Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1917)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1699 should be cut out until you can get a clear view of the whole picture from the position named. In the second place, do not expect high-class results on your screen with low amperage, antiquated equipment or equipment in poor repair. As a general proposition poor projection is due to one of three things, or a combination of the three: first, cheapness in the operator himself, or cheapness in the equipment, which also would coverthe lack of proper re fiairs; second, foor photography or printing, or films in bad condition; third, ack of sufficient knowledge on the part of the manager to enable him to check up the results on the screen; in other words, to know when the picture is not perfect, and why it is not perfect. I have not the time to enter into details regarding these things as I would like to, but one thing I wish to call your particular and undivided attention to is the fact that, with the exception of first-run films, all too many exchanges send out their films in miserable condition. The reels sent out by many exchanges are dirty and oily; contain misframes, poorly made patches, and ripped sprocket holes galore. There should be concerted action on the part of the exhibitor to stop this sort of thing. It is wrong! It is a shame! It is an outrage from any and every point .if view, and is the direct result of two things: First, the desire on the part of the exchanges to get every possible hour of service out of the reel; and second, the demand on the part of the exhibitor to receive reels from the exchange without giving the exchange time to make a § roper and complete inspection thereof! This sort of thing is extremely ad from anv and every point of view. But just so long as exhibitors do not combine to stop practices of this kind they will continue, and they make heavily for poor results on the screens of your theaters as well as very largely increase the fire hazard. The manager himself, I am sorry to say? is seldom in a position to criticize the work of the operator in its finer points, and this is not as it should be. While the high-priced man usually is the type of man who will keep his work up to the standard because he is a high priced man, his lower priced brother almost invariably will not do any more than he is obliged to. The railroad brakeman performs certain duties, and does exactly what he has to do, and no more, but the railroad superintendent makes work for himself to do, and that is the reason he is a high-class, high-priced man. We need more superintendents and less brakemen in operating rooms, but as long as we have the brakemmn operator, we have got to have managers who are able to check up the work of those men and insist on its being keep up to the standard. Time and again I have had theater managers proudly boast to me of the excellence of their picture, only to point out half a dozen faults to them in less than five minutes. and_ they were very real faults, too, but these managers had not studied the picture; they did not know the possibilities of projection, therefore were unable to intelligently criticise the work of their operator. And so, gentlemen, I could go on thus talking for hours on the subject which is very near to my heart. It is a subject which has occupied my entire time and attention for more than five years, and has become to me almost a religion. I do not think, however, that I should take advantage of the opportunity so kindly afforded me by your committee, and consume too much of your time. Therefore, I will close, by wishing your convention and yourselves as individual theater managers, every possible success, assuring you that at any time I or the Department of The Moving Picture World, over which I preside, can be of any benefit or assistance either to your organization or to you as individuals, you have only to let that fact be known. BIG DOINGS PROMISED AT DAYTON. Interesting Program Arranged for the Motion Picture Exhibitors League Convention — Trade Show Will be Comprehensive. GEORGE II. WILEY, managing secretary of the Convention and Exposition of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League, to be held at Dayton, Ohio, July 6th to nth. was in New York during the last days of the exposition at Grand Central Palace. Mr. Wiley reported that plans had been about completed for the big convention of exhibitors before he left Dayton, and that all signs pointed to a meeting that would eclipse anything that had ever been held by the League. According to Mr. Wiley, reservations for hotel accommodations had already exhausted the capacity of the several hostelries of that city and that requisitions were being made upon the citizens for accommodations for visitors in private houses. The town has gone wild over the prospects of a big celebration on this particular occasion and everybody is doing their utmost to take care of all comers. A most elaborate program has been prepared for the convention. Proceedings will open at 10 o'clock A. M„ Tuesday, July 7th, with an address of welcome by the Mayor of Dayton. The National Cash Register Company will provide the entertainment features for the day. On Wednesday, the election of officers of the League will occur, and there will be an exhibition of aeroplane nights at Wright's Field, with an auto tour of the city. In addition to the regular work of the convention on Thursday, prizes will be awarded to the State Branches having the best representation, and to the manufacturer making the best show in the trade parade. There will be a visit to the National Soldiers' Home and other interesting points about Dayton. After the business of the convention has been disposed of on Friday the annual banquet of the League will be held. Saturday will see the close of business of both convention and exposition. Many of the exhibits that appeared at the Grand Central Palace will be shown at the Dayton Convention and most of the exhibitors who attended the meetings in New York will also attend the Dayton Convention. In point of attendance by the trade, it is expected that the Dayton Convention will greatly exceed the meeting in New York. VIRGINIA CONVENTION CALLED. National Vice-President D. P.. Wine of Virginia, announces that the state convention of Virginia Branch of the Motion Picture Exhibitors League will be held at Staunton, Va., on June 18. NEW YORK CONVENTION PEACEFUL. Empire State Exhibitors Re-elect Samuel Trigger PresidentJohn C. Davis and W. A. Douque Returned as Treasurer and Secretary, Respectively. AFTER deliberations, which were conducted with strictest harmony, the annual convention of the New York State Exhibitors' Association which had been called for Saturday, June Oth, at the Hotel Imperial, New York City, was adjourned sine die Monday evening, June 8th. Some trouble was experienced in getting the desired representation of the organization together because of the demands which were being made upon the members' time by the big exposition and convention at Grand Central Palace. When the convention was called to order at the Imperial Saturday morning, President Samuel Trigger, of New York, presiding, it was deemed inadvisable to transact any of the important business for the reason that delegations from upstate cities in which the association is strong, although on their way, had not then arrived. It was decided to hold a short session of the convention and then adjourn until Monday afternoon. The following were appointed members of the Committee on Credentials: W. H. Linton, L'tica (chairman); William A. Beam, Buffalo; S. Suckno. Albany; -Max Samuels, Vonkers; Harold Rosenthal, New York City. Short addresses by various people in attendance at this opening session of the convention followed. W. Stephen Bush, of The Moving Picture World, was caught for a minute as he was leaving the hall and compelled to make a few remarks. "Hit censorship solidly between the eyes" was the burden of his message. Judge A. P. Tugwell, vice-president of the International Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, and in New York to attend the big convention and exposition at the Palace, was present at the meeting of the New York men and responded in a particularly forceful manner when called upon to make an address. Judge Tugwell hales from Los Angeles, Cal., where he operates two big moving picture theaters, and is a leader among the exhibitors. In speaking to the New York men. the judge opened up by referring to his previous prominent association with the National League of Moving Picture Exhibitors of America and M. A. Neff, president of that organization. He spoke of his differences with Mr. Neff over the censorship question, and paid the president of the league some compliments of the kind often described as of the "left-handed" variety. In reciting the history of an attempt which was unsuccessfully made to establish state censorship of moving pictures in his home state, Judge Tugwell used as an argument against the Neff policy that the Ohio censorship law had been taken as the pattern upon which to draw the California law, and that the support which had been given the Ohio law by prominent moving picture men had been enlarged upon as one of the best arguments for the passage of the California bill. The gentleman from California talks in a breezy, whole-souled western style, and when he opened up the Neff subject the promise of excitement grew greater and greater each second. At the conclusion of Judge Tugwell's speech, John F. Miller, of Buffalo, with remarks which were humorous, but intended to impress with a germ of serious thought, suggested that the deliberations of the convention be continued without mention of the name of Mr. Neff, whom he referred to as the "lately departed." William A. Beam, recently elected president of the exhibitors' local in Buffalo, made a few remarks. Luncheon at the Imperial followed the adjournment until Monday afternoon. Excitement incident to the formal opening of the exposition and convention at the Palace interfered with the plans of the New York men to continue their deliberations Monday afternoon, June 8th, in the convention hall of the Palace immediately after the formal exposition opening ceremonies and business was not resumed until some time after the delegates had dined at the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel, Monday evening. The most important business transacted there was <he election of officers which went through without a single contest and without a suggestion of friction or dissatisfaction. Each of the officers was unanimously chosen, the secretary of the association casting the association's unit vote for the following: President — Samuel Trigger, of New York City, to serve his third consecutive term. First Vice-President — William A. Beam, of Buffalo, elected for the first time. Second Vice-President— S. Suckno, of Albany, elected for the first time. Third Vice-President — William II. Hollander, of Brooklyn, elected for the first time. Treasurer — John C. Davis, of Saugerties, elected for the third consecutive term. Secretary— W A. Douque, of New York City, elected for the second consecutive term. International Committeeman — L. C. Smith, of Schenectady, elected for the second consecutive term. The report of the Credentials Committee made just before the