The Washington times., 1916-03-09
Progressive Producers Aim
Blow at the Old System OF
/ lronclad Contracts.
NOW INVITE INSPECTION
Reform Long Advocated by The
Times Finds Favor With the
Exchange Managers.

Warrington motion picture exhibit
TORS can now select at least part
CT their program
The business OF buying pig IN
poke in the form OF reel OF motion
nicturcs the exhibitor has never been
and knows nothing about Is going
out Of style in the business or d's-
tribrting pictures in Washington ana
its vicinity.
This is one OF the revolutions OF
the motion picture business repeated
~ advocated by The Times. which d.
rectly affects the patron Of the film.
In New York, Chicago, Philadelphia
and one or two other large censerH.
there has always been opportunity
for the exhibitors to zee films De-
fore he exhibited them. In this city,
and In most sections of the country
the exhibitor was required TO sign
an iron clad contract which COM
PEELED him to take whatever the ex-
change manager chose to give him.
Washington has now entered the
free zone and the understanding 10
that the same policy is being pursued
throughout the country by at least
some of the big distributing con-
Germs with indications that the 9TH
ers will follow.
Two years ago when The Times
photoplay department was estapnsn-
ed q campaign was started Tor TINS
very purpose. The Times set forth
at that time there was no more
reason why an exhibitor should be
to nirtnrAR knew
his patrons would not care to see
than there was for a groceryman to
buy groceries he had no trade for.
The exchange men and exhibitors
generally commended that the back
bone of the motion picture industry
would be broken II any such radical
move was made as to permit exhibit
tors to see films before they were
served with them. That the matter
of selecting a program for a motion
picture house was impossible.
II consider the contract. forced
program, idea tho basis of more in
justice and more bad feeling, as well
rs bad business than anything elsc
in the motion picture business. and
/ intend to end II so far as any
mopany ! am interested In Is
concerned" Commodore ]. stuart
Blackton told The Times photoplay
course Of an interview on this mat
ter.
The announcement which has just
been made Is the direct fruit OF
Commodore Blackton's efforts In
that direction. Not long after the in
terview n Joint distributing agree
ment was made by the Vitagraph,
Essanay, Selig. and Lubin COM
panies for special productions. They
u
combination. And 1t Is the v. l.. s.
f.. which has formally and publicly
Instituted the idea OF permitting ex-
hibitors to see their films.
In fact, they go considerably fur
Their than that. Charles Spurrier.
manager OF the V. L. s. Il. branch
in this city, which serves the terri
tory around Washington has writ
ton circular letter To his patrons
which defines tho attitude of his
concern in much the Yamc wav as
The Times defined what the attitude
of the exchange manager should be
at the start of it's fight.
1t Is only fair to say that whor-
ever II has been possible some of the
exchange managers have adopted the
policy. none OF them has insisted 50
strennously UPON II, however, az
does Mr.. Spurrier in his letter ia
the exhibitors. He states:
The policy OF the Washington Of
flee Is To adhere strictly, TO tho
ing it's features. We have issued
no contract EXCEPT on the request
of the exhibitor for his protection
only and these contracts have been
few and far between.
"Our desire is fer Won tn make
money first. last and all the time md
we are here to give you this advan-
tage and do not desire to sell vor
pictures TINT will not draw patrons
10 your theater.
'ofsc your own hooking clerk: hook
onlv those subjects suitable for your
audience. exhibit each subject Ions
ENOUGH to give everybody Interested
an opportunity to sce It: hook &C
cordin1 to the quality nj The pic
ture; pay for merit; book each sub
3ect you want. whom YOU want II
: fey without any strings attached Il
II, II of inestimabIe hnneAt 10 tn,
exhibitor in that II allows him r.
conduct his business along tho sam,
lines as the successful merchants
namely. to select his mixtures NJ
their merit and not according to rule
"Whv should you helm financc manu-
.facturers: Whv should you nut un {
depcsit and agree to run tho entire
don't even know what thew 1r'
going TO make? II rol' went into
clothin~ store in July to buY {
Palm Peach sNit and the salesman
refused to sell II In YOU unless vo'
bought an overcoat. yoil wouldn'
consider the purchase ~ the Pa'n
Beach suit, and vet that II exactly
what the contract system means T.
the exhibitor" c. VI.