Variety (March 1923)

Thursday. March 20. 1923 PI C T U R E S ■;x:' T t9 FACTIONAL DISPUTES IN M.P.T.O.A. MAY BRING N.Y. STATE BACK IN NATIONAL BODY Exhibitors Cdled to Chicago for Meeting oh Michi- gan Plan to Refinance M. P. T. O. Organization— New York Asked but Not Represented—Charles O'Reilly Elected President of T. O. C. C. V The storm find strife of the forth- " coining convention of the Motion picttno Theatre Owners of Amer- ica. «cheduletl for the Chicago Col- iseum May 19-2«, i» seemingly cen- tering about the New Yorlc State (t-organizatlon this year, even though that botly no longer holds member- Bhlp in the natloRal organisation. Indications at tlirts early date are ■ there is going to be another ter- ' rifle fight on in Chicago. At least one fucti(»n which seems to be fur- thering the candidacy of one of the mid-west leaders is after the New Tork organisation to try to bring about its fcupix^rt in the forthcom- ing fray. Already the battle line is a far-flung one, from coast to coast, with those favoring either faction pulling wires to achieve the desired end. Unless some factor arises there may be further disruption within the rank» of the national body of exhibitors. In that event, and at this time, it is said, the organization could not endure for another year. Although in some directions there Is reported little possibility of the New Yot-k State organization again becoming affiliated with the na- tlonal, there were signs during the current week that there may be a ^hance New York State might be In line with the national after the Chi- cago convention, if not prior to that time. At present the field of action seems to le in the Middle West, with Chicago the common meeting ground for those evidently trying to line up a strong opposition toward any candidates the present execu- tives of the na^onal organization might propose to place as their successors, if they should step down. If this opposition develops strength it is probable Sydney S. Cohen, the present president of the M. P. T. O. A., "Who has held that offlce for three successive terms, might again be compelled to head a ticket in the field in the interests of harmony. If that happened the New York State organization, could Cohen manage to make his peace with Cliarles O'Reilly and the other elements of New York State, would be one of the strongest sectors in the front Cohen could present to those opposed to him. Yesterday (Wednesday) at the Sherman House in Chicago there was a meeting called ostensibly to discuss a plan of financing the na- tional organization, proposed by the Board of Directors of M. P. T. O. of Michigan. The telegram sent out Inviting some 25 influential ex- hibitor members of the various State organizations read: Chicago convention will be turning point In our National organization and something must be done to assure move In the right direction. Michigan has definite concrete plan for financ- ing the organization and putting it across. You are one of 25 in, fluential exhibitors whose Judg- ment is needed and who will meet at Shorrnan, Wedneitday, March 28. at 9 A. M., to di.scu^s jdun. Bnanl of Directors ^l. P. T. O.. Micluj^aii. Among thOMo to whom this wire was sent uro Al. Pracmor. Xobras- 'ia; Charles Whitchur.-tt. Baltimore; , Harry Craiulall nnd .Fuliaii Bry- \ lawsUi. Wusliington, d. c.: See- j g^rt. Wisf-onsln: Smith. Ohio; Gun. ««'hini(U. Iiidiaiia; K-\. UiiiKh.'im. In- i dana: .\1. Slorfes* .Minnesol.i: The-: odoro IIay«'s. Miuiuv'^utii: .Vloiihiv .Mis.''..uii: iJoKoit. K'jinva: ■. \U:\ix .M« Kirc.y. Aliihi-aii; l.jrk. Ark i.ivan. •■'•Id .Mc.Mahfui. Ciiuuiuali. : Ch.irhs O'lttniy. n:c».-.:d«'nt (.; llw N'f-vv Vc!-:, staio o;-tT.'ini:.!ilij».». who «'n Ttl^.,#J;,y v..;.s (if-t.'d |>rr id nl • l' ""• -^I «• T. «.. V. i'. or .Vru- Vor'c ' ' i' A. !.! ' . side of the organization. Vhis. how- ever, O'Reilly refused to comment upon. As against the possibility of the meeting for the purpose of further- ing anyone's candidacy or effecting a direct lineup against Cohen, the fact was pointed out that the Mich- igan 3tate organization had pledged Itself to subscribe $150,000 for stock In the exhibitor distributing organi- zation of W'k'fh Cohen is one of the principal promoters, the understand- ing being that the Michigan State organization In return for the sub- scription wa.s to obtain control of the territorial exchange -for distri- bution. That Al Steffes is to be very much prc^nt at the Chicago gathering has led to the belief that the meet- ing is for the purpose of furthering his nomination lor the office of pres- ident against anyone whom Cohen and his regime might place in the Held. If this is proven to be th« case, the report current in New York thi.s week there are differences inside of the Michigan State organ- ization would be borne out, for It hardly seems probable that a State organization would subscribe to the stock In a promotion of the present head of the organization and then attempt to defeat any plans he might liave for the orgnnizatiuti by backing the candidacy of someone who might be opposed to his pol- icies. DISTRICT SALESMAN'S ALIBIS Chicago. March 28- The meeting of 25 prominent ex- hibitors of the country, all mem- bers of the M.P.T.O.A., which was called for 9 A. M. today at the Sherman House here, failed to get under way at the appointed hour Possibly those present here are awaiting those from New York, who are expected to arrive at five o'clock tonight. First conference Si?hedulcd to take place this evening. ^^ •.;•»(•! i\w \.I.\ ()'il<-.IIy ;*i:tii»d 'l''i:»s«ov Im- d <1 i.*'\ i tii*- K!<lh, r il:.. i>n|-j,r,: I. of I *!'• 'M (• .t . oi •'"' -.'• i.i t'liin^f> )•) iliis 1ii/v h.ii tli;tt |-(. \.'m pf.f trviiifr ;o lo -.ir'Mit. •' \v.t:i ii'.n'-c I ilie xuf/^tin.'; v.-ps (•ul1'*d '*> orRui,|-.v i.:\ ji;i»!-Ci»':'^.i llLviip in- Tlie annual^electlon of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners* Chamber of Commerce was held Tuesday, with the result that Charles OReilly was unanimously elected as presi- dent without contest The fight cen- tered on the election of first vice- president, with Charles Steiner emerging the victor with a vote of 56 against 32 for his opponent, Har- mon Yaffa, who had the support of Lee A. Ochs. The latter campalgnf d rather vigorously for him for the final few days prior to the election, sending out a letter to the effect that "new blnotl" was needed In the organization. Also elected wltliout contest were S. A. Moroi^s for secretary: H>man Rachmil, treasurer, and Al Fried- lander, scrgcant-at-arnr.s. There were also several bris'.; clashes for places on the executive committee. In the fight to represent the Borough of Manhattan, William A. Landau, the re; lug president, and Leo Brccher w-ie elected, the latt(*r defeating Dave Weinstock by but one vote. To represent the Bor- j ougli of Brooklyn. William Brandt and Rudolph Sanders were the win- I ner.«. Brandt prior to the .meeting i had withdrawn from the ticket, but i tho.^e • present insisted ho run. and j A. II. Schwartz. al.«?o a ciudidato. in- si.stod on withdrawing, which made tljc election of Brandt and Sander.'* iinaniinoui-. For l!ie llorougli of Quc»'Ms, lly < ;aiiislM>i-o was «l<'ct«'d. dcf«»atiiv: SainiKl S< ir.v.iilz, while Churl's .\Io.'-»s was chosca to rr|irc- M'fii ihi- i;«»!i.n«;ii »>f Ki •hnioiid v, i!i)- tuit a fonir.-i. 'ri)'.r!' W»'.'<' li\»' • .(Mditiatr t • v>\>- I'.cjif th" poriioii of New .liMjscy 1 :■>..; i-;a '..irl oi tin- T. (>. ('. 1'.. v. tlii I i:« tvt» t<i ••<• clt rted. I.on I'.hiputi- iit.i! «'!• • of t i»- . -tiid.d.it r.<. v.ilh'lie V' iH fi n >»fi s — nml n t " ii > i . ' >'( ■ ■ " iii< n > m Augusta, Me., March L*8. >:ditor Variety: I read the "Grief" in last week's paper about the brother exhibitor who was stung by tlie Western Union Film Co. which just goes to show you that Barnum again was right when be made that wise crack about one a minute. And the pathe- tic part of it Is most of them live.* Why I thought that racket passed out when the V.L.S.E. failed. I will tip you to what put me hip to that stunt. Some years ago one dAy the wife dropped in to Jones drug store and purchased a bottle of Peruna, and a few days after a smart look- ing chap with a camera called at the house and asked for the wife and made her this proposition: «If she would write a letter (as dictated by this smart chap), telling the folks "what Peruna did for her," he would take her picture, publish it In all the big city newspapers, send her six more l>ottles of the tonic and give her a five dollar note for her trouble. I could see no harm In that proposi- tion so I said "go ahead Mary atul He a little; stand by and for any thing yoi»- sign." So when I was tempted to fall for one of -thrtHo wire or letter gaga I always thought of the wife and that smart Peruna chap and laid off. One day just for fun I asked a salesman for Rabertson Cole why this fellow Plunket at the Strand. N. Y., wrote so many nice letters to the dlflTerent film companys. The salesman said, "Why you poor llwh, dop't you know the stronger he makes those letters the less ^e has to pay for his film rental." 1 al- ways thought there was a catch some where in it. But at that his dope has got me guessing for I do not remember many of the Robert- son Cole features playing the Strand. And for the life of me I cant figure out the "hop" some of these sales- men tell me as each one seems to have a different spiel. Some how I can not understand them and they don't seem to get me. They sure are the greatest alibi bunch I ^v«r came in contact with in my v^'hole life. -^ ' I too wonder some time what it Is all about and a few years ago I thought my troubles were over, for a lot of theatre owners from the big centers got together and formed a film company. When I joined this I heaved a big sigh and felt that from now on I would get a square deal and that all my worries (and I had plenty) were over, for when I went to Boston to book my show, I liked to drop in and talk to those big city fellers, for they were always panning the film men, tolling,' me what robbers and swindler.s thpy were. And the salvation of the business was to deal with an organ- ization that was run by theatre owners, men that had our interest at heart. I was for any thing that would get my films cheaper. DID I GET CHEAPER FILMS? Say those exhibitor for exhibitor film renters talked prices and telephone num- bers for their good.s that I never knew existed before. I got disgusted and as I h.ul made a little money during the war days I took the Mrs. and we blew out to Los Angelea. I though I would like to see how some of the other eggs rai\ their affairs. And if y»Mi fel- lows in the east think y«Mi know any tiling about the pieti;re ;i.uiie. lake my tii> and go to LA . reg- ister at the Ale,\andria Hotel, just lay around the l(d>hy near the mil- lion dollai- rug: (all w1u» s»an| on it talk in million,-). And >4>»i will iwnv inside Ktuff for out >;i<r<' men th.il will make < old iliills inn «io\VM .\oU7- spine. \\'hil<' I was on lialid one cf th" lilin «ompanv ^ MkI all llifir i-:il«v- n^<'U out tlui'* lor a ' < cnfert nee" I doni ki'ow what (H«tse i'eUi»v .; did fi»»* when l,>a\s lluin they weic ju-i liavin.ir a irood tinii'. I v..is e.ijovlHt; riiweli f.jiri., well I ■lit when I 'c;ini<-«i iiii.i; tin- co:nj>aii.v h.el -'•! nv:i at I'l • ■ eonfi*. • net " ui.:l Jaiil it I t'eii' 1 Vp^'Ji es 11';'< ■ . It"! new.;" Sj)oi;<Nl lii> \ hoi • tri'».Ml \\ (leii ih- "tl^tre" WHOLESALE PRODUCING OF PROLOGS PLANNED Trrr »'«»•!.• I,' w.\ S';(.i'! >•■ e.v ftc: .iiiljal u u« 1. Or,t oj' : manager who covers our "t«Mritorie ' told me what the corhpany was pay- ing for his room "per day" I nearly fainted. Why down home he could stay «t the Commercial House (that's the leading hotel In Augusta) for nearly two weeks' and get three good meals thrown In every day for what the company paid for his room for one day in L. A. There a nosey lot those "district managers." I Just received the "reports" from last week's, business from my theatre ^hen h« asked me how conditions in Augusta were? Once I told him ••like a fool" when I played his special "The-Ash Man's Daughter" that I packed them In and the funny thing my next feature was billed to me at a 25 per cent, increase over what I paid for his last special, but this time I did not think Out loud and I feel sure I "outsmarted him" for to the condition question I re- plied "well I would not hiss, but I dont feel like cheeringi^-the less you teil those fellows about your "pri- vate" affairs the cheaper you can buy your "goods." When ho "stopped in" at my house he was all ways looking for "information" so X thought it was only fair to aHc him a few ques- tions. I asked him what his "con- ference" and blowout would cost and he answered "as near as I can judge from the way t|;^ngs are breaking now about $25,000 will cover every thing" and much to my surprise he told me this was the "sixth confer- ence" his company had this year and he expected the seventh would be held shortly in Bombay India. I offered him a few "suggestions" and told him this conference thing to me looked "like a crazy way of spend- ing money" cited the case of the "Federated Film Company" who had so many "conferences" in one year 4haL I believed they talked "them- selves out of business" as I have not^ seen or heard any from that "Feder- ated gang" in some time. I told him I thought he should get "one smart bl»d, send him to L. A., let him see tho films and mall out the "bull" about them to the gang and the difference In the "expense money" would reduce the rental prices of films. I pointed out to him that now a days all big business was done by mail told him to check up the business Montgomery & Ward o( Chicago did last year by just send- ing out a "booklet." to this last "crack" the district manager never "peeped." When I got back home and this company's contract expired I did not renew It. I admit I look "foolish" and act "simple"' but will wager a barrel of List years cider that the expenses of lliose "conferences" are added on my film rental, before the fneeCIng of the boys was over the only inside dope that district egg told me which was unimportant if true was that hla company was go- ing to discontinue its advertising In the Saturday evening post. Well it never did my house any good as for the prices I pay for features it's years after the add appears in the post when they play my town. That other Exhihitor who wrote you last week overlooked a bet or did not pay attention if he was in the hall at wa.shinston. Ah President Cohen pulled a Touj;h one about advertis- ing in that POST paper he advised us, that a page of advertising in it ((jst from $7,500 to $10,000 for one add run once, (why thats more numey than my theatre in Augusta I o.-4t.) One thing l must .say <»ur presi- dent ix a frarlesM speaker for he .siKMiied ii:;iit out "that post adver- tisinj; wa.H no pood for ejihlbitors hut goMl to helf) the producers sell .-lock.' I wovild be afraid to make a era'k .alMtnt a paper lik<> that. I'll let If ih.^re v.as .-fuy of tTle pjist men ih(re (and tlio.se thin;;.^ draw a lot • r nevv«iiai»er *ni<ii) ami the\- heard those kiiock-. he g.-ive theli- paper Ihey would hav«> y^onr to .lini Wm !»' r ..M.I K"f t<"'*' low dowii on J' H ''.oy p! inle'l in tho Post 1 V. !U'«" \\\U llr»yon and he ni'/<r , ... I HH .,,.,| ;,!■ if ^^. n . A iw yf— ttl'' M t>d Impresario Proposes Sclicii^e to Cut Rates—Stanley Co. Interested A plan for producing jirolons for .screen features by the wholesale and routing them with the picture ha.i been ofTerecl to the big tnKanlzAtlonH and Is said t<» h.ivo receivetl the support of the Stanley Co. of Phila- delphia. Lou Silvers, compoacr of popular niUHic. i« one of tho promoters. The plan is to assfmble a Htaflf to arrange mu.sic. design settings and create effects <or pre-release show- ings of new pictures at the Broad- way exploitation houses. Thereafter tlie miniature productions would be routed through houses taking the service. It was stated 12 weeks had been framed up tentatively. One of Hugo Relsenfeld's stage de^-igners was secured. The promoters of the scheme de- clared they could cut the cost of producing effects almost in half by working them for profit after they had served the Broadway purpose. These musical and dance affairs with their special drops, props and other incidentals have been known to run up to $3,500 and after one or two weeks they are junked for the most part. The Silvers idea was that they could be made Into earn- ers and almost made to carry Ihe'.r own original costs. FAMOUS-GRAUMAN COAST HOUSE SOLD Famous Liquidates Investment and Will Run Metropolitan . Under Lease Ralph Kohn, counsel for Famous Players, left for Los Angeles Mon- day to complete the transfer of th« new Metropolitan to private own- ers at a price of $4,C00,000. The film company will lease the house from the new landlord and will continue to operate it, the owner handling the office building. Famous I'layers and Sid Orau- man were partners in the properly, half and half, nt the beginning, althoug'.i it is reported the company sub.sequently took over a larger in- terest. The transaction relieves i the company of a burden as land- loid and puts its former "froi^'n' investment Into liq^uld caplt.'il. HARFS SETTLEMENT Places Funds in Trust for and Son w;f« Ill" ;i I' il ..Itlali victim." M.v.l aal .(•• : t.ii'i I.mU II r. 11 b.iii- I ;i u:.i- « » <.;ik;iH I " indio v;c.i III.- if:<' 111 r;* c' v. V. e 11.11 r> !".:•« »; 11 .n. d f^ini IJaive ;. . "" f iif t;ill:.!Jon of \h.' i. w <'!!l- V. i 1 la!,*' pliif (' :it 1 !.♦• i:;i ..- ?'^■^ Ci'I *Mi M :• r<»: ma! di»iM<-f wittt h t«d i WiH ••«• t',:dte,i e.iil.. i!"Xi noecli. t,.-.' \,Ot 111." iron; 1 '. .M.4Mi'4 •!'; • 'iii<i| the '.li.i'it'i. who wi'oi*' VfMi o.t'y (iiirs lUat Mre ha\ - t.e.j ilttldltrrtj. Ui:ect(»r and owner, .: re, Au;,MiKlu. Me. , f^S Angeles. March HA. William S. Hart has appareniiv reached a settlement tgreenxnt with his wife through ;iavlng Hi'cv.l In trust for her $103,000 with $l{»,- 000 additionally annuaViy nllowed for her support. For his son. ^fart has doposlted $100,00). The settlements w?re miide fol- lowing the notoriety of the claim of an illegitimate child'by Hart, made by Elizabeth MacCauley, a former teacher In Girl's Ccllege, Bo-<!f»r. That incident Is tald to date back to about 191S, befor» Hartu p.'.;*ei'.t marriage. Hart has claimed the publicity re- garding the MacCauley allegition was inspired through his wife. Wln- nlfred Wcstover, in the expectation Hart would raise the settlement figure with her to stifle the pub- licity. Mrs. Hart ii^reported to de- mand $150,000 for herself. Tho gun fighter of the fllm.s de- nies he has been paying $S0 month- ly for the support of the MaeCunley child, and Its parentage, alleging a plot to fleece him out of $60.00u. VON STROHEIM ILL Los Anseles, March 2"?. T..KeM sudd* idy ill, V'on Stroheira ha.s heel) (>l>lige<1 to suspend the direi lion of "(Ireed' for Goldwyn, with tlie company remaining In S.'iu l-'raiiciseu. ^ HUSBAND PUBLISHES ROMANCE LoM Anqele?, March 'J'^. Tite la(VfU>d t'i>ro;invA of D»: C. A.-» Rutherford and hi.-< wife, Pauline l're<ieriel<. ju>v. sep.'traied, has benw' to!d in a ho<»k publi.shod and writ- ten by the d'l'-lor. Th« two principal charactersf tf| ;h*? hook are slranse'v alike.