Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS = F I L. M BULLETIN ■ ■ » Warner Circuit Refuses Cooperation: Independents Plan Public Campaign INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILMBULLETIN Vol 1 No. 2 Sept. 18, 1934 Issued weekly by Film Bulletin Company, at 1313 Vine Street, Phila., Pa. Mo Wax, editor and publisher. Telephone: Rittenhouse 4816. Representing, in editorial policy, the vievys of the Independent Exhibitors' Protective Association. Address all communications to Editor, Film Bulletin ADVERTISING RATES Write or call us for our Advertising Rates. In New York City call Mo Wax, Circle 7-3C94. CLASSIFIED RATE Ten cents per word. Minimum $1.00. Send check or money order with copy. IEPA ACTIVITIES Activities of the Aggressive Independent Exhibitors' Protective Ass'n. • Fourteen theatres have joined the ranks of the I. E. P. A. within the past three weeks, four of them signing as this issue of Film Bulletin went to press. This organization is going places! * * * Many out-of-town exhibitors are making good use of the facilities of the I. E. P. A. headquarters at 1313 Vine Street. Oscar Neufeld and Miss Willensky are always on the job to assist any exhibitor in trouble. Several disputes between members and exchanges have been successfully ironed out by Mr. Neufeld's intervention. Out-of-town independents, especially, are urged to phone the I. E. P. A. "trouble shooters" on any missout or other difficulty. * * * Morris Wax, chairman of the Board, returned on September 16th, from his enforced annual Hay Fever sojourn in the White Mountains, and immediately plunged into his work on behalf of the independent body. * # * There are no "bargains" in dues offered by the I. E. P. A. Since this organization receives no money from producers or chain theatres, every member is required to contribute his share of maintaining the Association. And that's just what the members of this fighting outfit are doing! * * * The Organization is extending the use of its auditorium to the Independent Theatre Managers' Association for weekly meetings. This new group of live wire managers confines its activities to the junior problems of the industry to improve the quality of their theatre operation. The officers of the Association are: Barney Cohen, president; Jack Litto, vice-president; John C. Ehrlich, treasurer; Walter H. E. Potamkin, secretary; Harry Lessy, publicity director. Dave Barrist is the guest sneaker tonight before the Main Line Kiwanis Club. His subject will be "What Every Theatre Patron Should Know". Within the past few weeks there have been several attempts by a committee of the Independent Exhibitors' Protective Association to obtain co-operation from Warner Theatres in certain situations where independent exhibitors are shut out of product. These efforts have met with failure due to the circuit's refusal to aid the independents. The committee, after conferences with Joseph Bernhardt, general manager of Warner Theatres, felt resigned that there would be nothing to gain by seeking any further co-operation from the chain theatres. MASS MEETING POSTPONED In the September 11 issue of FILM BULLETIN there appeared a notice to the effect that there would be an Independent Exhibitors' Mass Meeting held yesterday. This was printed at the request of the parties arranging the conclave, and we have since been informed that the meeting will be held at another date in the near future. It was felt that the matters to be discussed were of such importance to warrant more time in preparation and in notifying the exhibitors. Ross-Federal Checking Charges Substantiated HARRISON'S REPORTS CONFIRMS EXHIBITORS COMPLAINTS New York, Sept. 15. — Charges that the Ross-Federal checkers were divulging theatre receipts to other than those they represent, made in a bulletin of the Independent Exhibitors' Protective Association several weeks ago, were supported in the September 15th issue of Harrison's Reports. The I. E. P. A. Bulletin stated that individual checkers were not close-mouthed about the very confidential information concerning theatres' intakes and that figures were being handed out to other film companies for the purpose of raising film prices. It further remarked that this valuable data was being made available to rival theatres. Harrison states that he has also been made aware by exhibitors' complaints of abuses on the part of individual employees of the Ross-Federal organization. Often the conduct of the checkers is such to embarrass the exhibitor in whose theatre they are on duty. This is an outrageous condition that the Ross-Federal people should take immediate steps to correct. Film Bulletin requests independent exhibitors to provide lis with any specific cases of individual checkers' violations of the confidence with which they are entrusted and abuses of the very limited rights which they enjoy on a theatre's premises. Plans are now being laid with the utmost care by the I. E. P. A. to attack circuit theatres where it will hurt them most . . . with the paying public. A gigantic campaign to inform patrons of movie theatres of the injustices practiced by chain organizations will be undertaken by the Association in the vary near future. Every effort will be made to enlist the sympathy of the people for the independent neighborhood theatres. What with the present day public psychology opposed to "Big Business" generally, the plan stands an excellent chance of being largely successful. AC'S STEEL PIER "MILKING" FILMS Over Labor Day weekend an estimated quarter million people visited Atlantic City's Steel Pier, where a 1 4-hour show consisting of 3 first run pictures, vaudeville, circus acts, 3 popular orchestras and numerous other attractions was offered at seventy-five cents admission. Most prominent of the movies was Paramount's new Mae West film, "Belle of the Nineties," and during the three day holiday this feature was repeated as frequently as possible, with no shorts between, to accommodate the huge throngs that waited to see it. Many exhibitors consider Steel Pier an inordniate drain upon the movie going public of this territory in particular. Since the seashore resort draws its trade largely from Eastern Penna., New Jersey and Delaware, these exhibitors feel that the pier is absorbing a vast number of their prospective fall season patrons. They complain that while the major film companies battle to the limit to prevent double featuring from entering this territory, they do not hesitate to sell their product to a mammoth theatre that shows, not two features, but three on the same bill. It is not unlikely that independent exhibitors will shortly make strong protest to those producers who are selling product to the pier. MOVIES and CANDY Still the same thrill supreme to young and old. Keep it so — By giving them "America's Best Candy" Through a BERLO CANDY VENDOR Your patrons expect this convenience. Do not disappoint them. *■** (F-l-a-s-h) *** BERLO INSTALLATIONS MADE IN FINISHES TO HARMONIZE WITH YOUR INTERIOR BERLO VENDING COMPANY 1518 North Broad Street Philadelphia