The Billboard 1924-03-22: Vol 36 Iss 12 (1924-03-22)

= a al a LT ee lb Y | » CZ the pro committed to c ness asset ¢_ Artistry ? Yes~in terms of economics but frankly.chiefly and primarily concerned with the business end of ession: ardently advocatin better business — ,and firmly anliness as a busi Published weekly at Cincinnati, O. Entered as second-class mail matter June 4, 1897, at Post Office, Cincinnati, under Act of March 3, 1879. 292 Pages. Vol. XXXVI No. 12. March 22, 1924 (Copyright 1924 by The Billboard Publishing Company.) SSS oe Action winlbinctadsts ago i SYDNEY COHEN AND WILLIAM A. TRUE SPLIT ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO EQUITY STRIKE JUNE FIRST No Conferences Held by Actors’ Equity Association With Any Group of Managers During Past Week Brings New “Motion Picture Distributing Company Into Field ORGANIZATION OF NO. 2 1.0.0. G. RAISES QUESTION As To Control of Picture ‘‘After the Ball’’—True Issues Statement New York, March 15.—Two distributing companies are now in the field for the announced purpose of benefiting the exhibitors, with the incorporation this week under the laws of the State of New York of the Theater Owners’ Distributing Corporation, headed by William A. True. This concern is an outgrowth, or a stepchild, of the Theater Owners’ Distributing Corporation which has been in existence for more than a year, the brainchild of Sydney S. Cohen, president of the Motion Picture Theater Owners of America. True has been one of the main officials and leading spirits of Cohen's T. O. D. C., and his formation of an organization with the same name and bent upon the same purpose comes as a surprise. As Cohen has not made his views on the affair known, the situation apparently stands this way: Cohen and True have split, with Cohen remaining in control of the old T. O. D. C. and True forming a new, une allied T. O. D. C. The Theater Owners’ Distributing Corporation—No. 1—was incorporated (Continued on page 25) COSTUMERS PLANNING SECOND CONVENTION Expected To Take Place in Chicago About Middle of July Boston, March 16.—The National Costumers’ Association is at work on plans for its second annual convention, expected to take place about the middle of July in Chicago. Since the first meeting was held last August in Indianapolis the organization has gained Wider interest amone costumers and several new members have joined. The (Continued on page 25) SEEKS MAYORALTY : ! ; : Effie Cherry. of the famous Cherry Sisters, who is a candidate for Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Ia The election is to be held March 31. The picture reproduced above was taken March 10, TWO BiG CROWDS AT CHRISTY OPENING Circus Begins Tour at Beaumont, Texas—Colorful “Spec’’ Opens Performance Beaumont Tex, March 15.—The Christy Bros.’ Shows opened the season here today to two big crowds, with ideal weather conditions prevailing. The street parade went out promptly at noon. and was witnessed by thousands. In appreciation of the fact that the show will carry special banners and advertise Beaumont thruout the the manufacturing plants shut down at noon and city officials, members of the Chamber of Commerce and newspapermen occupied the center section of reserved seats at the night performance. The Minneapolis baseball players, in training here, also were guests of the management. The parade created much favorable comment and was a general surprise, comprising sixteen den and _ tableau wagons, forty-six mounted people, (Continued op page 25) season, New York, March 15.—Notwithstanding reports in newspapers and general rumors, it was authoritatively stated at Equity headquarters today that there have been no conferences, held with any group of managers during this week. It is said that some of the officials might have met a manager or so and talked with him, but there have been no negotiations of any kind entered into. At the present moment all indications point to a strike on June 1, directed against those managers who have said they would sign no agreement with Equity which provided for the Equity Shop. This may not be true tomorrow—it may not be true five minutes after this is written—but up till now there are no indications that the “die-hard” managers, headed by A. L. Erlanger and his allies, will come to terms with Equity. Unless they do the strike will be on. It is said that Erlanger may attempt to put motion pictures into his houses in case there is a breach with Equity and a strike is called. If this is ate BERLIN MUSICIANS’ SALARIES GO UP Granted Increase of 434 Marks a Performance After Walkout New York, March 17.—Berlin theater musicians staged a walkout last night in sixteen houses just before curtain time, upon refusal of the theater managers to grant them an increase of four and one-half marks a performance. The theaters were all packed to capacity, and rather than refund the money for admissions the managers granted the players’ demands. Berlin musicians now receive nine instead of four and one-half marks a performance. tempted there ts a distinct possibility that the mvution pieture operntors who are part of the stage bands union, will refuse to pruject the pictures If they do there will be little chance to show a film, for all motion picture operators must be licensed and there are practically no licensed operators outside the union. As any theater which allowed pictures to be projected by an (Continued on page 25) DISCUSS WELFARE OF COUNTY FAIRS More Than Forty Representae tives Attend Convention at Harrisburg, Pa. Harrisburg, Pa., March 15.—More than forty representatives of county fair associations thruout the State ate tended the eleventh annual convention of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs, held here Tuesday in the Bolton House, and discussed problems facing the fair associations in the coming season. Fifty-seven county fair associations of the State are members of the association. Report of the secretary and treasurer, J. F. Seldomridge, of Lancaster, showed that the legislative committee of the association had been successful in having defeated all the proposed laws legislating against the welfare of the county fair. Seldomridge was presented with a diamond stick pin by the association for his activities in behalf of the body. O. D. Stark, a member of the Legislature from Wyoming County, addressed the meeting on the legislative measures discussed for the benefit of county fairs. Election of officers resulted as follows: President, Harry White, Indiana, re-elected: vice-presidents, Abner (Continued on page 25) Last Week’s issue of The Billboard Contained 1,176 Classified Ads, Totaling 6,720 Lines, and 768 Display Ads, Totaling 22,486 Lines: 1,944 Ads, Occupying 29,206 Lines in All The Edition of This Issue of The Billboard Is 105,000 Copies — RE Pp Ll Ca ‘\ *