Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

18 Motion Picture N e w s December 7, 1929 Allied-M. P. T. O. A. Accord Likely; Committee of 15 Meets on Tuesday Myers Sees Kent And Way Is Paved For Deliberations — Exhibitor Merger Plan Looms, As Confab Wears An end to exhibitor strife through accord reached by Allied, the M.P.T.O.A. and the Hays association is in sight. Abram F. Myers and S. R. Kent held a private conference this week at which mutual problems were discussed. Kent is known to have advised Myers that the offer of cooperation extended by him stands and that he was ready to work day and night in an effort to reach an amicable settlement of differences. Myers left the meeting with the understanding; that he would prepare a tentative program to bring into the conference which starts in New York on Tuesday. This agenda will not be final. Neither will it be inflexible. Myers will merely sat forth what Allied feels must be done in important matters such as arbitration, the uniform contract, and protection and with that program as a basis the meeting will get actively under way. What actual machinery will evolve from the deliberations cannot be foretold at this time. The identity of Allied may be submerged. Likewise, that of the M.P.T.O.A. It is probable that the first step will concern ways and means of bringing into formal existence one national exhibitor body where two now exist so that in the deliberations which follow with distributors, there will be no cluttering of issues because two distinct associations remain in the field to be dealt with. The Myers-Kent discussion, it is learned by Motion Picture News, was entirely friendly and sympathetic. Kent impressed as emphatically as he knew how the sincerity of his offer. Myers, on the other hand, told him in reply that he, too, was most anxious for it provided the mutual problem of all groups could be solved as he thought they could be. The Myers group will consist of five Allied members. Will H. Hays will name a group of five representing affiliated theatres and Lightman, five for the M.P.T.O.A. at the recent Columbus convention still R. V. Anderson Heads M. P. Congress Sales Richard V. ("Dick") Anderson heads the M. P. Congress distribution department. The organization, an exhibitor cooperative unit, will handle product made by Equitable Pictures, an affiliated company. Anderson has appointed Henry Clay Bate director of advertising and publicity. Bate handled Universal trade press material for many years. Equitable 's production plans, to be announced in detail before the first of the ycai'. embrace twenty features to cost not less than $100,000 each, on an average, for release through Motion Picture Congress from April to September, 1929. Productions for the succeeding year also are being lined up, many of them being already in hand in story form. For each feature there will be a complement of short subjects. The company believes the market for picture and production talent in Hollywood was never so favorable to the independent producer as now. Pathe "Rep" To Havana F. W. Knocke, Medal Film president, is en route to Havana to survey conditions for Pathe. Medal handles Pathe in the West Indies. Quebec Tightening Juvenile Measure Quebec. — For more than a year Quebec has been rigidly enforcing the act which prohibits admission of children under 16 into picture theatres. A move has now been made for a curfew law to compel children under 16 to be in their homes bv 8.30 P.M. during winter and 9.30 during the summer. Raise Dues To Offset Chain Withdrawal Detroit. — The M. P. T. O. of Michigan has increased its membership dues fifty per cent to offset the withdrawal of producer-affiliated theatres from its ranks. Michigan is one of the rock-ribbed supporters of Allied. Minneapolis. — The Northwest Exhibitors' Association is considering a ten per cent seat levy on its members to counteract the withdrawal of Publix from its membership. The chain withdrew a few weeks ago in a move to fight Allied via one of its strongest exhibitor units. Steffes Says Allied Mast Be Dominant Minneapolis. — Allied will consider a merger with any other exhibitor organization only if it is dominant in such a proposed step, W. A. Steffes declares. Allied intends to retain its identity regardless of what may develop at the 5-5-5 meeting in New York Tuesday to discuss an amalgamation with the M. P. T. O. A. in an effort to iron out exhibitor differences, Steffes continued. "Allied," he said, "was disbanded in a sincere way for harmony and was revived when it became certain that it offered the one means of safeguarding the independent exhibitor." Representing the organization at the forthcoming deliberations will be H. M. Richey of Detroit, James Hone of Seattle, Nathan Yamins of Fall River and H. A. Cole of Marshall, Tex., with Steffes as chairman. Allied's N. E. Unit Out After Members Boston.— The Independent M.P.T.O. of New England, Inc., an Allied affiliation embracing Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut,, Rhode Island and Vermont is about to launch an intensive membership drive. Nathan Yamins of Fall River, one of the members of the original contract committee which met in Chicago in January, 1927 to draft the standard exhibition contract, is president. No Chance For Admission Tax To Pass In Missouri Jefferson City, Mo. — The Missouri Survey Commission will not recommend a tax on amusement admissions as a means of creating new revenue for the state. It is known that Governor Caulfield would promptly reject any "consumption" or "amusement" tax measures. Senator William R. Painter a member of the commission recommended that it not consider any such tax. Any additional revenues needed by the state will be raised through the present methods of taxation. Netoco Opens Another Natick, Mass. — New England Theatres Operating Corp. continues with its expansion program, opening a house this week 1 1 Bast Central and Hayes Sts. It is a 1,500 seater.