Moving Picture World (Jan - Feb 1919)

46 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 4, 1919 whom were Alfred S. Black, had worked hard, he said, to have the tax repealed. A compromise measure, he continued, was drawn up. This was to be introduced when the national association placed the burden on the exhibitor. Congressman Kitchin, he said, called the attention of President Wilson to the situation. It meant the holding up of the big revenue bill and the President could not see his way clear to do this. Outlines Mutual Grievances. Continuing his address, Mr. Horstmann said that the American Exhibitors' Association and the Exhibitors' League were together while the country was at war. This gave the government the united efforts of the screen. This meant that the national association had to pocket its pride and join the American Association. The latter, he said, had withdrawn again. The 'speaker pointed out the need for a stronger exhibitors' league in the East and urged a 100 per cent, membership. Burial of petty differences between exchangemen and exhibitors was of paramount importance. Mr. Horstmann added that it was unfair for the exchangemen to send an exhibitor a film C. O. D., and that it was also unfair for the exhibitor to return the films to the exchangemen C. O. D. He declared that it was not fair for the exhibitor to book one film and then run it in two theatres. He also declared it was unfair for the exchangeman to book an exhibitor a "Charlie Chaplin" and send him a "Fatty Arbuckle." But, the speaker declared, these were all minor individual differences that easily could be smoothed out if the exchangemen and the exhibitors would get together and talk matters over. This should be done, he said. The place to thrash these matters out was in the league rooms where exhibitors and exchangemen could meet and talk matters over. The toastmaster then introduced State Senator George W. Curran of Boston as "the man who made the fight in the last Massachusetts Legislature against the five minute law." Industry Plays Big Role in War. Senator Curran said that the motion picture industry played a major role in the winning of the war. In the first three Liberty Loan drives, he declared, this industry had collected more than one-third of the loans. "This industry," he said, "has stood 100 per cent in its war record. Now that prosperity has come again we should stand 100 per cent as an organization for the future welfare of the business. The five minute law which I was glad to sponser in the Massachusetts Legislature has saved every exhibitor fully $1,000 a year. In looking around I see the same men here who have come up to Beacon Hill year after year to fight legislation hostile to the motion picture industry. You are going to have a whole lot more hostile legislation to combat. You should be 100 per cent organization. If I can do. anything for the industry I stand ready to aid you in every way." Here's An Echo of That Chicago Trip. John M. Casey, motion picture cen>f Boston, was introduced as the 'best pitch player in the U. S. A." This Mr. Horstmann said was proved on the trip of the delegates to the last national convention in Chicago. Mr. Casey began his address by saying that his first impression was that the charges that there might be a clique in the industry dominated by the ex changemen might be true. Two years' experience, he declared, convinced him that he was entirely mistaken. Opponents of the exchangemen, he added, had failed utterly to make good their charges. He believed that the future benefit of the league was to have the exchangemen in the fold. Continuing, he said: "You are a bright, clever, capable set of business men. You insure your buildings against fire and take other wise business precautions. Why don't you insure your business by making this league a 100 per cent organization? I see the same few men at all these gatherings. When a law that is an injury to the industry is passed there is a great howl and a plea to the officials of the various cities and towns to go easy on the obnoxious law. "Why don't you start at the beginning and tight this legislation in the legislature as a 100 per cent organization instead of waiting until the damage is done? The differences among the exhibitors and exchangemen are minor ones, and they can all be overcome with the proper co-operation on all sides. Xo one has the best interests of the industry more at heart, and I am with you any time you may call on me." Lydon Also Greets Exchangemen. The retiring President, Mr. Lydon, was then introduced as "a man who has accomplished a great deal for the industry." He said he believed the past year had been a successful one for the league. He declared that the gates had been opened wide and that the dissenters had come back into the organization. "I am glad we had the good sense to welcome the exchangemen back into the league," he said. "Every exchangeman is human and the exhibitors are also so. The men who come here and foot the bills and work their hardest for the organization would be satisfied if they got only the moral support of the exhibitors. But we have exhibitors who refuse to come to the meetings at all and who only sit back and knock. "I have received the resignation of some of our 'bolters.' I understand they will start an opposition organization. All glory to them. I don't know whether to class some of our opponents in the class of A. P. A. or the I. W. W. I am safe in saying that they won't work. I thank you for the fine assistance you have given me, and I wish our new president a very successful year." Wasserman Praises Lydon. H. I. Wasserman arose and said he felt it his duty to protest against the criticism made of the administration of the league under the retiring president, Mr. Lydon. This criticism, he continued, was never based upon facts. Mr. Lydon has been in ill-health and unable to attend many of the league meetings. When there was a battle on, he added, Mr. Lydon was always on hand. He had been a hard, persistent worker for the organization, the speaker said. The league, he declared, would stand by Mr. Lydon to the last. Mr. Wasserman then presented Mr. Lydon with a handsome leather traveling bag as a "token of love and esteem in which he is held by his fellow league members." Mr. Lydon was greatly surprised, but arose to the occasion. He laughingly remarked that it was evident his friends wished to get rid of him quickly. He declared that he was leaving the next day for Hot Springs. Va., and would use the bag on his trip. As the "dean of exchangemen who had fought in the interests of the exhibitor," Harry 1". Campbell, manager of the Fox Exchange, was called on. Mr. Campbell said he had the sensation of a prodigal son back at the home fireside. He had been "tired" out of the league as an exchangeman, he said, but was glad to get back in again. He made a stirring plea for a 100 per cent organization. Asher Glad To Be Back Again. Harry Asher, manager of the Paramount Exchange, the next speaker, declared he was glad to hear that some of the exhibitors had bolted the league and were going to start a rival organization. He hoped that the exhibitors had adjusted their differences. He rejoiced in being back in the league and expressed the opinion that the co-operation between the exchangemen and the exhibitors could be maintained, lie thought both the exchangemen and the exhibitors meant to be fair to each other in all their dealings. Mr. Horstmann then called on all exhibitors and exchangemen to give theiT loyal support to the new president, Mr. Howard. Some Exhibitors Remind Howard of Children. Mr. Howard was the next speaker. He said some of the exhibitors reminded him of children. They refused to play because the game was not held in their own yard. He declared the league had done hard fighting and deserved all success. He also declared that the war was won by motion pictures. "This is a verybroad statement," he continued, "but a true one. I think I can prove it. A year ago, when the Allies were up against it German propaganda had covered the world. "In France and England the German propaganda had spread the report that America was in the war, but she was doing nothing. Some man conceived the idea of taking motion pictures of our munition plants, shipyards and cantonments, showing our vast war preparations. These pictures were shown throughout England and France and immediately the spirit of the allies took a new turn. Their morale improved and the war was won by motion pictures." Mr. Howard urged greater and stronger organization work in the league. Those present at the banquet included Harry Campbell and Frank Bine, Fox Exchange; John M. Casey, Boston censor; Senator George W. Curran, Boston; Thomas Spry, Gordon-Mayer Company; Herman Rifkin, Rifkin Feature Film Company; Harry Segal, Metro Film Company ; A. Cebe, Metro; Harry Asher, W. H. Patten, Samuel Hasse and Joseph McConville, Paramount; Stanley Hand, New Paragon Film Company; E. Weaklev, New Paragon; M. Holan, Pathe; Jacob Harris, H. E. Gennett, Pathe; Richard Wenick and Daniel Horgan, Goldwyn ; W. H. Gardner, Triangle ; Tames J. McGuiness, general manager Gordon's Olympias, and the following exhibitors: L. Dadmun. E. R. Daniels, L. S. Eyster, Simon Frankel, Charles Harris, E. H. Horstmann, Frank J. Howard, Jacob Lourie, P. F. Lydon, M. J. Lydon, \ H. Mailev, Charles Merling, A. Montague, C. H. Ross, W. B. Sproule, H. Wasserman, J. N. Woodhead, George Rollins, Samuel Brand of Rolfe Film; R. D. Marson, Marson Supply Company; Frank Hookiale, Edwin Golden, manager of "Hearts of the World."