The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-06
THEATER MANAGERS
MAKE CONTRACT
Interesting Document Governing Use
of Opera House for Pictures

contract of considerable impor
tance has just been completed be-
tween the Smith-St. Ledger Co, and
the Town of Skowhegan for the use
of the Opera House for moving pic
lures for five years commencing
September 10, 1917. Messrs Myron
e. Smith and Michael St Ledger are
the members of the company above
referred to. The contract gives
them the right of renewal at the end
of the five year period.
1t is stipulated that the price of
admission shall remain at five and
ten cents, provided however. that if
changing conditions bring about an
advance or a reduction, adopted gen
orally by other picture houses thru
out the country, the price may be
changed eorrespondendly in SkoWhe-
gan. For the convenience of those
coming from a distance. or for those
locally who wish to make up a
party and be certain of seats toge-
thcr. a few seats, not exceeding one
hundred, may he reserved and sold
at ten and twenty cents instead of
five and ten cents.
BY giving twenty four hours no
tice the auditorium may be reserved
for the use of the town or any of the
In, !, -
case no charge is to be made. which
also includes light, heat and janitor
service. 1t is provided however
that if the auditorium has been al
ready booked for a desirable travel
ling entertainment the above reser-
walton, for obvious reasons, could
not apply.
Any citizen or association other
the above may engage the Opera
House, by giving seven days notice,
and must pay therefore, the rate
heretofore charged of fifteen dollars
per night This to include light.
heat and janitor service.
The auditorium, including light,
heat, janitor service, use of moving
picture machine and service of oper-
ator, is placed at the disposal of the
Skowhegan schools free of cost for
exhibiting pictures for educational
purposes.
The auditorium, Is also reserved
either for afternoon or evening each
Sunday for the use of the churches,
free of cost
The quality of the pictures to be
shown by the Smith-St. Ledger Co,
including supervision of their char
acter from a stand point of moral
ity, is to be regulated by a board of
censors vested with absolute and fin
al authority. The annual cost to
the Smith-St Ledger Company will
be $2400 $3.50. of this amount they
will pay to the town and the balance
of $3.50. represents the cost of heat.
light and janitor service, heretofore
bourn by the town but under this
contract assumed by the SmithSt
Ledger Company. The contract is
based upon the exclusive right for
moving pictures in the town of
Skowhegan If the vote OF the town
to grant one license only is recind-
ed, or if for any other reason one or
more competing houses should be
opened the rental would be reduced
from $24O0 to $1,000.
The contract also contains an in
teresting clause pertaining to the
neatness and order which must pre-
vail in and about the building This
provides that if conditions are not
satisfactory to the selectmen, they
may employ anyone whom they deem
competent, pay what is necessary to
secure good ianitor service and
charge the added cost to the Smith
St Ledger Company.
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