Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

Published Every Saturday by Associated Publications Editorial Offices: 9 Rockefeller Plaza. New York City. Louis Rydell. Advertising Manager. Wm. Ornstein. Eastern editor. Telephone Columbus 5-6370. 5-6371. 5-6372. Cable address: “Boxoffice. New York.” Western Offices: 6404 Hollywood Blvd.. Hollywood. Calif. Ivan Spear, Manager. Telephone Gladstone 1186. Publication Offices: 4804 E. 9th St.. Kansas City. Mo. Telephone Chestnut 7777. Other Associated Publications: Boxoffice BAROMETER. Boxoffice RECORDS. Boxoffice PICTURE GUIDE, published annually: THE MODERN THEATRE, published monthly as a section of Boxoffice. ALBANY— 21-Z5 Walter Ave.. M. Berrlpan. ATLANTA — 14(iH Walton St.. N. W.. Lee Fuhrman, Southeastern editor. Telephone Walnut 7171. BO.cTON — H Piedmont St.. Brad Anpler. New England editor. Telephone Liberty 920B. BUFFALO^The Courier-Express. W. E. J. Martin. CHARLOTTE — The Observer. Mary B. Parham. CHICAOO — 332 S. Mlehlgan Ave.. Eugene D. Rich, Central editor. 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Telephone Walnut 5519. REGTNA. SASK. — The Star, Andy McDermott. ST. JOHN. N. B. — 161 Princess St.. D. Fetherston. TORONTO. ONTARIO— 242 Millwood Road. MlRon Galbraith. VANCOUVER, B. C. — 615 Hastings. C. P. Rutty. VICTORIA, B. C, — 350 Robertson, Tom Merriman. ■WJINNIPEG, MAN. — 709 Selkirk Ave., Ben Lepkln. INSOFAR as your observer is concerned, he doesn't core. And he doesn't because, by dint of circumstances which he regards os interlocking and damaging enough, he long since was compelled to reach the conclusion that the men who dominate Allied and its policies prefer the old political stotegy of keeping the pot boiling no matter what goes up in steam to o serious and well-intentioned effort of ironing out creases on the industry's belly. It seems to us, however, that the constituents of Allied throughout the country owe it to themselves to moke o clear cut issue of one statement mode by Max Cohen, president ot Allied of New York, in the blast he finally let loose against Allied's head men for throwing his organization out of the notional, of which Cohen declares his unit was never o formal member anyway. The statement is pivotal in the Allied-distributor wrangle over the code which, in view ot the Department of Justice's frown, may resemble the awakening of o dead issue. Yet it hardly con be viewed in any such light and this is why: Allied began first to drift away from code formulation in Chicago lost November, following o meeting with distributor negotiators. It will be recalled, no doubt, that William F. Rodgers informed the industry and reported bock to the presidents of the major companies that on agreement hod been reached. Allied, however, edged away from anything quite so definite, the Chicago melee later reducing to what rapidly asserted itself os o “no code" attitude on Allied's port. A Finger Points Now comes along Cohen with the flat declaration that not only was on agreement reached there, but that Allied representatives adopted o resolution, eight for and four against, accepting the concessions mode by the distributors. These included elimination of score charges and the divorce of short subject soles from features. He insists the resolution also provided that Allied was to return to the distributor committee, signify its acceptance provided the terms were ultimately reduced to acceptable phraseology and then attempt to "chisel' further. The quotes ore Cohen's. The New York Allied leader odds he hod in his pocket o resolution from his membership vesting in him the privilege ot withdrawing the unit from the notional or remaining in the fold. He declares it was the decision, os expressed in the resolution, to proceed on the search tor on acceptable code that persuaded him not to serve notice of withdrawal and that the Allied committee at Chicago knew this because Cohen hod so informed. He is also quite frank in his lock of information os to exactly what took place after the resolution he talks about was passed and, without specific detail, charges the change in front to machinations of what he describes os Allied's "inner circle" mode up of Abram F. Myers, H. A. Cole, Sidney Somuelson, Hqrmon Blum and A1 Steffes, among others. These men, he accuses, represent less than 10 operating theatres around these United States but who, nevertheless, seek to determine association policies affecting thousands of exhibitors with on aggregate investment of millions. Cohen, therefore, mokes the unqualified assertion that it was the distributors who were double-crossed with Chicago os o storting point. Where the Allied membership ought to get busy, through any method o group of members in good standing may evolve, centers around the unearthing of such o resolution, if it con be found. Presumably, the place for it is in the office of Myers in Washington, if at oil. Presumably, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get hands on. One point, however, is completely inescapable: If o resolution, os Cohen describes its content, was adopted by on eightto-four vote in Chicago, what happened to it subsequently? Why was its mandate disregarded or neglected and who is responsible? Allied's entire later attitude ties in with the substantiation or the refutation of the charge. It seems quite apparent this is on assault, grove in nature and far-reaching in its potential impact and that, o year old os it is. Allied must moke o reply. Miss Davis Again This typewriter stands in extremely grove danger of running out of words which adequately describe (Continued on page 38) 18 BOXOFFICE :: August 26, 1939