Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1940)

October 12, 1940 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 3 Merrily We Roll Alon3 Monday: Consent Decree Ready For Signatures. Tuesday: Lawyers Meet To Discuss Final Phases of Decree. Wednesday: Department of Justice Expected to Okay Decree. Thursday: Decree Ready For Court Approval. Friday: Lawyers Decide to Ask For Decree Changes. Saturday: New Language Again Delays Decree Draft. Sunday: Supposed to be a day of rest. Monday: Lawyers Expect To Resume Decree Drafting. Tuesday: "Big Five" To Request Decree Changes. Wednesday: Executives Fly To Washington. Thursday: Executives Fly Back From Washington. Friday: Decree Conference Off Until Tuesday. Saturday ... oh hell, let's go to a football game and forget the decree for the week end. AAA It's An III Wind According to Ed Kuykendall, a product shortage looms upon the picture industry horizon for the not too distant future, as a result of which, Ed predicts, longer runs may be necessary to keep the theatres operating. But we see a brighter side to a product shortage which appeals to us very strongly. It will very definitely bring about the dropping of many double bills because theatremen will start to book the better pictures on single bills augmented with a good program of short subjects. It has been our contention for many years that the cutting down of mass production would be the only lever that could possibly hit the double feature epidemic in its most vulnerable spot. Fewer and better pictures can only result in a quicker return to common-sense showmanship of worthwhile single bills, not in a shortage of product that might bring about serious booking problems. AAA Best Yet The Bob White (Oregon Trustee of PCCITO) eleven (11) point substitute for the present draft of the consent decree, or, to be adopted as the trade practice formula for the industry, is by far the best one recommended to date. (See last week's issue of STR.) Naturally, the distributors would never accept it in its initial form. Nevertheless, it boils down to essentials the basic points on which the industry has been at odds over a long period of years. With some slight modifications and perhaps a concession or two by the exhibitors it could easily become the yardstick for future trade practices and one which in our opinion would solve the worse ills of our business. This particular formula serves to illustrate how the present consent decree could have been framed with more consideration for the exhibitor had the Department of Justice allowed exhibitor units to submit suggestions and drafts for the decree. We don't know Bob White or much about him. But we do know that he has come forward with a sensible program through which real friendly relations could emerge between the two important branches of the industry. And as such this program is worthy of close consideration, consent decree notwithstanding. AAA What Price Success We have been laboring under some sort of an illusion that the present regime up at New Universal was doing a terrifically successful job of putting that company way up high on the top of the heap. Apparently, we were wrong; that is if one is to believe the complaint in a recent suit started against this company in which it is alleged that the management did a lot of things it shouldn't have done. Just what is behind the stockholder's suit in question is something far and beyond us. Perhaps it represents a new high in something or other whereby executives of a floundering company must not meet with too much success in their efforts to rebuild their company and turn it into a profit-maker. Maybe Nate and the boys ought to be careful and not do things so efficiently or profitably. Then they might be allowed to amble along on their merry way to the complete satisfaction of some of their stockholders. Or would they? AAA Also Showmanship Much can be done by local theatremen to focus attention on their theatres as well as to render an important patriotic duty through close cooperation with the local draft and enlistment bodies. In addition, do not lose sight of the importance of letting your community know that any of your employes enlisting or being drafted will be assured of their jobs as soon as they return or are discharged. Many circuit and independent exhibitors are also giving drafted or enlisting employes two weeks pay in addition to assuring them of their jobs. While such gestures are general in most industries we in the motion picture field should not be found lacking in this patriotic duty. —"CHICK" LEWIS.