Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

June 22, 1918 MOTOGRAPHY 1161 N. A. M. P. I. Plans to Grow With Trade BIG MEETING IS HELD IN NEW YORK FULLY awakened to the necessity for growing with the trade, the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry is preparing to extend its scope and activities in the next twelve months. Lines of endeavor not now represented will be co-ordinated until a perfectly functioning machine is organized. This was revealed when the association met last week at the Hotel Astor, New York, in one of the most satisfactory conferences yet held. It was brought out that a readjustment was necessary to carry on and finance the patriotic work which now forms twothirds of the association program. Brady Occupies Chair President William A. Brady presided. He referred to the aid given by the industry in floating the Third Liberty loan and in the Second Red Cross drive. It was announced that individuals and companies identified with the industry bought $10,000,000 worth of Third Liberty loan bonds and that upwards of $100,000,000 in bonds were sold to the public through the co-operation of the theatres. Many other accomplishments were referred to and an invitation extended to some of the companies which were represented and were not members to join at this time so as to participate actively in the counsels of the organization, which comprises forty-five producing companies, twelve distributing corporations and sixteen supply and equipment concerns. President Brady announced that meetings of each of the five branches of the associaiton would be held during June to nominate directors to be elected at the annual meeting in Boston during the week of July 13-20. The directors elected at Boston will elect the officers for the ensuing year. This meeting will be held coincident with the convention of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America and the National Motion Picture Exposition in Mechanics Hall. Fox Takes Chair William Fox was invited by President Brady, with the consent of all present, to take the chair, and after setting forth his own views in regard to the status of the industry, Mr. Fox called upon others to offer any suggestions or ideas with a view to obtaining unity of action in co-ordinating the various branches of the industry for government co-operation. Among those participating in the discussion were President Brady, P. A. Powers, Walter W. Irwin, Samuel Goldfish, Arthur S. Friend, J. Robert Rubin, Lee A. Ochs, Ernest H. Horstman and Alfred S. Black. Watterson R. Rothacker, president of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company of Chicago, who recently had been appointed by President Brady as chairman of the membership committee for the middle west, announced that there were several companies represented which desired to join. Among these were the Mutual Film Corporation and the Essanay Film Company of Chicago, the Educational Film Corporation of America, Manner Films, Inc., Hayworth Pictures Corporation and the Art Film Laboratories of New York. President Brady stated he would appoint Mr. Rothacker as chairman of a national membership committee, which designation was promptly accepted. This is the biggest membership gain by the association at any single meeting since its inception two years ago. Mr. Rothacker announced that he would remain in New York a few days to perfect plans for the national committee and upon his return to Chicago would leave at once for the Pacific coast for the purpose of lining up all the companies which are not identified with the association through eastern connections. Committee Named for U. S. Aid With a view to perfecting the plans for closer relationship with all government activities, a committee was appointed with one representative from each branch of the industry, which is to be known as the Committee on Ways and Means. The committee comprises the following: Producers, Arthur S. Friend; distributors, Walter W. Irwin; supply and equipment, Edward Earle; laboratories, W. R. Rothacker; exporters, David P. Howells; Motion Picture Exhibitors' League, Lee A. Ochs; American Exhibitors' Association. H. B. Yarner. A plan was adopted for providing adequate funds to carry on the work of the association by the appointment of a finance committee composed of the following: P. A. Powers, Universal Film Manufacturing Company; Arthur S. Friend, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation; William Fox, Fox Film Corporation; Ricord Grad'well, World Film Corporation; J. E. Brulatour, Eastman Films, and James M. Sheldon, Mutual Film Corporation. The following were among those present: W. E. Atkinson, Metro Pictures Corporation; Ben Atwell, representing C. F. Zittel, International Film Corporation; William A. Brady, William A. Brady Picture Plays, Incorporated; J. E. Brulatour, Eastman Films; J. A. Berst, LTnitcd Picture Theatres of America, Incorporated; J. R. Bray, Bray Studios; B. N. Busch, World Film Corporation; Benjamin Burton, Art Films; A. S. Black of Maine, S. Brown, Charter Feature Films; R. H. Cochrane, Universal Film Manufacturing Company; Willard Cook, Pathescope Company; Paul Cromelin, Inter-Ocean Film Corporation: C. D. Chapman, Art Films; Edward Earle, Nicholas Power Company; Frederick H. Elliott, executive secretary of the national association; Felix Feist, World Film Corporation; Arthur S. Friend, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation; N. H. Friend, Bray Studios; William Fox, Fox Film Corporation; W. R. Greene, Artcraft Pictures Corporation; Samuel Goldfish, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation; Sam Grant, Boston; E. W. Hammons, Educational Film Corporation; David P. Howells, First National Exhibitors' Circuit; Ernest H. Horstmann, Boston; F. J. Hawkins, Hayworth Pictures Corporation; Walter W. Irwin, Greater Vitagraph Company; L. L. Innerarity, Pathe Exchange, Incorporated; Albert Loew, Paragon Films. Incorporated; Gus Mohme, Biograph Company; Lee A. Ochs, M. P. E. L.; A. E. Roussea, Pathe Exchange, Incorporated; Harry Reichenbach, National Film Corporation; J. Robert Rubin, attorney, Metro Pictures Corporation; W. H. Sheehan, Fox Film Corporation; W. C. Smith, Nicholas Powers Company; James M. Sheldon, Mutual Film Corporation, Chicago; William L. Sherrill, Frohman Amusement Corporation; W. N. Selig, Selig Polyscope Company; Emil Shauer, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation; William Wright, Kalem Company, and Wafterson R. Rothacker, Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company, Chicago. Theatre Near Arctic Circle A picture theatre is being constructed at Dime, Alaska, a new Seward Peninsula camp not far below the Arctic Circle. It is said that this theatre will be located farther north than any other playhouse in the world. It is being built of logs. Admission will be $1.