Moving Picture World (Apr 1916)

782 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD April 29, 1916 NORTHWEST EXHIBITORS' BIG SHOW. Chamberlain and Van Duzee Visit Chicago, and Enthuse Over the Greatness of the Coming Convention and Exposition in Minneapolis. By James S. McQuade. DW. CHAMBERLAIN and C. E. Van Duzee, secretary and treasurer, respectively, of the Motion Pic• ture Exhibitors' Association of the Northwest, arrived from Minneapolis on Friday, April 14, and spent a busy time in the city until the following evening, in the interests of the fifth annual exposition and convention of that organization, which will be held from .May 1 to 5, inclusive, in the National Guard Armory, Minneapolis. When seen, they informed me that before leaving their home city one-third more space than was sold altogether at last year's exposition and convention had been disposed of, and "that they are only getting started. The attendance of exhibitors will fully treble last y< ires, they assured me. These exhibitors will attend from nine states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Montana. Washington and Minnesota, and the states of Illinois and Missouri have also promised to send representatives. While the program calls for a lot of hard convention work, Mr. Chamberlain told me that ample entertainment will be provided for visitors. Prominent among the divertissements will be Governor's Day, on May 2, when a great turnout will be made to honor the state's chief executive, who will deliver an appropriate address and then meet the exhibitors personally at an informal reception; a midnight frolic will be held in one of the large downtown theaters on the evening of May 3; a banquet at the West Hotel will be given Thursday evening, May 4, and a grand ball will close the convention and exposition on May 5. The grand march will be led by two prominent photoplay stars (their names being withheld until later), and the surprise created by their presence will be all the more enjoyed, because unexpected. The exposition will be given in the National Guard Armory, the floor of which will permit the drilling of an entire regiment, and at the same time afford ample space for a large gathering of spectators. Applications for space at the exposition have been pouring in for quite a time from manufacturers of supplies, film men and every department of the trade. Mr. Chamberlain declared that representatives of such concerns will come from a territory as wide as from coast to coast. The sessions of the convention will be conducted on a strictly business plan, as time will be conserved to promote the best interests of the organization and thus insure to members at all times the necessary service. This policy is declared in advance, as many exhibitors at last year's convention were dissatisfied with the work accomplished, due to an unnecessary waste of time. F. J. Herrington, national president of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, has already accepted an invitation to attend, and his address and advice will be awaited with great interest, as he has familiarized himself fully with the conditions governing the exhibiting department of the trade throughout the entire country, and is heart and soul with his brother exhibitors in every state. That old war horse of Chicago exhibitors, William J. Sweeney, will also attend to aid by his counsel and experience. Certain Chicago Exchange Managers Form a Social-Business Club. About two weeks ago, while a party of exchange managers in Chicago lunched at the Hotel Sherman, a second meeting was arranged to take place at the Reel Fellows' Club rooms, on the evening of April 11. The object was to form a social club of Chicago exchange managers and to utilize their association as club members in any way that would benefit the distributing business in this city. At the last meeting, J. L. Friedman, of the Celebrated Players Film Company, was elected permanent chairman and H. A. Spanuth, of the Central Film Company, permanent secretary. The members of this social-business club, which has not yet been christened, are divided into five classes, designated after the various kinds of film service handled, namely, the ply program, the regular weekly, the state right, the local ice and the occasional national release service. A committee was then formed of members elected by the various classes mentioned. On this committee the various classes are represented as follows: The weekly program by E. C. Jensen, of the World and Equitable, and I. Van Ronkle, of the Bluebird Photoplays. Inc.; the regular weekly by L. Laemmle, of the Laemmle Film Service, and L. A. Getzler, of the Mutual Film Corporation; the state right by H. L. Wallick, of the Reliable Film Brokers, and W. H. Bell, of the Bell Feature Film Company; the local service by J. L. Schweitzer, of the Aetna Film Exchange, and the occasional national release service by J. M. Hayes, of the Picture Playhouse Film Company. J. L. Friedman, permanent chairman of the proposed club, then appointed 1. Van Ronkle to act as chairman of the committee. This committee met on Thursday noon, Ap"ril 18, at the Movie Inn, and will report to the next regular meetwliich will be held in the rooms of the Reel Fellows' Club, Tuesday, April 18. The following were present at the meeting held April 11: E. C. Jensen, World and Equitable; I. Van Ronkle, Bluebird Photoplays, Inc.; George L. Levy, New Film Corporation; L. A. Getzler, Mutual Film Corporation; L. Laemmle, Laemmle Film Service; W. H. Bell, Bell Feature Film Company; J. L. Friedman. Celebrated Players Film Company; H. A. Spanuth, Central Film Company; Simeon B. Greiver, General Feature Film Company; F. L. Flaherty, Universal Booking Office; H. L. Wallick, Reliable Film Brokers; I. Maynard Schwartz, Reliable Feature Film Company; I. H. Kuh, E. L. K. Film Company; M. Lewis, Lewis Film Corporation; J. M. Leaveston, Lea Bel Company; W. E. Belford, Chicago Kriterion Film Company; J. M. Hayes, Picture Playhouse Film Company; Paul H. Bush, United Photoplays Company; Thomas F. Fleming, Eagle Film Manufacturing & Producing Company; Theo. Aaron, Eagle Film Company; M. G. Watkins, American Standard Motion Picture Corporation; Jos. S. Schweitzer, Aetna Film Exchange; C. B. Hoy, Hoy Reporting Service; Watterson R. Rothacker, Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company; F. L. Boutell and H. W. Drucker, Drucker & Boutell, attorneys-at-law; F. W. Wild, Jr., C. S. Wertsner & Son; L. B. Shafford, Barker-Swan Film Service, and John Hughes, Optigraph Company. Harry Weiss, of the Metro Pictures Corporation, was absent, owing to the illness of his mother; but a letter expressing his regret at being unable to attend and declaring that he was with them heart and soul in their proceedings was read at the meeting. Chicago Film Brevities. Merle E. Smith, supervisor of the George Kleine exchanges, tells me that letters have been coming into the Chicago office from all parts of the Middle West concerning pre-service bookings and the general release of the Billie Burke moving picture novel. During the week ending Saturday. April 15, Dee Robinson, owner of the Apollo theater, Peoria, 111., closed for the pre-service booking, and arrangements were being completed for similar service with large theater owners in St. Louis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Indianapolis, Des Moines, Kansas City (Mo.), Minneapolis, St. Paul and Omaha. The general publicity campaign for the Billie Burke features will begin shortly, and it will encompass the entire country in a striking and effective manner. * * * Robert R. Levy, president of the Revelry Theater Company, this city, won out as Republican committeeman for the Third Ward, in the recent national primary election. His numerous friends congratulate him on his success.