The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

290 MOVING PICTURE WORLD January 26, 1924 Seeks Flat Tax of 5 Cents on Tickets Over 25 Cents AFLAT tax of 5 cents on all admissions between 25 cents and $1, with total exemptions from tax of admissions below 25 cents, and a tax of 25 cents on each dollar, or fraction thereof, on all admissions above $1, will be sought in the Senate when' the revenue measure reaches the upper house, by Senator Curtis of Kansas, Republican Whip of the Senate and prominent member of the Senate Finance Committee. The Senator on January 15 announced his intention of proposing an amendment to the revenue measure when it reached the Senate, declaring that he would seek the .retention of the admission tax for the purpose of meeting the obligations of the adjusted compensation bill for the veterans of the World War. Senator Curtis' amendment will exempt from tax all admissions of 25 cents or less, and will provide a tax of 5 cents for admissions over 25 cents, but not exceeding $1. WThere the admission exceeds $1 a tax of 25 cents will be assessed on each dollar or fraction thereof, and where tickets are sold at hotels, newsstands and places other than the office of a theatre, at a price in excess of that at the box office, an additional tax of 10 per cent on such excess when over 50 cents above the box-office price will be assessed, in lieu of the present rate of 5 per cent. His amendment also will provide that the tax on boxes and box seats will be increased from the present rate of 10 per cent to 20 per cent, and the tax on cabarets is to be increased from \l/2 to 2 cents on each 10 cents or fraction thereof. The measure also will include a provision that all revenue from admissions collected from January 1, 1924, both under the Revenue Act of 1921 and under the proposed new revenue law, be set aside in the Treasury as a special fund to meet the obligations of the adjusted compensation bill, if that measure should be enacted into law before March 4, 1925. Should the bonus bill not become a law by that date, however, the revenue accruing is to be turned back into the Treasury. In discussing his proposed amendment the Senator declared that the plan and rates will be submitted simply as a basis for consideration, with a view to having the Senate Finance Committee, should it decide in favor of his recommendation, fix rates necessary to produce an amount sufficient to meet the requirements of the bonus bill. The revenue from admission taxes during the fiscal year 1923 totaled approximately $70,000,000, and it is estimated by Senator Curtis that the requirements for 1925 under the bonus bill would be in the neighborhood of $77,000,000. Directors Urge Six Reels as Maximum Of the business transacted by the Board of Directors of the M. P. T. O. A. in session two days this week at national headquarters, several resolutions then adopted are made public. Sydney S. Cohen occupied the chair at the New York gathering. A lengthy testimonial by the board was recorded in memoriam of the late Dr. Francis Holley, who was the executive head of the Bureau of Commercial Economics at Washington. Other resolutions, favoring a reduction in footage of feature pictures to a maximum of six reels, so as to practice greater economy and avoid censorship deletions as well as to promote a more diversified program; and in this respect registering the protest of the Theatre Owners of the United States, were unanimously adopted. Congratulates Laemmle Zukor Offers Co-operation in Celebration of Laemmle Month In a letter of felicitation to Carl Laemmle, president of Universal Pictures Corporation, on the celebration of his fortieth anniversary as an American, Adolph Zukor, president of Famous Players-Lasky, this week paid high tribute to the Universal chief and offered the co-operation of the Paramount organization in putting over Laemmle Month (February) the anniversary celebration being observed by the Universal organization. The letter made a profound impression upon Mr! Laemmle and his aids attending the Universal sales convention in Chicago, and when read aloud to the assembled exchange managers, brought forth enthusiasti' applause. In reply to Mr. Zukor, Mr. Laemmle characterized the letter and offer of cooperation as one of the most gracious acts on record, and deeply significant of the growth and broadening of views in the motion picture industry. Mr. Zukor's letter is as follows: "Dear Mr. Laemmle : On the occasion of your celebrating your forty years in this country I take pleasure in adding to the many you must be receiving, my felicitations. I am very glad you are in the motion picture industry. I take pride in being identified with an industry which has to its credit an outstanding representative of such high integrity as yourself. If our company can in any way co-operate in whatever manner of celebration you may be conducting in a business way, please do not hesitate to call upon me." Chadwick Nails Rumor Denies That "Fire Patrol" Will Be Released Through National Distributor Emphatic denial of a report that has been circulated to the effect that Chadwick Pictures Corporation, producer of Hunt Stromberg's special, "The Fire Patrol," will be distributed through a national releasing organization was made this week by I. £. Chadwick. "The Fire Patrol" will be released in the independent market, distributing arrangements in New England already having been made with Eastern Feature Film Corporation and in New York with Commonwealth Pictures Corporation. Several other deals will be closed late this week. "The Fire Patrol" is heralded as one of the most sensational melodramas offered on the independent market. It will be ready for general release by March 1. An exploitation and advertising campaign national in scope has been mapped out. The cast includes Madge Bellamy, Anna Q. Nilsson, Helen Jerome Eddy, Johnny Harron, Frances Ross, Bull Montana, Spottiswoode Aitken, Gale Henry, Charles Murray, Billy Franey, Charles Conklin and Hank Mann. SCENE FROM "THE EXTRA GIRL," STARRING MABEL NORMAND AND DISTRIBUTED BY ASSOCIATED EXHIBITORS, INC. Merge Copyright Laws Under a proclamation issued last week by President Coolidge, the United States and Canada entered into a reciprocal copyright arrangement, retroactive January 1, whereby citizens of the United States will be able to obtain copyrights in Canada under the new Canadian copyright act which came into operation on that date, and all the benefits of the copyright laws of the United States will be extended to citizens of Canada.