer Company — L. E. Dauer, Chicago ; F. Baxter, New York. Automatic Ticket Register — S. G. Lamm, J. C. Enslen, New City. Arrow — Charles ' Davis, New York; Grafton Corbett, Boston. Commonwealth and Nu-Art — E. G. Dickman, George Ferguson, Buffalo; Samuel Zieler, New York; M. Cohen, Albany; F. M. Zimmerman, president of Nu-Art, Buffalo. Paramount — M. W. Kempner, Albany; F. V. Green, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Buxbaum, New York ; N. B. Freeman, D. Lake, J. W. Thurlow, John McConville, Boston; J. W. Mitchell, L. B. Butler. Fox — W. J. ICupper, William Brenner, Arthur Goldsmith, W. A. Woodward, Jean Lowe, Albany; I. Smertz, Louis Rosenbluh, New York; Fred Meyers, C. F. Sheehan, Buffalo. Vitagraph — Burt Gibbons, S. N. Burns, C. C. Charles, George Goldberg. Hodkinson — Harry Thompson, assistant general sales manager, New York; Thomas Brady, Buffalo; Warren Lewis, New York. Universal — C. R. Halligan, Albany; M. A. Chase, Jesse Kauffman, Buffalo; F. S. Hopkins. ( Continued on following page ) Highlights in President O’Keillys Address “ To my mind the greatest censor is the public. I do not believe and I know you do not believe that any three — or in fact any other group of men and women can honestly assume the moral guardianship of the great mass of people who enter our theatres daily. “ One of the great leading parties of the state has incorporated in its platform a plank opposed to this un-American restriction — the censorship of the screen. This was unsolicited by the industry or any part thereof, but it should be the duty of every theatre owner to leave no stone unturned to acquaint the people of the state of the issue, should it be presented at any coming election. ! “ The Movie Chats, the screen organ of the (Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, will give us the proper medium of exposing to (the people the dark-lantern tactics of some of these so-called and would-be reformers. “ After many conferences with the officers of the film clubs, an agreement was drawn whereby an equal representation of both organizations would sit as an arbitration committee in various disputes which arise between exhibitors and exchanges, and after a brief trial of this system, I am delighted to report that it is working harmoniously and with every evidence of success. “ Through the co-operation of our Theatre Owners’ Chamber of Commerce of the City of New York, and the Woman’s City Club, an experiment was conducted during the past summer whereby these ladies who had the interest of children at heart, designated matrons to he at various theatres and children were admitted to three matinees each week, absolutely free of charge. ... It is my hope that the committee on laws and legislation will take up this great subject, which means so much to the little ones, and present or recommend to the present session of the legislature a bill which, if passed, will safeguard the welfare of the child whether accompanied or unaccompanied, in theatres. “ The statements for yearly dues were mailed less than two weeks ago, and the ready response displayed in this abnormal business depression, through which we are now passing, is full evidence of the place this organization has in the heart of the theatre-owners of this state. “No charity worthy of the name has been denied the fullest cooperation of the theatre owners of this state, and it has been my proud privilege with the officers and members of your executive committee to pledge and to work for these worthy causes to the extent that we have collected for needy charities in our theatres in the state of New York, com siderably over a million dollars, which was utilized for the relief of the destitute. “ We have PROSPERED. We are STRONGER. We will grow stronger year by year, because the very foundation of our organization has been built on that motto — for the good of all.”