Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

August M, 191.X THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD #(^OQ>P55 C^Q>5?? The Motion Picture Exhibitor LJMMJ^U^t m( JMH MUMUMIMUMLMU^U^^ Schaefer and Rembusch Get Together Everything Points to a Successful Convention of the Whole Trade — More Strictly, a Great Business Conference. FRANK J. REMBUSCH, secretary of the convention committee, of the A. E. A. National Convention, came into Chicago Tuesday evening, August 13, and one of the first important things he did was to hold a conference with Peter J. Schaefer, president of the M. P. E. L. of A. The initial meeting took place Wednesday and was continued the following day. Both men are good friends, of ten years' standing, and while many things were discussed it need scarcely be stated nothing was given out at this time, except that President Schaefer has agreed to address the national convention at one of its sessions and to act as toastmaster at one of the daily luncheons. The convention committee has mailed a letter to every state president and secretary of the M. P. E. L. of A. and of the A. E. A., requesting them to participate in the approaching convention and to bring with them reports of the conditions in each state, with the object of ascertaining how a national organization can be most helpful to the industry as a whole. As previously stated in these columns, the leading men in the trade — including producers, distributors and supply men — have been invited to attend, and it is also hoped by the convention committee that exhibitors from all parts of the country, irrespective of affiliation with either organization now existing, will come on to take part in this great business conference of the industry. The object and the plan of this convention, it is again emphasized, are wholly away from those formulated and carried out at any preceding convention. Everyone in the moving picture business, who has a message to deliver for the general good of the industry, is cordially invited, and he will be given an opportunity to voice it and a respectful hearing. Secretary Rembusch announces that prominent speakers will positively appear at fixed hours each day, and that the balance of the time will be devoted to a general discussion «f the trade by those present. In other words, the convention will be a great get-together meeting, where important topics will be amicably discussed for the good of all concerned. During the first four days the proceedings will be confined strictly to the discussion of business and its condition, and politics will be positively excluded. On Friday, September 6, there will be an open business meeting for exhibitors, whether they belong to an organization or not. Some of the subjects to be discussed on that day are the tax question, Sunday opening, censorship, better pictures, efficiency and economy in production, distribution and presentation of pictures; the organization of the industry so that it shall become more powerful, active and representative in a national sense; advertising, technical art of the picture, etc. Some of the prominent men in the trade who have already promised to attend and address the convention are William Fox, William A. Brady, Walter W. Irwin, Samuel L. Roth apfel. ["rank Buchlcr, manager of the Stanley circuit of theatres, Philadelphia; Frank Newman, owner of. tin Royal Theatre, Kansas City, Mo., and Barren McCormick, manager of the Circle Theatre, Indianapolis. Charles E. Hart, director of the Division if Films, will also come on from New York to address the convention. Many other prominent men in the various branches of the trade whose names can not yet be given will also deliver important addresses. Messrs. Frank and Rembusch assured the writer that everything concerning the convention bad been arranged at the time this article was written. They left for New York. Friday, August 16, for a stay of one week. Their headquarters will be at the Hotel Astor. While there Mr. Rembusch will call on well-known men in the trade, whose presence at the convention is most essential to insure a truly representative gathering. I. S. McQ. MARYLAND EXHIBITORS HOLD PICNIC. The picnic which was held by the Maryland Exhibitor's League at Monument Park, Baltimore, on Saturday, August 10, was very much of a success, when it is taken into consideration that the night was cloudy and started out with a heavy rain and also that only one of the film celebrities who were scheduled to be present appeared upon the scene. About 1,500 people gathered at the picnic to meet the stars scheduled to appear. A dancing pavilion was filled with eager moving picture fans. After a wait of twenty minutes, during which CuperoXew theatre band gave selections, June Caprice was escorted to the band stand, by Frank A. Hornig, president of the league; L. A. De Hoff, secretary, and several others. The success of the affair financially and otherwise is principally due to the hard work of L. A. De Hoff and Frank A. Hornig, Irvine Levinc, and others on the committee, including Eugene B. McCurdy, J. Louis Rome and Thomas D. Goldberg. War Demands Give Exchanges Concern Down in Dallas Managers Are Training Women to Fill Places of Department Men. WITH scores of Dallas film exchange employees wearing Uncle Sam's uniform managers are in a quandary in regard to securing help. The selective draft age increase appears likely to take many of their experienced men, and already they are planning for the future. Dozens of women have been employed by local film exchanges during the past few weeks and are being trained to fill the places of men going to war. Manager Ned Depinet of Consolidated, seven of whose men have donned uniform during the past two or three months, and Manager J. B. Dugger of Yitagraph Co.. wi office has given nine men to the army and navy, are of the opinion that all road men will have to be brought into the offices in the near future. Business then would be done through telephone calls or letters to exhibitors. The dimensions of the Southwestern territory will make telephoning a pretty costly business. Coming League and Other Exhibitors' Conventions (Secretaries Are Requested to Send Dates and Particulars Promptly) American Exhibitors' Association, Business Convention, Hotel Sherman, Chicago . . Exposition, National Association Motion Picture Industry, New York City . . September 3 to 7 . October 5 to 13