Milford chronicle., 1927-12-02

New York City-All branches OF
the motion picture industry-pro-
ducing, distributing and exhibiting
will hold a conference every year in
which all the grievances within the
industry will be brought to light and
settled for the betterment of the in
dustry as a whole-which means, in
the end, better entertainment for the
public.
The plan for annual meetings re-
suited from the Trade Practice Con-
ference of the Motion Picture. In
/ dustry, which was called by the Fed
eraI Trade Commission and was
held under the supervision of Abram
F. Myers, commissioner, in New
York City in October. When the
Federal Trade Commission issued
the invitation for the conference
there was a quick response from the
motion picture industry, but not en-
tirely a gleeful response. There was
no unanimous opinion that such
conference would result in good for
all.
The conference started with sharp
lines drawn between the independ-
ent theatre owners on one side and
the producers, distributors and aff1l-
lated theatres on the other. Before
the week of intense meetings had
ended, however, the rivals were arm
in arm.
All Units to Cooperate
For the first time in the history
of business, all branches of great
industry, highly competitive, decid-
ed unanimously that in order to
prosper fairly and to keep in the
best graces of the public they must
play the game under rules that will
bring prosperity to the smallest
dealer as we'll as to the greatest
manufacturer and to the employees
all along the line from one end to
the other.
In other industries dealers have
settled their problems among them
selves as have the manufacturers
and distributors. But the motion
picture business has made up its
mind to be one unit, not number
of units.
The plan for the annual meetings,
which was suggested by viii II.
Hays, president of the Motion Pic
ture Producers and Distributors of
America, Inc, is in the hands of the
chairmen of the various grOups-R.
f. Woodruff, of Dover, N. J., presi-
dent of the Motion Picture Theatre
Owners of America; Fred Desberg
of Cleveland, chairman of the aftil-
lated theatres group; R. H. Coch-
rane of New York, chairman of the
distributors and Louis B. Mayer of
Los Angeles, chairman of the pro-
ducers.
Block Booking Strengthened. Out
They were unanimous in the opin- |
ion that the Trade Practice Confer |
erce had gone so far toward settling |
differences in the motion picture |
business that such meetings should |
be continued. The industry to its |
surprised satisfaction found that the |
medicine that it thought would be
unpalatable and ineffective did the
job and was easy to take.
Exhibitors made concessions, dis
tributors made concessions. The |
problem of block booking is well on
it's way toward a satisfactory solu-
ton. This plan of wholesale SELL
ing was removed from the class of
practices known in other industries
as "full line forcing" A statement of
by the distributors met
practically all of the public's objec-
lions to the practice. An arbitration
committee was appointed to decide
upon a new uniform contract and in
this contract, it is believed, can be
settled nearly every complaint that
distributors and exhibitors make
against each other. Certain rules for
the elimination Of Objectionable pic
lures were made. The formula of the
producers for rejecting salacious
books and plays was approved.
Representatives Of churches, wo-
mems clubs and similar public
groups were present and gave as
at the Trade Practice Con-
ference in presenting the public's J