The Washington times., 1915-08-06
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Exhibitors Organize
TO Enforce Their
Demands on the
Manufacturer.

The motion picture exhibitors are
at last becoming alive to the fact
that they have some power in the
management of the film bus ness
and that by means Of a compact
and coherent organization they can
about dictate where the manufac-
turer lASs heretofore dictated.
A corporation Of exhibitors Is
about to be formed that will include
the mon who have invested millions
OF dollars in motion picture theaters.
A preliminary meeting was held in
Chicago July ID and another meeting
will be held August 25. when the final
work OF organization will be accom-
pl,shed and the work Of carrying
out the reforms the organization ad-
vocates will begin along definite
lines.
Membership in the corporation Is
limited to the actual owners Of mo-
tion picture theaters. No person
who Ia not an actual owner can hold
stock n the corporation or secure
. certificate Of membership. The first
meeting IN Chicago last month was
attended by several hundred progress
sive business men who own the
better class of motion picture
theaters. The meeting was called
without blare OF trumpets and the
theater owners met without the aid
Of a press agent. One Of the owners
was Tom Moore Of thic city. who
took a prom rent part in the forma-
ton Of the orgarization.
There are three definite objects Of
the Organization which particularly
affect the patrons Of motion pic
lures. These are:
ITO maintain an office In New
York city for the purpose Of select
ing pictures for use on this circuit
with proper restrictions as to their
further exploitation.
ITO buy pictures when It is deemed
advisable, making selections from
every avenue giving our theaters
the very best productions available.
ITO arrange for the manufacture
81 high-class photoplays.'
The proposition regarding the per-
fection of arrangements to manu-
facture high-class motion picture
plays does not mean that the organ
isation seriously. intends to go into
the manufacturing business. A large
majority of its members would op-
pose such a departure. But 1t is
based upon a desire to be prepared
for eventualities. AS explained in
the prospectus sent out to the the
ater owners:
THE theory upon which this sug-
which actuates the United states
Government in maintaining at its
navy yards. ship building plants
which are capable of turning out
any kind Of q vessel from a row.
boat to a battleship. Uncle Sam
builds but few ships In his own navy
yards, but their preparedness to do
80 prevents the private yards from
combining against the Government.
keeps down prices. and keeps up the
quality Of the product of the private
yards.
There Is every reason to believe
that the effect of the new organiza-
tior will be highly beneficial to the
patron of the photoplay. Heretofore
the exhibitor has declared that he
could not secure the kinds of plays
he wanted to exhibit because he
was compelled to take what the
manufacturer sent him. He de-
clared he must follow the program
he received from the exchange.
Under the lew condition there will
be no necessity for him knuckling to
the exchange man or the manufaC-
turcr. This does not mean that the
regular program will be eliminated
because 1t is through "A regular pro-
gram run under sensible conditions,
that the small exhibitor IL able to get
control of the finer class Of films
that are put out by the larger COM
panies. It does mean. however. that
the Improvement which has been
noted in the programs during the
past year will be kept up, and that
the program will undergo radical
changes at the hands of the new or
ganization.
Almost anything that makes for
the benefit of the I,atron is. Of course
a benefit to the exhibitor because 1t
is the patron. in the final analysts,
who supports the exhibitor. There
fore the new organization. in giving
the exhibitor chanCe to combat the
dictatorial power of the manufac-
turer. will in the end also be help
I othe patron. G.. NJ