Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

1226 Imminence of Theatre Tax Brings Prompt Action THE news late last week that a double theatre admission tax seemed likely to be adopted by the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives brought prompt action on the part of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry. Both offices set to work at once to launch effective protests against the passage of such a burdensome measure. Developments during the week, however, indicate the abandonment of the double theatre admission tax by the Ways and Means Committee. By Tuesday President Harding had definitely voiced his opposition to the proposed measures, and the sales tax again loomed as the likely medium for raising funds for the payment of the soldier bonus. The National Association directors were notified on Saturday of a special meeting to be held on Tuesday. Owing to the pressing demand for early action the meeting was advanced to Monday noon, by President William A Brady. At the Monday meeting, President Brady announced that he had just received authoritative word from Washington that the double theatre admission tax had been abandoned. A special train had been previously arranged for to convey motion picture, theatrical and vaudeville representatives to the national capital in the event of the continued determination of the Committee to adopt the double theatre admission tax. On Friday, February 10th, the M. P. T. O. of A. addressed a statement to the Ways and Means Committee in which it was declared that any increase in taxation for the theatre would have the effect “ of driving many theatres out of existence.” The figures recently issued by the Government showing the falling off of over ten million dollars in theatre receipts during November and December of 1921 as compared with the same months in 1920 were submitted as evidence of the distressing situation confronting theatres at the present time. A. M. P. A . Preparing for “Naked Truth Follies” The Associated Motion Picture Advertisers are announcing the second edition of their Naked Truth Follies, the first of which was held at the Biltmore Hotel last year and established a new high water m'ark for original novelty entertainment in film circles. Like its predecessor the present volume will be bound with all the formalities of an evening occasion and the gilt trimmings of the Biltmore hostlery. The date has been set for March 25 and A. M. Botsford, assisted by “ Doc ” Tom Wiley and the remainder of the entertainment committee are preparing the edition for going to press. Members of the Green Room Club have again volunteered their aid in the preparation of sections of the edition; but with this exception all the material will be supplied and run by A. M. P. A. members. Final plans for the program will be arranged at a joint meeting of the entertainment committee and board of directors of the A. M. P. A. to be held the latter part of this week. Offers Hays Aid in Build ing Film City in East The Queensboro Chamber of Commerce has placed at the disposal of Will H. Hays, in anticipation of his entrance early in March upon the executive control of the new association of producers and distributors, a report which describes the advantages available in Queens Borough for motion picture production on the East Coast. The Queensboro Chamber of Commerce has also offered its services to the Postmaster General and his future associates in the motion picture industry in the proposed establishment of a motion picture model village in the Queens Borough section of Long Island, N. Y. The statement points out, in support of its contentions, the building of a $2,000,000 studio in Long Island City by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation and the purchase by the Selznick Pictures Corporation of a large tract on Queens Boulevard for the construction of another studio. Japan Asked to Protect Producers in Orient Motion Picture News is in receipt of a letter from Sunyei-Gumi, Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan, motion picture distributors in the Orient, which is endorsed by Orient Pictures’ Corporation, of Los Angeles, another prominent distributor in the Orient, in which it is stated that an attempt is being made to cause the Japanese Parliament to pass a law to protect the rights of American producers in the Orient. Heretofore, it is stated, there has been no law to prevent the exhibition of stolen films to the public. The assistance and co-operation of the industry is requested. It is suggested that pressure be brought to bear at the American Embassy in Japan, as well as at the Japanese Embassy at Washington. Sanyei-Gumi, Ltd., is confident that the proposed copyright law will be successfully passed. Protest Film Service to NonTheatrical Groups A statement signed by L. G. Humphreys, manager of the Glory B theatre, and G. H, Merriam, manager of the Grand theatre, Miami, Okla., has been addressed to the film exchanges in Kansas City and Oklahoma City, protesting the booking of features and comedies to schools and other non-theatrical institutions in Oklahoma. The letter further notifies the exchanges of the managers’ determination to discontinue any service shown in a non-theatrical house in Miami. The theatre managers declare that exhibitors throughout the county in which Miami is situated have suffered a loss of business of from forty to eighty per cent and makes a plea to the exchanges for reductions in proportion to the theatre receipts being realized. Motion Picture News’ Exhibs. of Missouri and Kansas Meet in March ONVENTIONS of the M. P. T. O., Missouri and Kansas, which will be held about the middle of March, providing President Sydney Cohen and Senator Walker are in the territory by that time, will be of significant importance. Reformers and the music-tax society need immediate attention. “ A fighting fund,” with which to defeat the music tax interests in Kansas, has been organized and contributions are coming in fast, according to Mr. Van Praag, president of the state organization. Hundreds of offers of assistance from fellow exhibitors have been received by Mr. Van Praag during the last week. Attorneys for Mr. Van Praag, against whom the suit has been filed, now are in New York taking depositions of all music publishers. Attorney General Richard Hopkins, of Kansas, counsel of the Kansas exhibitors’ organization, has announced his candidacy for the governorship of Kansas. Mr. Hopkins is opposed to censorship and blue laws. An injunction in the Supreme Court of Kansas to restrain the music tax society from doing business in that state probably will be asked by Mr. Hopkins in the next few days. A similar step is expected of Attorney General Jesse Barrett, of Missouri, in behalf of the Missouri exhibitors. Thirteen Companies Incorporate in New York Motion picture companies incorporating in New York state during the past week numbered thirteen and brought into the business capitalization amounting to $278, j 500. These companies, with the directors and the amount of capitalization, were as follows : Smalley-Maxey Theatre, Inc., $500, Oneonta ; William C. Smalley, James J. Byard, Jr., Cooperstown; Thomas J. Maxev, Latrobe, Pa. ; Morgan Productions, Inc., $5,000, Betty Morgan, H. S. Hechheimer, George A. McCormick, New York ; The Miriam Theatre, Inc., $10,000, Joseph and Bessie Brandvein, Benjamin Tunick, Mt. Vernon; Poughkeepsie Theatres. Poughkeepsie, $3,000, Ely Elting, H. R. Gurney, W. DeGarmo Smith, Poughkeepsie; Minskyr Theatrical Enterprises, $10,000, M. William Minsk}', Julius Kendler, Julius Girden, New York; City Motion Picture Syndicate. $10,000, Saul Abramson, Harry Kroll, Jacob Squire, New York; The Erdill Theatre Corporation, $10,000, Leonard Bergman, A. L. Erlan . ger, E. S. Golding, New York; the P. A. , D. Corporation. $50,000, J. J. Haley. G. Q. < Dean, C. A. Smith, New York; Samuel Zieler Photo Play Corporation, $100,000, Samuel Zierler, Jamaica; Rose Greenberg and Freda Freeman, New York; one West 143rd Street amusement company, $15,000, George W. Wetmore, Jr., J. E. Taylor, H. A. Robertson, New York; Di Lorenzo. Inc., $25,000. Joseph and Vincent Di Lorenzo, H. J. Jantser, New York; Noted Dramas. Inc., $30,000, C. S. Hervey, Elizabeth Fingeroth, Lee R. Wakoff, New York; Exhibitors Deliver}' Company, Sio.ooo. J. J. Jacobs, Aaron Hartma, John Harvey, New York.