Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1938)

Sell To, Not Away From, Old Accounts (Continued from page 4) which may play in schools and other institutions in competition with theatres. Complaints on non-theatrical competition generally will be a matter for local boards, however, when individual cases crop up. The theatre men insisted on delivery of all product bought, regardless of whether pictures are made two or three years after purchased. Distributors are reported to be in favor of this, although no definite commitment has been made. Interchanging, reallocating and substituting of pictures also were scored by the independents with distributors promising to deal with this as best they can. Although distributors insist they have no set program, particularly as it relates to setting up of local conciliation boards. Allied is reported demanding such boards be composed of an equal number of distributors and independent exhibitors and a neutral third party to function in case of a tie. Allied Personnel Demand In a recent bulletin sent out by Abram P. Myers, general counsel, to member units, he states: “This machinery, as envisioned by Allied contemplates local arbitration boards, freed of the abuses of outlawed compulsory arbitration boards, and consisting of an equal number of distributors and independent exhibitors and a neutral third party to function in case of a tie. Also a national appeal board, similarly constituted, to entertain appeals from the local boards in contract cases, and to have original jurisdiction in matters of general importance.” While spokesmen from the Allied ranks are secretive in talking about their negotiations with distributors, it is learned this group is insisting on a program based on the government’s bill of complaint. After meeting with the distributors’ committee compared of William P. Rodgers, general sales manager of M-G-M, and Gradwell L. Sears, president of Vitagraph, in New York for two weeks, Allied adjourned its sessions to Chicago this week. Directors of the national organization, comprising presidents of all units, convened. The men comprised the same group which met at the Warwick Hotel here before negotiations opened with the trade practice committee. Max A. Cohen, president of Allied of New York; Irving Dollinger, president, and Sidney Samuelson, a director, of Allied of New Jersey; Nathan Yamins, president of the Independent Exhibitors of New England: Col. Harry A. Cole, head of Allied NEED A LEGAL GAME? THEN IT’S "TUNES" TUNES, INC. . 1246 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago, III SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS The Papanin Diary Amkino 53 Minutes A film record of the Soviet polar expedition that is a compilation of some of the shots taken by the scientists themselves and newsreels clips. It is an elongated affair and not very exciting. Those four Soviet scientists, who spent 274 days on a drifting ice floe, are shown in their camp inspecting the perilous chasms, grinding in shifts for 36 hours at a stretch cn the winch whose cable brought up specimens from the Arctic sea floor, hunting, fishing, and sending daily reports to Moscow. Then the rescue and their welcome on their return. It lacks a running “voice” commentary. The film contains some scientific value and will appeal to those interested in Soviet events. The Spider's Web Columbia (Serial — 15 Chap.) 28 Minutes All the tried and true formulas of suspense calculated to keep the youngsters from biting their nails until the next chapter comes around are included in Columbia’s serialization of the famous character found within the pages of The Spider magazine. After viewing the opening three chapters, it is obvious that Columbia has another money-maker for the exhibitor. There is never a dull moment and a duel between the law and the underworld is a tasty dish for serial fans. Warren Hull does nicely as the very versatile young man who, in turn, is Richard Wentworth, a respectable criminologist, alias Blinky McQuade, a denizen of the underworld, alias The Spider, a blackhooded scourge of the gangster operating outside the law. It took four script writers to prepare the yarn in which an unknown character, The Octopus, and his gang intend to wreck all the transportation systems so that he can gain control of the key industries. That is where €HORT the week The World Is Ours All-Industry Production 12 Minutes Hollywood's contribution to the industry's "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment" drive presents, within its brief running time, a sweeping and entirely entertaining picture of the movies and their place in modem American life. Telling a simple story of a typical American family and its reactions to motion pictures as entertainment, the short combines statistical information on production and consumption with touches of humor, is well manufactured and should be a worthwhile addition to any program. Of especial interest are cut-backs to laughable, crude films of early vintage, used in comparison with today's technically excellent product. Basil Wrangell directed and Frank Whitbeck, of Metro's advertising department, shouldered the production chore. Warren Hull and. his triple role comes in and it is a pretty good guess he snares The Octopus. Iris Meredith is the heart interest. Ray Taylor and James W. Horne did the directing. of Texas, left here Wednesday night for the Chicago conclave. Several individual Allied units, including Ohio and New York, will hold meetings in the next week to discuss the trade practice meetings. On Monday, Harry Brandt divulged to the ITOA membership the 15point plan promulgated by the seven independent exhibitor groups from all parts of the country. The board of the ITO of southern California and Arizona meets Tuesday to hear an outline of the developments from A. A. Galston, Robert H. Poole and Hugh W. Bruen. The MPTOA over the weekend went into detail of its meetings with distributors at the fourday convention in Oklahoma City convention. The MPTOA negotiating committee is expected back in New York, probably next week, to resume where it left off. However, the distributors’ committee feels it has a well defined idea of what this group wants and that, if further meetings are called, they will be short. Bingo Ban Vexes New Jersey Chains Newark — New Jersey major and independent circuit heads are up in arms over the ban on Bingo in theatres and continuance of the practice in Democratic clubs and churches. Particularly annoying to exhibitors in recent weeks has been the fact that games have caused such an overflow in churches it has become necessary to rent armories located nearby. Theatre owners, recalling the situation is the reverse in New York, cannot understand how games can be illegal for theatres and not for clubs, churches and other institutions. There is a movement on foot to band a strong group of major and independent circuit heads in an approach on the mayor to rescind the order. 30-B BOXOFFICE :: November 5, 1938