The Moving picture world (May 1922)

May 27, 1922 MOVING PICTURE WORLD Confederation of Independent Exhibitors Is Forecast as New York State Leaves M. P. T. O. A. Walker Engaged as Counsel for T. O. C. C. A confederation of independent theatre owners throughout the country, built along strictly business lines, for business purposes and without politics, will be efiected as a consequence of developments of the past week, according to well-informed exhibitors from various sections of the United States. In fact, the foundation for such an association was laid in New York this week with representative exhibitors from many parts of the country pledging themselves to concentrate all their efforts on the formation of such an independent organization, co-operating with the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce of New York City on national affairs. This means State independence and national co-operation. While the intimation of the formation of such an exhibitors' confederation furnished the outstanding feature for an unusually busy week, other important developments were as follows: (1) Secession of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York State from the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. (2) Reiteration of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce of New York City and northem New York tha t it never was or will be affiliated with the M. P. T. 0. A. or any other national organization. (3) Acceptance by Senator James J. Walker of the office of counsel of the M. P. T. O. of N. Y. and T. O. C. C. (4) Adoption of plans whereby the metropolitan theatre owners organization will be not only self-supporting, but incidently assured of a fund not less than $150,000 this year. (5) Establishment in New York City of a Central Purchasing Bureau. (6) Granting of a charter to northern and western New York exhibitors by the M. P. T. O. A. for Uie expansion of their organization throughout the Empire State above the Bronx line. (7) Postponement of Washington hearing on music tax because of absence of any counsel to represent the M. P. T. O. A. The past week's meeting of the T. O. C. C. in New York was probably the most important held by that oi-ganization since its inception. That exhibitors as a whole are not in accord with all that was done at the national convention in Washington last week was evident by the presence of theatre owners from various sections of the country in New York to ascertain just how the T. O. C. C. operated. The accomplishments of the New York organization during thej past year aroused considerable attention in Washington and a number of State organizations this week sent delegates to this city to ascertain how these results were obtained. The fact that a vast majority of the funds turned over to the M. P. T. O. A. came from the New York State and metropolitan organizations also furnished much food for thought. Insofar as the national convention itself is concerned exhibitors all seem to agree that, while it was dramatic, it was a failure in that the only accomplishment was the election of ofificers and that feat was performed with the aid of the rankest steamroller tactics ever put to use by an organization meeting within the confines of the national capital. The convention came to an unsatisfactory close on Friday, May 12, only 31 delegates being in attendance at the closing session, the others starting to return to their homes following the disgraceful proceedings of Wednesday. The local committee did its part well and exhibitors agree that the entertainment furnished was the best offered at any national convention. That several States are planning court action to test the legality of the proceedings is accepted as certain. The southern situation offers a splendid example of the extremes to which Cohen floor leaders went to effect his re-election, .\ccording to reliable authorities, only one Southern State, represented at the convention, was entitled to delegate representation and that was North Carolina. Tennessee and South Carolina have exhibitor organizations whose by-laws strictly forbids afifiliation with any national body, but in spite of this fact these States cast their full voting strength at Washington. S. G Howell, editor of Motion Picture Journal of Dallas, Tex., who is ^aid to never have owned a theatre, cast the Texas vote. Further, neither Mississippi nor Louisiana maintain State organizations, but despite this both cast their solid voting strength for Cohen. That the M. P. T. O. A. as it stands today is not the effective organization that it was a year ago, seems to be the consensus of opinion of exhibitors in many parts, of the country. In addition to losing the South and his home State, New York, Cohen succeeded in splitting Missouri Oklahoma and Georgia. The secession of the New York State organization did not come as a surprise, for that action was anticipated after the riotous meeting of Wednesday in Washington. This belief was further strengthened on the following Friday when a charter was given to several western and northern New York exhibitors to organize a new body. This action was accepted by Charles L. O'Reilly, president of the M. P. T. O. of N. Y., and others in the Empire State, as a challenge that the Cohen faction would seek to effect a new organization to combat the original group. The Tuesday meeting this week of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce was the largest ever held by that organization. .■Xmong those in attendance was Marcus Loew, Theodore Hays of Minnesota, Harry Lustig of Cleveland, Charles Skouras of St. Louis, L. Goldman of St. Louis, Hector Pasmezoglu of Missouri, Sam Bullock of Ohio, C. C. Griffin of California, and H. Lipton of Ohio. In addition to these visitors, the entire membership of the T. O. C. C. was present. President Landau presided. The executive tommittee, through Bernard Edelhertz, chairman, submitted its report, which was accepted. This report provided for the creation of a central purchasing bureau, which will buy all accessories for members. Further provisions included the elimination of bookings of theatrical films to non-theatrical enterprises. Action on the latter proposition will be taken immediately by a special committee, which is scheduled to meet with representatives of the distributing companies in New York. Perhaps the most important proposition discussed was that pertaining to insurance. This resulted in the establishment of an Insurance Bureau. A plan was adopted whereby the organization is assured a minimum income annually of $75,000. It was further decided that a tax of one cent per seat be imposed to meet legal expense. This tax, it is estimated unofificially, will net the organization an additional minimum of $75,000 annually, thus assuring the T. O. C. C. this year a total from those two items of at least $150,000. This achievement represents the crowning feature of this organization's work and those in a position to know point out that only because the T. O. C. C. have a strong orga'nization were such definite accomplishments made possible. Others pointed out, too, that the treasury of the metropolitan organization greatly exceeds that of the M. P. T. O. A. The matter of uniform contracts also was discussed and immediate action on behalf of the New York organization will be taken That the T. O. C. C. will shortly be represented at a meeting with producers and distributors is certain. Following the announcement of the secession of the New York organization from the M. P. T. O. A., it was stated by Mr. O'Reilly that an important meeting of the Empire State body would be held within a few weeks m Rochester, N. Y. Definite announcement of the date will be made next week. At this meetmg the first official step toward the formation of a confederation of independent exhibitors will be taken, it is believed. After much persuasion Senator Walker, who had previously declined offers, was forced to accept office of counsel for the metropolitan and New York organizations. The New Yoric delegation stood by the Senator almost to the man and when these friends insisted that he accept the post, he found it impossible to refuse in view of their loyalty and extreme confidence in hime. The Senator later stated that he would have been amiss his duty as a friend to have turned down the proposition. A special meeting of the executive committee of the T. O. C. C. has been called for Monday when the proffer to the Senator will be officially made. The following resolution, presented by Leo Brecher, was passed unanimously: "The Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce IS independent and unaffiliated as an organization. No other organization is authorized to speak or act for the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce. "The Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce and its members will not be responsible for any action by any organization purporting to represent the members of this organization." An amendment was proposed to the bylaws, whereby the following clause now contained in Section 2, Article 1, will be eliminated : "But no application for membership shall be considered unless such applicant is a member of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America." A drive by the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce will now be made to secure theatres within this territory to increase its membership.