Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1925)

PP^OJ ECTION From President Canavan The letter from William Canavan, International President of the I. A. T. S. E. & M. P. M. 0„ published in this issue, appears here with his full approval and consent. I wrote Brother Canavan, asking his opinion of two things recently published in this department. His reply was such that I very naturally desired to publish it. I called him up and asked him if there was any objection to such publication. His reply was : “Not the slightest. Anything I say I am perfectly willing to stand by.” Gentlemen, permit me to say that there spoke an HONEST, STRAIGHTFORWARD MAN! It is conclusive proof that your International President is outside the ranks of those political shysters who blow hot or cold, according to which they believe best serves their own PERSONAL ends at the moment. It is the pronouncement of the type of man who can and will lead the organization into right paths, and through those paths to solid, substantial, lasting progress. Not Mere “Bull” I feel that it is hardly necessary to tell those who really know me that the foregoing is NOT mere “bull” — words spoken in favor of Canavan merely because Canavan has been kind enough to speak kindly of me and my work. I believe he has spoken as he has for no other reason on earth than that he KNOWS what I have always been, and still am striving to do, and knowing he has had the moral courage to set forth his views, even though aware that such views will be resented by that rapidly decreasing element of the men who are unalterably (unalterably thus far, at any rate) opposed to progress. Former international officers also have approved of my work, and have many times privately told me so, but they all lacked the MORAL COURAGE to say it openly, because they thought such views would not be altogether popular. Aside from the single instance in which President Shay gave me some measure of credit in his report to the I. A. Convention for killing the notorious “Work or Fight” order of the Government. President Canavan is the first International President to accord to my work any manner of public recognition or approval whatsoever. Richardson and Canavan Disagree President Canavan and I disagree on some points. He holds that I ought not to publicly “roast” either individuals or unions. That I should use kindness instead of the “Big Stick.” We had many arguments on that point. For the first time I am now ready to admit that his position in this matter is largely justified. “Largely,” I said, mind you, NOT altogether. It is largely true because the calibre of the men in projection rooms has undergone a very decided change, and that EDITED BY F. H. RICHARDSON Bluehook School Question No. 206— Name the glare spots most commonly found in theatres; also is there any real necessity for glare spots? Question No. 207 — Tell us how it is possible to place a clock on the front wall, and even near the screen, and enable the audience to tell the time readily, without creating a glare spot. Question No. 208 — Explain how exit signs may be made conspicuous, without being glare spots. Question No. 209 — Is the fact that individuals of the audience do not enter complaint of glare spots proof that they are not ohjectionahle ? Explain fully, so that we may see just what study YOU have made of such matters. Question No. 210 — Tell us what the various effects of glare spots are in the way of injury to the show. Think well over this one. It involves several things, and without the knowledge necessary to a complete answer you are unable to discuss the matter intelligently with your manager. change has been in the nature of a vast improvement. Time was, and not so long ago, when the only argument which won any considerable attention, was the argument which held a sting. The sting made them mad, PROVOKED ARGUMENT, and in the process of argument MADE THEM THINK. They cursed Richardson roundly and soundly but in so doing they were stirred up and MADE TO THINK, and there was always a percentage of men, however small, who UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS BEHIND IT ALL, and these men (ofttimes rather cautiously, for it was not always safe to offer opposing argument, or to support Richardson) rubbed in the argumentive salt which made the wound smart, made them more angry and MADE THEM THINK HARDER. In those days the great mass of the men were mere machine operators. Some of them were only mediocre, even as machine attendants. Today the opposite is true in most sections, and the change is rapidly taking place in other sections where progress has been less rapid. The machine attendant, or “operator” is rapidly passing from the scene. Men are coming to understand that the projection of motion pictures involves far more than merely the operation of a machine — that the machine operation is, in fact, merely incidental to motion picture projection. Just to what extent my own work is responsible for this improvement I leave others to say. At least I have used such talents as I have possessed in the way I have believed to be most likely to produce results along the lines of advancement in motion picture projection, and for what I firmly believed to be for the best ultimate good of the men engaged therein, and for the motion picture industry. In conclusion I desire to convey to William Canavan, International President I. A. T. S. E. & M. P. M. O., my sincere thanks and appreciation of and for his words of kindly friendship and commendation. I also ] desire to say to him, and through him to ; the organization membership as a whole, that my belief and faith in the I. A. T. S. E. & M. P. AI. O. is and always has been stead I fast; that every act of mine, where it was concerned, has been such as I believed absolutely would ultimately redound to the best interests of both the men and the organization ; that my services are always at its command in all things which represent right, justice and progress. International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, 110 West 40th Street, New York City. | New York, N. Y., Dec. 30, 1924. | My Dear Richardson; — Phrst of all let me express my appreciation for your kindness in sending me the two articles taken from the Projection Department of the Moving Picture World, of which you are the editor. Now as to the articles in question: Regarding the first, captioned "My Opinion,’’ which treats of the subjects discussed by ourselves on several occasions, it is my opinion that your answer is more typical of the real Richardson as I know him than is any article written by yourself which it has ever been my good fortune to read. As Grover Cleveland once said, we are confronted with a fact, not a theory, and we must meet conditions as they arise. On many occasions projectionists’ locals are compelled in the interest of harmony to accept into membership men who are lacking in union qualities; oftentimes men who they feel have no regard for the allegiance obligation required by the union. And again, on a few occasions, in order to settle controversies, they have been compelled to reinstate former members who had outrageously betrayed their oath of allegiance as well as all trade union ethics. All of this they were, naturally unwilling to do, but insistence on the part of managers necessitated such action. Following in this train of thought it is an easy matter to understand that managers oftentimes insist upon a settlement necessitating the acceptance into membership of men lacking in qualities that should be possessed by high-grade projectionists. They do not do this because of their desire to have such men, but economic necessity compels them to accept these unwelcome compromises. Then, too, your suggestion that these incompetent men be classified by the locals is generally carried out, unconsciously, perhaps, but nevertheless done. All in all, the matter has been well stated, in my opinion. Under the caption, “Portrait Group of Well Known Celebrities,’’ you call attention to some twenty infirmities possessed by projectionists and to some extent even I am compelled to admit your observations are justified: and I say this with full knowledge that you are aware that the vast majority of our members are not scaled down to this particular level. All the efforts you have put forth in the interest of better projection, better pay and