Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-13

| CHdlllUS1 ltSClI tOWdIu the Olldild
film business and moving picture
theaters in connection with fuel re-
strictions. They were H. M. Thorn
as Of the Rialto; c. L. Peavey of
the Famous Players Lasky corpora
ton; C.. w. Taylor, of the Select
Pictures corporation: c. E. Holah of
the A. H. Blank Enterprises, and
the Empress theater membership.
i w. A. Ellis, assistant commits
4 sioner of the chamber, said the res
ignation had reached him. F. A.
Brogan would not comment on the
matter.
In resigning the motion picture
men sent the following letter to, the
board of directors of the chamher:
members of the Omaha Chamber of
Commerce. This committee also at
tended a meeting of the Omaha
Film Board of Trade for the pur-
pose of securing membership from
the film industry.
although the film men could see
no particular advantage to be gained
through membership in the Cham
Der of Commerce, number of us
did take membership, simply to in
dictate an interest in the public well
fare of Omaha.
Imagine our surprise and disgust
when we read in Thursdays Omaha
World Herald the remarks of F. A..
Brogan, who spoke as an official of
1 kEA Nm La ELo kne rs
in reference to the efforts of the
Omaha. Chamber of Commerce to
have the national rulings of the fuel
administration at Washington with
! drawn in so far as Omaha is con-
cerned.
Disregarded Order.
1T should be borne in mind tina
Omaha is the only city of any size
in the United States, with the ex-
ception of Des MONIES and Kansas
+! City, that closed its theaters at all;
that the Des Moines theaters were
closed only one day, Kansas City
theaters only three or four days and
Omaha theaters are still closed.
Through the newspapers it now
develops that DR.. Garheld's order
resembling the closing of theaters by
anyNof the local fuel boards through
out the country, was received by the
Omaha board very nearly one week
ago, but in spite of this order, the
theaters have been kept closed by
the local fuel administration, sup
ported by the Omaha Chamber of
Commerce. II I
Oppose U. S. Plan.
"Mr. Brogan is quoted as saying
| that he met with the local fuel board
aud decided to telegraph to Wash
ington, in the name of the Cham
Der of Commerce, to have the the
alter opening order Withdrawn so far
as Omaha is concerned, but before
taking this action, neither Mr..
Brogan nor any of the other parties
to the discussion, asked for any in
formation whatever from the the
alter employees or film exchanges,
who we're most vitality concerned in
the matter.
"A short time ago a committee
from the Omaha Chamber of Com
merce called upon all the film ex-
changes of Omaha soliciting the
managers Of these exchanges as
"The United States government,
through its president, through its
tsecretary of the treasury, and
through other Washington officials,
has repeatedly thanked the motion
picture industry for its assistance to
the government, but the Omaha
| Chamber of Commerce goes on rec
ord, through Mr.. Brogan, as placing
the motion picture industry in very
much of nonessential classified
ton.
Although the Chamber of Ca:-
merce has produced, at considerable
expense, a motion picture film en-
titled When J East Meets West
I which it expects will be shown in
motion picture theaters throughout
the country to advertise Omaha, the
city of Omaha is now known to the
motion picture exhibitors through
out the country as being the only
city which has kept its motion pic
ture theaters closed for any length
of time on account IF the fuel short
age. How can the Omaha Chamber
of Commerce expect motion picture
theaters to exhibit this film advert.'s--
ing the city of Omaha, in view CT
the open antagonism of the Omaha
Chamber of Commerce to motion
picture theaters, as voiced by Mr.
Brogan? -
After thoroughly considering all
of the above, the undersigned peo-
pie, connected with the theater aud
film industry in Omaha, hereby
withdraw their membership in the
Omaha Chamber of Commerce