Moving Picture World (Feb 1917)

826 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 10, 1917 with changes, on the Universal statement as set forth in the Universal's published article, "A Swift Jolt." Sam Trigger opposed the resolution. He said the matter should not be given publicity until the committee had called on the Universal. Mr. Bush spoke in favor of the resolution. "I will use my voice and presence wherever possible to repudiate such a vilification of the exhibitors," he said. Put to a vote, the resolution was accepted and adopted. Sam Trigger was the only dissenting voice and wished to be so recorded. A motion was made and carried to allow Grant Anson, chairman of laws and legislation committee, $50 a week to be at the present session of the state Legislature in Albany until after the Sunday opening bill had been brought before the Senate and Assembly. The convention adjourned, sine die, to be reconvened at Buffalo, N. Y., at some time within the discretion of the executive committee. This ended one of the largest and most harmonious conventions ever held by any exhibitors' association. At least one hundred and fifty persons, representing different branches of the business, were in attendance. SOME OF THOSE WHO WERE THERE. At 10.30 a. m., Tuesday, January 23, the delegates and members of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' Leagues of New York City started on their way to Albany to the convention of the state leagues. A special parlor car was chartered. Those who occupied it were: Frank Peters, Sydney Oscher, Louis A. Levine, David G. Picker, Albert Israel, Harry Dauto, W. A. Hollender, Moe Streimer, Tom Howard, Lee A. Ocbs, Charles Steiner, Joe Perl, Louis Schneider, Elias Moyer, Sydney S. Cohen, Gus Koenigswald, I. Hartstale, H. Weisner, H. Gainsburg, H. Mayer, Charles Fischer, Jack Schwartz, M. Gordon, Sam Trigger, John Manheimer, William Brandt, H. W. Rothenthal, Rudolph Sanders, A. J. Stockhamma, H. Weingarten, Otto Lederer, Louis Rosenthal, Benjamin Lyons, Charles H. Steamer, Edward Valensi, Manuel D. Motta, Harry Shapiro, Nathan Macbat, Samuel Rohnbeimer, Max Oestriecher, Frank A. Gorman, Henry Haring, John Whitman, Henry Cole, Samuel Suckman. John C. Bolte. R. E. Walsh, L. J. Gaffney, American Seating Company; Sam Spedon, E. M. Saunders, Metro ; S. B. Kramer, Bluebird ; John Miller, BuSalo Times ; M. Morrison, Vitagraph ; Eugene F. Licous, Unity Corporation ; C. C. Charles, Universal ; William Raynor, K-E-S-E., and James Beecroft. In addition to these the following persons were present at the opening session of the convention: Peter Oscelo, J. Klein, William Rogers, and J. M. Mosher, of Buffalo; M. Cohen, Henry Harvy, M. H. Hoffman, Joe Brandt, M. J. Gerson, J. Cohen, J. E. Heffron, M. Silverman, F. X. Shay, Schenectady ; W. A. Feiser, L. A. Briettner, Cohoes ; W. H. Buck, Albany; John Mynders, H. L. Levy, Waterford ; F. G. Sleiter, F. M. Boshnett, G. Battaghon, Troy ; J. J. Rosenthal, Otto Lederer, William Hilkemeier, H. Weiner, S. Lucno, K. A. Fisher, J. H. Burdett, W. P. Donlon, Utica ; G. Cohen, Poughkeepsie ; J. J. Walker, B. Wernick, F. Powers, W. Bernstein, S. Bernstein, George Roberts, Albany ; Grant Anson, V. G. Bergstrom, Mr. Bates. Jerome Wilson, Charles Steiner, Hunter Bennett, W. C. Hubbard, J. M. Freed, Schenectady ; W. F. Holberman, M. Cohen. Bluebird ; Y. Fennyressey, W. A. Bika, Mr. Lewis, F. N. Barhydt, Troy; Richard Wernick, C. C. Charles, W. H. Tinton, W. F. Holberman, Mutual ; William Fait, Jr., Utica; Mr. Hopkins, W. H. Buck, Albany; Benjamin Apple, Troy ; W. F. Holberman, B. E. Garlock, Schenectady ; Mr. Billman, Albany; Charles Fisher, Brooklyn; James J. King, New York; W. H. Tinton, Little Falls; A. L. Milligan, Schuylerville ; Walter Pavis, Albany ; Frank Peters, New York ; M. S. Silverman, Mt. Vernon ; Frank Peters, New York ; Samuel Luckno, Albany ; Joseph E. Wiedman, Albany ; Charles A. McCarthy, Hoosic Falls ; Frank Seider, Fourth Estate. New York; J. Cobe, Civilization Feature Co.; J. A. Koerpel, World Film Corporation ; T. H. Bendil, Triangle Corpopration ; W. A. Zaiser, Schenectady ; R. A. Fisher, Watervleit ; L. T. Rogers, Richard Weinick, and A. F. Shapiro, of Rogers Film Corporation. Allied Printers Against Film Tax Peter J. Brady, President of Allied Printing Trades Council, Defines Stand in Letter to Committee. THE Allied Printing Trades Council of New York State has taken a decided stand against any attempt to place a tax on the motion picture industry. Peter J. Brady, president of the printers' organization, has sent a letter to Senator Wheeler, chairman of the legislative committee which is investigating the motion picture industry with a view to finding if the industry is a proper subject for state taxation, denning the printers' stand on the matter. Mr. Brady also brings attention to the fact that the same arguments in favor of a tax on motion pictures is being used as when attempts were made to increase postage on publications mailing under a second-class rate. The letter sent to Senator Wheeler follows: On behalf of the Printing Trades Unions of this State, I desire to enter a protest with your committee against any taxation on the moving picture industry for the following reasons : 1. The moving picture industry, to a considerable extent, depends upon advertising, bcth in newspapers and other publications, and also through advertising in theatrical programs, circulars and posters and many other ways in which printing is used, and in which many members of our unions in the printing industry are employed. Any tax upon moving pictures can only mean that there will be retrenchment by the producers, distributors, exhibitors, etc., and that retrenchment, we believe, will first come in the advertising and printing. This will result in the aggregate in a large amount of money now going into the printing industry being used to meet the taxation and will then result in a large number of our people being out of employment. The printing industry is in a very bad way at the present time, as you probably know, on account of the high cost of paper and all other material, including labor, which goes into the final cost of all the finished products, so that there has been retrenchment in nearly all lines of the industry that have affected the printing industry seriously, and we hope that your committee will not permit a tax on moving picture shows, which would further injure the welfare of our members and the printing industry generally, which is the second largest in this State. 2. In addition to the above, we also have another reason as to why the moving pictures should not be taxed, and that is the great benefit that this industry has been to the working people generally. You will find from investigation, if you and the other members of your committee will visit the moving picture shows and proprietors that can stand taxation the least — that is those in the residential and outlying districts that the workingman and his family go to-^that the moving picture industry is doing wonderful work in keeping the family together in both their educational development and their seeking of: pleasure. You will find the father and mother and children all attending these shows, and it would be a crime for the State to tax an industry which is performing the great work that the moving picture is today in the educational development of our people. As a matter of fact, it should be considered a regulap branch of education, and, if anything, should be subsidized and encouraged by the State, instead of curtailed by. taxation. PETER J. BRADY, President, Allied Printing Trades Council of N. Y. ! Fairbanks Enjoys Wild Brooklyn Night Dined and Toasted by Press Club — "Spotted" in Theater and Is Compelled to Take Stage. DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS is developing into one of the best little guest of honor candidates in the country. On Wednesday evening, January 24, the athletic star was entertained by the Brooklyn Press Club, as an invited guest of William H. Kemble, who controls the local Triangle theater and exchange. Of course, smiling "Doug" made an interesting speech. He told of his studio trials and tribulations, answered several inquiries, and concluded his address with the remark that he'd "rather climb the side of your club house than try and entertain you with a speech. Since leaving the speaking drama for the screen, I find that my voice is getting somewhat shaky." Fairbanks was applauded enthusiastically. President Eric H. Palmer complimented the player on his graceful athletic ability and remarkable personality. There were many speeches by well-known men. Later in the evening, through the courtesy of William H. Kemble, "The Americano," the latest Fairbanks vehicle, was shown in the press club's projection room. Many of the stunts Doug described in his address were recognized and applauded by the members. On his return to New York, Douglas Fairbanks stopped at the Brooklyn Triangle Theater to see how "The Americano" was being received in comparison with his other pictures. It so happened that the lights were on at this time, and he was recognized by a fan who yelled, "There's Douglas Fairbanks." The only way out of it for him was to appear on the stage and tell the audience, which was capacity, some of his amusing film incidents. "MISS PREPAREDNESS" TO BE UNIVERSAL STAR. Two hundred applicants from Manhattan and fifty from Brooklyn have already been received for the contest to select "Miss Preparedness," Uncle Sam's prettiest and most popular daughter, to be designated as America's future industrial goddess and to become the star in a "Miss Preparedness" series of motion pictures to be issued by the Universal Film Company. "Miss Preparedness" will be finally selected in Madison Square Garden, February 6 to 8, leading the grand march in a Preparedness ball, to be held there February 9, as part of the program of the Industrial Preparedness Conference and joint convention and exhibition of the New" York State Retail Hardware Association and the Pennsylvania and Atlantic Seaboard Hardware Association. CORRECTION. Through a typographical error there appeared in the second paragraph of the article under the heading "President Ochs vs. Universal Company," on page 663 of the February 3 issue of The Moving Picture World, the sentence: "See article on page 1918 of our issue of Dec. 11, 1915." The sentence should have read: "See article on page 1981 of our issue of Dec. 11, 1915."