The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

108 MOVING PICTURE WORLD November 14, 1925 Seider Business Manager of P* T* O* A*; Service Keynote THE Administrative Committee of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, consisting of A. Julian Brylawski, Harry Davis, M. E. Comerford, Xathan Yamins and Jake Wells, together with R. F. Woodhull, president ; Sydney S. Cohen, chairman of the Board of Directors ; L. M. Sagal, treasurer, and Joseph M. Seider, chairman of the Contract and Arbitration Committee, has been holding a series of meetings in New York City from Wednesday until Saturday of last week, and has taken up an intensive study of the general situation which confronts the industry at this time. The expected move to appoint a business manager and install him in separate offices for the conducting of the business affairs of the association has been accomplished and the appointment is announced of Joseph M. Seider, president of the M. P. T. O. of New Jersey as business manager, and new and larger quarters have been engaged for the organization at 745 Seventh avenue, New Mr. Seider will immediately proceed with the organization of a Service Bureau for exhibitors and take up in a large way the conduct of the affairs of the organization in conjunction with the national president and the Administrative Committee, which functions for the National Board of Directors. The Administrative Committee and Mr. Seider have had a series of conferences with Will H. Hays, president of the M. P. P. D. A., with a view of advancing the general conditions. Progress was made on the question of a more equitable contract. Several suggestions for the perfection of the arbitration situation have been advanced and most cordially received. The further co-operation of the two great branches of the motion picture industry holds forth great promise for real advancement in solving many of the vexatious problems. Loew-Metro-Qoldwyn Ball is Huge Success; Crowd Enormous AFTER the last couple had left the dance floor, after the last of the great array of entertainers had finished their act and the lights were dimmed at the Hotel .\stor, it was realized by the enormous crowd which attended that the Loew-MetroGoldwyn Club on Saturday evening, October 31, had hung up another record by putting over the greatest event of its kind in the memory of Manhattan. Over 50 entertainers from Broadway's biggest hits contributed to the mammoth entertainment program. Many of the most prominent persons in the show world were on hand, some to perform, others as guests. Nils Granlund, to w-hom the club is largely indebted for the magnitude and success of the affair, acted as master of ceremonies and started things off with a bang by introducing the comely chorus of "My Girl," and Marie Saxon, star of his "Merry, Merry." A player small in stature but big in popularity was Norman Phillips, Jr., of George White's "Scandals," who spilled some of his best stories. Next come Schwab and Mandell's "Captain Jinks" players, J. Harold Murray, featured song writer of the show, who sang "Mandalay" and did a number with the girls; then Joe E. Brown, the comedian, who did his comedy special with Olivette, and an eccentric dance. The "Dearest Enemy" company was next. Charles Purcell and the Colonial Male Chorus were followed by a song and dance number by Chas. Purcell and Helen Ford. Then came the ladies of the "Gay Paree" ensemble, followed by the Totem Pole number from "Rose-Marie." Kick-in-the-Pants Keeler "Charlestoned" all over the lot. Then came the colorful pageant from Ziegfeld's "Louis the XIV.." including the "When You Smile" beauties who did one of their most popular numbers. Miller and Lyie kept the audience laughing. Earl Carroll's pulchritudinous "Vanities" belles brought the visual part of the affair to a temporary close with two pleasing numbers. Entertainers and guests then adjourned to the dining ro*oms where an excellent early morning supper was served at 3:15 A. M. The entertainment was resumed oncp more with the choicest offerings of New York's most popular night clubs. Among these were the gloom-chasers of the Silver Slipper, the Oriental Frolic from the Club Caravan, the Hokum Revue of Lew Brown and Sydney Claire of the Melody Club, the Del Fey Club presented its "Fascinations," followed by the "Frivolities Numbers" of the Frivolity Club, and then from the Club Alabam' "Alabam' Fantasies." At 6:45 the orchestras struck up the music for the last dance. Among the orchestras that lent their talents were those of Emil Coleman, Harry Archer, Jimmie Carr, Paul Specht, Wheeler Wadsvvorth, Fletcher Henderson and Ben Friedman, Arthur Hammerstein, Al Lchtz, Will Fowler and those of the night clubs mentioned. Among the notables present were Marcus Loew. Al Jolson. Mae Murray, William Russell, Hope Hampton. Esther Ralston Helen Ferguson, Lucy Fox. James Kirkwood. Lila Lee. Johnny Hines. Dorothy MacKaill Walter Miller, Lois Moran, Fannv Ward ' Nile-; Welch. Ruth Stonehouse, Arnold Daly Sigr.d Holmquist, Allene Ray. Fay Lanphier (Miss America), George White and manv others. ASSOCIATED EXECUTIVE VISITS COAST Oren Woody, recently appointed special representative for Associated Exhibitors, has arrived on the coast for a month's visit. Oren is a brother of Jack Woody, general sales manager of the company. While here Mr. Woody will assist in an advisory capacity the producing units releasing through Associated. He is at this time particularly interested in the Monty Banks and Strongheart fea tures, which are being produced under the suoervision of Howard Estabrook. JOSEPH M. SEIDER President of the M. P. T. 0., Nezv Jersey, has been made Business Manager of the M. P. T. O. A. Ohio Churchmen Are On the Warpathy Reports Say The Ohio atmosphere is full of rumors, apparently from a reHable source, that church■nen are about to resume the warpath, with the elimination of Sunday movies as their objective. Well executed efforts in the past in many Ohio cities, and the smaller ones in partic'lar, have resulted in closing some of the picture houses and a few of the legitimate theatres. Exhibitors and legitimate managers in the larger cities, when attacked, have fought back with determination, and as a result Sunday business in flourishing. On the statute books of Ohio is a very ancient law making it unlawful to conduct any entertainment on the Sabbath day where admission was charged. This dust-covered provision was enacted into law approximately the same time some busy Ohio legislators went on record with another famous bit of legislation which someone hauled out at the last session of the General Assembly and had repealed. Now, according to reports, a fight is to be launched to have the law enforced. This information comes on the heels of action by one Buckeye church organization providing for the appointment of a special committee to aid the state picture censors. Naming of this special committee is said to be the initial step in the proposed crusade for dark playhouses on the Sabbath. COMPROMISE REACHED An agreement has been reached between the Rochester theatres and the members of the Musicians' Union. The musicians refuse to state what the agreement involves. They had asked for a boost of §7 a week for men working six days a week and a raise of $10 for those working seven days. The managers had offered a compromise rate of $3.