Moving Picture World (Jan - Feb 1919)

Januar I, l9i^'EW ORK YANK EXHIBITORS GREET MANAGERS Massachusetts and Rhode Island League Welcomes the Return of Exchangemen — Also Decides to Take Action Against National Association to Recover Money Spent PASSAGE of a resolution calling for action against the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry to recover money expended toward holding the national exposition in Boston and statements that a movement has been launched to form an opposition motion picture exhibitors' league in New England featured the fifth annual meeting and banquet of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Branch of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America in Boston on Wednesday afternoon, December 18. Previous to the banquet, the annual meeting took place in the league rooms. Frank J. Howard, pioneer in the motion picture industry in this country, was elected president. Other officers chosen follow: First vice-president, W. B. Sproul, East Boston ; second vice-president, Charles Moning, of Plymouth ; secretary, H. I. Wasserman, of the Eagle Theatre, Boston; treasurer, Jacob Lourie, manager of the Beacon and Modern Theatres, Boston; board of directors, P. F. Lydon, M. J. Lydon, Charles Ross, A. Montague, A. Somerby, Charles Harris and A. H. Bailey. Big Things Expected of Howard. President-elect Howard is one of the best known men in the motion picture industry and big things are expected of the league under his guidance. The industry was in its infancy when Mr. Howard came on the scene. He was the first man to open a motion picture house in Boston. This show was put on in a store on Boyleston street, near the corner of Washington. His first two reels were "The May Irwin Kiss" and the "Twentieth Century Limited." President Howard opened the first film exchange in New England. Ten years later he sold out to the General Film Company. By this deal he cleaned up a sizable fortune. Recently he sold his interests in the Nathan Gordon chain of Olympia theatres and is today actively engaged as a producer with the Atlas Film Company at Newton, Mass. Many Well Known Exhibitors Attend. More than fifty of the best known exhibitors of Massachusetts and Rhode Island attended the league meeting. President Lydon was in the chair. A lively discussion developed soon after the meeting was called to order. This was over the loss sustained by the league through the failure of the national exposition in Boston last July. It was pointed out by speakers that despite the fact that the annual convention of the league and the N. A. M. P. I. By Herbert A. Smith in Chicago passed a vote that manufacturers take part in the national exposition in Boston, a meeting was held in New York just previous to the date of the exposition at which the N. A. M. P. I. left the project stranded. It was further stated that the Massachusetts and Rhode Island exhibitors had spent a large amount of money to finance the publicity work of the national exposition. Frank J. Howard Take Action Against N. A. M. P. I. A banquet was given in the Castle Square Hotel, advertising matter was distributed broadcast throughout the country and permanent convention, headquarters has been opened. Then came the dropping out of the N. A. M. P. I. and the collapse of the project. Boston and league members bore the financial burden of the loss. The league voted to take action against the N. A. M. P. I. to recover all money which members put out to further the exposition. The league appointed a committee whose duty it will be to bring about the employment of crippled soldiers in theatres and exchanges so far as possi ble. This was the committee named: Frank J. Howard, M. J. Lydon, and Ernest H. Horstmann. Following the league meeting members went to the Lenox Hotel. Here a number of social gatherings were held until banquet time. Banquet, as Usual, Is "Regular" Affair. The banquet was a "regular" affair. Dinner tickets were $5 a plate. The menu was an elaborate one. A handsome souvenir note book was given each guest. After the repast, President-elect Howard called the gathering to order. He drew attention to the fact that a request would be made of all exhibitors that they allow collectors to visit their houses on Saturday to collect money for the tobacco fund of the Twenty-sixth (New England) Division overseas. He said he hoped all theatre managers would aid this work. President Howard then announced that on January 3 Mrs. Myron K. Miller of New York City would be at the Hotel Brunswick, Boston, at 8 p. m., to meet exhibitors and woman guests in an effort to start a film club in Boston. He stated further that Mrs. Miller had opened a campaign to organize film clubs for women throughout the United States. President Howard urged all exhibitors and exchangemen to assist Mrs. Miller in her work. The matter, he added, was of vital importance to the motion picture business. Horstman Welcomes Exchangemen. Ernest H. Horstmann was then introduced as toastmaster. Mr. Horstmann said it was a pleasure to have the exchangemen back in the league. The exchangemen, he said, had been put out of the league at the request of the exhibitors, who has protested that the league was run in the interests of the exchangemen. The folly of this action had been seen, he said. Mr. Horstmann went on to say that it was the duty of exhibitors to patronize so far as possible the exchanges which support the league and that vice versa it was the duty of the exchangemen to work with the league members. Mr. Hortsmann then went on to tell of the events in Washington during the contest over the theatre tax. Representatives of the , exhibitors, amgng