The Moving picture world (September 1921)

386 MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 24. 1921 Eastman-Independent Laboratory Dispute Ended by Meetings Lasting Two Weeks THE Eastman Company and the Allied Film Laboratories have gotten together and for the present at least the warfare is at an end. A series of conferences lasting over two weeks were concluded last Wednesday and statements were issued by the Eastman Kodak Company and the Allied Laboratories. What effect the agreement will have on the proposed tariff on raw stock is a question which the statements of neither parties to the conferences go into. The statements of both sides are herewith presented in full. Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1921. Owing to the statement of the Allied Film Laboratories, Inc., that it is their intention to use only American-made film, the menace from the German made film has become so lessened that we have decided not to operate our own laboratories. It was unwillingly that we entered this field in the photographic industry and we have no intention of re-entering it so long as the business of American film manufacturers is not threatened with extinction by the importation of foreign, and particularly of German-made, film. In view of the recently reduced price of raw film, it is apparent that the producers will be able, on regular releases, to obtain processed films on American stock at 3% cents a foot. In making our reduction it was the ultimate consumer whom we had in mind. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY. When shown the statement issued by Mr. Eastman, the following announcement was made by the Allied Laboratories Association, Inc.. which now has headquarters at 220 West Forty-second street. New York C ity : "As we stated last week a committee from the Allied Film Laboratories Association. Inc.. has been in conference over a period of several weeks with Mr. George Eastman and Mr. Jules E. Brulatour. These meetings have produced definite and highly pleasing results whereby the entire motion picture industry will benefit. "Our committee was received with the utmost courtesy by Mr. Eastman and Mr. Rrulatour and the difficulties with which the laboratory situation has been fraught for several months past were carefully analyzed and considered, and we found on the part of both Mr. Eastman and Mr. Brulatour an earnest desire not to do our business an injury, but on the contrary to help us create better business conditions that would reflect beneficially upon the whole industry by raising the standards of motion picture film manufacture and the processes of printing and developing. "'With the active co-operation of the Eastman Kodak Company we are proceeding upon the basis that the American motion picture industry must be preserved for America and Americans, and that in maintaining the supremacy of our industry's position of today, the motion picture industry " of the world will be benefited. "In purchasing three of the large laboratories in the East, Mr. Eastman had in mind no interference with the independent laboratories which we have built and developed, but rather he foresaw conditions which, if permitted to go on, would jeopardize the industry in this country. We are aware that if the independent laboratories and American manufacturers of raw film stock do not eliminate these conditions, the resulting confusion will present an opportunity for the German dye trust, through its raw film manufacturing subsidiary, to invade this country, not only with its raw stock, but with laboratories, and within a short time drive us out of business. We conceive it to be our duty, as does the Eastman Kodak Company conceive it to be its duty, to protect this business, which has prospered and grown through the investment of American dollars for the development of American industry. "We were pleased to find that the Eastman Kodak Company's interest is not confined to the betterment of its own product, on which it is spending huge sums, but extends as well to the theatre and practically every other branch of the industry. The Kodak Research Laboratory has been highly successful in improving the conditions that affect projection, the lighting problem in theatres, and safety, all of which are proving of great benefit to the industry and to the public. "Members of the Allied Film Laboratories Association are a unit in their stand for American raw film stock. The association is stronger today than ever and constantly growing. Such an organization, bound by strict rules and a creed of fair dealing, insures to the producer, distributor and exhibitor a well organized body of business men who can be depended upon not only for fair dealing, but to aid any cause which has as its object the protection and betterment of the entire industry, and to fight any menace to the industry's welfare." ALLIED FILM LABORATORIES ASSOCIATION. INC. Asks Tax Relief (Continued from Page 385) and the nation became solidly united in the furtherance of the war purposes of Congress. Gentlemen of the committee, we re spectfully represent that our public service activities, operating constructively in times of peace, can be even more effective for the American people than was the hurried application of our screen publicity powers in the rapidity of war moves. We met with President Harding and publicly pledged the use of our theatres and our motion picture appliances to the promotion of all progressive governmental programs. We are in co-operation now with all departments of the national government through the Bureau of Commercial Economics. We are making our theatres the university centers for the masses of Americans where all helpful messages along civic or other lines are transmitted and we are entering into the great work of thus advancing the educational, mental, moral and material welfare of all communities as the great visualized American press. We are carrying this work through all divisions of national, state and community service and hope to so extend it as to place our theatres with the most constructive and progressive forces in the nation. Freedom Essential to Advancement We respectfully represent, gentlemen of the committee, acting as you are in a high capacity for the American people, that this great and ever-widening element of public service should receive your support. We feel that when you fully realize the unlimited powers of our visualized educational and other elements for good, the manner in which these can and will be used by our government to promote Americanization processes among the masses and to aid every species of development and progress, that you will agree with us that our theatres should be as free as possible from tax levies and other impediments. Give us, gentlemen, the freedom of action so essential to advancement and we will give constantly renewed evidence of our ability and our willingness to serve the government and the people in the effective manner for which our screen publicity powers especially fit us. We believe that these presentations of very manifest facts, thus briefly given, will afford you a view of the purposes and powers of our Motion Picture Theatre Owners and lead you to such conclusions as will enable us to carry into effect more fully our great public service programs all over the United States. In conclusion, gentlemen, we specifically plead for the removal of the 10 per cent, admission tax on theatres, the 5 per cent, film tax and the theatre seat tax, through the amendment of House Bill No. 8245 now before you, or in such other manner as may seem best fitting to you.