The Philadelphia Exhibitor (1935)

10 Jan 1 T 3 5 THE PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITOR Pizor Elected President of the MPTO as Harmony Meet Approves New Program Segall Board Chairman — Organization Indorses Con¬ structive Regime — Definite Support for Independent Production, Distribution Voted Lewen Pizor is the new president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware for 1935. A harmony saw his election to the presidency after absence of one season, with Charles Segall, retiring president, being elected chairman Pizor’s election was assured by the harmony atmosphere of the session, with the entire or¬ ganization pledging its support to the construc¬ tive policies outlined. The meeting, held December 28, at the Adelphia Hotel, was attended by 60 exhibitors who took an active partHrf the proceedings. Other officers elected included: Treasurer, Mike Lessy ; secretary, George P. Aarons ; financial secretary, Ben Fertl. The vice-presi¬ dents elected were Mike Egnal, Harold D. Cohen and Joseph Conway. Board of managers, headed by Charles Segall, included Ed Jefferies, Abe Sablosky, Leonard Schlesinger, Luke Gring, Morris Gerson, Fred Leopold, Morris Handle, I. Hoffman, Lew Felt, Norman Lewis, Forman Corbett, Arthur Smith, J. Schwartz, George Gravenstine, George Kline, Ben Amsterdam, and P. Mortimer Lewis. A vote of thanks was given Segall for his work as president, following an address in which he praised Pizor and declined to run for 1935. Other activities recorded at the meeting were votes approving the work of the grievance com¬ mittee : an appointment of Messrs. Pizor, Conway and Egnal as a committee to act for regulation of non-theatricals ; direction to the legislative committee to seek some method whereby competition in the form of free movies from stores, etc., taproom competition, etc., might be checked ; a resolution against Mrs. Robbins Gilman and her organization work in favor of federal regulation (the body opposed any such method) ; 'appointment of George Aarons and Mike Egnal as a committee to act in this matter ; protest against free shows and use of screen stars in radio playlets (the body pointed out that this hurts the business of pic¬ tures in which these stars appear) ; appoint¬ ment of a committee consisting of Ben Am¬ sterdam, Joe Hebrew, and Mike Lessy to work in favor of independent exchanges, getting pledges from members to give so many days playing time to independents (this was on the motion of Lewen Pizor) ; a resolution seeking action on 1935-1936 zoning plans ; a resolution to home offices and Ed Kuykendall, president, MPTOA, to have the cancellation clause in the Boost Indes A goal of 1000 days playing time for independents was hinted by the MPTO, when a rough survey of pledges toward independent exchanges was made. Presi¬ dent Segall, on motion of Lewen Pizor, boosted the idea, and a committee will seek definite promises from members for Independent product. of the board. PRESIDENT. Lewen Pizor, once again, is president of the MPTO. CHAIRMAN. Charles Segall, retir¬ ing president, becomes chairman of the board of the MPTO. code clarified; a request that a 20% cancellation be made available ; a resolution against the weekly payment system for shorts used by some exchanges ; a move toward better co¬ operation from boards of education; a boost for the Independent Theatre Managers’ dance, Jan¬ uary 13; praise for Local 307 when Charles Segall made the announcement of the new tieup between the MPTO city members and union operators (see other page) ;. election of C. Elmer Dietrich, new congressman, as an hon¬ orary member of the organization; appoint Pref erred Bows In Preferred Pictures, headed by Messrs. Beier and Taylor, officially bows in to the trade, January 1. The strength of the exchange, with tion policy which includes special atten¬ tion to exploitable attractions, has a strong line of pictures which any house can use. The strength o fthe exchange, with the personal popularity of Messrs. Beier and Taylor, assures a rosy support from exhibitors. The offices of the new ex¬ change are open at all time to the trade. Milliken Addresses Crime Meeting Leaders in Capital Points Out How Industry Can Serve Presenting a five-point proposal on the way in which the motion picture may be utilized in a national fight against crime, Carl E. Milliken, secretary of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., addressed last fortnight the national conference on crime, spon¬ sored by Attorney General Homer S. Cummings. “There are five means by which the motion picture industry offers assistance in a nation¬ wide strengthening of society’s attack upon crime,” Milliken stated, and listed them as fol¬ lows : “1 The use of every available source of scien¬ tific information to the end that the con¬ tent of motion picture entertainment and particularly the method of presenting dra¬ matic material on the screen shall not contribute to the making of crime and criminals or to the undermining of char¬ acter. “2 The continuation of definite and specific efforts to present within the proper scope or artistic creation, the best and most scientific methods of crime suppression by police and other law enforcement agencies. “3 Co-operation in any national program that may be undertaken to' arouse public opin¬ ion to the needs of law enforcement and crime prevention. “4 Co-operation with law enforcement authorities in the detection of crime and the apprehension of criminals through the use of motion picture technique. “5 Character education. ment of a committee of 5, headed by Jim Clark, to see if there was any possibility of a sane, fair merger with the IEPA. On that commit¬ tee, besides Clark, are Luke Gring, Morris Handle, Joe Conway, Martin B. Ellis. The meeting was one of the most important recorded in some time and there was a unanim¬ ity of action on all points.