Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1940)

Record Details:

Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

October 12, 1940 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 11 2.500,000th Allied Behind the "8" Ball Kuykendall Declares at Meet MPTOA Head Asserts Myers Involved Organization In Consent Decree Mess; Predicts a Shortage of Product Syracuse — Speaking at a statewide meeting of exhibitors, one of three called by the MPTO of Western New York, "for the purpose of incorporating the organization under the Memberships Corporation Law of the Stated Mrs. John Corsa of Lynbrook, L. I., was agreeably surprised this week to find herself the 2,500,000th patron to see Selznick-lnternationaV s Technicolor film, "Gone With the Wind," at the Astor. She is shown here receiving a copy of the Margaret Mitchell novel, autographed by Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh and Leslie Howard, from Manager Lee Kamern. The MGM release ends a 44-week run at the Astor on Oct. 13. Notables Attend 'Voyage' Premiere Distinguished Audience Sees Opening at Rivoli One of the most distinguished audiences ever assembled for a special occasion gathered at the Rivoli Theatre Tuesday night for the world premiere of Walter Wanger's new John Ford production, "The Long Voyage Home." Among those present to witness the initial performance of the film based on four plays of the sea by Eugene O'Neill were Walter Brennan, Joan Bennett, Ralph Bellamy, Loretta Young, Lilian Bond, Eddie Cantor, Murray Silverstone, Erich Pommer, Kate Smith, Lowell Thomas, H. V. Kaltenborn, Gabriel Heatter, Major Edward Bowes, Wythe Williams, Jules Glaenzer, Hon. Godfrey and Mrs. Haggard, Jules Brulatour, Hope Hampton, Felix Warburg, Herbert Bayard Swope, Adam Gimbel, David Sarnoff, Conde Nast, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Gene Tunney, Irving Berlin, Col. and Mrs. Julius Ochs Adler, Mrs. Ogden Reid, Mr. and Mrs. Orson D. Munn, Roy W. Howard and trade and newspaper men. HIGH FLYING HORSE Republic Closes Deals With Two Circuits Kansas City — Two deals for its 1940-41 product, one with Fox Mid west Theatres, in the Kansas City territory, and the other with the Commonwealth Theatre Circuit, were closed this week by Republic Pictures. Elmer Rhoden and Lon Cox represented Fox Midwest while Clarence Schutz and Leonard Allen acted for Commonwealth. In both deals, Republic was represented by its president, James R. Grainger and Robert F. Withers, Kansas City franchise holder. of New York, of electing directors and of transferring all assets to the corporation," Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA president, declared that Allied is "behind the eight-ball" in the consent decree situation. Asserting that Abram F. Myers, Allied's general counsel, had involved Allied in the mess, Kuykendall declared that both the Department of Justice and Myers wanted "to drop the hot baby in Judge Goddard's lap." In affirming MPTOA's position, he said his organization might be forced to accept the proposed consent decree, "but we will never agree to it." That several distributors would never sign was predicted by the MPTOA president. He mentioned no names in this connection. Discussing trade problems, Kuykendall predicted a shortage of product "in the next few months," "and saw longer runs forced as a result, with eventually exhibitors being confronted with "type pictures for type theatres." That reasonable cancellations would eliminate many evils was asserted by Kuykendall as he turned to needed reforms. Distributors, he held, were responsible to a considerable extent for the present confusion in industry ranks. He described ASCAP's practices as a "racket, pure and simple." Referring to the admission price problem, the MPTOA president warned that if too many exhibitors cut to 20 cents, revision of the tax measure is inevitable. Charles Hayman of Buffalo, president of the MPTO of Western New York, introduced Kuykendall. The informal discussion which followed Kuykendall's talk, was led by Sidney Pfeifer, Buffalo attorney. At the first meeting of the organization, which was held at the Variety Club at Buffalo, Monday, Kuykendall labeled the proposed consent decree, with its block-offive sales phase, "unfair and ruinous" for exhibitors, and declared that the exhibitors who would be affected most adversely, of course, were no party to the suit. However, he pointed out, the MPTOA is giving much consideration to a proposal that it seek to intervene as amicus curiae (friend of the court). Adding that there had been no consultations with exhibitors relative to the decree, he said efforts would be made to show the decree would destroy rather than help, that cost increases would be limitless. Especially critical was Kuykendall of the knowledge of the motion pic ture industry exhibited by Govern ment counsel. He remarked, too, that the courts also had indicated decided unfamiliarity with its rami fications and peculiarities. He ex pressed the view that despite Allied endorsement of the decree, over 90 per cent of that organization was opposed to it, since they would be in a worse position than any other exhibitors. Nickel-in-the-slot movies were called a "new menace" by Kuykendall. Gowanda, Williamsville, Niagara Falls, East Aurora, Franklinville, Rochester and Buffalo were represented at the meeting. Twelve directors of MPTO Western Zone which the new corporation supplants were continued in office, as were also these officers : Charles Hayman, Niagara Falls, president; Merritt A. Kyser, East Aurora, vice-president ; Vincent R. McFaul, Buffalo, treasurer ; Marion Gueth, Buffalo, secretary. At a parley to be called later it will be determined whether Syracuse exhibitors are to form an MPTO unit. Kuykendall also addressed a third meeting of the organization in Albany Wednesday, with sessions being held at the Ten Eyck Hotel. At the latter meeting, alleged secret sessions between distributors' counsel and Department of Justice officials, "where those with investments deeply involved were dealt with and had no say" were scathingly attacked by the MPTOA head. He said the decree "if accepted, fails to touch many vital problems of exhibitor interest." Kuykendall, deploring the lack of sincerity on the part of small minority of malcontents, said that "we have invited outside regulation because we refused to do it ourselves. However, everybody else involved is thoroughly organized as a group except exhibitors." Centering his fire on the five-picture-block clause, he labeled it as "completely ruinous, particularly to small independent owners who will find themselves bidding for product in open market against powerful buying interests." As_ for working out arbitration by outsiders, he expressed considerable doubt. Allied, Kuykendall asserted, had worked itself into the untenable position of half-heartedly endorsing a proposed degree which will do material damage to "owners they presume to represent." Owners were praised for their cooperation on national defense. Kuykendall also sketched the situation on the Neely Bill and ASCAP measures. Hayman again presided at the sessions. In addition to Hayman and Kuykendall, others on the dais included Louis Schine, Schine Circuit, Gloversville ; William E. Benton, Benton Circuit, Saratoga; Louis R. Golding, Fabian Theatres, Albany; Sidney Pfeifer, attorney, and Marion Gueth, secretary, both of Buffalo. Champion, Gene Autry's horse, flew with him from Los Angeles to New York this week. He left Burbank, Calif., last Sunday. Above are Gene and Champ, at the airport just before the take-off. Jobs Safe for Warner Employes Those Entering Military Service Assured of Positions That employes of Warner Bros. Pictures who are drafted or who are members of the National Guard will get their jobs back at the expiration of their military service was confirmed this week by Harry M. Warner, president of the company, who stated that Warner employes would be given a special leave of absence for the period of their active duty. In addition, all employes who have been with the company over one year will receive two weeks extra salary when reporting for duty ; consideration will be given to the payment of a monthly sum to the employe or his dependents, such sum to be decided upon after giving due thought to financial circumstances in each particular case; the Warner Club will continue the member in good standing during the period of his service. Philly UMPTO Plans Decree Intervention Philadelphia — Possibility of intervening in the equity suit to bring to a head its protest against the blocks-of-five selling provision in the proposed consent decree was discussed here this week by the UMPTO board. Local clearance conditions were also discussed. The board approved, raises in admissions on single features where the downtown first-runs lead the way, backed the Red Cross drive. Chi. Nabes Cut Prices Chicago — Finding that the new defense tax hurts business, ten neighborhood theatres are cutting prices to 20 cents.