Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

May 18, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY vn The "AFFILIATED" Platform 1 — To insure EXHIBITOR MANAGEMENT and CONTROL in very fact, as well as promise. 2 — To in no way disturb existing booking organizations, but rather to encourage them. 3 — To keep the capital of each association in its OWN depository, and under its OWN control. 4 — To maintain all the benefits of " Open Booking, " and at the same time provide a CONSISTENT and DEPENDABLE schedule of releases. 5 — To secure, not only ALL the concessions in rental prices which the combined buying power of exhibitors will earn, but the MAJOR SHARE of all excess profits as well. 6 — To distribute the cost of all productions on a fair and business basis to each booking associatioin, and to every member of such an association. 7 — To regulate expenditures, according to sound business methods, and to protect exhibitors against excessive salaries, extravagant advertising and pretentious executive offices. 8 — To arrange, on behalf of the booki n g associations now existing, and such others as shall be formed, for an affiliation with a national, or central clearing house, upon terms that are JUST and EQUITABLE to all concerned. Plank No. 1 Minding Their Own Business EXHIBITORS possess the real values of the motion picture business. 1 heir theatres are the fundamental assets of the industry. Their investments exceed all other investments. Yet, until this moment, exhibitors have had little to say about the running of the business — scarcely, even, anything to say about the running of their own part of the business. Their attempts to pool their interests, and thereby exercise the voice in affairs which their combined booking power would give them, has resulted either in the feathering of the nests of a chosen few of their number, or in the financing of the selfish purposes of outsiders. The reason for this has been, that once having assembled their forces, exhibitors have given over the control of these forces to others. THE AFFILIATED DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION HAS BEEN FORMED BY EXHIBITORS, FOR EXHIBITORS, TO KEEP THE CONTROL OF THE EXHIBITORS' BOOKING POWER IN THE HANDS OF EXHIBITORS. The purpose of the organization is to gain for the exhibitors' booking associations affiliated with it, a definite and consistent supply of meritorious pictures, at price concessions which such combined booking strength will . earn — not to take advantage of that strength for selfish interests. Exhibitors' booking associations, affiliated with this organization, retain ALL of their independence, ALL of their funds, and likewise are WHOLLY responsible for the management of the Affiliated Distributors Corporation. This management is vested in a Board of Directors, made up of exhibitors, and elected by exhibitors. To make this board fully representative, of all exhibitors, one director is allotted to every hundred days of booking represented. That a directorate of such representativeness may be relied upon to provide an efficient and trustworthy management, is best attested by the results which are now being obtained by such exhibitor booking units as THE EXHIBITORS' BOOKING SYNDICATE, OF NEW YORK. THE ASSOCIATED THEATRES, INC.. OF MINNESOTA. THE MOTION PICTURE THEATRES ASSOCIATION, OF ILLINOIS. THE ASSOCIATED THEATRES. INC.. OF ILLINOIS. THE UNITED EXHIBITORS ASSOCIATION, OF PHILADELPHIA AND EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE EXHIBITORS BOOKING ASSOCIATION OF THE I NTE RM 0 U NTA I N STATES. THE NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA EXHIBITORS BOOKING ASSOCIATION. THE EXHIBITORS BOOKING ASSOCIATION. OF MICHIGAN. THE TRI-STATE EXHIBITORS CIRCUIT, OF PITTSBURGH. Retaining their present independence, but affiliated in a national organization that will assure the better producers an even more extensive market, these, and other booking associations, now in process of formation, will for the first time in the history of the industry, be in a position to realize the full power of their strength. That such realization will bring added savings in rentals, and increased returns in the excess profits of each booking association, will be obvious to the most casual investigator. If you would have a share in these benefits write today to the Affiliated Distributors Corp. CHARLES C. PETTIJOHN, General Counsel Permanent Address, Suite 52.4, Longacre Bldg., 1476 Broadway, New York City