Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 4 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW May 27, 1939 Kuykendali Rejects Invite To Allied National Confab Steffes Reveals Plan to Take Up Trade Practice Plan and Buying Combine Ed Kuykendali, MPTOA president, this week declined an invitation to attend the Allied Convention in Minneapolis June 13-15. He gave as his reasons the two organizations' diiferent approaches to the industry's prob !^ lems. Kuj'-kendall had been put on the Allied transportation commit Make Up Expert tee and said in his letter to Steffes, declining the invitation to appear that he felt that to be in jest. In a letter to all exhibitors sent out last week-end, W. A. Steffes, chairman of the Allied convention committee pointed out that the convention would take up two important subjects. The first will be an open forum on the "so-called trade practice proposals." The second will be the question of a national buying combine. An analysis of the various companies' selling policies is expected to take a considerable part of the threeday program. "No doubt, after the discussions have been completed," said Steffes, "a secret ballot might be taken and this matter on trade practice reforms settled once and for all." Many of the sales managers and other distribution executives of the major companies will attend the convention. It was announced this week lhat Jack' Schlaifer, vice-president and Western sales manager of United Artists would attend. Theatre Ins. Co. Looms As Liability Rates Go Up Formation of a theatre insurance company by large circuits and indies is now under discussion followins a court decision holding that owners are responsible for the safety of patrons. This resulted in an increase of personal liability insurance rates. Rates have been increased from 11 cents per hundred admissions to 18 cents per hundred admissions, an increase of approximately 63 per cent, it was said. TWO PROMOTIONS IN RKO'S FORCES Colquhoun Is Advanced to Branch Managership Two promotions of men on RKO's field force were announced this week by Sales Manager Jules Levy. Other changes were made at the same time, all from the ranks of the company. N. J. Colquhoun, sales manager in the Memphis office, has been promoted to manager of the Charlotte branch, where he succeeds Joe Brecheen, who is promoted to the managersliip of the larger Atlanta office. Brecheen takes the place of Guy Brown who resigned. Lou Padolf rejoins the company and has been assigned to the Detroit staff. Grover Wray has joined the Memphis staff and Scott Chesnutt has been added to the staff at Oklahoma City. Lou Fink, Robert Renz and Joseph P. Smith have been added to the staffs at Los Angeles, Buffalo and Boston, respectively, as student salesmen. Harry Levinson, formerly booker in Chicago, has been promoted to the post of office manager in the Detroit ofifice. Tax Bill Passed A bill permitting cities in New York State to tax theatres has been passed. The measure also gives theatres the right to impose an excise tax on the possession and operation of vending machines. Asks Better Understanding Myers Still Hopes For Distributor Action To Settle Industry's Problems Abram F. Myers, general counsel and board chairman of Allied, stated this week that the propaganda against the Neely Bill did not contribute to a clear understanding of the measure. He made this statement in a mes-'^ sage to the New York Allied Convention in New York. In 'his message to the New York convention, Myers said thai the organization's hope for sweeping changes in policy through action by the distributors was not entirely dead. He pleaded for a better understanding and stated, "What especially worries me is that the discussion, now carried into the open, still consists of dogmatic assertions of conflicting points of view frequentljr accompanied by vituperation and abuse." William F. Rodgers, MGM sales manager told the convention Thursday that the trade practice code carries the distributors to the breaking point and that if it is not accepted they will take their chances on legislation. No more concessions could possibly be made by the distributors, he said, but he '.predicted the adoption of the code. Pare Westmore, one of the four f?.mous Westmore brothers, make up experts, shows how he does it to a group of admiring writers at a cocktail party in the Rainbow Room in New York last week. Perc is with W.B. Studios. GALA PREMIERE FOR "LINCOLN" 20thFox Will Take Party of Writers to Springfield An extensive program has been arranged by 20th Century-Fox for the world premiere of "Young Mr. Lincoln" at Springfield, 111., on Decoration Day. A special train will carry more than 100 newspaper men including trade paper representatives to Springfield for the premiere. Lowell Thomas will act as master of ceremonies at the program preceding the opening which will be featured by songs by Marian Anderson, famous negro contralto. Others will include Alice Brady, Arleen Whelan, Binnie Barnes, Eddie Collins and Cesar Romero, who will come from the 20th Century-Fox Studios. FURY" AT FAIR Roach Film Previewed at Australian Pavilion A screening of Hal Roach's "Captain Fury" was held for members of the film industry and the trade press at the Australian pavilion of the British Empire Building at the World's Fair Wednesday afternoon. Buffet refreshments were served to the guests following the preview. L. R. MacGregor, Australian High Commissioner at the Fair, and W. G. Van Schmus, managing director of the Radio City Music Hall, were hosts. Diamond To Coast Lou Diamond, head of Paramount's short subject department, will leave shortly for Hollywood on his semi-annual visit for the purpose of viewing available independent short subject product which may be incorporated into Paramount's 1939-40' short subject line-up. INCREASE IN IGmmCIRCUlTS 300 Showmen to Give Shows This Summer IN THEATRELESS TOWNS More than 300 showmen will be in the field with 16mm. pictures this Fall according to William Jordan of Films, Inc., a veteran in the 16mm. distribution field. Most of these shows are free and usually include features, cartoons and other subjects. The shows generally run about two hours and give ample space to merchants' ads, according to Jordan. For example, Roy Dennis of Wabash, Ind. operates 18 circuits in the Hoosier State, each circuit supplying six towns with free movie shows sponsored b}' local merchants. The shows are often given in the street and have an attendance running as high as 1,000. Dennis believes that such 16mm. shows are an aid to the industry inasmuch as he never has these free shows in towns which have a theatre and that such showings in theatreless towns whet the public appetite for movies to such an extent that they demand a film theatre. Grainger In Toronto James R. Grainger, Republic President, attended the annual convention of Empire Films, Ltd. Republic's Canadian outlet on Thursday and Friday of this week at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. He outlined Republic's program for the new season. SHOWMEN'S MOTION PICTURE Trade Review Vol.30, No. 18 May 27, 1939 Title and Trade Mark Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Charles E. "Chick" Lewis Editor and Publisher TOM KENNEDY HAROLD RENDALL ROBERT WILE Associate Editor Advertising Mgr. Managing Editor WEST COAST OFFICE ANN LEWIS, West Coast Manager Guaranty BIdg., 6331 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Cal., Tel. Hollywood 1390 CHICAGO REPRESENTATIVE MARSHALL REINIG 612 No. Michigan Ave., Chicago, III. Telephone: Superior 7646 FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVE )OCK MacGREGOR, 20 Portsea Place Hyde Park, W., London, Eng. Showmen's Trade Review is published weekly by Showmen's Trade Review, Inc. Publication office, 34 North Crystal St.. East Stroudsburg, Pa. Editorial and advertising offices, 1501 Broadway, New York City. Tel.: Bryant 9-5606. Subscription price in the United States and Canada, $2.00 per year. Foreign $5.00 per year. Single copies, ten cents. Subscribers should remit with order. All contents copyrighted 1939.