Motography (1912)

June, 1912. MOTOGRAPHY 249 the Moving i'icture Exhibitors' League of America The} quickly fell in line after meeting the large number of exhibitors present and having the aims and objects of the organization explained to them. The organization in West Virginia is growing very rapidly. On the evening of the second the Reliance representative, Mr. Cobb ; the Gaumont representative, Mr. Kenny, and Mr. Griffin, who represented the Standard machine, were present and exhibited a large number of pictures that have not been released as yet. A large number of letters had been sent out to the preachers and teachers of Huntington giving them a special invitation to attend the evening entertainment at Carnegie hall. The invitation was accepted by a large number. Mr. Neff addressed the meeting on the educational features and future of cinematography. It was a splendid entertainment and will have good effect, as many of those who attended the lecture and saw the pictures had never been in a picture show, but became enthusiastic and are now friendly, whereas, before they had been doubtful. At 9:30 o"clock the members of the League and their families met at the Fifth Avenue hotel, where a sumptuous banquet was given. Speeches were made by M. A. Neff, M. M. Weir, L. R. Thomas, E. W. \\augh. A. L. Cottrill, C. A. Johnson, D. B. Hagon, Mr. McCray and others. It is only a matter of time until every exhibitor in West Virginia will become a member of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League. G. M. Westley was secured to organize the state and he immediately started out going to Charleston. He and Mr. Weir secured all the exhibitors in Charleston on Friday. The State League of Ohio is daily taking in new members and in the near future every eligible motion picture exhibitor in the state will be in the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League. The next convention in Ohio will be held at Toledo on the 16th and 17th of July. A new local Exhibitors" League was organized in Huntington, W. Va., Monday, May 6, and the following officers were elected: R. H. Karnes, Lyric Theater, president; J. A. Burns, Grand Theater, first vicepresident: M. Ball, second vice-president: C. A. Johnson, It Theater, secretary, and Haskel Atkins, Royal Theater, treasurer. A. j. VVellman of Catlottsburg, Kv.. was made an honorary member of the Local, file Local started out with bright prospects, with every exhibitor in Huntington as a member. Cincinnati theater;; all seem to be doing a good business. M A. Xeff, chairman of the committee elected to write a new code governing picture shows for the city of Cincinnati, reports that the committee is ready to submit the new code. Oerne Parker of Covington. Ky.. will call a meeting of the local exhibitors of Covington and Newport for the purpose of organizing a local in those two towns. The report comes from Toledo local Xo. 3 that big preparations are being made to entertain the motion picture exhibitors of Ohio on the 16th and 17th of July. 1912. at their State convention. The National convention to be held at Chicago beginning the 13th of next August will eclipse all previous efforts and it is expected that nol less than four or five thousand exhibitors will attend the convention and preparation are being made accordingly. Headquarters for the Pennsylvania State convention which will be held in Pittsburgh on the 24th and 25th of June have been established at the Monongahela house. T. J. Barbin, secretary, Millvale, Pa., states that the business men of Pittsburgh are joining in with motion picture exhibitors to make the Pennsylvania convention a grand success, and it is claimed that if the Chicago convention surpasses Pittsburgh in attendance and entertainments it will have to go some. Pennsylvania Convention, June 24 The state convention of the Pennsylvania Fxhibitors' League will he at Pittsburgh, on Monday and Tuesday, June 24 and 25. There will be business oi great importance to every exhibitor in the country and the Pennsylvania exhibitors in particular taken up at this meeting. The election of state officers takes place at the convention, also the election of delegateto the National convention at Chicago in August. The state officers should be elected by the exhibitors throughout the whole state; in that way the state would be represented and not only a part thereof, s< • go to Pittsburgh. The committee has made arrangements for pleasure as well as business for those who attend. There will be a banquet given by the Heinz Company, of the 57 varieties, and sight-seeing tour of Greater Pittsburgh, and on Tuesday the 25th a parade, also a boat excursion down the Ohio river. An orchestra will furnish music for those who wish to trip the light fantastic. This pleasure will be of no cost to the organization, as "Pittsburgh Promotes Progress." Warning to Exhibitors The following letter has been sent to members of the League by President Neff, who also authorizes itpublication for the benefit of non-members : May 7, 1912. I wish to call attention to information which 1 have received. I am informed that an eastern firm has purchased a large number of condensing lenses from an Ohio manufacturing firm. These lenses, it is stated on good authority, were purchased for the sum of ten cents each and are to be sold for one dollar each. Every exhibitor is notified that these lenses are defective; too much soda was used in their manufacture, and it is claimed that after they have been used a short time the heat turns them gray and it is impossible to get a good picture as the light will not go through. I advise all motion picture exhibitors when buying lenses to secure a guarantee that they will hold their color. This is only one of the many things the exhibitors outside of our organization should know. — M. A. Xeff. The president of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America has called a meeting of New York exhibitors to be held in New York City, beginning June 19th. and continuing until a state organization lias been perfected. Illinois State Branch No. 2 lost a member in the death of Brother William Petralous. A number of exhibitors attended the funeral services at Taylor and Johnson stri unday, June 2. Interment was al Elm wood. The Exhibitors Association of Kansas City. (Local Xo. 1 | i planning a convention July f) and 10, which time delegates to the Chicago convention in August will be named. J. T. Hurtt is secretary.