Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1924)

December 20, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 7 13 Texas M. P. T. O., Now 350 Strong, Holds Annual Meeting; $15,000 for 1925 Budget FOUR propositions of importance were put before the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Texas, in annual meeting in Dallas, Dec. 3-4. They are: Tent shows : A proposal for a bill to tax travelling organizations showing under canvas on the same basis that the local exhibitor pays. The tax would amount to about $75 a week and it was estimated, would put 75 per cent, of the present travelling companies out of business. It would not apply, however, to circuses and carnivals, which are taxed separately and rather heavily under Texas laws. The proposal passed unanimously and the association’s attorney was instructed to draft a bill for immediate presentation to the legislature. Taxation : A report by the president, Col. H. A. Cole, of Marshall, on interviews with Texas legislators. The latter were told that Texas amusement men are willing to be taxed as other industries are but will balk at assuming an onerous burden. A unanimity of opinion existed on this question. Censorship : A few words disposed of this subject. All present favored its elimination as far as possible. Sunday shows : On this subject there was a divergence of opinion. A majority favored nothing being said at present concerning Sunday shows, although all the amusement men, naturally, want them. There is in Texas an obsolete statute prohibiting Sunday showing, also the sale of cigars, soft drinks, merchandise and like articles. In a number of towns, principally the larger ones, the shows are open, not in a spirit of defying the law, but because the will of the people demands that the shows stay open on the Sabbath. A proposal to present a bill to the legislature looking to a repeal of the old statute and providing for “local option, met rough sledding. This was because motion picture men believe any agitation along these lines will result in closing the present “open’’ towns and in general would work harm to the industry. Charles Pettijohn, counsel for the Film Board of Trade of New York, although not a programmed speaker on opening day, when the Sunday show matter came up. endeavored to set the motion picture men right on the subject. He related experiences in other states where the exhibitors sought similar measures and visioned what would happen in Texas if, at the present moment, with the element of psychology missing, they agitated the repeal of the old law. Pettijohn cautioned slowness in taking the step, however desirable ft may seem to be. He said that the minute the M. P. T. O. Texas put itself on record in legislative halls as favoring a wide open state, the ire of every preacher and three-fourths of the rural residents would be awakened. He advised waiting until other industries are sold on the idea. Then, with the oil men, the druggists, restaurateurs and others solidly backing the amusement purveyors, the latter stand some chance of getting the proposition put over. Joe Philips of Fort Worth and others spoke along similar lines and the proposal lost by a vote of about 10 to 1. The Dallas convention was record-breaking in every respect. Nearly two hundred at tended, although registrations did not reach that figure. The bill covering the ten shows was presented and explained by Frank W. Wozencraft, ex-Mayor of the City of Dallas and general counsel of the M. P. T. O. Texas. Two years ago the Strickland bill, seeking to equalize taxes between the exhibitors and travelling dramatic and “tab” organizations was passed but a high court declared it unconstitutional in that it is discriminatory. The present bill is labelled as “100 per cent, lawproof.” In its preamble it is stated that a theatre is a theatre, whether its walls are of mortar or canvas. Therefore to recognize this similarity, no distinction is made; in fact, the new bill eliminates a distinction. “These traveling fly-by-nighters,” Mr. Wozencraft said, “are a parasite in any community where a tax-paying, God-fearing exhibitor, a community builder, is forced to foot the bills and let the transient get away with the ‘gravy.’ ” President Cole added that the average tent show would be forced to pay between $2,000 and $3,000 a year for the privilege of showing in Texas. He estimated it would drive out three-fourths of the organizations at present making Texas a port of call. He had an argument against this, however from his own brother, H. S. Cole of Bonham. H. S. Cole wanted the tax set at a higher figure, claiming $75 weekly would not scare away the average transient. That amount is but the salary and expenses of a single trouper, Mr. Cole added. He suggested that the law be made more stringent, and embrace fire protection, etc. He was told that the bill could not embrace anything but taxation. B. S. Ferguson, Opera House, Hamlin, Texas, said : “We must fight fire with fire. In my own town we are worried with scores of tent shows yearly. My theatre has lost money every time one of them came in. Now, I want to suggest that we group ourselves, say ten or twelve exhibitors in a specified territory. First, we will give the itinerant a chance to book our own house, for folks do get tired of the sameness of pictures. Failing in that, we will own our own tent and we will offer him that. Then, if he shows opposition, why, buck him. Let’s buy attractions and fight him out.” Another exhibitor wanted to know what would happen to “auspices,” showings; those given by the Arab brother who promises a percentage of the intake to the American Legion, Red Cross, firemen and similar organizations. He was told that even auspices showings will bear the same tax under the pending bill. The exhibitor in Henderson announced he would give away five $5 gold pieces on a Saturday night. Admission tickets given throughout the week were placed in a hat. The exhibitor got such an overflow house that night that an additional announcer was required to convey news of the winners to an overflow audience. The tent show had an attendance, by actual count, of fourteen. That same exhibitor trotted out the college band for a theatre concert during the entire week that another tented organization showed. Result, more packed houses and one more transient placing the taboo talisman by the side of that town for the benefit of his travelling brothers. H. T. Hodge of Abilene, Texas, owner of shows in five towns, who claims he has lost thousands this year by reason of tent show patronage, had a concrete suggestion. He said that the tent show interests, in retalia*3 tion over taxes and other matters, might erect twenty permanent tents in twenty stands throughout the Lone Star State. Then they would combine and send road shows over the circuit, playing in these tents and thus escaping the occupation tax in each town. Hodge gave the idea not as a remote possibility, but as a nearby probability. Col. Cole said he wished the M. P. T. O. Texas was strong enough financially to send out two exploitation rtren over the territory, following up the tent shows. Their mission would be the thinking up of stunts to draw patronage to the exhibitor. Colonel Jason Joy, executive secretary of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors, was a featured speaker during the afternoon session. He said he had discovered in the southland a tremendous interest in the motion picture among the laiety. He drew a parallel between two exhibitors in the Carolinas. One man keeps on good terms with his public, finds out what they want, takes an interest in their welfare and prospers. The other, with the same pictures, the same music, but lacking the personal contact touch, is a rank failure. He urged the picture men to get to the parents through the child. Business Manager H. G. McNeese in his annual report showed an unusual growth of membership. Approximately 350 are numbers, contrasted the forty-two of eighteen months ago. Secretary of State J. J. Strickland followed McNeese, declaring the whole problem of the industry today lies largely in having the industry understood by the public. There was an automobile tour of the city before noon and an informal dinner followed by a dance, beginning at 7 p. m., in the Palm Garden of the Adolphus Hotel, convention headquarters. The convention steering committees included: Finance and budget : E. L. Byar of Terrell; Harold Robb of Dallas and Lou Bissinger of Dallas. Resolutions: H. S. Ford of Wichita Falls; Leslie Witt of Waco and H. S. Cole of Bonham. Constitution: J. A. Holton of Port; Arthur P. V. William of Munday and Mrs. T. C. Christopher of Beaumont. Reception, W. A.. Fairman of Bryan; Ross Rogers of Amarillo and Sebe Goodlett of Georgetown. Registration : Jack Lilly” of Greenville; William K. Greever of Vernon and J. P. Jones of Groesbeck. A feature of the closing day was the announcement by Earl L. Crabb, district manager of the Southern Enterprises, Inc., in Texas, to the effect that every Southern Enterprise house in the Lone Star State sought membership in the present body. He said he did not understand why his organization was not represented in the Texas (Continued on page 714)