Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 29, 1949 5 Allied Attacks ^Violators^ Abram f. Myers Eyasions of Gov't Suit Rulings to Bring Action, Minn, Convention Warns National Allied closed its annual three-day convention in Minneapolis at the Hotel Nicollet Wednesday with its delegates voicing protest over what they termed distributor attempts to circumvent the provisions of the Government anti-trust suit and sternly warning that Allied would fight to retain recently gained trade reforms. Any thought that Allied was departing from its aggressive tactics of litigation and legislation was dispelled by talk from the floor of the meeting as it opened Monday and further emphasized by the remarks of General Counsel Abram F. Myers that "Allied is no less a fighting organization after what has happened at this militant convention." In fact the organization's traditional policy of keeping to itself nearly wrecked its participation in the all-industry public relations plan which was born in Chicago during August. Actually Allied directors, meeting before the convention in Minneapolis rejected the suggestion of its committee that it join the Chicago plan "with . . . reservations." (STR, Oct. 22, P. 9). Reconsider The board, however, reconsidered the question Sunday and at the suggestion of Nathan Yamins that the plan be tried, decided to go along with the plan for one year and left the question of further action to be decided at the end of the year's trial. President William' Ainsworth was appointed to act as Allied representative in the industry conferences. Opposition to joining had been led by Sidney Samuel son of Pennsylvania, who claimed that an exhibitor's organization should take no chances with distributors in such a program. The board, whose action is binding on the convention, finally accepted the committee's suggestion and incorporated into its acceptance the committee's remarks : "We do not think a large and expensive organization is needed for the best interest of the industry. We are only interested in promoting cooperation and understanding among participating organizations in the public relations field, {Continued on Page 8) It Pays to Vote St. Louis employers, including exhibitors, stand to face a pretty penny of bills if their employes vote and if the decision recently handed down by Judge Louis Comerford holds. The judge fined the Day-Brith Lighting Company for failing to pay one of its employes, when he took an hour and a half off to vote in past elections. The judge finally ruled that the employe was entitled to time off to perform his duties as a citizen but that he should be paid for the time to boot. An appeal is expected. Allied Action National Allied, whose annual convention concluded at the Hotel Nicollet in Minneapolis, Wednesday night, took the following action: To seek evidence on picture forcing, compulsory admission rises, and other violations of the U. S. Supreme Court findings in the Government anti-trust suit and submit them to the Justice Department. Criticized Columbia's sales policy on "Jolson Sings Again." Demanded that distributors abandon their central auditing system. Decided to try the all-industry public relations program for one year. Formally admitted drive-ins to membership and moved to set up special service to help them. Allied, TOA Attack Columbia Over 'Jolson' Sales Policies Columbia's alleged sales policies in connection with "Jolson Sings Again" were attacked this week both by national Allied, in convention at Minneapolis, and by the distributor-exhibitor relations committee of the Theat're Owners of America. Both organizations denounced what they said were rental terms which had the efifect of compelling exhibitors to raise their admission prices. National Allied, after a stormy session, wired Columbia in protest and passed a resolution to gather evidence on sales practices which might have the effect of compelling admission rises and to submit such evidence for action to the Justice Department. The Allied resentment was apparently toucherl off after exhibitors indicated that it had been intimated to them that they should raise admissions for the picture, an intimation which Columbia General Sales Manager A. }\[ontague emphatically denied. Montague Denies Montague, in reply to the Allied wire, wired the convention back : "Jolson offered to certain accounts on basis of 60 per cent. . . . We have never demanded or authorized any employe of Columbia to even remotely suggest that an exhibitor advance his admission price and vigorously deny your insinuation and demand to know the basis of your information. "In all negotiations we seek film rentals commensurate with the value of the picture." John Wolfberg, Denver under-roof and undersky exhibitor who was among those who had attacked the Columbia policy, challenged the accuracy of Montague's statement from the floor. TOA Condemns The TOA committee, after meeting from morning till late afternoon, issued a formal statement stating that it "condemned the sales policies adopted by Columbia in the licensing of the picture 'Jolson Sings Again' because these sales policies, namely, demanding a stipulated sum for each admission ticket sold, or demanding an excessive percentage of the gross receipts, or other inequitable terms and conditions, compel the exhibitor to raise his admission prices in order to show the picture. . . . "These sales policies, in the opinion of TOA's General Counsel, Herman M. Levy," the statement continued, "are violations of the law. "It was the firm belief of the committee members present that the theatre owner must be the sole judge of when he should advance his admission prices, and that the distributor may not legally, directly or indirectly, dictate the policy." The TOA appointed a sub-committee to discuss the subject. It consists of Chairman Walter Reade, Jr., Arthur H. Lockwood, J. J. O'Leary, Albert M. Pickus and Robert W. Coyne. 13 Companies to Offer 35 Features For November Release to Theatres Thirty-five new features will be offered exhibitors in November, according to a check of distributors in the Showmen's Trade Review Booking Guide. Columbia will lead with five ; MGM will offer four and three will be forthcoming from Eagle Lion, Lippert, RKO Radio, Republic and 20tli Century-Fox. Paramount, Selznick, United Artists, Universal International and Warner Brothers have two apiece ready and Monogram has one. Since the beginning of the year 242 new pictures have gone into production : Last year's figures at this time was about 253. Releases November general releases by company : Columbia — "Barbary Pirates," "The Reckless Moment," "Riders in the Sky," "Rusty's Birthday," "Tokyo Joe." Eagle Lion — "The Glass Mountain," "Port of New York," "Spring in Park Lane." Lippert Productions — "Apache Chief," "Call of the Forest," "Square Dance Jubilee." Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer — "Adam's Rib," "Battleground," "Tension," "That Forsyte Woman." Monogram — "Master Minds." Paramount — "Chicago Deadline." "Red Hot and Blue." RKO Radio — "Bride for Sale." "A Dangerous Profession," "They Live By Night." Republic — "The Golden Stallion." "Alias the Champ," "The Fighting Kentuckian." Selznick Releasing Organization — "The Fallen Idol," "The Third Man." 20th Century-Fox — "Everybody Does It," "Oh. You Beautiful Doll," "Pinky." United Artists — "The Big Wheel,' "A Kiss for Corliss." Universal-International — "Bagdad." 'Free for AU," "The Story of Molly X." Warner Bros. — "Always Leave Them Laughing," "The Story of Seabiscuit." Difference and Distinction? Atlanta Censor Christine Smith has approved "Pinky" with cuts, but is still holding out against "Lost Boundaries."