Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Pittsburgh Area Is Enviablg Free of Inter-Industrg Warfare Careful Thinking and a Mutual Regard Is Key By ROBT. F. KLINGENSMITH Pittsburgh is not a “sucker” territory in the motion picture industry. With inter-industry troubles reported elsewhere in the trade, there are no evidences of provoking problems facing the distributor factions in the area serviced with film from Pittsburgh. Not that there are no personal and policy differences. There are — always have been — and what is more to the point, these “squabbles” will continue to be: This is the age-old problem of bargaining. Not Easily “Ballyhooed” But the Pittsburgh film industry does not subscribe to all the ballyhooed fights and calamity promotions which make their appearances quite frequently in numerous of the other film trade areas. For the most part, the Pittsburgh trade has long since discovered that no good can come of constant bickering and aggravated war-dancing. The exhibiting industry was sort of cradled here and many of this territory’s theatre owners are veterans in this field and many more have been schooled under “the old originals” here. The local distributing branches, with few exceptions, are managed by executives of many years service, and the various sales organizations are composed of other veterans in both the exhibiting and distributing fields. Those representing the film companies know their territory and their exhibitor “accounts.” They are friends. They know each other’s problems. They strike their bargains and close their deals with a minimum of name-calling. And a deal’s a deal. Distributors assist their “accounts” in every possible manner, cooperating in booking, exploitation, etc. There are, to be sure, examples of “chiseling” and “taking advantage of the other fellow” that may be scored against both distributors and exhibitors, but these cases are infrequently reported. Reflection and Solution Rebellious minority sentiments are agitated at intervals but serious cogitation reflects the folly or falseness presented and the acuteness soon passes. Before long the “problem” has ceased to be and the “danger” is averted. Elsewhere in the trade, as you read in the various periodicals, the motion picture industry is inevitably the vortex of strife and labor vexations. Pittsburgh exhibitors have faced these issues in years past; they are experienced in these problems and their eventual solutions. Distributor oppression is not unknown here, but it is believed by many of the local industry leaders that the general setup in this territory is the most satisfactory in the country. There are many evi dences to substantiate the statement that there is less inter-industry trouble here than elsewhere, and that independent exhibitors here are favored with better conditions than can be found in any other section of the country. One of these, and the most important, because it is documentary evidence, is a 500-page book issued by the United States government printing office for use of the committee on interstate and foreign commerce. This publication is a record of the hearing before a subcommittee of the committee on interstate and foreign commerce, House of Representatives, 74th Congress, on “bills to prohibit and to prevent the trade practices known as ‘compulsory block-booking’ and ‘blind selling’ in the leasing of motion picture films in interstate and foreign commerce.” “Strangulation” measures, in evidence elsewhere, are little known here, the government’s “hearing” publication shows. Exhibitors from other film areas visiting here seem to marvel at local trade conditions and invariably make comparisons of clearance, zoning, product-splits, admission scales, labor, affiliated theatres, competitive situations, etc. A Satisfied Area As a sort of checkmate on this, local members of the industry who travel afar and look over the field elsewhere, return here with the same story, that they’re glad to be in business in the Pittsburgh territory. Neither exhibitor nor distributor is “tougher” here than in other parts of the country, but it is very likely that each has much higher respect for the other than elsewhere. There is not an exhibitor problem here that is not likewise a distributor problem. Give and take is practiced in the local trade. WB WILL BUILD NEW CLEVELAND DELUXER Cleveland — The Warner chain, according to local building reports, will build a new theatre in Shaker Square, in the heart of the Shaker Square shopping district. Location for a theatre was provided when the Square was laid out ten years ago, but the theatre was never built. The project, according to the report, will cost about $450,000. John Eberson, theatre architect of New York, is designing plans which will be submitted to local contractors for bids within the next few weeks. The new theatre will be called the Shaker Square, and will conform in style to the surrounding architecture. It has been reported that associated with Warner Bros, in construction of this new house are Samuel Horwitz, local attorney, and W. N. Skirball, circuit owner. Skirball, however, denies his present connection with the proposition. ID) IE T R O III T ^^ARREN SLEE, M-G-M exploiteer, now head over heels in work on “The Good Earth,” certainly pulled them in to Hudson’s pet shop last week with his Siamese cat exhibit. The stunt resulted in big Sunday display copy for the picture and the number one store of Detroit was so pleased with the crowds that they asked for a hold-over week on the display . . . Incidentally, Warren is a “synthetic” grand-pappy again. One of the cats is the proud mother of six youngsters, born last week. Allen Usher, new Paramount division manager headquartering in Chicago, visited here last week with Johnny Howard. The Detroit Times Junior Garden Party tieup which Joe LaRose engineered for his Eastown Theatre resulted in plenty of free space in the Times about the 1,500 kids that jammed the house to attend the program. No foolin’, April 1 was Marybelle Brock’s birthday. She’s Frank Downey s capable secretary at Metro. Schneider’s Night Club, largest and most attractive beer garden in Michigan, was completely destroyed by fire Monday morning. The blaze which gutted the 2,000-seat joy palace attracted thousands on their way to work. The prizes for the Film Bowling League are now on display in the film exchange drug store window. The salesmen. Head Booker Johnny Dombeck, Exploiteer Warren Slee, and Office Manager Gil Becker, all capable aids of Leo of M-G-M, are busily preparing for that convention to be held May 2 to 8 at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. They’ll be gone two weeks. Bill Turnbull, formerly of the home office sales promotion department, has been promoted to manager of the local store of National Theatre Supply. (Continued on page 58) If it is All-Spanish Talking Features — Made in Mexico, write or wire Latin-American Film Exchange 405 N. Flores St. San Antonio, Tex. Distributors for Azteca Films Dist. Co., Largest Distributors in the United States. Ask Any Exhibitor in Texas About Us 56 BOXOFnCE :: April 10, 1937.