Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

SIEFFES AG JIN NORTHWEST "MOSES" Invitations Extended to Distributor Heads for Allied Conference Minneapolis — A1 Steffes, elected president of Northwest Allied at its convention here this week, is confident that major distributor heads will agree to meet with national Allied’s defense committee. Invitations were sent to them this week. If such conferences fail to draw out Allied’s demands, Steffes said the organization will seek state and local legislation “to correct evils and stamp out abuses.’’ Steffes said his invitations made it clear the committee will confer only with film company heads, and not with “hirelings or attorneys” or with MPPDA representatives. Would Halt Expansion “We will try to get the producers to agree not to acquire any more theatres; to give back any theatres acquired during the past year in competitive spots having one or more independent exhibitors; to give up ‘spite’ theatres, and to agree to help us curtail expansion of independent chains,” said Steffes. “We will ask,” he continued, “that where an independent chain takes in more theatres it no longer be treated as a preferred account in that situation. We also will try to eliminate exorbitant film rentals. However, I think that film rentals will have to be handled on an individual basis, perhaps through a committee where there is a legitimate reason for complaints. We will ask them, too, to let up a little on protection. We don’t object to them remaining in the theatre business if they will agree not to do any more expanding. And we certainly don’t want to force producers to the wall. We can’t get along without them any more than they can do without us. In the longer run, they themselves will be better off if these evils are ended.” Packs Alternate Threat Steffes said further that if the conferences failed, he would seek to have Northwest Allied employ such an outstanding lawyer and public figure as J. P. Devaney, former Minnesota supreme court chief justice and mentioned as a U. S. supreme court judgeship possibility, to whip up sentiment for the desired reforms. Petition Theatre Patrons to Keep Bank Night Omaha — Embattled Omaha exhibitors, determined to keep Bank Night if possible, have started collection of patrons’ signatures on petitions which may be presented to the state supreme court when the injunction hearing asked by Attorney General Richard Hunter is held. Signatures of patrons are solicited by means of trailers on the screen. The petitions are placed on desks in the lobbies. Chain Theatre Tax to Minnesota House Minneapolis — A bill has been introduced in the lower house of the state legislature to tax chain theatres from five cents to $5 per seat on the basis of houses in the national setup. Minnesota Amusement Co. (Publix) would pay $5 per seat per year on theatres in this state on the basis of the 1,300 houses owned nationally. The measure is patterned after the bill suggested at the national Allied meeting last week by Abram P. Myers, general counsel, and is said to come within the scope of the Louisiana chain store tax decision by the U. S. supreme court the previous week. The northwest Allied unit in convention here Wednesday and Thursday voted to leave the matter of the measure’s support to its board of governors. Northwest Allied has voted a budget of $18,000 for the ensuing year to permit possible employment of J. P. Devaney, former state supreme court chief justice, to aid in the fight against major interests. HUESMAN JOINS MONOGRAM Minneapolis — Art Huesman is now a member of Monogram’s Minneapolis exchange, representing the North and South Dakota territories as salesman. He was formerly with Celebrated Films. Allied Unit President Gets Carte Blanche Authority in Circuit Fight Minneapolis — W. A. Steffes, member of national Allied States board of directors and chairman of its defense committee, was drafted by Northwest Allied States at its convention here Wednesday as its “Moses” to “lead the territory’s independent exhibitors out of a wilderness created by invasion, rising film and other costs, labor difficulties and decreasing receipts.” Election Unanimous Steffes’ election as president to succeed E. L. Peaslee, Stillwater, was unanimous and members pledged themselves to raise a substantial sum which the president will be empowered to use carte blanche, without any accounting, “in an effort to eliminate unfair trade practices and other evils” which the independent exhibitors claim are forcing them to the wall. In addition to paying whatever dues the directors assess, the members agreed to contribute at the rate of 10 cents per seat to the “emergency fund.” As a result of increasing costs and decreasing receipts, members declared the independent exhibitor is in a most critical condition and insisted upon Steffes taking the post and helping them “to remain in business.” “Building Orgy” Menace The feeling made manifest on the convention floor was that the greatest evil at present, as far as Northwest exhibitors are concerned, is “an orgy of theatre building” that has been going on for more than a year. It was asserted that even towns of 800 and 900 population, now having one theatre, are being “invaded.” An organization of exhibitors from towns under 2,500, recently formed, is now engaged in fighting invaders. “I will do everything humanly possible to try to correct some of the industry’s many abuses, but if you anticipate I can do half of the things my nominators say I can do, you’re crazy,” said Steffes, who has held many previous terms as Northwest Allied president and general manager. “I think the outstanding problem today (Continued on page 80) MIDWEST EDITION Is One of the Seven Sectional Editions in Which BOXOFPICE Is Published Weekly. The Other Six Editions Are: NEW ENGLAND, MIDEAST, CENTRAL, WESTERN, SOUTHERN, EASTERN, JESSE SHLYEN, Midwest Editor, 4704 E. 9th St., Kansas City, Mo. Phone CHestnut 7777. MAURICE WOLFF, 801 Wesley Temple Bldg., Minneapolis, Minn. PAUL JAMES, 2711 N. 56th St., Omaha. Neb.