Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

Kuykendall Urges Neely Attack New York-— Sounding a call for “constructive” interests within the industry to work with the MPTOA in the defeat of the Neely Bill, Ed Kuykendall is preparing to lead the opposition when public hearings on the proposal get under way before the U. S. Senate Interstate Commerce subcommittee, April 3. Lined up with Kuykendall will be C. C. Pettijohn, general counsel to the MPPDA. It has not been decided whether individual MPTOA unit representatives will be on hand to attack the bill. For the proponents, Col. H. A. Cole, Allied president, and Abram F. Myers, general counsel, will occupy the spotlight. He characterized the Neely bill as “nothing else than a step in governmental regulation and if enacted would immediately tend to stop the trade practice program to which all of us have given so much time and thought.” Voicing conviction that 90 per cent of exhibitors are opposed to the bill, Kuykendall reiterated displeasure with “governmental control and regulation of this business based on the assumption that we haven’t sufficient brains and judgment in the industry to run our business without a policeman.” Kuykendall found it “particularly regrettable” that at a time when many of the industry’s trade relationships are so near solution, coupled with efforts by the government to encourage business to go ahead for restoration of normal economic conditions, “we are forced into another fight for our existence which the Neely block booking bill brings about.” Week of Hearings Seen for Neely Washington — < Hearings on the Neely block booking bill, which open April 3, probably will run through the week. Faced with the choice between giving Senator Neely of West Virginia his head or having him filibuster and possibly set the Senate back so far as to delay adjournment, now tentatively fixed for about June 1, the subcommittee in charge of the measure chose the former way out. Senator Neely introduced a motion to dismiss the committee from further consideration of his bill March 20. Under the rules of the Senate, it had to lay over a day, and the Senator for two days thereafter was almost constantly in the Senate awaiting an opportunity to rise to his feet and demand its consideration. In the meantime, Majority Leader Barkley and Senator Smith of South Carolina, chairman of the subcommittee, conferred with him privately in an effort to straighten out the matter, and, it is understood, were told that unless they agreed to hearings, the West Virginia member would bring into the Senate all the material gathered at all of the hearings which have been held on block booking in the past and by reading it, educate the Senate on the subject. More Percenters Balance Cancellation Grant (Continued from page 4) way. The anticipation is that the increase will generally follow in terms of two more pictures designated for the top bracket and others added to the lower percentage brackets. Moreover, they insist the exhibitor will come out on the long end for the long run. Viewed as a current in the tide is the new sales policy at Warner where that company proceeds on a current policy of six at 35 per cent, 10 at 30 per cent and 15 at 25 per cent. Next year, it will be eight at 35 per cent, 12 at 30 and 16 at 25. Ranging from 25 to 40 or 50 per cent for ’39-40, M-G-M states it may have six top productions, but only four in the top percentage bracket. Circuit circles will not be surprised if there finally are six. The next group jumps from eight this season to ten next. This applies as well to the third group, but these latter two classifications are designed to follow the company’s policy of flexibility, dependent upon what the studio delivers. The final group drops from 16 to 12. Assuming M-G-M does not seek to get 50 per cent and assuming, therefore, further, its top designation will be at 40 per cent, it follows quickly enough that there will be four in that bracket, ten at 35, ten at 30, and 12 at 25 per cent. Those familiar with the general situation say other distributors will follow suit. Metro Plans $10,000 Exhibitor Contest New York — Admittedly aimed at stimulating business to the mutual interest of independent theatre owners and M-G-M, Howard Dietz, the distributor’s director of advertising and publicity, is putting $10,000 in cash into circulation for the best campaigns on M-G-M pictures to be released between Sept. 1, 1939 and Jan. 1, 1940. Theatre owners may submit more than one campaign during the contest period. There are to be identical prizes for first run and subsequent run exhibitors, with first place in each division entitled to $2,500; $750 for second place, and $500 for third. There will also be 100 prizes of $25 each for runners-up in both sections. The company will put out a special publication entitled “The Screen Forecast,” directly to the public during the contest. A special campaign book for the contest, the only official scrap book acceptable for the campaign contributions, will be available gratis. Dietz emphasizes the contest will be “What you did counts — not merely the way you present it.” The contest closing date is March 1, 1940. BOXOFFICE April 1, 1939 21