The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-25
Matter of Sunday Pictures
Will Be Brought Up
Again
NEFF AND WALL SEE
LANE AND EXUM
National President Says Exhibitors
Should Offer Public Uplifting
Films-Stresses Educational
Value of Pictures

Sunday moving pictures are again to
be broaohed following conference be-
tween NJ. A. Neff president of the Motion
Picture Exhibitors league of America
and Commissioners Exum and Lane yes
terday afternoon. The commissioners
greeted Mr.. Neff with great cordiality
and although they would not talk for
publication following the conference the
inference was that a petition for the open
ing of Sunday moving pictures would
receive the favorable attention Of Mr..
ExIm and Mr. Lane.
The first set together of the motion
picture exhibitors of Alabama was held
throughout yesterday in the banquet hall
of the Hillman hotel and ended last night
after the exhibitors of this state had been
thoroughly organized by M. A. Neff, presi-
dent of the Motion Picture Exhibitors
League of America.
The following officers were elected for
the state organization: A. A. WALL re-
elected as national vice president, repre-
senting Alabama in the national conven-
ton; E. H. Colley. president; ]. A. snider
of Bessemer, treasurer; T. S. Alternately,
first vice president; r. B. Wildly of Selma,
second vice president, and j. j. Wells OF
Admission, secretary, II. NJ. Newsome, c.
A. Geiher and j. H. King of Mobile, trus-
tee. The next conference will be held In
the first week of June in Birmingham.
The organization of Alabama makes it
state to come under the
protective wing of the Motion Picture Ex-
hibitors League of America, and is ex-
pected to greatly improve rilm service to
the exhibitors throughout the state.
Call on Commissioners
During recess between sessions OF the
convention yesterday afternoon President
Neff and Vice President A. A. Wall Wis
tied the city hall and paid their respects
10 Commissioners A. o. Lane and Cupep-
per Exum. In the course of the visit Mr..
Neff spoke strongly on the benefits of
moving pictures to which the city fathers
raid close attention, and at the conclu-
sion of the visitors remarks assured him
of their hearty cooperation and sym
pathy with the great educational work
moving pictures were doing.
Vice President A. A. Wall said last
night: President Neff and myself great
ly enjoyed calling on the city commls-
sioners because of the hearty reception
we got. Following the talk of Mr.. Neff.
Mr.. Lane and Mr. Exum personally as
sured us that they were thoroughly in
sympathy with moving pictures on every
day of the week, and that upon the pre-
sentation of a petition to permit pictures
on Sundays they would do their utmost
to have it acted on favorably.
I'VE will present petition for Sunday
opening to the city commissioners In the
early part of next week. We do not
wish to rush matters, but desire to let
any one who has objections to Sunday
pictures present his objections to the city
commissioners before we present our petit
ton We will seek to meet commit
toe of the pastors of Birmingham some
- ans week to listen to their objec-
tions to the Sunday pictures and see II
we cannot arrive at some conciliatory
agreement
The convention was called to order at
1920 O'Clock with about IS owners of
moving picture theatres of Alabama in
attendance Mr. Wall presided and in d
few short remarks told OF the need OF
crga anization and of the benefits to be de-
rived from organization. Following his
brief remarks Mr.. Wall introduced Ma
tonal President M. A. Nen who spoke
at length on moving pictures from the
exhibitors viewpoint He said In part:
Neff Speaks
II come here to organize you that you
NAV be educated to protect your own in
terest and also to learn how to better
serve the public. They are among you
and in every unorganized territory among
moving picture exhibitors are men whose
only thought is the almighty dollar. / am
here to tell you that the almighty dollar
is not everything, and that your viewpoint
should be larger and more comprehensive
than merely thoughts of the nickels you
get from the crowd without thought of
what kind of amusement you provide in
return TO that crowd for that nickel.
"Moving picture exhibitors should be
the highest type of business men and up
right citizens for they are engaged in
the greatest business in the world. In the
United States--remember this, gentlemen
today 36,000,000 men, women and children
will witness on the screen moving pictures
of every possible description and of the
greatest Ndlue.t IntTtlOTe, IL
behooves you all to think of the great up
lifting business you are engaged in and
not alone of the nickels you derive
from 1t.
arhe Motion Picture Exhibitors League
of America was organized for only one
purpose, and that was to provide good.
wholesome, educational films for presen-
tation to the public. and no member of
our organization but will refuse to pre-
sent any picture upon which the most
prudish could object.
I'm Birmingham, from what ] can see.
YOU need organization badly. as well as
the state for you have let
your public misunderstood you, or else
YOU msunderstand your public. Why
shouldn't you have Sunday pictures in
Birmingham, where without the slightest
doubt over four-ffths of the population
of this great city Is in favor of Sunday
pictures? The reason is simpleyon
haven't got together.
~ urge you to get together and seek
by peaceful methods 20 overcome the