The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 20, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 247 United States Senator Robert L. Owen of Oklahoma was then introduced as one of "the best friends of the exhibitor" and "father" of the Federal Reserve Bank. He stated that it was a good thing to hold the convention in Washington so that Congress might better become acquainted with the activities of the picture theatre owners and their possibilities and potentialities as a great force, adding that it gave him pleasure to present in the Senate the resolution opening the theatres for the showing of vocational training and other instructive films. "You have need for co-operation," said the senator, "for the co-operation of the government, and are able to serve the government." He called attention to the evils that come through ignorance and to the fact that on examining youths of the country for military service 20 per cent were found to be unable to read or write. He emphasized the point that the motion picture would reach even these, stating, "you have the opportunity to instruct even those who cannot read or write and impress upon them the lessons of patriotism, liberty and justice, and possess the power of rendering greater service to the country than any other force, bar none." This statement was received with hearty applause. Public Service Work Senator Owen maintained that the theatre owners deserved and were entitled to the co-operation of the government and that their (exhibitors') demands should be given every consideration. At the conclusion of his speech he was greeted with three cheers and escorted from the platform by a committee of three, Gus Schmidt of Indianapolis, Paul Jones and Hassinger of Pittsburgh. M. J. O'Toole, of Scranton, Pa., chairman of the Public Service Committee, responded to Senator Owens' ad JOSEPH G. RHODE Fourth Vice-President dress of welcome on behalf of the exhibitor organization. Mr. O'Toole told of the work of the public service department of the organization. He said that his committee has in preparation a booklet to help in making the screen of greater value to the government and to the people. He called attention to the fact that the United States Senate is the greatest lawmaking body today in the world, referring praisingly to Oklahoma. He called attention to his twenty years' experience as newspaper editor and predicted the extension of freedom of the press to eventually include the screen, stating that the screen is in reality a press and that the "screen press" should also be like the newspaper press, free from censorship. President's Report President Cohen then delivered his annual report, which follows, in part: "In any attempt to cover the manifold elements associated with the work of the Motion JOHN T. COLLINS Treasurer Picture Theatre Owners of America, we find that so many subjects intrude that the task becomes at once a very difficult one. But we can, however, in as brief a way as circumstances will permit, cover a considerable portion of this work and review some, at least, of the activities of the past year. Our thoughts, of course, are more on the future, but in order that we may know what to do in the time to come, we must have a very comprehensive idea of what we have already done, so as to profit both on tlie successes we have attained and the mistakes we might have made. "The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America have advanced in the public estimation to the very first position in this great industry, especially in the point of public service. The position of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners in their direct contact with the people, catering to millions of Americans daily along amusement, educational and other lines, gives us that added influence and prestige and places us in this conspicuous position in the foreground of our business. "During the past year, the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America have made many substantial advances aside from the fact that our organization has increased in numbers and general influence. Many state units have been established, and we have now a member M. VAN PR A AG Recording Secretary ship in almost every state in the Union and in each case an operating executive body. Tax Repeal "Our organization, during the special session of Congress, concentrated its efforts upon the repeal of the 5 per cent, film tax. Many letters, or the copies of the Exhibitors Bulletin which have been often sent to you, have made you entirely familiar with that phase of our work. It required many extraordinary moves to accomplish this but through the wonderful co-operation given us by the individual theatre owner in all parts of the country, we were able to bring this situation in such a favorable way to the attention of Congress as to cause those in charge of the revenue bills in the United States Senate especially, to see the virtue of our request and aid us in bringing about the repeal of this tax. It is estimated that this repeal saves the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of the United States between $6,000,000 and $7,000,000 annually. This repeal went into effect January 1, 1922. Since that time no film tax has been paid and theatre owners have been saved this amount. "Continuing the work started previous to the Minneapolis convention of June, 1921, your organization has succeeded in effecting a number of substantial adjustments with various film companies and especially with the Famous Players Lasky Corporation and First National. We had a number of meetings with President Adolph Zukor of the Famous Players Lasky Corporation, and the result of this, together with matters affecting Associated First National Pictures, Inc., will be made the subject of special reports to be submitted to you by committees of the organization. Movie Chats "Since our last convention we have extended our efforts substantially in the direction of a screen press. Arrangements have been made with the Kineto Company of America to produce the Official Urban Movie Chats, a one reel weekly feature which is the screen organ of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. The success which has attended this departure is so extraordinary as to be really phenomenal. We have gone beyond our most sanguine expectations in the matter of booking this reel and it now has almost as wide a circulation as any other weekly feature in the United States. This is especially gratifying in view of the fact that we have only been engaged in this work for about three months. A complete and comprehensive report of Official Urban Movie Chats will be made to this convention. "An effort has been made during the year to effect some advances in the direction of a