The Moving picture world (June 1921)

516 MOVING PICTURE WORLD June 4, 1921 Bermans Muttml Aid Plan Is Adopted BRADLEY PARKER Who t>lays in "The Foreigner," a Hodkin- son release Linder Is Hofior Guest at A. M. P. A. Luncheon Max Linder, the well known French comedian, was the guest of honor at the last weekly luncheon of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers held in the banquet room of the Cafe Boulevard. The comedian's presence was the result of the efforts and mediation of Bert Adler, chair- man of the speaker's committee, who in- trodifCed the star. Mr. Linder, laboring under a severe handicap in view of his inability to speak English language fluently, nevertheless was most interested. In broken English, inter- spersed with occasional French, the corn- edian declared that the press agent is in a large measure responsible for the success of a picture or the rapid rise of a star. Mr. Linder was accompanied by his inter- preter and his personal press agent, Clark Irvine. The latter delighted members of the A. M. P. A. with a few personal reminiscenses. John McCormack, attached to the West Coast studio of First National, a member of the West Coast Advertiser's Association and delegate to the First Na- tional Convention in session in New York, also spoke for a few minutes. THE Inter-Globe Export Corporation, recently organized by Sidney Garret, has signed contracts with Associated Exhibitors, Inc., for the distribution of As- sociated product in all parts of the world except North America. The deal is re- garded as one of the biggest in the export end of the business in some time and im- mediately upon its consummation Mr. Garrett began to put into execution plans which he has had under way for some time. Through the Inter-Globe Export Corpo- ration "The Rider of the King Log," the big Associated special now being released; Bryant Washburn in "The Road to Lon- don"; the Associated Lloyd comedies; the coming productions of Mae Murray and Florence Vidor and the whole schedule for the fall will be available to the world. "Many splendid offers have been made to the Inter-Globe Export Corporation and by Employes of ONE of the results of the recent meeting of Universal exchange managers in Chicago is the organization of a wel- fare plan which H. M. Berman, general manager of Universal exchanges, has long had in mind. One whole afternoon of the convention at the Blackstone Hotel was de- voted to discussion, which was opened by Mr. Berman. He called attention to the unfortunate condition of employes who, through accident or unfortunate illness, are unable to discharge their duties and whose situation is unrelieved by any accident or sickness insurance. "It is true," said Mr. Berman, "that here- tofore these matters have been attended to by the company, but very few employes feel like imposing on a business institution in that manner, however much they need the assistance. I would not for the world mention the names of any of those unfor- tunate employes whom the company has had to assist, but almost every one of you here knows that the company is at the present time maintaining in sanitoriums more than half a dozen of its employes, some of whom have been incapacitated for over a year. Officers to Help "What I have to say now does not in any way lessen the willingness of the company to take care of its faithful employes who meet misfortune. I am speaking, however, now as an employe myself, and I am speak- ing to employes who I know from personal conversations feel, as I do, that this great selling force should have some fund, raised through its own efforts, upon which to draw and to which each one would be entitled to assistance when the necessity arises. "I know that Mr. Laemmle, Mr. Cochrane and Mr. Stern feel as I do, and I have their assurance that they will come down with a very material personal contribution to- ward this object. We have endeavored to interest several insurance companies in un- dertaking this matter, but we have found none of them which could give us a propo- sition that looked human, so I am putting it up to you boys. I want you to appoint your own committee and get busy imme- diately." Organization Formed The result was the formation of an or- ganization committee consisting of Art Schmidt, of Cleveland, chairman; M. A. Chase, of Buffalo; Edward Armstrong, of liave been put aside in favor of the Asso- ciated Exhibitors," Mr. Garrett, the presi- dent of the new organization, said. "I have been associated with Arthur S. Kane, chair- man of the board of directors of Associated, in connection with the foreign sale of many productions in which he has been interested. We have known each other for several years and it is with the great- est pleasure that I am at the head of an organization that will handle the foreign business of Associated. We look forward to a great mutual success." Mr. Garrett is one of the best known fig- ures in the export end of the motion pic- ture industry. He formed the J. Frank Brockliss company six years ago and more recently he was the head of Sidney Gar- rett, Inc^ of 35 West Forty-fourth street. In his new organization Mr. Garreet will have alliances with some of the leading organizations of Europe and South America. Universal Exchanges Denver, and Herman Stern, of Chicago; to which Mr. Berman himself was added ex- officio. After the first meeting of the com- mittee, held the next day, it was announced that the association should be known as the Universal Aid, that it should be an un- incorporated organization, without capital or stock ownership, but that it should be devoted solely at present to the taking care of members of the sales and exchange force throughout the United States and Can- ada who become ill for any long period of time and need more assistance than they feel like asking of the company. Later it will take in other employes. St. Louis Considering New License Measure A new license measure placing the the- atres, motion picture houses, airdomes, baseball and football parks, museums and other places of amusement on a sliding scale based entirely on seating capacity and maximum admission fees, instead of a flat scale as at present, has been intro- duced in the St. Louis Board of Aldermen by Alderman Ralph Filers of the Twenty- sixth ward. The measure has been re- ferred to the committee on legislation. A public hearing will be held shortly. The bill is similar to a license measure introduced at the last session that met the opposition of the St. Louis Motion Picture Exhibitors' League and died in committee. The new bill meets most of the objections of the exhibitors and is said to be satis- factory to the majority of theatre owners, although it hits some of the larger high- priced houses very hard. New Theatre for Troy With Joseph and Edward Murphy, of Troy, and Frank P. Dolan, of Albany, N. Y., as backers, a $500,000 motion picture house, with a seating capacity of at least 3,000 persons, is being planned for Troy. It is said that the theatre will occupy a site in River street, the business section of the city. There is a rumor that the Strand company is also linked with the project. The theatre will be equipped with a stage and "legitimate" attractions are also to be booked. It is understood that the house will be built this summer. Ignore Brady's Protest Against Sex Film Despite the protest of William A. Brady, president of the National Asso- ciation of the Motion Picture Indus- try, the commissioners of Jersey City, N. J., have refused to stop the show- ing of "The End of the Road," film on the social evil, at the Strand Thea- tre there. The aid of local exhibitors in trying to have the film banned is now being sought. "The End of the Road" was a "scare" film used by the array during the war. Prints have since fallen into the hands of individuals and their exhibition in several places already has seriously hurt the reputation of the whole industry. Inter-Globe Corporation to Distribute Associated Product in Other Countries