Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

MINNESOTA ANTI-ZONING BILL REVIVED IN SURPRISE MOVE Upper and Lower House Committees Approve Trade Regulator Minneapolis — Believed killed because the vast majority of independent exhibitors as well as the exchanges disapprove it, the anti-zoning bill is now very much alive in the Minnesota state legislature and is believed to have a good chance for passage. In surprise moves, following brief hearings, it was recommended for passage by the senate general legislation committee and the house civil administration committee. Under the measure's provisions, film exchanges would be compelled to release their films simultaneously to all theatres charging the same admission, base rentals on the theatre's seating capacities and post prices. Film exchange heads declared at the public hearings it would be impossible to obtain sufficient prints to comply with the proposed law's requirements and that it would result in higher film rentals for exhibitors, thus harming, instead of helping, the latter, for whose relief it is intended. Every one of a dozen independent exhibitors, members of Northwest Allied States, interviewed by Boxoffice, declared himself opposed to the measure, termed it “ridiculous,” agreed it wouldn’t help the small theatre owner and asserted its provisions aren’t practicable or feasible and would turn the business topsy turvy. Inspired By Exhibitor However, at the public hearing it developed that Carl Fust, owner of the Westgate Theatre, suburban house, who has had difficulty in obtaining product and opposes protection, inspired the measure. He and his attorney, K. J. Flakne, urged its passage. They charged that the film industry is ruled by a monopoly and that zoning is crushing the small independent exhibitor. David Shearer, attorney representing the film exchanges here, and several branch managers spoke against the bill. Highlights of Bill The principal features of the measure follow : Section 1 As a guide in the interpretation and application of this Act, it is Tecognized by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that the business of producing and distributing moving jjicture film and exhibiting the same in the State of Minnesota is, in the very nature of such business, controlled by the producers and distributors thereof, and it is recognized that such producers and distributors have the power to deprive any exhibitor in any municipality and the people thereof of a reasonable opportunity to enjoy the benefits of moving picture exhibitions in their respective theatres and communities and discriminating against an exhibitor in any municipality and the people Minnesota Measure to Curb Ascap St. Paul — A bill in the state legislature would force Ascap to list prices on its copyrighted inusic at a price per piece and to abandon its present practice of charging flat blanket license fees. At a public hearing on the measure Ascap was charged with having a monopoly on popular music and using it to extort exorbitant sums from radio broadcasters and other commercial users of music. thereof to their detriment. It is therefore declared to be the purpose and intent of this Act to make moving picture film available to all persons and exhibitors upon substantially equal terms and conditions and to remove unfair coml^etition with respect to the rental of motion picture film and with respect to the time that said film shall be made available to the exhibitors in any municipality. Section 3 All exhibitors of motion pictures in the State of Minnesota are hereby classified under the following conditions and each such exhibitor shall, in making said application, select a classification and thereby elect to be classified under one of the classifications hereinafter provided. Such exhibitor may make application for a change In .^ucli classification from time to time by the filing of a new application and the payment of a further registration fee in a like amount, but no certificate for a change in classification shall be issued to an exhibitor unless his written application for sucli change shall have been on file with the Secretary of State for a peiriod of at least 30 days. No theatre or place of amusement shall be permitted to be registered under more than one classification at the same time. Exhibitors of motion pictures and the theatres operated by them are hereby classified as follows: (a) Class 1. Exhibitors showing first run pictures and charging an mlniission price of 35 cents or more per adult person. (b) Class II. Exhibitors showing second run pictures and charging an admission price of not less than 25 cents, but less than 35 cents per adult person. (c) Class III. Exhibitors showing third run pictures and charging an admission price of not less than 20 cents, but less than 25 cents per adult person. (d) Class IV. Exhibitors sh4)wing fourth run pi<‘tures and charging an admission price <»f 15 cents or less per adult person. Section 4 Distributors of motion picture film shall make said film available to all exhibitors in the same classification of any one municipality on the same date. At least 14 days before any motion picture film is to become available to any exhibitor of each class in any one municipality, said distributor shall post in a conspicuous place at its (Continued on page 74) H 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 Ruling in St. Paul Hits Cash Games St. Paul — All theatre gift nights in Minnesota are jeopardized by a decision of the Ramsay county district court ruling that such gift nights as Ten-O-Win are lotteries in violation of the state anti-lottery law even though participants are not required by theatres using them to purchase admission tickets in order to qualify or win. The ruling was made in the case of the Lyceum Theatre, downtown subsequent run house here. The decision is being appealed to the state supreme court and the fate of theatre gift nights rests on the latter’s final verdict. Anti-Gift Night Bill Revived Another threat to theatre gift nights is an anti-theatre gift night bill in the state legislature. Thought to have been killed in committee, it was suddenly revived and recommended for passage by the house general legislation committee. Bank Night always has contended that if participants and winners do not have to purchase theatre admission tickets there is no lottery consideration involved. IT^S YOUR CHOICE! WHICH WAY WILL YOUR BUSINESS GO THIS SUMMERUP OR DOWN? YOU CAN BE CERTAIN OF INCREASED SUMMER BUSINESS AND PROFITS BY INSTALLING . . . “MAGIC-WEATHER” FANS AIR-WASHERS COMBINATION UNITS — COLD WATER AIR CONDITIONERS AND COMPLETE SELF CONTAINED REFRIGERATION UNITS. 68 BOXOFFICE :: April 10, 1937.