Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

GALSTON OF ITO STRESSES FAITH IN SKOURAS PLAN FOR HARMONY AND URGES ITS SUPPORT At the Denver Screen Club Picnic Photos taken at the picnic of the Rocky Mountain Screen Club held at Evergreen, Colo. About 300 attended, with golf and bridge tournaments the principal diversions. In the above photo the men, from left to right, are Henry Friedel, M-G-M exchange manager; Emmett Thurmon, attorney; Sam Reed, RCA; Ross Bluck, assistant manager RKO exchange; Duke Dunber, attorney; and seated, Mickey Gross, Orpheum manager, and Eddie Loy, Universal salesman, all togged up in his cowboy outfit. The other picture shows a group enjoying the banquet served in the evening. Theatre Association Head Obviously Hits Back At Opposition Los Angeles — Hitting back, through innu'endo, at critics of the plea for peace and harmony between independent theatre operators and the Fox West Coast circuit, as urged at a recent mass meeting of unaffiliated exhibitors by Charles Skouras, FWC chieftain, President Albert Galston of the Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California reiterated his faith in the plan and urged its strong support. Galston’s rebuttal was obviously, though not avowedly, aimed particularly at James C. (Jim) Quinn, organizer of the rival American Federation of Theatre Owners, who last week issued a “solemn warning” to theatremen to “watch their step” and accused Skouras of ulterior motives in suggesting the appointment of a committee of non-circuit showmen to arbitrate differences between independent houses and the FWC chain. “The only person who could possibly criticize such a plan,” Galston declared, “is one who is totally ignorant of its immediate benefits and the purpose for which it is being effected.” Galston Answers Quinn’s Charge Replying to Quinn’s charge that Skouras was spurred to action by the current federal government anti-monopoly suits against the major producing and distributing companies, Galston asserted: “The fact that government action is usually more or less slow leads us to believe that the necessity for a committee to immediately relieve burdensome independent situations is vitally important to every independent theatre owner in this territory. “Independent exhibitors in this territory have prayed for years for the recognition and formation of such a committee and now that such a committee is given recognition and even proposed by Mr. Skouras, with no strings attached to it — let’s enter into this plan with a new enthusiasm, recognizing it as the birth of a finer independent and affiliated exhibitor relationship.” The tremendous enthusiasm with which Skouras’ plan was received by Galston and other members of the ITO was tempered somewhat by a noticeable and opposite reaction voiced by certain other non-circuit showmen, among whom Quinn was most outspoken. Quinn charged the ITO with having been “taken in,” and declared “the little fellows can’t see the trap for the cheese.” Quinn amplified his opinion later in an AFTO bulletin in which he set forth that “this association doesn’t advocate belliger ency in business and is willing at all times to meet with any faction in this industry on an honestly-conceived program of cooperation; it is in hearty accord with the injunction that ‘the lion and the lamb shall lie down together’ but the lamb isn’t going to be inside the lion as far as our membership is concerned.” The independent arbitration committee, according to Galston, will comprise himself, Robert Poole and E. S. Calvi, operator of several houses in this area. They will meet with Skouras and other FWC representatives from time to time as grievances are registered with them by ITO and other unaffiliated theatre operators. Reopening Houses Boost NTS Sales and Prospects Denver — With new theatres opening up and others that have been closed for years, National Theatre Supply Co. reports sales have been good, and are looking up for the fall and winter. Some of the recent larger orders include projectors, lamphouses, rectifiers, screen and carpet to the Durango at Durango, Colo., slated for September 15 opening. New projection and sound went into the Sioux at Crawford, Neb., while Sam Cain of Pueblo ordered 500 de luxe chairs and carpet for the Avalon. Cain is redecorating his theatre. BOXQFFICE :: September 10, 1938 35